“Draco?” called Bella, but I ignored her.

I didn’t feel like explaining myself to her. I also didn’t want Crabbe and Goyle to be caught out of class when I could be caught as well. The package that I had ordered from Borgin And Burke’s had arrived at the store, so I had to sneak out to get it during business hours. This proved to be harder than I thought it would be. I didn’t know the castle like I thought I did, so how was I supposed to get off the grounds without being detected so that way I could apperate to Knockturn alley?

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Draco?” asked Goyle in his girl form.

I hated having to make them take polyjuice potion, but I didn’t want anyone to start suspecting them if I ever got caught. Instead, two girls who don’t even attend Hogwarts would be in question. Mother sent me their hair as a peace offering when I told her what I needed to complete my mission. I do admit that even though mum got on my nerves quite a bit, she was always there for me. That’s what I loved most about her. I could say or do anything to her and she’ll still support me as if I’m a perfect angel, even though I know I’m far from it.

I sneered at him, not wanting to show that I, in fact, had no idea what I was doing. “Of course I do, Goyle. Don’t you ever question it again.”

“It just seems like you’re looking for a way out other than the obvious. I can tell you where that is,” he said, his voice not sounding quite right coming out of a girl’s mouth.

“Then tell me, you oaf!” I snapped.

He cleared his throat. “Third floor. You remember that statue of the old hunchback witch?” He continued when I nodded. “It’s hunchback opens up and takes you into Hogsmeade.”

“Brillant,” I said with no feeling. “We’ll do that then. Follow me!”

The tunnel from the statue was awfully dark and damp, something I didn’t much care for, but what else was I supposed to do? We came up in a basement full of sweets and candy. Honeyduke’s. A smile spread across my face. Perhaps I should pick something for Hanna was my first thought. I then lost it. I can’t buy her anything or she might be onto me about my mission. I just couldn’t tell her that. I don’t know what I would do if she ever found out that I was a deatheater. It would just break her innocent, fragile heart.

“Alright, you nimrods think you can handle going to Knockturn Alley as yourselves and not some stupid girls?” I asked, smirking at how the polyjuice potion was already wearing off. Damn, I really needed to learn how to make the batch last longer.

They nodded, and I apperated with them at my sides. When I opened my eyes, I was pleased to see that I had apperated right outside of Borgin’s and Burke’s. The bell on the door rang as I opened it with a single touch. Borgin, who was behind the counter, grinned a toothless smile at me when he saw me approaching. I managed a small smile as well. The truth was I was trying not to vomit from the disgusting sight of him. His partner, Burke, was not nearly was repulsive as Borgin was. I would rather make deals with him any day. Too bad he had that day off.

“Pleased to see you, Mr. Malfoy,” he said. “I presume that you are here to pick up you package?”

I nodded. I couldn’t bring myself to speak for some odd reason. Everything just seemed wrong to me. I was just picking up a part for the cabinet, nothing that sinister. He came back with the package wrapped in brown paper. I took it and gave him the money that was due for it. I turned to leave and saw an opal necklace. It had a sort of gleam to it. One that I was pretty sure was evil. With a gulp, I exited with Crabbe and Goyle at my sides and apperated back to Honeyduke’s, where we entered the tunnel once more to return to Hogwarts.

“Malfoy!” snapped Snape, who seemed to be waiting outside the secret passageway. “What do you think you’re doing? Come with me now!”

I shook my head. “Why should I? I need to put this away first, Professor.”

I hated playing the part that I had the upper hand here, especially when it came to Snape, but I had to do everything that I could. This mission was everything. It determined whether my mother lived or died. And if he found out about Hanna, then her life could hang in the balance as well.

“I need to talk to you about some other matters as well, Draco,” he said, trying to get in my way. “Don’t be foolish, Draco. Come talk to me. You really need to.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure, Snape. Crabbe, Goyle. Let’s go.”I gestured for them to follow, and they did.

“You’re not protecting her, you know. Her life hangs in the balance whether he knows about her or not. Just by living this secret life, anyone could find out about her or you.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. How did he know? Well, I guess we weren’t exactly hiding anything from the school, which could’ve been hazardous. He was right. This was not protecting her. I was just endangering her. I turned to face Crabbe and Goyle.

“You two numbskulls can return back to the common room. Snape and I need to have a little chat,” I smirked as they totted off.

“I see that you do have a heart after all, Draco,” Snape smiled. “It’s nice to see you for who you truly are and not what your father made you to be. I was beginning to wonder if he had actually succeeded in it as well. She’s good for you; Hanna that is.”

“But I’m not good for her,” I said, looking down at my shoes.

There was a moment of silence before anyone spoke. I just couldn’t talk without crying, and a Malfoy never cries, not in front of people that is. Snape was looking at me like he had never done before, like he had gone through this before, like he had been in love before.

“It’s good to see that you know what can become of others because of your actions. Don’t be stupid and take that for granted. The Dark Lord can find out the deepest, darkest desires of your heart and use them to his advantage. It’s best that you don’t become too attached to this girl. Don’t let her pull on your heart strings. That’s the only way he can find out about her.”

I looked up at him. “You mean, if I fall in love with her.”

He was silent for a moment. “You’ve already fallen, haven’t you?”

I just looked back down at my shoes and kicked the concrete. I’ve more than fallen. I’m head over heels in love with her, and I hoped that simple fact wouldn’t change. No matter what happens, whether it is rain, snow, sleet, war, fire, or the Dark Lord himself. Nothing will ever change. My heart is hers forever.

“Look, Draco. You better cut yourself off from her, if you don’t want to hurt her. That way you have a good chance at getting over her. You understand me, Draco?”

I looked up at him, tears shining in my eyes. “I understand, but Snape, it’s just not that easy. I’m positive that I will never get over her. She’s my everything.”

“Just after a month of dating and you’re positive that you’re in love?” what he pointed out did seem questionable, but it was the truth.

I sighed. “You don’t understand, Snape.”

He shook his head. “That’s what you think. I’ve been in love as well, and I believe that it can happen in a month. Trust me, the first time I laid my eyes on her, and I was in love. I believe you, Draco. I do. I was just testing you.”

“Well, I recommend that you don’t ever test me again if you know what’s good for you. I know what I’m doing, what I have to do. You don’t have to clarify it because it’s pretty clear to me what I must do,” I said before turning.

“Dinner is still going on in the Great Hall, if you’re hungry that is,” he merely suggested before disappearing around the corner.

I decided not to go to dinner, but to the dungeons instead. I could clear my head with no one in the common room. Everyone will be in the Hall, enjoying the feast that has been laid out for them, enjoying one another’s company, not even realizing that one of their fellow peers is mission, is being torn apart because of a certain dark wizard.

“Draco?”

I smiled when I heard her, when I saw her. She was leaning up against the wall outside the Slytherin common room. She smiled as well, but there was worry etched onto her face. It hurt to see that she was worried, and I’m guessing about me since she was waiting for me.

“Hanna,” I said, pulling her to me and pushing my head into her neck. “I love you,” I murmured into her skin, which tasted like honey. Ha, honey. Just like her last name.

“What was that?” she asked, pulling away, but still holding onto me.

I looked into her beautiful eyes and smiled, really smiled through the tears that were starting to dry up. “I love you, Hanna Honeyyeager.”