AN: I am so, so, so, so, so, SO sorry you had to wait this long. I'm horrid. I actually had half the chapter written ten the creative juices stopped flowing. It took like, and hour long conversation with my BFFAE to be able to write again. So this chapter is for her…
I'm actually going to start the Epilogue right away.

Disclaimer: See previous chapter.

So without further ado… Chapitre Huit…

Previously:

George turned towards the door, fists balled. "Malfoy, even for you, that was a dirty trick."

"Doesn't matter now, does it? Hermione's gone, and you're about to die. All in the name of the Dark Lord. How does it feel Weasel?"

"What are you-?"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

"AHHH!"

Find Me, Help Me, Marry Me

Chapter 8

Draco whirled around towards the door to see a bushy haired figure. His concentration was gone and he couldn't put any feeling behind the spell. The green light bounced harmlessly off the wall to his right.

"What the hell is going on here?" Hermione screamed.

Saying Draco was shocked would probably be the understatement of the year. But he quickly regained his wits and pointed his wand at her. "Go join your fiancé… The Dark Lord will be here soon to finish you off."

To all appearances, Hermione soon-to-be-Weasley was scared out of her wits. However, George saw the calculating look in her eyes and knew she was coming up with a plan. Unfortunately for him, Draco didn't know her so well.

"Please Draco," she whimpered, "Let's try and figure something out."

"No. Now get over to the other side of the room." He jerked his head towards George.

Hermione inched slowly on the wall, keeping her eyes on Draco's wand. She was so concentrated that she didn't notice the huge rock in her path… until she tripped over it. "Ow!" she cried, curling into foetal position. "George! It hurts!"

"I know love, just hold on."

"Why are you crying to him?" Draco asked, quite enraged. "I'm the only one with the wand here! I'm the only one who can mend it."

"Au contraire, mon ami," George intoned smoothly, drawing his own 11 inch, mahogany wand.

"What?" Draco sputtered, looking to George then back to Hermione who also had a wand in her hand. "In any case, it doesn't matter. Malcolm Manning's coming."

"Manning?" Hermione scoffed. "He's a pathetic slimy git."

Draco bared his teeth and hissed, "That's the Dark Lord you're talking about."

Hermione made a sound of remembrance. "So that's what he meant."

"What do you mean?" George asked.

"Well, quite a brilliant story it is. You see, on the first day I was here, Manning suddenly bursts into my office and whips his wand at my face. Then he pokes fun at you and me and mentions how Voldemort taught him things. And then he says, and I quote," here she adopted a low voice, "I think the world needs a dose of fear, a new Dark Lord. Soon every one will fear the name: Malcolm Manning!" Returning to her normal voice she finished, "And that was when you came."

"How do you remember these things?" George asked, amazed.

"Seriously George, it was 3 days ago."

"Exactly."

"Enough!" the blond roared. "I have had enough of your imbecilic rambling. So shut up and wait so you can die!"

Hermione whistled as though impressed. "Imbecilic? Your vocabulary has certainly expanded since we attend Hogwarts together. Extraordinarily impressive if you ask me." She knew she probably shouldn't annoy him but the more on edge he was, the more of a chance he would let down his guard.

Draco adopted the cool exterior he had worn in school. "I know what you're trying to do, Mudblood. And it's not going to work. I know you're trying to distract me. You will suffer. Stupefy!"

Hermione fell to the floor in a crumpled heap.

Rounding on George, Draco sneered. "It's you the Dark Lord really wants. So I'm faced with a dilemma. I know I'm going to Stun you. That's a given. But should I tie you up then kill Granger while making you watch? Or should I just kill her while you are Stunned?" He waved his wand and flicked his wrist, and immediately ropes bound George to the wall, his wrists and ankles tied together. "On second thought, I'll just leave you like that until Lord Manning gets here."

"No need for that Draco," a smooth voice called from the door. "I'm here now."

Draco swiftly turned and bowed. "My Lord, they're ready to be tortured.

"Good job Draco," Manning said, clasping him on the shoulder. "You've done me a great service. I won't forget it. Expect a reward."

"Thank you, My Lord." Draco stepped away, eyes alight with glee. Finally, Mudblood Granger and Weasel Twin 1 will be gone. And in one night too, after so many years of waiting.

Malcolm Manning raised his wand and focused on his first target: Weasley. "Cruc -!"

"Expeilliarmus!" A new and familiar voice shouted. Manning's wand flew out of his hand to be caught by George who promptly snapped it.

"Dumbledore…" Manning cursed.

"I'm sorry Professor Manning," Dumbledore said very calmly, "But I cannot allow you to murder two of my professors. They have a great life ahead of them and I must say, I think their families would be very disappointed if they would never breath again."

"You can't stop me Dumbledore," Manning hissed violently. "I've waited too long for this! Thirteen years! I've waited for thirteen years to get rid of Weasley. Not even death will stop me now."

"I'm not to sure about that," the Headmaster replied and raised his wand.

As if anticipating his move Manning cried, "Progecto" not realizing that he didn't have a wand.

Hermione burst out laughing and Manning realized that he had no wand and was, by consequence, defenceless.

"When I chose you as my master," Draco hissed, "I did not realise that you were so incompetent."

"How dare you insult me," Manning yelled, advancing towards Draco.

Draco smirking, growing cocky. "I'm just stating a fact. I'm not insulting you… well, maybe I am." Now Draco raised his wand. "Any attempt on my life would be quite futile, or have you forgotten that Dumbledore has Disarmed you."

Discreetly watching the scene before them, George and Hermione were conversing in hushed tones. They were forming a plan to save themselves as well as Dumbledore (though George doubted that he needed saving being one of the greatest wizards of all time.)

Since Hermione was exceptionally good at non-verbal spells, she would have the brunt of the work. Silently, she cast Wingardium Leviosa at Draco's wand and the wand floated to Manning. Not being as dense as we all thought he was, grabbed the stick of wood. He knew an opportunity when he saw one.

Draco's eyes widened and he knew he was in for it. George and Hermione watch on, holding hands, while Dumbledore was figuring what to do next.

"Say good-bye to life Draco," Manning cackled, and cried, "Avada Kedavra."

They all saw the flash of green but when their eyes adjusted to the loss of light they saw not Draco lying on the ground dead, but Manning. The spell had backfired.

"Why?" was all George could say. They all turned to Dumbledore; because they knew he had the answer.

"Ancient magic. It was not his wand so it wouldn't work for him."

"But I've used Harry's wand," Hermione added, "And he's used mine. And it's worked."

"But I assume you weren't doing any evil."

She shook her head.

"Then that's why. Now Draco," As if on cue, George, Hermione and Dumbledore turned to the blond man. Draco began to sweat slightly and his eyes shifted between the other three in the room. "You know that you've broken the law. You know what comes next."

Of course he knew what came next. First Fudge, then a trial, at which he would undoubtedly be found guilty. Then he would be sent to Azkaban waiting for his ultimate demise by Dementor's Kiss. But then he realized that he had done wrong. And he was a Deatheater anyway. He'd be captured in time. Plus, this way, he'll be able to see his family again- horrid as it was.

Draco shocked them all by holding out his wrists. "Take me in, Professor, I'll come quietly."

Professor Dumbledore drew his wand and said, "Incarcerous!" Thick ropes shot out of his wand and wrapped around Draco's wrist. The aged man sighed. "It pains me to do this, Draco, it really does. I thought you would be brilliant. Never did I think you'd become a Deatheater. But life does have its twists and turns. This one just turned out to be horrible."

Leading Draco out of the room, Dumbledore called back, "Professors, I believe you two have class in the morning?"

So that's the end of Chapter Eight. Next, the Epilogue. Sniff Then it's over. My beautiful first fanfic is over.
Leave a review, or flame, whichever, to let me know you've read it. Review ofr me, and I'll review for you! ;p!


Mandy