Chapter 19: looks Like A Suicide Note
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, pleasure you could attend your detention this evening." Trelawney grinned.
"Uh, okay," Draco sat down, "What do you want me to do? Lines? Wash your crystal balls? Sit here?"
Trelawney turned away from him and returned with a quill and parchment, "Filch has already taken care of the crystal balls but thank you for your considerate offer."
"Uh…anytime," he took the parchment and quill.
"Now write!" Trelawney snarled.
Draco scooted his seat back a bit, "Write what?"
"I want you to copy this…" she thrust another piece of parchment in his face. Draco gingerly took it. He began to read it, "This sounds a lot like a death wish, if you ask me…"
"Well, no one did, just copy it!"
"Fine…" Draco started writing. "Ouch!" He looked down at his hand; the words he was writing were also on the back of his hand. He looked at the parchment and saw that the letters were red. "So you got a hold of Umbridge's quills? Why are you making me write this?"
"You'll see… you'll see…"
"Done," Draco said about two hours later. It took him longer than usual because he kept having to stop when the pain in his hand got to be to much; resulting in him writing four long sentences in two hours. "Just wondering, are you feeling suicidal? Because this looks like a suicide note…"
"Stop making comments!" Trelawney snapped. She glanced at the clock. "It's ten thirty… perfect…"
"Can I go now?" Draco got up, "I'm really tired."
Trelawney turned around and whipped out her wand; Draco's wand was out instantly. "STUPEFY!" Trelawney shouted.
"Prot- uhhnn…" Draco slumped to the ground.
"Where is he?" Hermione paced back and forth, "We need the broomsticks!"
"No we don't," Harry said, "He gave them to me already." He held out the four broomsticks. "He got them after his Quidditch practice."
"But he still needs to be here!" Hermione moaned.
"He has an hour, Hermione!" Ron contradicted. "Harry, have you got the Invisibility Cloak?"
"Right here," Harry held up a silver bundle and the parchment, "And directions. We're supposed to meet Sirius and Bellatrix outside the graveyard."
"Who's going to use what broom?" Hermione asked uncomfortably.
"You, Neville, and Ron will use the Nimbus Two-Thousands and Ones and Draco and me will use the Firebolts."
"Uh…" Neville began uncertainly, "How will I stay on?"
"It's okay, Neville," Hermione said, "You and I aren't as good flyers so I'll fly next to you."
"Thanks Hermione," Neville said gratefully.
"Harry," Hermione said, "We need to leave. Draco must have gotten held up. It's quarter till eleven."
"Give him five more minutes," Ron said.
"No!" Hermione said sharply, "We need to leave now!"
"But-" Ron began.
"She's right, Ron," Harry said apologetically, "We have to go!"
"Do we have to?" Neville whined.
"Yes," Hermione grabbed his arm, "COME!"
"Alright, we can fly away from here," Harry said as he opened the window of the North Tower where five years ago they had given Charlie Baby Norbert. "Everyone get on."
Neville and Hermione mounted their brooms cautiously. Harry flew out the window, "Everyone, follow me!" Ron flew out next. Hermione slowly flew out; while Neville tried to fly out and hit a wall.
"Be quiet!" Ron hissed.
"Hermione," Harry said, "Can you read me the directions?"
"Sure," Hermione gingerly turned her broom to face Harry, "First we have to fly…"
Draco stirred and blinked his eyes. All he could see was black.
"Trelawney," a harsh voice hissed, "Where is Filch? Why did you bring the boy? He was supposed to come on his own!" Draco recognized the voice as Dolohov's.
"I ran into some trouble," Trelawney said, "Draco and his meddling friends found out Filch was a Death Eater and the boy became suspicious of me. I heard that they were planning to all come."
"Who?" Dolohov sneered, "Crabbe and Goyle Juniors? They're not bright enough to remember their own names let alone remember plans!"
"No," Trelawney snarled, "Harry Potter and his friends!"
"But I thought he hated Potter!"
"He did, but they're friends now for some reason…"
"If the Dark Lord is upset with you bringing him, it is your fault. I dealt with none of this!"
"Sibyll, you double crossed me!" another voice snarled.
"Did I now, Argus?" Trelawney sneered.
"We were in this together!"
"Your job was to make sure no one, especially the Malfoys, found out about our plans! But young Malfoy did!" she hissed, "Who's the double crosser? I know you were the one who poisoned him!"
"Because I knew you'd bungle the job!" Filch growled.
"The boy is here, is he not? And that's all that matters…" Trelawney said smugly.
Draco's eyes began to adjust to the light. He could make out Filch, Trelawney, and Dolohov. He tried to sit up but he was tied down. "WHY AM I HERE?" he yelled furiously.
Dolohov walked over to Draco and hit him hard. "Shut up you brat. You'll soon find out why you're here…"
"You coward," Draco snarled, "You wouldn't hit me if my father were here-"
"Is your daddy going to protect you? Forever and ever?" Dolohov said in a mock baby voice.
"And you wouldn't hit me if I was tied down either!"
"Ah, but you are and I can hit you as much as I want!" he hissed; slapping him across the face again, harder than before. "Shut up or next time I'll break your nose…"
"It's almost time, Antonin," Filch said.
"Excellent…" Dolohov rubbed his hands together, "I'm going to enjoy this…"
"Sirius!" Harry hissed. The tall robed figure turned around and lowered his hood; Harry's heart sunk. It wasn't Sirius; it was Lucius Malfoy. He walked over and yanked off the Invisibility Cloak.
"What are you doing here, Potter?" Lucius hissed, "You realize all of your friends could die!"
"Is-" Harry began.
"Lucius!" Bellatrix pulled him back by his shoulder gently, "It is fine."
Another figure walked over, "It's too late Bella, they have him…" Sirius lowered his hood; "She took him when he was in detention with her."
"Who?" Lucius looked confused.
"You mean-" Ron gasped.
Sirius nodded grimly, "She stunned him. He's here now."
Lucius said annoyed, "Stop using pronouns!"
"Quick hide! Put your hoods up! Nott's coming!" Bellatrix hissed.
Everyone had covered themselves just in time. Nott walked over and said to Lucius, "You need to come with me." They walked away leaving Bellatrix and Sirius standing alone.
"Everything's been changed so rapidly!" Bellatrix said as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a trembling Neville removed the cloak. "I don't even think the plan will work! I didn't know they were going to do it to him! I thought they were going to do it to Fleur!"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Fleur was bait to bring you here. Draco was supposed to come too, but what's-her-face Trelawney took him early," Bellatrix threw up her hands.
"The best you can do is stay here," Sirius said. "I don't know what we'll do…"
"We need to go…" Bellatrix turned towards the circle, which had a small green fire blazing in the middle of it. Figures stood around it.
Harry's hand flew up to his scar, which was bursting with pain. Hermione noticed this and pulled the Invisibility Cloak over them. Sirius and Bellatrix walked away. Harry waited until they were gone before saying, "Let's get closer. Just a little bit…"
"Bring him out," Voldemort's voice sounded throughout the graveyard.
"They must be talking about Draco," Harry whispered, "I still can't see anything!" Tentatively, they all scooted towards the circle and his behind a rock.
"Why are we hiding?" Ron whispered, "We're invisible…"
"Extra protection, Ron," Hermione replied, "Shh… You-Know-Who's talking again."
"Excellent… very good, Sibyll, Argus." They could see Voldemort conjuring something out of the air. "And now, the powers you wished for…" Two screams echoed through the graveyard. Hermione wished Draco were there with her; so she could know he was safe.
"Trelawney's working with Voldemort?" Harry hissed, "I can't believe it!"
"Now, Argus, prepare to use your new powers. Lucius, please, step forward," Voldemort's voice had a twinge of amusement in it. "Sibyll, bring him out."
"Harry, can we move back?" Hermione whispered nervously, "I don't want to watch anymore…"
"Cover your eyes then," Harry put his arm around her.
Hermione gasped.
A figure appeared, bound to a large tombstone. The tombstone was so large that it was standing straight up and its feet didn't touch the ground. It wriggled violently.
"Lucius, do you know who this is?" Voldemort said, "He has finally decided to join us."
"Draco?" Lucius gasped, "What are you doing here?" He tried to walk up but Argus stopped him.
"Oh god…" Hermione hid her face.
"DAD!" Draco writhed violently, trying to get loose.
"Now, Lucius, about this punishment…" Voldemort smiled a cruel twisted smile.
"No, please, no, anyone but him…" Lucius gasped, "He's my only child!"
"That will make it all the more fun to watch, Malfoy," Dolohov sneered, "Lucius Malfoy, cares about no one… well, we know you care about him."
"Shut your mouth, Dolohov…" Lucius was shaking with anger, "I suppose this was your idea?"
"Yes," Dolohov said smugly, "In fact, it was and Trelawney and Filch here assisted me."
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Lucius pulled out his wand, "AVADA-"
"Expelliarmus," Voldemort said coolly. Lucius's wand flew out of his hand. "No blood shall be shed…yet. Do you want to hear what I intend to do, Lucius, or shall I just surprise you?"
"Tell me," Lucius snarled.
"Well," Voldemort idly twirled the wand between his fingers. "First, we'll perform the Cruciatus Curse on your son multiple times for, oh, say, maybe, five minutes each-"
"No…no please…" Lucius kneeled down, "Torture me but leave my son alone…"
Draco wriggled harder than ever before and managed to get his foot loose. He promptly kicked Filch in the head.
"OW! You-" Filch began.
"Argus," Voldemort turned around, "Simply retie it. Don't make a fuss…"
Under the Invisibility Cloak, Harry and Ron couldn't help but laugh quietly as they watched Filch attempt to tie Draco's foot down. After Filch had received multiple kicks in the face, and one that may have broken his nose, he finally managed to tie his foot down.
"Don't laugh!" Hermione said sharply, "It's not funny!"
"Then," Voldemort grinned again, "the fun part. Filch will take this knife-" He pulled out a small silver dagger- "And slowly drive it through his neck making him suffer. This is a light punishment, Lucius! I am letting you off. You should be grateful…"
"But- my Lord- please, I beg you-" Lucius pleaded.
"You are a valuable Death Eater to me. I will not kill you but if you are not quiet, I will send someone for your wife; leaving you childless and wifeless."
Hermione looked closer and saw that Lucius was crying. "How could he do this to him? I know Lucius isn't perfect but this is kind of harsh…"
"Easy," Ron replied, "You-Know-Who's mental… Criminally insane…"
"Look!" Neville said excitedly, "There's Fleur!" He pointed at a person on the other side of the circle.
"Shh…" Harry hissed, "Neville, don't get us caught! Talk quieter." He squinted, "He's right…it's Fleur! Should we go get her?"
"I think we should…" Ron said.
Hermione agreed, "Everyone's distracted, now. But, we should hurry! Otherwise we might get caught."
"I really want to go…" Neville moaned.
