A/N: A disclaimer: This is written for fun, not profit. I do not own anything except the plot.
Draco looked at the bizarre scene before him. There Potter stood, his face all blown up, his features distorted, accompanied by Weasel and Granger.
His parents looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to confirm that yes, indeed they had caught Potter.
He recognized him, of course he did. Ever since he had refused to shake his hand in their first year, Draco had felt a tremendous resentment, and though he would never admit it, a certain fascination for the guy. He would recognize him anywhere, in any disguise.
He knew that if only he confirmed, his father and aunt would rise back in the Dark Lord's favor. His father would no longer look broken, and his mother wouldn't have to put up a strong front for her husband, despite the fact that Draco heard her cry at nights quite often and knew she was anything but strong.
But for some reason, all he could think about was the frail little girl lying in the cellar downstairs. The girl who had been broken so many times, and by his family no less, but still managed to remain hopeful and even treat him as if they were friends. As if he wasn't her captor.
He knew she wanted him to save her. She would never say so herself, but he could see it in her eyes. And it would be so easy too. All he had to do was simply forget to place the locking enchantments on the door one night after bringing her dinner. And she would be free.
But he never did. He was too much of a coward for that. And every night, as he lay awake in bed, he couldn't help but think if their roles were switched, Potter would save her. Bloody Potter always had to be the bloody hero of the day. Not Draco. He was no knight in shining armor. He wouldn't dare swoop in and take her away.
But Potter would, Draco suddenly realized. If he had a chance, he would definitely save Luna.
And Draco was going to give him that chance.
He wouldn't be able to lie about Granger and Weasley, even his parents could recognize them any moment now. But Potter, with his swollen face…. He could easily lie about that.
So when they asked him whether it was Potter or not, his voice was determined: "I don't know."
And no matter how many times they asked, he stubbornly stuck to his answer. It wasn't much, but it was enough to stall them at least a little bit.
He was right. Once again, Potter did not disappoint.
As Potter escaped with the captives and chaos raged all around him, he couldn't help but smile just a little.
He may not have been able to save her like Potter would, playing the hero with no regard to his own safety was a Gryffindor thing. Slytherins, on the other hand, were loyal without risking their own neck.
He had saved her like a true Slytherin.
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