'I don't know'.

Harry's eyes snapped up in surprise, finally meeting the gaze he had been avoiding. Draco Malfoy leant stiffly against the tall mantle piece opposite, arms folded defensively across his chest.

'Son, come, look closer' Lucius said, his face bent down close to Harry's swollen one. ' see here, could that be his scar?'.

Harry watched, anxious as Draco shifted over toward him. There was no doubt that Draco would recognise Harry, even with the stinging hex that distorted his face. His hair was, as ever, an unruly Raven mop of curls, his scar, although stretched out on his swollen forehead, was evident, and above all, his eyes. Eyes that looked up at the blonde as he stood over Harry, eyes full of pain and sheer, absolute terror. This was it, Harry thought. Voldemort would be on his way soon, because Draco was going to tell everybody. Tell the snatchers, his parents, that they'd caught Harry Potter, and then it would be over. Over with three horcruxes left. The panic in Harry's chest started to rise up his throat, he couldn't breathe, he was going to -

'I said, I can't be sure' Draco drawled.

Harry blinked hard. Why was Malfoy doing this, he hated Harry. Why not take this opportunity to hand him over to the Dark Lord? Why not finally rid himself of the troublesome Harry Potter who'd always seemingly made his life a living hell?

Now Narcissa spoke up, her voice cold as her husbands. 'Lucius, if we call him, and this is not the boy, then we shall be punished. Severely'.

Greyback growled, forcing Harry with him as he spun to glare at Hermione.

'What about the Mudblood?' He said.

Narcissa turned to Hermione and frowned, then an ugly smirk spread across her pale face. 'Granger. Yes that's her! I've seen her picture in the profit with Potter... Draco?'

Malfoy glanced quickly at Hermione, eyes flashing, with anger, Harry thought, or fear?

'Maybe', he said hoarsely, 'I couldn't be sure'.

Now Harry knew Draco was lying. There was no way he wouldn't recognise Hermione. Sure, her hair was longer, more wild and untamed than before after months of living in forests and her face was gaunt, cheekbones sharper due to lack of a sufficient diet, but it there was no mistaking her for anyone else.

Lucius spoke up now, a nervous excitement barely contained in his voice. ' And here', he said, pointing to Ron, ' is this not the Weasly boy? See the hair? If these are Potters friends then we have almost certainly caught Potter!' Like his wife, he looked pointedly at his son. Harry watched as Malfoy withdrew further into himself, shaking his head, muttering quietly, 'I don't know Father, like I said, I can't be sure'.

Narcissa opened her mouth to speak again, but a loud shriek interrupted her, as Bellatrix Lestrange stalked into the room.

The fear Harry had been feeling swelled as the woman marched toward him, her black eyes mad with hate and excitement and insanity.

'Ha!', She exclaimed, 'but is this not the Mudblood Granger?'

'Yes! Yes!' cried Lucius, ' and beside her we've caught Potter! Harry Potter!'

Bellatrix's eyes widened, darkening to a deathly pitch and stepped back to observe Harry, knelt on the floor before her. Then she yanked back her sleeve and Harry felt as though his heart might give out, as she revealed the snaking black tattoo on her forearm, the dark mark, ready to call her Master.

'Well then', she cackled, 'the Dark lord must be informed!'

Lucius yanked her arm back angrily. 'Bella I shall call him. Potter has been brought to my house, therefore I should -'.

He was cut short as Greyback growled deeply, his claws flexing deeper into Harry's shoulder. Harry groaned into the pain, eyes squeezed tight shut.

'I remind you Lucius, it was me that brought Potter here, I will be claiming the gold-'

Bellatrix cut him of with a cruel, mocking laugh. 'You think I want gold! Stupid, take the gold. I seek honour, I -'.

She froze as Lucius ripped his sleeve back, her eyes suddenly fixed on a point behind her. Her face fell, the flushed excitement draining instantly. 'STOP', she bellowed, 'Lucius, if you call him we will all die, do not summon him now!'.

Everybody in the room froze, startled, as the crazed witch marched toward the snatchers behind Harry.

'What is this?' She whispered, menace resonating in her voice.

'Sword'

'And where', she hissed, ' did you find that sword? Give it to me.'

'I reckon it's mine now miss, found it with em kids -.

Harry heard a bang, saw a flash of red light, then Bellatrix was in front of him again, Gryffindors sword in hand, her face so etched with fury Harry thought she might stab him with it then and there.

'I said where did you get this sword', she said, bearing down on Greyback, forcing him to his knees before her.

'Yeh mad woman' he grunted teeth bared in a snarl, 'let me go immediately'.

'This sword was sent to my personal vaults in Gringotts, so tell me, where did you find this sword!'. Bellatrix's voice has risen to the point of a scream, and Greyback shyed back, suddenly afraid.

'We found it in their tent alright! Release me'.

Without a word, Nellatrix released Greyback from her hold, and strode away from him.

'Draco, get rid of the wolves, immediately.' She ordered.

'Bellatrix' Lucius bellowed, ' in my house do not speak to my son like -'

'This situation is far worse than you can understand Lucius', Bellatrix paused, breathing deeply, eyes darting about the room madly.

'If this is Potter, the Dark Lord will want to know. But first we must, I must... I need to find out'. Her words were dark, and her tone frightened Harry more than anything else had thus far.

'Take these down to the cellar', she said, motioning at the mess of teenagers tied up across the room.

'Bella, you do not give orders in my House', hissed Lucius angrily.

'Do it! Bellatrix shrieked, 'you have no idea the danger we are in'.

Lucius paused uncertainly.

'Greyback, take the prisoners to the dungeon' Narcissa whispered.

'Wait', said Bellatrix sharply, 'all except for the Mudblood'.

Rons eyes widened in horror at this. ' NO!' He bellowed. ' Keep me, leave Hermione, keep-'.

Bellatrix silenced him with a hard slap.

'Don't worry, if she dies under questioning, I'll bring you up next'.

Ron choked, as Greyback forced him up and out of the room, dragging Harry and the other prisoners with him, leaving Hermione alone in the Room with Bellatrix and the Malfoys.

Greyback brought them down to a steep flight of stairs, shoving them down. Harry could fee Ron trembling beside him, could hear Greybacks snarling voice muttering profanities, but all he could think was about the pain that threatened to split his head open at any second. Voldermort was angry. Very angry. He tries to push away the cloudy vision that was playing out in his head, he needed to be here, needed to focus, to save Ron and Hermione and get out of here.

A blood curdling scream from above brought Harry back to his senses.

'HERMIONE' Ron bellowed, 'HERMIONE'. He struggled madly against the ropes binding him, but in vain, so opened his mouth to yell again.

'Shut up Ron' Harry hissed, 'we need to figure out how-'.

'HERMIONE', Ron yelled again.

'Ron!' Harry exclaimed angrily. 'We need a plan, stop yelling. Help me get these ropes off...'

'Harry? Ron?', a soft whisper came from somewhere in the darkness. 'Is that you?'

Harry saw a shadow move slowly toward them. Then suddenly, he recognised that voice, it clicked, 'Luna?', he asked.

'Yes, it's me' Luna called in a soft voice. 'Oh Harry, I didn't want you to be caught! Wait, Mr Ollivander?', she enquired sweetly. 'Mr Ollivander, can you pass me the nail please?'

Ollivander? Harry frowned in confusion. Why was Ollivander down here.

Within seconds Luna was beside Harry again, hands working at the bindings on Harry's wrist with a rusty nail. Harry winced slightly as the nail slipped and sliced his wrist. Above them, there was another shriek from Bellatrix, joined by a sobbing scream from Hermione.

'HERMIONE' Ron bellowed.

'Harry please stay still' Luna pleaded, ' I can't see anything -'.

Ron stopped yelling with a gasp. 'Deluminator', he said, ' - my pocket'.

Moments later, there was a click as Luna found the Deluminator, light filling the small room. Ollivander lay curled weakly in the corner, painfully thin and weak, Luna, beside Harry, was also thin, her eyes ringed with dark circles. Dean and Griphook stood hunched by the opposite wall, squinting into the sudden brightness. Finally able to see, Luna quickly cut the ropes binding the boys hands. Immediately Ron ran for the door, pounding hard with his fists as Hermione's screams continued to resonate through the basement. Harry could hear Bellatrix, could feel her rage.

'CRUCIO', she screamed, 'tell me now, what else did you take from my vault!'

Harry felt Hermione's screams like a physical wound, a dagger forcing its way into his heart. In utter desperation, he reached into the pouch around his neck that Hagrid had made him, looking for something, anything, that could get them out of here and to Hermione. Only the useless snitch, his broken wand and shards of mirror fragments, nothing that could help them. But then suddenly, Harry saw a flash of blue in the shard of mirror he held clutched in his hand. It was Dumbledores eye. Without stopping to question why the dead man would appear in his mirror, Harry cried desperately 'help us, we are in the cellar at Malfoy manor, please'.

As quickly as it had appeared, the eye was gone, and Harry couldn't believe he had really seen it in the first place.

From upstairs that heard Bellatrix scream again. 'How did you get this out of my vault?'

'We didn't, I didn't', Hermione's sobbed, ' it's a copy, it's a copy...'

'Bella' Lucius could be heard saying in his icy drawl, 'let us call the goblin up here. He can tell us whether this sword is a fake'.

Bellatrix clearly agreed to this, because a moment later, Lucius was ordering his son down to the basement to fetch the goblin.

Harry scrambles across the room to the goblin, grasping his shoulders harshly and shaking.'Griphook please, please. You have to tell them it's fake. Say the sword is fake'.

If Bellatrix could be dissuaded from the below that they had broken into her vaults then maybe... But Harry knew once that happened, Voldermort would be on his way. Right now, however, all he wanted was for Hermione to be safe. Everyone tensed as the door to their prison swung open, and Draco entered, his wand extended in front of him. He was pale and nervous, eyes searching the room and coming to rest on Harry. He frowned deeply at the bright light that filled the room, but didn't say anything as his eyes met Harry's. The look in his eyes confused Harry, worry, fear but no anger. Maybe he would-

Suddenly Harry's scar burst in pain. He'd been trying so hard to push it out, but Voldermort was so angry, and Harry was so tired. He fell to his knees with an anguished sob as his knees gave in. He heard Malfoy stride across the room, heard the grumbling of the goblin as he was pulled to his feet. Then he heard a loud crack, that echoed around the room. Forcing his eyes open, Harry was overjoyed to see do by the house elf, standing in the middle of the room, eyes wide.

'Harry Potter sir, you is being hurt!', Dobby exclaimed. 'Dobby is being angry that Mr Potter is in pain sir. And in Mr Malfoys home sir?'. This last part was said as a question, and Harry's eyes followed Dobby's to where Malfiy was standing with Griphook, frozen. Harry's happiness at seeing the elf was quickly stunted as he remembered the blonde standing in the room, remembered that the enemy has just seen their escape route.

'Please..', Harry croaked out hoarsely, not sure what else to say.

Malfoy turned sharply, and marched stiffly out if the room without looking at Harry. Nobody knew what would happen next, would Malfoy let his family know that their old house elf was currently in the basement, aiding the escape of their prisoners? Whatever, Harry knew they had to act fast. It felt as though someone was pushing a red hot spike into his head through his scar, but as Hermione screamed above them again, Harry banished the pain to the back of his mind and focuses on Dobby.

'Dobby, can you apostate people out of here?'

'Of course Dobby can mr Potter!' The elf cried.

'Take Luna and Dean and Olivander with you. Take them to...to -'

'Take them to Bill and Fleurs' Ron exclaimed

Dean rose to his feet quickly. 'No Harry. We can't leave you, we can help you'.

'Dean you need to leave with Dobby. Don't worry about us, Dobby will be right back and we will follow you there', Hardy said,Ron nodding in agreement. Without another word, Dobby scurried over to Ollivabder, grasping the old mans hand in his, extending the other to Dean and Luna. The two reached out to him, and with a loud crack they were gone, leaving Ron and Harry alone in the basement.

A loud shout sounded from the room above and Harry realised they must also heard the sound as Dobby disapparated. He also realised that Malfoy hadn't said anything. Maybe there was a chance the three of them could get out if here alive.

'Ron, we'll have to tackle them', he said, as they heard footsteps on the stairs leading down to them.

Ron gave a small nod, eyes fixed on the door. Moments later it swung open and Wormtail slouched into the room. His expression was one of manic confusion as he regarded the two boys, noticed the absence of three prisoners and all by the light of the strange suns Ron's Deluminator had produced. He opened his mouth to shout at the same time as Ron and Harry pounced. Ron made a grab for his wand, Harry's pressing a hand to his mouth. At the same time, Wormtail's hand shot out, gripping into Harry's throat tightly. Harry gasped and choked, as his windpipe was slowly crushed, white spots appearing in his vision and he found himself fighting hard to stay conscious. 'Wait', he managed to squeeze out 'you owe me Wormtail...your life. I saved you'

With that, Harry felt the hand on his throat slacken its hold as Wormtail's eyes widened. Astonished that Wormtail had done this, Harry managed to wrench himself free of the small, ratty man, gulping deeply at the stale air of the basement, chest burning. Wormtail seemed equally to be in shock, clearly not expecting himself to surrender to the boy. Ron finally managed to wrestle the wand from his grasp, holding it above him triumphantly. Wormtail stood frozen, his eyes wide with terror, transfixed on his hands, and suddenly Harry noticed why. The silver hand, the hand made for him by Voldermort was inching slowly up to his own throat.

'No- ' he cried, but in vain, as the hand found its place on his throat, squeezing tighter and tighter. Voldemorts took us turned against him, as Pettigrew, in a moment of weakness, had faltered in his devotion to the dark lord and let Harry go.

'No!'. Harry, without a thought, yanked hard at the hand on Pettigrew's throat, but there was no use. He was beginning to turn blue.

'Relashio', Ron hissed, pointing the stolen wand at Wormtail, but that wouldn't work against Vildermorts powerful magic either.

'Harry we have to leave him.'

Then Hermione gave another horrible scream, and Harry knew it was time to go. Wormtail's now purple body slipped heavily to the ground and was still. Without hesitation, Harry and Ron made a dash for the door and up the stairs, bursting into the dark corridor leading to the drawing room.

Hermione lay curled at Bellatrix's feet, but the woman had her attention drawn on the small goblin who held the sword.

'And you are certain this isn't real?' She said.

'Yes madam, this sword was not forged by a goblin'.

Satisfied, Bellatrix drew herself up to her full height, sleeve rolled back agin to reveal her dark mark. 'Well then, it is time we summon our Lord', and with that, she pressed her wand to the mark. At once Harry felt his scar split open again, Voldermorts fury and rage rolling through him like jagged knives. Harry knew that they would suffer his wrath if he came to the manor to no retribution, if Harry and his friends escaped...

'I'm done with her Greyback', Bellatrix cackled, 'do what you wish'.

That was it for Ron. Wand outstretched he flung himself into the room.

'NOOOOOOO', he yelled.

In the seconds that followed, nobody moved, unsure how this situation had come to be, unsure what would happen now. Then Ron seized the moment, wand pointed at Bellatrix.

'Expelliarmus', he yelled and Bellatrix's wand flew from her hand. Harry caught it. Chaos ensued. Jets of light flew across the room, Harry dived to avoid a stupefy cursed at him, and then -

'NO BODY MOVE OR SHE DIES', screeched Bellatrix. She had an unconscious Hermione tightly in her grasp, silver knife pressed to her throat.

'That's it. Now drop the wands'

Harry dropped his wand quickly as he saw small beads of red appear at Hermione's throat. Ron dropped his.

'Draco pick up the wands' Bellatrix ordered. 'The dark Lord is on his way'.

Harry knew, he could feel it. His head was bursting with pain. Soon he would be close enough to apparate to them, and after that Harry saw no way out. Draco edged forwards and picked up the wands.

'Tie out little heroes back up again Greyback, and then you may do what you will with the Mudblood. I'm sure the Dark Lord will grant you her after what you have done tonight'.

All of a sudden there was a peculiar grinding noise above them. Harry looked up. Then the chandelier fell. Glass crashed everywhere, burying Hermione under the wreckage. In the midst of it, Harry saw Dobby, beaming at him. They were going to escape.

'Ron, come on' he bellowed, seizing Dobby's hand.

Ron rushed to them, cradling Hermione tightly against him, Harry seized the goblin in front of him, and then Dobby disapparated. The last thing he saw was a flash of silver, Bellatrix's knife, as she threw it with all her might at the escaping prisoners, and Draco Malfoy, as he widely launched himself at them. Then the world turned upside down and they were gone.

Twisting and turning, they flew though darkness, but within a matter of seconds they were out again, landing hard. Harry squinted into the bright white. It was cloudy, the air damp. They were on a broad flat beach, the salty smell filling his nostrils, he could hear the waves lapping gently. Harry pulled himself up gingerly. Every part of him hurt, most especially his head. Giddy happiness filled him. They made it! They were alive! Hermione was safe but - Harry went cold as he spun, heart turning to ice. Dobby was sprawled on the wet sand, eyes huge and afraid, red blood spiller out around him, staining the water. Bellatrix's knife was sticking deep into his small body. Harry heard himself whimper.

'Hermione', he called desperately, 'help him, Hermione please'.

Harry couldn't see as tears began to pour fast from his eyes, but he felt Hermione's hands on him gently.

'I'm sorry Harry', she whispered, her voice hoarse.

And Harry knew, knew there was nothing they could do for the little elf. He stumbled forward, clutching the tiny body to him as gently as he could.

'I'm sorry Dobby', he sobbed.

Dobby smiled easily up at him, his hand coming up slowly to cup Harry's face. 'Harry Potter is safe, Dobby is happy'.

Then his hand fell, his eyes grew vacant and Harry knew he was gone. He tenderly slid a hand over the elfs face, closing his eyes. He looked up and saw Ron and Hermione, watching him sadly, tears in their eyes. And then he saw Draco Malfoy.

When Draco grabbed Harry's hand he hadn't been thinking about what the dark Lord, or his parents for that matter, would do to him. He hadn't thought about what Potter and his friends would say when they arrived only to find Draco with them. He hadn't even thought about why he had felt the need to go with Potter, but he knew that he did need to. That was all he was sure about. When he'd first realised it was Potter in his house, Potter who had been caught, Draco had felt an overwhelmingly unfamiliar urge to protect the boy. To do whatever he could to make sure the look of absolute fear and panic and pain in his eyes was vanished; the dark bruises and cuts that stood harshly against Potters pale skin soothed. The sudden rush of feeling had frightened Draco, but it had also alerted him, fine turned his senses. He knew in that moment he would do all he could to get Potter out of there alive.

And now he was here, on the beach, in god knows where, without the faintest idea what to do next.