Disclaimer: as usual, I own nothing to do with Harry Potter...
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To those who only read: I hope you enjoy the story.
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Chapter Ten
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Blaise opened his eyes when he felt the world stop moving around him, and was more than surprised to see that he was at The Burrow. The sky seemed darker than he had remembered leaving it.
"Are you sure we're in the right place, Kerry?" he asked with a frown.
"Kerry is sure, Master Blaise," she replied, frowning at their destination as well.
Trusting his house elf, despite her uncertainty, Blaise headed towards the house. It was then that he realised that the sky wasn't dark due to the setting sun; it was because of the thick black smoke that was pouring out of the Burrow.
Not thinking of anything or anyone other than Ginevra, Blaise ran towards the house and straight inside. He knew enough of the layout from his time there that he was able to dodge various pieces of furniture before he even remembered his wand. Lighting it quickly, he tried to see in vain. Blaise was so busy trying to see in front of him that he didn't see the person coming up behind him until it was too late. Blood coated his robes before he felt the pain from the dagger in his arm.
Kerry let out a screech and launched herself at the person who was trying to hurt her Master Blaise. Bellatrix snarled and stabbed at the house-elf, trying to get it off her back. Her elbow connected with Blaise's temple and he fell to the ground with a thud. Smirking, Bellatrix stabbed her wand at the creature, a spell on her lips. Cuts ripped their way through the house-elf's small body, and Kerry disappeared with a scream.
Satisfied, Bellatrix turned to her victim. The Zabini heir. Her Lord would be pleased. Hearing Apparation pops, she hissed in displeasure. She would have to leave the two Weasley women. For now...
...
Fred arrived with the clock in his arms, George Side-Apparating their father. Draco arrived a few seconds later, the bags weighing him down.
"Did you leave the door open, Gred?" Fred asked, frowning.
George materialised a chair and settled Arthur on it carefully. He looked to his twin with a frown. "No, did you, Forge?" George asked, following Fred's gaze to see the back door wide open.
"Odd, I didn't think that impostors would use doors when they could Apparate in and out..." Fred said, trailing off.
"You'll check then? We need to look for ... hey!" George called after Draco, seeing him walking down to the shed already. He hurried after him quickly, leaving Arthur sitting there and Fred to investigate.
Fred put a ward around his father before heading up to the house. He didn't want to leave Arthur out in the open like this, but he was protected, so that would have to be enough for now. Clearing most of the smoke with a few spells, Fred looked around the house, frowning when he didn't see anyone. Heading to the back door, he coughed when more smoke entered his lungs, and he cleared some more quickly. As he was doubled over coughing miserably, something caught his attention. Blood.
...
Draco opened the shed door, looking inside carefully. George was beside him, his wand drawn. Opening the door wider when he didn't see anyone inside, Draco stepped inside cautiously. Just because he couldn't see any danger, it didn't mean it wasn't there.
He looked around the small shed, trying to see if anything had changed since his last time here. It was difficult to notice anything new; he'd been sleeping most of the time, after all. Draco looked to George, who was looking at everything with the same expression. Neither had been in the shed for long.
"We need to get Arthur in here; he'll know the shed better than us," Draco said, looking around again.
George nodded and left the shed quickly. After he'd left, Draco continued to look around. He tried to remember everything he'd seen. He'd been on the table there. Blaise had sat on the chest there. Ginevra had always waited to the side, by the broom closet.
Where was the broom closet? he thought, doing a double take. Draco moved closer to the now-blank wall, his hand outstretched. There wasn't even dust marks on the floor.
"Wait! Don't move!" George said quickly, arriving at the door with his father.
Draco went still immediately, wondering what George could see that he couldn't. George darted inside, his wand transfiguring into a circular disc on a stick. There was a loud THWACK behind Draco, and he turned to see George standing over a dead spider.
"It's a poisonous one. Didn't want you to die from a spider bite when there's a war coming," George said, grinning.
"Thanks," Draco said after a moment. Turning back to the blank space, he frowned and kept walking forward. "The broom closet isn't in here anymore. Has it been moved, or was it charmed to be invisible?" he thought out loud, his hands outstretched.
"Charmed," Arthur answered, leaning against the door frame. "That woman has been spending a lot of time in here."
"We were in here a lot before then; where was Mum hidden before now?" George asked, his eyebrow raised.
"In the attic," Arthur replied.
Draco's hands hit something solid half a metre before he reached the wall. "Definitely here. George, could you do the honours? I can't use my wand; the Ministry will find me in a second."
With a nod of understanding, George stepped forward and removed the invisibility spell on the closet. Nothing happened. With a frown, he tried again. Again, nothing happened.
"I don't think you're using the right counter-curse," Draco said, stepping forward again.
"That's the only counter-curse for an invisibility spell," George replied.
"Only for the Light invisibility spell," Draco corrected. "There are Dark spells that can hide things as well. I only know two of the counter-curses. I believe there's five."
"Just how dangerous are these counter-curses?" George asked, frowning.
Draco didn't reply.
...
Fred hurried to the kitchen and grabbed a clean tea towel from a drawer. Going back to the hallway, he was careful not to step on the blood. Swabbing at it gently, Fred wasn't sure if he wanted the blood to be Blaise's or not.
Leaving the house, he went down to the shed. Voices were raising but all three, so Fred stopped and listened as they argued. Something about Dark Magic, he realised after a few minutes.
"I found blood inside," Fred announced as he moved to the shed's doorway. "I don't know whose it is," he added when his father, his brother, and his sister's lover went silent.
"I'll do the counter-curses; tell me what they are, Draco," Arthur said, straightening and stepping into the shed. It took a lot of his strength to stand on his own, but his fear for his wife and daughter came before anything else.
"Sorry, Arthur, but these spells take a lot of energy. Even if you just do one, it may kill you," Draco said apologetically.
"I'll do it," George and Fred said at the same time.
"You can check the towel to see who's blood it is," Fred added to Arthur, who looked frustrated at his helplessness.
Eager for a task, Arthur nodded and took the offered tea towel. "Be careful, both of you," he added sombrely.
"Wouldn't dream otherwise," they replied in mock cheer.
"Are you ready?" Draco asked, looking at them.
Fred and George looked at each other. With a slight grin, they linked arms and turned to face Draco. "We were born ready."
...
Blaise woke up, feeling lightheaded before he'd even sat up. His head was throbbing and he felt woozy. Had he gone out drinking with Draco and Ginevra? No, that wasn't right... Opening his eyes, Blaise saw that he was in a cage.
Memories flooded his mind, and he felt the recent loss of his familial blood tie to Kerry. Bellatrix had killed his favourite house-elf! That bitch would pay.
"Aw, you're awake. How lovely. My master is quite eager to see you, darling," Bellatrix said, running her wand along the metal surrounding him.
Blaise lunged for her wand, but was immediately hexed. His body was blasted across the small cage, and he hit the bars with a hard smack. He didn't move, but Bellatrix didn't seem to care. Quickly becoming bored at his lack of movement and response, she left the room to torture a house elf. Blaise sat up, listening carefully in case Bellatrix decided to come back.
Satisfied that she'd left him alone, he pulled out the paperclip and bobby pin from the lining of his shirt. Turning slightly, Blaise began to work at the lock, hoping that Bellatrix had made the same mistake as the Ministry.
...
"Where is he?" Bellatrix snarled, grabbing an elf by the throat and shaking the creature.
"Minky does n-not know, my Lady!" the house elf managed to stammer when she'd let go.
"Useless creature," she hissed, kicking it out of the way. Blood seeped out of its' pillow case shirt; she turned away in disgust. "All of you find him! Now!" she yelled at the group of trembling ears and wide eyes.
The house elves hurried to leave, not wanting their colleague's fate.
Bellatrix ground her teeth, her wand twirling in her fingers. She left the room, intent on finding the Zabini heir herself. The gods' knew that house elves were unreliable and useless.
Blaise dropped down from the rafters quietly, making his way over to the bleeding house elf. It made him think of Kerry and his throat tightened. Bellatrix had taken his wand, so he had no way of healing the small creature. Sighing softly, he ripped the sleeve of his shirt and gently wound it around the house elf's ribs to help stop the bleeding.
"Minky does not need help," the house elf protested softly, his eyes wider than usual.
"You're losing too much blood," Blaise replied practically, rolling his eyes.
Minky scrunched his eyes closed, but kept quiet and let Blaise finish. Tears leaked from his eyes, dripping onto the dirty pillow case.
"There, it should stop the bleeding. Do you belong to the Black family or the Malfoy's?" Blaise asked, keeping an eye on the door.
"M-Malfoy family," Minky replied.
"So you don't owe Bellatrix anything?"
Minky stayed silent and kept his eyes closed.
"I know where Draco is," Blaise said.
Minky's eyes shot open, his long fingers wrapping around Blaise's arm. "Where is Master Draco?" Minky asked desperately.
"I can't tell you, I can only show you. To do that, I need to get out of here."
Minky looked absolutely torn, his ears flopping miserably even as he looked hopeful at the thought of finding his Master again. Lady Bellatrix had taken over Malfoy Manor at the Dark Lord's request, and Lady Narcissa spent most of her time looking for her son. If he brought Master Draco back, then Lady Narcissa would be able to take care of the Manor once more, and Lady Bellatrix would have no hold over the house elves.
"Take Minky's hand," he said, finally deciding.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Blaise took the house elf's hand and they Disapparated with a loud crack.
...
Draco opened the closet door, sparing a glance for the sleeping twins behind him. They'd used up all of their energy to perform the two Dark spells, and he was just glad that the counter-curse had been the second.
"I'll look after them. Go," Arthur said, nodding in encouragement.
Draco nodded in return and stepped into the closet, making his way down the staircase. He was armed with some metal Muggle contraption that Arthur had called a crowbar. Draco couldn't see the resemblance between what he was holding and a crow, but Muggles had named it, so he didn't expect much anyway.
The chamber he found himself in was surprisingly well-lit, torches flickering their light into the room. He saw two cages in the centre of the room, a cauldron boiling to the side. He recognised the smell of the Polyjuice Potion and doused the fire with a bowl of water, ruining what was left of it.
With that task done, Draco turned to the two cages. Molly was being held in one, Ginevra in the other. Their hands were outstretched, yet they weren't able to touch and get comfort from the other. His eyes landed on Molly; the robust woman he remembered was no longer. She was much thinner, her eyes hollow and her clothes hanging on her loosely.
Fighting his emotions, Draco turned to Ginevra's cage. She didn't look as bad as she could have, but he put that down to the fact she hadn't been in this hellhole for as long as her mother.
"Draco? Is that really you?" Ginny asked, her voice raw and her lips cracked.
"It's me, love. Your father and brother's are upstairs," he said, moving to her.
The crowbar fell to the ground as he knelt beside the cage, taking Ginevra's hand.
"We've been so worried about you."
Ginny caressed his face gently, kissing him between the bars.
"Not quite the rescue mission I thought I'd be seeing," an amused voice drawled behind them.
"Master Draco!"
Draco turned to see Blaise standing there, a house elf next to him. He rushed over to Blaise, ignoring the house elf as he planted a kiss on his lover's lips.
"Don't leave me like that ever again," Draco breathed, pulling away.
"Blaise? Draco? Can you get us out of here now?" Ginevra said, worry lacing her voice as she looked at her mother.
"Right. Sorry, love," Blaise said, grabbing Molly's wand from the bench. "Here you are, Mrs. Weasley," he said softly, handing it to her.
She clenched it like a drowning person would a buoy. It didn't magically remove the wear and tear she'd experienced, but her wand was a comfort she'd been denied for three long months.
Draco was working on using the crowbar to open the cage, unsuccessful so far.
"Here, let me try. Look after Minky, he'll have a heart attack soon," Blaise muttered, taking the bar from him.
Minutes later, Molly crawled out of her open cage. She didn't move very far or fast, watching as Blaise wrestled with the lock on her daughter's cage. In less time, Ginevra made her way out. She kissed Blaise, hugging him tightly.
"Let go, Minky!" Draco snarled, trying to peel the elf's hand off his arm.
"No, Minky must take Master Draco to his mother. Lady Narcissa is worried about you," Minky protested. "Lady Bellatrix is hurting the elves."
"If I go home, the Dark Lord will find me there and kill both me and my mother. If you think Bellatrix is bad now, wait until there's no one to stop her," Draco muttered.
Minky whimpered in fright at the possibilities, letting go of Draco's arm reluctantly.
"Here, let me help you, Mrs. Weasley," Blaise murmured, helping her off the floor gently.
Draco put his arm around Ginevra's shoulders, and they all made their way back up the staircase. Minky followed quietly, wringing his hands over and over.
"Mollywobbles!" Arthur said, running over and gathering his wife in his arms.
"Careful, Mr. Weasley. She's hurt and needs medical attention," Blaise said.
Arthur pulled away reluctantly, holding his wife up gently.
"I'll be fine," Molly said, licking her dry lips. She looked to her two sleeping sons, to her daughter with who she presumed to be her two lovers, and finally to her husband. "Did that bitch do anything to my kitchen?"
...
Minky healed Molly, insisting on helping his Master's lover. If he'd known that Blaise was as well, he would have helped him without hesitation. Minky returned to Malfoy Manor alone, despite more protests.
Draco, Blaise and Ginevra accepted Molly and Arthur's invitation to stay the night at the Burrow. They slept on Ginevra's childhood bed, arms and legs and bodies wrapped around each other to provide comfort and warmth in the cool night.
Morning came, and Molly discovered that Ginevra, Draco and Blaise were all gone. They'd left the room as they'd entered it, her memory the only reminder that they'd been there.
Fred and George didn't say anything about where they'd gone, and after a few prompts, Molly let them be. It was for her own safety, that much was obvious, and she wouldn't reject that. As soon as he'd finished breakfast, Arthur reset the wards around the Burrow, adding more that he deemed necessary.
...
Wormtail watched carefully as Harry and Ron talked to each other. Hermione was on guard duty, and as engrossed in their conversation as they were, neither boy noticed him creeping closer.
"Come on, mate. You have to tell her sometime," Harry was saying, shaking his head at his ginger-haired friend.
"I'm not telling her a thing. She can apologise first," Ron muttered, his arms crossed.
"She already said she was sorry! Tell her," Harry said.
"There's ... there's nothing to tell," Ron said, turning away. Wormtail didn't have time to move out of his view, and Ron saw him immediately, anger turning his face red. "Oi! You sneaky little rat!"
Before he could run, Wormtail was bound from behind and Hermione came into view, her wand drawn. Ron's blush deepened, wondering how much of their conversation she'd heard.
"Do you see now, Harry? He can't be trusted!" Hermione said, glaring down at the rat.
Harry sighed heavily, taking his glasses off to rub his eyes. "I know."
"It's too late," Wormtail said with a giggle.
All three looked at him in confusion.
"What are you talking about, Wormtail?" Harry asked, advancing on him.
"Much too late, too late. The Dark Lord approaches," he said, his laughter taking on a level of insanity that he'd kept well hidden all this time.
There was a scream, and Harry spun around to see a Death Eater's wand at Hermione and Ron's throats. Blood drained from his face, leaving him feeling dizzy. He stepped towards them, even as Wormtail kept laughing behind him. He'd let Wormtail stay, knowing that he'd betrayed his parents. He'd trusted Wormtail, as they'd done, and now his best friends were at the mercy of Death Eaters. His scar began to burn as Voldemort approached.
"Apparate, Harry! Go!" Hermione yelled, her elbow connecting with the Death Eater behind her.
Ron turned and punched the Death Eater when Hermione's sudden movement startled him.
"Go! Quick!" Ron yelled, sending a hex at the Death Eaters.
The pain was too much. He couldn't think straight. Voldemort was coming. His friends were fighting. Wormtail's betrayal.
"Apparate!" Hermione yelled.
It was enough to bring him out of his stupor for a few seconds. That was enough to have him following Hermione's order. He Apparated and left his friends behind, their fight echoing in his ears as his scar continued to burn.
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End of the tenth chapter.
Thank you for reading!
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