As Long As You're Mine
Chapter 14: The Real Harry
It was almost completely pitch black when they suddenly appeared at the gates of Malfoy Manor, moments later.
Tall iron gates barred them out, but the chief Snatcher strode up to the gates and rattled them loudly, the clanging echoing through the night. Suddenly the iron began to contort itself and all at once, a cold clear voice rang out through the silent night: "State your purpose!"
Hardly able to contain his excitement, the leader yelled out: "We've got Potter!" his voice almost cracking with excitement.
The gates immediately swung open, and the prisoners were dragged up the gravel driveway. As they reached the house, the front door opened and a dim light filtered out into the black drive, a black figure in the doorway.
Moments later, they were standing in a magnificent drawing room, with an enormous crystal chandelier on the ceiling, a roaring fire in the beautiful fireplace, and antique furniture lining the room.
Suddenly Charlie felt himself being shoved roughly forward into the centre of the room, the light from the chandelier blindingly bright.
"So it's really Potter?" said a cold voice, and Charlie raised his head slightly to see the cruel, proud face of Bellatrix Lestrange staring down at him.
"As I live and breathe, ma'am," said the head Snatcher, almost dancing with excitement.
"Good," she snapped curtly. "Draco, if you could show our guests out?" She motioned to the pale blonde-haired boy standing in the corner.
"But hang on, ma'am, we haven't got our reward yet!"
"Draco, get rid of this filth!" Bellatrix spat coldly. The Snatchers motioned as if to protest but she quelled them with such a look as would have frozen water into ice, and they hastily stumbled backwards from the room.
"Oughtn't we to call the Dark Lord?" Lucius Malfoy said.
Bellatrix ignored him, looking like she was thinking hard. "I must make completely sure it is really him, for if it isn't…." she trailed off.
At that moment, the door flew open and in stumbled Fenrir Greyback and a couple of his Snatcher cronies, accompanied by three miserable looking teenagers.
"What on earth is going on?" Bellatrix snarled, wheeling around and glowering at Greyback, who was looking overjoyed.
"We've got Potter, madam!" he yelled triumphantly, thrusting one of the figures forward into the middle of the room.
Everyone was silent. Charlie's heart was pounding furiously fast. No. This couldn't be happening. This would ruin everything. If they found out he wasn't really Harry Potter, he knew they'd kill him on the spot. Even worse, if that really was Harry, then hope was all but lost.
"Don't be ridiculous, you piece of filth!" spat Bellatrix. "This is the real Harry Potter! Did you really think you could play a stupid trick like that on me? Did you really think I wouldn't know you were lying, you scum? That's not Harry Potter! It doesn't even look like him – what's wrong with his face?"
Greyback growled furiously. "It's not a trick! This is Harry Potter! And look, here are his two friends. The ginger blood traitor and the Mudblood."
He shoved them forward into the centre of the room and Charlie's heart sank, as he caught sight of their faces.
Before him were the petrified faces of his brother and Hermione. They were both looking utterly terrified but were staring at him in utter amazement and confusion.
Bellatrix was looking from one to the other.
"Draco!" she screeched. "Get over here!"
"Don't talk to my son like that!" snapped Narcissa, but Bellatrix paid her no attention.
"Which one of these is Potter?" she said urgently, her voice cracked with excitement.
Draco looked uncertain, his face paler than ever. "I…I don't know. I can't b-be sure."
"Well, why not, boy? Come on, which one is it?" Bellatrix repeated, her eyes wild.
Just as Draco was looking from one Potter to the other, his eyes darting uncertainly, there was a loud bang and Bellatrix was launched off her feet as a jet of red light hit her from behind. The Malfoys whirled around to see the group of "Muggleborns" with their wands raised.
They looked at each other, realising they were the only ones left in the room, before quickly whipping out their wands.
All at once, it was mayhem. Jets of green and red light slashed across the room, ricocheting off suits of armour and cabinets, smashing furniture in their path to pieces.
The real Harry snatched the bunch of wands from Draco's hand, throwing one to each of Ron and Hermione. They were quickly bombarded with spells, which they frantically dodged, sending as many spells back as they could.
Charlie meanwhile quickly ducked the spells flying around him and motioned to Fred and George. The three of them dashed from the room, just about managing to avoid the spells rebounding across the room.
At that moment, there was a shriek. "Stop them!" Bellatrix Lestrange was on her feet, wand in hand, pointing at Charlie and the twins.
"Hold her off!" Charlie yelled desperately to Lupin, who nodded grimly.
Charlie and the twins tore off down the corridors, finding the first stairs they could, as they heard Bellatrix screech in protest.
"Where is this damned cellar?" Charlie shouted frustratedly, as they sprinted along the passageway. Suddenly they heard a faint cry.
"Alicia!" yelled Fred and George at the same time, and they sped round the corner to see a wooden door at the end of the passage, fortified with iron bars.
"Stand back!" yelled Fred. "Reducto!"
The door blasted into pieces and the three of them burst into the cellar. Crouching in the dim room were several figures. They flinched away from the sudden light.
"Dean? Luna? Mr Ollivander? What are you doing here?" George exclaimed, catching sight of them. Almost immediately, he shook his head. "You can explain later. We need to get out of here." He set about untying their bonds. "Where are the others?"
Charlie shook his head. He was trying to think, but he couldn't stop looking at Alicia who was leaning against the wall, looking very pale and ill, a bleeding gash on her head.
"Dobby," he said urgently and there was a sudden crack as the house elf appeared. They could still hear the crashes and screeches as the fight continued upstairs.
Dobby stared at Charlie with wide eyes.
"I need you to go upstairs and get the others. Take them to Shell Cottage. Then come back for us."
The elf nodded and disappeared quickly. The twins finished untying the others' bonds.
"Don't worry," Fred said, to the prisoners. "We're going to get out of here. Alicia, are you ok?" He looked concernedly at her. "What's the matter?"
Alicia's face was very pale and she seemed very dazed. "I'm ok," she whispered faintly. "Is that Harry? What's he doing here?"
"No, it's-" Fred began, but at that moment, they heard a clattering of footsteps on the stone steps and Bellatrix Lestrange appeared in the doorway, a manic grin on her face. "What happened to your ickle friends? Did they desert you? Well, we have you cornered now!"
She sent a jet of light towards Fred, who quickly cast a Shield Charm and it rebounded. She continued to throw hex after hex at them and the three with wands desperately tried to protect the others and themselves.
"Dobby, where are you?" thought Charlie desperately.
All at once he felt an arm grip him around the throat, cutting off his windpipe, restricting his breathing. Something cold and sharp was pressing into his throat. It was a silver knife.
"Nobody move, or I'll kill him," said Bellatrix, her voice almost maniacally gleeful.
"No you won't, you old bat," George said defiantly. "You have to wait for your precious Dark Lord for that!"
At that moment there was another loud crack, and Dobby appeared, panting, trembling with fear.
"Dobby!" screeched Bellatrix, furious. "How dare you? How dare you?"
The prisoners quickly joined hands with the twins. Bellatrix yelled for backup. "Don't think you're getting out of here. Not without your precious Potter."
"You need to go!" yelled Charlie.
"We're not leaving you behind!" George shouted.
"Yes you have to!" Charlie shouted, anguished. "Dobby! Now!"
The house elf grabbed Fred's hand and there was another loud crack and the cellar was suddenly empty, all except for Bellatrix and Charlie.
"No!" she screamed in fury. Then she seemed to calm down. "Well, at least we've still got you, Potter. Your loyal friends left you behind," she mocked, dragging him upstairs by the hair. "You're going to wish you'd never been born by the time the Dark Lord is through with you."
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, eight figures burst suddenly into the night, and collapsed, panting, onto a cold, dark beach.
There was a scream of anguish and everyone looked up to see Alicia, distraught, inconsolable, tears of anger and grief pouring down her cheeks.
"How could you? How could you leave Harry behind? They're going to kill him! What have you done?"
A/N. There you go! Very dramatic this one! Hope you all enjoyed it :)
I just wanted to make a little plea. I'd really love some more reviews from you guys, to let me know what you think…any improvements, constructive criticism, some praise even, if you think it deserves it. I've spent a lot of time working on this story and I know lots of people are reading and favouriting it but not reviewing. I've really only got a couple of consistent reviewers at the moment (thank you so much to you guys! You're the best :D) It really doesn't take long to leave me a quick review, and it would mean the world to me. Thank you! CN2