Here is Chapter 2 of Secrets and Allegiances. Thank you to the first readers. I eagerly await your feedback!
Small disclaimer: As I explained in Chapter 1, I did not create the story or the characters. I only included one character of my own invention. Therefore, for the sake of the story, there will be large passages that are copied and pasted from the book! You're reading this fanfiction knowing that!
Small disclaimer #2: There is a same-sex couple as a secondary couple. If you're not comfortable with that, please don't read!
I'd like to remind you that English is not my native language at all. If there are any mistakes, please don't hesitate to let me know!
No matter how much I proofread, there are always some errors left. Please feel free to point them out if you spot any! Thank you.
Happy reading!
Chapter 2
It was there, floating in the sky above the school: the green skull with a serpent for a tongue, the mark the Death Eaters left behind each time they had broken into a house... each time they had committed a murder... The mark was shining just above the Astronomy Tower, the highest point of the castle. Did that mean the murder had happened right there?
In the corridors of Hogwarts, a young blonde woman with copper highlights was running as fast as she could.
- Has Hogwarts always had this many stairs?" she thought. She was climbing the endless spiral staircase of the Astronomy Tower four steps at a time. Time seemed to be working against her.
At the top, she heard voices and listened closely.
- Why didn't you stop me?
- I tried, Draco. Professor Snape, under my instructions, kept an eye on you... Miss Weasley as well, at Harry's request.
- Not on your orders; he promised my mother. As for Mio, don't believe everything she tells you!
- Of course, Draco, that's what they told you, but…
- They're double agents, you foolish old man, they're not working for you, no matter what you think!
- Well, it appears we differ on this point, Draco. It so happens that I trust Professor Snape and Miss Weasley.
- Well, then you're a fool!" scoffed Malfoy. "They both offered to help me. They wanted the glory for themselves... They wanted to get in on the action... 'What are you doing?' he asked me. 'Was that you with the necklace?' she would say! 'That was reckless, Draco; you could have ruined everything!' I didn't tell them what I was up to in the Room of Requirement. But Mio was always on my heels and found out everything. Another proof she's not on your side: she didn't tell you even though she knew!
At that moment, Mio chose to reveal herself. Draco quickly turned his head to see the young woman before turning back to the headmaster.
- Draco…, she called softly.
- What? Are you going to stop me? By tomorrow, Snape will wake up, and it will all be over, and he won't be the Dark Lord's favorite anymore; he'll be nothing compared to me!
- You don't mean that, Dray!
- STOP! You have no right to call me that! I mean every word! Neither you nor Snape are going to steal the glory of what I will have accomplished all by myself!
Draco was almost shouting, as if to convince himself! Mio moved closer to the two men.
- Very flattering," Dumbledore said softly. "It's always nice to see one's work appreciated, of course... but you must have had a partner... Someone in Hogsmeade who could have slipped the necklace to Katie…
Dumbledore closed his eyes again and nodded slightly as if he were about to fall asleep.
- … Of course... Rosmerta," he continued. "How long has she been under the Imperius Curse?
- You finally figured it out? Malfoy said sarcastically.
There was another cry from below, louder this time. Malfoy, looking nervous, glanced behind him before turning back to Dumbledore.
- So, poor Rosmerta was forced to hide in her own restroom to give the necklace to the first Hogwarts student who would enter alone? And the poisoned mead... Naturally, Rosmerta could have poured the poison for you before sending the bottle to Slughorn as if it were my Christmas present... Yes, very clever... very clever... That unfortunate Mr. Filch would never have thought to check a bottle from Rosmerta... Tell me, how did you contact her? I thought all means of communication between the school and the outside world were monitored.
- I used enchanted coins," Malfoy explained, as if he felt compelled to share, his wand hand shaking. "I had one, and she had the other, so I could send her messages...
- Isn't that the same communication method used last year by the group that called themselves Dumbledore's Army?
Dumbledore's tone was light, conversational, but Harry, hidden below, saw him slide down a few more inches against the rampart through a gap between the floorboards.
- Yeah, they gave me the idea," Malfoy smirked. "I also got the idea to poison the mead from that Mudblood Granger. I overheard her in the library saying Filch couldn't recognize potions…
- Draco!" Mio interrupted him.
- Please don't use that offensive word in front of me, Dumbledore cut him off.
Malfoy burst into a harsh laugh, looking at Mio.
- What? Does it bother you if I say Mudblood when I'm about to kill him?
- Yes, it bothers me, Mio replied sharply.
- Me too, added Dumbledore, and Harry saw his feet slide slightly as he tried to hold himself up. "As for killing me, Draco, you've had ample time to do so. We're alone. You could never have hoped to find me so defenseless, and yet you haven't acted…
Malfoy's face twisted involuntarily as if he'd tasted something very bitter.
- As for tonight's events, Dumbledore continued, I'm a bit perplexed... Did you know I'd left the school? Yes, of course, he answered himself, Rosmerta saw me leave; she must have warned you with those coins…
- Exactly, Malfoy confirmed, but she told me you just went for a drink and would be back.
Draco turned to Mio, trying to look threatening, and added, "And you? You didn't know anything? Really? I asked you! By Merlin, you're on MY side! You should be helping me!"
Mio Weasley said nothing, her face impassive like a perfect Slytherin, or rather, expressionless like a perfect Malfoy. And yet, at that moment, though her face showed nothing, she wanted to scream, "I am on YOUR side, and that's why I didn't tell you! To slow you down in this insane mission to kill him!" But no sound, no sign in her eyes. Without waiting for an answer, young Malfoy turned his attention back to the old man.
- I did have a drink, yes... And I came back... with difficulty… mumbled Dumbledore. So you set a trap for me?
- We put the Dark Mark above the tower, knowing you'd rush here to see who had been killed," Malfoy said. "And it worked!
- More or less… Dumbledore replied. Should I conclude no one was killed?
- Someone died, Malfoy announced, his voice almost an octave higher. One of your allies... I don't know who; it was dark... I stepped over the body... I was supposed to wait for you here, but your Order people got in the way…
- Yes, they do that often, remarked Dumbledore.
There was an explosion below, and the sound of screams louder than ever, as if there was fighting on the spiral staircase leading to the top of the tower. Harry's heart pounded silently in his invisible chest... Someone had died... Malfoy had stepped over a body... But who was it?
- There's not much time left, no matter what happens, Dumbledore said. So let's examine your options, Draco.
- My options? Malfoy exclaimed. I'm here with my wand in hand... I'm ready to kill you…
- My dear friend, let's not play games. If you intended to kill me, you would have done it as soon as you disarmed me; you wouldn't have wasted time chatting about the methods you used.
- I don't have any options!" Malfoy cried, looking as pale as Dumbledore. "I have to see this through! Otherwise, he'll kill me! And he'll kill my whole family!
- I understand the difficulty of your position, Dumbledore said. Why do you think I haven't tried to stop you sooner? Because I knew you would be killed if Lord Voldemort suspected I was onto you.
Draco and Mio grimaced at the name.
- I didn't want to talk about the mission he'd given you, even though I knew about it, to avoid him using Legilimency against you, Dumbledore continued. But now, at least, we can speak openly… No harm has been done; you haven't injured anyone, though you were lucky that your unintended victims survived… I can help you, Draco.
- No, you can't, Malfoy replied, his wand hand trembling violently. No one can. He ordered me to do it, or he'd kill me. I have no choice.
- Come to our side, Draco, and we'll hide you better than you could ever imagine. Plus, I can send Order members to get your mother tonight and hide her too. Right now, your father is safe at Azkaban; I can guarantee his safety there.
Malfoy shook his head, but he wasn't moving anymore.
- It seems you're not quite as opposed to the idea as you'd like us to believe.
The next chapter is coming very soon!