In The Shadows [Book Two]

Chapter Fourteen:

Chapter Fourteen:

It was official, Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater. I'd never told him about my becoming one, I assumed Mother and Father would have told him should he have need to know but when he showed me his; I showed him mine and we were just as surprised about the other having a Dark Mark.

But the moment Blaise came back, the entire carriage began speaking of our task set to us by the Dark Lord. I felt uncomfortable talking about this with so many people, any one of them could mention to someone else, who would blab to the entire school. But Draco loved to show off, he loved to be thought of as better than all his friends.

"Easter holidays last term."

"But you were only fourteen! How'd you manage that."

"I can't tell you that, sorry." I bit my lip, thinking about how much trouble I could get in to if anyone else found out what I did to get my mark. I killed people, not just one; so I couldn't say it was a mistake and I wish I hadn't done it. Not that I would ever admit that anyways, because I didn't feel as if it was a mistake; I felt like it was the best decision I ever made.

Especially after Harry Potter abandoned me for the second time with our no-good family.

I watched as everyone left before turning back to Draco.

"Have I done something wrong?"

"No.. I just want you to see something.. Petrificus Totalus!" Draco's wand shot out towards where Goyle's trunk had been and within a couple of moments there was a loud 'bang' as the flooring of the compartment shook slightly.

In front of Draco was Harry, his legs curled up awkwardly to his chest as he glared up at us. I smirked slightly, finding it funny that not long ago I was hoping to get him alone to put him through what he left me with the Dursley's to go through.

A broken nose, a black eye.. he deserved that and more.

"I thought so, I heard Goyle's trunk hit you and saw a flash of something odd when Zabini came in earlier. "You haven't heard anything we care about, but while I've got you here.."

Draco slammed his foot down on Harry's face, undoubtedly breaking his nose just as I'd been thinking about doing. "That's from my father, and this-" The foot slammed down on Harry's ribcage making even me flinch, "is from Amy for abandoning her with those disgusting muggles you call family."

Draco smirked, his eyes darting to me, perhaps to see if I approved or not. Personally, despite the fact that I'd wanted to hurt him.. I'd wanted to make him pay.. I hated seeing him that way.

"C'mon Amy, let's go or we'll be late for the feast."

Draco left, leaving me and Harry by ourselves.

I stooped over Harry Potter, moving the cloak back off him before healing his nose. I hated him, sure, and I was violent and loved all things related to torture and death but for some reason I couldn't just leave him here like this. It didn't feel right somehow.

I left the cloak off of him so that he could be found easily enough before running after Draco, grinning up at him as we stepped off of the train together and went to go find his friends.

***

I sat at the Gryffindor table; at first I was mostly by myself but soon Neville sat next to me, his face smiling and his eyes happy. Following him was Ginny, then came Ron and Granger, Seamus and Dean until soon the only empty seat was directly across from me; it appeared they were saving a seat for Harry but I doubted he'd be back anytime soon.

The sorting came and went, adding six new Gryffindors, four Ravenclaws, eight Hufflepuffs and eight Slytherins to the tables.

It was only a couple of minutes after the feast began when Harry came to sit at the table. His eyes looked at me; they were full of mistrust and betrayal. His blood stained clothes were attracting a lot of attention and honestly.. I wasn't sure if I should have sat here. Would he say anything here? Right now? With everyone watching and listening?

I didn't know he was there at the time but I practically admitted that I was a Death Eater back in the compartment on the train; had he figured that out? Did he even know what we were talking about?

I made a point to look down at my food but not touching it and I didn't look back up until after Dumbledore's speech during which I swore I could feel his gaze lingering on me much longer than it should have as he spoke of the Dark Lord being at large and how we should go about protecting ourselves and listening to all the restrictions our Heads of House made, and on and on he seemed to go until finally it was done. I stood up, my plate just as full as it was when I first got it, and left the Great Hall before moving up to the Grynffindor common room only to realize I didn't have the new password so I'd still have to wait for a prefect to come up and open it for me.

"I'm telling you, they both are. You know I'd never accuse my own family of this unless I was absolutely sure, Hermione!"

I jerked, listening intently to my brothers voice as he rounded around the corner with his two best friends.

"She's a Death Eater and so is he."

He knew.

Ron got Harry's attention before staring pointedly at me, as if to say 'shut up mate, she's right there' and Harry seemed to listen, his eyes searched my own; perhaps to see how much of his conversation I'd heard.

I looked away from him, my heart told me to leave it be but my brain told me to torture him until he forgot everything he knew about Draco and I; I couldn't care less if they knew what I was.. I realized this with a jolt, I didn't care who knew I was a Death Eater.. but they couldn't figure out Draco was, he had this task and if he failed.. he'd die.

"Well you got half of it right. You think Draco is a.. oh no, he's much too weak; even my dear Aunt Bellatrix says so."

I wanted to flinch away from the anger and hatred burning in Harry's eyes but I couldn't. I had to let him hate me so Draco couldn't be found out before he completed his task. By calling Bellatrix family, I was aligning myself more with her than with the Malfoys and perhaps if Harry was angry enough he would forget all about Draco.

Stupid stupid stupid.

I could have just denied everything, I should have; or I should have went on pretending as if I didn't say it but my ego got the best of me, the need to be better and stronger than everyone else outshone my need to stay hidden.

I'd admitted it and if they decided to go to Dumbledore with it.. I wasn't sure what would happen, actually.

"I'd like to go into my dorm now, if you don't mind."

This was just one more thing I would get away with.

[[A/N: Originally this was going to be a long chapter (like almost twice as long as this but then I thought.. ehh why do that when I could make it two separate chapters?  So the next chapter is nearly complete and I should have it up by tomorrow.  I've been on such a roll, I'm loving this, are you loving this?????  I didn't realize so many people would ship amy and neville 0_0  He's so good and she's so.. not.. but then opposites attract, don't they?]]