Deal with the dark lord

Chapter 4

Estella pov

I woke up early this morning after a restless night. Now, I found myself in a corner of the common room, studying history of magic. The elves had cleaned out the fireplace yesterday, leaving it cold and unlit, but I barely noticed the chill, I was to distracted.

Studying wasn't going well either, but I figured that if I kept at it, I'd eventually manage to focus. I heard footsteps coming down from the boys' dormitories, but I chose to ignore them.

Lost in thought about my upcoming conversation with Theo, I was startled when someone pulled out the chair next to me. I recognized Draco without looking up, thanks to his exaggerated sigh.

"What are you doing up so early?" he asked.

"Couldn't sleep," I replied.

"What about you?" I asked, finally glancing up.

He rolled his eyes. "I snapped at Adrian after Quidditch practice yesterday. He was spouting nonsense, and I must have hit a nerve because he made me get up early to prepare the pitch for practice."

I chuckled and smiled, looking at at him. "Need some help?"

"Sure, but I don't see why you'd want to," he said, giving me a weird look.

"You're my friend, and besides, I can't focus anyway," I replied, packing up my things.

As I got up to follow Draco to the portrait, I asked him about the situation with Adrian. He brushed me off, insisting it didn't concern me and that I shouldn't worry. I shrugged it off.

I had decided yesterday to just come clean about the meeting, the deal—everything. Perhaps now was a good moment. I knew I'd have to keep this hidden from too many people, but Draco would find out eventually anyway.
I just wouldn't mention Theo; that wasn't my place.

I hoped he would bring up yesterday again, since I had no idea how to start that conversation. I thought he might, and I was right.

"So what were you really doing yesterday?" he asked.

I opened my mouth but hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

"I know you weren't at Hogsmeade with 'some friends,'" he sighed. "You've been acting strange ever since you came to get that letter. You don't have to tell me, but I just want you to know that you can."

I was thinking, "Look-"

"Is it some guy?" he asked. "Do you need me to beat someone up?"

I genuinely laughed at that, shaking my head.

"No, it isn't some guy—well, technically it is, I guess, but not in the way you think." I sighed, realizing how hard this was to talk about.

Get a grip, Estella, I thought, feeling frustrated.

"It's about the Dark Lord," I whispered, making Draco stop in his tracks. I halted too, glancing back at him, trying to decipher his expression.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nerves. "The letter was from my mother, asking me to come home for the weekend. I knew it had something to do with the Dark Lord since she'd asked not to tell my brother."

"Estella." He exclaimed giving me a concerned look.

"I basically promised myself to the Dark Lord when I was little," I explained, realizing how strange that sounded. Draco remained silent.

"After my father died, Death Eaters came to the mansion. They needed a replacement for the man they'd lost—my father."

"My brother and I were hiding behind my mother, listening to the conversation."