The room was darker than the one he'd seen before. He felt himself
creeping up to it, trying not to make any noise. He tried the handle of
the door, it felt warm. When he pulled it open, it was not what he'd
been expecting. Chained up on the wall or the table were the five other
students that'd been taken from Hogsmeade. Terry Boot and Justin
Finch-Fletchley hung unconciously with shackles on their arms and legs.
Colin Creevey was tied up in what looked like a medieval chair.
Zacharias Smith and Michael Corner lay on two stone tables, tied down
and gagged. Zacharias was crying, while Michael made no noise. The room
was lit by a single torch, hanging near the door. The room was dark and
musky. A foul stench of blood, standing water, and urine filled the
room, making it hard for him to breathe. He had to do something. He had
to save them. Harry rushed over to Justin Finch-Fletchley and felt himself
pulling on the changes trying to get him free. Out of the corner of his
eye he noticed Michael Corner wasn't just unconcious, he was dead. He'd
been cut open and his insides lay on a table next to him. Harry felt
himself retch. He heard voices coming from outside the door. It opened
before he had time to hide, but it seemed as if Lucius Malfoy and
Bellatrix Lestrange couldn't see him. Malfoy had a smiling beaming from
his face as Bellatrix whispered something to him.
"Good, then they're acting just as we had hoped. It'll only be a matter of hours then. Now let's see what my friends have been up to." he replied, coldly. He walked over to Michael Corner, completly unaware of Harry standing right next to him.
"Looks like Macnair couldn't wait. He's always had a passion for torturing muggles in ancient muggle ways." he ran his finger through Michael's blood and smelled it. He smiled again.
"What will we do with others then?"
"We'll wait till Potter's here, then we dispose of all of them, of course. Until then I'll warn Macnair not to kill them too quickly. We'll want them alive in the mean time."
The stench got to Harry again and he felt himself vomit. His head was aching, he wanted the pain to stop. He yelled out. He felt someone smack him across the face. He opened his eyes. Both Ron and Malfoy were hovering over him. Malfoy had just slapped him. They both look bewildered and frightened.
"Harry, what's happened?" Ron asked, pushing Malfoy out of the way. Harry looked down to see he'd vomited all over himself and the bed. He felt cold and clammy. He wanted to go back to sleep, he felt himself slipping in and out of conciousness. Malfoy hit him again.
"Stop it! You're not making it any better!" Ron shouted.
"Well, we have to keep him awake."
"Michael Corner is dead. Any of the others could be too. We need to leave now." Harry managed to say. Ron helped him out of bed. He stumbled but forced himself to manuever to the bathroom to clean up. Ron and Malfoy went to wake everyone else up. Neville was already awake, after hearing Harry scream. He'd woken up Dean and Seamus as well. By the time Harry got back downstairs, everyone was awake and ready. They had breakfast, where Harry forced himself to eat again. He still felt nauseas but his headache was subsiding. He couldn't get the image of Michael lying on the table out of his head. He hadn't been able to tell if the others were still alive. No one spoke. The same thing was on everyone's mind. Would they make it in time, and would they be able to help? After everyone'd finished eating, Harry got together with Krum and Malfoy for some last minute planning.
"You're all old enough to apparate. I suggest that you and your friends apparate there, and hide out to keep an eye on things. You might be able to detain the death eaters if they come looking for us. That should give us enough time to catch up with you and make it there safely. It's only a few miles south, we should be there in a couple hours." Harry told Viktor, who nodded in agreement. Harry turned to Malfoy.
"Well then, just a few more days and we can go back to despising each other. You deal with your father, but leave your aunt to me. I have something I need closure to."
"Avenging Sirius' death won't make him come back, you know."
"Yeah, I know. But I'm not about to let her get away with it either. Can I trust you not to turn against us. You'll be fighting against family, you're not going to have a change of heart at the last minute are you?"
"I've already made up my mind, haven't I? I can't go back. You can trust me." Malfoy assured him. The three went back to the group and Malfoy explained which way they would be going to get to the manor. Viktor Krum and the others from Durmstrang said their goodbyes.
"Ve vill see you soon, Harry Potter." Viktor nodded, then apparated with his group.
"All right then, here we go." Harry stated to his group.
His stomach turned the piece of toast and pumpkin juice he'd had, harshly. He didn't want his friends involved with this. They weren't any more ready than they'd been the previous year and he'd nearly gotten Hermione and Neville killed. They should be back at Hogwarts worrying about their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.Ts. That brought him to thinking about his own N.E.W.Ts. He hadn't been paying attention in class all year and his hope for becoming an Auror was looking slimmer. They made their way through Stretford. A few people stopped and stared at them. One muggle stopped and asked what school they went to and why they weren't in school at that moment.
"Er... hey I think I see our bus." Ron distracted, pulling Neville along. The others followed. Finally the shops and people began to become fewer as they headed into the more rural section of Stretford. They walked along the fields and farms and into a small forest on the edge of Stretford.
"How do we know he's leading us to the right spot?" Lavender whispered to Parvati, glancing at Malfoy.
"Harry trusts him, and you know how they are. If he's believing him, he must have good reason to. Besides if anything happens Viktor will come for us." Parvati sighed.
Harry pushed his way through the branches and forest debris behind Malfoy, who was coincendately pulling back the branches just far enough so that they'd hit Harry.
"Hey, I thought you said that you didn't know where it was."
"It's not that hard to find a place when you're being called to it." he replied and showed Harry the burn of the death mark that was glowing on his arm, before letting another branch go.
They met back up with Viktor and the others at the edge of the forest. He reported that he'd seen both Moody and another guy that from a decription, Harry deciphered at Lupin entering the house about an hour before. They hadn't seen any action in or out of the house since. They were about ready to go in as a big group when a voice called out from behind them. Harry turned around to see Blaise Zabini and a whole horde of other Slytherins approaching them.
"Didn't think we'd let you just slip out of Hogwarts and rescue your friends that easily did you?" Zabini mocked, then smirked at Malfoy.
"What've you become? How pathetic. You got offered a spot with the Dark Lord before any of us did, and you turned it down? Well now we know where the real loyalty lies. Don't even know how the rest of us believed your stories and bullshit anyway. You know your jokes really were never that funny, and without Pansy there we would've considered outcasting you sooner. God, all your talk and jealousy about Potter. Didn't think we'd see right through you? You wanted to be him so bad. So I guess playing his sidekick is the next best thing, eh? Or maybe screwing his best friend is, I wouldn't know. I don't fuck mudbloods."
"Shut up, Zabini." Ron snapped, stepping in front of Harry and Malfoy. Theodore Nott and Graham Pritchard stepped next to Zabini, as if to protect him. Although by his size he hardly needed any protection against Ron. All together there were nine of them.
"We'll duel you, Zabini. If that's what you want. And when I'm done with you, it'll remind you of who runs Slytherin." Malfoy sneered, pushing past Ron.
"All right then. There's nine of us and nine of you, not counting the foreigners you've brought with you. They'll stay out of it. So let's see. Terrence you take the Weasle. Graham, I'll make it easy for you, take the squib, Longbottom. Millicent, you against the looney one. Frank, I think you can handle Potter. The rest of you, just pick whomever. I don't know their names, they're not important. Draco, it's you against me." Zabini told his crew.
"Figure you can take me?" asked Harry, as he pulled out his wand and stood in front of Franklin Fratz.
"With one hand behind my back, Potter."
"Glad you have the confidence, now let's see if you can back that up." Harry raised his wand, but before he could cast a spell Frank sent one at him before Harry even finished his sentence.
"Petricus Finiticus!"
Harry felt his whole body go cold and he couldn't move. Frank smiled and raised his wand again.
"Crucio!"
A pain Harry hadn't felt in a long time surged through his body. It was almost unbearable and he felt himself began to retch again. Both spells faded and he fell to the ground. He'd underestimated Fratz.
"Expelliarmus!" he shouted. Fratz wand flew out of his hand.
"Accio!" Fratz returned. He got his wand back before it hit the dirt.
"Incar-"
"Everte Statum!" Harry's stunning spell hit Fratz straight in the chest, knocking him out.
"Accio wand!" Harry took Fratz wand and broke it in half. He looked around to see how the others were doing. Seamus and Dean had already beaten Adrian Pucey and Theodore Nott. Seamus was now helping Luna against Millicent Bulstrode. Ron and Higgs seemed neck in neck, but Neville was struggling with Graham Pritchard. Harry ran over and yelled
"Stupefy!"
Terrence Higgs fell over as Harry helped Neville back onto his feet. Lavender had just finished fighting off Maureen Hayworth and had started helping Parvati.
"Avada Kedavra!" Hayworth managed out through a fading immobulus spell. Harry and Ron rushed over to Parvati who collapsed to the ground.
"Stupefy!" Ron screamed, advancing on Millicent, who was laughing.
"Enervate!" Lavender cried, pointing her wand at Parvati's lifeless body. Nothing happened. She kept trying until Ron put his arms around her and pulled her away. Malfoy was still dueling with Zabini. Both of them looked tired and were bleeding. Zabini had a cut under his eye and blood dripped from his lip. Malfoy was clutching his side, his hand covered in blood.
"Why doesn't he just kill him and end it?" Seamus asked, watching.
"I don't think he wants to kill him unless he has to. They're friends, or were." Harry replied. His first instinct was to go help, but he knew they'd both turn on him if he tried.
"Crucio!" Zabini cried out.
"Finite Incantatem!" Malfoy's protection spell blocked the unforgivable curse easily. Zabini was getting frustrated.
"Reducto!"
A tree from behind Malfoy recieved the blow, and it hit with a huge bang, the tree broke in half and started to fall.
"Luna!" Neville called out and jumped on top of her, pushing her out of the way of the falling trunk.
"Arania Exumai!" Malfoy yelled. A bright light pulsed out of his wand and headed straight for Zabini, he tried to deflect it with a counter curse, but Malfoy's was stronger. It hit Zabini, sending him flying back into a tree and to the ground where he lay unconscious. Malfoy fell to his knees, breathing hard and still clutching his side. Viktor rushed over to him too, then Harry, followed by the rest.
"Are you okay?" Luna asked, politely.
"Do I look like I'm okay?" he snapped. He lifted his shirt. There was a large gash undernearth his ribcage. He flinched everytime he breathed in.
"Ferula." Luna pointed her wand at the wound. His waist was covered in bandages. Viktor helped him to his feet. They glanced at each other, sharing a moment. Then Malfoy turned back towards the house.
"Come on, we haven't even started yet and it'll be dark in a few hours." he told them, irritably.
"What about Parvati?" shrieked Lavender .
"We'll come back for her when we're done, or one of the others will find her. Come on, there isn't anything we can do." Harry told her. Ron tried to comfort her as they walked up to the house. The door opened as they reached the steps.
"I've been expecting you. I see you've managed to get past your classmates. At least your skill shows I've taught you well. Hrm, although it seems that Zabini did get his fair share in on you." Lucius Malfoy stated, making note of his son's staggering walk and bloody hand. Draco straightened up to look his father in the eye. Lucius smiled.
"Well good work son, you've completed your task. Potter, why don't you come in."
"Completed your task? So you were working against us!" Ron yelled. Draco turned on him so quick, Ron hadn't had time to adjust to him being advanced on.
"Just shut it and let me deal with him. He lies." he said, through gritted teeth.
"Well so do you." Neville pointed out. Draco glared at him. They all followed Harry into the manor house.
It was considered a house, but it was more of a small mansion than a country home. The enterance had it own hallway which led to two arches. The one on the left led to the study. Harry recognized it immediatly as where Hermione had been in his dreams. The one straight ahead other led to the kitchen and dining hall. On the right was a large stone staircase which led to a landing above the enterance way. Next to the staircase there was another door. Harry calculated from latest dream that it led to the room where the boys had been taken. Where Michael Corner's body lay on the cold stone table. He began to wonder where Lupin and Moody were. Viktor had said he'd seen them. He began to fear that maybe they'd been captured as well, and suddenly felt foolish for just walking into a death trap. He looked over at Draco, who looked worried underneath his calm and cool disposition.
Lucius Malfoy led them into the study. Waiting for them there, where a numerous amount of death eaters. They were all wearing the black clothes and masks that Harry had become accustomed to over the past few years. Moody was lying on the floor. Harry couldn't tell if he was alive or dead. They had Lupin bound and dazed. Harry's stomach lurched forward. He gripped his wand tightly.
"Aw, the poor ickle baby's come to try and save his friends." Bellatrix's voice sent the hairs on his neck on end, and his blood started to boil. A chorus of laughter came from the deatheaters.
"He just doesn't give up does he? Like his father, he is." he heard another say.
"If it isn't my little nephew, what's he doing running around with half bloods?" Bellatrix asked. She walked up to Malfoy and ran a finger along his cheek. Harry saw Malfoy flinch. She hadn't just ran it along his face, she'd left a thin cut which started to shine bright red.
"We'll bargain with you. We've tried bargaining before, but I decided to give it another shot, for laughs. If you stay here and come with us willingly, we'll let your friends go. They can all go straight back to Hogwarts and it'll be like nothing happened. Well almost. There were a few casualities, as we were starting to get impatient with Dumbledore's refusals. But everyone else, I can assure you will be safe."
"Even Hermione?" Harry asked. His grip on his wand was so tight, his hand began to go numb.
"Ah yes, the mudblood. Speaking of which, Draco... we've found out something rather interesting about her, if you care to know..." Lucius said in a taunting drawl.
"Why should I care?" he replied. The smirk on his father's face grew into a merciless grin. Harry knew exactly what was coming up, he'd dreamt about it the other night. He'd tried telling Malfoy, to prepare him. Now it was no use.
"Apparently, she's with child. She's approximatly two months along."
"Now I wonder how that happened." Bellatrix commented in a sing-song voice. Draco continued to show no emotion and stared at his father.
"What'd you do to her?" Harry demanded.
"Shut your mouth, boy. This doesn't concern you." said another woman from the death eater crowd. Lucius grabbed Draco and threw him on the ground. Draco winced in pain from his injury and crumpled on the floor. Harry could tell he was trying hard not to break down and cry. Lucius kicked him.
"Get up! I said GET UP!" Lucius roared at his son, then pulled him back up and struck him across the face.
"Stop it You're hurting him!" Luna yelled out and jumped foward. The woman death eater who'd just spoken, raised her wand and pointed it at Luna. Luna quickly stopped dead in her tracks and retreated back to Neville's side. The death eater removed her mask, revealing a face Harry had seen before. It was Narcissa Malfoy. He hadn't seen her since the Quidditch World Cup, but her look was the same.
"This is a family issue. You'd do best to stay out of it." She warned, lowering her wand.
"I WILL NOT HAVE A HALF-BLOOD CHILD IN THIS FAMILY!" Lucius yelled, then proceeded to perform the Cruciatus Curse on his own son. The force of the spell caused Draco to start bleeding again. He remained on the ground, unable to support himself to get up. Months ago, Harry would have reveled in watching this, but things had changed. He couldn't just stand there. He didn't know if he'd be quick enough against the death eaters, and he knew by acting it'd be the start of another battle. He had to try though, he didn't like Draco, but for the time being he was a part of the DA and they'd stuck to together.
"Everte Statum!" he'd pulled his wand out of his pocket as quick as he could and aimed it at Lucius, who hadn't been expecting it. He flew backwards into one of the bookshelves.
"That was a very foolish thing to do." Narcissa smiled, raising her wand once again. Viktor and his group jumped in front of Harry. "The bargains off. Dispose of them." Lucius ordered the death eaters.
"Good, then they're acting just as we had hoped. It'll only be a matter of hours then. Now let's see what my friends have been up to." he replied, coldly. He walked over to Michael Corner, completly unaware of Harry standing right next to him.
"Looks like Macnair couldn't wait. He's always had a passion for torturing muggles in ancient muggle ways." he ran his finger through Michael's blood and smelled it. He smiled again.
"What will we do with others then?"
"We'll wait till Potter's here, then we dispose of all of them, of course. Until then I'll warn Macnair not to kill them too quickly. We'll want them alive in the mean time."
The stench got to Harry again and he felt himself vomit. His head was aching, he wanted the pain to stop. He yelled out. He felt someone smack him across the face. He opened his eyes. Both Ron and Malfoy were hovering over him. Malfoy had just slapped him. They both look bewildered and frightened.
"Harry, what's happened?" Ron asked, pushing Malfoy out of the way. Harry looked down to see he'd vomited all over himself and the bed. He felt cold and clammy. He wanted to go back to sleep, he felt himself slipping in and out of conciousness. Malfoy hit him again.
"Stop it! You're not making it any better!" Ron shouted.
"Well, we have to keep him awake."
"Michael Corner is dead. Any of the others could be too. We need to leave now." Harry managed to say. Ron helped him out of bed. He stumbled but forced himself to manuever to the bathroom to clean up. Ron and Malfoy went to wake everyone else up. Neville was already awake, after hearing Harry scream. He'd woken up Dean and Seamus as well. By the time Harry got back downstairs, everyone was awake and ready. They had breakfast, where Harry forced himself to eat again. He still felt nauseas but his headache was subsiding. He couldn't get the image of Michael lying on the table out of his head. He hadn't been able to tell if the others were still alive. No one spoke. The same thing was on everyone's mind. Would they make it in time, and would they be able to help? After everyone'd finished eating, Harry got together with Krum and Malfoy for some last minute planning.
"You're all old enough to apparate. I suggest that you and your friends apparate there, and hide out to keep an eye on things. You might be able to detain the death eaters if they come looking for us. That should give us enough time to catch up with you and make it there safely. It's only a few miles south, we should be there in a couple hours." Harry told Viktor, who nodded in agreement. Harry turned to Malfoy.
"Well then, just a few more days and we can go back to despising each other. You deal with your father, but leave your aunt to me. I have something I need closure to."
"Avenging Sirius' death won't make him come back, you know."
"Yeah, I know. But I'm not about to let her get away with it either. Can I trust you not to turn against us. You'll be fighting against family, you're not going to have a change of heart at the last minute are you?"
"I've already made up my mind, haven't I? I can't go back. You can trust me." Malfoy assured him. The three went back to the group and Malfoy explained which way they would be going to get to the manor. Viktor Krum and the others from Durmstrang said their goodbyes.
"Ve vill see you soon, Harry Potter." Viktor nodded, then apparated with his group.
"All right then, here we go." Harry stated to his group.
His stomach turned the piece of toast and pumpkin juice he'd had, harshly. He didn't want his friends involved with this. They weren't any more ready than they'd been the previous year and he'd nearly gotten Hermione and Neville killed. They should be back at Hogwarts worrying about their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.Ts. That brought him to thinking about his own N.E.W.Ts. He hadn't been paying attention in class all year and his hope for becoming an Auror was looking slimmer. They made their way through Stretford. A few people stopped and stared at them. One muggle stopped and asked what school they went to and why they weren't in school at that moment.
"Er... hey I think I see our bus." Ron distracted, pulling Neville along. The others followed. Finally the shops and people began to become fewer as they headed into the more rural section of Stretford. They walked along the fields and farms and into a small forest on the edge of Stretford.
"How do we know he's leading us to the right spot?" Lavender whispered to Parvati, glancing at Malfoy.
"Harry trusts him, and you know how they are. If he's believing him, he must have good reason to. Besides if anything happens Viktor will come for us." Parvati sighed.
Harry pushed his way through the branches and forest debris behind Malfoy, who was coincendately pulling back the branches just far enough so that they'd hit Harry.
"Hey, I thought you said that you didn't know where it was."
"It's not that hard to find a place when you're being called to it." he replied and showed Harry the burn of the death mark that was glowing on his arm, before letting another branch go.
They met back up with Viktor and the others at the edge of the forest. He reported that he'd seen both Moody and another guy that from a decription, Harry deciphered at Lupin entering the house about an hour before. They hadn't seen any action in or out of the house since. They were about ready to go in as a big group when a voice called out from behind them. Harry turned around to see Blaise Zabini and a whole horde of other Slytherins approaching them.
"Didn't think we'd let you just slip out of Hogwarts and rescue your friends that easily did you?" Zabini mocked, then smirked at Malfoy.
"What've you become? How pathetic. You got offered a spot with the Dark Lord before any of us did, and you turned it down? Well now we know where the real loyalty lies. Don't even know how the rest of us believed your stories and bullshit anyway. You know your jokes really were never that funny, and without Pansy there we would've considered outcasting you sooner. God, all your talk and jealousy about Potter. Didn't think we'd see right through you? You wanted to be him so bad. So I guess playing his sidekick is the next best thing, eh? Or maybe screwing his best friend is, I wouldn't know. I don't fuck mudbloods."
"Shut up, Zabini." Ron snapped, stepping in front of Harry and Malfoy. Theodore Nott and Graham Pritchard stepped next to Zabini, as if to protect him. Although by his size he hardly needed any protection against Ron. All together there were nine of them.
"We'll duel you, Zabini. If that's what you want. And when I'm done with you, it'll remind you of who runs Slytherin." Malfoy sneered, pushing past Ron.
"All right then. There's nine of us and nine of you, not counting the foreigners you've brought with you. They'll stay out of it. So let's see. Terrence you take the Weasle. Graham, I'll make it easy for you, take the squib, Longbottom. Millicent, you against the looney one. Frank, I think you can handle Potter. The rest of you, just pick whomever. I don't know their names, they're not important. Draco, it's you against me." Zabini told his crew.
"Figure you can take me?" asked Harry, as he pulled out his wand and stood in front of Franklin Fratz.
"With one hand behind my back, Potter."
"Glad you have the confidence, now let's see if you can back that up." Harry raised his wand, but before he could cast a spell Frank sent one at him before Harry even finished his sentence.
"Petricus Finiticus!"
Harry felt his whole body go cold and he couldn't move. Frank smiled and raised his wand again.
"Crucio!"
A pain Harry hadn't felt in a long time surged through his body. It was almost unbearable and he felt himself began to retch again. Both spells faded and he fell to the ground. He'd underestimated Fratz.
"Expelliarmus!" he shouted. Fratz wand flew out of his hand.
"Accio!" Fratz returned. He got his wand back before it hit the dirt.
"Incar-"
"Everte Statum!" Harry's stunning spell hit Fratz straight in the chest, knocking him out.
"Accio wand!" Harry took Fratz wand and broke it in half. He looked around to see how the others were doing. Seamus and Dean had already beaten Adrian Pucey and Theodore Nott. Seamus was now helping Luna against Millicent Bulstrode. Ron and Higgs seemed neck in neck, but Neville was struggling with Graham Pritchard. Harry ran over and yelled
"Stupefy!"
Terrence Higgs fell over as Harry helped Neville back onto his feet. Lavender had just finished fighting off Maureen Hayworth and had started helping Parvati.
"Avada Kedavra!" Hayworth managed out through a fading immobulus spell. Harry and Ron rushed over to Parvati who collapsed to the ground.
"Stupefy!" Ron screamed, advancing on Millicent, who was laughing.
"Enervate!" Lavender cried, pointing her wand at Parvati's lifeless body. Nothing happened. She kept trying until Ron put his arms around her and pulled her away. Malfoy was still dueling with Zabini. Both of them looked tired and were bleeding. Zabini had a cut under his eye and blood dripped from his lip. Malfoy was clutching his side, his hand covered in blood.
"Why doesn't he just kill him and end it?" Seamus asked, watching.
"I don't think he wants to kill him unless he has to. They're friends, or were." Harry replied. His first instinct was to go help, but he knew they'd both turn on him if he tried.
"Crucio!" Zabini cried out.
"Finite Incantatem!" Malfoy's protection spell blocked the unforgivable curse easily. Zabini was getting frustrated.
"Reducto!"
A tree from behind Malfoy recieved the blow, and it hit with a huge bang, the tree broke in half and started to fall.
"Luna!" Neville called out and jumped on top of her, pushing her out of the way of the falling trunk.
"Arania Exumai!" Malfoy yelled. A bright light pulsed out of his wand and headed straight for Zabini, he tried to deflect it with a counter curse, but Malfoy's was stronger. It hit Zabini, sending him flying back into a tree and to the ground where he lay unconscious. Malfoy fell to his knees, breathing hard and still clutching his side. Viktor rushed over to him too, then Harry, followed by the rest.
"Are you okay?" Luna asked, politely.
"Do I look like I'm okay?" he snapped. He lifted his shirt. There was a large gash undernearth his ribcage. He flinched everytime he breathed in.
"Ferula." Luna pointed her wand at the wound. His waist was covered in bandages. Viktor helped him to his feet. They glanced at each other, sharing a moment. Then Malfoy turned back towards the house.
"Come on, we haven't even started yet and it'll be dark in a few hours." he told them, irritably.
"What about Parvati?" shrieked Lavender .
"We'll come back for her when we're done, or one of the others will find her. Come on, there isn't anything we can do." Harry told her. Ron tried to comfort her as they walked up to the house. The door opened as they reached the steps.
"I've been expecting you. I see you've managed to get past your classmates. At least your skill shows I've taught you well. Hrm, although it seems that Zabini did get his fair share in on you." Lucius Malfoy stated, making note of his son's staggering walk and bloody hand. Draco straightened up to look his father in the eye. Lucius smiled.
"Well good work son, you've completed your task. Potter, why don't you come in."
"Completed your task? So you were working against us!" Ron yelled. Draco turned on him so quick, Ron hadn't had time to adjust to him being advanced on.
"Just shut it and let me deal with him. He lies." he said, through gritted teeth.
"Well so do you." Neville pointed out. Draco glared at him. They all followed Harry into the manor house.
It was considered a house, but it was more of a small mansion than a country home. The enterance had it own hallway which led to two arches. The one on the left led to the study. Harry recognized it immediatly as where Hermione had been in his dreams. The one straight ahead other led to the kitchen and dining hall. On the right was a large stone staircase which led to a landing above the enterance way. Next to the staircase there was another door. Harry calculated from latest dream that it led to the room where the boys had been taken. Where Michael Corner's body lay on the cold stone table. He began to wonder where Lupin and Moody were. Viktor had said he'd seen them. He began to fear that maybe they'd been captured as well, and suddenly felt foolish for just walking into a death trap. He looked over at Draco, who looked worried underneath his calm and cool disposition.
Lucius Malfoy led them into the study. Waiting for them there, where a numerous amount of death eaters. They were all wearing the black clothes and masks that Harry had become accustomed to over the past few years. Moody was lying on the floor. Harry couldn't tell if he was alive or dead. They had Lupin bound and dazed. Harry's stomach lurched forward. He gripped his wand tightly.
"Aw, the poor ickle baby's come to try and save his friends." Bellatrix's voice sent the hairs on his neck on end, and his blood started to boil. A chorus of laughter came from the deatheaters.
"He just doesn't give up does he? Like his father, he is." he heard another say.
"If it isn't my little nephew, what's he doing running around with half bloods?" Bellatrix asked. She walked up to Malfoy and ran a finger along his cheek. Harry saw Malfoy flinch. She hadn't just ran it along his face, she'd left a thin cut which started to shine bright red.
"We'll bargain with you. We've tried bargaining before, but I decided to give it another shot, for laughs. If you stay here and come with us willingly, we'll let your friends go. They can all go straight back to Hogwarts and it'll be like nothing happened. Well almost. There were a few casualities, as we were starting to get impatient with Dumbledore's refusals. But everyone else, I can assure you will be safe."
"Even Hermione?" Harry asked. His grip on his wand was so tight, his hand began to go numb.
"Ah yes, the mudblood. Speaking of which, Draco... we've found out something rather interesting about her, if you care to know..." Lucius said in a taunting drawl.
"Why should I care?" he replied. The smirk on his father's face grew into a merciless grin. Harry knew exactly what was coming up, he'd dreamt about it the other night. He'd tried telling Malfoy, to prepare him. Now it was no use.
"Apparently, she's with child. She's approximatly two months along."
"Now I wonder how that happened." Bellatrix commented in a sing-song voice. Draco continued to show no emotion and stared at his father.
"What'd you do to her?" Harry demanded.
"Shut your mouth, boy. This doesn't concern you." said another woman from the death eater crowd. Lucius grabbed Draco and threw him on the ground. Draco winced in pain from his injury and crumpled on the floor. Harry could tell he was trying hard not to break down and cry. Lucius kicked him.
"Get up! I said GET UP!" Lucius roared at his son, then pulled him back up and struck him across the face.
"Stop it You're hurting him!" Luna yelled out and jumped foward. The woman death eater who'd just spoken, raised her wand and pointed it at Luna. Luna quickly stopped dead in her tracks and retreated back to Neville's side. The death eater removed her mask, revealing a face Harry had seen before. It was Narcissa Malfoy. He hadn't seen her since the Quidditch World Cup, but her look was the same.
"This is a family issue. You'd do best to stay out of it." She warned, lowering her wand.
"I WILL NOT HAVE A HALF-BLOOD CHILD IN THIS FAMILY!" Lucius yelled, then proceeded to perform the Cruciatus Curse on his own son. The force of the spell caused Draco to start bleeding again. He remained on the ground, unable to support himself to get up. Months ago, Harry would have reveled in watching this, but things had changed. He couldn't just stand there. He didn't know if he'd be quick enough against the death eaters, and he knew by acting it'd be the start of another battle. He had to try though, he didn't like Draco, but for the time being he was a part of the DA and they'd stuck to together.
"Everte Statum!" he'd pulled his wand out of his pocket as quick as he could and aimed it at Lucius, who hadn't been expecting it. He flew backwards into one of the bookshelves.
"That was a very foolish thing to do." Narcissa smiled, raising her wand once again. Viktor and his group jumped in front of Harry. "The bargains off. Dispose of them." Lucius ordered the death eaters.