As Draco showed his arm to the shopkeeper sneering and threatening to send Greyback after the older man if he didn’t comply I felt my stomach rolling uncomfortably. My footing slipped and two heads whipped towards where I was standing glaring in my direction before the older man, suddenly, much more compliant began to agree to the price set by D- no, Malfoy. My legs were shaking from under my invisibility cloak. Malfoy’s nose twitched and he seemed to be seeing past my cloak and into my eyes before he shook hands with Burke and said his thanks. Two more men came in and hauled a massive cabinet out of the building. As he walked by Draco paused and looked at me over his shoulder before giving an ever-so-slight nod. I didn’t understand, if he is a death eater, surely turning me over would be good for him?
As I went to step out and confront Malfoy I felt Hermione’s and Ron’s arms wrap around me. “No, Harrison, it’s not worth it.” I heard Mione say in my ear as Malfoy walked briskly down the street in the opposite direction of the cabinet, with a weird gait to his legs. “C’mon Harrison, let’s go home.”
Ron slung his arm over my shoulders and the three of us slowly made our way back to the other Weasley’s. “I’m sorry mate. We all… Well, you won’t be the only one surprised…”
I felt my mouth go dry and tears beginning to pool before I actively engaged in my occlumency. I took a few deep breaths mentally retreating behind the walls I had built. They displayed a few cracks because what I built them on was breaking down. Nonetheless, they stood strong. “I’m fine guys. I’m honestly not surprised.” I lied and sneered at the alley we had retreated from.
Hermione and Ron gave each other matching looks and I scowled at them before storming over to Ginerva. “Ginerva.”
She looked over at me with a raised eyebrow and quirked lip before replying just as tersely, “Harrison.” I felt her bump our shoulders together and gave her a small grateful smile as she changed the subject to something enjoyable. “Are you ready for me to absolutely obliterate your team during quidditch?”
I sneered at her and she smiled brightly at me. “Never, I won’t lose to a slimy snake like you, little viper,” I smirked when she blushed embarrassed at her nickname from her girlfriend.
“I can’t believe you got her to tell you that!” She shrieked before shoving me and laughing.
Hermione and Ron began to tease her about who the mysterious girlfriend was and I smirked listening to their conversation. Meanwhile, my mind began to wander back to the altercation we saw. I frowned deeply wondering if he really had run off with the death eaters. He promised he wouldn’t. I thought through the last time we saw each other. He was joking about us running away together until his mother figured out how to take Lucius’ power from under his nose and allow our marriage. Now, I wasn’t sure he meant it. He’d barely talked to me this summer. I stumbled when I came across a realization. My friend all looked curious and I turned to them wide-eyed and panicked. Hermione did the courtesy to cast a privacy spell and notice-me-not.
“H-He was alone with…” My head began to swirl and I tried to reinforce my barriers and take deep breaths. I felt Hermione on one arm and Ron on the other. Ginerva seemed to come to the same conclusion I had.
“What? He wasn’t alone. He was with his f-” Ron also stumbled a bit and all of my friends looked a little hopeful.
“He’d never willingly be alone with his father. We need to find Narcissa, we also should speak with Andy.” I said, finally dawning on why he hadn’t spoken to me all summer. “He’s staying with them. Isn’t he?” I looked straight at Ginverva who nodded alarmed to have come to the same conclusion as I. “Shit.”
~~~~~
As we sat in our compartment on the train I watched Ginverva slip into the Slytherin girls’ and breathed a sigh of relief before shutting our door and stepping out of the way as Ron and Hermione warded it. I was better at the memorization and battle parts of magic and they were better at others. Tensions were high and I could feel the magical tension roaring through the train. I looked at Hermione before questioning her softly.
“And, we’re sure this will work? Do we have everything? Before you ask, yes I brought the potions and healing textbooks.” I spoke as I slumped against the side of the compartment. We had planned to leave before going to Hogwarts but we found out there was a Horcrux in the castle. I also may or may not want to check on Ma-Dra-... my boyf-...this is complicated… I wanted to see my ferret? Yes. I smiled slightly imagining his horrified expression.