AN: Hello again! This is an important Author's Note, so I hope you'll read it. As you read this chapter, I want you to remember this has been a very fluffy story so far and that things often have a way of working out when all seems lost. I think that was subtle enough, but I encourage everyone to read the next chapter before passing judgment on me, calling for my head or hunting me down. That's all the subtle hints I'll give, but I imagine many readers will skip this note and jump to conclusions. I'd advise against that! Thanks so much for reading! Special thanks to my wonderful beta, DancingHorses.
Chapter 28
After a moment, Draco got into his healer mode. "What hit her?" Draco demanded.
"We don't know! It was purple and she passed out," Ron said, laughing. Since they had arrived, he had not stopped laughing.
Harry looked to Ginny to see what was wrong. "One of them got him with a spell. He's been a little loopy ever since," she said.
"Harry, watch the door with Neville, I'm going to see what I can do. Try to figure out how to get out of here too, if you can," Draco said, and Harry moved over to the door with Neville.
Draco cast some quick diagnostic charms and saw that there was spell damage of some sort.
He tried a few basic spells to clear the blockage, but nothing seemed to work. "This is beyond me. Maybe she'll wake up on her own."
"Let's just go," Harry said.
They all stood up, but Ginny had some trouble. Draco thought it was her ankle and cast a quick Episky. She smiled at him and was able to walk a lot better.
"Neville, can you carry Hermione, and Ginny, make sure Ron keeps up," Harry ordered. "If we go through here, we'll be in the big circular room with the arch. From there we can get out pretty easily," Harry said.
It was a good plan, if they could get through the room with no Death Eater trouble. Draco somehow doubted it would be that easy.
Sure enough, right as they got to the center of the room, right by the strange veil, Death Eaters apparated in. Each of the members of the DA were captured and held at wand point, other than Draco and Harry.
The Death Eaters surrounded the two of them. Draco and Harry went back to back with their wands drawn, and the Death Eaters laughed.
Aunt Bellatrix said, "Did wittle Dwaco and wittle Hawwy run out of places to hide?"
"Draco, I am so disappointed in you. Picking Potterover our family and the Dark Lord. You are nothing but a blood traitor, and no son of mine," Lucius said. Draco could feel his bracelet burning on his wrist.
"It's not like you ever treated me much like a son anyways, so no real loss," Draco said.
"You impudent worm. I shall enjoy ending you," Draco's father said in a rage.
"It was so easy manipulating you this year, Father. I've been on Harry's side since September and I loved every minute of it."
Draco felt Harry grab his free hand. "And even if this is the end, then at least we die free and not a slave to some half-blood hypocrite," Draco said.
Draco could tell all the Death Eaters were angry now. Aunt Bella screamed. When they are angry, they are not as in control, Draco thought.
"You have said your piece. Now does Potter have last words before we kill you all?" Lucus said.
"Only that your side has no chance of beating mine. Even if I die, we'll win."
Lucius laughed. "Silly boy. One more chance, hand over the prophecy and I'll make sure it doesn't hurt too badly as you die."
"That's the thing, Lucius. Do you mind if I call you Lucius?" Draco's father growled. "The Prophecy broke. But thankfully I know what it said now." Harry smirked. He was getting good at lying. "And I know you can't win."
Lucius looked a little disturbed by this, but he recovered his composure quickly. "I'm sure we can work something out, Potter. You're little friends don't have to die."
"Can I torture mine a little? See if this Longbottom lasts as long his parents?" Bellatrix asked, sounding hopeful.
"This is your last chance, Potter, surrender or die," Lucius said.
Draco squeeze Harry's hand and whispered, "It's been great, Harry. Thank you." And with that, Draco launched himself at his father, casting as many high-powered spells as he could. Harry was also firing spells at Lucius, and he was having trouble blocking them all.
Draco and Harry kept sending colored bolts of different spells and curses towards Lucius. Bellatrix hurriedly pushed Neville to the ground and began making her way over to where Draco and Harry were fighting. Neville stood and started casting at her back, using Hermione's wand.
The other Death Eaters were about to join the fray when suddenly new people appeared and began fighting them.
The Order had arrived.
Lucius was caught off guard by the onslaught and went down under several red spells.
Bella was still stalking towards Draco and Harry, but they were side by side, ready to fight her.
Sirius was suddenly in front of them and said, "Hello, Bella. Been a while."
"Cousin Sirius! How lovely to see you," she said, casting the Killing Curse.
They dived to the side and started firing spells back. Bella was focusing mostly on Sirius, who was trying to talk to Harry. "Get Draco and go, we'll be fine." Draco saw Tonks fighting one of the Death Eaters with Remus Lupin.
The duel was in full swing now. Draco was suddenly distracted from it when Neville shouted "DUMBLEDORE!"
They all looked and saw him. Harry assumed it was over now. Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard around; none of these Death Eaters could stand up to him.
"Get out, Harry!" Sirius shouted, and Draco took Harry's arm and started dragging him away.
They were both watching Sirius duel Bellatrix when suddenly she cast a green spell at Draco and Harry, trying to distract Sirius. He launched himself at the boys, knocking them to the ground. The curse hit him. He fell to the ground. Draco pulled Harry out from under the prone body of Sirius Black and began to guide him to one of side of the room.
Bellatrix was laughing and cast a few spells at Harry and Draco which seemed to break Harry from his stupor. Draco saw that Bellatrix was looking around and at the fray and that most of the other death eaters were down. She turned and made her way to the door. Harry moved to follow, casting spells at her back, which she blocked easily.
Remus was running over to help him and Harry shouted, "SHE KILLED SIRIUS!" and tried to break free from Draco's grasp to chase after the deranged Death Eater.
Remus arrived and he held onto Harry with Draco. "There's nothing you can do."
"Let me go! Maybe he's okay!" Harry said.
Draco was holding on to Harry with all his might. Like Harry, he was in shock. Sirius was dead. He'd seen a green spell hit his cousin and knew what that meant.
He was whispering nonsense to Harry to help calm him down, but it wasn't working well.
Remus and Draco had pulled Harry away from the center of the room—and from Sirius. He was calming down. Draco looked around and saw that Dumbledore had taken care of most of the Death Eaters.
There was a bang from the other side of the room, and Draco saw Tonks go flying and Bellatrix screaming in glee, "I KILLED SIRIUS BLACK!"
"She killed him! I'll kill her!" Harry shouted as he broke free of Remus.
Draco held on but Harry was running and Draco was struggling to keep up.
"Let me go Draco, I need to get her. She has to pay," Harry said.
"I'm never letting go, Harry. We'll go together," Draco replied.
Harry was still speeding along, but nodded and they chased after her. They made it out of the Department of Mysteries and then moved into the lift and pressed the atrium button.
When they arrived in the atrium, Bella was trying to make a quick escape. She heard them running behind her and turned.
"My traitorous nephew and his little boyfriend, come for revenge for dear cousin Sirius?" she mocked.
"We did!" Harry shouted, and they both cast some spells. None of them hit her and she was fighting back as well.
"Poor little Potter. Did you wuv him?" Bella asked, laughing.
"CRUCIO!" Harry shouted, and Bellatrix fell to the floor screaming. It didn't last long.
"Never cast that before, have you little Harry? You have to mean it," she said.
Draco was still trying to cast spells at her, but she was blocking them all. "Last chance, Potter. Give me the prophecy and I will let you and your little boyfriend leave here alive."
"I told Lucius before, the prophecy was smashed. Are you so addled-brained that you forgot already?"
"Impossible! Accio prophecy!" she said.
"There's nothing to summon," Draco said. "No one heard it, either. Tell your precious master that."
"I tried, Master, forgive me, please. Don't punish me!" she screamed hystericaly.
Draco and Harry looked at each other. She really was bonkers. "He's not here, he can't hear you."
"Oh, can't I, Potter?" A voice said.
"Master! Forgive me!" Bella shouted.
"So, it is destroyed, Potter? You have a surprisingly strong Occlumency shield. But I see all. You did destroy my prophecy. Pity."
"Master, he is here!" Bella said.
"Be silent. I will deal with you later. Potter, always thwarting my plans. And you, young Malfoy, standing with Potter. You bring shame to your name. I had such high hopes for you. You will both die tonight. AVADA KEDAVRA! AVADA KEDAVRA!" The dark lord shouted, casting at each boy in turn.
Draco was frozen in place, shocked that the Dark Lord was here. He figured this was the end, and reached out for Harry's hand.
Suddenly the curse was blocked by an animated statue. He looked around.
The Dark Lord spat, "Dumbledore."
"It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way."
"By which time I shall be gone and you'll be dead," The Dark Lord replied.
As the Dark Lord and Dumbledore were exchanging words, Draco did the Slytherin thing and led Harry away into a corner. He hoped they would be safe there.
They could still see the duel; Draco had to admit, it was some of the most impressive magic he'd ever seen.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Draco asked, taking his eyes off the battle.
Harry looked at him, his eyes sad. "I don't know, Draco. It hurts."
Draco hugged Harry. "You know I love you, and I'll be here for you, no matter what. I promise."
Harry smiled at him, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Everyone who loves me dies, Draco. Maybe you should walk away." He looked down.
Draco tilted up Harry's face so he was looking straight into his eyes. "I won't walk away, Harry. Ever. You're stuck with me."
Harry's smile widened. This time it did almost make his eyes brighten.
Suddenly, they were jarred back to looking at the battle by Bellatrix's scream of "MASTER!"
Draco looked around, but couldn't see the Dark Lord. Maybe Dumbledore got rid of him. Draco looked to Harry, who looked like he was in a lot of pain and then suddenly collapsed to the floor.
"Kill me now, Dumbledore," Harry said in a voice not his own.
Draco was panicked now. "Harry!" he said, shaking him.
"If death is nothing, kill the boy!" Not-Harry's voice said.
"Harry, it's okay. You can fight him! I love you." Draco was crying into Harry's robes now, hoping the Dark Lord would leave Harry's body. Dumbledore had made it over to them and was kneeling next to Harry as well.
Dumbledore was about to say something when suddenly Harry blinked and came back to himself.
The Dark Lord was standing on the other side of the atrium, and the room was filled with people, including the Minister of Magic.
Draco didn't care about all that. He wanted to make sure Harry was alright. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yes, I think I am. Thanks," Harry said.
"For what?" Draco asked, confused.
"I think I could hear you…When I started to think about you, and love, and people I love, he left my head."
"Oh," Draco said. "Glad I could help."
Harry laughed softly. Draco thought it was a wonderful sound. Both boys stood up, Draco helping Harry a little, but mostly the other boy seemed fine.
Dumbledore finished talking to Fudge and turned to them. "Harry, Draco, this is a Portkey to my office. Please hold on."
And with a hook behind their navels, Harry and Draco vanished.
