my inheritance (g.w x o.c)

chapter twenty-four: the vanishing cabinet

Friday at 6 o'clock, I found myself on the 5th floor, waiting for Draco. I looked out the window as the rain fell hard.

"Come on," Draco mumbled, walking past me. We started up another flight of stairs.

"Where are we going?"

"7th floor."

"If we were going to the 7th floor, why didn't you just tell me to meet you on the 7th floor? Seems counterintuitive. We could already-"

"Stop," he interrupted. I looked over at him. He glanced at me but kept looking forward. "Sorry, I just..."

"I get it. I was just trying to lighten the mood." He stopped walking. I put a hand on his arm.

"No, don't say anything else until we're inside."

"Inside where?"

"Stay here." He started pacing the hallway. I was about to question him when a door started materializing out of the wall.

"What the hell?"

"Come on." He grabbed my hand, pulling me into the doorway. On the other side was a room full of piles of random objects. Innumerable amounts of furniture, books, clothes, broomsticks, and anything under the sun sat around.

"So this is where you've been spending all your time?"

"Wasting all my time, more like." I kept hold of his hand to stop him from walking.

"Draco, listen. We're going to figure it out. I know we can. And if we don't..." I looked at him for a second. "I'll do it."

"No, you won't," he protested, looking at me.

"Yes, I will. If it means helping you, I'll do it."

"No, I mean, you won't have to because I'm going to do it."

"And if you can't?"

He hesitated for a moment. "I will."

"Draco, killing is so much harder than you think."

"Really? Cause you make it look second nature."

"Right," I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Because now's the time to turn on each other."

"I just, I'm going to do it. I just have to get this plan working."

"Good," I nodded. "Show me what you're working on." He showed me the Vanishing Cabinet and told me all he'd done as I examined it. "Well, you never were one to pick the easy way."

"So you don't think it's possible?"

"Oh, no, I didn't say that," I smiled, standing up. "It's quite possible. Probable, actually. Where's the sister?"

"Borgins and Burkes."

"Of course. Well, let's get to work."

We spent hours trying to fix various aspects of the cabinet. We got closer, but there was something we missed.

"Damn it," Draco groaned, slamming the door back shut when the apple was still there and throwing a nearby book into the abyss.

"Great, now I have to add the door to the list of issues," I rolled my eyes, picking up the apple.

"We're no closer than we were when we first walked in."

"Excuse you, it's no longer jumping when we shut it, half the apple disappeared that one time, it doesn't squeak anymore," I listed off the things we'd fixed. "So I'd say it's going a lot better." I stood up, holding out the clipboard I had been writing on. "But here, if you want to throw more things, have at it. I've found it very therapeutic myself." He looked at the clipboard before groaning and falling onto a couch nearby. I sat beside him. "Look, Draco, it's scary. I get it, but have a little faith in me."