Blind

Chapter Ten

"Stop this," Bellatrix Lestrange commanded. "It's getting a bit old, wouldn't you say?"

The hooded man looked up at her but he pulled back his wand in obedience. Free from the Cruciatus Curse, Narcissa straightened out a bit, her breath coming in great gasps and her eyes watering.

"What's the fun in killing someone you dearly despise if you can't feel the life ebbing away from their body?" Bellatrix asked innocently.

Narcissa pushed herself up slightly, her arms trembling as they fought to uphold her upper body. "You're just a jealous woman, Bellatrix. That's what drives you. Your jealousy. I got everything that you were entitled to. Money. Power. Influence. Not to mention, I was the most blessed with looks, I daresay." She grinned weakly, yet snidely. "You may not have had the feelings for Lucius as I did, but you had pretty strong feelings about the perks of being a Malfoy, and I deprived you of that. And you-" She turned to face the hooded man. "-yes, I know who you are now. You are a coward and a traitor. Too afraid to openly commit yourself to the Dark Lord's purpose. You have no convictions, nothing. Both of you wear your Dark Marks and swear allegiance to the Dark Lord, but you have other priorities, mainly yourselves."

Bellatrix looked shocked that her sister would even suggest that her allegiance to Lord Voldemort was anything less than selfless and faithful. She turned to the man. "I helped you! I reintroduced you to your past, once I realized that the Dark Lord still favored that cowardly Malfoy over my loyal self, and I brought her into your hands for that sweet revenge! Are you going to let her sit here and speak of us in such a way? Do what you wanted to!" she shrieked. "For if you don't, I surely will."

The man seemed hesitant as he glanced back at Narcissa, who was furiously glaring at him, almost daring him to attack her. Draco struggled against his bonds even more fervently. His mother could not hold on much longer, he was certain of that. As she fought against her fatigue in the effort to sit up, her face was quickly draining of color at the exertion of what little energy she had left.

Narcissa looked over at her children with a rather despaired glance, but she quickly turned back to the man, her glare more furious than ever. For the first time, Draco realized why his mother was fighting as hard as she was. She was concerned about what would happen to her children if these two got the better of her. Perhaps she was hoping that Lucius, or anyone really, would come, if not to her rescue, at least to Draco's and Dreda's. She could let go once they entered, but she had to remain alive now or Bellatrix and this man would turn their focus on her children.

The man in the hood and mask finally seemed to come to his senses. He strode over to Narcissa and kicked in her arm so that she lost balance and fell on her back once again. He swung one leg over her waist so that he was looming over her. Draco fought even harder to be released of his binding, for he was fearful as to what this man was going to do. Dreda was remaining unusually still.

The man plopped himself down, landing on Narcissa's stomach. She groaned at his weight pinning her down. She would not be able to push him off, and it would be quite fortunate that she could rise again once he got off. Draco was now carefully kicking at the binds on his feet, making certain not to hurt his sister. He did not like the way this man was straddling his mother's body.

The man reached out and wrapped his thick fingers around Narcissa's slender throat. She brought her hands up to feebly try to pry him off and she wriggled underneath him, but she was unable to fight him off. Draco closed his eyes, not wanting to see the pained look on her face as her airways were being closed. She was gasping and suddenly, it stopped. Draco dared to open one eye.

Narcissa's head was lolling to the side, near her shoulder. Her arms were limply at her side. Her eyes were closed. Draco felt a large knot forming in his throat. She isn't-she can't be...d-d-d.... Draco would not allow himself to even think the word. However, the situation appeared to be rather hopeless.

Bellatrix was shrieking triumphantly. "You did it!" she cried happily. "You may be a good-for-nothing Death Eater, but you have your purposes!"

The man was not paying any heed to Bellatrix. It appeared that he was staring at Narcissa's feet and to Draco's horror, he slowly and carefully started to pull his mother's robes up her legs. Draco was now fighting his bonds with what felt like some new reserve of strength. This man might have killed his mother, and he would not get away with that, but he certainly was not going to defile her!

Bellatrix laughed as she noticed Draco's struggling. "Ha, you won't get out of those ropes, boy. And now that your mummy isn't here to save you, it's your turn to die! Or maybe Sis should go first." Bellatrix reached down to grab Dreda. But she was unsuccessful as at that moment, she was thrown into the wall. Getting a small hit from whatever curse had been sent Bellatrix's way, it took a moment for Draco to register what was going on.

He could hear what sounded like a furious roaring sound. Once his eyes came into focus, Draco saw a tall man had entered the room. His sleek blond hair was glinting in the dim light but even more furiously glinting were his eyes. They were full of anger and hatred. After a second, Draco realized he was looking at his father, angrier than he had ever seen him before.

Lucius Malfoy was not one to waste time, and he promptly pointed his wand at the hooded man. "Avada Kedavra," he hissed. A flash of green light erupted from the end of his wand and hit the hooded man. He crumpled on the spot and his corpse covered Narcissa's lifeless body.

Bellatrix had come to her senses and was scrambling to her feet. Lucius coolly pointed his wand at her. "Don't do anything rash, or I will not be hesitant to kill you also. Actually," his eyes glinted maliciously," Stupefy." Bellatrix fell the the ground.

"That's better," Lucius muttered. He stepped back over to Narcissa and angrily pushed the dead man's body off her. He knelt down by her and gently covered her exposed legs with her robes.

Draco looked up as Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the room. They did not seem to notice him; they went straight to Narcissa's side. Hermione bent down and pressed her fingers into Narcissa's wrist. "Lucius, I mean, Mr. Malfoy, she could be okay, if we get her help. There's a very small pulse there-"

Lucius glared at her. "Get out. The three of you, go!"

"I want to help!" Hermione insisted, but Ron and Harry had glanced at each other and were now pulling her up.

"Let's go," Harry muttered under his breath.

"Yeah, you saw what he did to that man. He's not in an arguing mood," Ron added. The three slowly left the room. At the doorway, Hermione turned somberly around, but Harry gently pulled her out.

Lucius turned back to Narcissa and a thoughtful expression came over his face. He laid the side of his head on her chest and appeared to be listening for something. He brought his head back up and then moved his hand there. "A slow heartbeat but it is there," he murmured.

He began to stroke his wife's hair. "Come on, Narcissa, open your eyes," he pleaded. He spread himself out and wrapped his arms around his wife as if they were wrapped in each other in bed. "Please, Narcissa," he said, gently shaking her. "Come on." Draco thought it looked as if Lucius would start crying, as his shoulders began to heave a bit.

Lucius jumped a bit as his wife began to squirm in his arms. She blinkingly opened her eyes to look at him. "Lucius?" she asked quietly.

"You're alive!" Lucius said, letting his breath out in a rush.

Tears were leaking out of the corners of Narcissa's eyes. "I'm so sorry, Lucius. I tried fighting him off, I really did. It's been this way for months now, and just don't hate me for it! You know I would never do any such thing willingly, you know that, don't you?"

"Sh, it's all right," Lucius said. He picked himself up and strode over to the dead man. "I don't blame you. I blame this bastard and it's about time to put a face and name to this wretched thing." He yanked the man's hood and mask off and pushed him onto his back. "Cornelius Fudge," he muttered darkly.

Fudge had died with his eyes wide open. His face contained a mixture of lust and terror. Lucius reached into his robes and withdrew his wand, but Narcissa stopped him. She was looking up at the ceiling and it didn't seem that she could easily move her head. "And where's Draco? Is he all right?"

"Draco?" Lucius asked, perplexed.

Narcissa voice was getting panicky. "He was over in the corner! They had him tied! I vowed to stay alive long enough that he might be saved! No, please tell me he's not-"

But Lucius had finally noticed Draco in the dark corner. "He's right here. He's fine," he said assuringly. Lucius came over and began to untie Draco and removed the gag from his mouth.

"Here, help me!" Draco said as he began to fumble with Dreda's bonds.

Lucius looked down in astonishment. "That had better not be yours," he said warningly.

"She's not mine. She's yours," Draco replied, freeing Dreda's mouth from the gag. Her breath was coming in shallow gasps. "And we need to get her some help-"

But Lucius wasn't paying any attention to Draco. He had turned back to Narcissa. "Mine?"

Narcissa smiled weakly. "I daresay that we've gotten a bit reckless lately, Lucius. Now, Draco, please bring her here."

Draco brought his sister over to their mother and gently laid her in Narcissa's arms. "Oh, I finally get to see what a beautiful little girl you are," she murmured, gently tracing the features of Dreda's face with her finger. "Here, someone take her. I'm too weak and I'm afraid I might lose my grasp on her and drop her."

Lucius came over and carefully scooped Dreda into his arms. He looked down at her in astonishment; obviously the shock of finding out he had a daughter had not worn off.

"Dreda Lucia Malfoy, I would like to introduce you to your father," Narcissa said. "Lucius, meet Dreda Lucia."

"Don't you think we should get Mother and Dreda to the actual St. Mungo's and out of this wretched old warehouse?" Draco asked, impatiently tapping his foot. He wasn't used to being ignored and he didn't like it one bit, especially in a situation where he felt he was displaying maturity and common sense, as his father often accused him of lacking.

"I suppose so," Lucius said. "One moment, though." He handed Dreda back to Draco, pulled out his wand, and went over to Bellatrix. "Ennervate."

Bellatrix groggily pushed herself to her feet. She looked over at the Malfoys suspiciously. Suddenly, a look of understanding dawned on her face and she furiously glared at Lucius as he continued to point his wand at her. "You-you-" but she seemed, for once, at a loss for words.

"You will just remain here," Lucius said. "The Dark Lord is none too happy with you and I'm certain he'll want a word or two with you."

Bellatrix's eyes widened, but she merely crossed her arms and said nothing.

"Yes, I would like a word or two," a high, cold voice said. Draco whipped around to see a thin man enter the room. His face was rather unhuman. It was white and looked like a skull. He had red eyes and his nose was comprised of slits, much like a snake. It was Lord Voldemort, and suddenly, Draco was completely filled with fear; he could not move, he could not even breathe.

Lord Voldemort was dragging a short, stubby man with balding blond hair and watering eyes. "My lord, I tell you, they were there-"

"Silence! I shall deal with you in due time!" Lord Voldemort snapped. He turned to Bellatrix. "For long now you have been insisting that you are my most loyal servant."

"I am, my lord," Bellatrix said, falling to her knees and bowing low before him. "I would do anything you ask-"

"-except come immediately when I have called you!" Voldemort shouted. "Such a simple thing to ask and such a simple response needed!"

"My lord, I had other business!" Bellatrix said pleadingly. "You must forgive me-"

"Other business? Certainly nothing you would feel the need to do would be more important than what I have commanded you to do, Bella?" Lord Voldemort said. "I do not grant forgiveness."

"No, my lord! Please reconsider-" Bellatrix pleaded, but Voldemort shook his head.

"My lord, might I step in a minute?" Lucius asked. Voldemort nodded slightly, his penetrating glare still fixed on Bellatrix and Peter Pettigrew.

"If you would look over here, my lord, you will see that I got a Ministry official for you," Lucius said smugly, pointing to the dead Fudge.

Voldemort looked over and then up with a rather pleased expression on his face. Well, Draco supposed it was a pleased look as it was difficult to tell what he was feeling. It was rather grotesque, whatever it was.

"The Minister of Magic, and a disloyal Death Eater. Lucius, usually I must question your loyalty and your intentions, but I cannot argue that you've disappointed me. I'm most pleased, and you will be greatly awarded once I have taken control of the world. You are free to leave now."

A look of relief flashed over Lucius' face, but Draco had no time to question his father about such an expression, for he was all too glad to get out of Lord Voldemort's presence unscathed. He had witnessed his father returning from Death Eater meetings, and he knew some of the things Voldemort was known to do, even to a high-ranking Death Eater like Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius scooped up his wife and carried her out of the room. "Would you prefer a stretcher? I can conjure one," he said, but Narcissa shook her head.

"No, I'm fine where I am," she said contentedly. She laid her head to rest on his shoulder.

Lucius nodded at his son. "Come on, we must get your mother and sister to St. Mungo's."

***************

Two weeks later...

Harry, Hermione, and Ron could not believe it. They were standing outside Hogwarts, heading back to the school to finish their seventh year.

After Lucius had commanded that the three of them leave him, they had done the only thing they could do: run for their lives. They had barely escaped from getting killed and they weren't keen to take that chance again. Hermione had had reservations about running, afraid that they might get Lucius into trouble. Even though Harry and Ron could not understand why she would care about such a thing, Ron quickly assured her that there was nothing to worry about. As he said, "The blame is going to fall on Peter Pettigrew. He's the bloke who will take the curse, not Lucius Malfoy." After that, she agreed to leave. They ran to free Mr. Weasley of his bonds and then the four of them hurried to the Burrow.

Now here they were back at Hogwarts. They could hear the excited squeals of the other children, obviously all eager to be healed and back.

Suddenly, an obnoxious drawling voice said loudly, "Potty, Weasel, and the Mudblood, you're holding up the bloody line! GO!"

They spun around to face a smirking Draco. He pushed them aside and climbed into one of the carriages waiting for the students. Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson followed him and their carriage set off toward the castle.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione clambered into another carriage. "Good thing to see he's his usual self. I suppose we haven't made a new friend," Hermione mused.

"There's no hope for Slytherins," Ron said solemnly.

"Yeah, but what would the school say if they heard about the softer side of Draco Malfoy?" Harry snickered. "Dreda doesn't like purple, do you, girl...honestly."

"I suppose the world is going to be an even darker place now that there's one more Malfoy to add to the mix," Ron said.

"Oh, both of you stop it," Hermione said sternly. "I think we've learned a rather important lesson from this whole experience."

"What? Don't get reckless if you're worried about the prospect of having your estate split between two heirs?" Ron said sarcastically.

"No," Hermione snapped. "We've learned about how foolish we are when we let our prejudice get the better of us. We've always assumed the whole Malfoy family was abusive and cruel, but they're very loyal to each other. Don't you two feel stupid for thinking otherwise?"

"Not particularly," Ron replied. "They're still scum."

"Maybe, but they're happy scum," Hermione said happily. "And that's what's important."

Once they had climbed out of the carriage, they scrambled into the entranceway with the rest of the student body. To their surprise, Professor Dumbledore was standing outside the doors to the Great Hall. His arms were opened wide. "I want to welcome you all back to Hogwarts. It's been too long, I daresay. Now don't let me stop you all from getting in the Great Hall and eating a fantastic feast our house elves have prepared." He stood aside with a small smile on his face as the students filtered into the Great Hall.

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione passed, Dumbledore gently reached out and grabbed Harry and Hermione by the shoulders. "Might I have a word with the two of you?" he asked.

Ron glanced at them but said nothing and went into the Great Hall with the other Gryffindors. Dumbledore led the way to his office, Harry and Hermione following him quietly.

Once secured inside his office, Dumbledore motioned for the two to sit. He then settled himself in the large chair behind his desk. Folding his hands and peering over the top of them at Harry and Hermione, he smiled. "I must say that as upset that I was that you would run to Malfoy Manor without any type of consent other than that of young Mr. Malfoy's, I am very pleased with the both of you."

Harry and Hermione glanced at each other nervously. "Er, you knew we had done that?" Hermione asked.

"Of course I knew. I permitted you to go through with it, certain you would have sound reasoning. And I did not consider Draco Malfoy to pose a large threat to you. And I'm very pleased that you pulled together your reason and solved that mystery. But most importantly, I want you to know that I am proud that you fought your hatred of the Malfoy family and helped them in such a time of need. You must agree, they're rather undeserving of such goodwill, particularly from you, but you overcame your prejudice."

Hermione was sitting there rather complacently. Harry realized that she was gloating because that was exactly what she had told him and Ron earlier and to have Dumbledore's confirmation, why, there was nothing more she could ask for.

"It is the only way we can ever hope to reach those who have fallen under Lord Voldemort's persuasion," Dumbledore said," to reach out to them and show them kindness, something Voldemort would never do. And if we do that enough, they will realize that we have a power stronger than anything Voldemort may have, unity. As you realized, the Death Eaters are not a big happy family and that could destroy them in the end, which is what we are hoping for, of course."

"Wait," Hermione said suddenly. "I was wondering, Professor Dumbledore, is Narcissa Malfoy a Death Eater? I never saw a Dark Mark on her body-"

"Narcissa Malfoy is not a Death Eater," Dumbledore said. "She fully supports their work, of course, but she is not quite to Lucius' ranks. If you had known Narcissa as I had known her from her days at Hogwarts, she is a very intelligent young lady, but more than anything she is very ambitious, which made her a perfect candidate for Slytherin. Narcissa loves little more than Narcissa. It amazed me that she had married Lucius Malfoy, as he also is a conceited person. I was certain their personalities would clash horribly, and I assumed they had been forced into it. How wrong I was. As she did on some occasions as a prefect and as Head Girl, she surprised me and showed some rather selfless moments. Though they only feed each other's prejudices, I must say that their marriage is probably the best thing that could have happened. Now, enough about the Malfoy family. I don't want to hold you two up any longer when there's a feast to be had. Come, let's go."

He led them to the door of his office, but when they stepped off the revolving staircase, Hagrid was waiting for them with two large trunks. "Hullo there," he said cheerily. "These just came fer you two." He set the trunks down. Harry and Hermione recognized them as their school trunks. They had left them at Malfoy Manor.

"Thank you, Hagrid," Hermione said, pulling an envelope from hers.

"Just leave them here," Dumbledore instructed. "We'll have them sent to your dormitories."

Hermione opened the envelope and pulled out its contents as they walked. Her eyes were roving over the parchment and then she looked over at Harry. "It's from Narcissa Malfoy. She sent our trunks here, and she also sends many thanks. She and Dreda are both home now and doing lovely."

"You realize," Harry said slowly as the realization set in," you realize that we just set several powerful Death Eaters and Voldemort supporters free?"

"Yeah," Hermione replied. "Isn't it wonderful?" she happily added.

Harry wasn't sure it was all that good, but he had to admit that he felt a sense of pride over it. "Yeah, I suppose it is all right. Now let's hurry. Being so nice is making me hungry and that feast sounds rather appetizing."

And with that, they entered the Great Hall and slid into their seats at the Gryffindor table, amidst the laughter, shouting, and chattering of students.

Of course, Dumbledore's words were pounding in Harry's head. It is the only way we can ever hope to reach those who have fallen under Lord Voldemort's persuasion, to reach out to them and show them kindness, something Voldemort would never do. And if we do that enough, they will realize that we have a power stronger than anything Voldemort may have, unity.

He knew that helping the Death Eaters in such a way could prove to be a mistake later, but they now had a weapon. He had never thought of this before, but their kindness meant the Death Eaters were in their debt. And that could prove beneficial in the long run...

Harry pushed the thought of Lord Voldemort out of his head. For the time being, he wanted to eat this food, talk with his friends, and enjoy life back at Hogwarts. Harry was in such a good mood from his pride in himself and Hermione that Lord Voldemort could wait for another day.

The End