Striding down the paved streets of Cannaregio they made the unlikeliest of trio's. Draco was on his way to the Ministry to hand over his and Hermione's case files, Blaise tagging along to file his own paperwork for works he wanted to carry out on his estate. Ron had come along on a mission for Pansy.
"If I go back without one she will kill me" Ron cried, exasperated.
Blaise chuckled "I don't know what to tell you Ron" he said "The Italians don't do anything like that" he laughed at Pansy's latest craving-driven request.
"I don't get what they have against it, you get them everywhere in England" he complained, frustrated at his inabilty to find what she wanted. He had endured her whinning about it all night and he had left with Draco and Blaise promising to find what she craved.
"Seriously mate" Blaise told him as they arrived at the Ministry buildings "They don't put pineapple on pizzas in Italy."
Ron knew he was a marked man. He almost didn't want to go home and face her wrath.
.
Apparating back to the estate, the three immediately sensed there was something wrong. Drawing wands, they surveyed the property as they made their way to the front door. The door had been blasted open with a Bombarda Maxima, splintering it into several pieces. Draco cast a Lumos and carefully pushed the pieces out the way, stepping over the threshold. A woman screamed and his blood ran cold. The three dashed towards the sound, breaking the wards barring them from entering the drawing room. Pansy was lashed with an Incarcerous to a chair, sobbing hysterically. Blaise and Ron set about freeing her as she whimpered.
"It's Avery! Avery has her!" she cried, throwing her now free arms around Ron's neck.
"Where?" Draco asked her, frantic with worry.
"He took her out to the terrace, beyond that I don't know Draco!" she sobbed, clutching at Ron.
"Stay with her Weasley, I will go and find Hermione. Get Harry here Blaise" Draco told them as he made his way to the rear of the property.
Out on the terrace, Hermione was silenced and bound, Avery holding his wand to her throat.
"Well well, what do we have here" he taunted "The prodigal son. How far you and your kin fell from grace" he drawled.
"Let her go, Avery" Draco commanded.
"I think not, this little Mudblood bitch is going to get what is coming to her and then I am going to make it so you forget she even existed. They are scum, Draco, and we need to wipe their existence from the world completely. Voldermort had the right idea, it was only his methods that were flawed" he lectured, sneering at Draco.
Draco took a step forward.
"Stay back or I will just cast the Avada" he spat.
"If you think I am going to let you hurt her, you are sorely mistaken" he told Avery emphatically.
"Ah yes, I am well aware that you have fallen for the little bitch" he spat "you disgust me as much as she did, and your father was right, you are weak"
Draco's rage boiled over.
"Expel…."
"CRUCIO" Avery yelled, watching as Draco crumpled to the ground, writhing in agony. Hermione's tears fell silently down her face as she looked on helpless. She knew the trauma all too well.
"CRUCIO" Avery yelled a second time, holding the curse.
Hermione silently whimpered.
Avery turned to her "Don't worry, Mudblood, we will get to you in a minute" he sneered.
Draco seized his opportunity of Avery's break in his concentration and despite the pain he felt, launched himself bodily at Avery, enraged.
They tumbled down the stone steps and Draco punched Avery square on the jaw, momentarily stunning him. He rushed to Hermione, freeing her and casting the counter-spell to Avery's silencio.
"CRUCIO" Avery yelled, reaching the top of the steps. Draco fell to the ground screaming as the agony ripped apart at him.
Hermione screamed scrambling for the wand Draco had dropped.
Two bolts of light lit up the sky.
"SECTUMSEMPRA"
"AVADA KEDAVRA"
.
Misty visions moved about in front of his eyes as he slipped in and out of consciousness. He had felt this pain before. Past and present blurred into one as his mind played out flashbacks. Dark hair and green eyes.
"Vulnera Sanentur. Vulnera Sanentur. Vulnera Sanentur" the familiar voice muttered as he slipped into unconsciousness.
.
An angelic vision made him wonder if this was heaven. Cool hands soft against his skin, tingling and hissing.
.
His eyes fluttered open. Hermione was sat in a chair by the bed. He groaned and she came to him, eyes watery, kissing him fully.
"I was so scared" she told him, before calling for the others.
.
Draco turned to look at Harry who was now sat in the chair that Hermione had occupied earlier. He groaned.
"Why is it always Sectumsempra?" he groaned before chuckling.
"Yea, sorry about that mate" Harry muttered, running his hand through his hair.
"What happened?" he asked, staring at the ceiling.
"Blaise and I arrived just in time. Avery cast the Sectumsempra at Hermione, but you shielded her taking the brunt of the curse. It only caught her arm. Blaise killed Avery. It was life or death so the Ministry aren't pursuing it, here or back home. You were out of it for two days"
"Who cast the counter curse?" Draco asked with uncertainty, knowing he had hallucinated Snape as his memories blurred with reality.
"I did" Harry replied. "Hermione was the one who healed you with the murtlap essance and dittany. She never left your side" he nodded to where she was lying on the bed next to him.
"It's over" Harry told them, relieved.