Draco apparated with a loud crack.
The brisk spring breeze wafted around him, carrying the fresh scents of roses, lilies and hydrangeas. The gardens of Malfoy Manor were e always particular, a sight of beauty, a statement of their status in the Wizarding community. At the slightest hint of spring in England, the house elves tirelessly set to work, meticulously tending to every detail, preparing the grounds for the upcoming season. Despite the lingering patches of snow scattered along the stony path and weighing down the saffron leaves to his right, Draco couldn't help but find it all the more enchanting.
As a kid, he adored it. The smell, the look, the opportunities, the intricate details of flowers, their meanings, usage in beauty products and potion making, He and his mother would visit the garden regularly, just walking through the ground until their cheeks were pink and their feet hurt.
The tradition stopped a while ago.
Draco dragged his eyes out of the garden, attempting to centre his attention on the pain coursing through his shoulder. Dimly, he registered the faint sound of blood droplets trickling onto the stone, accompanied by the sweet melodies of birdsong. His wand felt precarious in his grasp, his shoulder pulsating in sync with his heartbeat. He should have healed himself before apparating, but didn't want to waste time.
"Welcome home Master" Dinky suddenly materialized in front of Draco, her hand nervously fidgeting with her pillowcase "Does Master need any assistance with his injuries?"
Draco glanced down at the elf, her eyes round, hands eager. He held a type of fondness for Dinky; she had served the Malfoys faithfully for a long time and had always been a good, and loyal elf. She was also kind, even when Draco was a twat to anything that walked and talked.
"No thank you" Draco forced the words out. He could handle fixing himself.
Dinky lingered for a few more seconds, scepticism evident in her gaze. The little elf knew Draco better than anyone, familiar with his habits, Dinky had cleaned up the blood from his bathroom more than he dared to count.
"Is Master sure?" Dinky's voice wavered slightly but held conviction.
"I am bloody sure Dinky!" Draco snapped. He just wanted to get inside, and heal the bloody would. He wasn't a little boy anymore.
"If Master needs Dinky she will be in the kitchens" Dinky's voice turned harsh, and Draco realized he would have to apologize to her later. For now, all he could focus on was putting one foot in front of the other.
Fighting with the French was always brutal and bloody, they held no fear of using curses like the bloody Order. Their attacks were relentless, rapid, and forceful, even if lacking a meticulous plan. This time they just rampaged around, and one of the lucky bastards got Draco's shoulder with a nasty slicing curse. Naturally, they were dead a second later.
Slowly making his way toward the manor, Draco couldn't shake the chill that ran through him. He departed for France a little more than a week ago and heard nothing from the others since. Of course, this meant nothing. They weren't usually exchanging owls like lovesick teenagers, but… Draco knew the Dark Lord. At least he knew him enough to know anything could happen in a week. Even a day.
The manor was quiet as Draco entered, his footsteps echoing through the gigantic main hall. He always had a love-hate relationship with the manor, the twin grand staircases that ascended majestically on either side, lined with plush green rugs and ornate bannisters entwined with menacing gargoyles at the ends, frozen in grotesque poses. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant echoes of Draco's footsteps on the cold, marbled floor. Massive, arched windows with stained glass panels lined the walls, casting flickering shadows of twisted figures across the expanse. The dim illumination from hanging chandeliers above added an ethereal glow to the surroundings, highlighting the intricate patterns of the dark wood panelling that engulfed the hall.
He had grown up there, slid down the stairs as a six year old laughing his ass off with Blaise and Theo. He could still see the ugly stain on the expansive carpet, where he accidentally spilt his first ever potion because he was in such a hurry to show his father. Despite the elves' efforts, the stain stubbornly clung to the carpet. Draco could also recall, returning from Hogwarts after 5th year, opening the grand double doors adorned with imposing metalwork and crested Malfoy insignias and seeing the Dark Lord, standing at the top of the staircase, his parents and Bellartrix, all welcoming him home for the summer.
It was the worst summer of his life.
Leaving muddy footprints in the plush emerald green rug, Draco tracked the stairs trying to craddle his arm as best as he could. Fainty he swore he heard his mother's scolding voice for bringing the mud in. He shook his head, focusing on the path in front of him. He had his vitals in his room, if he got there, he would be able to tend to the cut, and even wash the blood off himself.
The upstairs entryway greeted him much like the day he had left. The green flames flickering in the fireplace illuminated the hanger adorned with black, holding the Death Eater robes of the others. Neatly arranged shoes stood next to it, accompanied by an umbrella stand and a large houseplant, that Theo once peed in because he couldn't find the bathroom. Kicking his shoes off, Draco advanced into the hallways, ignoring the growing pain in his shoulder. He wasn't a master healer, but fixing a slicing hex wasn't too advanced, and a little dittany and murtlap would be more than sufficient. Perhaps it would ache for a few days, but enduring pain wasn't foreign to him. Just as he approached his bedroom door, his wand ready to summon the ingredients, the door next to his burst open.
"You are back"
A shiver ran down Draco's spine as he registered the dreamy voice
"Indeed" Draco answered, eyes fixed on the door in front of him
"You are injured" Draco could hear a faint step, swallowed by the carpet. From the side of his vision, Draco could see her small form, and he swore he saw some bruises on her too.
"Indeed" Draco rolled his eyes, hand tightening on the doorknob.
"I can hel-"
Draco's wand was at Loony's throat in an instant, gently pushing the bruised skin in. He didn't even register her lifting her hand before he moved.
"Do. Not. Tuch. Me." He forced the words out. The sudden movement made the pain worse, and he swore he felt the blood trickling down his arm.
"Skittish" Loony laughed.
Draco looked at her, really looked at her. He always heard she was crazy. Rumours in Hogwarts were never kind, and looking at her bruised face, one eye almost shut, but still not showing fear, he believed the rumours. He thought she would heal more in a weak,
"Shit" Draco drew back, letting his wand fall to his side
"It's perfectly alright, you know. Wounded animals tend to be a bit skittish around those they haven't built trust with yet." Loony stepped back, eyes fixed on Draco's throbbing shoulder.
"I am not a-"
"All humans are animals, just with the added bonus of usable thumbs."
Loony shrugged, turning away from Draco and skidding down the dimly lit hallway. Draco stared in confusion for a moment before he finally turned the bloody doorknob, and walked into his room. It was still his childhood room, with a simple double bed, with baldachins, a sturdy desk, polished to a gleaming finish, and stood against one wall, showcasing an array of quills, parchment, and neatly stacked books. The massive walk-in wardrobe, its doors embellished with delicate filigree, and its shelves were neatly organized with an assortment of robes on Draco's left. To the right of the desk, an arched doorway led to an adjoining bathroom, where the subtle fragrance of lavender lingered in the air, and a silver-framed mirror reflected the light of the lowering sun. Pulling his desk chair out, he raised his injured hand to summon the potions and vitals.
'Acci-The fuck are you doing in here!?" Draco exclaimed, his gaze fixed on the owl standing in the middle of his desk, extending its small leg.
"What in Merlin's name?" Draco scanned the room. His window was shut, just like his door was before entering, and the owl should even have been able to fly into the manor, not even into his private room that has so many wards on it Draco could even disable them all, even if he tried.
Hoot hoot
The owl throttled its legs.
"Bloody hell" Draco mumbled, reaching for the bloody owl just as he heard his door creak open. He didn't really think as he yeeted the owl into his bathroom, closed the door, and spun around to see through the black spots in his vision, Pasny entered his room.
"You're back" She stated, crossing her arms and looking over at Draco unimpressed. "You are also covered in blood"
"The other guy looks worse" Draco answered instantly, not daring to glance behind himself.
"I assume the other guy is dead" Pansy deadpanned.
"Something like that" Draco shrugged, wincing at the pain.
"The fuck where you doing anyways?"
"Nothing." Draco lied, trying to get his dark robes off him.
"That much blood is definitely not from nothing" Pansy stepped closer, closing the door behind her.
"What ar-"
"Helping your idiot ass" Pansy rolls her eyes, walking in front of Draco.
"I can handle myself" Draco mumbles trying to step back
"Sure you can, and your dick is huge, and your ego is even bigger now can I get the bloody robes off you, or do you just want to bleed out in them?"
"I am not sure why I let you into my house"
"Neither am I" Pasny laughs, stepping properly in front of Draco and starting to button his robes out. Once, years ago this would have been a wet dream for him but looking down at glassy eyes Pansy, with the purples under her eyes the only thing he could feel - other than the excruciating pain radiating from his shoulder - was pity.
"How are you Pa-"
A sick ripping sound echoed around them as Pansy tore the robe of Draco.
"Fuck" Draoc ground his teeth
"If you think that hurt" Pansy disposed of his robes, standing in front of him again and starting at his buttons "Wait until I get this off you"
"How is Astoria?" Draco hisses as Pansy slowly starts to peel the shirt off him.
"Fine"
"Did you se-"
Pansy tore the shirt off him, and Draco swore she made the wound worse just to shut him up. Draco knew pain, and it was not close to the Cruciatus curse, sure, but it hurt like a mother fucker, and Draco saw stars for a second before his vision came back. His throat was dry as she watched Pansy pull a chair out for him and show him in it. Faintly he could hear claw marks on wood, but he hoped Pansy was preoccupied enough to not pay attention.
Standing in front of him, she picked through his summoned vitals in silence. Draco took the moment to actually look at her. She looked..worse. She was way too thin, her robe eating up her form. Her hair fell around her face in unruly clack stands Her face was gaunt, her eyes slightly glassy and her hands shaky as she slowly started dropping Dittany on his wound. "I don't want to talk about it" Pansy whispered behind him. "I-"
Draco focused on the table in front of him, the vitals, and the used parchment littering his desk. He could feel the Dittany doing its work, pulling the muscles together in his arm. She should have summoned a bloody pain relief potion too.
"I haven't tried to see her since" She continued, switching the dittany to Murtlap "I... I don't want to mess up whatever progress she already made"
Draco slowly nodded, picking the flaking blood from his hands.
"Just..let me help you, okay?"
"Okay," Draco winced, trying to focus on his breathing.
Pansy slowly, massaged murtlap into Draco's would, until it stopped actively bleeding. Draco sat, not daring to move, as she, slowly bandaged him up. Pansy was never really fond of blood, or healing, but she didn't make any face and she wrapped the gauze around him.
"There you go" Pansy stepped away.
Draco stood, turning toward her, and trying his shoulder out. It was already better, the pain now a faint dull, and his hand movement now was not restricted.
"Thanks" Draco looked over his bandages. He couldn't wait to wash the blood off his hands.
"Wow you are going soft" Pansy sneered, not looking so steady on her feet
"Are you ok-"
"Im fine" Pansy snapped, stepping backwards "I am fine, everything is fine"
"Sure looks like it" Draco crossed his hands, wincing.
"Draco, you know absolutely nothing. Everything is fii-"
"You reek of vine, Pans" Draco scrunched his nose. Now that the pain wasn't dulling his senses, he could definitely smell the vines lingering around Pansy
"You absolute twat!" Pansy shrieked "How dare you!"
"I am just stating a fact."
"fuck you, and your 'fact'" Pansy spit, turning on her heel and storming out of the room. "And I bloody helped the twat" He could hear her murmur before the door slammed shut.
"What in Merlin was that?" Draco asked the air in front of him. He had a nasty habit of talking to himself when exhausted, and as his bones felt heavier than ever, he wasn't even surprised when the words left his mouth. Draco slumped back into the chair, his head between his hands.
Hoot hoot
"Bloody owl" Draco mumbled.
The bloody beast was loud, knocking on his door until he tore it open. The beast was loud, knocking on his door until he tore it open. The creature almost flew at him but changed course at the last minute, settling on Draco's bookcase. It looked at him with fury in its dot eyes, and Draco was sure it would try to eat his fingers off as he reached for the parchment. Surprisingly, it just huffed at him, and as soon as the parchment was off its leg, it darted out of his window that, now was surprisingly open, not even waiting to see if Draco was going to answer. Unfurling the little thing, he had to fight the urge to tear it apart.
'Why do you keep giving me information? '
"Whan in Salazar's name?" He mumbled, raking his hand through his air. Thats all? No, thank you, no nothing—just questioning him about his motives. Whoever was writing them was a pain in the ass, and they bloody knew it.
Draco wanted to shout at them, whoever they were. Fury ate its way through his veins, making his hands shake.
Why would they care? Why would they care about Draco's motives? They should be asking for more information, more details, more anything. He had to be giving information to a moron. He was risking his neck for a bloody imbecile.
Draco laughed sourly pocketing the parchment. He was facing certain death, risking his friends for someone to ask about his intentions instead of more information. Draco wasn't even sure they used the last information he sent. He hadn't heard about the slave deal going awry, and such bad news travelled fast. Whoever was receiving his owl was a useless piece of shit.
That was his luck anyway. Why would the world be on his side for even a second?
Maybe it was a sign that he should stop.
The Dark Lord's power was stronger than ever, the Order was barely surviving and the odds were so stacked against them they wouldn't climb out of the gutter no matter what. It would have been a foul's dream thinking there was a bloody way out of this place. Even his mother knew, long before the war started. No matter how hard you try, you cannot escape fate.
It already got his mother, and now it was ready to devour Draco alive.
Shoving the note into his pocket, Draco opened his drawer, grabbed his firewhisky, and not bothering with a glass, took a big gulp.
"I am fine," He told the crystal bottle
Everything was utterly, fucking fine.
Lightning flashed, turning the chamber white for a fleeting moment before plunging it back into the soft, eerie glow of candlelight. The council chamber full, its table stretching to impossible lengths housed all the most trusted Death Eaters in England, including Draco. At the head of the table, the Dark Lord presided, his serpent-like gaze meticulously scanning each member. Draco sat, unmoving, unblinking, eyes fixed ahead but registering nothing. He knew it was a test, and he knew he wouldn't fail.
He failed before.
White flashed, and someone on his right flinched.
Green flashed, and whoever that was crumpled, their head collided with the table with an echoing bang.
"Well, well" The Dark Lord mused, leaning back in his chair "Would anyone care to provide further details?"
Science.
Draco focused on the raindrops rhythmically tapping against the cold glass window. The distant echoes of thunder reverberated through the air, remnants of the storm that had swept through a few hours ago, effectively banishing the warmth of the spring sunlight. On the faint sound of the candle crackling, of the mall fire casting its orange glow on them. On the big grandfather clock that chimed the feeling seconds, counting down.
"Is there no one who is inclined to share?" The Dark Lord leaned forward, glazing through them again "Carrow?"
Alecto Carrow sitting a few paces down from Draco smiled coyly, her red lips twisting. Eyes glued on Draco she slowly stood, hearing Death Eater robes sign her bony frame up "Yes, my lord" she bowed deeply, her robes sliding from her shoulder and revealing her cleavage, bearly contained by her dress underneath "I understand the Dark Lord…" She cast a quick glance at the dead body on Draco's right, face flinching "Has some reservations, but Hogwarts is under very good care, My Lord. The students are flourishing, embracing the new curriculum with zeal. Any challenges that arose were swiftly addressed through appropriate discipline, ensuring that only the deserving attend."
"And what about Dumbledore's little play hole?" Bellatrix taunted, leaning in with a wicked grin. She sat directly in front of Draco her dark curls unduly and matter, her eyes round, never settling on anything or anyone.
"Well-well" Carrow drawled, her lengthy nails sweeping a thick red strand of hair behind her ear. "We are tirelessly working on it, as.." She cast another brief glance next to Draco. "..Macair already established. The coward Dumbledore still hasn't returned to his portrait, but we are on the brink, my lord. Inching closer, oh so very close."
Carrow was almost climbing onto the table, battling her clumpy lashes at the Dark Lord. Draco wanted to sneer in disgust, but he controlled his features.
"The Dark Lord's patience is limited, Alecto" Bellatrix ground her teeth, never taking her eyes off Alecto.
"Yes, yes, we are working tirelessly to please you, My lord. It will be done soon" Carrow bowed one more, winking at Draco before finally sitting back down.
"Still a coward, even in death." The Dark Lord chuckled "He was always a fool, always enamoured with hope and other futile things. And where is he now?" The Dark Lord looked over them like he was waiting for someone to answer. Noone did. "Dead, six feet underground." Draco hat to find the shiver racing through his spine. It was supposed to be his first kill, as a sixteen year old, he was supposed to kill Professor Dumbledore.
"Just like his followers will be soon enough." The Dark Lord smiled, his black teeth and decaying gums on display. Draco didn't dare glance at him even from the corner of his eye he saw that the Dark Lord was a shade whiter than usual, and his hand shook on his wand "Even when he had the chance to stop me, to stop Grindelwald, the coward didn't. It was that, that made him weak, what ultimately led to his demise—his foolish love and sentimentality."
Draco glanced back onto the table slowly, his eyes raking over the map of Europe, its mountains and valleys, and cities under attack. The dark red dots represent Death Eaters stationed there, playing out fights in real-time. Even from there, he could see his figure in London, and if he had enlarged the map, it would have even shown him sitting in this exact house.
"Oh true love will save us all" Bellatrix whined 2becouse the light, oh the light!" She exarated, falling into a manic.
"Idiotic" Quincy Nott agreed, his low voice sliding under the high shrill of Bellatrix.
"Very disgusting" Mulciber added loudly, silencing Bellatrix. The Dark Lord's head slowly turned his way, and Draco could smell the fear radiating from him.
"Mulciber?" The Dark Lord questioned
The wizard at the far end of the table jumped, fidgeting with his wand. Draco slowly lifted his gaze to him, observing the shaggy black curls and beard, and the oversized robes draped over him.
"Y-yes my lord" Mulciber stood, his eyes barely leaving the safety of the tabletop.
"Do you have anything to share?" The Dark Lord cocked his head, one of his bony hands playing with the two bones on his pendant.
"We-well…The German front has been holding up, the wizarding community there does not see our vision yet, but the reports are hopeful. There have not been any major losses on that front, an-and it is predicted to stay that way."
"Any uprisings?" Parkinson asked, wand tabbing on his bushy upper lip
"No-o" Mulcibe shakily waved his wand at the map, lighting up the entirety of the Noth German coast " As our scouts reported the only vocals are located in Düsseldort and Frankfurt, but we have enough of a presence to discourage them from doing anything stupid."
"And Berlin?" Draco asked, not looking up from the reports in front of him. He still had his hangover, but he just had enough time in the morning to collect them.
"We-well, we have not reached Berlin yet bu-"
"Why?" Draco flipped a page
"I-I, It is not…My Lord, we are trying our hardest but it is-"
"I am expecting results" The Dark Lord waved his wand, letting Germany fall back into the map "Soon."
"Of course, my lord!" Mulciber sight, collapsing back into his chair.
The Dark Lord tilted his head, calculating "Dolohov?"
Antonin sat a few seats down the opposite of Draco. He did not startle, or show fear as he stood. He was a fool.
"Yes, my lord." He stood, with a wolfish smile "The snatchers have been productive, caching almost all errand mudbloods, and muggles around London. We secured our biggest shipment of slaves a few days ago, and they are getting" Dolohov threw a smile at Draco "introduced into our customs. They will be ready for auction soon."
So Draco was bloody right, the Order did nothing about a shipment of underage girls, that were now, in the care of Dolohov and his wolves.
"Don't tarnish them too much" The Dark Lord scolded "They need to be broken in, and not broken."
"Yes, my lord" Dolohov bowed, sitting back into his chair.
Draco wanted to kill him. Next to him sat Lestrange, and just glancing at him the Magic in Draco surged, wanting to get released.
"Draco" The Dark Lord turned towards him, and he had to fight the urge to turn. He was way too close for those kinds of mistakes.
"Yes my lord" He answered, his eyes on his aunt, eyeing him up. Draco scolded his features, not showing anything. His aunt smiled, and Draco braced himself for the worse.
"Care to share your developments with the others?"
"Yes my lord" Draco stood, not taking his eye off the map in front of him. He already gave a detailed update to the Dark Lord directly, but he did not question the Dark Lord's motives. "As I assume all of you know, I have been stationed in South France for the last week and have been making regular trips there for months. The French uprising is still strong and relentless, but we are squashing their every attempt to gain hold of the county." Draco waved his wand, lighting up the big cities in France, and highlighting the ones with the most uprising groups. We have located Beauxbatons" Draco let himself smile at the shocked faces at the table. He waived his wand, and watched as the replica of the castle emerged from the French countryside "It is the last strand of their resistance, and we will start mapping and preparing to take over soon. We took a big hit at the start of the week when Muggle Paris was attacked by a larger uprising group, but we handled the situation. We interrogated and killed every one of them, putting their bodies out to rot in public spaces." Draco flipped his papers, monitoring everybody's reactions "The last minor uprising happened right before I left, but it contained only 10 individuals, and they were crushed within minutes"
"Good" The Dark Lord mumbled, "Very good indeed"
"Thank you, My Lord"
"We are making splendid progress, and soon Europe will be under our control. Does anyone have anything to report regarding the... Order?"
"They have been rather dormant lately" Quincy Nott leaned forward "Not many attacks, not many reported movements."
"They are planning something" Lestrange nodded, waiving his wand to enlarge Britan
"They got hit hard last time we got knowledge about one of their safehouses" Goyle senior added "We captured many, and killed even more"
"And they still haven't tried to rescue any of their comrades" Fenir laughed "Not even the pretty ones"
"We need to hit them before they figure out their next step" Draco looks up, turning the map around
"We do not have any sufficient information, Young Malfoy '' Goyle Senior scolds, looking at Draco.
"My lord" Daphne suddenly stood at the end of the table. Draco's head snapped towards her, he could barely hide the surprise from his face, He knew his reaction cost him, as the Dark Lond chuckled next to him. Even Bellatrix is looking at Daphne with hungry eyes. Barely allowed into the Council chambers and seated at the opposite end of the table, she should have kept her head down, avoiding drawing attention to herself.
"Yes? Miss Greengrass? Do you have something to share?"
"Yes My lord" Daphne bowed, and Draco could feel the dread spread in his stomach
"Is your little Astoria recovering?" Bellatrix snickered leaning at the desk, to take a good look at Daphne "We haven't seen her in a while"
"I have seen her in my dream plenty of times" Dolohov snickered, and Draco has to bite his tongue to keep quiet.
"As the Dark Lord knows, my sister has been at home not seen by the public." Daphne answered calmly, still Draco saw the thigh set of her shoulders, the way her hands held onto the table, white-knuckled "This was because she started gaining the trust of the Lovegood prisoner, and has started to uncover the secrets of the order"
Draco's eyes snapped to Daphne's who looked pleadingly at him.
What the hell was she doing?
"I see" the Dark Lord leaned back "You mean to insinuate that the Young Zabini's efforts were in vain, compared to you sisters?"
"Yes, my lord"
Fuck
"Did she find out how to do they braid each other's hair?" Bellatrix sneers, hand playing with her wand.
"She gained knowledge about a safe house's location"
Lighting. Then early quiet.
"Continue" The Dark Lord hissed, smiling as thunder rolled around them.
Draco tried to think. What could have Dahne thought? She can't lie to the Dark Lord, but Astoria is in no way able to spy for the Dark Lord.
"As far as we know, it is used as an orphanage by the Order, and is housing children, along with their caregivers"
"Why would care about mudblood children?!" Bellatrix exclaimed, head on the desk as if almost falling asleep
"Because" Daphne turned toward Bellatrix, head held high "The one leading the orphanage is Minvera Mcgonnagal and if I heard correctly, we need her knowledge about the Headmaster's room in Hogwarts. She is rumoured to have a level ten clearance, meaning-"
"The downfall of the Order" Draco finished for her.
The end of the war.
They would win.
Draco should have been happy. Then why was he feeling like he was going to throw up?
He trained his eyes on Daphne, who deliberately looked everywhere but at him.
"I have located the structure myself by the point the prisoner had given in her statement. " Daphne cleared her throat "The structure is protected by a Fiedelus charm so I cannot share the location myself, or any characteristics about its placement.
Look at me Draco wanted to scream
"But, It is a two-story building in the East Midlands, with strong but not impenetrable wards." Daphne waved her wand, a single flyer hovering in front of her "The address is written onto the parchment, as soon as the Dark Lord reads it, he will know the location, along with everybody else."
"How do you plan to attack it?" Draco found himself asking, his mask in place.
"I have not reached that part of planning, as I was eager to share the news with the Dark Lord first, and adhere to his judgement"
Daphne's eyes finally snapped onto his, round and panicked.
Leggimens
The word echoed in Draco's mind as she slipped into Daphne's mind. For a moment, darkness enveloped him, nothing but an abyss surrounding him. Then, like layers of paint peeling off the walls, a majestic art gallery unfurled before him. A labyrinth of vaulted halls adorned with moving paintings, each canvas capturing a moment in time. Entering the gallery's vestibule, the earliest memories greeted Draco—small, delicate paintings that held the innocence of childhood. Draco saw himself as a kis, little Daphne and Astoria playing, Daphne getting sorted into Slytherin. Gripping his wand harder, Draco swiftly moved between the rows, looking for the memory Daphne was actively accessing. As he delved deeper into the maze, the canvases grew larger, echoing the increasing complexity of experiences. Murals of joyous moments expanded across the walls, showing the first years of Hogwarts, and their summers together. Draco quickened his pace, eating the distance up. Around him the painting changed, became more vivid and dark, seeping unease into the air. Rounding the corner, one of the small dark canvases was glowing fairly, Daphne crouching before a door, listening intently in a nondescript hallway. Not second-guessing himself Draco jumped into the picture frame.
Cold water washed over him, icy tendrils eating themself into his bones before the memory unfolded before him.
He was in the Malfoy manor, he recognized the familiar Hallway that housed the bedroom in his wing of the house. Daphne rounded the far corner, wearing her silk pyjamas and face mask, cradling a bottle of vine to her chest. Walking on her tiptoes, she tried to wade through the hallway but suddenly stopped, realizing Astoria's door was cracked open. She hesitated her feet already moving when faint voices drifted to the hallway.
"Bloody hell" she whispers, creeping towards the door.
Draco knew she listened in on her sister and Loony before, but actually seeing it was different. He too stepped closer, trying to see in the little crack into the room.
"- anymore" Astoria's voice became clearer and Draco almost exhaled a sigh. She sounded, almost normal. He hadn't seen her last night, and he didn't even know how worried he was.
"The Nargles around your head, say otherwise" Luna's whimsical voice hit Draco's ears, and he almost toppled forward.
"They are lying," Astoria said in a calm whisper.
"That's what the children say too" Luna agrees shuffling around
"Children?" Astoria whispered, bearly loud enough for Draco to hear. Next to him, Daphne stood motionless, face in concentration.
"Yes, tiny humans they are" Loony hummed
"You have children?"
"They are not mine, silly," Loony chuckled. "They are McGonnangals if someone wants to be precise, she is the one leading the orphanage"
Draco could hear Daphne's soft gasp in his ear. Well, he certainly didn't expect this either. He didn't really think about how escaped children were housed.
"I haven't seen children in a while" Astoria says in a whimsical voice "Not even babies"
"We have many. They love running outside of the garden, the midlands have the perfect weather."
"Are they happy?" Astoria whispered
"I suppose" Loony's voice became distant "There is a war, but they are away"
"Yes, I-" Astoria sighed
"Are you nauseous again?"
"No, no I am fine" Tell me more about the children instead"
"Well-"
It felt like the memory melted from his fingers, leaking down the drain with him.
"Tell me" Astoria's voice was desperate. Draco was still on the same hallways, with Daphne next to him, but something felt different. Maybe it was a different day?
"You wish to know things you shouldn't" Loony voice was sombre, and clear
"I gave you a secret" Astoria was almost hysterical. Draco could hear the tears in her voice even through the fog of the memory "I deserve your"
"It is not my secret to share" Draco had never heard Loony like that. She almost sounded..normal?
"But it is the e I need to know!" Astoria shouted, her voice breaking "Please" her words melted into sobs
"I do hope this won't turn into a regrettable decision." Under the sobs, Draco could hear parchment, and a pen slowly inking it.
Something cold ran through Draco's spine. Without thinking he tore out of Daphne's head, reality crashing back into him.
"-ery good, Miss Greengrass, very good indeed" The Dark Lord turned towards Draco "You agree Draco?"
"Yes my lord" Draco answered immediately, head still swimming
"Good, good" The Dark Lord smiled, showing off his rotten teeth "Quincy, organise this raid as soon as possible, with Draco's help. We have a war to win"
"Yes my lord" Quincy answered sourly
"Bellatrix, "The Dark Lord turned away from Draco "what have learned from th-"
Draco tuned his surroundings out, only focusing on the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. He had to help plan a raid to an Orphanage, with bloody children in it. It would mean the end of the war. It would mean winning the war for the Dark Lord, it would mean eternal glory.
His stomach churned.
His eyes slowly found Daphne's whose blues were bearing into him.
Even if she hadn't realized, she would soon that Draco visited her head, and would skin him alive for it.
Draco looked away.
He needed to figure something out, something because he wasn't sure he would survive torturing another kid, not even killing a house full of them. He couldn't fuck up the mission on purpose the Dark Lord would know and would kill him anyways.
The letter in Draco's pocket felt like it was burning a hole into his trousers, and Draco knew what he had to do.
He just hoped they were as stupid as he thought they would be.
Draco would write to the order, one last time.
Time warped around Draco, closing him into a wind whirl not letting him breathe. Planning the raid on the Order's safehouse, travelling back to back from France to England to handle the raised amount of uprising there, trying to dodge Daphne who was furious at him, shouting his head off, and almost hexed him to death, tenting to Astoria who was still bearly leaving her room, watching over Pansy who had been eating Draco's alcohol collection up like there is no tomorrow. As soon as the Draco apparated home from the Council chamber, he cornered Daphne.
"The fuck was that?" He almost shouted, tearing his Death Eater robes off.
"You are asking me?!" Daphne pointed at her chest "What the fuck were you" Her nail bit into Draco's chest "Doing in my bloody head?!"
"Looking for answers" Draco spit, tossing his robes to the corner "Because apparently, you are too good to share them with me"
"Oh you bloody bastard" Daphne laughed bitterly
Couldn't you have told me before the meeting? That you were planning to attack a bloody orphanage?"
"WHEN?" Daphne screamed, sparks flying around her "When you wherein France!? Or when you were home, black-out drunk and bloody injured? When do you suppose I could have told you?"
"Right before the meeting-"
"When you were so busy brooding to even notice me? Yeah, well."
"What were you thinking?" Draco shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
"THEY WERE ASKING ABOUt ASTORiA!"
"AND?" He whipped his head towards her.
"You haven't been home" The words were almost a whisper. Her chest fell up and down as she closed her eyes" They have been asking about her for weeks. Sneering, and jabbing, and I am not bloody dumb, I can see my sister is broken but the Dark Lord cannot know"
"So you lied" Draco crossed his arms
"I saved my sister, bought her some time"
"By offering children to the Dark Lord? To Fenrir, Dolohov, Lestrange, to those who actually did this to Astoria?"
"Don't act like you are better than me Draco" Daphne furiously swiped a tear from her eye" You would have done the bloody same thing to save Astoria, to give her a chance"
"Fuck!" Draco punched the wall next to him, pain radiating through his fist, up his elbow, tightening into his shoulder.
"Exactly" Her voice was bitter "And yo even had the audacity to climb into my head."
Draco breathed out raggedly, his chest falling rapidly.
"Fuck you Draco"
His name echoed in the foyer, met with Daphne's descending steps.
Draco's hand still throbbed fro that day, his shoulder still not quite well as he crouched in the pouring rain, trying to see the little cottage from the raindrop clouding his vision. His robes were already soaked through, clinging to him as he shuffled between the others.
They were extra careful, nobody bore water repellent or warming charms, trying ti not get noticed by any sweeping enhancements. The scouts had already set anti-apparition wards up a kilometre wide and had already given reports on the occupants of the house. The little cottage cast a warm glow of light in the thunderstorm, even as the wind hit its windows, and tried to tear the bushes and trees of the expansive yard Draco found the palace welcoming.
Adjusting his mask, he turned to his side observing the rank of death eaters crunched in the grass. Their black robes bled into the underbrush, and the only thing visible were the silver masks glinting in the thunder. Draco could hear the faint, excited shuffle, the murmur or voices under the thunder. They were ready, there had been more death eaters there than necessary, they had called in new recruits, scouts, and even non-active fighters which is why was Theo on Draco's left, huffing a puffing impatient.
"Quite" Draco turned back, hissing at Theo.
"This bloody thing is itchy" Theo mumbled back, adjusting his drenched robe.
"Comes with the job" Blaise adjusts his mask on Theo's left, wand at the ready.
"This is not my job" Theo pulls his robe down "I am a scientist, I work in a pristine lab, not in a field elbow deep in mu-"
"Shh," Draco hisses.
Something moved.
In front of him, in the dark field just outside of the glow of the house, something moved.
"They are here" Draco mumbled, dread and relief cursing through him at the same time.
"Who?" Theo turned toward Draco
"The Order" Draco smiled, pulling his mask down and standing. "It's show time" He raised his wand, sending red spars flying through the sky.
The effect was instant.
Death Eaters all around him charged, running towards the building.
The whole building shook as the ward around it broke, emitting a sickly green light, highlighting the whole valley for a second.
Draco saw them before they saw him, a group of Ordem members, mere meters from the cottage.
"They are late" Blaise commented, pulling his own mask down and charging forward.
"They are" Draco answered, gripping his wand tighter. "Ready?"
"Ready" Theo and Blaise answered in unison, so they ran into the fray of the battle.
Curses whizzed through the air over Draco's head like deadly fireflies as he surged forward, dodging Death Eaters, and Order members alike. The mud clung to his boots, attempting to drag him down. Draco pressed on, fixating on the modest cottage ahead. Death Eaters were locked in duels around him, and Draco felt the ich to engage, to hurl curses left and right, but he had a mission. The symphony of deafening shouts and anguished screams accompanied his every step as he slipped into the house through the battered front door. The living room that once could have been lovely now lay in ruins. Smoke and ash clouded the air, mingling with the stench of burning debris. The floor was a slippery mess of mud and water and masked Death Eaters dueling with Order members. Draco duked, sending a stinging curse at an Order member before sliding behind a grimy orange couch for cover. Its left side was completely blown off, exposing Draco to one side.
Pansy, a familiar face obscured by a mask, leapt up from her concealed position, firing off curses before crouching back down. Her drawl cut through the cacophony. "Fancy seeing you here." She kicked a children's tea set to the side, and looking down Draco could barely see drawings under his messy boot.
"Didn't want to miss the party" Draco Draco retorted standing, his wand dancing with lethal intent. In a swift sequence, he unleashed three curses, each finding its mark on the Order members. They fell to the ground next to each other, their wand discarded, face first in the mud. Draco could already hear more coming, they had to be in the house already. "Gotta go" He offered a half-mocking bow to Pansy, who, even beneath her mask, rolled her eyes.
Without a backward glance, Draco sprinted up the stairs, narrowly evading curses that erupted from the nearby kitchen. The battle raged on, and Draco pressed forward, hoping no Order member would try to guard the stairs because he was tightly locked in. They didn't really have the layout of the building, a jigsaw puzzle with pieces missing. External observations hinted that the second story housed bedrooms, the main office, and worker quarters. However, looking up the stairs, Draco saw the telltale signs of magical enlargement spells. He inwardly cursed, it meant the structure held more secrets and rooms than their initial estimates dared to suggest.
The first-floor landing was a mess. One of the walls was blown open, giving Draco a perfect view of two children huddling together in fear. own the hall, the ominous hum of impending danger resonated, and the flickering glow of curses lit up the hallway, then plunged it back into darkness. The smoke was thicker up here, and Draco could already feel himself breathing heavier. Looking down at the kids, he hesitated. His mission was to get McGonagall or any high-ranking Order member as prisoners, not to take or maim children.
"Fuck" he mumbled, looking around. No bloody Order members close enough, and Draco couldn't well apparate the kids out. He looked at them one more time, their small faces, sobbing and grabbing onto each other before he turned away, racing up the stairs. His thighs screamed as he rounded a corner just in time to narrowly avoid a curse aimed at his head. He stepped back, grabbing the walls for support, not wanting to fall down the bloody stairs.
"GET AWAY!" The shrill voice echoed down the hallway, cutting through the smoke.
Draco swiftly threw up a Shield Charm, and rounded the corner again, now with his wand at the ready.
here, in the middle of the hallway, stood a girl about fifteen, in a blood-stained nightgown, clutching a wand too large for her fragile frame. angled brown hair framed her tear-filled eyes as she stared Draco down.
Draco knew how he looked, the fear and disgust in the girl's eyes told him everything.
"Stupefy" Draco unleashed the curse without hesitation. She didn't even have a chance. The girl crumbled to the floor, the wand still gripped between her slim fingers. Draco sighed, levitating her into the closest room. He hoped the Order would be the one that found her. He placed her on the bed and put a blanket over her for good measure. The sting would wear off in a few minutes, and he hoped it would give her enough time to get out.
Continuing his journey, he kicked in every door, he found most of them empty. Each room mirrored the last, with single beds, two desks in each corner and personal belongings scarred around, but no sign of children.
Maybe his contract wasn't a complete moron after all.
Kinking in the last door, he found a small office.
The room wasn't expansive, not even a fireplace in sight. As Draco hastily searched through the sparse furnishings, it became evident that this wasn't the office he sought. Exiting the room, he hurried back toward the stairs, stopping when a muffled voice hit his ear.
"You feel so good"
Dread coiled in Draco's stomach, freezing him in his tracks. Silently creeping toward the source, he stopped at a nearly closed door, the sounds growing clearer.
"Yes, fight, it just makes me harder"
Draco had to fight back the bile as he peered through the small crack. Greyback, his mask discarded nearby, held down a girl, perhaps barely twelve. seeing Greyback, his mask discarded next to him, holding down a girl, maybe barely twelve. Honey-blond hair, now streaked with mud and blood, framed her terrified face as she silently screamed, crying and thrashing as he…
"Bloody hell" Draco mumbled
As he was fucking raping her.
His whole body was numb, his stomach on fire.
Gripping his wand tightly, Draco snapped into action, the Killing Curse poised on his lips.
"Don't get distracted Malfoy"
Turning swiftly, Draco's wand was ready, aimed directly at Lestrange.
"Your turn will come, don't worry" Lestrange sneered, an oily smile on his face
"I am not worried" Draco forced out the words. Shouting filtered through the stairs, becoming louder with every second, he had to act, now.
"Stupefy!"
The curse hurtled toward him, and Draco barely dodged it, throwing up a shield at the last second. Shifting his focus back to the stairs, an Order member was already engaged in a duel with Lestrange. Draco could hear the reinforcements coming, the footfalls echoing in the hallway as he threw himself into the duel. He would deal with Fenrir after.
Shooting a Killing Curse, he ducked and erected a shield just as two more Order members spilt into the hallway. Curses erupted, creating chaos—doors exploded, debris clung to Draco's skin as the air grew thick with smoke and sweat. The sulfuric taste of magic lingered on Draco's tongue as he fired at... the people he contacted, and gave information to. Lestrange grunted beside him, only shooting killing curses with lethal speed, while Draco discreetly tried to shun them instead of killing them. Maybe they had a chance of escaping.
"Found the main office yet?" Lestrange shouted, launching another curse that missed its mark.
"No" Draco seethed, fatigue settling in. "It must be on the top floor."
"You will be bloody late" Lestrange retorted, throwing up a shield that crumbled under the impact of a stunning hex to his chest.
"She will be the last to leave" Draco answered, caching one of the Order members with a Petrificus totalus.
"Pray that you are right" Lestrange muttered just before a curse struck him in the chest. Draco ducked the spell aimed for him narrowly missing. Springing back up, he quickly petrified the remaining order members, their bodies collapsing onto the muddy wooden floor.
Draco barely had a second to catch his breath. Turning back, he kicked the door open, wand at the ready,..but Fenrir was nowhere in sight.
"Fuck" Draco muttered
The girl lay still, her nightgown hiked up to her waist, blood staining her legs and hips. Her vacant, wide eyes stared at Draco. A chunk of flesh was missing from her neck, exposing her windpipe. Even from there, Draoc could see the bruises on her body, hand marks on her thigh and throat, the bite marks all over the body and the..
Draco fought back the bile rising in his throat.
And the cum sprayed over her chest and face.
Taking a deep breath he summoned a blanket from the nearby bed, and carefully lay it over the girl.
At least she should be covered up.
The smoke stinging his eyes, Draco turned away, his chest feeling hollow. Legs like lead led him back to the staircase, and back to the final floor.
It was oddly quiet.
Bodies of Death Eaters lay scattered along the hallway, the acrid smoke so dense that Draco could barely see a meter in front of him. The distant shouts from downstairs echoed like faint whispers as he moved cautiously, his boots creaking with every step. His breathing was ragged, almost deafening in the eerie quiet of the dimly lit corridor. His hands were covered in dust and sweat, and the mask was properly suffocating him. The door on his right creaked open slightly. Draco spun around, wand at the ready, disarming spell poised on his lips, but nothing stirred. Taking a step forward, he cautiously kicked the door open, revealing only an empty room. It looked like all the others, with a few single beds pouches to the walls, cabinets and desks, all littered with children's drawings, stickers, or stuffed animals. Walking deeper into the room, he carefully looked under the beds, and as quietly as he could manage opened the dressers up. He knew he heard something.
A chill ran through him, a second before the door slammed shut behind him.
Draco spun around, finding no one in the room, but the distinct sound of footsteps crept in under the door.
"Bom-" Draco coughed, the acrid smoke coiling in his lungs, the pungent scent of burning wood lingering in the air. Tearing his mask off, he shouted, "Bombarda!" The door exploded open, sending splinters and shards in every direction.
Draco didn't waste a second; he ran outside, the adrenaline pumping through his veins, just in time to glimpse a shadowy figure turning the corner.
Breaking into a sprint, boots pounding against the debris-strewn floor, Draco rounded the corner just catching sight of the elusive figure slipping into a dimly lit room. He didn't think, he ran as fast as he could, not caring that somebody heard him. The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly as he closed the gap, the echo of his rapid footsteps mixing with the distant chaos.
Reaching the room, Draco practically kicked the door in, revealing a scene bathed in dim, flickering light. The air was heavy with tension. His wand, held at the ready, was aimed at...
"Granger?" The words escaped his mouth before he could stop them.
Granger looked up, her eyes widening in a mix of shock and fear, wand gripped tightly in her hand, but at her side not trained at him. Her hand hovered midway to the floo powder, shakings as her fingers barely graced the top of the pot. Her wild hair, resembling an untamed mane, stood in every direction, and she was wearing some very tight black, with straps of leather clothing that accentuated her every curve. Draco didn't know she had curves.
"Malfoy?" Her voice trembled, barely more than a whisper. Those big, chocolate eyes raked over him as if searching for something beneath the mask. Draco swore she saw him, his face, his insides. He steeled his expression, sliding behind his mental walls.
Granger just looked at him, chest falling up and down, in sync with his.
Air puffed in front of him, his hand gripping his wand tighter.
"They had to be there!" Distant shouts echoed down the hallway, their footfalls growing closer with each passing moment. Whoever that was is going to be there in any second.
Granger's eyes widened further, and Draco caught the smallest tremor in her hand.
"Malf-" she began, her voice desperate
"Avada Kedavra!" The green light shot out from Draco's wand, and he could feel it taking a piece of his soul with it.