The Pact

I can’t decide how I’m feeling. There’s so much happening that my body is confused. Everything aches from the impromptu recital I had to put on, and I’m relieved that it’s over, but still tense because I’m currently locked in Draco Malfoy’s bathroom. Not only that, I’m wearing his clothes and apparently I’m staying here tonight.

Seriously, what in the bloody hell is happening?

I look at myself in the mirror and take the opportunity to let down my hair, relieving the tension headache that was forming from my tight bun. I look a mess, but something tells me that doesn’t really matter right now.

I take a deep breath before opening the door once more, only to find Draco muttering incantations, putting up wards of protection and silence. I know I should be nervous, being locked in a room with the boy who hates me, knowing no one can hear us. But I’d rather take my chances in here than down at whatever “meeting” is going on downstairs.

“Good, you’re done. Sit,” he says quickly, gesturing to one of the armchairs in front of his fireplace. Ironically, the same one I sat in when he patched me up.

I lower myself into the chair, taking note of how comfortable it is, and he sits down opposite me, lighting the hearth with his wand.

“I know you’re going to have a lot of questions, but just hold on to them for now. Please.” He tucks his wand away, then runs a hand over his face. Merlin, he looks terrible.

“Okay,” I reply simply, folding my legs up underneath me. I’m self conscious in his clothes, they swallow me and definitely don’t flatter me at all, but he doesn’t seem to be paying any mind to it.

Draco doesn’t meet my  eyes. “Rules don’t matter anymore. Not for me.” He pauses, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Not when the Ministry’s already under their control.”

I feel my breath catch at the urgency in his tone. “Their control? Who…?”

Draco turns, his eyes cold, haunted. “My parents. Lucius and Narcissa. They’re Death Eaters.” He watches the realization dawn on my  face, then adds, “And there are more of them here tonight. They’re all part of it.”

My heart pounds. “Death Eaters…? Why are they bringing my family into it?”

He swallows hard, his voice tense. “Because you’re part of it too. Even if you don’t know it yet.”

“You’re not making any sense, Malfoy.”

He shakes his head, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I know, it’ll piece together. Just listen. It’s not just about some recital,” he mutters, eyes flicking to mine. “Or impressing some Death Eaters. There’s more going on here… something bigger than either of us. And we’re caught in the middle.”

I feel a chill run down my spine. “What do you… What is this really about?”

He shakes his head, frustration evident. “I don’t know everything. But I overheard my father last night. He said your family has been… watched. For years. Evaluated. This wasn’t a test of talent—it was a test of loyalty, of obedience. They wanted to see how far you’d go.”

The words hit like a curse. “Did my parents know?” The look on his face tells me everything. I sit back further into my chair, in shock.

“They knew. They were just going to let him dance me to death, weren’t they?”

Draco’s jaw clenches, his gaze intense. “They’re playing a game, Lavigné. All of them- my father, your parents. And we’re the pawns.” He leans closer, lowering his voice. “Your mother told my father something about a ‘bond.’ Something binding our families together. And now, they’re using us.”

“A bond? You don’t think they’re discussing an arranged marriage, do you?” I ask, my voice filled with panic.

“I can’t be sure, but that would be the least of your worries. Believe me.” He searches my eyes, his own full of questions. “Do you trust your parents?”

“I…” I trail off, not sure how to answer. I mean, they’re my parents, so of course I have to trust them, right? But then here’s my enemy, a boy who hates the sound of my name, staring at me with piercing, searching eyes, as if I’m a wounded animal that may bite him.

Everything he’s telling me is intense, secretive, dark, and yet he hasn’t once raised his voice or made me feel uncomfortable. So who do I really trust more? My parents who have obviously been lying to me, or… Malfoy?

“I don’t know anymore.”

A sad relief fills his eyes. I know he knows exactly what I’m thinking. I swear, he can see straight through me. He stays quiet, and the silence kills me, and he knows it.

“Okay, fine! No, I don’t. Well, maybe my father, but definitely not my mother. And knowing they’ve both been lying to me…” I bite my lip, searching the floor for something to say. “I don’t think I can trust them.”

“Alright then.” Draco gulps, settling back into his chair.

What a picture we must make right now. Two teenagers, completely defeated, searching each others faces for answers we may never get.

“Why are you telling me this? Won’t you get in trouble?” I ask earnestly, my voice quiet.

“Only if I get caught,” he scoffs, ruffling his hair. “I’ll definitely get a lashing for the stunt I pulled in there, though.”

My face softens as I look at him. He has that same scared child look that he did in potions and it shatters me. “I meant to thank you for that, actually. Ending it early, I mean. And slowing the music down. I know what you were doing.”

He locks his gaze onto mine, tightening his jaw. “I’m used to those kind of stunts from my father. I can play for hours. But you… I know how physically demanding ballet is. I was worried you would collapse if it kept going that way.”

“You were… worried about me?”

He pauses, looking panicked as if he’d only just realized what he said. He clears his throat, avoiding my eyes. “I meant, you know, that it would look bad if you did.”

I see the heat rise in his face but I write it off as embarrassment. Surely he just felt odd about being nice to me for once.

“Either way, thank you. I really do appreciate it.”

“Consider us even, then. Since you didn’t give me a chance to thank you in saving my arse with Snape yesterday.”

I wince, suddenly feeling guilty for dismissing him. “Oh… sorry. I was just kind of on edge. My head was pounding and you were being-” I cut myself off, shutting my mouth. Surely this wasn’t the time to insult him.

“I was being a prat, I know. You can say it. That was shitty of me.”

I chuckle half-heartedly at his comment, amused at his self awareness. At least he wasn’t a prat and clueless about it. “Yeah, it was,” I tell him with absolutely no bite behind my words. I can’t bring myself to be mad at him when he’s risking so much to help me.

I see a faint trace of a smile on his lips before he stands up quickly, clearing his throat. “Listen, I know this was a lot to take in but they’re probably finishing up the meeting by now. Your family is staying here tonight because they have more planned for tomorrow.”

“More?” I ask, completely disheartened.

He looks at me solemnly. “They want us to duel tomorrow. To test your control over your magic.”

“What?” I shoot up from my seat, unconsciously patting my hip, making sure I can feel my wand. “I can’t… I don’t want to…” hurt you, I want to say, but I don’t have to. He reads me like a book for the umpteenth time today.

“I know, but I can handle my own. I have a plan.”

I nod expectantly, clinging on to every word.

“I’m going to stay on the defensive, you’re going to cast offensive spells. And don’t argue with me, I’ll be fine, seriously. But I refuse to cast at you, and they won’t let us stop until one of us ‘wins,’ so that’s going to be you. Do you understand me?”

“Malfoy-”

“I’m not going to hurt you. And I’m practiced enough that you won’t hurt me, it’ll just take some… acting, to be convincing. Okay?”

I nod my head, breathing a little easier. I’m not sure when this little alliance started, but I don’t think I could be any more grateful for it.

“It’s going to be fine. Now, one of the guest rooms is set up for you, and your parents will be right next door. Go ahead and settle in before they come up to bother you. It’s the door with a golden knob, just down the hall. I’ll have Dobby tell them you fell asleep.”

I’m overwhelmed with how thankful I am for everything he’s doing for me. He has no reason to but he is anyway, and despite everything, that makes him alright in my book.

“Thank you.”

“Go on, if anything happens I’m right down the hall. I won’t let them do anything stupid. You don’t deserve any of this, and I’ll be damned if I let them make an example out of you.”

I want to reach out to him, to hug him, to thank him profusely, but I don’t. I just give him a tight smile, nod, and quietly walk out the door and to the guest room they have set up for me.

~

It’s been hours and I can hardly sleep. The weight of knowing what will happen tomorrow is making me ill.

The muffled sound of raised voices draws me out of my restless haze. I strain to hear, standing up quietly and pressing my ear to the door. The words are barely audible through the thick walls.

“…reckless and unnecessary,” Lucius Malfoy’s unmistakable tone drips with disdain. “You’ve already debased yourself enough with this ridiculous alliance. And now, you’re taking this too far!”

“Father, I told you, it’s under control,” Draco’s voice follows, quieter but sharper than I’ve ever heard it. “This is my duel, not yours. I know what I’m doing.”

A tense pause. I imagine Lucius narrowing his cold eyes, his lips curling into the sneer he reserves for anyone who challenges him.

“You’ve become soft,” Lucius hisses. “All these years, I thought I was shaping you into someone capable of representing the Malfoy name. Yet here you are, playing the hero and defying me for someone who’s beneath us. Do you have any idea how this will reflect on our family?”

“Maybe I don’t care,” Draco bites back, his voice laced with defiance. “Maybe I’m tired of cleaning up your messes. You and Mother put me in this position, remember? You’re the one who’s constantly worried about appearances, not me.”

There’s the sound of something heavy slamming down—a fist on the wall, maybe a piece of furniture.

“You ungrateful little—” Lucius stops short, his voice trembling with restrained fury. “Do you think you have the luxury of defiance? The Dark Lord does not tolerate insubordination. You’re putting all of us at risk!”

“I’m putting myself at risk,” Draco retorts. “This isn’t about you for once. So why don’t you go to bed and let me handle it?”

I hear a heavy impact, skin against skin. My breath catches. No.

“You are going to duel the Lavigné girl to the best of your ability whether you decide to or not. If I see that you let her hit you, I’m going to duel her myself. No son of mine is going to throw a duel for the sake of some stupid girl.”

“Obviously she’s not stupid!” Draco whisper shouts. “She’s the top of every class she’s in! You’re just upset that she’s better than you ever were!” His voice is laced with venom like I’ve never heard before. “She’s smarter than half the Ministry and you hate it because she doesn’t cower in front of you like everyone else.”

There’s another sharp sound, louder this time, unmistakable. A slap. My stomach churns as I press myself tighter against the door, heart pounding in my chest.

“You will not speak to me like that,” Lucius snarls, his voice trembling with fury. “Do you understand who you’re talking to? I’ve built this family’s name, its power, its reputation. You owe me your respect, boy.”

“I owe you nothing,” Draco spits, his voice defiant despite the obvious pain in it. “You’ve done nothing but use me to further your schemes and feed your ego. You don’t care about me.”

“You’re a disgrace,” Lucius growls. “Dueling her is your chance to prove that you’re still worthy of the Malfoy name. If you fail, if you so much as hesitate, I will handle it myself—and I won’t be so merciful.”

The weight of his threat hangs in the air, and I can feel the tension through the walls. My breath is shallow, my hands trembling as I fight the urge to open the door.

Draco’s voice comes next, quieter but no less firm. “You’re not laying a finger on her. If you so much as try, I’ll…” He pauses, his voice wavering for a moment before hardening again. “I’ll make sure everyone knows what a coward you are. What you’ve done. The Dark Lord included.”

There’s a stunned silence. For a moment, I think Lucius might lash out again, but instead, his voice comes out cold and calculating.

“You think you can blackmail me?” he says, his tone dangerously soft. “You’re playing with fire, Draco. Do you think your little threats will protect her—or you—from what’s coming? You’ll regret this insolence soon enough.”

Draco doesn’t respond, at least not loudly enough for me to hear. Footsteps storm down the hall, heavy and deliberate, and then a door slams in the distance.

The silence that follows is suffocating. I feel frozen in place, unsure if I should move, speak, or stay hidden. After what feels like an eternity, I hear footsteps approach my door.

“Lavigné,” Draco whispers through the wood. “I know you’re awake.”

I hesitate, then slowly open the door, my face pale, my hands shaking. His cheek is red, a faint outline of Lucius’s hand stark against his skin, but his expression is calm, controlled.

“Are you…?” I start to ask, reaching my hand up to his face but stopping short of contact. When I realize what I’m doing, I pull my hand back.

“I’m sorry,” he says simply, his voice hoarse. “You didn’t deserve to hear that.”

I swallow hard, my voice barely audible. “Neither did you.”

For a moment, he looks like he might argue, but instead, he just sighs and leans against the doorframe.

“I don’t want you getting hurt for me,” I say softly, playing with my ring.

“I can handle it. I won’t let you get hurt for my sake. You didn’t ask to be roped into this.”

His gaze flickers away from mine for a moment as he runs a hand over his mouth, taking a breath.

“Get some sleep, Lavigné. Tomorrow… tomorrow we’ll figure it out.”

And with that, he turns and walks away, his shoulders tense, leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts and the lingering sound of Lucius’s threats ringing in my ears.

I step back into the room and lock the door, collapsing onto the bed. Draco’s gone now, but his words linger, echoing in my mind. I find myself gripping the edge of the blanket, my breath shaky.

Whatever happens tomorrow, I know this much—Draco Malfoy is not the boy I thought he was.