Chapter Two

It wasn't difficult to realize those high-pitched screams came from Mrs. Woods, who lived right across the street.

She was a stout lady with a temper shorter than herself.

If there was one thing she hated more than teenagers, it was excessively loud sounds. From what I gathered, after living across from her for three full years, she hated when she couldn't get her way. Whenever something upset her tremendously, her voice would increase its volume until it resembled a banshee-like scream.

Once, I watched with interest as a group of skateboarders rolled down the street. Their wheels created loud noises against the bumpy road, but they seemed to have fun all the same. I had smiled at their antics because they reminded me of my classmates and friends at Hogwarts.

Mrs. Woods had emerged from her house like a maniac that day, screaming for the "vandals and troublemakers" to leave her street alone. To call her dramatic would be an understatement.

This time, the terror in her voice seemed genuine. Not as shrill, and filled with absolute fear.

As if her voice was a magnet, I found myself walking towards my window once again. Under the moonlight, the sullen colours outside made me shiver for warmth. Standing by her doorway, the woman shook with a hand over her mouth. The dread built in my gut as I followed her line of sight.

Lying on the road was an immobile figure in black robes.

Thankfully, my adoptive parents had left for vacation in Hawaii and wouldn't return until tomorrow. The Williams was of the panicking kind. I had an inkling that they would try to move to America or Asia if they witnessed what had happened today.

I studied the figure carefully with my heart pounding against my ribcage. Earlier, I had assumed the Death Eaters were torturing some poor muggle or muggleborn. I was more than surprised to notice a familiar mask on the person's face.

For some reason, Death Eaters had turned on one of their own. From my window, I was able to notice dark puddles on the concrete, growing steadily underneath the figure.

Blood.

In her hands, Mrs. Woods held a dark-red phone. The curly telephone wire connected to a source inside her home, straining from the pull that she exerted. Her hands shook as she spoke through the phone frantically, likely talking to emergency services. Eventually, she began to calm down to a less-hysterical state.

I watched with bated breath as she headed inside, closing the door behind her.

Then there was dead silence.

While I waited for the crew of emergency vehicles to arrive, a persuasive sense of curiosity grew inside of me. After being cut off from the magical world for so long, I felt an itching need to peek past the Death Eater's mask. The person's voice felt slightly familiar. Someone I knew in the past.

I knew, at that moment, that I would forever regret not knowing who it was.

Before I could fully process my thoughts, I had already hurried down the stairs into the living room. I shoved on a pair of sneakers and sprinted out the door.

Just a glance. I promised myself quickly. Just a glance, then I'll leave.

The rush of cold air danced across the surface of my skin. Although my polar bear pyjamas were cozy, they held no protection against the slight, icy breeze. My shuddered breaths created puffs of white in the crisp air as I stalked toward the motionless body.

The scene was more terrifying up close.

The first thing I noticed was the blood. Scarlet red had been smeared across the white mask, seeping into the intricate designs. The darkening stain of red on the concrete was a lot larger, compared to the view from my window.

With trembling fingers, I reached underneath the dark hood, searching for the edge of the mask. I could feel the person's faint breath on my icy-cold hands, but I wasn't sure if I should be relieved.

Please be unconscious. Please don't kill me.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale... I pulled the mask off with a jerk.

Pale skin and icy blond hair.

The sight of his unconscious and nearly dead state sent a nauseating feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. If it was Crabbe or Goyle, I might have been inclined to forget all that had happened tonight. Not many individuals would be worth leaving my cover for. But leaving Draco felt immensely wrong.

Once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin. And we didn't let debts go unpaid.

When I had nowhere to go in the holidays, the Malfoys had steadily accepted me as an extension of their family. When I felt isolated during the summer, their invites to pureblood events were an escape from reality. As the last 'redeemable' child in the broken Black family tree, they made sure I was accepted amongst the Slytherins. Accepted amongst their society.

To see him pale to the point of translucence, I was at a loss for words.

If Mrs. Woods exaggerated her story to the police, Draco would spend nights handcuffed to his hospital bed. Without a wand or anyone to look after him, I didn't want to imagine what the muggles would do. Knowing the common thought process of muggles, they'd very likely end up sending him to a mental hospital.

My legs seemed to have a mind of their own. Before I could fully process the situation, I had already begun to head back inside the house. Instead of trudging back upstairs, I found myself reaching for the car keys that hung on the wall.

Although my mind was flustered with a jumble of disjointed thoughts, I settled for the idea of bringing Draco to the second-closest hospital. A fake name would prevent the Death Eaters from finding him easily, which would hopefully give him enough time to recover.

I maneuvered my arm around his torso, trying not to gag at the warm and sticky consistency on his robes. Steadily, with my fingers tight around his ribcage, I lifted the prat off of the ground. Despite his bony figure, he was a lot heavier than expected. But the trip to the car was quick.

In fear of him flopping around in the backseat, I placed him in shotgun with the seat leaned back. And a seatbelt, just in case.

At the back of my mind, I was well aware that the police and Death Eaters would be on their way now. Without a wand for protection and my rusty magical abilities, we couldn't risk any form of confrontation. After getting used to the muggle world, I hadn't found much use for my wand. It was hidden in my sock drawer, having been unused for months.

Even if I did have the means to protect both of us, Draco's blood loss was worrying. He had a sickly grey complexion, which did not seem normal. I had to get to the hospital quickly either way.

I didn't notice the eerie quiet until I plopped down in the driver's seat. Stars scattered the sky, rigid in their respective positions. Trees were deadly still, creating frozen shadows on the road. Even the slight breeze had suddenly paused, leaving the air cold and stale.

It was the calm before the storm, I realized, suddenly nervous about what's to come.

Even though I definitely needed more practice driving, I was decent enough at steering. I quickly reversed out of the driveway.

And so, with a gut feeling that this was a horrible, horrible decision, I sped out of the street with my heart in my throat, knocking over a few trash cans along the way.

Hospital, then I'll come right back. I told myself firmly. Then you can continue your cover until the Order returns.

With the Williams returning from their vacation tomorrow, I had to place the car back in the driveway before morning. They specifically told me that I could drive after I got my driver's license. Which I didn't have.

My head spun at the turn of events.

If this was the calm before the storm, I didn't want to discover what else the Wizarding World was planning to throw my way.

I'm rewriting the chapters following this. The third chapter will be finished soon so I'll publish that as quickly as I can. 

Published Date: 10/27/2017

edited: 05/28/2018
edited: 07/23/2020
rewritten: 07/24/2021