Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Malfoy Manor

"Today I will be teaching all of you how to properly utilize the killing curse," Professor Carrow told the class. Any movement within the class ceased as all attention was put on what had just been said. I glanced around, gaging everyone else's reactions. Many were doing the same. Others shifted uncomfortably in their seats. "To ensure you all get to practice," Carrow continued, "I have brought in subjects we could use the curse on." He walked around his desk where something was covered up by a large cloth. Ripping off the cloth, he revealed several cages filled with birds.

I heard Draco let out a small gasp. Taking his hand underneath the table, I squeezed it, assuring him that he'll be alright.

Carrow opened one of the cages and picked up a bird. He set it down on the desk before shouting, "Avada kedavra! The bird dropped onto its side, going still. Turning to face the class, Carrow explained, "Now, when you perform this curse, you must feel it. You have to have nerve. You have to have skill. I doubt many of you will be able to successfully cast it today, but I hope you will learn over the next week. Now, if you all could line up, we will each practice one at a time. Miss Snape, I'd like you to go first."

I swallowed hard, glancing at Draco before standing up. "Alright, Professor." Slowly, everyone else moved to form a line behind me, once we were all ready, I took a deep breath and raised my wand. "Avada Kedavra!" I spoke firmly. A green flash flew out of my wand and the new bird Carrow had placed in front of me dropped dead.

"Very nice," Carrow grinned, clearly enjoying this. One by one, the others all got multiple attempts to kill the birds, however only a few were successful, all of which were Slytherins. Draco somehow managed to avoid having to do it by staying in the back of the line.

At the end of class, Draco grabbed his stuff and practically ran out of the room. I grabbed my own stuff and chased after him. It wasn't until after he was already all the way outside of the castle that I managed to catch up.

"Draco! Draco, stop!" I yelled.

He stopped and turned around to face me. "How could you do that, Katie? How could you just kill a bird like that? You know about what happened last year! You know how it affects me ever since I killed one trying to mend that bloody vanishing cabinet."

"Carrow ordered me to do it, I couldn't just say no!" I argued.

"You didn't have to actually kill it! It's like you actually want to be a Death Eater. I was forced by my parents. I was only doing it to protect my family, but you...maybe you actually like it."

I scoffed. "You think I had a choice? You think I wanted this? I have a family too, Draco! I have a family who would have no chance defending themselves against the Dark Lord if he decided he wanted them dead! I'm doing this for the same reasons you are! I'm trying to protect them too!" Tears began to spill over onto my cheeks.

Draco's face softened. Walking over to me, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. "I'm sorry. I forgot."

"I feel like I'm forgetting them too," I admitted. "It's been almost a year since I last got to see them."

"One day you'll get to see them again. I'm not sure when, but I promise one day you can see them again."

~~~

At the end of the month, Draco received a letter from Narcissa.

"What'd she say?" I asked, taking a sip from my pumpkin juice.

"She wants both of us to come home during Easter break."

I sighed and looked up towards the staff table. "Alright, I'll ask Dad if he's alright with that after breakfast."