THE AFTERMATH | RON WEASLEY [BOOK FOUR]

19. HIS CHOICE

"Who else is here? I heard you talking." Draco stood poised, wand in hand, his eyes darting about.

"I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful. Have you been whispering to yourself, Draco?" Dumbledore returned as Harry led Gene along the length of the lower floor, finding an angle at which they could better see Dumbledore. "Draco, you are no assassin."

"You don't know what I'm capable of," Draco's voice rose with anger, "you don't know what I've done!"

"You almost killed Katie Bell and Ronald Weasley. You have been trying, with increasing desperation, to kill me all year. Forgive me, Draco, but they have been feeble attempts, so feeble, to be honest, that I wonder whether your heart has been really in it."

Dumbledore said, his voice as calm as the gentle breeze that had taken the night, causing goosebumps to rise across Gene's skin, the hair across her arms standing up.

"He trusts me. I was chosen." Draco cried, thrusting his arm out and pulling his sleeve back to reveal the Dark Mark.

Gene's heart sunk to the pit of her stomach, bile rising as she grasped onto Harry for strength. She shut her eyes briefly, shaking her head, hoping that this was just a nightmare. Gene was right in thinking it was one. Except, she was living it.

He had made his choice.

"I shall make it easy for you." Dumbledore said, drawing his wand out slowly, and without intent.

"Expelliarmus!" Draco cried, sending his wand across the room, clattering to the ground as Gene watched in horror.

He wasn't fighting back. Why wasn't he fighting back?

"Very good. Very good." Dumbledore murmured, just as the door opened and closed once more, "You're not alone. There are others. How?" the floor creaked as Dumbledore stepped closer.

"The vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement. I've been mending it." Draco answered, his voice strained, his skin paler than ever.

Harry tugged on Gene's hand, bringing her back to reality as they backed away, further into the shadows as the sound of footfall drew nearer.

"Let me guess; it has a sister. A twin." Dumbledore spoke.

"In Borgin and Burkes. They form a passage." Draco answered once more, while Gene wracked her brain to understand why.

"Ingenious." he whispered, "Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please let me help you." his voice was gentle, Gene's vision blurring as he spoke.

"I don't want your help!" Draco cried, "Don't you understand? I have to do this. I have to kill you. Or he's gonna kill me." his voice wavered, and Gene could barely stomach it.

Harry's hand held her close, tighter than before and she was grateful for it, because she wasn't sure if she could stand on her own anymore. What was coming, Dumbledore had known the whole time. He knew everything, after all.

The footsteps grew louder and they hid further behind a large pillar, as they climbed the stairs, pulling to a stop as they saw the sight.

"Look what we have here." Bellatrix's voice sent a wave of rage over Gene and she flinched forward, though Harry held her back. "Well done, Draco." she whispered to him.

Gene drew her wand, Harry doing the same as they watched through the rafters, with baited breath.

"Good evening, Bellatrix." Dumbledore said. "I think introductions are in order, don't you?"