The Ministerโs Daughter
- draco malfoy -
PART 5
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
The next morning, as the sun barely touched the horizon, an air of tension hung heavy over Hogwarts.
The entire Hogwarts were summoned to the Great Hall at the break of dawn by Dumbledore, their faces etched with confusion and dread. The emergency gathering in the Great Hall was a disorienting awakening for all the students.
Dumbledore drew attention to himself and started "You must be wondering why I called you this early. Well, I regret to inform you that the Ministry has fallen this midnight." He delivered the shocking news with a heavy heart, and the collective gasp of disbelief from the students reverberated through the hall, mingling with the anguished cries that erupted, shattering the once-peaceful atmosphere of the school.
Screams were echoing all over Hogwarts.
"But, you shall not fear. Hogwarts will always keep you safe." he added.
The lump in Y/Nโs throat made it hard to breathe, and the thought of her parents' safety left her paralyzed with fear.
"And one last thing.โ Dumbledore cleared his throat โMiss Y/L/N, I will be waiting for you at my Office." he addressed to Y/N.ย
Dumbledore's words hung in the air, and as her name was called, she felt a chill of apprehension deep in her bones. Y/N's legs trembled, and she took an unsteady step backward, the enormity of the situation threatening to consume her.ย
As she took a step back and her body collapsed into someone's arm.ย Just as she felt herself faltering, Draco's strong arms enveloped her, providing both a physical and emotional anchor. He was holding her.
"Are you okay?" his concern was evident in his voice and it was as if his presence alone had the power to steady her trembling world. Draco always managed to be the one to pick her up when she fell down. Both in a metaphoric and in a literal sense.
Nonetheless, she gathered her strength and made her way out of the Great Hall.
"Y/N!" someone was shouting her name. She turns back to see Pansy and Daphne. Their eyes were filled with concern. Their deep-seated connection, forged over a lifetime, provided a sense of unity and strength. Y/N's tears flowed freely as she sought comfort in their arms, releasing the emotional burden that weighed on her.
"Hey, it's going to be okay." Pansy assured.
"My father- The ministry- What have they done to him?" Y/N was sobbing.
"Ssh, they wouldn't dare to touch your father. We will walk you to Dumbledore's Office now." Daphne said.
Y/N entered into Dumbledore's Office with heavy eyes. Dumbledore was sitting in his Office with Professor Snape. Heavy emotions continued to cloud the air.
"Miss Y/L/N, I am sorry about the Ministry. First of all, I want you to know that your parents are safe now. They are being held in a safehouse by Order." Dumbledore said.
Y/N sighed in relief.
"You, however, will not be taken back to them. Not just yet. It is their wish that you stay in Hogwarts. Hogwarts is believed to be safer." just after Dumbledore finished his sentence Y/N started to cry again.
The weight of the world pressed on Y/N's shoulders as she listened to the news of her parents' safety. Relief washed over her, yet her heart remained heavy, knowing she could not immediately reunite with them.
"Me and the other Professors, we will do everything in our power we can to keep you safe." Dumbledore promised.
"However, there is one other thing we need to tell you about." Snape interwined.
"There is a specific reason your parents want you to stay here. Besides, your safety." added Snape.
This was all getting too much.
Y/N looked at Professor Snape with tears in her eyes. She demanded an explanation. However, it was getting harder and harder to speak with a lump in her throat.
"You-know-who thinks that, as a Minister of Magic, your dad has been hiding a Secret." Dumbledore explains.
"What kind of a Secret?" Y/N asked.
"The Secret that is thought to be hidden by your father is a unique and ancient magical ritual or spell that could potentially strip You-Know-Who of his dark powers. This powerful enchantment has been kept hidden for generations, known only to a select few within the Ministry. Voldemort, in his relentless pursuit of absolute power, has learned about the existence of this spell and believes that it holds the key to his unrivaled dominance." Snape explained.
"Is there such a thing? Please tell me the truth." Y/N said stuttering.
"We don't know yet, Miss Y/L/N." Snape answered.
"However, what matters is that you have to promise us that you will stay in Hogwarts no matter what happens. Your father's orders. Given by the Ministry. An authority that we can't go against." Dumbledore added.
"They are in a safe house which is protected by the Order. However, if things go wrong-- we need you to keep that promise." Snape insisted.
Dumbledore's promises of protection offered a glimmer of hope, but Snape's revelation added another layer of complexity to the situation. Y/N's tear-filled eyes searched for answers, her voice barely a whisper as she grappled with the truth.
"I have to go to them. I have to go to my parents." Y/N cried.
She was torn between her desire to protect her family and friends and her longing to be with her parents during these dangerous times. The weight of this decision was palpable, with Snape's stern words and Dumbledore's imploring gaze emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
"Now is not the time for your childish act Miss Y/L/N. You are a leverage in this situation. We will keep you safe but you have to promise us that you'll cooperate." Snape said.
"What about them? What if--?" Y/N's words were cut off.
"There are no what-ifs from now on. We need you to promise that you won't take a step outside of Hogwarts grounds, Miss Y/L/N." stated Dumbledore.ย
Y/N's final promise was made through a choked voice, her emotions now a complex blend of resolve, fear, and an unshakeable determination to protect her parents.
"Yeah Professor, you have my word." Y/N said the thing that needed to be said to keep them quiet. They would be too much of a noise in her way, anyway. She was going to get to her parents. She needed to know if the secret actually existed. And if the secret did exist, then she would go over the world to save her parents and friends from Voldemort. There was no other choice for her.
The decision to lie, despite the overwhelming desire to ask for their help, was an agonizing one.
The plan was simple. She was going to go to the safe house first. She would apparate from the Forbidden Forest. Then, she would talk to her parents. It was the first step.ย She had to get to her parents. However, the missing piece of the puzzle was the exact location of the safe house. Without it, her plan remained incomplete. The frustration of not knowing where her parents were hidden added to the urgency of her mission. She needed answers and she needed them now.
She needed someone she could trust, someone who would never betray her. And the first person who came to her mind was as shameful as it was, was Draco. One last favour. She would askย for one last favor from him and after that, she would be long gone from his life.
Y/N decided to go to Slytherin Common Room where she was sure of finding Draco.
She entered the common room without hesitation. She catch a glimpse of The Sacred Seven sitting in front of the fireplace. Their usual spot. However, she couldn't see the blonde guy's figure. As she approached them, she also noticed that Theo was not there, as well.
"Hi, guys." Y/N smiled at them.
"Hi, Y/N, how are you?" Daphne asked.
"I am fine, thanks. I was actually wondering if you guys know where Draco is. I have to talk to him." Y/N said.
"Oh, he went back to Malfoy Manor." Blaise answered.
"What? But he was here this morning?" Y/N stuttered.
"Narcissa, wanted him back at the Manor. He got her letter this morning." Blaise explained.
"Oh, okay then. See you around guys." Y/N walked away without waiting for a response.
Draco left without even saying a goodbye? Not even a simple goodbye? Just when she thought there were no other pieces from her heart to be broken, Draco managed to break the one last piece. Again. The pain was a familiar one, but it cut deeper than ever before, leaving her questioning whether he had ever truly cared for her at all. It was a painful echo of past disappointments, leaving her feeling broken once more.
As she exited the Slytherin Common Room, she felt helpless. There was not even a person in the Hogwarts that could help her.
She headed to the Astronomy Tower to clear her had.
As she was walking through the corridors of Hogwarts, she couldn't help but heard a familiar voice. A voice she knew all too well.
"How about tonight then?" Graham asked to his friend who was walking next to him.
Y/N turned around to look at him.
Ever since, Y/N started to date Draco, she put a distance between them as per Draco's requests. Graham was soon to realize it.
Them being broken up didn't matter now. Y/N and Graham were still ignoring each other. It had been a silent, mutual understanding between them, acknowledging the unspoken boundaries they now observed.
After she turned to him, Graham looked her in the eye for a second and then turned his head away.
"Graham?" Y/N adressed him. He looked at her her. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Um.. yeah sure, Y/N." he said.
Graham's friend left and now they were alone.
"Thought you were not speaking to me, anymore." said Graham in a firm tone. "Heard Malfoy broke up with you, was it worth to throw our friendship away, tho?" Graham's voice cut through the tension between them, his words hanging in the air like a weighty reminder of the choices that had led them here. Y/N felt her heart ache as she considered his question.
The breakup with Draco had come at a steep cost, not just in terms of her romantic relationship but also the friendships that had been strained in the process. "I-I..uh, I am sorry Graham." Y/N said.
"It's okay. I am sorry about the Ministry by the way." Graham answered.
"Yeah. About that. I need to askย youย something." Y/N stuttered.
Graham nodded.
"I am going to ask this only once. And I need you to tell me the truth. You are the only one I can trust." Y/N explained.
"What do you mean? How about your friends? How about The Sacred Seven?" asked Graham, he was confused.
"The Sacred Seven, they.. their loyalites are complicated. But this doesn't change the fact that they are my friends."ย Y/Nย explained.
"Oh, okay. What is it that you wanted to ask then?" Graham asked.
"You know my parents are in a safe house now. I figured your dad knew it since he is my father's best friend. And he must have told you. Do you know where the safe house is?" Y/N demanded an answer.
As soon as he heardย theย question Graham's face paled as Y/N pressed him for answers, and his initial response was one of denial and confusion "No, Y/N, I don't. How would I know? Why would I know?" he answered.
"How would you know? Come on, Graham. Your father must have known the plan even before my mother. My father tells him everything. And he also works for the Ministry. My father trusts him more than anyone." Y/N insisted.
"I can't help you with that and you know it." Graham was looking for a way to escape from this conversation.
"FOR SALAZAR'S SAKE. I HAVE TO GET TO MY PARENTS. NO GRAHAM. YOU AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY KNEW EVERY SINGLE DETAIL FROM THE START. YOU AND YOUR FATHER ARE THE ONLY ONES MY FATHER TRUSTS WHEN IT COMES TO ME. HELL, I AM SURE THEY EVEN WANTED YOU TO KEEP AN EYE ON ME. YOU WERE NOT WALKING BEHIND ME, YOU WERE FOLLOWING ME, WEREN'T YOU? YOU WERE MAKING SURE THAT I WOULDN'T LEAVE HOGWARTS."
Y/N stopped for a second to breathe. That's when it hit her. Graham was keeping an eye on her ever since Voldemort was talked to be back.
"We were all sure that you would figure it out. But we didn't expect it to be this soon." Graham finally answered. "You not speaking to me because of Malfoy didn't make it easier, tho." Graham added.
She just looked him in the eye.
"I can't go against my father's or your father's orders. You are staying here." He was caught between his loyalty to his own family, who had been entrusted with the plan, and his friendship with Y/N.ย
"I am begging you, just give me the address." Y/N said with tears in her eyes.
"How will you go there? By apparating? Don't you know apparition magic leaves traces? They would hunt you down in a second. You would hand yourself and your family to them." he cautioned.
"You don't understand. I have to find them. Or this nightmare won't be over soon." Y/N was basically begging him.
"This is no time to be a hero. Your magic can't compete with the dark magic. They would take you down in a second." Graham was determined to keep her in Hogwarts.
Y/N's eyes burned with anger, and she felt betrayed by Graham's refusal to help.. Why can't he just give the address?
"Talking to you was a mistake. Golden Boy. Go make your parents proud by keeping me here." Y/N was clearly hurt.
"Someone had to talk some sense into you." Graham answered.
Y/N was overwhelmed by a mix of desperation, anger, and heartache. Her urgent need to find her parents, coupled with the perceived betrayal of Graham's involvement in keeping her at Hogwarts, fueled her frustration. The weight of the situation and her sense of powerlessness left her teetering on the edge of despair.
The air was thick with tension and unspoken regrets as these two former friends found themselves on opposing sides, each driven by their own sense of duty and loyalty.
Soon, Y/N decided to walk away from Graham. "Don't you dare follow me!" she threatened.
"Don't make me." he answered.
She found herself at a crossroads, with no alternative but self-sacrifice. She didn't care anymore that apparition left traces of magic. There was nothing else she could do. She was going to apparate to 12 Grimmauld Place, and then ask for her parents' location. This was the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, and her parents were under the Order's protection. She was going to do this the hard way.
The weight of the situation had pushed her to a breaking point, leaving her with no other choice.
She was going to wait until midnight to make sure neither Dumbledore, Snape nor Graham could catch her.
Midnight descended like a heavy shroud upon the Forbidden Forest, enveloping it in an impenetrable darkness. She knew she had to escape to 12 Grimmauld Place to find her parents, but the dense magical aura of the Forbidden Forest weighed on her. The forest's ancient, untamed magic played tricks on her senses, and she felt like an intruder in a world where she didn't belong.
Clutching her wand tightly, Y/N closed her eyes and concentrated on the incantation to apparate. She visualized the old tapestry-covered walls of 12 Grimmauld Place, the place where she would get the much needed information. Y/N's brow furrowed in frustration as her magic was thwarted.
She tried again and again, but each time, the enchanting barrier around the Forbidden Forest held her captive. Forest's magic was a living, breathing entity that fought against her every attempt to escape. It whispered secrets and ancient incantations in languages she couldn't comprehend, leaving her disoriented and trapped.
It was in that moment, as the forest's magic pushed back against her, that Y/N realized something was terribly wrong. She had underestimated the mystical might of the Forbidden Forest, and it had sensed her desperate attemptย toย breakย free. As Y/N desperately attempted to apparate away from the entwining tangles of the Forbidden Forest, the very essence of the place resisted her.ย
With an explosion of magical energy, she was forcibly transported to another forest, one equally as enigmatic and shrouded in darkness. The sudden shift in location left her disoriented, and she collapsed onto the forest floor, unconscious.
Time passed, its measure uncertain in the mystical realm where sheย hadย beenย cast.
The Forbidden Forest, with its dense magical aura, interfered with Apparition. She ended up at an unintended location within the forest, drawing the attention of the unwanted. ย
"Don't you dare touch her!" a familiar voice shouted.ย It was a voice she recognized all too well, a voice that now resonated with both familiarity and fear. "Give her to me!" the same voice demanded.
"She is our only leverage against the Minister, if any harm comes to her, the Dark Lord will tear you into pieces." said by an unknown voice, this time.
Y/N was so confused. Where was she? Why did her body was trembling?
The only thing she could remember was that she was in the Forbidden Forest. Now she was at the, really, where was she?
As her senses slowly returned, she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The world was a blurry haze, and her body felt unsteady. She was trembling, her emotions and her disorientation merging into a whirlwind of fear and apprehension.
She was at the no? No? NO? She was at the Malfoy Manor?ย
There was a guy with a silver mask. A big guy. In the midst of the tense and uncertain atmosphere, as the figure in the silver mask approached, his presence cast an eerie and imposing shadow over Y/N.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a soft voice--Draco?
He removed the mask, and to Y/N's shock, the person beneath it was none other than Draco Malfoy.
The same Draco who had once held her in his arms was now in a position that frightened her. She was left at his mercy.ย
"First of all, I can and I will explain." he said to Y/N.
She was in total shock. Y/N's eyes remained fixed on his, staring blankly. She was in total shock.
First, the ministry falls, and then she is captured by Salazar-knows-who, only to be thrown in front of Draco Malfoy in disguise.
For a second which felt like an eternity everything fell into place. He distanced himself from her because he was a death eater.
Not just any death eater but a high-ranking one. Probably a skilled one. Probably a promising one.
Now, she was captured by them.
Part of her still wanted to touch him, hug him, even kiss him. "Minister daughter who fell in love with a death eater" is pretty decent for a headline in the Daily Prophet. That was what he wanted to protect her from.
He leaned in to hug her. She wanted to hug him so badly. She has been waiting for his embrace for months now. Yet, the harsh reality of the situation held her back.
She longed for him so badly. But not like this. But not when he is disguised as a death eater. Most importantly, not when her father's everything was taken away by his Lord.
"Stay away from me." she said in tears.
"Y/N....Please..I...I need you to understand." he burst into tears, as he spoke. He couldn't bear the thought of her despising him, but the pain in her eyes was devastating.ย
"You.. How could you?" Y/N asked.
"I was forced, he was going to hurt my mother, he was going to hurt me, he was going to hurt...you." he said.
He was desperate. He has been desperate since he got that mark.
"The Dark Lord, he saw you in my memories. He knew you were my weakest point so he threatened to hurt you if I didn't do this. I had no choice. You have to understandโฆ." his voice cracked.
Y/N said nothing.
She was still trying to process all that just happened.
"He threatened me with you. I had no choice." Draco added.
"Why didn't you let me help you? Why didn't you come to me?" she finally asked.
"There was nothing you could do. They were conspiring against your father. Sooner or later Ministry was going to fall. There were no other options." he said. "I have been meaning to tell you this for so long. Don't you understand? He was going to torture you. The only way to stop this was to stay away from you." Draco was devastated.ย
"All those months...all those months I wanted to come and ask you what the hell that I did wrong?" Y/N said.
"You did nothing wrong. He threatened me with torturing you..He said that he would... That they would torture you and will force me to watch." Draco said.
"What's your ranking?" Y/N asked wiping away her tears.
"My what?" he couldn't exactly understand the question.
"Your ranking Draco. The place you hold among the death eats- ..them." Draco stood silent.
How the hell in Salazar's name he was going to explain to her that he was destined to take his father's place since the day one.
That his fate was written long ago he was born.
"My father's place will be mine soon after." he said.
"I see." she answered. "It's clear that you've grown into liking this. Seems you belong to them now." she didn't mean any of this. She really didn't. She just needed confirmation from him. She just needed to know that Draco still belonged to her.
"Of course not. Do you think I do this shenanigan willingly? I knew from the start that my father's twisted ideals would get us into trouble, I just never thought they would cost meโฆ.you." he said.
"What makes you think that I would still choose to be with you even if the Dark Lord hadn't threatened you? You would still be a death eater, willingly in that possibility." she was furious.
"Since you are a pure blood---" his words were cut by Y/N.
"What Draco? What if I was not a pure blood? Would it make any difference?" she asked.
โHe would not hurt you, that is what I am trying to say.โ Draco answered.
"You went down a path that I couldn't follow. This has nothing to do with my blood." Y/N said.
โLet me finish first." Draco said in a calm voice.
"I loved you since that summer and you knew it. I adored everything about you. I adored your curls, I adored your smile, I adored the way you connected with Purry, I adored how you made me calm." he was out of breath. "And he...he knew thatโฆ" Draco hesitated for a moment. "He knew that you were my weakest point. He was going to take you away from me. He left me without a choice."
As they stood there, the weight of their emotions hanging heavy in the air, both Draco and Y/N knew that their journey was far from over, and the path ahead was uncertain.
"Now, you have to leave bef- before..." he couldn't continue. Draco's voice turned colder, devoid of emotion.ย
"Before what?" Y/N asked.
Draco couldn't look her in the eyes.
"Tell me. Before what?" Y/N said in a trembling voice.
"Before it's too late." Draco said.
"After he finds out that you have let me escape, he is going to--, you know he willโฆ." Y/N stuttered.
"I know he willโฆbut there's only one way you can escape." Draco answered and added "He isn't down to play games and he won't stop until he gets what he wants."
"I am not leaving. Not without..you." Y/N said.
"Don't make it harder than it already is. All I am asking you to do is leave. I'll deal with the rest." said Draco.
There was a cold look in his grey eyes. The same grey eyes once filled with love towards Y/N were now too clouded with her protection that he couldn't even think straight. All he ever thought about for the last year was protecting her and he would not give up when he was this close.
"You have to leave now, or else I'll make you." Draco sounded colder than ever.
There was no room for feelings in this. Protecting her was his priority and he would do anything to make it happen.
"I am not leaving without you Draco. Forget it. I won't leave you in a situation like this, not again." Y/N was sobbing at her words not knowing where to stand.
"Theo." Draco called calmly.
Out of nowhere, Theo appeared.
"I am sorry Y/N." Theo said.
"All this time? You were, too?" Y/N asked, feeling like she had reached the point where nothing could surprise her anymore.ย
โMy father forced me. You know him. You know what he is. I am sorry Y/N, we never meant to hurt you. But you have to leave now, Iโll help you.โ Theo said.
โIf I leave now, what will happen to Draco?โ Y/N asked Theo.
โYou basically handed yourself in. What do you think is going to happen once the Dark Lord hears that he let you escape?โ Theo said.
"Theo." Draco sighed.
There were millions of scenarios that were going through Y/Nโs head, each worse than the other.
Draco, on the other hand, was running out of patience. โI canโt keep you here any longer. It is either you leave or I make you.โ Draco shuts out his emotions again.
โLook Y/N, I am not playing a game here. I have been trying to keep you safe ever since. Donโt tell me it was all for nothing.โ Draco had some kind of sorrow in his voice. โDonโt tell me I stayed away from you only to see you get hurt in the end.โ Draco was begging her to leave.
โI will leave on one condition.โ she said.
โDone.โ Draco answers.
Y/N looked at him with a shocked face.
โI didnโt even name it, Draco?โ she was confused.
โYou want to meet your parents, donโt you? Iโll have Theo take you to them. Consider it done.โ Draco said. โArrangements will be made accordingly.โ He added.
โNo.โ Y/N answered.
โI will eventually go to my parents. But not just yet. First, I need you to promise me something.โ Y/N stuttered.
Draco looked at her in confusion.
โI need you to promise that youโll come back to me if I leave right now.โ She was scared. So scared of losing him once again.
โYou know I canโt promise that.โ Draco sighed.
โWell then, I am not leaving. Iโll hand myself to Dark Lord before I let him hurt you, Draco.โ Y/N was determined. โYou canโt push me away this time. The word has already spread that I was caught.โ She addedย stubbornly.
"Theo, can you give us a second?โ Draco demanded.
Theo nodded and left the room.
Draco stepped closer to Y/N. His stormy, dreamy grey eyes once filled with love was now filled with pain. A teardrop has fallen from his eye.
The thought of any harm befalling her is an excruciating torment that shakes him to his core. Desperation, born out of his longing to safeguard her, permeates his actions. His very essence trembles with the fear of losing her, especially with the knowledge that she's now a target in the perilous game they've been thrust into.
He was crying.
โDo you want me to beg?" Draco kneeled down. "Fine Iโll beg for you to leave then.โ He was on his knees.
Before he could speak, Y/N interrupted him with a kiss. A kiss that consisted longing.
โI need you to come with me Draco. I canโt do this alone.โ she said.
She was desperate as much as he was. She was going to do whatever it takes to drag Draco out of this darkness.
"Why can't you see it? If I come, then he would come after us. I canโt drag you into this. That is exactly what I have been trying to protect you from.โ Draco explained. โI had everything planned. I was going to keep you safe." he looked away.
Almost like he was trying to say that Y/N ruined his plan of protecting her.
"Didn't you know that Forbidden Forest interferes with magic when it comes to apparating?โ he asked.
She shaked her head as in no.
โWell, clearly.โ He answered.
"I've spent months devising a plan, and you've disrupted it in a matter of seconds. I've always known that you were his primary target. You're the only leverage he has against your father. If he gets hold of you, consider his target achieve. Consider him the winner." Draco was at his lowest.
The love they still hold for each other is like an open wound, a source of profound anguish. It's a twisted, painful bond that neither can break free from, a festering wound that refusesย toย heal.
"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?" Voldemort's voice, like a serpent's hiss, cut through the silence.
Little did they know, Voldemort's arrival was just a matter of time.
"The Minister's Daughter. Or should I say the Fallen Minister's Daughter?" his voice was deep.
Y/N looked at him in disgust.
"And Draco Malfoy?" he was demanding an explanation for Draco's unexpected presence.
The confrontation had begun, and Draco knew that he had to find the strength within himself to protect Y/N and preserve their chance at a happy future, no matterย theย cost.
Draco's intelligence shone through as he crafted a brilliant plan to buy time from Voldemort. He knew that he couldn't simply defy the Dark Lord's commands, and so he had to employ cunning strategies. His plan involved offering a facade of compliance while ensuring that he withheld crucial information. It was a gamble, and the stakes couldn't have been higher. With a carefully constructed mix of half-truths and misinformation, Draco began to weave a web of intrigue and diversion, his plan was to keep Voldemort in the palm of his hand.
"My Lord, I have come to prove my loyalty beyond any doubt." Draco carefully formed the sentence.
Y/N was shocked yet she knew Draco enough to know that he had an ulterior motive. "
"And what loyalty do you possess now, after your recent indiscretions?" asked Voldemort.
"My loyalty to you, my Lord, has never wavered. But my actions may have led to some misunderstandings. I seek your guidance to correct my course." answered Draco.
Clearly, Draco had crossed a line that he shouldnโt. All in the name of protecting Y/N.
"Explain further." Voldemort demanded. That was it. That was the moment Draco had managed to switch Voldemort's attention from Y/N to something else.
"My Lord, I have reason to believe that Y/N possesses knowledge about the location of her parents." Draco said as he was looking at Y/N who was trembling from fear. "I can go by myself My Lord but her parents will be more convinced if she comes, as well. She is a leverage after all." Draco's eyes darkened.
"Why should I permit her to join you, Malfoy? What guarantees do I have that you won't betray me?" Voldemort was not fully convinced. He knew that Draco had a soft spot for Y/N.
Draco knew this was the pivotal moment, and his words needed to be carefully chosen. "My Lord, I am willing to offer myself as collateral. If Y/N or I should fail in our mission or show any disloyalty, you can take my life as retribution." his eyes darkened, again.
No, he didn't just go that far. That was beyond impossible. He didn't just risk his life for her.
Y/N looked at Draco for the first time since Voldemort came.
"A life for a life, Malfoy. A tempting offer, I must say." Voldemort seemed impressed.
Draco's plan seemed to be working. For now.
"I am willing to take the Unbreakable Vow." Draco added.
Too much at stake. There really was too much at stake. Just the thought of failing made Y/N sick to her stomach. She would not only lose her life but she would also lose Draco. And her parents. Too much to risk.
Voldemort's gaze remained fixed on Draco, his expression inscrutable. After a tense silence, he finally spoke "Very well, Malfoy. You may bring the Minister's Daughter with you. But remember, any sign of disloyalty or failure will be met with severe consequences. Do not underestimate the price of failure." Voldemort said.
Draco managed to convince him. Without taking the Unbreakable Wow. Draco managed to manipulate Dark Lord.
"And as for you, the Minister's Daughter, I can't help but feel pity. It seems you've not only lost the man you once loved but are also on the brink of losing your parents." Voldemort sneered, his words filled with malice.
Y/N had a lump in her throat.
"Get going then, Malfoy. But remember that failure is not an option." Voldemort said as he left the room.
Draco just nodded.
"How?" Y/N asked standing in front of a warehouse.
"Snape." Draco answered.
All those nights that he disappeared were for Y/N.
"Snape is my godfather." Draco started to explain.
"Oh? How come I never heard of it?" Y/N questioned why he kept this information.
Draco hesitated but decided to share more about Snape's role in their plan. "It's just-- it doesn't matter. He helped me come up with this plan. He is also an acquaintance of your father's. Besides, he knows the Dark Lord better than anyone. He knew eventually he would come after you. He warned me." Draco explained.
"So, all those nights when you sneaked out--?" Y/N was interrupted.
"I went to him. He is a double agent." he answered. He knew that Snape's double agent role was crucial, and he used it to his advantage. โAfter I found out that his main target was you, I went through every possible scenario. Over and over again. O have calculated every possibility.ย One by one. Allย forย you." his eyes were warmerย thanย ever. "The plan revolved around several key elements, you being kept away from me, Snape's assistance, and eventually you will be brought back to your parents." he finished. "However, we had to change a few things since you just couldn't stay still. We had to move your parents to another safe house." he finished.
โBecause of me?" she asked.
Draco nodded. "However, it doesn't matter now, since you are all safe." he said.
"But, what about you?" Y/N couldn't hide her concern for Draco.
"Me? It's not important." he looked away.
"But it is. It is important. It's not like I am handing you back to him. Over my dead body." she was scared. Scared of losing him to the darkness once again.
"See, That's the thing. That's the part I couldn't figure out. Snape is--" he didn't finish his sentence.
"Snape is what?" Y/N couldn't exaclty understand What's going on.
"He didn't tell me the rest of the plan." Draco said.
"What? I don'tย understand. This doesn't make sense. He can't just leave us--you." Y/N said in a rather concerned voice.
"Seems he just did."ย Dracoย said.
Little did they know, Snape was the one who paid the price of the betrayal. His death marked a turning point in the ongoing battle against the Dark Lord andย hisย followers.
"Now, get inside." Draco said to her.
"You?"she asked.
"I'll be just right behind you." he answered.
As Y/N entered the warehouse, she realized that it was warmer than she would expect it to be. She heard a noise. She turned her to look Where it was coming from. Then she realized it was her parents. Draco brought her to her parents.
Later that night, as the moon hung high in the velvety sky, Draco found himself alone in the dimly lit room. His heart was heavy with all the emotions he had longed to express. He had given Y/N some time alone with her parents, a precious moment that meant the world to her.
When a soft knock echoed through the room, he turned his gaze towards the door, where Y/N stood.
"Come in." he said.
"Draco?" she spoke as if her heart couldn't bear to contain the emotions any longer.
"Yes, Y/N?" Draco's voice was low and filled with a newfound calmness, as though the storm that had raged within him had finally found serenity. His grey eyes were at ease, at last.
Y/N stepped closer, her every movement a declaration of the feelings that had held her captive. "I wanted to thank you for all that you've done," she began, her eyes locked with his.
"You don't have to thank me. That's what you do for the one you love." he answered.
Y/N looked away.
"I love you, Y/N. If there is one thing that hasn't changed in me, it is my love for you." he said.
This was the moment he had longed for, and he couldn't let it slip away. He reached out, gently cupping her face in his hands, his stormy grey eyes fixed upon hers.
"Everything I did was to protect you. You wouldn't have any idea how hard it was to stay away from you. I've been through hell and back to protect you. That's it for me. You are it for me. I love you. I always have--" Y/N silenced him with a kiss.
A kiss after months of being apart. A kiss that said "I love you" in every way possible. A kiss that said "I belong to you" in every way possible. As their lips met, it was as if time itself had stopped, allowing them to savor this passionate reunion.
The kiss was far from sweet; it was an inferno of emotion, a tempestuous display of love that had endured the trials of fate. Every second of separation had led to this moment, where their lips tasted like salvation and redemption.
Draco held on to her as she was air and he couldn't breathe.
Salazar knows for how long they stayed in each other's embrace. When they finally broke apart, their eyes locked once more, and Draco whispered "Forever. You are mine forever."
"Forever, Draco Malfoy. I am yours forever.โ Y/N answered.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
