Emerald Waters

Chapter Five: Secrets, Secrets, and More Secrets

I slept way longer than I planned. I was exhausted. I think it was a mix between staying up all night and all the many emotions I felt yesterday that made getting out of bed impossible. Thankfully my excuse to Ginny before I left the Halloween feast made everyone think I was sick so they weren't alarmed when I slept past noon. Willow slept wrapped up in my arms until I finally rolled over to look out the window.

It was snowing so much that it looked like Gryffindor tower was swallowed up by a white cloud. I rolled over to my other side and decided it was time to get up. As I got up I remembered all that had happened last night. I paused in my empty dorm and stood for a moment to catch my breath. I wonder if Graham had been to check on my yet. Even though he is my brother, I still couldn't wait to tell him about last night. I needed to get it off my chest. I needed to talk about it.

I got myself together and walked swiftly downstairs to the Great Hall. When I got there it was pretty empty aside from a few students studying and some finishing up their lunch. I didn't have much of an appetite so I kept walking. I walked up to the third floor and zipped my jacket up tight. I finally found my way to the clock tower bridge and saw Graham leaning over the railing looking out at the snow, it was still coming down as hard as ever but there was no wind. It was calm as can be out.

Graham looked over at me as I neared closer to him. "I was wondering if you'd ever wake up" he mumbled at me. Was he angry? I couldn't tell. "Yeah, I needed to rest as much as I could. I was exhausted." "I would be too if I was out until 6am" he spat back at me. He was definitely angry. I didn't speak. He watched me as if waiting for me to say something. Then he said, "so let me know how 9pm becomes 6am?" "The clock keeps turning" I whispered back jokingly. He shot me dagger eyes. He was not amused.

Graham turned now to face me. "You do understand that your relationship with him will never be normal, right?" His words cut me like a knife and I flinched. I already knew this but it hurt to hear it from my brother. I just nodded. He went on, "I mean.. Juliette do you realize that our father is on the brink of exposing the Malfoy's as Death Eaters? Imagine how Draco will feel when our father sends his father to Azkaban?" My heart was burning into a million pieces. "Draco is fifteen and somewhat harmless now but he wont be fifteen forever. His parents will train him to join them. He will be a Death Eater. Its their plan." My eyes began to fill with tears. That couldn't be true. Could it?

The words came out of my mouth like vomit, "but-but maybe I could.." I trailed off. My throat was hot and dry. "You cant change him Juliette. This is what he is. If you try to change him you jeopardize your own safety" Graham said firmly. I felt sick. I felt like real vomit was on its way as well. Graham looked at me with sad eyes. "I will never tell you what to do but I will tell you like it is. You can make a decision for yourself. But I want you to understand the consequences of the decision you make. You will never be safe with him". I could tell he was done speaking. He said his peace.

I looked down at my feet. Draco. A Death Eater? I couldn't even imagine that. The Draco I spent all night with in the astronomy tower did not seem like someone who would eventually be a Death Eater. He was sweet as ever. We laughed together all night and his sense of humor matched mine. He was passionate when he spoke and he was good to me. I felt safe with him. I couldn't understand him being a Death Eater. There's no way.

I looked over at my brother who was now back to leaning on the railing of the bridge and staring out at the snow. I stood next to him and did the same as tears fell from my eyes. I could tell now that he was looking at me from my corner of my eye. I stayed looking straight. "I know how you feel. Trust me" Graham mumbled. Suddenly I was angry. I could feel my ears getting hot. I turned back to look at him "don't tell me you know I feel" I snapped. Ive never raised my voice to Graham. He was always so quiet and passive that we never really fought. I was definitely the more fiery personality but he never gave me a reason to be angry at him before.