A/N: I recently began posting a much lighter Dramione fic called Bad Books and Second Looks. If you've got the DitD blues from all the angst, check it out!
AlphaBet love to BiscuitsForPotter and DisenchantedGlow for being amazing and working so hard.
Alright, y'all. You ready for answers? Buckle up.
Draco's head was spinning.
No. It couldn't be Theo. Theo was his friend. Theo had saved him when he'd been captured. Theo had always been the kind one, the understanding one.
"I'm guessing that you're surprised to see me," Theo chuckled, tilting his head as though mocking him.
Draco forced himself to take deep, steadying breaths.
"Don't be too hard on yourself," Theo tutted. "Most of the other Death Eaters didn't even know what I was up to."
Shacklebolt swept forward and forced the Veritaserum into Theo's mouth.
"Now, Minister. There's no need for such force. I would have taken it willingly if you'd asked." Theo's tone was derisive, and Draco's heart clenched to hear the hatred behind it.
"You're the one Dolohov trained after I left," Draco surmised, his brain trying to catch up to what he was witnessing. How could he have been so wrong about Theo?
Theo smirked, and it felt like a punch to the gut. He continued to speak as though Draco were a child. "So clever. It did take you long enough to figure it out. You so badly wanted it to be Pansy, didn't you?"
Draco grimaced, turning away so that he wouldn't have to see Theo's face. Perhaps this was all a horrible nightmare. Perhaps he would wake up and it would only be the day after his birthday. Granger would be curled into his side just like she loved and the last several days would just be a distant bad dream.
"Was she a spy?" Draco asked, tamping down any ounce of emotion.
"No." Theo's voice grew cold. "She served her purpose for us though. Without her, we never would have found your safe houses."
"How did you do it?" Shacklebolt's presence alone projected an aura of authority, but this was a tone Draco had never heard from him before. It was low. Dangerous, almost. The focus of the conversation shifted back to business.
"A simple trace charm. I knew she'd do anything to avenge Draco after she left. She thought you were dead, you see, but I knew better."
"Why bother saving me?" Draco turned back to stare at his old friend.
"Oh Draco, you're far more useful to me alive than dead." He chuckled darkly, and the sound sent shivers rippling through Draco's bones. "Don't get me wrong, Dolohov was livid when he heard what I'd done, but once I explained the greater picture, he came around. You see, he trusts me. Far more than he ever trusted you. I'm not just a mindless drone to do as I'm told. He values my ideas. And when I came to him with my new plan, well… You should have seen how he praised me."
"What plan?" Potter snapped, keeping his wand trained on Theo.
"When I went to Draco's cell the night before he nearly died, I took a hair. Initially, I did intend to let you die, Draco. I would have merely replaced you. Wandered into St. Mungo's pretending to be wounded and let one of you lot find me and bring me back to Headquarters. But then I heard Yaxley bragging about his plan to send the evidence of Draco's death to the Order, and I knew it would be too suspicious for me to show up after such a brutal death. So I knew I needed you to live. Barely." Theo's lips curled as his wicked eyes came to rest on Draco.
"I gave you the best antidote we had at the time. I wasn't sure it would work, but I figured I could make something work even if you did die."
Angelina unbound the real Charlie and helped him to stand. Charlie looked murderous as he watched Theo speak.
"Unfortunately, your symptoms were far more severe than I anticipated. I knew I wouldn't be able to replicate everything. Your limp, your stutter, not to mention you were constantly with her." Theo's eyes flickered to Granger and Draco's blood ran cold. "So, I had to get more creative."
"Creative? How?" Ginny scowled at Theo.
"Finnegan's mother worked at that sad little dress shop in Diagon Alley. She was easy enough to get to. I knew that if she were ill I would be able to get hairs from him more easily. Finnegan certainly visited her frequently. Posing as a Healer was easy enough once I stole a hair or two. From there, Finnegan was within my grasp. I just had to keep his mother sick enough to keep coming back to St. Mungo's every week or so. Sick enough to be hospitalized, but not so sick for her to die."
Draco's blood ran cold at the thought of intentionally keeping an innocent woman ill for months on end.
"So, I had his hair and an improved Polyjuice that Yaxley and his team developed. Keeps you looking like the person much longer than the typical brew. A new hair isn't required with each dose either unless you want to change into someone different. Quite ingenious, really. Once I had the how, I just needed the where. I needed a precise location for a safe house."
"Pansy," Angelina guessed. Theo winked at her and Angelia drew back, disgust painted across her features.
"She was distraught when she found out that Draco had died. When I told her how it happened, she was livid. I knew she would want to defect. I just had to convince her that what she really wanted was to avenge you. To make the Death Eaters who killed you pay for what they'd done by joining the Order. If she hadn't, none of this would have been possible."
Draco ground his teeth together, fighting to keep his anger under control. He had to Occlude. Keep his barriers up.
"So you see, Draco, she wasn't a spy, but that doesn't mean she didn't help me. The trace led me to her. Once I knew roughly where Headquarters was, it was just a matter of getting in. I chose a day when I knew Finnegan would be at St. Mungo's with his dear, sweet, sick mum. Disguised as him, I waited until some people Apparated to the point across the street and then walked in with them. Your security is shockingly lax, really. You'll let any friendly face into your midst."
Shacklebolt ran a hand heavily over his face with a sigh.
"Once I was inside Headquarters, I had access to everything. All of the safe houses and members locations. I knew it would be too suspicious for me to use Finnegan every time I was in an Order meeting or hanging around, so I decided to mix it up. That Thomas bloke is always hanging around Finnegan. It was easy enough to get his hair. And the Weasleys are so messy, it was extremely simple getting hairs from them. And after Pansy died, Charlie Weasley was so out of sorts that I could practically walk through the same house as him without him noticing. And if I acted strangely, no one noticed because Finnegan and Charlie already were."
Ginny was red in the face, looking like she'd very much like to attack Theo with her bare hands. Draco placed his hand on her shoulder and she flinched slightly.
"Why kill Pansy?" Charlie asked, his voice shaking with anger.
"She had fulfilled her usefulness. I had no further need to keep her alive," Theo replied coldly, his eyes boring into Charlie's. "Besides, she was a filthy traitor. She deserved what she got."
Charlie lunged for Theo, but Potter caught him around the middle and pulled him back with the help of Shacklebolt.
"Calm yourself, Charlie," Shacklebolt hissed. "Or we'll remove you."
"Why is Granger still a target?" Draco asked.
Theo shrugged. "Call it a matter of principle."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, at first we didn't want her to pass on what she knew about the ingredients we'd stolen. We couldn't have her making an antidote. But then you had to refuse to kill her and ruin that plan."
Everyone's eyes turned sharply to Draco, and he felt his cheeks flare hot.
"Ah… fascinating," Theo hummed with amusement. "They didn't know. Well, I'm sorry to let the bowtruckle out of the tree. I wonder what else they didn't know about you."
"Enough," Potter spat, turning back to Theo. "Keep going."
"I'll admit that we cared a bit less that she was alive after we attacked Trafalgar. But then I started to notice how close you two had become. And, well… it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. To take her from you. To make you watch her die before we killed you too. It was just such a brilliant opportunity for maximum pain for the man who betrayed the High Minister."
Granger rolled her eyes with a scoff.
Theo laughed. "There's that reckless Gryffindor courage you always laughed at, Draco. Completely dismissive of the fact that she nearly died twice in the past month." His eyes slid back to Draco. "And the war isn't even over yet."
Draco charged forward, not stopping until Potter and Shacklebolt had restrained him. "If you lay a fucking finger on her—"
"Ah, there's the rage. Going to kill me like you killed all those Death Eaters, Draco? Can't claim self defense this time. I'm not exactly a threat at the moment." Theo grinned and nodded to his bonds.
Despite Theo's incarceration, Draco couldn't help the icy feeling spreading through his veins. Theo was dangerous. He'd been trained by Dolohov in the same way that Draco had, plus it seemed that he'd been given far more opportunities to be creative when planning attacks for the Death Eaters. He could only guess how far up in Dolohov's ranks Theo had risen, but Draco was sure he held quite a respected position.
"Calm down, Draco." Granger placed a gentle hand on his arm, but kept her eyes steady on Theo. She had the same look that she'd had when Draco had joined the Order, as if she were trying to figure out a complex puzzle.
Theo's eyes danced between Draco and Granger, his lips curled back in a wicked smile. "I must confess that I was quite surprised when you two fell into each other's arms. Let me ask you, Granger. Did you know that your boyfriend had been tasked with killing you?"
Granger didn't speak, but her scowl was something ferocious. She gave Theo a hateful look that Draco had once received from her daily. He hoped to never see it directed toward him again.
"Oh, dear. I hope I haven't driven a wedge between you two. It's obviously true love after all." Theo's tone was sarcastic, and Draco wanted nothing more than to throttle the man.
"I knew everything," Granger spat, turning away from Theo.
"Ah, fascinating. And you still fucked him. You're either very stupid or very trusting. Or perhaps you have a thing for murderers." Theo's eyebrows jumped in delight. "I tried to kill you too, Granger. How about a shag?"
Draco reared forward again, cocking his fist, eager to break Theo's jaw, only to once again be stopped by Potter.
Granger scowled at Theo for several seconds before turning to Shacklebolt. "Azkaban, yes?"
Shacklebolt nodded, his expression grave. "I certainly think we have enough to detain him indefinitely without trial. Theodore Nott, you are under arrest for crimes against the Ministry of Magic, the Order of the Phoenix, and humanity. You will be transported to Azkaban immediately where you will await trial following the end of the war."
"What a surprise," Theo droned.
"Shut it," Potter snapped, still holding Draco back firmly.
Theo grinned at him, but did not try to speak again.
Shacklebolt turned to Ginny. "Ginny, please fetch Dawlish for me. Tell him to assemble a team of Aurors to escort Mister Nott to Azkaban."
Ginny nodded and left quickly, casting an uneasy glance at Theo and Draco on her way out.
Potter released Draco slowly, but stayed close by as if anticipating needing to catch him again. "Minister, would you like me to escort him as well?"
Shacklebolt shook his head and walked around his desk. "No, I need you here. We have much to discuss."
Potter nodded and turned to Granger. "Are you alright?"
Granger nodded, not taking her eyes off of Theo. Her wand was gripped tightly in her hand, and Draco wondered if she also felt like this had all been a little too easy.
Theo didn't look like a man who knew he was going to spend the rest of his life in Azkaban. In fact, he seemed to know quite the opposite. Draco wasn't sure if it was mere hubris, or if Theo knew something that they did not.
Granger's eyes flickered to his, and Draco knew that she shared his concerns. He felt his heart thud in his chest. Despite all of their tension recently, it seemed that she still looked to him to voice her concerns first.
He nodded at her briefly, as if to reassure her that it was going to be alright. He knew he couldn't promise it, but he also knew, as he had for months now, that he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
Dawlish entered the office, his dark eyes settling on Theo for a moment before turning to the Minister. "The Aurors are coming."
"Thank you, Dawlish. How many did you call for?"
"Three. The four of us will escort him to Azkaban immediately. We'll need a Portkey."
Shacklebolt nodded at him. "I'll have one ready. Retrieve your team and bring them here as quickly as you can." He reached into the office drawer and withdrew a chipped teacup. Dawlish swept out of the office again, closing the door behind him.
Shacklebolt set the cup on top of a handkerchief on his desk and mumbled, "Portus." He murmured several more spells under his breath, Draco guessed that these were to penetrate both the wards of Headquarters and Azkaban.
Draco stepped towards Granger. She had her arms crossed over her chest, her brow furrowed in worry and thought. Reaching out, he placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
Her eyes snapped to his and she offered him a forced smile before moving away from him to be near Potter.
His heart twisted painfully, but he did his best to shake the rejection away. With a sigh, he dragged his hands over his face before turning around.
Theo was staring at him, his eyes glinting maliciously and one brow twitching upward as he looked between Draco and Granger. "Trouble in paradise?" he quipped.
"Silence," Shacklebolt snapped without looking up from the Portkey.
Theo just grinned.
The office door opened again and Dawlish entered with three other Aurors. He stood before Theo and recited his rights and briefly explained what would be happening. In Draco's opinion, it was more than Theo deserved, but he supposed it was standard protocol for transporting prisoners to Azkaban.
After a moment, one of the Aurors released the bonds holding Theo to the chair and hoisted him to his feet. He bound him again once standing, and Draco watched as four highly trained Aurors escorted his friend toward the center of the room.
Shacklebolt scooped up the Portkey in its wrappings and walked around the desk. The Aurors all connected together, forming a barrier around Theo while holding tightly to him. Dawlish held out his hand for the Minister, and just before the Portkey was placed in it, just before they were all whisked away, Theo looked directly at Draco and winked.
Draco's blood ran cold as the five wizards disappeared. Was it possible that Theo was so mad, so arrogant, that he didn't see the severity of his situation? Or was it something else? Did he know something that the Order did not?
"We'll have a meeting immediately," Shacklebolt announced, rounding on the small group still in the room. "Call everyone in from the safe houses please, Potter. And alert the others."
Potter nodded and waved his wand, producing several magnificent silver stags. After the messages were spoken, they all galloped away, disappearing through the walls of Headquarters toward their respective locations.
The Minister began pacing around the room. "We will need to be on our guard for a while. It's possible that Nott's reach was greater than we realised. Draco, I would like to work with you after the meeting on strengthening the wards here. Headquarters is under the Fidelius Charm, which makes it much more protected than the other safe houses, but he was able to enter, so I would like to be sure."
"Yes, sir." Draco couldn't believe he was being trusted with a task so important, especially now that Shacklebolt knew everything about him.
"Dismissed for now, team. Good work. We'll start the meeting at eight. Try to eat a little something."
Draco turned to Granger automatically, but found that she was already filing out of the room with Ginny. Disappointment spread through his bones like acid. Despite the brief moments of hope, he was beginning to feel tired. Even after having several days to think, she still hadn't warmed to him again. Perhaps she never would.
A large hand came down hard on his shoulder and he jumped. Charlie had walked up next to him and was smiling thinly at him. "Come on. Let's get a bite."
Charlie hadn't seemed like himself in so long, it was odd to see this glimpse of the man he used to be.
Draco trailed after him to the kitchen, passing Granger and Ginny in the living room talking quietly in a corner. She didn't look up as he passed, and Draco did his best to push his bubbling irritation down. How much time did she need?
In the kitchen, Draco filled his plate with some delicious-smelling pot roast and vegetables. He grabbed a bread roll, holding it in his mouth while he poured himself a tumbler of firewhisky. Charlie settled at the kitchen table and Draco sat across from him.
He tore off the bit of roll he held in his mouth and then set the rest on his plate. He picked up his fork and began pushing the vegetables around, wondering if he would really be able to eat much.
Theo had been his friend, perhaps even his best friend. But Draco had never seen him look the way he had in that room. That was… a different man altogether. Try as he might, Draco couldn't shake the mental image of Theo's vicious grin as he goaded him and Granger. The glint in his eyes as he watched their tension. The knowing wink just before the Portkey took him to prison.
He thought back to the day he'd been captured at the Selwyn house. Theo had been so kind. So understanding. So heartbroken at the idea of his friend's imminent death. Had it all truly been an act? How long had Theo been merely pretending to be his friend? Since the Battle of Hogwarts? Or perhaps even longer. Perhaps Draco had never had a genuine interaction with Theo until today.
Thoughts of eating gone, Draco leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, hanging his head in his hands with a sigh.
"Alright, mate?" Charlie spoke with his mouth full.
Draco grimaced and shook his head. Why lie?
"Was he your friend?" Charlie's voice was softer now, it crept forward and wrapped around Draco's heart, enveloping it in warmth.
Draco lifted his head, taking in Charlie's concerned eyes. "I thought he was."
Charlie offered him a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry. At least we know now. No one else needs to die because of him." He skewered a carrot with his fork and brought it to his lips. He seemed… lighter. Like the storm clouds that had followed him since Pansy's death were beginning to dissipate.
"You seem like you're doing better. Doesn't it bother you that he impersonated you? We don't even know how many times."
"A bit, yeah." Charlie shrugged. "I suppose I feel better though."
Draco felt his brow furrow in confusion.
"I spent months trying to figure out what I'd done wrong after Pansy died. She was under my care, and she died because I wasn't there. But I guess meeting him… It just helped me realise that, while I may have been able to help if I'd been there, it isn't my fault. He's the one truly to blame for everything. For Pansy, for Cho, for… everything. I guess it just helps to have a face to put to all of the things we couldn't explain."
Draco considered Charlie's words. He had a point. Both of them had been carrying around so much guilt for Pansy for so long. And while Draco certainly wasn't blameless, he hadn't sold her location to the Death Eaters. He hadn't orchestrated the attack. He hadn't raised his wand to her.
He knew that he would carry his guilt with him for the rest of his life. Like a dark shadow, it would follow him forever. But by channeling the true blame to Theo, the shadow felt a bit smaller. Already, the sting of Theo's betrayal was beginning to morph into a much more manageable emotion: anger.
At least he was on his way to Azkaban. He wouldn't be able to hurt them anymore.
Draco picked up his fork and took a few small bites of roast.
As they ate, the other Order members began to file into the house in preparation for the meeting. The kitchen became loud, and several others joined Draco and Charlie at the table to eat.
"Any idea what this meeting is about, gents?" George asked, reaching across Draco to pluck a bread roll from the basket.
"I'll let Shacklebolt fill you all in," Charlie answered.
"Merlin, we haven't been attacked again, have we?" George looked around the room, as if expecting to see someone dead or dying nearby.
"No, nothing like that. Just an urgent update."
George grimaced at his brother, obviously unhappy about being kept in the dark. "Fine, keep your secrets. Unless…" He leaned in conspiratorially, eyes glinting. "I'll trade you. Your secret for one of mine."
"You don't have any secrets." Charlie rolled his eyes.
"Usually that's true, but not this time, Chuck."
Charlie wrinkled his nose at the nickname. "Alright, I'll bite. What's your secret?"
"Promise you'll tell me what the meeting's about if I tell?"
"No. Now spill."
"You spoil sport. I should withhold my secret on principle!" George grinned and sat back in his chair.
Charlie just rolled his eyes and turned back to his dinner.
"Luckily for you, I just have to tell someone!" George leaned close, placing a hand on Charlie and Draco's shoulders. "Gents, I've asked Angelina to marry me."
Draco blinked. A proposal? In the middle of everything? Like they weren't at war. Like people weren't dying all around them. Like there was something to look forward to. Like they might have a future.
"Why?" The question had left Draco before he could stop it.
George barked out a laugh. "Why not?" He took a bite of his roll and continued to talk while chewing. "Why wait when we could be dead tomorrow? I know I want to spend the rest of my life with her. So why should I be obligated to wait until the war is over? It could drag on for years. Besides, when Angelina looks at me with those big, beautiful brown eyes, it just makes me want to sink to my knees and do all sorts of things." He laughed loudly. "Like promise her the world… or..." He trailed off suggestively and sent Draco a wink.
"So, what did she say?" Charlie asked.
"I said yes, of course." Angelina's smooth voice floated over the table as she made her way into the kitchen. She grinned at her new fiancé and bent to place a kiss against his lips.
"Well, congratulations," Draco offered, hoping he sounded more enthusiastic than he felt. As the happy couple smiled at him in thanks, Draco couldn't help but think about Granger. He wondered if she would ever smile like that again. If she would ever be able to look at him with love in her eyes as she once had.
Charlie raised his glass. "To George and Angelina. May you have a long and happy life together."
Draco joined them in a toast before they all made their way into the dining room for the meeting.
When the meeting began, Shacklebolt informed everyone that they had caught the imposter and that he was being transported to Azkaban. The Order members cheered in delight at the news, happy that they could sleep a bit easier knowing the man responsible for the attacks was behind bars.
Security would be reinforced on Headquarters and all safe houses, and new safety measures would go into place to ensure that no other imposters infiltrated their ranks. But everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief to know that the guilty party had been caught at last.
After the meeting, most of the members celebrated their recent victory by raiding George's stash of liquor in the kitchen. But Draco had far more important things on his mind than getting drunk.
He found Granger in the living room with Potter and Ginny. The happy couple laughed loudly together, but Granger's lips barely twitched up. As if sensing his gaze, she turned her head in his direction. Something flashed in her eyes that he couldn't place, and he felt his heart stutter in his chest.
He jerked his head, urging her to follow him to a more private place to speak. She said a few words to Potter and Ginny, then she rose to her feet and followed him into the quiet foyer.
For the first time in days, she spoke to him first. "Are you alright?"
Draco blinked as she came to stand before him.
"I mean… Theo… He's your friend, right?"
He clenched his jaw and stared at his shoes. "He was, yeah."
Warmth on his arm, and it took him a moment to realise that she was touching him. His eyes snapped to hers and he saw love there. Pity, but also love.
Heart swelling, he reached out, hands flying to the nape of her neck as he stepped into her.
Her head turned, her brow furrowing as she dodged his kiss. "Draco…"
Disappointment bloomed in his chest as he dropped his forehead against hers. "It's been a week, Granger. How long are you going to punish me?"
Her eyes went wide and she pulled back from him slightly. "I'm not trying to punish you!" she protested.
The irritation he felt towards her was quickly growing into anger. "Really? Could have fooled me."
"Draco…" Granger shook her head. "It wasn't my intention to make you feel guilty for what you did. It was necessary, and I understand that. That's not—I just—" Her hands lifted to rest on his elbows as she took a deep breath, blowing it out against his chest like a sigh.
"You told me a long time ago about what Dolohov trained you to do. I was never under any delusions about who you were or what you had done. You were upfront about it, and I appreciate that. This… time that I need is my own fault. Logically I knew what you were capable of, but seeing it with my own eyes…" She shivered. "I guess I just thought I'd never see you that way. I know how much you hated it all, so I guess I just thought you'd hesitate more. It just seemed so… easy for you. And I know you were trained for it, but… I'm sorry. It was just hard to watch." She didn't pull away from him, but wouldn't meet his eye.
Draco swallowed. He could feel the warmth from her body so close to his. She was so close to being in his arms again, but something was still holding her back. "Do you know why I told you not to kill anyone unless you had to?"
She took a deep breath in, her head shaking side to side in his hands.
"You've never killed before," he began.
"I could have—"
He cut her off, squeezing his eyes shut. "I know you could have. I wasn't worried that you wouldn't be capable. I—" He paused, collecting his thoughts. "You've never killed before, so you don't know what it feels like."
Granger pulled back, her brow furrowed slightly as her eyes flitted between his.
She was curious, he could tell. And perhaps telling her was the only way to make her truly understand.
"It happens the instant the person dies," he began, forcing the words out even though the twisting in his gut begged him to stop. "The force of it hits you like a Crucio to the chest. It cracks you open. Then it's like sharp claws sinking into your heart, shredding you. It spreads from there, through every vein and every bone and every organ. Like tar, weighing you down, choking you. And then the pain stops for a while, and your body feels kind of numb, but the claws have reached your brain. They dig in deep, infecting everything you once loved about yourself like poison. That poison never really goes away. With each kill it just seeps a little deeper until it's a part of you."
Granger was trembling, her breath coming out in shaky puffs. He opened his eyes to see that she was crying softly. Her fingers curled into his arms and she leaned into him, her forehead resting on his chest for just a breath before she straightened back up, as if determined to face him head on as he bared his soul to her.
"So you see," he continued, "My soul has been damaged for a long time now. I'll never be whole again. But you…" He trailed his thumb over her cheek, catching a tear. "You're perfect. And I would kill a thousand men if it meant saving you from feeling like that just once."
Her lip quivered. A sob erupted from her lips as more tears escaped her eyes. "Oh, Draco…" she cried, sliding her hands up his arms to grip his biceps. She tilted her head up, stepping into him with parted lips.
With a bang, the door flew open. Draco swung around, pushing Granger behind him and pulling his wand in a flash. He half expected to see an army of Death Eaters charging into the house, but instead, John Dawlish staggered in. He was cradling his arm, which seemed to be twisted at an odd angle, and he was bleeding from somewhere, leaving a dark red trail on the white marble foyer floor.
With a gasp, Granger pushed past him, helping the Auror into the closest chair in the sitting room and pulling her wand. She turned to Draco, eyes still teary and full of fear. "Get Kingsley."
Draco waved his wand and slammed the front door shut again before turning and bolting to the office. Shacklebolt looked up in surprise when Draco burst inside.
"Dawlish is here, sir," Draco announced, heart pounding wildly in his chest. "He's injured."
The Minister was on his feet in a flash, tearing out of the office on Draco's heels and following to the sitting room.
"John, are you alright?" Shacklebolt's voice was near panic, concern evident all over his face.
Dawlish grunted in pain and ground his teeth as Granger murmured a spell and his arm cracked loudly as it twisted back into its proper shape. "I'll be alright, Minister. But two of the other Aurors weren't as lucky. I'm sorry, Minister. I don't know how he did it. I've never seen wandless magic like that in my life. And our bonds were supposed to suppress him."
Draco's blood ran cold. Something had happened while they had tried to transport Theo. Two Aurors were dead, and Theo had used unknown magic to do it.
"I only just came to and managed to Apparate back here," Dawlish explained.
"John," Shacklebolt began, his voice heavy with worry. "What's happened to the prisoner? Is he safely in Azkaban?"
Dawlish grimaced as Granger whispered more spells over his bleeding leg. "No, Minister. Theodore Nott has escaped."
A/N: Updates on Mondays
Next chapter posts August 24th
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