Shadows of Redemption

Chapter 12: The Thin Veil of Deception

Harriet's POV

My heart raced, each beat thundering in my ears as I hid beneath the bed. The shadows around me felt suffocating, pressing in from all sides as Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange stood in the room, their presence like an approaching storm. The danger was palpable, and I held my breath, praying that Draco would be able to keep up his charade.

Lucius's voice was as sharp as a dagger. "Draco, you've been acting strange. Sneaking around, keeping secrets. Do you take us for fools?" His cold eyes scanned the room, and I pressed myself further back, trying to become invisible.

Draco held his ground, his face pale but defiant. "I haven't been sneaking around," he said, his voice level. "I've just been... preparing for Hogwarts, like you told me to. Practicing defensive spells."

Bellatrix's laughter was like nails on a chalkboard. She took a step forward, her wand twirling in her bony fingers. "Defensive spells?" she cooed, her smile wide and mocking. "I wonder, dear nephew, what you're really defending against. Secrets, perhaps? Lies?"

The air grew heavier, thick with the tension of unspoken truths. I felt my claws digging into the floor, desperate for something-anything-to cling to. I needed to protect Draco as much as he was trying to protect me. If they discovered I was here, there would be no escape.

Lucius took another step closer to his son, his gaze narrowing. "Show me," he commanded. "Show me what you've been practicing, or I'll have no choice but to assume you're hiding something."

Draco swallowed, and I could see the internal battle warring inside him. His hands trembled ever so slightly, but he lifted his wand, his jaw tightening. "Fine," he said, his voice steady despite the fear I knew he was feeling. "I'll show you."

I held my breath as Draco prepared to cast a spell. His wand movements were deliberate, his focus unwavering, and I knew he was putting everything into this moment. He had to convince them that nothing was amiss.

"Protego Maxima," he said, his voice commanding. A shimmering, protective shield erupted in front of him, glowing with power. It was an impressive display, one that would have taken serious practice to perfect. I couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for him, even in the face of our shared danger.

Bellatrix's eyes gleamed with interest, and she tilted her head. "Impressive," she drawled, her smile unsettling. "But surely you've been practicing more than just defensive charms."

Lucius didn't seem convinced either. He crossed his arms, his gaze still suspicious. "Why the secrecy, Draco?" he demanded. "Why lock yourself away in this room?"

Draco's grip on his wand tightened. "Because I needed a quiet place," he shot back, his voice growing firmer. "This house isn't exactly peaceful, with meetings and discussions happening all the time."

Bellatrix took a step closer, her wand now pointed directly at Draco's chest. "Are you lying to us, Draco?" she asked, her voice deceptively soft. "Because if you are, we'll find out. And you know what happens to liars."

A cold dread washed over me. I knew she meant every word, and the threat hung in the air like a blade ready to fall. If she pushed further, if she searched the room...

I prepared myself to spring out from under the bed, to fight with whatever magic I still had in this form. I couldn't let Draco take the fall for me, not when he had already risked so much.

But before Bellatrix could press him further, Narcissa Malfoy appeared in the doorway, her voice cutting through the tension. "What is going on here?" she demanded, her eyes flashing with a protective anger I hadn't seen before.

Lucius straightened, his gaze shifting to his wife. "Narcissa," he said coolly. "We're merely ensuring that Draco is... behaving as he should."

Narcissa's eyes narrowed, and she stepped into the room, placing herself between Draco and Bellatrix. "My son has been under enough pressure," she said, her voice like steel. "If he says he's been practicing spells, then that is what he's been doing."

Bellatrix sneered, but she lowered her wand. "Fine," she said, drawing out the word like a taunt. "But if I find out otherwise, I'll make sure he learns the consequences."

Narcissa's gaze didn't waver. "You won't find anything," she said, her voice cold and commanding.

Lucius's jaw tightened, but he gave a curt nod. "Very well," he said. "But, Draco, remember what's at stake. Do not disappoint us."

With that, he and Bellatrix left the room, the air finally easing of its suffocating tension. I stayed frozen under the bed, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst.

Draco's POV

The moment my father and Bellatrix left, I felt the adrenaline drain out of me, leaving me exhausted and shaken. Mother turned to me, her expression softening with worry. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice quieter, more tender.

I nodded, though I didn't feel alright at all. "I'm fine," I said, forcing the words out. "Thank you."

Her eyes searched mine, and I knew she could see the fear I was trying to hide. She reached out, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Be careful, Draco," she whispered. "They're watching you more closely than ever."

I swallowed hard, nodding. "I will."

Narcissa lingered for a moment longer before leaving, closing the door behind her. As soon as she was gone, I collapsed onto the floor, my hands trembling. Harriet emerged from under the bed, her eyes wide and full of concern.

"That was too close," I whispered, my voice breaking. I reached out, and she pressed her head against my hand, her silent support grounding me. We were playing a dangerous game, and I knew the cost of losing would be high.

But for now, we had survived another day.