Riptides (Fred Weasley Fan Fiction)

Chapter 15

Paramore - Hard Times

"Lyssie, will you go for a walk with me?" Draco asked Lyssie towards the end of September. Their relationship improved a lot throughout the last month and it seemed that they both enjoyed each other's company.

"Sure," she answered and got up from the sofa.

Draco used to be a mystery for her. He was this secretive character, always somewhere in the background, who didn't talk too much. He always seemed to be occupied by his own thoughts and didn't engage in their conversations. However, when there were just two of them, he seemed to open up. He even smiled from time to time. All this didn't make Pansy happy, but Lyssie kept telling her that she has nothing to worry about.

They walked outside, observing the horizon. It's been raining the whole week and it was the first afternoon with some sunshine. It was chilly, though, so Lyssie rolled down the sleaves of her sweater. They walked on wet, freshly cut grass. Is smelled amazing.

"Did your dad finally answer?" Draco asked.

Lyssie shook her head sadly. It's been almost a month since she sent the letter to her dad, and there was no answer whatsoever. It seemed that the owl Fred sent later didn't change anything either. This was surprising, to say the least. Fred's words must have caused some kind of reaction but for some reason there was no reply in writing, and it worried her.

"He will eventually, I'm sure," she said and forced a smile.

She tried to think of all kind of excuses for Anthony, but none of them seemed right. Maybe he was busy working? But he would have surely found a minute to write her a couple of words. Maybe the owl got lost, as Fred suggested? One could have gotten lost but two? Maybe he was angry with her and didn't want to reply? No, he would never act like that. It would be too childish.

"I... don't think he will right now," Draco confessed. He seemed to struggle to say it. Lyssie stopped and looked at him shocked.

"What do you mean?"

"There is something I have to tell you, Lyssie," he said.

They walked down to the lake and were now standing on the shore, in the exact same place she met up with Fred for the first time. The air near the lake was way colder than up along the castle, and Lyssie started to shiver.

"My father sent me a letter the other day," he continued hesitantly. "He asked me not to tell you, but I can't hide it from you. I have been thinking about it a lot and I can't hide it anymore."

"Just say it already!" she urged.

"Your father is kept hostage," he said and quickly realized how stupid he sounded.

"By whom?"

"By Lord Voldemort."

"What are you talking about? It is a joke? If it is, I'm going to kill you," she said shaking. "Who is this Voldemort? And why would be kidnap my father? Tell me. Right now."

Draco grabbed her hand to calm her down, but she didn't allow him to do so. Malfoy knew that he had to tell her the full story now. On the other hand, he couldn't believe he had to be the one to do it. How could no body tell her for so long? Everyone in the wizarding world knew who Lord Voldemort was.

"He was a very powerful wizard," Draco said. "Powerful, but evil. Long ago, he decided he was going to clean the world from all muggle-born wizards and everyone who opposed him. He had a lot of people who worked with him, but it turned out to be not enough. He disappeared fifteen years ago and people say that he won't come back. But I'm sure he will. He already did. I'm telling you only what I've heard from my father."