Seventh Year (Part VI)
Draco was called to the Headmistress' office three days before Christmas Break, and dreaded what the conversation would be the entire way there. Remus walked them there, tense, and was the one to knock on the door. With a small "Come in," he opened it, revealing a scene that Draco never thought they would see again.
Snape was sitting across from McGonagall, bandaged and bruised and so very tired. The two had grim looks on their faces, not as grim as before, but ones they didn't even attempt to hide when they saw the seventh year.
"Draco..." Snape began, his voice soft. He got up slowly, not betraying any of the pain that he was feeling, and headed toward his godchild. The man in black glanced at the Gryffindor tie but said nothing on it, instead studying Draco, having not seen them for months. Remus took this time to leave, and McGonagall accompanied him.
Snape was curious about the way that they changed. Draco held themself more casual than before, most likely the effect of being with Weasleys and Order members rather than prestigious purebloods. They had grown a bit as well, but it didn't show in the slight hunch they had gotten when they didn't think they were being looked at- right there, they straightened up. Draco's hands were behind their back, but one lifted up to run through brown-blond hair that reminded Snape so much of Narcissa's. Lastly were their eyes- well, eye, the other one still patched up. It was red, with flecks of gray and gold, but most importantly, there was no hidden emotion. They were a blank slate. But he returned to looking at Draco as a whole, who was curious but silent, dreading what their godfather would tell them.
"I am not sure if you had been made aware of this, but your parents have been missing for two and a half months." Not dead, just in France. Chara made a joke about how they weren't sure which was worse, but Draco just gave a small nod to Snape, face blank. It was unnerving from a bystander's perspective, to say the least.
"They're in France." They said it with a confidence that startled Snape, and he narrowed his eyes, questioning the Malfoy. "They left September first, Tonks took me to see mother one last time before they left."
Took them against her will, but she still took them. And they didn't have to mention they were the ones to make their parents go. At the look that Snape gave, Draco continued. "They're picking me up when school ends, if the war hasn't ended by then, and we're staying with relatives on the continent."
He nodded, and with a glance and a knock at the door, McGonagall and Remus came in, totally not having been at the door already. Remus had the decency to look ashamed at the look Snape gave, but McGonagall kept a tight lip and denied everything. She excused Draco, who headed out to get to class, but they weren't that far when they heard someone shout "You did WHAT to Slytherin House!?"
Snape had returned as extra security, much to his displeasure. Professor Jones offered her DADA position, since he was apparently a wonderful teacher last year, but he refused, saying that it wasn't his job to come in and steal others' teaching positions. Though he did seem to spend a lot of time in Slughorn's class, or in an extra Potions lab.
Draco's eye was completely back by the time January rolled around, much to their pleasure- "That sucks, punk, if it didn't grow back you coulda asked Al to give you cool arrows that came out of it." -and no one really commented on it anymore. There were no more questions about their eyes, except the color change that Draco quickly said was stress and a messed up spell, and all was fine.
Pansy was freaking out that Luna hadn't come back after Christmas Break- she apparently had heard that her father was in trouble and left with an Order member. The Order member was found dead, and she was still missing. But Pansy didn't care for the Order member, and seemed to be hidden away Merlin-knew-where most days. It was only when Draco went to visit Undyne that they found her.
When it was a physical fight, humans and monsters were well matched if either side trained enough. It was when the SOUL and magic got involved that the humans were capable of taking down multiple monsters- Draco learned that the first time they tried to physically fight Papyrus, and were thrown to the ground with just a hit. But it was interesting to see the way the two danced, dodging and attacking with style and sophistication- no bad moves, no tricks, just pure fighting.
Pansy was hit down to her back when she got distracted by Draco. She was flushed, whether from movement or embarrassment they didn't know, and got up quickly. The Ravenclaw opened her mouth to explain, but Draco interrupted.
"I just need to talk to Undyne, but I can come another time...?" They suggested, but she shot the idea down, collecting herself and saying that the two were almost done, anyways. She waved goodbye to Undyne and Draco before heading out, leaving them alone together. Undyne threw an arm around the Gryffindor, hugging them with a wide smile on their face. "What's up, punk?"
"Are the monsters staying at the castle?" They asked, surprising her with the suddenness of their question.
"No, we come every now and then, and are always on call- the Order calls us. Why do y-"
They were interrupted by the door slamming open, Finnigan and Theo catching their breath as they stopped in the doorway.
"Potter's back!" Seamus announced, smiling brightly. Theo seemed conflicted, not knowing whether to be happy or not at his return. They excused themself from Undyne, assuring her that they'd be back before heading off with the two boys down the hall. The trio rounded a corner, but Seamus held them back, shushing the two ex-Slytherins as they tried to question him.
"Crabbe and Goyle are fighting Pansy and Blaise." Seamus explained, and the two shoved him out of the way, trying to see. Indeed, the four were facing off, wands throwing spells at each other, left right and center-
"Stupefy!" Theo shouted as they saw the first word of the Killing Curse form on Goyle's lips. He went down, and Crabbe fled. The trio, now turned into a group of five, continued dow toward the Room of Requirement, expecting people to be there and talking to Potter. They were right, as Draco opened the door and revealed...
Order Members. Luna, who Pansy ran to. Dumbledore's Army, ready to fight. Potter was gone.
"He had to go find a... Crown?" A Gryffindor supplied. Draco looked to Blaise and Pansy, who only gave them a nod before the blond ran off to go find Potter, hoping to make the task easier by handing him the diadem themself. They hadn't his it in the room this time, they would just go to Gryffindor Tower and-
They were distracted when they slammed into someone, before stumbling back. When they looked up, they were surprised to see Potter, glaring at them. He had changed in the months that they hadn't seen him. The two paused for a moment, assessing the other- Potter was wondering if Draco was friend or foe, most likely- and the ex-Slytherin didn't fight back as their wand was taken out of their hand physically, before being pointed at their own face.
"I want to help, Potter. The diadem-"
"How do you know about it?" He interrupted, pointing Draco's wand at them.
"It's a Horcrux, isn't it? I can see the SOUL inside." They informed the Gryffindor, who nodded, studying Draco. "I want You-Know-Who to win as much as any Muggleborn wants him to, Potter, my family doesn't belong in the dirt serving someone. The Horcrux, it's in-"
The hallway got warm, warmer, and it was burning by the time that Draco registered there was Fiendfyre coming from their left. The two ran, Potter attempting to put out the fire with Aguamenti and failing, before deciding to just run.
"Gryffindor Tower, Potter! In my bag!" They called, before turning a corner, the sound of roaring flames mingling with new cries of pain as Crabbe got caught in his own fiery curse. They turned to the courtyard, and was able to stare up at the disintegrating shield in the night's sky.
The moon is shining from above. The air is still. The Battle has begun.
The thought of what will follow... It fills you with determination.
A/N: I JUST RUSHED THROUGH THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR WHOOOOOPS.