(1) 𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 | d. m

Chapter sixteen

Draco

June 1997

After my failed attempt at cursing professor Dumbledore with Lane's necklace, I had been going back to my plan A: to mend the vanishing cabinet. It seemed to be going nowhere, but just as I was about to lose all hope of ever succeeding — I noticed that the green apple, which I had placed so carefully inside of it — had disappeared.

I had done it. I was one step closer towards completing the task I had been given. One step closer towards ruining my conscience forever. Now, all that was left was to tell the Death Eaters of my progress, and have them break into Hogwarts and aid me in this horrible mission.

I hoped Lane would be safe from all of this, maybe I could've waited until I knew for sure that she was nowhere near the school, until I called the Death Eaters. However, I realised her and I weren't exactly getting along anymore.

My  thoughts were soon interrupted by the calling of my mother and aunt. They had come back to the manor and was impatiently waiting for me to do the same. I had no choice but to oblige of course, Disapparating back home.

"Draco... We have been waiting for you. How is your plan coming?", Bellatrix was grinning, showing off her rotten teeth. My mother was staring at me, waiting for me to speak. Her black hair with blonde strands was half up half down, and she looked at me seemingly terrified. I knew she cared for me deeply, and she had showed it more than my father ever could, but — it still felt as if I was missing something.

"The cabinet has been fixed", I said, gulping after the words rolled of my tongue. I was scared shitless, but tried my very best to hide it.

That's when six other Death Eaters appeared within the walls of the manor. Alecto Carrow and her brother Amycus, looked rather pale and numb. Fenrir Greyback, was his usual wolfy self. Corban Yaxley was blonde and blue-eyed, much like my father. Gibbon didn't show his face, but hid it behind his Death Eater mask. Thorfinn Rowle looked as if he had injected himself with something close to lethal. Finally — professor Snape appeared, dressed in his black cloak, looking serious as always. His first words, echoing in the halls.

"It's time".

***

Delaney

After those dreadful hours in the woods, running from and fighting the Snatchers, I realised I had to plan my next move more carefully and thoroughly. I tried my very best to continue ignoring Draco, but couldn't let go of the thought that something strange was going on with him.

"We were thinking you could talk to Draco about it. After all, you two were quite close there for awhile. Maybe he knows something that could help us".

The conversation I had had with Neville and Luna lived fresh in my memory, refusing to go away. I couldn't, for the life of me, get a grip on what they meant by saying that me and Draco were close, and did everything but dismiss it as a mistake. After all — I felt like a part of me was missing.

It's hard to explain really. It's— it's like when you wake up in the morning, and you know that you have had a dream, but you can't seem to remember what the dream was about. It's all just... hazy. That was what it was like for me after returning from the manor. I knew I had been there because I was in a group project with Draco, and because he had told me as much. But what I couldn't seem to fathom, was the feeling that I knew him more than he led on. Anyway, after the realisation of needing to change tactics, I summoned Neville and Luna for a group meeting on the Quidditch pitch. It was cleared out, no match had been held for a few days. The sun was shining through the few clouds that had made an appearance. It seemed like the perfect place for a summer gathering.