Spell books, Schemes, and Nosy Brothers
The musty smell of old parchment and leather filled my nose as I sat cross-legged on the library floor, a massive spell book propped open in front of me. The book, An Enchanter’s Guide to Concealment and Revelation Spells, was one of the more advanced texts in the Malfoy Manor library, its faded pages covered with intricate diagrams and dense Latin incantations. I traced my finger over a passage on revealing hidden magic, my eyes narrowing as I tried to imagine casting the spell myself one day.
This wasn’t just idle curiosity. I had a plan. But, as with all my plans, I had to be patient.
As I skimmed the page, my thoughts began to wander, slipping from the spells in front of me to the secrets I still kept hidden from everyone around me—even Draco. It was hard to believe that, six years ago, I had been reborn here, with memories of a life that seemed like it belonged to someone else. Memories that held knowledge about things no one in my family even suspected. And lately, one memory in particular had been gnawing at me, keeping me up at night and sending me back to the library every morning.
Peter Pettigrew.
The man had lived among wizards for years, hiding in plain sight while his actions had left countless lives in ruins. He was the reason Sirius Black was in Azkaban, falsely accused and suffering for crimes he hadn’t committed. And it wouldn’t end there. If left unchecked, Peter would eventually return to Voldemort, bringing destruction in his wake. But if I could stop him—if I could find him before he escaped—I might be able to save Sirius.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my plans. If I could just get my parents to investigate, to consider the idea that Pettigrew might still be alive… maybe, just maybe, I could convince them to start a search. But getting them to listen to me was a challenge. After all, I was only six.
Unless… I used my voice.
I ran my fingers over the old leather cover of the book, trying to calm my nerves. I’d kept my silence for years, saving my voice as a kind of secret weapon, something I could use in a moment that really mattered. My parents had grown used to my quietness, treating it like a quirk they didn’t fully understand, but they were willing to indulge. And if I spoke to them now, after all this time, I knew it would get their attention.
But it was a risk. Once I spoke, my silence would no longer be a mystery, no longer a shield. And I’d have to be careful about what I said, careful not to reveal too much about the knowledge I shouldn’t have.
Before I could dwell on it any longer, a familiar voice echoed through my thoughts, breaking the silence. 'What are you doing hiding in there?'
I grinned slightly, sensing Draco’s curiosity through our bond. He was probably pacing outside the library door, wondering what was so important that it had kept me hidden away for the entire morning.
'Reading,' I replied, keeping my thoughts carefully guarded. He didn’t need to know what I was planning just yet.
Seconds later, Draco appeared in the doorway, his hair slightly tousled, an impatient look on his face. “Honestly, Ursa,” he huffed, crossing his arms. “You spend way too much time with these old books. You’re going to turn into one of those dusty old portraits if you keep this up.”
I shrugged, glancing back down at the spellbook. “Some of us have bigger plans than levitating teacups, you know,” I signed, raising an eyebrow at him.
Draco rolled his eyes, but I could sense his interest piquing. “Bigger plans, huh?” he said, sounding intrigued despite himself. “Like what?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I signed back, giving him a mysterious smile. The truth was, Draco didn’t need to know about my plans for Peter Pettigrew. Not yet. But his curiosity was helpful. It meant I could keep him guessing, keep him on my side when the time came to finally make a move.
“Fine, keep your secrets,” he muttered, trying to sound annoyed, but I could feel the excitement building between us, a warm pulse of shared energy that hummed through our twin bond.
“Maybe one day I’ll tell you,” I signed, giving him a cheeky grin. “When I’m sure you won’t try to ruin it.”
He scowled, looking as if I’d just accused him of betraying me. “Ruin it? You’re the one who’d ruin it with all your brooding over these books.”
“Well, someone has to be the brains of this operation,” I replied, enjoying the banter. I hadn’t spoken a word, but Draco could feel my teasing through our bond, and I knew it drove him just a little bit mad.
He huffed, shaking his head. “Fine, fine. Keep being mysterious.” He gave me a suspicious look, clearly not ready to drop it. “But if you’re planning some big scheme, you better include me in it.”
I hesitated, glancing back at the book in front of me. Part of me wanted to tell him, to let him in on the secrets that weighed me down. But I knew that some things were better left unsaid, at least for now.
“Well, maybe you’ll find out… someday,” I signed slowly. But my thoughts drifted back to Pettigrew, to the possibility of freeing Sirius and changing everything I knew about this world’s fate.
If I could somehow convince my parents to start searching for him… if they could just get the tiniest hint that something was amiss… it could change everything. But convincing them would take more than just a clever plan. I needed a reason, a powerful, undeniable reason for them to believe me. And that’s when I felt the familiar tug of temptation.
Maybe it was time to finally speak.
If I told them about Pettigrew, if I made them understand the importance of finding him, maybe they would listen. Maybe they would believe me. And if they started searching, I might be able to save Sirius, to stop him from being dragged to Azkaban in the first place.
The thought filled me with a strange, heady mix of fear and excitement. I could picture it now—standing before my parents, breaking my silence with words that would force them to take me seriously, to listen to every word I said.
But then again, speaking would come at a cost. Once I broke my silence, I’d lose that advantage, that secret power I had held onto for so long. I’d be giving away a piece of myself, something I could never take back.
As I mulled it over, Draco nudged my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts. “So, are you coming or what? I wanted to see if Mother really put the sweets in the east pantry. Let’s go.”
I glanced up at him, managing a small smile as I closed the spellbook and got to my feet. “Lead the way,” I signed, letting him pull me along as we slipped out of the library.
Draco’s excitement was infectious, and as we darted through the Manor’s halls, the tension of my thoughts faded into the background, replaced by the simple thrill of racing through the house with my twin at my side. We were a team, even if I couldn’t tell him everything yet.
But as we laughed and teased each other, the thought still lingered at the back of my mind, a quiet, steady pulse of determination.
One day, I would speak. And when I did, I’d make sure it was for something worth every word.