Chapter 117: 5-1

Today, at the end of the Christmas holidays, parents and children were reluctant to part in front of the Hogwarts Express. Ginny giggled with Tonks as the Weasley sons were being hugged by their mother, looking embarrassed. Mad-Eye's magical eye darted around, keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings, and Hermione was shaking hands firmly with Professor Lupin.

"Stay strong, Harry. Make sure you protect your sister."

"I will. Uncle Sirius."

After having his messy hair ruffled and receiving an affectionate hug, Harry boarded the train at Ron's call. Sirius's gentle eyes then shifted to me.

"Maria."

"Sirius..."

"Don't make a face like that. Go and enjoy school. With your friends, your studies... and, well, maybe even pull a prank or two."

"That old hag Umbridge won't let that slide."

"Tell her that Sirius Black won't let her slide either."

Sirius, flashing a mischievous boyish grin that would have made Professor McGonagall hold her head in dismay, hugged me just as he had hugged Harry.

"I love you. You are James and Lily's child. And, you are my daughter."

I wrapped my arms around his back in return.

"I love you too. ...Thank you, Uncle Sirius."

I don't want to lose him. Because I've realized just how comforting it is to be held in these arms. That's why—so that I can continue calling you family in the future, I will fight.

Hurried along by the whistle, I boarded the train and waved from the window to the members of the Order alongside Harry and Ginny, who had saved a seat for me. From the window of the prefects' compartment, I could see Ron and Hermione's heads. —There was no blonde. He didn't have anyone on the platform to lean out the window and reluctantly part with.

...Draco.

I clutched the parchment in my pocket tightly. I won't give up. So please—you have to see this through, too.

Although it was cast with a Protective Charm, naturally it would be worn out after five years of use—holding the communication parchment that seemed to show its age in one hand, I peeked into a certain compartment.

"Hello, solitary Prince."

"You seem to be in a splendid mood, brave Princess."

The boy inside had finished his prefect duties and was completely relaxed. He seemed to have grown taller again since I last saw him. ...It's not fair.

"What about Harry?"

"Well, not really. Ginny was more concerned. It seems she's still nervous about being alone with Harry in a compartment."

"Even though they danced together?"

"Isn't it just a matter of numbers? Usually, I'm with them. She'd probably feel more at ease if Luna was there."

"Ah... Loony, the weirdo."

"Stop calling her that. She's our friend, whose name we even gave to our daughter."

"My apologies."

I sat across from Draco, who was as cynical as ever. Once we arrive at Hogwarts, we'll have to keep our distance again. The communication parchment is convenient, but there's a limit to just text. We need to sync our information now while we have the chance. ...Maybe I should buy a two-way mirror, too.

"How are things going? Er... with everything?"

"Well enough."

"So the plan is proceeding smoothly, then?"

When I replied probingly, Draco answered somewhat hesitantly.

"...I'm considering using the Malfoy family's villa."

"A villa. Must be nice, aristocrats don't have to worry at times like these."

"You're in a similar boat, aren't you? The eventual heir to the House of Black."

"Harry is."

As I giggled, our eyes suddenly met, and we stared at each other wordlessly. —As expected, no matter how androgynous he might be, Draco is steadily becoming more of a man. Just as Harry will eventually become "me". And yet—I am still completely a "young girl" through and through.

"Maria?"

"Ah, yeah. The problem is who to make the Secret-Keeper, right?"

I averted my eyes. It's those eyes of his. Those eyes, like ice on the verge of melting. For some reason, ever since that day—the day he blurted out the crazy idea that he likes Harry Potter—I've felt restless whenever I'm caught in the gaze of his grey eyes. ...Only sometimes, though.

"The Secret-Keeper... The only ones who know about this are me, and—you."

"...Sounds like you want to ask me."

Draco nodded lightly, as if resigning himself to it.

"You aren't going to die, right?"

"I don't know about that. —But it might give me a reason not to die."

However he interpreted my words, Draco smiled with satisfaction.

I could surely die for Harry's sake. But—I would never die for yours. After all, you wouldn't die for me either, would you?

"I accept your request regarding that matter. So—how is my 'favor' coming along?"

Draco brought a hand to his chin again and pondered in silence for a moment.

"The purchase is complete. I've decided to rely on Aunt Andromeda for this. After that, it's just a matter of repairing it to a usable state when the timing is right."

"Andromeda... Clever thinking. It's like they say, it's always darkest right under the lighthouse."

Tonks's mother, Narcissa's older sister, and Andromeda Black—a blood traitor by virtue of marrying a Muggle-born wizard. "I", who had worked hand-in-hand with her to raise Teddy, know her character well. ...I can entrust everyone to her.

"In that case, would it be more convenient if I were the 'Secret-Keeper' for that as well?"

"...Can I leave it to you?"

"Of course. I was the one who made the request to you in the first place. It's the logical conclusion. The only thing left is—who will be the Bonder."

At that, Draco smirked knowingly, as if he had been waiting for me to ask.

"...Don't tell me you've already decided?"

"Yes. —Dumbledore."

"────"

I widened my eyes in sheer surprise. ...To think that Draco Malfoy would rely on Dumbledore.

"...You'll have to pay a price. He is a good man, but he is not someone who saves people for nothing."

"I know. I—I don't care what I have to sacrifice for the sake of myself and the ones I love."

It was a resolute gaze. Firmly stating that he would never let go of himself and those he includes in his inner circle, no matter what happens, was so perfectly like him that it actually put me at ease.

"Typical Slytherin."

When I uttered the familiar phrase, Draco returned it with his equally familiar, confident, and cynical smirk.

"By the way, Maria. Give me your hand."

"Huh?"

Unwary of the sudden change in topic, I complied. A small, wrapped box was dropped into my palm.

"The Black house is hidden, after all. I had no choice but to hand it to you in person."

"............"

Could it be. No, there's no doubt about it—is this a Christmas present?

I couldn't help but look up at Draco with a suspicious glare.

"...Are you plotting something again?"

"Who knows."

"Don't 'who knows' me! I learned my lesson from that Yule Ball incident. You really are someone I can't let my guard down around!"

"Because I'm a Slytherin, right?"

I unwrapped the gift in front of the chuckling Draco. A golden music box revealed itself.

"It sings in the voice of a person you like. You should give it a spin."

"No way. It could be Harry, Ron, or Sirius—it wouldn't be surprising no matter whose voice starts singing."

I carefully returned the delicate-looking music box to its small case and looked away. Draco was still laughing as if he was having a fit. What an irritating face.

"...Thank you. But I'm sorry, I don't have anything to give you in return. I wasn't expecting this at all."

"I wasn't expecting anything to begin with. Knowing you, anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

When I glared at him, Draco finally stopped his chuckling. Narrowing his eyes softly, in a relaxed posture, he continued, "How was your Christmas?"

"As you can see, I spent a wonderful holiday struggling hither and thither behind my parents' backs, but—it was your first Christmas where you could spend time with Sirius without any hesitation, wasn't it?"

"I had a thrilling party with Inferi in a cave. It was so intense I nearly drowned by accident."

He gaped. The mask of utter composure peeled right off Draco's face. When he looks like that, he instantly seems so childish. Serves him right.

"You really—can't you just stay out of trouble even for Christmas?"

"It was a golden opportunity. Thanks to that, I even got my hands on a Horcrux. Slytherin's locket."

"Do you have it right now?"

"It's in the trunk I left with Harry. ...I don't want anyone touching it. That thing drives people mad."

I wrapped it in several layers of clothing and shoved it deep inside. I don't want to hand it over to Harry, obviously, nor even to Ron or Hermione. The only kind of person who could hold that thing and remain unscathed is someone rotten to the core, like Umbridge.

"...Call me when you're going to put it away in the Room of Requirement."

"I'll aim for a day when there's no DA meeting. After all, I can't break the seal you put your heart and soul into. —I'm counting on you, partner."

"Smooth talker."

Despite scoffing, Draco still looked proud of himself. Catching a glimpse of that familiar attitude of his, he accidentally looked cute to me—no, I must be tired.

"I hope everything goes well."

"It's a severe operation, though."

The conversation naturally came to an end. Yet, strangely enough, it felt comfortable. There was absolutely no awkwardness. It felt completely natural for him to be there—still, it was a weird feeling. Because you and I are—Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.

"Maria."

Draco's arm reached out, and he stroked my cheek and the corner of my eye. No words followed. Only the clack-clack, clack-clack sound of the train's advancing wheels lingered between us.

I didn't feel the slightest inclination... to brush his hand away.

Why.

Standing before the open trunk, I froze to the core. Why. Why—the locket is gone. I'm certain I put it in here—!

"Harry!"

I barged into the boys' dormitory. Eek! Neville, who was putting away his underpants, let out a girlish shriek.

"M-Maria, at least knock..."

"Harry. Did anyone touch our trunk while we were on the train?"

Harry, whose mouth had been hanging wide open, slowly shook his head from side to side.

"No... What's wrong?"

"...If you don't know, it's fine."

I somehow managed to calm myself down and squeezed out my voice. It was definitely there when we left the Black house. I checked time and time again. Even if I was mistaken and had accidentally left it behind at the Black house, the real thing was supposed to be passed from Sirius to Dumbledore. (I had convinced them that it was meant to be given to Dumbledore in order to bring it out.)

...No, assume the worst. Wishful thinking can ultimately bring about the worst outcome. If there was a window of opportunity to steal the locket from the trunk, it would have been while I was with Draco. And when Harry and Ginny's eyes were turned away—

By the time I returned, Ginny had already moved to another compartment. And Harry says he didn't see anyone suspicious approaching the trunk. In that case, where on earth was the blind spot—?

"...Maria?"

"...It's nothing. Goodnight, Harry."

I pressed a kiss to the forehead of an anxious-looking Harry, whose eyebrows were drooping, and stood up. I'll search the trunk one more time. I must not panic. I should have learned from my long life that nothing good comes from "me" panicking.

"Ah, that's right. Harry."

Looking back, Harry was still staring up at me with a dumbfounded expression.

"Did Sirius give you anything to hold onto?"

"Ah—yeah. He told me to open it after we arrive at Hogwarts."

"You should open it quickly, then. ...It'll make saying goodnight a lot more fun."

I bade goodnight to Ron, Neville, and also to Seamus and Dean, before leaving the boys' dormitory. The common room was completely deserted. The spring term has barely begun and I'm already exhausted.

...It seems I'm going to have to make a troublesome report to Draco right away.