Chapter 31 – In the Dark of the Night
MacNair spelled his cloak to be warmer as the biting cold attempted to penetrate the sturdy fabric. The clouds shifted and a momentary shimmer of silver moonlight illuminated the estate before them. He cast Propono Vici" and glanced at Dolohov standing impassively beside him, only the slight twitching of one hand revealing his impatience.
"Past one o'clock," he announced and waved at the dark windows in the distant mansion. "Looks like they're all sleep by now." He motioned imperiously to the Death Eaters behind them, and the immobilized ankhegs were brought forward.
"We are ready to begin. I don't need to remind you that failure is not an option. The Dark Lord will only accept the death of the blood traitors and the capture of the Potter brat. It would be far better to die here than at the feet of the Master. If someone falls, don't let them be captured alive."
He nodded to Mulciber and Dolohov, and then focused on his own ankheg, casting the Imperius curse on the beast that would lead the way. He also cast Ostendo Veneficus to detect the ward boundaries. He glanced at the other two, who nodded that they had their beasts under control, then they each cast an Ennervate on the burrowing horrors and sent them to digging the tunnel.
The Death Eaters followed silently, speaking only to shore up the tunnel as it extended under the ground. MacNair saw a flicker before them and held up his hand.
"We're at the ward boundaries. We'll go down another ten feet or so and then begin the slow incline up to the basement." Without pausing for acknowledgement, he commanded 'his' ankheg to dig below the ward boundary and towards the house. The others followed his lead.
Harry awoke as a weight depressed the far side of his bed heralded Draco's arrival. They each had their own suite of rooms across from one another. Harry had been both stunned and amused to discover that Draco had his own wing in the Manor, apart from his parents. On their first day, Draco had given him a quick tour and then led him to their wing. He indicated his own suite and then threw open a door across from it. "This is your suite while we're here," he announced and ushered his bond mate in.
"Mother redecorated this suite once we began to share chambers at Hogwarts. However, that was just to refurbish it. You may decorate it any way you choose; new colors, new furniture, whatever you want."
Harry's eyes darted around the room, as he tried to absorb everything he saw. The door opened to a parlor or sitting room richly decorated in neutral beiges with red and gold accents, apparently out of deference to his Gryffindor House. The hardwood paneling on the walls was complemented by stained glass windows that let in softly diffused light.
Beyond the sitting room was what he could imagine being part of a royal suite in a castle…but then perhaps that wasn't unexpected from the Malfoys. The bedroom had a limestone fireplace across from a beautifully designed and hand carved four poster bed. Intricate flowered vines climbed the posts, while the headboard had a lion and snake entwined.
The en suite bathroom boasted a sunken bathtub surrounded by stained glass murals depicting all four seasons. A dark blue ceiling above served as a backdrop for a twinkling night sky.
"Your mother did all this," Harry asked waving an arm around the suite. "Merlin, this is absolutely brilliant Draco! It's fit for a king!"
The blonde's reserved face relaxed into a smile. "She does have an undeniable flair, doesn't she? Of course, it was a challenge to employ red and gold into a suitably elegant décor without being gaudy…"
"Yeah, yeah," Harry grinned, disregarding the attempted insult. "She really did well. The room is brilliant." The idea that she had gone to the effort was touching and he made sure to offer his enthusiastic thanks to her for it.
Every night, the two teens went to bed in their own suites, but every morning he woke up to find Draco sleeping beside him. He would vaguely remember waking up when the blonde crawled into bed, but they both quickly fell back asleep.
Harry felt the covers pulled over a bit and mentally shook his head indulgently as Draco quickly burrowed into the covers and quickly fell back asleep. He rolled over and nestled back into his own pillow, yawning quietly. As his eyelids closed, he noticed a silver beam of moonlight tickle the embers in the fireplace. Comfortable and content, he drifted back to sleep.
MacNair, Dolohov and Mulciber stayed close to the ankhegs they were controlling. The creatures had only the intelligence of a toddler and needed to be constantly directed in their tunneling. They were now angling upwards, heading to the selected storage room near a staircase to the kitchen on the main floor.
The lead ankheg reached a limestone floor and paused at its master's command. He waited for the trailing group to shield themselves, and then all three ankhegs broke through the floor, ripping through the stone as if it was only hard-packed dirt. They spilled out of the tunnel and the Death Eaters looked around. MacNair nodded in satisfaction.
"Good, we missed the wine cellar. I wouldn't be surprised if Malfoy had that warded. OK, send the bugs up the stairs and set them on any house elves that might interfere. The rest of you, split up and follow the plan. Kill the blood traitors and anyone else who fights back, but make sure the Potter brat is at least still breathing when we present him to the Dark Lord."
They surged up the narrow stairs into a large kitchen. A house elf popped immediately in front of them, apparently summoned by the presence of someone in the kitchen. It's small face showed shock for a moment, before ankheg pinchers sheared it's body in half, crimson spraying the room.
House wards began blaring, a loud strident clamoring filling the night. "Shite! Split up now to find and terminate your targets. My group, let's find the Potter scum!"
The shrill alarm woke Harry and Draco up. The blonde immediately dove across the bed, rolling Harry on to the floor, keeping the bed between them and the door. His wand was pointed to the door as he spoke rapidly. "Ward alarms, the house has been breached. Have you got your wand?" Harry nodded, his breath coming quickly, but his wand pointed steadily at the door. Draco transfigured their night clothes quickly into battle robes.
"Bollocks! We've never talked to you about emergency plans in case of a breach in the wards. You and I need to get to a safe room in the Library. It's one of the most heavily warded rooms."
"What about your parents and Severus?" Harry wasn't about to leave them to an unknown invading force.
"Mother, Father and Severus have a heavily warded room near them, plus their wing has more traps and warded passages. Father will set off additional traps as soon as he feels the ward set on our safe room."
They moved carefully around the room, approaching the door from the side. Draco conjured a floating eye and sent it towards the door, the two teens following it cautiously. Harry cast a Protego in front of them as Draco warily opened the door and sent out the eye.
"Nothing," he murmured. "Quickly, to the left." They moved to the end of the hall and stopped before a tapestry. The blonde moved it aside and then stabbed his wand at the wall behind it as he said "Ostendo Ianua". A door immediately flickered into existence. Draco opened it, flinching as it squeaked.
Harry cast a silencing spell on their feet as the teens entered the passage, the eye floating beside them. Draco held his wand before him and murmured "Lumos" and began to lead them down a narrow and dusty passage. He passed one small doorway and then paused before the next. He reached for the door just as it opened and both boys pointed their wands with curses on their lips.
"Dragon! Harry! Thank goodness," Narcissa's face showed relief, as she lowered her wand. Lucius was immediately behind her and gripped his son's shoulder briefly.
"Do we know who, where and how many Father?" Harry was surprised and rather proud that Draco's voice was calm.
"Not yet. I want you and Harry to go to the safe room in the Library. Your Mother and I will get Sev…" He whirled suddenly, his wand out pointing at the air behind him. "Stupefy!"
"Easy Lucius," Severus' silky baritone said calmly, a foot to the right of where the spell hit. The air shimmered and his form appeared, clad in black pants and black shirt. "I wasn't about to wander the halls without being disillusioned with your alarms blaring."
Lucius drew him into the hallway and shut the door, which was a large still life of Grecian ruins. "All right, let's get to the safe room behind the Library.
"Now that we're together, why don't we stay together? Isn't there better protection with strength of numbers," Harry whispered.
He blushed when all the adults looked at him in surprise, as if he was asking if the sky was actually green. Draco patted him on the shoulder and replied "It's how we are raised, Harry. The Family has to live on, no matter what. The Heir is always secured in the safest location. Even if the worst happens, the Heir is protected. Right now, that's me."
"But, we can fight! I've faced down Voldemort before!" Harry protested. He wasn't a child to be sent away from danger!
Draco smiled at his bond mate, but his voice was quietly intense in an effort to reach the other teen. "Harry, if we have children, wouldn't you insist that they stay safe?"
"Well yes, but we're adults in our own right."
Lucius interrupted the debate by saying "This is not open for discussion. Adults or not, Draco is the Heir to the House. You and he must be protected. We can negotiate it again after this is over, but for now, you two are to reach the safe room in the Library." He reached out and gently grasped the Gryffindor's chin. "This isn't about bravery, Harry. Salazar knows you've proven your bravery and abilities many times over. We don't have time to debate this. Every moment makes it more difficult and dangerous to reach our safe rooms. Go now and we will discuss it when this is over."
Harry raised troubled eyes to each of the adult's adamant faces and then nodded unhappily. "All right, but I'll hold you to that discussion, Sir."
Lucius smiled at the dark-haired teen. "Good lad." His eyes shifted to his son. "Be safe, my son."
Draco inclined his head, allowing his love and respect to show, as he met the eyes of his parents and godfather. "Be safe." He gave his Mother a kiss on the cheek. "We'll see you soon," he said as he grabbed Harry by the hand and began to pull him down the hidden passageway.
The blonde led the two through a series of dusty passages, walking quickly and silently. He paused at one of the many hidden doorways. "OK, this is just outside the Library, Harry. There isn't a passage directly into it or the safe room. Father will be triggering traps around the Manor, but will wait until he knows we've made it before making the Library nearly impenetrable. I wish we had practiced this before, but the wards have never been breached. This escape route was if something happened at a crowded holiday party or if a family member went berserk. Oh well, we're almost there. Ready?"
Harry nodded, his wand out and his eyes darting around. Draco sent out the floating eye and then nodded to his bond mate. "Quickly but quietly. Let's go!"
They darted into the hall and turned to the double wooden doors. As his hand grasped the door handle, behind them they heard "There they are! Stupefy!"
Draco opened the door and the two teens dove into the room. Draco tried to lock and ward it, but blasting spells prevented him. Draco ran to the right and Harry ran to the left, hoping to catch the intruders in their cross-fire. To their horror, what entered the room was not a person, but a bug-like creature nearly as tall as Harry and over twice as long. It moved towards Draco, followed by many black-robed figures.
Harry dropped behind a table, which he immediately overturned while Draco lunged over a sofa. They each cast at the huge creature moving towards the blonde teen. "Defodio!" Harry cried as he cast the gouging spell even as Draco cast "Stupefy!" The massive beast slowed and turned slightly towards Harry. "Confringo" Draco cast the blasting curse and the creature stumbled and then fell, it's head shattered.
Draco dove back behind the sofa as two figures cast "Reducto!" in his direction, causing the sofa to be partially blasted. Two black robed Death Eaters focused on Harry, but only cast "Stupefy!" and "Expelliarmus!"
The spells were flying furiously across the room. Harry heard Draco's voice continuing to cast, so knew he was at least alive. He focused on incapacitating as many as possible. From the obscenities coming from the near darkness, Harry was certain at least one of the attackers had been hit. However, his overturned table was slowly breaking apart and he began to look for his next source of cover as he tried to work his way around the room towards Draco.
"Stupefy!"
"Defodio!"
"Reducto!"
"Diffindo!"
"Stupefy!"
"Reducto!"
"Expulso!"
"Protego!" he cast in commandingly as he headed for a bookcase he hoped to overturn. Several curses smashed into his shield. He could make out the silhouettes of three attackers casting in his direction with another several casting at Draco. He was able to snap another "Stupefy!" off before casting another "Protego!" and overturning the bookcase and dropping behind it.
He heard "Ossis Effergo!" behind him and both felt and heard a sickening crack as his leg shattered. The last he heard was "Stupefy!" and his world turned black.
Harry awoke slowly and in confusion. What happened? Where was he? Why did he hurt?
He looked around and didn't recognize his surroundings. Was he in the dungeon at Hogwarts? It seemed to be that type of room. But where were the desks and tables? What class was he missing?
He rubbed his face, trying to clear the confusion, and stopped to look at his wrists. What were these metal bands? He didn't usually wear jewelry.
He heard voices, but couldn't focus to understand them. They seemed to be insistent on him paying attention, but he couldn't seem to concentrate. What was wrong with him?
A door opened and a figure appeared. A tall woman with long black hair and a sneer on her lips. She seemed familiar, but he knew it wasn't one of the professors.
"What's the matter widdle Harrikins? Is the ickle baby all confused? Does Harrikins not recognize the pretty Auror suppression bracelets we were so kind to give you? And the Dark Lord was so kind to add the permanent Confundus charm. Come on, Harrikins, pay attention!"
What? He tried to follow his words.
She waved a wand and uttered "Petrificus Totalus" followed by "Mobilicorpus". He felt himself lifted and floated out of the room, but was overcome with dizziness. Why was his mind so muddled? He couldn't think! And the other voices were getting so loud.
"Did I mention that we took all your toys away, ickle Harrikins? No more port-keys for you to play with."
They went up several stairs and through hallways before stopping before an imposing wooden door. One of the figures knocked and the doors were thrown open.
"Autgabin! Harry! You will listen to my voice and my voice only!"
What? Who said that?
He was carried into a large room with many black-robed figures. The magic abruptly released him and he collapsed awkwardly on the floor in front of a seated man. The man had a gaunt white face with scarlet slit-pupiled eyes and almost no nose; only slits for nostrils. Harry knew him…who? Oh yes, Voldemort. What was his real name again? Tom? Why couldn't he think?
"You are Harry James Potter, son of Lily and James Potter, iejir'deevdru of Aironth Flamebringer and you WILL listen to me!"
Voldemort hissed "Well, well, well. What have you brought me Bellatrix? A toy?" He glared at Harry and his voice sunk to a coldly vindictive tone. "You have annoyed me for the last time Potter. You will die here at my hand, alone and powerless."
"Crucio!"
White hot knives were boring into every part of his body and the boy writhed on the floor, screaming in agony. He heard the other voices through the pain, but the invisible knives were gouging him everywhere. Oh Merlin, let it stop!
The pain ended briefly and he gasped for breath.
"This is the so-called Savior of the Wizarding world? This insignificant half-blood was supposed to defeat me? Crucio!"
The invisible blades were cutting him again and his body convulsed as the anguish grew to unimaginable heights. Was that his voice screaming?"
"You are Juanth Darastrix and no human force can confine you. You will assume your Clan form NOW!"
The voice cut through the agony and set it apart even as his body continued to shudder in pain. He grabbed onto the image he saw, a golden dragon.
"Harry James Potter, the Patriarch commands you. Transform to your Juanth Darastrix form now!"
Light played around the form lying on the floor, causing the Death Eaters to wonder what additional spell their Master had cast. Surprise caused Voldemort to stop the Cruciatus curse as he looked at the form at his feet. As the figure elongated and wings burst from the back, Voldemort took a step back in shock. The figure on the floor doubled, then tripled in size, the Auror suppression bands snapped and fell to the floor in pieces as the bones grew.
"A Dragon animagus form? Impossible!" he whispered as the form became more defined. He hurriedly cast "Avada Kedevra!" as the dragon towered above him.
Draco's heart clenched within his chest and his entire perception focused on the spot where Harry had been standing. Had been. His vision seemed to flicker around the edges and he gulped huge breaths of air. He was gone! His Mate was gone! A rushing sound filled his ears as he turned his eyes on the bastards that TOOK HIS MATE!
The enemies seemed to be moving in slow motion as red rage filled his vision. "Ossis Effergo!" "Defodio!" "Reducto!" "Diffindo!" He dodged and evaded each curse sent at him, focused on destroying the enemies that had taken his Mate. He had to get out of the room and go find Harry! "Reducto!"
"Diffindo!" "Confringo!'"
The red haze seemed to lift when there was no one standing in the room. Black robed bodies lay on the floor, blood pooling around them and sprayed around the room. He stalked to each figure and stepped heavily on the throat, crushing the windpipe and picking up the wands. At the last figure, he saw the chest still rising and falling.
"Petrificus Totalus" he snarled and the Death Eater's arms and legs snapped together. He ripped the white mask off, revealing a young male face he didn't recognize. He pointed his wand at the face and placed a foot on the exposed throat.
"Enervate!" The eyes slowly opened and widened at the sight of the enraged blonde, then nearly crossed to look at the wand held between his eyes.
"You have one chance and one chance only to save your miserable life," Draco growled. "Where did they take Harry Potter?" Blood dripped on to the face below him and the blonde distantly observed that he must not have dodged one of the hexes.
"Your time is up" he hissed at the tight-lipped Death Eater. He moved his wand to the man's arm. "Diffindo!"
He ignored the howl of pain and pressed his foot on the throat to get the man's attention. "I'll ask again, where did you plan to take Harry Potter?"
"Port-key," the injured man gasped. "To the Dark Lord."
Draco narrowed his eyes. Voldemort was a walking dead man. "Where?"
"I…I don't know!" He screeched as another Diffindo hit the elbow of his other arm. "I don't know! I don't know! We are given port keys each time, or are side-apparated by one of the Inner Circle."
He wanted to kill the man, but he needed to check on his parents and Severus. If the Dark Lord hadn't moved, surely Lucius or Severus knew where to find his Mate?
He cast a quick "Incarcerous!" to bind the Death Eater in ropes and then left the room. If the man didn't bleed to death, he could provide information later. With little regard for his safety, he stalked to the warded safe room where his parents and godfather should be. In a remote corner of his mind, he recognized that traps he expected to be activated were not effective.
He passed several bodies, not stopping to do more than cast an Incarcerous on them before continuing. Corpses of two of the enormous bug creatures were among them. He heard sounds of a battle ahead and moved quickly towards the corner. His parents and Severus were behind several overturned tables and chairs exchanging curses with half a dozen black-robed figures. He felt the red haze overtaking his vision again, but forced it back. He began casting Defodio and dropped three before they realized an attacker was behind them. When they turned, his parents and Severus finished them.
Together, they quickly cast Incarcerous spells on all the bodies, regardless of whether the body was alive or not, he moved to his parents. Narcissa reached him first. "You are injured, Draco. And Harry?"
He accepted a healing potion from Severus and drank it quickly. "Harry is gone! He was stunned from behind and they port-keyed him away!"
Lucius asks "Is he still alive? Do you feel him through the bond, Dragon?"
Draco concentrated on the bond and felt a small response. "Yes, he's alive Father, but hurt. I think a bone shattering curse got through his shields just before they stunned him. One of the men I questioned said they were to take him to the Dark Lord. Do you know where He is? I have to go!"
Dobby and Mabey popped in front of them, and barely avoided being blasted by the adrenalin-filled quartet. Both house elves were bloody and weaving on their feet, but smiled when they saw the four.
Lucius knelt down to Mabey. "What happened? Do you need a potion."
The small house elf straightened himself. "Mabey is being all right. Good Master Lucius to ask when Master is injured himself. Dobby and Mabey will be seeing you to your beds and getting you your potions."
"No, Mabey. First tell us what happened."
"Big creatures came up through the basement and into the kitchen. They killed Tully before Tully could fight back." The small elf hung it's head in shame. "The bugs was followed by bad wizards. They stunned us while we is trying to tie them up."
Dobby tugged at Draco's sleeve. "Master Draco? Dobby does not see Master Harry Potter?"
Draco felt his heart clutch again. "They took Harry, Dobby. Do you know where he is?"
The small elf's eyes widened in horror. "They took Master Harry Potter?" He grabbed his ears and twisted them sharply. "No no no! Bad Dobby for not protecting Master Draco's Harry Potter! Bad Dobby for not knowing where Master Harry Potter is!"
Lucius intervened before the elf could smash his head into a wall. "That's enough. We will find him. Severus, will you inform the Headmaster? An alarm should have sounded at the Auror's office, but as no one has appeared, I will contact them and see about getting reinforcements. He's likely at Riddle Manor."
Draco suddenly wavered and fell to the floor. "They're torturing him! He's almost gone! I can barely feel him through the bond!"
Spells used:
Avada Kedevra = Killing Curse; causes instant death
Confringo = Blasting curse
Confundus = Confusion charm; causes bewilderment
Crucio = Cruciatus Curse; causes the target intolerable pain
Defodio = Gouging spell; digs through or hollows out a target
Diffindo = Severing charm; cuts something open
Ennervate = Counter to Stupefy; revives a stunned target
Expelliarmus = Disarming spell
Expulso = Blows up the target
Imperius= Unforgiveable curse; causes the target to obey the caster totally
Incarcerous = Sends thick ropes to wrap around the target
Lumos = Light spell; causes a small beam of light to shine from the end of the caster's wand
Mobilicorpus = Moves a boy
Ostendo Veneficus = Reveal Magic
Ostendo Ianua= Reveal Door
Petrificus Totalus = Body-bind curse; turns the entire body of the target rigid
Propono Vicis = Display Time
Protego = Shield charm; creates a magical barrier that will deflect hexes thrown at the caster
Reducto = Blasting curse; explodes solid objects out of the way
Stupefy = Stunning charm; renders the target unconscious
