That summer, Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange go to Severus Snape - he's literally the only person they can turn to.
Lucius was captured directly after the battle at the Department of Mysteries, Narcissa and Draco have been caught up in a massive legal battle, trying and failing to keep him out of Azkaban - and, now Draco's been forced into the Death Eaters to replace Lucius!
He's by no means in the same position of power and influence as his father in the group, but he's got an incredibly dangerous assignment: kill Dumbledore.
It's impossible, and nobody has any illusions about this being Lucius's punishment for failing Voldemort.
The fate of all the Malfoys rests on Draco's success, but its crystal clear that Voldemort expects Draco to fail.
It's virtually impossible, Dumbledore's one of the greatest wizards of all time - nobody doubts that, he's powerful and knows how to use that power.
So, despite Bellatrix's reservations, the two sisters are in a maze of buildings and trying to find the address of a friend.
Bellatrix says "Cissy! You mustn't do this, he can't be trusted!"
Narcissa automatically says "The Dark Lord trusts him."
Bellatrix blurts out "The Dark Lord is mistaken."
Narcissa looks at her in shock, and Bellatrix blinks when she realizes what she just said.
"Or so I believe."
"Well, who can we trust these days?"
Narcissa remembers Lucius's account of the battle in the graveyard two years ago, how Bloom transformed and defeated all of them before escaping with Cedric Diggory.
And then, what he and Bellatrix told them after the battle, how she took a Killing Curse but got back up and flew after them moments after.
Bellatrix was stunned speechless, until she started fighting and Bellatrix's self-defense instinct took over.
Voldemort told all of them the fire-haired girl was dangerous, but even he didn't know just how dangerous she is.
Lucius told Draco all the summer between his fourth and fifth years at Hogwarts to stay as far away from Bloom as possible, barely spare the girl a glance - and he said it all again before his trial.
He didn't tell them what she's the fairy of, but he made it abundantly clear that Draco's to stay as far away from her as he possibly can.
Draco scoffed at the description of Bloom in a sparkly miniskirt and haler top, then his look turned from one of disbelief to horror and shock when Lucius told him how Bloom can control fire and use it against her enemies.
He remembered the time in year two where they dueled, and he shot a fireball at her.
She was pushed back a few feet, then launched her own fireball at him that sent him into the wall.
All of this goes through the two womens' minds, as they knock on the right door and wait to be answered.
When the door opens, they see Peter Pettigrew on the other side.
Bellatrix hisses "He lives in this Muggle dung-hill?"
Pettigrew glowers at her, then leads them inside to a sitting room.
There's a man sitting by the window, reading a copy of the Daily Prophet.
On the page, the two ladies can see pictures and headlines: One is an article about the huge trial where Lucius was sentenced to Azkaban, and the picture shows Narcissa and Draco coming out of the courtroom.
Another picture shows Harry Potter and Bloom, it's naming Harry the chosen one and asking if he'll kill the dark Lord.
Bloom was off to the side, but there's an article about her as well.
It asks about her mysterious background and powers, but she declined to give an interview - then disappeared around a corner and nobody saw where she went.
Narcissa and Bellatrix can guess at her powers though, Draco said the entire castle would shake at night sometimes - and they're betting it was no ordinary earthquake happening.
The paper drops, and Snape eyes the two women curiously.
He absently says "Run along, Wormtail."
Wormtail glowers one last time, then leaves the room while stroking his gray hand - the one that's twenty times stronger than his last and is resistant to spells.
It looks like it's made of metal, making everyone wonder what it would do if Bloom tried to melt it.
Snape points his wand at the bottle of wine and three goblets, which all get filled and float over to people.
Narcissa says "I've got nowhere else to turn, Severus."
Bellatrix says "You must be joking, sister!"
Snape smirks faintly, and brings the goblet to his lips.
"I must tell you about your completely useless attempt to kill Bloom. She was walking around and ate a truckload at the feast."
Bellatrix scoffs, and turns away.
Narcissa says "I know I ought not to be here. The Dark Lord himself has forbidden me to speak of this-"
Snape interrupts "If the Dark Lord has forbidden you to speak of it, then you ought not to speak."
He looks over at Bellatrix for a moment, and says "Put it down Bella, we mustn't touch what's not ours."
Bellatrix glowers at him, then puts the Dark Curio back down on the shelf where she found it.
He turns back to Narcissa, and says "As it happens, I'm aware of your situation."
Bellatrix gapes at him, and asks "You? The Dark Lord told you?"
Snape rolls his eyes, and says "Your sister doubts me, Narcissa. Understandable, I've played my part well over the years. So well, I've deceived one of the greatest wizards of all time."
Bellatrix makes a scathing sound, and Snape's eyes harden.
"Dumbledore is a great wizard, only a fool would doubt it."
Narcissa stammers "I-I don't doubt you, Severus."
Bellatrix starts saying "You should feel honored, Cissy. As should Draco-"
Narcissa yells "He's just a boy!"
Snape says "I can't change the Dark Lord's mind. But it might be possible for me to help Draco. To provide some…assistance."
Bellatrix eyes Snape keenly, then Narcissa asks "Do you mean it?"
Snape deadpans "I can try."
Narcissa's look turns to one of hope, and she says "Oh, Severus, please, would you?"
Bellatrix says "Promise. Make the Unbreakable Vow."
Snape meets her challenging gaze evenly, then ignores her and looks away.
Bellatrix scoffs, and says "See? Just empty words. Oh, he'll try, he'll give it his best effort. But, when it matters most he'll slither back into his hole. Bloody coward…"
She goes on muttering, until Snape turns back to her with anger flashing in his eyes.
"Take out your wand."
Bellatrix freezes, her goblet at her lips.
When she puts it down, a drop of wine runs red down her face from the corner of her mouth - looking like blood.
Her hand shakes as she takes her wand out, and she places the tip of it over Snape and Narcissa's joined hands.
Narcissa asks "Will you, Severus Snape, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?"
"I will."
"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"
"I will."
Snape can only imagine how he's supposed to keep Draco away from Bloom, he seems to have a death-wish when it comes to bothering her.
He can only do so much when it comes to out of class, he can only hope Draco has enough brains to stay away from her.
"And, should it prove necessary, if it seems Draco will fail…will you yourself carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"
Snape deadpans "I will."
As Bellatrix casts the spell, strands of fire wrapped around their hands.
At the last question, the three strands sink into their skin and leave small lines in their hands.
The thing about an unbreakable vow: if the person who accepts the terms breaks it, they die.
Snape will have to keep a very tight leash on Draco when it comes to Harry, Bloom, and their friends.
He can only hope that Bloom can keep her temper in check long enough to not turn Draco to ashes before he can get there - he's honestly not sure he could stop her if she decided to go off on the Slytherin student.
AN: Damn right he couldn't! He's going to have to do more than keep a tighter leash on Draco when it comes to Bloom - what he should've been doing from year one - he's going to basically have to chain the kid to him; that's assuming Draco is going to attempt the same old routine that's gotten him decked so many times before now. Wondering how Harry and Bloom have been, living with Sirius? Find out next chapter!