Harry Potter and the Six Founders

Chapter 12 - Death Eaters

Hogwarts

The Quidditch season had started and Harry, Ron and Draco were finding that they didn't have enough time for all activities. This started a small recurrent disagreement with Hermione, who was getting more and more involved in their association which had de facto replaced SPEW. Harry would have forgone some time, if Hermione would agree that they spend it together, but she had decided that homework and studies should come before pleasure and Luna had taken her side.

One morning Draco received an owl from the Parkinson's, Pansy's parents, concerning the association. He and Pansy had basically made up, although it had taken some time and a lot of patience from him. The Parkinson' were very well connected in Slytherin circles and Pansy's mother was famous for organizing regular diners with influent wizards. He had been to several of these with his parents. One important fact was that, to his knowledge, the Parkinsons had never showed manifest sympathy for the Death Eater opinions.

If Draco wanted to make a career in politics, being on their good side was mandatory.

In their letter, the wizard couple proposed a meeting in Hogsmeade the coming afternoon and specifically wanted to meet the 'remarkable muggle born young witch' who had drafted the association's bylaws.

Hermione was enthusiastic at the idea of reaching out to the 'hard core' of Slytherin families. They hadn't had much success up to now. At that time Harry and Ron were plainly bored with these meetings and declined to participate, preferring to squeeze in a little Quidditch practice.

"You can go without us," proposed Harry. "There's no real need for all of us to be present every time."

"Yea," added Ron. "Tomorrow night we have the Defense Group meeting and Firenze wants to see us the day after. The match is this week end and we really need to fine tune the rest of the team."

"You're really not serious the two of you," accused Hermione with a hint of anger in her eyes. "What we're doing is more important than a Quidditch game."

"Hermione we've already been through this. We're not stopping you from going, and you can even take Ginny."

"It's always the same thing. I can never count on you for anything," said Hermione with obvious annoyance. "All right then. Go play at your silly game but the next time you need me you can be sure I'll remember this."

"The problem with you Mione," answered an exasperated Harry, "is that you never stop bossing others around. Whatever we do, it's never enough."

Ron had stood up and was moving toward the door.

"Let it go Harry. There's no use arguing with her. We're just losing our time."

"Go away then!" she yelled. Harry shook his head angrily and followed Ron. "I don't care, but maybe one day you'll find that you'll have lost more than just your time!"

Draco and Ginny had stayed silent during the outburst. Hermione threw Draco a glare, daring him to contradict her.

"Do you have something to say?" she snapped.

Draco shook his head slowly. He was beginning to know them well enough and the last thing he wanted was to get caught into one of these disputes. It was a mystery to him why they needed to get regularly worked up about such trivial issues, but he knew that things would calm down after some time.

"What time's the meeting?" asked Ginny, changing the subject.

"In two hours," answered Hermione in a clipped voice. "I'm going to put together my notes to prepare for it."

She hesitated. She would have liked to discuss her informations on the Parkinson family with Draco but even if he wasn't saying anything, she could see he didn't approve of her attitude. She couldn't find it in herself to ask him to help her, at least not right now.

"Shall we meet in the hall in one hour to discuss the last details?" she asked finally.

"All right," answered Ginny.

Hermione walked toward the Gryffindor common room, hoping that Ginny would follow her, but the other girl was staying with Draco, and then they moved off in another direction. Hurt and embarrassed despite herself, Hermione muttered something foul and accelerated away.

They can well all go to hell, along with that stupid game!

More than one hour later she came back to find Ginny waiting.

"Where's Draco?"

"He's coming. Some trouble with Montague." Ginny shrugged. Montague was still taking Draco's position very badly, and he didn't miss a chance to cause problems. Draco was all the more irritated since he'd played that game long enough against the Gryffindors.

She looked at Hermione who still seemed uncomfortable. In her mind both sides were equally wrong, but she did feel some pity for her friend.

"Do you want us to review your notes while we wait for him?" she asked gently.

Hermione threw her a look full of gratitude and opened the large, well organized, notebook where she kept all her association data. Her hand was trembling slightly. She cleared her throat.

"Yes, I wanted to go over the Parkinsons' position relative to the Slytherins working in the Ministry and..." She suddenly stopped and broke into sobs.

"Hermione!" Ginny took her in her arms. "Don't cry, it's really not that bad."

"No, I know it's not," she replied, sniffing. "But I always have a terrible foreboding when we fight like that, a terrible feeling that something awful is going to happen and that I won't see him again." She wiped her eyes. "I know it's stupid but I can't help it." She stood up. "I'll just go see him and make up before we leave."

"I'm not sure we have time," said Ginny, thoughtful. Her eyes caught a familiar shape coming toward them. "Here's Draco coming."

"Sorry, but it took longer than I thought," he said, frowning absently. He looked at his watch. "We'd better go. I wouldn't want to keep them waiting; they're kind of old fashioned. We'll talk on the way."

Since everything had been going so well lately, their sense of precaution was dulled and none of them thought to check with any of the adults. They made their way to Hogsmeade while Draco described what he knew about the Parkinsons' relations. When they entered the Three Broomsticks, the arranged meeting place, he spotted the older couple seated at a table in the back of the inn.

Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson stood up to meet them. Hermione had the impression that they had rather dreamy eyed but she didn't think much more about it. They didn't have a chance to be suspicious before the trap closed on them.

It happened very fast. At one moment Ms. Parkinson was holding her hand while Mr. Parkinson had Ginny's and his own on Draco's shoulder and they felt the portkey effect pulling them into the void.

Malfoy House

They found themselves inside another, darkly decorated house. Draco immediately recognized it as his parent's Manor and cried out a warning.

The heavy arms of the elder Goyle grabbed Hermione and Ginny. He sensed a presence behind him but his first thought was to allow the girls to escape. Disapparating was out because of the Manor's wards but if they could reach the outside they could do it.

"Run!" he screamed to them, indicating the door leading to the exit. He took out his wand and cast a spell toward the big man. "Petrify" He managed to stun him before a terrible blow struck him from behind, and a spell sent his wand flying away.

He tried to turn against his aggressor and saw that Hermione was dragging Ginny toward the door. Ginny was reaching for her wand but a powerful hex caught them both and they dropped to the floor. He heard the loud sound of Ginny's head hitting the wall. Crabbe's father was in front of him and readying another blow. Draco feinted to the right and managed to connect a punch to the wizard's belly but he found himself attacked from another quarter.

"Imperio!"

His own father was using the Imperius curse on him! It immediately paralyzed him and he tried to throw off the spell, but he couldn't. Crabbe took the occasion to hit him violently in the face. He fell against some furniture and his vision blurred.

"STOP IT! I can hold him now," yelled Lucius Malfoy. "Take the girls down!"

Crabbe, joined by Goyle who was recovering from Draco's stun, grabbed Hermione and left Goyle to handle Ginny who was still unconscious.

Hermione tried to break free but her strength was no match for Crabbe's All she got for her efforts was a back handed slap of such violence that she tasted blood in her mouth.

The two girls were bought down a set of stairs into a rough featured room with a big wood table and two solid looking chairs. Hermione was terrified but still angry, but when she saw who else was in the room.

Voldemort.

An icy feeling washed over her. Never had she imagined such a terrible evil and cold face.

For a moment all she hoped for was a quick death. Her muscles had turned to jelly and she let Crabbe carry her roughly to one of the chair and attach her with some fittings. She looked as Ginny who was similarly immobilized, and who was starting to come back to her senses.

Voldemort broke into a horrible laughter and feeling of terrifying despair filled her.

On the Quidditch pitch Harry's head was suddenly pierced by a blazing pain. Crying out, he barely managed to land his broom before doubling over on the ground, whimpering.

"Harry! What's the matter?" Ron was running toward him.

By a terrible conscious effort, he forced himself to empty his mind and build up his mental shield, but before he could do so his enemy showed him one single stark image.

Hermione!

Harry screamed louder than he ever had, Ron's blood froze as he looked at his friend's face deformed in anguish.

"Harry! What is it?"

Harry turned toward him.

"Hermione and Ginny! Voldemort's got them!"

Ron felt exactly as if someone had punched him in the guts. He opened his mouth and shook his head.

"No! No..." He tried to will it to be false. "It's a trap..."

"I saw them!" Harry's voice broke. "Ron, I'm sure of it. We have to find out where they are. It must have happened in Hogsmeade."

He started to run. Ron didn't react immediately but when he realized that Harry was going directly to the village he went to catch up with him.

"Harry, we've got to tell Dumbledore!"

Harry looked at him, his face uncomprehending. Ron repeated himself.

"We have to talk to the Headmaster."

For an instant he debated telling him about Sirius and what happened last time Harry had gone away alone, but it seemed too cruel a thing to say. His friend was still looking at him, indecision plain on his face.

"Harry..."

"Okay, let's go," answered Harry. They resumed running, but this time toward the school building.

Hermione tried desperately to steel herself for what was coming and forced herself to look at Voldemort. Harry was in that situation before. He survived. I will survive.

She kept repeating the phrase like a mantra but she was trembling uncontrollably and her teeth were chattering.

Draco was compelled to join them inside the cellar, marching like a robot. Despite all his efforts he couldn't find a way to break out of his father's iron will.

He looked at Hermione and Ginny. What could he do? The Parkinsons must have been under a similar Imperius curse and his father must have arranged to kidnap them.

"Get the boy out of here," said Voldemort to Lucius. "He's infatuated with one of the girls. If he stays, it may affect your control of him. We will deal with him later."

Lucius turned toward his son.

"Go to your room and wait for me there."

Unable to resist Draco walked out the way he came. He climbed the stairs to his room, closed the door and stood there. His mind was racing but his body did not belong to him.

He had to get help. Harry and Snape, and Dumbledore. If they could get back here fast enough, then the girls could be rescued. He heard a scream that froze his blood, and he threw his will against the curse but he still couldn't move a muscle. "Stay in your room!" he had been told.

Lucius moved his wand toward Hermione. "Crucio!" A jet of light struck her and she screamed in agony.

After several long seconds, the pain stopped and Hermione collapsed in her chair, moaning. She was nauseous and her insides felt as if they'd been twisted and torn. In a spasm she vomited and started to sob.

The cold voice of Voldemort spoke to her.

"Really Miss Granger, these are just the preliminaries and yet you seem so distressed. Very poor showing for one with such a reputation. Well I guess one can't expect too much of a muggle I imagine."

Hermione raised her head and tried to look at him. I will resist him, as Harry did. I have to gain time until he can come. She couldn't imagine how Harry would know where to find her but he had said he would do so. He had told her never to lose hope.

"I'm not a muggle. I'm a witch!"

"You are nothing but a piece of flesh which holds information I want." He gestured to Ginny who was trying hard not to panic. "If not for yourself then for your friend' sake."

Hermione stayed silent, forcing her mouth shut. He smiled cruelly at her and slowly raised his wand.

"Did you know Miss Granger that there are several flavors of the Cruciatus curse? They make the game much more interesting... Crucio!"

She screamed again, her nerves were on fire. She tried to control it but the pain was overwhelming. After a while he released her. She saw blood dripping on her lap and realized that she'd bitten her lips. Her wrists were also bloody from the fittings she'd struggled against.

"Now I realized that I haven't actually asked you any question yet," continued Voldemort. "Most indelicate not to give you a chance to surrender now."

"You'll kill us anyway," she croaked. Time, I must hold for time. Someone will come. "What do you want?"

"Well of course I would like to understand why my minion, professor Snape to you, no longer answers my calling, and I would also appreciate some details about the Hogwarts defenses, if any, but the first order of business would be the content of the prophecy."

His eyes bored into hers.

"And don't ever try to lie to me. You can be sure that I will know it and then I'll do something truly terrible. I might ask Goyle here to gouge out one of Miss Weasleys eyes for example." Hermione shuttered.

Voldemort turned to Ginny who looked at him defiantly. Like Hermione she clung to the hope that their friends would save them.

"Perhaps you know the answers to some of those questions Miss Weasley?" asked Voldemort pleasantly. "Perhaps you can give them to me. Crucio!" Ginny screamed in her turn.

The last scream had been Ginny! Draco was sure. His Ginny was being tortured by those animals! The girl he had pledged to help and support in all circumstances. He held the memory of that pledge in his mind and gathered all his energy to free himself.

He felt something tear in his mind, and his body was his to command once more. It worked! I'm free!

He stormed out of his room. Once outside Draco knew he could Apparate near Hogwarts. He listened carefully but there wasn't any one in his way except for the Parkinsons downstairs. He rushed to the door and out of the house.

He stopped, concentrated and apparated next to the road to Hogsmeade. It was a long way before the gates. He started running.

If only I'd thought to take a broom! Stupid! Too late for that and I'm not going back in there.

Harry and Ron had just reached the Headmaster's office when they came upon Snape.

"Professor! Hermione and Ginny have been captured by Voldemort!" breathed Harry.

"How do you know that?" he replied, frowning.

"I felt it, I saw it!" Snape's frown deepened and he started to reply when Harry interrupted. "It's not like last time. I swear that it's different. We've to talk to professor Dumbledore."

Snape made a face but gave the password to the statue. The two boys ran inside and he followed at a more dignified pace. Harry repeated the story to Dumbledore. He was getting more and more agitated as the two men questioned him.

"Why aren't you doing anything!" he finally screamed. "We have to get there now before it's too late!"

"We do not know where they are Harry," answered Dumbledore calmly. "Voldemort is certainly not in Hogsmeade and no Death Eater either. I would know it immediately."

He went to the fireplace and threw some floo powder in the hearth.

"The Three Broomsticks, Madame Rosmerta."

A few seconds later, the head of the innkeeper appeared.

"Yes? Good day Headmaster."

"Good day Madame, we are looking for three of our students who had an appointment with a couple in your establishment. They should have been at your place about a quarter of an hour ago."

The head disappeared a moment. Harry raised his eyes toward the ceiling, trembling with impatience and balancing on his feet, oblivious to the disapproving looks Snape was throwing him.

The head reappeared.

"I see who you mean. They were here ten minutes ago but I don't see them anymore. It's very strange, I'm sure that nobody left the inn since."

"May I call upon you to inquire further?" asked Dumbledore politely. "Perhaps by questioning some of the other customers?"

Madame Rosmerta went away again and came back to say that according to one person, who had however apparently consumed a large quantity of drink judging from the number of empty bottles on his table, a group of five persons had suddenly disappeared from his sight.

"I told you so!" exclaimed Harry, who was becoming ever more restless. "When are you going to believe me?"

Dumbledore raised his hand to appease him.

"Harry, we must not act in precipitation. I do not doubt your sincerity but it was important to have some objective information, and unfortunately it is now the case. If our friends are in the enemy's hands we still have to determine the place where they are being held."

Harry suddenly cried out in pain and his hand went to his scar. They helped him sit down, it looked like another one of Voldemort's attacks.

"Mister Potter, try to get a clue to his location!" ordered Snape.

Harry suppressed a flash of anger and concentrated. He winced for a while then his eyes snapped wide open in a look of pure horror.

"NOOO!" he screamed.

Fawkes let out a shrill cry and flew from his perch, a number of bookshelves crashed brutally to the ground and the lamp on Dumbledore's desk exploded like a grenade, sending pieces everywhere.

"Harry! What is it?" asked Dumbledore, very concerned.

Harry looked at them, madness in his eyes. He started for the door when Snape gripped his arm roughly and pulled him back.

"Let me go! Hermione... He's torturing her. LET ME GO!" He struck at Snape's forearm to break free but the professor blocked the blow easily.

"They're going to kill them! If you won't do anything at least let me try!" he screamed as he struggled like a madman, kicking and hitting at Snape. More books flew from the selves across the room, and the front panel of a large cabinet exploded with a loud sound, showering them with crystalline debris. Inside their frames, the pictures of the former headmasters were running for cover as cracks splintered their glass covers. Snape finally let go of Harry's arm and his hand struck the boy's cheek in a violent, resounding slap.

To think that I dreamed of doing this for years.

The silence that followed was more impressive that the preceding tantrum. Harry was thunderstruck and he looked at Snape in astonishment. The older man was holding him in an iron stare. Harry's face fell.

"We have to help them," he said in a low, pleading voice. "Please..." Two large tears flowed down his face.

Severus' expression softened. His hand rose, hesitated a moment, then went toward the boy's neck and gently touched the back of his head, caressing the thick mop of hair. Harry closed his eyes and let the man pull him in close, awkwardly embracing him with his other arm. Ron looked on, a bewildered expression on his face.

"Harry," said Dumbledore gently, "we must find out where they are. Open your mind so that we can analyze your vision. We might get a clue."

He nodded tried to relax but the anguish was blocking his attempt. He couldn't stop himself from trembling and inside his head; all he could think about was how the most terrible thing had happened. His friends, his love, were in deadly danger, and he was helpless.

A new voice was heard.

"Harry!"

They all turned toward the Sorting Hat who was shaking glass shards from itself. The glittering shape of a gold and steel blade materialized before it.

"Take the sword," said the Hat.

Harry looked at it and remembered the last time he'd held it. He remembered that other terrible time when they'd almost lost hope of finding Ginny alive, of saving Hermione. The time when he'd fought and won against all odds.

I deserved to hold that Godric Gryffondor's sword then.

He lowered his eyes with shame. It was a far cry from the weakness he'd just shown.

"The sword will give you strength Harry," insisted the Hat. "It will help."

He shook his head, simultaneously thinking he wasn't worthy anymore, and berating himself for such self pity. The Hat contracted upon itself in a manifest effort and the sword flew across the room. Automatically Harry reached out to catch the handle with lightning reflexes. The sword seemed to melt into his palm with natural ease. He felt a shiver run through his blood and looked at the silvery blade. Coolness washed over him and a new determination finally appeared on his face. He turned toward Dumbledore and Snape, who watched on in fascination, and his expression was calmer.

He relaxed enough so that they could enter his mind. As he relived the awful vision of Hermione, tied and screaming in her chair, he couldn't help a small cry, but he kept his mind clear.

"What do you think Severus?" asked the Headmaster.

"Some elements seem familiar," the other man answered after a while. "Particularly that chest in the background. Give me a minute..."

Harry and Ron exchanged a look of hope. They were holding their breath when a cry broke out from the office's entrance. Dumbledore gestured to open the door.

"Malfoy's Manor," panted Draco, rushing in, close to collapse.

"Draco!"

"What happened?"

He told them in a few words. They organized themselves quickly. Snape had a student send word to Remus and the other teachers. Dumbledore grabbed two objects at random and transformed them into portkeys.

"This one will bring us back here, the other will take us outside the wards."

They found Luna with Remus and Tonks in the corridor. Harry was still holding Godric's sword.

"I'm going with you," said Luna.

"No way!" answered Ron and Harry simultaneously, closely followed by the adults.

"They're my friends and you may need me. Discussing it is a waste of time." She glared at Ron and her insistence seemed more than a match for the legendary Weasley stubbornness. Dumbledore hesitated then finally relented.

They activated the first portkey and, after a moment of vertigo, they found themselves on the road to Hogsmeade. Draco gave them the coordinates and they Apparated separately into the garden of Malfoy's Manor. The plants immediately moved to engage them but Draco and Dumbledore managed to control them.

The small group ran toward the main door and rushed inside. The Parkinsons were still standing stupidly in the front lobby. Dumbledore dispelled the Imperius curse with a wave of his wand. The Slytherin couple emerged with a gasp, shocked at what had been done to them. He told them to go home quickly and ignored them. Meanwhile the others found the way to the lower floor blocked. Even the Headmaster's spells could not budge it.

"Draco. Can't you open it?" Harry asked.

"No!"

They heard a terrible scream rising from underneath the floor. Harry and Ron exchanged a horrified glance.

"Draco what are they doing to them?"

He opened his mouth but he couldn't manage more than a strangled sound. Dumbledore turned toward him.

"Draco is there something in this house upon which the protections could be based?"

They were all staring at him.

"Think! It would probably be an artifact associated with some of your parents' rituals. Something which must have been in your family for a long time."

Draco had a flash.

"The Orb! Follow me."

He sprinted toward his parents' quarters.

In the cellar Voldemort ended his latest curse upon Hermione when she blacked out. He'd alternated between the girls but they'd resisted long enough that he knew the present method would take too long for his patience. He gestured at Crabbe to revive the older girl.

When Hermione came to her senses she was exhausted and lost in a sea of suffering, once again her mind desperately tried to find something to do, to escape, to fight back or to die.

"Miss Granger it seems that pain by itself is not sufficient to convince you. So we'll try something else. Goyle here has a certain fondness for young girls, strictly one sided I'm afraid." He fixed her as she realized in horror what he was talking about.

Voldemort turned to the thick set man.

"Goyle. What is your preference?"

Upstairs Draco led them to a side room filled with strange looking paraphernalia, and with a black glistening sphere placed upon a table decorated with sinister symbols.

"This Orb is the only magical object my parents used with me. I don't know what it does but they treat it as something very important. No one but a Malfoy can pass the door to this room."

Effectively all of them, except him, were blocked at the doorstep.

Dumbledore examined it and tried a few spells with his wand.

"Destroying this object should neutralize several protections on this house," he said. "I don't know what all the consequences would be however."

He looked at Draco who hardened his face and turned to Harry.

"Give me the sword!"

Harry surrendered it but Draco plainly had trouble yielding it. The sword seemed to be acting of its own volition. Suddenly Draco screamed

"It's burning me!"

Dumbledore spoke quickly.

"If you must use it, do it now."

Draco gritted his teeth and stepped up to the Orb. His hands were hurting terribly and he could see smoke coming from where they were touching the sword. He fixed his mind on Ginny and stroked at the sphere with all his might.

The Orb shattered with a deafening sound and Draco was thrown back into the corridor. The floor and the wall heaved like in an earthquake.

Snape grabbed a dazzled Draco while Harry recovered the sword. Panels and furniture were crashing down around them. Dumbledore muttered a spell and a bubble of stability enclosed their group.

Screams could be heard from other parts of the house and were interrupted by crashing sounds.

"Mother! Silena!" Draco screamed, suddenly aware of what was happening. He tried to go back but Snape pulled him along. They went back to the blocked entrance but now the door to the cellar offered no more resistance.

When they entered the room they took in Hermione's bloody form in her chair and a half naked Ginny struggling against Goyle. A beam of light erupted from Dumbledore's wand toward Voldemort who blocked it. Harry rushed toward Goyle and ran him through with the sword. Both of them fell to ground and blood jetted from the wound to cover his hands. Snape managed to stun Lucius but was stunned by a curse from Crabbe. Stones were falling everywhere and the walls were crumbling.

Ron rushed to Ginny and Harry pulled out the sword and struck out at Crabbe who was distracted enough so that Remus could dispose of him.

They were trying to turn their attention to Voldemort when he managed to hit Dumbledore with something. The old man was thrown against the wall and, before they could react, Voldemort disappeared.

The shape of Lucius Malfoy could be seen half buried under a mass of debris.

The house was falling apart upon them. They grouped together and when they were all in contact Harry activated the portkey Dumbledore had given him.

They found themselves in the great hall in Hogwarts.

"We need the infirmary. Fast," said Remus. He was holding the Headmaster in his arms and the old wizard was deathly pale and not breathing.

Helping each other they proceeded to the infirmary. Others immediately came to help them and soon the girls and Dumbledore were placed on beds.

Snape instructed a Slytherin student to fetch a chest of emergency potions he kept ready and went to assist Madam Pomfrey who hovered upon Dumbledore. They worked furiously and managed to restart his breathing.

"He's stationary but it's not good. I don't know what else to do for him. It doesn't look like normal spell damage, more like poison."

She gave him a general antidote and she could be sure that there was nothing urgent that could be done, she turned to the girls. Hermione was clinging to Harry and sobbing in abandon. Ginny and Draco seemed to be in shock. Ron stood next to them and tried to speak to his sister.

"We must prepare some defenses quickly," Snape said to Remus. "Without Dumbledore we're vulnerable. Contact the Aurors, Arthur Weasley and have the students organize themselves. We'll need lookouts around the castle."

Remus nodded and left immediately.

After turning away from Ginny, Ron faced Draco in a rage and struck him in the chest.

"What did you do? My little Ginny... How could you let this happen to her!"

Draco backed away from Ron with vacant eyes.

"I'm sorry...."

He turned and started to walk away as he gradually realized everything that had happened. Silena was in the house with mother, they're both dead. My father is dead. Our house is gone and they're going to blame me for what happened. He felt more alone than ever in his life. Only a few hours ago he had felt so happy secure in the esteem of his school and House, holding Ginny in his arms, talking and laughing with his new friends and now he had nothing left. How could I lose so much in so short a time?

"Mister Weasley," Snape addressed Ron. "What happened is not Draco's fault. Lucius Malfoy tricked them. Draco actually saved the girls, we'd never have found them if he hadn't come and gotten us. He also destroyed the protections keeping us away."

Ron fixed Snape with an agonized expression. He started to open his mouth but said nothing. He turned to Harry who nodded.

"He's right Ron. We can't blame him for anything. It's actually because of our negligence that this was allowed to happen." Harry looked at Draco who stood dejectedly away from them, and continued softly. "And Ron, he lost his whole family out there. He took his decision and sacrificed everything to save Ginny and Hermione."

Ron considered that, and gradually realized the enormity of what Draco had done. He felt ashamed at his outburst. Lucius Malfoy was one thing but Draco had loved the rest of his family.

"Yeah he did. Oh Merlin...." He walked toward Draco who looked at him with empty eyes. Slowly he embraced the boy. "I'm sorry...stupid git... forgive me. You saved them, you did." Draco burst into sobs and pressed his head on Ron's shoulder. Ron hugged him tighter and closed his eyes. "Come on. You're my mate and Ginny needs you. We need you."

Snape breathed a sight of relief and started to rummage into the small chest his students had brought him. He'd had his own share of prolonged Cruciatus and by necessity he had studied and developed a very complete arsenal of potions to combat its effects.

Ginny came out of her trance and buried herself into Draco's arms.

Hermione had calmed down a bit but she was still in pain. Madam Pomfrey gave them a drink from one of Snape's potions. She closed her eyes as Harry whispered soothing words to her.

Gradually she began to fell better and she could she that Ginny was also recovering.

Professor McGonagall arrived and turned white as she took in the situation. The Headmaster unconscious and two girls in torn bloody clothing. Even Harry was covered in blood but he didn't seem wounded.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Voldemort and Lucius captured them. We just got them out with Draco's help. The headmaster's been hit and we can't revive him," resumed Snape.

She stifled a cry and touched Hermione's arm.

"Are you both all right? What did they do to you?"

Hermione looked at Harry who nodded to her.

"Tell us about it Hermione. It's over now but it will be better if you tell us about it."

She swallowed and she and Ginny recounted their ordeal in a dry voice. The two girls looked at each other and reminded themselves that they had both survived. That it was over.

They were all horrified but Harry's anger was like nothing he had felt before. It was threatening to overwhelm him, and he was actually moving beds and objects around the room as he felt the magical energy of his anger flowing through his body. He felt Snape's hand on his shoulder and turned to him. No words were said but the man's eyes expressed the affection, support and control that Harry needed. He placed his own hand on Snape's and closed his eyes. His agitation subsided

At the end of her story Hermione reached out to hold Ginny's hand. The younger girl was quieter and now seemed in better control of herself than Hermione. She even seemed to comfort Draco who described how he managed to escape his father's Imperius but broke down when he got to the part when he shattered the Orb.

Professor McGonagall addressed the boy.

"We all carry a great debt to you Draco," she said gently. "And we realized how terrible you must feel. Whatever happens, you must know that you can count on us and that you are not alone."

Draco looked around and saw that all were looking at him. He was ready to resent pity but he found none. He looked at Ron, Harry and Snape and knew that they stood at his side without reserve. Once again he felt he belonged in their world. But I lost Silena!

There were still several important things to do. It was decided to let the girls recuperate and organize a general meeting in an hour. Meanwhile the rest of them were needed to make sure the school was not under any menace.

Snape accompanied a group of Aurors who were sent to search the remains of Malfoy's Manor.

Harry and Draco stayed in the infirmary for a moment. Madam Pomfrey assured them that there would be no permanent effects. The girls were given sleeping draughts and she allowed the boys to stay for the few minutes until it took effect.

"We knew you'd come for us," said Hermione.

"Yes," added Ginny. "That's how we held out. None of us would give up."

"I'm not letting you out of my sight outside these walls," said Harry feelingly. "Not for one second."

"Same with me," acquiesced Draco. "This is never going to happen again."

"Ginny!"

The doors of the infirmary opened violently and Arthur and Molly Weasley entered, accompanied by McGonagall.

Molly stopped at the sight of Draco holding her daughter in his arms. She had been told that they had been going out together, and as a member of the Order she knew the importance of having the boy on their side, but this was the first time she was confronted with the actual situation.

"I'm okay Mom." said Ginny in a quiet voice. "Hi Dad."

Draco nodded and made way for the Weasley parents to embrace their daughter.

"Mrs. Weasley, sir," he said automatically.

Arthur held out his hand and greeted him, and then Harry and Hermione. Molly seemed indecisive, she smiled in sympathy to Hermione and Harry but accepting Draco was another thing. Her maternal instincts took over as she considered the boy's plight. He was now an orphan. Another victim of the evil they were all fighting for. She finally went and embraced him gently.

"I'm very sorry Draco. It's been such a dreadful shock and I'm not quite over it. Thank you for what you did. And thank you Harry too." She stifled a cry and Arthur put his arms around her.

The girls drifted off to a peaceful sleep and Harry stood up, followed by the others. As he and Draco left the infirmary he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I'm really sorry about Silena. I don't know what else to say."

Draco swallowed and nodded.

"There was no choice." I didn't imagine something like that could happen. If I did what would I have done?

It didn't bear thinking about. Maybe one day he would be able to face it but for now he could only push the thought aside.

"We've got work to do. Probably the best thing to think about."

Harry had something else to say.

"You'll talk to Vincent and Gregory?" Draco nodded. It wouldn't be a pleasant task. "Do you want me to go with you?" added Harry.

Draco shook his head.

"No I'll manage it." He turned to Harry. "You know they..."

Harry interrupted him.

"They're our friends and I would like that to continue," he said firmly. "Nobody's responsible for their parent's actions." Draco looked at him and nodded slowly.

They rejoined Ron and the other DA members and proceeded to organize a number of patrols for the evening and the night. Tonks gave word that Mad Eye Moody would be joining them shortly. Once more they reviewed the possible ways the school could be attacked.

McGonagall and the remaining teachers assembled the school in the great dining all. She explained what had happened. There was a series of collective gasps from the students. The biggest of them when learned that the Headmaster was out of action. McGonagall explained grimly that a state of emergency was declared and that classes would be suspended until a special schedule could be worked. Students would be confined to their quarters except for meals. The only exceptions would be the DA groups but in all cases no one would be allowed to move around in less than twos, preferably threes.

The students went back soberly to their Houses.

At the site of what was left of Malfoy's Manor, Snape and the Aurors were searching for remains. The house was a mass of ruins and Snape was trying to determine were the hidden chamber had been when he heard a call from one of the wizards.

"Body over there. It's a girl. She's alive."

He rushed toward the source and saw the crumpled form of Silena on the ground. She looked to have some broken bones but as he checked her he found a beating irregular pulse. She must have been thrown out by a window when the house fell. Maybe her mother or one of the House Elves. It didn't matter.

There was some internal damage but she was transportable with a minimum of precautions. He instructed the Auror to try and find any wands in the ruins and then he carried the girl to the infirmary.

Draco was discussing patrols and lookouts when he spotted Snape running toward him with the first real smile he had ever seen on him. His heart skipped a beat. What kind of news could make Snape act like this? Could it be...?

"Draco!"

"Sir?"

Professor Snape stopped before him.

"We've found Silena! She's alive. Just some broken bones. She's in the infirmary and she'll be okay."

Draco felt like the sun was rising after a long night. He forfeited all reserve and threw his arms around the potion master's chest and hugged him tightly, thanking him tearfully. Snape was acutely embarrassed by such a public display of affection. Especially since the students around them cheered at the good news. He returned the embrace clumsily and wished he was somewhere else.

Well not exactly, but Merlin knows that discipline is going to hell around here.

At Draco's silent query Snape shook his head.

"We found the other bodies. I'm very sorry."

Draco nodded. There would, after all, be a price to pay. At least his sister was safe.

"She can stay with us can't she?"

"Of course. You can go and see her. She'll be glad to see you."

Draco ran to the infirmary and found Silena being tended by Madam Pomfrey. The little girl was very confused but stopped crying when she saw her brother. Draco embraced her gently and soothed her.

"What happened? The house was falling..."

Draco couldn't tell her.

"There was an accident," he said simply.

"Where's mother?" she asked in a frightened voice.

Draco looked away.

"Mother's dead Silena. I'm sorry." He felt a lump in his throat.

The girl broke into sobs and he held her all the while speaking calming words. He could see Ginny and Hermione sleeping and he reflected that today he and his sister had lost one family and gained another. It could be worse. Merlin it sucks, but it could be worse.

After a while the girl fell asleep and he left. He decided that it was time to check in how Slytherin House was doing. They would expect him to say something.

As he entered the common room he caught sight of a group of students whispering together. A nasty thought entered his mind.

"Montague!" he called out.

The older student turned sullenly.

"What is it Malfoy?"

Draco entered the Legimency mental state that Snape had taught him.

"I was wondering if you had any ideas on how the Parkinsons could have been tricked by my father and Voldemort."

A number of other students looked at them curiously. He ignored them.

"They were under the Imperius curse. That's all that there is to it," replied Montague. "By the way do you realize that none of this would have happened if it hadn't been for your stupid ideas?" he added viciously.

Draco discarded the accusation. He felt the lack of sincerity in Montague's voice and his suspicions increased.

"The curse doesn't explain everything. They knew a lot about recent things. Somebody told them. Do you think it could have been a student?"

Montague looked flustered.

"Your mind has been corrupted by your filthy friends Malfoy. You're imagining things."

Draco's Legimency sense exposed all the little betrayals in the sullen boy's body language. It's him. He was part of that plot. Maybe he even suggested it.

Draco increased the pressure. If he could make Montague admit his crime it would be much easier.

"Imagining things I am? Why did you do it Montague? Why did you betray us?" He began to extract flashes of details from the boy's mind. "Did you tell Pansy what would happen to her parents?"

Montague lost all control.

"You're the traitor!" he raged. "I stayed faithful to the teachings that the Dark Lord defends. He is a true Slytherin and you are nothing but a traitor to your kind." Several gasps of horror and disgust were heard from the other students.

Draco felt a cold deadly anger engulf him. He turned it against the mind of Montague and his accomplices who huddled together at the center of a growing circle of students.

"You planned for my father to capture us. Did you know what they would do to Hermione and Ginny?" he roared.

"Of course I did!" screamed Montague. "What did you expect? That mudblood had the gall to presume telling us how to live. And your precious Ginny is nothing but a muggle loving slut. They deserved what was done to them." He turned to Pansy who was looking at him with a horrified look on her face. "And you! If you'd had an ounce of loyalty you would have been with us instead of chickening out."

Draco looked ready to kill as he walked toward Montague and raised his wand. He felt he could channel the hatred he felt toward the other boy into a killing force. It was a thrilling sensation of power.

"Draco!" He heard Snape's voice from far away.

Why should I let him live? He deserves to die and I will show everyone my own power.

"Draco! Don't do this. He's not worth the price you'll pay."

What price? I am within my rights by all wizard traditions. This scum thinks he follows the heir of Slytherin but I know better. I'm....

Suddenly Draco realized that he was falling into the same trap that menaced so many powerful wizards. He had the power to destroy another with his mind and it was such a seducing thing! He knew it wouldn't stop there. It was a way which led to the likes of Voldemort, and only scums like this one would follow him.

He wanted followers and friends but not of this kind. He wanted the respect and love of peoples like Snape, Harry... and Ginny.

Ginny. She would never follow him in this. It would break their pledge.

He lowered his wand and released the pressure of Montague who slumped on the floor.

"You are right sir," he said. "Nothing is worth that price actually." He turned to his godfather. "Thank you for reminding me."

Snape sighed in relief and nodded. He turned toward Montague and the others.

"You will tell us all you know of the Dark Lord's intentions, and then you will leave this school forever," he said coldly.

He collected their wands and snapped them in pieces. The noise was not loud but to everyone it sounded like thunder. Montague groaned and closed his eyes.

"You will never be wizards," continued Snape in a terribly cold and loathing voice. "But you will live - this time. We had better never hear from you again."

He threw the remains of the wands into the fire.

Montague was a broken man. He didn't have much to say about Voldemort's plans, except that an attack against Hogwarts had been mentioned, and that he had planned to eliminate Dumbledore before Harry.

Snape ordered some students to recover the renegades' luggage, which were un-ceremonially stuffed into chests, and then the despondent group was sent out of the castle's wall. Snape had owls addressed to their parents to pick them up in Hogsmeade.

Draco was pensive while the other students looked at him with awe, and not a little fear. Pansy gathered all her courage and walked up to him.

"Draco?" she asked in a small voice.

He looked up.

"Yes."

He knew that she had almost followed Montague and she probably had a small, if unwitting, part in what happened but he didn't really feel any animosity for her. She had been just a pawn in this game and she hadn't really understood the stakes.

Pansy's face store bore the marks of tears.

"I wanted to say how sorry I am, to thank you for helping to save my parents, and ... to tell you that I really wasn't with Montague and his friends." She made an effort to look at him in the eye. "I admit we did talk and I was angry with you but I never..."

He raised his hand to her lips and smiled.

"I know you didn't. He would have told me if you had." Her eyes opened wide at the idea that he could control minds. He shook his head. "Don't worry this was special circumstances and in any case I believe you. I'm glad that your parents made it but for that you can thank the Headmaster more than me."

She nodded and went up to her room. He noticed Vincent and Gregory sitting dejected in a corner. He could understand what they felt. He went over to them and, in a quiet voice, filled in the details they should know. They where disgusted. They had known that their fathers had been criminals but that was not the same as finding that they had tortured two fellow students.

Vincent had tears running down his face.

"What are we going to do?" Gregory's eyes held the same plea.

"You still have your place with us, of course," answered Draco. He told them what Harry had said. They stayed silent and nodded sadly.

Most of the students were preparing themselves for sleep. The oldest would share guard duty. There's only one place where I can be now. Next to Ginny. There's no way I'm going to leave her alone tonight.

He turned to the two boys.

"You're coming with me," he decided.

He collected some things and made sure that everyone was ready and that Millicent knew where to find him. They left the common room and made their way to the infirmary.

The other five were already there, having made the same decision as him. He smiled and brought in the two big Slytherin boys. Harry got up and clasped their arms briefly, followed by Ron and Luna.

"We don't know what to say," stammered Vincent.

"There's nothing special to say," said Luna. "We're all together and that's what important."

They settled in for a long night.

Death Eaters ch12-18