Granger screamed. I almost dropped my wand with a jolt of surprise. I had thought I was going to enjoy the downfall of the Golden Trio, but instead I watched in horror and humiliation as Bellatrix pinned the Gryffindor down and dug the knife in her arm, engraving 'mudblood' as hard as she could. Her cackles were almost as loud as Granger's shrieks of pain, I knew Bellatrix was enjoying herself. Memories floated to mind like disembodied spirits. How many times had I, myself, called her that very name?
From a distance, I could hear a different kind of screaming. Enraged shouts, and a string of acidic profanities. Weasley. Shut up you idiot, you're making things worse for her! But... why did I care? I mean, I didn't care.
My mother's hand made its way to my shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. My father looked at the expression on my face with disgust. They flanked me like closing walls. The claustrophobia resurrected beads of sweat on my forehead.
"It'll be okay Draco," Mother whispered. She looked extremely composed, but only I was standing close enough to detect the fine tremor that had encompassed her body. I'm only doing this to protect my mother. I'm only doing this to protect my mother. I'm only doing this to protect my mother. I'm only doing this to protect-
"How did you get into my vault!" Bellatrix screeched. I flinched hard as she slapped Granger's face with a force that would put anybody to shame. "Where did you get the key?" She may have been angry, but I knew her well enough to sense she was also afraid. She didn't know how to explain the break-in at her vault to the Dark Lord. She didn't know exactly how many things had gone missing, and what had been seen. I knew exactly what kind of things she kept in there and shuddered.
"I don't know!" Granger sobbed hysterically, "I swear!"
I loosened the tie around my neck, my heart hammering uncontrollably. Keep it together, Draco. I punched down all the emotions that her distress was causing. Fear, rage, shame… guilt.
"LIAR!" bellowed Bellatrix, a second blow landed on her face, harder than the first. Weasley and Potter responded to her scream from somewhere deep in the dungeon with their own brand of fear. I wiped my clammy palms on my thighs as discreetly as I could, and took a few calming breathes.
"HERMIONE!"
"Father," I said softly. He stood to my right, his back rigid allowing him to hold his head up high with the desperate illusion of pride even though his dignity had died long ago. "She doesn't know."
"Shut your mouth, boy. Before somebody hears you and has us handed over to the Dark Lord," he hissed quietly.
"I just..."
"No, Draco. She's just a mudblood. Even if she didn't know, we'd be doing the world a favour by ridding it of her presence," he sneered.
I looked away because of course she bloody knew. And I knew that she knew. I also knew the disfigured man brought in was Potter. But at the moment we were all in the same predicament. Potter, Weasley, Granger and I. Fighting in a war that was never ours to fight.
"Tell me the truth, Mudblood! How did you get in?" The rage in her voice was beginning to betray her panic. I looked around the room, anywhere but at Bellatrix and Granger.
"I can't—breath…" Granger gasped under Bellatrix's hold. My hands twitched for my wand. But no. NO. What was I thinking?
...What would they have done if it had been me? They would do the noble thing, I thought bitterly. What did that make me?
"Draco... Something the matter?" My father grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. I yanked myself away, and my gaze collided with Granger's. She stared at me with accusation, her eyes pooled with tears. I could feel my face burning under her scrutiny, and for once she made me feel utterly ashamed and broken. I quailed under her heavy, pained gaze, and felt in my pocket for my wand-
"That sword…" Bellatrix said in a deadly calm voice, "Is supposed to be at my vault in Gringotts. How did you get it? What else did you and your friends TAKE FROM MY VAULT?"
"We didn't take anything!" Granger cried, "Please! I didn't take anything-"
Bellatrix raised her wand like a battle axe. "CRUCI-"
"Expelliarmus!" The words flew out of my mouth before I was fully aware of what I was doing.
Bellatrix's wand clattered to the floor and an obsidian silence fell over the manor like heavy snowfall.