Draco-

Screams surrounded me; the floor was thick with blood. I sat hunched in a corner, averting my eyes from the scene of destruction surrounding me as several Death Eaters were struck down dead. Bellatrix watched from behind her master, a mad gleam in her eyes as she observed the chaos. She revelled in such mayhem. My mother sat behind me, eyes squeezed shut, one hand clutching my shoulder with such strength I could feel her long nails stabbing at my skin underneath my robes.

Finally, after what seemed a life time, the shouting stopped. All that could be heard where the terrified sobs of those who had been spared, and the harsh, shallow breathing of the Dark Lord as he tried to catch his breath. I turned to view the mass murder scene before me and gulped quickly as I felt bile rise in my throat.

"Draco!" he snapped suddenly, and I jumped up quickly, ripping myself from my mother's grasp.

"My Lord?" I replied. I stood with my head hung, observing my shoes. My breath came in short, scared gasps.

"What happened?" he questioned, his voice colder than usual. I heard him move across the room towards where Nagini lay curled in front of the fire. I looked up questioningly. "With the girl!" I jumped as he snapped at me, and returned to watching my feet.

"I saved her twice, my Lord," I replied, disgust in my tone.

"Twice, you say?" he said, sounding both relieved and disapproving, as though he couldn't quite bring himself to be pleased with the blood traitor's life being saved, despite her importance to the plan.

"Yes, my Lord. Once from Greyback, another from a curse shot across the marquee by a Death Eater who I did not see," I explained quickly. I heard Greyback growl from his hunched position on the floor. The werewolf had been subjected to the Sectumsempra spell, and was bleeding profusely from one of his arms.

"From Greyback?" The Dark Lord's voice had turned threatening again, and I gulped. "Greyback, is this true?" I heard the werewolf mutter under his breath. "Is this true?" demanded the Dark Lord again, his voice raising ever so slightly.

"Yes, my Lord," growled Greyback, not a trace of fear in his voice.

"You attempted to kill the girl, despite knowing what she meant to this mission?"

"I did not know what she meant to the mission, my Lord."

"Ahh, but of course. Only my most trusted followers were deemed fit to know of my plan. Nevertheless, what have I told you about feasting on young girls when you are not in werewolf form?"

"I am not permitted unless absolutely necessary, my Lord," growled Greyback, his teeth clenched.

"Very good," said the Dark Lord, amusement gleaming in his flame red eyes as he surveyed the wolf, who flinched under his unwavering gaze and shuffled away to a corner, his hand covering the gash on his injured arm. The Dark Lord turned his attention to me, and I instantly dropped my eyes to view my feet again. "I am pleased with you Draco, very pleased. You have done well. You are permitted to leave."

"Thank you, my Lord," I replied, not allowing my astonishment at the praise to colour my otherwise toneless and apathetic tone. I glanced up to see Bella looking miserable at the fact that I had received praise whilst she hadn't even been allowed to accompany us on the mission. I caught her eye and smirked, causing her to glare at me with her heavy, dark eyes, her hand clenching on her wand as she itched to curse me.

I started as my mother put her hand back on my shoulder, moving me away from where I'd been rooted to the spot as I'd smirked at Bella, and I allowed her to lead me from the room. As soon as the heavy double doors swung closed behind us, she threw her arms around me, sobbing on my shoulder.

"Oh Draco, I was so worried!" she sobbed, clutching me as though her life depended on it.

"Mother, I'm fine," I replied, trying and failing to prise her off of me.

"I waited here, so worried for you, as Bellatrix scowled and muttered under her breath, and I heard none of it, I was so anxious for my only son to return!" She wailed, her composure lost as she clung to me.

"Mother!" I snapped, growing impatient. "I am a Death Eater and fully capable of doing anything any of the higher Death Eaters can do. You need not worry about me."

"You are my son, Draco! How can you say I need not worry when you are my only begotten child, my boy?" My mother looked at me with confusion and fury burning in her eyes.

"I must leave you now, Mother. I need to rest; it has been a trying day," I said, pulling myself out of her slackened grasp. She let me go, eyes still brimming with tears.

"Yes, Draco, of course," she murmured, and she turned to leave. She cast one last agonised look over her shoulder before walking calmly off, her back straight, head held high- a regal walk- a Pure Blood walk.

Ginny-

It was subdued in the house that night. No body moved much, no one said anything- we knew we were being watched. Bill and Fleur had opted to stay for longer than they had originally planned, wanting to comfort my parents about the disappearance of Ron. Aunt Muriel had decided the stay the night also, much to much of the family's dismay.

Aunt Muriel was the only one who didn't understand the concept of being quiet. She sat there, commenting loudly on the day's proceedings- "Ginevra, your dress really is too low cut." "You are a very pretty girl, dear, but still… French." "William, you are aware of those hideous scars, aren't you? Quite a mess you've made of yourself dear." "What do you mean your ear was cut off? Now really, George, that is just carelessness; quite stupid of you really." "MOLLY! Quickly, more champagne!" And so on in such a manner until the point where it was deemed polite to leave for bed.

"I'm tired," I mumbled eventually, getting up off of the arm of the chair where I'd been perched for a good couple of hours. "I think I'll go to bed now."

"Of course, Ginny," replied mum, trying to keep a warm smile on her face as she looked at me- but I could see the devastating loss and worry hiding behind her warm composure. She was scared- and rightly so. Ron, Harry and Hermione were out there, God only knew where, alone, and only just of age. I was scared too.

I kissed Mum, Dad and (much to my disgust) Aunt Muriel on the cheeks before heading up to my room, my dress trailing along the floor dejectedly. One of the straps has broken, as had the zip, and my hair was tumbling down out of its previously perfect style. No doubt my makeup looked a mess as well- it was a good thing I was not overly bothered by such trivialities as these. Growing up in a male dominated household had its advantages.

Opening my bedroom door, I beheld the mess scattered across the floor, and began delicately picking my way across the room to my bed, trying not to tread on anything that might have been important. As I sat down, pulling the hair pins out and allowing my hair to fall naturally around my shoulders, I beheld the letter I'd received from Malfoy, and picked it up again, curiosity clouding my brain.

What was going on with Malfoy? First the overly friendly letter, then the saving my life twice and then saying I looked good in the dress? Had he been cursed? I was what he called a Blood traitor, I wasn't to be trusted or befriended by Pure Bloods. I shook my head, dazed and confused, and my thoughts wandered onto Harry.

Where was he now? Was he safe? Were all of them safe? I knew I should have been worried about Ron and Hermione, and I was- but the overwhelming worry for Harry over shadowed every other emotion at that one moment in time, darkening my thoughts and bringing tears to my eyes. I didn't wipe them away; instead I curled up on my side on my bed, allowing the tears to fall however they wanted. It was of no importance to me now. Harry was gone, and I might never see him again. He was mine, I loved him- he was gone.

As I began to drift off into an uneasy slumber, my thoughts returned once more to the illusive Draco Malfoy, and I found myself obsessing over the meaning of his words. It shouldn't have mattered to me- indeed, when I was fully awake and able to think properly, it didn't matter to me. But when I was on the brink of sleep, I couldn't help but wonder if there was a reason to it all, to all his strange behaviour.

That night, Harry and Malfoy both featured in my dreams, circling around me constantly, like I was the prey and they the hunters. And yet I longed for them to swoop down and take me- but neither did. They stayed a distance away, constantly circling, and always shouting at each other. I turned from one to the other, my mind confused and jumbled. Then it went dark, and I saw him coming towards me. I froze. He Who Must Not Be Named, coming slowly closer, observed the scene before him, before raising his wand, a cruel smile on his pure white face- he turned to face Malfoy and uttered the Killing Curse. As I screamed, he turned to Harry, and did the same. I tumbled to my knees, tears flowing relentlessly as I sobbed and screamed, desperate to wake up, but completely unable to. He turned to face me now, and I saw it in his eyes, saw it before he even had a chance to say the words- a jet of green light came flying out of his wand towards me, hitting me square in the chest, and I woke up, shuddering and gasping, still sobbing.

Yes, I thought. I was scared. I was so very scared.