DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Harry Potter.'

A/N: I've had some people ask me why Lucius blamed Narcissa's death on Draco. A good question, and here's the answer. Lucius loves his son very much. But he loves Narcissa just that little bit more. He knew when the war began that those decisions he'd made when he was young were coming back to endanger his family - and felt an immense responsibility to that. And when Voldemort killed his wife in the name of the failures he and Draco had made; Lucius couldn't bear to think that his wife's death was his fault. He couldn't blame Voldemort. So the only other person he could push it on was Draco. It was a dick move – but he was so distraught that he just needed to feel like the victim for a moment. Because Lucius has a lot of flaws. He's not a bad person – just a coward. So that's why he did it.

Yeah, so that was my reasoning behind all of that. Hope you enjoy reading on.

BETA: Reeah Noseworthy.

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Chapter 14 - Chains

Draco

The pain in my head stabbed at me, and I groaned. All of my senses dulled, I raised a hand and massaged the area where I had been kicked. It pulsed every few seconds and I winced when it did. After a few minutes, it dulled and the minor yet substantial amount of aches all over my body made themselves noticed. I stretched my muscles and took a deep breath before slowly opening my eyes.

Darkness.

It surrounded me, enveloping me in its cold folds. I shivered, waiting for my vision to adjust. I could see light up ahead, but it was blurred and hazy – unhelpful. I shifted, my bare back scarping along the stone behind me. I suddenly realised why I was cold. My shirt was gone, and my torso covered in bruises and dirt. Where am I?

I looked around. Four walls, one of them barred. The slits were thick and obvious, even in the dim light. The stone in the walls looked familiar, itching at the back of my memories. I looked to my right. More stone, but an extra built in wall that hid something from my view. I moved into a position where I could see, but was stopped by a harsh tug on my ankles.

I looked down to see that they were chained in rusty metal; the shackles just loose enough to be uncomfortable. The chains clinked as I moved but remained taut to the bolted plate in the floor. I instinctively tried to free myself from their bonds only to find that my hands too had been chained, with cuffs that were so tight that they scarped at my flesh, causing it to bleed and exposing it to the rust on the metal.

The stench of dampness filled my nostrils, mingled with the smell of metal and blood. I looked around the cell again, checking all of the shadows twice, searching for my captor. I cleared my throat. "Hello?" There was no response. I tried again, this time raising my voice. "Hello?!"

A grinding sound protruded from the darkness and a sliver of light appeared through the bars. I squinted at the shadows that moved in front of it, until they moved close enough to the dimly lit torch on the wall outside my cell, and the room was suddenly illuminated so that all was visible.

Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape looked down at me, their expressions blank. I gaped, and tried to stand, but the chains on my ankles prevented me, and I stumbled to my knees. There was complete and awful silence as we waited for each other to speak. Finally, I worked up the courage and opened my mouth. "Where am I?" I didn't know why I had asked, but it was the first question that had come to me.

Dumbledore's eyebrows lowered. "Do you not recognise the Dungeons?"

I blinked stupidly. Of course. My shoulders ached, and I rubbed at them ineffectually. Carefully I murmured, "It's been a while."

"Indeed." Dumbledore replied lightly.

I looked up into his blue eyes, uncharacteristically cold. Foreboding seized me, and I shivered, only partly from the cold of the Dungeons. Snape's pupil-less eyes met mine, and I hoped for a gleam of understanding to reveal itself within them, but instead they remained impassive.

"Our sources tell us that you were standing outside the wards." McGonagall began, her face stern. "Were you waiting for the rest of your friends to show up?"

I frowned. "No." McGonagall raised her eyebrows disbelievingly. I continued, "I came here to surrender. I told Tim and Esmeralda that." The three adults glanced at each other from the corner of their eyes. "You don't believe me." I stated.

"We have reason." McGonagall responded, her voice primped.

Again, I tried to stand. This time, I managed to move my feet into a better position and slowly rose. Staying still, I looked all of them directly in the eye. "I came to join you." I spoke clearly. "I no longer wish to serve Voldemort."

At the mention of his name, McGonagall gasped and Dumbledore smiled slightly. Snape regarded me with his beady eyes, taking in every detail of my face thoroughly. He stepped forwards to look at me closer, and his eyes flickered to the Dark Mark burned into my right arm. Suddenly I felt awkwardly exposed, as if I was being held on display for people to gawk at me.

Dumbledore spoke evenly. "Severus. I understand what you are thinking. However, you also know what I am thinking. The facts cannot be ignored." No-one but myself seemed to be confused about his mysterious comment.

Snape spun around on his heel and met Dumbledore's gaze. There was a few seconds of tension before he finally spoke for the first time. "Shall I do the honours?"

Dumbledore nodded and stepped closer, his eyes twinkling. "Yes, that would be prudent Severus. However, although your skills are highly advanced, if the time comes where I am needed, I will not be surprised." He observed my expression. I gulped.

"What are you going to do to me?" I croaked, trying not to display how concerned I was.

Dumbledore didn't reply and instead backed away from my cell and spoke to McGonagall, who's lips were incredibly thin. Her eyes swept over me and met Dumbledore's lined face as he talked to her. "You do not have to stay if you wish Minerva."

McGonagall surveyed me with deep eyes before shaking her head. "I'll be fine Albus."

I looked from the pair to Snape, who had barely moved from his tensed position since he had entered the Dungeon. "I am not a Death Eater anymore." I declared. "I wish to fight against Him." I finished, backing further into my cell as Snape edged closer to the bars. He raised his wand. "Aren't you listening to me?!" I yelled. "I'm on your side!"

"Legilimens!"

I screamed as images flashed before my eyes. Images that weren't logical. Images that weren't supposed to be real. Buying my wand in Olivanders, my father at my side. My mother cupping my face with her hand. The Sorting Hat telling me of my potential, but warning me that I should consider what my choices might mean to me. Ryuu smirking at me in the Prefect's cabin. Voldemort torturing me on the floor of my home. Pansy crying. The Dark Mark twisting on my skin. My mother's dead eyes. Ryuu, tied to a chair in Umbridge's office, covered in blood and falsehoods.

Instinctively, I blocked my mind from the attack, like I had always been trained. Snape's penetration was strong, but my lessons had been constant and I had excelled. It only took a few seconds of struggle before I forced his prying eyes from my mind and woke to find myself crouched on the floor of my cell, clutching my head in my hands and biting down on my lip.

I gagged on the blood that dribbled from my mouth and cleared it away with a sweep from my shaking hands and a rattle from the chains that bound me. Snape was still standing perfectly still, his face blank, intent hidden. He looked towards Dumbledore who was surveying me with interest, and McGonagall, who couldn't tear her horrified eyes form where I lay.

"Severus?" Dumbledore asked. "What did you see?"

Snape turned to Dumbledore. "He blocked me before I could delve deeper and find things related to… present times." He glanced at me with a hard stare.

Dumbledore appeared almost pitiful as he looked down upon me, shivering and bruised on the floor of my prison. "That will be all for now. His lessons in Occulemency have taught him well. His mother will be glad that her son can protect himself."

I cringed and turned my head away, so that none of them could see the pain on my face. There was a long hesitation. "Narcissa is dead." Snape said bluntly, before I heard his hurried footsteps leave the Dungeon.

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Ryuu

Despite my useless efforts to force my way out of the walls that confined us, the carriage rumbled on, twisting and turning at random intervals. I ashamedly turned my head away from Zach, barely able to look at him. My head throbbed in pain but I ignored it, focusing on keeping the tears from emerging. I'm going to a Kennel. A concentration camp. I'll be a… slave. And Zach… they won't use him. They're going to kill him. Zach will die.

I sunk to the floor of the caravan and brought my knees up to my chin, lacing my fingers around my legs. My eyes flickered to Zach's still form. He was staring at the floor space in between us, his face blank. Another wave of guilt struck me and I buried my head in my knees. For several moments, I bit down on my lip, fighting the urge to cry. That wouldn't help anything. I was just taking my second deep breath when I felt a hand on my arm.

I met Zach's gaze and was reassured to see that there was no anger in his eyes. He curled his arm over my shoulders and I rested my head against the crook of his neck, feeling the familiarity of his touch stronger than I felt the fear pulsing through my veins. This was Zach. My friend for years. One of the few people in the world I truly, irrevocably, trusted.

And I had brought him to his death.

"I'm so sorry Zach." I whispered.

"Don't be ridiculous," he whispered back instantly, "this isn't your fault."

As much as I wanted to believe his words, I couldn't help thinking that I had failed him. I could've lied better. Could've found a way for us to escape. But it was too late now. I'd failed him. Just like I had so many other people. I cleared my throat. "Guess it's no use crying now."

I felt Zach's head lean against the top of mine and heard him sigh. "I suppose not."

I looked out towards the barred end of the cabin and narrowed my eyes at the speeding countryside. The moon had risen, casting twisted shadows form the trees of forests outside across the panelled wood. The Snatchers chatted light-heartedly among themselves. Several times they broke into song, and I scowled, my hand itching for my wand. Zach's deep voice sounded clearly next to my ear. "You know, I never envisioned that at the end of all things, I'd be with the clumsy girl who tripped over the sorting stool at the ceremony."

My face reddened as the embarrassing moment came back to haunt me. My first day in the magical world and I screwed it up in front of the entire school. "You remember that?!"

"Of course I do." Zach replied. I could hear the smile in his voice. "What made it funnier was the fact that you tried to cover it up by faking a limp."

I scoffed. "Well, at least I'm not the one who gave a box of cauldron cakes to all my teachers for Christmas in first year. Suck up."

Zach's torso shook as he laughed. "Cheap shot! My father told me to do that…."

His voice faded away, and I abruptly silenced myself. His tone had been suggesting further depth and my curiosity sparked. I knew Zach had a difficult relationship with his father, but he'd never told me- or anyone else - why. I waited, but Zach didn't continue and fell into an awkward quiet.

I shifted so I could look him in the eyes. They glinted golden at me. "Zach…" I began in a soothing tone, but he shook his head. I grimaced. "Look, if you want to tell me something – this is it. We hardly have time to keep things from each other anymore." At the mention of our fate, we uncomfortably looked in separate directions, acknowledging what was to come. The silence snapped as Zach bluntly began to speak.

"Fine." He moaned. "You have a right to know," he stared at my face, his own impassive. "…Have I ever told you that I'm a descendant of Helga Hufflepuff?"

My eyes widened and I shook my head.

"My family has been in Hufflepuff for centuries. We practically breathe it. My father is no exception, however, I am." He brushed his dark hair out of his eyes. "My Mum left him when I was little and I completely understand why she did."

"What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly.

"It's like I said." Zach continued. "He's completely Hufflepuff. So much so that it's… impractical." I raised an eyebrow. Hufflepuffs weren't generally considered to be anything but loyal and kind – I didn't see how that could be hazardous.

Zach sighed. "He doesn't have a job. He thinks that they take away the calm and fulfilment of life." He rolled his eyes. "Not that we have much of that anyway, seeing as we're broke."

"But," I started confused, "don't you have heirlooms from Great Aunt Helga?"

Zach shook his head. "We did. He gave them away to anyone who asked for them out of generosity." Zach didn't flinch at my aghast exclaim. "His reasoning was that such glorious items should be shared amongst the wider community – and not hoarded to us alone." I shook my head in disbelief as Zach ranted on. "For my thirteenth birthday he hosted a huge party, inviting all of his old friends that I didn't even know. At the time we could barely afford dinner, and I kept on telling him how stupid he was acting but he wouldn't listen. He never listened!"

I stared at my friend. It was strange to think that the boy I had known so well for years had hidden this private struggle from all of his friends for so long. Now that I looked back on our school days, the pair of robes that were shabbier than everyone else's and the second hand books from outdated sources clicked into logic. I placed my hand over his, squeezing it for comfort. Zach turned his head towards me and calmed down as he glimpsed my understanding expression. Maybe he's been hanging around with me too much, I mused. He can read me almost as easily as I can read everyone else.

"So I ran away from him when the war began," he said to no one in particular. "He wanted to go into hiding, but I told him that I was done with his crap and that I wasn't going to wait for the Death Eaters to find me." Zach's eyes glazed over. "He… was so upset. I'd never imagined that I'd make my Dad cry."

"Hey." I nudged his elbow. "You just called him 'Dad.'" Zach stared at me blankly. "I've never heard you do that before."

Zach shrugged. "I guess I never thought of him as one." His eyes narrowed as he realised the hard truth of what he was saying, and his hand slid from mine.

I persisted. "You miss him."

Zach lifted his gaze to mine, absorbing my statement. Slowly, he responded. "Yeah. I do. It's crazy isn't it? Missing someone you're not even sure you love…"

I was taken aback by the comment and felt the scars on my arm tingle. "Yeah… crazy."

I leaned my head against him again, glad that he had confided in me. Mystery solved. Somehow, the awakening of Zach's home life enlightened substantial elements to his character that I had disregarded previously. However, it was far from over yet. There was one more thing that needed clearing up – and I knew that it had to be done now. I tried several openings in my head, but eventually deposited them all under 'pointless'. With Zach, there was no use trying to tiptoe around the subject matter of a conversation. The only way that I could ask him sincerely, would be to ask him directly.

"Zach?"

"Hmm?"

"When exactly were you going to come out of the broom-cupboard and admit that you're in love with Dennis?"

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Draco

Snape sifted through my mind yet again. Every aspect of my instincts was telling me to block his mental attack, but I knew I had to let him in. Let him pry… I shuddered. No. I had to let this happen. I had to let them trust me- otherwise this would never end.

Potter and I were duelling in our second year, and I'd just momentarily defeated him by using an unexpected attack. The horrid hippogryph was rearing above me, claws bared and eyes fierce. Ryuu and I danced in the Shrieking Shack and I couldn't help but notice how pretty she was. Snow blanketed the grounds at Malfoy Manor, and I stood on the outskirts, bored and alone. There was a plunging sensation in my stomach as I fell from my broom onto the hard ground. I strutted down the hallway, Crabbe and Goyle at my side, staring down anyone who got in my way.

The memories flashed through my brain so fast it hurt; I dug my bleeding fingernails into the coarse stone of the floor of my cell. It was then that Snape's rummaging became more organised, looking through recent events, until finally his oiled voice vibrated through my skull.

Tell me your name.

My thoughts went to me forming my signature at the top of one of my exam papers. I finished writing my name with a flourish of my peacock feathered quill. Snape instantly moved to the next inquiry.

Who branded you with the Dark Mark?

Bellatrix brandished the poker and pressed it against the pale flesh of my arm. The pain was excruciating; but my screams could not be heard by anyone else, except myself and Snape, who watched silently from the shadows of my mind. I screamed at the burning sensation on my skin and hugged my arm to my chest. My eyes were wide open and staring at the shackles that cut my wrists. I vaguely realised I was awake, and the pain gradually ebbed away. I lifted my head to see Snape sliding his wand into his sleeve and regarding me with a bored expression. Sweat trickled down my nose, and I wiped it away with a clink from my chains.

"That will be all for today," Snape declared, as if he were dismissing a Potions class. It seemed to register with him too late that he was the one who was supposed to leave. He turned on his heel and was out of the Dungeon in a matter of four strides.

I blanked my thoughts. Thinking about the mundane, ongoing and strenuous process of the Dungeon would only lead to insanity. I could barely cope with the lack of simple information. What day was it? It was impossible to know how long I had been in here already. What was happening outside my cell? There seemed to be silencing charms in the walls, because nobody except Snape or Dumbledore seemed to hear me screaming. Would I ever get out of here?

No.

The dread seeped over me. I would die here. In the dark. The cold. Useless, miserable and forgotten.

Alone.

I curled up against the wall, breathing heavily, every fibre of my being uncomfortable. I turned to the tray of food that had been left for me this morning and poured water over my raw wrists and over my neck. My entire body shook as a chill flitted through the cell and I wrapped myself in an embrace, closing my eyes in a feeble attempt to get some sleep.

I would need plenty of energy for the morning.

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Ryuu

Zach tensed, gaping at my bluntness for a long, silent time. He looked for a response that might be appropriate, but knew that it was already too late. He had left his pause for long enough that I knew I had deeply affected him by declaring the truth. He struggled for the correct facial expression, but continued to retreat to one of shock as he saw how utterly, seriously, certain I was. He opened and closed his mouth several times, and I waited for him to speak. Finally, he blinked away the moment and formed a hazy beginning which was easy enough for me to interpret."W-What… did you – How?"

I sighed. "I'm not an idiot Zach. I've known you're gay for ages. Dennis, I only realised a few months ago." I said matter-of-factly.

He considered me with narrowed eyes. "How long have you known?"

"Since the Yule Ball." I replied. "I was your date, and I noticed that you could barely keep your eyes off those Durmstrang boys –which was odd seeing as I looked stunning in that green dress." I said in a reminiscent tone. Zach eyed me curiously and I quickly elaborated. "I don't blame you though! Those boys were quite fine…"

Zach's brow was lowered, slowly realising what I had explained to him. He moved so that he was sitting across from me, and regarded me with an honesty that I had always admired about him. "So… you figured out that I was gay at the Yule Ball, and still kissed me afterwards?"

I grinned. "Yes. Not only was I gorgeous that night, but you weren't so bad yourself. Also, it was a date. A little light-hearted snogging never hurt anyone." Zach raised his eyebrows. "You are a good kisser by the way," I added. "Dennis is a lucky guy…"

Zach raised his hands. "Whoa. No, no, no. Dennis has no idea." He narrowed his yellow eyes at me. "Right?"

The cabin lurched as I gasped. "I didn't tell anyone if that's what you're saying." I snapped. "Besides, you kept it pretty well hidden by constantly hitting on me."

Zach smiled guiltily. "So you knew about that huh?"

I nodded. "Of course." When I noticed his expression, I eased his awkward apologetic face away with a wave of my hand. "Don't mention it. I knew why you were doing it, and I wasn't going to be mean to you about it. Besides, I knew you weren't really attracted to me anyway, so it wasn't a problem."

I could see the relief on Zach's face that I was accepting him so naturally. He was practically glowing, and I was glad that I had spoken up. I looked towards the setting moon. Soon, we wouldn't have enough time to clear things up and be, well, normal.

Zach hung his head. "I shouldn't have left Hogwarts."

My smile sagged, as the tone of the conversation changed. Zach looked at me with pleading eyes, his thin dark hair flopping over his forehead. "How did Dennis take it?"

I looked down at my hands. "He barely spoke for weeks afterwards. I couldn't bear to look at him. It was like…" I searched for the right words, "like his innocence had been crushed."

Zach dragged his hand through his hair. "I never wanted to hurt him." He shook his head, grimacing. "Luna knew that."

I nodded, knowing his reference. "You told her."

His eyes sparkled. "Your knack for knowing everything is really going to bite you back one day."

My eyes unfocused. It already has. Zach, however, didn't notice my reaction to his casual observation and continued recounting. "She used to talk to me. Help me through it. I think, that in the months leading up to her death I probably understood Luna better than I ever had before, and her me." He smiled sadly, both of us feeling the weight of Luna's absence once more. "I used to find places to be alone, but Dennis would follow me. He'd try to find out what was wrong, but I just couldn't tell him. How could I tell him?"

I reached forth and clasped his hand in my own. "Maybe Dennis will find out on his own terms."

Zach narrowed his eyes at my implication. It was true that I was getting a hunch about Dennis's feelings towards Zach, but I knew that Zach had no idea. I didn't want to interfere too much in their almost love-life, for fear of damaging it, but surely hope wasn't such a bad thing after all…

He regarded me with an odd expression before speaking in a whisper so low, that I had to strain to hear it over the sound of the thestral's hooves. "What happened to you, Ryuu?"

For a few seconds, I stared at him, trying to figure out what he meant. "Pardon?"

"What happened to you?" Zach looked through me, trying to decipher my jumbled thoughts. "Last year, you were so… distant- and don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about." He added quickly as I opened my mouth to protest. "And then at the end of the year, you come back from this dangerous battle at the Ministry of Magic, and behaved like it wasn't that much of a surprise." I slid my hand from his, and folded my arms. Zach's eyes slid to my left arm, widening. "And those scars. I know they were made by Umbridge's quill, but why Traitor?"

"When have you seen them before?" I snapped, covering my long sleeved arm protectively.

"In training, when you removed your cardigan. They're not that noticeable, but I saw them." he quickly explained, his face expressionless. "You're not answering my question, Ryuu."

I stared at him, considering my options. No one outside of the Order knew about my mission and what I had done for it. I realised with an awful pang that Luna had died oblivious about Draco. I shifted uncomfortably, thinking of how I could possibly explain myself. Memories seared through my head, and I felt tears sting my eyes. Zach embraced my still form, as I swallowed my nervousness and weakly formed a sentence.

"Zach… I've done such horrible things."

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The carriage abruptly stopped. No hooves thundered at the ground, or tore at the loose mud. The panelled cabin no longer trundled along with the movements of the thestrals, and the sound of the Snatchers' discussing amongst themselves became more distinct.

"What have you got for us boys?" asked a gravelly voice.

"Young male and female. They seem a bit suspicious."

I looked into Zach's wide yellow eyes. We're here.

Zach quickly seized my hand, whispering frantically. "Whatever happens, promise me this Ryuu." I could hear the urgency in his voice, and my heart broke. He knew he was going to die. Zach's gaze bored into my own, making sure I absorbed every word. "They're going to do horrible things to you. You're going to hate them, despise them. But no matter what you may be thinking, do not – under any circumstances - resist."

"What?!-" I began.

"They will kill you, Ryuu." His hand squeezed mine. "There won't be any second chances. Not in there." His eyes flickered to the footsteps approaching from outside the cabin, before turning back to me. "Keep your head down, and your mouth shut – and for my sake…" he quickly planted a kiss on my forehead. "Don't get yourself killed."

I gaped at his urgency, knowing that I had to speak fast. This was it. Goodbye. I laced my fingers in his. "Zach, I-"

The door of the cabin burst open and three Snatchers stormed into the space, grabbing a hold of my arms and dragging me from Zach's grip. "NO!" I screamed, devastated that I hadn't been fast enough, and dreading what was to occur. I kicked at the men holding me, digging my fingernails into the flesh of their arms.

A fist came up, and then struck home.

My head throbbed painfully, as I was hauled through the doors and into the sunlight. My eyes blurred as they adjusted, and I heard Zach yell from behind me. "Zach!" I spun in the Snatchers grip, throwing all of my weight against the beefy man.

A fist came up, and then struck home.

The world rocked, and I groaned in pain. No. No. No. I feebly fought against the Snatcher as he walked me over to a table in front of a huge gate, lined with thorned hedges. As I looked from side to side, I saw that the privets stretched for miles around, circling a large space within. I caught sight of Zach in the corner of my vision, calmly being held by two Snatchers, including Goldtooth, who leered evilly at me.

We were released and both pushed at the table, Snatchers and Death Eaters surrounding us. Zach protectively stood in front of me, to the sneers of many of the men. "Line 'em up." Droned a bored voice from a Death Eater seated behind the table. He scratched at his stubble as Zach and I were positioned in front of him, shoulder to shoulder.

There were a few seconds of suspense in which the Death Eater inspected both of us, his eyes dragging up and down our bodies, before he slid glasses onto his nose from a chain around his neck and dipped a red feathered quill into a pot of ink. He held the pen to a piece of parchment in front of him. "Names?" he barked.

I threw Zach a glance from the corner of my eye, unsure of what to say. We both contemplated for a second too long, and both received a harsh kick to our shins as punishment. I steadied myself and wet my lips. "Lavender Brown."

Zach hesitated a moment longer. "Zacharias Smith."

The quill scratched at the parchment, a chill breeze making me shudder. I kept on trying to sneak a peek at Zach's face, mentally sending him a goodbye that I knew he'd never hear.

"Age?" the Death Eater demanded.

"Seventeen." Zach spat, staring at the man with an expression of uttermost loathing.

"Sixteen." I whispered.

A fist came up, and then struck home.

I sagged, toppling to the ground as the world shook once more. "Speak up!" one of the Snatcher's roared much to the delight of his comrades. Zach was suddenly kneeling beside me, trying to help me to my feet.

"Oi!" the Death Eater behind the desk yelled, pointing a threatening finger at the Snatcher who'd thumped me.

"Oh come on, Blake. We were just having a bit of fun…"

Blake slapped Zach's aid away and hoisted me up in one quick movement. He turned to the Snatchers, his face red. "They're no use to us dead!" There was an eerie silence, to follow his words before he marched back behind the table and nodded at another Death Eater, a female with ginger hair.

Zach and I were shoved forward until we stood directly before the woman, who reached into her belt and retrieved a long, thin, bronze blade. Her eyes fixed on Zach in such a menacing stare that I flinched. "Hold out your hand." She ordered in a dry, low pitched voice.

Zach glanced at the blade with resentment. "And if I refuse?"

One of the Snatchers from behind him whipped out his wand and pressed it against my forehead. "Your fiancé gets hurt." He said coldly.

Without a second thought, Zach flipped his hand over so that his palm was facing upwards. The woman cut a large slice into his pale skin that dribbled crimson red blood immediately. Zach squinted as she forced his hand onto a piece of parchment so white it was blinding. Red strands stained the parchment, and then strung together into one single line. I watched in horror as Zach's blood flowed up the parchment to the very top were it split into two tracks. On one side, the blood began to form letters that spelled out the words: Phillip Terrance Smith. My eyes glided over to the other side of the page, where three other words had been formed: Heather Phyla Telltore.

"He's clean. A pureblood." The woman remarked casually, and Zach's hand was taken away. She then turned to me, cleaning the blood away from the knife's point. "Your turn."

I gulped as I slowly displayed my left hand to the woman with the knife. Her eyes hungrily took in the lines of my palm, before poising her knife to carve her own. I felt Zach tense beside me as the point stabbed into my flesh. I bit down on my lip as the blade lazily tore through the layers of my skin so that hot blood welled into the centre. She drew the knife away and turned my hand over, beginning to press it onto another piece of white parchment.

A tingling sensation crept through my arm as I watched my blood seep into the paper and uselessly spread around my hand. No trails of blood crept along the surface. The names of my parents weren't traced along the parchment. Because they weren't magical and weren't at all on any records.

Because I was a muggleborn.

"She's scum!" The woman spat in disgust, flicking my blood from her knife as if it was diseased.

Two Death Eaters forced my arms behind me and held them tight. I desperately looked towards Zach, who was staring at me with wild eyes. "Remember what I said." He whispered hoarsely, as rough hands dragged him aside.

I shook my head. "No; Zach. Zach!" I screeched. They were taking him away. Zach's eyes remained locked with mine. His feet were dragged through the dirt as the men who held him pulled their wands from their pockets. I struggled in the grips of my captors. I was being pulled towards the towering gates that were slowly opening behind me.

"ZACH!" I was screaming now, agonizingly hysterical. No.

A fist came up, and then struck home.

I barely noticed the pain. My eyes were fixed on Zach's form as he was released and stood before the Death Eaters. I savagely bit the shoulder of one of the Death Eaters holding me, who swore and loosened his grip. It was all I needed. I slammed my boot into his knee so hard that it concaved, and he released his hold. I was level with the gates now, and the second Death Eater grabbed at my other arm as I tried to pull away from him.

I spared another glance at Zach, who was on the ground now, looking up at the faces of the Snatchers with pure anger. The tallest of the pair lifted his wand. My legs frantically tried to run towards him, but didn't move because of the Death Eater's grip over me.

"ZAAACH!" My voice was hoarse from yelling.

He turned his head in my direction and stared at me for one horrible moment as the tip of the wand pointing at him alighted green. Then, faster than the flash that emanated from the wand tip, Zach rolled out of the way from the curse and sprinted as fast as he could across the vast expanse of field, in a desperate attempt to reach the forest's edge.

I released a breath of hope that caught as curses fired through the air, missing him by inches. Zach began to run in zigzags, barely dodging the rays of green that were lighting up the area in sufficient numbers. I frantically followed Zach's silhouette, as the blinding rising sun stung at my eyes.

I was forced further back behind the gate, and although I struggled in vain against the grasp of the Death Eater, the doors began to close. The spells were slipping past him so closely now, that even Zach, as an incredibly fast runner, couldn't dodge them for much longer. Breathing shallowly, I just caught a last glimpse of him running for his life as the gates shut.

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The blonde girl with the green eyes was singing.

It was the only way she knew how to keep the monsters away. A method that her mother had taught her when she was very young. When things became too horrible to focus on, the girl would simply have to distract herself.

So she sang.

She clutched the blanket to her chin, and stared into the darkness of her bedroom, whispering the lyrics underneath her breath. It had been truly nasty of her cousin to scare her with that story. Even though the girl had acted unperturbed as he had told it, the dynamics of the tale were uncomfortable to think about when one was alone in a dark room.

The girl cleared her throat as she began to sing the chorus. She realised that she was being foolish. This was her room. In her house. She was safe here. Mummy and Daddy certainly made sure of that, so why fear the nonexistent creatures in the darkness?

The girl stopped singing and took a deep breath. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and placed them onto the floor. Her feet padding along the cold tile, she ran over to the light and after a moment of hesitation, a golden glow flooded the room.

Neat, four walled a bed in the corner and a window over that. Her bedroom. As it always was.

The girl smiled, comforted and doused the light. Again the soles of her bare feet pattered across the floor. She climbed onto her bed and buried herself in the blankets. Just as she was drifting into her sleep, her green eyes flew open as the monsters from the story crept into her head once more.

For some reason, they only came when it was dark.

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A/N: For anyone who thought that Ryuu and Zach might possibly have a thing – PSYCH!

Because Zach is gay and also I hate love triangles. I've only seen one used effectively ever. I think they can work – it's just a lot of the time they don't. I swear every young adult book I read these days has a love triangle in it and it's obvious from chapter one who she's going to end up with. It's tiresome.