From the Ashes

17 - Quick Thinking

Draco watched Ginny Weasley struggle against her magical bonds.

"Harry, I'm fine. Don't tell her anything!" Ginny cried. Harry looked like he was in deep pain and when Draco glanced over and Hermione and Ron he saw the same looks on their features. Though bound and silenced, Ron still had his height, he towered over the nearest masked figure, making it immensely clear just how outraged he was at the situation. But he was pinned, Ron would not be doing any saving today. Draco shifted his gaze away from them. He didn't feel brave. He felt small. It was Charity Burbage all over again. He hovered in the Raven's shadow, trying not to draw attention to himself, shifting from foot to foot.

Ginny spun on the spot, propelled by unseen magic. As she turned, she made eye contact with Draco. Her gaze fixed on his, not breaking contact. At that moment, he knew. She believed in him; she saw that he was still on their side. She pivoted back toward Harry and as she did, Draco began searching for an escape. This time he would do the saving.

Pansy stood to his left, masked and stony. She had her wand pointed at Harry. Pansy still had Draco's and Hermione's wands in her left hand. If he could get close enough, he could grab them. As soon as he did that, he would be stunned by the masked figures, or worse, killed on the spot. It was suicide.

Draco desperately searched for another escape, but nothing came to mind.

If he could get the wands, there was a chance they could get out alive. It was the best hope they had. He could set off some sort of distraction and release Ginny. She still had a wand, so did Potter. If he could get her free, they stood a chance.

"Where is the Elder Wand Potter," The Raven asked, her voice dripping with venom. She pressed her wand into Ginny's neck. Draco registered that it was black alder. From the small amount of wand lore he knew. A tough wand to command.

Harry was speaking now, buying time by the sounds of it. On the other side of the tent Hermione glared at Draco, a look of pure loathing in her chestnut eyes. Draco felt a familiar pang of dislike for himself. She had no faith in him, and why should she? He had been her antagonist for over twenty years. She had good reason to think he was scum.

He was a coward, a liar. He had just followed the Dark Lord and thought it an honour. Only a fool would go willingly down that path. He had been groomed for it. From age fourteen, he had known exactly where his allegiance was supposed to lie. He had been told many times of the Dark Lord's greatness, and of how the honour of serving him reflected upon the family.

It was his responsibility to join the ranks of Death Eaters like his mother and father. But it had all been for nothing. He had been a simple pawn, used and thrown away. When he had been given the privilege of bringing down Dumbledore he had known it was a punishment for his father, but he had taken it on in the hopes of bringing the family back into the Dark Lord's good graces. But in the end, they were left just as broken and disgraced.

The war ending had been a great relief. Though his parents never spoke of it, Draco was certain that they had felt it too, a great weight lifting from their shoulders. A chance to try again. Now he was back with a new Dark Lord, and he didn't want to repeat old mistakes.

"Draco, come forward." The Raven gestured for him to approach her side. Draco pulled himself out of his thoughts and stepped toward the Raven. He kept silent, waiting to find out what fresh torture she would inflict.

"Interrogate this girl for me. Prove your loyalty."

It couldn't be that easy, could it?

"I would be honoured, but mistress, I do not have my wand," He chose his words carefully, giving her a slight bow. The Raven gave a small sniff and beckoned Pansy forward.

"Give him his wand."

Pansy handed him his wand reluctantly. She gave him a look of distrust and stepped back to her lady's side.

Draco glanced at Hermione and Ron. He could tell from their expressions that both believe that he was a snake. Harry didn't share their expression, however, he looked panicked, but not betrayed. Behind the fear for Ginny was a look of curiosity. Why did Harry Potter and off guard, Ginny Weasley, suddenly seem to see good in him? Whatever the reason, it propelled him forward, making his choice far easier than it had been. He would be the hero. He would get them out of this situation. Draco pointed the wand at Ginny, trying to make her understand the plan with his eyes. He flitted his gaze to her wand, pinned to her side and then at the bonds on Hermione and Ron. Then he looked at Harry.

"This is nothing personal, Potter. My path has always been here. I serve." Draco lifted his wand and pointed it directly at the bonds. "Diffindo!" He didn't wait to watch the ropes fall away.

He pivoted immediately and shot a body-bind curse non-verbally at Pansy. She had clearly not expected treachery this early and was caught off guard. She fell to the floor with a thud. A spell came toward Draco, and for a second he believed he would die. But it bounced off of an invisible barrier and ricochetted across the room, hitting one of the masked figures.

Harry had cast a barrier spell non-verbally. Draco spun around to check on Hermione and Ron. They were wandless but out of their bonds.

"Accio!" Draco pointed at Hermione's wand, still held in Pansy's petrified hand. It flew to him, and he pivoted. "Granger!" Hermione, who was wrestling herself away from one of the masked figures. He levitated the wand and sent it toward her. She caught it just barely and stunned the masked figure between the eyes. Then she stunned the man attacking Ron and pulled him into Harry's protective bubble.

"We need to leave now!" Harry called to the others. He was a foot from the Portkey. "Grab on!" Harry grabbed the dagger by the hilt and the others grabbed onto his shoulders, Draco grabbed ahold of Harry's wrist seconds before the Portkey activated.

"Noo! Don't let them escape!" The masked figures were rushing towards them, wands drawn, but they were too late. There was a pull at the back of Draco's neck, followed by an uncomfortable squeeze, and then they toppled onto the cobblestone path outside Malfoy Manor.