|In The Dark|

41

Caught

TIME JUMP: 1 WEEK
ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

Knock, Knock, Knock. Hermione, Ginny and I were all getting ready for bed when someone knocked. Hermione answered it and I could tell by the tone of her voice, she wasn't happy.

"She doesn't want to see you," Mione said. "You don't know that. Please, just-" the voice said. "Go away. I know what you are thinking and that's not happening." Hermione said. I walked over and looked at her. "Who is it, Mione?" I asked. She sighed and stepped back. The door opened more to reveal Theo standing there. I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "I thought I was only your girlfriend if I helped you with something I have no knowledge of.." I said. "Come on Belle, we need to talk. It's important" Theo said. "Then talk." I said. He looked at Ginny and Hermione and shook his head. "No, please. Just- trust me." he said. Ginny walked over and shut the door in his face. Then she turned to face me. "You don't owe him anything. You don't need to talk to him." she said. "I know. But I'm going anyway." I said. "Why?" she asked. I sighed. "Because I love him." I said. Then I opened the door.
He was walking down the hall and he turned around. "Belle-" he said. His eyes lit up as I walked over. I smiled and he took my hand and pulled me outside into the hall. "Why couldn't we talk in the common room or something?" I asked. "Because- ok, I need you to listen and not freak out," he said. I nodded.

"I know about Dumbledore's Army," he said. My face paled and my jaw dropped. "I have no idea what you are talking about." I lied. His face fell and he looked hurt. "You really don't trust me, do you? You think I would betray you," he said. "I'm sorry Theo. I love you but I don't trust anyone. Not anymore." I said. "Belle, I'm not Edmund or Lucius or Donovan. I would never-" he started. "I know. But everytime I trust someone, they remind me why I shouldn't have." I said. He just nodded. "That's fine. I'll spend my whole life proving myself to you if I have to." he said. I smiled. "I do love you, you have to know that." I said. "I know," he said. "Why didn't you tell Umbridge about DA?" I asked." "We just found out," he said. "How? Who told you?" I asked. "It doesn't matter, I just wanted to warn you. So you can be careful." he said. "Ok. Thank you." I said. He smiled. "Draco didn't mean what he said. He feels awful." he said. I shrugged. "Why doesn't Draco tell me that himself?" I said. "I can't tell you but there's a good reason. I want you to know that. When he does tell you, it'll make sense. I promise." he said. I nodded and left.

THE NEXT DAY...

"Harry!" I exclaimed. I just arrived at the ROR and everyone was already there and practicing their patronuses. "What's wrong?" he asked. "They know." I said. His face dropped. "Who does?" he asked. "I don't know how but Theo told me they know about Dumbledore's Army. I think we should stop practicing for-" I started. I was interrupted by the sound of the room shaking. The chandelier shook above us and there was a hole in the wall. Fred and George pulled me and Ginny behind them and we all held out our wand. "Bombarda Maxima!" she said.
The wall exploded and I was pulled into Freds arms and he covered my head as we fell back. The members of the Inquisitorial Squad and Umbridge swarmed in and began grabbing people. I was ripped away from Fred and Goyle began to drag me. "Get your hands off her!" Draco snapped. Goyle stepped back and went to grab someone else. Draco took my arm and started leading me out.

"What the bloody hell is the matter with you?" I said with tears in my eyes. "I'm sorry Anna, but this-" he started. "Don't. Don't you dare apologize. We lost our DADA teacher. Harry was just trying to do something good. You just couldn't let that happen, could you? No matter how important you say I am to you, your hatred for him will always be stronger. That's why you did this. Admit it." I said. "No, it's not," he said. "It is. You've ruined everything. This was all I had." I said. We arrived outside Umbridge's classroom and the rest of the kids were being led inside. He pulled me to the side and looked at me. I glared at him and he looked sad. "You have me," he said. "I don't need you anymore." I said. Umbridge lectured us for an hour and told us our punishment. I'm surprised she didn't expel Harry. Then again, I'm not. She would rather him carve his hand then be expelled. Sick twisted bitch. We're screwed.

TIME JUMP: 2 WEEKS

These past couple weeks have been hell. Between carving into my hand everyday and avoiding Draco at every turn, I'm bloody exhausted. Theo has practically begged me to talk to him but I refuse. They shouldn't have done it. Plain and Simple. He knew why it was important to me. My father. He didn't care. He cared more about bringing Harry down. Childish rivalry. Stupid. "Belle!" Theo said. He chased me down as we were leaving our punishment. "What now Theo?" I groaned. "Please, I'm bloody begging. Just let him explain why he did it." he pleaded. "No, I know why he did it. I'm not interested in any half assed apologies." I said. "Belle, it's not what you think! Please, talk to him. 5 minutes. That's all I ask." he said. "No." I said. "So what, you are just going to ignore us forever. And why aren't you mad at me or Blaise or Pansy?" he asked. "Because they didn't do it and we both know it. It was Draco." I said. "Bell, come on, just-" he started. "Tell me it wasn't then. Tell me it was all of you. Tell me it wasn't just Draco." I said. He just looked down. "That's what I thought." I snapped. I started to leave when he called after me

"Bloody hell, you are so damn stubborn! It was his father!" he yelled. I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around. "What?" I said. "It was his father. Ok? He said if he didn't join the Inquisitorial Squad and catch Potter, he would be punished. And you and I both know what that means." he said. My heart sank and I froze. "Belle- he couldn't tell you. He wanted to- it's just- Umbridge and his father- she was watching him." he said. I exhaled a shaky breath. "They know each other, from the Ministry. She even told Lucius that it was Oliver- that Draco liked. Draco had to beg his father not to hurt Oliver." he said. "Where is he?" I said. "Belle- you can't be upset- he's been falling apa-" he started. "Theodore Nott, tell me where he is right now or I swear I will hex you bald." I snapped. His eyes widened and he nodded. I followed him and we went to Slytherin. He knocked on the door and a very tired Draco opened it. His eyes were red and puffy and he had been crying. "What the hell Theo-" he started. Then he saw me. "Anna, Please let me explain. I just-" he started. Before he could even talk, I pulled him into my arms. He was stiff at first and then I felt him slowly wrap his arms around me. "I'm so sorry," he said. I felt him breakdown and his tears hit my shirt like bullets. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and I held him. "I know, it's ok. I've got you." I whispered. We sunk to the floor and Theo shut the door. He sat next to us and started smoking while I held Draco until he calmed down. "It's ok. It's over now. He can't hurt you. I won't let him." I whispered. He cried and cried. I couldn't do anything but hold him. Eventually he stopped and we all sat there smoking in silence. "We are so fucked." Draco mumbled. "Yeah." I said. "Yeah." Theo agreed.