Draco had no time to think nor do anything because as soon as Dumbledore was gone, Severus grabbed his jacket and dragged him toward the stairs and then shoved him in front of Severus. The sixth of them walked down the stairs and moved toward the entrance of the Hogwarts castle. When the Great Hall corridor appeared on Draco's view, he realised how serious the situation was that night. The scenery showed the Orders and students were fighting hard with Death Eaters. Great Hall ruined. Some Death Eaters had destructed it. His aunt Bellatrix merrily participated in blasting some objects in the hall.
"Out of here, quickly," Severus said.
Draco kept walking with Severus and the other four Death Eaters leaving the castle. He left his belonging except for the dragon statuette he kept in his pocket. They passed Hagrid hut and another Death Eater threw fire on it. Bellatrix laughed maniacally while throwing jinxes here and there. Draco looked back to see the castle. He gazed in terror as Hogwarts Castle showered in fire and jets of hexes were destroying pillars and the buildings.
"Snape! Stop right there, you coward! Fight me! Fight me!" Potter ran toward them, firing hexes. Draco's breath caught in his throat at seeing him.
"Run, Draco!" Severus shouted, and he did so with shaking legs.
"How could you do it! How could you killed Dumbledore!" Potter screamed. "Sectum—"
Draco stopped and turned his body at hearing the incantation. He saw Severus flicked his wand and the curse was repelled.
"No, Potter!" screamed Severus. There was a loud BANG and Potter fell backward, hitting the ground. "You dare use my own spell against me? Yes, it was I who invented them."
Draco's eyes widened at the revelation.
"Then kill me, you coward!" Potter screamed.
"DON'T—" suddenly Severus' voice became cold and dark, "CALL ME COWARD!" Severus swished his wand and then Potter was slammed further backward into the ground.
When Severus pushed him to walk, Draco heard faintly his name being called by Potter before unconsciousness hit that Boy Who Lived.
~o~
Harry struggled to his feet. He didn't know how long had he been passed out. But at seeing Hagrid approaching him, he guessed it was less than a minute or so. Harry didn't wait for the giant to arrive though. He remembered the Astronomy Tower. He started to run back to the castle with his still wobbling legs.
The fire was now gone. All students, professors and Hogwarts staffs gathered on the courtyard. He walked through the crowd until he was in front of the entrance hall where Dumbledore's body had been moved there. The headmaster lay lifeless. Harry walked timidly toward the body.
Dumbledore used to care about him, whether genuinely or not, it didn't matter to him. The only adult person who took care of him was gone now, he felt lost. He didn't have anyone to depend on from now on.
Harry fell to the ground on his knees. He stared at the deceased headmaster with empty eyes. He couldn't cry even when he wanted to. There were already too much pain and disappointment in him to produce any emotions. He felt warm from the collection of magic being casted to the sky by everyone behind him, ridding of the Dark Mark above Hogwarts. He didn't raise his want to do the same. He sat beside the body of Dumbledore for a long moment, mind blank.
"Harry," Hagrid called him, "C'mere, Harry…"
"No."
"You can' stay here, Harry…"
"No."
He didn't want to move anywhere. Harry felt like he had lost his guide of life. The crowd murmured behind him. And then he saw something beside the headmaster body. It was the locket they had managed to steal hours ago. It had opened. Harry picked it up and immediately felt something was wrong with the locket. A fragment of parchment attached inside it. Harry pulled it out and read it. It was a message from someone with initial RAB who had stolen the real locket. Someone who knew Voldemort used the object as a Horcrux.
He and Dumbledore had almost died in retrieving the locket from the deadly cave tonight for a fake Horcrux. Harry felt anger started to build inside.
"Harry, come on," another voice said.
A small hand touched his shoulder and was pulling him upward. Harry inhaled flowery scent on the air. It was Ginny. Why couldn't Ginny be his sister? He had no one now that Dumbledore was gone for good.
"We're going to the hospital wing," said Ginny.
"I'm not hurt," said Harry.
"Everyone's up there. Ron and Hermione and Lupin and—"
Fear stirred in Harry's chest.
"Ginny, who's dead?!"
"Don't worry, none of us," Ginny soothed him and then brought him to the hospital wing.
Harry almost shed tears of joy as he saw everyone in the hospital were alive. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if any of them died, because it was all about his battle with the Dark Lord. Ginny left him between his best friends' beds and she sat on his wounded brother, Bill's bed. She glanced at a bed across Bill's. Harry followed her gaze. Neville lay there unconscious, but alive. She must be very worried. Harry hoped Neville's injury wasn't serious because Ginny liked that herbology lover boy a lot. Harry could approve them being an item.
"Harry," a weak voice of Hermione called him from his right side. Harry took her hand.
"Are you all right, 'Mione?" Harry squeezed her little hand. There were scratches on her skin. Hermione nodded. "Dumbledore, he…"
Hermione nodded when Harry didn't finish his sentence.
"The Horcrux is fake," Harry told her then.
"Oh, Harry," Hermione squeezed his hand. "We'll find the real one."
Harry didn't answer her. He sat on Hermione's bed and watching her close friends being taken care by madam Pomfrey. His eyes saw the potion in one of the vials on the nurse's tray. Its color was green that immediately reminded him of someone. Someone who had a green dragon statuette. Someone who showed hesitation and fear in his eyes that night. Someone who lowered his wand at the Astronomy Tower when he was forced to kill Dumbledore. Someone who had no choice just like him.
When Draco arrived at Malfoy Manor, he was surprised at the chaos outside the gate. There were a number of wizards wearing Azkaban uniforms waiting for something. He went pale instantly, but then relieved a bit when he saw a very familiar long silver blond hair.
"Father!" Draco walked in haste toward his father. "What's going on?"
"The Dark Lord had given your father and the other Death Eaters his assistance in the escape to celebrate this night," Severus informed Draco. "Now open the ward for them so they can reunite with their master."
"What?!" Draco seethed. He would never let those filthy Death Eaters enter his manor. At the same time, his fear for the Dark Lord increased. The dark wizard managed to break the highest security prison only in minutes. Either he had men in the Ministry or he had fearsome power.
"Draco, do as I said or you will face his wrath," Severus whispered into Draco's ear urgently.
Draco had no choice but to do as he was ordered to. The Dark Lord still held his mother. If only he could take his mother and hide her somewhere safe…
"Ah… welcome my fellow men, welcome," Voldemort stood at the center of the entrance hall with his arms wide open as the Death Eaters entered the manor.
All the ex-prisoners bowed so low before their master. Meanwhile Draco and Severus' group stood on the right side of the hall, ready to give reports on the Hogwarts event. At seeing his father bowed that low, Draco tried so hard to hide his contempt from showing on his face. He wondered if his father would still be a loyal servant to the Dark Lord when Draco told him that the Dark Lord almost killed Mother.
"I freed you to give you all one more chance to proof your loyalty to me," Voldemort started his speech. "Today marks the beginning of the Dark Lord Renaissance! Let's celebrate the death of the good old fool wizard Dumbledore eehahha!"
"Are we going somewhere, my Lord?" Bellatrix gasped in over-excitement.
"Yes, Bellatrix. We will. But not now. Tomorrow, when the world hears the death of their once great wizard, we are going to visit the Ministry to give our condolences. As of now, I have tasks list to give to you all. Come to the drawing room." Voldemort threw his winning grin to the room and gestured to Severus' group to follow him.
"Draco, go to your room and owl Nott to send you Hogwarts situation every two hours," Severus instructed Draco.
"Why he must leave, Severus?" Voldemort stopped his walk and turned his head to see Severus and Draco. "The boy should join us to celebrate his winning tonight!"
"Huh, what did—" Amycus started to talk but immediately cut by Severus.
"My lord, it is important to know what is going on in Hogwarts. Every little move they make should be monitored for our benefit," Severus made an excuse then shoved Draco to go. "Now, Draco!"
Draco immediately walked to his wing in hurry that he almost run. Draco didn't want to take part in crazy plans the Dark Lord had. He had had enough for tonight. And Draco definitely didn't want to be in one room with Dark Lord and Death Eaters when Amycus told them that Draco wasn't the one who killed Dumbledore. And Severus seemed to know this. Draco owed his godfather so much.
As soon as he arrived at his bedroom, Draco threw all protection spells on his door and room. He was exhausted mentally but still did as Severus told to send owl to his classmate Theodore Nott. He was still in shock to try to sleep. So he lay on his bed with closed eyes instead. Draco's right hand reached inside his pocket and clutched his dragon miniature until he fell asleep hours later.
~o~
The first time he did when he woke up later was to summon Tippy and asked the house elf about his mother and the situation in the manor. It was seven in the morning. Draco felt his head so heavy and hurt. He had only slept for mere three hours. He wanted to know what happened with Potter but he was afraid to reach him through their bond, afraid the Dark Lord could sense the connection. Not that he cared about Potter… If Potter was all right, then so was Hogwarts.
According to Tippy, most of the Death Eaters left the manor at dawn. Some of them including Severus, his father, and the Dark Lord were still in the manor. So after he took a quick shower, Draco ventured cautiously downstairs heading toward the master bedroom. He didn't see his mother last night.
Just as Draco walked by his father's library to reach the stairs toward his destination, Draco heard vaguely Severus' voice. It sounded like he was arguing with someone. Casting Disillusionment charm to himself, Draco approached the library's door to hear better.
"—under their pressure," Severus said.
"He lowered his wand even before your arrival, Snape. So how would you know if the boy wouldn't runaway?" Amycus' voice, Draco recognised, told the library occupants.
"I assure you, my Lord, that Draco did not intend to betray you. With his skill on his own effort, he had introduced the Death Eaters into the school. He had also cornered Dumbledore at the Astronomy Tower for me to kill," Severus' voice was calm, but Draco could sense challenge in it. Unless Amycus and whoever else in there weren't afraid of finding poisons in their drinks or food, they all didn't say anything to antagonise Severus.
"Severus, as I recall, I gave the boy the task to kill Dumbledore and you knew of it," Voldemort said. When Severus said nothing, he continued, "You have become too protective to the boy, Severus. What good he will do for me if he could not even do one simple task I gave him?"
"M—my Lord?" Severus' voice faltered. That meant not good. Was the Dark Lord going to Crucio Severus?
"Ah, but worried not, Severus. I actually like the boy. He is good and can be very useful for me with all the skills and power he possesses. I will give him one more chance to redeem his failure and proof that he is worth for me," Voldemort told Severus. "He must bring Harry Potter to me, alive."
Draco's heart was suddenly beating fast. He practically heard it thumping. Afraid of being heard and caught eavesdropping, Draco hastily flew to the master bedroom. But as he started to walk, he couldn't move his legs. In horror realisation, he was immobilised. His Disillusionment charm had also been dropped. The library doors opened.
"Well, well, Draco. How nice of you to give your Lord a morning greets." The Dark Lord stepped out of the library and stood before Draco, grinning. "And as you have self-voluntarily heard your next task, you may start now. I have been informed that the Hogwarts residents are going home today after their Headmaster funeral. Ah, it is a very lovely morning!"
The Dark Lord erased his grin and his face became serious. For a few seconds he looked at Draco in alert as if he was sensing something alarming on Draco.
His eyes searching over Draco's body. Then he walked away, followed by the rest of Death Eaters. He saw his father gave him a worried look, and a warning look from Severus while Amycus gave him hostile face. When all of them disappeared from his vision, Draco was able to move again and he immediately Disapparated to the third floor of the west wing. He knocked the wooden double-doors as soon as he arrived before the master bedroom. After few seconds finally the door opened and he was greeted with a relieved face of his dearest mother.
"Draco!" Narcissa embraced Draco tightly and briefly before she pulled her only child into the bedroom.
"Mother! Are you all right?" Draco took his mother's hands and held them over his chest.
"All right, Draco," Narcissa made a quick check on Draco from head to toe. "Oh, Draco dear, I was so worried. Thank Merlin you're here now."
"Did they hurt you while I was in Hogwarts?" Draco also checked his mother. All perfect as always.
"No. Don't worry, dear," Narcissa assured Draco. Then, she must have noticed the troubled expression on Draco's face. "What's wrong, Draco?"
Everything was wrong! Draco yelled in his head. The Dark Lord liked him and he would be dead in the near future if he couldn't bring Harry Potter to the Dark Lord. Another ludicrous task the Dark Lord requested for him. No matter what he did, Draco knew that in the end, the dark wizard wanted him dead. Just to punish his parents, and now to also punish him and his godfather.
Draco shook his head and Narcissa didn't press him.
"Mother, I can take you to the Black House," Draco told his mother. She shook her head.
"I can't, Draco. The Dark Lord put a spell on me that prevent me from leaving the manor," Narcissa replied.
Draco screamed internally. So there was no other choice. Draco must find Harry Potter and brought him to the Dark Lord.