Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 39

Over the next few weeks, Hermione is still desperate to find out who the half blood prince is. I, however, have other things to do. Bellatrix has wrote back to me.
Atlas,
I got your letter, and I've been thinking. I want you to keep a very close eye on Draco and Severus. I don't trust Severus one bit, but Draco is an odd one. Draco seems very anxious, and I could even say that he doesn't want to complete his task.
As for what his task is, I can't tell you. The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it. You will know when it is time. When it is time, you will be able to show the dark lord exactly where your loyalties lie. And slughorn? I never liked him. He was an odd man. I hated him. Always did. Just, don't let him boss you round. You are a Black. Our name wont be smudged.
-Bella 

Helpful. Honestly, can people just tell me things as they are. Ron grabs my arm, making me jump.
"What?" I say, brushing him off. He gasps, "Katie- Katie got cursed."

The next evening, while Harry and Hermione are at Slughorn's little Slug Club meeting, Ron takes me to the quidditch match to learn to ride a broom. I sit on the broom, and kick of ever so gently. I hover about a foot off the floor, with Ron just above that. He says, "Lean forwards, Atlas, ever so slightly."
I nod and lean slightly, zooming forwards. I scream, and Ron yells, "SIT STRAIGHT. JUST UP STRAIGHT ATLAS."
I lean back, barely stopping myself crashing into the wooden beam. Ron speeds next to me and says, "Well, you certainly have speed."
"Ronald, if I die, I'll kill you."
He smiles and helps me until the sun goes down. We trudge back into the castle, cold and shaking. Ron helps me into the common room, where he says, "You could be really good if you kept trying."
"I'd like to keep trying," I laugh, "But I doubt I can with my leg. And... nobody has ever taught me the rules of quidditch, so I don't think it is for me."
"I've got my first quidditch match tomorrow." He says. He definitely forgot, so I say, "You can tell me about it. Might even turn up if my leg feels okay."

At breakfast the next morning, Ron looks dreadful. Not even slightly. He looks awful. Harry puts a little bit of liquid luck in his cup, and his eyes light up. They walk off, and Hermione says, "Can you come with me?"
"Fine."
I'll admit, the match isn't awful. Ron is surprisingly good. It's snowy and cold, but worth it. I never realised quite how dirty the Slytherins played. The party in the common room is mental, and Harry eventually says, "Atlas, ta da."
He pulls out a full vial of liquid luck and I smile. Then, Lavender pulls Ron down from the table, and kisses him. I look away in disgust, and Fred hands me a drink. I'm not sure what it is, but it smells rank. He says, "Take a sip."
I do, and feel a weird lightning sensation shoot through my body. George slips over to me and says, "Did Fred give you our little drink?"
I nod and he continues, "Little thing we whipped up. You should get a little shock, but it wont kill you. Or at least, we hope not."
"He's kidding." Fred laughs. They race off and Neville runs over. He drags me outside the common room, and points left. I see Hermione in Harry's arms, sobbing. I take the hint, walking over. Harry squints at me and I take Hermione up to bed. She exhausts herself from crying, and falls asleep immediately.

Not even a week later is Slug horn's Christmas Party that I'm not invited to. I was under the impression Ron and I could use the brooms again, but alas, he is off busy snogging Lavender Brown somewhere. The common room is quiet, so I head off, pretty late into the evening to have a walk. Severus and Draco walk passed me, and I'm grabbed onto, pulling me along. Draco glares at Severus as he lets us both go and I say, "Why are you two running round like stupid teenage girls?"
"I made vows to protect you both. You cannot go round both trying to get yourself killed. I don't have time to be saving you after every little thing," Severus snaps. Draco hisses, "I don't need saving. I am fine Severus."
"I also happen to be absolutely fine," I say, brushing my hair down, "I didn't ask you to take a vow for me."
Severus shoves Draco as he tries walking off and says, "Draco. Don't make poor decisions. Let me assist you."
"I don't need assisting. If anyone was to, it'd be Atlas."

The train home is awful. I sit with Draco and the Slytherins, but I'm mostly ignored. The train pulls to a halt in the station, where Draco drags me off the train. I separate from him and make my way to the Weasleys. Molly hugs me and whispers, "You are safe for Christmas."
"Thank you, Molly." I mutter back. I can feel Draco's glare, but I ignore him. No point ruining my holiday.

Ginny helps me unpack, with Molly's occasional questions.
"Can you get upstairs alright?"
"Are you sure you can?"
"Do you want me to clean your walking stick?"
"We can clean it if you want."
I realise the last one wasn't a question, but Ginny is at her wits end. She groans, "Mum is going to be like that all holiday."
"I'd rather be here that at the Manor now though."
Ginny nods and I walk downstairs to where Fred and George are making bets on random things. One of them is what colour hair I'll have when I first see each of them in the morning. They wont tell me what colour, and if I choose the right colour, I owe them a galleon each.
"Two galleons. If I am wrong, you owe me one each. That a deal?"
"Deal."