Let's Remember It All
CHAPTER SIX – Liberation
He was going to die.
He couldn't believe it, not really. He was going to die because he had protected a Mudbl-
He couldn't even think that word anymore.
Something had happened inside him, something that made him not want to be a Death Eater. But it was too late to try and change his destiny now, because he was going to die.
And that was that.
O
"We are here for Draco Malfoy." Dumbledore began. Various members of the Order of the Phoenix had been arriving for the past five minutes; there were now at good thirty people. "He has notified me that he no longer wishes to become a servant to Lord Voldemort. We are going to remove him from his home in order for him to join the Light. Be prepared to use all means necessary and available. Those of you who are not yet seventeen, feel free to use your wands at will."
Harry was gobsmacked. "Malfoy? We're here to rescue Malfoy?"
"Yes, Harry, that is correct. I rather hoped you would pick that up the first time I said it. Do I need to reiterate myself again?" He raised his eyebrows politely.
Harry had the good grace to look abashed. "No, Professor. Sorry, Professor."
"That's quite alright, Harry. It has come to my attention a few times in the past six years that you and Mr Malfoy are not exactly, eh, shall we say, bosom buddies." Ron snorted. "But this place is Voldemort's new headquarters, so, almost undoubtedly, we will encounter some difficulties in trying to obtain Mr Malfoy. I will go on ahead, when I require your assistance, I will use the usual signal. Pip pip!" He clapped his hands together twice before walking calmly towards the gates, which opened to let him pass.
O
"Well, Draco, this is it. I am going to kill you. And this is punishment! You are being punished for saving a Mudblood! The very Mudblood you were ordered to kill, no less! Have you nothing to say for yourself? No last minute repentance, won't you even try and beg for mercy?" Lord Voldemort hissed furiously.
Draco couldn't speak. Everything hurt so much he could barely see through the pain, let alone think clearly enough to form an answer.
"No? None of your blessed Gryffindor courage, then. Shame." He shook his head.
"I'm sure Draco will be plenty brave enough to smile in the face of death when it is time for him to die, but that day is not today."
The assembled Death Eaters looked flabbergasted. Dumbledore had appeared in front of the chained boy, without the tell-tale 'crack' of Apparation, and had begun talking as if he interrupted Dark torture sessions every day.
Voldemort growled softly. "What are you doing here, old man?"
"I'm here to stop this terrible assault on a young man. Draco Malfoy is coming with me." He replied.
Voldemort made a noise that sounded quite like a snort. "You and which army?"
O
The signal arrived – a single phoenix feather – about seven minutes after Dumbledore had left them.
"Right," Moody said immediately. "Everyone, with me. Let's go and save the boy."
O
"You think I'm going to need an army to this?" Dumbledore surveyed the scene over the tops of his half-moon spectacles. "I had rather hoped to settle this without a fight."
The three doors to the room burst open, revealing the Order, wands raised.
"I'm only going to ask once, Tom. Relinquish the boy. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be."
"Why do you even want him? He's a pureblood. A Death Eater. A Slytherin."
"Not yet." Dumbledore said.
Then he struck. As, one the Order stepped further into the room, and before the Death Eaters had even reached their wands, the air was thick with spells and the sounds of bodies hitting the floor, Stunned or worse.
Hermione ignored it all. She ran towards Dumbledore, who was still stood in front of Draco. She dodged the flying spells, dropped to he knees in front of the crippled boy and threw her discarded coat over him.
She tried every spell she could think of to unlock the chains that bound him, but to no avail.
"Blood." Draco choked out. "You need to cut me."
She threw him a disparaging look. "You must be joking." She drew her wand along her hand and a drop of glistening crimson blood fell onto the rusting metal.
Nothing happened.
"No…" He rasped. "It needs… pure blood. Clean blood." Hermione recoiled, and hoped Draco couldn't see the tears in her eyes.
She glanced around frantically, and her eyes fell on a fallen cloaked figure. She hauled the body over to the wall, and hastily cut its hand.
A gush of blood poured out from the wound, and the clasps sprung open.
Hermione hastily healed the cut, and then wheeled round just in time to witness Draco fall forwards and land face down on the floor.
Hermione swore. He was heavier than she was and there was nobody around to help-
"Come on, mate, easy does it," Harry was easing Draco off the floor.
"There we go, we've got you…" Ron had grasped Draco's other side and was gently guiding him to the nearest door.
Hermione nearly wept with relief. "Thanks guys."
"I've got a cloak!" Ginny volunteered, and handed it to Hermione, who placed it over Draco's shoulders and fastened the buttons.
And then, with the battle still going on around them, the five left.
A/N: Not my best, certainly, but this chapter was really necessary, and I couldn't think of another way of writing it. I know things have been a bit clichéd, but please stick with me, things will (fingers crossed) become more original soon. Let me know what you think!