Cut.

Chapter 17 | Nicole

Edited: 2/8/2021

Nicole.

I stormed through the entrance hall, feeling my throat threaten to close.

I clapped a hand over my mouth as I swayed in my walk and found myself with my back against the wall. I felt my knees go weak and found myself sliding down the wall, as I reached the floor, I pulled my knees to my chest. 

The tears were too heavy to hold back. 

I had just lost my best mate, the only one that kept me "alive" through most of this bullshit.

It was because of that day I ease dropped on that conversation. 

If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't be in this situation, but something told me that that was a lie. 

I should have just told her I overheard everything, it's not like I can't take her, let alone a few Deatheaters - but I was hoping our friendship was that valuable that she would take it upon herself to tell me what was going on, especially given her motivation. 

Sure, I was practically doing the same shit - but this was different.

She knew what I was.

I "don't know" she was a Deatheater.

I "don't know" about her and Elena trying to kill me.

I swallowed hard, feeling my tears begin to dry. 

Amy was trying to distract Harry, which had to have meant that the Deatheaters were planning on doing something.

I looked around and thought about what Dumbledore had said within my first few years here;

"Voldemort himself, not even his followers, they're called Deatheaters, could penetrate these walls...no one, but myself and some Professors can apparate in and out of these walls, so Hogwarts is the safest place on earth..."

My eyes widened.

They weren't aiming at Harry, whatever they were doing - or Amy would have orders to take him out. I'm pretty sure that isn't the case, but I'm a threat to whatever they were doing.

I swallowed hard again.

Dumbledore, they were aiming for Dumbledore - the Minister was right. I thought he was just drunk again.

"Fuck." I whispered under my breath.

There had to have been someone...a younger Deatheater, someone around Amy that is, doing something...in order to get them in this castle.

Could it be...Draco? 

Is that why the Minister wanted me to get close to him, not anyone else in that Slytherin line up?

I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead against my knees.

I let out a sigh of frustration.

I felt my body struggle to breath through my nerves.

"Black?" came a familiar voice, and I rose my gaze to see Elena.

"What the fuck do you want?" I asked, rising to my feet, before she could bend down to talk to me. There was weird moment of silence between us as I straightened my clothes from sitting on the floor. I cleared my throat, "What's up with you and Amy? Your sudden interesting in standing the presence of Gryffindors?"

Elena rolled her eyes with a small smile. 

"Look, I know that we never saw eye to eye, but Amy is just caught between this - " she started, but I shook my head.