Crucio: Just Before The War

Chapter Four

"Wait-" Daphne shook her head, eyes scrunched, as if she was trying to piece together my sentence, "You saw Draco in the Potions room, by himself?"

"That's what I said," I laughed. We were in our Friday Transfiguration class, trying to look busy with our work as I recited my week's events to her. I hadn't yet told Hermione of my conversation with Draco in the Potions classroom, but she hadn't been around much ever since the return of You Know Who and Harry's DA recruitment last year, so I didn't feel too guilty about it. Things weren't this complicated in 3rd and 4th year, we were able to spend so much more time together back then. Daphne had slowly become a more involved friend since we were both put in the same Transfiguration classes since 3rd year; we bonded immensely over our struggles and dislike of the subject.

"And he actually spoke normally to you? No insults?" She raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yes," I sighed, "Well, he did throw a few insults once I'd apparently pissed him off. We only spoke briefly and it wasn't anything very valuable. He didn't seem too interested in having a proper conversation," I rolled my eyes.

"It's all just very fascinating," she spoke quickly, eyes wide, darting around as she looked down at the floor in front of us, "The Room of Requirement, the Potions classroom, it just seems... strange."

"I guess it does," I hesitated for a moment before I continued, "I think Harry is quite suspicious of him at the moment."

Daphne scoffed, "Well of course he is, not like he's had a stupid rivalry with him since day one," she remarked.

"Well, he has reasons. I get most of it from Hermione but, it all sounds pretty rational."

Daphne looked to me, a challenging expression on her face, "Think maybe it's just because he's in Slytherin? I know his buddies like to tell him we're all evil."

"They don't really think that," I laughed lightly, "Surely not."

"Yeah well..." Daphne trailed off.

We spent the second period of the class attempting to transform our pets, my black cat Seraphina and Daphne's spotted toad Kurtis, into wine glasses, succeeding only once each, even though Daphne's glass still had a heavy green tinge to it.

***

"I wish I could tell you..."

He whispered through his tears.

"But I'd have to kill you..."

I felt my throat closing, like I was being strangled.

"Is that what you want?"

I couldn't speak.

"Grace..."

I tried to breathe but nothing was happening.

"Grace!"

I gasped for air, sweat drenching my body as I jolted up in my bed.

"Merlin's beard, Grace. Are you alright?" Parvati asked.

She was standing on the left side of my bed, her arms out in front of her like she'd just pulled away from me. I wiped my forehead and looked at my hand; evidence that I was sweating profusely covering it. My heart was racing.

"Sorry, yes. Yes, I'm fine, sorry," I mumbled as I kicked my bedding off of me, blinking a few times as my blurry vision started to clear.

"Are you sure?" She asked, concern clear in her voice, "I was about to head down to breakfast, but I can take you to the hospital wing if you need."