ethereal - draco malfoy

unbreakable vows

"Cynthia." my mums soft voice calls from my doorway. I roll over groggily and look at her through hooded eyes. "Hm?" I hum quietly.

"I'm running an errand with Cissy and Bella. Do you need anything?" she informs me.

"No, tell Bella I say hello, though." I mumble.

"You can tell her yourself, dear. She's coming over afterwards." she says with a smile.

"Alright, just come wake me when you get back." I reply.

She nods and closes my door, and I roll over and go back to sleep.

—

Katherine POV

Cissy, Bella and I walk down the dim alley way to Severus' house. The only noise that could be heard was the sound of rain hitting our rain coats and our heels and boots hitting the stone ground.

We arrive and share glances with each other before Cissy knocks and Wormtail answers the door.

He gestures for us to come in and we make our way to Severus' office. "You look lovely as always, Katherine." Wormtail says.

"Sod off, Wormtail. I didn't want you back in Hogwarts and I don't want you now. My husband may be dead, but that still doesn't give you a chance." I snap in a disgusted tone, causing Bella to cackle wildly and Wormtail to shrink back.

We reach Severus' office and walk in to see him reading. He looks up and his gaze flickers between the three of us.

"I know we are not to be here. The Dark Lord himself forbid us to speak of this," Cissy starts.

"If The Dark Lord forbids it, you are not to speak of it." Severus' voice drawls lowly.

His gaze then turns to Bella, who's holding something in her hand. "Put it down, Bella. We mustn't touch what isn't ours."

Bella scoffs and puts the object down.

He then turns to Cissy and I. "As it so happens, I'm aware of your... situation." he says.

"You? The Dark Lord told you?" Bella questions in disbelief.

Severus ignores her comment, and turns back to Cissy and I. "We don't doubt you, Severus." I assure him.

"You both should be honored. As should Cynthia and Draco." Bella reprimands.

"He's just a boy." Cissy says weakly.

"And she's just a girl." I add.

"I can't change The Dark Lord's mind. But it may be possible for me to help them both." Severus suggests.

"Swear to it. Make the Unbreakable Vow." Bella says harshly.

"Take out your wand." Severus says coldly.

Cissy, Severus and I stand in a circle, our hands together in the middle, as Bella walks around us waving her wand.

"Will you, Severus Snape, watch over Draco Malfoy and Cynthia Morningstar, as they attempt to fulfill The Dark Lord's wishes?" Bella asks.

"I will." Severus says.

"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect them both from harm?" she asks again.

"I will." he replies again.

"And, if Draco and Cynthia shall fail, will you yourself carry out the deed The Dark Lord has ordered them to perform?" she questions.

"I will." he states.

—

Cynthia POV

"Cynthia, Bella's downstairs." my mother's voice calls from my doorway.

I take the duvet off of my head and sit up. "What's Bella doing here?" I question groggily.

"She's here to see you." she says with a smile.

I yawn and roll out of bed before trudging downstairs with my mother.

When we get to the kitchen, sure enough, Bella is sitting down with a cup of tea. "Cynthia! You're all grown up!" she exclaims as she walks towards me with opened arms.

"Hello, Bella. I missed you." I mumble tiredly.

She pulls away and holds my head between her hands. "You look so much like your mother." she says in awe.

"Yeah well that bitch Umbridge said I looked like my dead father." I say angrily as I walk over to the kitchen island.

"Want me to kill her?" she asks seriously. Bella's always been willing to hurt anyone for me.

"No, no. It's alright, Bella." I assure her.

"So I heard you got your Dark Mark!" she exclaims excitedly. I nod and roll up my sleeve, showing her the mark on my arm.

She then rolls up her sleeve, revealing hers. "Twins!" she jokes, causing me to laugh quietly.

"You look good, Bella. How was Azkaban?" I say.

"Thank you, dear. Azkaban was bloody awful. People crying for their families left and right. Sodding babies." she seethes with a grimace.

I shake my head slowly. "Pity." I mumble in disdain.

"Have you heard from Rodolphus?" my mother questions Bella. I flinch at the name, and suddenly it all comes rushing back to me. I suddenly can't breathe and I feel sick to my stomach. I can't show it; I can't let them know what happened.

"Um. Mother, I'm going to go back to bed. I'm not feeling well." I announce as I stand up.

"Alright, dear." she says with a small smile.

"It was nice seeing you again, Bella." I say, forcing a smile.

"You too, dear." she replies.

"You too, Cissy." I add.

She smiles as a reply, and I leave the kitchen and go back to my room.

I curl back up under the covers before closing my eyes and going back to sleep, blocking out the entirety of the world.