Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! You get a deeper side of Malfoy with this :D

Chapter Quote:
"No, he must have known you would always want to come back."
~Harry Potter

Chapter 15

Draco

Mr. Carter Apparated the three of them out of the alleyway to his house. Draco, still carrying an unconscious Ziva in his arms, studied the house. Compared to the mansion he lived in, this place was drab and needed a serious makeover. Weeds had taken over the entire front yard, shingles had fallen off the roof, and the paint was peeling off.

Seeing the look on Draco's face, Mr. Carter informed, "This isn't my regular house. This is my hideout. No one knows about it. Thought it'd be safer to bring her here rather than my regular house."

The two boys entered the house. It was surprisingly warm on the inside. The furniture wasn't too shabby either. A plush couch situated near the fireplace caught Draco's eye. He walked over to it and placed Ziva on it. She didn't stir. He sat on the edge of the couch, pushing a piece of hair out of her pale face.

"What happened?" Draco inquired, looking up at Mr. Carter.

"She said the wrong things to Bella, making Bella snap."

"She's always had a tendency to shoot her mouth of. Will she be okay?"

"She'll come to in a bit. I'm surprised she lasted that long without screaming. Not many witches or wizards I know could last as long as she did. We need to get you back to your manor though. You have an appointment."

"I do?"

"The Dark Lord has requested you. You do not want to be late. I'll take you there but I'll come back here and stay with Ziva until she wakes up and is able to get home. Come on." Mr. Carter held out his arm for Draco to grab onto. Reluctantly, Draco got up. He didn't want to leave Ziva, but he also didn't want to feel the wrath of the Dark Lord. After one last glance at his unconscious best friend, the two boys Apparated to Malfoy Manor.

Jai

Once Jai had safely dropped the Malfoys' son at the manor, he Apparated back to his hideout only to find Ziva Herondale still unconscious on the couch. He sighed before going to his kitchen to make some tea for himself and her when she woke up. While the water boiled, Jai went to the fireplace where he made a small yet toasty fire spring up. The flames flickered a bright orange, reminding Mr. Carter of the time his daughter's hair had once turned that same color. They'd been at Honeyduke's Sweetshop and Jade had gotten some orange flavored candy. She hadn't known it'd be sour so when she tasted it, her hair turned the same color as an orange from surprise. Mr. Carter remembered laughing at his daughter's reaction. He remembered her laughing along with him.

She never laughed with him anymore, and he didn't blame her.

What Ziva had said to him earlier had really struck him hard, even if he hadn't shown it. Jai loved his daughter. He felt horrible divorcing her mother, Sienna. He'd loved Sienna to, more than anyone knew. But he left for their sake; they would be safe as long he didn't go near them. He still saw Jade from time to time, mainly during the holiday breaks but that was only twice a year: at Christmas and Easter. She usually stayed in her room, sending letters to her friends. This school year would be different. Jade wouldn't be able to see him. Voldemort wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she somehow crossed paths with him. Jai wouldn't allow that to happen.

His thoughts were interrupted by someone mumbling a swear word. He turned around to find Ziva trying to sit up, her face scrunched in pain.

"How are you feeling?" Jai asked, standing up.

Ziva's eyes widened. He forgot that in within the past few hours, she hated his guts for what he was. Hell, he hated himself for it. "Uh… fine," she answered.

"I know you don't like me but at least let me give you some tea; it'll help. I'm still the dad you know from ten years ago." He gave a small smile.

"Yes, please." Ziva watched him warily but allowed him to go get the tea. Jai had always liked the girl. She'd been there for Jade when he and Sienna had split. Jade hadn't taken the divorce well. Elliot and Ziva had both come running to their best friend when she needed them. Jai owed them. He never meant to hurt his daughter. The youngest Carter daughter, Jennel, hadn't been too affected by the divorce. She'd been too young to understand.

Jai went and poured the tea into two teacups. Ziva had shuffled behind him, barely able to stand up.

"Why don't you sit down?" Jai suggested gently, pulling out a chair for her.

She gave him a weak smile. "Thank you."

"So how long have you known?" Jai queried.

"About what?"

"Me being a Death Eater."

"Since December."

"Jade tell you?"

"No, sir… Draco did. In a way…"

"Explain."

"He and I had been eating lunch together and he freaked out when he saw a Death Eater walking by the restaurant window because he didn't want us to be caught. I turned around to see which Death Eater it was but all I saw was you. Draco proceeded to explain to me that you were a Death Eater. Sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier. I guess I lost my temper…"

"You have your father's temper. Out of curiosity, how many people know about your relationship with Draco?" Jai questioned.

Ziva looked sheepish when she replied, "Except for you, and now probably Greyback, Bellatrix, and Mrs. Malfoy, no one that I know of. If Bellatrix keeps her mouth shut, it'll hopefully just stay you four."

"She won't keep her mouth shut. Once the Dark Lord finds out about you, he'll use you against Draco."

"How so? I mean, Draco and I are good friends but enough that Vol-"

"Don't say his name," Jai commanded.

"Enough that You Know Who could actually use me as an incentive for Draco? That's impossible."

"You didn't see the way he looked at you when he found you being tortured."

Ziva looked down at her half-empty tea cup. "Mr. Carter… I'm really sorry about what I said to you earlier. I know you love Jade… and Jennel. My question is why are you doing this?"

"You mean being a Death Eater? I don't know… I met their mother during the middle of the first war. I fell in love with her and managed to keep our relationship secret. But a few years ago, when I divorced Sienna, it was because I knew the Dark Lord would be coming back and I didn't want to be going through the divorce process when he came back. I don't want him knowing about her or Jade or Jennel."

"I think I just kind of ruined that… I'm so sorry! I didn't know! If I had, I never would've said anything! Oh my god… I just endangered my best friend's life! What the hell is wrong with me?! What have I-"

"Ziva!" Jai interrupted the rambling blonde. "It was bound to happen. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep them a secret much longer. I'm going to have to protect them somehow now. I don't know how just yet but I will."

"Bring them here. Jade will be safe at Hogwarts, Jennel and Ms. Carter will be safe here."

"You might be on to something. The Dark Lord is too focused on… another task at the moment to care about my family thank god. It's next summer I worry about."

"I'll watch over them for you. My parents will too. We don't live that far away."

"You've already done enough Ziva. You helped Jade when she needed it, you and Elliot both. I owe you two that… if your parents need help hiding out like they did in the last war, I'll help them."

"Mr. Carter, are you… changing sides?"

Jai contemplated this for a moment. "You kids have made me think differently, so yeah, I am. Just don't tell anyone okay?"

"Your secret's safe with me."

"Thank you. Now remember next time you go out in public and you come across Death Eaters, try not to shoot your mouth off at them," he said drolly even though he was being dead serious.

"My mouth is going to get me killed…"

Draco

Draco walked up his front steps with a lot of trepidation. The Dark Lord had requested a meeting with him? Either he was being given an order or he was going to be killed.

He entered his house; voices from upstairs in the dining room reached his ears. He went up there. Draco's parents were sitting quietly at the dining room table, looking fearful. Bellatrix sat across from them, talking to Voldemort who sat at the head of the table. When the snake-like eyes met Draco's, the Dark Lord said, "Ah, Draco. Glad you are on time for your meeting. Please, sit." Draco obeyed instantly. He knew better. "Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I have called you here."

"Yes, my Lord…"

"I have a job for you. A very important one. One that not even my most experienced Death Eaters could do. You, my boy, are the only one of my followers that can get into Hogwarts. Your task is this: kill Dumbledore."

Draco's stomach dropped; he felt sick. He couldn't kill the old man. Sure, he didn't like Dumbledore all that much but to kill him? What would Ziva think? No, she couldn't find out. She would certainly stop speaking to him and he couldn't bear the thought of that. He'd tell her Voldemort had given him a task but that he was not allowed to speak of it to anyone; Ziva would understand… hopefully.

"Should you succeed, the rewards will be better than you can dream, but if you fail, the consequences will be severe," Voldemort's snaky voice warned. The Dark Lord raised his wand and showed an image of three people. "Death awaits if you fail."

"Y-yes my Lord. I shall not fail you," Draco managed to promise. What was he getting himself into?

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