Harry could feel his scar throbbing as the snatchers yanked him and his friends up to the gates of Malfoy manor. Harry noticed that some of them were a bit scared of Emily, even though she was the most handicapped of them all. They had the nerve to chain her from hand to foot in heavy looking shackles. She continuously tried to step on their feet whenever possible, though.
They reached the gates just as a loud, booming voice echoed over the grounds.
"State your purpose." It said.
"WE'VE GOT HARRY POTTER AND EMILY ANGELINE!" Greyback announced. Immediately, the gate doors swung open.
"Come on," Greyback snapped to all of them. They hauled the lot into the yard and up to the front door. Narcissa Malfoy was already there to greet them.
"What is this?" She snapped.
"We've caught Potter and Angeline." Greyback said once more.
Narcissa gave Harry a once over and scowled, as if not convinced.
"We know he's a bit odd-looking ma'am, but it's him, really! See the scar?" Another snatcher pleaded, pushing back Harry's hairline to reveal the stretched out lightening bolt.
"Hmm… yes, that could be the scar…"
"And the girl!" Greyback growled. Emily was shoved forward so harshly that she almost fell over. Harry could see that she refused to look Narcissa in the face, but it was no use trying to hide. Her beauty was stood out like a white dove in a sea of black crows.
"Come in." Narcissa hissed. They all stumbled into the manor, one by one. Narcissa directed them into a sitting room with a high ceiling and roaring fire. Harry felt a harsh hand force him to his knees. He had no idea how he was going to get out of this one.
"The dark lord is out. There is no telling when he'll be back."
"Narcissa? What is this?" Lucius Malfoy said, coming up from behind his wife.
"They claim that they have Potter and the girl." She replied. Lucius's eyes lit up.
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's call him!" he said.
"Call who, Lucius?" called another voice from down the hall that made Harry convulse with rage. Bellatrix Lestrange came into view, her wild hair and sunken cheeks looking all too familiar.
"The Dark Lord, Bella. Greyback claims that he has caught Potter and Angeline." Narcissa explained.
"Well by all means!" Bellatrix cried out even more enthusiastically than Lucius, preparing to pull back her sleeve.
"No! Shouldn't we be sure it's them first?"
There was a pause.
"Very well. Fetch Draco. He will know." Bellatrix said.
Narcissa ran off into the house and returned shortly with Draco Malfoy, who looked more stingy and pale than ever.
"Draco! We have a job for you!" Bellatrix said sweetly. "We need you to tell us if these two, are truly Potter and Angeline."
She pointed in Harry and Emily's direction. Draco locked eyes with him.
"Come on sweetie! Don't be shy! Have a closer look!"
Bellatrix lead him over until he was kneeling right in front of them both. Emily's head was still downturned.
"Well? Is it really them?"
"I…" Draco began, "I can't be sure… what's wrong with his face?"
"Yes what is wrong with his face?" Bellatrix asked to the group of snatchers.
"He was like this when we found him ma'am. Reckon it was something he picked up in the forest."
Bellatrix turned back to them. "Looks more like a stinging jinx to me…" She got up and walked over to Hermione. "Was it you dear?"
"NO!" Emily suddenly cried, "It was me."
Bellatrix turned back to Emily as if she were seeing her for the first time.
"Really?" She said, "Now why would you do that?"
"It was… an accident. I was aiming for Greyback,"Harry heard Greyback chuckle at this, as if it were absurd that anyone could hit him
"Give me her wand." Bellatrix declared. She snatched Emily's wand from their hands and examined it.
"Hmmm…This does fit the description of Angeline's wand. But this…" she grabbed Harry's new wand, "Does not look like Potter's."
"Does it matter?" Lucius declared, "We have one of them, if not both! Let's call him!"
But at that moment, Bellatrix's eyes landed on the sword grasped in the Snatcher's hand.
"STOP!" She gasped. "W-where did you get that?"
"The red head was holding it when we found 'em miss. Finders keepers!"
At that moment, there was a bang and a flash of red light: Harry knew the snatcher had been stunned. There was a roar of anger from his fellows.
"What do you think you're playing at woman?"
"STUPEFY!" She yelled, "STUPEFY!"
They were no match for her, even though she was outnumbered. She was a witch of prodigious skill and no conscience. Harry wondered if in fact she might've almost been as skilled as Emily. Though, Emily was not nearly as heartless.
Soon, all the snatchers were sprawled against the floor, unconscious. Greyback was on his knees.
"Bellatrix, what are you-" Narcissa began.
"Be quiet Cissy! We have a very serious problem." Bellatrix snapped. "This sword is supposed to be in my vault at Gringotts… If the dark lord comes now…"
She paused to think.
"Put the prisoners in the cellar." She snapped to Greyback. He stood and grabbed them all by their shirts. Emily was still heavily chained, but she attempted to bite Greyback's hand as it touched her.
"Wait… all except… the mudblood."
"NO!" Ron lashed out, "NO! TAKE ME INSTEAD!"
But Greyback was already dragging the three down the stairs and through a dark passageway.
"HERMIONE! HERMIONE!" Ron continued to yell as he shoved them all into a room and protruded a protective spell over the door.
Then, there was a sharp, piercing scream.
"HERMIONE!" Ron yelled helplessly.
"Ron! Stop yelling!" Harry said, "We need a plan."
"Ron?" said a voice, "Harry? Is that you?"
A shadow in the corner of the room moved towards them, slowly.
"LUNA?" They both cried out.
"I knew it was you! Oh, I didn't want you to get caught."
"Luna, what are you doing here?" Harry asked.
"They didn't like what father had been writing in the Quibbler," She sighed, "So they took me. But I'm quite all right, really. Mr. Ollivander and Griphook the goblin are here too!"
"Mr. Ollivander? Griphook?"
"Yes. But They're very weak."
Harry looked around wildly, his mind reeling for ideas of escape.
"HOW DID YOU GET INTO MY VAULT AT GRINGOTTS?" Bellatrix cried from above. This was followed by another scream of pain.
"HERMIONE!" Ron continued to bellow. He was now trying to dissaparate without a wand.
"It's no use Ron, the place is enchanted!" Emily told him, gripping Ron firmly by the shoulders to stop him from spinning. Harry could hear Hermione's shrieks echoing off the walls upstairs. In utter desperation, Harry untied the pouch around his neck that Hagrid gave him for Christmas, and dumped its contents onto the floor. He found the glass shard from the mirror that Sirius had given to him, and looked into it. He saw the gleam of a bright blue eye…
"Help us, please! We're in the cellar at Malfoy manor! Help us!"
Then, the eye was gone, and Harry wasn't sure if he had imagined it or not.
"How did you this sword?" Bellatrix screeched.
"It's not t-the real one… a copy!" Hermione sobbed.
"A copy? Oh likely story."
"There is an easy way to check," They heard Lucius say. "Draco, fetch the Goblin!"
There was a series of footsteps and then a voice on the stairs.
"Don't try anything! Or I'll kill you!" Draco shouted, opening the cellar door. His wand hand was shaking aggressively as he pointed it at them. "Goblin! Come with me!"
Griphook the goblin stumbled out from a corner of the cellar.
"Griphook! You have to tell them it's a copy! Please!" Harry begged. The goblin simply looked at him and slowly followed Draco out.
At that moment, there was a loud crack that echoed inside the cellar. Ron clicked the diluminator in his pocket, and light filled the room to reveal Dobby the house-elf, who had just apperated into their midst.
"Dobby!" Emily cried out in joy.
"Harry Potter, Milady Angeline! Dobby has come to rescue you!" Dobby declared.
"But how-" Harry began, but Emily interrupted him.
"Dobby, could you do me a huge favor and get these chains off me?" She asked. Dobby nodded and quickly snapped his fingers. The chains fell into a heap at her feet.
"Ah, that's much better. Now Dobby, I need you to take Mr. Ollivander and Luna to Shell Cottage on the outskirts on Tinworths!" She instructed, taking charge. "They'll be safe there. Right Ron?"
Ron stood looking baffled, as if he hadn't expected Emily to know about the cottage.
"Then come back," Emily finished quickly, "Can you do that Dobby?"
"Of course Ms. Angeline, ma'am!" Dobby nodded. He grabbed Luna's hand and Luna dragged him over to Mr. Ollivander. Then, with another loud crack, they were gone.
The three heard another pair off feet descending the cellar stairs, so they parted off and stood with their backs against the wall. When the door opened, they saw it was Wormtail. His wand was raised when suddenly there was a loud bang, and he fell to the floor, unconscious. Harry, Ron, and Emily looked up into the stairway, where the spell had been shot from, and saw Dobby holding another wand.
"Thanks Dobby! Come on!" Emily said, taking Wormtail's wand, and barreled up the stairs at top speed. Harry and Ron followed,
"Can we be sure it's a copy?" Bellatrix asked Griphook bitterly.
"Yes." Griphook said plainly.
"Good. Bellatrix sighed, "And now, we call the Dark Lord."
She pushed back her sleeve and touched her forefinger to the Dark Mark branded on her arm. Immediately, Harry felt his scar split open with the pain.
"You may have the mudblood, Greyback. We have no more use for her."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ron cried out, bursting into the room. Bellatrix whirled around, shocked.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Emily yelled. The spell cascaded across the room, causing every person to fly backwards. Bellatrix's wand flew into the air and Harry caught it immediately.
Lucius ran towards them, shooting spells rapidly in their direction, but Emily shoved Harry and Ron out of the way. She then flicked the wand she had in a casual manner and Lucius flew backwards into the burning hearth, putting out the fire. Harry shot a spell at Draco, and it missed him by inches.
"STOP," Bellatrix cried, now holding a knife to Hermione's throat, "OR SHE DIES!"
The fighting ceased. They all dropped the wands they were holding. Emily was looking at Bellatrix with a deep loathing in her eyes. Harry knew the feeling.
"Draco, pick them up!" She demanded. Draco hurried forward and collected the wands. "The Dark Lord will be here soon, you two! You deaths approach."
"I don't think so Bella," Emily seethed. At that moment, there was a faint squeak from above.
"Dobby has come to recuse Harry Potter and Milday Angeline!" Dobby cried.
Bellatrix looked up and the chandelier above their heads came crashing down.
"AHHHHHH!" Bellatrix screamed, releasing Hermione just as the chandelier touched down.
"HERMIONE!" Ron yelled. In the heat of the moment, Harry ran over to Draco and yanked the wands from his hands. He tossed one to Emily, who immediately stunned Narcissa Malfoy with skilled precision. Ron dragged Hermione out from under the wreckage and pulled her over to where Dobby stood.
"YOU STUPID ELF!" Bellatrix screamed in fury, "How dare you defy your masters!"
Dobby stood up, "Dobby has no master. Dobby is a free elf! And Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends."
Harry turned and grabbed Dobby's hand. He then reached out for Emily's as he spun on the spot to dissaparate, but he could feel her delicate skin slip through his own, and then they were pulled apart by suffocating force.
They had left her behind.