Friends Close, Enemies Closer
.:Angelgrl185:.
((I don't own the Harry Potter Series of any of its components))
Chapter Sixteen: Sand Raiders
Two Days Until Winter Solstice
Night
The stars twinkled mysteriously in the gossamer night sky. The events that passed below them were forever ordained to be secrets they could never tell. A long trail of camels traveled below across the vast desert. The animals were content with the weight they carried. They were at home in the arid landscape. The tiny grains of sand trickled harmless off their hooves as their stocky, yet strong legs moved. When heavy winds come and kicked up blizzards of sand, a third filmy eyelid descended upon their irises blocking out the offending particles.
The camels' passengers, however, were not fairing as well. Multiple backsides were stiff and bruised from the bony humps they were uncomfortably resting on. Muscles ached and were tight while bones threatened to crack in the dry heated air. Even with the sun no longer blazing over them, the desert was a thick cloud of humidity overlying the heat encasing the atmosphere. For hours the caravan trudged slowly through the sand. A tantalizing breeze would flutter around them, teasing them with its cool, refreshing air only to disappear in the flit of the eye. The black robes they all were wearing not only efficiently trapped their body heat inside; they also absorbed the heat from the desert. Sweat trickled down the backs of every person, the salty liquid sliding into uncomfortable places until finally someone used their head.
The one thing Ginny was grateful for was that they were not in the Land of the Dead yet and could still use magic. Avery came up with the idea of bewitching their robes with a cooling charm. It was pretty pathetic that none of them had thought of it sooner. They had all suffered hours of torturous conditions only to have it solved in a few seconds. Nonetheless, they were no longer hot, but still uncomfortable in their seats. Ginny didn't mind that much. Being able to take an uncomfortable ride across miles of endless sand was one thing. Withstanding the scorching heat of the desert was another.
It had been a long tiring journey so far. Ginny slept fitfully for a few periods of time. When awake she amused herself by trying to spot desert creatures peering out at them from behind rocks. Their eyes glowed in the night. Draco was currently passed out on her shoulder not that she minded one bit. His firm chest was pressed close to her back and his head resting against the back of her right shoulder. Light silver-blond strands of hair caressed the back of her neck tickling her skin. Draco's mouth was slightly open and the soft rhythmic brush of his warm breath against the skin of her neck sent shivers racing through her body.
When he had first fallen asleep, Ginny briefly entertained the idea of commandeering the reins to their camel and hightailing it out of there as fast as their furry water spitting friend could run. That of course was accompanied by thoughts of her and possibly Draco being hexed into an oblivion. It didn't take long for Ginny to decide that she would stay right where she was. As long as Lucius didn't touch her and Draco's arms were around her, she was perfectly fine — for now.
Ginny gazed ahead of their camel and trailed her eyes along the line of their group. The Death Eaters weren't paying much attention to her and Draco. Being a Malfoy must instill some sort of respect for Draco. They trusted him unquestioningly. Still, Ginny felt a little unnerved that Draco was so intimately holding her behind twenty or so Death Eaters. Sure the fact that his large masculine hands that were softly, yet firmly holding her own made her feel comforted. Okay, so his muscular arms cradled around her body made her feel secure and safe. She wasn't even going to point out the way her body reacted pleasurably whenever he lips brushed up against her neck while he slept because of the camel's motions (very sensual indeed). It was still a bit unsettling.
Carefully, Ginny pulled Draco's wand out from his robe and quickly cast a glamour charm over them. Now, if a Death Eater looked behind them, they would see Ginny agitatedly sitting in front of Draco with her hands bound while Draco smirked and concentrated on steering the camel. It was a neat little trick she had learned from Fred and George two years ago. They used it all the time when they made new products or snuck out of the house to buy supplies for the shop they wanted to start. Sometimes they even used it in class. The spell sort of resembled wizard pictures which move. The only downside to this was that the glamour couldn't talk. Satisfied that the glamour was efficiently in place and working perfectly, Ginny settle back blissfully against Draco and nestled her head in the crook of his left shoulder. Then she closed her eyes and drifted off to another few moments of sleep.
Arthur Weasley walked in the room as happily as a man could in the situation he was in. Basically he was just relieved. The rest of the Order available looked up at him when his presence was announced by the swinging of the oak door guarding the entrance into the common room.
"I just talked to the Ministry," Mr. Weasley announced, as he took a seat at the table and rested his long lengthy frame in the chair. "They are setting up a port key on my hot wheel."
"Hot wheel?" Sirius repeated, in confusion. "What is a hot wheel?"
"Oh, um, let me show you," Arthur said, sitting up and fumbling around in his coat. "Ah, here it is." He pulled out a small plastic object and held it up in the palm of his hand so everyone could see. "It's a small toy car. A corvette actually, you can tell by the front of the car. See how it is shaped in such an interesting way?"
"Arthur, you had them connect our port key to a little toy?" Mrs. Weasley asked, in disbelief.
"It was the biggest thing I had in my pocket!" Arthur said, defensively.
Mrs. Weasley shook her head exasperated. "You could have used your shoe! How do you expect us all to touch such a tiny object? Really, Arthur, sometimes you just don't think. What are you even doing with a car?"
"Well, it's not really a car," he protested. "It's a just a small model of one that little kids can play with."
"Arthur, you are not a little kid!" Molly reminded him, in frustration. "Now I want you to go back to the fireplace and tell the Ministry to change the port key to your shoe."
"Molly, I'm afraid we don't have time for that," Dumbledore said, kindly cutting into their argument. She harrumphed and gave her husband an annoyed glance before sitting down at the table.
"Arthur, what time is the port key activating?" he asked turning to the red head.
"Eight."
Dumbledore turned to the rest. "Don't worry about bringing anything except your wand. We will buy stuff in Xanthi."
He turned away and walked to the opposite side of the room. Opening a small chest, Dumbledore pulled out a large golden chain. Staring at it laying limply in his hands, he sighed then put it in his robe.
"I thought we weren't supposed to bring anything except our wands," a voice behind him spoke up.
Dumbledore closed his eyes. "There is an exception to everything."
"Do you honestly think we'll need it?" Sirius asked.
"I hope not. There could be dire consequences."
"Why even bring it?" Sirius questioned. "Have you no faith in us?"
"Not even I can predict the future, Sirius," Albus said, solemnly. "It is just a precaution."
"We should get going now," Arthur's voice cut in from behind them. Dumbledore nodded and followed them to the center of the conference room. Molly mumbled something incoherent under her breath as she placed a single finger on the hot wheel. Sirius, Remus, Arthur, Dumbledore, and Kingsley all added their slender limbs to the toy car. At precisely eight-o-clock, a pale blue light surrounded them and within seconds they were gone.
"Are they gone?" Blaise whispered, moving her head to look over Harry's shoulder. She shuffled too far forward and ran into his back. It was a domino effect. Harry fell against Tristan who knocked Ron into Hermione. She landed flat on her back with Ron sprawled on top of her. Ron's face split into a wide grin as he noted their position. Hermione's face began to flush, but Ron covered it instantly as he swooped down and claimed her lips, the Extendable Ears he had been holding forgotten.
Blaise picked herself up off of the ground and helped Harry and Tristan to their feet. Harry gave her a sour look while he rubbed his newly bruised arm. Blaise threw him a sheepish smile before turning and kicking Ron in the shin. He yelped and scrambled off of Hermione who began blushing again.
"Are they gone?" Blaise asked again, louder this time with her hands on her hip.
"Yes," Ron replied, standing up and helping Hermione.
"Good," Harry said. "Now we'll wait an hour or so before we move."
"Harry," Hermione said softly. "I feel really bad about tricking Tonks. Isn't there another way?"
"There is no other way, Hermione," he replied.
Hermione shuffled her feet. "Maybe we shouldn't go. There's a reason why the Order left us behind. They're more experienced and know more about this than we do. I think we should just let them handle it."
"Are you bonkers, Hermione?" Ron cried out. "They have my sister! They have Ginny and there is no way I'm not going to help her." Blaise nodded her agreement.
"You could endanger her, Ron!" Hermione argued. "She could die! We could die! The Order knows what they are doing. We just have to trust them."
"Voldemort needs to be stopped and I'm the only one who can do it," Harry said, confidently. "We all know. You all don't need to come, but even if you don't go, I still will."
"I'm going with you, mate," Ron said, grimly, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Me too," Blaise said, coming to stand with them. Tristan looked uncertain for a moment, but in the end he followed Blaise. Hermione watched them with saddened eyes. She stared at them in silence, her logic battling her loyalty. Heaving a heavy sigh of defeat, Hermione moved to stand next to Ron who placed a comforting arm around her shoulders.
"I hope we don't regret this day," she whispered, gravely.
"I would only regret it if Ginny died and we did nothing to save her," Ron said. Hermione nodded and buried her head in his shoulders.
Ginny and Draco woke late in the night to the smell of blood and the screams of death. Ginny screamed as something whizzed by her, narrowly missing her head. Draco tugged fiercely on her arm and pulled both of them off of the camel. They crashed not too gently to the sand below. They rolled a few feet then stopped with Draco hovering protectively over her, his wand out and raised.
Ginny peered into the darkness searching for the things that had disturbed them. To her left faint beady yellow eyes could be seen glowing in the night.
"What is it?" Ginny whispered. "What is attacking us?"
"They are Sand Raiders," Draco answered. "Nomads of the desert that steal from travelers to survive. They want our camels and supplies and will kill us all to get it."
He looked around the darkness before lighting his wand briefly. Grabbing Ginny, he pulled her to a large sand foundation and muttered a shielding spell.
"Don't move from here," he ordered. "Stay out of sight. I don't know how well the shield will hold up against bullets."
"What about you?" Ginny asked, grabbing his hand.
"Don't leave this spot," Draco said firmly, enunciating each word. He shrugged off Ginny's grip and ran back toward the camel train.
Guns boomed in his ear like claps of thunder. Sand was kicked up all around him as bullets were embedded into the white grains. Draco gasped in pain as one grazed his left shoulder tearing his robe and slicing the skin. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the small blossom of blood soaking into his robe.
"Draco," a wheezing voice captured his attention.
"Lumos," Draco whispered, hiding the lit wand in front of his black robes in order not to draw attention. His steel eyes searched and found a fallen form in the sand a few feet away. He hurried to the form and knelt by it.
"Draco, help me," the weak voice pleaded.
"Are you wounded, Dowell?" Draco asked his fellow Death Eater.
"Ch-chest," Dowell coughed out as crimson blood splattered against his pale lips. Draco opened Dowell's robes and found a bullet lodged near his collarbone and another one above his heart.
"Not good," he muttered. As a wizard he knew how to heal minor wounds inflicted by a wand. A muggle wound was beyond his comprehension. Draco glanced down at Dowell. The man's eyelids were fluttering shut and his breath labored and weakening to a trickle of air.
"I'm sorry, Dowell," Draco said solemnly. He pulled the man's hood over his face as Dowell's body quivered with its last breath.
"Draco, come to your right," a strong voice commanded. Draco followed the sound of Avery's voice and found a group of the remaining Death Eaters.
"Where is the girl?" Lucius asked, when he noticed the Weasley was not with his son.
"I left her behind a dune," Draco replied. "Out of the way, shielded and contained."
Lucius nodded. "Good work."
He turned to Avery. "Do you have a plan to get rid of the Sand Raiders yet? The Dark Lord is impatient to get to the sea."
"Not yet, Lucius," Avery admitted, bowing his head. "We are at a disadvantage. They can see very well in the dark." Draco listened to the exchange in silence, a plan formulating in his head.
"Father, I have an idea," Draco spoke up. Lucius and Avery looked at him skeptically, but Lucius waved an impatient hand for him to continue.
"Line the Death Eaters in two rows. Have everyone cast shielding charms to ensure that it is strong enough to block bullets. The first row will cast light spells to illuminate the area while the back row kills the Sand Raiders."
Lucius and Avery looked at each other. A small smile appeared on Lucius' face as he clapped his son on the back.
"Avery, get the lines ready," he barked. "Draco, I want you in the second line."
Draco nodded and followed Avery to the assembly of black robed men. Taking his place in between McNair and Goyle, he hoped the plan would work. Gripping his wand tightly, Draco waited for the burst of light that would signal him into action. A few moments later, a flood of silver light broke through the darkness illuminating the once hidden forms of the Sand Raiders.
"Avada Kedavra!" Draco shouted, his words mixing in with the dozen other curses shouted. Sand Raiders plummeted to the ground. Some withered in pain while others died instantly. Draco felt a cold sense of satisfaction and a chill of excitement course through his body as the green light of his curse hit his target and kill it instantly.
Bullets rained down upon them, but clattered harmlessly against the shielding spell. The Death Eaters continued to fire curses against the Sand Raiders until the bullet attack ceased. The light of the wands revealed the lifeless bodies of the Sand Raiders. A roar of triumph echoed through the Death Eaters and the shields dropped.
A cold hand clasped tightly upon Draco's shoulder. Turning around, Draco's eyes met piercing scarlet ones. He immediately dropped to his knees in a low bow.
"Master," Draco said, respectively.
"Rise, Draco," Lord Voldemort hissed. His eyes gleamed eerily in the silver light. "You have done well, young Malfoy. You bring honor to your family's name. Lucius should be proud to have such a son."
"Thank you, my Lord," Draco responded, his eyes never leaving the ground.
"You will be greatly rewarded when I come to full power," Voldemort said. "Now, go and collect the girl. We leave shortly. Time is of the essence."
"Yes, my Lord." Draco bowed once more and left to go retrieve Ginny.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Mrs. Weasley asked. She plugged her nose and looked around the filthy market place of Xanthi in distain.
"Positive, Molly," Sirius replied, dryly.
"Albus, I'm going to speak to that interesting looking foreign man over there about some camels," Mr. Weasley decided. "How about you and the others find some decent desert clothes."
"A fine idea, Arthur," Dumbledore agreed. "Molly, if you'll please lead the way. I daresay you have a greater talent for such things than I."
Mrs. Weasley smiled at Albus and began to weave through the market crowd expertly as if she had visited it everyday of her life. The look of distain, however, had returned full force.
Molly was a blur of red as she sped all over the market dropping various clothing items in each Order member's hand. Sirius looked skeptically at the thick, beige robe he held in his hand.
"We're supposed to wear this in a desert?" he exclaimed, disbelievingly. "We're gonna die from being overheated. Couldn't you get something lighter, Molly?"
"No, Sirius," Molly admonished him. "This will keep the sun from scorching your skin. We're wizards. We can bewitch the robes to repel the heat."
Sirius mumbled his apologies for doubting Mrs. Weasley's wisdom and accepted all other articles she handed him without protest. Mr. Weasley met up with them a half an hour later touting six spitting camels.
Mrs. Weasley frowned at the beasts. "We're going to ride those things, Arthur?"
"Yes, Molly," Mr. Weasley replied, through gritted teeth.
"Well, couldn't we put them through like a camel wash or something?" she asked. "Maybe bewitch them with an anti smelling charm?"
No, Molly," Mr. Weasley said, firmly. "We don't have time for your girly whims."
"Humph!" Mrs. Weasley snorted, before beginning to pack the camels, one finger pinched delicately over her nose. Mr. Weasley shook his head and began packing his own camel along with the other members of the Order. Kingsley and Lupin mounted their camels and waited patiently for Mr. Weasley to help Molly mount hers. She was having difficulty getting on the insufferable animal especially since she was unwilling to touch the filthy thing. Dumbledore watched in amusement as Arthur pushed on her rather large bum to get her into the seat. Sirius was bored and kept flicking his reins on the camel's head to make it agitated. When they were all finally mounted, they set off into the night toward the desert.
The kids sat impatiently watching the minutes tick by waiting for the hour for their departure to come. Footsteps echoed on the wooden hallway floor outside the room. Moments later, the golden doorknob turned and the door swung open to admit a young woman into the room. Tonks peered suspiciously at them, her bright pink, slightly spiked hair drawing most of their gazes. She shoved her hands into the pocket of her black leather jacket and leaned against the doorway.
"What are you all doing?" she asked, tilting her head to the side and looking specifically at Ron. He squirmed under her gaze, but remained calm.
"Nothing," he replied. "Just bored."
"Ugh, same!" Tonks groaned. "I can't believe I got stuck babysitting you guys."
"You could let us go," Harry grumbled.
"Why?" Tonks asked. "So you can get yourself killed? No, I think you'll just stay right here where I can see you."
She moved away from the doorway, shut the door and walked over to the couch draping her tiny frame across it.
"What are we going to do, Harry?" Hermione asked, out of the side of her mouth.
Harry glanced at Tonks before replying. "Do you know a sleeping spell?" Hermione nodded. "I want you to use it on Tonks. She'll think she just fell asleep from being too comfy on that couch."
Hermione quietly pulled her wand out of her robe and subtly pointed it at Tonks.
"Stupefy!" Hermione whispered. Red sparks shot out of her wand and hit Tonks, stunning her.
"You stunned her?" Harry said in disbelief. "I thought you were just going to put her to sleep!"
"She is asleep, Harry!" Hermione argued. "Well, unconscious anyways. Now let me do the invisibility charm."
Blaise, Tristan and Ron joined the two of them as Hermione prepared to charm them all. Hermione muttered the appropriate charm and soon a cold feeling seeped through their bodies as the invisibility took place.
"Ennervate," Hermione whispered, counter acting the stunning hex she had placed on Tonks.
Tonks blinked her eyes to focus them and then sat up abruptly. She glanced wildly around the room her eyes widening in disbelief when she noted its emptiness.
"Not good," she muttered." This is not good."
Tonks jumped off of the couch and ran out of the door cursing under her breath. Harry turned to the rest of the group.
"Now we wait."
"Draco, you're hurt," Ginny's concerned voice broke out into the night.
"It's not that bad," Draco shrugged. "I'll live."
"It could get infected," Ginny warned. "Let me see it."
"I'll be fine," Draco said, firmly, pushing away her hand.
"Let me see it, Draco," Ginny argued.
"No."
"Draco Malfoy, if you do not let me look at your shoulder so help me god, I will make sure it hurts even more than it does right now," Ginny threatened, her green eyes glinting in anger. Draco sighed angrily and let Ginny move his robes out of the way. A hiss escaped her lips as she took in the amount of blood he lost.
"Draco, your body is going to be weakened greatly by this," Ginny said. "You need a rest."
"Do you honestly think the Dark Lord is going to stop his mission because I lost a little blood?" Draco snapped.
"Don't get an attitude with me, Draco," Ginny said fiercely. "I'm only trying to help."
Draco's features softened. "I know, I know. I'm sorry. I'm just a little on edge right now. Fix it up so it won't bleed anymore for me?"
Ginny nodded and began ripping parts of her robe. She dipped the strips into their canteen and washed away the blood coating the wound. Then she wrapped dry pieces of clothe tightly around his shoulder halting the bleeding.
"You really should rest that shoulder," she advised when she was done.
"I'll be able too when we reach the boats," Draco answered.
"When will that be?" Ginny asked.
"Now."
Ginny followed his gaze to the front of the caravan and squinted in order to see something in the darkness. Lights blazed softly up ahead illuminating a couple small buildings. The sound of the ocean lapping against the sand and the smell of salty air infiltrated her senses. Ginny took a deep breath and sighed happily.
"I love the ocean."
"Well you're not going to love this one," Draco said. "It's dangerous."
"I'm not afraid of a bit of water," Ginny sniffed.
"You will be if a white squall comes and smashes our boat into smithereens," Draco predicted.
"What's a white squall?" Ginny asked crinkling her nose.
"It's the biggest, most dangerous storm on the ocean," Draco answered. "Ships who venture into one never return."
"Let's hope we don't run into one than," Ginny decided. Draco just chuckled and reined the camel to a stop. The Death Eaters ahead of them were dismounting and unpacking their supplies.
"I guess this is our stop," Draco said, dismounting as well. He reached up a hand and helped Ginny down. "Carry this down to the boats will you?" Draco piled some bags into her arms and slung a few over his shoulder. Getting out his wand, he poked it into her back and prodded her towards the waterfront.
The next half an hour was spent loading the boat they were taking to the Island. The night went on, the stars watching silently as the figures in black continued their task. They had gotten through the first desert alive and mostly in one piece, but the ocean was a wild, dangerous trek. One they may not survive. As Ginny and Draco boarded the ship, she glimpsed the water. It was black as the night and the waves crashed upon the side of the boat fiercely. Choppy water was never a good sign. Ginny found a corner in the ships hull and sat down in it, drawing her legs to her chest and rocked back and forth. She prayed to God that she wouldn't find herself lost among the grains of sand hidden below beneath the depth of the black waters, but the ocean was unpredictable and prayers aren't always answered the way their asked to be.
Well if that didn't just take forever. Finally back from my mission's trip and the lake house. It was hard and fun. I really need to get this story rolling again because I'm starting some new original ones. Hope you guys liked it! Please review!
.:Angelgrl185:.