Undivided

Chapter 9: Your Battle is with Me

Author's jibberish: Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

Sunflour: "sort of hoping this all leads up to case in court.." Then I've take it that you've read LadyRhiyana "Unforgiven". If you haven't, you're missing out.

A.Nutter: I don't know. Ginevra doesn't really suit her. It seems a name for a sophisticated person. Maybe it's related to King Arthur or something. Well, JKRowling named her that for a reason. She's the mastermind, so who am I to argue. Besides, they're her characters, not mine.

Mrs.Din: I'm very flattered that you like my story so much. But really, there are better stories than the ones that I write. I could recommend a couple of good Draco/Ginny stories if you like.

Dragonprnzess: I hooked you?

Oh yeah, and any facts I made about Riddle Mansion…well, it's made up.

It was morning but a dark cloud consumed Riddle mansion. They apparated about three blocks away from the estate. Ron frowned, looking at it. "Well, that certainly looks cheery. Looks like something right out of a Grimm fairy tale."

"So where are they?" Harry asked.

Draco shrugged. "I don't know. They're somewhere in there."

"Oh, that's real specific," Ron grumbled.

"So what's your plan? Barge in there and check every single room, hoping we don't run into Voldemort?" Harry asked.

Draco smirked. "Basically."

"We're doomed," Ron added.

"Find the others; that's our priority," Harry said. "We aren't looking for a fight--."

"Well, that's silly. We're purposely walking into You-Know-Who's house," Ron shook his head. "How can we not look for a fight?"

"—regardless, if we find them before Voldemort gets them, we'll grab them and disapparate."

"That cloud around the building isn't just morning fog, Potter," Draco warned. "It monitors who apparates and disapparates in and from the house."

"So we sneak in the muggle way? Like through a window?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded. "So, ready to be heroes again, you lot?"

"Shut up," Ron pulled his hood on and followed Draco and Harry towards the mansion.

They entered through a small hole in the backyard fence. Draco guided them to a side window at the northside of the estate. They peered in first and noticed two familiar boulders standing in front of the door a few feet away.

"So, they're deatheaters now?" Ron whispered. "And why aren't you?" he turned to Draco.

"So, how do we get to that door? They may be guarding the prisoners," Harry said, changing subject.

"You two are such amateurs," Draco grabbed a handful of dirt and uncorked a vial he pulled out of his robes. He poured half the contents in the dirt and transfigured the small amount of earth into two donuts.

"What was that?" Ron asked.

"Snape's Sleeping Draught," Draco answered.

Harry quietly opened the window and Draco cast a levitation spell. The donuts floated into Crabbe and Goyle's view. Their mouths salivated, their beady eyes lit up and within a few seconds, immediately devoured the pastries. Within a few seconds, they collapsed on the floor in a deep sleep.

"How thick could you get?" Ron frowned.

"Let's go," Harry opened the window wider and passed through. Draco and Ron followed. They took Crabbe and Goyle's wands, breaking them in half. Harry pointed his wand to the knob and whispered "Alohamora." The lock clicked and the door slowly creaked open. Draco slowly entered but stopped in his tracks as he saw who was inside.

A woman with platinum blonde hair sat on the bay window. She was dressed in a black Victorian style high collar dress with dark emerald robes. She turned to the open door and gasped. "Draco…"

"Are you alright?" Draco walked over to her. Harry and Ron followed.

"I'm fine, Darling," she answered and stood. "How did you find me?" she put a loving hand on his arm.

"Who's that?" Ron asked Harry.

"His mother," he answered, recalling Draco's confession that Voldemort took the Lady Malfoy.

Ron went wide-eye for a bit. "She gave birth to that spawn?" After a few moments of sinking in, he shrugged. "I wish my mum looked like that."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Father told me," Draco answered.

"He knew…" Narcissa said sadly. "I've been here since Christmas."

Draco knew what she was thinking. "He did know but he sent me, giving the Dark Lord false security. That way he'd be by his side while I get you out."

"No," Narcissa refused. "You'll die."

"I was meant to," Draco said, then lowered his voice as he said, "the moment I accepted the mark."

"Are you sure you want to die?" she asked him. "I know I'm not the only one you're here for."

"Mother, now is not the time," Draco took hold of her wrist and gently urged her away from the window. "Please, just get out of here."

"No," she said firmly.

"Mother, I'm trying to protect you," Draco began to fume. "You're not making this any easier."

"I won't leave without Lucius."

Draco froze. "But--!"

"He's my husband, Darling. And your father. I will not leave him here."

Draco exhaled deeply. "Alright, alright. But I have to face the Dark Lord. Don't do anything motherly, like jumping in the way for my safety."

She smirked. "I wouldn't dream of it."

They turned and walked towards the door, near Harry and Ron. As the four entered the hallway, Draco took Ron firmly by the arm. "Guard my mother with your life."

"What?" Ron asked.

"I can't fight the Dark Lord while worrying about her. I need you to protect her. Do that and I'll do the same for Virginia."

Ron nodded. Since when did he call her by first name? Dismissing it, they walked down the hall.

"Do you know where they could possibly be?" Harry asked Narcissa.

"I heard footsteps up the stairs about ten minutes ago," she said, taking a quick glance at his forehead.

"They must be in his study then," Draco sped ahead of everyone and led them to a dark corridor at the end of the stairs. They stopped as a group of black-hooded figures, about a dozen he estimated, walked into a room at the far end of the hallway. Harry, Ron, Draco and Narcissa stayed crouched in the shadows.

Suddenly, Draco's arm began to burn fiercely. He winced, and the pain spread like a plague, sharply crawling over his skin.

"He should be here soon," a hiss said. "Right Malfoy?"

The hissing figure stood, speaking with Lucius. "Oh, he will be," the man nodded to Voldemort. The doors closed behind them and a wind swept through the hall.

"Who are they talking about?" Ron asked.

Draco decided to change subject. "Mother," he turned to Narcissa. "Don't leave Weasley's side or stay out of harm's way, alright?"

She nodded and watched as Draco stood. "Be careful, Darling."

Draco nodded, and then turned to Harry and Ron. "Give me a few moments, and then sneak in, without anyone noticing. Don't kill my father."

"But if push comes to shove, Malfoy, I'll kill Voldemort," Harry declared, "if you can't."

"Don't mind it, Potter. I will." Draco left and walked down the hall.

He took about three deep breaths before he opened the door. Eleven figures turned to him. He flinched but did not waver.

"Ah, Young Malfoy," Voldemort hissed, "So glad you could join us. I see you received my message."

The pain in Draco's arm increased. "How could I refuse?" Draco walked to the other side of the room, so he faced the door. Everyone gave their attention to him, backs to the main door.

"We are concerned, Young Malfoy," Voldemort said. "The last thing you need is distractions from our mission, especially now that we are close."

"Yes, heaven forbid," Draco scoffed.

Voldemort just sneered. A side door opened, and Wormtail came out, pulling a bound Ginny. Voldemort watched Draco as his eyes became shocked, concerned, then angered. "It's rather sweet that you found love for this girl," he said as Wormtail threw her down to the floor and untied the ropes around her wrists. Nagini slithered down her master's leg and wrapped herself around Ginny's wrist and neck. Ginny began to choke and gag for air.

Draco just stood there, not saying anything. He watched as Ginny gasped for breath when Nagini released her neck. In the haze, past the deatheaters' shoulders, he saw Harry and Ron's heads popped out from the door. "So, why don't you bring out the others from that room?" he asked, cocking his head in the direction of the side door. They took the clue and Harry headed towards that door.

"No rush, no rush… right, Harry Potter?" Voldemort said loudly. The eleven other deatheaters turned and saw Harry, wide-eyed like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Damn," Draco muttered. He pulled out his wand and stupefied Wormtail. Voldemort glared at him. "Potter is old news," Draco challenged. "Your battle is with me."

"Men," he addressed the others to take care of Harry. Voldemort stood in dueling position. "Very well, Young Malfoy. Let's settle your deceit. If you win, she's yours," he said, giving a good kick to Ginny's side. She winced and groaned in pain.

Draco stood in dueling position as well. "Alright."

…to be continued.