His mother was the first thing Draco saw when he arrived at the manor. She was seated in an armchair across the fireplace probably awaiting his arrival. She looked thinner than the last he saw her but otherwise unchanged. Her face was as stoic as ever. As he brushed the ash off himself, she rose and walked forward.
"Welcome home Draco," she said, wrapping him in a tight hug. He returned it stiffly.
It was clear they didn't know how to talk to each other. Draco knew she wanted to question him about his task, but knew she should wait until he'd settled. She wouldn't want to frustrate him too early into the holiday and risk him avoiding her.
For Draco's part, he just didn't have much to say. He loved his mother, but he was in this grim position because of her and his father's failures. He was frustrated with her and didn't want to bother himself with what she had been doing.
After a brief exchange, he brought his trunk up to his room and began to unpack. Regulus started verbally planning their break. Without as much school work they had plenty of time for their other projects.
"I want to talk about Sirius."
"What about him?" Draco asked, carefully putting his robes into the self-hanging wardrobe.
"You know he's not dead."
"Yeah, but he's probably as good as dead," at Regulus's frown he continued, "I'm sorry but it's true. He's stuck in the veil."
"I've been thinking about that."
"You? Thinking? Oh, joy," Draco said jokingly, but Regulus ignored the jab.
"The veil traps the physical body and lets your soul wander right?"
"That's the theory," Draco confirmed, remembering the book he'd read a year ago on the topic.
"And that's why so many people get lost. Nothing is tying your soul to anything. The Unspeakable who had so much success in traversing the veil only was able to do so because they had a tie to this world."
Draco frowned, knowing where Regulus was going. The Unspeakable had successfully crossed the veil twice, or so it was reported. The first time they stuck their feet to the ground and just stuck a head in. The next time they used some dark magic to tie themselves to an object outside the veil. It had worked but it took them weeks to return.
"You want to go into the veil?" Draco guessed.
"Think about it. I am in the perfect position to do it. My soul is tied to the ring. It can pull me back."
"But what if you can't find him? You have no idea what it'll be like."
"Maybe, but it can't hurt to try. All you have to do is walk 5 metres away from the veil and theoretically, I'll be brought back."
"Of course, it can hurt! What if the veil disconnected your soul from the ring?" Draco almost shouted.
"It probably wouldn't."
"Why? Because some crackpot a hundred years ago thought it wouldn't?"
"I want to try it either way," Regulus said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because it's my brother." Draco frowned. He never understood Regulus's obsession with his brother. "I know we are trying to bring me back, but let's face it. We haven't made great progress."
Draco's eyes went wide. What was Regulus talking about? They had made tons of discoveries. "But we have -"
"Stop. You know it. I know it. We have theories, that's all. I may never be able to return, but I don't want to spend my life in this ring. Let me try to help. If it backfires, then so be it." Draco paused his unpacking. He hadn't known Regulus felt that way, but this wasn't the first time Regulus had sacrificed himself. He wondered how much of his betrayal of the Dark Lord was to give Sirius a chance at a good life.
"You'd throw your life away so easily?"
"I'm not throwing it away. I am trying to save my brother!"
"I had almost forgotten how mad you really are."
"We don't have to do anything yet. We can't until you're of age and we'll need to wait until you can get into the ministry without suspicion. But think about it okay?"
"I don't like it."
"We end up doing a lot of things we don't like," Regulus pointed out.
Draco sighed, not committing to or disagreeing with the request to try and get Sirius. He didn't like the idea. It felt too risky, but it was hard to deny Regulus. Draco actually wanted to help him, almost like a friend.
He finished unpacking and was debating with Regulus if and how they could get out of the manor to visit Diagon Alley again when they heard someone else who wasn't his mother.
"Oh, Dracooooo!" A sing-song voice yelled from somewhere in the manor. Aunt Bella.
He met Regulus's gaze and after a nod took off both rings. They had no idea what she would do. The first time he'd met she tied him up and read his mind. Wearing either ring in her proximity was too dangerous.
He tucked them into a drawer beside his bed, with a vague impression that he should put them on later, and went to face Bella. He ran into her on the main staircase. She was a few steps up, and Draco was at the top. Noticing him, she smiled and launched a curse at him. Having expected it, he dodged the yellow sparks. He tensed still in a crouch waiting for her next move.
"Good reflexes!" She bounded up the stairs two at a time and threw herself onto him.
"Get off," he growled. Instead, she dropped her embrace and gripped him by the neck.
"Don't be like that. We are going to be spending a lot of time together in the next two weeks. You might as well get used to it," She said, grinning at him.
"What are you talking about? I thought you hated me?" The last time they'd seen each other, Draco had cursed her mouth shut. She'd been pissed.
"Don't be silly, I could never hate you," She said as she started to guide him down the stairs. "I've forgiven you for this summer. It was a good curse after all. Me and you are going to be making some plans." Draco immediately knew what she was talking about.
"It's my task." Bella laughed.
"Consider me a resource then. I'm staying here now, so you can call me whenever." She finally released him and jumped the last few steps to the floor.
"You're staying here?" He wasn't sure why that made his stomach sink so low.
"Sure am."
"Just give me space," Draco said, taking the last few steps and turning in the opposite direction of Bella.
"We'll be continuing your training, little nephew. You have a lot to learn if you want to impresshim," she said. Draco knew she had a point. He was a Death Eater now, there were expectations of him.
"Come back! Your mother has dinner ready for us," Bella yelled at his retreating back.
With a sigh, Draco turned and said, "Only because my mother wants me. Not you."
She gave him a smack behind the head as he got close. "Don't be so rude," she spat.
They ate. Bella spent the time trying to legilimens him. It was annoying to keep swatting her away mentally, but he'd gotten better than last summer. He excused himself to bed early and seeing his nightstand remembered the rings. Figuring he should put them back on like he'd done over the summer, he slid both on.
When he did, he had to shut his eyes at the onslaught of memories. It was worse than normal. Seconds ago, he had genuinely wanted to prove himself to Bella and the Dark Lord. He had been thinking about how he could do that in the next few weeks. He felt sick remembering how Harry was trying to get him out.
Noticing his grimace, Regulus asked, "What is it?"
"Bella is staying here. At the manor."
"Shit." He ran a hand through his hair. "We can't risk it."
"My occulmency is good, maybe it would be fine."
"And when she parades in and stuns you in your sleep?" Draco frowned, Bella would do something like that and there was a very real chance she'd uncover everything they'd been hiding.
"Draco, you know we can't risk it. Not while you can't use magic. You hate to admit it, but you are defenceless against her. This summer will be different, but not right now."
"What am I supposed to do?" Draco asked quietly. He and Regulus had plans.
"Keep from pissing people off. Work on your task. Get through the next two weeks," Regulus sounded so confident. Draco knew it was just for his sake. Regulus must be terrified of not being around for weeks, but Draco didn't fight it.
"Okay."
They sat in silence for a bit. Draco spun the rings around his finger. When he pinched Regulus's, he looked up.
"I'll see you soon," Regulus said.
"See you." And Draco removed the rings, thinking about how he should put them back on before returning to Hogwarts.
It took a day before his mother and Bella decided to corner him. He had been in the study, reading through Burke's instructions and comparing them against a charms book.
"What is this?" he demanded as the two entered and shut the door behind them.
"We need to talk," his mother said.
"So you're forcing me to?" Draco asked, glancing at the closed door.
"Don't be so dramatic. We need to figure out how you're going to kill Dumbledore," Bella said as she pulled up a chair to sit next to him.
"I already have," Draco sneered and stood up to leave. Bella grabbed his arm preventing him from rising.
"What are you going to do with a vanishing cabinet? Drop it on him?"
Draco paused his fight against her. "How do you know about it?"
"I told her," his mother said, stepping forward to sit across from them. "I've been in communication with Borgin." Draco frowned, he did know that but the memory felt fuzzy.
"That's none of your business."
"Draco, I will not lose you. I will do whatever it takes to make sure you live to next year. I know you don't need help. I know you want to prove yourself, but please, do this for me. Let Bella help. Let me help." Her voice was steady as she talked, but he could hear the sadness, see it in the corners of her eyes. He had rarely seen his mother like this.
"Fine," he said, relaxing into the chair. "The vanishing cabinet allows me to get anything into the school."
Bella grinned. "We can work with that."
Christmas was a simple affair. His parents were never keen on the holiday. Bella had left for the day doing who knows what and his mother was in a pleasant mood. She had been since he'd told them about the vanishing cabinet and grudgingly let them help. Their big idea was to get other people into the castle. That way if it turned into a duel against Dumbledore, they might stand a chance. Bella also pointed out it was a way to get to Potter. She teased him with the idea of getting both Dumbledore and Potter in one swoop and how that would raise him in the ranks. His mother had seemed upset by the idea, but Draco was drawn to it.
Midday while they sat down for a light lunch, an owl appeared at the window. His mother frowned at it, not recognising it. Draco didn't either, but it was waiting patiently for them. It was holding a thick package, with a simple 'Draco' written in messy handwriting. He turned it over. No message and no card. He unwrapped it to find a copy of 'Peculiar and Practical Charms.'
It was exactly the kind of book he would like. He skimmed it briefly, there was a whole section on transporting someone else know about the cabinet?He looked back over the packaging to see if he missed who sent it to him.
"What is it, Draco?"
"Just a present from a friend." He hoped it was from one of his housemates, but he doubted it. He shooed away the owl having no response for someone that didn't identify themselves.
His mother seemed satisfied with that and continued eating, but Draco wasn't. He had been feeling like he was missing something. He couldn't remember things clearly and he couldn't help but feel this was related. The handwriting had looked familiar, but he kept drawing a blank on who would send him anything.
His mark burned the Thursday night before he was supposed to return to Hogwarts. Bella was beside him when she gasped and a manic grin crossed her face.
"Do you feel that Draco?" She whispered excitedly.
Draco could. He was gripping his arm, somehow hoping the pressure would lessen the pain. It burned, but not nearly as bad as when he first got it. This was almost manageable.
"Let's go then," Bella said, shooting to her feet.
"Is it happening?" His mother asked, worried.
"Calm down Cissy. I'll make sure he stays in line."
"It's not Draco's behaviour I am worried about."
"Don't say such things!" Bella shot back at her sister. The pain in Draco's arm was getting worse the longer they waited.
"Let's go," he grunted and started towards the door. Bella joined him happily. His mother followed stiffly until they reached the front of the manor. He gave her troubled face one last look before Bella and he made it to the apparition point. Bella summoned a mask and cloak and thrust them at him.
"Don't you have one?" He asked as he threw the cloak over his shoulders.
"No," Bella said proudly. "I am one of his most loyal. He doesn't want to hide me away."
"Why do I have to wear it?"
"You have a secret task, Draco. He will reveal you to the others when he deems fit."
"When will that be?" Draco grumbled.
"I don't pretend to know his will. It could be tonight." Draco hoped that was the case. The mask was too stuffy.
He realised he had no idea where to go, but Bella grabbed his arm with confidence and apparated them both. It was a strange sensation. He didn't know where he was going, but as soon as Bella took him there, he knew it was right.
It was a mansion. Not nearly as big as Malfoy Manor, but big enough by Draco's standards. As they got closer, the ever-present burning on his forearm lessened. The Dark Lord was inside.
They continued in silence, but Bella's excitement was contagious. This was a big moment for him too. Others were entering into the mansion and a few were chatting amongst themselves. The closer they got to him the more silent it got.
They took the stairs down the basement. It was dead silent. The Dark Lord already sat at the head of a long table. Bella deposited him at a chair towards the end, where other masked figures sat. Bella strode forward to the front of the room. The Dark Lord watched them all, and Draco had to force himself not to flinch at his red gaze. When all the seats were filled a minute later, he stood.
"I have been informed that the ministry will be ours within the year. We just have to wait for the Aurors to be spread too thin. Hence why you all were called. We have an urgent need to wear them down. Yaxley report." He took his seat as a man, presumably Yaxley, started talking.
Draco struggled to keep up with what was happening. He recognised a few names but had no context for why or what they were saying. Several Death Eaters were tortured for bad reports. One simply because he took too long to respond to a question. Draco made a mental note of all of the cases, making sure he wouldn't repeat their mistakes.
At one point Snape reported about Hogwarts how the Headmaster was gone frequently from the castle and how the Order was struggling to keep up with their movements. Draco idly wondered how the Order could ever assume Snape was loyal to them.
It had been going on for the better part of an hour when the Dark Lord looked directly at Draco.
"And finally, let's get a report from one of our newest members. He has been given quite the important task."
Draco tensed, unsure of what was expected of him.
"Come forward."
Draco stood, willing his body to stay steady, and walked behind the line of chairs. Several were looking curiously at him.
"I've heard you have failed to complete your task yet is that true?" His cold voice sent alarm bells in Draco's mind.
"Yes," Draco replied steadily.
"And you have failed to make any significant progress," The Dark Lord continued.
"No, I -"
"Crucio!"
Draco dropped to the ground with a scream. He convulsed for only a few seconds, but it felt much longer.
"Do not lie to me. You have not made progress," The Dark Lord snarled from above him.
Draco struggled back to his feet, feeling out of breath. That wasn't true. The cabinet was a good plan. He'd learned plenty from his previous attempts.
"But I -"
"Crucio."
He fell again and his head snapped back on the hard floor as another scream was ripped out of his throat. This time the pain lasted longer and when he was free of it, he noticed that his mask had fallen off.
The Dark Lord stood facing those sitting at the table. "Let Draco here serve as an example to the rest of you. His father disgraced me, and now he is following in his footsteps. This is what becomes of those who disappoint me."
He turned back to where Draco was trying to get his shaky arms under him. He met Draco's eye.
"I am not asking, but telling you. You have not made progress. You will do better. Let's have one final lesson for what awaits you if you fail, shall we?" Draco tried to brace himself.
"Crucio."
He lost control over his body. He lost any concept other than pain. Draco didn't even realise when it was over. It was like his mind had retreated, and was slowly wading back to reality. He started to come to as he realised someone was touching him.
"Just give him a minute he'll be fine." That sounded like Bella.
"No, he won't. Move." The hand on his shoulder disappeared and he felt a hand on his face. They tried to pry open his eyes and Draco tried to pull away.
"Draco, calm down." The second voice sounded like Snape.
"Whe-re?" His speech was slurred, but he still felt exposed. He had to know if he was still in danger, whether there was going to be more pain.
"The meeting is over. The Dark Lord left and put me in charge of seeing that you get back to the manor."
"I can do it!" Bella snarled defensively.
"You were going to apparate him! It's too dangerous in his condition."Why couldn't he apparate?As his thoughts became clearer, so did the pain. He let out a gasp.
"Bella do something useful and find the floo powder," Snape snapped.
"You can't tell me what to do!"
Snape ignored her and tried to get Draco's attention. "I am going to stun you. We have to move you and it'll hurt too much otherwise." Draco's mind was trying to puzzle out what those words meant.
"Nod if you understand." Draco didn't know if he did, everything was too fuzzy and painful. He nodded anyway.
"Stupify."
And Draco's mind went blissfully dark.
When Draco woke, the first thing he noticed was the aching pain all over, then the tremors, then the fact that Snape was sitting by his sick bed, reading a book.
"What happened?" he rasped.
Snape turned to look at him, relief clear on his face. "Do you know where you are?"
"The manor," He said looking up at the familiar canopy.
"What do you remember?"
"The meeting," Draco said. It was hazy, but he thought he remembered most of it. How the Dark Lord had made an example out of him.
"You were under the Cruciatus curse for a long time. Longer than your body could handle."
"How long?"
"Several minutes." Snape apparently didn't want to scare him with the real number.
"Will I get better?" Draco asked. The way his limbs were continually twitching was scaring him. He didn't think he could walk like this.
"Yes. The tremors might stay for a few days, but given your memory and speech are unimpaired you should make a full recovery." Draco paled. He hadn't even thought that his mental faculties could be affected.
Snape grabbed two potions from the bedside.
"What's that?"
"This is a nerve soother. Take it daily for the next week. It'll help."
"And that?"
"It's to help repair the nerve damage. It was designed specifically to be used after the Cruciatus curse, but it will make you sleep." Draco frowned. He didn't want to miss anything else."If you want to make it back to school, you need to heal quickly."
"Why are you here?" His mother could have administered the potions.
"Your mother asked me to stay." He paused a moment before continuing, "I also owe you an apology. I was the one who told the Dark Lord of your lack of progress."
So Snape thought it was his fault Draco was like this. Draco's first instinct was to question why Snape hadn't stopped it, but he knew that was stupid. No one could stop the Dark Lord. So Draco nodded, too tired to challenge further. Snape poured the first potion down his throat and Draco felt immediate relief.
"When we get to the school. I will help you. I'll make sure you are never like this again."
Draco nodded again, unsure of what to say. Snape gave him the second potion and he drifted back to sleep.
His mother was by his side when he woke up again. He must have made some noise because she looked over at him abruptly. She reached to grab his hand, but the contact was so sudden that he tried to pull his hand away. When she gripped it harder, he noticed it had a constant tremor.
"How are you feeling?" She asked solemnly.
His throat was dry. "Fine. Water?"
She summoned a glass and Draco drank it greedily.
"What day is it?" he asked.
"It's Saturday morning." Draco blanched. He's lost a full day. He was supposed to return to Hogwarts tomorrow.
"I need to get ready."
"Hush, you need rest."
"Can I walk?"
His mother paused. "Do you think you can?"
Instead of answering he swung his legs to the side. His mother gripped his arm as he got his feet under him. They were shaking.
He made a few clumsy steps.
"Fuck," Draco said. He wouldn't be able to get onto the train like this.
"Hold on." His mother deposited him in her chair and grabbed a potion. It was the nerve soother Snape had left him. Draco took a mouthful and immediately felt the tremors lessen. He stood again and walked to his trunk just to prove he could.
The relief he felt knowing that he could return to Hogwarts was immense, he didn't think he could handle another week at the manor. His mother packed his trunk, insisting it was better for him to rest. He made it down to dinner, as long as he kept up the dose of the potion he almost felt normal. Climbing stairs and using cutlery were only slightly more challenging than normal. Unless someone was looking for it, they probably wouldn't even notice the tremor.
The next morning he barely remembered to grab the rings, it had been so long since he last wore them. He put them in his pocket, nervous his mother might question him about it after not wearing them for weeks. He figured he could always put them on when he got to Hogwarts anyway.
