My Father's Only Rule {DRACO MALFOY X SNAPE'S DAUGHTER}

Chapter Eighteen: Powerless

December 1997 - Hogwarts Express

The semester was at an end. Draco seemed much more comfortable about not being engaged than I was. But I was trying to act like it didn't bother me. It wasn't that I was so set on being married that calling it off took a massive toll on my emotional wellbeing. It was just that I was having a horrible time processing that somebody I loved suddenly wanted to put a hold on what I thought was a good thing. I felt low. I didn't show it, though. I didn't want to anger him any more than I already had. I could only hope that spending the holidays with him would ease things, but I was worried it would make it worse.

The four of us sat in our usual compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Everything was going fine until the train came to a screeching halt and the lights went out. Then suddenly, screaming. Screaming from a few compartments down. The four of us exchanged glances as we heard footsteps get faster and faster.

"Grace!" we heard. "Grace, come quick!" Ginny Weasley threw our compartment door open.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"It's Luna," she said. "It's Luna. They've got Luna!"

"What?" Ginny grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to her section of the train where the majority of Gryffindor was sitting. Jane, Draco, and Blaise trailed behind me. We walked in to find Neville on the ground, and Luna in the hands of a death eater with a wand to her neck. I knew what I had to do. Ginny had remembered what happened on the train in September, and she knew I could exude my power to free Luna in the same way I got the death eaters off the train last time.

"Excuse me," I said, stopping the death eaters from apparating. "Come on, this isn't necessary. Let her go."

"We've been given specific instructions, Miss Snape," said one of them.

"Well, so have I," I said, making things up as I went. All eyes were on me. It was horrifying. "Perhaps you misinterpreted what you were asked to do."

"I assure you, our instructions were very clear." I could tell that my way with words wasn't going to get me anywhere. I knew it would need more if I was going to free Luna. And I knew Draco would be furious at me. But I knew it would work. So it seemed like it was worth it.

I lifted my sleeve, revealing my dark mark to every single person in the compartment. It prompted gasps, as I expected.

"Are you sure about that?" I asked. I could feel Draco's embarrassment. But I knew that they'd hand Luna over. And then everyone would see that I'm a good person and not a death eater.

"Our orders were clear," the death eater said. And with that, they apparated out of the Hogwarts Express, leaving me at the scrutiny of my classmates.

What? How? No, that was supposed to work. Now I've exposed myself for nothing.

I turned around to see that Draco had left the compartment. Ginny and Neville were in tears. I was defenseless. What could possibly be said?

"What the hell?" Cormac shouted. "I warned you all, didn't I?"

"Listen, I know what you're thinking," I said. "But I'm not a death eater."

"You've got the bloody mark," Seamus said.

"It's a cover," I said. "It's for appearances! I only got it so he would trust me!"

"Why do you need him to trust you?" Cormac said. "Why don't you just get out."

"No, no, remember September?" I said, trying to jog their memory. "I stopped them from looking for Harry."

"Probably because you had already caught him!" Dean said.

"No!" I said. "I'm his friend! I was in Dumbledore's Army!"

"Ah, so where have you been while we've been reviving it?" Seamus said.

"I can't do it," I said. "But I've been helping. My letters to Hermione have helped. Tell them, Neville."

"Letters to Hermione?" Seamus said. Shit. "Why would Hermione be writing to you?"

"You must have tricked her," Cormac said. "She must be brainwashed or something. My god, she must be giving you her whereabouts so she can walk right into your trap!"

"No!" I said. "I'm serious. I am not with Voldemort. Neville? Ginny?"

Nothing. Neither Neville nor Ginny was standing up for me.

"Come on, guys, tell them. Tell them you trust me." But they didn't. They didn't say a word. I looked around and realized that there was nothing I could have said. To them, I was the bad guy.

I couldn't take it anymore. I ran out of the compartment, letting the door shut behind me. I couldn't have possibly screwed up more. That was the worst failure I had ever had. There are no words to describe how horribly it had gone. And who better to remind me than my former fiance?

"What were you thinking?" he said, berating me as I did the walk of shame to our compartment. "I told you to keep that mark hidden. Damnit, Grace. Why don't you ever listen? Why can't you just keep quiet?" He wouldn't let up. It was question after question. It was the closest thing I had ever gotten to being scolded by a parent. But somehow, worse. But I wasn't listening to me. Jane was just ahead with sympathetic eyes. She wouldn't ever say such things to me. And I could tell she had already found an empty compartment for just the two of us.

"That was the most stupid and irresponsible-"

I turned around sharply and stared into his eyes. I could hardly see him through my tears. And I could hardly talk.

"Will you just leave me alone?!" I screamed, my voice breaking. "Just...leave me alone."

I walked to Jane's new compartment and she hugged me and let me cry. Jane let me do whatever I want.