Edited 10/2/2023 Minor Grammar/Spelling.

Another shorter one today, but I started my job AND got my keys for my new apartment. Tomorrow I'll have ALL MY FURNITURE AND BE A REAL ADULT AGAIN!

I'm very excited about that, obviously.

Enjoy!

Saturday, August 15, 1998

"So let's go over this one more time," Kingsley said, looking at the small assembled group.

"I will 'catch' you outside of Leeds," Draco started. "Regulus and I will corner you. We'll start with a few more minor spells."

"I'll make some snarky comment about the way he's treated the Black family," Regulus said, smirking, "then we'll throw out a Crucio. We should be able to make sure it doesn't hurt too badly."

"Lucius sort of makes a whimper when being Crucioed, so make sure to do something of the sort," Draco added, nonchalantly. "Then you'll break out of it and throw a few curses at us, exploding the wall behind us. You'll try to run away in the confusion, and I'll throw a curse, calling you a Traitor."

"You'll make eye contact with me," said Regulus, "Kings will look pleadingly at you, then I'll shoot what looks like an Avada at him and then you have to fall."

Kingsley was nodding along, "You'll have to make sure to come and check to make sure it hits, I'll quickly take a Draught of Living Death. Make sure to kick the body a couple of times and make sure to say some nasty things."

"We should be in and out within the hour," Regulus turned to look at Hermione who was fidgeting nervously in her chair.

"I know it's all just pretend, but what if…" she trailed off. "No it'll all work out just fine, I have to believe that."

"I'll be fine, darling," Draco said, leaning over to kiss her. The three men apparated out to set up their scene, she knew they wouldn't actually perform their act until close to dusk.

It was over an hour later than they were supposed to return. Theo had taken to pacing, and Narcissa was gripping Hermione's hand tightly. Remus and Andromeda were sitting with Teddy who wouldn't stop fussing. Moments later, an extremely bloody Kingsley appeared in front of them, still under the effects of the Draught of Living Death. Theo and Andromeda shot up, quickly running a diagnostic and healing his minor wounds.

After he was stabilised, they gave him the antidote and he gasped awake. "Bellatrix was there," he groaned, sitting up. "She surprised us, but we managed to…"

"What?" Narcissa said sharply, "You managed to do what?"

"Draco shot her with a stunner from behind, but it deflected. When she turned to attack him, I shot a Sectumsempra at her, then quickly engaged Draco and Regulus in battle. The moment she was taken down, their Marks started burning," he gasped out a breath.

The room sat and stared at him in stunned silence. "We finished our performance, I assume they checked on my body, and then had to take Bellatrix back. The Portkey must have been activated since I'm here. Have they come back?"

"No," Andromeda said, "but there isn't much we can do at the moment."

Hermione reached through the bond to find Draco. He was at Malfoy Manor, she could tell that at least. She reached out a tentative tendril to him.

"With him now," Draco murmured through the bond. "He's pleased with our success and extremely angry with Rodolphus who let Bellatrix leave to follow us. We're watching the torture now. We'll have to stay through her funeral, but I'm alright. He didn't even torture Reg or I."

"Glad you're safe, amor," Theo said with a mental sigh of relief.

"Love you so very much," Hermione said.

They felt him re-erect his mental walls and they informed Narcissa that he was safe, settling in to wait for him to return to them.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!