Hidden Feelings - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter Sixty-Five

"You must prove yourself if you want to live." He steps back and lowers himself into a seat. "You must attend our meeting tonight. There, you will be given your first task."

I stare at him with narrowed eyes, adrenaline rushing through me in all my anger, fear, hatred for this situation. "No."

His eyebrows raise as I push myself to my feet. "No?"

"No." I take a deep breath, shaking my head. "Never. I will never serve the Dark Lord."

I don't think I ever really imagined I'd reach this point. Not when I saw the dark mark on my arm, not when the others screamed at me that I must join. Not even when I gave in, desperate to save those I love.

"How are you so calm?" he whispers.

I exhale shakily after a moment. "I think I've been denying it so long it won't ever feel real."

"It will. It will when you start."

It doesn't feel real until it's happening.

"Elizabeth?"

He'll be with you the entire time. You're doing it for him. For your father.

"Yes. I'm ready," I say.

It doesn't feel real until we've broken into this poor man's house, and I feel Draco freeze beside me.

"I came here to make sure you're safe. And that you're okay. First tasks are hard, no matter how simple they seem."

"Draco?" I whisper, tightening my grip on his hand. I hold my lit wand up into the darkness, illuminating the color draining from his face.

"Elizabeth," he murmurs, his eyes staring down the long hallway.

"Are you okay?"

He doesn't respond, almost comatose in his appearance before he shakes his head ever so slightly. My heart skips a beat, my fingers tightening around my wand.

"Draco, we have to-we're in, we have to-"

"HEY!"

I gasp softly, dropping Draco's hand. A bright flash of red before me triggers my arm to jerk up as I shout "protego." I catch sight of the target; I didn't bother learning his name, as studying his face was agonizing enough. This is certainly him; his long, brown beard gives him away. In a swift, practiced motion, I disarm him as Draco bumps against the door behind me.

The man stumbles back as I catch his wand, the anger in his bright eyes melting into fear before the light of my wand. "What the hell are y-"

"I'm sorry," I breathe out, struggling to pocket his wand. "I-I-stupefy!"

He collapses faster than I can blink. I touch my hand to my chest, my entire body numb with the adrenaline that slips from my body as I realize I just knocked out an innocent man. I'm going to bring him to them. To Voldemort.

"Michael? Are you-"

My head shoots up to see a woman standing at the end of the hall, frozen.

"What did you do?" she whispers, her eyes flickering between me and the unconscious body of the traitor. Michael.

"I-" I choke out, my hand raising to touch my throat. Oh god, I can't breathe. I can't breathe.

"Michael," she cries out, dropping to the floor beside him. She presses her ear to his chest, gasping for breath. "Oh, thank god. Thank you, god."