"Next time we're going to a movie I want to see," Seth huffs as we trudge up the stairs to my apartment.

"I'll bring ear plugs."

He frowns at me. "Alright, I get it. You don't like action movies. But what about horror or something like that? Like ghosts and killers and stuff like that."

Certainly not. "I don't do well with horror," I tell him.

"Why? Scared?"

I don't say.

He understands my silence a second later and he whips around with a sharp barking laughter. "You're scared! I thought you weren't scared of anything!" He hoots as though this were the joke of the century. "That's so not cool, Draco."

"Whatever," I mutter as I grab the keys out of my pocket and unlock the door. Some things are better left unexplored. Like me going to a horror picture show. I don't appreciate his mockery. "I am not going to sit through two hours of special effects."

"Oh no, of course not." Seth follows me into my home. He acts like it's his own place. It can get a little infuriating. "You only watch artsy fartsy films that totally messes with my mind."

"If you'd pay more attention to the movie than your popcorn," I mutter under my breath.

"The popcorn just happened to be way more interesting at that point in time."

I laugh to myself as I reach over to flick the lights on in the kitchen.

But a glint catches my eye.

My stomach plummets.

I whip my arms out and shove Seth back. A red flare shoots between us a moment later, exploding into the wall. My dark apartment is illuminated for just a second, and that's enough for me to make out two hooded men standing on either sides of the kitchen. I duck in time to avoid a second stunning spell.

My wand is in the bedroom.

I rush at the man to my left, hoping to catch him by surprise. I manage to knock him off balance just enough to slip past him. Behind me I hear shattering tiles and loud thuds. I can't afford to look around. I dive into my bedroom and try to slam the door shut.

But he's there already.

A violent blue spell clips my hand, making me stumble. I lunge for my bedside table. This can't be happening. How could anyone have found me?

A heavy weight slams into my back, pushing all the air out of my lungs. I fall against the carpet, coughing and gasping for a steady breath.

I'm flipped over with an angry jerk.

"Who's your friend?" the man hisses.

I can't see his face. It's like he's a black mass. I can't focus on him. A type of Disillusionment charm? I don't know.

I don't care.

I press the tip of my wand to his chest.

He shoots backwards, slamming into the door.

I scramble back while still choking on my breath. No one is supposed to know where I am. Not even my parents. I hit the wall and press close to it while trying to gain my bearings. I quickly cast a shielding charm around me.

The man gets up slowly, his heavy boots causing the floors to creak. "Hn," he grunts. "You're gonna pay for that, Malfoy."

His violent purple hex pierces my shield. It's like being stabbed with a dozen spikes.

I drop my wand in shock before curling inwards. The spikes twist inside me. There is a sharp metallic taste in my mouth. It's making me gag. I hear him walking nearer, but I'm pinned to the wall. He crouches in front of me. I wince as he grabs a handful of my hair and forces me to look up. Again I see nothing but a mass of black. "Getting rusty?" He lets go before punching me across the jaw. White pain blinds me for a moment.

"Hey."

The spikes let up abruptly as the man's attention is diverted. I open my eyes to make out the form of the other heavier man standing by the door.

"What?" my assailant snaps.

"Who was that guy?" The heavy man gestures behind him, at the kitchen.

"No clue."

Seth…

I snatch my wand up off the ground and launch at the crouched man, knocking him down. My curse doesn't land on the heavy man, but he does get distracted enough to give me a chance to get inside the walk-in closet and shut the door behind me. I throw as many locking spells as I could remember onto it even as it rattled and shook from the weight of the men trying to ram it open. I should go. I need to go. But I can't think. I try not to gag on the blood that's trickling down my throat from my bitten tongue. Where can I go? I can't even remember how to apparate.

My knees give away as pain rises up my gut.

The doorframe is cracking.

Did I get Seth killed?

I can't do this. I can't remember how to run.

The rattling stopped.

"What the hell is that?"

A quiet snarl rolls through the cracks in the door.

A terrified scream is cut short by a loud smash of glass. Sounds of ripping and splintering followed.

Then the door exploded inwards.

I try to force my limbs to move, but I'm not fast enough.

I'm jerked up by the arm. I stagger into the man in black. I can hear his ragged breath, feel the fear in his grip. Searing heat slashes through me. He's about to disapparate with me.

I find the strength to break away from him. I shoot an errant hex at him, but he counters it with ease, already moving towards me. I fall against a rack of clothes as I cast a shaky Protego around me. It won't hold. I can't think. I can't breathe.

A low growl stops him.

I whip my eyes towards the doorway.

It's a monster.

The hunched figure has glowing eyes. Its sharp teeth gleam in what little light has found its way into the closet. It's heaving heavily, each exhale ripe with fury. It barely fits through the splintered doorway, its fur rustling against the jagged wood. Its eyes are trained on the man who seems to be rooted on the spot. It steps into the closet, cutting a path between the man and me. Then I can no longer see him.

Through the shimmering blue shield that has bubbled around me, I hear a frightened yell as the monster leapt forward, blurring in front of my eyes. I grip my wand. Fear takes my voice. I turn away from the grisly fight…

Blood…

I look down at my hand in wonder. Blood?

I've been stabbed?

It's soaking into my shirt. I brush my hand against my side again. There's so much blood. He stabbed me. He wanted to kill me.

"Draco."

I look up in shock, my vision suddenly swimming. "S-Seth?" He's okay. I thought… But he's okay. He's okay. The shield flickers around me and dies away.

"You're okay." He grabs my shoulders, holding me steady. "You're safe."

"No." I'm not safe.

I hear his sharp breath as he realizes what I'm saying. He wrenches my bloodied hand away from my side.