It was approaching midnight. Savannah Falconer marked the page in her aged book and set it aside – she was too nervous to concentrate any longer. Hearing a distant clock tower strike twelve, Savannah climbed down from the four-poster bed she shared with her fiancé, Draco, and slowly walked towards the large window which overlooked the grounds of Malfoy Manor.
She lifted the stiff glass and a pleasant breeze entered the room, making the green curtains dance. It was cloudy outside, but most of the lights on the lower floors of the manor were still on, so Savannah could see the acres of dark green lawn lined with pine trees at the far end. She stood still and let the fresh air fill her lungs. It helped to steady her breathing. An owl hooted loudly and it made Savannah jump backwards. She hated feeling so on edge and uncomfortable in her own skin.
Draco was downstairs in the drawing room with his mother and father, and they were not alone. It was no secret that the Malfoys had pledged their allegiance to the Dark Lord and his wish to purge the wizarding world of muggle-borns and blood traitors. Sixteen years ago, when You-Know-Who was defeated and reduced to nothing more than a creature, Draco's father, Lucius, had avoided a custodial sentence in Azkaban by claiming that he only carried out the Dark Lord's bidding under the influence of the Imperius Curse. The wizarding world remained peaceful after that, safe in the knowledge that the wizard everyone feared most was a human no longer and had fled.
But that peace was over. Lord Voldemort had returned, more powerful than he had ever been before. A second Wizarding War was brewing. He was angry at his Death Eaters for abandoning him when the Aurors came searching; for leaving him to fend for himself in a foreign land while he tried to figure out a way to become human once more. He was back, he was bitter, and he wanted revenge.
Naturally, he came after the Malfoys first. Lucius and his sister-in-law, Bellatrix Lestrange, had been among the Dark Lord's most loyal and trusted followers. They were granted privileges and were honoured with more responsibility than the other Death Eaters. Their commitment was fierce – their betrayal even more so.
The Dark Lord had organised a gathering at Malfoy Manor and all of his former servants were ordered to attend – or else they would face the punishment of death. Knowing that only metres below her, Lord Voldemort, in his new and magnificent body, the most feared wizard in not just the country, but the world, was prowling around the drawing room made Savannah's insides twist.
She was scared for Draco. He was only a mere few weeks old at the time of the last War. But he was a man now. At sixteen years old, he was as good as a fully trained wizard. Capable of inflicting pain with complicated jinxes and curses, with a large group of young, influential peers to follow his lead, and a member of one of the purest wizarding families, he was a perfect candidate to become a Death Eater.
Draco did not want this. His parents did not want it for him, and neither did Savannah – but they all knew they would not have a say. No one questioned Lord Voldemort. He was a master manipulator, cunning, sly and willing to stop at nothing to get what he wanted. And he wanted Draco.
Savannah heard the scraping of chairs coming from below, along with several footsteps and the creak of a door – the meeting had adjourned. Savannah's heart beat even faster now – she was petrified to hear Draco's report about the Dark Lord's plans for him.
Someone was running up the stairs. Savannah quickly closed the window and turned to see her distraught fiancé enter the bedroom.
"Draco…" she started.
Before she could say any more, Draco slammed the door closed behind him and cast a silencing charm to protect him and Savannah from being overheard by any Death Eaters that may still be lingering. His wand shook in his hand as he performed the spell. He was dressed in his smartest black suit, his blonde hair swept to the side. He was sickly pale. It looked as though he had been fighting the urge to cry for the past several hours, as his eyes were red and watering.
He rushed towards Savannah and took her in his arms. He allowed himself to cry now that he was in the safety of his fiancée's presence. Savannah shushed Draco and rubbed his back gently as his body shook vigorously.
"Tell me what happened, Draco," she said softly.
Draco broke away from the embrace and placed his hands firmly on Savannah's shoulders, tears falling freely down his face. Draco's urgency caused Savannah to panic, but she knew she had to be strong for him.
"We have to go," he whispered, his wide grey eyes making direct contact with Savannah's brown ones.
"Go?" she whispered back.
Another creak and the sound of mumbling came from downstairs. Draco gasped and immediately snapped his head towards the closed oak door that was still sealed with the silencing charm. Savannah gulped. She knew nothing fortunate would come out of the meeting with the Dark Lord, but Draco's behaviour was frightening.
"It's okay, Draco," she reassured him, gently placing a soft hand on his damp cheek. He turned to face his wife to be again. "What do you mean? Why do we have to go?"
Draco shook his head with frustration. He looked as though he was formulating a plan inside his head but kept discarding ideas and becoming increasingly anxious.
"He wants me," he started. "He wants me to… to…"
Draco was still paranoid about the noise coming from the lower floors.
"To do what, Draco?"
"He wants me to kill Dumbledore," he breathed after a few moments of excruciating silence.
Savannah's eyes widened with disbelief. Albus Dumbledore, headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the only man Lord Voldemort had ever feared.
"What?!" she spluttered. "But you can't, you…"
Draco shook his head again.
"I know…" he continued. "He wants me… he wants me to come to Knockturn Alley next week, so that..."
Another wave of salty tears spilled out of Draco's eyes.
"So that you can get the Dark Mark imprinted on your skin." Savannah concluded.
Draco nodded and took a deep breath. "But it's okay, we're… we're going to get away…"
Draco released his grip on Savannah and rushed over to his large wardrobe. He quickly started pulling out t-shirts, jeans and jumpers and threw them onto his bed.
"Choose what you want to take," he said distractedly, now reaching for a moderately sized black leather bag. He placed it on the bed beside the clothes, muttered an incantation which Savannah recognised as an undetectable extension charm, and began stuffing the items inside it.
This was very out of character for Draco. He was normally extremely particular about things. He needed everything to be just 'so', well organised and neatly arranged. Savannah had never seen him as flustered.
"Come on!" he urged. "We're leaving first thing tomorrow."
"Draco, I…"
"Please, Savannah," he paused his task and looked desperately at his future wife. "You don't understand…" he whispered. "If I don't do this, he'll…"
Savannah raised her eyebrows worriedly.
"He'll kill me and then he'll kill you. Please, Savannah," he repeated. "We have to go."
Savannah took a deep breath and nodded confidently. Draco was right – they had to leave, and quickly. She too rushed over to the wardrobe she shared with her fiancé and hurriedly selected the clothes she wanted to pack. Draco took them from her and put them in the bag.
They both gathered shoes – a pair of Wellingtons, a pair of walking boots, and a pair of trainers each, and added them to the bag that seemed to stretch for miles.
"Broomstick, broomstick…" Draco muttered, retrieving his Air Wave Gold from the corner of his bedroom. Savannah couldn't believe her eyes when he dropped it inside the leather bag with no difficulty at all.
"Go and get your washbag, love," Draco instructed Savannah.
She opened the door to Draco's luxury ensuite bathroom and collected toiletries for both her and Draco from the shelves and cabinets. She also gathered underwear and pyjamas for the two of them. Once she had retrieved them, she placed them alongside the clothes, shoes and broomstick in the bag.
Draco was fiddling with the dial on a large silver safe that was built into the opposite wall. With a few clicks, the door opened, and Draco pulled out several large velvet pouches, full to the brims with shining Galleons.
"Merlin's beard, Draco," gasped Savannah in awe.
"I told you I'd always look after you, darling," Draco gave a little smile, wiped away his remaining tears and handed the pouches over to Savannah, which she added to their belongings.
"Blankets," Savannah said, crawling under the four-poster to retrieve two neatly folded tartan throws.
"Pillows, as well," Draco collected several cushions from on top of his bed and inserted them into the ever-extending luggage bag.
"Is that everything?" he asked, scanning the room for anything they may have missed.
Savannah nodded as she secured the zip around the bag. Draco placed it beside the door, ready to pick up in the morning.
The two of them changed into night clothes. Draco didn't usually wear anything to bed. Savannah realised he must have wanted some physical protection since he was feeling so vulnerable and afraid tonight.
They climbed into the king-sized bed together. Draco turned the lamp off and they were consumed in sudden darkness. He held his arm out, so Savannah had room to cuddle in beside him and rest her head on his shoulder. He held onto her protectively, stroking her wavy dark locks. He placed a kiss on Savannah's forehead as she rested her hand over Draco's heart, comforted by the rise and fall of his chest, even if it was still very rapid.
"I'm so sorry, Savannah," said Draco. "I never wanted any of this to happen to you. I knew he would come after me but I didn't think he would threaten you as well. If you want to stop this…"
"No, Draco," Savannah firmly interrupted him. "I'm not abandoning you. We're in this together. Don't you dare apologise."
She looked up at her fiancé and they swapped reassuring smiles.
"Good," whispered Draco. "Because… I don't know what I would do without you."
Savannah placed a tender kiss on her fiance's trembling lips and Draco's muscles began to relax.
"I love you, Draco," she said seriously, gently running her fingers through his short blond hair.
"I love you too, my angel," Draco whispered, his lips meeting those of his wife to be again.