Chapter 18
The First Horcrux
James wondered how he could see them. They had put disillusionment charms on themselves, but hten noticed they had worn off. He saw Harry raise his wand and he followed suit.
He stared ahead as the one who had caught them came forward into the light filling the room from the window. James was shocked. It was a boy his age, but he looked much older than seventeen. He had lines under his eyes and bruises on the visible parts of his skin; James was sure there would be more cuts and bruises underneath his robes.
"What happened to you?" Harry asked.
"When you don't do what the Dark Lord says, you get punished, but it's a small price to pay for serving someone as great as him," Draco said as he pulled his wand out."
"You can't take all of us!" Ron said.
"Who said I was fighting you?"
Harry didn't respond. He watched Draco pick up the horcrux and place it in his pocket. He heard Ron whisper something in his ear and Harry responded with, "He couldn't kill Dumbledore. I don't believe he's as evil as he seems." Ron snorted a low snort.
"Follow me," Draco said.
"Why should we trust you?" Ron said.
"Listen weasel, you don' t have to trust me, but if you want to get out of here without my father finding you, you had better do as I say." Draco turned and left the room. Harry was the first to walk forward, but stopped. James wondered why, but then he saw a hand holding his arm. "He's the son of a death eater! You can't trust him! He's a Slytherin!"
"Do you see any other way to get us out of here? No, then I suggest we follow him." With that, Harry left the room. James followed Harry and the rest soon came after. Draco and Harry were leaning over the balcony into the living room. Down below, the room had filled with death eaters.
"There was a charm around the doorway of the closet. That's why they're all here," Draco explained. "This way." He led them further down the hallway to a door on the right side of the hallway. Draco opened it and walked inside, holding the door open until they had all entered.
Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out the horcrux. Harry reached for it, but Draco pulled it back.
"Potter, unless your eager to see the Dark Lord, I suggest you don't touch it. It's a portkey for you. I am assuming you don' trust me even now. I must admit, I was surprised when you did follow me here. To prove I can be trusted, here." He handed the locket to Ron.
"Why are you helping us, Malfoy?" Ginny asked.
"Trust me, weasel, I take no pleasure being around mudbloods, blood traitors, and Potter, but I have my reasons for helping." Draco walked toward the window. "We're in the back of the house. Try not to blow it by getting caught when you get into the air." Draco walked to the closet and got a rope. He tied one end to the bed post by the window. The other end, he threw down to the ground outside the window. James went first (now looking like himself), Sirius, Lily, Ron, and Hermione. As Ginny started toward the window, the door flew open and death eaters started pouring in.
Ginny stopped her attempts to get out of the window to help Harry and Draco, but Harry almost pushed her out the window to keep her safe. He then yelled out the window, "Mount your brooms now!" He turned back around and saw Draco fighting the death eaters.
"I should have known you would help them, Draco!" Lucius yelled.
Harry shot spell after spell at the death eaters. He was standing right next to Draco. They were inching themselves toward the door as fast as they could. They finally reached it and ran toward the kitchen. The ran out the door and Harry hopped onto his broom.
"Hop on Sirius' broom!" Harry shouted.
"I'm not going with you!" Draco shouted back.
"Either come with us or get killed." Draco hesitated a few more precious seconds and then hopped on. Harry and the others pushed off the ground and flew as fast as they could away from the Malfoy house, but the few seconds Draco had spent contemplating whether or not to go, had given the death eaters a chance to catch up. They were now firing spells up at them on their brooms. They dodged them as best they could. James looked at Harry and saw he was sweating. He then saw a spell heading right for Harry.
"Harry look out!" he yelled, but he was too late. The spell hit Harry. They soon figured out what it was, for Harry started withering in pain.
"Harry!" Ginny screamed. She tried to hold Harry on and control the broom, but Harry suddenly jerked violently and knocked Ginny off the broom!