~Chapter 11: He is mad~

                                    

                                          
Pansy-
                          
The Vanishing Cabinet is still broken, even though Malfoy and I spent hours on it each night, the green apple is still in the cabinet. 
                          
Draco and I became more paranoid day after day, eating close to nothing. My clothing became even looser each day, but I can't even be happy about that because of how the task is going. What is the use of being skinny when the Dark Lord's threats loom after Draco and I each day? Blaise, Daphne, Nott all noticed the change in Draco and I, but they didn't say anything because there's nothing left to say; they just try to make us feel a bit happier each day. The upside in all of this is arithmancy and I get to spend some time with Granger. Granger doesn't know what Draco and I are up to, and surprisingly she didn't ask, instead, she writes little notes with messages like "hope you have a good day", "tomorrow is going to be better", "carpe diem"; these notes don't make my worries go away, but they always bring a smile to my face. It is those little things that get me through each day.
                          
Draco and I even told Madam Rosmerta to poison the mead and give it to Slughorn, and have Slughorn to give it to Dumbledore. As you can guess, this plan failed tragically, instead Draco and I manage to poison Ronald Weasley. I know this plan is too foolish to work, but we are running out of time. We are getting too desperate.
                          
It is two o'clock in the morning, the day of Christmas break, and Draco and I are in the Room of Requirement again trying to make the green apple disappear. We are getting more anxious by the minute because we know when we return to our houses for the holiday, the Dark Lord will check in to see what progress we are making...punish us if necessary.
                          
"I am scared," Draco suddenly says, "bloody scared."
                          
Me too. I am not going to admit that. Parkinsons don't show panic.
                          
I open the cabinet door again, and I take out the apple for the millionth time. Wait.
                          
"Draco!" I exclaim excitedly, "Borgin must have bitten this apple, look!" I show the side of the apple where a bite of it was clearly been bitten off.
                          
"Finally!" Draco says, standing up, "we are so close, now all we have to do is to get this result every single time..." his voice trails off.
                          
"We still have a lot of work to do," I conclude," but some progress can still be appreciated."
                          
I put my hand on Draco's shoulder and we will accept our verdict...whether it is good or bad.
                          
                                                -----At Malfoy Manor-----
                          
I sit down next to Draco during the Death Eater meeting, my hands sweating. I know the Dark Lord will be expecting much more progress than we've made. I know we will be punished, punished but not killed. 
                          
Mother look over at me, her face betraying no visible emotion, but before we arrived at Malfoy Manor she had hugged me and she said every comforting thing in that long hug. She said no matter what happens I will still be her daughter...even if I am not perfect. 
                          
But I WILL be perfect. 
                          
I am finally skinny to the point that Mother actually forces me to eat when I first came back to Parkinson Mansion, and I did obey Mother, but I secretly threw up the food in my bathroom right after. I can't stomach the food.
                          
"Ah. Welcome my followers," the Dark Lord finally arrives, "I wish all of you come bearing good news for me this evening."
                          
One by one the Death Eaters gave reports on their tasks. The ones who did good got nods of satisfaction from the Dark Lord. The ones who fail to meet his expectations either suffered from the Cruciatus Curse or bites from Nagini, the Dark Lord's beloved snake.