Chapter 5: Away
It took eight months and four days in the Désespoir Room for Luna and Draco to achieve what they had been planning for almost a year. Draco had studied Anamagi in his remaining time at Hogwarts with Professor McGonagall. He knew how to do it, and he knew what they were doing was illegal, though that was of next to no importance now. The months had passed in a haze of pain, thanks to the countless spells, hexes and curses Bellatrix and other Death Eaters 'practiced' on them. The worst had been when Draco had broken a rib when Bellatrix sent him flying into the stone wall, though his mother had sneaked him some Skellagrow in his food.
So here they were, eight months and four days later, within the dark stone walls that Draco called the Désespoir Room. It was the darkest part of the night, not quite Midnight, according to Draco's watch. The stolen wand lay between them, covered by a blanket of shadows, the only light being from the crack under the heavy stone door. Draco and Luna were crouched on the ground, that wand between them, and for a long moment, they looked at each other.
"You first." Draco said thinking she desered to be out of here more than he did. Luna nodded and reached for the wand. She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, than pressed the tip of the wand to her head, the last part of the spell that would complete the Animagus process. Luna whispered the incantation, then dropped the wand with a gasp, falling backwards to the floor, clutching her skull.
"Luna," Draco whispered, hurrying over to her. Her eyes changed first, but not much. Their deep blue turned amber, and her skin turning light brown, its texture changing into soft feathers. His hand that had been supporting her head fell back in astonishment, for Luna's wings had lifted her off the stone floor. The huge barn owl circled the room once, twice, than dropped to the floor as Luna, her smile wide.
She thrust the wand at him, whispering, "Your turn."
He repeated the process, and he felt pain in his muscles, that seemed to be clenching and contracting. It was painful, but according to McGonagall that stopped after the first few transformations. When the pain receded, he looked at his surroundings as if they were in sunlight. His senses seemed to have become ten times keener, his powerful back legs clearly built for speed, his clawed feet a powerful weapon, as were his sharp fangs. His long tail just another reminder that he was now an animal. The white wolf looked at Luna through new eyes, and he again envisioned her the day he had first seen her, fresh and free.
Free.
That's what they would be now. He concentrated on Draco Malfoy, his human form, and he felt again that strange sensation that his muscles and bones were being stretched and rearranged. He looked down at his now claw-less hands. When he glanced up again, he saw Luna staring at the ceiling, and he knew she was remembering how the air had slid under her feathers, flying. Free.
He gave a silent whoop of joy, and hugged her. She rested her face against his chest for a moment, then they broke apart.
"Where will we go?" he asked. She answered without hesitation.
"My house. Daddy built a safe room under the bottom floor in case Blibbering Humdingers broke through the Dirigible Plum barricade."
Draco decided not to comment on the Blibbering Humdingers, but he nodded his approval of this hiding place, he knew the protective enchantments that would protect them from the Death Eaters.
Two days later, they seized their chance. Narcissa Malfoy, thin and pale, opened the door, to see nothing but darkness. She drew her wand, whispered "Lumos.", but still nothing. She quickly glanced from side to side, thinking of ambush. Still, nothing. She carefully advanced into the room, wary.
"Show yourselves." She commanded.
Nothing.
Narcissa turned to see something that made her heart do a sort of back flip. A huge barn owl and a large white wolf were running and flying up the stairs, the protective enchantments had been let down for her to bring them food and water. At first she did not understand, but after a moment,
"Bella! Lucius! They've escaped!"
Draco felt his heart hammering in the wolf's chest. Luna soared above him, above the head of Dolohov, who appeared out of nowhere. He raised his wand, his mouth open, a curse forming on his lips, but Draco fastened his sharp fangs in the man's arm. It was strange to find such a thing in his own mouth, and Draco quickly released it when he felt blood trickling in his mouth. Dolohov fell to the ground, screaming and writing in pain. Luna swooped low over Bellatrix, her claws extended in an attempt to give her a few good scratches. But Bellatrix was quicker than Dolohov, and screamed "Stupify!".
The well aimed spell hit Luna and she fell to the ground. Bellatrix's scream of triumph was lost in Draco's howl. He ran to Luna as Bellatrix brought her foot down on Luna's wing. Draco heard a sickening snap, and Luna's wing flopped awkwardly at her side.
When Draco reached her, he snarled at Bellatrix who backed away, her wand still raised. Draco gently grabbed Luna in his teeth, and ran for the exit, using his highly acute senses to dodge the rain of hexes and curses. The door stood open in front of him, and he leaped into the air, the limp owl still in his jaws as his front paws slammed into the door, which opened under his massive weight.
