𝐔𝐍𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘, 𝘥. 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘧𝘰𝘺

| 17 |

▬▬ seventeen; the broken boy.
⋆.｡.:* ☆:**:.

Harry's escape to the Burrow had gone... Well, not great. They lost Mad-Eye and George got a terrible wound. When the Chosen One had seen how dangerous this journey was going to be, his search for the Horcruxes, and thinking about all the people that had already died for him, he decided to leave. It didn't take too long for him to have gathered his stuff and leave the Burrow as a shadow, barely noticed by anyone. Ron had woken up though.

The boy rushed after his friend who had gotten just a bit away from the house. "Going somewhere?"

Harry turned around. He nervously glanced up at the house and then back at Ron, "I have to start looking for the Horcruxes, it's the only way to stop this... and save Lauren."

Ron argued, "You can't do it on your own."

"I'm not letting anyone else die for me," Harry said.

"For you? Do you think Mad-Eye died for you? You think George took that spell for you?" Ron asked and shook his head, "This is much bigger than that."

Harry debated on what to respond with and then shrugged, "Come with me."

"And leave Hermione? We wouldn't last two days without her," his friend said. "Don't tell her I said that. Look, we all are crying ourselves to sleep wondering where Lauren is but if there's any girl in the world who can handle herself it's her—"

"She shouldn't have to!"

"No, I know, but we have to follow the same plan. If we start messing with things and rushing past important rules then she'd be dead in a heartbeat. If you go out there on your own you'll make this so much easier for You Know Who."

Harry put his backpack down on the ground and sighed in defeat. Ron picked it up, "Come on, there's a wedding tomorrow."

"I don't care about a wedding, I'm sorry, no matter who's it is." But Harry attended that wedding the next day, only to the next night find himself with Hermione and Ron in London. They had just been in a cafe discussing where to go when two Death Eaters tried to attack them. The teenagers got away and found themselves in the Phonex Order's headquarters. It was empty, dusty and dark. But it was safe.

Harry insisted that they tried to sleep and get some rest.  Hermione closed her eyes and silent tears ran down her cheeks until she started to drift into slumber. Ron was biting his nails filled with anxiety thinking about his family. And Harry... Well, Harry had always had trouble sleeping. So he didn't even try. He just sat on the couch and stared at the wall.   

—

Lauren had felt drained from energy and hope many times in her life by now, but sitting in this dark and dusty room in the basement of Malfoy Manor she thought that this must be the last time. For what could possibly happen to her that could make her more broken than she is now? The feeling she felt when she saw Draco's mark can't be described with words, she felt nothing and everything at the same time. It was anger, sadness, disappointment and then there was this feeling of having to save him, protect him.

An endless row of question circled around her as she was consumed by the darkness. Had he been forced to be marked or had he willingly agreed to be a Death Eater? That stung in her, more than she thought it would, he was a Death Eater. The boy she loved, the boy who promised that he'd never ever leave her. Now, she was stuck here waiting for her final day and Draco had been the one to bring her here.

Why?

The more she allowed herself to think and ask the more pain she felt. The more she realised. It occurred to her how lonely she had been these past years. And she realised now how many feelings she had been holding back afraid that if she allowed herself to cry again she wouldn't be able to stop.

Now, Lauren cried. It wasn't just a silent cry that she tried to hide. She intended for the entire world to hear her pain, the pain no doctor would ever believe was true. That pain in her heart that her brain was making worse and worse for every second that passed. Tears rolled down her cheeks like waterfalls that had been closed off for too long, her mouth open letting her sobs be audible and loud.

She didn't try to cover it up with her hand this time, she didn't force all her feelings into the back of her mind. Lauren let herself feel everything she needed to feel. And nothing had ever felt so relieving.

Sometimes a loud thud would bang from the other side of the door. She'd imagine it be someone there trying to help her, but then it was silent and no movement was heard.

—

It's not a secret that Draco Malfoy often is referred to as the bad guy. A bully. A rude and arrogant boy. But I think all the overthinkers, those who reflect and look much deeper into things, would see that Draco is just a broken boy doing what he thinks is the right thing to do.

Bringing Lauren into this trap seemed so crystal clear back in the woods when his brain was manipulated by her father. But for every minute he waited outside the basement where she was he was starting to doubt her safety and their promised future together. The tears had stopped rolling although his heart was still aching with sadness.

He had tried several times to unlock the door with spells and even pushed his body as hard as he could against the wooden door, but it wouldn't budge. He had heard her sob loudly an hour ago which made him so furious. He didn't know who had the key, but he knew whoever it was would never give it to him and let him help the girl.

The clicking of heels running down the staircase around the corner brought his head up. When his mother appeared before him with an expression of pure sorrow and guilt he ran into her arms. 

"My boy," she whispered and stroked his hair. "I'm sorry."

He pulled away and frowned, "For what, mother?"

She shook her head and pulled something out of her dress. Her hands were shaking and he noticed she was under stress. In his hand, she laid the silver key that was dirty and old. Then she placed her warm hand against his cheek.

"Draco, she'll forgive you."

He glanced at the door and then at the key, then his eyes met his mom's. "No... I-I, this, I mean... He'll kill you."

She shook her head, "He won't, I'm safe. Draco, get her out of here."

As his mother quickly disappeared again he regretted not saying goodbye, wondering when he'd see her again. Then he hurried to unlock the door. Even though it was complete darkness in there, he saw the girl crouched down in the corner hulking. She was too tired to notice him, her eyes barely open and her dry lips parted as she tried to breathe. 

While he grabbed her tight in his arm and pulled out his wand he repeated apologise after apologies. But Lauren didn't seem to care, she barely moved. 

He thought about a place and whispered the spell, just a few seconds later hell burst out.