Draco and I stayed in his room for the whole day yesterday. I gotten one of the house elves to pack up everything I had in that room and move it to Draco's. I couldn't walk outside without facing the risk of bumping into a Death Eater. A knock was on the door.
"Who's there?" I asked hoarsely. Draco was in the bathroom whilst I was reading a book.
"Narcissa." a voice whispered. I got up slowly and opened the door. It was her. She pulled me tightly into a hug. "Dear child are you alright?"
"Just some headaches but I'm doing fine." I replied. The past two months of the break was lovely except yesterday. That unexpected visit ruined nearly the last day. But Narcissa acted like a motherly figure like I never had.
Narcissa had told me stories of my parents. Surprisingly, my mother was sorted in Slytherin whereas my father was a Gryffindor. I wonder what happened to make him change his mind to become a Death Eater. Narcissa and my mother were really close friends, my mother even wanted to be an Auror. But then everything changed.
Narcissa explained about how she came about into the life of a Death Eater. She told me how my parents sought help from Dumbledore and she was the only one they trusted. In a way, they had a contract. If my parents were killed, Narcissa was to raise me, lying to Lucius. But everyone thought I was dead. I did rise from dead, technically I wasn't killed but the story wasn't famous as Harry Potter's legend.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'm Apparating you to the station along with Draco in about an hour. I suggest you request for a house elf to make you breakfast and get dressed because the Death Eaters are still holding their meeting. And Lucius or Bellatrix will not pass up the offer to kill you. So you better stay here." Narcissa said. She patted my head lightly and exited the room. Just as she exited, Draco came out of the bathroom only in a towel, exposing his bare chest. I blushed and looked away.
"Like what you saw Darling?" he teased me.
"You can wish." I replied.
We had a light breakfast before rushing to do some final packing. We still had about ten minutes to spare before Narcissa was Apparating us.
"I want to tell you something." Draco said softly grabbing my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I have to kill Dumbledore this term. They say I've been delaying it too long." he choked, avoiding my eyes. I could tell, even in his teasing and mischievous ways, it was all a cover up for what's inside.
He's been crying in his sleep. Our rooms aren't exactly soundproof and I could hear him cry every night. My heart aches to see him that way and there's nothing I can do because this Death Eater life, was forced by his father. Behind that arrogant facade is nothing. He was broken, hurt, it all flashed in his grey eyes.
"I'm a monster Amelie. I'm a killer." he cursed himself. I rubbed circles on his wrist.
"You're not a monster. You're my boyfriend. I won't hate you." I said softly. Truth is, I'm scared of him. Scared of the things he may do. Scared of the things they'll make him do. "Why can't you tell them you don't want to?"
"Then they'll kill you." he choked, a tear slipping his eye. "You're their ultimatum. My weakness. They'll do anything to crush you. And I don't want that." he cried. He leant his head on my shoulder, me running fingers through his silky blonde hair.
"I can't let them do it. I must kill Dumbledore."
Two weeks have passed since we returned to Hogwarts. Everyone seemed normal, except the Golden trio and Draco. I know he's going to kill Dumbledore. But when? Glancing at the cloudy scenery outside, I looked back down on the Marauder's Map. I saw footsteps running.
Harry and Dumbledore was at the Astronomy tower. And by the looks of Draco's footsteps, he was headed there.
"Mischief managed." I whispered tapping the piece of parchment with my wand and stuffing it in my bag. Holding my wand tightly, I ran towards the Astronomy tower. Outside I heard voices talking then it stopped. I was right under. In the corner of my eye I saw Harry hiding. He still hasn't seen me. But then I heard another voice. Draco's.
"Good evening Draco. What brings you here on this fine spring evening?" Dumbledore spoke carefully. I took slow steps up the stair, trying not to make any noise.
"Who else is here? I heard you talking." Draco said, his voice cracking slightly.
"I haven't talked aloud to myself in years. Have I did? Extraordinarily useful." Dumbledore spoke. "Have you been whispering to yourself Draco?"
I was nearly up. Backing down I saw he was shaking.
"Draco, you are no assassin." Dumbledore spoke.
"How do you know what I am? The things that will shock you." Draco said his voice breaking already.
"Like cursing Katie Bell in hope she would bear a curse necklace to me?" Dumbledore said.
"He trust me." Draco spoke next. What? "I was chosen." Draco said, lifting the sleeve of his shirt. No, it can't be. He wasn't chosen. He was forced. Was he lying?
"Draco. Did you lie to me?" I asked, stepping from my hiding place.
"Amelie…" he said looking at me. I couldn't take it, I walked towards him and hugged him tightly.
"Please don't do it." I whispered. A tear escaped from his cheek onto mine.
"Listen to her Draco." Dumbledore said softly. "I shall make it easier for you." Dumbledore said as he pulled out his wand.
"Expelliarmus!" Draco said flicking the wand away.
"Draco, Draco.." Dumbledore cooed. Suddenly I heard the Vanishing Cabinet click open. They're here. "You're not alone. There are others. How?" Dumbledore asked stepping forward. Draco pulled me closer, the wand still up in the other hand.
"The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement. Amelie has been helping me mend it." Draco said.
"Let me guess, it has a sister. A twin?"
"In Borgin and Burkes, they form a passage."
"Genius! Good work on that you two." Dumbledore said softly. "Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please let me help you."
"I don't want your help." Draco said constricted. "Don't you understand? I have to do this. I have to kill you." he choked. "Or he's going to kill her." a tear slipped his eye and onto mine. I couldn't bear to be part of this killing spree Voldemort's doing but I am in it. I'm the bait. Draco's bait more importantly.
I heard the other Death Eaters climb up the stairs. Bellatrix and a few others but not Lucius.
"Well, look what we have here." Bellatrix spoke looking happily. She glanced at Dumbledore, then me. She looked frankly shocked. "Well done Draco." she whispered. It sent chills up my spine."And Amelie, I'm surprised. Well done." she rasped. It was the first time she acknowledged me other than mudblood.
"Good evening Bellatrix. I think introductions are in order don't you?" Dumbledore said.
"Love to Albus, but I'm afraid we're on a tight schedule." Bellatrix said. "Step aside Amelie and let Draco do his job." Bellatrix looked at me. I hugged Draco tightly once again before stepping away. To my scary surprise, Bellatrix grabbed me and patted me on my back. This was spine chilling and goosebumps erupted on my skin. "Do it!" Bellatrix screamed.
Draco was shaking with fear. His eyes kept flickering onto me and Dumbledore.
"The boy doesn't have the stark. Just like his father." someone said and Draco looked aside. "Let the girl do it."
"No!" Bellatrix said impatiently. "The Dark Lord says the boy has to do it. This is your moment. Do it. Go on Draco, NOW!" she shrieked. Draco was nearly in tears. His hands was trembling. Suddenly I heard Professor Snape's voice.
"No." he said. Draco looked shocked and spun around. Snape stepped forward and Draco rushed to my side, pushing strands of my hair out of my face shakily.
"Are you alright?" he whispered softly.
"Never mind me, are you?" I whispered kissing his cheek. His lips flickered to a small smile, rare yet beautiful.
"Severus." Dumbledore said. It was a moment of silence. Our eyes darted between Dumbledore and Snape.
"Avada Kedavra." Snape said swiftly. The Unforgivable Curse! A spark of green light flashed from Snape's wand at stuck Dumbledore sending Dumbledore off the tower. Draco covered my eyes as Dumbledore fell to his death. His death struck me, just like Draco unlike to other Death Eaters, he was able to feel hurt.
Someone grabbed Draco from me as Bellatrix yelled off the tower. Bellatrix grabbed me roughly and spoke sharply into my ear.
"From now on, you're part of us. Now walk." she said holding my collar. I never wanted to be part of this. What have I gotten myself into. We walked down the steps quickly, Bellatrix still holding me. She pushed me to Draco who held me tightly.
"I'm sorry." was all he said. Bellatrix walked on the Gryffindor table and began kicking and breaking plates and glasses. This woman was mad. Someone was in our way and Snape stunned him. And with a wave of her wand, all the windows and chandeliers shattered. Draco and I stood there stunned. The other Death Eaters had already made a move on.
"Amelie, you can't be part of this. I won't allow them to. Stay in Hogwarts continue your studies." Draco said quickly.
"But I want to be with you." I said, my voice breaking slightly.
"I'll be back soon. As long as you're in Hogwarts, Snape will protect you. I have to do this. Or they'll kill you." Draco choked repeating his words.
"Promise you'll come back?" I whispered.
"Always." he muttered and pulled me into a kiss. It was so soft, sweet and salty mixing with our tears. This was like a goodbye. His lips was soft and gentle against mine. He pulled away after and squeezed my hand.
"I love you Amelie. I love you." he said before disappearing. And that's when I crumbled to the ground in tears. Why? Why did he have to be one of them?
"Amelie?" a doe like voice spoke. I looked up from the ground. It was Luna.
"I know what happened." she said softly.
"How I betrayed the entire school by helping the Death Eaters?!" I cried.
"You didn't exactly betray. It was out of love. People will understand." she spoke softly. Her voice was so angelic and innocent.
"But-" I began.
"The others deserve to know the truth first. Your Slytherin friends should be the first." Luna said as she helped me up.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked her as she held me and took me through the dungeons.
"Because you're innocent." she said with a doe like smile. I muttered the password and the door swung open. Everyone was gathered in the common room.
"Thanks Lovegood." Pansy said in a civil tone. Everyone knew what happened. But I was telling it from my view.
"Guys, I think I owe you all a story." I said.
I spent the next hour explaining everything to the Slytherin students. Draco has told me most of their parents are also involved in the Death Eaters. Crabbe, Goyle, Nott. Most Slytherins are involved.
"We're not blaming you." Pansy said softly. "It was out of love." she said pushing the stray end of my hair.
"But I contributed to Dumbledore's death." I cried.
"Most of our parents are involved as well." someone said. "Theodore Nott." a boy with jet black hair and green eyes came out from the dark. He gave a small smile and took a seat opposite me. "My father is as involved as Malfoy."
"But nobody knows about your families. All they know is about how I mended the Vanishing Cabinet and aided the Death Eaters." I muttered.
"As I said, we're not blaming you. None of us are." Pansy said with a wry smile.
I snapped my fingers. "I missed one important detail. Dumbledore told me to help Draco fix the Cabinet."
"That's the most important detail but you leave it out?" Pansy exclaimed.
"Guess it slipped my mind after everything that happened." I shrugged. Suddenly I was bombarded with questions from every year.
"Guys, she's traumatised." Pansy said helping me up. "C'mon, let's go to my dorm."
I sat on a small armchair in Pansy's dorm and sipped some tea she made me.
"I think the teachers understand. You don't see McGonagall screaming at you right now do you?"
As tribute to Dumbledore, all of us raised our wands and released a stream of light. It shot up in the air making the sky filled with white light and sparks.
"Amelie can I speak with you?" McGonagall said. She gestured the other students to return back to their common rooms after we buried Dumbledore.
"Yes Professor." I said softly following her. We walked to the Black Lake in silence, where Draco and I played out our dementor scene. A small smile flickered on my lips but it faded away quickly when the guilt poured down on me. McGonagall conjured up two chairs and ushered me to sit in one. I took a tentative sit and placed my hands on my lap.
"I know about the Astronomy Tower. None of us blame you." she said softly, repeating Pansy's words. "It was part Dumbledore's plan for Severus to murder him. He knew Draco wouldn't be able to kill Dumbledore."
"But why Professor? Why would Dumbledore plot his own assassination?" I asked confused. Who in their right mind would plot their own assassination.
"Things will unfold according to time. But right now, you should be focusing on your studies." McGonagall said.
A small bit of hope flickered in my heart. "Will Draco be returning?" I asked hopefully.
"I believe Mr Malfoy wouldn't be returning soon." McGonagall said facing me. I could see the stress in her eyes. Her hair was already greying but you could see strands of white hidden. Her face seemed more frowning. A small bit of sadness flashed in her eyes.
"Oh." was all I could say. And that small bit of hope crushed in my heart.
And everything gone worse from there. Snape, even though he assassinated Dumbledore, took up the position as Headmaster of the school. Harry, Ron and Hermione also didn't return for their seventh year. They were hunting Horcruxes. And Draco didn't either.
Though their feud was strong, us Slytherins are much more closer to other houses. Even Pansy is friendly with Ginny, Luna and Neville. Hogwarts seemed so dark already. Snape had recruited two new teachers, siblings as discipline.
"Neville, blimey what happened?" I asked when we all met up in our usual spot. Me, Pansy, Blaise, Neville, Luna and Seamus. We did get closer but often the small rivalry spark up again.
"The Carrow siblings. Made me perform a Cruciatus curse on a first year. But I refused." he shrugged. This Hogwarts system was out of hand. I could barely feel safe in the common rooms, everyone felt the same as well.
"That's crazy!" Luna exclaimed running her finger down the gash the Carrow siblings made.
My safe haven, was only during Transfiguration. I practiced it a lot more and McGonagall made tiny praises throughout the lesson. McGonagall took care of me, making sure the other students don't sneer at me for helping Draco Malfoy. But my sarcastic tongue would snap at them, protecting Draco's name.
A few months passed, we were going to take our N.E. to determine our jobs in the Ministry. It was something all of us wanted to pass. We were all hidden in the the Room of Requirement, somewhere nobody could threaten us. Most of the houses were here. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Not everyone from the houses were here, either they were content with their common rooms or they weren't afraid of the Carrow siblings.
Suddenly, the tall door on top of the Room opened, revealing Neville.
"Brought someone for you all." he said smiling. Someone to save us from this magical hell?
He stepped aside revealing,Harry Potter. And the Golden trio. All of us erupted in applause, pleased that they were back. I hugged Hermione tightly and Ron and Harry as well. They were back.
"We're looking for something. A Horcrux, something small."
Everyone erupted into conversation. Suddenly we were all summoned to the Great Hall. Great. Who's up next on the tortue list.
We gathered into four troops, yes we are in troops. We marched to the Great Hall with us Slytherins and Hufflepuffs taking the front lead.
"I have been informed that Harry Potter is indeed in Hogwarts. Anyone holding information regarding Harry's location please step forward." Snape drawled looking amongst the crowd. The Carrow siblings tapped their wands in threat.
Harry stood forward and everyone gasped. Except us who already knew. Suddenly, I heard a rasping voices and some screaming. I could hear Voldemort's voice but McGonagall taught me something. I could block the voice out.
Snape was about to point his wand at Harry but McGonagall stepped forward and pointed her wand stunning the Carrows. Snape looking dejected, Apparated out of Hogwarts, breaking the window. There were a couple of people with Harry as well.
The twins, they send a smirk in my direction. Remus, Tonks, the Weasleys and a couple of other people. Suddenly we heard some more screaming and raspy voices.
"Give me Harry Potter before midnight and I will leave Hogwarts alone." the raspy voice spoke.
"Well what are you waiting for? Grab him!" Pansy shrieked. The feud has sparked up again.
"Filch, please escort Ms Parkinson and the other Slytherin students back to the dungeons. And leave Miss Darling here."
Filch gladly escorted most of the Slytherins out but the peace didn't last. Professor McGonagall's face frowned slightly.
"We have to prepare for battle." she uttered. And that was enough to set us all off.