The Sanctuary of Yesterday

3.8| Tension Rise

Draco leaned over the bucket, gagging for the ninth time in the last few minutes. There was no food left in his stomach, he had thrown it all up. His stomach quenched at the thought of food, making him make that horrible noise into the bucket once again.

Theo sat, against the wall, across from his friend, occluding every emotion he had away. The Dark Lord was punishing them, again. This time, there was no pain of the curciatus curse or fear of choking to death on their own tongues.

Theodore and Draco were to become killers.

Murderers.

They were to take a life.

Theo could hear Draco retching into the bucket over and over again, but he couldn't truly comprehend it. This mission was not a reward, it was a warning; a last chance.

If they couldn't complete this, they wouldn't live to see the morning. Theo did the only thing he knew how to, he begged his little sister for help.

***

Unsurprisingly, Sage was filled with wise ideas.

"Tell a trusted adult," she said, making Theo roll his eyes at his own stupidity.

"Tell someone who can save you," Sage begged.

"Save your soul, Teddy, it's the only one you have," she pleaded.

So, taking his sisters fear to heart, he did what he told her to do.

***

"Please," Draco begged, "Say something," he cried, a tear slipping from his eye before he could stop it.

"Anything," Theo whispered, "Just say something."

Remus looked as if he was going to be sick, and Sirius seemed to be holding back anger, yet pain rushed behind his eyes.

Remus opened his mouth but Sirius beat him to it, "I will kill this mad man if it's the last thing I do."

It wasn't a threat but a promise. A promise for retribution for the two boys souls.

A strangled sob left Draco's mouth and Sirius pulled the boy into a hug, "I wont loose you too. I won't loose either of you."

His hand reached out to Theo's back, giving a steady reassurance to him.

Remus looked paler than usual but still tried to comfort them, "We'll talk to Dumbledore. We'll figure out a way."

Draco quickly sat up, "No. My mother cannot be harmed."

Sirius ran his hand through the blondes hair, and murmured, "Nothing will happen to her, we promise it."

Theo nodded, "You can't be motherless too, then I won't be special."

Draco snorted, "Prat."

Sirius sent a thankful smile to the boy and added, "Yeah cousin, I may not be able to understand the whole loving your mother thing, but I kind of like yours, I guess."

"Yeah," Remus added, "Loving mothers was more of a James and I thing."

"Well, mines dead so I don't think I can join this party," Theo laughed, "Sage disagrees."

Draco snorted, "That pity party is going to lose its hilarity sooner or later."

"Oh I don't know," Sirius drawled, "Dead mothers can be very funny."

"Especially when it's your dead mother," Remus agreed, muttering under his breath, "Bloody insane inbred witch."

Theo who heard him let out a loud laugh, causing everyone else to join in. Sirius had to grab his stomach he was laughing so hard, and Theo had felt the warmth of Sage's happiness radiating through their bond.