Two Sides of the Serpent // Draco Malfoy

Chapter Nine: Christmas Break

The castle was soon completely blanketed under a thick layer of snow as winter's grip tightened. The world outside became quiet, the creatures and birds finding their shelter from the icy wind and students staying inside, avoiding the cold seeping into their bones.

Draco and I, however, continued to meet in the Room of Requirement. A sanctuary where we can discuss our plans toward our sinister mission without the threat of others, like Potter, eavesdropping. Today, however, we carried with us a piece of the puzzle that could prove to be the linchpin in our mission.

As I rounded the corner and approached our meeting spot in the seventh floor hallway, I noticed Draco there with a vibrant green apple, tossing it up in the air and catching it on its way down.

"Feeling snack-ish, are we?" I said teasingly, pointing to the apple.

He shook his head, explaining plainly. "It's all part of the plan."

We entered the Room and made our way to the vanishing cabinet, removing the covering sheet. We had knew that the vanishing cabinet was an integral component of our mission, a conduit through which we could relay vital information to the Dark Lord's inner circle. Yet, to put this theory into practice, we needed to test its functionality.

With determination, Draco positioned the green apple on a small shelf within the cabinet. The wooden shelf seamlessly blended into the surrounding wall, concealing our experiment from casual observers. This was the pivotal moment, the test to determine whether the vanishing cabinet could effectively bridge the gap between two distant locations.

Turning to me, Draco locked his determined gaze with mine and nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and resolve. "Are you ready?"

I returned his nod, my heart thrumming with a potent mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Draco and I muttered an incantation in unison, "Harmonia Nectere Passus."

Then, in an unexpected turn of events, a faint sound resonated through the corridor, a distant rustling accompanied by a gentle breeze-- a sound that indicated success. The green apple had vanished, transported to its designated endpoint.

Draco and I exchanged a triumphant look, a silent acknowledgment of our success. The vanishing cabinet had passed its test, opening the door to new possibilities in our mission. We were now one step closer.

He carefully closed the cabinet's door and we whispered the incantation once more. "Harmonia Nectere Passus. Harmonia Nectere Passus."

We exchanged anxious glances, wondering if something had gone wrong. But then, just as doubt began to creep in, we heard it— the same soft rustling sound.

Draco quickly opened the cabinet's door, and there it was; the green apple had returned. But it was not the same as before. A small, neat bite had been taken from it, as if someone on the other end had tasted it and sent it back as proof of the cabinet's effectiveness.

We exchanged a mixture of astonishment and excitement. The vanishing cabinet had proven itself as a reliable means of communication. It was a breakthrough that could aid us immensely in our mission, allowing us to exchange information and objects discreetly.

Draco turned to me, a grin breaking across his face. "It worked, Evelyn. The cabinet worked!"

I couldn't help but share in his excitement. "Yes! This changes everything."

As we contemplated the possibilities, I asked, "Who do you think took that bite, Draco? It must have been someone on the other side."

Draco furrowed his brow. "It's hard to say. The important thing is that the message was received. We now have a way of communication that can't be intercepted."