Several months had passed since Emarie's attempted to find out the Dark Lord's task for Draco. They still ate together almost everyday, except for when one of them had to catch up on homework or speak to a Professor. No other intimate moment was shared between the two after the first night of term.
Snow covered the grounds and more was falling while Emarie sat in her favorite, least uncomfortable armchair closest to the fire. Living in the dungeons did have its disadvantages. She was translating her Ancient Runes homework while Celestina Warbeck played throughout the common room. One of the seventh year students put the record on as a joke and no one had bothered to turn off.
Slowly, as the sun disappeared behind the mountains, the common room emptied. Emarie finished her Runes homework and brought out her book. Different from the first Muggle book she was reading, she had barely started this one and immediately fell in love.
"New book?"
Emaire looked up and saw Draco standing in front of her. "I finished the other one."
"What's this one about?"
"It's called 'Romeo and Juliet'." Emarie said, "it's a tragic love story. But if you want to know anything else about the story you'll have to read it yourself."
"You tease me so, Chabert." Draco mused. He sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of her. "Read some to me."
"It's in French."
"So? You sound beautiful when you speak French." He moved to armchair beside Emarie and looked at her expectingly.
A light, pink color fill Emarie's cheeks. She read a paragraph from the first Act of the play and glanced up at Draco as she finished. He was slumped over in the armchair. His eyes closed and his breathing became even. Emarie slid over and pushed his pale blond hair out of his face. She let Draco sleep and continued to read her book to him.
The next time Emarie looked at a clock, several hours had passed. She placed a bookmark in the book as Draco stirred. He began moving in his sleep and murmuring the word "finished". Emarie shook his shoulder gently, "are you okay?" She asked.
"Can you keep a secret?" Draco looked into Emarie's eyes searching for her answer.
"What's going on?" Emarie whispered, "you're scaring me."
"I need to know for sure that I can trust you."
"I can keep a secret."
"I need to be sure."
"How?"
"Make an Unbreakable Vow with me."
It seemed like the world stopped turning and everything was frozen in time. It took several long moments before Emarie gave a nervous laugh, "it must be serious... Draco, is this about the Dark Lord's task?"
"Make the Vow with me; let me know I can trust you."
"Of course, Draco. If it means that much to you, I will make the Vow with you."
Emarie's voice was barely above a whisper. "Who will bind it for us?"
"Crabbe or Goyle would be willing."
"Okay," Emarie consented. She had a pit in her stomach that seemed to be sinking as the minutes dragged on while Draco went to wake Crabbe or Goyle.
Emarie had taken to pacing to ease the uncomfortable feeling that had worked over her.
"Are you ready?" Draco had returned with a bleary-eyed Goyle.
Emarie gave a shaky nod. She stopped pacing and met them by the fire.
Though Emarie knew the basics of how the Unbreakable Vow was performed, she didn't know the specifics. Draco did seem to know, however, and grabbed Emarie's forearm and mirrored him. Goyle pressed his wand down where Draco and Emarie's wrist connected. Goyle gave Draco a nod and Draco continued.
"Emarie Maeline Chabert, daughter of Elliot and Marie Chabert of Paris, France, do you swear to keep the secret of the Dark Lord's mission to yourself?"
"I do."
"Do you swear that this mission will only be discussed around myself, Crabbe, and Goyle?"
"I swear."
"Do you, Emarie Chabert, swear to not attempt to discuss the nature of this task with anyone outside the previously named individuals?"
"Draco..." Emarie simpered.
"Say it."
"I swear."
"I declare this Vow unbreakable." Goyle said.
Draco relinquished his hold on Emarie's forearm. Before now, she hadn't noticed how tired and word he had become. There were lines on his forehead from squinting his eyes a lot and he had become even paler than normal and had started to grow his hair leaving it untidy and unbrushed.
"You might want to sit." Draco said.
She sat.
"I have to kill Albus Dumbledore."