The corridors were too long, and her speed not fast enough. Draco was completing his mission under Dumbledore's instruction, but he did not know Dumbledoor had left. She had to stop him before he let a few Death Eaters loose in the school. She had prayed her Patronus had reached him, but she knew her chances of being that lucky were very slim. Her chances of reaching Draco before he opened the closet doors were even slimmer. Nevertheless, she charged down the hallways. She had reached the Room of Requirement and was fervently murmuring, "I need to get to Draco, I need to get to Draco, I need to- "Her words were cut off as black smoke covered the entire entrance. She felt Draco's soft touch gently guide her backwards silently.
"Dumbledore's gone." Ginny breathed.
"Do I hear a blood traitor?" Bellatrix's cackling voice asked from behind Draco.
"Don't be silly, they don't know I'm here." Draco consoled his aunt, though his voice seemed uneven.
"Curcio!" Bellatrix yelled pointing ahead of Draco. He cringed as the curse hit Ginny causing a piercing scream to escape her lips. Pulling the small band of Death Eaters, Draco ran past Ginny's now quiet body.
Leaving his Hand of Glory in a hidden shelf in the broom closet he and Ginny often occupied on their meetings, Draco led the group to Dumbledoor's tower, praying the headmaster would be back soon and duel the Death Eaters as planned. It was only a few moments later when Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna met the invaders wands drawn.
"Get out of our way." Draco growled at Ron begging for a fight to slow them down.
"Or what, Malfoy?" Ron asked darkly.
"I'll do to you what Bellatrix did to your precious sister." Draco spat hoping at least one of them would take the hint to help Ginny.
"What did you do to her?" Ron asked his anger rising.
"I didn't do anything, remember?" Draco sneered noticing Luna's blonde hair whip around the corner to the Room of Requirement.
"Expelliamus!" Ron yelled at Draco. Expecting his childish play, Draco easily deflected the spell.
"I should have expected you to use something as immature as that." Draco mocked.
"Patrif-" Ron began, but was stopped by Draco's soft chuckling.
"Come on, Weasley, show me what you've got- unless that was it." Draco teased.
"Alarte Ascandare!" Ron yelled sending Draco into the air hanging upside down by his ankle. In response, Draco flicked his wand at Ron sending arrows at him. As Ron was pinned to the wall by Draco's arrows, he gracefully dropped himself to the floor before continuing his journey.
Though a battle raged around him, Draco skirted any opportunities to participate in the destruction. Instead he found himself telling the Gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office, 'lemon drops', and climbing the steps to the headmaster's office.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. I expected you much sooner." Dumbledoor greeted calmly from the balcony overlooking the school grounds.
"I was told you were out, so I stalled." Draco replied coolly.
"Ah, Miss Weasley." Dumbledoor nodded.
"How did you know that?" Draco asked scared.
"Harry most likely told his two best friends we were leaving previously this evening. No doubt, she over heard or he told her himself, and she warned you. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger would be the least likely to have told you precious information like that, and you most likely would not believe them. I must say, I did not expect to see you and Miss Weasley together. But that would explain your quick acceptance, only love would make a man become someone he was raised to hate." Dumbledoor reasoned.
"It seemed the logical choice." Draco answered before disarming Dumbledoor per their arrangement.
"Take care of her." Dumbledoor warned before Bellatrix, the Carrows, Professor Snape, and Greyback dashed into his office.
"Do it, Draco." Bellatrix hissed into her nephew's ear.
"Ah, Fernier, I must say I hoped you would not come." Dumbledoor greeted solemnly.
"And resist the chance to taste some fresh blood, now that's something I couldn't miss." Greyback replied with a sly grin.
"So you can transform without the full moon. Quite impressive." Dumbledoor answered.
"Draco!" Bellatrix yelled. Draco held a stance ready to kill. He had to. To save his mother. To save Ginny. The person Draco had begged for help about to die at his hand.
"Draco, you are not a killer." Dumbledore told his student softly. Tears threatened Draco's eyes.
"I have to." Draco whispered, his hands shaking.
"Avada Kedavera!" Snape yelled hitting Dumbledoor square in his chest.
Albus Dumbledore's body flew out of the balcony window from the force of Snape's curse like a rag doll. Lifeless and gone. Draco felt rooted to the spot, as if his life and been sucked out like his headmaster's. His time for morning was over however, because Snape began dragging Draco down the stone stairs of Dumbledoor's office. As the battle raged on, and a few people noticed Snape and Draco chasing the Death Eaters, glad to have to good wizards to help them.
"Remember to tell Remus 'Goblins, Fairies and lemon drops'." Snape hissed to Draco, "Straight to the infirmary."
"Yes, sir." Draco replied.
"Good luck." Snape nodded.
"You too. Say goodbye to Mother, please." Draco asked.
"You'll do it yourself." Snape answered before throwing Draco into at the nearest armed solider, his silver armor glowing. Immediately, Draco felt a familiar tugging on his navel before he was dropped onto the stone floors of the infirmary.
"Mr. Malfoy!" Madame Pomphrey yelled in shock.
"Sorry." Draco grunted prying himself off of the armor.
"What are you doing?" Madame Pomphrey questioned.
"I'm waiting for someone." Draco answered. Noticing an occupied cot, Draco asked, "Who's in there?"
"William Weasley." The Healer's response came.
"What happened?" Draco asked.
"Death Eaters are swarming the castle, he was attacked by Greyback. Where have you been?" She questioned, but Draco hardly had time to answer before Mr. and Mrs. Wesley, Flur Delacor, Fred, George, Hermione, Ron and Professor McGonagall entered.
"Bill!" Flur cried as she neared his bed. Ron however never saw his brother's cot.
"You." Ron hissed slamming Draco against the wall. Shouts of "Mr. Weasley" and "Ronald" were heard, but Draco could only hear the steady breaths of his attacker.
"I can explain everything." Draco whispered.