ATtD Ch20
He felt trapped, chained within his own flesh. He looked the same; his skin may have dimmed
a bit, his hair less brilliant and now cut to his shoulder blades, his eyes
less alive; he didn’t think his guards waiting impatiently at the edge of the
forest would notice though. Fred and
George seem oblivious, too busy checking to see if he was well. Bellatrix was completely indifferent as were
the two dementors skirting a yard away.
It was the knowing silver of the masked Domin that gave him pause. He felt weak.
“Malfoy… Malfoy? Are you alright, you stupid git?” Draco broke away, staring in surprise at twin faces of concerned. “Uh, what?” He looked around again, swaying on his feet. Oh, hell. This wasn’t going to work.
Bellatrix grabbed his arm to keep him from falling. “We’re leaving. Now.”
“I… no.” The ground was unsteady beneath him. “My shoes… blood? Where’s Blood?” He whirled again, searching the tree line.
“Have you lost your senses, boy?” Bellatrix hissed, wrenching on his arm. She cried out, suddenly finding herself on the ground when Draco pushed back viciously. He was watching as the dementors roared, falling one after the other as a black blur barreled into them. He could do this. He could do this.
He jumped, landing on Bellatrix’s wrist with a sickening snap before she could cast a spell. The look of pain twisting her features stopped him cold but George and Fred stepped in, enthusiastically using their combined bulk to knock her senseless. They had no hang ups with injuring his Aunt but he couldn’t watch. She had been one of the few Death Eaters that hadn’t tried to assault him when they were left alone. …He couldn’t leave it at that. Another snap splintered her wand.
Blood had taken care of the dementors, Bellatrix was out cold, and the Domin-the Domin was still watching, motionless.
“Where are we going? We’re in the middle of nowhere and our magic is blocked.” Fred panted, rubbing his knuckles grimly.
Draco didn’t answer, just continued to stare at the dark fae. “You know who I am. Dare you interfere?”
The fae remained still. It was answer enough. Draco grabbed the twins each by an arm and dragged them into the forest until they had to hold him up as his knees gave way.
“What is it? What’s happened?” George asked, slinging Draco’s arm around his shoulder and pushing them all forward. “Your magic has changed.”
“Damn it,” Draco growled, turning back shakily. “We have to kill her. I can’t just leave it like that.”
“No! We’ll lose time.” Fred pulled him back, deeper into the forest.
“She’ll follow us! She’ll take us by surprise!” Draco yelled, struggling to be free.
“You destroyed her wand. She’s defenseless. Let it go.” They tried to console, ever pulling him away from the fallen witch.
Draco shook his head indecisively but let himself be lead away. In the back of his mind he knew he had made a fatal mistake but the twins were right, they had to move. “That way. There’s a house twenty minutes from here.”
“A house? You said you had to be in here without shelter and provisions.” Fred glared. “We were worried sick and you had a house?”
“Of course there’s a bloody house.” Draco scoffed. “With a working floo no less. Be glad I came back for you.”
They froze, staring at him in amazement. “For real?”
“For real.” Draco confirmed seriously.
“…You idiot!” They both smacked him on their respective shoulder and pulled him off towards the house in the north. Draco had thrown away a three-day head start because he had come back to save them. They weren’t about to let him down now.
“What happened to you? You’re weaker than a Hufflepuff.” George observed when Draco tripped for the fifth time.
“I’ve been sealed. Some pain in the ass tradition.” Draco grunted, forcing his feet forward robotically. “He told me I would feel extra weak in the beginning before it settled.”
“He who? …Oh my god! You met a god, didn’t you!” Fred gasped in wonder. “Which one? Was it the Scion Dragon ancestor? Hell, what’s her name…?”
“Ezella, Soul of Time. It wasn’t her; it was Furiae. Don’t stand there, move!” Draco urged the awestruck teen. “I’m the damn Soul Vigil, so my power is sealed to keep the Heir from freaking out at my aura.”
“But… you’re suppose to protect the Heir. Right? Isn’t that kind of…?” George trailed off.
“Stupid? Sure is in my mind.” Draco muttered. “Wouldn’t even tell me who the Heir was! Said I’d just know. Hate that. Are you two alright?” Draco asked in concern. He didn’t want to think what could have happened during the three days he had been gone. Azkaban had not been kind to his Aunt, and although she was almost apathetic towards him, she was not a fan of the Weasley family.
“Fine. Bored a lot, besides worrying over you. That Bellatrix is a real tight ass, crazy bitch. She kept on shocking us whenever she thought we touched our collars… or talked too much… or moved… yeah, she really didn’t like it when we moved…”
Draco stopped short, pulling down Fred’s collar. His neck was red and blistery.
“Should have killed her.” He growled. “Hold still. Just in case something happens, let’s take care of this now.” It was easy enough to remove the collars; no one had thought to take his wand from him. “Hold on to them. It’s sacrilegious to leave foreign magic in this forest; it messes with the balance.” Together they started jogging again, but not before Draco was squeezed within an inch of his life by the twins. Five minutes later they burst into the house, Draco lighting the fire with his wand before he had even skidded to a halt.
“You’re nothing like I imagined, Malfoy.” George laughed breathlessly and pulled the slender boy into another crushing bear hug.
“Bloody right, there.” Fred crushed him from the other side. “Where to? I was thinking Hogwarts. No matter what’s up, it’s always safe.”
Draco pulled away, a sad smile curving his lips but his eyes were determined. “Sorry to leave you chaps in a lurch but I’m going a different way. They won’t chase you; you’re not their concern. Unless you’re with me and well, that’s not going to happen. Go home, I’m sure your little Clan is all worried about you.”
“Don’t be daft! You’re coming with us, Malfoy.” George growled. Red splotches were rising on his face, letting everyone know just how upset this turn of events made him. “Malfoy, we owe you our life. We’re not letting you face this alone.” Fred added calmly, but his eyes were just as bright as his brother’s.
“Not this time. I’m going somewhere safe; don’t worry.” Draco smiled, pushing the bag of floo powder into their hands. “You can repay me later- I can’t tell you where.” He rushed on before George could ask. “It’s a safety precaution. Just incase you’re caught. I’ll be safe. I just need to figure some things out. A lot was dumped on me today. I need to know my limitations.”
“But you can do that with us at Hogwarts!” George broke it, unable to be silenced. “Why do you have to-?”
“Because I’m weak.” Draco stated firmly. “Not just my body but my will. I can’t continue until I find myself again. I almost- I almost gave up back there. It can’t be like that… not when…” He trailed of, swallowing deeply. “Trust me, where I’m going is unplottable. I’ll be fine. Now stop wasting time and get your freckly arses out of here.” He sent them a crooked smile and pushed them towards the floo.
“Malfoy- Draco… we won’t forget this. We’ll help you somehow. Whatever you need, we’ll be there.” Fred said solemnly and threw a handful of power into the huge fireplace, the flames roaring green. He grasped Draco’s hand and looked him in the eye one final time. “I swear on a Wizard’s Pact.” One last quick embrace, he disappeared in the flames, heading towards Hogwarts. George took his place, grabbing Draco’s hand as well. “I swear on a Wizard’s Pact, we’ll be there for you. Don’t get yourself killed, you stupid git.” He sniffed emotionally and pulled Draco into a final hug.
“Same to you, Evil Weasel.” Draco smiled, pushing him away. “Hurry now.”
George nodded, eyes intense and bright as he shouted out ‘Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’ and was swept away.
Now alone, an odd feeling of regret settled through him. He couldn’t go to Hogwarts because they may not be willing to protect him. He wasn’t human and new rules were in play. The twins never would have been safe around him. They didn’t truly understand what he was and he couldn’t willingly drag them into his chaos. They had families still; they had hope. Fuck, they had love and there was no way he was going to be the ruin of it.
Growling, Draco grabbed the bag of floo powder, making sure he locked it away to keep anyone who was not of the forest from following. He would make a quick stop at Diagon Alley just to throw anyone off his trail who tried to trace his movements. So many people used the floo there that they wouldn’t be able to know where he went from there. He’d go directly to the Three Broomsticks directly after, another high traffic floo, and then straight to the house his mother had told him about. No one had really lived there for years with one exception that was long gone now. It was the wards that were key; they would obey him because of his blood. He’d set the wards to lock everyone else out and rest there for a while, in the meantime getting things together for his first trial.
Regrettably, he had not been able to thank Blood. He hadn’t been truly sure the little chimaera would be able to handle the dementors as well as it had, and he was truly grateful. He wouldn’t forget. Throwing a handful of floo powder into the fire, Draco stepped in, and with a final look about, called out for Diagon Alley.
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“Malfoy… Malfoy? Are you alright, you stupid git?” Draco broke away, staring in surprise at twin faces of concerned. “Uh, what?” He looked around again, swaying on his feet. Oh, hell. This wasn’t going to work.
Bellatrix grabbed his arm to keep him from falling. “We’re leaving. Now.”
“I… no.” The ground was unsteady beneath him. “My shoes… blood? Where’s Blood?” He whirled again, searching the tree line.
“Have you lost your senses, boy?” Bellatrix hissed, wrenching on his arm. She cried out, suddenly finding herself on the ground when Draco pushed back viciously. He was watching as the dementors roared, falling one after the other as a black blur barreled into them. He could do this. He could do this.
He jumped, landing on Bellatrix’s wrist with a sickening snap before she could cast a spell. The look of pain twisting her features stopped him cold but George and Fred stepped in, enthusiastically using their combined bulk to knock her senseless. They had no hang ups with injuring his Aunt but he couldn’t watch. She had been one of the few Death Eaters that hadn’t tried to assault him when they were left alone. …He couldn’t leave it at that. Another snap splintered her wand.
Blood had taken care of the dementors, Bellatrix was out cold, and the Domin-the Domin was still watching, motionless.
“Where are we going? We’re in the middle of nowhere and our magic is blocked.” Fred panted, rubbing his knuckles grimly.
Draco didn’t answer, just continued to stare at the dark fae. “You know who I am. Dare you interfere?”
The fae remained still. It was answer enough. Draco grabbed the twins each by an arm and dragged them into the forest until they had to hold him up as his knees gave way.
“What is it? What’s happened?” George asked, slinging Draco’s arm around his shoulder and pushing them all forward. “Your magic has changed.”
“Damn it,” Draco growled, turning back shakily. “We have to kill her. I can’t just leave it like that.”
“No! We’ll lose time.” Fred pulled him back, deeper into the forest.
“She’ll follow us! She’ll take us by surprise!” Draco yelled, struggling to be free.
“You destroyed her wand. She’s defenseless. Let it go.” They tried to console, ever pulling him away from the fallen witch.
Draco shook his head indecisively but let himself be lead away. In the back of his mind he knew he had made a fatal mistake but the twins were right, they had to move. “That way. There’s a house twenty minutes from here.”
“A house? You said you had to be in here without shelter and provisions.” Fred glared. “We were worried sick and you had a house?”
“Of course there’s a bloody house.” Draco scoffed. “With a working floo no less. Be glad I came back for you.”
They froze, staring at him in amazement. “For real?”
“For real.” Draco confirmed seriously.
“…You idiot!” They both smacked him on their respective shoulder and pulled him off towards the house in the north. Draco had thrown away a three-day head start because he had come back to save them. They weren’t about to let him down now.
“What happened to you? You’re weaker than a Hufflepuff.” George observed when Draco tripped for the fifth time.
“I’ve been sealed. Some pain in the ass tradition.” Draco grunted, forcing his feet forward robotically. “He told me I would feel extra weak in the beginning before it settled.”
“He who? …Oh my god! You met a god, didn’t you!” Fred gasped in wonder. “Which one? Was it the Scion Dragon ancestor? Hell, what’s her name…?”
“Ezella, Soul of Time. It wasn’t her; it was Furiae. Don’t stand there, move!” Draco urged the awestruck teen. “I’m the damn Soul Vigil, so my power is sealed to keep the Heir from freaking out at my aura.”
“But… you’re suppose to protect the Heir. Right? Isn’t that kind of…?” George trailed off.
“Stupid? Sure is in my mind.” Draco muttered. “Wouldn’t even tell me who the Heir was! Said I’d just know. Hate that. Are you two alright?” Draco asked in concern. He didn’t want to think what could have happened during the three days he had been gone. Azkaban had not been kind to his Aunt, and although she was almost apathetic towards him, she was not a fan of the Weasley family.
“Fine. Bored a lot, besides worrying over you. That Bellatrix is a real tight ass, crazy bitch. She kept on shocking us whenever she thought we touched our collars… or talked too much… or moved… yeah, she really didn’t like it when we moved…”
Draco stopped short, pulling down Fred’s collar. His neck was red and blistery.
“Should have killed her.” He growled. “Hold still. Just in case something happens, let’s take care of this now.” It was easy enough to remove the collars; no one had thought to take his wand from him. “Hold on to them. It’s sacrilegious to leave foreign magic in this forest; it messes with the balance.” Together they started jogging again, but not before Draco was squeezed within an inch of his life by the twins. Five minutes later they burst into the house, Draco lighting the fire with his wand before he had even skidded to a halt.
“You’re nothing like I imagined, Malfoy.” George laughed breathlessly and pulled the slender boy into another crushing bear hug.
“Bloody right, there.” Fred crushed him from the other side. “Where to? I was thinking Hogwarts. No matter what’s up, it’s always safe.”
Draco pulled away, a sad smile curving his lips but his eyes were determined. “Sorry to leave you chaps in a lurch but I’m going a different way. They won’t chase you; you’re not their concern. Unless you’re with me and well, that’s not going to happen. Go home, I’m sure your little Clan is all worried about you.”
“Don’t be daft! You’re coming with us, Malfoy.” George growled. Red splotches were rising on his face, letting everyone know just how upset this turn of events made him. “Malfoy, we owe you our life. We’re not letting you face this alone.” Fred added calmly, but his eyes were just as bright as his brother’s.
“Not this time. I’m going somewhere safe; don’t worry.” Draco smiled, pushing the bag of floo powder into their hands. “You can repay me later- I can’t tell you where.” He rushed on before George could ask. “It’s a safety precaution. Just incase you’re caught. I’ll be safe. I just need to figure some things out. A lot was dumped on me today. I need to know my limitations.”
“But you can do that with us at Hogwarts!” George broke it, unable to be silenced. “Why do you have to-?”
“Because I’m weak.” Draco stated firmly. “Not just my body but my will. I can’t continue until I find myself again. I almost- I almost gave up back there. It can’t be like that… not when…” He trailed of, swallowing deeply. “Trust me, where I’m going is unplottable. I’ll be fine. Now stop wasting time and get your freckly arses out of here.” He sent them a crooked smile and pushed them towards the floo.
“Malfoy- Draco… we won’t forget this. We’ll help you somehow. Whatever you need, we’ll be there.” Fred said solemnly and threw a handful of power into the huge fireplace, the flames roaring green. He grasped Draco’s hand and looked him in the eye one final time. “I swear on a Wizard’s Pact.” One last quick embrace, he disappeared in the flames, heading towards Hogwarts. George took his place, grabbing Draco’s hand as well. “I swear on a Wizard’s Pact, we’ll be there for you. Don’t get yourself killed, you stupid git.” He sniffed emotionally and pulled Draco into a final hug.
“Same to you, Evil Weasel.” Draco smiled, pushing him away. “Hurry now.”
George nodded, eyes intense and bright as he shouted out ‘Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’ and was swept away.
Now alone, an odd feeling of regret settled through him. He couldn’t go to Hogwarts because they may not be willing to protect him. He wasn’t human and new rules were in play. The twins never would have been safe around him. They didn’t truly understand what he was and he couldn’t willingly drag them into his chaos. They had families still; they had hope. Fuck, they had love and there was no way he was going to be the ruin of it.
Growling, Draco grabbed the bag of floo powder, making sure he locked it away to keep anyone who was not of the forest from following. He would make a quick stop at Diagon Alley just to throw anyone off his trail who tried to trace his movements. So many people used the floo there that they wouldn’t be able to know where he went from there. He’d go directly to the Three Broomsticks directly after, another high traffic floo, and then straight to the house his mother had told him about. No one had really lived there for years with one exception that was long gone now. It was the wards that were key; they would obey him because of his blood. He’d set the wards to lock everyone else out and rest there for a while, in the meantime getting things together for his first trial.
Regrettably, he had not been able to thank Blood. He hadn’t been truly sure the little chimaera would be able to handle the dementors as well as it had, and he was truly grateful. He wouldn’t forget. Throwing a handful of floo powder into the fire, Draco stepped in, and with a final look about, called out for Diagon Alley.
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