The Siren's Call (A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction)

62. Worlds Apart

Draco stopped under his window, finding it just as he had left it. He had been meeting up with Dioleh in secret for the past month at least once a week and had gotten quite good at sneaking in and out of the Manor. Swinging his arms up, he jumped, catching the windowsill. He let out a harsh breath as he exerted himself, pulling himself in through the window and finally into his room. He was breathing heavier than usual as he stood up, examining his now very red hands.

Rubbing them together absentmindedly to dull the irritation, he glanced at the time. It was almost three. There seemed to be a pit of anticipation in his gut, making sleep seem impossible. He fell back on his bed and climbed to lean back against the headboard. Glancing cautiously towards the door, Draco moved his pillows out of the way and reached down between the mattress and the headboard. He quickly found what he was looking for and pulled out a large volume. Moving it onto his lap, Draco began to read.

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The following morning, Draco woke because of the harsh light coming in from the window. He moved his head, wincing from the pain in his neck. He had slept rather awkwardly on it last night. Rubbing his neck, he yawned, sitting up and stretching his back. There was a knock on the door and Narcissa called softly, "Draco?"

In a panic, he quickly stuffed the book between the mattress and headboard and called back, "Yes?" She opened the door and came in with a smile.

"Good morning, Draco," she said. "We have some guests coming over for breakfast so dress presentably." He nodded. Once she was gone, he got up and quickly dressed in formal wear before facing the mirror and combing out his hair. Once he was done, he left the room and headed down the stairs.

The moment he stepped into the dining room, Draco stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide. "Draco, sit," Lucius said with a slight quiver in his tone. Draco swallowed and moved to sit at the middle of the table, his eyes never leaving the pale figure at the head of the table. Sitting down by his mother, he cast her a scared look. Narcissa didn't meet his gaze.

"Draco, is it?" said the high, cold voice of the figure in front of them, who needs no introduction. Voldemort was tall and pale as death. His nose was nothing more than a slit and his eyes scarlet.

"Y-Yes, m-my lord," Draco said quietly, hating the words on his tongue. They burned him like poison.

"I see," Voldemort remarked. "Wormtail, don't just stand there. Sit." A short man with a rat-like appearance sat down on the other side of the table as Draco and his mother. Food was before them, but only Voldemort was eating any of it. Even Peter Pettigrew, the vermin he was, had yet to touch any of it.

"What is it you wished to discuss, my lord?" Lucius asked. Draco had never seen his father with so little confidence before. It was not something he wanted to see ever again.

"There is something I want your son to help me with," Voldemort said. Draco's eyes widened and he glanced quickly at his father. "There is someone at Hogwarts I'm looking for. I think you, Draco, can help me find her."

"W-Who would that be?" Draco asked shakily, fearing the answer.

"She's a siren," Voldemort said. Instantly, Draco's heart froze in his chest. "I need to speak with her. I believe she can help us reach our goals. You are to immediately inform me if you find anything." Although he had no idea how afterwards, Draco nodded.

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The moment Voldemort left the house, concluding his prolonged stay, Draco rounded on his parents, shouting, "Why was he here?! Why would you let him be here?"

"Draco-" Lucius began.

"He is a monster! You see that, don't you?!" Draco bellowed. "He-"

"DRACO!" Lucius thundered, shutting his son up. He sauntered up to Draco who clenched his jaw. "You don't understand. We fought with him before. If we don't do so again, he will end us."

Quieter this time, Draco said in a weary, pained voice, "Why would you fight alongside him in the first place? I get that you believe muggles and muggle-borns and blood-traitors and Merlin-knows who else are the scum of the earth, but what are they really doing to bother you so much you'd fight for their destruction, Father?" Turning to his mother, he added, "What did poor Aunt Andromeda do to warrant you completely cutting her off? How is what any of these people are doing harming you?"

"Do not speak of my sister, Draco," Narcissa hissed, anger flaring in her chest.

"Why is she the sister you hate?" Draco snapped back. "Why the one who fell in love and not the one who kills and tortures for fun?"

"Your Aunt Bellatrix fights for our cause," Narcissa replied firmly, taking a step forward.

"No, your cause!" Draco retorted. "You want them dead! You want them tortured! You want all that, not me!"

"Draco-" Lucius began.

"Did you ever think?" Draco snapped. "Did you ever think that what you were doing is wrong? Or even that it isn't what I want?"

"We are trying to protect you!" Narcissa cried with tears in her eyes.

Angrily, Draco retorted, "Yeah, well, maybe I don't want your protection!"

"This is that Granger girl getting in your head," Lucius said dangerously.

"No," Draco said furiously. "And I know that because unlike you, she doesn't force her opinions down my throat." He was trembling with anger. Before either of them could say anything, he headed for his room and shut and locked the door behind him. Collapsing on his bed, he sighed, pressing his palms into his eyes as he drew in a deep breath.