𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐲

two

"WHAT made you do it?" Amber Potter's question jolted Draco out of his thinking. The two were in Amber's room, Amber reading Hogwarts: A History, and Draco writing on parchment.

"Made me do what, Potter?" Draco scowled. 

"Become a Death Eater," Amber asked. 

"I'm on the winning side," Draco said. 

Amber snorted. "Who told you that?" Amber asked. "And do you actually believe that?"

Draco hesitated. And then he said, "I don't have to answer you or your silly questions, Potter." 

"But you just did," Amber said. 

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EVER since that talk, Amber had planted doubts in Draco's mind. Did he really believe that the Dark Lord would win? Or was Draco just fooling himself, only wanting approval from his parents?

"Do you know Regulus Arcturus Black?" Amber asked, looking up from the book she was reading. 

"He's my mum's cousin," Draco replied. "Why?" 

"He's a lot like you," Amber said. 

"Oh?" Draco asked, his eyebrow raised. "How so?" 

"Conflicted," Amber said. "Sirius talked a lot about him." 

"Oh yes, the blood-traitor and mass murderer," Draco said. "Why should you believe a word he ever said?"

"Things are never how they appear," Amber said. 

"All I need to know is you've gone insane," Draco replied. 

"Comes with the Potter name," Amber replied. "And you're not one to speak." 

Draco was conflicted. And he knew he shouldn't be doubting the Dark Lord's plans. But somehow, Amber's words digged at his mind, making him doubt everything he'd ever learned.  

THEODORE Nott, at first glance, seemed like a typical Slytherin. A Marked Death Eater, a rich pureblood, cocky attitude. However, Theodore Nott hated House stereotypes for plenty of reasons. One, Theodore Nott was Amber Potter's best friend, and the majority of Slytherins were trying to kill her and her brother. Two, although he might've been Marked, he was a spy for Dumbledore's Army. And three, just because he was Slytherin, did not mean he was evil. Sure, the most evil wizards had been produced from the House of the Snakes, that didn't mean that all of them were under Voldemort's influence. And finally, the House of the noble Salazar Slytherin had been told they were evil for so long, the students of his house started to believe it.

After Dumbledore's death, Hogwart's had spiraled into chaos, ruled by the Carrows and Snape. And not even the Death Eaters were unscathed. 

"Any word on Amber or Harry?" Ginny said, leaping up at Theo's arrival to the Room of Requirement. 

"Unfortunately," Theodore sighed, sitting on one of the couches. 

"What do you mean?" Neville Longbottom asked, walking up next to Ginny. Between the three of them, alongside Luna Lovegood, were the de facto leaders of Dumbledore's Army, at least until Amber and Harry were able to return.

"Word in the Death Eater network is that Amber Potter was caught and was taken to Malfoy Manor," Theodore said. "Draco confirmed it." 

"As in Draco Malfoy?" Neville Longbottom said in a worried tone. 

"And what about Harry, Ron and Hermione?" Ginny asked. 

"What other Draco do we know? Draco is guarding her from escaping," Theodore said bitterly, missing his friend. "And the other three are safe, for now." 

"Thank you, Nott," Ginny said. 

"I'm only here for Amber," Theodore said. And they all knew it was true. 

At the age of eleven, Amber Potter walked into his life, and to this day refused to leave it, even on his lowest days. If it wasn't for Amber, Theodore Nott may as well been the perfectly molded 'evil Slytherin' that everyone else saw him for. Amber saw right through it, and Theodore was thankful that she saw the real him. And Theodore hoped that Amber would be able to crack through Draco Malfoy's walls and make Draco see that there was hope. Because before Amber, he had lost all hope as well. 

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okay. can i just mention how i absolutely HATE house stereotypes! like ARGH. not all slytherins are evil. LIKE, PeOpLe, get real. peter pettigrew was a gryffindor. and he betrayed the potters. rEmEmBer? and snape ultimately did the right thing in the end. and draco? he had his heart in the right place, just not his head. okeh? good. anyways, imma gonna stop ranting now! hope u enjoyed this chapter of locked! luv you all, lizzy
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