𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 | Cedric Diggory x Reader

♡ 18 | The Calm Before the Storm

The fourth match is here. The entire school is off to the Quidditch field while Draco slips himself behind corridors and in the shadows to reach the Room of Requirements. He received a letter from Voldemort himself via owl last week. The man himself called out for Draco to visit him through the Vanishing Cabinet. Draco is swarmed with anxiety at the sheer thought of the meeting.

This will be his first meeting with Voldemort alone. Mentally Draco hopes there's others around. Draco's not even able to ask one of his Slytherin friends to join him. The four will be watching the game in Draco's stead. If all five of them are no where to be found during the Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw tournament, it'll raise suspicion.

 Draco closes his eyes and thinks of the Room of Requirements. He then walks through the "wall". This room no longer amazes Draco as much anymore. He quietly walks around, careful to not bump into anything incase an avalanche falls from the piling objects. Draco spots the familiar Vanishing Cabinet. 

Extending his right hand against the wooden cabinet, Draco's breathing is unsteady when he inhales slowly. The quicker he gets this meeting over with, the quicker he can return to Hogwarts. Draco tries to calm his growing anxiety as he opens the Vanishing Cabinet. Draco steps inside and keeps his eyes closed. He waits a moment or two before opening the cabinet again. 

The first time Draco traveled via the Vanishing Cabinet terrified him. He feared he would open the door and see the Room of Requirements instead of Borgin and Burkes. Opening the door, Draco sees the inside of the shady dark store located in Knockturn Alley. The shopkeeper spots Draco and waves him over to the room in the back. Draco can only assume that Voldemort is sitting in the private room meant for dealers. 

Draco keeps his eyes down when he makes his way over to the room. The eeriness of everything is chipping Draco bit by bit. He's seen it all at this point. Death, treachery, hopelessness, and pity. All these negative experiences is beginning to make Draco question his own sanity. Draco knocks on the door and only enters when he hears Voldemort welcome him in. 

Thump. Thump. Thump. 

Draco's heart is beating wildly in fear. He feels his own hands begin to clam up. The door creaks closed behind Draco when he enters. Voldemort stands there with his back against Draco while he stares at a crackling fireplace. "Welcome, Draco." Voldemort's words seep through Draco's skin like poison. The boy tries to refrain himself from making a face of disgust. 

"Sir. You called for me?" Draco parts his lips and musters to voice something. His wavering light grey eyes stare at the back of Voldemort's head. Draco wishes for Voldemort to keep his eyes ahead and to not turn around. But sadly Voldemort does turn around to look at Draco directly. 

Draco swallows the saliva that builds in his throat. There's a sense of coldness swirling around Draco despite the tiny room being warm by the fireplace. "Good job to you and your friends on fixing the Vanishing Cabinet." Voldemort quietly applauds with a growing smirk. Draco gives a curt nod. 

Voldemort then takes a step closer to Draco. The man begins to circle around him like a wild beast ready to pounce. Draco keeps his eyes forward. He hears the loudness of his heart beat against his eardrums. "You've been assisting Bellatrix with her tasks, correct?" Voldemort speaks up after being momentarily silent.

"Yes sir." Draco forces his voice to come out again. Voldemort grows quiet. His pacing comes to a halt directly in front of Draco's face. "But you've failed to kill any of the enemies. Correct?" Draco feels his body grow hot and uncomfortable when he's this close to Voldemort. 

It's true. Draco's accompanied his aunt in her tasks. But when it comes down to finishing off any of the traitors or enemies, Draco would hesitate. He couldn't find it in himself to kill anyone. The most Draco's managed is Crucio and Imperio. The last unforgivable curse is Avada Kedavra. The spell that kills.