Chapter 22

"Harry, come on, bud, wake up."

Harry gasped back into consciousness and coughed to catch his breath, his chest aching. He groaned. Breathing made it hurt more. He opened his eyes to see Ron's concerned ones.

"You with us, Potter?" asked Blaise and Harry turned to look at him and Ginny, both with faces of worry.

"Harry, you okay?" asked Hermione next to Ron.

"Yeah," said Harry with a groan. "I'm good." He groaned as he attempted to sit up and it hurt his chest. "Or I will be. Draco?"

"Don't worry, we got him," said Ginny.

"Good." Harry coughed again. "Let me up."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Blaise as he and Ron helped Harry up. "You were just shot!"

"Not the first time," said Harry "Come on. We've got a hostage to save."

And they went to the two cars parked around the corner, Harry stripping off the ruined shirt and the bulletproof vest. Attached to the vest were several bags of blood, only one punctured. Before going to the rendezvous they went to the federal building and as Ginny and Blaise distracted the guard Ron picked the lock of the armory and Harry grabbed a Kevlar vest. Hermione ran to the medical examination room and grabbed blood bags. Harry had known more then likely Riddle wouldn't let him leave alive. Riddle wasn't known for letting unfinished business stay unfinished. He also knew Riddle wouldn't kill Draco. As the only son of Lucius, Draco still had rights to the fortune his father had and Riddle needed. That was how he seemed to have more money than his accounts said. He was using the money of his associates.

Harry changed into a plain black shirt stashed in Zabini's car, wincing when his bruised chest moved.

"Maybe you should put ice on that," said Ginny.

"I'll be fine," said Harry grabbing the phone and put it on speaker. "Ron, how far?"

"Uh, two, no three miles heading out of town and moving fast," said Ron. "What's the next phase of the plan?"

Harry's mind went blank. He didn't really have anything after slipping the GPS watch in Draco's pocket. He thought they'd get past the security Riddle had and get Draco out. He didn't really have a plan.

Ginny took the phone from him to speak to Ron. "He doesn't have a plan," she said.

"What do you mean he doesn't have a plan?!"

"Hey, I'm making it up as I go," said Harry grabbing the phone back.

"Well, you better make it up fast," said Blaise. "Riddle won't let Draco live forever."

"What do you mean," asked Harry glancing at Blaise.

"I heard the other kids of Riddle's lackeys talk about it, even Draco said it, and Riddle doesn't take failure very well. If one of his people fails a task, he takes it out on the entire family."

"Why the hell would he do that?" asked Ron.

"Ron, calm down," same Hermione soft voice.

"Can't learn a lesson in death," said Ginny.

"Death is a release, not a punishment," said Blaise. "A favorite saying for him. Another is they won't make the same mistake twice."

"Strangely logical for a mad man," said Harry.

They drove till they reached the outskirts of New York where the city ended and the country began, Ron giving them directions over the phone. Finally they came to a campsite.

"Park the cars," said Harry. "We don't want to give anyone a panic attack by driving up their front porch."

"Got it," said Ron. They parked the cars and met between the two vehicles. "What now?"

Harry paused for a moment, worrying his lower lips as he thought and stared up the path.

"Ron, how far is Draco?"

"Five point four kilometers," said Ron looking at the GPS.

"Okay, here's the plan. Blaise, Ginny, head back to the city…"

"Oh, hell no!"

"We're going with you, Harry."

"Look, someone has to get Sirius here," said Harry. "If Riddle is ere, we need to have him arrested, not just to save Draco. I we arrest Riddle, here and now, all of this will be for nothing."

"I don't like getting left out," said Blaise.

"You also don't like getting your hands dirty," said Ginny. Blaise gave her a look but smiled at her. Harry stared at them longingly, remembering the last time Draco looked at him like that hours before.

"You'll get him back, Harry," said Hermione placing a hand on his shoulder. Harry looked over at her.

"Yeah, you will," said Ron. "I'm still annoyed at the guy, but I care about how happy he makes you."

Harry turned to look at his best friend and back at Blaise and Ginny. They nodded. He smiled at them.

"Thanks, guys," he said.

Ginny walked over to Harry and hugged him. "Good luck, Harry."

"We'll bring Black back, man," said Blaise and he and Ginny got back in Blaise's car. The other three watched them leave.

"All right, let's go!" said Harry.

XXXXXXXXX

Draco would have gave into hysteria after he saw Riddle shoot Harry if Riddle wasn't next to him and if he was raised to not cry in front of others. He would have run to his room, locked the door and bowled his eyes out, but he wasn't alone.

"Going to cry?" asked Riddle as the car drove down the street. "Going to weep over you dead lover's body?" Draco didn't answer. Instead he stared straight ahead with his jaw set, fingers clenched and breathing heavily, trying to control himself. "It's funny. By the way you're acting, I would think you didn't care about the dead boy."

Within the next second Draco threw Malfoy pride out the window, launching himself at Riddle across the limo and started punching him before Riddle's guards could react.

"Up yours, you son of a bitch! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

Both of Riddle's bodyguards hauled Draco off Riddle and held him back. Riddle smirked as he wiped blood from his lip.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Now, I see what Potter saw in you," said Riddle. "Have you been hiding that much spark in that shell of yours all these years?"

"Fuck you!"

"Oh, trust me," said Riddle placing a finger under Draco's chin. "I won't be the one being fucked."

Quick as a snake Draco ducked his head and bit Riddle's finger as hard as he could. Riddle yelled and tried to pull his finger away as his guards tried to pull Draco off, but Draco held on, locking his jaw like a pit bull. He didn't even let go when he tasted blood.

One of the guards hit Draco over the temple and the other grabbed his neck, forcing Draco to open his mouth to gasp for air. Draco gasped and Riddle pulled his bleeding finger from Draco's mouth. A small stream of blood flew from Draco's mouth as he spat out blood.

"You little bitch!" Riddle backhanded Draco and he grunted from the force of the blow. "I may have to kill you before you father gets back."

"I don't know where the hell he is," said Draco. "It doesn't matter. Sirius will arrest you and it'll be death row for you."

Riddle smirked at him. "You sure of that?"

Draco continued to glare at Riddle as the limo drove down the street. They drove till they were out of the city and into a woodland area. A sign that read CABINS was placed on the road and they drove right up to one that looked like a billionaires hunting lodge in chick movies, all windows and very few wooden doors. Riddle's guards grabbed him and dragged him inside.

"Since I don't feel like killing you tonight, I'll keep you someplace where you won't cause trouble."

MacNair grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him out of the car toward the cabin. Draco didn't resist but it didn't stop the force behind the pull. MacNair pulled him up the stairs as Riddle lead the way. They dragged Draco into a room and he looked in shock at the dog cage set in the middle of the room.

"What the hell?!"

"This'll keep you out of trouble till your father makes bail," said Riddle. MacNair shoved Draco into the cage and Riddle padlocked it shut. "Then I'll kill you in front of him myself."

"Bit me!" growled Draco.

"Trust me. Before you're dead a lot of biting will happen."

And Riddle left. MacNair grinned at Draco in a way that sent a shiver down his arms before he left too. Draco sat on the hard cage and silently cried, pressing his eyes against his knees and biting his arm to muffle his cries.

Harry was dead. Harry was DEAD! What was he going to do now? They both needed each other. Harry kept Draco from doing something stupid. Harry made Draco happy, made him feel like Draco. Not a miniature of his father or a replacement, but like the Draco Malfoy that loved to run down the street laughing for no reason, that liked to ride a motorcycle at breakneck speeds and loved to stand out in the rain with his arms open wide to welcome the water. Harry made Draco feel free.

When the shot rang Draco went numb. All he saw was Harry falling and the blood flowing from the wound. Harry's shuddered as he fell. It was still framed in Draco's mind.

"I love you."

Those were Harry's last words to Draco. He knew he was more than likely not getting out of there alive, but he still had to try to get Draco out, because that was so Harry.

He shifted and something pressed against his hip uncomfortably. With a grimace Draco reached down to remove the offending object and felt a bump in his back pocket. Curious Draco reached into his pocket and pulled the object out.

It was Harry's watch. The special one with the GPS tracking device Sirius made him wear. When did Harry slip it into Draco's pocket?

Draco's mouth opened in realization. The hug. He had been so happy to see Harry he didn't pay attention to Harry's hands. And more than likely Weasley and Granger would be working to track Draco back to the cabin, call Sirius and get a rescue party.

Draco's eyes tear up as he clutched the watch to his chest and smiled.

"Harry, you jerk. You always had a back-up plan."

XXXXXXXXX

Harry, Ron and Hermione hid in the bushes surrounding the large cabin. All the lights were on, indicating that someone was there and more than one shadow passed the shaded windows.

"You sure he's there?" asked Harry.

"According to the GPS," said Ron. "I can't say exactly where but he's there."

"What's the plan?" asked Hermione.

"Well, there'll be security," said Harry. "Six, twelve guards. Not to mention the alarms."

"Leave the alarms to me," said Ron patting the brown shoulder bag that held his laptop.

"What about the guards," asked Hermione. Harry reached into his denim jacket and pulled out his father's gun. Hermione's eyes widened at the sight of it. "You can't be serious!"

"Never more serious," said Harry putting bullets in the round.

"How much do you have?" asked Ron.

"Ron!"

"I've got two whole boxes," said Harry.

"You're not gonna kill anybody!" said Hermione.

"Oh, and they're just gonna let us waltz in and take Draco back," said Harry clicking the round back in place and putting it in the back of his jeans.

"No, Harry. Wait for Sirius. Wait for the police!"

"Draco will die if we wait," said Harry shooting a glare at Hermione. "I'm not leaving him. I promised I wouldn't."

Hermione looked at them with hesitant looks and saw the determination in Harry's. Reluctantly she nodded. "Fine, but only as a last resort!" she said and Harry nodded.

"Agreed. Ron, get to the security panel outside. Kill everything. Hermione, you're with me."

Both nodded and went to their places. Harry and Hermione moved next to the door and waited for Ron to hit the electricity.

"Look away from the lights so you're not blinded," said Harry quietly. Hermione nodded and kept her head low. In her hands was a branch ready to be used as a club. From inside the house Harry could see two guards laughing and drinking beer.

The lights suddenly shut off, the guards cried out in surprise and both acted. Harry ran up the stairs, opened the now unlocked door and ran into the house. Hermione went around the house and started breaking as many windows as she could, distracting the guards enough for Harry to surprise them.

He went up to MacNair first, wanting to take out the biggest guard first. Swinging his improvised club he hit MacNair's feet from under him and swung the branch across MacNair's stomach, forcing the air out form him. He swung again across the brute's head. MacNair's head snapped with a soft crack. MacNair laid still but Harry could still see the man was slightly breathing.

He heard a cry and turned to see Hermione fall and the second guard raise the club he'd take from her. Quicker then he'd moved in his life Harry reached into his back pocket, took out his father's knife and with quick practiced movements he opened the knife and threw it at the guard. The blade sank into the guard's hand and the guard dropped the club with a cry. Distracted Hermione's feet shot out and connected with the man's groin. The guard groaned again more painfully and Hermione grabbed the dropped club and swung it across the man's head. He went down too.

Hermione dropped the club with a gasp and covered her mouth with her hands to keep from screaming, her entire body shivering.

"Oh my God! Oh my God! I killed him!"

"No you didn't," said Harry walking over to the guard and retrieving his knife.

"You killed him!"

"No, I didn't." Harry looked up to see Hermione still shaking. "Hey, he's alive. I didn't hit anything vital. See, he's still breathing. Now stay focused, Hermione."

She nodded. "Yeah. Yeah."

"Go get Ron and Sirius."

She looked up at him, half in shock and half in fright. "What about you?"

Harry reached behind him and took out his father's gun.

"I have some unfinished business." And he ran upstairs.

XXXXXXXXX

Draco was as much surprised as Riddle's men by the sudden lack of darkness. He had spent the last hour trying to pick the lock of his cage but with over a thousand combinations he'd had a better chance at finding water in the desert.

"Hey, Riddle! Forget to pay your electric bill?" he yelled at an attempt of sarcasm, something Harry would have done at this situation.

Riddle didn't answer, as he didn't have time because the next second there was the sound of breaking glass and men grunting. He heard a familiar shriek and his heart beat faster. Granger, and more than likely Weasley with her.

A few minutes after Granger's cry he heard the floorboards creak softly outside the door, trying to be silent.

"Hey, in here!" he called quietly. The door opened slowly but he couldn't make out who had entered. "Granger? Weasley? Is that you?"

"Draco?"

Draco's hearts stopped and his breathe caught in his throat. The voice he thought he'd never hear again came from the person at the door. He could feel his whole body shake.

"Harry?" The figure moved forward and through the moonlight he saw the supposedly dead face of his boyfriend. "Oh my God, Harry!"

"Hush," said Harry moving to kneel in front of the cage. "It's a long story. We've got to get you out of here first."

"I've tried. It's a combination lock."

Harry looked at the cage in the moonlight. He reached behind him and took out a gun. Draco's eyes widened at the sight of it.

"Oh, God, Harry…"

"Was hoping for silence, but…" He shrugged. "Okay. Move back."

Draco moved as far into the cage as he could and covered his head with his arms. He jumped when he heard the report of the gun and the sound of the cage door swinging open. He looked up to see Harry's smiling face.

"Come on!" he said and Draco scrambled out.

"Very good, Mr. Potter. Old fashioned but very good." Harry and Draco turned to see Riddle standing over them with a gun trained on them. "Very smart. I'll have to double my security from now on."

"Why? It's easier to break in," said Harry moving for his gun. Riddle lifted a finger.

"Ah, ah, ah. None of that. On the floor."

Harry slid the gun out from his waist and set it on the floor.

"Ah, a familiar sight. Hoping to finish what your mother started, boy?"

"That was the plan but you have me at a disadvantage." Harry's eyes flashed behind his glasses. "But I'm still gonna kill you."

"You don't just look like your father. You act like him as well."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"I'd love to keep the chat, reminisce on old time," said Riddle walking into the room. "But I have to kill you both now."

Riddle clicked back the hammer and aimed it straight at Harry but before he pulled the trigger Harry tackled him, holding Riddle's gun above their heads. Riddle's fist connected with Harry's temple and Harry staggered back, but kept a tight hold on the gun hand, pointing it to the wall. Harry kicked out and hit Riddle in the side.

Riddle twisted his hand and wrenched the gun out of Harry's and rammed the butt in Harry's nose. Harry grunted and grabbed his bleeding nose as he glared up at Riddle. He leaning against a room sized window for support.

"So long, Potter."

Two shots rang out within seconds of each other. When the first shot sounded Riddle grunted and his finger jerked, making the round shot off and instead of hitting Harry's chest, went straight through his shoulder and shattered the window behind him.

The next few seconds were in slow motion for Draco, still holding Harry's gun in his trembling hands. He was at first paralyzed when Harry and Riddle started fighting but he quickly shook it off when Riddle threw Harry against the window. He didn't really think when he picked up the Peacemaker and shot. The bullet pierced Riddle's back, making Riddle flinch and his gun fired.

And Harry fell through the second story window.

"Harry!" yelled Draco running to the window as Harry hit the ground, as still as death.

TBC