I am SO sorry! I apologize for my absence. My computer got malware on it and I haven't add access to another one to use for Fanfiction, as my fanfiction world is a secret…tehe. I finally am able to use someone else's computer.
Some of you are wondering about Draco's character, so I will give you a heads up that he is most definitely OOC in this story. My goal is to keep him as snarky and arrogant as I can while maintaining the 'good' Draco that I've come up with. Ron's view on him will also be OOC, but I hope you'll understand why. This is AU, after all, and the Draco/Sarai angle was incorporated for a friend.
Without further ado, here's the new chapter! I'm sorry it's taken so long!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters. All hail Queen Rowling.
Harry couldn't remember feeling more murderous than he had when the man who betrayed his parents stood before him.
Harry shouted many things at him until Wormtail waved a wand and silenced him, declaring that the Potter manipulations would not work. He explained that Harry would either offer up his blood to the rise of the Dark Lord, or Ginny would be beaten to death until he did so. They would start with her, and move through every single person he loved until Harry Potter had no will and gave the Death Eaters his blood.
"We have waited, Potter," Wormtail spat the name venomously. "And Lucius has finally tracked the whereabouts of the tomb of Tom Riddle Sr. When we have your blood, we will raise the Dark Lord and be under all of his glory."
"Why?" Harry hissed, tears in his eyes as he looked upon the reason for his orphanage. "How could you do it? Betray them?"
Wormtail's eyes faltered.
"What about the son of your closest friend?" Ginny went on. "You destroyed the life of a boy you once held and adored. I've seen the pictures—you were there when Harry was born. You made that mistake long ago, but you can make it right tonight."
"I've waited my whole life to ask you why," Harry's chest felt tight. If he could stall Wormtail, he could figure something out... "Just tell me why."
Peter opened his mouth for a moment, but abruptly closed it. His eyes hardened. "Your father treated me like swine, and the Dark Lord assured me that I would be important, like I never was to your father!" he straightened what he could of his hunched back and threw Ginny in front of him. A sickening crunch sounded from her wrist, making Harry lurch forward with pleas to not hurt her.
"You have one hour, Potter, or she dies."
Harry lasted only four minutes and two seconds.
It took Wormtail what Harry assumed was about two minutes to get Ginny upstairs. The other minute must have been getting her settled. The last minute was her desperate screams, and in turn Harry's screams for her.
"I'LL DO IT!" He yelled with tears in his eyes. "STOP! I'LL DO IT!"
"No you bloody well will not," a snarky voice said from behind him. Harry whirled around in his chains and saw a little elf with a nervous smile, clutching the trouser leg of Draco Malfoy. He had to blink a few times when the elf waved awkwardly.
He couldn't help it.
He hit his knees.
"What...the actual...fuck?"
Draco blinked. "Sorry, dear. You are not my type, and this is not the time. Your girlfriend will be fine and you will keep that blood to yourself. I sure as hell am not watching the Dark Lord rise again and my Father destroying even more of my life."
Harry shook his head. "Where are we?"
"The cellar of my home."
"We're at your house?!"
"Manor, actually."
Draco waved his wand and Harry's chains were undone. He ignored the dried blood on his wrists, helping the still slightly drugged Harry to a full stand.
"What's your brilliant plan?" Harry asked as he straightened out.
"I haven't gotten that far yet," Draco admitted. "I've got to figure out who is in the room and where."
"Invisibility charm," Harry said instantly. Draco snapped his fingers in agreement and immediately murmured a spell over himself, following with Harry. Since they would need Dobby for escape, Draco did the same to him. He made sure they were powerful, just in case.
"Wait, Malfoy," Harry stopped him. "I need to make sure these people pay. We have to be discreet, so that the Ministry can be flooding in here before anyone has a chance to escape."
Malfoy twitched. "My parents will be taken. My mother won't deserve it."
Harry chose not to have a heart to heart about Death Eaters and their crimes, at least in that moment. They formed a plan and quietly made their way up the stairs of the dungeon-cellar-place-of-horror. Malfoy and Harry slowly followed Dobby to where they were holding Ginny.
"Tell me this, Potter," Draco muttered. "Who would you kill to protect the girl you love?"
Harry paused and sighed sadly. "I loathe to say it, but...anyone I couldn't avoid killing to get to her, I would take out without thought. If necessary though, I would not wish to ever kill anyone."
And they silenced themselves as an invisible Dobby touched their trouser legs, tugging them to be quiet. Harry refrained from sprinting, knowing there would an enormous amount of noise if he did. He heard Draco murmur a silencing spell, which made him note in the back of his mind that the Malfoy boy was smarter than he thought.
Dobby tugged them on their way to the second floor, where a man Harry recognized as Dolohov sat guard outside an ornate black stone door. Malfoy stunned him instantly, and he slumped in his chair. Another scream from Ginny surged Harry to burst through the door, where Malfoy easily took out Fenir Greyback.
Harry had to stop in his tracks, even as Draco removed the invisibility spell. Ginny lay on a stone table, in only her bra and underwear. Her wrists looked as if Greyback had clutched them in his nails, puncturing the skin there. She had various bruises and cuts, as well as a busted lip. She was like this because of him, and it had all happened so quickly. Every cut a bruise was fresh.
"Harry," Ginny whispered, tears falling down her face. "No."
"He isn't doing anything stupid, Weasley," Draco said, but his voice was surprisingly smooth. He turned to Harry. "Are you going to let me use healing spells? I don't know much, but I can try to close the wounds."
"Whatever you can do," Harry's voice croaked. "Please."
"Harry..." Ginny sounded strained. "Narc...cissa...find her."
Malfoy frowned as he murmured spells, waving his wand over her body to stop the marks made by Greyback. Harry was appalled when she shakily pushed herself up to reveal slashes on her back. The blood was dried, and the wounds looked a couple hours old. Had this happened the first time they tortured her while he was still asleep? Had she hidden that from him?
When Draco finished the small bit that he knew (Harry made a note to ask about that later), Harry scooped her into his arms, while Draco began the spells again.
"Harry," Ginny said more firmly this time. "Narcissa. Wands. She said..." Ginny took a shuddering breath. "In her rooms. Our wands and my rings."
"She told you?" Draco smiled lightly.
"She trusted that Harry would make it out somehow," Ginny managed out. "So she whispered to me when she was removing my clothes and jewelry. She was...so...motherly...she took away the pain the first time so that I barely felt anything."
Ginny's eyes drifted. Harry's heart squeezed, but he had faith she would be alright. Instead he looked to Draco. "Can you lead us to your mother's room?"
Draco gave a short nod before making the trio invisible again. "She has flu powder in her room."
"We'll alert whoever we need to come here and then we go to St. Mungos," Harry insisted.
"I'm at your command," Draco drawled grumpily. He led them along the corridors of his home, Harry carrying a barely conscious Ginny. He was certain now that she'd lied to him when she said they hadn't done much before he woke up. She looked incredibly weak for the small amount of time he and Draco had been figuring out a plan.
"I am so sorry, sweetheart," Harry murmured. "We're going to make it alright, that I can promise you."
They came upon a large sort of meeting room, where Draco halted their actions. He murmured another silencing spell and passed. Harry felt himself and Ginny bump into Draco's suddenly still form at seeing Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy through the open doorway.
"The girl has most likely passed out," Lucius smirked. "Narcissa darling, go check on her. We must make sure Fenir hasn't gotten too carried away."
"She's no use to us dead until the hour is up," Yaxley straightened his collar. "Mistress Malfoy, I believe your husband gave you an order?"
"Let us not talk to my wife that way, if you care," Lucius sneered.
Harry held back a snort. At least he had one redeeming quality.
Harry felt Draco tugging him forward. Harry let himself be led up two more flights of stairs. He was thankful for his and Ginny's morning runs, as he was only slightly out of breath when they reached the top. Draco removed the charms once they entered a large bedroom. Unlike the rest of the elaborate manor, this room was white marble, with rose pink bedding and light brown furniture accents that seemed so oddly warm for a Black who married a Malfoy. Harry brushed the thought away and laid Ginny on the plush blankets draped across a lounge chair and kissed her forehead lovingly.
Draco easily unlocked his mother's bedside drawer and began pulling out various items. Two wands, Ginny's amulet, and Ginny's engagement ring. It was followed by a single mirror that Harry always kept on his person.
"Give me that!" Harry said urgently. He raised it in front of his face. "Sirius! Sirius, can you hear me?"
Sirius' face appeared in view. "Thank God, Harry, where are you?"
"Malfoy Manor," Harry replied. "They have Anti-apparation charms up though, help needs to flu in by Narcissa Malfoy's bedroom. She and Draco Malfoy are aiding Ginny's and my escape. Wait two minutes so we can get Ginny to St. Mungos."
"Aurors are on their way, I'll meet you at the hospital."
"Alright."
"Harry, I love you."
"I love you too, Sirius."
Harry tucked the mirror into his pocket and went back to the fireplace. He pocketed Ginny and his wands before scooping his fiancée back into his arms. Draco scooped a large amount of Floo powder into his palm. Looking at Harry, he nodded and threw it into the fireplace. When the flames turned emerald, Draco grabbed Harry's shoulder. Together they stepped into the fire.
"ST MUNGOS HOSPITAL FOR MAGICAL MALADIES AND INJURIES!"