Transfixed: A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction

Chapter 33

Snape stood, and I instinctively raised my wand.

"I'm not here to harm you, Audrey," Snape said. "Don't be afraid."

I lowered my wand and looked to my mother, who seemed perfectly calm.

"Have a seat, darling," Mum said.

Slowly, I went and sat on an armchair across from the couch where they were sitting.

"The Minister of Magic is dead," I said hoarsely. "Death Eaters attacked at the wedding."

Neither of them reacted. I frowned.

"Let me try again. I almost got killed," I said, my cheeks flushed with anger. "And I have no idea where my friends are."

"Darling, don't get upset, Severus has explained everything to me," Mum said.

I raised my eyebrows. "Has he now?"

Snape leaned forward and looked me straight in the eyes, which sent a chill down my spine. I remembered what Lupin told me; Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him. But still, all I could remember was helplessly watching the murder on the Astronomy Tower that night, and looking at Snape still shot fear right through me.

"I spoke with Lupin earlier today, and he told me that you had committed yourself to the Order. He also told me that you were very honest about your experiences with Draco Malfoy," Snape said.

I gulped, having no idea how much of this he had already told my mother. "Yes..." I replied, looking at Mum. "Mum, I suppose I ought to tell you what all of this means."

"Severus already told me," she said. "He explained the truth about him and Dumbledore, and he told me that the Order wants you to act as a spy for them."

I continued to frown as I looked at her. How was she so OK with all of this?

"Erm... Yes, that's right." I looked back to Snape. "What do you think of all this, Professor?"

Snape paused as if he were collecting his thoughts. "At first I thought the idea ridiculous. For someone so young to be put in such a situation seemed to be asking for trouble. However... I remembered the Dark Lord remarking about your strength after the battle in the Ministry. He was rather impressed with you."

"Really?" I was stunned.

"Yes. The problem will be for you to prove your loyalty to him. I am certain that he wouldn't blindly trust your word. You were, after all, using your power against him at the Ministry."

"That's true. What do you think I would have to do to win his trust? Would it put my family in danger?"

Snape furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "I don't know. Your mother, Arielle, is in hiding, and the Dark Lord is not aware of her whereabouts to my knowledge. As for your sister, since she is underage, I find it unlikely that she would be affected."

"What about the diadem?" I said. "She is the one who hid it, after all."

"The Dark Lord believes it to already be in the possession of Harry Potter," Snape replied.

"What would make him believe that?" I asked.

"I may have led him to that conclusion," Snape said slowly, as if he were hesitating to tell me the truth. "Otherwise, Cassady would most certainly be dead."

I shook my head, still dumbfounded as to why my mother was so calm.

"Why would you protect her?" I said, my voice rising again. "And Mum, why are you so unfazed by all of this?"