scene v
Break-in to Break Free

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"Draco, how in Merlin's name could you have botched up so royally without even saying a word? Oh right, it's because you didn't say a bloody word!" Severus called out, knowing Draco could hear him from his own cell.

Severus was met with silence.

"Draco? Draco, answer me this instant or-"

"We've been over this… Not that it matters… Nothing matters anymore…" Draco said slowly, monotonously.

"Inconceivable. Locked up, after all-Dumbledore believed-Never did I-And here I am-Bloody defenseless with a boy that has a maddening flare for dramatics but can't bloody act to save his life!"

"No matter what I would have said, there would have been no out! I've been found out. Harry's been found out. We've been found out-"

"You could have denied it all. Lie! Surely, you had enough practice lying to yourself for six odd years about your feelings for Potter. Couldn't you have summoned a little of that denial when you actually needed it in front of the Dark Lord?"

"It wouldn't have made a difference, Smith-"

"Smith is a nobody. He had nothing on you. That is, until you admitted it all with your bloody heart on your sleeve. And you even dared to look at me-your face, dripping with emotion? Do I mean nothing at all-Never mind. When we get out of here-"

"You think we'll get out?" Draco asked, wondering for the first time since being dragged into the cell.

"You believe Potter will let you rot here?"

"You seem to think so highly of Harry. Are you-"

"Bite your tongue, Draco, and if it's already bloody, bite harder."

Silence.

"How will he even know?"

"Because, Draco, while you were letting the Death eaters have their way with you, I contacted-"

Draco strained to hear, but Severus' words were definitely cut short. Chains rattled. And then silence. "Severus? Severus! What happened? Are you-"

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[the other side]

It was around that time of the morning when the dark night's veil was just beginning to lift, when shadows were forced to reveal their secret identities, when the crisp cold air was louder than slumbering creatures. It was at that time of the morning when Harry broke through the last of the Manor's wards and dealt with the three Death Eaters on watch.

He would have sighed in relief after coming so far, but the hardest part had not come yet. The hardest part, he knew, was when he would find Draco.

Five weeks and four days had passed since he last seen Draco. The past two of those days were spent in agony when he had learned that Draco had been imprisoned. And he wasn't allowed to do a thing about it. Utter agony.

Here, now, Harry summed up that it would only take mere minutes to find Draco, and that is what he was dreading now. It was not the idea of searching, of not knowing if there were any dangers that lurked at every hall, behind every door, in every corner that he passed. It was the idea of seeing Draco that scared him. What state would he be in? Would he be in his right mind? Would he be covered in blood? Harry wasn't sure of any of these things. His only saving grace was the feeling of knowing he was still alive.

Harry had never set foot in Malfoy Manor before, but he knew exactly where to go. It may have been a stroke of luck that he decided to turn left, the direction he needed to take. He could have been following his intuition when he entered the hall, which would lead him to the stairs that would take him down to the dungeons. No matter, Harry was able to find what he was looking for.

The heavily bolted doors swung open and Harry cautiously stepped inside damp territory. He squinted through the dark, letting his eyes adjust before moving forward. Torches were lit but only helped in separating each cell. All else was hidden in the darkness. A simple Lumos, would have helped, but he could not risk being found out, even if the only three known Death Eaters at the site were as blind as bats, lying unconscious on the living room floor, two stories above him.

Harry began making his way into the heart of the dungeons. He counted his silent footsteps as he turned a corner and listened for any sound to give way. He thought he had heard talking that sounded more like a faint buzzing.

Harry wished to call out Draco's name, but he was worried that there might be guards on watch. And even more scared of the thought that he might not get a reply.

Harry walked forward, he kept his back to the wall, his eyes trained on every cell that he passed, his breath was even, soundless and his wand was at the ready.

But then in the next moment he found himself greatly unprepared as he heard the last syllables to a spell being uttered from another wizard's strained lips:

…tatem.

Harry saw darkened eyes grow darker as he fought to regain his composure. And then he heard himself think of spells to override darker magic.

Chains clamored against cold stone. A figure moved.

Harry was entranced.

A gaze shifted.

Harry remembered himself. He broke into a run, his eyes darted from cell to cell. Nothing. And then:

"Severus? Severus! What happened?" said a voice that Harry longed to hear. "Are you-

Harry quickly turned another corner and found him. Somehow, through the darkness, green eyes met grey.

Harry smiled. "Your knight in shining armor? Why yes, I am."

END of ACT II