𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐥𝐞 | h. granger

lxxi | the unbreakable vow

CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
the unbreakable vow

── •✧• ──

"𝐈 𝐂𝐀𝐍'𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐄𝐑! 𝐒𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃!"

"I don't care what your thoughts on the matter are, Narcissa," the Dark Lord hissed. "She has accepted the Mark and the task, and she shall complete it or die."

"But she won't complete it! She's unstable enough as it is without a promised death threat looming over her head!"

Lyra Black closed her bedroom door to muffle the arguing downstairs. She curled up in the fetal position on her bed, silent tears streaming down her pale cheeks. She pressed her right hand firmly to her burning left forearm, biting her lip to keep from whimpering at the pain.

Letters had piled up on her desk; letters she hadn't bothered to open. Scars covered her arms and thighs; scars that she didn't even try to hide from Narcissa. She stopped caring. She didn't care that her sister was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, terrified that she was going to try and do something she couldn't take back, becoming forever sixteen.

She heard her door creak open. She didn't turn to see who it was. She felt the bed dip beside her, a pair of arms wrapping around her petite body.

Draco.

"Hey, blondie," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the back of her head. "You don't have to talk. I already heard everything. I'm so sorry he's making you do this."

Lyra didn't say anything. She shut her eyes and leaned back into Draco's embrace – her way of silently telling him that she was listening and grateful for his company.

"Promise me you won't try and fail on purpose," Draco said quietly, worry evident in his voice. "I. . .I know you don't see the point in living anymore, but. . .you'll be able to get out of here someday. Please, Lyra. I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

Lyra rolled over to face him. Her ocean blue eyes were red from crying. "D-Draco, I'm scared," she admitted, choking out a sob as she buried her face in his chest. "We— We both know what he's capable of. A-And he won't just kill me if I fail, he-he'll kill you, too!"

"Shh, shh, it's gonna be okay." Draco put a hand on the back of her head. "Deep breaths, alright? Concentrate on your surroundings. Keep yourself grounded."

He whispered comforting words into her ear, holding her close as she cried herself to sleep, cradling her left arm as it burned with the Dark Mark of Lord Voldemort.

── •✧• ──

"Cissy! You can't do this! He can't be trusted!" Bellatrix whispered harshly as she followed her younger sister through the rainy streets of Spinner's End.

"The Dark Lord trusts him," Narcissa argued as they walked down an alley between two houses.

"The Dark Lord's mistaken."

The two sisters pressed themselves against the side of the building as chattering children pedaled bye. Once they had passed, they went up to the front door of Severus Snape's house. Narcissa knocked, and Peter Pettigrew answered it a moment later. He led them to the drawing room, where Severus was reading that morning's Daily Prophet.

He told Pettigrew to run along before using his wand to slam the door in his face. He poured Narcissa a glass of wine as Bellatrix started examining all his belongings.

"I-I know I ought not to be here," Narcissa began, her voice soft. "The Dark Lord himself forbade me to speak of this."

"If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you ought not to speak," Severus stated. He narrowed his eyes when he saw Bellatrix pick an object up off the mantle. "Put it down, Bella. We mustn't touch what isn't ours."

Bellatrix rolled her eyes and put it down, raising a brow at the Hogwarts professor as if to ask if he was happy now.

"As it so happens, I am aware of your situation, Narcissa," he continued.

"You?" Bellatrix frowned, staring at the man in suspicion. "The Dark Lord told you?"

"Your sister doubts me. Understandable. Over the years, I have played my part well. So well in fact that I've deceived one of the greatest wizards of all time," Severus said. Bellatrix snorted at this, rolling her eyes once more as she walked the length of the drawing room. "Dumbledore is a great wizard. Only a fool would question it."

"I don't doubt you, Severus," Narcissa said.

"You should be honoured, Cissy," Bellatrix stated. "As should Lyra. It's the very least she could do after all she's done to tarnish the family name over the years."

Narcissa glanced at Bellatrix briefly before looking up at Severus, fret for her baby sister clear on her face. "She's just a girl. She can't handle pressure like this. She shouldn't even be involved in this mess at all." She took a long sip of wine before continuing. "She gets panic attacks. They're getting worse; she's had five since the Dark Lord forced her to take the Mark. She's been hurting herself. . ." Tears sprang to her eyes. "I. . .I can't lose her, Severus."

"I can't change the Dark Lord's mind," Severus said, sighing softly. "But it might be possible for me to help Lyra."

"Severus." Narcissa gasped, rising to her feet.

"Swear to it," Bellatrix growled, glaring at him. "Make the Unbreakable Vow," she whispered, stalking over to where he was standing. "It's just empty words. She'll give it her best effort, but when it matters most. . .she'll just slither back into her hole." She let out a high pitched hum when Severus didn't respond. "Coward."

Severus's jaw clenched at this. "Take out. . .your wand."

He and Narcissa locked their arms together as Bellatrix took out her curved walnut wand, flicking it to begin the making of the vow.

"Will you, Severus Snape, watch over Lyra Black as she attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes?" she asked huskily.

"I will," Severus replied.

"And, will you, to the best of your ability. . ." she rested her chin on Narcissa's shoulder, pouting her lip, "protect her from harm?"

"I will."

"And, if Lyra should fail. . ." she walked over to him, "will you yourself carry out the deed the Dark Lord has ordered Lyra to perform?"

Severus hesitated a moment as he stared into Narcissa's blue eyes. He knew how dedicated she was to her family and how much it would destroy her to lose Lyra like this.

"I will."