I must really like you people. Here's another chapter before I leave for D.C.! I think I deserve some nice (or not nice) long reviews. Be blunt! … But not too blunt. Don't be meanies. You might make me cry… Well, anyway. On with it!
"Surprised, Potter?" Draco sneered.
"A bit, yeah," Harry replied in a low voice.
Draco threw his head back and laughed. His laugh echoed throughout the large room as it reverberated within Harry's ears. The rest of the Death Eaters began to chuckle as well.
"Seems like Potter trusted my son," came the familiar drawl of Lucius Malfoy. "My Draco. My conniving, manipulative little dragon. It runs in the family, don't you think so, Potter?"
"No denying it," Harry muttered, his heart was pounding with anger.
Draco swept over towards Harry and lingered by his side. He leaned over so that his lips were but a breath away from Harry's ear, "Did you trust me, Potter?" Draco hissed. "Did you think I would actually mingle with filthy trash like you out of my own will? Is that what you thought?"
Harry clenched his fists so hard, that the blood began to trickle from his fingers.
"Naïve little boy…" Draco continued to speak into Harry's ear. "And I thought you were smarter than that. Oh… and one more thing…"
Draco paused and smirked as he leaned in closer.
"Did you love me, Potter?" he whispered maliciously.
Harry felt his own heart turn ice cold. Out of reflex, he sent his bleeding fist flying into Draco's face.
"Draco!" Lucius Malfoy stepped forward and whisked out his wand.
Draco had staggered to his feet and planted himself in front of Harry, "No, Father!" he shouted. "Let me do it! Let me kill him— the filthy trash!"
Lucius's hood was thrown back to reveal his eyes which were full of hatred towards Harry, "Don't kill him, son. Leave that dirty work to the Dark Lord. In the meanwhile, you may torture him as you please…"
A wicked grin spread across Draco's face as he turned towards Harry, "Remember those books I've been reading, Potter? Yes, I'm sure you've had glances at them. If you were smart enough, you would've known that I was studying the Dark Arts." Draco raised his wand, "Because of your stupidity— I command you to suffer. Imperio…"
The Imperious Curse… Harry felt himself go into some sort of trance. He no longer felt his body and his vision was hazy. So he waited for Draco's voice to command him to begin torture…
Pretend to be in pain.
Harry began to writhe in what seemed like uncontrollable agony, and yet he felt nothing.
Act like you're trying to withstand me.
Harry continued to cry out as he clutched on to his stomach. He keeled over and let out another fresh scream. It was so odd… there was no pain.
Then you must run as quickly as you can outside. On the right side of the mansion, there's a trap door. You'll find Weasley and Granger in there. Their wands are in a cabinet across from their cell. Take them and go to the back of the house. There is a well-hidden door behind some vines. Go through the door and wait in that room. I'll meet up with you later…
Harry obeyed these instructions as he dashed for the front door.
"He broke my curse!" Draco shouted angrily. "Father, you stay here with the others! Pansy! Blaise! Come with me!"
"Don't you let him escape, Draco!" Harry heard Lucius called out furiously after his son. He didn't dare look back, not even when Draco shouted, "He ran into the woods!"
Harry moved swiftly towards the right side of the house. He spotted the trap door and quickly flung it open with all his might.
"I don't care what you do to me!" he heard Ron's voice. "Just leave Hermione out of this!"
"Shut up, Ron, it's me!" Harry ran to their cell as his two friends rushed over towards him.
Hermione's face was tear-streaked, "Harry!" she whimpered and began to cry. Ron gathered Hermione into his arms as Harry rummaged around the cabinet and pulled out their wands. He pointed his own wand at the lock and muttered, "Alohomora."
"Harry, Draco Malfoy is a traitor—" Ron began to say.
"Yeah, a traitor to the Death Eaters," Harry interrupted him. "He's helping me get you guys out."
"What?—"
"No time to talk. Let's get out of here."
Harry poked his head outside to see if the coast was clear. At that moment, he regretted at not having his Invisibility Cloak with him. When he saw that nobody was in sight, he motioned to Ron and Hermione, beckoning them to follow him. He led them to the back of the house to look for the door, just as Draco had instructed.
"Help me look!" Harry whispered. "It's a door behind all these vines."
The three of them pressed their hands against the wall, rummaging around the vines to feel for a door. Hermione had found it and she called out to them. Harry felt for the knob and twisted it; the door slowly creaked open.
"Wicked," Ron said in awe as the three of them descended down some stairs. They came to a halt as they reached a small room.
"This is it," Harry said, plopping down on the floor. "Now we wait for Draco."
Ron leaned back against the cold hard wall as Hermione snuggled up against his side. She sniffed and whimpered a bit, but slowly calmed down when Ron held her closer.
Hours passed. Harry was the only one who couldn't bear to sleep. As for the other two, they were in a deep slumber in each other's arms. He smiled contentedly; at least they were safe now. He looked up and saw that thin streams of sunlight were shining down the stairs. Seems like daybreak finally came… Harry sighed and leaned his head back while random thoughts floated into his head. He suddenly seemed tired…
A crash of the door being flung open snapped Harry from his daydream and woke Ron and Hermione.
"Get back, get back!" Harry hissed as he scrambled in front of his friends, all three of them had their wands out. Footsteps pounded down the stairs and they waited nervously only to see a very disheveled Draco Malfoy appear before them.
"You three all right?" he asked breathlessly.
"Yeah," Harry pocketed his wand. "How'd you manage all this?"
"I'm cunning. I'm a Slytherin, remember?" Draco answered promptly, glancing over his shoulder ever so often. "The three of you must get out of here quickly. Come on…" he ran up the stairs as the rest of them trailed closely behind. He led them across the green field where three broomsticks stood resting against the trees.
"Firebolts!" Ron gasped. "God, you're bloody rich!"
"Very nice compliment, Weasley," the corners of Draco's lips turned upwards. Then he looked to Hermione, "You can fly, right Granger?"
Hermione eyed the Firebolt warily, "I'll manage…" she gulped.
"Good," he said. "Because Floo Powder is out of the question. They're all inside watching the fireplace. And as for a Portkey— whatever. Just hurry up and go!"
Ron and Hermione mounted their brooms and kicked up into the air. Harry on the other hand, stayed on the ground.
"What are you waiting for, Potter?" Draco snapped at him. "Get going!"
"My answer is 'yes'," Harry said.
"What?"
"That question you asked me before I punched you," Harry said slowly. "My answer is yes."
Draco stared at him, not quite understanding. Then he suddenly blinked as a small smile appeared on his face.
Harry mounted the broom and kicked up into the air next to Ron and Hermione.
They were about to take off when Draco suddenly called out, "Me too, Harry!"
Harry stared down at Draco who in turn, stared back up at him with his beautiful tired gray eyes. The both of them had finally reached an understanding. A wonderful, consensual understanding. Harry felt weightless as he flew back to the direction of Hogwarts, temporarily burying the thoughts of Voldemort and the Death Eaters in the back of his mind.
"The Headmaster has gone to the Ministry," Professor McGonagall was waiting for them at the school's entrance. "Young Mr. Malfoy informed us of the unfortunate events concerning… You-Know-Who. The three of you aren't hurt?"
They shook their heads "no." At this, Professor McGonagall seemed greatly relieved. She shooed them off to their dormitories for long hours of rest as she assured them that this matter will be well-taken care of. Ron and Hermione obliged; contented at being able to get some proper sleep. Harry felt a bit more anxious than the two but was aware that being sleep-deprived wouldn't get him anywhere.
The three slept well into the afternoon and continued through the night as well. They did not wake until the next day.
"I feel like I've just come out of hibernation," Ron grumbled. "I'm about ready to collapse again…"
Hermione yawned in response.
They were about to make their way into the Great Hall for breakfast but was stopped as Professor McGonagall pulled Harry aside.
"The Headmaster would like a word," she seemed paler than usual. Harry thought that maybe Dumbledore had thought of a plan to vanquish Voldemort and had wanted to share it. Whatever it was, Harry was up to it. He wanted more than nothing to bring an end to the Dark Lord's reign of terror.
He followed Professor McGonagall past the stone gargoyle, up the twisting stairs, and into Dumbledore's office.
"Thank you, Minerva," Dumbledore said in a soft voice. "I shall speak with Harry alone." As she exited, Dumbledore motioned for Harry to sit.
"What's the news of Voldemort, sir?" Harry asked anxiously.
"He is still weak and has gone into hiding," Dumbledore replied.
"Why did the Death Eaters take Ron and Hermione?"
"They wanted to lure you into their trap. Fortunately, they had failed... But that was not the matter of which I wanted to speak with you."
Harry leaned forward as his eyebrows drew together.
Dumbledore took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. The old man let out a sigh as he placed his spectacles back on his nose. Harry didn't like the look of this. He never liked it when the Headmaster showed signs of frailty.
"Harry," his voice seemed to tremble. "This is something I do not want to say to you… but feel obligated to do so. I am sorry…"
Harry listened as Dumbledore delivered the news. His heart seemed to stop. His brain turned numb and he could no longer feel his body. Cold sweat formed on his forehead and trickled down his face…
No. Maybe he heard it wrong.
"I am sorry…" the words were repeated in his head.
"Draco Malfoy was killed last night."
