AN: Irregular updates are a pain, I know, but I hope they're worth it? Let me know.
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Song suggestion: Love the way you lie (part two), Rihanna ft. Eminem.
Chapter Five: Escaping the Dark.
Potter and Weasley burst into the room with Blaise and Pansy. Weasley quickly disarmed Bellatrix who snarled in frustration at his victory. Blaise and Pansy remained apart from the action but cast shielding spells over Potter and Weasley as Narcissa and Lucius began to duel with the Gryffindors, while Bellatrix stared outraged to almost insanity.
Draco however inched towards Granger hoping to grab her and take off but Bellatrix dove for the girl, madness clouding her vision. In that moment he feared for what the crazy woman would do to the unconscious girl. He watched, hiding his horror, as Bellatrix pressed a short knife up to her throat and yelled for the duelling to stop.
Everyone froze and turned to Bellatrix. Lucius glowed in a vicious grin, Narcissa curled her lip at the fact her sister was touching the Muggle-born, Pansy gasped, Blaise narrowed his eyes, Harry looked on shocked, while Ron was looking despairingly, and Draco frowned. He could see no other way to get out of this now.
"Drop your wands, drop them, or we'll see exactly how filthy her blood is! I said drop them!" The wands were dropped while Blaise and Pansy hid behind the couch so not to be suspected. Raising their hands in surrender Bellatrix grinned maliciously, "Good! Draco, pick them up! The Dark Lord is coming, Harry Potter! Your death approaches!"
Draco collected the wands trying to convey with his eyes that he'd help them get them back as they glared at him, believing it was a betrayal. Trying not to roll his eyes at their trust issues and blatant idiocy at not taking their chance with both hands, he turned his back on them. Holding them so Bellatrix could be sure they were wandless but not surrendering them to her.
There was a peculiar grinding noise from above. All of them looked upward in time to see the crystal chandelier tremble; then, with a creak and an ominous jingling, it began to fall. Bellatrix was directly beneath it; dropping Hermione, she threw herself aside with a scream. The chandelier crashed to the floor in an explosion of crystal and chains, falling on top of Hermione and the goblin, who still clutched the sword of Gryffindor. Glittering shards of crystal flew in all directions; Draco doubled over, his hands covering his bloody face.
Cursing, Draco threw the wands over to Potter along with the two already confiscated before hurrying over to the chandelier. Though he briefly wondered why there was not another but the thought was quickly dismissed as battle began. He would ask the dunderheads later why one of them wasn't armed in a war!
Then he paused for a second. Granger looked dead. She was still and silent. Looking like a corpse with black veins and mutilated eyes. It was horrifying to see. After all those years of hatred he could not face his past thoughts on the witch as he looked down at her form. She was so vulnerable and willing to die for her friends. It was terrible to even consider.
Quickly gathering his wits, he crunched crystal under his shoes as he reached for Hermione. Potter and Weasley had resumed duelling after Blaise stupefied Lucius. He glanced to make sure his friends were safe. They were, both on the defensive. He was proud as Pansy sent a stunning spell at Bellatrix. Most would like to think the worst of her, of them, but Pansy held them together and was just as loyal and brave as Granger. She just did it with clever cunningness.
Refocusing he grasped at Granger's wrist and breathed a brief sigh of relief. He could feel a weak pulse in her blackened veins and her chest feebly moving in an uneven rhythm. Scooping her body into his arms, he ran to his friends, mindful to keep a protection spell over himself and his precious cargo.
Spells threw left, right, and centre. Whisking passed, within inches of targets. It was dangerous, and life threatening, and crazy. But the adrenaline spiked as Draco ducked a spell and motioned for Blaise and Pansy to advance from their defence position. They crept forward as Harry nearly knocked into Ron to avoid a spell.
"Draco!" His mother's howl paused the fighting a second before Ron stupefied a conscious gaining Lucius. Everyone's eyes were on the Slytherin Prince as he clutched Gryffindor's Golden Girl to his chest. His wand was ready to handle anyone who would dare attack him and the grotesquely lolling body in his arms.
"Traitor!" Bellatrix screamed and began the battle anew with Lucius' wand in her possession. Malfoy wondered how they were lasting so long in this duel; Bellatrix was one of the best fighters he knew. He had personal training from her, she was lethal. And his mother was magically talented too. The two witches should have crushed the students but couldn't. It puzzled the younger Malfoy as he watched green, blue, and red jets of light fly out of wand tips.
"Where are we apparating?" Draco hissed covering himself and Hermione behind the two Gryffindors.
"I'll apparate us." Harry replied and Draco rolled his eyes.
"Just tell me, you don't have time!" He yelled.
"Shut up Malfoy!" Ron shouted back, "Fumos!" He yelled and a dark grey smoke created a block between the two fighting parties. Screened from prying eyes Dobby appeared and everyone grabbed him and each other in an effort not to leave anyone behind.
As the House Elf prepared to apparate the group Draco glanced over his shoulder at the clearing smog. Narcissa was attempting to help her husband up as he, with his self-righteous and bigoted attitude, pushed her away and clambered to his feet. Bellatrix held her knife poised.
As the familiar feeling of apparation clutched his gut he saw her throw the blade at them. Watching the silver object hurtle towards him he curled over Hermione in a protective block and they left Malfoy Manor for what Draco was sure was the last time.