Chapter 26 - What's the plan?
"Draco? What's happening?" Pansy jumps into action, rushing towards him, her voice high and harsh against the sudden quiet of the Room.
"He's calling me to him," Draco winces, white-faced and clutching his wrist. "He knows."
"Are you sure?" Theo asks, regretting every time he wished that something would happen. Not this. He didn't want this.
"Yes," Draco hisses. "It's never burned like this before."
"When did it start?" Pansy demands.
"A couple minutes ago. It's already getting worse."
"Fuck," Theo breathes. He's vaguely aware of Neville stepping closer beside him and laying a hand on his lower back. "What are you going to do?"
"I'll go."
"No!" Pansy pulls Draco's hand into hers like she plans to forcibly keep him there, tethered to her. "You can't, that's not happening."
"He's not going to let me just not show up," Draco says, voice taking on an air of stony determination. "He'll come find me. It's better to obey. But I needed to say goodbye first." His eyes flit to Theo for a second, then past him, to Hermione.
Theo follows his gaze. Hermione seems to have frozen. She's clutching her hands in fists and biting down on her lip. Her eyes are impossibly wide.
Draco yanks his hand out of Pansy's grip and addresses the room at large. "I already used up too much time looking around the castle for you. I have to go, now. If I don't make it back —" he cuts himself off, clenching his teeth and shaking his head. "Don't come looking for me."
He turns and strides quickly back the way he came.
For a moment, nobody moves. Then Theo watches as Hermione lowers herself to the floor, slowly and carefully. She looks pale, like she's going to faint. Neville moves next, darting over to crouch next to Hermione and murmur words of comfort.
Then Pansy goes. "Fuck that," she snarls and takes off after Draco, running out of the Room.
Theo doesn't know what to do, he can't think, he — Draco is going, he's leaving, he's never coming back, he's going to die, Theo's oldest friend is going to die and he's just standing here, he's just standing here, he —.
All he can think about is the Malfoys' Christmas Eve party. Every year, Draco was allowed to invite two friends, and he always picked Theo and Pansy. There were never any other children there, it was all champagne and gold and people talking about politics and investments, even on the holiday.
But the three of them got their own special table and their own special drinks served in fluted glasses and Theo's father was always briefly proud of him for getting an invite to the exclusive party. After dinner, they'd escape to Draco's room and sit on the floor, eating sweets and playing pretend when they were little, drinking stolen champagne and confessing their secrets when they were older.
Inevitably, they'd fall asleep before an adult remembered to come collect them, and Theo would wake up in Draco's bedroom on Christmas morning.
And he'd missed it this year, but next year, he'd thought, next year, they'd do it again. Even if the Malfoys didn't have a party, Theo and Pansy and Draco would drink champagne and fall asleep together on Christmas eve.
But that's not going to happen now.
Because Draco's going to get fucking murdered today.
Theo sits on the floor with Hermione and Neville. No one says anything for he's not sure how long. And Theo thinks about Christmas and the blankness of Hermione's face and Lucius Malfoy in Azkaban and Draco Draco Draco. He briefly wonders how Draco is planning to get there and then extensively attempts to not wonder how it will happen. A quick Avada? Or crucio until he can't stand and then fed to a snake? Will his mother have to watch? Will the Dark Lord do it himself or will he delegate?
He's just in the middle of envisioning a particularly gruesome scene of torture and blood and death when Pansy returns.
She comes in silently and drops onto the floor with them.
"He left with Professor Snape," she says flatly. "They'll be getting to the Manor any minute now. Snape said he'd 'do everything in his power' to protect Draco, whatever that means. And that whatever happens, it won't be fast. It's not over yet."
She says this not hopefully, but resignedly. It's not that Draco has a chance, it's that there is worse, slower agony yet to come.
"What are we going to do?" Neville asks, voice full of practicality and optimism.
Pansy shakes her head. "Nothing. He's gone. It's too late to stop him."
"But — there must be something," Neville protests. "We can talk to Dumbledore, or the Order, or the Aurors, or — something."
"No," Pansy says bitterly. "They won't do anything. Not for him."
"We have to do something," Neville repeats, his eyes searching Theo and Hermione.
"Nev…" Theo says gently. "I don't know…"
Theo doesn't know. He can't –– he can't think. He can't solve this.
"Something," Hermione echoes Neville. She's got her thinking-smart-thoughts expression on that Theo recognises from class and for a moment he gets this feeling like maybe there is an adult in the room after all. Maybe things will be alright.
"I don't think there's any other way," Hermione continues. "We'll have to go there. He won't –– he won't even try to escape on his own, I don't think."
"Go there?" Pansy demands. "Are you out of your mind?"
"We'll need a good plan. Nothing hasty," Hermione muses. "You two know the house, right?" she asks, turning to Pansy and Theo.
"I used to," Pansy says roughly. "I don't know what he's done to it."
"Right. Well, that's something at least," Hermione nods. "How would we get in?"
"Not easily," Theo says quickly.
"So it's possible then," Hermione concludes, taking his opposite meaning. "There's an apparition line, I assume?"
"Yeah," Pansy supplies. "They'd know when someone arrived."
"Hm," Hermione nods. "A way out then, if not a way in. The floo connections would be locked of course…"
She trails off into silence and bites her lip while tapping her fingers anxiously against her wrist.
Theo shares a look with Pansy, who shakes her head slightly, lips pursed. She's not hopeful. Theo's not sure if he is either.
Suddenly, Hermione stands. "It's just," she says, "that I've had an idea." She starts marching towards the door and the rest of them scramble to follow. "I need to check something with Harry, but I think there's a way to get there. Or, a way to find a way to get there!"
That makes no sense to Theo, but he hurries after her all the same.
The hall outside seems strangely bright and loud, though it's the same Hogwarts halls he walks through every day.
It already seems different, without Draco here.
Theo wonders if he should be feeling more, falling apart, wailing in the corridors and rending his garments. But it's like when his father was in the hospital. He's just numb, waiting for something to happen. Unlike when Draco was hurt, mere weeks ago.
Then, Theo knew something had already happened. He'd seen the pool of blood and Draco lying in it. Now, there might be another pool of blood.
Outside the Gryffindor common room, their sad little group runs to Potter and Weasley.
"Something's wrong," Weasley states, staring into Hermione's face.
"Yes," she confirms. "Something's wrong."
Hermione matter-of-factly catches Potter and Weasley up to speed. They, apparently, knew nothing about the cabinet, so it takes a few moments.
Theo waits, only half-listening as he fidgets with the edge of his sleeve. If they can't get there, and he's not convinced they can, how long will they be wondering? How will they know what happens? Will it come from Snape? Dumbledore? Will they have to wait for news from the Prophet? How would the Prophet even know? Will they wait, wondering what happened, for days? Weeks? Months? Years? Will they ever know for sure?
"And now he's been taken by Voldemort." Hermione's voice shakes, only slightly, as she finishes.
"Well," Potter says. "What's the plan?"
"That's the thing," she says, words tumbling over each other. "I was hoping you could help. I'm not asking you to come, but we have to go there –– or I do at least, I don't know who else is coming –– but maybe we could borrow some things? Like the cloak and maybe the rest of the Felix Felicis? I know it's a lot to ask, you were saving it, but ––"
"Yeah, you can have the potion," Harry says quickly. "And I –– we," he corrects, glancing at Weasley, "would come, it's only that I've just come from Dumbledore's… He's found a you-know-what and he wants me to come get it with him right now. He sent me to get the cloak."
"But you can tell him what happened, right Harry? Maybe he'd help us?" Weasley suggests.
"No, no," Hermione says quickly. "Go with Dumbledore, Harry. If you find it, that will weaken him and that's really the best thing for Draco, in the long run."
"What long run?" Pansy mutters.
"Are you sure?" Potter asks slowly. "I can give you the cloak, at least."
"No, if Dumbledore said you need it, take it. We won't all fit under it anyway. At least, if we're all ––"
"I'm coming with you," Theo says quickly, the words nearly falling from his mouth. He hadn't realised he'd decided, but of course. Of course he's going.
"God, fine," Pansy says. "I'm coming too."
"And me," Neville says.
"No!" Theo argues, whirling around. "No, you don't need —"
"If you're going, I'm going." Neville sets his jaw and looks at Theo firmly. He's determined and perfect and bloody brave as hell and he's not going to take no for an answer. Theo deflates.
"Okay then," Hermione takes on a look of icy certainty. "Please get us the potion, Harry."
Potter nods and disappears up the stairs.
Nobody speaks while he's gone. A gaggle of second years come by and troop up the stairs and through the portrait hole, staring openly at the group of solemn sixth years as they go.
When Potter returns, he has a thick silvery cloak folded over his arm and passes a tiny glass vial to Hermione.
"Er, I guess I'll go then," he says. Hermione throws herself on him in a hug and whispers something in his ear. He whispers back for a long time.
Potter sends a little wave back at the rest of them and takes off down the hall, his head bent against his quick pace.
"Okay," Hermione says, taking a breath as she turns to Weasley. "You need to stay here. Someone needs to be around when Harry gets back. And if we don't get back soon… Well. Someone needs to stay here. And — you shouldn't have to risk your life for him. I do. He did for me, and well, even if he didn't I would. He's worth it to me, but I know he's not to you and that's okay. And I'll feel better knowing that at least one person I care about is safe tonight."
Ron nods, his eyes wide as he swallows. "Be careful. And whatever you do," he says, pulling Hermione into a hug, "come back."
She nods, closing her eyes for a single second, before turning back to Theo, Neville, and Pansy, Felix Felicis in hand.
"I think there's enough here for about an hour of luck for each of us," she says. "Enough to get us in, though I don't know if it will be enough to get us out."
"We move fast, then," Pansy says.
"Yes," Hermione agrees. "We move fast. Let's take it now, to help us get out and pick up anything we might need to bring."
Hermione takes her sip of potion and passes it around.
When Theo drinks his, he's filled with a warm, soft certainty. This was a good idea. They can do this.
"Does anyone else feel like we should go to the Headmaster's office?" Neville asks.
As soon as he says it, Theo is certain he's right. That will be the place to be.
"Let's go," he says.
They take off, Neville sparing a moment to pat Weasley on the back as they go.
When they reach the hallway outside Dumbledore's office, it's deserted. Potter and the Headmaster seem to be long gone.
"Cockroach clusters," Theo says confidently to the gargoyle. He just has a feeling that would be the password.
Sure enough, the gargoyle steps aside. It narrows its eyes as they pass, but cannot deny them entry.
Inside, the office is as gold and quietly resplendent as he remembers it.
Hermione goes straight for the fireplace.
"The floo," she says. "Can we take it?"
"Maybe," Pansy replies. "But it'll be locked on the other end."
Theo has a feeling they'll manage somehow. It feels like the Felix Felicis is directing their attention to the floo, that has to be the way out. But Pansy's right, how are they going to —
"Conglomerate Nebula?"
The words are out of his mouth before he's even had the thought, like the potion remembered his elf before he did. Conglomerate Nebula pops into existence precisely a foot in front of Theo and stares up at him eyes wide and expectant.
"Master Theo called?" he squeaks. He's dressed in a fluffy purple towel and is positively vibrating with excitement at being summoned to Hogwarts. "What is Master needing?"
"Thank you for coming, Conglomerate Nebula," Theo says. "Are you able to get into Malfoy Manor?"
"The kitchens?" Pansy specifies.
"Of course, sir, miss." The elf nods enthusiastically.
"Okay," Theo says. "I'd like you to go to the kitchens at Malfoy Manor and unlock the floo so we can get through from here. Can you do that?"
"Of course." Conglomerate Nebula looks slightly offended that Theo would have to ask. "I is going now?"
"Yes, if you could. And then come right back, if you don't mind."
"Of course, sir," he says, almost with exasperation, then disappears.
"Does that seem too easy?" Neville asks after a moment.
"Felix makes everything easy," Pansy shrugs.
The room is quiet for a moment, but for the sound of Dumbledore's whirring instruments, as if everyone is holding their breath in anticipation, waiting for Conglomerate Nebula's return.
"Er, what are you doing?" Neville asks suddenly.
Theo has taken down the Sorting Hat from its shelf, almost automatically. He's not sure why, but he'd like to bring it with them to the manor.
"I have a feeling we should bring the Hat with us," Theo says, frowning at the silent hat, limp in his grip. "Anyone else getting that?"
"No…" Hermione says. The others shrug.
"Well, I'm taking it," Theo says, and begins rolling it up for transport.
"Are you sure?" Hermione questions. "I don't know if it's the sort of thing it's wise to just steal."
"Are we trusting Felix or aren't we?" Theo counters, tucking the Hat into his robes.
There's no time to debate the point further. Conglomerate Nebula reappears, barely five minutes after he left.
"All sorted, sir. The Malfoy elves are expecting you."
"Thank you, Conglomerate Nebula. You've done very well," Theo tells him. "Please go home now. And have some chocolate pudding with your supper. That will be all."
The elf's eyes go wide at the suggestion of chocolate pudding and he nods eagerly. "Thank you, sir. I'll be getting home, sir."
The elf snaps out of view and the four of them exchange shifty glances. Last chance to call it off.
Pansy speaks first. "I'll go through first," she says. "The elves know me. I still feel like this is the right choice, everyone else?"
Theo nods, as do Hermione and Neville.
"Okay," Pansy says, stealing a pinch of Professor Dumbledore's floo powder and stepping into the fireplace. "Malfoy Manor kitchens!"
She whooshes off. Hermione steps through next, then Neville, leaving Theo for last. He takes one final, steadying look around the office.
For Draco. He's doing this for Draco.
He feels the potion pulsing in his veins, urging him on. He pinches some floo powder and steps into the flames.
"Malfoy Manor kitchens!"