Chapter Forty-Four: The Good and the Bad

Elijah and Victor were dressed for battle. Knee-long dragon-skin tunica that wouldn't get in the way, thick gauntlets and sturdy boots with a dragon hide soles too keep the magic flowing.

Both had two wands strapped to the insides of their arms.

Their faces were grim but determined.

"Good evening Harry." Victor said.

"I take it everything is settled on your side?" Elijah asked.

"If you mean by settled that my godfather and uncle will most likely wake up to an empty bed, then yeah, it's all settled." Harry muttered.

"Don't worry Harry, we have a plan." Victor assured him.

"First things first, your wand." Elijah said, stepping forward.

Harry handed him his wand. Elijah muttered a few words while waving the tip of own wand above Harry's before returning it to him.

"There you go, the Trace is gone. And you should take one of these." he added and stepped aside.

On a small glass-table lay half a dozen wands, all different in length, thickness, form, colour, structure and probably core.

"It's wise to never go into battle with a back-up wand. These wands are Trophies, won by members of our family over the years. They have no master anymore and really just accept anyone who picks them up." Victor explained.

Hesitantly Harry stepped closer to the table. He chose a simple red-wood wand with a carved handle.

He did a few practise spells. It was nothing like his phoenix-feather-core wand but it worked just fine.

"Good, now that is done I guess it's time for the plan." Elijah said.

Harry nodded.

"Come here Harry."

Harry stepped up between the brothers-in-law at a table under the window-front.

A simple map of a house was drawn on a sheet of paper.

"Dobby gave us the basic footprint of Malfoy Manor. But finding Isaac won't be easy. We're talking about a building roughly half the size of Bucking-Ham Palace." Elijah explained, pointing at the parts one by one.

"Once we are there I'm sure I can use a 'Point-Me' spell to find him. But we'll still have to do a lot of searching and our time window is small. This here" he pointed at the east-wing of the building "Is the guest wing Dobby told us. So we'll start there."

Harry nodded, so far following the plan.

"Dobby apparated in and out all day long in certain intervals. There are roughly two dozen men there, next to Malfoy and his family. We showed Dobby pictures and he was able to identify a lot of them. They are all Deatheaters. Many of them pleaded that they were under the Imperius-Curse when they got caught after Voldemort's fall. This was bound to happen!" Victor said grimly.

"With the World-Cup the day after tomorrow they are probably getting everything ready for whatever it is they are planning. Dobby saw that there are always two patrolling the edge of the property. When Dobby made his last trip, they were turning in for the night. That was about two hours ago." Elijah picked up again.

"We don't know how tight the security will be inside. But since it is Malfoys house I don't think he'll have it bobby-trapped, not with so many 'guests' who could walk into one." He continued dryly. "Still, we need to be careful."

He pulled something out of his pocket and gave it Harry. It looked like a spyglass.

"With these you can watch even through cursed and warded walls and doors. Just put it on a door, look through and you'll see what or who's inside. They can even zoom in if you tap them twice. They zoom back out if you tap once."

"Handy." Harry commented, putting the spyglass into his hoody's pocket. "Then what?" he asked.

"Dobby will go in, find a place where there are no guards right now, then come back to take us in. We will make our way to around there" Victor continued, pointing at the hallway before the sleeping areas "and hopefully find Isaac. We'll have to split up."

Seeing Harry's less than excited expression heh explained: "It's the only way we stand a chance. Even if someone gets caught the others will still have time to finish the mission."

"That's reassuring. Only some of us could die. So what do we do, if we have to take a guard out. Won't the others notice something is wrong?" Harry asked.

"Hopefully it won't come so far but if it does we'll simply confund them or send them to sleep after erasing their memories. Our goal is it to keep them from noticing we were ever there."

"Okay, so once we have Isaac, what then?"

"He won't come willingly, that we have to expect. We'll just subdue him and take him away."

"To St. Mungo's?" Harry asked. "What will you tell the healers?"

"The truth, more or less. That he was controlled and needs help. The evidence is there."

"Do you think he can be cured?" Harry asked silently.

"We cross that bridge when we get there." Elijah said tensely. "Important right now is that everybody knows their role. Dobby will get us out there once we have Isaac, won't you Dobby?"

The elf nodded. "Dobby will!" he promised.

"Good. Harry, are you in?"

Harry sighed. "I'd feel better if we had more numbers on our side. But yes, I'm in."

"Then let's go." Victor said silently.

.

.

.

Harry was crouching low in the wet grass.

There wasn't a lot to see, mainly high hedges and the moon above them.

That was pretty much it.

They were crouching just outside the perimeter of Malfoy Manor.

A few meters before them the warding began.

Proximity alarms, anti-apparation, Muggel-repelling-charms, confundus-charms, those were the nice ones. But Harry had seen a few of the readings Elijah had taken as a precaution and his knowledge about warding and curse-breaking was already sufficient enough to say that there were nasty things guarding this property.

Elijah was right next to him, his eyes fixed on the Manor. Victor was somewhere to his left, scouting for the two Deatheaters patrolling the outside of the Manor.

But it seemed like they were not taking their job seriously because they had yet to show up. Of course, they could also be really good at their job and stand right behind them right now.

Harry supressed the urge to look over his shoulder.

He was being stupid and paranoid.

Nobody knew they were here.

A tiny rustling noise was all that indicated Victor's return.

"I saw them. Two of them. I'm pretty sure one of them is Macnair." He whispered.

"Where?" Elijah asked.

"Right at the front portal."

Right them Dobby appeared with a soft plop.

Once again Harry marvelled at the magic of the house-elf. How could Dobby not trigger any of the alarms? How did he get into this heavily guarded fortress so easily and how was it that he was able to take them along?

He had the strong feeling wizards were seriously underestimating the power of house-elves.

"Inside is very silent." Dobby said, slightly nervous.

"What about guards?" Harry asked.

"Dobby saw nobody." Dobby whispered.

"Maybe we're in luck." Victor muttered.

"Don't jinx it." Elijah muttered back, eyes still fixed on the Manor.

Pulling his hood over his head he said: "Let's go."

.

Malfoy Manor was cold and uninviting.

Harry guess if he'd grown up around here, he'd gone psycho too like Malfoy Sr. and Jr.

Dobby had taken them to the east wing, Harry knew that but it was hard to imagine that the hallway he stood in was just some corridor in a wing of a building.

The walls where high and extravagant chandeliers hung in regular intervals form the ceiling.

On the walls hung pictures of Malfoy-ancestors. They were all asleep thank good.

The floor beneath their feet was a cold marble.

Low burning oil-lamps just barely lit up the hallway.

It was eerily silent.

Wordlessly Victor cast a spell to dry their clothes and clean their boots so they wouldn't leave any marks.

"Dobby, go and search too, you are faster than us, you can apparate in here." Victor whispered so that the paintings wouldn't wake up.

Dobby nodded and vanished.

"Best we split up now. Whoever finds Isaac calls Dobby and takes him out. Then Dobby will come and get the others."

Harry nodded.

Nodding at each other the three wizards parted ways.

.

It was a strange feeling sneaking through a house, full of sleeping people, who could kill them very easily.

The first doors Harry encountered and checked turned out to be studies and a supply closet, a library and a bathroom and two guestrooms that were empty.

He got to an intersection where the corridor went on ahead and turned right.

The house was still silent. Not a single noise had yet perpetrated the silence. Still Harry took no chances and stayed under his invisibility cloak.

He turned right and walked slowly down the hallway.

.

The rooms behind the next doors were inhabited.

Men lay in their beds, sleeping deeply or in one case talking in his sleep.

None of them looked familiar to Harry.

But a shiver went down his spine nonetheless.

The next two rooms were empty too and Harry started to feel uneasy.

He grabbed his wand tighter, listening for sounds.

His own heart-beat was almost making that impossible.

The hallway made a gentle curve and Harry recognized a new intersection, this one leading in two new directions.

But before he could choose which direction to follow a sudden cold shiver when t down his spine.

Acting upon instinct he turned around sharply.

Coming towards him was the silvery-blue form of a Patronus!

It was a beautiful snow leopard that was sprinting elegantly towards him.

Harry stopped moving, eyes fixed on the Patronus.

It stopped a few feet away from him, staring right at him.

Slowly, carefully, Harry pulled his cloak off his head.

When he did it opened its mouth, and spoke!

"Harry" it was Victors voice! "Come quick! Elijah found Isaac! Dobby has taken him away but we had to stay behind! I fear someone knows were here! I can hear people coming my way! We need your help! Follow my Patronus! It will bring you to us!"

The beautiful creature closed its mouth and just stared at him, its tail swishing impatiently.

Harry thoughts were racing at a million miles an hour.

They had Isaac!

They did it!

But Victor and Elijah were in trouble!

"Take me to them!" he told the snow leopard.

The animal turned on its heel and ran back the way it had come from.

Harry had no other choice but to follow it as quickly as his feet would carry him.

He hadn't gotten far when he heard a loud pained yell.

It sounded a lot like Victor.

"VICTOR!" he shouted, throwing all caution in the wind.

The Patronus let him through another set of long twisting corridors.

He thought he heard the familiar sound of spell-fire.

"Please no!" he whispered as he followed the sound of it.

Ahead a double door appeared.

The Patronus phased right through it.

From behind it Harry could hear now more clearly the sounds of explosions and spells being shouted.

Elijah's unmistaken voice echoed through to him.

"VICTOR, look out! NO!"

Wand in hand Harry burst through the double doors.

.

.

Harry was expecting chaos behind the doors.

He was expecting Victor and Elijah to be fighting for their lives, surrounded by Deatheaters.

Instead he found himself in a big empty round room with just a single small table of to one side.

He counted half a dozen doors but nothing else otherwise.

And through two of these doors burst Elijah and Victor respectively, wands drawn, faces wild and ready to cast their spells.

All three of them froze when they saw each other.

"What the…" Harry muttered, lowering his wand.

"Harry, Victor, you are alright? Where's Isaac?" Elijah asked urgently.

"Where is Isaac? Victor said you had found him!" Harry protested.

"I said nothing!" Victor protested.

"But your Patronus let me here!" Harry protested back.

"No, Elijah did!" Victor said, shaking his head.

"But…" Harry stopped when the horrible realization hit him.

"It's a trap." Elijah muttered the exact words he was thinking.

"Dobby!" Victor barked. "We need you!"

But nothing happened.

"I'm afraid that the elf will not be able to help you." a silky voice drawled.

All three spun around.

Lucius Malfoy stood in the entrance of one of the doors.

He was dressed in his usual attire of dark flowing robes, his blond hair falling perfectly over his shoulders and with his cane in one hand.

Harrys wand was immediately trained on him, just like Elijah's and Victor's but following some unseen signal all the other doors opened as well and a dozen or so men filled into the room, all dressed in black with silver skull-masks covering their faces.

The three would-be-rescuers huddled together in the centre of the room as the Deatheaters surrounded them.

Malfoy sauntered forwards, smugness radiating off him like heat from a fire.

"Did you really think that you three could outsmart me?" he drawled, his glee obvious in his eyes.

Nobody of the three said anything but Malfoy didn't seem to mind.

"I knew all along that you would never follow me obediently Victor. You are too stubborn for that. And I knew that you Elijah would sooner give up your magic than agree to anything I had to say. I was expecting something like this but…I did expect more! Seems I did overestimate you."

Harry balled his fists angrily.

He'd known all along they were coming. But they had been so careful!

As if he was sensing his question Malfoy continued talking as he walked towards them.

"Don't think I didn't notice you spying on me Elijah of your not so subtle spying-charms you put on my stuff to eavesdrop in on my conversation."

Harry glanced shortly at Elijah.

The man was very hard trying not to let his disappointment and humiliation show through.

"And you Victor…I was suspicious the second when you proposed a date for the contract! But I never thought that you would try this with only three people! I don't know if I should feel insulted or honoured."

Malfoy's eyes fell upon him and he his smirk turned darker.

"Which brings me to you." He hissed.

Harry raised his chin defiantly but didn't say anything.

"Little Harry Potter, playing the hero once again, trying to save the day, yet again."

"Well I did promise I'd be there, didn't I Mr. Malfoy?" he shot back, despite his better judgement.

For a second they both remembered their brief encounter in the Headmaster office more than a year ago.

Malfoy sneered.

"Try and get yourself out of this situation boy! If you can. By tomorrow morning you'll all be sent to Azkaban to rot in a tiny cell. Your bastard of a Godfather will be able to tell you all about it, I'm sure." He growled.

Harry was trying really hard not to throw himself at the blond tosser and give him a piece of his mind.

"We'll see who will rot in a cell." Victor spoke up.

Malfoy turned his attention back to him.

"Do you really still think you can get what you came for and get out alive? How delusional are you Greengrass?" he asked with a sneer.

Victor said nothing but still glared at Malfoy defiantly.

Malfoy was basking in his own triumph.

He nodded at one of the Deatheaters close to a door.

"Get him. I want them to see it!"

The Deatheater nodded disappeared.

Harry tried to inconspicuously look around.

"If you are trying to fight your way out Mr. Potter I'm afraid that won't be so easy. Not like the last time." Malfoy growled.

Harry glared at him. "What, are you admitting your own people's incompetence?" he asked.

"Not at all. But unlike my companions that were supposed to intercept you in Cambodia I fight with my brain and not my brawn."

"Why were you there anyway? Why did you want the stone?" Harry asked. He couldn't help it, the question was still bothering him.

"Some of them mentioned it was for your cause. But your cause is dead. It died that Halloween!" Harry spat.

"No Potter, unlike your parents, our master was not killed. I didn't believe it at first either. I was sure it was over but lately I have been re-evaluating my opinion. Like many of my brothers and sisters." The man sneered. "Though nobody was supposed to know that yet." He added.

Harry couldn't help but smirk back. "See, incompetent."

Faster than he could see Malfoy had drawn his wand and a red cursed connected with Harrys chest.

He was thrown backwards, connecting hard with the hard floor.

Groaning he rolled onto his side and pushed himself back to his feet.

Where the curse had connected with his chest it stung and hurt but Harry was fairly sure nothing was broken or otherwise damaged.

He saw that Elijah and Victor were being restrained by a couple of Deatheaters.

Malfoy on the other hand was walking towards him.

"I'm really getting tired of your superior attitude Potter. You keep putting your nose where it doesn't belong."

"You are threatening my friends. That makes it my business!"

"Yeah, so I hear." Malfoy drawled. "You and Daphne seem to be rather close. Or at least you were."

Harry lunged at Malfoy but he was still unsteady on his feet.

Malfoy knocked him back down with a right hook.

Harry could taste blood in his mouth.

"I've been wanting to do this since that day at the office. When you tricked me." Malfoy growled, crouching down next to Harry.

In response Harry spat a wet clump of spit and blood into the Lord of House Malfoy's face.

Taken by surprise, the man almost fell onto his butt.

Harry managed a short laugh before a spell hit him in the side, pushing him across the floor, away from Malfoy.

Groaning he got to his feet again and then glared at Malfoy.

"Maybe I will just kill you Potter" the man growled "Consequences be damned."

Harry smirked, secretly happy he was able to get under the man's skin.

Before any side could trade any more insults one door opened again and the Deatheater Malfoy had sent away entered, by his side another familiar man.

Harry was surprised how awful Isaac Greengrass looked.

The man was so thin he was almost gaunt.

His face was sunken in and his eyes were clouded.

But it was unmistakably him.

Victor's and Elijah's gasps echoed through the room, followed by Elijah's whisper: "Isaac!"

"Ah yes, the lost brother." Malfoy sneered, regaining his composure.

"He has been quite helpful these years but lately he's started lacking."

"What did you do to him?" Elijah asked enraged.

Isaac didn't seem to notice, he just stared ahead.

Malfoy smirked and shrugged. "One of the side-effects of long-term Imperius-use is that it's effectiveness…well…decreases. So you start adding other different spells like compulsion charms and confundus charms and different potions and more Imperius-Curses. But…the human mind is frail. One wrong action and it shatters." Malfoy said nonchalantly but when he looked back at them he was smirking.

"There's not much he can do on his own. You give him the right commands and he gets them done but he doesn't do his own thinking anymore. He's a good puppet!"

Elijah and Victor both growled and fought against the Deatheaters restraining them.

"You monster!" Elijah shouted. "Isaac! Isaac it's me! Look at me!" he shouted.

Isaac slowly did turn his head and stared at Elijah.

"Isaac, I'm Elijah. Your brother! You know me and I know you can fight this!" Elijah pleaded.

Malfoy scoffed. "It's hopeless! Even if he does recognize you, he's stopped fighting years ago! He's mine!"

Both Elijah and Victor were trying to get a reaction out of Isaac but the man just stared at them.

He was a mere husk of the man Harry had met in Cambodia. But then again if what Malfoy had said was true it would explain why.

He'd been acting on orders back then. Now he was just…waiting…for his next order.

"I could tell him to kill you and he would." Malfoy said gleefully.

"I fact, why not a demonstration?" he added thoughtfully.

He pointed his wand at Isaac and chanted: "Imperio activare!"

The vacant expression and the cloudy look stayed but Isaac's back straightened and he turned his head expectantly at Malfoy.

"Kill the that one" Malfoy said with a grin, pointing at Elijah "Using your hands."

Isaacs face changed, his expression hardened and he nodded.

As he advanced on Elijah he looked just like he had when Harry had first encountered him in the Guardians cave and then later on in the jungle.

"NO!" he shouted but it was no use. Two Deatheaters grabbed him, holding him in place.

Elijah was trying to talk Isaac out of it but it all feel on deaf ears.

Victor too was struggling, reaching for one of his wands but no use either.

"Isaac! Isaac please, snap out of it! You can overcome this! It's not impossible! People have done it before! I beg you, you know me! I'm your brother! Remember? Isaac! Your name is Isaac! When you were three you fell down a well! I rescued you! Do you remember?" Elijah whispered fiercely.

Isaacs expression didn't change.

He reached Elijah and with no hesitation he put his hands around the man's neck and started squeezing.

Almost immediately Elijah started choking, gasping, struggling, his eyes pleading at Isaac to let him go.

"STOP! NO!" Harry shouted, helpless in the Deatheaters grip.

Elijah was moving less and less, his lips turning blue.

"I changed my mind, stop choking him." Malfoy said in a bored voice.

Almost immediately Isaac let go of Elijah and stopped back.

Elijah slumped in the Deatheaters grip and gasped for air.

"Your brother is gone. Or do you need another demonstration?" Malfoy asked smugly.

"Why did you do it?" Victor asked silently.

Malfoy smirked.

God, Harry hated that! He swore to himself that if he ever got out of here alive he would make sure that Malfoy would never smirk again!

"Your brother was a pain in our back during the war. He foiled many a plan of ours. We did it partly for revenge on him but also because he had a lot of information regarding your side. But mostly revenge. He got many of my friends captured and killed. I like having him around as my personal servant. The high and mighty Isaac Greengrass kissing my feet. It feels good! Not to mention the power it got me lately."

"You sick son of a bitch!" Victor growled.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed.

"I have no problem killing you Victor. I could make it look like some rough Deatheaters broke into Greengrass manor, killing everyone inside. You might be still useful to me but don't think everyone in your family is." Malfoy said dangerously low.

"I can have me people there in a matter of seconds."

Victor's shoulders slumped in defeat.

Harry didn't like that.

"Now, you have been naughty. But I'm not going to kill you. I do need you for that marriage contract we will make tomorrow at Gringotts. But rest assured that it will be the last thing you will ever do. I warned you, cross me or try anything and I would end you!"

Malfoy looked at Elijah who was still catching his breath, kneeling on the ground.

"As for you, Elijah…. I don't really see your use. You are just a troublemaker. Nobody will miss you!"

Malfoy looked back at Isaac.

"And what better way for you to go than to duel with the very brother you came to safe?" he mused.

"No!" Elijah whispered.

"I think yes!" Malfoy replied. "Isaac, I want you to duel with Elijah to the Death."

Isaac nodded, drawing his wand fluently.

Harry and Victor were dragged backwards.

Elijah was dragged to his feet and shoved into the empty space in the middle of the room where Isaac was already waiting.

"I'm not duelling my own brother!" Elijah shouted but he knew just like Harry that any attempt to attack someone else would end in his, and their, immediate death.

Ignoring his brother's protests, Isaac bowed, then turned around and walked across the room before turning around and assuming his position.

Harry felt reminded of his second year and Lockhart's stupid duelling club.

Only that this was real and dangerous.

"I will not fight my brother." Elijah said, his chin held up proudly.

"Then die by his hand anyway. I do not care." Drawled Malfoy. Then looking at Isaac he growled: "Do it."

But Harry was faster.

Just like Malfoy all the other Deatheaters were basking in their triumph of having caught them.

So the two morons who were holding Harry had loosened their grip on his significantly.

Harry stamped on the right guy's foot, then kicked upwards with his heel, catching him between his legs.

The man collapsed with a pale face.

With his hand free Harry summoned his wand from its holster and stunned the guy to his left.

With a second movement his hand tucked the invisibility cloak form inside his hoody's pocket and thrown it over himself, disappearing entirely.

The Deatheaters around him cried out loud enough to distract Malfoy and Isaac.

From underneath his cloak Harry shot a disarming spell at Isaac.

His wand went spinning through the air.

Harry silently praised Victor's quick reflexes.

The older man used the distraction to tear himself loose just like Harry.

With a flick of his wand two Deatheaters flew up, colliding with the ceiling before dropping down like stones.

Elijah was already moving through the room and Harry immediately saw what his target was.

Isaac was still standing where he had stood, confusion written over his face.

"NO!"

The shout drew Harry's attention and he saw Victor ducked just in time to avoid a yellow-spell-light.

Lucius Malfoy was there, eyes ablaze with anger.

"You will not escape a second time!" he growled. "Find Potter!" he howled.

Harry sent out his strongest 'Bombarda' towards eth ground at Lucius Malfoy's feet.

The floor between exploded, chunks of marble raining down on them.

Dust obscuring his vision Harry hoped that Elijah and Victor would be able to make the most out of the situation.

Staying under his cloak Harry cut down two disoriented Deatheaters that were trying to escape the dust.

"HARRY! WE NEED TO LEAVE!" he heard Victor shout.

"RIGHT BEHIND YOU!" Harry shouted back.

"There you are!" someone growled behind him.

Next thing Harry knew his cloak was gone and he was on his back, his left side on fire.

He gasped, blinking the tears away.

When the world came back into focus he saw a very deranged looking Lucius Malfoy standing a few meters away.

His hair was in a huge disarray and his clothes were torn and covered in a thick layer of dust.

A thin like of blood tickled down his chin.

Harry propped himself onto his elbow but a fiery burning in his side had him hold in his movement.

He gasped, one hand instinctively grabbing the injured side.

His hand came back wet and red.

"I don't care if this gets me killed or sent to Azkaban but I refuse to let you live!" Malfoy growled.

Pushing the pain back Harry rolled aside to avoid a jet of awfully familiar green light.

He was surprised and horrified to find no ground underneath his body as he rolled.

Instead he fell, colliding with a rough uneven surface.

He'd fallen into the crater he had created.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, Harry thought, pushing himself up.

The dust was settling but the fights were not.

Harry blocked a jet of light coming his way and ducked underneath another away but his injury limited his movements considerably.

He could make out the outline of a handful of people. One of them had to be Victor of Elijah because spells were exchanged between the two sides.

Malfoy may have thought that three were not many but it was not necessarily the number of people that made an army.

Elijah was an ex-auror, a combat-trainer and a war-veteran. His knowledge of magic was enough to take over all the teaching positions at Hogwarts if eh so desired.

Victor was a duellist before he married Diana Greengrass and a damned good one too. After the war, he became and Unspeakable before transferring to the Auror-corps. He could duel seven people at once with ease.

And Harry was good at causing distractions and make people angry. People who got angry usually got reckless.

Also he had the luck of the devil.

Not the best things to rely on in battle but it would have to do until he learned more.

"GLACIUS!" he shouted, aiming his wand at the floor.

Two charging Deatheaters slipped, fell and it was like taking candy from a baby to dispose of them for now.

"POTTER! NOW!" he heard Elijah shout.

"Not if I have anything to say." Lucius Malfoy growled, jumping into the crater with Harry.

And Harry had to find out the hard way why Lucius Malfoy had been in Voldemort's Inner Circle.

Malfoy wasn't a brainless fanatic. He was intelligent and he was, as Harry grudgingly had to admit, an excellent duellist.

Well, maybe not duellist. Duellists were fair.

Malfoy was an excellent butcher.

All Harry could do was block and duck and scramble backwards.

The spells came so rapidly, Harry had barely time to breathe.

At some point he just cowered behind his shield-charm, hoping it would hold.

Desperate he grabbed a piece of rock from the floor and hurled it at Malfoy to distract him.

The stone caught him in the leg, tearing open the robes and skin underneath.

Malfoy hissed, the injured leg not being able to properly support him, and he stumbled, giving Harry the crucial seconds he needed to pull himself out of the crater and onto his feet and through of the closest door into a hallway.

Running was painful Harry noticed after the first two steps.

His side burned, his lungs heaved and spluttered and his feet didn't seem to be able to find a rhythm.

The whole mansion seemed to be alive by now.

Three times Harry ran into one or two Deatheaters but miraculously he always made it out of those skirmishes.

But Harry knew that he was in a bad situation.

He was separated from his friends, all alone in this maze of a mansion with no idea how to get out and away.

Also his strength was fading fast.

"Dobby! Dobby I need you!" he gasped. He knew he was being egoistical. Dobby himself was probably in trouble. At least Malfoy had implied it.

He stumbled, falling against a wall.

Groaning he pressed his hand against his side.

Blood was trickling down his stomach, his hips and he felt it run into the leg of his trousers.

Shit.

"Dobby…Elijah! Victor…Someone…please…help!...Sirius…." he whispered, sliding down the wall.

The smell of blood was overwhelming.

There was a soft plop to his side and a small figure appeared in the gloom.

"Dobby?" Harry asked faintly.

"Not Dobby." A different but equally familiar voice croaked.

Small, old and gnarled hands pressed down on Harry injured side and a warm feeling spread though his chest, numbing the pain.

Harrys eye-sight cleared.

"K…Kreacher?" he moaned confused.

The old house-elf didn't look thrilled to be there either.

"Kreacher not can do more for Harry Potter. Boy must find healer himself."

"What…what are you doing…here?" Harry asked astonished.

"Boy a member of House Black. Kreacher cannot refuse call of members of House Black in need, no matter who the member is." Kreacher growled, pulling Harry back to his feet.

The elf was surprisingly strong.

"My friends…we have to help them."

"Kreacher has done his duty. Boy's friends not Kreacher's masters! Boy can't make Kreacher save them."

"At least tell me if you know where they are!" Harry said desperately.

"Kreacher saw them outside." Kreacher growled.

"Thank you Kreacher. I will never forget this. I promise." Harry said fiercely.

The elf studied him for a second before disappearing.

Harry checked his side.

It wasn't bleeding anymore.

A thin glittering film of…something…was covering it but Harry could see that it wouldn't hold forever.

He was by no means healed but he was well enough to continue.

Kreacher had said the others had made it out.

As soon as they would make it over the properties edge and the wards they would be able to leave.

Harry had to catch up with them or he'd be marooned here with a bunch of vengeful Deatheaters on his trail. And then elf-magic or no-elf-magic, Harry would most certainly die.

Window…I need a window…, Harry thought feverishly.

He continued his run down the hallway.

Rounding a corner, he saw moonlight flood though a tall window.

Sprinting towards it he saw that he was at the front side of the building. Before him lay the wide front-yard with its tall hedges and fountains and stuff like that.

Colourful explosions to his left caught his attention and he saw Elijah and Victor running form the mansion, firing spells behind them, cutting down their pursuers.

Harry was alarmed that he couldn't see Isaac but he had not time to worry. His own window of opportunity was shrinking.

While he was on the right side of the building he was still two stories up.

Looking down he knew that jumping would only break his legs.

His eyes fell on the front-porch-roof just a few meters down from where he stood. It was still a bit down but not enough to seriously injure oneself.

He just had to find a window onto the roof.

His mind made up Harry sprinted down the hallway.

He quickly found the perfect window, just above the front-roof.

He tore it open, jumping onto the window sill when behind him a voice asked: "Potter?"

Harry swirled around only to come face to face with…Draco Malfoy.

Under different circumstances it might have been funny to see Draco Malfoy in his Quidditch-Pyjamas, hair a mess and eyes wide with confusion and disbelieve.

Harry resisted the urge to face-palm.

Of course Draco would be here, this was his home after all.

Not knowing what to say Harry just replied: "Malfoy." And then jumped out of the window.

He hit the roof running, skidded across it, grabbed the edge and swung his legs across. Then he let go.

For a moment he was weightless, his stomach tingling uncomfortably.

Then his feet hit the ground.

Remembering to bend his knees he pitched forward, rolling and coming back up on his knees.

The next second he was up and running.

There were still Deatheaters running after him and his friends but most of them seemed to be still inside the Mansion.

"HARRY!" he heard Victors familiar voice shout.

He spotted the man ahead, duelling two goons.

"I'M OKAY! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" Harry shouted back, throwing a curse over his shoulder at an inclosing Deatheater.

He caught up with Victor and together they raced for the property line.

They were closing in on their target and Harry forced his legs to go even faster.

A cry of pain next to him had him falter as Victor crumbled down just as behind them he heard the cheers of the Deatheaters.

Harry came to an abrupt halt, his burning muscles screaming in protest.

Victor was laying on his stomach as few meters behind him.

And a few meters behind him Deatheaters were approaching fast.

Harry cursed but his mind was made up.

He would not leave Victor, despite what they had promised each other back at the Greengrass Mansion.

Harry would not leave anyone behind if he couldn't help it.

His wand was up and moving before he knew it and one Deatheater keeled over, his body stiff as a log of wood.

The second one didn't care for the fate of his comrade, he shot his curses.

Harry ducked, ignoring the uncomfortable ping in his side.

He rolled through the wet grass, ducking behind a tall hedge.

The Deatheater halted, searching for Harry in the deep shadows.

Thanks to the lights coming from the mansion behind the man Harry could see him quiet well.

But the Deatheater never saw the curses coming. He just fell.

Harry knew that he couldn't stay any longer.

More Deatheaters were pooling form the inside of the Malfoy residence.

He dashed to Victors side, relieved to find the man still breathing.

But there was blood soaking through his robes.

"What are you doing?" he asked. "Go Harry, go!" he whispered.

"Nope, not happening. Daphne would never forgive me if I didn't save her father!" he mumbled.

"Besides, you still owe me for those fingers you crushed!" he added.

Victor let out a weak laugh but he forced himself to stand.

Leaning heavily onto Harry he staggered along.

The property line was now so painfully close.

Harry would never know how they were not hit by any spells on their flight form that horrid place.

The only thing he remembered clear as day was how Victor's grasp on his shoulder suddenly tightened and then the feeling of being squeezed through a tube.

.

.

.

.

As the morning light streamed through the windows of St. Mungo's Spell-Damage Ward, Harry slowly leaned back in the hard-uncomfortable plastic chair until his head bumped slowly into the dry-plaster wall behind him, barely able to keep his eyes open.

The sun had just risen but the hospital was already very active. But Harry felt ready to drop.

He'd been sitting here for hours, waiting for news on his companions.

They wouldn't tell him anything.

Family only, was their explanation. Yet Harry didn't feel like he was able to leave without knowing the other men would be alright.

At last one of the Healers in the lime-green robes approached him.

"The family of Messrs. Greengrass has arrived. Also Mr. Victor Greengrass has asked for you. I thought you'd should to know."

"Thanks." Harry said with a small smile.

Slowly, still aching, he got up and slowly made his way towards Victor's room.

But he had to admit, that it could have been worse for all of them, considering what they had been through.

From what he knew and had seen, Elijah's ankle was shattered, his shoulder dislocated and a flesh-eating curse had hit him below the elbow but he had managed to get Isaac out of the Mansion, where a frantic Dobby had waited for them.

Dobby had taken the incapacitated Isaac across the Manor's security line while Elijah had hurried back to help Victor and him.

He had already been whisked away by the healers when they arrived but the Healers were very confident they would be able to restore him to his previous shape, at least they had told Victor that..

Victor's worst injury was the slashed up back but he had also managed to splinch himself when he apparated them away from that dreadful place.

A section of his left calf was missing but the Healers had assured him there would be no lasting damage. Other than that Victor had the usual cuts and bruises and would have to take it easy Harry reckoned.

Isaac was an entirely different story altogether as far as he could tell. There had been no actual word on the third man's condition yet but it couldn't be good.

Victor had given the healers only a brief explanation, telling them that his brother-in-law had been held capture for the last fourteen years or so and had been under constant mind-control. They didn't say how they had found him or gave any more explanations but in all honesty, the healer didn't need it.

When Isaac awoke from his subdued state he started yelling and screaming in pain, confusion and fear.

He didn't know where he was, who he was, what was happening and begged for eth voiced in his head to stop. He was taken away as well and Harry wondered if they really could help him.

But only time would be able to tell them that. What mattered was that he was alive and out of Malfoy's grasp. And for Harry that was good enough for now.

Thanks to Kreacher's house-elf-magic Harry's own wound was not as life-threatening as it would have been.

The healer managed to seal the wound and replenish the blood he had lost but it wasn't completely healed yet. A few days' rest and a potion would take care of the rest.

Seeing that that was all Harry had taken it upon himself to wait until the rest of the Greengrass family appeared so he could be sure Victor and Elijah would be alright before he left.

He checked eth watch once again.

Five thirty. Still plenty of time. He just hoped Sirius and Remus would decide to have a lie in for once.

He rounded the last corner and stopped as eh reached the beginning of a new floor and leaned against the wall to study the gathered people in front of Elijah's and Victor's rooms.

He didn't know any all of them but he could guess who they were.

They all shared certain Greengrass-features, be it the blond straight hair or the blue eyes, the sharp features, the tall straight posture or the same elegant gait.

Two women, who were just coming out of Elijah's door, consulting with a healer, and who looked rather alike, were most likely Daphne's two aunts, her mother's sisters.

Harry guessed the other people walking in and out of the rooms were husbands, cousins, brothers and other relatives.

Most of them didn't notice Harry as he slipped past them into Victor's room.

The man in question was sitting in his bed, leaning against couple of pillows.

He looked worse for wear but at least he was alive.

He looked tired though.

"Harry. They told me you were alright but I had to make sure you really were." He said silently.

Harry smiled.

"Nothing I couldn't handle. Told you I had worse before."

"Yeah well, I still don't really believe it. But thanks anyway. What you did…and what happened to you…I owe you a great debt and I'm sorry for what you were dragged into."

Harry shook his head.

"Let us talk about this another time. Please. I just want to go home and see my family and enjoy our small victory."

Victor nodded. "Of course. As you wish. But I will be in touch soon. The hardest part may be done but we're not completely done yet."

"Tell me about it." Harry muttered.

"All in good time." Victor agreed.

"Yes." Harry said with a nod.

He set to leave but Victor called him back.

"Harry…I know that this is a victory for us. But it won't stop them. And…I know you will be at the World Cup. I hope you understand that there is nothing you can do" Harry turned around "And I know how frustrating that is. But you must promise me not to do anything stupid or foolish or reckless that could endanger you or your family."

Harry sighed.

"I'm not good with those kind of promises." He said honestly.

"I know. But for once don't be the hero."

"I don't want to be the hero. But I can't sit idly by if there is something I could do to prevent evil things from happening! It's not who I am."

Victor sadly shook his head. "That's what you have been told to think. But Harry, just because you somehow stopped Voldemort doesn't make you responsible for keeping our world save from everything else. Please, I don't want to argue with you about it. Just promise me you will not go looking for them at the World Cup." He pleaded.

Harry sighed. "I'll…I'll promise." He said softly. Then he left.

He was just a few steps out of the door, when suddenly behind him someone called out: "Harry?"

He turned around at the sound of her voice.

Daphne stood there, several meters away from him, frozen in shock.

She stared at him, his torn bloody clothes, his cuts and bruises and he saw her eyes widen in realization.

And then suddenly she was running and then she was in his arms, wrapping her lithe body around his, burying her head in his shoulder.

And all Harry could do was to hug her back.

The hug only lasted for a couple of seconds before they both pulled back.

Harry held her gaze and without having to say anything he knew they both could read it in each other's eyes.

The gratitude and disbelieve and happiness were so very clear in Daphne's blue eyes. But underneath he saw the anguish and guilt and desperation.

He smiled and as he did he saw her expression lighten up a little bit.

She made a step towards him but Harry gently shook his head and them pointed it at the door of Victors room.

Go, be with your family, there'll be time to talk later.

She smiled back at him and for the first time since Cambodia her face lit up again.

She nodded back at him before slipping into her father's room but not without pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek.

.

.

The house was blissfully silent when he slipped inside through the front door.

On socks he hurried up the stairs, past Sirius bedroom and past Remus's room.

From behind both doors came light snores and Harry sighed with relieve.

Once back in his room he disposed of his ruined clothes, washed his face and then crawled into his bed.

He knew it was rather pointless since Sirius and Remus would be up in a matter of hours but for now he just wanted to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the moment.

It seemed rather surreal that only hours ago he was fighting for his life. And now… he was back in his room as if it had been just one terrible nightmare.

Maybe it was, he thought sleepily.

His hand ghosted over his bandaged side.

Before leaving St. Mungo's he had taken the potion and another one after washing up in the bathroom.

According to the healer the gash should be sealed up completely by tomorrow but it would leave a faint scar in most likelihood. But Harry could live with that. What was one ore scar if you were alive?

But until it was all good again he would have to make sure nobody found out.

And although he had promised himself he would tell Sirius, he still thought that it would still be too soon.

.

Somehow he must have drifted off into a light sleep because a knock on the door startled him awake.

"Harry? You up? It's almost eleven!" Sirius asked from the other side, sounding slightly amused. "Come one sleepy head, you can't spend all day in bed, we have preparations to make for the World Cup!"

"Coming!" he yawned.

.

.

.

.

.

.

AN: I know…It probably wasn't as dramatic as it could and should have been but this has honestly been the best I could do. And it has fulfilled its purpose for now, it's driving the story forwards and established a few future things.

I'm still going strong with this but things are gonna speed up a little and yes, it will go into the fourth year at Hogwarts and the Triwizard Tournament but, as you can guess, with a few twists to it.

As always, thank you for your review and for your continuous support.

I really appreciate it.

Love Kate

Oh and Happy New Year everybody, we did it, 2016 is behind us! Go 2017!