Draco cast, hitting Dawn square in the chest. The witch fell to the ground, withering in pain. She began to scream and she groaned as the feeling subsided.
"Again!" Voldemort demanded. "Don't stop until I've said it's enough!"
Dawn bit her lip in preparation for the next curse to hit her but nothing helped. It hurt just as much, if not more. It seemed like it continued for hours until she lay there for minutes, no more spells hitting her.
The witch sighed in relief. Her eyes were blurry, she couldn't seem much but what she did saw was the figures of the death eaters walking past her, leaving the room.
"Now we're clear Dawn. If he does not kill Dumbledore, you must kill him. Your fate will be the same if you don't comply." Dawn began to sob on the floor. Her body ached and she couldn't even pull herself up.
She cried for what seemed like hours until the figures of her mother and Narcissa Malfoy kneeled in front of her. Dawn couldn't speak.
"We need to move her, Liv." Narcissa spoke as Olivia sobbed. Narcissa lifted Dawn's head and she screamed out in pain once more. "We'll just have to levitate her." The two witches moved quickly as they levitated Dawn off the ground and through the entrance hall.
"What are you doing!?" Dawn heard her father snap. She began to sob once more.
"I'm taking our daughter to her room; get out of my way Nathaniel!" The witch yelled, crying as she did so.
"She got what she deserved." He sneered and disappeared into the hall. "Hello, Draco." He mumbled as the blonde wizard walked past him and in view of Dawn, Olivia, and Narcissa stood.
"Olivia." He croaked near tears. "Olivia, I'm so sorry." Olivia wrapped her free arm around the wizard.
"It's okay, love. It's not your fault. Help us get her upstairs." Draco obliged and quickly helped the two witches lower Dawn onto her bed. "We need to get her some potion, Liv." Narcissa said as she began to leave the room. Olivia nodded and the two left the room leaving Draco with Dawn.
He stared at her. Draco hated himself for this, but he had no choice. It was either hurt her or watch her killed right in front of him. "Dawn. I'm so sorry. So, so, sorry." He touched her face and it took every ounce of her energy to pull away from him. He looked hurt and dejected but eventually, she took his hand in hers.
Several moments later, the two mothers returned to the room to find Dawn and Draco both asleep, curled up with one another. Olivia smiled lightly and closed the door, shutting the light out, letting the two teens sleep.
Dawn awoke in the morning with the painful memory of the night before. She had told Voldemort that she wouldn't kill Draco, and then Draco turned on her and punished her for her disobedience. Tears poured down her face at the thought and then she heard the groan of the blonde wizard next to her. She shied away from him, almost falling off her bed in the process.
Looking down, she still noticed she was in her dress from the night before. Making her way into the bathroom, she examined herself. She had bruised on her arms from where she fell to the ground but that was all. Her body still ached all over.
Quickly she changed into grey sweat pants and a fitted long sleeved, white t-shirt, grabbing a coat, boots, and her wand in the process. She had no intentions on spending Christmas with her family. With the people who watched the love of her life torture her. If it were her mother or father Dawn would have jumped in front of a curse to save them, but they sat there and watched.
Growling, she climbed out of her window, down her roof and stormed off toward the only place she knew at least one person would welcome her. It took her an hour and a half, but she finally made it. It had to be the place. Grinning at the simplicity she cautiously stepped toward the door. Sucking in her last bit of breath, she knocked and when an older red haired woman answered, she froze.
"Y-you must be Mrs. Weasley." Dawn smiled as best she could. "I'm Dawn Caden. I'm o-one of Ron's friends. I know it's Christmas and I'm s-sorry f-for interrupting your holiday, but I was w-wondering if I could-" Molly threw her hands to Dawn's face, feeling her cheeks.
"How long have you been out here? You're going to catch your death. Come on in. Sit by the fire I'll fetch you some tea. Ronald!" Dawn jumped slightly and was quickly pulled into the house by the bustling witch.
"Yeah Mum?" Ron called back, stepping into the room. "Dawn!? What are you doing here?" He asked throwing his arms around her. She winced and cried out slightly from the pain. "What happened?" Ron asked pulling away quickly.
Tears formed in her eyes and she shook her head. "Rather not t-talk about it." Sniffling she pulled away slightly. "I didn't mean to intrude on y-your holidays, but I d-didn't have anywhere else to g-go." Ron reached for her hand and rubbed his thumb in circles.
"We can talk about it later. You look frozen, c'mon." Ron smiled and led her into a room where Fred, George, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, and Arthur were sitting in. Everyone excluding Ron and Arthur shot her a glare.
"Maybe I should j-just go." She whispered, looking toward the ground.
"Nonsense." Ron said sitting her down in front of the fire. Molly bustled back in with a cup of tea.
"Here you go darling, warm up, there you are." She smiled and glared toward the children shooting her dirty looks. "You lot best be nice to her. She's our guest." Quickly, the witch disappeared back into the kitchen and Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and the twins headed upstairs. Dawn frowned and looked to Ron.
"Dad this is Dawn Caden." Dawn smiled and turned to Arthur holding out his hand.
"Arthur Weasley. Nice to meet you young lady. Any relation to Nathaniel Caden?" Dawn blushed and looked away.
"Unfortunately. He's my dad." She frowned then scowled and turned back to the fire. Arthur remained quiet, content that his daughter had the same discontent for him that he did.
Dawn stared at the fire for quite some time. The others joined them and even a few members of the Order showed up, making Dawn absolutely shaken but Ron sat there the entire time and held her hand. She excused herself to use the rest room and when she came back, pandemonium had struck.
Fire had hit the ground, and the Weasley children scattering, preparing to fight. Dawn quickly ran outside to the site of Bellatrix Lestrange. Fear itched its way through her skin as Ron watched her, terrified.
"Well if it isn't itty, bitty, baby Dawn." Bellatrix sneered and Dawn stared at her, wand drawn. "I'm sure the Dark Lord would love to know your whereabouts. Won't take this to lightly you see, especially after you telling him no and all." Dawn glared and shot Ron a sideways glance.
"Jumping to conclusions like an idiot, as always. Suppose it's expected from a nut job like you anyway." Dawn smirked and Ron stared at her in disbelief. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I've just spent an entire day with the Order and I overheard a conversation they were having in the kitchen."
Ginny charged at Dawn, but Dawn turned in time, pointing her wand directly at Ginny. Dawn smirked and her eyes drifted toward Molly and Arthur. Guilt, pang in her chest. The people that had accepted her and let her into their home on Christmas, was now suffering at her hands. But if Voldemort would have found out, she'd have been dead on the spot.
"I guess you really are like your father after all." Dawn heard Arthur speak up. She glared and pointed her wand in his direction.
"I am nothing like my father." Bellatrix cackled and sauntered next to Dawn.
"Well as long as you're here, orders are to bring it to the ground." Laughing once more, the deranged witch shot another spark out of her wand, engulfing the ground and house in fire. She took off through the field and Dawn followed after her, running as fast as her feet would take her. She had to, she couldn't apparate and she highly doubted Bellatrix would take her with her.
Dawn ran and ran away from the Weasley home and stopped once she could barely see it in the distance. She began to sob from the everlasting pain in her body and because of what she had to do to Ron and his family. Slowly but surely she made her way home and walked through the front door.
Her mother sat on a couch in their family room with a cup of tea and Narcissa and Draco to keep her company. Dawn's eyes met her mothers and they glared at one another. Her mother stood up and charged to her.
"Dawn Elizabeth Caden I was out of my mind with worry! Where did you go, especially on Christmas! Your father is not happy with you and frankly neither am I! Why did-" Dawn cut her off by screaming.
"Out of your mind with worry!? Really!? You're telling me you were going crazy with worry but you watched me being tortured last night! And by your best friend's bloody son! And then to top it all off you're just peaches with him being around!" Dawn clenched her hands into fists and continued. "If you must know, I was at the Weasley's house." Her mother gave her an odd glance. "Yes mother, the Weasley's house. And your nut job sister showed up!" She added, glancing at Narcissa.
Dawn took a breath and looked back to her mother, not noticing the frightened look on Draco and Narcissa's faces. "Burnt their house right to the ground! Got information about the Order, thank Merlin or I'd be dead for just being there." Dawn exploded into sobs and her mother, Narcissa, and Draco all were standing next to her now.
"Excellent work Dawn." She heard her father's voice chime in, glaring she turned to him. "This will increase the Dark Lord's trust of you." She turned away and began to walk up the stairs, pulling away from the three who were trying to fawn over her. "I've summoned him here for you to tell him. Be prepared in an hour and please look presentable." He glowered at her ratty clothing. Dawn's eyes widened and her stomached dropped to the floor. She quickly sprinted up the stairs, Draco following the whole time.
"Dawn. Talk to me, please." Draco pleaded as he grabbed Dawn by the wrist. Dawn snapped around and gave Draco a dirty look.
"Don't touch me." She snapped pulling her arm away from the blonde wizard. Draco glared and grabbed her once more.
"Talk to me." He growled and pushed her against a wall, trying not to hurt her.
"L-let go o-of me, n-now." She stuttered, closing her eyes tightly. She'd never been afraid of Draco before, but last night's events changed a lot.
"I'm not going to hurt you." He muttered forcing her face to meet his. Her breathing became rapid and her face was flushed. "I just want you to listen to me." Dawn bit her lip. "Look at me!" Her eyes snapped open and met a pair of fierce grey ones with tears stirring in them. "I'm sorry I had to do that to you!" He shook her.
"Draco-" Dawn began but he cut her off.
"Listen to me!" He yelled. "That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my entire life." Dawn averted her gaze. "If I wouldn't have done it, he would've killed us both. And it wasn't as intense as it would have been if he let your father or Bellatrix do it." He brushed the hair off of her face and kissed her softly on the forehead.
Dawn inhaled his scent and fell apart. Her knees stopped working and she grasped onto Draco's shoulders. "Shit!" He muttered as he grabbed her waist to support her. "C'mon." He said as he began walking her to her room.
"Bath, please. I'm freezing." She muttered into Draco's neck. The wizard obliged and set her on her toilet and began running a hot bath for her. "Fill it up with bubbles; just sit here with me, please." Draco nodded and did as she asked and within five minutes, Dawn relaxed in a tub full of warm water.
"Why didn't you stay with me this morning?" Draco asked as he played with Dawn's now damp hair. Dawn shuddered slightly at his touch as it moved from her hair to her bare neck.
"I didn't want to be here." She answered handing Draco a bottle of her shampoo. He grabbed it and squirted some into his hands then lathered it onto her head. "I still don't." She muttered as she groaned from him massaging her scalp.
"Lean back." He commanded and Dawn did, tilting her head in the process. Draco washed the shampoo out of her hair and ran his fingers over her shoulders. "You've got to get ready." He muttered into her ear. Dawn nodded and stood up as Draco handed her a towel. Wrapping herself in it, she scurried into her bedroom and quickly changed into jeans and a t-shirt.
"Presentable." Dawn scoffed and dried her hair quickly. Draco reached for her hand and she took it as the two walked down stairs. They waited until they head the crackle of apparition to stand up. Dawn made her way to the door and stood next to her parents while Draco took his spot next to his. The door opened and Lord Voldemort stepped into with Bellatrix Lestrange and Severus Snape at his tow.
"My Lord." The families seemed to mutter in unison. Bellatrix grinned at Dawn in a sadistic kind of way and all the witch did was return a comfortable smirk.
"I hear you're spending an awful lot of time with the Weasley boy?" He spoke up and it sounded harsh.
"Yes my lord. He had taken a liking to me and I seized it as an opportunity to gather information about Harry Potter." Dawn responded confidently. Draco half-smirked at her lie, impressed that she had the guts to lie to someone as powerful as Voldemort.
Voldemort looked to her, eyes piercing hers. "And what have you found out?" He asked not blinking.
"They trust Snape. Except Potter, of course." Snape scoffed. "And somehow he knows about Draco and you choosing him for his mission." Voldemort glared toward Snape and Draco. "But he doesn't know what it is." She continued.
"Excellent Dawn." Voldemort smiled and looked toward Draco. "As for you, make sure to avoid Harry Potter at all costs. He knows you're up to something now, he'll do everything in his power to stop you." Draco nodded.
"Yes, my Lord." His mother looked to Dawn and frowned.
"And speaking of missions, Dawn." Voldemort began. "Do I have to remind you about yours?" He smirked and Dawn shook her head.
"No, my Lord." Dawn looked to the floor.
"Good. If that is all, we must be going." Voldemort turned to leave and Bellatrix walked toward Dawn.
"Don't screw anything up!" She hissed, grabbing Dawn's hand. Dawn snapped away, shoving Bellatrix back slightly in the process. Withdrawing their wands, they pointed them at each other.
"Keep your hands off of me you nutter!" She hissed lowly. Voldemort watched, amused.
"Dawn, Bellatrix, wands away. You're both very strong, and Dawn is a very promising death eater. I don't want either of you injured." Dawn flinched at his comment. Promising death eater? Voldemort left with Snape and Bellatrix and Dawn began retreating back to her room.
"Draco, love, it's time to leave." He heard Narcissa speak up.
"I'm not going anywhere." He said jogging up the stairs toward Dawn's room, seeing she was upset.
Dawn had quickly switched clothes so that she was in her pajamas and curled up in bed. Draco entered the room, finding a tear stained Dawn, curled up into a ball under her blankets.
"Dawn." He muttered crossing the room to her bed. Kicking off his shoes, he then laid across the length of her bed, waiting for her to uncover herself. Ten minutes later, Dawn's face emerged from the blanket. Her eyes were closed and she looked like a lost little girl, making Draco frown.
Switching off the light, he crawled back into bed with her, supporting her head on his chest. Sighing, he began to drift off to sleep. He was in love, it was absolutely certain of that. But would he ever tell her? Probably not. Frowning once more, he kissed her lightly on the head.
"I love you, Draco." Dawn muttered in her sleep. Draco's eyes widened and stared down at her. It was obvious she felt the same for him and was just too stubborn to say it. Growling quietly to himself, he sank into a deep sleep, not interrupted by nightmares all night.
