Chapter 2: No

Draco stormed up the stairs, the door of the Désespoir Room safely locked and enchanted.

Bellatrix, Yaxley and his father were all grouped around the fire, laughing at their latest achievement. They fell silent when Draco entered the room, scowling. He flung himself into his previously vacated chair.

"What is it Draco?" Lucius inquired.

Draco glared at the floor, his mind still on what the Lovegood girl had said.

"Why couldn't you just kill her, rather than hold her hostage?"

Bellatrix's smile vanished and turned to a snarl of contempt and loathing.

"How dare you question the Dark Lord? He commands it, so we do it. He said the Lovegood girl was not to be harmed, so we do not question that!"

Her eyes were narrowed slits but Draco did not look away from her burning gaze.

"Fine. But someone else will have to guard her, I don't want to be near her."

Now Lucius looked stern too.

"You will do as you are asked, Draco. This is for the Dark Lord, remember, you will do all and anything he asks of us, and that includes you."

Draco stood, hands balled into fists. He wanted to argue but he knew better, so he resigned himself to his fate. He trudged back down the stairs.

He didn't know that he was going to have to guard himself as much as Luna.

She was sitting in a corner, her back pressed up against the stone walls. She was not crying, or shaking. She didn't even look scared. She gazed out into the darkness, expressionless, unmoving.

She did not stir as he entered the room, nor when he leaned against the wall opposite her. He watched her for a time, then he broke the silence.

"What are you staring at?" he sneered.

She did not answer at first, but a slight smile lifted her lips.

"The Wrackspurt that flew in with you." She said. Not for the first time, Draco wondered if she was a little mad. Shaking his head he stood silent for a while, a shadowed statue.

"It's all right you know." she said, turning her misty gaze on him.

"What are you talking about?" he replied.

She didn't say anything for a moment.

"It's all right, if you aren't like them."

The anger flared again, but he kept it in check this time.

"You're wrong." He said.

"About what?" she asked.

He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.

"I am loyal to the Dark Lord, and am glad to do his bidding."

She looked away from him, and said,

"Keep telling yourself that, but you couldn't kill Professor Dumbledore."

His muscles tightened, and again anger rose in his throat like bile.

"I wasn't ready. I am now, and if I was back there now I wouldn't have hesitated."

This wasn't true. If Draco had been back in Dumbledore's office right now, he would have beseeched the old man to hide him, and leave his bloodthirsty family and the rest behind.

He would have, if he could have.

He found it miraculous that she was even talking to him after he had tortured her. Perhaps she was made of stronger stuff than they would like to admit, maybe that was why Voldemort wanted her alive, perhaps he had hopes of turning her into a Death Eater. He very much doubted that she would ever turn to their side though, she was strong, this one. Her mind wouldn't be so easily bent to their wishes.

They didn't speak for a long time. She occasionally dabbed at her bleeding forearms, but other than that she made no further conversation. Draco was eager for midnight to come so he could leave this dismal place. He was again reminded if why he had dubbed it the Désespoir Room, for it seemed to sap his energy and his willpower. He wondered if the room was having the same effect on Luna.

When he glanced over at her, he saw that she was sleeping. Her head was bowed, and her mouth was opened slightly. He sighed, wishing he could sleep too. He checked his watch, 11:53, close enough, he thought, easing open the door and closing it behind him, locking it with the usual enchantments.

Bellatrix bowed so low that he was sure she might stumble over. He watched her with cool indifference, but listening intently when she spoke.

"My Lord," she said. "It pains me to bring you such news, but…" she paused, searching his face. "It hurts me to speak ill of my family, but I believe that Draco may be a problem, even a threat."

"How so?" he asked, though he thought he might already know.

"He is weak." She said. "He shows the same ineptitude at guarding the girl, as he showed when he was trying to kill the old man. He shows continuous reluctance to perform even the slightest task for you, he refuses to kill, he often can't bring himself to torture. He often shows sympathy and betrays weakness. He could seriously damage our plans and missions. He also shows signs of…wanting to go back. Of regret. He…" she swallowed, knowing full well what the consequences of her next words would be. "I don't think he can be trusted."

"Very well," Voldemort said calmly. "We shall test his loyalty."

Draco awoke early each day, dreading his guard shift. Though when he went down the stairs to the Great Room, he was met with an unpleasant surprise. Voldemort was sitting at the long table with its back to the fire, Nagini the snake twisting around the huge white columns that held up the roof.

Voldemort had his head bowed, chin resting on his spider-like fingers that were steepled together. Upon Draco's arrival, he raised his snakelike face to watch Draco bend from the waist in a stiff bow.

Voldemort smiled, a terrible, humorless smile.

"Sit, Draco." He said.

Draco obeyed, sitting in the chair directly opposite his. Silently, Lucius, Narcissa and Bellatrix took seats at the table as well, Bellatrix sitting closest to Voldemort.

"Draco, I have been told that you are…displeased with the duties assigned to you. That perhaps such things are…beneath you. Do you think that watching the girl is too meager a task for you?"

Draco's face hardened at the mention of Luna. Voldemort seemed to notice, for his hideous smile widened even further, the fire crackling behind him, shadows leaping on the walls behind him.

"But perhaps you are suited to only the easiest meager tasks, for you were unable to kill Albus Dumbledore. Lord Voldemort does not forget, you see. Did you not assure me that you could do it? That you would be able to kill an old man?" his voice was low and quiet, and Draco felt his stomach turning and knotting, a feeling of trepidation clenching his heart.

"Perhaps we should have you join her, and after a few days down there, see if you are ready to do what we ask."

Draco said nothing, but his emotion showed clearly on his pale face.

"But we have a more suitable task, one we hope you complete with more…success, than the last one I gave you."

Draco felt panic leaping in his chest, scratching at his bones.

"Bellatrix, fetch the girl." Bellatrix stood without a word and made her way down the stairs, her footfalls echoing in the marble hallways.

She came back up dragging Luna by the arm. There was no smile on Luna's face. Draco even saw a flicker of fear in her wide eyes. He thought he knew what was coming, and his stomach writhed like snakes. A Death Eater he may be, but a killer he was not, regardless of what he had told Luna.

Voldemort looked around at them all, his smile more dangerous that than his curses.

"Draco," he said quietly.

Draco stood, his wand shaking in his hand, as he advanced on Luna. Bellatrix released her, stepping away, a hungry look on her face. Luna's eyes gazed into his, and he felt that he could not look away, he could not bear to see the light in those eyes vanish at his hands.

"No." he whispered, tearing himself away from her.

"What did you say?" Voldemort said, his voice full of malice.

"No." Draco said more loudly.

"I won't do it."

He saw his parents' horrified expression, and Voldemort's satisfied one.

He saw Voldemort wave his wand, felt his own fly out of his hand before darkness was forced upon him, and he felt no more.