"Fine. If you won't join us, then you are our enemy. Leave."
Y/N POV
"Severus," Voldemort called from the end of the table, causing all of us to stop talking and look towards the entryway.
"I was beginning to worry you had lost your way. Come, we've saved you a seat." He said, and Snape swiftly took a seat beside the Dark Lord.
"You bring news, I trust?" He asked.
"It will happen Saturday next, at nightfall." Snape replied, so quickly it was almost suspicious.
"I've heard differently, my lord. Dawlish, The Auror, has let slip that the Potter boy will not be moved until the 30th of this month. The day before he turns 17." A man to the left of me said with a rough voice.
"This is a false trail." Snape said sternly. "The Auror Office no longer plays any part in the protection of Harry Potter. Those closest to him believe we have infiltrated the Ministry."
"Well, they got that right, haven't they?" Another man said with a laugh, causing many others to chuckle.
I continued to stay still and not mutter a word.
"Just stay quiet and everything will be fine." My mother told me.
"What say you, Pius?" Voldemort said to the man seated directly across from him.
"One hears many things, my Lord. Whether the truth is among them is not clear." He said, glancing down at the snake beside him.
"Heh. Spoken like a true politician. You will, I think, prove most useful, Pius." He said and turned to Snape. "Where will he be taken, the boy?"
"To a safe house. Most likely the home of someone on the Order. I'm told it's been given every manner of protection possible. Once there, it will be impractical to attack him." Shape said cautiously.
I can't let them get to Harry. He is my friend. If he wants to kill him he'll have to go through me first.
"Ahem. My Lord. I'd like to volunteer myself for this task. I want to kill the boy." Bellatrix said hungrily, leaning herself onto the table.
"AHH!" The woman floating above the table said. I couldn't make out her face, but she was someone familiar.
"Wormtail! Have I not spoken to you about keeping our guest quiet?" Voldemort spat.
"Yes, my Lord. Right away, my Lord." He said frantically.
"As inspiring as I find your bloodlust, Bellatrix, I must be the one to kill Harry Potter." He said, causing Bellatrix to sit back in defeat.
I look glance over at Draco, who sit beside me. He continued to look forward, not moving a muscle. I guess we both were not ready for this.
"But I face an unfortunate complication. That my wand, and Potters, share the same core. They are, in some ways, twins. We can wound, but not fatally harm one another. If I am to kill him, I must do it with another's wand." Voldemort said, walking behind each and every one of our chairs.
I clenched my stomach as he slowly walked behind me, brushing my hair aside as he passed.
"Come, surely one of you would like the honor? What about you, Lucious?" He said, stepping beside Mr. Malfoy, who was two seats down from me.
Lucious nervously looked up at him.
"My Lord?" He asked, his voice shaking.
"My Lord?" Voldemort mocked. "I require your wand."
Lucious then slowly pulled out his wand, his hands shaking uncontrollably. Handing it over to the Dark Lord, who quickly snatched it out of his hands. I gulped rather loudly, causing Draco to rest his hand on mine.
"Do I detect elm?" He asked.
"Yes, my Lord." Mr. Malfoy said quickly.
Voldemort then brushed his hand over the wand and snapped it into two. Separating the wand from the handle.
"And the core?" He asked.
"Dragon Heartstring, my Lord." Mr. Malfoy said.
I found it annoying how they referred to this man as a lord. He doesn't even have a nose for Christ sake!
Voldemort used the wand and carried the woman floating above the table to the center. At that moment I recognized her—she was the Muggle studies professor at Hogwarts. I never took that class because, frankly, I was not very interested in them.
"To those of you who do not know, we are joined tonight by Miss Charity Burbage, who, until recently, taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Voldemort explained, causing me to look over at Snape, who was staring at the woman. Only I could tell that he had a speck of sorrow in his eyes. "Her speciality was Muggle Studies."
This earned a laugh from almost the entire table.
"It is of her belief that Muggles are not so different from us. She would, given her way, have us mate with them." He said, disgustedly. "To her, the mixture of magical and Muggle blood is not an abomination, but something to be encouraged."
I looked at the woman and noticed her glance was toward Snape.
"Severus. Severus, please. We're friends." She cried, but Snape didn't budge.
I felt deeply sorry for her, for I could imagine myself being where she is. It's very hard to think about.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled, sending the woman downward—crashing onto the table. Her lifeless body lay stiff on the hard wood.
I inhaled sharply, causing Draco to squeeze my hand. Neither of us dared to look at each other, but only at the girl who used to be one of Hogwarts most unique professors.
"Nagini," Voldemort began, as his snake slithered up onto the table. "Dinner."
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Once we returned home, my parents ordered me to join them for a talk. From the look in their eyes, I could tell that it was about something that wouldn't please me.
I took a seat across from my father, and my mother sitting beside him. They both had an evil glint in their eyes, even though their faces looked normal and caring.
"Y/n, you will not be returning to Hogwarts. After the recent events, your father and I have thought it's what's best for you and our family." She said, resting her hands on my fathers.
"Why can't I return? What's the big deal?" I ask, raising my voice a little.
"It's just too risky. The last thing we need to have is everyone we ever knew turn against us. We can't have you telling everyone we are Death Eaters, y/n." My mother said, trying to keep the conversation as calm as possible.
"Why on earth would I tell people that?" I asked, slightly frustrated.
"It's not just that, but people have already been asking questions about our family. Questions that may ruin our family name if the truth gets out. You may not know this, y/n, but our family has secrets that could ruin us." My father said, giving my mother a worried look.
"So this isn't about me, it's about ruining the family name?" I asked, angrily.
"Of course it's about the family name! You wouldn't want to ruin it would you? And besides, even if nobody knew about us, you still wouldn't be able to return to Hogwarts. You need all the training you need to be a follower of the Lord himself." My mother said.
"I am not a Death Eater and I never will be!" I scream. "Stop trying to persuade me into being someone I never will!"
This pushed my mother over the edge.
"Fine. If you won't join us, then you are our enemy. Leave." My father said sternly.
"What?" I asked in shock.
"You heard me." He spat.
These were not the people that I grew up with. Something happened to them while I was at school. Something bad.
"But—" I started, but my mother cut me off.
"Get out!" She screamed. "And if I ever see you again, you'll be tortured. Just like our enemies."
And with that, I got up from the table and ran up to my room. As soon as I packed everything up, I walked downstairs and looked back at my mother and my father, who looked at me with pure hatred and disgust.
"Mom?" I squeaked. "Dad?"
No response. They just turned around, and walked away.
"Wow." I said, taking my bag and swinging it over my shoulder, leaving the manor.
It wasn't that hard—leaving. This place never was my home. Hogwarts is my home. And I will do anything to protect it. No matter what it takes.