It Was All Just A Mask [A Dramione Story]

The Three Broomsticks

-   "If you truly care for her, you'll let her go."    -

____________________________________________________________

My plan was in place, I would take the necklace to Hogsmeade and curse any unsuspecting Hogwarts student into delivering it to Professor Dumbledore. First I hid behind Zonko's Joke Shop knowing that it was a popular place for students to go, but that also worked as a disadvantage since there were too many people to properly isolate a single person. The same thing happened at Honeydukes. 

I came around and decided that although it was filled primarily with adult witches and wizards, that The Three Broomsticks would be the best place to hand the necklace off. I walked in, hand on my pocket, to make sure that no one saw the burlap packaging housing one of the most dangerous magical items in the world. 

I looked around, trying to see if there was any opportunity for me to lure one person away from the rest. Perhaps a Hufflepuff third-year, they are always too trusting, or even better, a Gryffindor, the house the old man came from himself. I had my eyes scanning the room when they were met with an all too familiar pair of chocolate brown ones. 

Granger. My mouth parted slightly in surprise, as did hers. She used her sleeve to wipe off Butterbeer from her lips, and I took that chance to make my escape. I walked briskly for the door to the bathrooms and shut it behind me. 

Seeing Granger had not been part of my plan. I leaned up against the wall, head in my hands. I rubbed my face, trying to get myself out of fantasy land. This is real life Draco. You need to focus, you need to do this.

I didn't have to wait long for my unfortunate victim to show themselves. Katie Bell, a Gryffindor seventh-year who I have played quidditch against many times. There was no one else in the hall, so I whispered, "Imperio," pointing my wand at unsuspecting Bell.

My practice over the last month had paid off, she was completely under my control. I directed Bell to follow me into an empty closet in the back of the hallway. Unknowingly, she obliged. I handed her the package, and told her to not open it until she delivers it directly to Professor Dumbledore. She would not stop until he held it in his hands.

I was anxious to see if it would work, and to my great pleasure, Bell did exactly as I said. This was nice, too bad the curse is illegal. She took the necklace and left the shop, whispering, "No stopping. Directly to Professor Dumbledore," repeatedly under her breath. It was a little more obvious than I had intended, but I was pleased that it worked.

Knowing that Granger had seen me, I knew that I would have to leave the same way I came in. Shortly after Bell had left, I exited the hallway as well.

As I did so, I overheard, "Looks a bit different, don't you think, Draco," Granger observed to Potter and Weasley, "Almost ill."

I took off before I could hear the rest of their conversation. I knew she was observant, but I wished desperately that she hadn't been. It would be so much easier for the both of us if she didn't suspect a thing.

I went back to the castle as to not be suspicious when Bell arrived at Professor Dumbledore's office with his cursed gift. I needed Professor Snape to have seen me. I moved as fast as I could without seeming like I was up to something. I passed Bell and her friend on my way to the castle. They were arguing about something, but I couldn't understand what it was about, but when I looked at the pair when I passed them, I could see that Bell had unwrapped the necklace.

"So beautiful," she said, still in her trance.

"Don't touch it Katie," her friend warned her, "It's for Professor Dumbledore."

This wasn't good. I started a run back to the castle. 

To my great luck, Professor Snape was at the entrance. When he saw me running, he looked at me confused. Through my racing breaths and red cheeks, I told him that we needed to go somewhere private. He didn't say anything, but he gripped my shoulder, and pulled me along his path. When we reached his office, he shut the door.

"What is it Draco," he snarled in his usual manner, but this time there was a little more sympathy to his tone.

"I just needed you to see me sir. So I have an alibi." His brows furrowed, confused, so I explained what I had done in The Three Broomsticks.

"Impressive Draco. I didn't know you had it in you," he said.

"Thank you sir," I said, holding myself with pride. As terrible of a thing that I had done, I was still proud I was able to accomplish it.

"There's something I've wanted to ask you Draco, but you always seem to slip through my grasp," he continued mysteriously.

Taken aback, I asked, "Yes Professor?"

"That thing that you asked me about during our last little meeting, you didn't mean Granger, did you?"

My breath caught in my throat. How was I supposed to answer this. If I said yes, he could scold me and tell my mother and embarrass me in front of my family. If I said no, then I could be backing out of some potentially relationship-saving advice. I decided that I needed more information, "I'm not entirely sure what you mean sir," I said, my voice quivering slightly. My mask was slipping again.

"I too know what it is like to want an impossibility funny enough," he continued, not taking any of my distractions, "It tears you apart."

"Yeah, yeah it does," I solemnly agreed.

Snape bursted out of his neutral tone and into a warning one, "But don't you think about telling her anything," he spat at my face. I hadn't expected this from him. I scrunched up my face in terror. "If you truly care for her, you'll let her go."