Malfoy Manor was different than I remembered, no longer was it a place where Draco and I could escape the confines of Hogwarts, it now served as the headquarters for Voldemort: every plan, every Death Eater, every meeting took place here.
To the Malfoy's, things probably seemed relatively the same, this was always their reality. But things were more serious now, the things we discussed had a heaviness to them. These weren't empty stories we were creating, these were plans, with dates and times.
This was real life. This was my real life.
****
I sit hand in hand with Draco, his back stiff against the large chair in his families home office. We're flanked by Narcissa and Lucius, both of their eyes rimmed with deep grey bags and crows feet from stress.
We were all meeting to discuss Harry Potter's most recent movements and how we planned to attack, kidnap and kill. The room was silent as we waited for everyone to arrive, Professor Snape's seat empty at the end of the table.
As much as I hated to admit it, I had become more familiar with the Death Eaters and their archaic ways of life. I no longer shivered in the corner while they spoke of chaos and havoc in the Wizarding World, instead listening and filing away.
Two of my previous plans had been successful, who's to say I couldn't pull off another one with the information I had access to.
I earned their respect as well, giving enough away that they believed I was working for them but withholding everything I needed to. Bellatrix was still weary of me, keeping me at a fair distance and eyeing me during discussions of heavy topics.
Draco tenses next to me as Professor Snape appears, slowly making his way up the steps and into the large room, commanding the attention of all.
Voldemort stands, "Severus... I was beginning to worry you had lost your way. Come, we've saved you a seat. You bring news I trust?"
"It will happen Saturday next, at night fall." Snape says, his voice as light as a whisper.
"I heard differently, my lord," A Death Eater across the table perks up. "The Potter boy won't be moved till the 30th of this month, the day before his birthday"
"This is a false trail," Snape retorts. "The auror office no longer plays any role in the protection of Harry Potter. Those closest to him believe we have infiltrated the ministry."
"Well, they got that right," Someone jokes, the room erupting in laughter.
Ever since Dumbledore was killed, Voldemort has put most of his trust in Snape, making him his closest confidant. I understand now why Draco was the one tasked in the first place, whoever was successful in murdering the headmaster was on route to being the Dark Lord's second in command.
As awful as the Malfoy's appeared to Voldemort now, truthfully I was thankful Draco didn't go through with it. His mental state couldn't have handled killing his teacher than continuing on as if nothing had happened.
And eery silence falls over us once again as the Dark Lord studies the room, his narrowed gaze falling on a thin bearded man. "What say you Pius?"
"One hears many things my lord," He says, shakily. "Whether the truth is among them is unclear."
"Spoken like a true politician," Voldemort retorts condescendingly. "You will, I think, prove most useful Pius. Where will he be taken, the boy?"
Snape interrupts, "To a safe house, most likely to the home of someone in the Order. I'm told it's been given every manner of protection possible."
The Order was another name I had become familiar with, the other end of the spectrum to the Death Eaters. Most members were professors at Hogwarts or parents of the students, all coming together to oppose Voldemort.
Draco had even told me that during his 5th year, Harry Potter and his 'mates' had created and younger version they dubbed Dumbledore's Army.
Snape continues, "Once there it will be impractical to attack him."
Draco squeezes my hand, he was always sensitive about Harry, as much as he dislikes him, he doesn't want him dead.
"My lord, I want to volunteer myself for this task. I want to kill the boy." Bellatrix coos from across the table.
I roll my eyes at her seductive tone. She was another Death Eater who gained more power after Dumbledore died, surprising because she was sisters with one of the lowest ranking members.
Her attempt to barter with the Dark Lord is cut short by whimpering from a women laying flat on her back suspended above us, a familiar look to her, though I couldn't place it.
"Wormtail!" Voldemort shakes with anger as he slams his fist on the table. "Have I not spoken to you about keeping our guest quiet!"
A short, mousy looking man emerges from behind a pillar. "Yes my lord right away my lord."
Voldemort sighs as his attention is once again fixed back on Draco's Aunt, "As inspiring as I find your bloodlust Bellatrix, I must be the one to kill Harry Potter."
I take in a sharp breath, hearing him say those words always made my heart skip a beat. The image of the headmaster tumbling from the astronomy tower still seared in my memory, and soon, Harry Potter would be too.
He was just a boy, no older than Draco and I, and he was being forced to carry so much. Until recently, I had never really given much thought to how much pressure Harry must be under.
I knew Draco and I felt the effects of the Wizarding War approaching, our daily lives surrounding it, but I was very rarely in genuine action. I was doing paper work while Harry was dodging killing curses.
I had spent so much time worrying about whether or not Draco would crack under the weight, I forgot to considered there were other people in this fight as well.
I turn to Draco, his skin white, his bags yellow and grey but his cheeks flushed a bright fluorescent red. He meets my eyes and I give him a warm smile, so subtle only he could see.
"We'll get through this." I think. "We won't have to kill or be killed."
My thoughts are cut off by Voldemort standing, "I have an unfortunate complication, my wand and Potter's 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."
I tense as I remember that most of my plans rest on the fact that Draco is now in control of the Elder Wand, if he is disarmed by anyone, it will belong to them instead.
Certainly, Voldemort wouldn't just go around disarming us all until he found a suitable replacement for his own, right?
He saunters around the table, his hand running over the backs of our chairs, "Come, surely one of you would like the honor hmm?"
He hovers around Draco and I, his fingers draped delicately over my shoulder, my throat on fire. I'm sure he's going to say my name, when he whispers to my left, "What about you Lucius?"
"My Lord?" Lucius stutters next to me.
"I require your wand." The Dark Lord commands.
Lucius nods, his fist shaking as he removes the snake head from his cane to reveal the source of his magic. He hands it off to Voldemort who grabs it angrily, turning it around in his fingers as he assesses the piece of wood.
"Do I detect elm?" He asks.
Lucius nods, "Yes, my Lord."
Voldemort snaps the wand in two easily, all of us wincing.
"And the core?" He questions, sniffing as a shimmery substances floats out.
"Drag- Dragon heartstring." Lucius coughs nervously.
"Dragon heartstring..." Voldemort's voice drags off.
This doesn't seem to please him, discarding the broken wand onto the table as his attention flicks back to the whimpering woman above us.
"To those of you who do not know, we are joined this night by Charity Burbage, who until recently taught at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry."
That's where I knew her from, she was never my professor but I had seen her in the Great Hall and passed her on the way to class.
She begins to hover closer to the table slowly as if on display, a reminder of how easy it was to dispose of us.
"This could be you" I think. "You're next."
"Her speciality was Muggle studies. It is Miss Burbage's belief that Muggles aren't so different from us. She would, given her way, even have us mate with them." He continues, watching as the Death Eaters mutter in disgust, Bellatrix mocking a gag.
The Dark Lord returns to his seat, "To her the mixture of Magical and Muggle blood is not an abomination, but something to be encouraged."
The room falls quiet, each of us waiting with bated breath to see what happens next, my palms dripping with anxious sweat.
To my surprise the next words come from Charity, "Severus, Severus please. We're friends"
Her voice is shaky and strained, her body petrified but her eyes staring at Snape as she pleads, a tear falling from eye and landing on the table in front of me.
I'm suddenly filled with guilt and fear, the emotion rising up my veins like flames.
Draco releases my hand, sucking in a breath between his teeth as I realize I've burned him.
I'm about to apologize when Voldemort shouts from across the table, "Avada Kedavra!"
In an instant, a bright flash of light illuminates the room and Charity falls lifeless on the table a few inches from me, Draco reaching for my hand again as we stare in awe.
Voldemort sighs happily as if he's releasing his stress and whispers, "Nagini, dinner."
****