Bounty Hunter

Title: Bounty Hunter

Rating: R-ish

Author: Snippy

Pairing: H/D, Hr/SS (a little)

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Co. do not belong to me. Sadly.

Summary: Warning: dark fic, character death and H/D slash. This story is not light and
hope and puppies, people. The bounty hunter is going after the Death Eaters one by
one, but at what price? This story is not about black and white, it's about shades of
grey. Can people change? Can a hero become a villain? Can a villain save a hero?
And which is which?

FYI:

(****) indicates a scene shift.

(*~*~*~*) indicates a flashback

(*word*) emphasis


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

Chapter Two: The Last Malfoy




Draco threw open the kitchen doors, knocking over two house elves in the
process. He demanded, imperiously, "Is my lunch ready yet?"

"Yes, yes, Master Malfoy!" A crawling figure dragged a heavy canvas bag
towards him, offering it while simultaneously trying to cringe away.

He opened the bag and surveyed its contents. Four apples, half a wheel of
cheese, a large container of milk, two large sesame rolls and two bars of chocolate. He
smirked. Quite a lot of f eve even for a growing Death Eater, he thought. "This will do,
but I expect more tomorrow!"

He swept down the hall, sack in hand. Black jeans, a black v-neck sweater with a
snake emblem over his heart, touch boots and enough arrogance to make his father look
humble, Draco Malfoy was Voldemort's dream of a successor. Brutally handsome,
sinisterly charming, and more clever than Rowena Ravenclaw, he had fought his way to
the top of the Death Eaters. Ever since Potter had killed his father, he was Voldemort's
Favorite, and he had every intention of keeping it that way until his plans had come to
fruition.

Draco headed down a dark corridor, stepped through a shimmering mirror and
down the steps to the dungeon. Two hulking forms guarded a dismal cell. They almost
reminded him of Crabbe and Goyle. He frowned. His two former friends had been
caught by the Bounty Hunter, one of them killed, the other to be held at Azkaban until
his trial. He had a suspicion who that bounty hunter was, but he was keeping it to
himself for now.

"You may leave now." He waved his hand dismissively.

"Master Malfoy, I'm not sure that's wise. What with all the recent attacks, we
were told to be on high alert." The first one worried.

"You dare to question my orders?" He asked slowly in a low tone.

"I - I didn't mean nothing by it. I just don't think - "

"Exactly. You're not paid to think. You're paid to do what I say." He pulled his
wand out of his sleeve. "Perhaps you need a demonstration in how to obey your
superiors?"

"No! No, sir! We're leaving!" His companion spoke up, grabbing the first guard
by the arm and heading for the stairs. "We'll make sure that you're not disturbed, sir!"

"See that you do." Draco turned his back on them, waiting for the bells that
signified someone stepping through the mirror. He surveyed the two captives within
the cell, as the guards scurried up the steps. They sat together, backs against the wall,
leaning into each other for comfort and most likely, warmth. They kept their heads
down, gazing at the floor. As he watched, Severus Snape reached out and entwined his
hand with Hermion Dr Draco smiled a little. "Hmm, you appear to be moving. Guess
you're still alive."

Hermione's head shot up. "Not going to die until I see you taken down,
Malfoy."

"Never happen."

"Then we're both gonna be alive for a very long time." Snape squeezed her hand
as he spoke.

Draco glared at them. "I see my starvation tactics aren't enough yet. We'll try
something new." He removed his wand and pointed it at the top of the stairs where the
back of the mirror could be seen, shining. A silver coating like frost spread over the
room, covering it with a slight crunching sound. Draco opened the cell and stepped
inside. "Ah, alone at last."

"Draco, you're a little too good at being evil." Hermione commented, trying to
control her shaking from the cold.

"I was bred to be a Death Eater." His eyes smiled at her. He produced two
blankets, and wrapped one about her shoulders, offering the other to his mentor.
"Hungry?"

"Starving." She handed the bag to Severus as she pulled the blanket tighter
around her. "Are you going to take the blanket back?"

"No, it's yours. I'll tell them you need it to ward off shock or something.
Wouldn't do to have the prisoners die before they can be bargained with." Draco
suddenly looked very tired. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring you more food."

"It's ok." Snape said gruffly as he divided up the food. "This is more than you
should be risking."

"He's getting more desperate day by day. Three more Death Eaters put out of
commission last night. It's almost over and he knows it." Draco sighed. He watched
Snape give Hermione the larger apples, the softer roll, the bigger part of the cheese.
The two had been locked up together for Merlin knows how long, and the old Potions
Master was very protective of the former Gryffindor.

"The Bounty Hunter?" Hermione asked softly, taking a quick sip of the milk
before passing it to Snape.

"Yes." Draco said shortly, fighting a shiver. "He has vowed to take down every
top order Death Eater standing between him and Voldemort."

"How many more are they?" She asked curiously, reaching for a hunk of cheese.
"Top order Death Eaters, I mean."

"One."

"Who's left. . .you?" Hermione gasped. "But you're a double agent."

"I am a Death Eater to the rest of the world. It's not like I can just tell everyone
I'm not." Draco pointed out.

"But you can tell *him*." Hermione insisted. "Draco, you can't let this guy come
after you. From what I've heard, he's little more than a hired killer. They say he's
barely even human!"

"Hermione, calm down. Draco knows what he's doing." Snape shushed her,
taking her hand again.

Hermione tried to take comfort in Severus' assurances, but she knew that he was
not beyond bending the truth to make her feel better. The two of them had grown close,
spending endless days with little other distraction than otheother's company. They
talked through the long hours and ceaseless nights. He told her about his school days,
how he had first become a Death Eater, then a spy, then a teacher. She confessed the
many mischiefs she, Harry and Ron had committed, including a few that involved him
directly. She told him about her Muggle parents, and how afraid for them she was. She
cried over classmates she had lost. She cried over Ron, and the vanishing of Harry
Potter. The paper assumed that he was dead, killed with the rest of Moody's aurors on
the Christmas Day Massacre. Severus listened to her ramble on for hours. And
sometimes, when her nightmares made her cry in her sleep, she woke up cuddled in his
arms, his low voice oddly soothing in the dark. The day he had been thrown into her
cell, she had been both horrified and relieved. She was upset that he had been caught,
worried about what they might do to a traitor, but another part of her was pleased to
have a companion. She was also pleased that he had been put under Malfoy's control.

The first day she had been caught, she had been terrified, not knowing what the
Death Eaters would do or what would happen to her. She had been thrown in a
carriage, her hands and feet tied and deposited in the foyer of a large mansion.
Hermione had looked up to see Draco Malfoy lounging in a chair. He had laughed at
her and ordered her to be thrown in the dungeons. Later he had appeared with a cup of
cold water. After that, he had personally taken over her captivity, excusing it to his
Death Eater peers as an old school vendetta, and protecting her from some of the nastier
parts of captivity. Snape had been placed in his cell because he was the one who had
turned him in. And every day since then, Draco had been sneaking them food and
supplies in the guise of torture. Hermione had grown fond of the former Slytherin. He
was irritating, vain, arrogant, and caustic as ever, but underneath, he was not as evil as
she had thought. Not necessarily a 'good' guy, but not the power hungry Jr. Death
Eater she had imagined him to be. And she didn't want him killed by some bounty
hunter that had used the Death Eater's scare as an excuse for vigilante justice.

"I'd better go." Draco grimaced. "I have an important meeting tonight."

"Be careful, Draco." Hermione bit into her lower lip, pulling her blanket closer
around her. Severus remained silent, but his eyes echoed her sentiment.

"Aw, worried about me, princess?" He drawled, jumping to his feet.

"Worried about tomorrow's lunch." She shot back, standing to face him.
Impulsively, she pulled the blond into a quick hug. "Don't let the bounty hunters bite."

"I'll make sure to bite back if they do." He pulled away from her abruptly, angry
at himself for accepting any measure of affection, no matter how small.

Hermione had the strange thought that it was his first hug, but it couldn't be,
could it? He stepped out of the cell and ended the cloaking spell, calling for the guards.
Severus hid the rest of the food, while Hermione crumpled on the floor, breathing
raggedly as if in pain. The guards took their position, trying not to stare at Draco, as
they wondered what he had done in their absence.

As they watched, Severus scooped Hermione up, pretending to check her over.
Holding her close, he glared at Draco. "I hate you."

"I care," Draco said with mock concern. When he turned around again, all
emotion was gone from his face. He slouched lazily, and lit a vanilla cigarette. A sneer
settled over his mouth, as he exhaled. "So, was it good for you, professor?"

Not waiting for a reply, Draco sauntered up the stairs and out of the dungeon.
Once upstairs he ran into the bathroom and splashed cool water on his face. He knew
that it was all a game. Hermione, Severus, himself, they were all pretending. But
sometimes when he caught his own sneer in the window, his stomach heaved. He
hated who he was supposed to become, and even though he was a spy for the good
team, he still saw his father in his features and it not only disgusted him, it frightened
him. Sometimes he thought Hermione was right. He was a little too good at being evil.

**********


Harry sipped his coffee, stirring the fire aimlessly with a stick as the sun rose
around him. He had slept for a couple of hours before daylight, and felt more rested
than he had in weeks. He needed to take Vince to the ministry and collect his money.
His eyes lit on the sleeping girl next to the fire. And he needed to take Ginny back to
the Burrow. He wished he could send her back via floo powder from the ministry, but
all the fireplaces had been closed to stop the movement of Death Eaters. Besides, he
had to face the Weasleys sometime. And he wanted to make sure that he delivered this
Weasley straight into her family's arms, alive and well.

He drained his coffee, and refilled it with a flick of his wand. It was hot and
bitter. He closed his eyes and for a second he was back at Hogwarts, reaching for a
glass of pumpkin juice, still half asleep, and wishing he could skip classes to play
quidditch with Ron. He opened his eyes and took another sip of coffee. He no longer
had time for daydreams, or even pleasant memories. He had a . . .mission? He
frowned. No, that wasn't quite right. Killing Voldemort, rescuing his friends, it was
more than a mission. It was more than vengeance for Ron, or closure for Moody. He
had a quest, he decided. Quest. He rolled his eyes at himself. "Good show, Potter.
You're a hired killer, and still you try to play the part of the hero."

"You are a hero, Harry." A small voice sounded behind him.

"You'd like to think that, wouldn't you, Gin?" He smirked at her. Then he
drained the last out of his tin cup and offered it to her. "I don't have much besides
coffee for breakfast, but there's some sugar in my bag to make it sweeter, if you like.
Don't take too long. I've gotta lot to do today."

She took the cup from his hand and reached for the pot over the fire. In an
instant, a warm band of steel held her wrist. She looked up into Harry's eyes. "Be
careful, that's hot." He released her hand and filled her cup with a flick of his wand.
"Wouldn't want you to get burned."

Ginny rummaged through his bag, trying not to be shocked at the amount of
crossbow bolts, sharp knives and potions he had stored in there. She dumped a liberal
amount of sugar into her coffee before taking a sip. "What is all this?"

"Why, they appear to be weapons!" Harry feigned shock.

"So, do you have a plan?"

"Yeah. I'm going to turn Vince, here, in," He paused to glance at the still
petrified body. "Collect my money, drop you back into the waiting arms of your
parents and head towards Malfoy Manor."

"No, that's not what I meant." She frowned. He was talking about her like she
was a sweater her parents had misplaced. "Wait a minute - drop me? You're really not
coming in?"


"Ha! What, do I look like I have a death wish?"

"Yes."

"Fair enough. But I have stuff to do first." He said flatly. "I'll make sure you get
there safe and sound. But I can't . . .won't go in."

"But, they'll want to thank you." She pleaded. "I know they will."

"Sure they will, sweetie. R bef before they bury me. Far away from their son."
He grinned. "Finish your coffee."

She finished up, a frown twisting her features from the bitterness of the brew.
Harry pointed his wand at Vince, forcing the body to follow them, grabbed his sack and
headed out, Ginny trailing behind him. "Harry?"

"Yes?" He sighed deeply.

"I mean . . .earlier, I was going to ask you . . .how do you plan to kill
Voldemort?" She asked hesitantly.

"Slowly." His laughter carried over the forest's hills.

*********


Draco laid back on his down comforter, staring up at his ceiling. Later tonight,
he would have to go meet the Dark Lord. He would probably be given orders that
would turn his stomach. And he would probable carry them out. Of course, he would
send an encoded message to the ministry so they could try to stop him. He laughed,
bitterly. Thwarting oneself could be so tiring. He briefly considered the bounty hunter.
Could it really be Potter? Was Potter capable of the acts the bounty hunter had
committed?

The reports in the papers were sensationalizing things as they always did. The
bounty hunter was a shadow, a ghost, a breeze in the night. He swept in, killed without
compunction, without hesitation, without regret. He only showed mercy for a price. He
brought in Death Eaters aurors had been trying to lay their hands on for years. They
never saw him coming. He was indestructible. He could fight off Imperious, was
unfazed by Cruciatus, and deflected Avada Kedavra. He was more than a legend. He
was a myth. But he was real. And if Draco was right, he was coming for him.

He wasn't really worried about being caught. He was worried about what
would happen to Hermione and Severus under someone else's care. Draco closed his
eyes. He didn't want anything to happen to Hermione, but he didn't think he could
live with himself if something happened to Snape. It was his fault he had been caught.
All his fault. Staring blindly, his mind drifted back to the worst day of his life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Draco pulled his Death Eater's cloak tighter around his body, chilled as he
walked through the woods in the early morning. The sun had not yet risen, but the
world was starting to lighten. He stared at the blood on his boots as he walked, idly
wondering if they would come clean. At his side was Severus Snape, his mentor.

"Are you alright, Mr. Malfoy?" Severus put a large hand on his shoulder. They
had spent the night watching Death Eater's torture muggles for pleasure. And they
hadn't lifted a finger to stop them. It was the hardest part of being a spy, and the young
Malfoy seemed to be taking it hard. He kept staring at his feet, his expression twisted
in disgust.

"I have no love of muggles. I never have." He sneered, sounding like his father.
"I was just hoping my boots would come clean."

Snape looked taken aback for a second. Sometimes Draco was a little too
believable. "I see."

A few steps later, Draco dropped to his knees, his stomach heaving, the facade
gone. "In the name of Merlin, does it have to smell like that?"

Snape crouched beside him. He slowly rubbed his back with one hand, pushing
a potion in front of the young man's face. "Here, inhale this."

Draco breathed in the sharp scent. It was clean, spicy, lemony and it cleared his
head. "Thank you."

"I threw up a lot the first few months, too. And I wasn't even one of the good
guys, then." Snape almost smiled, helping him to his feet.

They were almost out of the woods when there came a loud clamor behind them.
Exchanging a dread-filled look, they both turned and ran towards the sound. In a
clearing, were several death eaters, obviously returning from the same dark revel. And
in their midst, was a bruised and cursing Oliver Wood. Draco's heart fell out of his
chest. He had spent the night watching people he had known all his life cause pain, and
take the lives of strangers. He had watched Vince kill a girl who couldn't have been
more than fourteen. He didn't think he could watch them kill Oliver.

"Look what we got!" Gregory Goyle held onto Oliver, shoving him forward for
Snape's inspection. The other young Slytherins puffed out their chest with pride.

"Nice job, boys. Where are the rest of them?"

"Rest of who?" Crabbe asked confused.

"You don't really think he'd come alone, do you? How stupid do you think they
are?" Snape sighed as if exasperated. "Give him to me, and fan out. Search the whole
area. Where there's one, there's more."

"We knew that. We were just waiting for someone to keep an eye on him."
Crabbe elbowed Goyle, who tugged Oliver over to Snape. Severus took out his wand
and cast imperious on Wood, with a sneer at the others.

"Go, you fools! Before they escape and come back with reinforcements." He
shouted. They ran back into the woods, each going a different direction. Snape turned
to Draco. He had seen the look on his face. "It'll be ok."

"It will not!" Draco tried not to yell. "They're going to kill him!"

Snape shook his head and released Oliver from the imperious. "No, they're not."

"Get away from me!" Oliver backed away from Snape, drawing his wand. He
whirled on Malfoy. "I always knew you'd become one of the Dark Lord's lackeys. I'm
going to see you in prison, Malfoy."

"Shut up, Oliver. We have to find a way to get you out of here." Draco scowled.
"What did you think you were doing, anyway? Trying to get yourself killed?"

Oliver had the grace to blush. He had been an auror since he graduated, but he
wasn't on any official business when he had stumbled on this serpent's nest. "I was just
in the wrong spot at the wrong time. My house is over there, and it's my day off . . ."
He pointed to the other side of the woods, where the sun was rising. "What do you
mean get me out of here?"

"Mr. Malfoy has been working with me since Hogwart's shut down." Snape
sighed. "We really don't have a lot of time."

"He's a spy?" Oliver asked incredulously.

"Yes. I am." Draco's mouth pressed into a hard line. He squared his shoulders.
"I have a feeling you're really going to enjoy this. Punch me."

"What?"

"We have to make it look like you escaped. Hit me." Draco raised his chin.

Oliver shrugged, grinned, and slugged him. Draco nearly hit the ground,
narrowing his eyes at the former quidditch captain. Oliver shrugged again. "Sorry."

"Now, jump on your broom and go, now!" Snape threw his broom at him.
"They'll be back soon."

Wood grabbed his broom and was in the sky without further encouragement.
Snape grabbed Draco and pulled him closer, lifting his face to inspect the bruise welling
up on his chin. "Merlin, this better work."

"Do unhand my son, Severus." Ice swept down Draco's back as he heard his
father's voice. How long had he been there.

"I was just told that Oliver Wood has been captured." Malfoy lifted one flaxen
brow. "Yet, he appears to be flying away. Why is that?"

"I - he - "

"Shut up, Draco." His father said softly. "I will listen to your excuses later."
Lucius lifted his snake-head cane and turned it sideways. It transfigured into a sleek,
black Firebolt. Leaning on it from the side, he took off after Wood.

Draco turned desperately to Snape. "What now?"

"You turn me in." Snape said softly.

"What?"

"You heard me. Your father suspects something. Voldmorte had been searching
for the spy in his ranks for months now. They all think it's me." Snape pointed out.

"Severus - "

"You must do this, Draco." He put his hands on his shoulders. "If you turn me
in, they'll trust you. And you can finish this."

"I can't do this. I can't do it alone. I don't know what to do or -" Draco's breath
came rapidly.

"Pull yourself together, Draco!" Snape barked at him. "You're a Malfoy, for
god's sake. All you have to do is act like one. Stay alive. And report what you can."

Draco nodded slowly. "But what about you? What are they going to do to
you?"

"I wish I could say I didn't know." He suppressed a shudder. "But it doesn't
matter. You have to turn me in."

"There's gotta be another way! I can't turn you in!" Draco resisted, desperate.

"There isn't." Snape insisted. "Now, you need to hit me, and put me under
imperio."

"I can't do that to you!"Draco felt tears prick his eyes, though he would never let
them spill down his face.

"Dammit, Draco! This isn't a game. You have to." Snape glared at him. Then he
punched him. Draco's head snapped back. His fear switched to anger, and he hit
Snape back. "There, see. You can, too."

"I'm sorry." Draco took a deep breath, holding onto the bracing anger and cast
the spell.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Draco glanced over at the windows. The sun was going down. Stripping off his
clothes, he walked into his private bath and stepped under a steaming shower. He
scrubbed until his skin was sore and red. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he stood
dripping in front of a full length mirror. Carefully, he slicked his hair back. Then he
raised his chin, squared his shoulders and smirked into the mirror. "Showtime."

*********


Harry carefully tucked his money into a small pouch he kept concealed in his
bag, smiling smugly. He turned to Ginny. "Shall we?"

She nodded tightly. They walked out of the ministry into a courtyard. Ginny
wondered why they had not left ministry grounds, considering Apparation was not
allowed there. In the middle was a circular rose garden, surrounding a stone fountain
with phoenix statues. Harry strode quickly through the garden to the fountain, and
picked up a stone goblet off it's edge.

"What is this?" Ginny asked, following him. "Aren't we using a portkey?"

"New system. Portkeys are too easily tampered with. Only a member of the
Order of the Phoenix can use this fountain to travel." Then he reached out and plucked
a white petal from the nearest rose, kissed it and dropped it in the goblet. He let water
pour into it from the fountain, and muttered, "The Burrow." The wain tin the goblet
flashed pearlescent for a second, than returned to a crystal clear. Harry held out his
hand. "Ready?"

"Yes." She took his hand, and he pulled her roughly against his side, wrapping
his arm securely about his waist.

"Hold on then." And he downed the water. A warm white vortex swirled
around them and Ginny had the tingling sensation of being turned upside down very
slowly. She wrapped her arms around Harry and held on as if her life depended on it.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, it stopped. And they were standing in front of her
house.

"That was . . .quick." She still clung tightly to him.

Harry just smirked in response. "You can let go now."

"Oh, sorry." She shrugged, slowly moving away.

"Give my regards to your family." Harry turned to walk away.

"Harry, stop!" She ran after him, grabbing his arm. "Give them a chance,
please?"

He pu awa away from her and was about to argue with her when the whole
Weasley crew came pouring out of the house. Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Molly and
Arthur were all there. Molly ran and embraced her daughter tightly. She ran her hands
over her shoulders and arms, cupping her face and kissing her forehead. Harry crossed
his arms, and watched with calm indifference.

"Potter." Arthur nodded his head sedately. Sometimes Harry crossed his path at
the ministry, usually carrying a body. They would exchange last names, and Arthur
never looked him in the eye.

"Weasley." Harry returned. Molly refused to meet his eyes, but the four brothers
stared at him, their animosity apparent.

"Thank you, Harry." Ginny called as her mother pushed her towards the house.

"You're most welcome, Ginny." Harry called back, with a mocking bow of his
head. "Always happy to be of service to the Weasley family."

"Well, you brought her back. You can leave now." Fred said pointedly. "Before
anything else happens to one of us."

"I wasn't the one who kidnapped her - " Harry started, but stopped himself. Of
course they still hated him. No amount of explanation or time would change that. He
cursed himself for wanting to believe the youngest Weasley. "She's not hurt. Just
hungry and tired. I brought her back as soon as I could."

"Not before stopping to drop off another one, though, eh, Harry? How much
did that one bring you?" George asked.

"Enough." Harry answered. He scowled. "You think this is about money, do
you? Of course you do, you're a Weasley." They all gaped at him. "I have millions,
now, you realize. It's not about money. It's about - "

"Doing what's right, Potter?" Arthur asked, sarcasm a stranger to his voice.

"Revenge." Harry said, softly. He dug into his back, producing a pouch. "Here,
you want to know how much a Weasley is worth these days? There it is. Nearly fifteen
thousand galleons. Not bad, huh?" He threw the bag on the ground at their feet.
"Keep it." And he vanished.

*********


Draco Apparated into a dungeon lit by emerald-flamed torches. His cloak
swirled about his heels as he walked toward a low murmur of voices. His mask
scratched his face, but he ignored it. He waked into a circular room, eerie green light
flickering at the walls. At the head of a "U" of cloaked and masked people, stood
Voldemort, his grotesque face wore a smile more sinister than any mask. The Death
Eaters at his side radiated tension. Their mouths drawn in tight lines to hold in
concerns about their dwindling numbers, their eyes followed Draco. These were not
the loyal, steadfast purebloods that had stood by Lucius. These were the skittish
remains of his followers, and to a one, they envied Malfoy's confidence.

He knelt before the Dark Lord, brushing his lips across a handful of robe with an
irreverent air. "My Lord."

"Rise, Draco." The gravelly hiss came. "I trust you have heard the bad news."

Draco stood, his hands clasped lightly behinds his back, his jaw clenched in a
show of false anger. "I have."

"I have decided to send a message. Make it clear that this, 'bounty hunter',"
Voldemort's eyes flashed. "Will not stop ussss."

"I await your orders, sir." Draco smirked, flicking his cloak over one shoulder.

Voldemorte smiled. "Your father would be proud of how far you've come,
Draco. You are truly a credit to his name."

"My Lord is too kind." Draco bowed, his voice toneless.

The Dark Lord nodded to a man on his left, and he quickly left the group,
heading down a dark corridor behind him. Voldemorte addressed the crowd.
"Tonight you, and everyone else will see the resolve of a true follower."

The man reappeared, dragging a young girl , eleven or twelve. She wore a torn,
dirty night shirt, her feet were bare. Her frizzy brown hair hung in her face as she
struggled, and for an instant, she looked like Hermione Granger at that age. Draco
swallowed, knowing in that moment that he couldn't hurt that girl. She was dropped
on her knees before him, her chains clashing against the stone floor. "Here is your
parchment, Draco. It's up to you to write the message."

"No," He growled. The Death Eater's gasped and stepped back, but Draco just
smiled, cruelly. "Let's not hide what we do here, in this basement!" He gestured
grandly, before grabbing the girl and yanking her up by her hair. "Let's do this
properly! Under the night sky, for all the stars to see! What have we to fear?"

Voldemort nodded in approval, and with a wave of his skeletal hand, they were
all outdoors, in a clearing in a woods, that Draco didn't recognize. Bowing, Draco
pointed his wand to the sky, and a bright Death Eater's mark appeared.

Draco took a deep breath, as he threw the girl to the ground, his wand raised.
He wished he could give the child a reassuring look, but sneered icily at her instead.
He knew that he could not do what they wanted. This was it - the end of his spying
days. He just hoped he could pull it off, get the two of them out of there and make it to
Severus and Hermione in time. He stretched out a hand to reach for the girl when an
arrow struck her leg. He heard her yelp in pain a second before she vanished. "What
the bloody - "

He was cut off as his wand flew from his hand. A strong arm snaked across his
chest, the sting of a cold blade digging into his neck. The figure behind him tossed his
head back, throwing his mask into the woods. A familiar voice sounded next to his ear.
"Surprise."

Voldemort stared at his captor, enraged. "You!"

"Miss me?" Potter smirked. He yanked Malfoy viciously closer, pointing his
knife for a second at the Dark Lord. "You're next!"

And the pair Disapparated in a flash of green light.

To be continued . . .

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