Chapter Fourteen: The Fight

Lucius Malfoy stormed in, accompanied by a small group of witches and wizards: Pansy Parkinson, Astoria Greengrass, Marcus Flint, Theodore Nott, Viktor Krum, Crabbe, and Goyle.

"No," Draco whispered, pushing Hermione behind him.

"This thing is not marrying my son," Lucius hissed. "I will not permit it!"

"It isn't up to you, Father, it's my choice!" Draco said loudly. "Now leave!"

"Now!" bellowed Lucius.

His little team sprang into action, drawing their wands.

Immediately, Draco, Hermione, Ginny, Blaise, Harry, and a few guests-mostly Weasleys-followed suit.

"STUPEFY!" screeched Pansy, pointing her wand at Ginny, who deflected the curse. Harry shot a body-bind curse at Goyle, but missed and hit Neville Longbottom.

Draco had begun to duel his father. Harry and Goyle, Ginny and Pansy, Fred and Flint, and George and Nott were all locked in combat. Most of the guests were running away, screaming.

"Come vith me," snarled a voice in Hermione's ear. A pair of arms picked her up and began carrying her towards the door.

"No!" she shrieked. "Draco!"

As Arthur Weasley Darted forward to take over the battle against Lucius, Draco turned to see his bride being borne towards the exit by Viktor Krum.

"Viktor! Put me down!" she screamed.

"No," he growled. "I love you. You are coming bact to Bulgaria vith me, and you vill be MY wife."

"No!" she screamed, fighting him. "Petrificus Totalus!"

He went rigid and dropped like a stone. A second, much stronger pair of arms grabbed her. She let out a bloodcurdling scream as she recognized her attacker, the man who had attacked her in Knockturn Alley.

"Hermione!" Draco roared, coming to her rescue. He pried Crabbe's arms loose and shouted at her. "Go! Run! I'll hold him off!" As Hermione turned to run, she saw Ginny hitting Pansy with the Bat-Bogey Hex, Fred Stunning Flint, George taking down Nott, and Harry bringing down Goyle. But where were Mr. Malfoy and Astoria?

Something was wrong. Most of the little group was fallen, save Crabbe, and Lucius and Astoria, who were nowhere to be seen. Hermione knew that Lucius wouldn't just give up and run; she had to warn Draco, who appeared to be losing.

"Dr-" was all she got out before Lucius and Astoria were in front of her, backing her into a corner.

"Get away from me!" she cried out in terror.

Astoria smiled. "You didn't really believe we'd let you marry Draco, did you?" she purred, a catlike grin spreading across her face. "I am not about to let the man of my dreams marry some Mudblood when he could have me instead!"

"Looks like your time's run out, Mudblood," drawled Lucius.

Astoria smiled as she raised her wand. "Avada-"

"STUPEFY!"

Astoria collapsed, and Hermione saw that Draco was standing a few feet away, wand outstretched.

"Get away from her," he snarled at his father. All the guests who had remained and had been fighting stood there with him, all their wands directed at Lucius.

"Draco, listen to me!" Lucius snapped. "Look at her! You don't deserve someone like that!"

"You're right," Draco said quietly. "I don't deserve anyone like her. I don't deserve anyone that perfect. But for whatever reason, she loves me as much as I love her, and you're not going to stand between us."

Lucius glared at his son. "I will get her. Eventually. I won't stand for this!"

Suddenly, he turned, spit on Hermione's face, and Disapparated.

Draco rushed to Hermione, who was shaking with fright and slightly disheveled, but otherwise unharmed. "Are you all right?" he asked, wiping her cheek with a handkerchief.

She nodded. "Are you?"

Draco nodded. "Of course. It'd take more than that to beat me," he said with a smile. "Now let's get married."