𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓 ━━ golden trio era

[009] INCREASING TENSION

The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. The opulent drawing room of Malfoy Manor, usually a place of quiet refinement, now crackled with barely contained anger and frustration. The five friends ── Draco, Juliet, Theodore, Pansy, and Blaise ── were scattered around the room, their postures rigid and faces set in various expressions of discontent.

Draco paced near the fireplace, his platinum hair disheveled from running his hands through it repeatedly. Juliet perched on the arm of a high-backed chair, her red hair cascading over one shoulder as she watched Draco with concern in her hazel eyes. Theodore lounged against a bookshelf, his arms crossed and a scowl etched on his face. Pansy sat primly on a chaise lounge, while Blaise leaned against the wall near the window, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by uncharacteristic tension.

"This is ridiculous," Draco spat, whirling to face the group. "We shouldn't have to go back to that bloody school. We're Death Eaters now, for Merlin's sake. What more do we need to learn?"

Pansy nodded vigorously. "Exactly! We should be out there, not wasting our time with pointless lessons."

"It's not about the lessons," Blaise interjected, his voice calm but with an edge of steel. "It's about control. The Dark Lord wants us there to keep an eye on things, to help the Carrows maintain order."

Theodore snorted derisively. "Oh yes, because we're so well-suited to be prefects and hall monitors. Face it, we're being sidelined."

Juliet, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "We're not being sidelined," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We're being placed where we can be most useful. Hogwarts is important ── it's where the next generation of witches and wizards are being shaped."

Draco turned to her, his grey eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and something softer, more vulnerable. "And you're just fine with that, are you? Happy to play student while there's a war going on?"

Juliet met his gaze steadily. "I'm not happy about any of this, Draco. But we have our orders, and we'll follow them. It's not our place to question the Dark Lord's wisdom."

"Wisdom?" Theodore scoffed, pushing off from the bookshelf. "Is that what we're calling it now? Tell me, Red, do you ever get tired of being the perfect little soldier?"

The room went deadly silent. Draco's head snapped towards Theodore, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Watch your mouth, Nott," he growled.

Theodore raised an eyebrow, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "Oh? Hit a nerve, did I? Or are you just upset that someone's questioning your girlfriend's unwavering loyalty?"

"She's not my──" Draco started, then shook his head. "That's not the point. You don't get to talk to her like that."

"I'll talk to her however I damn well please," Theodore shot back. "Some of us aren't blinded by her act."

Juliet stood up, her face pale but composed. "Theo, that's enough. We're all on edge, but fighting among ourselves isn't going to solve anything."

Theodore's eyes flashed as he turned to her. "Oh, spare me the peacemaker routine, Red. We all know you're loving this. Another chance to show off, to prove how much better you are than the rest of us."

"That's not true," Juliet said, a hint of hurt creeping into her voice. "I'm just trying to do what's best for all of us."

"Best for us?" Theodore laughed bitterly. "Or best for you? Face it, Juliet, you've been playing us all from the start. The Dark Lord's favorite, always one step ahead. I bet you're thrilled to go back to Hogwarts, aren't you? Another year of being the perfect student, the perfect Death Eater, while the rest of us struggle to keep up with your merciful acts."