*Yay! Six reviews for the last chapter! :DDDDD Guess what? My friend challenged me to do Naniwrimo! And I stupidly agreed to it! DD: And for those of you who don't know what it is... it's a 'National Writing Month' where you have to write 50,000 words in 30 days. And you can't have started before Nov. 1st. (dang it!) So... forgive me if I don't update one week in November or something, but I'll try my hardest! (I'll give up sleep!) And anyways, after that announcement... Onto the story!*
Chapter 10
"Nice optimism you got going there, Granger!" said Draco, taking a deep breath and preparing himself to dodge anything. "You Gryffindors! Stand and fight like you're supposed to! You don't want to go out with your tails between your legs, do you?"
"Ironic coming from a Slytherin that runs first chance he gets," commented Ron, keeping an eye on the dragon, who was currently struggling with its iron bonds, and the other on the Death Eaters, who were staring to gather on the ground.
"Well, do you see a chance here, Weasley?" demanded Draco, firing an unspoken curse at a Death Eater, blasting him into the depthless chasms below. A jet of green light zoomed past, missing them by mere inches. Ron's eyes glued themselves to the gaping hole the curse had left in the rock. "Didn't think so."
"Don't hurt Potter!"
"Kill the others!"
"The Dark Lord is coming!"
Cries rang out loud and clear, complete with cackles and hard-edged chuckles of glee. Hermione felt strangely calm. This time, she had her wand, a weapon, and if she was going down, she was taking a few people with her. She was not being tortured, helpless, weak or defenseless. No, she was strong, powerful, armed, and potentially deadly. Every muscle in her body was tense, like a cat coiling itself to pounce.
She could almost see the malicious sneers behind the silver Death Eater masks, and let adrenaline fill her, preparing herself to give everything she had. She might have only five minutes left to live anyways, why not just put in her all? Nothing to lose… But at least she could get some revenge before her life was snuffed.
The quartet formed a lopsided diamond shape, giving each member room to dodge and cast spells. Draco backed himself up near a wall- stone was more trustworthy for protection than a person in his opinion, seriously, it's not going to jump out of the way or die or anything- which insured he needn't worry about his back.
Later, he became confused on whom, or even which side fired the first curse, but he could remember the flurry of multi-colored lights illuminating the space like bright rainbows. Simple four color rainbows, but rainbows nonetheless.
The only real 'battle' he'd been in before this was The Battle of Hogwarts, a battle of his making. He hadn't even participated in it much really, yet what he had done was remembered above almost everyone- except Snape's actions. But this fight, this brawl, where they were outnumbered, cornered, and had no place to flee; he was surprised at how little fear he felt.
There was a little voice in the back of his mind telling him to run so he couldn't get killed, though he squashed it immediately. Die tomorrow as a coward, die today and go out almost like a hero... It'd happen sooner or later, so what was wrong with just seeing how his cards played out?
He battled viciously, feeling like a lion lashing out his claws and baring his fangs. Time seemed to stretch out forever, counted by each curse that flew by his head, his panting breaths, and his racing heartbeat. He knew it couldn't have been more than a mere three minutes- why did things like this take an eternity, and everything else was barely a flash?
He felt someone slam into the wall next to him, soft cloth brushing his shoulder as a sickening crunch sounded. Her golden-brown curls were matted with blood, her eyes closed, and she seemed to be whispering.
Ron and Harry were racing towards their fallen friend, but Draco yelled, "Cover me! Do you want all of us to die?" Wisely, they followed his advice, deflecting as many spells as they could, and defending the pair shielded behind them.
Draco could hardly hear the ruckus anymore, all of his attention was focused on the girl lying on the cold stone floor. Gently, he slid one hand under her head, feeling the sticky warm crimson on his fingers, the soft strands of caramel in a complete disarray. Slowly, he shifted her closer, carefully placing his wand on her forehead, whispering a simple healing spell he had learned from his mother. Hopefully it would be enough.
"Episkey." Well, the result wasn't perfect, but Hermione stirred, opening her eyes just a slit, letting Draco breathe in a sigh of relief. He'd known she wasn't dead, but still...
"Draco," she muttered, fingers outstretched as she placed them on his shoulder. "What happened?"
"Curse slammed you into the wall. Though it seems you did more damage to it than it did to you," he said, voice tense, knowing Harry and Ron couldn't defend for too much longer, and the Dark Lord was coming soon.
Hermione seemed to ignore his diagnosis of her condition, smiling as an invisible light bulb seemed to pop up above her head. "I have an idea. Draco, can you free the dragon?" asked Hermione suddenly, turning to look at the dragon, which was cowering due to the loud noise filling the cave.
"Okay, maybe you did get hit too hard. Do you want to die?" questioned Draco, feeling the urge to shake some sense into her.
"It's a suicide mission either way," she said, dismissing his protest with the air of apathy, struggling to get up. "We could escape if we can fly on it, and I'd rather get killed by a dragon than those Death Eaters. And perhaps if we get killed freeing it, it could kill a couple of Death Eaters too."
"I still think you're mental. But you're going to do it no matter how much I say no, so I guess I'll have to help." Draco gulped as he eyed the sinewy muscles of the dragon, covered with a thick, protective layer of dragon hide, bracelets of steel worn on its legs. He had pretty good aim, and could probably sever the metal chains wrapped around the dragon with a few well-placed Diffindos. It would have to be quick. The protective spells Harry and Ron were controlling were weakening, and he only had one chance. "We have one shot at it. We'll have to get it right the first time."
She nodded, her coffee brown hair bobbing up and down her shoulders. "I know we will. Go!"
"Diffindo!" they cried out simultaneously, Death Eaters ducking out of the way, the spells striking and breaking several of the chains. A second incantation freed the mighty beast.
It took just a second for the dragon to realize it was no longer bound to the cold stone beneath its razor sharp talon, and another to start a ferocious rampage. It dipped its scaly head down, opening its jaws and letting out a roar, nearly spearing a Death Eater on its sharp front teeth as it bit down. Rearing up on its hind legs, it unleashed a stream of fire, immediately diverting the focus of the battle.
The main concern was no longer 'Capture Potter and Kill Everyone else'- it was 'Run for Your Life and Don't Get Eaten by the Angry Dragon.' Harry looked wildly back at Hermione and Draco, yelling, "Why the hell did you do that?"
The pair ran forwards, keeping their gaze locked on the dragon, currently chasing down a particularly tall Death Eater who was screaming like all of hell was upon him(or in Draco's words, screaming like a little girl). They took shelter behind a pile of fallen stones, sure that the dragon would have plenty of closer targets to take care of before it got to them.
"Are you trying to kill us?" asked Ron, his blue eyes frantic with fear. "What're you two thinking, releasing a bloody dragon?"
"It was her idea," announced Draco, taking a furtive glance back, paranoia getting the best of him. "I just tagged along. Her plan went something along the lines of 'I'd rather be killed by a bloodthirsty dragon than Death Eaters because obviously being burned and crunched with teeth is better than a single curse!'"
"I was also thinking that maybe we could try to fly away on it," admitted Hermione, watching the beast with a morbid, fearful interest. "Except I'm starting to think that's impossible."
"If you asked me, I could've told you that before you did something that stupid," said Harry savagely. "Now how do we get out?"
"Unless we all sprout wings and fly out ourselves, the best bet is the dragon unfortunately," conceded Draco, mentally calculating how to dodge all of the giant reptile's giant clawed appendages without being torn or burned to bits. "And do it quickly, before You-Know-Who decides it's time to make his appearance."
"I cannot believe what we've gotten ourselves into. This is so fucked up," cussed Ron, frustrated, hitting the ground with his fist, the knuckles coming away raw and bloody. "We couldn't have just made a nice simple withdrawal. No, we had to do it the hard way and end up having everything try to kill us as usual!"
"Murphy's Law." Hermione sighed, wishing it could have been as simple as a little withdrawal. "Nothing ever works the way you plan it to."
"Mate, if we ever get out of here, remind me to plan every possible catastrophe into what I do," said Ron to Harry. "Then at very most, the worst that can happen is that I live for three minutes instead of five."
"Right now, we could sneak onto it from behind and levitate each other onto its back," informed Draco, who was already starting to make his way towards the dragon, keeping his back to the wall though. "Wingardium Leviosa. Simple. And then we'll just hope for the best."
"Hope for the worst instead," suggested Ron darkly. "That way Murphy might give you something nice."
"Doubt he'll give me something nice either way, Weasley. I think he hates everyone," snorted Draco, already out of the protection the fallen rocks provided. "Now get your asses out from behind those stones and start getting closer to the stupid dragon!"
"Who's the suicidal one now?" challenged Hermione, sarcasm dripping from her voice as she followed Draco, steps light as if she were afraid the ground was going to explode on her.
"Oh shut up," he grumbled, stopping as the dragon's long, spiked tale loomed mere yards away from them. "Now who wants to be levitated first?"
"I don't trust you, Malfoy," declared Ron flatly, crossing his arms as he stepped back.
"Oh grow up, Ron!" snarled Hermione, stepping in front of Draco, standing straight and tall. "I'll go first then."
"As you wish," said Draco, raising his hands. "Wingardium Leviosa!" She was gently plucked off the ground, and Draco carefully directed her onto the dragon's spiny back. She clung onto the scales, looking terrified, but determined, as the dragon stood up on its hind legs. She clutched the nearest spine tight.
After checking to see she was okay, Draco looked back to Ron and Harry, who looked as if they were beginning to have second thoughts about riding the dragon. Being honest with himself, Draco didn't want to do it either, but it was the only option left. "Since Weasley still seems queasy, you first, Potter."
Harry gave a small curse of protest as he was lifted off his feet and flung towards the dragon, landing with calculated precision next to Hermione. Draco breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been afraid the dragon would shift as he dropped Harry.
"Fine." Ron's submission was short and filled with reluctance, but he didn't fight as he drifted through the air, bellyflopping onto the back if the dragon.
Draco now stood alone on the ground, waiting impatiently for someone to get him onto the dragon. The Death Eater threat had just about disappeared, the majority having fled after they realized their curses couldn't pierce the dragon's thick hide, and a few bloody stragglers had been left behind, struggling to find places to hide. It was as if, for the moment at least, they had been forgotten.
He was suddenly hoisted into the air, held up like he was suddenly weightless, a much more comfortable feeling than being hoisted by the ankle. The gold Hufflepuff goblet was still in his grip, and he was surprised he had not dropped it along the way. Perhaps he had been holding onto it tight to ease the pressure.
When he plopped behind the Trio, by which time had settled semi-comfortably on the creature's back, he looked worriedly at the ceiling. The Death Eaters were probably lingering in the upper levels of Gringotts, awaiting their master.
"Does anybody know how to make this stupid thing fly?" asked Draco irritated, feeling a strong desire to kick the dragon like one kicks a horse.
"Maybe it doesn't want to," suggested Ron, who was fervently tapping at the dragon's scales, as if trying to wake it up or something- except the thing was obviously awake. "Its wings are probably ripped or something."
"Our lives depend on this dragon flying us out," said Draco, taking his time with each and every word. "So unless we manage to get this damn beast to get us out of Gringotts, you can say good-bye to your tragic little lives."
As if by his command, the dragon's wings started beating up and down at a furious pace, nearly knocking the foursome of its back with the combined power of the whirling air and the contraction of its muscle. With one strong leap, it leapt into the air, the reptilian version of a lion in graceful, fluid motion, or perhaps more accurately, an eagle.
"Ah!" Hermione gave a small yell as the dragon swerved sharply, avoiding a dark, shadowy mass that flew at it like an arrow. She felt herself sliding, and desperately grappled for a hold on the creature, but found herself falling, falling into the endless black depths under her.
Hermione! "Granger!" Draco's arm swung down, and she managed to catch the sleeve, holding on for dear life.
"Voldemort!" hissed Harry, watching as the dark form took on a defined shape, a much too recognizable white, slit-nosed face appearing in the shadows. Voldemort's red eyes glistened with malicious joy, excited to have his chance at last.
"Surprised, Potter?" Voldemort's laughter was hard and cruel, echoing through the cavern, multiplying in intensity as the sound bounded off the stone. He glanced at the cup in Draco's hand, keeping pace with the dragon's frantic flying at the same time. "What use does Harry Potter have for a golden drinking cup? Pardon me, I meant did. Avada Kedavra!"
Harry flattened himself against the dragon, wondering how he hadn't turned into a pancake from doing that far more often than he liked.
The also far-too-familiar bolt of green light passed overhead, striking a stalagmite meters away and causing it to explode into little chunks and dust, filling Harry's lungs.
"Granger, grab my hand!" urged Draco desperately, feeling like he was the one dangling over the abyss. He wasn't supposed to feel like that if Hermione fell, he'd be left alone. He wasn't supposed to feel palpable pain tearing at the edge of his heart. Perhaps it had only been a few days, but her friendship or acquaintanceship or whatever it was had meant more to him than that the past two years had given him. It had given him hope. And now it was about to be snatched away once more.
Hermione summoned all her strength, left arm swinging towards Draco, their fingertips brushing. But she just couldn't reach far enough for him to pull her back up to safety- or relative safety that was.
Hermione's weight started to pull him over, and with one hand clutching a particularly ridged scale and one where her hand grabbed his sleeve, he was coming close to falling too. Damn it! His mind was working too slowly for him to process anything, and yet too fast for him to understand. The longer he tried to pull up Hermione, the higher the stakes that he himself would die increased. But he couldn't let go.
He saw her caramel eyes fill with tears of terror, noticing that her wand hand was empty. She must have dropped the wand. And Draco's... was in the hand clutching the scale.
He looked back frantically, and saw that both Ron and Harry were dueling with Voldemort, Draco and Hermione's precarious situation going completely unnoticed. He cursed, trying to pull up, scrambling hard, wishing fervently that he had more strength, and hoped that the dragon wouldn't decide to just buck them all off.
The scale was beginning to become slippery with sweat, and Draco's fingers started slipping. Soon he would fall as well. God help me...
*It's... REVIEW REPLY TIME! (XD):
forbiddenluv: I wouldn't be optimistic either. :3 Updated!
NotoriousNat: I'm glad you 3 it! Who doesn't love Draco? XD
Kotomi Blood - Angel of Light: Thanks for the review! I'm guessing you liked it?
Maia: Lucky... I can't do any dance moves. Period. I'll tell you when I get in, promise. ;) I hope I get into Slytherin... It BETTER take my stinking opinion into account! I took a sorting hat quiz earlier today, and I got Slytherclaw. - ... Yeah, I know. Writing on! :D
wolvesdrinktea: *sweatdrops* Umm... oops? *nervous giggles* I hope you did well on your exams. :) Quizlet rules! ;D What I tried to study two years ago (SAT Vocab) over three months is being compacted into three months! So much more efficient! Let us all worship Quizlet! XD Thanks for the review, just BTW. ;D (though you could probably tell...)
MadrigalGryffindor3: Thanks! I worked hard! ;D
Next week, next chapter! See you then! Please review!*