Author's note: The idea for this fic came straight after I read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It's the best feeling in the world when all of these fanfiction ideas come to you, especially when you are a chronic sufferer of that dreaded sickness: writer's block. This story begins when Draco is escaping Hogwarts after Snape had murdered Dumbledore.
Disclaimer: As much as I would like to say that I do, I don't own Harry Potter or anything related, ect, ect.
Dedications: I would like to dedicate this story to wonderful cockatiel Monty, who was my shining light. I hope you come back to me soon...
Chapter One: The Beginning of the End
Draco ran as fast as he could, his feet pounding on the ground and his heart thumping in his throat. He stumbled as one of Potter's spells passed dangerously close to him, continuing on to fry a hole in the hedge that marked the edge of Hogwarts. A couple more steps and he would be free – that was all that mattered to him. Solden, an enormous blond Death Eater who was running in front of him had stopped and was aiming his wand. Draco hesitated, but Snape's yell of "Run, Draco!" spurred him into action again. He made a mad dash for the gate, knowing that it was his only hope. As he passed through it he slowed, then fell to the ground, wheezing. He couldn't hear anything from within Hogwarts – all he could see was an old, abandoned castle. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back into the grounds and gasped as a terrifying spectacle met his eyes. Flames had erupted from Hagrid's hut and were leaping into the sky, creating a fearsome backdrop for two prominent figures facing each other with their wands out. Draco tore his eyes away from them and turned as Amycus, Alecto and Solden came racing towards him. They pushed him back through the gate and together they apparated. The last thing that Draco saw was Snape tearing across the grass to the gate, and then everything went black.
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He had failed the Dark Lord.
He had failed the Dark Lord.
He had failed the Dark Lord.
He had failed the Dark Lord.
That same line of thought was hurtling around in Draco's brain like a never-ending steam train, blowing a piercing whistle that sliced through his solitude. Draco was sitting with his back against a wall and his knees drawn up to his chest with his arms wrapped around his legs. His fair blonde head was leaning on his knees and a trickle of fresh blood trailed from his lip. Any tears that dared to even consider falling down his cheek were furiously dashed away. Weakness was despicable – he had to appear strong, especially after his failure.
A few metres away, Solden, Alecto and Amycus were gathering around a flickering fire that was casting dancing shadows upon the walls of the old, abandoned house they were temporarily taking refuge in. Amycus nodded sharply towards Draco's hunched form in a corner untouched by the light of the fire. "What's up with him?" he asked, rubbing his hands together for warmth. His sister Alecto glanced over at Draco.
"Probably just shocked" she shrugged. "Must not have been easy, seeing all of that in such a large scale on your first time."
Amycus leered at her. "What, heartless Alecto showing pity?"
"No" Alecto snapped back. "You were worse on your first time – remember how y..."
"That's enough" grunted Solden, stepping forward. "Now is not the time for fighting – save that for later. Snape should be here soon, and hopefully Greyback. After that we can get out of this dismal place."
A silence descended over the partly ruined house, broken only by the crackling of the fire. Amycus threw another log onto the fire, causing some sparks to fly up into the air just as Snape materialised behind it.
"Glad to see you made it" Alecto said, still scowling at her brother. "Where's Greyback?"
"Meeting us somewhere else" Snape said shortly, moving closer to the fire in an effort to keep warm. "I ran into a spot of trouble with Potter, but he was hysterical and it wasn't hard for me to overcome that."
"Pity you didn't kill him" Amycus grumbled.
Snape shot him a dark look back. "It's not like you would have done any better." He walked over to the wall and grabbed some packs. "Come on, let's go." Snape looked around for Draco, who was still sitting motionless against the wall. "Draco...?" He held the pack out for him to take.
Draco got up and wordlessly took the pack Snape was offering him, his face set in stone.
"Everyone ready?" Snape looked around at the small group, then nodded curtly. With a crack, the small, decaying house was suddenly empty. The flames leapt higher and higher in their absence, flickering in their beautiful yet dangerous dance of power until they consumed the house, destroying any trace of the dark visitors.
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