Fifth Year (Part VIII)


Spring came along, and exams were following it. Classes were not spent learning, but rather reviewing previous topics professors thought were most important. Outside of class, Draco, Vincent, Greg, and Pansy studied together. Testing each other, offering information when the others didn't know it, as well as practice dueling and casting spells in empty classrooms. However, as the beautiful day shined in from the ceiling in the Great Hall, Draco had come to the realization that they were retreading the same paragraph ten times, and groaned when they realized what this meant. It wasn't a study day, they decided as they put their book away and focused on their meal. Maybe an hour studying, and outside too, but it was too nice of a day to stay cooped up with dusty old books.

That was what had Draco sitting under a beech tree near the Great Lake, quietly studying by themself, before a blonde Ravenclaw came along. They were tempted to scowl, if only because she wasn't in their year and didn't understand that it really wasn't a time to talk to any fifth years, but they couldn't bring themself to do it.

"Good morning, Draco." She greeted, sitting near the Slytherin and leaning against another part of the tree. They murmured out a distracted "Morning, Lovegood.", not letting their eyes leave the page. "Have you seen Pansy anywhere, Draco?"

A pause, as they considered the question, before remembering. "She's in the Slytherin Commons, said the sun was distracting her from her studying."

She made a small 'Ah' of understanding, nodding, before the two lapsed into silence. Yet, it wasn't an awkward silence, as the two enjoyed each other's quiet company under the large beech tree.


Theodore was freaking out in the beginning of May, having started later with studying than literally every other fifth year Slytherin. It would have been amusing if he didn't constantly ask Draco and Blaise for help. Draco even though they saw him turning to Greg and Vincent, both which refused. Daphne and Millicent as well. The blond wasn't sure if it was more funny, or more pitiful as June came along.


It was the night of the thirty-first of May, the stars shining on the sleeping majority at Hogwarts. Draco was sat on the edge of the Astronomy tower, dangling their legs in the air below them as they took in the serene silence of being alone. Unfortunately, it didn't last long, and someone came to sit next to them again. They glanced to their left, and noticed Luna Lovegood sitting down in a similar fashion Draco was seated in.

"Good evening, Draco." She greater, staring up at the sky. The moon shine large brightly, the full moon having only been two days ago and the moon not losing much in that time. Draco repeated the greeting, glancing at Luna, before asking casually.

"Why are you here?"

"I couldn't sleep, and you, Draco?"

It was weird how she always referred to them by their name. They didn't remember a time where she hadn't said their name in the beginning or end of the sentence.

"Same." They murmured, looking down at the ground far below them. "Could I ask you something about Pansy, Luna?"

She nodded.

"Why do you let her treat you like she does in public?" They were referring to the fact that Pansy always insulted, laughed at, and even occasionally jinxed Luna, yet the both of them apparently still had beautiful intimacy in private, according to Pansy.

"Some people need to keep up appearances more than others, Draco, and I know she doesn't mean it." That hit a little too close to home for Draco. Yet, as the past months had come and gone, Draco's idea of their own appearance had changed. Insulting, turning their nose up at everyone, even calling Granger a /Mudblood?/ It all came so... Naturally, that they didn't really know if it was an act anymore or not. Maybe the quieter, more kinder side- the Frisk side -was the act, and the 'Draco Malfoy, heir to the Malfoy family' was the real side to them. They thanked Luna for her answer before getting up, deciding that having an existential crisis was not the best way to spend one of their last nights before exams.


a) Give the incantation and b) Describe the movements for the Summoning Charm.

Well, this wasn't so bad?

...

They lied, they lied, this was bad. The had shattered their wine glass when their concentration broke while levitating it. They had needed two tries to vanish their iguana, only the head disappearing the first time before everything did. Their boggart-repelling was perfect, thankfully, and Defense went well in general. But Potter, who was in the room at the same time as them, had to upstand the rest of the testing students, didn't he? The older woman testing them looked to them after Potter's patronus disappeared, and asked curiously, "Could you do that, Mr. Malfoy?"

They gritted their teeth, remembering their third and fourth year where they were unable to get more than a wisp for the majority of the year. They had given up, after that. "No, ma'am, I cannot cast a patronus."

She seemed disappointed, but excused them.

Potions went really well, as they thought they made theirs exactly how they were supposed to. Their other classes varied from going decently to going amazingly, and they walked out of their last exam slightly proud of themself. They felt like they passed everything, as if they were actually on the path towards Healing.


Their time after the exams was brought to a terrible end when Umbridge called for her Inquisitorial Squad to gather up. She had specifically requested that Draco came with her, and as they made their way up to her office, easily keeping pace with the witch, they could see why. The door broken into, and Harry bloody Potter had his face in the fireplace. Draco yanked him out, getting his wand when instructed to, and took note of other Slytherins holding Granger, Weasley (both of them), Longbottom (surprisingly, he had a backbone), and Lovegood.

Pansy looked disgusted at the fact that Luna didn't fight back; Draco was sure she would have given up if Luna gave even a small struggle. They tuned back into the conversation, which was more one-sided as Umbridge explained and accused.

"-clearly, it was very important for you to talk to somebody. Was it Albus Dumbledore? Or the half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall, I hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone." She turned to the Slytherins, trying to find someone that agreed with her, and they all chuckled. It was tense and fake, anyone could see that... Except Umbridge, and apparently Potter, who was getting angry.

"It's none of your business who I talk to." he snarled. Umbridge's slack face seemed to tighten.

"Very well." she said in her most dangerous and falsely sweet voice. "Very well, Mr. Potter. I offered you the chance to tell me freely. You refused. I have no alternative but to force you to answer. Draco- fetch Professor Snape."

They nodded and headed out at a quick pace, making their way down to Snape's housing portrait and knocking gently to the side of it, waking the portrait up. "Headmistress Umbridge is requesting Professor Snape's presence in her office." They told the portrait- it liked formality, that one. The portrait nodded and left his frame, no doubt to another painting inside the room to tell Snape. And soon enough, the potions master was out the portrait, and the two were walking to Umbridge's office. Draco refused to explain anything, saying it would all be explained when they got their. To Snape's dissatisfaction, their shields were up enough to hide any information when the two made eye contact.

Draco entered the office first, followed by Snape.

"You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" Snape asked, looking around at all the pairs of struggling students with an expression of complete indifference.

"Ah, Professor Snape," Umbridge greeted, smiling widely and standing up again. 'Yes, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."

"You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter." he said, studying her. "Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."

Umbridge had the decency to flush, and Draco refrained from snorting. If there was one thing Snape hated more than Potter, it would be someone misusing a potion.

"You can make some more, can't you?" she asked, her voice becoming more sweetly girlish as it always did when she was furious.

"Certainly." Snape was casual about his reply, and his lip curled. "It takes a full moon cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in around a month."

''A month?" squawked Umbridge, swelling toadishly. "A month? But I need it this evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons unknown!''

"Really?" said Snape, showing his first, faint sign of interest as he looked to Potter. But his mask of indifference went up once again, soon after that announcement. "Well, it doesn't surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules."

Snape's eyes bore into Potter's who met his gaze, and Draco internally cursed. If that eye contact wasn't going to be taken advantage of by Snape, then they hadn't the slightest idea- Maybe that's the point, Chara suggested, startling Draco. Potter probably knows Snape can read his mind. If he needs to get information to someone in the Order, and Snape's in the Order...

That made sense. They went back to listening to the conversation, and their blood went cold at her words.

"You are on probation!' shrieked Professor Umbridge, and Snape looked back at her, his eyebrow slightly raised. "You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!"

The Slytherins looked like they were out for her blood at those words. Snape gave her an ironic bow, and turned to leave. Potter seemed to shift, before deciding to act.

"He's got Padfoot!" he shouted. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"

Snape had stopped with his hand on Umbridges door handle.

"Padfoot?" asked Professor Umbridge, looking eagerly from Harry to Snape. "What is Padfoot? Where is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?"

Snape looked around to Potter, his face bare of any emotion. Draco's own mind was racing, trying to see, why did Padfoot sound so familiar...? Their mind connected the dots, they had heard that name over Christmas Break, Lupin and Sirius were talking about nicknames-

They have Sirius. They? You-Know-Who? The Dark Lord had Sirius. Dear Merlin.

"I have no idea." said Snape coldly. "Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork, and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."

He closed the door behind him with a snap, and the room was silent. The Slytherins didn't know if they wanted to yell at Umbridge for putting Snape on probation, or continue being on her side. Draco didn't know if they should have cared so much about the fact that Sirius- who was decent, for a Gryffindor blood traitor- was captured by the Dark Lord. "Very well." Umbridge pulled out her wand. "Very well- I am left with no alternative- this is more than a matter of school discipline. This is an issue of Ministry security- yes- yes-" She seemed to be talking herself into something. She was shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot, staring at Potter, beating her wand against her empty palm and breathing heavily. Everyone was watching, curious, and intrigued to see what she would do.

"You are forcing me, Potter- I do not want to do this." She continued, still moving restlessly on the spot, "But sometimes circumstances justify the use- I am sure the Minister will understand that I had no choice. The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."

Outrage. Granger shouting that it was illegal, the Slytherins paling at the mention. Half of them could barely get through the spider going through the curse in the fourth year, now a living, screaming human?

"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him." said Umbridge, who was pointing her wand at different parts of Harry's body in turn, apparently trying to decide where it would hurt most.

"He never knew I ordered Dementors to go after Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel him, all the same."

"It was you?" Harry asked, a slight panic to his voice. "You sent the Dementors after me?"

"Somebody had to act." Umbridge defended herself, as her wand came to rest pointing directly at Harry's forehead. "They were all bleating about silencing you somehow- discrediting you- but I was the one who actually did something about it- only you wriggled out of that one, didn't you, Potter? Not today though, not now."

She took a deep breath, and cried out "Crucio!"

It was too much.

Reload.


When Umbridge called for Draco's help, believing that she could catch Potter redhanded, Draco offered to go ahead to ensure that he was caught. The Headmistress agreed, and the Slytherin went running. They warned Weasley, both of them, Luna, and Granger, and told them to meet Potter at the Entrance Hall, but don't be seen.

They made their way up to Umbridge's office, and was happy to see that Potter was alone. Dragging him out of the fireplace, they shoved him against the wall, and pointed their wand at the Gryffindor. But they lowered their wand as soon as Potter started to move his.

"If everyone doesn't come back alive, I'm going to kill you myself, Potter. Get out of here, Umbridge is on her way, you broke a charm on her door. Your Gryffindors are at the Entrance Hall waiting for you."

Potter seemed to hesitate, before Draco snapped for him to hurry up, and he started to move. This was for Sirius, not for Potter. Draco was cleaning up the fireplace when Umbridge came running in, out of breath.

"Mr. Malfoy?" She asked, startled at seeing them. Draco turned around, revealing that it was indeed them, and she seemed furious.

"I have been searching everywhere, and the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad has been unable to find any of the other that were suspected of helping Potter! And now that you're here, in my office and attempting to clean up obvious evidence-" she huffed. "Mr. Malfoy, what have you done? Where have they gone? Tell me!"

Draco stopped, and gave a hesitant nod. If they led her out of the back, to the Forbidden Forest, maybe they could buy enough time to muster up a good enough fake expression of outrage. Or maybe...

They led at a rather quick pace, making Umbridge think that they had a change of heart and wanted to actually show her where they went. She hesitated as they entered the Forbidden Forest, but followed when they didn't seem to stop.

"They're heading towards a- a weapon. A few days ago I stumbled across it, and almost killed myself with it on accident. Potter saved me, and so I felt- I felt indebted to him. But I realized what could happen if he got his hands on the weapon and actually intended to use it." They lied, turning towards the destination they had in mind. "It's hidden in here, we're almost there."

They were standing in the middle of a small clearing when the first sounds happened. It sounded like a mixture between a hiss and a bark, and slowly, very slowly, spiders came out of the shadows of the trees. Umbridge gave a scream and pulled her wand, but a faster and smaller spider took it away before she could do anything. Draco was too distracted to notice Chara moving forward. Not able to move their body that much, but still in somewhat control until Draco pushed them away. But they let the dead child have their moment, with only a small note of /Don't kill her with a spell./

"You know," Chara said casually, letting their body fall to lean against a tree. "I heard that they hate humans because we're stingy."

A confused look flashed upon Umbridge's face as she tried to understand their words. "You've never been to the bakery in Hogsmsade, have you, Headmistress? The one run by spiders?"

Her disgusted face made the spiders draw closer, as if they could sense her hatred toward monsters. They ignored Chara, the student having been a customer multiple times, as well as a friend of Muffet's, and Umbridge's yells got louder as more and more spiders came.

The Headmistress looked to them for help, but they only smiled, and gave a wave goodbye.


Draco was running to the Entrance Hall, as if that would make a difference. They all probably left by now, the Gryffindors didn't expect them to join, anyways.

But they were greeted with Pansy and Luna outside the front doors, the latter... Sitting on a Thestral? Pansy would see her floating on nothing, that was probably the only reason that she didn't seem to have any problem with Luna seemingly petting nothing. When the Slytherin caught sight of Draco, she called out.

"Draco!" And as they closed the distance, she explained quickly. "Luna offered to stay behind in case anyone that wanted to help came. I don't know what you're doing, but..."

She lowered her voice. "If Luna get's injured, I'm breaking your wand. And I'm not talking about the one you're holding."

They nodded, and Pansy gave them a long hug before running off, no doubt returning to her dorm before she got caught. Luna gestured to the second Thestral, and Draco got on without hesitation.


They followed the path that the others had made, and ran into the them quite literally when entering the spinning corridor. There was a look of outrage by nearly everyone about who Luna brought, but Potter snapped that there was no time. Neville, who was walking at the back next to Draco, seemed to want to say something, but was too scared to do so. Instead, he took off his cloak and offered it to the Slytherin, who gave the Gryffindor an odd look in return.

"Just in case w-we run into anyone." That was smart. With a grumbled thank you they put the cloak on, lifting the hood, and nearly running into Ginny as the group stopped. They were talking about an orb, one with Potter's name on it, and...

"If this is the room, I'm going to watch the door." Draco announced, startling the others. Luna agreed to go with them, and the two made their way to the door. They faltered, when they realized that they couldn't exit the room without losing it to the spinning corridor.

"Get your Stupefys ready." They muttered, staring down the door, and hoping that no one got i-

The two shouted, and two cloaked men went down, but a wand was in their back before they could take down anymore. A cloaked man held a wand to Luna's back, Aunt Bella stood nearby, and as they twisted slightly to see who it was with their wand in Draco's back...

They stared at the face of their father.


It was weird, to have their father threatening to use an Unforgivable Curse on them. Blood was pumping in their ears too loud for them to really pay attention to the conversation. Something about a prophecy and the Dark Lord, scars, everything faded to a buzz-

Orbs crashed around them, and they were released in the surprising turn of events. They got to running, making sure Luna stayed in front of them in case of any spells cast from behind. The two met up with Ron and Ginny, before turning, not to get anywhere in particular, but rather just lose the Death Eaters.

There were only four Death Eaters following them as they ran into a room full of planets, before turning around. Planets were thrown, curses sent, and Draco dodged out of the way of multiple jets of light; Their hood was off by now, but they didn't care. A purple light hit Ron straight in the chest and he went down, a smile on his face and his chest still moving to signify that he was alive. In the Death Eater's moment of pride, she didn't notice Draco's Stunning spell and went down close to Ron.

A crack echoed through the air, and two bodies fell. Thankfully, they were bodies, not corpses. Luna took out the last one, before the two made their way to Ginny and Ron, the former sitting on the floor with her wand out, ready to curse anyone.

She faltered, nearly cursing Draco, before lowering her wand at the sight of Luna. "They're taken care of?"

"Yeah." Draco answered, helping Ron up. "We should keep moving."

A nod, and Luna was helping Ginny stand. She didn't seem to be able to use one of her legs. The shorter girl was having some trouble, and as Ron could stand mostly by himself, Draco took Ginny and led the male Weasley to Luna. The female Weasley shouted in outrage as Draco lifted her, and they rolled their eyes. "It's only my ankle, I can do it myself!"

"It's faster this way, Weasley, shut up." And Luna opened the door, only to come face to face with Harry and Neville, Hermione being carried bridal style in the latter's arms.

"What... Happened?" Harry asked, startled by the scene he came across. Luna launched into an explanation, quick and short, and the group started to move towards another door, hoping for an exit. But one across the hall burst open, and more Death Eaters came out. They were shouting that they had found Potter, spells were being cast left and right.

They entered a room... Filled with brains? And the battle continued on. Ginny was set near Hermione's unconscious body, near the door. It was terrifying to hear Ron go down, and Ginny's shouts to be cut off quickly after. Luna went flying and was knocked unconscious. Everyone was alive, though, so unless someone died or was painfully tortured, Draco refused to reload.

The numbers of Death Eaters dwindled, and Draco knew something was wrong when they could only find Neville. The two helped each other take the others to a safer place, against the wall, before following the mess of turned over desks and chairs, finding Harry surrounded by Death Eaters. They pulled their hood on farther down their head.

"-there are ten of us and only one of you." It was their father. "Or hasn't Dumbledore ever taught you how to count?"

Neville, ever the Gryffindor, shouted. ''He's not alone! He's still got us!"

The two scrambled down the stone benches, casting stunning spells as Harry tried to convince them to leave. But Neville wasn't having it, and so Draco wouldn't stop eith-

A set of hands grabbed them, and they saw another set grab Neville. He was struggling, and the Death Eaters laughed.

"It's Longbottom, isn't it?" Their father sneered. "Well, your grandmother is used to losing family members to our cause- your death will not come as a great shock."

"Longbottom?" repeated Aunt Bella, and a truly evil smile lit her face. 'Why, I have had the pleasure of meeting your parents, boy-"

"I know you have!" Neville roared, fighting harder against his captor. The one that held Draco tightened his hold, as if warning them to not struggle.

"Someone stun him!"

"No, no, no!" Bellatrix shouted, looking alive with excitement as she glanced between the two. "No, let's see how long Longbottom lasts before he cracks like his parents- unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy."

Draco didn't know what they were talking about, and Neville shouted for Harry to not give it. But as their aunt smiled, raising her wand, a Crucio on her lips, Draco shouted.

Merlin, they were becoming a Gryffindor. Bellatrix stopped, recognizing the voice, and stormed over. She yanked the hood off, a storm of anger in her eyes, and they could see their father's shocked expression.

"Draco?" The two asked, their aunt in anger and their father in shock, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You are a... traitor to the Dark Lord, how DARE you, Draco!" She shouted, preparing to curse Draco. They didn't look to their father, knowing that if they did he would try to do something. No, no, they would take responsibility, they wouldn't drag their father down with them if they could help it. But at the first syllable of the curse he acted, stunning her from behind. The other Death Eaters turned, surprised, but were turned away from cursing Lucius to oblivion when two doors slammed open, revealing five Order members. Shacklebolt, Lupin... Sirius? They all sent spells towards the group, and as the Death Eater holding them shoved them to the ground, Draco was hit with a beam of red light.

Fights raged on around them as their world turned to black. But Chara was alive, shouting at them to wake up, meaning they weren't dead.

Reload?

No.


A/N: Well this happened. Fifth Year is almost done!