We're back in the astronomy tower and I immediately can tell that something's wrong. Black clouds surround Hogwarts, the school feels... empty. "We need to get you up to the hospital, sir, to Madam Pomfrey –" Harry speeds over his words. The pit of dread that I know means death suddenly sinks. It's gonna happen soon.
"No. Severus... Severus is who I need... Go and wake him... Tell him what has happened... Speak to no one else... I... I shall wait here..."
"Alright. Okay." Harry says, "Sammy."
"Right." I speak, having been lost in my ever-rapid pacing thoughts.
We run towards the door when we hear Dumbledore whispering. "Sir, are you... praying?" Harry asks.
"No, Harry. I do not pray. I was merely closing a window -- the one that had allowed us to Apparate." Harry nods and I have my hand on the door handle when we hear a door open below. Harry and I draw our wands. "Hide yourselves below. And do not speak or show yourselves without my permission. No matter what." Me and Harry look through the floorboards and into the level below, we're both unsure. "Do as I say." Dumbledore speaks, "Trust me." Harry and I slip down the stairs and into the level beneath Dumbledore silently. We watch through the crack in the floorboards as the intruder enters - Draco. "Good evening, Draco. What brings you out on such a fine Spring evening? Or is it Summer?"
Draco's eyes dart about, "Who else is here? I heard you talking."
"I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful. That which sounds sane at a whisper can seem utterly mad when said for all the world to hear. Haven't been whispering to yourself, have you, Draco?" The platinum blonde is silent, a killer glare set on Dumbledore. Killer. Why does he want to kill Dumbledore? Did Snape say he would- No Snape wouldn't.
A dark look in his eye.
"You're not an assassin, Draco." Dumbledore says, calmly.
"How do you know what I am? I've done things that would shock you!" Draco hisses.
"Like cursing Katie Bell and hoping she would, in turn, bear a cursed necklace to me? Like replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison. Forgive me, Draco, but these are attempts so feeble I cannot help but question if your heart has been really in them. I'm curious. When Voldemort gave you this task, when he asked you to kill me, was it in a whisper?"
"He trusts me! I was chosen!" Draco insists, pulling up his sleeve to reveal what is likely the Dark Mark.
"Then I shall make it easy for you." Dumbledore slowly draws his wand, not intent on using it.
"Expelliarmus!" Draco casts, sending the wand skidding across the floor. I feel fear creep slowly up my chest.
"Well done, Draco. But I warn you, killing is not nearly as easy." Malfoy looks towards the clouds, to the stairs and back at the older wizard. "You're not alone, are you? There are others. How?"
A nasty sneer sets itself on Draco's face, "The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement."
"That cabinet has been broken for years."
"I've been mending it." Draco spits.
"Ingenious. Let me guess. It has a sister. A twin." Dumbledore questions.
"In Borgin and Burkes. They form-"
"A passage. Yes, very good." Dumbledore cuts in, "I once knew a boy years ago who made all the wrong choices. Let me help you, Draco."
"I don't want your help!" Draco growls, before falling to a whisper, "I've got to kill you or he'll kill me."
"Say that again, Draco, but aloud this time." Dumbledore utters. Draco's eyes soften and he falters, lowering his wand. Then we hear footsteps as out from the darkness comes Bellatrix and the Death Eaters. My breath hitches.
YOU ARE READING
Unique (Hermione x M! OC)
Fanfiction(Based on the movies, set in 2001) A boy from New York born into privilege and gifted with intelligence comes to London for supplies and to go to Hogwarts, expecting to be intellectually challenged in a way America could never manage. Fairly soon in...
