Slytherin's angel

Chapter 22- The aftershock

Draco stared up into his cold eyes, not sure if the stinging of his arm outweighed his fear anymore.

"There is...one more thing." Voldemort drawled.

Draco could feel himself sinking in his chair.

"To be a Death Eater, means to travel as a Death Eater." He started. Draco's mind was reeling. How would he travel like a Death Eater? Would he strap a belt around his waist containing dark weapons, to go out and start killing people with?

"If you would demonstrate, Bellatrix." Voldemort turned his attention to her. Bellatrix's dark eyes glittered with delight from attention from her master. She lowered her head, giving Draco a twisted smile. Bellatrix made a move to spin in a circle, but instead, she turned into a dark cloud, traveling with lightening fast speed, reappearing next to her nephew.

"Boo." She breathed in Dracio's ear as she solidified once more.

One side of Voldemort's thin mouth tugged into a smirk.

"Death Eaters move quick, quiet, without being seen." He narrowed his eyes at him, "It is why we are so effective. We strike when they least expect it. No other wizard can do this; disappear into the shadows as we do. I am the only one in the world that can bestow such a gift."

"And how do I learn this, my Lord?" Draco asked, hoping this was the last thing he needed to understand before he was released.

"You already have, dear boy." Voldemort gave him a fanged grin, "Now, you need only to practice."

Draco looked at his aunt, slightly confused.

"The Mark." She pointed to his arm in an airy tone. "It will teach you all, Draco."

She came around to the front of his chair, grabbing him by the arms and pulling him up. Draco clenched his teeth when she pulled at his right hand, the adjoining side of his body screamed in pain.

"Watch again." Bellatrix told him. Draco watched as she turned into a dark cloud again, zipping into the opposite corner of the dining hall.

Draco had many questions, but didn't want to seem stupid. Was it merely thought that led you to become smoke? Or was it the turning motion?

He felt twenty-two pairs of eyes staring at him. Draco couldn't think of anything more petrifying than this. He looked to Bellatrix, his only comfort.

"Do it, Draco." Bellatrix pressed.

Draco took a breath, knowing he would have to think with all his might and hope for the best.

He started to turn, just as his aunt did and thought about transporting to her. He couldn't quite describe the feeling, other than he felt like he was floating. He couldn't see himself, but he sped to Bellatrix in a matter of seconds. The floating feeling was gone, and he solidified once more, stumbling to regain his footing. Bellatrix gave him a dark smile.

Draco looked back at Voldemort, hoping that he had performed adequately.

Voldemort nodded slowly.

"You are ready."


***

Draco assumed he was supposed to wait for his father and aunt, so he watched as everyone else filed out, the sound of the fireplace crackling weakly as the others disappeared to other locations. He shuffled anxiously as he watched Voldemort sit at the opposite end of the table, Nagini slithering around his shoulders once more.

"Come, Draco." Lucius called.

He felt a gentle grip on his shoulder. Bellatrix seemed even more crazed up close. Her lively eyes were outlined in heavy black makeup, stark against her pale skin. A grey streak rested on top of a mountain of curly, pitch black hair. Most would have been unnerved by her appearance, but Draco was strangely calmed by it.

"I think I am more than capable of escorting my own son back to school, Bellatrix." Lucius sneered at her, squaring his shoulders even though he already towered over her.

She narrowed her eyes, giving him a sly smile, "Don't you think Narcissa may need tending to?"

Lucius curled his lip. He had been defeated; there was nothing he could say, for he knew Bellatrix had already found the situation odd. He looked at Draco, as if he was about to make some comment, perhaps about her, but decided against it. He turned away, making his way down into his study.

"Come, darling." She cooed, turning him towards the fireplace.


***

They stood at the gates once more, waiting for Snape. Apparently, Draco wasn't as important to escort back, Bellatrix being his only companion. It was very early in the morning, well past midnight but far from dawn. There was a chilling breeze coming down from the mountains, stinging Draco's cheek. His right forearm throbbed dully.

"Slimy bastard." Bellatrix cursed, "He would make us wait."

Draco didn't respond, not wanting to stir her anger further, but she wasn't done.

"Where is your mother, Draco?"

Draco was silent for a moment, but he couldn't help but look into her eyes.

"I know she's not at the Manor." Bellatrix drawled.

Draco normally wouldn't have found a woman of such small stature intimidating, but he knew better than to comply with her. He was debating whether or not to speak.

"Your loyalty is to your mother first! She gave life to you! She's the only one that cares about you!" Bellatrix hissed, stepping closer to his face.

"Calm down." Draco snapped, "She's safe."

"Where is she?" Bellatrix hissed, clawing at his cloak.

Draco shrugged her off, nodding towards the castle.

Bellatrix looked horrified, glaring up at the castle, angry that it was keeping her sister away from her.

"What did you expect, Bellatrix?" Draco looked down at her. "You know what he does to her."

Bellatrix was silent, shaking with anger.

"Good for nothing Malfoy." She spat on the ground, turning to him, threatening, "If you ever hit her, I'll-''

"You really think I would hit her!" Draco retorted hotly, "I'm the only one keeping her safe! It's more than you've been doing!"

Draco watched as her mind started to reel, wondering if she had gotten past the point of yelling and was ready to hex him into oblivion for talking back.

"My quarrel isn't with you." She sneered, calming down considerably, looking back at the castle. "I will have my revenge."

Draco scoffed, "Wouldn't your Master be angry with you? Offing one of his own?"

He knew he was pushing his luck severely when he mentioned Voldemort. Draco was surprised when Bellatrix answered, quite calmly, "Your father is of no use to the Dark Lord anymore, but Lucius can't seem to get that through his thick skull. He could care less if...Lucius disappeared."

She looked at Draco, staring at him hard, as if he was supposed to reject something happening to his father.

Better you than me, Draco thought, I don't want to go Azkaban.

"I hope...you do." Draco was surprised by the sound of his voice. He shuffled his feet awkwardly.

Bellatrix nodded once and turned her gaze back up towards the castle.

"I-I need you to take her," Draco started, "she'll just go back to the Manor if you don't."

Bellatrix huffed, shaking her head angrily, "Such insolence."

"Will you do it?" Draco asked hoarsely, "You can't let her go back."

She nodded slowly, the flickering lights of Hogwarts mesmerizing her, "When does she get out?"

"A day or two, at the most," Draco answered, "they won't keep her forever."

Bellatrix was silent for a moment, but nodded. He waited for an ultimatum, some sort of forced repayment, but instead, she rested her head against the cold iron bars, grasping them with her hands, her knuckles descending into an even paler shade of white.

"Does it still hurt?" She asked him.

Draco winced as he thought about his arm. It was dull, but bothered him immensely.

"When will it stop?" He asked her.

Bellatrix shrugged, "You'll always feel it. We're connected to his thoughts; the pain is a reflection of his emotions."

She turned to him, extending her hand. Hesitantly, Draco offered her his left arm.

Pushing the sleeve up, she pointed her crooked wand at the red skin, "Episkey!"

Draco winced as the Mark grew hot, then icy cold within seconds. After a moment, the pain dulled, throbbing weakly, almost unnoticeably.

"Thank...you." Draco frowned, completely taken aback by her kindness.

Bellatrix looked back towards the castle, yelling across the gate, "You slimy git! How long did you plan to make us wait?"

"Now, now, Bellatrix." Snape's cold voice pierced the darkness, "There is no need to be so crass."

Bellatrix gave him a cold stare as the gates swung open. Draco stepped through, but she grabbed his sleeve.

"You take care of your mother and I'll take care of your father." She hissed at him.

Draco didn't know what to say, hoping that a curt nod would suffice. She let go of him, turning away and disappearing into the darkness.

"Come, Mr. Malfoy, I am sure you are very tired." Snape drawled, leading him back to the castle.


***

Draco sat there forever, debating if he should wake Ashley or not. It was half past three in the morning and he was exhausted. All he wanted was sleep. He didn't want to be slammed with the many questions that he knew she would have. Although she would be angry with him for not waking her, he decided that sleeping was the lesser of the two evils.

His bed never seemed so inviting then it did that morning. He stared at it, feeling as if it was miles away. His feet felt like a thousand pounds each. There was no way he could physically make it.

Draco wondered if he should fly over there, but wondered whether basking in his new found Death Eater ability was bad.

Now that he wasn't being watched, he could understand the tactics of how the mechanism worked. Was it movement or just pure thought? Draco closed his eyes, thinking hard about his bed. But nothing happened. Draco opened his eyes, jerking his body in a movement that mimicked his aunt...but he still remained firmly planted on the ground.

So, he concluded, it was a combination of both. Draco thought about his bed and made the turning movement. As he completed his turn, he didn't feel his feet hit the ground. The light, airy sensation of floating overcame him. He hovered there; surprised that he didn't have to be constantly moving. Draco looked over to his closed bathroom door, wondering what he looked like.

Testing the boundaries of his newfound ability, Draco flew over to the door with great speed. He lowered himself to the bottom of it, debating on whether or not he should try and slip underneath the crack. Taking a chance, he floated underneath it, finding himself on the other side; he turned his black mass towards the full length mirror.

It was terrifying, for his face was not staring back at him, but a dense, hovering black cloud. He thought about turning back and solidified, just as quickly as he thought about it. Draco frowned, looking at his hands and feet, almost expecting there to be some body part missing. But he was fully intact.

He looked at himself hard in the mirror. He was paler than usual, his eyes had a tired look to them and the dark bags forming under his lids didn't help him in the least bit. His blond locks were unkempt and lackluster.

What had he become?


***

He didn't even remember going to bed that night, as he awoke to the bright sunlight illuminating the room, preventing him from sleeping any longer. The blood red Mark stood out against his white sheets. Draco covered it quickly, not wishing to see it any longer. The pain had subsided, but he figured there would always be the faintest throb to remind him of what he had done.

He quickly dressed, wanting to see his mother above all others. Making sure to wear a long-sleeved shirt, even though it was the middle of March, he grabbed his wand and left his room.

It felt like everyone knew what he had done, every stare or glance that was thrown his way made him pull at his sleeve self-consciously, constantly worrying whether any part was showing. He tried to act as normally as possible, nodding to his fellow Slytherins and glaring at anyone who wasn't.

As he entered the Hospital Wing, he noticed that his mother looked much livelier, flipping through the Daily Prophet, her eyebrow knitted in concern, as if she was searching for another depressing story. She was wearing a fresh outfit that comprised of her usual black and makeup covered what was left of her bruises.

Narcissa looked up, her neutral mood becoming suddenly melancholy.

He gave her a weak smile, squeezing her hard as she encompassed him in her embrace. He had never missed her so much than he did in the last few hours. Her absence at his induction was unnerving; he had never been without her in the Manor.

"H-how are you?" She lowered her voice, pushing him to set down on her cot.

He shrugged.

She looked down at his covered arm, "Let me see."

Draco looked hesitantly around the Hospital Wing, which was vacant of any other patients and Madame Pomfrey, who was clinking around in the medicine cabinet in the back. Draco turned back to her, offering her his arm. Gingerly, Narcissa pushed back the sleeve. She gasped at the cherry red skin surrounding the mark, her cool fingers grazing the area around it.

She made a motion to touch the skull, but Draco caught her hand, "Don't. I don't know what would happen."

Narcissa nodded, extracting her hand quickly, "You're right. Forgive me."

Draco was silent for a moment and then told her, "Bellatrix is worried about you."

Narcissa narrowed her eyes, "You didn't tell her anything did you?"

"I didn't have to," Draco replied, "she already knew."

Narcissa huffed, but knew she couldn't get angry with him. Draco was the only protection she had.

"Father told everyone that you were sick." Draco narrowed his eyes in anger at Lucius' lie. "Doesn't that bother you?"

Narcissa shrugged, "What would you have me do, Draco? Leave? I haven't ever worked a day in my life. I can't support myself."

Draco retorted, "Stay with Aunt Bell! He wouldn't come looking for you there...she's crazy."

Narcissa gave him a tired smile, "Maybe."

"I want you to stay there."

"Have you shown Ashley?"

"Don't change the subject."

"Draco." Her voice faltered, "He's all I've ever known."

Draco narrowed his eyes at her excuse, "You have no idea what's waiting for you if you could just get away from him."

"That's because nothing is, dear." She retorted, shaking her head, "I am growing older. I'm not like you, with a full life ahead of me."

Draco was growing frustrated at her willingness to be defeated. Narcissa recognized this, and in a vain attempt to smooth things over, she touched his cheek, saying softly, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Well, you better hurry up." Draco snapped, "They're not going to let you stay here forever."

Draco rose in anger, wishing that she could be stronger about this. Narcissa gave him a sad smile, looking up and giving no objection as he stormed out.


***

The longer he neglected Ashley, the more he was getting in trouble. He knew this, but after the argument with his mother, he wasn't willing to get into another fight. Instead, he decided to make his way to the old tree by the lake. If she found him there, he would see her, if not, then he would go see her on his own terms.

Laughter and loud chatter filled his ears as the sun greeted him with his blinding light. Morning dew kissed his shoes, making the black leather dazzle in the afternoon light. The sky was blue and cloudless. The lake glittered like crushed diamonds. Everything was happy and light around him. Dressed all in black, he wondered how obnoxiously he stuck out.

He leaned up against the tree, closing his eyes and soaking up the sun. He had to admit that the warmth felt good. He felt oddly clammy ever since last night. Had the Mark robbed him of all human warmth too?

He wasn't by himself long before he felt a soft weight sit beside him.

"Go on," He huffed, "you might as well get your lecture over."

"What was the thing I told you to remember?" Her voice was soft, catching Draco completely off guard.

"What?" He growled. He hardly thought this was the time to play mind games.

"Before you left," She started, "I told you to remember a word so I would know it was the real you."

She stared at him, knowing that it was really him, even though he may not remember the word. She asked, however, to stall time, allowing her to think of the oncoming situation.

"Pineapple." He huffed.

There was a moment's silence.

"I wasn't going to." Ashley's voice sounded hurt. "Lecture you, I mean. I knew you wouldn't come and see me. I wouldn't want to see anyone either."

A pang of pity started to eat his way at him, but he remained silent.

"Draco?" She asked cautiously. "I love you."

Those three words nearly broke his heart. How could he be so cold to her? She was the only one who had the right to leave him, yet there she was, trying to comfort him when it should've been the other way around.

Thoughts of his mother crossed his mind, but it would have to be the one thing he kept from her. Ashley would go bezerk if he confessed that his father was even a darker monster than she imagined. Even though she was the only one that could take that sort of load off of him, he knew he couldn't share it with her. It was a burden her had to bare alone.

Instead, Draco opened his eyes, wrapping her tightly into his arms. The familiar smell of vanilla flooded his nose. It was a welcome change to the damp, dingy smell of his dining room, which he was sure Fenrir had a major contribution to.

"What happened?" She asked after several minutes, knowing the coast was clear to start interrogating.

Draco recounted everything, from the moment at the gate, to his conversation with Bellatrix, careful to leave out the encounter with his mother earlier that morning.

"What do you think they'll do?" She asked.

Draco shrugged, "They'll probably stay at the Manor for a while. I'm not sure."

"Well, you certainly can't go back." Ashley told him, "Don't you think they'll be there for spring break?"

Draco hadn't thought about it and wondered if they had made his house into a permanent hiding place.

"Well, do you propose I come with you?" He asked, "There might be people still watching your house."

Ashley shook her head, "It's been protected by the Ministry."

"Against what perhaps, Death Eaters?" He narrowed his eyes.

Ashley went silent, shifting uncomfortably. He watched as she gazed out onto the lake, biting her lip.

A flood of emotion overcame the young Veela, looking back out to the lake as tears started to pool in her eyes.

Draco huffed apologetically, thumbing roughly at her cheek, "Ashley, don't."

She shrugged uncomfortably, "The situation's tough, that's all."

Draco nodded in agreement. What if he had just been normal, with a normal childhood? Would she be significantly happier? Would they even be together at all?

She played with the buckle on her shoes. She wiped a tear away angrily, frustrated at her lack of control over her emotions.

It was an awkward situation, knowing she was sitting next to a Death Eater. That she was in love with a Death Eater, a group who had chased and terrorized her family from France into England.

But he wasn't a Death Eater in the sense of the words, was he? Wasn't he just Draco, the young man she was so consumed by?

"Can I see it?" She asked carefully.

He sighed, knowing that the question was coming. He lifted his arm, pushing back the cloth tenderly. It was less swollen and red, but the Mark was as clear as the moment he got it.

Her reaction was the exact opposite of what he expected. Although at this point, he wasn't sure why he had expected her to react as anyone else would. She stared at it curiously, like she was trying to decipher the meaning. Draco expected her to want to touch it, but she didn't make the slightest move to. He lowered the sleeve as Ashley nodded for him to cover it back up.

"I would ask you what you think, but this isn't a situation with a favorable outcome." Draco told her.

"Are you going to start...doing stuff now?" She asked.

"I'm guaranteed at least until after graduation." Draco told her sadly, "After that...I'm not sure."

"D-do spouses have to be Death Eaters too?' Ashley asked carefully.

Draco gave her a bewildered look, "You couldn't possibly want to marry me now."

Ashley wanted to retort, but couldn't bring herself to, for in that moment, she wondered if she would want that stigma for her and her family.

"But...do they?" She asked again, "Your mother's not."

Draco shook his head, "No, but they are expected to participate at gatherings and support the duties of their husbands."

Draco looked at her, knowing that it would be sin to see such an angel support something so dark and sinister.

"What if...what if we did...a long distance thing?" She asked, "Give them the idea that you're alone?"

"Don't you think they'd wonder?" Draco asked. "If I'm with you and not available at a moment's call, they would come looking for me. I couldn't put you in that danger."

"Draco," She sighed, "I was in danger the moment I met you.