Emerald (Lazuli Book #2) Harry Potter Fan Fiction (Draco Malfoy)

Chapter Six - Their Greatest Weapon

The Archambaults are an ancient pure-blood family. They're considered to be the French version of the Blacks, perhaps the most well-known of all British wizarding families, one that I am descended from. Sophia has 3 older sisters and her brother Hervé, since her older sisters were all educated at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in France and Hervé graduated from Hogwarts when we were still in our second year. I'd only ever met one of Sophia's sister, the middle sister Marie who'd been working in London during our third year and had picked Sophia up from Kings Cross when we returned for Easter break. Marie had been pleasant enough, although her English wasn't good and my French was abysmal, so Sophia acted as a translator for the 5 minute conversation.

Anyway, Sophia's father is supposedly a high-positioned member of the French Ministry of Magic. The Archambaults have always been a wealthy family, and through various other sources I've learnt that they have a history of dark magic. Sophia's grandfather was a notable follower of Voldemort, but he was killed by aurors before he could be tried and incarcerated in the French prison, supposedly similar to Azkaban. Sophia's father was also rumoured to be a Death Eater, but after claiming that he was under the influence of the Imperius Curse and due to a lack of evidence to prove otherwise, he managed to escape punishment. Sophia has never mentioned her family's history to me, being terribly ashamed of it and having grimaced at any mention of Voldemort or his followers. She always extra hard in Defence Against the Dark Arts and tried to remove herself from any inclination that she could be following in her grandfather and father's footsteps. Thankfully, her family's treachery wasn't that well-known here in Britain, if she had attended Beauxbatons then perhaps her treatment would have been different. But here at Hogwarts, she was treated normally just like everybody else.

Sophia's lip trembles as I stare at her. "Do you hate me?" she whispers. I frown, "why would I hate you?" I manage to stutter, although my heart is pumping fiercely. What if Hervé knows about me? What if he knows that I'm a Death Eater and will tell Sophia? How could I ever hope to explain to her that my boyfriend and I were members of the same group that had condemned her brother's fate? What if she found out and went straight to the Ministry of Magic, with the hope of clearing the Archambault name? We'd been friends since our first year, but that could all change when something like this happened.

Sophia shrugs her shoulders. "My brother is a Death Eater. He's one of You-Know-Who's followers. Doesn't that make me a bad person too?"

I pull her to me and hug her caringly. Sophia buries her face in my shoulder and sobs slightly. "Ssh, it's ok. We all have disappointing relatives, just look at my family." I whisper. Honey's singing stops and Sophia pulls away from me, wiping her eyes. "We'll talk later if you want?" I murmur, even though there is nothing I'd like more than to not mention it again. Sophia nods as checks her reflection in the mirror. The door to Honey's cubicle swings open and our friend struts out, blissfully unaware of the words that Sophia and I had just shared. Or perhaps she is aware, Honey's parents read the Daily Prophet and they know that their only child is friends with one of the Archambault girls. They must have seen the name and asked their daughter about it. Maybe Honey wasn't as oblivious as she seemed.

I busy myself by checking my reflection in the mirror. Honey applies a layer of lip-gloss whilst Sophia runs a brush through her blonde curls. "Ready to take Hogwarts by storm?" Honey asks, smirking cheekily at her reflection. Sophia has managed to put her act of normality back on and grins. "Of course, ladies?" As always, I crook both of my arms, with a laugh Honey takes the left side and Sophia takes the right. We leave the bathroom and attract the stares of other students as we pass them by, people part like the Red Sea, making a clear passage for the three of us to walk past. With my friend's support I stand up tall and don't trip, despite the curious stares we're attracting. We make it to the Great Hall with no stumbles, and my friends disappear to greet others. I however am left standing in the doorway, staring out at the almost full room. I shut my eyes, and though I'm unsure whether I do so willingly or not, my mind flashes back.