I had only the element of surprise on my side. Though these aurors certainly weren't stupid, they'd clearly let their guard down, likely thinking I wouldn't be a struggle compared to their usual foes. Even Ginny couldn't move quick enough to shield the body-bind I sent her way.
One auror went down at my first spell, but Harry and the other stayed standing, now with wands ready. The pub-goers had realised by this point something was occurring. They turned to watch — some amused, some horrified. But they all became excited once they'd pieced together Harry's glasses, his scar — his identity.
As they converged on him, all desperate for contact or conversation, I blocked three curses from the auror and shot back as many of my own. I finally hit him with stupefy. The thump as he hit the floor was enough to break the crowd around Harry, enough for him to come darting forward, his wand raised and ready.
There was nothing else for it. I turned on the spot, focusing hard with all my might on the chateau. I'd tried to carefully place loopholes in our earlier enchantments. This would surely be a test to our skill.
I felt warm liquid gush down my torso before I felt any pain. I'd arrived at the chateau grounds, less than half a mile from the building. I'd only arrived here once before, and that was without the barrier of protective enchantments. My ineptitude had caused me to splinch myself.
I didn't want to look, but as my shirt soaked through with dark blood, I had to address the situation. I ripped my shirt free, not caring that I was left in only my skirt and a bra. Three deep, puckered gashes lined my ribcage, as though chunks of my skin had been forcibly sliced off. My mind whirred into action slowly, too slowly, already sluggish from the blood loss.
I scrambled through my pockets for my potion, realising halfway through it was in vain. I could see the glass bottle perfectly in my mind — on the nightstand, where I'd left it that morning.
I raised my wand arm to summon it, but the world started spinning around me too fast. Stars dotted my vision and I felt the ground slam into me. Or maybe I into it.
Harry's face came into my blurred vision.
"Oh no," I groaned, trying to push myself up. "Not you."
I couldn't fight against the darkness that wanted so desperately to claim me. I was scared, until I heard Draco's voice. Somehow I could hear nothing else, my mind in too deep a sleep, but his voice was made for my ears. It soothed me, as only Draco could. I felt safe enough to let go.
Draco had woken in a daze, his face aching and lined from being pressed against the table. He took a moment to address his surroundings — the dining table, no Tori — and then saw the parchment before him.
"Tori," he snarled, shooting to his feet. "What the fuck have you done!"
Nobody answered. She really was gone. Draco ripped the kitchen shelving from the walls with a swipe of the unfamiliar wand, screaming in frustration. His blood ran cold. He needed to act. Where would she meet the Weasley girl? Not somewhere public, surely? But with aurors ready to take her down, as Draco knew for sure they would be, a private setting could be even worse. He needed to do something, disapparate somewhere.
No sooner had the thought occurred to him, he heard a crack rip through the air.
He raced through the hallway to the front door, determined it would be Tori, it would have to be. His chest physically ached as he burst through the door, taking the steps down two at a time to the grounds. He scanned them wildly, searching for some sign of her — and then he found her. Dead at Potter's feet.
"No!" he roared, apparating to Potter's side at once.
He cursed Potter back, the element of surprise enough it worked. Draco didn't know or care what spell he'd casted. His eyes focused only on Tori, drained completely of colour. He saw the pool of blood at her side, the deep gashes still bleeding out.
"No," he whispered, racking his brains. "Tori, your potion, where's your potion? Where's… Accio! Accio!"
The vial came whizzing into his hand. He had no idea how to administer it, had never thought to ask. He tipped the entire contents into Tori's mouth. The bottle refilled instantly. Draco poured the next dose over the splinch wounds themselves. They healed almost immediately, before his very eyes. Even dittany was not so potent a healer.
But still Astoria did not stir.
"We need to get her to St. Mungo's."
Draco didn't respond to Potter's voice. He would not draw his eyes away from Tori, not even if it meant Potter dragging him to Azkaban. It's the least he deserved if Tori was dead. And all because of him. Because of the danger he attracted, the world he'd introduced her to. If he'd ruined her just by being with her, he didn't want to live. He didn't want to exist in a world without Astoria.
He lay beside her, wrapping an arm around her limp frame. "Come back to me, Tori. Please. I love you."
A couple of unfamiliar voices mumbled something. More wizards had arrived, but Draco refused to acknowledge them. Astoria still wasn't moving. He didn't know if she was breathing. He was about to completely fall apart and shatter to pieces. He could feel it coming on, ready to take him over.
Before it had a chance, a stunning spell hit Draco square in the back. His world turned dark.
He dreamt of Tori's voice. He could hear it, and he'd been so afraid he couldn't anymore. But her voice was sad. Scared. He frowned, trying to find her in the dark, finally working through the layers of consciousness until he awoke.
"Draco?" she whimpered.
"Astoria?" He blinked his eyes hard, trying to adjust them to the darkness of his surroundings. He could feel painfully tight ropes binding him to a wooden chair.
"Draco… You're awake."
"You're… You're alive."
"I guess I am."
"What the fuck happened?" Draco asked.
"I'm so sorry," Tori whispered. "I was so fucking stupid. I just… I only wanted to help."
Draco gulped. "I know, baby. It's okay." He strained his hand against the restraints, trying to reach for her. "Tori, we've got to get out of here."
"I don't think we can. I don't even know where we are."
A light came on, blinding them both in its clinical glare. Through his squinting eyes, Draco could make out an empty room with tattered walls, a wooden door. Three aurors.
"Potter," Draco spat.
His insides filled with venom. It wasn't enough for Potter to have taken everything he could during the glory days. Now, he had to stand between Draco's only chance at happiness too.
"I need you both to stay calm," Potter said. "Some of this may come as a shock."
"I'll fucking kill you," Draco growled, earning a gasp from Tori. "You can send me to Azkaban, or wherever the fuck you like. It doesn't matter. I'll fucking kill you, Potter."
"We're on the same side, Draco," he said.
"No, we're fucking not," Draco spat. "You've put galleons on our heads. You've been hunting us."
"Because," Harry snapped impatiently, "we had to get you before they did!"
Tori's shaky voice came from behind him. "Before who? What's going on?"
Draco heard Tori gasp, a truly horrified sound, and he jerked around as far as he could to find the cause.
It had to be some cruel trick of the aurors. He had seen Kingsley Shacklebolt die. He had seen the man drop dead before him, hit in the chest with the killing curse.
But Kingsley Shacklebolt was standing right before him. He appeared regal as ever, but had a new fire burning in his eyes.
"Surprised to see me?" he asked the pair.