Even at Our Worst

Chapter Twenty-Three

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February 3rd, 1997

"I'll kill him— and it will be long, slow, and excruciatingly painful," Daphne shouts as Pansy holds her back while I guard the door.

"Daph, you didn't let me finish—"

"What else is there to explain?!" She shoves her shoulder into Pansy's back, earning a hiss in response. Pansy throws her arm across Daphne's chest with a scowl. "Vaisy made it pretty damn clear what Harper overheard—"

"He didn't actually curse me, for Salazar's sake!" I clap my hands together in exasperation. "He had to pretend to use crucio or the Carrows would have been suspicious. I was screaming to— you know— complete the effect."

Both Daphne and Pansy stand still suddenly, eyes wide in my direction. With my arms outstretched, I began to flush, feeling examined under their gaze.

"Alright, do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?" Pansy's hands rest on her hips, her drawl stabbing me in the gut.

"Well—"

"Is this some kind of torture kink we need to be worried about—?"

"Daphne! Merlin's sake—"

"What! It's a fair question!"

"Absolutely a fair question." Pansy nods seriously, taking a seat on the trunk at the end of her bed now that Daphne seems less prone to attacking Draco at a moment's notice.

I relax slightly, taking a step away from our bedroom door and casting Daphne a warning glance. She smirks, "So?"

"It isn't a kink," I say flatly, sinking to the floor by Pansy's dangling feet. Daphne settles in front of me, her foot nudging my calf apologetically.

From there, I explain to both of them what happened. I start with tracking the band of Gryffindors that have been hiding out, how I've been protecting them the best I can, and how Harper finally caught me. I curse his name and continue on to the Great Hall, where I lied and acted my way out of any worse punishment— and where Alecto most definitely noticed some hesitation on Draco's part, some glance between us that was not concealed as well as it should have been.

"You've both finished the Dark Arts essay, right?" I say, looking between them.

With a flourish, Pansy produces the page from her messenger bag beside her. "Just last night."

"Well, it all comes down to that. There has to be intent to harm for the Cruciatus Curse to have any real damaging effect. You can cast it all you want and the sparks can fly— but the impact won't be felt unless you will it to be."

Daphne raises her head from where it had been resting in her hands and meets my eyes. "Malfoy cast it just fine, but with no meaning behind it."

"Exactly," I nod, offering her a small smile. "And I acted my ass off."

Pansy snorts, "Bravo."

Daphne licks her lips, not as amused, and stares back at me seriously. "We have to talk to Padma."

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February 5th, 1997

I sit on top of a desk, swinging my feet back and forth, while Daphne leans against a wooden door, ear pressed to it and listening to the corridor beyond.

"What time did you say?"

"Noon. We always meet here at noon."

I look over my shoulder at the clock hung on the wall. Any minute now, then. I lock eyes with Draco in the back corner of the room, where he leans against the wall with his arms crossed.