The Manor

~~~~~

All I can feel is Dobby's bony fingers clutching mine, and wind. Like I'm falling from a broomstick a hundred feet from the ground. I can't see or hear anything.

Wham!

Harry and I tumble as we hit the grass hard, rolling to a halt. Dobby hops from one foot to the other with a worried look on his face, concerned for us.

"Ow." Harry flops on his back, spreadeagled. "That's worse than using a Portkey."

"Portkey?"

"Never mind. Are we at the Manor?"

"Yes Mister Potter," Dobby comes quickly to our aid, helping us to our feet. "We are in the woods on the west side of the Manor, but we must be quick. Mister Malfoy is at the ministry and Misses Malfoy is at her cousin's house."

"How do you know?" I comb leaves from my hair.

He just winks at me. Must be an elf secret I haven't heard of. I recall my parents used to be his masters.

"If we hurry we can find young Mister Malfoy before they get home."

"Okay then, come on Harry," with more bravery in my voice than I really feel, I jog through the trees and across the immaculate lawn toward my prison.

~~~~~

My ancestors glare at me as I pass, whispering to each other across the borders of their portraits and frowning down at Harry. He casts nervous glances behind him, but I look ahead and ignore the hostility seeping from the walls. We are not wanted here. If it could the very Manor would throw us out.

I pause as we reach the grand staircase, leading to the private rooms of my parents on one side and Draco's on the other. But below the stairs, made to blend into the wooden panelling, is a door.

Without a word I run my fingers along the joins. It hurts, but I don't pull away. And there, there is one point where it is burning hot to the touch. Biting my lip I press the palm of my hand to the hairline crack. A click, and I step back as the door opens outwards.

I glance at my hand. My broken and disjointed fate line is seared and burnt.

"Lumos," Harry whispers behind me.

And we descend into the shadows I know so well.

~~~~~

Wooden steps become stone, and I can taste the damp and the oldness of the air. Harry raises a hand to the wall to steady himself and recoils from the slick rock with a quiet

"Ew."

"Shh."

"Sorry."

Dobby hangs back, only just staying within the circle of light.

I don't need the light. I can see just fine. Only a little further now.

As I reach the bottom I pause. The narrow passage opens into a wider room with a stone floor and walls. Against the far wall I can see him, head bent and legs against his chest, his arms above him chained to the wall.

When I step into the room his head snaps up.

"No - "

He cannot see my face. Harry's light is behind me, and my twin cowers in my shadow, trying to shrink into the wall. He thinks I'm Father.

"Draco, it's me."

"Leila?"

"Yes," I run the last few steps, falling to my knees and reaching for him. His face is covered in bruises and cuts, and his once white shirt - school shirt - is torn and dirty.

"Is he alright?" Harry asks, coming closer.

"And here's Potter to save the bloody day," Draco raises his head, squinting up at the Gryffindor. His hair is messy, it covers his eyes. "How bloody typical."

"I'd say he's alright," I answer. Harry just grins for reasons known only to himself. "Dobby, could you come here?"

The elf sidles up to Draco, ears completely flat. He's shaking.

"Could you undo these cuffs Dobby?"

With a snap of tiny fingers Draco is free. His arms fall limply and he gasps at the pain of blood returning to them.

"Now get up," I pull him to his feet, holding him up by the shoulders. He's very light. These few days shouldn't have taken such a toll on him. This is Father's hand.

Between us, Harry and I get Draco across the room. Although exhausted, he manages some very creative swearing directed at 'Potter', whose benign smile only serves to make Draco angrier.

He can't manage the stairs.

"Draco, listen to me."

"What?"

"Harry's going to have to carry you."

"No."

"Tough luck brother, it's that or we leave you here." I take Harry's bag and wand and help him hoist Draco onto his back. My twin gives up; weakly wrapping his arms around Harry's shoulders and letting his head rest on them.

~~~~~

"Can't we just pop out of here?" Harry asks Dobby, staggering now as we leave the hidden stairway.

"It isn't possible to apparate from inside the Manor to outside of the Manor, Mister Potter."

"Didn't the muggles teach you that?" Draco mumbles.

"Malfoy, I am this close to dropping you."

"Who's there?"

We all freeze at the woman's voice above and behind us.

"Tinky? Is that you?"

We're still under the second floor balcony. I can hear light footsteps descending the grand staircase.

I know her voice. I know who this woman is.

"Misses Malfoy," Dobby whispers.

Draco clings tighter to Harry and doesn't say anything.

"Hello?"

I can see her, see her fine blonde hair twisted up and her dark blue gown that trails behind her as she crosses the marble floor, searching for the intruder. She grips her wand in her right hand. In a moment she'll turn and see the four of us.

Finding nothing and deciding she imagined the noise, the woman turns. And stops short. She raises the wand and is about to cry a spell but I step out of the shadows -

"Wait."

She stares at me, taking in the platinum blonde hair and eyes such a pale blue they appear silver.

"Oh dear gods," she whispers. "Leila."

The sound of her elegant voice speaking my name is almost too much.

"Mother." For an eternal split second nobody moves. I can see everything in a moment, and every lullaby she never sang is in her eyes.

A sound. She hisses one word "Hide!" then sweeps toward the front hall. Harry slips back into the dark stairwell, Dobby follows and I get in only just in time, pulling the door almost shut. Draco has his eyes shut, head lolling.

I can hear Father talking to Mother, explaining that he needs to find a book in his library for someone at work. I can imagine her smiling as she offers to get him a drink, something to eat. But no, he is in a hurry, and must get back to the ministry quickly. Dobby clings to my leg, quivering in fear, his eyes scrunched shut. Their voices fade slowly, and I whisper to the elf,

"Can we make a run for it?"

"I-if we are very very quick, yes. They are in the library now."

I push open the door. There's no one in sight. Gripping the bags and Dobby's hand tight I burst into the open, looking over my shoulder. Harry leans forward when he runs, balancing Draco precariously. Our footfalls are loud as we flee through to the entrance hall and head for the still open front door. Light sparkles through stained glass windows and I hear a portrait yell an alarm. Then we're tumbling down the front steps and Draco falls and Harry wraps an arm around him and grabs Dobby's other hand and then -

POP!!!

~~~~~