Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Forty-Nine: Under The Stars

August 1st finally arrived and I was extremely excited. After breakfast, I hurried up the stairs to get ready to leave. First, I made sure I had everything packed that I would need for my stay at Malfoy Manor and for Hogwarts after that. Then I got dressed and did my hair and makeup. It took me until around lunch time to get ready because I decided to curl my hair and I suck at it. It came out alright in the end though.

As soon as I got done with lunch, I went back to my room to double and triple check that I had everything. Looking at the clock, I found I still had an hour left until Narcissa would be here to pick me up at 1:30, like Draco said in his letter. Taking out my guitar, I decided to play it until it was time to go.

An hour later, there was a loud crack downstairs that told me she was here. I picked up my luggage and headed downstairs. Narcissa saw me struggling as I came into view and she sent my stuff to the mansion. "Thank you," I told her.

"No problem, Katie. How are you?" She asked.

"Excited," I answered honestly. "How are you?"

"I've been better," She sighed. She hugged me when I got to the bottom of the stairs. "May I introduce you to my sister, Bellatrix?" She pulled away and gestured to a woman with curly hair in the corner of the room.

"Ah Bellatrix Lestrange, it's nice to meet you." She gave a curt nod, but said nothing.

"If it's alright with you Katie, Bella and I will be staying here to talk to Severus while you go ahead to the manor. You can use floo powder."

I nodded and walked over to Dad. "Bye Dad," I spoke as we hugged.

"I'll see you at Hogwarts in one month, sweetheart. Behave."

"I will," I laughed before grabbing some floo powder and stepping into the fireplace. "Malfoy Manor!" I yelled loud and clear. A moment later I stepped out of a different fireplace, coughing like a smoker.

"Katie? Is that you?" I heard my favorite voice in the world ask.

"Draco!" I cried as I walked over to him and hugged him.

"Hi, Katie."

"Oh I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too. Let's go upstairs," he instructed.

"OK." I followed him upstairs to his room where he told me to sit down on his bed. He began pacing. "Is everything alright?"

"No, nothing is."

"What's wrong?" He sat down next to me, looking at his hands. "Draco, you can tell me anything."

"Katie, I- I'm a- I'm a," he started to roll up his left sleeve. "I'm a death eater." I gasped. "I'm so sorry. I didn't want to become one, but I had to. He made me as payback for my father's m-mistakes. If I didn't obey, he wouldn't have just k-killed me, he would've k-killed my whole f-family." Draco was stuttering like Professor Quirrell. "And- and he gave me a j-job to d-do. As a-a chance to m-make up for my father. If I f-f-fail, he'll-he'll k-kill me. I understand if you l-leave right now and n-never come back."

We sat in silence as I took in what he told me. He was shaking with fear right now. I grabbed his hand and he calmed down a little as he looked up at me. "There is no way you could've prevented this from happening. It's not your fault."

"You don't hate me?" He asked.

"Of course not. I'm going to help you through this. What's your job that he gave you?" He looked down again. "Draco?"

Draco got up at walked over to his window. "He wants me to-" He cut himself off. I got up, walked over to him, and placed my hand on his shoulder.

"He wants you to what?"