A/N: Hiya guys!!! Still hangin' on with me? Good! I'm so happy others
bothered to review 'coz I really appreciate, ahem, praise..joke! But I
still think this story is still a bit short of reviews. I mean, it's soooo
long and there's so many things that you people can tell me about. So I
just don't get how 20 reviews can surmise it all. *sighs* If only you nice
reviewers can tell me which chapter you liked or what you think of my plot
then I'd be wearing a nice, wide grin right now! I welcome opinions and
ideas. Damn, I'd even take criticisms! Anything! So, how about it, huh?
Twenty more reviews or so?? Huh, huh?? I JUST LOVE REVIEWERS!!!
Disclaimer: All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot, which is mine!!
Chapter 14 - Back to the Malfoy Manor
Some time after the new League members were admitted to the Ministry, strange voices could be heard talking inside a vacated room.
"I got the spot, Father."
"Very well, son. And Potter?"
"He got in with Granger."
"The filthy Mudblood girl?"
"Yes, her. We're having our first task on Monday, next week. I reckon it's about helping the others transport the Azkaban guards to some place.." Draco answered almost lazily.
"Ah, of course. The Ministry finally discovered its gravest mistake and decided to remove the Dark Lord's pets from the control of his followers. Very wise move, I reckon its Arthur's idea." Lucius was saying when he was urgently cut in by Draco,
"Father, what did you come here for?"
"Ah, yes. I came here to tell you to prepare because we're taking the boy on your first task. The Dark Lord made sure nobody stirred enough commotion to ensure his capture of the boy. He wanted to kill the pest first before doing some serious action.." Lucius's voice trailed away.
"You mean Potter?"
"Of course I meant Potter! Who else would it be?" Lucius cried out, enraged at the dullness of his son.
"Stop." Draco instructed suddenly. Lucius reluctantly followed his lead and the two of them listened carefully for any discrete sound.
"Go, now!" Draco hissed after he had confirmed his suspicions. Footsteps followed his warning and Lucius apparated just before the door of the room swung open to reveal a very skeptic-looking Harry.
"Who were you talking to, Malfoy?" Harry asked quietly although he seriously doubt getting an answer.
"No one." Draco answered through gritted teeth.
"That's funny because I clearly heard you."
"Really now, Potter. Isn't it a little too immature to keep on uncovering a childish grudge especially now that we belong on the same League?"
"Cut the crap, Malfoy. We all know you never wanted to work on the League in the first place and if it just weren't for Hermione, you wouldn't have made it too!"
"Careful, scarhead, careful. I call that prejudice."
"Zip it, Malfoy. You're just unbelievable. After everything Hermione did for you this is how you say thank? For the last time, who were you talking to, Malfoy?"
"Potter, do you seriously think I would answer to that? Why don't you just return to your Mudblood pet? She might be having nightmares without you at her side." Draco cut in acidly.
The look on Harry's face was very hard to read. He wasn't scowling or looking enraged. He was simply pinning Draco with an icy cold stare.
"Now, would you believe it? I think you actually said the first thing that made sense. I think I'm doing just that...tut, tut. No use in wasting my time chatting with you. I think I have kept Hermione waiting for too long...See yah, git." Harry told him calmly though his blood was boiling. But before he got very far, he heard the sound of things crashing violently on the floor.
"Stupid git! If I knew better, you couldn't take your slimy hands off her." Harry muttered, incensed. There was something definitely wrong with the way Draco had been acting lately. He must remember Hermione hears about him tonight. Harry smirked a little at the thought. He was almost completely sure that Hermione wouldn't believe him. Draco doing anything dirty is just beyond her comprehension.
"You have to take my word for it this time, Hermione.." Harry muttered anxiously before disappearing in a swish of his cloak.
Several days after that, the story of Draco plotting something evil against them at the dead of the night with an anonymous wizard quickly became a very good subject of argument for Harry and Hermione.
"Not that story again, Harry. Please. I know you hate Draco, but isn't this a bit too much?"
"But Hermione, this is not just a grudge! I heard him. He was talking to someone in the dead of the night. But when I entered the room, whoever it was already apparated!"
"I believe you, Harry, but did you even know what they were talking about?"
"No, but...." Harry stuttered when Draco appeared from his back.
"But nevertheless you assumed that I was plotting something fishy like your death perhaps?"
Harry glared at Draco who smiled slyly at Hermione.
"Tell me you don't believe him, Hermione!" he barked angrily. Hermione looked a little afraid to open her mouth. But when she did, Harry regretted hearing what had to say.
"But you see, Draco is also part of the League. Do you think he would be here if he wanted you harmed?" Harry swore Hermione struggled not to say 'dead'.
"This is unbelievable.." Was all Harry managed to say as he was sizzling with anger. He had never imagined the day when Hermione would be pairing up with Draco for anything. But she did so for their N.E.W.T.s and now she's ditching him for some crappy excuse Malfoy made up. But before he could devise a way to rid of Malfoy for good, Mr. Weasley called out for them.
"Hey, c'mon Harry, Hermione, and er-Draco. I'm giving out instructions for your first task." The chief gestured for them to join the small circle of the League members.
Hermione and Draco hurriedly edged forward to listen. Hermione offered a space for Harry between her and Draco but Harry kept a good distance from them.
"So, you have to make sure that every single dementor is shipped out of Azkaban safely. And mind you, don't get too near as you know the ill effects these creatures could have on anyone. I will try to reason t out with them but if any dementor refuses to board the vehicle, you will control them with your Patronus. There's enough of us to handle all of the Azkaban guards here but if any of you wanders astray on your own, I do not wish to know what could happen. So, is everything clear?"
Everyone nodded. Harry thought he saw Draco's eyes flick to his direction.
"I'm getting paranoid. Maybe Hermione's right. Maybe I just imagined the whole night encounter.." He thought dully but the feeling of foreboding wouldn't go away.
"Hey, Harry, are you coming?" Hermione's voice zapped him back to the present. Harry darted his gaze at her saw her peering curiously at him. At her side was Draco, also gazing rather sharply at him. Harry shrugged the apprehension Draco's gaze sent him.
The three of them started forward to join the operation. And when they got there, several League members were already circled several feet from a group of dementors stationed at the Azkaban gates. They watched Mr. Weasley stride towards the dementors, clutching tightly to his robes as if he it was dreadfully cold. Harry couldn't blame him since the dementors where the darkest creatures that roam the earth. They can make anyone who came near enough feel drained of happiness. But just as he thought of this, chilling cold crept up his spine. He glanced around to Hermione and Draco, who were standing some distance ahead of him. They didn't look like they were chilling. In fact, no one looked bothered at all by anything Everyone was looking at the on-going negotiations with keen interest.
"But something is definitely wrong!" Harry thought alarmed. He was so sure it was cold-but it was a sunny day and the dementors were a good distance from them unless..Harry spun around just quick enough to glimpse of long, bony, skinless hands clamping his mouth.
"Uff, Hermione!" He tried to scream but only a muffled sound came out. He tried to get hold of his wand but just as he did, he suddenly felt the intense cold the dementor's grip was causing him. It was burning with pain where the dementor was touching him. And after only a few, short seconds, it became colder-much, much colder.
"There must be more than three dementors around me now." Harry decided helplessly. He saw Hermione's back edge farther away before his vision finally blacked out and the familiar cries of Lily Potter came.
"Harry Potter-the boy who lived-no more. Finally we have you in our hands.The Dark Lord will be pleased. Let us not keep him waiting, shall we?" Then turning to the two bulk-bodied wizards at his side, he instructed placidly,
"Don't dare harm the boy more than necessary. I want him alive."
"Mr. Malfoy!" a sharp voice interrupted them. Lucius turned to see Hermione pointing a steady wand at his heart.
"Let Harry go, now! I am warning you, we are all gathered here. There is no way you could get away with this." Hermione said sternly, coming out of the clearing. She had suspected something was very wrong when she noticed that Harry was gone. And since everyone was too involved to hear her out, she hurriedly went after the thicket alone.
"Crucio!" Lucius called out to Hermione who had her wand out in warning.
An earsplitting scream filled the air and Hermione dropped to the ground writhing with pain. At a distance, hurried footsteps could be heard.
"Silly girl, I knew you'd come for your friend. Very well, take the Mudblood too." Lucius ordered.
"But sire, how about the dementors?" Crabbe asked dully.
"Leave them here, you imbecile! They have served their purpose." Lucius hissed and before the League could even get close to them, the three of them apparated.
"Harry! Hermione!" Mr. Weasley called out, arriving at the thicket when something made him freeze at his spot. The League members scrambled behind him to look at what caused the hold-up. Among them was Draco who instinctively followed Arthur's gaze. Lying on the ground was Hermione's wand. Then without warning, Mr. Weasley dropped to his knees, clutching numbly at his cloak.
"This is all my fault-my foolishness! Setting the children as bait then not being able to keep close watch. What have I done?" he muttered repeatedly to himself, an expression of deep grief printed darkly on his face.
Draco concentrated on focusing his stare at his shoes while a co-member picked Hermione's wand to secure. He knew all this was going to happen, his father told him about it. But he skipped out some of the finer points...
"Hermione." He muttered to himself, clenching his fists. "Where could he have taken her?" Draco wracked his brain for the answer but all he could think of was Hermione-Hermione at the Christmas feast, Hermione in the hospital wing, Hermione in the chamber...the chamber! That thought suddenly reminded him of the clover emblem he used to open the secret nook with. He knew he had seen that somewhere before, but couldn't remember.
"Where did I see that symbol before?" he thought. He knew it was stupid to be thinking of it now but the bad feeling about the clover emblem stayed with him several hours after the incident. Their first task was dismissed due to the abduction and they were sent back to the quarters immediately. But all the time, Draco was shunt from the prospect of going after Hermione and letting the scene slip out of his mind like it didn't matter. But this was useless as he painfully realized that he couldn't let anything bad happen to her.
"That clover....why is it stuck in my head?"
Draco shut his eyes and thought hard. At first, scattered memories of his childhood returned to him. But they didn't make any connection at all to the present situation so, he whisked them away. Then slowly, like a hazy dream, he saw himself walking inside a large room with gray, brick walls everywhere. There was a faint light at the end of the tunnel-like hall. He saw himself edge towards it until a dark shadow came into view.
"Draco, why have you come here? I told you not to set foot in this part of the house."
"But father, what are those scraped symbols?"
"They are the emblems of every family that ever stood in our way. Soon, they too will take their places in those cells. But that doesn't concern you at all, am I right Draco? You're just straying me.Oh, but I do not forget that you disobeyed me, son. Tut, tut.I think this will make you remember." Draco recalled Lucius saying before a blinding flash of green light shot out of his wand.
"Aaagh! Please stop father! Aaagh! I won't do it again, I swear!" the three years younger Draco Malfoy shrieked, dropping to the ground clutching his bloodshot ankle. He was still panting when Lucius raised his wand again.
"Oh, and I think I have to do this too.Obliviate!"
Draco snapped out of the horrid vision. He sat up tensely in his chair, cold sweat running down his forehead. Now he remembered, it was in the dungeon. He found the clover in the dungeon three years ago. It was scraped on one of the walls of what looked like a small cell for slaves. Then patching it all together, he realized with surging dread why his father had taken Hermione.
"You can't do this, father!" he raged. And in a flick of the eye, he was gone.
Miles away, lying on the freezing dungeon floor of one the cells of a large manor, Hermione was jolted awake by the conversation of two people. The sudden stab of pain in her joints reminded her of the incident earlier that brought her to the god-forsaken place. Then shifting slightly to a better angle, Hermione tried to make out some of the words.
"Are you sure, Master Draco? You see, we do not wish to disobey any of your father's rules.."
"But didn't he tell you that you are to follow my orders too?"
Silence.
"Well then, from now on you would be taking my commands as if they were my father's. And right now, I demand that you release the Mudblood!" Draco scornfully replied.
"But Master Draco.."
"Look, I have my father's permission to take the Mudblood to practice my dark spells on. But of course, if I can't have her then I would have to content myself with you."
"I didn't mean that, Master Draco. You may go along then if that's what you were sent for. Forgive me for holding you off."
Hermione clutched at the bars of her cell apprehensively. Draco found out where she was and he was going to help her....
"Draco!" she blurted out when he appeared at her cell. He merely narrowed his eyes at her as if to say "You shouldn't look too happy to see me, Hermione". She nodded numbly and watched him open the heavy gate with a tug. He snatched her wrists firmly and dragged her roughly out of the keeper's sight. But once they were a safe distance from the dungeon, Draco loosened his grip slightly but still continued on leading her through the manor. There was something eerie in the way he skirted through every dark corner of the place with such definite familiarity.
"Draco, how come you know this place so well?"
No answer.
"Listen Draco, Harry was taken by the Death Eaters and I hate to say this but, your father was with them. I don't know how long I passed out but I think there's still time to rescue Harry."
Still no answer.
"Draco, where are we going? Didn't you hear me? We need to rescue Harry before it's too late!"
At this, Draco stopped his pacing and looked Hermione in the eyes. There was urgency in his actions.
"Hermione, this place is my home-this is the Malfoy Manor. I knew you were taken here so I came but we haven't got time. My father-Lucius will be arriving from his errand any moment and if I don't get you out of here, you'd be dead."
Hermione stared disbelieving at him. Then her brown iris contracted until they were two very small dots. When she spoke, it was in a low drawling tone,
"You knew this was all going to happen! Harry had been right about you. You are the Dark side's spy and now you've finally done Harry in. I can't believe it, Draco-of all the people!" Hot tears gushed down her cheeks and Draco could see that she was shaking with indefinable anger. But instead of attacking him as he'd expected, she turned on her heel and headed back towards the dungeon. Draco caught her wrist in time.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going back to save Harry. And keep your hands off me, you filth!"
Draco was struck by the hateful manner she had addressed him.
"You're saving Harry? With what-your bare hands? You don't even have a wand, for crying out loud! Let's just get out of here and save yourself. Harry's already done with. There's nothing you could do about it!"
"Done with, huh? Oh, but no thanks, Malfoy. I think I'll just get back there and get done with than run away with you. At least I'd die with my chin up.not something Death Eaters liike you are likely to understand." And with that, she fled, her brown hair flying wildly behind her.
For a while, Draco just stood there confused. He tried his best to turn and leave the place but his feet were disobeying him. Then, realizing that there wasn't much to decide anyway, he followed Hermione's lead in haste. But when he arrived at the dungeon, he found Goyle already lying unconscious on the stairway.
Obviously, Hermione had been successful in knocking out the troll. He was still musing how she ever did it when the sound of scraping metal led him to the darkest cell of the dungeon. He caught sight of Hermione trying vainly to pry the hard bolt of Harry's gate open but she stopped abruptly when Harry pointed Draco to her.
"A wand, Granger, a wand. That's what you need to open that bolt. Yanking does not help." He edged near her and aimed his wand at the lock. As soon as he muttered the incantation his father revealed to him, the bolt swung open. And as soon as Harry walked out of it, Hermione met her with a hug. Draco waited impatiently 'till they pulled away.
"Potter, I think you'll need this."
Harry caught the thing swiftly in his hand. "My wand."
"You have to get her out of this place, now. My father will arrive soon." But as he said this, Lucius apparated from behind him.
"My son..." He started but when he saw Harry out of his cell with Hermione at his side, he turned sharply to Draco, his evil stare demanding. In a split second, Draco shoved Harry forward and roared,
"Go, now!!!"
"NO!" Lucius had his wand raised when Draco's spell hit him first.
"Expelliarmus!"
And at once, Lucius' wand flew out of his grip and landed safely in Draco's outstretched hand. He whirred to face his son, a dark look overshadowing his face.
"You shouldn't have done that, boy. Now Potter's escaped." Then he added in a deadly tone, "Did you really believe you could overcome me-Lucius, your father?"
Draco just stood his guard-a steady wand pointing directly over Lucius's heart. Lucius started striding towards him, his gaze still locked on Draco.
"Are you planning to kill me with a spell, Draco? A new spell, perhaps? Not one of those I carefully thought you, but one of those obtrusive spells you were trained to perform at the League?"
Draco still looked unmoved.
Lucius continued his pace until he could nearly touch Draco's pointed wand.
"I understand why you're doing this, son. That League has made you soft. But after all the trouble you have caused me tonight, I am still willing to make you a fully-pledged, honorable Death Eater. And you really should be thankful now, because if you weren't my own blood, this mess would have meant death." At this, Lucius made a grab at the outstretched wand. But Draco was quicker.
"Locomotor Mortis!"
Thud.
Lucius' ankles locked and he fell on the ground, face first. Thin, snake- like ropes bounded him tightly that it was impossible to move. Lucius struggled against the ropes for some time, but in vain. Then after licking blood that gushed out of his ripped upper lip, he lifted his head up to look Draco in the eye.
"After all I did to you, this is how you repay me?"
This time, Draco had a ready reply.
"Father, you never regarded me as your son I was merely a tool to advance your evil motives. You never really paid any attention to me or to mother."
"But I gave you everything!"
"Oh, but that is because we are your front. You need to dress us up properly so that we may pass as a happy wizarding family. But in truth, all you really gave us is pain."
"Don't kill me, son.I am your father." Lucius pleaded.
"I won't. You did hurt me but it's not enough reason to kill anyone, is it?" Draco told him in an undertone.
Lucius's lips curled into a sickening smile. "I knew you couldn't, Draco. You're just too yellow to handle it. Now get me up-now or you'll regret the day your mother bore you!"
But Draco didn't stir.
"I don't think so. There's not enough reason for me to hurt you mortally but you owe a lot of people the lives of their loved ones. A time in Azkaban is quite gracious enough, don't you agree?"
Lucius's face contorted in a very ugly manner. It reflected emotions of mixed madness and fright.
"You wouldn't dare!" he roared, his steely gray eyes dilated in a manner an insane man's would.
Draco strode forward to face him, deep sadness reflected in his sallow features.
"You shouldn't have forced me in the League, father. It taught me something apart from spells and curses-it taught me to draw the line from what is right and what is evil. Such basic concepts, really, but funny I never learned them from you."
Lucius looked too horrified to speak.
"And I think I must do this too..Obliviate!"
Disclaimer: All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot, which is mine!!
Chapter 14 - Back to the Malfoy Manor
Some time after the new League members were admitted to the Ministry, strange voices could be heard talking inside a vacated room.
"I got the spot, Father."
"Very well, son. And Potter?"
"He got in with Granger."
"The filthy Mudblood girl?"
"Yes, her. We're having our first task on Monday, next week. I reckon it's about helping the others transport the Azkaban guards to some place.." Draco answered almost lazily.
"Ah, of course. The Ministry finally discovered its gravest mistake and decided to remove the Dark Lord's pets from the control of his followers. Very wise move, I reckon its Arthur's idea." Lucius was saying when he was urgently cut in by Draco,
"Father, what did you come here for?"
"Ah, yes. I came here to tell you to prepare because we're taking the boy on your first task. The Dark Lord made sure nobody stirred enough commotion to ensure his capture of the boy. He wanted to kill the pest first before doing some serious action.." Lucius's voice trailed away.
"You mean Potter?"
"Of course I meant Potter! Who else would it be?" Lucius cried out, enraged at the dullness of his son.
"Stop." Draco instructed suddenly. Lucius reluctantly followed his lead and the two of them listened carefully for any discrete sound.
"Go, now!" Draco hissed after he had confirmed his suspicions. Footsteps followed his warning and Lucius apparated just before the door of the room swung open to reveal a very skeptic-looking Harry.
"Who were you talking to, Malfoy?" Harry asked quietly although he seriously doubt getting an answer.
"No one." Draco answered through gritted teeth.
"That's funny because I clearly heard you."
"Really now, Potter. Isn't it a little too immature to keep on uncovering a childish grudge especially now that we belong on the same League?"
"Cut the crap, Malfoy. We all know you never wanted to work on the League in the first place and if it just weren't for Hermione, you wouldn't have made it too!"
"Careful, scarhead, careful. I call that prejudice."
"Zip it, Malfoy. You're just unbelievable. After everything Hermione did for you this is how you say thank? For the last time, who were you talking to, Malfoy?"
"Potter, do you seriously think I would answer to that? Why don't you just return to your Mudblood pet? She might be having nightmares without you at her side." Draco cut in acidly.
The look on Harry's face was very hard to read. He wasn't scowling or looking enraged. He was simply pinning Draco with an icy cold stare.
"Now, would you believe it? I think you actually said the first thing that made sense. I think I'm doing just that...tut, tut. No use in wasting my time chatting with you. I think I have kept Hermione waiting for too long...See yah, git." Harry told him calmly though his blood was boiling. But before he got very far, he heard the sound of things crashing violently on the floor.
"Stupid git! If I knew better, you couldn't take your slimy hands off her." Harry muttered, incensed. There was something definitely wrong with the way Draco had been acting lately. He must remember Hermione hears about him tonight. Harry smirked a little at the thought. He was almost completely sure that Hermione wouldn't believe him. Draco doing anything dirty is just beyond her comprehension.
"You have to take my word for it this time, Hermione.." Harry muttered anxiously before disappearing in a swish of his cloak.
Several days after that, the story of Draco plotting something evil against them at the dead of the night with an anonymous wizard quickly became a very good subject of argument for Harry and Hermione.
"Not that story again, Harry. Please. I know you hate Draco, but isn't this a bit too much?"
"But Hermione, this is not just a grudge! I heard him. He was talking to someone in the dead of the night. But when I entered the room, whoever it was already apparated!"
"I believe you, Harry, but did you even know what they were talking about?"
"No, but...." Harry stuttered when Draco appeared from his back.
"But nevertheless you assumed that I was plotting something fishy like your death perhaps?"
Harry glared at Draco who smiled slyly at Hermione.
"Tell me you don't believe him, Hermione!" he barked angrily. Hermione looked a little afraid to open her mouth. But when she did, Harry regretted hearing what had to say.
"But you see, Draco is also part of the League. Do you think he would be here if he wanted you harmed?" Harry swore Hermione struggled not to say 'dead'.
"This is unbelievable.." Was all Harry managed to say as he was sizzling with anger. He had never imagined the day when Hermione would be pairing up with Draco for anything. But she did so for their N.E.W.T.s and now she's ditching him for some crappy excuse Malfoy made up. But before he could devise a way to rid of Malfoy for good, Mr. Weasley called out for them.
"Hey, c'mon Harry, Hermione, and er-Draco. I'm giving out instructions for your first task." The chief gestured for them to join the small circle of the League members.
Hermione and Draco hurriedly edged forward to listen. Hermione offered a space for Harry between her and Draco but Harry kept a good distance from them.
"So, you have to make sure that every single dementor is shipped out of Azkaban safely. And mind you, don't get too near as you know the ill effects these creatures could have on anyone. I will try to reason t out with them but if any dementor refuses to board the vehicle, you will control them with your Patronus. There's enough of us to handle all of the Azkaban guards here but if any of you wanders astray on your own, I do not wish to know what could happen. So, is everything clear?"
Everyone nodded. Harry thought he saw Draco's eyes flick to his direction.
"I'm getting paranoid. Maybe Hermione's right. Maybe I just imagined the whole night encounter.." He thought dully but the feeling of foreboding wouldn't go away.
"Hey, Harry, are you coming?" Hermione's voice zapped him back to the present. Harry darted his gaze at her saw her peering curiously at him. At her side was Draco, also gazing rather sharply at him. Harry shrugged the apprehension Draco's gaze sent him.
The three of them started forward to join the operation. And when they got there, several League members were already circled several feet from a group of dementors stationed at the Azkaban gates. They watched Mr. Weasley stride towards the dementors, clutching tightly to his robes as if he it was dreadfully cold. Harry couldn't blame him since the dementors where the darkest creatures that roam the earth. They can make anyone who came near enough feel drained of happiness. But just as he thought of this, chilling cold crept up his spine. He glanced around to Hermione and Draco, who were standing some distance ahead of him. They didn't look like they were chilling. In fact, no one looked bothered at all by anything Everyone was looking at the on-going negotiations with keen interest.
"But something is definitely wrong!" Harry thought alarmed. He was so sure it was cold-but it was a sunny day and the dementors were a good distance from them unless..Harry spun around just quick enough to glimpse of long, bony, skinless hands clamping his mouth.
"Uff, Hermione!" He tried to scream but only a muffled sound came out. He tried to get hold of his wand but just as he did, he suddenly felt the intense cold the dementor's grip was causing him. It was burning with pain where the dementor was touching him. And after only a few, short seconds, it became colder-much, much colder.
"There must be more than three dementors around me now." Harry decided helplessly. He saw Hermione's back edge farther away before his vision finally blacked out and the familiar cries of Lily Potter came.
"Harry Potter-the boy who lived-no more. Finally we have you in our hands.The Dark Lord will be pleased. Let us not keep him waiting, shall we?" Then turning to the two bulk-bodied wizards at his side, he instructed placidly,
"Don't dare harm the boy more than necessary. I want him alive."
"Mr. Malfoy!" a sharp voice interrupted them. Lucius turned to see Hermione pointing a steady wand at his heart.
"Let Harry go, now! I am warning you, we are all gathered here. There is no way you could get away with this." Hermione said sternly, coming out of the clearing. She had suspected something was very wrong when she noticed that Harry was gone. And since everyone was too involved to hear her out, she hurriedly went after the thicket alone.
"Crucio!" Lucius called out to Hermione who had her wand out in warning.
An earsplitting scream filled the air and Hermione dropped to the ground writhing with pain. At a distance, hurried footsteps could be heard.
"Silly girl, I knew you'd come for your friend. Very well, take the Mudblood too." Lucius ordered.
"But sire, how about the dementors?" Crabbe asked dully.
"Leave them here, you imbecile! They have served their purpose." Lucius hissed and before the League could even get close to them, the three of them apparated.
"Harry! Hermione!" Mr. Weasley called out, arriving at the thicket when something made him freeze at his spot. The League members scrambled behind him to look at what caused the hold-up. Among them was Draco who instinctively followed Arthur's gaze. Lying on the ground was Hermione's wand. Then without warning, Mr. Weasley dropped to his knees, clutching numbly at his cloak.
"This is all my fault-my foolishness! Setting the children as bait then not being able to keep close watch. What have I done?" he muttered repeatedly to himself, an expression of deep grief printed darkly on his face.
Draco concentrated on focusing his stare at his shoes while a co-member picked Hermione's wand to secure. He knew all this was going to happen, his father told him about it. But he skipped out some of the finer points...
"Hermione." He muttered to himself, clenching his fists. "Where could he have taken her?" Draco wracked his brain for the answer but all he could think of was Hermione-Hermione at the Christmas feast, Hermione in the hospital wing, Hermione in the chamber...the chamber! That thought suddenly reminded him of the clover emblem he used to open the secret nook with. He knew he had seen that somewhere before, but couldn't remember.
"Where did I see that symbol before?" he thought. He knew it was stupid to be thinking of it now but the bad feeling about the clover emblem stayed with him several hours after the incident. Their first task was dismissed due to the abduction and they were sent back to the quarters immediately. But all the time, Draco was shunt from the prospect of going after Hermione and letting the scene slip out of his mind like it didn't matter. But this was useless as he painfully realized that he couldn't let anything bad happen to her.
"That clover....why is it stuck in my head?"
Draco shut his eyes and thought hard. At first, scattered memories of his childhood returned to him. But they didn't make any connection at all to the present situation so, he whisked them away. Then slowly, like a hazy dream, he saw himself walking inside a large room with gray, brick walls everywhere. There was a faint light at the end of the tunnel-like hall. He saw himself edge towards it until a dark shadow came into view.
"Draco, why have you come here? I told you not to set foot in this part of the house."
"But father, what are those scraped symbols?"
"They are the emblems of every family that ever stood in our way. Soon, they too will take their places in those cells. But that doesn't concern you at all, am I right Draco? You're just straying me.Oh, but I do not forget that you disobeyed me, son. Tut, tut.I think this will make you remember." Draco recalled Lucius saying before a blinding flash of green light shot out of his wand.
"Aaagh! Please stop father! Aaagh! I won't do it again, I swear!" the three years younger Draco Malfoy shrieked, dropping to the ground clutching his bloodshot ankle. He was still panting when Lucius raised his wand again.
"Oh, and I think I have to do this too.Obliviate!"
Draco snapped out of the horrid vision. He sat up tensely in his chair, cold sweat running down his forehead. Now he remembered, it was in the dungeon. He found the clover in the dungeon three years ago. It was scraped on one of the walls of what looked like a small cell for slaves. Then patching it all together, he realized with surging dread why his father had taken Hermione.
"You can't do this, father!" he raged. And in a flick of the eye, he was gone.
Miles away, lying on the freezing dungeon floor of one the cells of a large manor, Hermione was jolted awake by the conversation of two people. The sudden stab of pain in her joints reminded her of the incident earlier that brought her to the god-forsaken place. Then shifting slightly to a better angle, Hermione tried to make out some of the words.
"Are you sure, Master Draco? You see, we do not wish to disobey any of your father's rules.."
"But didn't he tell you that you are to follow my orders too?"
Silence.
"Well then, from now on you would be taking my commands as if they were my father's. And right now, I demand that you release the Mudblood!" Draco scornfully replied.
"But Master Draco.."
"Look, I have my father's permission to take the Mudblood to practice my dark spells on. But of course, if I can't have her then I would have to content myself with you."
"I didn't mean that, Master Draco. You may go along then if that's what you were sent for. Forgive me for holding you off."
Hermione clutched at the bars of her cell apprehensively. Draco found out where she was and he was going to help her....
"Draco!" she blurted out when he appeared at her cell. He merely narrowed his eyes at her as if to say "You shouldn't look too happy to see me, Hermione". She nodded numbly and watched him open the heavy gate with a tug. He snatched her wrists firmly and dragged her roughly out of the keeper's sight. But once they were a safe distance from the dungeon, Draco loosened his grip slightly but still continued on leading her through the manor. There was something eerie in the way he skirted through every dark corner of the place with such definite familiarity.
"Draco, how come you know this place so well?"
No answer.
"Listen Draco, Harry was taken by the Death Eaters and I hate to say this but, your father was with them. I don't know how long I passed out but I think there's still time to rescue Harry."
Still no answer.
"Draco, where are we going? Didn't you hear me? We need to rescue Harry before it's too late!"
At this, Draco stopped his pacing and looked Hermione in the eyes. There was urgency in his actions.
"Hermione, this place is my home-this is the Malfoy Manor. I knew you were taken here so I came but we haven't got time. My father-Lucius will be arriving from his errand any moment and if I don't get you out of here, you'd be dead."
Hermione stared disbelieving at him. Then her brown iris contracted until they were two very small dots. When she spoke, it was in a low drawling tone,
"You knew this was all going to happen! Harry had been right about you. You are the Dark side's spy and now you've finally done Harry in. I can't believe it, Draco-of all the people!" Hot tears gushed down her cheeks and Draco could see that she was shaking with indefinable anger. But instead of attacking him as he'd expected, she turned on her heel and headed back towards the dungeon. Draco caught her wrist in time.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going back to save Harry. And keep your hands off me, you filth!"
Draco was struck by the hateful manner she had addressed him.
"You're saving Harry? With what-your bare hands? You don't even have a wand, for crying out loud! Let's just get out of here and save yourself. Harry's already done with. There's nothing you could do about it!"
"Done with, huh? Oh, but no thanks, Malfoy. I think I'll just get back there and get done with than run away with you. At least I'd die with my chin up.not something Death Eaters liike you are likely to understand." And with that, she fled, her brown hair flying wildly behind her.
For a while, Draco just stood there confused. He tried his best to turn and leave the place but his feet were disobeying him. Then, realizing that there wasn't much to decide anyway, he followed Hermione's lead in haste. But when he arrived at the dungeon, he found Goyle already lying unconscious on the stairway.
Obviously, Hermione had been successful in knocking out the troll. He was still musing how she ever did it when the sound of scraping metal led him to the darkest cell of the dungeon. He caught sight of Hermione trying vainly to pry the hard bolt of Harry's gate open but she stopped abruptly when Harry pointed Draco to her.
"A wand, Granger, a wand. That's what you need to open that bolt. Yanking does not help." He edged near her and aimed his wand at the lock. As soon as he muttered the incantation his father revealed to him, the bolt swung open. And as soon as Harry walked out of it, Hermione met her with a hug. Draco waited impatiently 'till they pulled away.
"Potter, I think you'll need this."
Harry caught the thing swiftly in his hand. "My wand."
"You have to get her out of this place, now. My father will arrive soon." But as he said this, Lucius apparated from behind him.
"My son..." He started but when he saw Harry out of his cell with Hermione at his side, he turned sharply to Draco, his evil stare demanding. In a split second, Draco shoved Harry forward and roared,
"Go, now!!!"
"NO!" Lucius had his wand raised when Draco's spell hit him first.
"Expelliarmus!"
And at once, Lucius' wand flew out of his grip and landed safely in Draco's outstretched hand. He whirred to face his son, a dark look overshadowing his face.
"You shouldn't have done that, boy. Now Potter's escaped." Then he added in a deadly tone, "Did you really believe you could overcome me-Lucius, your father?"
Draco just stood his guard-a steady wand pointing directly over Lucius's heart. Lucius started striding towards him, his gaze still locked on Draco.
"Are you planning to kill me with a spell, Draco? A new spell, perhaps? Not one of those I carefully thought you, but one of those obtrusive spells you were trained to perform at the League?"
Draco still looked unmoved.
Lucius continued his pace until he could nearly touch Draco's pointed wand.
"I understand why you're doing this, son. That League has made you soft. But after all the trouble you have caused me tonight, I am still willing to make you a fully-pledged, honorable Death Eater. And you really should be thankful now, because if you weren't my own blood, this mess would have meant death." At this, Lucius made a grab at the outstretched wand. But Draco was quicker.
"Locomotor Mortis!"
Thud.
Lucius' ankles locked and he fell on the ground, face first. Thin, snake- like ropes bounded him tightly that it was impossible to move. Lucius struggled against the ropes for some time, but in vain. Then after licking blood that gushed out of his ripped upper lip, he lifted his head up to look Draco in the eye.
"After all I did to you, this is how you repay me?"
This time, Draco had a ready reply.
"Father, you never regarded me as your son I was merely a tool to advance your evil motives. You never really paid any attention to me or to mother."
"But I gave you everything!"
"Oh, but that is because we are your front. You need to dress us up properly so that we may pass as a happy wizarding family. But in truth, all you really gave us is pain."
"Don't kill me, son.I am your father." Lucius pleaded.
"I won't. You did hurt me but it's not enough reason to kill anyone, is it?" Draco told him in an undertone.
Lucius's lips curled into a sickening smile. "I knew you couldn't, Draco. You're just too yellow to handle it. Now get me up-now or you'll regret the day your mother bore you!"
But Draco didn't stir.
"I don't think so. There's not enough reason for me to hurt you mortally but you owe a lot of people the lives of their loved ones. A time in Azkaban is quite gracious enough, don't you agree?"
Lucius's face contorted in a very ugly manner. It reflected emotions of mixed madness and fright.
"You wouldn't dare!" he roared, his steely gray eyes dilated in a manner an insane man's would.
Draco strode forward to face him, deep sadness reflected in his sallow features.
"You shouldn't have forced me in the League, father. It taught me something apart from spells and curses-it taught me to draw the line from what is right and what is evil. Such basic concepts, really, but funny I never learned them from you."
Lucius looked too horrified to speak.
"And I think I must do this too..Obliviate!"