Clarity (Draco Malfoy FanFic) #wattys2017

[45] Spinner's End

From the window inside Professor Snape's office I saw the Dark Mark conjured high in the sky  above the castle which meant the the task they were given was over.

But who killed him?  Was it Draco?

I could hear the shattering of windows and the sound of students running about. I held my sister's hand tightly as I itched to storm out and fight back. But right now, I can't risk leaving my sister, and going out there would only complicate things more for everyone involved.

After a while, the noise outside had gone down so I took a bottle of sleeping draught from Snape's shelves and poured a few drops in Valeria's mouth. I tucked her in Snape's couch and whispered "I'll come back for you". 

The castle had a dark atmosphere as I walked through the corridor. I saw Blaise and a few other Slytherins at the end of the hallway so I went up to them. "Where is everyone?" I asked. "At the courtyard below the Astronomy tower" he replied. 

"Draco?" I asked

"Draco fled school property along with Snape and the others involved."

I sighed in relief knowing that Draco got out of Hogwarts with Snape. But the question still remained...who killed the headmaster?

It felt like a graveyard as I passed by students and teachers with a distraught look on their faces. Some held back their tears, while the others silently sobbed. Then as I looked in the middle of the courtyard, Harry Potter knelt beside the lifeless body of Professor Albus Dumbledore.

He was soon accompanied by Ginny Weasley who comforted him as he wept beside the body. As I looked at the headmaster, I felt my chest tighten. I've only been here two years, but he has done so much for me that I couldn't help but admire him for being the person that he is. I could never repay him for everything he has done, so from now on, I shall do my best to complete the task he left me.

As I looked up, I mentally cursed at the sight of the dark mark that the death eaters conjured. The headmaster did not deserve to be in a place that had Voldemort's mark just above him.  I walked over to Professor McGonagall who had the saddest look I have yet seen on her face. "Professor, the mark right above us should disappear. Professor Dumbledore would not have allowed it" I whispered as I raised my wand up high in the sky to put some light back. Professor McGonagall immediately followed as well as the rest of the students. Then in just a few moments, the sky cleared and there was no evidence that the dark mark was even there.

After officials from the the Ministry and people from St.Mungo's came to collect the headmaster's body, we were all sent back to our respective houses. But little do they know that Professor Dumbledore gave me his invisibility cloak a few days ago.

I snuck out of the slytherin common room when everyone else was quietly inside their rooms, and went to Snape's office to get Valeria out of the castle. Luckily enough, the Head of Slytherin's office had floo network. I managed to get Valeria with me on the fireplace and held on her tightly before saying our destination.

"Spinner's End" I said as I threw the powder and let the green flames consume us.

It wasn't my first time travelling by floo network, but I didn't have a graceful landing over the other fireplace. I was on my bum while my arm still latched on my sister. "Come..." the familiar stern voice said as he bent down to carry my sister.

I dusted off the ashes that clung to my robes and quickly followed Professor Snape. He first went to a small room where he gently placed my sleeping sister on the small bed in the corner before he led me to another small room which was like a library more than a sitting room. Books mostly in black or brown leather almost completely covered the walls. There was threadbare sofa, a old armchair, and a rickety table beside it that had and a teapot and a cup.

The professor sat in the armchair while I took a seat at the sofa. He took poured some tea on the cup, took a sip, then looked at me. 

I was tongue-tied. How do I even begin to say anything to him? What do I say? Are there right words to begin our conversation? Especially now that he looks so somber with guilt in his eyes.

My hands were cold and restless. My heartbeat has not slowed down, and my breathing uneven. I closed my eyes and took a deep breathe.

"Thank you, Professor Snape" I managed to find my voice. "I don't even know how to thank you enough for doing all this"

"There was no other way, Anastasia. Potter needs you in his quest, and both the headmaster and I understand your predicaments". I noticed him wince and his voice changing as he said 'headmaster'.

"Professor...did Draco-" 

"I killed Albus Dumbledore" he said even before I could finish my question. I thought I was going to feel relieved, but that confession from him just made the pain in my chest tighten some more. I knew how much he respected the headmaster, and I knew how everything they've been together in secret for the survival of the wizarding world.

I started to cry as I let my head down shamefully "I'm so sorry, Professor. I'm truly sorry. "

"It had to be done. There was no other way Dumbledore wanted it to be done" he said. I looked at him as he took another sip of his tea. He was clearly trying his best to seem unaffected, but his eyes tell me otherwise- he was hurt...just as much as anyone who loved and respected Albus Dumbledore.

"Do you remember what the headmaster said about what needs to be done and what has to happen?" he asked.

I nodded as Dumbledore's words replayed in my head. This was all very overwhelming, and I couldn't help but let out the bottled emotions I had.

"I will help Harry find the horcruxes, Professor. I won't stop until we find and destroy every last one of them. I will help carry out the headmaster's plan whatever it that needs to be done" I said with conviction. "I promise you, Professor Snape that all your sacrifices won't be in vain, and that I know how good of a person you are and soon everyone else will know it too."

My outburst left Snape speechless as his eyes looked directly at me. It was almost awkward, so thankfully the grandfather clock in the hall chimed- 

It was already 3 in the morning.

"You have to get back to the castle to avoid suspicion. I'll take care of Valeria, and I'll find a way to get your mother to safety" he said while he escorted me back to the fireplace. "Just so you know, Draco isn't in any sort of danger from the dark Lord anymore"

Before I stepped into the fireplace, I turned around and gave him a tight hug for comfort and as a thank you. "I owe you our lives, Professor Snape. I can never repay you for everything"

Just before I threw the floo powder to get back to the castle, I looked at the professor again and smiled at him sincerely.  

"Just call me Severus" I heard him say at the flames engulf me.

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