Chapter 23

Bid for Freedom

"I have to go in there, sir!" protested Harry.

Professor Dumbledore was getting quite annoyed now with Harry.

"Harry, if you refuse to keep quiet I may have to lock you in the Gryffindor tower," he warned.

"You don't understand! Voldemort has my best friend in there and the girl I love!" he yelled, clenching his fists tightly.

Albus Dumbledore's angry face faltered for a second.

"You are too important to loose, Harry. Please understand this."

Harry ran his hands through his hair impatiently. If only he was an Auror.

Back in the tent, Voldemort was talking to Roxanne's parents.

"They've sent five Aurors this way, Jacobs said," muttered Adrian.

"They can't stay here then. I wasn't planning to have them wed yet," said Voldemort."

"They are very close, my lord, it would be best if all of us were not here when they came."

"The only way to get all of us out quick enough if is we all Apparate, but Roxanne cannot- "

"Teach her then," said Voldemort.

"But if she were to do it wrong –"

"She won't."

Marilee Winters sighed and turned her gaunt gaze to Roxanne.

"Get lost," was all Roxanne said to her mother.

"Dear, its not that hard. Just imagine being somewhere else and gather all your magic –"

"You know what will happen when they find you, don't you Roxanne?" asked Adrian, with a worryingly placid face.

"They'll arrest you and save me."

Adrian chortled softly.

"Half true. But they would arrest you too, my dear. And until they can find you innocent you will be kept in Azkaban."

"They won't think I wanted to be married," she retorted.

"Why not? They have all the proof. They have witnesses seeing you and Malfoy together and no one saw you being captured by a Deatheater on the way back to the castle this evening. For all they know you could have went back yourself…"

"As if! They aren't that stupid –"

"You know the grudge the magical world has against us!" snapped Adrian. "Even the muggles know our faces! Cornelius Fudge will do anything to see every single Winters kissed by the remaining Dementors on his side!"

"Its true," said Marilee Winters, staring at her distraught daughter.

It made sense, but she did not admit it verbally. Roxanne could have kicked herself for her own stupidity. They taught Roxanne how to apparate. At first she thought they couldn't because they were inside the castle grounds but she was told they were close to Hogsmeadee. She covertly hoped being able to apparate would help the escape plan that was brewing in her already troubled mind.

"So are you ready?" asked Adrian Winters sharply. She nodded glumly. "Malfoy take her hand, just in case."

Draco held out his hand close to hers and she grabbed it tightly. She looked at him hopefully and he shook his head. Her eyes flashed and the millisecond they apparated she let go of him. Apparating was the worst feeling in the world, like your body was being ripped apart and then quickly put together again. Hogsmeade appeared in front of her. It had worked! She started running in the direction of Hogwarts but then stopped. What if they arrested her? She could go up to the cave Sirius had stayed at and hide there for a while, but Voldemort would undoubtedly find her and she didn't know the way. She decided anywhere with Harry was safe and continued running to the castle grounds.

Draco appeared back in the tent. "She's gone!" he cried to her parents.

"Where?" asked Adrian, quite calmly. He had suspected this.

"How do I know? I'm guessing Hogsmeade – it's the closest place to Dumbledore to apparate."

Five Death Eaters went to Hogsmeade in search of the sixteen-year-old girl.

Roxanne was exhausted but the second she saw people in the distance she cried out; "HELP!"

They turned to look and some ran over. It was Professor Scota and Professor McGonagall.

"STUPEFY!" someone yelled from behind Roxanne. She was unconscious before she hit the ground.

Harry was watching this. He stared in horror as Roxanne's limp body suddenly disappeared into the darkness.

"Invisibility cloaks," said Dumbledore. "FIRE STUNNING SPELLS!"

Everybody there got out their wands and fired spells at the empty air. After a few minutes they stopped and began searching for invisible people. Professor McGonagall cried out victoriously as she spotted a leg. They ran over and whipped off the cloak only to find an unconscious Deatheater. He was arrested immediately.

"Damn it!" yelled Harry, throwing his wand down angrily. "We could have saved her!"

Ginny picked up his wand for him. "Don't worry, Harry. We'll get them back."

"They're gonna punish her now," he muttered, squeezing the bridge of his nose and trying not to cry. "Its all my fault – again."

"Don't blame yourself, mate," said Ron, putting his hand on his shoulder.

Harry shook his head. "It is my fault, I have to do something…"

Just then an owl flew out of the forest and hovered near Dumbledore. He read the note quickly.

"They're not in the forest anymore," he said. "Tell the Ministry of Magic."

Harry burst into tears and Ginny hugged him while he sobbed onto her shoulder, all dignity and hope lost.

"I can't bear to see him this way," whispered Luna to Mark.

"I know… I never thought I'd ever see him cry," he replied in hushed tones.

"It's just too much to take in one night…I can't help but blame myself as well," muttered Neville, wiping his eyes frantically.

"Same," murmured Mark.

When Roxanne came back to consciousness, she saw she was in a large room and Draco was sitting on a sofa with a large bruise on his cheek. When he noticed Roxanne awake he strode over and slapped her hard across the face.

She cried out and clutched her stinging cheek, tears welling up in her eyes.

"That's for trying to escape," he yelled furiously. "And this –" he pointed at his cheek, "and this – " he pointed to the red marks on his neck, "is for letting you escape!"

She was speechless but felt no guilt.

His breathing was sharp and erratic as he went over to the table and gulped down a glass of blue liquid, slamming it back down on the table so hard Roxanne was surprised it didn't smash.

Roxanne stood up on wobbly legs and consequently collapsed on the grey sofa. She was quite surprised when she turned on the TV in front of her. But it wasn't the TV that alarmed her – it was the fact that it had muggle channels and magical ones.

Draco sat down on the opposite side of the sofa and she flinched. He scowled at her.

"Hopefully there's life after death, 'coz this one is shit," he muttered, drinking out of his refilled glass. The news was on and a posh witch was keeping the world up-to-date.

"And now we go over to Gabriel Manath who is interviewing a spokesperson from the Ministry of Magic," she was saying.

"Karen Hubbard, could you tell us what is currently happening at Hogwarts?" asked Gabriel. Roxanne immediately sat up.

"Well we can't say too much but there is nothing to panic about. You-Know-Who managed to escape the Aurors with three Hogwarts pupils, whose names cannot be said for legal reasons. Cornelius Fudge has started a nationwide search and has called Aurors from all over the world as we need as much help as possible on this."

"Do you have any idea where the three pupils are?"

"I'm afraid we cannot answer that question for the safety of the public," replied Karen Hubbard.

"Is it true all the dementors have now left Azkaban to join You-Know-Who?" asked Gabriel Manath, refusing to leave without more information.

"Most of the dementors have left but we have a sufficient amount to guard Azkaban so there is no threat there. I must go and answer more press questions."

"Ok, thank you Miss Hubbard. Back to you, Tanera."

"TV mute," said Draco, and the sound stopped. "You better not watch that, too depressing."

"Like I'm not depressed now anyway," she snapped. "TV sound on."

"TV mute!" he said loudly.

Roxanne glowered at him. "TV soun-"

Draco covered her mouth with his hand. "Do you ever stop? You're like a little kid!"

She ripped his hand off her face. "Don't you ever touch me."

Draco grinned slightly. "Fat chance." His words were slightly slurred.

"I'm serious."

"What you gonna do? I've got a wand and you haven't."

"You wouldn't dare," she said, giving him a reproachful look.

"Wanna bet?" he said, pointing his wand at her hand. She felt a burning sensation on her finger.

She yelped and pulled it away. Draco laughed. "Don't worry, the wedding ring will cover it up."

Roxanne let out an angry yell and grabbed the wand, pointing it at its owner.

"Now come on, Roxanne," he said, smirking. He pushed her and tried to grab the wand but she held it behind her head.

"Don't make me sit on you," he warned. She looked at him contemptuously but he did it anyway, pushing her back and sitting on her stomach. He grabbed his wand and then laid down on Roxanne, curling the wand in her hair.

"Get off me, you drunk idiot," she shouted, attempting to push his off.

"You know I wouldn't choose anybody else to get married to," he said, stroking her hair. A glazed look crossed over his face.

"Well I would, now get off me!" yelled Roxanne, quite worried now.

He kissed her cheek and said, "I wish you could just accept me and love me like I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Tears leaked out of her eyes as she tried to throw him off. His breath smelt of acidic alcohol.

"You don't love me, Draco! Your mind is poisoned by Voldemort's power! Its probably just a love potion so he can have heirs to his throne!" she cried, as he started kissing her neck.

"That's not true!" he said unexpectedly, peering into her eyes.

"It is! Does he give you your food? Do you not remember certain times of the day?" she asked desperately.

"I-I have dinner with him every evening," he said, blinking slowly. "H-he had some of his own house elves working in the kitchens at Hogwarts…"

"Well there you go!"

"No…" he shook his head violently. "No I know I love you…I-I do…"

"No, Draco, no you don't because if you truly did and it wasn't spell-inflicted, you wouldn't be doing this to me."

"B-but I d-don't stop thinking about you…. I dream you, sleep you, b-breath you," he said, looking lost and confused.

"No, the spell makes you do that," she said, horrified after hearing this. He seemed to have sobered up.

He sat up, his eyes wet with tears. He suddenly ripped off his sleeve and stared at his dark mark. "Its this…this fucking thing…ever since I got it done I-I've been different!"

"When was it done?" she asked timidly.

"Fifth year…the summer. I have to get rid of it!" A look of total madness swept across his face. He jumped up and grabbed a knife from the table and began scraping at his skin.

"What are you doing?" cried Roxanne, grabbing back his arm.

"I have to get rid of it," he repeated, pushing her away. Blood trickled down his arm, staining his grey shirt. His breath was harsh as he tore away his skin. Roxanne looked away, absolutely horrified..

Draco dropped the knife and studied his arm. It was bleeding profusely but a look of triumph was on his pale face.

"I'm free…I can feel my mind clearing!" he stated, turning around to face Roxanne. She winced at his mutilated arm. The mark was no longer visible, there was just a dark red hole.

"Here," she grimaced, wrapping layers of cloth on it from his torn sleeve and her jacket.

Draco lurched and he threw up where Roxanne would have been if she hadn't of jumped out of the way. He looked up at her dolefully, his hair covering most of his face.

"I'm sorry Roxanne, I've put you through so much shit-"

"Don't worry about that now. I want to get out of here," she said, marching over to the window. It was barred and when she touched the metal she got an electric shock. Outside she saw the gate was guarded by two dragons and trolls stood with clubs all over the place.

"Give me your wand," she ordered.

He stared at her blankly.

"Now!"

"Ok ok," he mumbled, handing it to her.

She pointed it at the bar.

"Halkiophila!" The bar disappeared with a small snap! Next she opened the window carefully and pointed the wand at a patch of trees in the garden far left of the castle she was in.

"How do you know that spell? That's a very-" she interrupted him by kicking backwards at his shin.

"FLAGRATE!" she bellowed, and the trees burst into purple flames. This caught the trolls attention who rushed over and tried to put it out.

"Come on then," she said, opening the window wide enough for someone to get threw.

He laughed out loud. "You are joking! How in the hell are we meant to- oh my god…"

Outside their window, hovering perfectly in front of them were the two dragons that guarded the gate.

"You probably didn't know, but I'm a dracotongue," she said, her eyes twinkling.

"That's my name…" he said slowly.

"Which means dragon," chided Roxanne. She climbed out of the window and managed to get on the orange dragon.

"Let him on, please, he's my…companion," she said to the dragons. Perhaps companion was too much. He seemed to have changed now the Dark Mark wasn't on his arm but she would not be able to trust him fully ever again.

"We will, but in his blood runs treachery, he is not a good one to make companionship with," warned the green dragon.

Draco mounted the green dragon cautiously.

"Do you know where they keep the other witch? Big bushy hair-"

"Yes, she who can use magic without a wand."

Roxanne didn't bother to question that amazing bit of information.

"Take us to her, and be stealthy, and do not wish for you to get in trouble on my behalf", spoke Roxanne, all Draco heard was a series of grunts, hisses and snarls

The dragons, though large, had muscles in their bodies that allowed them to move in and out of things like snakes. Draco yelped softly as both the dragons suddenly went upside down to crawl under a bridge. They went into the sewers – not guarded by trolls – and crawled along the slimy pipes.

"Call her name for I do not know exactly which cell she is encaptured in."

"Hermione!" called Roxanne in a loud whisper. "Its Roxanne! Hermione?"

There was a muffled cry and the dragons quickened their pace. They climbed out of the pipes and up a set of stairs. Roxanne leapt off and peered round the corner. There were two trolls guarding the small prison-like cell that Hermione was kept in. The trolls seemed uneasy at Hermione's quiet screams and were looking around suspiciously.

"Would you be able to take on those two trolls?" Roxanne asked the dragons.

If dragons could grin, these two would. They waddled past Roxanne and Draco, who had jumped off as well, and went into the room. The trolls growled and the dragons roared and within thirty seconds the noise had stopped. Roxanne walked inside to see the trolls crisp and dead on the floor.

"May we feast? The Dark Lord feeds us scraps for a mere dog."

Roxanne nodded and the dragons tucked into the dead trolls, a horrible stench filled the air. Using Draco's wand, Roxanne blew up the gate as it wouldn't unlock. She was mildly surprised at how easy this all was. It gave her an oddly apprehensive feeling. She rushed inside and took the cloth out of Hermione's mouth.

"Roxanne! I can't believe it!" She suddenly noticed Draco. "HIM!" she growled.

"Don't worry, Hermione," assured Roxanne. "Come on, stand up."

"I-I can't!" moaned Hermione. "H-he put a spell on me or something and I feel like lead, Roxanne!" she cried, clearly very frightened.

"It's the feacalak metallia spell," said Draco, hard to be heard above the feasting of dragons.

"How do you remove it?"

"I…well I don't know but maybe we could both lift her up?"

"HE is not touching me!" said Hermione shrilly.

"He won't do anything, please Hermione, its our only chance," begged Roxanne.

Hermione scowled but let them. But even after trying three times, the only thing they could lift was her arm.

"Ok ok ok, what's that spell to make things lighter?" asked Roxanne.

"Um…I don't know one, just wingardium leviosa," said Hermione.

"Kasarth feathis," said Draco.

"How do you know all this?" asked Roxanne, astounded.

His pale face reddened and instead he grabbed the wand.

"Kasarth feathis!" he cried, and Hermione shivered suddenly.

"Did it work?"
Hermione tried to stand up and succeeded.

"It must have counteracted it!" she said, jumping up and down once just to be sure. She glanced at Malfoy. "I would hug you but…"

"I understand, you still think I'm a evil, conniving bastard."

Hermione nodded but smiled all the same.

"Gareba blue dragon, informs me Voldemort has sent five trolls down here to find out the meaning of the noise. I suggest we leave, five trolls is too much to handle on a full stomach."

"Ok, which one of you can take two of us?" she asked the dragons.

I, said the orange, stepping forward.

Draco and Hermione climbed on him while Roxanne took the green.

"What are your names?" she asked them as they ran back the way they came.

"I am Vervtrex and this is my brother, Jalth. We were born here but our birthers were from South Italy."

"Ok Vervtrex and Jalth, please take us to the Ministry of Magic, I hope you know where that is. And we all thank you greatly, you will be rewarded," she said.

"Thank you. To the Ministry, brother."

When they at last reached the open air and could breath clean oxygen, the dragons took flight. Their enormous wings where soundless and the trolls only realised their captives had escaped when one noticed them soaring about a mile away from them. Riding the dragons was easier than she thought it would be. They had a small dip where the neck and shoulder bones met which was just perfect for a small person to sit in. They held onto their large spikes and the only uncomfortable thing was their scales, which rubbed their legs painfully.