Sorry if the story is being too boring, with so much research. But, spoiler alert, the action is coming. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

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Chapter 15

The morning of the next day passed just like the days before, the four of us in the living room, each with a book in hand. However, the peace of the room was abruptly interrupted by the sound of the fireplace. Through the Floo Network, Hermione Granger appeared, closely followed by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Their faces were tense, wands in hand, clearly prepared for a confrontation.

Immediately, we all stood up; I positioned myself in front of Bella, my wand raised in a defensive stance, while Rosalie and Emmett also assumed positions ready for battle, their eyes fixed on the newcomers.

Ron pointed his wand at me, full of disdain, while Harry aimed first at Emmett and then at Rosalie. Hermione, on the other hand, had her wand raised, prepared for anything, but her face only reflected her doubts and concern.

"What do you want with Hermione, Malfoy?" Ron said, his tone full of resentment.

I couldn't help but adopt my old spite and replied in a mocking tone, "What's the matter, Weasley? Feeling insecure? I have no intention of attacking, but if I did, I think Granger could defend herself better than you could." I said with a mocking smile. Old habits die hard.

In the midst of it, Hermione responded, "Why don't we all calm down? We just want to talk; it doesn't have to escalate to a fight." However, her plea was quickly ignored by Harry and Ron.

"Don't mess with us," said Harry, "Explain now what you want and why you wrote to Hermione" Although his tone was harsh, it reflected the same doubt that was amplified on Hermione's face.

With my full attention on the two wizards pointing at us defiantly, I didn't notice when Bella stepped in front of me and placed herself between the raised wands. "Enough!" she exclaimed, her hands extended towards both sides. "We are not enemies!"

Harry frowned, lowering his wand slightly but not putting it away. "Are you the Muggle Malfoy mentioned in his letter?" he asked, his tone full of suspicion.

I quickly grabbed Bella by the wrist and pulled her back towards me, putting my arm in front of her again to keep her out of harm's way. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but feel anger at the tone in which Harry referred to Bella, calling her the Muggle. "Her name is Bella," I replied firmly.

Ron, with his characteristic bluntness, let out an incredulous laugh. "Draco Malfoy dating a Muggle? This must be a trap," he said, looking at me with disdain.

Bella, frustrated by the situation, interrupted. "I'm right here, and this is not a trap! Draco has changed."

"And not only that, but now he's allied with vampires. What's your plan, Malfoy?" Ron retorted sharply, ignoring Bella and glaring at our group.

It was Hermione who finally calmed things down. "Harry, Ron, please lower your wands. Let's hear what they have to say." With a sympathetic look towards Bella and me, she indicated for us to start our story.

I sighed before beginning to tell our story. It wasn't easy to present myself so vulnerable in front of those I had considered enemies for years. Finally, I told them how I met Bella, how I fell in love with her, and the danger we were facing now. For her part, Bella gave a brief version of her side of the story, recounting how she became involved with the vampires and was pursued by the Volturi. After we finished telling the story, I added, "I know I've done terrible things, for which I'm deeply sorry. Bella has taught me a lot. I'm only asking for the chance to protect her," I concluded, my voice tinged with desperation. Bella sought my hand with hers and squeezed it tight, looking into my eyes, with hope and uncertainty clear on her face. I, for my part, gave her a slight smile and gently squeezed her hand, hoping she understood with the gesture that everything would be okay, with or without Hermione's help.

Hermione stayed silent for a moment, her eyes moving from Bella to me, then to Harry and Ron, as if she were assessing each of our states of mind. Finally, she broke the silence.

"Draco," Hermione began cautiously, "it's hard to trust you, considering our past. But I also know that people can change. What I don't understand is how you expect us to help you. The Volturi are extremely powerful and don't follow the magical laws we know."

Harry, still holding his wand but lowered, nodded. "If what you're saying is true, and Bella is in danger from the Volturi, that's outside our jurisdiction. We're not the Order of the Phoenix, and we can't just go fighting vampires."

"Exactly!" interrupted Ron, still full of skepticism. "And if all this is a trick, a ruse to make us lower our guard and then attack us or something worse. I still remember how well you played double agent in the past, Malfoy."

Ron's tone was defiant, and his words were loaded with resentment and distrust. Hermione gave him a warning look. "Ron, I think we should listen a bit more."

Ron shook his head, exasperated. "Hermione, you can't be serious. Draco Malfoy asking for help? This is too much for me."

"Ron!" Bella exclaimed in frustration, looking Ron directly in the eyes. "I'm not here for a trap, nor to hurt you. I don't belong to this magical world, but I know enough to understand that we're all on the same side. I'm asking for your help because Draco believes you are the best people to help."

Harry observed Bella more closely. "Bella, I know you have no reason to trust us either, but we're trying to understand this. The Volturi are a threat to both worlds." He paused a moment before continuing, "You seem like a good person, and I'm truly sorry you're in this situation. But I don't know how we can help you."

Hermione, on her part, said with determination, "But that can't be all. There has to be something we can do to help her." Then she turned to Ron and said, "I know it's not easy, but think about what we've been through, all the times people we distrusted ended up being our allies."

Ron snorted, clearly struggling with his emotions. "Hermione, this is different. It's Malfoy. But..." he stopped, looking at Bella and then at Hermione. Finally, he let out a long sigh. "Alright. Fine. I'm willing to help, though I don't know how, but for you, Hermione. I know you want to help Bella, but I want to be clear that under no circumstances am I doing this to help Malfoy."

Hermione nodded, and her voice softened a bit. "Tell us, what exactly do you need from us? If there's any way to help, even if it's minimal, we'll do it. But you must be honest with us from now on." For his part, Harry also nodded in agreement with Hermione.

Ron, still distrustful, crossed his arms and muttered, "For Merlin's sake, I'd better not regret this..."

With the initial tension having passed, we made the necessary introductions. Rosalie showed clear discontent towards the newcomers, probably due to the initial threats and comments. Emmett, on the other hand, had clearly moved past the initial hostility and tried to make a couple of jokes with the newcomers. Although at first none of them felt very comfortable with the presence of the vampires, after explaining that they only fed on animal blood, they could relax a bit more in their presence.

Hermione, seeing that the atmosphere was relaxing a bit and that everyone was willing to listen, adopted a more practical and reflective air. She approached the table where we had left some of the books we were studying and began to leaf through one of them. After a few seconds, I decided to ask her about one of our problems. "Before moving on to the more complex issues," I said, looking at Hermione, "we have a problem that should be easier to solve. Do you know of any potion that serves to disguise a person's scent?"

"Yes. When we were looking for the Horcruxes," Hermione began, "we found a way to camouflage our scents to avoid being detected by Death Eaters or any creature that could track us. We used a scent-camouflage potion that I learned to make. It could work for Bella, at least as a temporary measure so the Volturi can't track her so easily."

Harry nodded and added, "Yes, it served us well when we were camping and on the move. With trackers on our tail, it kept us from being discovered several times."

Hermione continued, "Harry is much better than me at making that potion. He could teach you how to make it, Draco, so you can ensure it's always ready for Bella."

I felt a mix of surprise and gratitude at the proposal. Harry looked at me, evaluating me for a second before nodding slowly. "I could show you how to prepare it, Malfoy," he said, his tone without a trace of sarcasm or rancor. "It's not a simple potion, but if you're willing to learn, we can try."

"Yes, of course," I responded, trying to hide my nervousness. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

Hermione then turned to Ron, Bella, Rosalie, and Emmett. "While Harry and Draco prepare the potion, we can discuss what you've discovered so far in these books. We need to better understand the Volturi and any potential vulnerability or detail that we can use to our advantage."

Rosalie nodded, holding an ancient book in her hands. "We've been reading about the Romanian vampires. Apparently, there was a great war between them and the wizards centuries ago," she began. "That war seems to be one of the first major conflicts recorded between both worlds."

Hermione frowned, considering what she had just heard. "That sounds familiar... I remember reading something about that years ago, but there was also something else... something about the Italian vampires." She hesitated, trying to recall details that seemed to be on the fringes of her memory. "When they took power after the fall of the Romanians, there were disturbances in the magical world. I think they caused... massacres or something of the sort."

Intrigued, Bella leaned forward. "Massacres? Against wizards?"

"I don't remember clearly," Hermione admitted, thoughtful. "I think they attacked wizards who tried to interfere in their rise to power or who had ties with the Romanians. I know there was something about dark wizards being involved, but I'm not sure of the details. We need to look more into the books to be sure."

Ron looked at her incredulously. "Are you saying that the Volturi, in addition to taking control in the vampire world, also fought against wizards?"

"Yes, it's possible," Hermione replied, her voice carrying a mix of intrigue and concern. "It's just a vague memory from a book I read years ago, but if they managed to consolidate that much power, I wouldn't be surprised if they sought to eliminate any kind of opposition, both in their world and ours."

Emmett chimed in. "If that's true, it could explain why the Volturi seem so untouchable. They wouldn't just have the support of the vampires but also of certain wizards."

Hermione nodded, determination in her eyes. "We should focus on researching more about that period. If there were alliances, there must be records or details somewhere. Tomorrow, I'll bring a book from my collection that I think mentions those events. Meanwhile, let's keep looking here to see if we can find something more about how the Volturi operate."

Ron snorted, though with less disdain than before. "I guess it's worth a shot. If the Volturi really did that much damage, it would be good to know what we can use against them."

The conversation continued, with the vampires, wizards, and Bella delving deeper into the books they had on hand, looking for any clue that could help them better understand the situation.

Harry and I withdrew to an adjoining room where I had left all the ingredients and utensils for potion making. Harry didn't say much, just naming ingredients as he organized them next to the cauldron. The constant sound of conversation from the living room filled the air, but my thoughts were focused on the task ahead. There was no room for error; we needed this potion if we were to keep Bella safe.

Then, something Bella said in the distance made everyone else laugh. I couldn't help but smile as well. That's when I felt Harry's gaze on me. I looked up to meet his scrutiny.

"Do you really care that much?" he suddenly asked, his direct tone cutting through the background noise. His green eyes were penetrating, as if trying to see beyond the facade I had perfected over the years. "Do you truly love Bella?"

The question took me by surprise. Not because I didn't know the answer, but because I hadn't expected him, of all people, to be the one to ask it. I felt a mix of discomfort and defiance under his gaze, but I forced myself to stay calm. Now was not the time to play the old Draco Malfoy. I turned back to the cauldron, stirring the ingredients slowly, searching for the right words.

"Yes, I love her," I finally answered, with a firmness I barely recognized in my own voice. There was no reason to lie, not now. "I didn't expect you to understand, Potter. After all, I don't have the best track record when it comes to being honest or showing what I feel."

Harry did not look away. He seemed neither surprised nor fully convinced. "Well, it's not easy to trust you, Malfoy," he admitted bluntly. "You always acted in your own self-interest, and I know you did some terrible things in the past. But this is different. There's more at stake here."

I nodded, feeling a twinge of shame I hadn't felt in a long time. "I'm not looking for redemption from you or anyone," I murmured. "I don't expect you to trust me right away. But I do want to protect Bella. She... she's been the only good thing in my life for a long time. She taught me that there's more beyond the name I inherited and the darkness I grew up in."

The silence that followed was heavier than I had anticipated. I could feel Harry's eyes examining me, weighing every word, every expression on my face. I didn't like feeling so exposed, but I knew I couldn't back down. Not now.

"Why now? What changed?" Harry asked, his tone softer yet still incisive.

I looked up and met his eyes. "Because this time, it's not just about choosing a side in a war, Potter. It's about doing the right thing for someone who matters to me. For someone who made me see the world in a different way."

I saw a change in Harry's expression, as if for the first time he was considering that my words might be genuine. I didn't like the idea of relying on his approval, but I knew having him on our side could make the difference between life and death for Bella. And for me, that was worth everything.

"If you really love her and are willing to fight for her, then that's a good start," he finally said, turning back to the potion. "But you should know it won't be easy. Not for her, nor for you. The Volturi are a group of sadistic vampires with special powers that make them nearly impossible to confront."

I nodded, my resolve strengthened by his words. "I know. But if there's a chance to keep her safe, I'll do whatever it takes. Even if it means working with you."

To my surprise, Harry cracked a slight smile. "Then let's start with this potion. The sooner we can mask Bella's scent, the more time we'll have to prepare for whatever comes next."

As we resumed working, a new understanding settled between us. There were still doubts, still resentments from the past, but in that moment, we both knew we were fighting for something greater than our differences.

After leaving the potion to simmer, Harry and I returned to the living room. The others were still engaged in an intense debate about how to confront the Volturi. The voices of Bella, Hermione, and Rosalie filled the space, discussing different tactics and strategies. Meanwhile, Ron and Emmett were scouring the bookshelves in the room, searching for anything useful.

As we crossed the room, a dark book that had been left to the side caught my eye. It had a worn leather cover, adorned with the Malfoy crest etched in a faded silver hue. Curiosity led me to pick up the book, and as I flipped through the first page, my breath hitched, and my heart raced. I immediately felt the curious glances of the vampires on me, but Harry, being closer and noticing my change, was the first to ask.

"What is that?" he inquired, approaching and looking at the book more closely.

It took me a few seconds before I responded. "This, this is the diary of Cassiopeia Malfoy, one of my ancestors," I explained cautiously. "She is notorious in my family for her dark skills and... her alliances with other creatures."

Hermione's eyes lit up with interest. "If she had dealings with vampires, there might be something useful here," she suggested, reaching out for the diary. But I pulled it away before she could touch it.

"Perhaps," I said, trying not to show my discomfort. "But I want to read it first. There might be... sensitive details." I didn't want anyone else to see what might be written there. Knowing my family, anything could be inside those pages, and I didn't want anyone to discover it before I did.

Hermione seemed to hesitate for a moment but eventually nodded. "Alright. But if you find something important, you need to share it with us."

Bella, who had approached me during that time, looked at me with furrowed brows. I could see the concern in her eyes. "Draco, do you want us to read it together?" she asked softly, her hand on my arm.

I looked at her for a moment, feeling the warmth of her touch. But my mind was elsewhere, trapped in what I suspected I would find in those pages. I didn't want to expose her to what I knew was a dark legacy. "I'd rather read it alone, Bella," I responded, more sharply than I intended.

She slowly withdrew her hand, her expression softening yet still filled with concern. "Alright," she said softly, though her eyes did not stray from me as I moved to a corner of the room. I could feel her gaze, a mix of uncertainty and anxiety, as I opened the diary.

The others resumed their conversation while I sat down and opened Cassiopeia's diary. I stared at the first yellowed pages, noting my ancestor's elegant yet authoritative handwriting.

With a deep sigh, I began to read.

The diary started with accounts of the time when the Romanian vampires ruled with an iron fist and how they were gradually weakened. But something quickly caught my attention, the words written with an intensity that seemed almost to leap off the page.

"The Italian vampires, the Volturi, came to me, seeking my help to consolidate their power over the Romanians and establish their dominion over the vampires."

I paused, my breath quickening. I couldn't believe what I was reading. The Volturi had sought my family's help to gain power.

I turned the page, and what I read next left me chilled.

"In exchange for our loyalty, I offered an alliance that would benefit both parties: Jane and Alec, two children who carried a deep darkness, a magic that manifested as an Obscurus. They were powerful beings, feared by wizards, but useful to the Volturi in their quest for power and control. I gave the children as a gift to strengthen our alliance."

The details were even more disturbing. Cassiopeia had found Jane and Alec in their infancy, after their family had been destroyed by their own magic. Feared and shunned by the magical world due to the destructive nature of the Obscurus they carried, the twins had been deemed too dangerous to live. Cassiopeia saw an opportunity in them.

"Their eyes were like burning embers, filled with anger and pain. I knew their power could be shaped by the Volturi, who do not fear the dark but harness it. I told the children they would find a new family, one that would accept them as they were, in exchange for their eternal loyalty. And so, I handed Jane and Alec over to Aro, Caius, and Marcus."

I stared at those words, my body frozen. Jane and Alec, the infamous twins of the Volturi, with their terrifying gifts that could induce pain and erase senses... had been handed over by my own family.

The following pages detailed how Cassiopeia had sealed the blood (and venom) pact with the Volturi.

"The blood of the Malfoys shall never be spilled by the hands of the Volturi royalty, and ours shall not touch theirs. In exchange, over the coming centuries, the Volturi will eradicate the Muggle-borns in our society, ensuring the purity of magical blood."

I felt a knot in my throat as I read. It was a dark and vile alliance, one that had marked my family with blood and death for centuries. And I had never known. I had never realized how deeply my own lineage was tainted by this treachery, by this corruption.

My mind was filled with questions and fears. I slammed the diary shut, the sound echoing in my ears like a sinister echo. I looked across the room to the others, still immersed in their discussion. They trusted me, at least a little. And now I was faced with this monstrous legacy that I didn't know how to handle.

Bella glanced at me sideways, her concern evident. I couldn't allow her or the others to read this yet. I needed time to process it, to understand it. But one thing was clear: my family had played a key role in the rise of the Volturi, and this alliance could be both our undoing and our salvation.

With the diary still in my hands, I remained in my corner, knowing I had a decision to make, one that could change everything.

Thoughts?