Chapter 1: Chapter 1-Malfoy Manor

Chapter Text

A/N: This is my take on the second half of DH. The scene is Malfoy Manor, after Harry and Ron were thrown into the dungeon. From here on in, it is definitely not DH compliant! Oh, and Luna, Dean, Ollivander, Dobby and Griphook are OUT of the story at this point-how could she kill off Dobby, for God's sake?! I refuse to partake in that madness-because I can't do plot with so many bloody characters!

Thanks as usual to my gorgeous beta, Naesy.

Chapter 1: Malfoy Manor

"Hermione! Hermione!" Ron pounded on the dungeon door furiously, then skirted the edges of the room, frantically searching for an escape route. An agonising scream from above made him redouble his efforts and he scrambled back to the door to wrestle furiously with the knob. Harry and Ron had been thrown down there while Bellatrix questioned Hermione about the goblin-made sword. Her screams, which were now echoing almost continuously throughout the Manor, indicated that Bellatrix was in fine form.

"Ron, be quiet! Screaming isn't going to help her!" Harry grabbed Ron by the wrist and wrenched him away from the door. "We've got to think of a plan before someone comes back down here." Ron was panting from his effort and doubled over trying to catch his breath. Harry held up the lit Deluminator to get a better look at the ceiling of the dungeon, but couldn't see any evidence of a trap door. "There's no way out! Nothing." He looked around fearfully.

"We'll just have to escape when they open the door!" Harry looked at Ron desperately. There was nothing else for it. The dungeon door was the only way out, and since neither of them had wands, they would have to escape using brute force.

"There's someone coming!" They froze as footsteps were heard overhead, heading towards the stairwell to the dungeon. They could hear muffled voices, and though they stilled to listen intently, it was impossible to make out what was being said. After a few moments they heard feet on the stairs, and Ron just remembered to shut off the Deluminator before the heavy wooden door swung open.

"Stand back and don't move!" A lit wand appeared as the door swung open. It was held by Draco Malfoy, who was dragging an almost unconscious Hermione in his wake. "I said stand back!"

Harry and Ron quickly stepped back against the far wall as Draco moved towards them menacingly. He flicked his wand and ropes appeared, flying out to wrap around them, before turning to drop Hermione gently on the dungeon floor. Bending over her, he moved her until her upper body was resting against the wall. Taking off his robe, he rolled it into a ball and placed it behind her head, which was half lolling on her shoulder. Her face was pale and her eyes were closed, but otherwise she looked unscathed.

"She's been Crucio'd into unconsciousness, but she'll be okay once she's had a bit of rest." Draco turned to the others, who were glaring at him suspiciously.

'What's your game, Malfoy?" Ron spat at him, his fists clenching against his rigid body. "What the fuck is going on?" Ignoring him, Draco moved back towards the door and quietly closed it, before walking over with deliberation to face them.

He stood silently for a few moments, a half-smirk on his face, before speaking, "I'm going to get you out of here." Ron snorted and looked at Harry in consternation before bringing his gaze back to the man in front of them.

"Why would you do that, Malfoy?" Harry sneered at him. "Or is this some bloody trick to get in good with your stupid Dark Lord?"

Draco rolled his eyes and tried to remain calm. He had expected their enmity and they weren't about to disappoint him. "You'll believe me because you have no choice in the matter." He pulled three wands out of his pocket and casually waved them in front of his prisoners. "I have your wands, and you are all tied up, so I will dictate who believes who here."

"Why the fuck would you want to save us, anyway?" Ron said carefully, though his face, which was bright red with rage, clearly showed his anger. He kept glancing down to make sure Hermione was out of harm's way.

Draco followed his gaze, then looked him in the eye. "Don't worry, I have no intention of hurting her—or any of you for that matter." He continued to flick the wands around carelessly, his lips pursed as if in thought. "As I said, I am going to get you all out of here… on one condition."

"I knew there'd be a catch!" Ron was ready to pop a vein.

"Shut up, Ron!" Harry hissed at him. "We really are short on options here, in case you hadn't noticed." Harry looked back at Draco and raised his eyebrows. "Okay, Malfoy, just what 'conditions' are you talking about?"

Draco licked his lips and hesitated. He had a plan, but it would take careful execution to work, especially if they wouldn't cooperate. He'd been planning it for weeks, waiting for an opportunity just like this one, but now he was uncertain. There were so many unpredictables. First, the Manor wards only allowed Apparition for certain people. Second, Harry and Ron were definitely antagonistic, and he doubted he could count on their cooperation. Third, 'Bellatrix the strange' was patrolling overhead and that woman had an uncanny sixth sense for betrayal. As Draco thought about all the possible scenarios in which he could land himself, he shuddered slightly and wondered if he was doing the right thing.

Sighing deeply, he rubbed a hand over his face. "Okay, here's the deal. The wards only allow certain people to Apparate within the Manor itself. Fortunately, I am one of those people. So, I am going to Apparate you to my private quarters, from which you will be able to make your escape through a secret passage that leads to the road beyond the Manor gates. Once we have reached that point, I will return your wands and you may Apparate to wherever you wish."

"And this 'condition.' What about that? What do you want in return?" Harry was again gazing at him suspiciously.

"For God's sake, Harry, don't listen to him. He's just setting us up!" Ron struggled against the ropes that bound him and shot Draco a venomous look.

"Shut it, Ron. Let's hear what he has to say first!" Harry snapped in exasperation.

Draco looked at them measuringly, wondering how they were going to react to his 'condition.' The hand that had been playfully flicking the wands around dropped to his side, and he stepped forward, locking Harry's green eyes with his own. "You take me with you." His face was expressionless then, his soft grey eyes holding Harry's gaze expectantly, but without hope.

Harry sputtered and blinked his surprise. "Yeah, right, Malfoy! You've turned over a new leaf and want to join the side of Light!" Harry rolled his eyes at Ron before turning back to shoot Draco a disbelieving look.

"Ah, yes. I expected that reaction." Draco turned then and walked over to where Hermione was still laying unconscious against the wall. He adjusted the makeshift pillow, which had slipped a bit as she had slid down the wall, before turning back to the others. "You suspect the Dark Lord—or his Death Eaters' minions—will be waiting at the road to kill you." It wasn't a question and Draco looked at Harry matter-of-factly and crossed his arms.

"How do we know we can trust you?" Harry began, before Ron angrily cut in.

"You can't trust him! Harry, don't be daft!" Ron looked incredulously from Draco to Harry, unable to believe that Harry was even contemplating going along with the plan.

"What choice do we have?" Harry was fed up, and at this point looked like he was ready to try anything. "For God's sake! We either stay here and wait for old slit-eyes to find us, or we go with Malfoy. At least with him we may have a chance!" Ron glared at him for several seconds before finally nodding in agreement and Draco sighed in relief. His plan just might have a chance after all.

"Harry is right," Ron grudgingly acquiesced, looking sideways at Harry "We don't have a choice. If we stay here we die." He looked back at Draco. "Okay. What do we have to do?"

"Well, first I want your word that you won't attack me if I release you."

Ron snarled at that, but Harry nodded. "Of course. What else?"

"You promise me your loyalty." Ron nearly choked at that, but Draco went on. "I mean you give me your word you will not betray me. You will accept me and will let me work with you—let me join you."

"It's a bit much to expect our loyalty, Malfoy!" Harry cried out indignantly. "Especially considering that up until ten minutes ago you were on the side that was ready to kill us!"

"Okay, okay, I get your point." Draco sighed and crossed his arms. "How about you don't turn me in to your Order then-for starters?"

Harry appeared to consider this for several moments before answering. "Fine. But you'll have to prove yourself to us before we trust you."

"Agreed." Malfoy moved forward and flicked his wand and the ropes disappeared, leaving Harry and Ron rubbing their arms to ease the numbness.

"What about Hermione?" Ron hurried over to where she lay slouched on the floor. "She's still unconscious."

Draco leaned over Hermione and brushed her hair back from her eyes. He pointed his wand at her forehead and whispered, "Enervate." Her eyelashes fluttered a few times before her eyes opened and she looked around at them, dazed.

Ron dropped down beside her and put his arms gently around her. "'Mione, are you okay?"

She suddenly came to her senses. "Oh, Ron!" She buried her head in his shoulder and began to sob. Ron held her and stroked her back, allowing her to let it all out.

"Shhhh. S'okay." He warmly embraced her and she sank into his arms.

Suddenly she looked up and saw Draco peering down at her, wand in hand. She shrunk away instinctively and Ron placed a kiss on her forehead to reassure her.

"S'okay. He's going to help us" She looked exhausted and confused, but seemed happy to let Ron take control of her.

Ron turned to Harry and nodded. "She's okay. Let's get out of here before they send someone else down."

Harry nodded and looked at Draco, who grabbed Harry's arm, then Ron's sleeve, before turning on the spot. The world condensed into darkness and they were squeezed through space. When they opened their eyes they were in an opulent bedroom.

Draco let go immediately and walked to the window. "We haven't got much time before they get suspicious." He looked quickly around the grounds and then moved over to the bedroom door to peer out warily. Satisfied that they hadn't been detected, he turned back and hurriedly moved toward the huge wardrobe that sat against the far wall.

"This way." He opened the door and led them through the racks of clothes until they reached a trap door, which Draco tapped three times with his wand, causing it to slide open. They followed him through the door and down a rickety staircase that wound steeply down and around in a tight spiral. When they reached the bottom, Draco muttered a spell and another door appeared in the wall. Moving through the entrance he led them along a long tunnel lined with stone until eventually their passage began to ascend again and they found themselves facing a heavy, steel framed, wooden door.

Draco turned then to regard his companions seriously. "This is the entrance to the road. We can't be sure it's safe. They may be after us already."

"What about Disillusionment charms?" Harry asked, looking around the group.

"Good idea." Draco nodded and cast a Disillusionment charm over himself and the others before carefully drawing the bolt and opening the door. As they stepped out, huddled together for protection, Draco wondered wryly how his parents would react when they found him gone. Undoubtedly, his father would have a fit, but he thought his mother would be secretly relieved. There would be no doubt that he had betrayed them and he grit his teeth as he contemplated the exponential implications of his decision. But it was too late for regrets, and so he moved forward to accept his fate. What that fate held only Merlin knew, but Draco felt certain he had cast his lot for the good.