A slight clinking of cutlery in the utter silence of the big, dimly lit kitchen in the early morning. No word was shared between the two brothers, the older one pouring himself his second glass of fire whisky as the younger stared at his unappetizing breakfast.

The news of the Department of Mysteries attack had circulated throughout the school the same night. Draco's and Harry's disappearance had been the main topic of conversation in the dormitories; and the same inquiries were in every mouth: Where were they? Were they alive? Were people looking for them?

In the Slytherin common room, the conversations had been quite different;

"Did Draco's father really die?" "Had the Malfoys betrayed the Dark Lord?" And of course: "Will my parents be safe?"

Theodore had received a very short and formal letter from his brother during the night, informing him of the arrest of his father and other Death Eaters. And like many of the Death Eater's sons and daughters, he had decided to return home at dawn.

Theo didn't really know how to react to this sudden change in his life; he had never been close to his father—quite the opposite. Since the death of his mother, he had been growing up in a violent household with ideologies neither he nor his brother shared, as well as great neglect. His arrest was therefore not particularly devastating news, although Theo wasn't sure what would happen for him and his brother now that they were on their own.

He put down his fork and looked upon his brother, finally determined to ask a question that had been stuck in his head since the previous night.

"Alex?"

"Mmmh?"

Alexander kept his gaze locked on his glass, his mind obviously wandering somewhere else.

"Do you know where Draco is?"

His brother finally looked up at him with a frown.

"No." He only said.

"Do you know if he is okay?"

"No."

Theo gulped, absently fiddling with his fork. He had learned about Lucius Malfoy's death two hours after his best friend's departure, when Crabbe had mentioned it during dinner. It had been difficult to believe. As little as he knew about the Dark Lord—having never been interested in joining his side—he was still aware, like everybody else, of how important the Malfoy family was among his clan.

Lucius' death had probably been the consequence of a grave betrayal, something that would necessarily carry over to the rest of his family.

"He's in danger, isn't he?"

"I don't know, Theo." Alexander sighed.

He got up from his chair and trailed toward the cupboards, under the perplexed gaze of Theodore.

"He's not your little brother anymore? You don't care about him anymore?" Theo asked with bitterness in his voice.

Alex put down the plate he had just grabbed from the drawer and turned to him.

"Look, the only little brother I have is you, Theo, and now that it's only us, I have to protect you."

"Protect me from what?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Theo!" Alex hurtled to the table, laying both hands on the wooden surface in front of Theo's plate. "You-know-who killed his father; he will kill whoever is in his way to get Potter! Dad is in jail, mom is dead; it's only you and me, ok?"

Theo gaped at him, his cheeks suddenly growing red from frustration.

"Draco needs us— and so does Harry."

Alex shook his head,

"No, no, no, I don't think you heard me right; there is no Draco anymore, and even less Potter! I don't know how you managed to become close to Harry Potter, but you'll have to forget him very quickly! We're not putting ourselves in any danger!"

The younger Nott was now on his feet, at the same level as Alexander, who let out a deep sigh when he spotted his brother's anger.

"Look, Theo. I feel deeply sorry for Draco too; you know I like him, but—I have to protect you; you're my only concern. And I'll do whatever I need to keep you safe and away from whatever is happening with you-know-who."

"But they're my friends—" Theo argued.

"And you're my brother!"

The tension kept increasing between the two; Theo wasn't used to fighting with his brother, the two boys having always stuck together since they were toddlers; however, something seemed to have changed; Alex had changed.

"What side are you on—?" Theo muttered,

He saw his brother purse his lips, his breathing loud and heavy.

"None." He answered flatly, "I'm not on any side; just you—and me."

Theo shook his head, "We can't be on any side, Alex. It doesn't work like this.

"I won't let you go anywhere near danger, no matter what you say or think of me."

It looked like Alex had closed the conversation; he went back to his plate that was still on the kitchen counter, where he started pouring cold porridge.

"I want to go to the Malfoys' manor." Theo said, not willing to let his brother win the argument.

"Stop, Theo."

Theo ignored him and continued;

"You know I can apparate; you taught me yourself. If I want to go check on Draco, I'll do it by myself."

"No, you won't! I won't let you!" Alex warned him as he got back to the table with his breakfast.

Theo glanced through the kitchen window. A thick fog obstructed the landscape around their old house; he could see no further than the first barrier a few yards from their door. The Malfoys' manor was only a few hours away from their home; he remembered the first time he had gone there, in the summer following their first year at Hogwarts. He and Alex had accompanied their father to the manor, where they had spent the entire day playing cards and chess until the rain had finally let up, allowing them to play in the huge courtyard that surrounded the manor. He wasn't sure what his dad and Lucius Malfoy had talked about this day, but he recalled clearly how the two men had locked themselves in Malfoy's desk room with two other men —Rockwood and Crabbe, if he remembered well —while Draco's mother had surveilled the kids, making sure they didn't need anything.

"Fine." Theo said,

He kicked his chair out of the way, before dashing out of the room.

He crossed the entrance, where a staircase led to their bedrooms, when his eyes laid on the door, then on his shoes stored under a small bench.

He glanced furtively behind him to see if his brother was still in the kitchen and retrieved his shoes. As he was lacing his sneakers, his mind was flooded with plans and ideas. He just needed to see Draco; to make sure he was safe. That's it. Nothing more. He wouldn't stay; as soon as he saw his friend, he would go back home.

But what if Draco wasn't safe?

Theo shook his head. He had, in fact, no idea what to do; it would nevertheless not prevent him from going.

He discreetly opened the front door, careful not to make it creak. The Notts lived in a rather old cottage, where the floor and doors were all made of aged oak, making it difficult to go unnoticed, especially when they were just kids—running up and down to play tag, until their father eventually grabbed one by the shirt collar—usually Theo—to put a violent end to their games.

Theo left the house quietly. The wind was particularly cold that morning, like an early autumn breeze, which was unusual for this time of the year. He took a deep breath, trying to get confident about his decision, and took a few steps forward where he could apparate. Eyes shut and feet anchored to the ground, Theo focused. He wasn't old enough to apparate; and even though his brother had taught him the previous year; it still involved more risks than for older wizards.

"THEO! STOP!"

Theo kept his eyes shut when his brother called him from the door;

Focus, focus.

"WAIT!"

He heard Alex running toward him, still shouting for him to stop. It was getting too difficult to concentrate. He eventually turned to Alex with a glare;

"Wait—"

"I'm going, no matter what you say or do." Theo spat.

"I know you will." Alex sighed. He looked defeated by his little brother's stubbornness.

"Draco is my friend." Theo murmured, "And yours too."

"I know—I know, Theo."

Alex looked around, as if trying to come up with another better idea, while Theo waited, shaking his leg impatiently.

"It's dangerous…" Alex said after blowing out a frustrated breath.

"Then don't come." Theo declared before his brother turned his gaze back to him.

Theo backed up a few steps and added:

"But I'm going."

He was about to apparate clumsily—and dangerously—when Alex raised his hands toward him;

"OK—Ok, fine." He shouted to grab Theo's attention. "But not alone, and I'm the one who apparate, not you." He declared, looking skeptical about his own offer. "And if there's any danger, we leave immediately."

"Yeah, fine." Theo rolled his eyes. "Can we go now?"

Alex grabbed his forearm reluctantly, uncertainty still drawn on his face.

"You're annoying, Theo, you know that?"

"Yes. Let's go."

A feeling of intense pressure against his chest and his skull, a black and violent whirlwind, and the plain around their house disappeared.

(***)

Harry landed heavily on cold, hard tiles, Voldemort's long fingers still holding him by the neck while his forehead was about to slip open. His entire face was contracted in agony, preventing him from breathing or even opening his eyes. The cold hand finally let him go. He heard Voldemort walking past him, then Bellatrix hurrying beside her master, whispering fast; she sounded worried, almost frantic.

'Master, are you feeling alright? Are you hurt?"

Harry finally decided to open his eyes. The room they were in was particularly dark and cold. High windows in a gothic style let the faint light of dawn pass through and land on the black tiles. Harry cast a discreet glance to his right; Draco was kneeling beside him, shaking and terrified. He was looking around him with a worried expression, probably in the hope of finding his mother;

They were probably at the Malfoys'. Harry discreetly reached out and squeezed Draco's forearm in an attempt to reassure him—despite his own anxiety. They would surely die—both of them—in long agony.

"I'm fine." Voldemort spat, jerking his arm out of Bellatrix's hands.

Harry turned his head towards him; he looked frustrated, pacing in front of the two boys. Nagini slipped between her master's legs before gazing coldly into Harry's eyes. The pain in his scar grew even worse; he tried to contain his pain by breathing slowly, but nothing seemed to be able to soothe him.

Voldemort finally stopped walking, and turned to Harry, who abruptly stopped breathing. Harry could feel Draco's limbs tremble at his side.

"I don't know how you did it," Voldemort hissed. It took Harry a moment to realize Voldemort was talking about how he had broken free from his possession.

"But it doesn't matter now; you'll die tonight, no matter what you do."

Voldemort approached the boys, leaving Bellatrix and Nagini behind. Harry wanted to recoil or even get up to run away, but his body was unable to move, as if a freezing charm had been cast on him. There was no escape; only death. Voldemort crouched in front of Harry and tilted the boy's head back by grabbing a tuft of his hair. He felt the wizard take his wand that had fallen to the floor and hand it to Bellatrix, his red eyes still fixed on the boy. The woman hurtled towards Voldemort's hand to collect Harry's wand, before returning to her spot without a word; even she knew it wasn't the time to say anything.

Harry winced as Voldemort's grip strengthened around his hair. Voldemort lifted his wand to his victim's neck; then slipped it under Harry's uniform tie while his snake-looking eyes lowered to observe the boy's uniform.

"How does it feel?" He murmured—Harry gulped, his Adam's apple hurting as his neck was being unnaturally twisted backwards—"to wear my house's colors?"

Harry didn't answer; his eyes stayed locked into Voldemort's, refusing to blink or give any sign of weakness.

"Dumbledore will arrive; it's just a matter of seconds." The young man whispered hoarsely, trying to convey confidence in his eyes.

The man sniggered, showing his frightening teeth way too close to Harry's face.

"Nobody will show up, Harry Potter. Do you actually believe this manor is not fully protected from people like you?"

The tip of his wand sank into Harry's neck, right on an artery.

"Only Slytherins can penetrate this manor; only worthy blood is allowed to pass beyond my magical barrier."

It was getting too difficult for Harry to conceal his fear. So that was it; they were doomed to die alone, without any way of defense. And he would die with the guilt of having brought Draco to their executions.

"You know, Harry Potter," Voldemort said after staring at his prey for a few moments, "I'm starting to feel tired of our little chase."

"Oh, me too." Harry spat, scowling. It made Voldemort smirk, as if he actually enjoyed Harry's arrogance.

"What about ending it now, then?"

"Please—don't," Draco begged in a quiet, broken voice; the boy was still kneeling beside Harry and was watching their confrontation helplessly. Voldemort slowly turned his head toward the teenager with raised brows, as if he had just remembered he was there.

"Draco, you're here." Voldemort grinned,

"I am deeply sorry. You see, your friend's presence grabbed all my attention; I almost forgot about you."

Harry tried to look at Draco, but Voldemort's grip prevented him from turning his head; he could only imagine his friend's distress.

"You must feel bored, waiting like this…"

Draco didn't immediately answer; Harry could hear his loud and irregular breathing, although all he could see was Voldemort's and Bellatrix's evil smiles. His scar hurt so much; Harry was getting exhausted; even death seemed like a relief.

"Bella, go fetch Narcissa; the poor boy must be worried sick without his mommy."

The witch obeyed immediately; she looked utterly excited by what was happening around her, just like a child waiting for Christmas presents.

As soon as she disappeared from the room, Voldemort refocused on Draco: "Don't worry, I asked Greyback to keep your mom company while you were gone."

At that moment, both Harry's and Draco's hearts stopped; even though Harry couldn't see his friend, he knew how pale his face must have turned.

Every second seemed endless on this freezing floor, waiting for Voldemort to decide what to do with them; Harry felt cold, his arms and lips quivering with each exhalation. He didn't even know if it was really cold—despite the approaching summer—or if his body was just preparing to lose its life.

Eventually he heard footsteps approaching, and Draco called out to his mother, who reciprocated with relief but also concern. At the sight of Voldemort's face, which suddenly darkened, Harry knew that something else was going on.

"Master, I saw him coming to the main door; he said he came to see you." Bellatrix hurried to announce as soon as Voldemort's eyes laid on the intruder.

"Severus Snape."

(***)

"We never should've sent Snape; I don't understand how Dumbledore can trust him so blindly." Sirius snarled for the umpteenth time.

Lupin and he were crouched behind a bush next to the open gate Snape had stepped through, as he was the only Slytherin of the Order. Moody and Tonks were posted on the other side, and the four of them were impatiently waiting for something to happen.

"I should've fucking been a Slytherin!" Sirius added, swearing mostly to himself while his friend attempted to calm him beside him.

"Sirius, be patient."

It was highly frustrating for them to see the manor but not be able to come closer, especially when they knew Harry could die at any moment.

Lupine straightened up slightly to peek between the leaves of the bush; it was the fifth time that he had done so; and the door to the mansion was still closed, with no sign of Harry or young Malfoy.

"Did Harry really go to the Ministry to save Malfoy's son—?" Sirius asked all of a sudden.

Lupin gazed at him, also trying to grasp what they had missed.

"It seems like it." He murmured,

"What the—"

They all heard the same cracking sound a few meters away from Lupin and Sirius. Two young men, tall and gangly-looking with brownish hair, appeared not far from the gate. They were young, probably not much older than Harry. The four wizards pointed their wands at the two intruders, who seemed surprised to see themselves surrounded by armed strangers. The older boy directly raised his wand, ready to strike on the first occasion, before Lupin asked with furrowed brows;

"Theodore Nott?"

Theo squinted at his former professor with a grimace,

"Professor Lupin—?"

Moody didn't look convinced by their little school reunion; actually, he wasn't even listening to them. His wand was still aimed at the older brother.

"What are you doing here?" Lupin hissed, taking a step forward.

Sirius held his friend by the arm and asked, "Are they Harry's classmates?"

"Decline your identity." Moody ordered, before Lupin could answer.

Alex, who hadn't let his guard down, replied with distrust.

"And you? Who are you?"

"Aurors. And if you don't lower your wand now, we will have to attack you, young man."

Theo pressed his hand on his brother's forearm with a nod.

"Do what they say." He whispered to Alex before turning to Moody.

"My name is Theodore, and he is my older brother Alexander. We are not Death Eaters. We just wanted to check on Draco Malfoy."

"What was the first spell I taught you in your third year?" Lupin asked quickly, not wanting to risk Harry's rescue because of them.

Theo pondered for a few seconds, then said;

"Riddikulus...to defeat boggarts."

"Alright, it's him; you can lower your wands." Lupin said to Moody and Tonks.

Alex followed his brother behind the bush where Lupin and Sirius were

"Draco and Harry have been captured by you-know-who; this is why we're here." Lupin explained as soon as the boys crouched beside them.

"What?"

Chills went through Theo's body; so Voldemort was inside Draco's manor with him and Harry? It was even worse than everything he had imagined.

"Why are you here? Can't you go and save them?" Theo asked with an accusatory tone.

Sirius tensed; he looked like he wanted to slap the boy.

"We can't—" Lupin whispered, "Only Slytherins can enter this courtyard."

Theo glanced at Alex, who immediately shook his head, as he knew his little brother too well.

"We could go!" He insisted, but Alexandre wasn't the only one to contradict his idea.

A new sound echoed throughout the courtyard, causing everyone to turn their attention to the manor; the front door had finally opened.

(***)

"Severus Snape" Voldemort said solemnly, finally releasing Harry's hair.

The boy felt his body loosening; he fell forward on his hands as Voldemort stood up to greet his guests.

Harry turned his head to his right. Narcissa was being held hostage between Bellatrix and Greyback; she was staring at her son with great worry—like any mother scared for her child.

Harry then glanced to the other side of Bellatrix; Snape was indeed standing in the dark room, and he was walking slowly toward his master, calm and relaxed.

Harry's pulse quickened, and for the first time that morning, a glimmer of hope rose in his chest. Snape had come; would they finally be saved?

"Master," Snape said, his eyes holding Voldemort's gaze.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your sudden presence?"

Voldemort looked slightly wary, his wand flailing; his body wasn't as in control as when he was talking to Harry a few minutes earlier.

"Did Dumbledore send you?" He added, when Snape laid his eyes on Harry and Draco.

Snape looked up at his interlocutor and answered;

"I will be very honest with you, Master; Dumbledore indeed sent me to bring back the boys safe and sound."

Voldemort tensed, but when Bellatrix pointed her wand at the man instead of Narcissa, her master stopped her with a flick of his hand.

"Aurors are waiting outside, right in front of the gates. The old man is expecting me to help Potter and Malfoy flee." Snape continued when Bellatrix lowered her wand away from him.

"Obviously, I didn't come to succeed in this mission; I might have to tell Dumbledore I very unfortunately—failed," he said with a slight smile.

All the feeble hopes Harry had found back suddenly evaporated like smoke. He saw Draco gaping at his favorite teacher; the man he had always deeply trusted during all his years at Hogwarts. It didn't really surprise Harry to witness Snape's treachery, as he had always doubted the man's loyalty to Dumbledore; but it was definitely a huge shock for Draco to realize his head of house would let him die.

Voldemort approached the Death Eater, his mistrust switching to pride for his precious follower. He placed his hand on Snape's shoulder and said,

"Very well, Severus; I will make sure you can admire the spectacle."

"Oh, I will, master."

Snape met Harry's gaze for a brief instant, and the teenager couldn't glimpse any emotion in his dark eyes. He was like an empty book. A strong taste of bitterness invaded Harry's mouth. How could he have been so naive, sharing so much private information with that man? Ron had been right; Snape had only made it easier for the Dark Lord to invade his brain.

When Voldemort refocused on the boys, Harry finally decided to avert his eyes from his teacher.

"You see, Severus, we have two lovebirds here who, by their naivete, tried to save each other in vain."

There was no room for shame in Harry anymore; not for Snape. He watched Voldemort draw nearer, leaving the death eater to observe the scene from behind.

"You understand now, Potter, how love brings nothing good to life; love is a destructive feeling, even dangerous."

He leaned forward,

"How could you survive in a world where all your decisions depend on your heart rather than your mind? That's it: the biggest difference between you and me."

Harry cast a glance at Draco, then Narcissa;

"I agree—you will never understand what it feels like to be protected by someone who loves you." Harry muttered as he glared back at Voldemort.

The monster smirked, visibly not convinced by Harry's point of view. He straightened up and sighed;

"Potter, Potter—I can't wait to see your lifeless body lay on that floor; but I must admit, a part of me might miss your credulity."

Voldemort pointed his wand at him; "Crucio!"

Thousands of knives stabbed every inch of Harry's body; his exhaustion kept him from holding his scream as this excruciating pain added itself to his throbbing forehead."Stop! Please!" Draco shouted. The boy crawled to Harry despite his mother's calls. But in this torture, Harry could hear the hysteric laughter of Bellatrix and Greyback more than the Malfoys' voices. Voldemort broke the spell, leaving Harry curled up on the tiles.

"Severus, would you want to play a little bit before I finish him off?"

Snape's eyes widened slightly; he hadn't expected to be involved in the torture session, and Voldemort seemed to have suspected it. Voldemort backed away with his arms spread out, like an invitation for the man to approach the injured teenager, and enjoy himself. Snape quietly nodded, and under the alarmed gaze of Draco; he aimed his wand at Harry and cast the same unforgivable spell.

Snape focused on ignoring his student's screams as well as Draco's cries; he held the spell long enough to make Harry shed tears and Voldemort gloat.

Just kill me, please. Harry prayed, unable to bear the agony anymore. He didn't realize Draco was staggering to his feet to try stopping Snape, until the man switched the curse to the blonde boy, who loudly fell back on the ground. Panting, Harry rolled onto his back, his head buzzing relentlessly. He was completely drained of all strength, but he forced himself to look at Draco.

"STOP IT!" Narcissa cried. Greyback held her firmly with a sadistic smirk on his face.

Snape briefly glanced at her; tears welled up in her eyes, but he didn't stop. Draco's screams were filling the room, making Harry feel even more sick. He had finally found the strength to move when, suddenly, the panes of the windows that encircled the room began to vibrate dangerously. Snape looked up again at the blonde woman who was trembling with rage, and finally lowered his wand.

Harry grabbed Draco's limp hand and squeezed it as tightly as he could, as if there were only the two of them in this room.

Voldemort turned to Snape; he seemed to genuinely enjoy including him in all his decisions, much to Bellatrix's jealousy.

"What do you think, Severus? Should I kill Harry Potter? Or should I make him watch his little friend die first?"

"Don't kill Draco—" Harry said weakly, even though he hadn't been invited to the conversation, "It's me you want, not him…"

"Harry, don't" Draco whispered, but Harry kept his attention on Voldemort.

He saw Snape looking again at Narcissa, this time more intently, as if he were trying to read her mind.

"I would suggest killing the young Malfoy first." Snape finally said.

"Severus, please…" Narcissa sobbed,

Voldemort looked intrigued by the Death Eater's idea; he walked slowly around the man, his hand brushing Snape's back.

"And why are you suggesting this?"

Snape's eyes fell on Harry, who was glaring at him with great disdain.

"Because Potter cares more about others' lives than his own." He declared.

Harry only dreamed of strangling him, he wanted to see his face contort in pain and become white from suffocation. He wanted to watch him die slowly and in pain.

"I see, it's a very good point, Severus; you always come up with the best observations." Voldemort murmured beside him, his hand still on Snape's shoulder.

The Dark Lord took a step toward Draco, but Harry crawled between them, his body concealing his friend. "No!" He hollered.

Narcissa was also yelling; her tears were blinding her as they were flowing ceaselessly down her cheeks, causing her sister to roar with laughter.

"Calm down, sweetie, relax." Greyback was murmuring in her ear, his pointy fingers squeezing her arms. "I could sink my fangs into your neck in a split second."

She didn't seem to care about her fate in any way. All her attention was on her son, kneeling in the center of the room, something only Snape seemed to understand among the Death Eaters.

"Should I?" Snape asked, pointing at Harry, who was protecting Draco like a shield with his arms outspread.

"Please." Voldemort grinned,

Snape stepped forward, and with not much struggle, he grabbed Harry's arms to pull him away from Draco.

"Let me go!" Harry shouted, wrestling with the little strength he had left. "Don't fucking touch me!"

Snape dragged him in the opposite direction from Narcissa and Draco and immobilized him firmly. Harry's rage was growing stronger than ever before; and his lack of physical strength made him feel so upset and vulnerable that he started crying out of frustration.

"You backstabbing bastard!" Harry continued to swear at Snape, who wasn't budging behind him.

Harry watched helplessly as Voldemort aimed his wand at Draco, under the heartbreaking screams of Narcissa that covered up Snape's sudden whisper in Harry's ear.

"Don't move"

It only made the boy's wrath explode; how dared he ask him to stay still?

"Trust me." Snape added, so low that Harry almost didn't hear it.

"I'd rather die!" He shouted, but Snape placed his hand on the boy's mouth to silence him.

Harry screamed, his voice muffled by Snape's sweaty palm. Even in his state of pain and exhaustion, Harry's brain managed to find some adrenaline to kick the man's limbs. His teacher's proximity and his direct contact with his skin nauseated him.

When Voldemort opened his mouth to cast the death curse, Harry and Narcissa's screams echoed, blending together from both sides of the room. Harry's frenzied rage consumed him entirely; his level of turmoil was beyond everything imaginable. He didn't even feel Snape's hands tensing, his wand ready to intervene if his plan didn't work out.

"DON'T TOUCH MY SON!"

In a loud, strong commotion, all the window glasses exploded, and the ceiling above started to collapse from the quake shaking the room. Bellatrix and Greyback, who both surrounded Narcissa, got violently thrown backwards; Greyback collapsed as his head hit the wall in full force. Dozens of sharp glass shards were propelled through the room, cutting the Death Eaters exposed skins. Harry closed his eyes. Debris fell all over him and Snape before the glass reached their bodies, and as wooden planks hit the floor, Harry felt Snape's grip release him.

Narcissa didn't seem to realize what she had just done; as soon as the explosion occurred, freeing her from the Death Eaters, she retrieved Harry's and her wand from her sister's dress and immediately ran to her son, who was curled up between the rubbles of the collapsed ceiling, glasses, and fallen candlesticks. Strangely, he didn't look hurt, as if he had been spared from his mother's outburst.

"Draco!" She cried as she took him in her arms.

Draco was in shock, staring at the spot where Voldemort had stood a few seconds earlier, a green light forming at the tip of his wand. But now Voldemort was on the floor, somewhere, covered by wood and dust. As soon as they spotted something moving—certainly Voldemort trying to get up— Draco grabbed his mother's wrist.

"We have to go!"

She nodded and helped him up, her arms shaking as much as his. She placed Harry's wand in his hand, but her son was glancing around the room in search of his friend. Harry was emerging from the debris with what strength he had left. He had no scratches or blood on his body or face, as if he too had been protected.

"Harry!" Draco called out to him as he staggered towards him, but his mother grabbed him by the arm, her gaze fixed on Voldemort, who was starting to get up.

"I won't leave without Harry!" Draco insisted. He looked at his mother insistently; his wound inflicted the day before had reopened, and new blood flowed over the dried blood.

Narcissa glanced at Harry, who had finally managed to kneel. He looked exhausted and lost despite the absence of injury; his glasses were broken on his nose, and his uniform was badly damaged. The dust falling from the ceiling had turned his black hair almost white; he was unrecognizable. Narcissa hesitated for a few seconds, torn between saving her son as quickly as possible and her maternal instinct refusing to leave another teenager in danger.

"Draco, run for the door now!" She exclaimed, pushing him towards the entrance of the mansion with her arm; Draco looked confused. He watched his mother run towards Harry, but just as she was level with the boy, Draco saw Voldemort straighten up; his eyes full of rage and ready to kill.

Narcissa grabbed Harry's arm to help him up. Snape was lying behind, inert—he must have been knocked out by a plank. Harry seemed to have stolen his wand when he got up; it was now clutched in his shaking hand.

"Mom!" Draco called,

"AVA—"

Narcissa turned sharply to Voldemort, and, her wand clutched in her hand, she screamed without even thinking; "PROTEGO!"

She shouted in perfect unison with her son, who had just cast the same spell with Harry's wand.

Voldemort collapsed, and an invisible shield separated him from his three targets. Harry watched dazedly as the monster found itself on the ground once again, before Narcissa's voice snapped him back to reality;

"Come on! Hurry!"

She took his forearm and pulled him towards the entrance hall. Draco opened the door in front of them, and right before his mother's shield broke, they finally left the manor.

Daylight blinded Harry; he felt like he hadn't been outside for several days when it had only been a few hours. They ran down the stone steps that separated the mansion from the courtyard. Every step he took was torture; every inch of his body was steeped in pain, making the simplest gestures difficult. Draco seemed in a relatively similar state, trying to hide his grimaces as he ran beside his mother.

They headed towards the gates at the far end of the large yard enclosed by trees and fences. If Snape had told the truth, there should be Aurors posted ahead; ready to help them. Sirius's face loomed in Harry's mind; just five minutes earlier, he had thought of never seeing him again.

But as he squinted at the gate in the distance, what he believed to recognize made no sense: Theodore was rushing to the entrance of the courtyard, followed closely by a young man who looked like two drops of water despite his more mature features.

"Is that Theo?" Draco asked between two heavy breaths, "And—Alex?"

Narcissa seemed to have recognized them as well; she began to run even faster, her hand gripping her son's tightly, while Harry ran to the other side, slightly behind as he struggled to keep up.

"Draco! Harry!" Theo yelled. A feeling of hope finally returned to Harry when he saw his godfather rush to his classmate's side, then Lupin, Moody, and finally Tonks. It gave him a rush of adrenaline, enough to make him run almost two times faster. However, Sirius' face quickly changed from relief to fear. Harry turned his head briefly behind him to see what his godfather was staring at, and he spotted Bellatrix stepping out of the manor. Her frightening silhouette was approaching them, walking with a limp, madness in her dust-reddened eyes.

"RUN!" He shouted to Draco and his mother, even though they were already dashing as fast as they could.

"We need to apparate!" Narcissa cried, but Harry shook his head,

"We're almost at the gate; we need to get to them!"

A sharp pain gripped his leg, knocking him to the ground.

"Aargh!"

"HARRY!"

Bellatrix had just slashed his calf with a cutting spell. Blood splattered on the black fabric of his pants with an almost unnatural speed.

"Stupefy!"

A curse crossed the yard and hit Bellatrix directly in the chest, who fell backward. Harry first thought Narcissa or Draco had cast the spell, but when he looked up, he realized it was Theo who had just attacked the Death Eater. The two Malfoys had turned around to help Harry up, but as they reached him, Voldemort appeared in turn through the door. Sirius automatically cast a spell to protect his godson, but it only bounced against the invisible barrier, causing him to scream in frustration.

Narcissa was staring in dread at Harry's leg, struggling to keep calm as the dark lord was drawing nearer.

"We need to apparate!" She repeated, but this time it was an order.

Neither Harry nor Draco contradicted her, and she seized the two teens' arms before Voldemort's killing curse hit them. Under a brutal, deafening shout of rage coming from Voldemort, they vanished from the yard.

"NO!" Voldemort roared;

All the trees surrounding the yard caught fire, and every single remaining window of the two-story house exploded.

Alex rushed to his brother, who was about to step through the gates, and pulled him backward.

"Theo don't!" Alex yelled as the teen wriggled out of his arms, but Lupin grabbed him more firmly and dragged him behind the bushes.

"We have to leave, now!" Moody shouted when he joined them.

"NO! We have to help them; they're hurt!"

"They already left!" Tonks spoke with more patience than Moody, as she seemed to understand Theodore's despair. "We'll find them, I promise. They'll be okay."

"And they're with Draco's mom." Alex added with a reassuring tone he hadn't used with his brother for a long time.

"Take the boys to Hogwarts, now!" Moody said to Lupin and Sirius when he felt Voldemort approaching them dangerously.

Lupin tightened his arm around Theo's chest while Sirius grabbed Alex's wrist, and the four of them vanished as swiftly as Harry, Draco, and Narcissa.