Shadows of Redemption

Chapter 6: The Secret Meeting

Harriet's POV

Draco's footsteps faded, leaving me alone in the guest room. I lay under the bed, every muscle in my tiny Kneazle body tense and coiled, ready to flee if necessary. The silence in Malfoy Manor was a deceptive one, filled with unspoken threats and unseen eyes. My ears twitched, catching every creak, every rustle.

I knew that if Draco's family or their "guests" discovered me, it would be over. But what worried me more than the threat of being caught was the expression I had seen on Draco's face. There was a strain there that spoke of something much deeper than just the stress of hosting Death Eaters.

The minutes crawled by, each one heavier than the last. My mind raced, trying to formulate a plan. I couldn't stay like this forever. We needed a solution, and we needed it soon. But how? Even if Draco kept me hidden, we'd have to wait until Hogwarts for any real help. And even then, there were no guarantees.

Suddenly, raised voices drifted through the floorboards, pulling me from my thoughts. I crept out from under the bed and jumped up onto the windowsill, pressing my ear against the glass pane. It was muffled, but I could hear snippets of conversation coming from the drawing room below.

"...can't afford another failure," Lucius Malfoy's voice rang out, hard and cold. "The Dark Lord's patience is wearing thin."

"And what of Hogwarts?" came Bellatrix's cackle, followed by a shiver-inducing laugh. "The school year begins soon. Our opportunities will be endless. Especially with young Draco there to... assist."

My fur bristled, and I had to fight the urge to hiss. Whatever they were planning, it involved Hogwarts-and Draco was supposed to play a part in it. My stomach twisted in worry. Whatever they had in mind, it wasn't good. And if it involved Draco, that meant he was even more trapped than I was.

I jumped down from the windowsill and paced the floor, my tail lashing. I needed to warn someone, but how? Stuck as a Kneazle, my options were limited. All I could do was wait for Draco to return and hope he was willing to share more about his family's sinister plans.

Draco's POV

The drawing room was suffocating, filled with the kind of people who made my skin crawl and my heart pound in my chest. Father sat at the head of the room, his steely gaze sweeping over everyone gathered, while Aunt Bellatrix lounged in a chair, her dark eyes glinting with madness. Other Death Eaters lurked in the shadows, and I could feel their expectations pressing down on me.

"Draco," Bellatrix crooned, leaning forward. Her voice made my insides twist, but I kept my face expressionless. "Are you ready for your part in our little project at Hogwarts?"

I clenched my jaw. "Of course, Aunt Bellatrix," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "I won't fail."

Father's eyes narrowed, and I knew he was assessing me, looking for any sign of weakness. I had learned long ago how to hide my fear, how to keep my thoughts buried deep. But that didn't mean I wasn't terrified. If I made one mistake, if I showed even a hint of doubt, it would all come crashing down.

"Good," Lucius said finally, his voice as cold as ice. "You must prove your loyalty, Draco. The Dark Lord demands nothing less."

I swallowed, nodding. "I understand."

But I didn't understand. Not really. The idea of harming anyone at Hogwarts, of carrying out some dark mission, made me feel sick. And now, with Harriet here, it all felt even more complicated. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep this act up.

Bellatrix's laugh rang out, high and wild. "Oh, dear nephew, you'll do splendidly," she said, clapping her hands together. "I'm sure of it."

The meeting dragged on, every minute an exercise in self-control. By the time it finally ended, I felt like a puppet, my strings pulled tight and ready to snap. As the Death Eaters dispersed, my mother caught my eye, her gaze softening for just a moment. She looked worried, but she didn't say a word.

I slipped away as quickly as I could, making my way back to the guest room where Harriet was hidden. My hands were shaking, and my head pounded with everything I had just heard. I needed to talk to her, to make sense of all of this.

I opened the door to the guest room, and there she was, sitting in the middle of the floor, her green eyes fixed on me. The moment I stepped inside, she stood and padded over, her tail flicking anxiously.

"They have plans for Hogwarts," I said, my voice cracking. "And they're counting on me to make it happen."

Harriet's eyes widened, and she let out a low, rumbling growl. She was angry, I realized. Angry for me, or maybe angry at me. Either way, I couldn't blame her.

"I don't know what to do," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm trapped, Potter. Just as trapped as you are."

She studied me for a long moment, and then she did something that shocked me: she stepped closer and pressed her head against my leg, a silent gesture of comfort. My throat tightened, and I sank down to the floor, resting my head in my hands.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn't completely alone.