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"And this is what's known as a bank robbery." Malfoy told the children without missing a beat or batting one of his long eyelashes. "You lot'll have to be really quiet, because those metal wands; known as 'Guns'; can actually kill you."
I myself was shaking like crazy. The kids had realised that we were in trouble and that they could get hurt.
"But they should be out of here very shortly-" The alarms went off and the metal door guards came crashing down. "On the other hand we may well become what muggles call 'Hostages' and this is not a good situation." He looked at me, eyes the only clue that he was also terrified.
"No one move! Now, everyone calmly get to the floor." We did so, instantly, the kids whimpering slightly in fear. There was no one else there, customer wise, and the staff were quaking behind the desks. Big Guy turned to one of his companions and whispered something in a low undertone that I couldn't quite catch. Malfoy gave a soft groan.
"What?" I asked him as quietly as I could.
"Bloody typical. They have no idea what they're going to do! We're screwed." He murmured back. He cocked his head, listening, as Big Guy carried on. "We need to get the little ones out of here." I nodded. "In fact, we need to-" Something flashed in those grey eyes and he smiled. "Be ready." Was all he said before jumping to his feet.
"Malfoy!" I hissed.
"Ummm, excuse me?" He called hesitantly to the would-be bankrobbers. The lashes were down and every inch of him looked submissive; a kittenish pout would have completed the effect. "Could I offer a..a suggestion?" One of the guys grunted at him and he took it as permission. With a deep breath he continued. "You only need one hostage to get out of here, right? If you plan on moving out with all of us it'll take forever."
"And your point is?" Asked another guy who resembled a bean pole more than anything. Skinny Man regarded him with abject suspicion, looking to Big Guy and Silent One for conformation. Silent One merely nodded for Malfoy to continue.
"Uh," innocent little expression here, looking utterly adorable and worryingly sweet. "I..I was going to suggest myself."
Quick conference within the group, Skinny Man being most vocal. The kids looked at me in shock, and I guess my expression must have mirrored theirs. What the hell was going on here?
"Why?" asked Big Guy. Yeah, kudos to the BankRobbers. Just the question I wanted to know the answer to.
Big grey eyes widened, especially with the gun trained on him. "I...I'm meant t-to be looking after these kids and I really don't want them to get hurt but I know how important getting out of here must be for you and so I just wanted to help and get it over for them." He babbled, casting a quick look of reassurance at me. The bastard wasn't scared at all, I realised with shock and more than a hint of admiration. It was all part of the act. Amazing. Thought I'd never live to see the day when Malfoy put himself in danger for the sake of others. Wait a second...put himself in danger?! Oh crap. I had to get him out of this.
BankRobber huddle again. Skinny Man, obviously the cynic of the group, did not look happy. "Okay, we let the kids go." Big Guy said grudgingly. Malfoy looked pleased. "Now, sit and wait til we can speak to the police."
"Malfoy! You idiot, I can't just leave you here!" I whispered furiously.
He fixed me with a determined stare. "Yes you can. And you will. Get the kids out of here, get word to Dumbledore and then do the rescue mission, okay?" He put his hand over my mouth to silence any objections. "I can handle myself, and they won't kill me. They need me. Mathue-" The boy nodded, fear written over his features. "If by any chance you get split up from Potter here, go to a phone and call 01126 882388. Got that? It's a direct line to Mr Weasley. He'll find you. I know you can remember it."
I moved his hand from my mouth and watched him as he told Mathue. The boy shrank back to his friends. "You're sure?" I asked, seeing him shiver slightly.
"Yeah. I'm sure. Scared as hell, but sure."
I squeezed his hand in reassurance. "Thanks Draco."
"And this is what's known as a bank robbery." Malfoy told the children without missing a beat or batting one of his long eyelashes. "You lot'll have to be really quiet, because those metal wands; known as 'Guns'; can actually kill you."
I myself was shaking like crazy. The kids had realised that we were in trouble and that they could get hurt.
"But they should be out of here very shortly-" The alarms went off and the metal door guards came crashing down. "On the other hand we may well become what muggles call 'Hostages' and this is not a good situation." He looked at me, eyes the only clue that he was also terrified.
"No one move! Now, everyone calmly get to the floor." We did so, instantly, the kids whimpering slightly in fear. There was no one else there, customer wise, and the staff were quaking behind the desks. Big Guy turned to one of his companions and whispered something in a low undertone that I couldn't quite catch. Malfoy gave a soft groan.
"What?" I asked him as quietly as I could.
"Bloody typical. They have no idea what they're going to do! We're screwed." He murmured back. He cocked his head, listening, as Big Guy carried on. "We need to get the little ones out of here." I nodded. "In fact, we need to-" Something flashed in those grey eyes and he smiled. "Be ready." Was all he said before jumping to his feet.
"Malfoy!" I hissed.
"Ummm, excuse me?" He called hesitantly to the would-be bankrobbers. The lashes were down and every inch of him looked submissive; a kittenish pout would have completed the effect. "Could I offer a..a suggestion?" One of the guys grunted at him and he took it as permission. With a deep breath he continued. "You only need one hostage to get out of here, right? If you plan on moving out with all of us it'll take forever."
"And your point is?" Asked another guy who resembled a bean pole more than anything. Skinny Man regarded him with abject suspicion, looking to Big Guy and Silent One for conformation. Silent One merely nodded for Malfoy to continue.
"Uh," innocent little expression here, looking utterly adorable and worryingly sweet. "I..I was going to suggest myself."
Quick conference within the group, Skinny Man being most vocal. The kids looked at me in shock, and I guess my expression must have mirrored theirs. What the hell was going on here?
"Why?" asked Big Guy. Yeah, kudos to the BankRobbers. Just the question I wanted to know the answer to.
Big grey eyes widened, especially with the gun trained on him. "I...I'm meant t-to be looking after these kids and I really don't want them to get hurt but I know how important getting out of here must be for you and so I just wanted to help and get it over for them." He babbled, casting a quick look of reassurance at me. The bastard wasn't scared at all, I realised with shock and more than a hint of admiration. It was all part of the act. Amazing. Thought I'd never live to see the day when Malfoy put himself in danger for the sake of others. Wait a second...put himself in danger?! Oh crap. I had to get him out of this.
BankRobber huddle again. Skinny Man, obviously the cynic of the group, did not look happy. "Okay, we let the kids go." Big Guy said grudgingly. Malfoy looked pleased. "Now, sit and wait til we can speak to the police."
"Malfoy! You idiot, I can't just leave you here!" I whispered furiously.
He fixed me with a determined stare. "Yes you can. And you will. Get the kids out of here, get word to Dumbledore and then do the rescue mission, okay?" He put his hand over my mouth to silence any objections. "I can handle myself, and they won't kill me. They need me. Mathue-" The boy nodded, fear written over his features. "If by any chance you get split up from Potter here, go to a phone and call 01126 882388. Got that? It's a direct line to Mr Weasley. He'll find you. I know you can remember it."
I moved his hand from my mouth and watched him as he told Mathue. The boy shrank back to his friends. "You're sure?" I asked, seeing him shiver slightly.
"Yeah. I'm sure. Scared as hell, but sure."
I squeezed his hand in reassurance. "Thanks Draco."