The Death Eater

Let's sort out this bet

Draco was surprised the train made the trip without Helena blowing it up. From what the others were saying, she ran off about halfway through the trip which probably contributed to that fact. Potter had been eavesdropping on him earlier and he'd almost missed the carriages dealing with him.

Blaise and Pansy were arguing about some strange pureblood party they were planning. Blaise wanted to invite all other houses because otherwise it would just be another Slytherin party but Pansy didn't want uncultured Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors to show up.

"Look, do you really think that blood traitors and the like will show up?" Blaise argued.

"Well, I don't want that chance."

"You do know that Hufflepuffs can be purebloods too, we should extend them the same rules as we extend to those in Ravenclaw."

"Fine, the puffs can come, but what about the Gryffindumb-asses?"

"We have to let them, most pure blood families have Gryffindor members. I'm all for another Slytherin party or a joint one with Ravenclaw but if we are really going to have a pureblood party we need to let in all purebloods."

Pansy slumped, "What do you think, Draco?"

Draco shrugged, "Might be fun to have some new people for a change."

Blaise pumped the air, "Yes!"

Pansy screwed up her nose, "If any mudbloods turn up I swear I will hex them where they stand."

Blaise laughed, "What mudblood would even want to be in a room of purebloods? They'd just feel inferior and uncomfortable."

Draco chuckled at this despite his greatly occupied mind. Potter had been spying on him earlier. How much had he heard? Draco secretly hoped that he would end up going to wherever the train goes, he hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with stupid ass Harry Potter for the rest of the year. His foot still tingled with the break of his nose and Draco concentrated on that, anything to forget what he had to do. Anything to forget that he had to kill...

"Oi," Blaise shoved Draco's shoulder, "You look sucked up in brain fog."

Pansy snorted, "Brain fog," she mimicked.

Blaise ignored her, frowning at Draco, "You've been off all day, what happened over the holidays?"

Draco did his best to look normal, "Nothing, as usual."

"You still worrying about the Potter thing?"

"Yeah, the Potter thing," Draco nodded, "Yeah..."

The carriages pulled up outside Hogwarts and Draco felt a familiar warm feeling in his stomach that made him feel slightly nauseous. He felt both at home and ill at ease at the same time. The doors opened and Draco made his way out.

"Help a girl out, Draco," Pansy said with a flirtatious grin.

Draco looked at Blaise who merely shrugged and smirked. It looked like he'd have to. Draco held out his hands and Pansy used them to leap down gracefully.

"Thank you, Draco," She pecked him on the check and walked with Blaise towards the castle, Draco thoughtfully in tow. 

The other students made the same trek, hundreds making their way towards the castle. Draco would normally complain about the carriages not taking them right to the door, say something about house elves or Filch or Hagrid but he couldn't open his mouth.  He could hear laughter and students chattering as they saw their friends again. Draco followed his fellow Slytherin's to the table and took a seat beside Pansy. She wrapped her arms around his.

The happy chatter of the hall cut short as Dumbledore stood up. Draco felt his stomach twist and he looked down. Professor Snape couldn't be seen anywhere and Draco was kind of glad.

"Welcome students!" Dumbledore smiled, "Professor McGonagall has informed me that all new-comers are ready to be sorted and will be in momentarily. I would like to remind you that rumors are discouraged and to not stare. Staring is incredibly rude."

Draco wondered how obvious Dumbledore thought he was being. There was a creak and the doors of the great hall opened. McGonagall walked the first years through the hall, a disgruntled looking Helena following close behind.

Blaise crossed his fingers, "She didn't last the whole trip. Come on, please be Gryffindor."

Draco didn't know how she would fool the hat, she was more Slytherin than every kid at his table combined. But she couldn't do her job if she was in Slytherin. She needed them to trust her completely. The sorting began and students after students went up to the hat to be sorted. It wasn't long before her name was called.

"Helena Black."

She stepped up to the stool and Draco could see her fingers curled around something in her robe. Her wand, probably, but he couldn't be sure. The hat lower to her head and she closed her eyes on the hall. Draco watched with batted breath as the hat and her discussed things. The hat couldn't be bamboozled and it was Gryffindor's pet in the beginning so there was no doubt it was good. Draco eyed Helena's face as it changed expressions. The entire hall seemed to be watching. 

It was beginning to look like a hatstall when the brim of the battered rag opened and it's booming voice yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Helena let McGonagall lift the hat from her head and she stepped towards the clapping table in red. The Slytherins around Draco whispered and groaned. Except Blaise who was gaping at her.

"I won. I won the bet! No way!!" He laughed.

Pansy rolled her eyes, "I wish you didn't. She seemed like so much fun."

Draco continued to watch as Helena joined the trio and gripped her wand tighter. He could feel a twisting worry that the Dark Lord had made a mistake. He didn't know what the trio was capable of. Helena would either leave Hogwarts a saint or would have murdered the entirety of Gryffindor house. He, on the other hand, just had to make an old man die. How difficult could that be?