It started as a joke DracoxReader

Risk it all

All you could manage was to laugh, because honestly he caught you off guard. He had said not that long ago in the hallway that they knew what the Malfoy's did. But it was so unlike anyone but Potter to even say the word death eater.

"What are you laughing at?" Neville's face was shocked, caught maybe just as off guard as you were.

"You think Draco is a death eater?"

"We know he is," Neville insisted.

"Well, Longbottom. I can assure you, you are wrong. Why would He who must not be named want Draco? Of all people?" After a long and unsure pause you shook your head, you figured they didn't have much to go on. "It's not fair to judge someone based on the actions of their parents. Shame on all of you"

You left Neville standing in the dark room without a word to defend himself. How often were you going to have make up stories and lies to hide what you both were? Of course Harry thought he knew everything. That Slimy git.

You pushed your way slowly into Draco's room, letting out a long breath and yo close the door tight behind you.

"Where were you?" He asked as you suddenly, the sound of his voice making you jump. You rested your hand to your chest

"Draco you scared me"

"Why are you sneaking around the castle?" He asked, more sternly now. "Who were you with?"

"I was alone? Draco what are you talking about?" You asked, walking to sit with him on the bed.

"Sure"

"Hey" you reached for his chin, pulling him to look at you "Shut the fuck up with that. What is going on with you?"

"I don't know, you just keep sneaking around. Disappearing for an hour at a time and being so fucking friendly with everyone. It must be sooooooo easy for you to act normal" he pulled his face from your hand. Your jaw dropped as he spoke.

"You're mad I don't have to murder someone?" you felt like you couldn't breath. "Draco you have spent the last few months telling me you were happy I didn't have to do this shit! You didn't even want me to help you with the fucking cabinet anymore!" you were yelling now, you couldn't help it.

"Because you have a choice and you're choosing wrong." he yelled back "You probably asked for that fucking mark"

His eyes grew wide once he realized he said. You couldn't help the hand that flew to your mouth as you gasped.

"Y/n, I didn't mean..." You were gone before he could speak, he at times has said things he regretted, mostly stuff along the lines of 'go away' and saying he hated you when you knew he didn't, but this was way too far. You hadn't really thought about much until you were standing on the bridge behind the school that went out into the backwoods. The air had started to warm but only a little as February came. You weren't sure where you were going, but you couldn't stand here all night. Even if you wanted to.

You had to make your brain stop thinking about what he said, and on anything else. So you snuck once again into a place you shouldn't be the Potions classroom. You had to use this Mandrake root before it dried up and stopped being poisonous.

You worked into the morning, dipping back into the hallway before classes started so you could go back and change. Draco should already be at breakfast so you wouldn't have to look at him. You sat down on the bed after you changed, touching the necklace that sat on your skin at all times, the metal was warm from your body. You wanted to be mad at him, like so many times before, so you just let yourself seethe there for a second. Of all the things in the world to say to you, to accuse you of wanting this thing? This disgusting stain on your skin that set your future to nothing but evil. How could you ever want that? Then again you didn't fight, you hadn't even thought twice about walking into the dining room. Was that because you knew you had no choice? Or was it far more selfish than that?

You avoided the grand hall entirely, maybe you'd be able to find something to eat later in the day but right now walking in there, where you would see not only Draco, but Neville and Potter and all of them made you have no appetite in the slightest in fact it even made you feel sick.

You luckily were able to completely consume your brain with classes, and the mission you had to do. You knew during your free period Slughorn had class. So it should be easy enough to do what needs to be done.

You walked through the halls, barley looking at other students just as they did the same, Slughorn was a forgetful man. So when his office door was open you weren't surprised, calling into the room softly to make sure he wasn't in there you wandered in. The room was lovely, looking different from the night of the supper party. Gentle yellow and orange lights lit the room and all the things he had inside of it. Like beautiful artifacts and a seemingly endless line of photographs.

Slughorn of course was a bit of a lush, so finding his bar was easy enough, and standing on top was, of course, the bottle you needed. You took it into your hand untying the gently held ribbon reading the faint card it held. To Dumbledore, just as you hoped. You switched the bottle with the one you had in your bag, placing it back just as you found it with the little card and all ready for gifting. A thank you gift no doubt for bringing him back to the castle and asking him to teach, along with providing a protection only available in these walls... or so they thought.

You thought for a moment as you walked back through the halls, what if somehow someone else got their hands on the poison instead of it going to where it needed to be? What if Slughorn himself decided to drink it instead of giving it to the person it was meant for? Were you willing to be the person who single handedly killed one of your favorite professors in the hopes that it would go to the headmaster and take care of Draco's task for him?

You turned the corner then, facing into a hallway which was now packed full. Catching the same beautiful sight you had taken in so many times, and you had your answer. As Draco's eyes caught yours and he began his walk to you, your questions were answered.

Yes.

Yes you would risk it all.