to be or not to be| sixth year | draco malfoy

ring of fire

"caught in a crossfire."
-

Me and Harry were sitting on the couch in the Weasley home, warmth from the fireplace flickering across the room. Across from us sat Remus Lupin, Mr. Weasley, and Nymphadora Tonks. The tension in the air was thick, nearly suffocating.

We had just told them everything—about Voldemort, about Draco.

"So, Voldemort has chosen Draco Malfoy for a mission?" Remus said, his brow furrowing.

"I know it sounds mad," Harry admitted.

"Has it occurred to you two that Snape was simply pretending to offer Draco help so he could find out what he was up to?" Remus suggested, his voice even, measured.

"That's not what it sounded like," I blurted out before I could stop myself. My fingers twisted in my lap. "He was pleading with Draco. He wasn't just trying to figure him out—he was trying to protect him."

Harry shot me a sharp look. "Protect him? Snape made the Unbreakable Vow, Violet. He's helping Draco—helping Voldemort."

"Or maybe he's helping him in a different way," I countered, my voice rising slightly. "Draco isn't—" I cut myself off, inhaling sharply. "He's not like them."

Harry scoffed. "Not like them? You heard him. He was proud of being chosen, Violet. He wants to do this."

"He's scared," I snapped. "He's in too deep, Harry, and you know it. He's only sixteen. Do you think he wants to be a murderer? Do you really think he's capable of—of that?"

Harry clenched his jaw, clearly struggling with my words. I turned to Remus and the others, desperate to make them understand.

"Maybe Violet's right, Remus," Tonks murmured. "To make an Unbreakable Vow, it's—"

"It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgment," Remus interrupted. "Dumbledore trusts Snape. Therefore, I do."

Maybe he was right. Maybe Snape really was still working for Dumbledore. He had fooled Voldemort before, hadn't he?

But why, then, had his voice wavered when speaking to Draco? Why had he sounded... desperate?

"Dumbledore can make mistakes," Harry argued, his hands curling into fists. "He said so himself."

"You're blinded by hatred," Remus shot back, his voice unusually firm.

"It's not—"

"Yes, you are," Remus interrupted, his voice rising. "People are disappearing, Harry. Daily. We can only place our trust in a handful of people. If we start fighting amongst ourselves, we're doomed."

Silence filled the room.

Then, without another word, Tonks stood up and left, her expression unreadable. Remus followed a moment later.

The fire crackled softly in the silence they left behind.

Harry exhaled sharply, rubbing his face. "You actually believe there's something good in him, don't you?"

I swallowed. "I know there is."

He shook his head, frustrated. "You're going to get hurt thinking like that."

Maybe he was right.

But some part of me refused to believe Draco Malfoy was past saving. I saw Ginny walking in, her gaze instinctively flickering toward Harry, and I suddenly felt the urge to leave. I knew something was happening between them now—I wasn't blind. And as much as I cared for Harry, I had no desire to be caught in the middle of that.