January 12, 1997
She awoke with a burning sensation down her dry throat. Fluttering her eyes open, she was met with hooded grey eyes staring right back at her. She flinched and grasped her shirt.
"Jesus, Malfoy. You don't have to stare me down like that." Malfoy smiled cheekily and held onto her hand. "How did I get here? I was expecting to be left in the Three Broomsticks."
Malfoy bit his lip and shrugged. "Nott carried you the whole way here. He told me to carry you but I said I was too exhausted to do so."
She frowned for a second then cupped his left cheek. "Are you okay? You can talk to me, you know that right?" Malfoy nodded and forced a smiled onto his face. Just then Nott walked in and she beamed.
"Nott, why would you carry me all the way here? You could have just woke me up and I at least would have tried to help with my weight."
He stood there with his eyes furrowed and mouth opened. "What are you- OUCH...um well, you know I've got strength. My legs did hurt a bit but I was alright. It's no biggie." Nott looked down at Malfoy at raised an eyebrow.
She nodded and looked into her purse. Malfoy glanced at her then looked at Nott. He mouthed 'I don't want to tell her'. Nott then mouthed 'Why?' Malfoy frowned. 'Just keep it that way.'
When she looked back at them, she smiled and looked wearily at them. "Shall we go now?" Malfoy got up and helped her down the bed. The three walked out of the hospital wing and saw Madam Pomfrey walking towards the wing.
Her eyes widened and she quickly grabbed the two's arms and pulled them into the nearest room she could find. Closing the door, she heard Madam Pomfrey's footsteps become faint. She dropped her shoulders, with a sigh and turned around.
She gasped when she saw what was in front. Without knowing, she had pulled the lot of them into the Room of Requirement. She looked around, walking slowly and cautiously. "I came here....before."
Malfoy turned to her swiftly. "You've come here before? When?"
"I've come here last year- multiple times with Harry and the others. For our lessons.............when Umbridge refused to teach us what we had to learn for the Dark Arts" she brushed her hand on the table and came to abrupt stop. "Then once with Christian...when he first arrived here."
Nott and Malfoy eyed each other with unreadable expressions. Nott gulped and looked at Rye who was now standing in front of a large cabinet. His eyes widened along with Malfoy's. "Come on, Brooks. Let's get going."
She stood her ground and examined the cabinet. "I know this...thing. I saw one just like this in Borgin and Burkes. Malfoy.., you know about this....don't you?"
Malfoy's heart stopped and he felt like his whole world came crushing down. His breath hitched and his jaw clenched. Nott moved nervously around, in his standing. "What- how am I supposed to know about this rubbish?"
"Harry told me he saw you...in Borgin and Burke's- with your mother. He reckons that you wanted to buy the twin cabinet there. Said that there were a bunch of others..." her voice was now cold and stern.
She turned herself to face Malfoy and took few steps towards him. "-he mentioned- from what I remember....that they were all Death Eaters. Such as Fenrir Greyback." Malfoy's breathing became rapid with each step she took.
Nott was panicking on the side, fiddling with his fingers. He bit his lip and chuckled nervously. "Come on, Brooks. I reckon we're gonna be late for class. Let's go." He hissed. But she took no notice to his words.
Her eyes were locked onto Malfoy with a hint of desperation. "Please be honest with me, Draco. Please. Tell me that you have nothing to do with those foul monsters. Tell me that the chain in your blood ended with Lucius. Please tell me." She now looked as though she was about to cry.
Malfoy gazed at her with a deep scowl. His eyes tightened and he opened his mouth. "I have nothing to do with them." She sighed and smiled up at him. She drought a hand to his cheek and pecked his lips, holding that there for seconds.
"Thank you" she whispered. She took one long glance at the cabinet and retreated her way back out the room. Nott followed but halted when Malfoy caught his arm.
"Potter knows" he said in a shaky voice. "Potter knows everything. I should've known that filthy git would find out. I reckon he'd have told his pesky two servants, as well. We have to do something about it."
Nott stared back at him with a viscous grin. "It's not like we can go an' try killing him, can we?"
Malfoy furrowed his eyebrows and frowned at him. "Are you out of you bloody mind, mate?" Nott shrugged and pulled his hand out of Malfoy's grip. "It isn't our job to..kill....Potter. I just have to fix this bloody cabinet and you just have..." Malfoy paused at glanced at the door. "You just have to do what you have to do."
Nott scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Master" he said, in Dobby's voice. Malfoy looked at him in disbelief and punched his shoulder. Nott chuckled. The two walked out and walked the opposite way of where there class was.
"Where the hell are you guys going? I remember that Snape's isn't that way" they halted at her voice and turned around with a cheeky smile.
She waved her wand and pointed it at them. "Ah, Brooks. Always trying to buzz into our lives, huh?" Nott said, ruffling her hair- scrunching his nose. Malfoy grinned softly. "Let's head on to Snape's then, shall we?"
Malfoy nodded and walked behind her. "You guys are ought to failing the coming exams." Nott snarled.
"Exams aren't until June."
She shit him an offended glance. "So? It'll feel like tomorrow once it's here."
Nott looked at Malfoy but Malfoy just stared at her side profile in awe. He knew that he wouldn't be able to do that for the next few months. Maybe even for the rest of the year.
