Punishment- Reader POV

Chapter 5

CW- Self-harm, Disordered Eating, Getting Sick 

September 1st, 1996

The walk to Professor Snape's office went quickly. It felt almost as if Draco was dragging me there. I tried to think of a logical explanation as to why Professor Snape would want to talk to us but I had none. It had to be about the order from the Dark Lord because school barely started so there was nothing for him to talk about regarding our classes. I knew Professor Snape was always very well trusted by the Dark Lord but I did not begin to think about how it would carry into school. Draco knocks on the door to his office and the door opens for us almost immediately.

"Come in," he muttered at us before returning to sit behind his desk. We walk into his poorly lit, gloomy office but stay more so towards the door, unsure where to go and afraid to push any boundaries. "Sit." He instructs waving at the two armchairs in front of his desk. We quickly walk over and take a seat in front of him, waiting for him to speak first. "Do either of you two know why I asked to speak to you?" he asks in a low tone.

"No Sir," Draco answers quietly. I just shake my head no, too nervous to speak. What was he going to ask of us? Did he have another order from the Dark Lord? Did the Dark Lord have a message for us?

"Draco, I spoke with your mother the other day about your order from the Dark Lord," he begins, "She seems to be very worried about you and has gotten the idea that I would be best suited to protect you during this time," he continues.

"I do not need anyone to protect me," Draco says through gritted teeth.

"Well, your mother does not seem to agree!" Professor Snape snaps at Draco's false bravado before taking a breath and calming himself. "The matter of the fact is Draco that your mother deemed me most capable of protecting you, we made an unbreakable vow. Do you understand that? Whether or not you want my help or feel you need it, I have no other choice. Do you really think I do not see through the act you put on? You're a coward just like your father," he spits, staring right at Draco. "At least you're just a boy, at least that's how your mother puts it," he says before glancing over at me but I divert my attention to my hands in my lap.

"I am not a coward!" Draco shouts, his face is red and it is quite obvious Professor Snape's words struck a nerve within him. "And I do not need your help! My mother is mistaken! After all the Dark Lord trusted me with this assignment, not you, me! You're just jealous!" Draco shouts. I look between him and Professor Snape who looks beyond annoyed and frustrated.

"Have you not figured it out yet?!" Snape asks looking at Draco with pure frustration. "You're going to die!"

"I am not! I will follow the Dark Lord's order and he will be proud and leave my family alone," Draco says apprehensively as if trying to convince himself to believe the words he said.

"You are a fool," Snape scoffs, "Either way you will end up dead! If you do not follow the order he will kill you as punishment and if you somehow manage to complete his task you will die when the Dark Lord murders you for the elder wand so it can belong to him, no matter what, your father's punishment results to you being murdered by the Dark Lord," he says solemnly. I look at Draco in disbelief. How could we not have realized this? I cannot believe this is really happening. The idea of losing Draco makes me ill.

"I think I'm going to be sick," I mumble before running to the corner of his office to grab a bin just in time before vomiting. Snape cringes at me and looks at Draco who is sitting as if he is frozen, he isn't blinking and still staring at Professor Snape.

"That is why your lovely aunt suggested your mother and I make an unbreakable vow because neither of them trusted me to fully protect you from the Dark Lord," he continues trying to ignore the fact that I am losing my dinner.