Chapter 10: I'm fearless that's my youth
A/N: Thanks for the reviews and adds. Enjoy chapter 10 :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Crystal ended up staying in Dumbledore's office for some time. He had asked her many many questions. He had many to ask though. She barely touched on the surface of what happened during break. She knew though that Dumbledore wanted to get everything down. But by the end of it all she was exhausted with emotions. She wanted to just crawl in bed, but she knew that's not what she should do. The options Dumbledore gave her were fresh in her mind which is why she wearily found herself in the Slyhterin common room that she knew oh to well.
She was silent as she crossed her way over to the boy's dorm and made her way up the familiar staircase. And the farther she went up, the more her emotions began to surface. She was starting to feel sadness and anger. By the time she finally opened the door and snuck in the dorm, her cheeks where shinning with tears. She ignored them though and walked silently on to Draco's bed. Without a second thought Crystal snuck through the curtains and crawled in right next to him. Draco panicked for a moment as he struggled for his wand.
"Shhh" Crystal soothed through her tiny sobs. Draco stopped fussing about right away and instead let his eyes adjust as tried to take her in.
"Crystal?" He question groggily with concern. He was certainly tired. He went to bed early tonight and now he was glad he did. He had a feeling Crystal would try to see him, it was a rough day for her. He could only imagine all she had to take in. Him dumping his love for her and then her mom dying, he could only imagine what that did for her. From the look of her pained eyes, she probably wasn't taking it to well.
"Draco, I don't want to wake everyone." Crystal whispered in a shaky voice. She wasn't crying for her mother, she was crying for herself and the choices she had to make. She wanted to figure this out tonight for herself, for her friends, and for Draco.
"Could you not sleep?" Draco questioned as he pulled her close to him and laid down. She didn't protest, she instead nuzzled close into his bare chest.
"Something like that" She smiled as she held him closer. She felt so much comfort right now in his arms, his scent, his warmth, everything about him was warming her heart and soul. How could she not want to be near him?
"I'm really sorry-" Draco started to speak, he wanted to comfort her but she didn't want that.
"I'm not" Crystal said even though she was crying "Mum never wanted this life, she just took the easy way out." Crystal finally said what she wanted to get off of her chest. She wasn't going to take the easy way out. She wasn't going to be her mother.
Draco was confused as he held her close. If she wasn't upset about her mom, than why was she here? Was it possibly she hated this life and was confused on what to do? Was it that she didn't want the same fate as her mother? She wanted to be free with her Gryffindor friends. That was it. She wanted to be who she wanted and not have her future dictated to her. He smiled, he loved how brave she was. You had to be brave to go against a pureblooded family and she certainly was. "I'm here for you regardless. I will always be here for you, no matter your decisions." Draco moved his arm and stroked her hair to let her know that he meant it.
She couldn't help but smile, he said exactly what she wanted to hear and his actions helped even more. He giving her everything she wanted. "For now Draco, just be you and hold me for a while."
"Of course, I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else right now." He said gently as he kissed her forehead.
"I dunno, Pansy's pretty good in bed I hear." Crystal couldn't help but tease him, it's what made their friendship so lively in a strict pureblooded society. To them it was always like a breath of fresh air when they were together. They didn't have to be so proper and pleasing all the time. They could let loss and take time to actually laugh.
"How would you know?" Draco snorted at her tease as he pulled away from her to give her a look.
"Same reason why I know how Longbottom is better than you in bed" Crystal shrugged while trying not to laugh.
Draco couldn't help but reach forward and ruffled her black hair. "Speaking of which, wouldn't your boyfriend Fred be mad about us being in bed?"
Crystal did let out a giggle this time, completely forgetting where they were and what time it was. "Oh yes because him and I are dating."
Draco wanted to respond but he didn't get a chance, they had woken someone up.
"Draco? Is that you?" Theodore questioned in a harsh whisper. He had woken up to a giggle, it was no secret that Draco would bring girls back on occasion, but he hadn't done that all year which was odd for him, so who did that come from? Surely not Crabbe or Goyle, why would they have a girl?
"Go back to sleep Theodore" Draco called calmly. He was oh too used to having a girl being too loud, but tonight it was for a different reason. Tonight it wasn't for lust, it was for love. Not that he wanted to do anything with Crystal, just talking and her being there was enough.
"He has a girl" Theodore announced to everyone else, seeing as it sounded like Crabbe and Goyle were starting to stir as well.
Crystal was surprised at how normal her brother sounded, but then again it was so like him not to show emotions like sadness in front of his friends. He probably was hurting, but there was no way he would show it.
And Crystal was right, Theo had done his fair share of tears before bed, but he had already shaken it off and was going to go on with his life. It was all he could do. There was no point in wallowing in a loss.
"Saying he has a girl is a pretty broad thing to say personally." Crystal finally piped up with a giggle. "I mean really, what if Draco brought back boys and you guys never knew about it? What if he had all his boys take pollyjuice potions?"
"Crystal? What the hell?" Theo snapped and before Draco and Crystal knew it, the curtains were pulled back and Theo was shining his wand on them. When he heard a giggle from a girl, he knew Draco had a girl but not his sister. "Put a fucking shirt on" He snapped to Draco who was just in his boxers. He was fine with him having girls in his bed but not his sister. But the more he looked at it the more he realized his sister had been crying, she was hurt and not here for Draco's body. But he didn't retract his statement he wanted Draco to have some more clothing on. Draco should have some decency for his baby sister, being his best friend and all.
"Oh please like I haven't seen a male chest before." Crystal rolled her eyes. She couldn't help but feel that her brother noticing this wasn't the best idea. Yes, she knew if she admitted she like Draco to him that would be the best thing for her, but then again pulling his strings was a lot more fun. She loved letting him think that she liked blood traitors.
"Not a chest like mine" Draco said with a cocky smile as he puffed out his chest, earning him a shirt to the face. Theo didn't find it funny and instead of laughing, threw Draco's shirt with his wand.
"You're right, I've never seen one so weak and muscleless." Crystal teased, but in all seriousness, she couldn't help but notice she's never seen one that was sculpted that well unless it was a Greek sculpture.
"Crystal, no one insults thee Draco Malfoy in his own bed" Draco scowled while putting on his shirt "I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He said as he finished putting it on to point swiftly to the door.
"She was just going too." Theodore growled as he pulled his sister up to lead her to the door.
"Night boys" She smiled and threw up her arm for a quick wave as she let her brother escort her down to the common room. She didn't mind that she was leaving, her mind had been made up in that short amount of time. Just being with Draco and even with her brother let her see that they were a part of her life she couldn't live without. She needed them and she loved them. But she also loved all her Gryffindor friends, so that left only one option. And it wasn't the easiest options. She would have to try her hardest and be the best she can be so she could be on both sides. She was going to be a spy for Dumbledore, she was going to risk her life and become a Death Eater to help the Order defeat Voldemort. She had too.
"Crystal?" Theodore asked once more. He realized she was in deep thought as they finally made it to the exit of the Slyhterin common room, but he wanted to ask her how she was doing. He couldn't tell with her, not right now at least. She looked so deep in thought he couldn't help but really wonder how she was feeling.
"Oh sorry Theo" She smiled warmly. She could tell he was worrying about her. That was so like him, not worrying about his own emotions, but rather his little sister. He would always worry about her so much, but then when something was wrong he never knew how to fix it. "I'm just tired. It's getting late..."
"I know it's late, which is why you should be getting to bed." He scolded with a firm look and before she could respond he grabbed her tightly and pulled her into a hug. "You doing okay, sis?" He asked gingerly as he held her tight.
"Yes" Crystal responded quickly, maybe a little bit too quickly. "I didn't really get to know her" Her voice started to break again at this point. She felt her eyes tear up.
"I know" Was all Theo could choke out as he grabbed his sister tighter. He was losing it. He felt bad for his sister, he had always pitied her. Now was no different. Their mother was a wonderful person and he knew she was. He never once blamed her for cheated on their father. If he hadn't Crystal would never have been born and if she hadn't been born his best childhood memories would not have been formed. "You're a lot like her, mum that is." He finally lost it as a tear escaped out of his right eye.
Crystal pulled away and looked up at her older brother so he could see her fierce eyes that were wet with tears. "I'm braver though" Crystal let out a weak smiled as she wiped her face with the back of her hand.
"You think so?" Theodore mirrored her weak smile with his own smile, the famous Nott smile.
"I'm a Nott" Crystal said in a proud voice, despite the fact that she didn't actually feel proud. She felt far from proud, but she knew what she was doing. She had to set all the pieces in place. "And as a Nott, I wish for nothing more than to serve the Dark Lord to bring honor to our family."
Theodore had not been expecting her to say thing. But, just because he didn't expected it at all doesn't mean he wasn't pleased. He was extremely pleased and at that moment, he knew that even though she wasn't in Slyhterin, she was deep at heart. She knew what it took and she was setting herself up for survival. She was merely using the other Gryffindor's and that Potter, she was playing him.
Or that's what Theodore thought, if he only knew how his sister really felt, if he only stopped time to realize who she really was, he'd realize that she wasn't playing them at all. She actually genuinely cared for them, just like she cared for Draco and Theo himself. She cared for everyone, she just didn't care for the prejudice. If he stopped to think for a moment he'd realize, she was going to fight to end this. He would also realize she was fighting because she knew deep down everyone is the same, they are all human beings. Blood status never made a difference to her.
But Theodore noticed none of this. He was blind, he wanted to see his sister as good. Good in the Slyhterin way, not what Crystal believed is good.
"Father will be delighted" Theo smiled a true smile now as he hugged his sister once more. But little did he know the smirk that spread across her lips as he hugged her.
She won, at least against her family. She could do this as long as she ignored the evil. "Draco will be too."
"You really care for Draco don't you, sis?" He couldn't help but ask this. It was on his mind the minute he realized she came straight for Draco tonight and not him. He was at least glad that she didn't seek comfort in her Gryffindor friends, or maybe she did and they had failed her.
Crystal felt a small blush creep upon her face, though she wasn't sure why. "He's been my best friend for a long time now. I'd do anything for him, I suppose." She admitted, though she wasn't sure why. She felt she had been getting used to admitting her emotions more and more thanks to the twins. It was nothing she was used too, but slowly she was learning. And she had to admitted it, it was like a new found freedom that she couldn't explain.
"Why don't you head back up there, it's not worth you getting caught out of bed." Theodore ruffled his sister's hair before he put an arm around her shoulder "Draco won't mind lending you his bed."
Crystal couldn't help but smile in relief. It was a long evening and there was nowhere else she wanted then right here with what she considered family.
Gladly she listened to her brother as the two of them made their way back upstairs. To her, it was a great comfort and despite how much her mind was racing, she found that in Draco's bed she was at rest. And she was happy because deep down inside she had resolved the problem that had been bothering her so long. She would let Dumbledore know as soon as possible. But for now, she rested.
"Crystal, there you are! Are you doing okay? We saw in the Daily prop-" Hermione started with a flurry of words as Crystal finally crawled into the portrait hole late on Sunday night. She had spent the whole day with Slyhterin's and surprisingly she found herself having a good time. But now that she was back in the common room her friends were surrounding her quickly with many questions.
"Hermione let her breathe!" Neville ordered at once as he came up behind Crystal and put a comforting arm around her.
"Not likely to happen" Ron grumbled, but Hermione still heard him and found it fit to slap his shoulder in a rather hard manner.
Crystal couldn't help but smile. That was so like them. "Everything is fine." She said in a reassuring voice, but she knew that they wouldn't buy it that easy.
"I doubt that" Harry said quietly. At that moment, when Harry spoke, it was as if everything seemed to stop. Everyone turned to Harry and stared expectantly at him. "She just lost her mother, she probably wants to rest." He said with concern laced in his voice.
Crystal couldn't help but stare at him with tears ready to shine through. Slowly she shook her head and reached forward to hold Harry tight in a hug. "Thanks Harry, but I'm fine. I spent the evening with Draco, how could I not be fine?" Crystal let her face break into a huge smirk as she pulled away from the hug.
"That's my girl" Fred popped up next to Harry only to snag Crystal away. He quickly ruffled her hair and let his hand rest around her waist. "How was the underworld?" He asked teasingly.
"I've made up my mind for sure." Crystal smiled widely at her friends who were all circling in around her.
"Your mind?" Neville raised a quizzical eyebrow. He knew Crystal had been a bit hush hush about her home life with him, but that didn't bother him. He knew she was trying to look out for him, but at times like this he wish she would open up a bit more. He cared about her and no matter how dark her family was, he would still be her friend.
"Did she not tell you, mate?" Ron now wore a similar expression as he turned to Neville.
"I kinda told Nev's…" Crystal muttered. She felt bad now that she didn't tell him but yet everyone else here seemed to know. Ron knew, Harry defiantly knew, the twins were the first to know, and well of course Hermione knew. But Neville, she barely told. She just wanted to protect him. From what she didn't know, but she always just felt Neville was a bit more fragile than the rest. She couldn't explain it though, she just didn't want him to see that side of her.
"Crystal got asked to be a Death Eater over Christmas." Harry finally spat out as he slightly turned away from the group. He remembered her telling him perfectly, he was upset but he knew what her life was like. He couldn't help but wonder if she would really accept. He knew if she did she would finally be accepted in her home and he knew that would mean a lot to her. He could tell especially by the pain that was always laced in her eyes, but that didn't make it less painful as a friend. That was the last thing Harry wanted was for her to be a Death Eater.
"You what?" Neville blinked in disbelief at his best friend. He knew she was…but a Death Eater? She didn't have the heart. Not in his mind at least.
"I didn't accept but…" Crystal looked away from her friends and shrugged Fred's arm off of her. She couldn't help it. She knew she was doing the right thing, but yet she felt ashamed somehow as she looked down at her feet. "You guys are going to think I'm crazy." She stated simply as the twins let out a laugh.
"You can't be crazy, mate." Fred commented simply and turned to his twin.
George smirked and leaned up against his twin "This is true, that job is already taken."
"By Harry Potter" Both the twins said in unison, causing a group eye roll.
"Says the Daily Prophet" Crystal pointed out.
Harry was used to the jokes, but regardless he cleared his throat loudly. He was curious as to what Crystal wanted to do. He, like the Gryffindor friends around him, was starting to grow fond of Crystal and hoped deep down she would go into hiding and stay on the Order's side. Her heart was certainly pure enough. "Go on" Harry urged with a polite smile.
Crystal caught his green eyes and let her blue eyes tell him it was okay. She knew he was dying to know, he wasn't the most patient person she knew. She smiled at him for a bit longer before she turned to Neville to speak to him directly. She knew he would understand the best and approve of her decision with awe. "I know you won't believe me, but when I am with the Slytherin's I see something in them. I see good." There was a small snort from Ron, who with one sharp glare from both Hermione and Crystal, let his smile drop. "I want to join Voldemort's ranks in hope to pull them away. To help some of them see there is a way out. I want to be there for them if they want out."
There was a collective surprise at the end of her words. They knew what she was doing would take a lot of bravery and they knew if anyone could do it, it would be her. She was able to be passive enough to get anything done and she knew these Slyhterin's well enough. The only thing that everyone around her had a hard time grasping is what good she saw in them. There wasn't much there was there? They were always so cruel to them during their life at Hogwarts how could they see the good? But surely if Crystal saw it, it was there.
It was Ron who spoke first. "Crystal, that's great and all, but I doubt any of the Slyhterin's want to come to the good side."
Crystal knew Ron would say something like that. It was so like him, it was just built into him. "You don't realize Ron, the biggest problem with pureblooded families." Crystal sighed turned towards him. "You need to do as your parents tell you. You need to be perfect. You need to be whatever your parents want you to be. If your parents want you to be betrothed, you betroth. If your parents want you to be a Death Eater, you be a Death Eater. You do as you are told and you don't think otherwise."
There was a small silence while everyone took in what they knew to be true. But then Ron spoke again. "What makes you any different? Why are you breaking the rules and going against your parents?" He questioned taking a step forward while staring at her with fierce eyes. He wanted to know. He had been dying to know what made her different.
Crystal didn't flinch at his eyes, she stared steadily right back at him. "Because I was the product of a rebellion done by my mother, for all my father knows I am not his child and I might not even be a pureblood. I was raised being told I am worthless. I was raised being a practice tool for the cruciatias cruse." Crystal said with her voice steadily raising. She didn't mean for it too, but memories were flashing through her head and she was growing angry remembering why she was different. But that didn't mean she wasn't grateful. If none of that had happened, would she still be here in Gryffindor attempting to make a change?
"Crystal" Harry reached forward and grabbed her arm to calm her. It worked almost instantly. She shook her head and gave a warm smile almost at once. "I'm sure you are right, I believe in you and I know you can do this." Harry smiled give her a confident squeeze.
"Thank you Harry." She smiled in return.
"Why don't we go get some dinner?" Hermione asked breaking the thoughts in hopes that everyone would lighten up. They all nodded in agreement and headed down to dinner happily chatting about anything else.
The rest of the evening pulled through with many smiles and laughs as Crystal hung out with just Neville. Sadly though, they had to end the evening and head to bed for their Monday classes. Crystal was dreading those, since she had Potions and DADA. She of course, didn't mind Professor Snape at all, but since he gave her friends such a hard time she learned to dread that class.
And she was right to dread. They were finally in Potions and Neville was struggling to get it right. Crystal luckily had already finished her Potions ahead of time and was helping Neville out as best as she could.
"Stir it counter-clockwise now." Crystal smiled as she pretended to look over her book and scribble notes on some spare parchment.
"Thanks Crystal" Neville couldn't help but smile. He was so great to have her as a table partner now instead of Seamus. She helped him a lot and for some reason, she would never get in trouble with Professor Snape. For that he was grateful and he was grateful as well that she bothered to be his friend. She was so amazing in his mind. But he knew she wouldn't see it that way. Her heart was so big she cared for everyone almost equally. Neville knew for some reason she gave Draco a bit more attention than the rest of her friends, but she was entitled to do what she wants, so Neville usually ignored this.
"No need to thank just keep stirring, you have four more minutes of stirring. I'll let you know when you can stop." Crystal carried on taking her fake notes, before peering over her own potion. She was pleased; her potion was periwinkle, just as it should be. Neville's was coming along well and was already light lavender. "We should study tonight, what do you think?"
Neville carried on stirring. Crystal had taught him well not to panic too much during this class. She also taught him how to act natural, as if they weren't talking. "For Transfiguration? I really don-" He was going to complain, but Crystal looked up from her notes and threw a nasty glare. "Okay yes, we can." Neville said in a defeated voice.
"How about we play some chess afterwards? Gran would be happy that we used your new set." Crystal said softly as Snape came near them.
Neville knew better than to respond just yet, he had learned well from Crystal, but that didn't stop him from being a nervous wreck whenever Snape came near.
"Your potion is perfect as usual Miss Nott." Snape commented as he peered over her cauldron and wafted the silver steam towards his nose. He had decided today he would try and be friendly to her, especially now. Her mother had died and though she didn't seem fragile today, that didn't mean she wasn't.
"I wouldn't say it's perfect but it is close." Crystal looked up letting her blue eyes land in the onyx abyss that were Professor Snape's eyes. For some odd reason she always seemed to find familiarity in those eyes that she couldn't pin point. No one in her family had onyx eyes like that, so what caused that?
Snape just nodded and swished his cloak to walk over to Draco's table. Crystal let out a sigh as she watched him make light conversation with Draco.
"Gran will be thrilled" Neville responded finally drawing back to their conversation after that small interruption.
"How is she doing by the way?" Crystal asked genuinely curious. She had known for some time what happened to Neville's parents, living with Death Eaters and all, so she actually cared a lot for what family Neville did have. She asked about his Gran all the time.
"I got a letter yesterday morning actually, when you were with Malfoy." He carried on stirring even though his arm was getting tired. "She was over at Uncle Russ this past weekend."
"Oh?" Crystal commented looking at her watch quickly "Okay stop stirring and add in the butterlace."
"Right" Neville commented and let go of the spoon, took it out and reached for the butterlace. "Yeah, she apparently made a butterbeer cake. Told me how much she wishes I was there to enjoy it."
"Those are my favorite, I bet one from Gran would be the best." Crystal said thoughtfully. She never had a Grandma that would make stuff for her like that. She was always shunned from the family so much that she could only imagine how Neville felt having such a loving Grandma.
"I'll write to her and ask her if she could send one! She adores you, you know." Neville had mentioned Crystal to his Gran many a times. She started to grow to like her, even if she was a pureblood. In the letter's though, Gran kept hinting that maybe he should ask Crystal out. He always dismissed that so quickly. He never felt he was good enough to be with Crystal.
"Does she? I haven't even met her." Crystal smiled "Okay now add two scales of a dragon."
"I talk about you a little bit…" Neville half whispered in embarrassment as he grabbed the scales she had instructed.
"Sorry Nev's" Crystal sighed and looked up from her notes once more "I never talk about you in my letters. In fact I pretty much only get to mention how dreamy Draco is." She let out a small laugh, Neville joined in.
"I am a pureblood you know and my parents aren't complete blood traitors I suppose. Just tell them how badass I am and how I had muggles." Neville laughed again.
"Stir for two minutes now, clockwise this time." Crystal giggled slightly "Yeah, because you know you and those mudblood's hate each other." Crystal teased.
Neville was taken a back for a moment. He couldn't believe she actually said mudblood. It wasn't a swear you would often hear her say, but none the less he still laughed. "Only when you aren't looking" He smiled as he started to stir clockwise.
"There's hope yet, I could actually marry a decent pureblood." Crystal teased as she looked over at the Slyhterin's who were making fun of someone in the classroom.
"What does that mean?" Neville panicked and stopped stirring at once, but quickly stopped himself and started up again.
"Sorry" Crystal quickly apologized. She didn't mean to frighten him, he may have been a pureblood from a very pure family, but she often forgets he didn't have the upbringing she did. "I just mean I will end up marrying a pureblood, my parents will force me, and I'd rather it be someone who's pretty awesome." She admitted with a slight blush. She wouldn't mind any of the Slyhterin's but she shuttered at the thought that her parents would choice someone like Crabbe or Goyle. No, Neville by far would be a nice pureblooded choice.
It was Neville's turn to blush. He turned a beat red and was about ready to drop his stirring spoon once more. "Thanks" was all he could splutter out.
"Stop what you are doing and bring a flask to my desk, whether you are done or not!" Snape's angry voice boomed throughout the classroom. No one dared to say a thing or object. Rather everyone put everything down and did as they were told.
"Good thing you were finished." Crystal whispered as she grabbed a flask of her own and brought it up to the front desk. Together her and Neville cleared up their work station and got ready to head over to DADA together.
But the together never happened. As they were packing up, Professor Snape called out. "Miss Nott would you please see me once you are done, I'd like a quick word before your next class."
Crystal couldn't help but swallow hard "Of course Professor Snape." She said with a smile though she wasn't sure what was to come.
"I'll see you later" Neville said giving her a look of confidence. When Crystal looked up, she couldn't help but see the somber eyes of Draco Malfoy nearby. He seemed like he wanted to say something to her, but they both knew that would have to wait.
Crystal felt like those couple of minutes when she waited for the classroom to clear out seemed to last forever. It wasn't just because she was curious as to what Professor Snape had to say, it was also that look in Draco's eyes that seemed to linger in her heart. She couldn't place that look. They were very sad eyes, but Draco's eyes usually weren't sad, they were usual cold. So what was the meaning of it? What was the meaning of him meeting her eyes too? He seemed like he was searching just for her eyes.
Her thoughts were snapped short, when Snape closed the door loudly and cast a spell in the room. "You are to head home tonight for your mother's funeral tomorrow." Snape cut straight to the point, but Crystal couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't including Theodore in this conversation. It didn't click until Snape spoke again. "The Dark Lord request that you be there whether you want to or not" He said in a strange voice as Crystal blinked.
"Of course" She nearly scowled, but caught herself. Snape was one of them, she should watch herself.
"Dumbledore has told me of your wish" Snape added, he noticed how tense she was around him. He was hoping to change that, to prove that he wasn't a Death Eater at heart. He wanted to help her through this, no he had to help her.
Crystal tilted her head slightly. "My wish?" She didn't know what he was getting at and she felt confused, did Dumbledore really trust Snape? He had to have been on their side then.
"Yes, he has asked me to confirm your decision before you head home." Snape responded in his cool collect manner.
Crystal swallowed hard. She still felt unsure on whether she should trust Snape or not, but she shook it off. What did it matter? Dumbledore trusted him obviously, so should she. "I wish to be a Death Eater and help the Order." Crystal said while wringing her hands together. "I know there are other children who do not wish for that fate and I want to help them. I want them to know they don't have to follow their parents."
Snape didn't know why, but his lips formed into a smile. It felt so strange to him, but he was smiling. This girl, she was so familiar and yet so different how could he feel like he knew her? Regardless, he was going to do his best and listen to her mother's request to protect her.