Malfoy to Marvolo

Chapter 24

Draco pulled Adele into an empty classroom as soon as breakfast was over. She ignored the tingling that trailed up her arm from his touch, it was no time to get side-tracked.

They both revealed their forearms as Draco hovered his wand over them, a puzzled look graced over his features.

"The verdict?" She asked, eyebrow raised.

"There's still power here but not nearly as strong. Your eyes have gone back to blue too, so something has clearly changed in us. I could be wrong, but my guess is the Dark Lord no longer has control over our souls here but the mark itself remains in flux, so it's completely dependent on what happens with Riddle's choices."

Adele nodded, pulling her sleeve back down.

"It makes sense. As soon as we landed I quite literally felt the darkness leave my body... It's why my natural traits are back, and the reason I've been sorted into Hufflepuff again."

They paused, shifting uncomfortably in the silence before Adele turned on her heel. Draco instantly grabbed her.

"Adele, wait. What... what's going on with us?"

"I don't know." She said honestly.

"Can we talk about it?"

She nodded, leaning against the door, fiddling with her hair.

"Okay, well... you lied to me. After you promised you wouldn't. It's like one minute I know who you are and the next I can't be sure. Do you not understand that we hurt them, Draco? I'm lucky G and Val are even talking to me at this point, what I did was inexcusable. I did it for you, I did all of it for you. Yes, I wanted to keep them safe at a distance from us, but look what that did! Cedric died because of our decision. This relationship just leads to disaster after disaster. I thought I didn't care, I was willing to accept the consequences because at least we were doing it together. Then you kept something from me, knowing I gave up everything for you, knowing I'd hate it. I'm sorry. I need to make it up to the girls and I need to get out of this."

"Need to get out of what?" Draco clenched his jaw and felt his body begin to tremble.

"This. We need to break up."

"So you're just going to give up on us? After everything we've been through? Look, I'm sorry alright? I didn't mean to lie to you, I didn't lie to you- I was trying to protect you! Adele, this is no reason for us break up. You can make it up to Val and Georgia, we both can. But let's just do that together, not separated. Don't do this. Tell me how to make it right and I will! I won't keep something from you again, please just trust me."

He was holding her arms desperately, willing for her to reason with him, begging her to to meet his eye. But she looked away, shrugging off his touch.

"If I do that, it's me I'll resent." She pressed her lips together and walked out before he could respond.

He watched the door close helplessly, feeling nothing but sorrow in the silence of the classroom.

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"Good morning," Announced Professor Lupter, scowling at Draco's tardy entrance.

He sat at an empty space next to one of the boys from Tom Riddle's gang, causing the group to share a few looks.

"Now class, in preparation for your N.E.W.T examinations we will be continuing with our study of the charm ascendio. Seeing as we have new students with us, we will just need to ensure that each one has a partner who can break down the process. Mr Belmont, if you would be so kind as to move to..."