Secrets (D.M)

carrow

A week after Adeline had written to Draco, he still hadn't responded. Maybe he was tired of her.

She was sat in the Great Hall with Neville.

"Stop worrying!" Neville wrapped his arms around a dull faced Adeline. "If he's ignoring you, he isn't worth your time and wasted parchment!"

"You're right. I shouldn't be worrying.. But I am."

"He didn't write back. It's his loss!"

"What do you mean by that?"

Neville's eyes widened, realising what he said. "Noo. It came across wrong, sorry."

Adeline smiled softly. It's alright. I need to forget it."

Neville nodded. "Right, come on! We need to head to Dark Arts..."

Adeline followed him across the castle.

"D'ya think the Carrow's are bad people." Neville asked.

"Obviously. They're death eaters!" Adeline bit her lip.

"They haven't made us do anything bad, yet, though."

"Key word, yet." Adeline pointed out.

"Right. Everyone! We're going to be practising the Imperius curse." Carrow told everyone.

"But- That's unforgivable?" Adeline gasped.

"You will not speak unless told to!"

Adeline looked down. "We spoke to soon, Nev."

Neville nodded, and had a look of pain in his eyes.

Carrow brought the first years in. "You'll be performing it on them."

"I'm not doing that." Adeline folds her arms.

"You'll do what I say." Carrow frowned. "I don't hear anyone else complaining!"

"I'm not doing it either." Neville spoke up.

Everyone looked at Neville as if to say 'did Neville really talk back to a teacher?'

"You can't make us perform an unforgivable curse on innocent children." Adeline frowns.

"I think you'll find I can. You'll do it or there'll be consequences. I'm the teacher."

"If you were a proper teacher, you wouldn't want your students being hurt."

"They wont be hurt. It's the Imperius curse."

"Still, they're just kids."

"Not exactly. Eleven or twelve years old, this lot."

"Still young."

"In that case, you're young too! So I can control you."

"No. I'm of age. It's not even compulsory for me to be here right now." Adeline picked her bag up. "Nor anyone else in my year."

"Well, you must be here. As you're a student and there are bad things happening to people at the moment!"

"Because of your type." Adeline glared.

"Leave my classroom this instant."

"Gladly!"

"And I'll be speaking to Professor Snape about this, mark my words."

Adeline left the classroom, there was discussion as she left.

Neville looked at her shocked.

* * *

"Adelineeee" Pansy ran up to her. "I can't believe what you did!"

"What do you mean?"

"The Dark Arts situation!" Pansy smiled.

"How do you know? You weren't even the-"

"Everyone knows. Everyone's talking about it!" Pansy explains. "No one thought someone like you would-"

"What do you mean someone like me?" Adeline frowned.

"Well, you know.. You're not exactly known for being a rule breaker, are you?"

"I suppose not. It's not a big deal though. I just didn't want to perform an Imperius curse on a first year. They're innocent."

"Yeah." Pansy shrugged. "But you're the only one who refused."

"Neville did."

"But he still did it in the end."

"Did he? I thought he wouldn't.."

"Doesn't matter. They're not hurt are they?"

"It still doesn't make it alright!"

"Calm down, Addy. It's over now."

Adeline nodded.

"We're going home for Christmas."

"Okay, that's fine." Adeline paced her thoughts for a second. "Do you think they'll allow me to visit Draco?"

"Should do, why?"

"Well, only 'cos he hasn't replied to any of my letters.. And truth to be told, I'm worried about him."

"Stop always worrying about him. I'm sure he's not even worried about you!"

Adeline bit her lip as her eyes filled with tears. 'Suck it up' she told herself, holding in the tears. What if Pansy was right, though? What if Draco wasn't even thinking about her?

"Sorry- that came out wrong.. He's probably thinking about you! But stop worrying about him. He'll be fine."

Adeline nodded again.

"This is Draco we're talking about."

* * *