The Purest Kind of Magic

- sixty one -

"You've been quite distant, Y/n. What happened?"

I groaned as I ignored Harry and kept walking, hoping he'll just leave me alone. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Harry grabbed my arm and yanked me to face him.

I sighed, "Harry, just-- ugh, just leave me alone, okay? I had a long day."

Harry frowned, "Don't brush me off like that, the day started less than two hours ago. Tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing is wrong, you're overthinking it," I insisted with an annoyed tone.

Harry paused, "It's Malfoy, isn't it? I knew that bastard's an asshole."

"No, it's not Draco, he's taking it worse than me, now leave me alone," I said as I pushed him away and speed-walked back to the Slytherin commons. I closed the door behind me and looked around.

Draco sat on the couch facing the fireplace, his face buried in his hands which was tangled in his hair. He hadn't even noticed that I had walked in. I sighed as I made my way to the couch next to him.

"Draco?" I spoke softly. He looked up and tried his best to smile.

"Hey," He said in a weak voice.

I took out some of the snacks I took with me from breakfast and tried to give it to him. He shook his head, "Sorry, Y/n, I... I'm not hungry."

I sighed, "I figured you'd say that... But you have to eat something, I don't care if you're not hungry. I don't want you to completely break down."

"You're always so good at convincing me," Draco muttered as he reached out for the snacks in my hands.

I managed a small smile, relieved that Draco was willing to eat something, even if it was just a little. He took a bite of a snack but continued to look troubled. "Y/n, I can't believe we're in this situation. He wants us to kill Dumbledore. It's unbelievable."

I looked away and shook my head, "He's gone mad for sure. We can't do anything about it either, He can always just cast the imperius curse on us and make us do it."

"Yet he didn't, he knows what he's doing, Y/n. He wants to break us, you heard what he said," Draco paused, gulping, "He said he looks forward to breaking our spirit and soul... And that's exactly what he's doing."

I didn't respond. Draco's right, Voldemort's the fucking Dark Lord, leader of hundreds of Death Eaters, there's no way he doesn't know what he's doing.

"He's toying with us," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You're damn right about that."

--

I didn't need to turn around to feel Harry's stare at the back of my head, it's annoying, really. How many more times do I have to tell him to leave me alone?

"Y/n, please, just tell me what's going on. Something's obviously really off about you and Malfoy these days," Harry called out.

I sighed dramatically as I stopped in my tracks and faced him. "Fine, you win, I'll talk."

"Y/n, don't," Draco whispered, his back still turned at Harry.

I looked at Draco, then back at Harry. I paused, "We're... um..."

Draco sighed, "We're trying to find something important, leave us be."

Harry crossed his arms, "You think I believed that? I'm not stupid."

"That's debatable," Draco mumbled.

"I promise, Harry, it's nothing you need to worry about. It's just... family problems," I insisted. Draco grunted as he forced himself to nod so that Harry would at least have one reason to believe me.

Harry raised an eyebrow, "What kind of family problems involves both of you?"

"Shite," I cussed under my breath.

Draco put his hand up in the air, "Fine, I'll admit it. It's just complicated, we didn't think that pea brain of yours is going to be able to process it."

Harry rolls his eyes, "Get on with it, Malfoy."

"Long story short, my father caught us," Draco lied with a straight face as he shrugged.

Harry's eyes widened in surprise at Draco's explanation. "Your father caught you doing what, exactly?"

Draco leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "You know, sneaking out at night, going places we shouldn't be, that sort of thing."

I chimed in, adding to the deception. "Yeah, it's been a real hot mess. We've had to lay low and keep our distance to avoid getting into more trouble."

"That's..." Harry started, a little skeptical.

Draco continued with his fake story, his tone convincing. "We're just trying to sort things out and not get into more trouble with our families. You know how complicated these pure-blood families can be."

I nodded in agreement, playing my part. "Exactly. So, it's best if you don't dig too deep into this. We'll handle it ourselves."

"Oookay," Harry nodded with a hint of doubt, "I won't put my nose into whatever business you two are mangled in."

"Great choice," I instantly replied, "We have to go see Snape, so I'll catch you later, Harry." I tugged at Draco's robes, signalling for him to leave quickly.

--

"Draco, I thought I specifically told you to not to do that this year," Snape said as he stopped writing on his parchment.

Draco glanced away, "I... I'm afraid I had no choice in the matter, sir."

Snape raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with Draco's vague response. "Explain."

"Professor, it's my fault for being too weak the day I was forcibly marked," I started, "And I'm the reason Draco's dragged into this, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, it was likely his own choice and you were only a factor of his decision," Snape responded rather quickly.

Snape continued to study Draco and me, his eyes sharp and unyielding. It was always unnerving being on the receiving end of his scrutiny, especially when we were dealing with something as serious as our current situation.

"Draco," Snape said with a tone that made it clear he expected the truth and only the truth, "Explain the nature of your involvement."

Draco hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed on the floor, "I... I did it for Y/n, I couldn't bear to see her suffer. The least I can do is take a fair share of her pain."

Snape's eyes bore into Draco as he waited for more details, his patience wearing thin.

"It's true," I added, "Draco told me everything before he got marked as well, he's not lying to you one bit, Professor."

Snape's piercing gaze remained fixed on Draco for a few more moments before he finally nodded, seemingly satisfied with our explanations.

"Very well," Snape said, his voice carrying an air of finality. "Draco, you have made a choice, however noble or misguided it may be. The Dark Mark is not to be taken lightly, and its consequences are severe."

Draco nodded in acknowledgment, a mixture of gratitude and relief washing over him. "Thank you, Professor."