A large Death Eater held Amelia back by the arms as she struggled against him. Before Draco could aim a curse, he felt two sets of large hands enclose around his forearms, yanking them roughly behind his back. His legs were kicked out from beneath him.
"What the –
"You've been difficult to find," a voice came from one of the Death Eaters. Draco recognised it at once and a wave of nausea instantly washed over him.
With a delicate wave of his wand, Luscious Malfoy revealed himself, his mask whisking away as if it were wind on a breeze.
Draco looked across the clearing to where Amelia still struggled against the Death Eater holding her. He tried to hide the panic from his face, but they were outnumbered two to six.
"Well congratulations on finding me, then," Draco grunted back sarcastically.
His father walked swiftly over to him and in one sweeping movement, hit him hard across the face with the back of his hand.
Draco faltered under the impact, but the arms holding him kept him steadily in place.
"You've been running from us – hiding, I see," Luscious continued.
Draco stayed silent, his jaw clenched.
"Do you realise the disgrace you have brought on the Malfoy name these past two years?" Luscious hissed quietly, coming closer to Draco now and lifting his son's chin with his finger.
Draco had always feared his father, but it had always been in a far more abstract manner. He liked to think that his father would never actually harm him. Though there had been several times when he had not protected his son from harm, he surely wouldn't inflict agony upon him himself.
"You have broken your mother's heart, completely ruined our reputation, not to mention your entire future. Pathetic," Luscious listed, his features set in disgust.
Draco felt the eyes of all Death Eaters on him. The faint grunts of Amelia struggling against the Death Eater were the only sound in the deserted forest.
There was no way out for them.
"You've been dead to us ever since you failed to kill that frail, old man last year."
His father's tone had changed. It was darker. Draco snapped his head up at this.
"Your mother mourned her son long ago, so when you are killed in this forest today, it will not matter to her, nor to me."
Again, Draco glanced over to Amelia and saw her struggling more than ever against the unforgiving grip of the Death Eater holding her. Luscious' eyes followed Draco's and landed on Amelia with a wicked smirk.
"Ah, and who could forget your travel companion in all of this. Collins, isn't it? Yes – I was told that you fled Hogwarts together." He walked slowly over to Amelia. Draco watched on in panic as Amelia set her features, glaring at Luscious, seemingly determined now not to show fear as he approached her.
"Daughter of Russell Collins, is that right? I was terribly sorry to hear of his perishing," Luscious said in a stoic and false tone.
"Don't say his name," Amelia said through gritted teeth.
Luscious came barely an inch away from her face, but still her expression did not falter. "You dare to speak to me like that?" His voice was icy and calm, and it terrified Draco.
"A change of plan," Luscious announced. "Draco – you will watch her die."
Draco struggled so much that he almost got free. He was sure that the bellow of his voice would've been able to reach far across the country, that someone would be able to hear and somehow help him and Amelia.
He watched on helplessly as Luscious beckoned with a single finger, and Amelia was brought forward and thrown to the ground in front of Draco.
"Please – wait – don't hurt her!" Draco kept shouting. Amelia scrambled to her feet and lunged for Draco, who was still held back by the beefy hooded men, and flung her arms desperately around his neck, stifling a cry.
A simple flick of Luscious' wand, and Amelia was torn from Draco.
"Crucio."
Draco felt hot tears fill his eyes as the desperation in his voice slashed his throat. The sound of Amelia's screams twisted his hearing and suffocated his mind. He could hear his voice pleading, begging for them to stop as he wondered how he could've let this happen. After an eternity, Luscious flicked his wand and the curse was lifted. Amelia's body lay in a heap, her hair sprawled over her face, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow.
"Did you really think you could get away without any consequence?" Luscious addressed his son once more.
The two sets of strong arms restrained a frantic Draco as he looked down at Amelia's still body. His eyes darted from her fragile frame to his father's wand, pointed straight at her chest.
"Leave her alone," Draco grunted through gritted teeth, as Luscious' eyes wandered back down to Amelia.
"Has it been worth it – a life on the run? You gave up everything you had; your family, your name, your future… and for what?" Luscious pressed, his tone cutting.
Draco stayed silent, his jaw set.
Luscious stepped swiftly over Amelia's body, coming nose to nose with his son. "I gave you everything – your whole future was handed to you. I fought for you after your blunder with Dumbledore, I promised the Dark Lord you would grow, that you would do better next time. How foolish I was to put my faith in you. You are weak."
Draco struggled harder than ever, his fists curled. "So kill me then," Draco said boldly, "just spare her."
All six of the Death Eaters laughed.
"Unfortunately, Draco, you revoked your right to dictate any sort of decisions the moment you renounced your family," Luscious said, his lips curling as he watched Draco's expression change to one of terrified confusion.
"Please don't hurt her, I'll do anything… don't hurt her," Draco pleaded desperately as Luscious paced back towards where Amelia lay, his wand slowly outstretching again to aim at her chest.
"Anything?"
Draco nodded, his heart thumping painfully against his chest.
Luscious seemed to consider this as a grin smeared across his features. "You will return to the Malfoy Manor with us, and resume the life your mother and I set out for you," Luscious stated plainly, as if giving Draco a direct order.
"Wha – no –
"You will comply," Luscious cut across in a clipped tone.
"I'm not a Death Eater," Draco said defiantly.
Luscious glanced back down at Amelia and Draco felt his stomach drop, knowing what was to come. "Then the girl dies." He pointed his wand at Amelia again, closer this time. His eyes, grey just like his son's, pierced Draco's.
Luscious' face was hardened and unkempt, the weight of the war evident in every premature line across his features.
"Comply, and she will go free. Unharmed," Luscious bargained, his wand still steadily aimed at Amelia, who lay oblivious on the ground.
Draco looked at her, a lump rising in his throat as his options closed off around him. There were wands on him – if he tried to fight or escape they'd be killed in an instant. Conforming was the only way to keep Amelia safe.
"If I come – she stays safe. Not just today – you never touch her," Draco said carefully, trying to calm his shallow, panicked breathing.
Luscious nodded. "She stays safe," he echoed.
Knowing his father too well, Draco cocked an eyebrow. "Your word?"
Luscious looked to one of the Death Eaters who had their wand on Draco, and Draco watched his father as he contemplated this.
"Fine."
It was the first Unbreakable Vow Draco had ever been a part of – he'd only read about them in Charms class. He knew what happened to either of the participants if the Vow was broken though, and if Luscious was doing this, it meant that Amelia would be safe throughout the war. If only it didn't also wish he was now trapped in a life as a Death Eater...
As soon as Draco and Luscious lowered their hands, the pair of rough hands had grabbed Draco's arm back into place.
"Welcome back, Malfoy," the Death Eater next to Luscious grunted nastily, and Draco attempted to swallow the swelling lump in his throat.
Draco looked back at Amelia, helpless in a small heap. He imagined her waking up here by herself, wondering what had happened to him, thinking thoughts most horrible, and he felt the hot threat of tears behind his eyes again.
She was safe though, that was all that mattered now. Draco had no idea what was in store for him, but she would be safe.
