Draco: Phoenix Rising

Chapter Forty Eight - Avada Kedavra

Draco was aware of pain and nothing more. He'd never felt such excruciating agony in his life. He tried not to breathe because the very air hurt his lungs. Movement was out of the question. He tried to force his mind past the torment and find a rational thought. Was he dead and finally paying the ultimate price for his actions? Burning in hell? It certainly felt like it.

That lovely idea pulled him slightly back to reality. What had happened? It came back to him with a crushing weight that nearly drowned the physical pain. This was an anguish that was purely emotional. Lucius had killed him! Draco could hardly wrap his tortured mind around the idea. He knew without question that his father loved him--would die for him. That knowledge brought him even closer to coherent thought. He became aware of an annoying buzzing that slowly sorted itself into words--voices.

Voldemort? Unless Potter had finally sent the Dark Lord to a much-overdue demise and he now resided in hell with Draco... then he wasn't dead. Draco focused on the voice. Voldemort was ranting at Wormtail. The pain began to recede, thankfully. Draco slit his eyes open, but the light burned into his skull with a new brand of torment and he quickly gave up that idea. He would lie here for a moment and think, he decided.

Why hadn't the Avada Kedavra killed him?

That thought occupied him completely and the pain faded even more. He sent his mind back to everything he knew about Unforgivable Curses. His father... What had his father said? They had talked about it once, long ago...

"The Killing Curse is only as effective as the will of the caster," Lucius said.

"What do you mean?" Draco asked. He had spent the day reading up on Unforgivable Curses in the library, mainly because Theo Nott had irritated Draco by nearly knocking him off his broom during an impromptu Quidditch game. Draco felt it prudent to learn the Cruciatus Curse and prevent that ever happening again. When Lucius arrived home, Draco had asked if he had ever used the Killing Curse. His father bypassed the question with a thoughtful look. Lucius sat heavily in his favorite chair and stared into the fire. He began to reminisce.

"When I was a boy, my parents once went on holiday without me. They sent me to my uncle's farm in Scotland for the summer. My uncle--the man was a right bastard. I was quite surprised when he gave me a puppy on the day I arrived. I was horrified at first--what did I want with a pet? But the bloody little thing followed me around day after day. It had these floppy, uneven ears..."

Lucius grimaced. Draco was amazed at the story. He could not picture his father with any sort of pet, not even as a child.

"I grew to love that damned dog, although I knew my parents would never let me keep it at home. I assumed it would stay at the farm where I could visit it from time to time." He laughed harshly. "I should have known better. On the day I was to leave, my uncle informed me that they had no intention of keeping the dog and it would starve to death unless I killed it. My father concurred. It was a test, you see."

Lucius's face was impassive, but his voice had an unusual timbre.

"So, I cast Avada Kedavra on my dog."

Draco waited, sensing that wasn't the end of the story.

"The thing is... it didn't die." Lucius shook his head. "My uncle simply thought I cast the spell wrong. He corrected my 'mistake' himself, of course. But I've thought about it often since then. I know I cast it correctly. I simply did not want to kill the dog, so the spell was ineffective. You see, Draco, you have to want to kill. You have to want it, or it won't work."

It won't work.

Lucius had known. God, Draco hoped his father had known the curse wouldn't kill him. If not--if Draco was that delusional about his own family, he would have to change his name and move in with Potter. Oh God. Potter. Draco wondered if Harry was still alive and forced his eyes again.

Wormtail was whimpering and... what? Choking Harry to death? Draco shut his eyes again and swiftly pondered his options. He needed to get his wand, get up, and save Potter. In that order. He only wished he could move. Draco tried to stretch his fingers and had to grit his teeth when the tiny motion sent pins and needles of pain through his hand. The Avada Kedavra hadn't killed him, but it certainly hadn't done him any good, either.

Accio wand, he thought. Nothing happened. He tried to shove aside his awareness of the pain and concentrate. He'd done this hundreds of times. He could practically do it in his sleep. Come on!

Wormtail released Harry suddenly and took a step back, nearly standing on Draco when he refused to kill Potter. Surprise at the turn of events made Draco pause--perhaps Wormtail would be useful and turn on the Dark Lord? Or at least take out Fenrir or Lars? That vague hope died when Wormtail was quickly killed by his own hand and hit the floor near Draco's feet. Draco sighed and focused once more on retrieving his wand--the Dark Lord would not be distracted forever. Voldemort began ranting.

Draco's efforts were curtailed by Voldemort seating himself in the chair and snatching up the two wands he'd thrown carelessly on the seat: Harry's and Draco's. The Dark Lord dangled one before Harry for a moment.

"Trying for this, Potter? Looks like you don't quite have it in you to perform wandless magic, eh? Must be the Muggle-born taint."

Draco watched through nearly-closed eyes as Voldemort tucked the wands into his robe. He shut his eyes with a silent groan. Now what?

A muted commotion made Draco slit his eyes open again. Voldemort made a quick gesture and command. Most of the Death Eaters hurried for the passage that led back to the first chamber. The reinforcements must have arrived. Snape remained in the room, as did Draco's parents.

"Apparently your protectors have arrived, Potter. A bit too late." He snapped another directive and Draco felt more than saw the dementors fly after the Death Eaters. He heard Fenrir climb to his feet a distance away.

"Where is the Malfoy brat?" the werewolf snarled. "I'll kill him!"

"Lucius took care of that for you. Go join the others," Voldemort ordered.

Greyback growled, but thankfully came no closer. It was possible he could see through Draco's ruse. Fenrir chuckled ruefully. "What a bloody waste. I'll have to settle for Potter's little friends, then. I think I'll start with that Mudblood girl..."

Draco tried not to let the thought twist his insides.

"Where's the Animagus?"

Draco smiled inwardly. The idiots had forgotten to watch Tonks. She must have transformed into a Death Eater and ran out with the others. Hopefully, she could figure out how to get the Order here posthaste.

"Useless fools!" Voldemort bellowed. "Just go kill them!"

* * * * *

Hermione was nearly to the open passage when the sound of footsteps warned her. She threw herself behind the nearest pillar just in time to avoid a blast from a Death Eater wand. Voldemort's minions had barely poured into the room when a massive swarm of dementors joined them. Hermione cast her Patronus as one flung itself toward her.

"More stupid kids!" the brutal-faced Death Eater yelled. "They're supposed to stop us? Where's the Order?" He laughed loudly. "Oh yes, trying to save the Ministry."

A Death Eater ran toward Hermione and she raised her wand again, but it shockingly metamorphosed into Tonks. Hermione jerked her wand aside just in time.

"Tonks! Where did you come from?"

Tonks threw herself behind the pillar with Hermione and shot a spell at another henchman. The Death Eaters were racing to take up positions around the opposite pillars and the dementors dove and spun like evil birds. Susan Bones shredded one with a spell that looked like lightning and then turned the same spell on a Death Eater. They avoided it by leaping to the ground and rolling.

"I pretended to be Fenrir--they traded me for Percy as planned. I was to lead the order to Voldemort's headquarters, but when I got here the real Fenrir was free... as you must know."

The mention of the werewolf was timely. Greyback emerged from the tunnel. Tonks and Hermione ducked out of sight.

Tonks looked at her seriously. "Draco freed me... Harry's still in there, under an Imperius Curse. Hermione, Lucius Malfoy killed Draco."

She looked at Tonks uncomprehendingly. Draco could not be dead. It was impossible. She wouldn't allow it. She clutched the coin on her chest instinctively and forced down a rush of fear.

"Who else is in there?" she asked hoarsely.

"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Snape. And Voldemort."

Fenrir had moved into the center of the room, dodging spells from Luna and Susan Bones. Hermione stood up.

"I've got to help Harry. You try to find out where the Order is and get them here as quickly as possible."

Hermione did not wait for a response, but dashed to the passage unhindered. When she reached it, something snagged on the edge of the open door. She looked down in surprise to find Bellatrix Lestrange's wand jutting from her back pocket. Bloody hell, she needed to give that to Tonks.

* * * * *

Draco cast his mind out desperately for a solution. Wormtail. His body lay nearby--Voldemort had not taken his wand, had he? Draco flexed his hand slightly, reaching... Before he could cast an Accio, he felt something heavy touch his leg. It slid up his thigh and over his crotch--oh hell, the snake! Its tongue flicked Draco's face and then it hissed loudly. Draco's shirt was suddenly snatched in a claw-like hand and the snake's weight fell away as Draco was hoisted. Wracking pain jolted through his body at the sharp movement. Draco fought to remain conscious as blackness clutched at the edges of his mind.

"The boy lives!" Voldemort snarled. Draco felt himself being dragged across the room. "What is the meaning of this, Lucius?" He opened his eyes to see Voldemort's horrible eyes glaring at his father. The snake quickly curled around Draco's parents--enfolding them in a deadly embrace. Lucius met the Dark Lord's gaze steadily.

"He's my son. I love him."

The words seemed to incense Voldemort. He shook Draco like a rag doll.

"I'll deal with you later, Lucius," he hissed. "Draco. Your father did you no favor by sparing you. Now he can watch you die in torment."

Draco managed to get his feet under him and contrived to bear his own weight, though he trembled with the effort. The Dark Lord's grip on his shirt did not slacken.

"Severus. Bring me the potion--the one I planned to use on Avery."

Snape approached and pulled a small vial of purplish liquid from his robes. Draco's eyes met his for a moment, but Snape's black gaze was impassive. Voldemort's other hand reached up to grab Draco's chin and force his eyes back to meet the reddish slits that burned into Draco's mind.

"My lord Voldemort," Lucius whispered, struggling against the coils that held him. "Please..."

"Silence, Lucius, or Narcissa will go first."

Draco's mother sobbed and maintained a ceaseless pleading that Voldemort completely ignored.

"Why did you betray me, boy?" he snarled. "Before you die, tell me why."

Draco's lips curved. If he were to die, at least he would die a Malfoy.

"Because you are mad as a fucking hatter, of course."

Voldemort's wand pressed hard beneath Draco's chin and his mouth cracked open in a hideous caricature of a smile.

"I could crack you open like an egg and no one would stop me," he murmured. "Oh, your parents would try, no doubt, but they are tied up at the moment and Lucius would be wise not to cross me again. You betrayed me to join Potter and his ilk. Do you think any of your new friends will save you? Do you think they would even try?"

Draco ignored him. Accio wand, he thought. Voldemort's robe twitched and Draco felt the hardness of wood against his hand--but it was hampered by the robe and remained in the Dark Lord's pocket. Damn the depth of the compartment--he would have to coax the thing upward and outward. He did not have the chance. Draco felt another spike of pain as he was yanked from his feet and hauled, stumbling, before Potter. Draco's caught his balance once more and his eyes met Harry's. The rage burning in those green orbs made Draco's breath catch in his throat. Voldemort was a fool not to kill Harry immediately--if Potter freed himself from the Imperius Curse, he was going to erupt like a Gryffindor volcano.

"Do you think Potter and his chums will even notice when you're gone? They seem to value sacrifice--do you think any of them would die for you, Draco? Well, Potter? The Gryffindor hero? Will you take his place? Will you die for Draco Malfoy?"

Harry's mouth opened and Draco had little doubt what his response would be, but a clear voice suddenly rang in the room.

"No. But I will."

Draco's eyes left Harry and reluctantly moved to the passage entrance. Hermione Granger stood like an avenging angel; her wand was steady and her face set in defiance. Draco had never seen such a beautiful sight in his life. At the same instant, he was horrified that she was here.

"Ah, the Mudblood prodigy. Throw your wand down, girl. Unless you want Malfoy to suffer before he dies." Draco could sense glee emanating from Voldemort. He was excited at the prospect of torturing another of Harry's friends.

Just kill him, Hermione, Draco willed. Forget me, and kill the bastard.

Hermione threw her wand. It hit the floor and skid. Voldemort snarled.

"Clever girl, but we don't want to tempt Potter unduly, do we?" The Dark Lord Accioed her wand from where it had landed near Harry. "Come here."

Hermione's wand joined the others in Voldemort's possession and she walked forward calmly. The Dark Lord released Draco's shirt, only to reach up and snatch a fistful of hair at the base of Draco's neck and twist him around to face Hermione. Her huge brown eyes met Draco's solemnly. She tried to smile, but couldn't quite manage it.

"Tell me, Mudblood. Why are you willing to die for Malfoy?" Voldemort asked curiously. "By all accounts, he hates your kind."

"I love him," she said simply. Draco shut his eyes against the surge of emotion that rushed over him. How could she? Voldemort snarled a laugh.

"That seems to be a common malady today. Fatal, in this case. Severus, give her the potion."

Hermione's glance shifted to Snape, who handed her the purple vial. She took it and held it up questioningly.

"Doleovenen," Snape commented.

"A particularly nasty poison. It takes quite a long time to kill its victim. Extraordinarily painful, as well. Are you certain you won't allow Malfoy to take it? You can still save yourself. I'm sure you don't want to die."

For reply, Hermione uncorked the vial and tossed the cork aside. She held the potion in her right hand and prepared to drink.

"May I say goodbye, first?" she asked. Without waiting for a response, she stepped forward and pressed her lips tenderly against Draco's. At the same instant, he felt her left hand touch his wrist. Something hard slid beneath his sleeve--good God, it was a wand! He kissed her hard, begging her without words to escape. His mind was reeling--why hadn't she kept the wand for herself? Used it?

"It's done," she whispered when the kiss ended and her actions were suddenly clear. The Horcrux. It was gone, but she couldn't cast a Killing Curse on Voldemort--it simply wasn't in her. But she knew Draco could.

"I love you," he murmured. The surprise and warmth in her eyes dulled some of Draco's pain, but Voldemort's next words brought it crashing back.

"Drink up, girl."

Draco reached for the wand in his sleeve as Hermione stepped back and lifted the vial in a salute. She tipped the contents into her mouth. Her eyes were on Voldemort, holding his attention. Draco tugged the wand out. He willed Hermione to spit out the poison, but Voldemort suddenly touched the wand to her cheek and whispered a command.

"Swallow." Hermione, caught by the unspoken Imperius Curse, obeyed just as Draco touched the wand to Voldemort's chest and whispered, "Avada Kedavra."

The Dark Lord screamed.