Bound by secrets

Chapter 19

Dominic leaned back in his chair, his eyes dancing between us, but lingering on me more often than I liked. He took a sip of his drink, his gaze sly as if he was already two steps ahead in some game we weren't even aware of yet.

"So, Y/N, Astore, huh? Your father... he's always been a man of mystery, hasn't he?" His voice had a taunting edge, and I felt my skin prickle with unease.

There was something about the way he said my last name that sent a shiver down my spine.

Draco's hand found mine under the table, giving me a reassuring squeeze. I could feel the tension rolling off him too, but he kept his expression cool. "You've met her father then?" Draco asked smoothly, steering the conversation.

Dominic laughed, a short, mocking sound. "Oh, I've met him. Your old man has a... reputation, shall we say?"

I stayed quiet, feeling the weight of Dominic's words. There was something there, something that felt too personal, like he knew more than he was letting on.

Dominic leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "I heard he used to talk about this kid, you know? Real fond of him. *Lamore's son*, I think. Yeah, your father loved him when he was younger, practically raised him. Odd, don't you think?"

My heart stopped for a moment. *Lamore's son*? I glanced at Draco, who stiffened beside me. My head started spinning, and it was like the air was sucked out of the room.

"Lamore's son?" Pansy, always the quickest to jump in, narrowed her eyes. "Who the hell is that?"

Dominic smirked, realizing too late that he'd said something he shouldn't have. His eyes flickered with a brief flash of panic before he shrugged it off. "You know, it's funny how family ties work, isn't it? People you thought disappeared, coming back when you least expect it."

"Wait," Blaise interrupted, leaning forward, eyes sharp. "You're saying *Lamore's son* is involved with Y/N's father?"

Dominic's smirk faltered just a bit, but he covered it with a careless wave of his hand. "I'm just saying, the Lamores weren't as ghost-like as people thought. Maybe there's more to their little family tree than meets the eye. And maybe your dear old dad had more secrets than you realized, Y/N."

I couldn't breathe. The puzzle pieces started clicking together in my head, a horrifying picture forming. My father, Lamore's son, the attack... Was *he* the insider? Was my father's connection to the Lamores deeper than I ever realized?

Dominic's gaze flicked back to me, a knowing look in his eyes. "Funny how the past catches up with you, isn't it?"

I clenched my fists under the table, feeling a wave of nausea. "How do you know all this, Dominic?" My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't care. I needed answers.

He chuckled again, standing up and finishing his drink. "Let's just say I have my sources. I'd watch your back, Y/N. Things aren't always as they seem."

With that, he sauntered off, leaving us all staring after him in stunned silence.

After Dominic left, we were all left in stunned silence. The revelation that Arnel Lamore had a son—and that my father was iclose with him—hung heavily in the air. The questions were piling up faster than we could answer them.

Pansy broke the silence first. "So, we know Lamore had a son, but who let him into Hogwarts? That's the real question."

"Exactly," Draco said, running a hand through his hair. "Dominic's riddles and half-truths aren't helping us figure out who was behind this."

I sat there, my mind racing. Dominic had mentioned something about it "not being what it seems" and the "family tree."

My thoughts swirled around the possibility of my father's connections being deeper and darker than we initially thought. The idea of an innocent party being involved—or even manipulated—was chilling.