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Chapter Quote:
"Is he alive? Draco, is he alive?"
~Narcissa Malfoy, The Deathly Hallows
Chapter 27
Being friends with Jade again opened the pathway to being friends with Elliot again. It was nice having her friends by her side again. Elliot had apologized for accusing her friend of being a Death Eater. Afterwards the girls put the event as water under the bridge and stared anew.
Hogwarts had changed with Snape in charge. Most teachers were Death Eaters now. Amycus Carrow taught Defense Against the Dark Arts. His sister Alecto taught Muggle Studies. Ziva had heard horror stories from both classes from the grades above and below her. One of the worst was when Neville refused to use the Cruciatus Curse on a first year. Amycus had left a nasty gash on his face. Neville and the rest of Dumbledore's Army still went against the Death Eaters, many sneaking out in the middle of the night to put graffiti on walls that said 'Dumbledore's Army, Still Recruiting.' They also released imprisoned students that were being held for punishment. Michael Corner had been caught doing this and brutally tortured.
That didn't stop anyone though. Word got out that there had been a failed attempt to capture Neville's grandmother. It later spread among the students that there was a plot to kill or capture Neville, whichever came first. He narrowly escaped. He'd chosen the Room of Requirement as a hideout. One by one, the students of Dumbledore's Army joined him. Ziva, Jade, and Elliot were three of the last ten still remaining. Ziva knew the only reason the Death Eaters hadn't tried to kill her yet was because she was a Pureblood (for one), and that Malfoy has given them strict instructions not to harm her. Ziva didn't want to think about the threats Draco had given the other Death Eaters as to make them listen to him. Elliot and Jade didn't cause much trouble, or so the Death Eaters thought. But they gave Elliot grief over being a 'Mudblood.' Elliot stayed quiet, plotting her revenge for what she would do to them later. But Jade and Ziva were near to breaking. Dumbledore's Army needed some people in the school to relay information to them which is why Ziva and Jade had kept quiet for so long.
"Dumbledore's Army is still in the school, still rebelling against us. Many of you have heard of the punishments that might be inflicted if you join, but none of you have actually seen one of the punishments have you? Herondale, Toadbottom, up!" Ziva and Elliot stood. "Herondale, as I recall, you have experience with the Cruciatus Curse. Would you like to demonstrate to the class the effects of the curse?"
"I didn't think you brave enough to let me use it on you," Ziva replied calmly.
Amycus snarled at her. "Not me you Mudblood lover. On her."
Elliot paled, glancing over at her friend. Ziva pulled out her wand and turned to Elliot.
"Ziva, I thought-" she began.
"Crucio!" Ziva shouted, pointing her wand at Amycus. The teacher howled in pain.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Jade yelled. Amycus went rigid. Ziva stopped the Cruciatus Curse.
"We need to go. Alecto will-"
"Amycus!" Alecto shouted. Her eyes narrowed in on the three girls.
"Stupefy!" Ziva shouted. The professor dodged out of the way, sending a curse of her own at them. The three girls scrambled for the doorway while the other kids moved themselves out of harm's way. As Ziva ran down the stairs, she heard Alecto unfreezing Amycus. Within seconds the two siblings were after them, spouting curses. Ziva, Jade, and Elliot fired right back at them. One of Elliot's curses hit Amycus. She shouted, "Serves you right you little coward!"
"You filthy Mudblood! I'll have your head for that!" Alecto screeched.
The girls made it out into the main hallway, dashing for the Grand Staircase. They dashed up the stairs, taking two or three at a time. They skidded into the seventh floor hallway.
"Where's the Room of Requirement?" Jade wheezed out.
"Follow me," Ziva said, starting off again. The two girls had just turned a corner when Jade let out a cry. Ziva and Elliot whirled around. Their friend was clutching her arm, blood seeping through her fingers.
"Elliot, get her to the Room of Requirement," Ziva ordered.
"What about you?!"
"I'll be fine. I'll hold them off and will be there as soon as possible. If I get caught, they won't hurt me. They're too afraid of what Draco will do. Really, go. Before they catch up to us!"
Elliot hesitated before taking Jade and escorting to the Room of Requirement. Ziva stepped out into the hallway just as the Carrows came into view.
"You want them? Then you'll have to go through me," she said, raising her wand.
"You'll be dead!" Alecto barked, sending the Killing Curse flying towards Ziva. She dodged out of the way.
"No!" Amycus hissed, yanking his sister's arm down. "We had strict orders from Draco not to kill her!"
"And what is that pathetic little boy going to do to us?" she pointed out.
"Him? Nothing. But his mother doesn't want to see her precious boy hurt and if we kill this scum of a pureblood, then that'll hurt him. She has to live."
Taking advantage of their discussion, Ziva sent the disarming charm at Alecto. The wand flipped out of her hand towards Ziva. She grabbed it in midair. Now wielding two wands, she sent spell after spell at the Carrow siblings. Amycus was hit by her levicorpus jinx. So while he was dangling by his ankle in midair, he was still trying to send hexes and jinxes at her. But considering he kept spinning, the spells were highly inaccurate in their aim. Alecto got his by the Petrifying spell, going rigid and falling facedown onto the floor. With the two immobilized, Ziva made a dash for the Room of Requirement. She had just turned down one hall when a red flash hit her in the face. Her world went black.
This was getting old. Ziva was tired of almost winning a fight only to be stopped by something stupid, such as a stunning spell to the face.
She opened her eyes to slits, just to get her bearings and to determine the danger. Her eyes opened fully when she realized she was alone. Sitting up, she assessed her surroundings. The room was dark, the furniture grim, although Ziva could tell it'd once been grand and beautiful, probably expensive as well. Her bed was relatively comfortable, the sheets made of a fine silk, the duvet heavy and warm.
Suddenly a toilet flushed in the room next to her. Ziva threw herself back down and closed her eyes. The bathroom door opened and someone sat next to her. Once more she opened her eyes to slits. Upon recognizing the white-blonde hair of her boyfriend, she sat up. He jumped in surprise.
"Are Jade and Elliot safe?" Ziva asked immediately.
"They're safe. The Carrows couldn't find them," Draco responded. "How do you feel?"
"Fine. Where are we?"
Draco hesitated. "Um, we're at my house. The Carrows brought you to Snape who had you brought here. You've been out for a few hours."
"Why did Snape-"
"I don't know, but I'm not questioning it. I've sent word to Jade and Elliot that you're safe. I'll help you get word to them too but I wouldn't risk sending anything else afterwards. It's too dangerous and could not only put you in harm's way but them too."
"I shouldn't be here. It's dangerous for me. If the Dark Lord finds out I'm here-"
"He won't. I'll protect you."
"Draco, I need to get back to school. It's the safest place for me."
"No, not with the Carrows there. Like Longbottom, there was a plot to kill you. The only reason you were spared this time was because of Snape. If you go back, you'll be killed. I know you want to help Dumbledore's Army but if you go back you'll not just put yourself in danger, but them too."
"I can't just sit around and do nothing! I need to get what education I can! I need to help Dumbledore's Army! I need to-"
"Ziva!" Draco interrupted, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I know you do. I might've been distracted in sixth year but I still passed. Sort of. I can teach you what you'd learn in sixth year as can my mom."
"All my stuff is back at school or in my house. I need it. It has all my books and clothes."
"It's right here." Draco pointed at the end of the bed.
"How did you-"
"I don't know. I wasn't the one that brought you here. You coming here was just as much of a surprise to you as it was to me."
"Someone has to know the real reason I was brought here."
"Whoever it is, I don't know who. Are you hungry?"
"No. I'm thirsty though."
"Come with me." Draco took Ziva by the hand and led her downstairs. Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange were both down in the kitchen, talking. The moment Bellatrix laid eyes on Ziva, her wand sprang into her hand. Ziva pointed her own at the witch, wanting revenge for being used a torture dummy last year. Narcissa and Draco stopped the both of them.
"What is she doing here?" Bellatrix hissed.
"Trust me, I'm wondering the same thing," Ziva retorted, gripping her wand so tightly her knuckles were turning white.
"I had her brought here for her safety," Narcissa explained. "She is our guest and you will treat her as such. You will also not breathe a word to anyone about her presence here, including the Dark Lord. Do you understand me?"
"What protection can you give her here? The Dark Lord is all knowing! He'll find out she's here!"
"Not if you keep quiet," Narcissa said menacingly. Bellatrix muttered something under her breath as she left. Turning to her son, she said, "Go with your aunt and make sure she actually leaves."
Draco nodded, giving Ziva's hand a squeeze before he left. Once he was gone, Ziva stood awkwardly in the doorway to the kitchen, waiting for Mrs. Malfoy to say something.
"Come, sit child. You've had a rough day," Narcissa said, motioning at the table. Ziva hesitated before listening.
"Why did you bring me here? It wasn't just for my safety."
"You're right. It wasn't. Although it did play a part. I'm sure Draco told you about the plot to kill you?"
"Yes."
"You're harder to kill when no one knows where you are, and you're in the last place the Carrows would expect you to be."
"Your house?"
"It's my house, yes, but this is also the headquarters for the Dark Lord. He's hardly ever here and we always have a warning when he's about to come so you needn't worry about coming across him. Although be careful of that blasted snake of his."
"I have no intentions of coming across him or his grossly huge snake."
"Good."
"You never answered my question though: why did you bring me here?"
Narcissa turned around, bring two cups of tea to the table. She sat down next to Ziva. "Lucius told me of his meeting with you. While Draco's father did not pick up on the hidden message in your conversation, I did. I knew you and Draco were probably seeing each other. It'd explain his random outings during the summer. I approached him about it one day and he told me everything. I didn't approve at first but he told me about the prophecy and once a prophecy is told, it is to happen. The outcome can be changed, but the prophecy itself will happen if that make sense. Yours is relatively straightforward: you and Draco are meant to be together. I love my son more than anything. I've seen how you affect him. We're in a dark and dangerous era. He needs someone to be his light. I always thought that was me, but I soon learned that it was you."
"You brought me here to take care of Draco?"
"I brought you here to make sure that that light inside of him lives on. I fear that his light is fading fast with everything going on and I do not want to see my son suffer. I will teach you what you are supposed to learn in your sixth year of Hogwarts. You will be able to continue your education in seventh year without having to be held back. I will protect you as if you were the daughter I never had. It's the least I can do for dragging you into this mess." Ziva stayed silent as she didn't know how to reply. "You didn't ask for this. I will not stop you if you decide you want to go back. Draco has informed me that you can handle yourself quite well."
"Draco and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things, mostly who should rule the wizards and that sort of thing, and I know you and I will not see eye to eye on a lot of things either. I cannot sit here and do nothing to help Harry and his quest to stop He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. If I'm to stay, I need some way to contact my friends, to talk to them."
"I can arrange that. It may not be frequent but it is doable."
"And my parents. I need to get word to them that I'm okay."
"Okay. Anything else?"
"If and when the final battle comes, I will be allowed to leave and fight for the other side."
"Even if that means fighting against Draco?"
"He and I have talked about this. We will fight on opposing sides, but we will not fight each other."
"Very well. As long as my son is okay with it. Welcome to our home Ziva. And thank you for doing this."
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