Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Series (1997-2007) and any characters and original locations within the books belong to JK Rowling. I own my original characters and my plot twists. I am not trying to pass any of these characters or copyrighted ideas off as my own and therefore it isn't plagiarism or copyright infringement.
Chapter Twenty-Nine – The Battle of the Tower
The day had come and Leo got through his last day of classes. He knew what was happening that night, and he knew he'd be running straight into a dark world full of dark people. It was a combined sense of elation and dread that filled Leo's heart when the small little sparrow ventured through the Vanishing Cabinet and came back alive. He could help but allow his happiness and relief to fill him. He knew deep within the pit of his stomach that many people would grieve by the end of the night. He was torn between the desires to protect his family for selfish reasons, and causing pain to the friends he's made. He heard someone call to him and he automatically recognized the woman's voice. He quickly reached into the pocket of Draco's robes and found some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. He quickly threw it down and kicked the Divination teacher out of the room.
Once she was yelling in the hallway, Leo let out a sigh. He knew he had to focus on his selfish desire to protect his family and fulfilling the promise he made to his brother. In the end, he knew Dumbledore's death would cause great pain to Harry, but he had to trust the wise old wizard. He had to trust in the success of the plan Dumbledore had laid out in his dying days. He took in a deep breath and climbed into the Vanishing Cabinet. He had to contact the Death Eaters through the floo in the Borgin and Burke's store. He also needed to retrieve Draco's Hand of Glory from the shop. He would need its ability to light in any darkness, in case he needed to get past the guards Harry would place in front of the room. He walked toward the fireplace and flooed the manor and stuck his head in the fire. He screwed his face to that of a look of indifference when his Aunty Bella answered the call.
"Oh Draco, did manage to open Hogwarts for us?" Her lilting and eerie tone caused a shiver to run up his spine.
Leo kept his composure, "Yes, the Vanishing Cabinet has been fixed. Please inform the Dark Lord and anyone whose participating will need to descend on Borgin and Burkes. I must get back and wait for the reinforcements to arrive." He pulled his head out of the fireplace and quickly walked back over to the Vanishing Cabinet. He was back in the Room of Hidden Things. He tapped his bracelet and warned Nott. It's happening tonight. The Death Eaters are coming through.
The coin in his pocket warmed and he read the message from Rosmerta stating Dumbledore was going for a drink at the Hogs Head. His bracelet heated up. I will transfigure my robes and appearance, and fight as a Gryffindor. However, I will fight dirty like any good Slytherin.
Leo smiled until he heard the knocking on the cabinet door. His smile quickly faded as he schooled his features into the mask of stoic indifference. He didn't want to give anything away, as he prepared for the first step toward his family's freedom. He felt a brush on his shoulder and knew Draco was there to witness the attack. Draco had learned how to dream walk and planned to witness the death of Dumbledore. He mentally thanked Draco for his solidarity. Just feeling his energy ignited the flame of courage within Leo.
Draco had spent the day reading Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. Living with Luke and Elaine had opened his eyes to the great literary works of the Muggle World, which all started with the Prince and the Pauper. He had to admit that he understood the world of Pride and Prejudice better as it was quite similar to the way he grew up. Well, minus the magic and the looming Dark Lord. He grew up and learned the Malfoy pride and arrogance. He had no problem empathizing with Mr. Darcy, as he was quite like the man. He understood what it was like for girls to throw themselves at him because of his good looks and wealth. Also, even though he tried to present himself as the most confident person, he was shy and insecure. Growing up under the thumb of Lucius Malfoy taught him how to act properly, but left him with a bruised ego. Of course, never knowing if a person was your friend because of your family name and wealth or because they truly liked you didn't help. He never had friends, only followers who were happy to be rid of him. Pansy was all too happy to be seen on Zabini's arm when he was too busy to give her enough attention. Crabbe and Goyle just complained when he needed them to stand guard. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if his family lost any more influence with the Dark Lord.
Draco was overwhelmed with a sense of elation as well as underlying dread. He didn't know where the feelings came from, as there was no reason for him to have such mixed emotions. He continued to read the book, as he tried to ignore them. He got to the end of the book and smiled. He couldn't help but hope to have a happy ending one day. He so wanted a love like that of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Well, that is if he ended up surviving the upcoming war. If he didn't lose one or both of his parents, that would break him. Just as much as losing Leo would. His mind clouded for a moment. Leo, he remembered what his brother had told him about experiencing his emotions. Was it possible that the elation and dread was coming from Leo? He placed the book on the nightstand and gasped, "Could it be happening tonight?"
He got up from the bed to pace back and forth across the small bedroom. He was suddenly hit with paralyzing anxiety wondering what was going on. He leaned back on the bed hoping there was a way to find out what was happening thousands of miles away. He sighed closing his eyes wondering how Leo was so easily drawn to him. Could he achieve the same feats as his younger brother? He felt calmness wash over him as his conscious mind faded into a lulling sleep.
Draco wasn't sure what happened or how he'd traveled so far, but he was now standing in the Room of Hidden things, as he watched Leo open the Vanishing Cabinet to let in the Death Eaters. He was relieved that lives of his family were no longer hanging by such a fine thread, but he was filled with worry when he noticed the Werewolf Greyback was with them. He didn't want that monster running through the halls of his beloved school. Who knew what kind of damage he would cause against the students, but maybe him not being transformed would have an impact.
Once everyone was in the room and the plan discussed, Leo was to check the corridors. He grasped his Hand of Glory, which gave light to only the person holding it. His other hand was in the robe pocket where he had another chunk of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, incase his suspicions were correct. He looked around and sure enough Ron, Ginny, and Neville were all waiting outside of the room for him. He sighed as he threw down the powder and hoped that none of them were harmed during this battle. Perhaps Harry had the foresight and remaining liquid luck to give them. He hoped so, because he wouldn't forgive himself if something happened to any of his friends because of the role he needed to play to save his family.
They made a conga line, so that the Death Eaters could follow him toward the Astronomy Tower, where everything was to go down. Since Leo had informed them that Dumbledore had gone to Hogsmeade for a drink at one of the pubs, Gibbon's suggested they set off the Dark Mark to draw Dumbledore to the tower. Leo sighed internally, realizing Dumbledore's last minutes of life would be in the part of the castle he and Draco had taken refuge over the past year. That place would soon be marred with the memories of a Great Wizard's death.
Everything started to get out of hand when they neared the stairs leading the Astronomy Tower. That was when they ran into Ron, Ginny, Neville, Bill, Lupin, his cousin Dora, and the Professors doing rounds. Leo ran out of darkness powered and hoped Harry was as lucky as he seemed to be. Leo reluctantly pulled his wand along with the other Death Eaters to fight. Gibbon's took off to the Astronomy Tower and set a Cursed Barrier that only allowed those marked through. He ran back down to the fight after casting the dark mark but was hit by a stray Killing Curse as he came down the stairs. Leo was happy one of the Death Eaters was down. He hoped the majority of his forces ended up dead by the end of the battle and that none of his friends were harmed.
When he saw Neville get hit with a curse and Bill mauled by Greyback, he felt all of the blood drain from his face. He stepped over Bill's body on his way up to the tower. He hoped that Bill wasn't dead. He couldn't live with himself if Fleur's Fiancé died because he was selfish and wanted to save his family from harm. She was a wonderful woman and deserved happiness. Maybe luck was on their side and he was just hurt. Hopefully he would survive to be his brother-in-law one day. He really did like Bill. He ran up the stairs to the tower and heard some whispering as he reached the doors to the tower. He burst through the door pointing his wand at Dumbledore's back, "Expelliarmus!" He watched as Dumbledore's wand flew over the ramparts of the tower. He had just disarmed the dying wizard. He now stood before Leo defenseless, who had his wand still pointed at Dumbledore. He knew he had to make his desire or need to kill Dumbledore convincing until he was relieved by Snape. He couldn't help but wonder if anyone had notified Snape of the attack. He couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before Snape appeared. He mentally yelled as he felt his wand shake in his hand. He knew he couldn't do it. He didn't have enough anger or hatred to mean it. With any of the Unforgivable Curses you had to mean it. He didn't want to kill the man before him. He understood that Dumbledore was dying but he was incapable of killing. He would do whatever he had to keep his cover, anything but intentionally killing another person.
Draco followed his brother up the tower where he quickly disarmed Dumbledore. He was aware the old man knew about the attempts on his life and the assignment given to Draco. Leo had kept him apprised of everything that year, but was he actually going to die? Would his final breath be taken that night? Draco had believed his father's assessment of Dumbledore for many years. He couldn't help but wonder if part of it was because of his own jealousy. He was jealous that Potter and his friends seemed to be the Headmaster's favorites. It was easier to think of the man as an incompetent muggle lover, than admit that he valued Harry Potter for traits that Draco himself didn't have. However, now the old man was putting on a show for the invisible Potter in the room. Draco was sure that the man wouldn't really offer the Malfoy's protection like that. Draco couldn't help but wonder if he was standing there instead of Leo, would he accept the protection Dumbledore offered? He was a coward after all, but he was afraid of the Dark Lord more than Dumbledore.
He listened as Leo played along and answered every one of Dumbledore's questions. Draco could feel his nonexistent head shake in disapproval. So, Leo and Dumbledore had to spell everything out for the dimwitted Potty. Apparently, the Boy Who Lived didn't figure out enough of what was going on around him. So, he listened as Leo explained how he'd figured out the connection of the two Vanishing Cabinets after hearing Montague's story the previous year. How he was responsible for both the cursed necklace and the poisoned mead. How he had Rosmerta under the Imperious Curse and communicated with her through a charmed coin. He listened with baited breath as everything was spelled out crystal clear. Soon the Carrow brother and sister joined Leo, demanding he fulfill his mission and kill Dumbledore. They were accompanied by the horrible Greyback, who Draco wished he could turn his wand on and one other nameless Death Eater.
Draco was able to feel every one of Leo's emotions masked behind a mask of fear. He had to admit Leo did a really good job of portraying him. He didn't know how a Gryffindor could so easily play a scared and broken Slytherin, but for some reason Leo was able to pull it off. Soon his Godfather came barreling up the stairs. Draco felt shock flood through him as he watched Dumbledore pleading with Snape and his godfather's face filled with anger and disgust. He pointed his wand at the slumping man and a green light burst from his wand. The wise and powerful wizard that was once Dumbledore fell from the tower as soon as the curse hit him. He fell toward the ground where his wand had fell earlier. The wizard was now reunited with that wand. The wand picks the wizard, but does it remain loyal after death? Draco felt the tears tumble from his eyes as he wiped them away. He sat up in Leo's bed in France.
Draco stood up from the bed. He felt horrible but relieved at the same time. His family was safe because Dumbledore was dead, but the Dark Lord had gained more power because Dumbledore was dead. Harry Potter was on that tower and watched a man Dumbledore trusted kill him. Draco ran his fingers through his hair and pulled. He couldn't handle this. How could he? He felt sick to his stomach and soon was running toward the on suite bathroom. He dropped to his knees and closed his eyes as his dinner mixed with bile came up. He didn't have the stomach for murder, and he couldn't help but wonder if his father was capable murder. He knew he was capable of torture, but could he kill someone. Those thoughts only shook Draco further as more bile rose from his stomach. He felt fatigue wash over him and collapsed to the cold tile floor. He managed to wipe the beaded sweat from his forehead before he lost consciousness.
A/N: I know this is a shorter chapter, but there wasn't much more that I could put in here. Also, I apologize for the lack of dialogue, but seemed more like an inner monologue chapter. I didn't see the point in quoting the conversation between Draco and Dumbledore in this scene because we already know what's going on. It's different in the Half-blood Prince book because Harry only has assumptions and doesn't get the complete picture until he overhears the conversation between Draco and Dumbledore. I didn't want to be too repetitive. Also, I wanted to show a bit of what Draco's been up to. So do you feel this is a half bad chapter or not? Just one more chapter left and this fiction is done. I plan on writing a sequel at some point but I cannot guarantee it will be anytime soon.
