I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good - Private message to Harry and Hermione

[alt_draco]

So. By my count I have less than a week to prepare myself to face Father and Mother as a new, twice-made traitor. Granted, it isn't the first time I'll be lying to their faces, but it's never been about something quite so big as this.

How strange to think that in one fell swoop I could tell them everything I know and bring MLE down on everyone.

And now I know that Father's "star seems to be falling." Of course, I can't ask about that without them wondering how I even know that in the first place. I already know what answer they'll give me, anyway.

Tell me then, what are you two most looking forward to when you get back to Buckingham? Aside from the fabulous parties, of course.

Comments

[alt_hermione]

You're not going to, are you? Tell them anything?

You could probably find other places to be loads of the time. If you told them you're with Harry and Harry tells Mr Broome that he's with you, no one would look for you.

[alt_draco]

No, I'm not going to tell. Have I ever?

Though I won't lie - I did briefly ponder whether it would save my Father's standing with the Lord Protector. But then I realised that even if it did, it would very likely only be temporary. And it would hurt too many others. Like I need anything else on my conscience.

True. Where would we go, though?

[alt_harry]

We could go to Grimmauld. To train.

I bet by the end of the summer you could give Sirius Black a good run for his money.

[alt_draco]

I suppose, though I'd rather train with Raz to be honest. If he's not busy making babies or something.

[alt_hermione]

He's not going to train you all the time, though. You could switch off, if you don't think that would be too confusing.

[alt_draco]

Why would it be confusing?

Maybe because I don't enjoy the idea of being in the company of people who I know hate my family, and mostly likely don't trust me?

[alt_hermione]

Well, because Professor Lestrange will be training you in different spells and different duelling styles to the Order's people. I mean, the Longbottoms and Mr Shacklebolt were Aurors and Sirius and Mr Lupin all trained under Mr Moody and Professor Dumbledore, so if you work with them and then go back to Professor Lestrange, wouldn't he notice that you're doing things differently or that the things you'd just worked on with him aren't any different at all?

As for not trusting you, they don't know you. But Sirius knows that you've known all sorts of things about him for a long time and haven't said anything, so there's that.

Besides, if your only example of your family were your aunt and your great-aunt Walburga, would you have a good picture of them?

[alt_draco]

If you think that's something I have to worry about, then Harry has to worry about it, too. Maybe all of us do, seeing as he's our Defense professor.

I don't much care if they don't like Auntie Bellatrix and Auntie Walburga, surely you know that. I mean my parents. And yes, I know they have their reasons. That doesn't make it any less awkward, odd, unpleasant and, yes, now that you mention it, confusing.

[alt_hermione]

I think we ought to consider it as a possibility, yes. Sally-Anne thought that Professor Dolohov recognised some of you because of your duelling, after all. People do develop distinctive spells and styles.

And to be fair, your parents think just as ill of most of the Order, and less of people like me, but you're right. It's got to be difficult.

Do you really think your father's still in trouble? I mean, he's been punished by the Lord Protector before, hasn't he? If he didn't have anything to do with Director Selwyn, why would he be?

Are you.... Are you thinking maybe you could convince him to run? To France?

[alt_draco]

I don't know if he's in trouble, still. Maybe I'll be able to tell when I'm at home. I'll certainly be watching for any clues about what's going on.

I don't know how I can convince him of anything without revealing that I know more than he thinks I know. I think he should flee to France, as it so happens. He and Mother both. Funny that you knew I was thinking that.

[alt_hermione]

Well, I think it's the only way, really. Only I think the person to convince is your mother, and then she'll convince your father and you won't have to do.

But it's not hard to figure out, he's been so involved in everything it's hard to imagine him not going to Azkaban or worse if anything should happen. I was thinking about why you decided to join when you were so set against it before, and I got to thinking that maybe Professor Dumbledore promised he could help make sure nothing bad happened to them. Or at least to your mother; like I said, I don't know if people would forgive your father. But if they left the country and went somewhere to live quietly.... Only I'm not sure France is far enough. But then your aunt and your other grandmother are there, so it makes sense.

Sorry. Just thinking out loud. You should try to sleep, it's really, really late.

[alt_draco]

Well I'll be sure to sleep wonderfully now, thanks ever so much.

But you might be right, about convincing Mother. Something to think about, at least.

[alt_harry]

I am looking forward to spending as little time as possible there, and hopefully not having to be in the same room as snake-face.

[alt_draco]

Yeah, I'd steer clear of that face. It might be catching.