The door opened quickly causing him to jump back.
It was Bellatrix that appeared first. The smile on her face caused his skin to pale.
"I've been worried about you Draco; you don't look well." She then smiled at him as more hands made their way out of the cabinet and faces filled the space behind her. Their sneers and smiles made his skin crawl and his knees weak. The door appeared then, the castle itself had betrayed them all, how many nights had he sat up here willing a door to form and let him out? Yet it kept him on task and today it formed one without him asking. Letting the monsters out.
"Come Draco, we must not be late." Bellatrix rested her arm on his shoulder, and he held back the urge to shake her off as he opened the door. Bellatrix let out a laugh that sent shivers down his spine as he let them loose on the castle.
She had raced to the Seventh floor. The hallways had been clear, thankfully the students had remained in place. If she could stop him in time, she could help him, really help him.
She could hear the laughter as she approached and quickly hid behind a tapestry, covering her mouth with her hand and willing her heart to quiet. It had been too late. She would know that laugh anywhere, Bellatrix was in the castle. She could feel each beat of her heart in her chest as the people in the paintings around her ran for safety.
"They're going to alarm someone Bella."
"Well then make it dark Alecto, we have a while to go still." Bellatrix laughed stabbing a knife into a portrait snarling as it stuck in the canvas.
In a breath the hallways went dark. She held in the cough that threatened to escape. Her lungs burned as the instant darkness powder overtook the room. Her eyes watered as she lowered herself to the floor listening as the footsteps retreated down the hall and up the stairs. She clinched her eyes closed and prayed that they had moved on for good.
Up the stairs, there was nothing up the stairs. That didn't make sense. She ran for the window that she knew would be before the stairs and threw it open, taking in the clear air. Sticking her head through she looked up and into the lights of the tower above. Her eyes watered as she took in deep breaths clearing her lungs of the powder. The astronomy tower. She let out a small noise before taking a deep breath and slowly making her way up the stairs after them.
Bellatrix looked down on her soldiers as they walked up the stairs and smiled.
"Draco, please, you should lead the way. This is your victory after all." Bellatrix had grabbed his arm them and pulled him to the front. "The highest point. I want all of the world to see it" she whispered into his ear. He turned his head slightly as she laid her head on his shoulder laughing, he felt the last of his will leave his body. It was a death march, to the end. He nodded and lead the way. The astronomy tower was close, it would all be over soon. It had to be over soon. His body got heavier with each step he took. He knew the top was coming. It would all be over soon; she would do whatever it was she wanted to do and he could be done with it all. Go into hiding. Get away. He just had to get through this night.
The stairs narrowed as they climbed into the tower that had been his sanctuary. Bellatrix rushed to the edge and leaned herself over the edge. Her robes rippled around her as she screamed into the night. She turned; her eyes wild as she took in the room.
"This is our night gentleman. Let's not waste it." She let out a howl and shot the dark mark into the sky. It would all be over soon.
Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest as she followed behind them. There was no where to hide, they could simply turn around at any point and she would be dead. She had to follow them, had to see what they were doing, what was the point of this trip to the tower. There couldn't possibly be anything there that they would want. As they approach the smaller staircase she darted for the enclave under the floor. She could see through the grate as Draco clenched and unclenched his hand as Bellatrix waltzed through his space.
She waited under the stairs and silently shuddered as the sky glowed green with the symbol of the dead. It had no place here; she could feel the rage boiling beneath her skin and she stood in the shadows. She contemplated how many she could take down before getting caught and pointed her wand at the robes of the one directly above her. She took in a deep breath and steadied her hand to take aim.