Author's Note

Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!

PS I'm not JK Rowling, so I don't own anything :(

Ch 8: Two Necklaces

Draco,

Tonks told me about the incident on the train. Well, she told Gran, but I may have overheard. She and Remus are teaching me this year. You can trust her. That's what you wanted to do, isn't it? You were going to ask her for help? Please be careful. And remember, you're not alone.

Yours,

Lily

Draco swallowed as he read the letter waiting for him after his first day of classes. He'd wanted to write to her that first night, but as so often happened, he couldn't find the right words when he sat down to draft a letter.

It was difficult opening himself up to her. Went against his very nature most of the time. Slytherins didn't have feelings. And Malfoys needed no one. They weren't reliant on others. Yet somehow, Lily had wiggled her way in. They'd only been around each other a couple times, and she was all he thought of! How had she done it so easily?

And why in the name of Merlin's saggy balls did she always make him end up sounding like a love-sick twelve-year-old girl?

Lily,

I can't ask for help while he is residing with my mother. It would be too big of a risk. If she is as trustworthy as you say, then perhaps another opportunity will present itself. What will she be teaching you this year? I'll admit, I've never met her. What's she like? And are you sure it's safe to have a werewolf teaching you?

I have so much I want to tell you about. It's only been one day, two including travel, and so much has already happened. Our new professor, Slughorn, deliberately snubbed me because of my father. I, well, I don't quite know how to feel about that. It's like I've become a pariah overnight.

Even worse, today in Potions, both Granger and Potter beat me! It's my best subject, much like you. Granger has always been the only one that could beat me. I wanted so badly to impress Slughorn. To prove he'd written me off too quickly. But getting third isn't all the impressive.

Draco paused, debating on whether or not to tell her about what he had smelled coming off the Amortentia Potion, but decided against it. It was too sentimental. He didn't want to give her the wrong idea anyways. 'Course, he didn't really know what it meant himself either.

He studied the page, rereading what he'd written so far. If only he could tell her about the threats and lessons he'd been made to sit through. Or the plan he'd come up with to try and get the job done quickly. He'd love her input. Even though he knew she'd just try to talk him out of doing anything at all. It wasn't the most clever idea he'd ever had, but it was the easiest.

And this way he'd not have to be there to see it happen. He couldn't imagine actually watching the Headmaster die. He might not care for the old crackpot, but he didn't really want to be responsible for killing him either.

No, best he not tell her about it. He could already hear her voice in his head. He knew what she'd say. Cowardly. His plan was cowardly.

So instead, he finished his letter with:

At least I have Quidditch this Saturday morning. Urquhart was the first to schedule the pitch for tryouts this year, so we'll have a leg up on the other Houses. I think we have the best shot of winning since I've been here. Urquhart has a lot of ideas, but he says in the end it'll all come down to me. No pressure, right?

Will you be all alone, or will you have people around that you can fly with? It'd be a shame to let your talent go to waste. Not that I've seen your skills, but I've a feeling you weren't exaggerating.

Yours,

Draco

PS New owl?

The weeks passed quickly. After the first reply, which contained little more than a scathing setdown on the inaccuracies and unfairness of werewolf prejudices - a topic she'd been doggedly educating him on since - they'd settled into a routine of writing every other day to each other. One night he'd get her letter, then the next, he'd write to her.

It was the best part of his day, and the one thing he looked forward to. It was miserable having the teachers all looking down on him. Now that his father was no longer on the school board, they felt they had no reason to be kind to him. He'd thought his marks over the years had earned him their approval, but he was slowly discovering that they secretly, or not so secretly now, loathed him.

What could he have possibly done during his five plus year tenure to merit such blatant dislike? They all loved Potter well enough, and Potter caused far more problems than he ever had!

Well, Snape didn't despise him. But after what his mother had told him, Draco had gone out of his way to avoid the man. What if he was using Draco to gain favor with the Dark Lord? He'd not found a way to bring up Snape casually in a letter, and he didn't want to risk revealing too much in case the letter fell into the wrong hands.

Plus, there had been the issue with the Ministry searching his home again. His Aunt Bella had written to tell him about it before the Prophet reported it in the paper. She'd alluded to the Dark Lord taking his anger over Draco's lack of progress out on Narcissa in retaliation for having to temporarily flee his comfy set up, lest the officials discover him.

Lily,

My teachers hate me. It's all Father's fault. He lost all of his clout when he was caught, and now they are making me pay for it.

Yours,

Draco

He sighed. There was so much more he wanted to say to her, but he had detention from McGonagall because he'd not been paying close enough attention in Transfiguration, or turned in his dull, pointless assignments. But a Hogsmeade trip had just been announced, and he'd been preoccupied thinking through his plan. Not to mention, he'd had yet another letter from his Aunt Bella the week before telling him to get a move on. He was tired of waiting, and Draco knew the price of failure.

Lily's response to his letter was the last thing he'd expected. It certainly took his mind off his worries. Part of him was furious at her gall. Who was she to criticize him? Part was amused at her succinct, and he had to admit, brutally honest assessment. She definitely saw him clearly, metaphorical warts and all. But mostly, he admired her gumption.

Draco,

Did you ever consider that your professors might hate you because you're a right git most of the time? And before you write back, demanding to know what I mean, let me explain here:

1. You bully students - even tiny first years - when you're supposed to be a Prefect!

2. You deliberately try to get others in trouble, taking delight in the fact when you succeed - it's disgusting and nasty, and people don't much care for it, myself included

3. You willingly aligned yourself with Umbridge - what were you thinking?

4. You are always starting something with Harry - best you resign yourself to the fact he will forever be their favorite pupil

5. You use your name to lord all you have over other students - you're not better than anyone else so stop acting like you are!

6. You take public joy in the misery of others - it's not attractive

Hopefully, you're man enough to acknowledge your flaws. These are traits that have defined you for years, and I spent all summer hearing countless examples of. Only you can change how people see you. It'll take time, and people probably won't notice as soon as you'd like for them to when you do decide to be a better wizard.

I believe that one day you'll be someone worthy of love and respect. But it's up to you.

Yours,

Lily

Draco headed straight for the Three Broomsticks, just as he'd been instructed to do in his Aunt's letter that morning. He'd expected to be meeting someone else, not her. Shock, that she'd be so brazen as to visit the pub while the town was crawling with Aurors had silenced his protests. Of course, perhaps he'd get lucky and she'd be spotted. If she were captured and hauled off, he'd get a temporary reprieve.

Hope. That was what he was doing. But hope was a dangerous emotion. And one he definitely hadn't earned.

Draco touched his pocket, hesitating before pulling out the last letter he'd received from Lily. She believed he could do better. He wanted to prove her right. So much.

Today had been his plan. Thanks to the Ministry raids on his home, he'd not been able to pick up the dark object in advance or keep it at Malfoy Manor. Instead, he'd thought up the clever little scheme of having someone deliver the necklace to him here. Not even directly to him. He was having it delivered to Madam Rosmerta, then having her pass it off to a student to take to the Headmaster.

He'd wanted as much distance from the whole affair as possible. All he had to do was cast the Imperius Curse on Madam Rosmerta then have her do the rest. Piece of cake. The Dark Lord had forced him to practice the Unforgivable Curse multiple times over the summer. He was an old hand at it now.

It had been the only time he'd ever regretted growing up in a wizarding household. If he'd been raised by Muggles, as Potter had been, there'd be a Trace on him. One that would prevent his doing magic outside of Hogwarts. He didn't have one. So there'd been no excuse not to do the Dark Lord's bidding. Even when it had involved cursing Muggles.

Draco read the last line of her letter again, I believe that one day you'll be someone worthy of love and respect. But it's up to you.

Swallowing, he stood and left the crowded pub, deciding there was no time like the present to get started. He didn't want to carry out his plan anyways. He wanted to be that man. The one she believed he could be. For her, he'd -

"Going somewhere, Draco?" Bellatrix purred from the side of the pub.

"I-I was looking for you," he stuttered, taking in her hooded eyes, strong jaw, and long, dark hair.

"Were you? Out here? When I specifically told you to wait inside," she chastised, not falling for his lie.

"I was worried you'd be caught," he tried, attempting to placate her. He could already tell she was in a mood, one that didn't bode well for him or anyone in the vicinity. She truly was insane.

"So sweet of you to look out for my welfare," she cooed, adopting a disturbing baby voice. It made him recoil at the sound, which only served to make her glare daggers at him. "Though you needn't. Our Master has taught me much. No Auror has a chance of defeating me."

"We are blessed," Draco agreed, trying to sound appropriately differential.

"We are. Remember that next time you get cold feet," Bella scolded, sneering at him with such disdain he thought her lips might permanently curl.

"I didn't! I -"

"If I'd not stopped you, you would have received my dear sister's hand in your morning post tomorrow," Bella announced disdainfully. Draco blanched at hearing the threat. He had no doubt she was serious too. "It's enough to put anyone off their meal. And I'd hate to see my sister suffer because she had the misfortune to raise a sniveling coward. You would not let us down, now, would you, Draco?"

"No," Draco whispered, trying to mask his fear. She'd likely correctly interpret it as weakness on his part and punish him for it.

"Excellent," Bella giggled, clapping her hands excitedly like a warped version of a first year. A second later, she tossed him a package wrapped in brown paper. His heart nearly stopped when he caught it. He was not originally meant to handle the package at all. Draco supposed this was some sort of punishment for trying to back out. Wonderful. "Then you're up."

Slowly, Draco trudged back inside the busy pub, moving into the back near the lavatories.

Luck appeared to be on his side. Madam Rosmerta appeared, alone, less than a minute later.

"What are you doing back here? Students aren't -"

"Imperio," Draco breathed.

"Imperio the next student that uses the loo to take this to the school. It is for the Headmaster - no one else can touch it," he willed, silently instructing her to obey his command and accept the nondescript package containing the cursed necklace.

Everything went off without a hitch. Draco watched with morbid fascination as Rosmerta cursed a girl and gave her the package. Something about the girl looked familiar, and Draco thought he might recognize her from Quidditch, but he couldn't be sure. He'd never paid much attention to the people that weren't in his social circle or weren't among those he actively hated.

Maybe that was part of his problem.

When Ginny Weasley appeared to use the loo, Draco felt ill. He had the sudden urge to take it all back and undo the last few minutes.

"Malfoy, what are you doing back here?" she demanded, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Nothing," he denied, guilt straining his voice. He looked towards the front door, and could just make out the girl leaving with the dangerous package.

"Harry told me about what happened on the train," Weaslette announced, still studying him. He didn't know what she was hoping to find, but he was fairly certain it wasn't there.

"So? Look, Weaslette, I'm very busy just now. Was there something you needed or wanted to say to me?" Draco tried, adopting his usual demeanor and waving her off. She looked distinctly unimpressed.

"Yeah, you look busy," she scoffed, pursing her lips and shaking her head. Her demeanor was so reminiscent of the times he'd engaged with Lily, that he found himself swallowing thickly. "Why are you willing to protect her? What interest is she to you?" Weaslette inquired, crossing her arms and blocking his path when he made to go around her.

"You wouldn't understand, and I can't talk about this here," he hissed, glancing around. What if his aunt had come inside to make sure he followed through? She could be listening to every word they spoke. If Bella discovered Lily...

Draco straightened, scanning the nearest faces more closely. Nothing. She wasn't there.

"Malfoy? What is it?" Weaslette asked, genuine concern screwing up her face.

In a moment of weakness, he caved, instructing, "Go get Dumbledore. Hurry."

As soon as the words left his lips, Draco paled. He brushed past the shocked Weasley and headed for the door.

"Malfoy!" she called, scrambling to grab his retreating arm.

He spun to face her when she caught hold of him, giving her a piercing look. Weaslette released him at once, racing past him for the front door. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all ran out after her, having noticed her hasty departure.

Draco hung back, trying to get himself back under control so it wouldn't be obvious that he'd once again tried to back out. When he determined that he had, he swaggered out, nodding confidently at Bellatrix where he saw she was still hidden in the bushes on the side of the Three Broomsticks. She'd probably stuck around because she wanted to be the one to cast the Mark in the sky and relay the news to the Dark Lord if her nephew was successful.

The sound of screaming wrapped around him before he came upon the scene.

He was unaccountably horrified by the sight of the oaf Hagrid carrying the shrieking girl's form. What had gone wrong?

Then McGonagall was racing towards the knot of students, which of course included Harry bloody Potter. Draco slunk away, proceeding to hide in his dorm room for the rest of the afternoon.

That was where Nott found him shortly before dinner.

"Professor Snape sent me to fetch you. He wants to see you in his office immediately," Nott informed him, watching Draco with a worried frown.

Draco reluctantly trudged the whole way to his Head of House's office. When he arrived, he was startled to find Professor McGonagall there as well.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, do you know why we've asked you here?" McGonagall asked brusquely, her lips forming a thin line as she pressed them tightly together.

"No, Professor," Draco said dutifully, keeping his face carefully neutral. Professor Snape raised a mocking brow at him, but otherwise remained silent.

"The incident involving Miss Bell. Mr. Potter suggested you might be able to shed a bit more light on the subject," McGonagall prompted, agitation making her tone more sharp than usual, which was saying something. She'd been fed up with him for most of the year already.

"Potter has no proof that Draco was involved with any of it," Professor Snape interjected smoothly, lips curling almost imperceptibly.

"Miss Weasley admitted you warned her," McGonagall stated crisply, making Draco's heart jump in his chest as Professor Snape's head whipped around to pin him in place with a fierce scowl. Draco swallowed past the lump in his throat as he met his Head of House's black glare head on, lies sifting through his mind, each discarded as quickly as it came to him.

"I saw the girl acting funny," Draco said, adopting a concerned expression, hopefully it was a passable imitation of one. "B-but I didn't think you'd believe me if I tried to tell you myself."

McGonagall looked immediately guilty. This was precisely why good people were so easy to manipulate. They always wished to believe the best of others, and tried to take the fault onto their own shoulders when it turned out they were wrong.

"If you see anything in the future, please do not hesitate to inform me immediately. Your warning may have saved Miss Bell's life today," McGonagall stated, with what almost sounded like pride. Could trying to help someone honestly make her proud of him?

"May I be dismissed?" Draco asked, distinctly uncomfortable with the new turn of events.

"No. I would like a word still," Professor Snape said ominously, adding in his usual drawl, "privately."

"Good day, Severus," McGonagall said, nodding at the Slytherin before taking her leave.

"What were you thinking saying something to Weasley?" Professor Snape demanded, face resembling a thundercloud.

"That I should cover myself should the plan fail. That way I'd still be around to try again," Draco said immediately, it was the best he'd come up with as far as excuses went.

"You thought the plan would fail?" Professor Snape questioned, watching him intently.

"I hadn't anticipated Filch would be so thorough when I first came up with it over the summer," Draco admitted. That part, at least, was true.

"Draco, I am here to help you. We both have much at stake. Perhaps next time you will run your plan past me, and any similar oversights can be addressed beforehand," Professor Snape said intently.

"If that's all," Draco said, neither agreeing or disagreeing as he made for the exit. Professor Snape didn't try to stop him again.

Draco,

Did you do it?

Lily

The short missive was a dagger to the heart. She was disappointed in him, he could tell. The note was a plea to tell her it hadn't been him, when they both knew she was already aware of the role he'd played.

Worst, it had taken over a week for her to even write that much. This was the first he'd heard from her since the Hogsmeade visit, and he'd been too ashamed to write her first.

Lily,

Do they suspect it was me?

Draco

He was afraid of what she'd say. He couldn't come right out and admit what he'd done. He was too ashamed. Anxiety gripped him on top of that. The plan had failed, and now he'd have to come up with a new one.

It was another week before Lily's reply came. Halloween had come and gone, the celebrations subdued this year. Katie Bell - that was her name, he learned - her continued absence from the Gryffindor table was a kick in the teeth. A pointed reminder of the collateral damage that piled up in times such as these.

He'd been right in thinking she was a Quidditch player, and suddenly, Draco found he no longer had the will to play. It hardly seemed fair after he'd taken away Katie Bell's chance to play.

Even Lily's birthday had lacked the grandeur he'd had planned. He'd sent her a goblin-made necklace layered with protection charms. The thin silver chain had been in his family for centuries. His mother had assumed he was gifting Pansy with it when he'd written for her to send it to him, and he'd opted against correcting her mistaken assumption. There'd been no word on if Lily had liked it, only her brief reply.

Draco,

Only Harry believes so. Gin thinks you knew and disagreed, and that was why you warned her. I can't believe… Why? Why did you do it, Draco? You could have killed that girl.

Lily

The reprimanding letter provoked him. Did she think he wanted this? That he'd done it for a laugh? He'd give anything to be free of the chains binding him. To turn his back on the whole lot of it. Self-preservation had always been one of his top priorities, and this wasn't really how he'd like to go about ensuring his safety.

Lily

Did you know he stayed with us over the summer? It was terrifying. He forced me to watch as he demonstrated the fate that would befall my mother if I failed to do as he instructed. What choice do I have? Tell me that you would not do whatever it took to protect Ginny Weasley. Tell me that, and I'll apologize. If you can't, then please just let us drop it.

Still Yours,

Draco

Silently, he begged her not to turn away from him. Begged her to understand. To give him another chance. He didn't have a clue what he was doing here anymore. It was all a giant mess. All he knew was that he needed her.

Waiting for her reply was torture. She made him wait four whole days. And it wasn't until after he read it that he was able to breathe again.

Draco,

You're not alone. I haven't turned my back on you.

Still Yours As Well,

Lily