Draco Malfoy and the Girl Who Hid

44

Draco's head throbbed as he came to, his vision blurry and his mouth dry. He tried to shift, but his arms were bound tightly to the arms of a wooden chair. Slowly, his vision cleared, and he could make out several familiar faces surrounding him in a dimly lit room. The temperature was icy, and an uncomfortable silence filled the space, broken only by the faint sounds of breathing from the shadowy figures encircling him.

He recognized the intimidating figures of Death Eaters standing close, their expressions unreadable, while Voldemort himself sat at the head of the room, watching with an eerie calm. Beside him, Lucius looked impassive, as if observing a particularly tedious display, while Narcissa wore a worried frown. Bellatrix, however, smirked, her eyes glinting with eager malice.

"Good morning, Draco," sneered one of the Death Eaters as he stepped closer. "We've got a few questions for you. A bit of an explanation, perhaps?"

Draco's mouth felt like sandpaper, but he managed to spit out, "Explanation? I told you everything already! I was following the plan—"

"Your plan? Or a traitor's?" another Death Eater interjected, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Where exactly were you headed with the girl?" demanded another, gesturing vaguely across the room. Draco's heart lurched as he followed the motion, his gaze landing on Yn. She was bound to a similar chair on the opposite side of the room, her head slumped forward. Her breathing was shallow, and she seemed barely conscious.

He strained against his bindings, panic flooding through him. "What are you all doing? I told you—our methods weren't working! I had to try something different!"

Voldemort chuckled, a sound that sent chills down Draco's spine. "Different, indeed. And why should we believe this, Draco?" he asked, his voice almost gentle, yet laced with malice.

Draco's breathing quickened as he met Voldemort's crimson eyes. "Have I done anything to make you doubt me?" he replied, forcing his voice to remain steady. He tried to project the confidence he wasn't feeling, but his gaze flickered back to Yn.

At that moment, the door creaked open, and Severus Snape entered the room. His expression was one of profound disapproval, his gaze flicking to Yn with a barely disguised look of shock. He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

"How exactly is this meant to protect the weapon?" Snape muttered, his eyes fixing Draco with a hard stare, as if disappointed.

Voldemort's attention shifted to Snape, a cruel smile stretching across his thin lips. "Ah, Severus, I see you've decided to join us. What do you make of this?" He gestured to Draco, amusement evident in his tone. "Do you trust the boy?"

Snape's expression was unreadable as he looked between Voldemort and Draco. Finally, he inclined his head. "I trust that Draco has followed orders to the best of his ability. That being said," he glanced at Yn, "our current approach seems...inadequate. She's already weakened, but we need her at full strength. As she recovers, the little control you've established will wane."

He turned back to Draco, a calculating gleam in his eye. "Emotional connections may be the key to controlling her. Draco, being young and... susceptible to these bonds, may be able to manipulate her effectively."

Bellatrix scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "So we're trusting the boy with this crucial task?" she sneered, glaring at Draco with barely concealed disdain. "He almost let her slip through his fingers tonight."

"He won't make that mistake again," Snape interjected, his tone cold and final. He looked to Voldemort, giving a slight bow. "If I may, my Lord, this could be the opportunity to use Draco as the linchpin in our plan. A connection forged with her through him will be our strongest weapon. Her father is already causing trouble, so time is of the essence."

Voldemort tilted his head, considering Snape's suggestion, his gaze drifting back to Draco. "Yes, I believe you might be right, Severus," he mused, almost to himself. He turned his gaze back to Draco, eyes alight with dark anticipation. "Draco, my boy, this is your task now. You've proven willing, but can you truly give me what I require?"

Draco took a steadying breath, meeting Voldemort's eyes with as much resolve as he could muster. "I can do it," he said firmly, ignoring the pounding of his heart. He had to keep Yn alive, had to find a way to shield her from the worst of this.

Voldemort regarded him with a look of cold amusement. "Then prove it to me, Draco. She must come to us willingly, must embrace her role in our cause. You've seen how our methods have affected her, but a more...gentle approach may break her in a way that force has not."

Draco's fists clenched, the bindings cutting into his wrists as he looked over at Yn. She raised her head slightly, catching his gaze. There was no mistaking the hurt in her eyes, mingled with confusion and anger. His chest tightened painfully, but he knew he couldn't falter here.

Lucius, who had been silent until now, leaned forward, his face as impassive as ever. "Do you understand the gravity of what's being asked of you, Draco?" he murmured, a note of warning in his voice.

Draco nodded, forcing himself to look back at Voldemort. "I do. I'll make sure she cooperates."

Voldemort's lips twisted into a grotesque smile. "Good. Then begin your task. Convince her, make her loyal to our cause. Show us that you're worthy of the role you aspire to." He turned to the Death Eaters assembled in the room. "Leave them. Let young Draco begin his persuasion."

The Death Eaters filed out, casting wary glances at Draco as they went. Bellatrix paused beside him, giving him a mocking smile. "Let's hope you're as persuasive as you think you are," she sneered, before finally leaving the room.

Once the room was empty, Draco looked over at Yn, his expression softening. He could see the hurt and distrust in her eyes, and it twisted something deep inside him. He moved closer to her, speaking in a low voice. "Yn, I'm sorry. I had to tell them something. I had to make them believe me."

Yn's eyes hardened, and she turned her face away from him. "I don't know what you're trying to accomplish, Draco," she muttered, her voice thick with bitterness. "You're playing a dangerous game, and I'm just a pawn in it."

Draco swallowed, trying to ignore the sting of her words. "I'm not doing this to hurt you. I'm trying to keep you safe." He reached out, hesitating before placing a hand on her shoulder. "Please, Yn. Trust me, just for now."

Yn flinched under his touch, looking back at him with a mixture of anger and fear. "Trust you? How can I trust you when you're standing beside them, when you're following their orders?"

He sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Because I don't have a choice," he said quietly. "I'm in this too deep, just like you are. But I'll protect you however I can. I promise you that."

For a moment, something flickered in Yn's eyes—something that might have been sympathy or understanding—but she quickly masked it, her gaze hardening once more. "Then prove it," she whispered. "Show me that you're not just another one of them."

Draco nodded, knowing that her words would haunt him long after this conversation ended. He knew that he had a difficult road ahead, but he was willing to walk it if it meant keeping Yn alive. He would play the part Voldemort expected of him, but he would do it his way, and he would find a way to protect her, no matter the cost.

As they sat in the silence of the room, Draco realized that this was only the beginning of a dangerous and delicate game—a game that would test not only his loyalty but his very soul. And yet, for Yn's sake, he would endure it. He had no other choice.