The Slytherin Heiress

Chaoter || 07

Nearly five months have passed since we were assigned our great task. And only one since our great attempt had failed. Christmas is around the corner and everyone is excited to return home to their families. Draco and I have been instructed to stay behind, tend to the wardrobe, and make our second attempt on Dumbledore's life.

Draco and I continue to tune the cabinet sending through messages and small trinkets to ensure its function. This time as we exit the room we walk down the halls and pass Professor Slughorn's Christmas party before everyone is sent home.

"Hey!" Filch's piercing voice screeches behind us. "Stop right there."

He hobbles towards us and he knows our faces. We don't do anything but groan as he nears us.

"And what exactly are you two doing up here after curfew?" He asks slyly.

"We were invited to the slug club Christmas party of course." I seethe, thankfully Draco is dressed in his best suit and I planned on attending a Slytherin Christmas party after this.

"We'll see about that." Filch seethes before taking mine and Draco's biceps in his arms and dragging us towards the party.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" I screech as he drags us along.

We enter the party and my eyes land on Snape and Harry Potter conversing before turning toward us. The entire party stops to gawk at us, including Blaise and a few other slitherins apart of the slug club.

"Professor Slughorn sir, I've just discovered these two lurking in an upstairs corridor," Filch announces proudly to Slughorn. "They claim to have been invited to your party."

"Okay okay, we were gatecrashing," Draco exclaims as Filch keeps an iron grip on our arms. "Happy?"

Snape walks towards us slowly with his signature tortured expression.

"I'll escort them out," Snap says slowly.

Filch's grip on us lessens and we tear from his grasp. I grip my arm, the exposed skin turning a bright red. Thankfully the sleeve covering my forearm had not slipped otherwise everyone would be a lot more stunned.

"Certainly, professor," Draco says, squaring his shoulders with Snape.

Draco turns to leave and I follow suit, Snape on our heels. As soon as we are in the hall, Snape corners us against a wall. He tells us how the staff knows about the curse and Harry Potter suspects us.

"Did you do it?" He asks slowly.

"So maybe we did curse that Bell girl, what's it to you?" Draco seethes.

Snaps pins Draco against the wall and I take my wand from my waist. I point it at him and Snapes Jaw clenches before backing up.

"I swore to protect you." Snape seethes. "I made the unbreakable vow."

"I don't need protection." Draco retorts, fixing his suit.

"I wasn't the only one to take the vow." Snape hisses, taking my right hand and showing Draco the faint scar.

"I don't need protection," Draco says after I tear my arm away from Snape's grip. "Out of all others. He chose me. Me. And I won't fail him."

"You're afraid, Draco." Snape spits quietly. "You attempt to concede it but it's obvious. Let us assist you."

"No, I was Chosen. Me and Verena. This is our moment.

"Draco I wasn't chosen for this," I admit. "I signed up for it the moment I took the vow and involved myself. I was assigned to assist you in any way I could but in the end, it was clear you were to be the one to do it."

"Then why did you give her the necklace?" He asks.

"Because it was easy at the moment," I say.

"I don't need either of your help. I can do this on my own." He argues.

"You can not." Snape seethes. "Neither of you can. That is why I took the vow. You are children and you are scared."

"I am not scared," I argue. "I was born to do this, Father said the prophesy. . ."

"There is no prophesy, his father failed to acquire it." Slaps hisses. "This is the dark lord's planning, your father."

"I-"

"Enough," Snape seethes. "Over the holiday you both will return to the manor and we will discuss a clear plan."

With that, we are sent back to our common room where the Slytherin party rages on. As Snape disappears Draco takes my arm and directs me up numerous flights of stairs. Despite my protests, he only stops when we are at the top of the astronomy tower. He then takes my hand and inspects the scar from the vow.

"My mother forced you to take this didn't she?" He asks lowly.

"She didn't force me into anything," I admit.

"Then why did you make the vow?" He asks.

"I wanted to be the one to kill Dumbledore if the opportunity presented itself," I admit and his eyes beg another question. "I wanted to make my father proud."

He says nothing as he drops my hand and leans against the railing, staring down at the ground far below. I lean beside him and a pang of empathy runs through my core.

"Snape and I didn't take the vow because your mother didn't believe in you," I say to the stars. "She wanted you to be protected, that was her one wish. Bellatrix was the one to initiate the vow. She came up with the rules."

Draco leans his head in his hands and I get the strange urge to reach out, to comfort him. I'm not one for words so I reach over and take his hand in mine. At first, he flinches before curling his fingers around the back of my hand.

"The only thing this vow means is that I am even more encouraged to do this with you," I say confidently. "I am here to help you if you'll let me."

He lifts his head, continuing to hold my hand.

"I don't need help." He says sternly.

He drops my hand and leaves me in the Astronomy tower with the biting wind at my back as I watch him storm down the stairs.