Some of this chapter contains fragments from the HPB Book. They remain the work of JK Rowling and I do not claim them in any way.
Chapter 10
Draco sat numbly, staring at the inert body that floated above the table. Snape entered, breaking his fixation for a moment.
"Severus, here." called a clear, high voice from the head of the table. "Why are you so very nearly late?"
"My Lord," Snape said, "The Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry Potter from his current place of safety on Saturday next, at nightfall."
All movement around the table changed. Some people stiffened, others fidgeted at the introduction of the new topic.
"Saturday at nightfall." Voldemort's lipless mouth curved into a horrific smile. "Very good, Snape. And you have obtained this information-"
"From the source we discussed, my Lord."
Draco turned his gaze back to the body overhead, trying desperately to tune out this conversation. How could things have gotten so messed up? He mused. Snape is still his second in command. And all because I couldn't manage to kill that old bat. Why? Why couldn't I do it?
The questions bounced around his mind restlessly. You know why. His mind was telling him. It's because of her. You were worried about her and what she would think of you. You're weak, spineless.
He mentally shook himself. He couldn't afford to think of her. What if he used Legimency on him? What if he learned about Ginevra. It wouldn't just be bad for him, it could put her in danger as well.
"Lucius." Hearing his father's name pulled him back to reality. He glanced to his father briefly. He was shaking slightly.
"My Lord?" He said in a voice that was hoarse.
"You're wand, Lucius. I require your wand."
"I..." his father hesitated. Then, astonishing Draco, he pulled out his wand, handing it to the Dark Lord.
"What is it?" He asked, examining it.
"Elm, my Lord."
"And the core?"
"Dragon - Dragon heartstring."
"Good." He said, drawing his own wand to compare the two.
His father made an involuntary movement.
"Give you my wand, Lucius? My wand?" The Dark Lord scorned him. "Was your liberty not enough, Lucius? But then, I have noticed that you and your family seem less than happy lately. What is it that bothers you about my presence in your home?"
"Nothing, my Lord. Nothing!
"Such lies, Lucius..." he said, a soft hiss lingering in the air. He stroked the long snake hanging around his neck. "Why do the Malfoys look so unhappy? Is my return to power not what they have envisioned for years?"
"Of course, my Lord," said his father. "Of course we did desire it- we do."
His mother, Draco noticed made a stiff nod, her eyes moving from Voldemort to the snake. Draco tore his eyes away from the floating body long enough to glance quickly at Voldemort and away again. He did not wish to make any eye contact, afraid that there might be fear to be seen.
His aunt spoke from down the table. "There is no higher pleasure than to have you in our home, my Lord."
"No higher pleasure," repeated Voldemort. "That means a great deal, coming from you, Bellatrix."
"I speak nothing but the truth, my Lord!"
"Even compared to the happy event that, I hear, has taken place in your family this week?
"I don't know what you mean, my Lord." Bellatrix said, confused.
"Your niece, she has married the werewolf, Remus Lupin. You must be so proud."
Bellatrix turned a nasty shade of red. "She is no niece of ours, my Lord! We- Narcissa and I- have not set eyes on our sister since she married the Mudblood. This brat of hers has nothing to do with us, nor any beast she should choose to marry."
"And what do you say, Draco?" Voldemort asked over the bouts of jeering laughter. "Will you babysit the cubs?"
Draco turned to his father in terror, who was staring down into his lap. Then he caught his mother's eye, who shook her head ever so slightly and continued her deadpan stare.
"Enough," Voldemort said, stroking the large snake. "Enough."
The laughter died at once.
"Many families become tainted over time. One must simply prune them to restore them to help. Cut away those parts."
"Of course, my Lord." Bellatrix whispered. "At the first chance!" Her eyes filling with tears of gratitude.
He then turned his attention to the woman in front of them. He flicked Lucius' wand and the figure came to life. "Do you recognize our guest, Severus?" Voldemort asked.
Snape raised his eyes to look upon the figure. "Ah, yes." He replied.
"And you, Draco? Do you recognize her?"
Draco shook his head jerkily.
"But then you have not taken her classes," he said. "This is Charity Burbage who, until recently, taught Muggle studies at Hogwarts."
One of the Death Eaters spit on the floor as the witch revolved to face Snape once more.
"Severus... please..." She called to him.
"Silence," said Voldemort. He raised Lucius' wand. "Avada Kedavra!" A green light illuminated the room and Charity fell with a resounding crash to the table. "Dinner, Nagini."
Draco watched as the snake approached the body, preparing to devour it.
Ginny sat beside her mom, waiting for something to happen. There was a flash of light and the sound of something falling to the ground outside. They rushed outside to see Harry and Hagrid standing slowly.
"Harry?" cried Mrs. Weasley. "Are you the real Harry? Where are the others? What happened?"
"What do you mean?" Harry panted. "Isn't anyone else back?"
Ginny's heart was beating irratically. Her mother paled at Harry's words.
"The Death Eaters were waiting for us. They knew it was tonight." Harry went on, trying to explain. "I- I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to the others."
Ginny could hear the pleading in his voice.
"At least you're alright, Harry." Mrs. Weasley said, hugging Harry close.
"Wouldn't happen to go' any brandy, have yeh, Molly?" Hagrid asked.
Ginny watched as her mom rushed back into the house to fetch it. Harry turned to her and she could see the question in his eyes. She wanted nothing more than to hug him, to seek comfort from him.
"Ron and Tonks should have come back first." She said, pointing to the rusty oil can on the ground. "But they missed their Portkey and it came back without them. And that one," Ginny continued, pointing to an ancient sneaker. "should have been Dad and Fred's. They were second. You and Hagrid were third and," she checked her watch, "if they made it, George and Lupin should be here any minute."
Her mom came back carrying a bottle of brandy, which she handed to Hagrid.
She saw a blue light appear in the dark. "Mum!" It grew larger and Lupin and George appeared, spinning and then falling. They noticed immediately that Lupin was supporting George and Harry rushed forward to help Lupin carry George's legs.
They laid him on the sofa and when the lamplight hit George's head, Ginny gasped. One of his ears was missing and the side of his head and neck were drenched in blood.
Ginny watched as Lupin grabbed Harry and shook him. "What creature sat in the corner the first time Harry Potter visited my office at Hogwarts?" he asked. "Answer me!"
"A- a grindylow in a tank." Harry stammered.
He released Harry and fell back against a kitchen cabinet. "I'm sorry Harry, but I had to check. Somebody betrayed us and only someone who was directly involved could have known. You may have been an imposter."
"And why aren' you checkin' me?" asked Hagrid, who was still struggling to fit through the door.
"The polyjuice potion is only for human transformations Hagrid. You're half-giant."
Ginny turned her attention back to her brother. Oh George. Why did this happen. You should have been more careful. She thought, sighing.
"Ginny, dear," her mother called. "Would you help me?"
She looked up.
"I can't bare to see my little George covered in so much blood. Help me clean him up, will you?"
Ginny nodded. "Yes, Mum." She moved to her brother's side and, taking a rag from her mother, began wiping away the dried blood. It made her sad to see so much blood. There was a sudden rustle outside but she barely noticed as Harry and Lupin rushed out to see what was going on.
"How is he?" Harry asked when he came back
"I can't heal it. It was removed with dark magic." Mum answered him. "But he's alive, at least."
"Did I hear someone in the yard?" asked Ginny, looking to Harry.
"Yes. Hermione and Kingsley." he said. "They've returned."
"Thank God." She looked at Harry. Oh God. How she wanted to be with him. Ginny wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in his arms.
Just then, there was a crash from the kitchen and she could hear her father shouting. "I'll prove who I am after I've seen my wife and son, Kingsley! Now get out of my way!" He thundered past him, Fred following close behind.
For the first time in her life, her brother seemed utterly at a loss of words. She watched Fred hang over the back of the couch, staring in disbelief at the site before him. George stirred.
"Oh Georgie!" cried Mrs. Weasley. "How are you feeling?"
He felt the side of his head. "Saintlike," he murmured.
There was silence as everyone looked around at one another. "What's wrong with him?" Fred asked. "Has he gone completely bonkers?"
"Saintlike," George repeated, looking up at his brother. "See, Fred. I'm holey. Get it?"
Mrs. Weasley sobbed harder. Color flooded Fred's face. Ginny smiled weakly.
"Pathetic," Fred said to his brother. "The whole world of ear-related humor and you go with holey."
They smiled sympathetically as George looked around to the room.
She noticed Harry motioning for her to follow him to the back yard. She got up and joined him. "Ron and Tonks should be back by now. Aunt Muriel's isn't too far from here."
Harry tensed at the mention of Ron's name. She took his hand as they walked down the steps. "I know you're scared Harry. So am I. He's my brother."
"I know Gin. But this is all my fault. Everyone's risked their lives tonight because of me."
"We did it because we care about you Harry. You can't blame yourself." She and Harry walked over to where Kingsley paced and stood beside Lupin, Hermione and Hagrid. They stood in silence, staring up at the night sky.
A broom appeared in the sky. "It's them!" Hermione exclaimed as Ron and Tonks landed.
Ron stumbled toward Harry and Hermione. "You're okay..." he mumbled as Hermione threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.
"I thought-"
"I'm all right." said Ron, patting her back.
Ginny smiled as relief flooded her.
"Are we the last ones back?" Ron asked, looking around.
"No." Ginny answered. "We're still waiting on Bill and Fleur. And Mad-eye and Mundungus." She hugged him. "I'm going to tell Mum and Dad you're okay, Ron-"
Ginny ran back inside. "Mum, Dad, Ron's just got back!"
Mrs. Weasley got to her feet. "Oh, thank God." She hugged her husband and they rushed outside, Ginny following behind them. They hugged Ron tightly. "Oh Ron, I'm so glad you're okay."
Suddenly there were more cries as a thestral soared into sight. Bill and Fleur landed, sliding from the creatures back.
"Oh, Bill! Thank God, you're alright." Mrs. Weasley rushed to her son.
"Mad-eye's dead." Bill said to his father over his mother's head.
With the news of Mad-eye's death, everyone moved slowly back inside. They sat around the living room, thinking about the events of the day. Things hadn't gone at all the way they were meant to.
Ginny looked around solemnly before standing. "I'm going to bed, Mum." She announced, standing.
"Alright dear." she said. "Try to get some sleep, dear."
Ginny kissed her Mum and Dad and hugged her brothers. She said goodnight to the others and thanked them for everything they did.