Chapter Twelve

The Manor Again

Harry's eyes flew open wide. "Ginny-?"

He didn't remember passing out. He just remembered disapparating, Ginny's screams, the Death Eaters strong fingers trying to pull Ginny out of Harry's grip. Harry slumped back, exhausted. His back touched something cold and hard- some sort of stone wall, maybe? It was pitch black, Harry couldn't see his own hands even if he held them directly in front of his face. He couldn't tell if he was inside or outside, a cool wind seemed to be coming out of nowhere, blowing was felt like some fine dust across the ground.

"Hello?" Harry was surprised by how loud his own voice sounded in the dark and seemingly empty room. "Is anybody there?"

"Harry?"

Harry's head turned blindly towards the familiar, clipped voice. "Percy?"

He felt who he assumed was the third oldest Weasley child move closer.

"Harry, is that you?"

"Yeah. Are you alright? Are the others there too? Where are we?"

"We're in the Malfoy Manor. One of the Death Eaters came into the Burrow and took mother. They use her to lure us into the garden, where more of them came. The took us here and put us into what I think is some sort of dungeon, or cellar. They keep on coming back, taking one of us with them every five minutes or so. They just left with Fleur. You and I are all who's left." Percy explained.

"Probably saving me for the grand finale or something." Harry muttered, before catching himself. "No offense."

"None taken." They sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Harry kept expecting for some door to swing open, and for someone to come and take him away. It became so quiet, Harry wasn't even sure Percy was there anymore.

"I'd let them kill me." Percy said quietly, startling Harry out of his dark oblivion.

"What? Why would you say something like that? You haven't done anything wrong, Perce."

"No, I have. Think about it Harry. I left my own family to fend with war by themselves for over two years. I chose the stupid ministry over my own family." He broke off, before adding, "It's my fault that Fred is dead."

Harry was momentarily shocked by Percy's sudden confession, before contemplating what he meant. "Percy, it's not your fault. There's nothing you would have been able to do-"

"That's not the point, Harry! I'm his older brother! It was my job to protect him, no matter how stubborn or bloody independent he got! He didn't deserve to die! He had way too much to live for! It should have been me! I am nothing, Harry! Nothing compared to what he could have been, or would have been if it weren't for me!"

Harry took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to convince Percy that it wasn't his fault that Fred died. "Perce, it's war. You can't just choose who deserves to die and who doesn't. You can trust me about that, I would know."

Percy began to say something, before a door banged open, letting in a stream of bright, yellow light. Two men bearing the masks of a Death Eater stood in the doorway, blocking out most of the light, casting shadows over Harry and Percy.

"Well lookee who we have here." The shorter of the two said, leaning over Harry. "Mr. Potter himself." He turned his masked and hooded head to the side, a curious sense of amusement radiating from him. "What an honor." The Death Eater sounded quite familiar, from where Harry was uncertain. The second Death Eater, tall and bulky in shape, grabbed Percy by the back of his shirt, bringing him close to his masked face.

"We've got another Weasley, it looks like. Should we put him with the others?"

"Yeah," Said the first Death Eater. "And take Potter here too, while you're at it. I hear he's very close to the blood traitors family. I'll tell the boss that they're ready."

"Ready for what?" Percy's face was pale in the dim lighting.

"Don't ask questions, blood traitor!" The second Death Eater slammed Percy's head once on the stone wall, and the redhead went limp in his arms.

Harry's heart raced, but he knew better than to protest. He needed to get to the rest of Weasleys; he would take things from there.

The second Death Eater picked up Harry with surprising strength, and followed the first out of the small cellar, Percy thrown over one shoulder like a sack of flour, unconscious, and Harry over the other, a trying not to yell in anger as the Death Eater slowly walked out of the cellar, the first Death Eater following behind him. A fire burning off hatred raged inside Harry, more powerful than anything he had ever felt before. The Weasleys are the only true family he had ever known, and if he knew one thing for sure, it was that he wasn't leaving this Manner without them. He just had to figure out how.

The second Death Eater yelped suddenly, and collapsed to the ground, his eyes half-closed, small groaning noises emitting from the back of his throat. Harry and Percy tumbled to the Death Eater's sides, bumping against the walls of the slim hallway. Harry sat up, squinting and confused at the Death Eater who stood behind them, his wand out.

In a single movement, the Death Eater swiped his hand across his face, and the mask dissipated into black smoke, revealing his face and leaving Harry stuttering. "Draco?"

The pale faced Malfoy's eyes were hard as he strutted over to Harry, grabbing him by the back of his shirt and pulling him onto his feet gruffly.

"Get up, Potter, unless you want me to put you and Weasel face here," Draco grumbled, gesturing harshly at Percy's slumped figure. "Back in the cellar."

"But I don't understand." Harry said, as the two each grabbed one of Percy's arms and carried him down the hallway. "Why did you rescue us?"

"Well, I had to do something to pay you back." Draco snapped.

"Pay me back for what?"

"You seriously don't remember?"

Harry thought. The entire battle had seemed like a big blur, it was hard to really remember anything from that night. Draco sighed impatiently.

"You saved Goyle and I from Crabbe's stupid fiendfyre, Potter. You could have let us there to die, but you didn't." His voice softened slightly.

Harry nodded slowly, and remained silent. The Malfoy Manor was huge, way larger than Harry remembered it. Then again, Harry had never been through the entire Manor like he was going through it now, Draco leading them through numerous exquisitely decorated hallways, up and down spiraling grand staircases, passing at least fifty closed off doors and rooms as they went. Harry could see the last ray of daylight disappearing over the horizon through a large, crystal clear window.

As they rounded a corner, Draco stopped so suddenly that Harry nearly dropped Percy, who was beginning to stir.

"What is-" Draco clamped a hand over Harry's mouth, cutting him off. Harry's eyes shot around the hallway. With a start, Harry spotted Lucius Malfoy, looking wearier than usual, though strutting down the hall with a sense of self dignity about him that made Harry sick. Draco pulled Harry and Percy into a corner, behind a thick velvet red curtain and hidden from view.

"Potter," He hissed. "You need to take Weasley and go. I'll hold off my father. For how long I'll be able to do so though, I don't know. Go to the sixth door on your left down the hall. That's where they're holding the rest of them," He jerked his head towards Percy. "And Hermione."

Harry was moderately taken aback by the sudden use of Hermione's first name. Draco had ever called her anything other than Granger or Mudblood. And it might have been a trick of the light, but Harry could have sworn he saw Draco's pale cheeks tinge pink as he said it. Draco began to pull back the curtain, stepping outside into the hall, leaving a confused, slowly awakening Percy and an even more confused Harry watching from behind the curtain.

"Draco?" His old enemy stopped in his tracks, not turning around at Harry's words, though obviously listening. Harry bit his lip. "Thanks."

Draco didn't say anything, only hesitating for about a fraction of a second. He then straightened up, and continued his stride, going to meet the footsteps that now echoed down the hallway, growing nearer and nearer as the seconds of the night wore on.