Saving your life

Using a quick spell to find the direction the main clearing was in, Hermione quickly left the burnt woods behind, the rain dimming as she flew away, but still making it hard to see. As she reached a part of the forest covered in thick trees and bushes she turned the broom slightly upwards, gaining height to stay clear of the branches, feeling her hands shake as she saw the ground further and further away, but still keeping a strong hold on the broomstick.

There were small clearings all over the area, just like she had seen on Severus’ map, and battles were taking place in many of them. She also saw a few clearings empty but for the figures lying still on the ground, and she didn’t know which sight was worse. She tore her gaze away from the ground, not wanting to accept the fact that many of those figures, both the ones lying still and those fighting for their lives, were friends of hers, people she knew and cared about.

Movement to her left brought her mind back to the present, and she turned the broom in its direction when she saw the trees shake, and a few of them fall. It was as if something enormous was moving in the forest, uprooting the trees as it went. Then she heard a loud roar and, as three more trees fell to the side, she saw the top of a head that could only belong to a giant heading to the closest clearing and destroying everything on its way.

As she took in what she was seeing, what it could mean, she felt her heart skip a beat and wondered if Voldemort had brought giants to fight for him. Weren’t the Inferi bad enough? And if he had contacted the giants, then how could Severus not have known? But just as she was beginning to feel desperate, an all too familiar voice, audible even over the sounds of snapping trees, broke through her train of thought.

“Over ‘ere, Grawpy,” she heard the deep voice shout, and she couldn’t help the relieved laugh that escaped her lips. She lowered the broom just enough to make sure she had heard right, that it was really Hagrid there, and she saw him fighting Death Eaters as fiercely as one would expect from a giant. Or half-giant, in his case.

Seeing he was more than capable of handling himself, she corrected the broom’s course and headed back to the main battlefield, flying lower as she got closer.

The sounds of the falling rain and the wind rushing against her face were soon replaced by screams and yelled curses, rays of light erupting from every wand, some missing or being deflected, but many hitting their target, both Order members and Death Eaters.

Pushing away all the lingering fears flying brought, she tightened her hold on the broom and leaned forward, trying to go faster. She had no idea how much time had passed since Charlie had saved her from Voldemort’s Killing Curse, and she could only hope Harry was still safe, or at least alive and fighting. If something had happened to him she didn’t know…

Suddenly, just as she left the protection of the woods and flew into the clearing, a flash of dark red light approached her form the side, and before she even had time to react it hit the broomstick, making it snap in half beneath her as if it were nothing more than a twig.

She barely managed to hold on to her wand as she buckled in midair and landed hard on the ground. She quickly scrambled to her feet, not paying any attention to the pain coming from her ankle as she stood, thanking Merlin she had been flying so low when the broom had been broken.

She quickly lifted her wand and spun in a small circle, ready to attack as she searched for the source of the curse. But there was nothing she could see, no Death Eater lurking in the shadows or looking for a clean shot from the cover of the trees. She turned to face the centre of the clearing, thinking perhaps what had hit her had been a stray shot aimed for someone else, but the witches and wizards duelling were too far away from her for that to be likely. She took another moment to make sure she wasn’t missing anything, and then she kneeled down to heal her ankle. A quick glance at the broom told her what she already knew, flying back to Harry was now out of the question.

Standing up again, she let her gaze wander around, going through the few possible courses of action to choose from in her mind. She had to get to the other side of the clearing, but she had tried going through a battlefield already, and it had almost ended in disaster. She decided that going through the border of the clearing, although it would take more time, would be safer than trying to cross it, and after one more look around she broke into a run.

The rain was still falling, making the ground beneath her feet slippery, and she stumbled a few times, barely managing not to fall. She was so focused on getting to the other side fast, and not falling along the way, that she only saw the flash of purple flying towards her seconds before it reached her. Without missing a step, she turned to the side, cast a Shield Charm to deflect the curse, and then sent one of her own to the Death Eater attacking her, waiting just long enough to make sure it had hit him before turning back to the front.

How she hadn’t seen the robed wizard standing right in front of her before she didn’t know, but as soon as her gaze fell on him and moved up to his face time seemed to freeze around her, her lungs refusing to take another breath and her heart trying to beat out of her chest as she sank her heels on the wet ground so hard she lost her balance and fell.

The smirk on his face seemed to paralyze her brain as she stumbled backwards, her gaze glued to his cold eyes as she scrambled to get away from him, her movements rushed, desperate, magic completely forgotten as fear took over.

*

Only when he was sure the Death Eater was dead did Draco let himself stumble down to the floor, his breathing hard as he tried to gather some energy. The blood loss made him feel cold and weak, tired, and it was probably just the pain that was keeping him conscious and alive.

Still, he only gave himself a few seconds to recover, for he couldn’t afford lying there any longer than that. Gritting his teeth to stop the pained scream from reaching his lips, he carefully turned around and crawled to the spot where he had last seen his wand, leaving a trail of blood as he moved and feeling the last bits of strength leave his burning muscles.

It was only a few feet away, but it felt as if he had had to crawl for miles to reach the wand lying on the floor, and his body seemed to give up on him just as he was about to make it. He had never felt so weak before, never been so close to being saved and so close to losing it all at the same time as he was now. But he was a fighter, if nothing else, and he wouldn’t allow himself to be defeated after all that he had done.

Gritting his teeth, he shut everything out and focused only on the wand lying inches from his bloody hand, trying to force his legs to push him once more, just enough for him to reach his salvation. Even as he concentrated, he didn’t think he would find the strength he needed, didn’t think he had any left in him. But then he felt a faint tickle in his fingers, the barest hint of magic brought forth by desperation, and suddenly his wand was rolling right into his waiting hand.

As if in a dream, he watched his fingers wrap themselves around the wand, and with renewed strength he had no idea where had come from, he managed to turn his wand to himself. He started with the wounds on his neck, the more life-threatening ones, and then moved on to the others, the power of the Healing Charms just enough to close the wounds. He wasn’t especially good with that kind of magic, but he knew enough to heal himself reasonably well, at least to get back on his feet. He just needed his body to be functional; he would take care of the rest later. If he was still around.

He had been too lucky already, had been spared too many times that night, and he knew that luck would soon run out. Still, if he was going to die tonight in the battlefield, there was one thing he needed to do first.

He could feel his strength and determination slowly return as the wounds were healed, and as soon as he was able to he stood up and walked back to Hawkins’ body. Shutting off the squelching sound the movement caused, he retrieved the sword, cleaned it and sheathed it back on his belt.

Still limping slightly, he made his way out of the Dark Lord’s quarters, down rooms and hallways, until he reached the entrance, and then he walked just far enough to be able to Apparate away.

The small shack, barely visible under the dim moonlight, looked dark, old, and about to crumble even from afar, and although Draco knew that inside it was in perfect condition, it was still shabby, especially considering it belonged to the Malfoy family. But the building had been created for one purpose alone, as a last resort in an emergency, and it was its size and condition that made it perfect for that. No one looking for a member of his family would ever consider the possibility of them being in a place like that, even if they went through their real state records and found out about the property. Not to mention all the protective wards around it, set and improved by generation after generation of Malfoys.

And in addition to all that, the shack was also isolated, which had made it perfect for what Draco had needed at the time. It was miles and miles away from civilization, and still the closest people around it were Muggles.

If he was honest with himself, he would rather be at the battle fighting the Dark Lord face to face than there, but there were certain things he couldn’t turn his back on, and family was one of them.

No matter how angry he was at his father, how disappointed he had been to realize everything he had ever been taught was not necessarily the truth, when he had understood the great, proud and powerful Lucius Malfoy, whom he had always looked up to and followed blindly, was nothing but a slave to Voldemort, he still couldn’t march to an almost certain death without first making sure he wouldn’t take his father with him. Draco was the only one that knew where Lucius was, and he had left him there wandless and isolated from the world. If he were to die, no one would ever find his father, and he would die right there in the shack. No matter what Lucius had done, he couldn’t let that happen.

Draco tightened his hold on his wand as he took the last few steps that separated him from the shack and reached for the doorknob, hesitating before slowly opening the door. He stopped there for a second and then stepped inside, giving his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness as he looked around, searching for Lucius.

He had half expected his father to launch at him the moment he opened the door, or perhaps attack him in another way. He had expected the wizard to be alert and waiting, ready to take Draco down, but he was nowhere to be seen.

In the days since he had sent Lucius there, he hadn’t dared enter the shack, or even get anywhere near it. He had learnt since childhood to fear his father, and that was something he couldn’t just forget.

He had made sure Lucius had everything he needed, food, water, clothes, but he had used magic to send all of it, afraid of facing his father. Now, as he turned towards the small kitchen, he could see that everything he had sent was still on the table, untouched.

“Father?” Draco called hesitantly, straining his eyes to see through the darkness, but there was no response. Unease crept through his body as he waited for any sound or movement, something that proved Lucius was there.

After a moment he waved his wand towards the few lights in the shack and searched the kitchen and sitting room, beginning to worry. Had his father perhaps been injured when he had sent him there? He had been so focused on Hermione, on her wounds, that he hadn’t checked; he had just gotten Lucius out of there before Severus could free himself and kill him.

The place was small, and it only took Draco a few moments to search through every room, but he didn’t find Lucius. Deep down he knew his father wasn’t in the shack, he had known it from the moment he had stepped inside without being attacked, but still, as soon as he was back by the entrance, he muttered, “Homenum Revelio,” hoping he had missed something.

But of course, the spell revealed nothing, and the only explanation for it was that, somehow, Lucius had managed to escape. And Draco had to find him; there was no time to waste. His father knew too much, about him, about Severus, about Hermione. Draco couldn’t just let him wander around. He was a powerful wizard, with many connections, and that kind of information could easily get the three of them killed, no matter who won the war.

Opening the door again, he cut the tip of his finger open, then touched the blood with his wand and muttered the words to the most powerful tracking charm he knew.

*

“I knew it was just a matter of time before I got to you again,” the wizard said, his voice cold as ice.

She continued to scramble backwards, trying to get away from him, but he kept moving closer, towering over her, until her back hit a tree trunk, and she couldn’t move away any more.

She wasn’t the kind of person that ran away from danger, but now she just couldn’t help herself. When faced with the wizard that had been so close to killing her twice before, the man, if he could be called that, who had tortured her for his own amusement, the one that had smiled in cruel pleasure as he had buried a knife into her body, again and again, she couldn’t help but be terrified.

“What’s the matter, Mudblood? You didn’t for one moment imagine you wouldn’t see me again, did you?” he asked, smirking down at her. “You should have known I would find you.”

She wanted to speak, to ask how he had escaped from wherever he had been, or perhaps what he would do to her, but as her lips parted no sound came out.

“Cat got your tongue?” he teased, twirling his wand between his fingers. “I shall do the talking, then,” he said, taking one step back and tilting his head, as if trying to get a better view. “Oh, the number of times I have imagined this,” he said, his voice suddenly a pleased drawl, “having you at my mercy once again, making you pay for all that you have done.”

The rain was still falling, and it was making it hard for her to see much, but trying to overcome the fear and think straight, she shook the wet hair out of her eyes and glanced furtively at his wand every few moments, hoping he wouldn’t notice, as she waited for the right moment.

So after a few seconds, when the tip of his wand twirled dangerously around his ring finger, she knew that was it, that was when it would take him longer to grip his wand again and react, even if it still meant just a fraction of a second more. Quickly raising her own wand, she yelled, “Expelliarmus!” his eyes widening in surprise at the sudden attack.

With a quick movement he blocked her spell, staggering back a few feet, and then aimed his wand at her again, but not before she could do the only other thing she could think of, call for help. The chance that someone, in the middle of the battle, would see her call and be able to go to her was slim, but it was still better than nothing.

As the red sparks shot from her wand and into the sky he cursed loudly, taking two long steps forward and kicking her arm aside, then stepping on her wrist and pinning it to the muddy ground as he flicked his wand in mid-air, vanishing the sparks only a second or two after they had been cast.

“That was not a clever thing to do, Mudblood,” he snarled, pressing harder into her wrist until she had to let go of her wand. “If some of those fools from the Order saw that and come here to help you they will die, and it will be because of you.” But as he spoke he smirked, and a gleam crossed his eyes. She felt sick to see how the idea of killing more people, of killing her friends, excited him.

Still, there was nothing she could do as he kicked her wand away and turned back to her. He was right, if someone got killed trying to save her it would be her fault, but still she couldn’t help but hope someone had seen her call and would come, someone powerful enough to kill him.

“So, how should this go now?” he asked, a thoughtful expression on his face as he looked down at her. “I did enjoy hearing you scream,” he said, with a cruel smirk, “and I wouldn’t mind hearing those lovely sounds once again. Or perhaps I should just kill you and move on. I am sure that would affect dear old Severus deeply. What do you think he would feel, if he came here to find you dead?” he asked, stepping closer to her and leaning down, so that his face was just inches away from hers as he spoke. “Perhaps something a little more dramatic would be better. I could tie you to that tree over there; that would give him a much better view when he gets here. I’d like to finish what we started last time,” he told her, his eyes shining at the prospect. “You seemed to enjoy feeling the cold blade of my knife inside you.”

Fear kept her frozen in place, and he looked at her in silence for a moment, waiting for her to reply; then he began twirling his wand around his fingers again, as if daring her to try something again. If he was so eager to kill her, then what was he waiting for?

“You see, getting here wasn’t easy, and I had to wait for the right time. I wouldn’t want to let this end too fast,” he told her, as if he had read her mind. “This concerns more people than just you and me, Mudblood, and they should be here to enjoy the show.”

As he spoke, she noticed something behind him. It was like a shadow, or some kind of black smoke, moving closer and closer to him. She closed her eyes for a second, hoping it was some kind of strange curse sent by someone who had seen her call for help, but when she opened them again she watched the smoke stop a few inches from his back and shoot up into the sky.

Probably noticing her distraction, he turned to the side, following her gaze just as the smoke went up. When she looked at him again, she saw the corners of his lips twitch up into a smirk.

“Now this should be interesting,” he whispered, turning towards the tree line.

Not a second later, she heard the rustle of leaves and footsteps coming closer. It wasn’t long before a tall wizard stepped into the clearing, his wand aimed at Lucius.

“It’s good to see you again, son,” Lucius said, his tone even, unsurprised, as he looked at Draco. “I was beginning to wonder if you would join us tonight. What took you so long?”

“What are you doing here, Father? How did you escape from the shack?” Draco asked, as his gaze flicked between his father and her, trying to assess the situation.

“Escape? I was hardly a prisoner, boy,” Lucius snarled. “Did you think you could keep me captive by merely taking my wand? Don’t you know the power that runs through my veins? Through our veins? We come from one of the most pure bloodlines still in existence, and you think you can bind my magic that easily? It took me less than a day to find my way out of the shack, and a few hours later I had a new wand already. If you thought you could stop me just by sending me away, then you are clearly more of a fool than I wanted to believe. If I had known what a disappointment you’d turn out to be…”

Lucius had turned completely towards Draco as he spoke, and using that distraction she turned around and bolted for her wand, hoping she would be fast enough. It took Lucius only a second to react, and just as she closed her fingers around the wand he took a step towards her, his boot connecting with the side of her head so hard she fell down, blinded by the pain. He kicked her on the ribs then, and she felt the air sucked out of her lungs.

“Let her go, Father. This is a family matter; she has nothing to do with it.”

“I see you have spent too much time with Mudbloods already. Have you forgotten what I taught you? They,” he said, kicking her wand and yanking her up by her hair, then moving his own wand to her forehead, “are not worth the air they breathe, and you choose this filthy whore over your own family?”

She felt the tip of his wand cut her skin open as it moved across her forehead and down her cheek, but she refused to scream in pain. Gritting her teeth she blinked to try to keep the blood away from her eyes as the rain washed it down, and she could see the worry in Draco’s face as he watched Lucius hurt her.

“Father, stop,” he yelled after a moment, his wand aimed at Lucius’ head.

“This is the second time you threaten me, boy. Your own father,” Lucius snarled, moving his wand away form her and aiming it at Draco. “Don’t you see this Mudblood has been playing with your head? She is inferior, nothing but waste of space, and yet you let her manipulate you? You are a Pureblood, a Malfoy, and you threaten your own father for her?”

“Just let go of her, Father.”

“You want her?” Lucius asked with a sneer, as he stepped to the side and yanked her to her feet. “Is she the reason why you’ve turned against me?”

“She? You think what I did is because of her?” Draco all but shouted. “Do you know what the Dark Lord did to me when I failed to kill Dumbledore? Do you know what he did to me when you failed him? I would be dead if aunt Bellatrix hadn’t thought I could be useful for her plans.”

“The Dark Lord did what he had to, gave you exactly what you deserved!” Lucius seethed. “All your life, you were given everything you ever wished for. You never wanted for anything. And yet you have become a shame to your family, a shame to your blood, and all because of her,” he said, yanking her hair harder. “You are weak, Draco. It is time you learn to be a man. Crucio!” he yelled, but before the curse could reach Draco he flicked his wand, casting a Shield Charm around himself and deflecting his father’s attack.

“Is that all you can do, boy?” Lucius snarled, when Draco didn’t shoot back. “Is this what those blood traitors and Mudbloods have turned you into? A coward? If you threaten me with your wand, boy, you better be willing to use it.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way, Father.”

“Oh, yes it does. But let us make this more interesting,” he said, yanking her to the side, so that she was standing right next to him. “It is this filthy Mudblood you came here for tonight, and there is only one way you will get her in one piece.”

“What do…”

“It is your chance to choose, boy,” Lucius interrupted. “If you want her, you will have to kill me. No coward’s way out, no trying to lock me up in some faraway shack. It is her or me, the Mudblood or your father. Act like a man, for once in your life.”

Draco stood frozen in place for a moment, his eyes meeting hers, his expression anguished as he tried to make a decision, and she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, for the position he had been put into because of her.

As she watched him, torn between her and his father, she wanted to scream at him for help, beg him to kill Lucius, to save her, but she couldn’t do it; she couldn’t ask Draco, after all he had done for her, to murder his own father. She couldn’t turn him into a murderer. It wasn’t a fair choice for him, and she wouldn’t make it any harder, so she stayed silent, hoping he would choose her, and at the same time wishing he wouldn’t have to.

“Do it, boy!” Lucius shouted, and Draco’s eyes snapped back at him, his wand now aimed between her and his father. “We do not have all day. What will it be?”

“I won’t, Father,” Draco finally said, sounding defeated, his expression apologetic as he looked at her. “I will not att-”

With a loud, angry growl, Lucius lifted his arm, aimed his wand at Draco, and shot before he even had the time to finish speaking. “Useless coward,” he yelled, as the curse hit Draco on the chest, tearing his robes apart as it pushed him back, blood flying everywhere as Draco was thrown backwards, past the first line of trees and deep into the forest.

She didn’t have time to react, didn’t have time to even think about what had just happened, as a shot of light flew just over Lucius’ shoulder from behind, barely missing him, and he turned around, yanking her with him and moving her so that she was standing right in front of him, shielding him from another attack.

“Oh, Severus, how good to see you,” Lucius yelled, as he recognized the figure running towards them.

It was as if the sight of him brought her back to reality, and suddenly she could feel the fear again, the pain from her wounds, the exhaustion that was threatening to take over.

Severus’ eyes locked on hers as he approached them, and her fear redoubled. Suddenly, she no longer cared about what happened to her. What if Lucius killed Severus? She wanted to yell at him to run, to get away form them, to leave her there and go somewhere safe, but she knew he would never listen. Just as she wouldn’t, if the situation was reversed.

“Let go of her, Lucius,” Severus said, lifting his wand, ready to attack again.

“I am getting tired of hearing that, old friend.”

“What are you doing here?”

“We had a score to settle. You didn’t think I would forget, did you? You know me better than that.”

“What do you want?”

“I want justice. I want you dead, and I want her dead. And I want the Dark Lord to see the truth, to know it was you who betrayed him.”

“Then why didn’t you go to him before now? Why go through all this trouble?” Severus asked, a calmness in his tone that made him more threatening.

“I would not make the same mistake twice, Severus. When I go to the Dark Lord, I will take proof of your betrayal. Then I will be given the honours I deserve.”

“The Dark Lord will be defeated tonight, Lucius. There will be nothing for you to go back to.”

“That’s a lie, and you know it,” Lucius snarled, lifting his wand and aiming it back at Severus. “The Dark Lord will win; it is a pity you will not live to see that.”

She realized he was about to attack Severus and pushed Lucius’ arm to the side, the curse missing him by an inch. With an angry growl Lucius flicked his wand in her direction, and suddenly she felt more tired than she ever had before. Her entire body felt heavy, and just as she was about to fall to the ground Lucius moved his arm to her waist, keeping her between Severus and himself. Through half-lidded eyes she saw Lucius aim his wand at Severus again, and this time there was nothing she could do to help him. Lucius’ first shot was powerful, but Severus managed to deflect it. The second one missed. The third hit him on one leg. He was trying to defend himself, but he wasn’t attacking Lucius.

“Severus!” Hermione tried to yell, but it came out as little more than a whisper. She tried to make her muscles work, tried to fight whatever spell Lucius had used on her, but it was harder by the second. “Severus, kill him,” she begged, knowing if he didn’t Lucius would kill him, and he froze for a second, hesitant, his gaze on her. She knew he wanted to shoot back, to kill Lucius, she could see it in his eyes, but he wouldn’t attack while she was standing between them. Another curse shot from Lucius’ wand, hitting Severus’ shoulder, almost making him drop his wand. “Severus,” she cried, trying to gather some strength to fight Lucius. “Severus, he’ll kill you!”

“Oh, this will be fun,” she heard Lucius say by her ear, and then he laughed loudly when another curse hit Severus. She knew she had to do something or he would kill them both. Severus wouldn’t attack Lucius while she was standing between them, so she had to somehow get out of the way or they would both die. If only it were that easy.

But then Severus moved his wand a fraction of an inch to the side, and when he shot again his spell hit her, and suddenly she felt awake again, all her muscles responding. She instantly started to struggle against Lucius’ hold, twisting as hard as she could, trying to elbow him, kick him, anything to make it impossible for the wizard to hold her and aim right at the same time. She kept fighting him until he couldn’t hold her any more, and as soon as his grip loosened she leaned forward, hit him on the ribs and bit down hard on his arm. The pain distracted him, and he yanked his arm away from her without thinking.

The second she was free, she dropped to the ground and scrambled for her wand, turning around and aiming it at Lucius just in time to see Severus’ curse hit him square on the chest.

With eyes as hard as stone Severus stepped forward, flicked his wand again, and suddenly Lucius was floating mid-air.

“You should have stayed away when you had the chance,” Severus said with barely controlled anger, then moved his arm to the side and Lucius crashed against a tree so hard not even his pained scream could drown the sound of bone snapping. “You should have thanked your son for saving you and forgotten all about her,” he said, moving his arm to the other side, sending Lucius against another tree. “You should have known better than to anger me, Lucius.”

As Severus walked towards Lucius he flicked his wand, and a long slash appeared on the wizard’s chest, then another, and another, and she wondered how he could still be alive.

“I told you to stay away from her, and you didn’t listen,” he hissed, twisting his wand just slightly, making Lucius double in pain. She couldn’t remember ever seeing Severus so angry.

“You will pay for what you did,” Severus told Lucius, taking a step back. He lifted his wand and twisted it, lifting Lucius higher and higher, and then letting him fall loudly a few feet from where she was.

She saw Severus’ eyes flash with hatred, felt the air thick with his power, and for the first time in so long she felt a hint of fear of him. She knew she shouldn’t, that he was only protecting her, but the cruelness he was showing Lucius rivalled with the one the wizard had shown her.

And then she found herself calling his name, ready to beg him to stop. He turned to her, and the fear he saw on her face brought him back to reality.

“You are lucky she is here,” Severus told Lucius, although she wasn’t sure the wizard could hear him anymore. “Otherwise, this would have continued for hours.” Without another word, Severus raised his wand again, the green light of the Killing Curse hitting Lucius, his laboured gasps and pained groans silenced at last.

She stayed frozen in place, her eyes locked on the bloodied figure of the man that had gone there to kill her, so dazed she couldn’t even hear Severus’ voice calling her name.

She felt, more than saw, Severus kneel beside her, and then his hands were on her arms, gently pulling her up to her feet, and before she knew what was happening she had her arms around him, holding on to him as if that alone would prevent the world from crumbling around her. The fear she had felt before vanished when he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. He made her feel safe, protected, and that was all she needed right then.

He held her as tightly as she was holding him, as if he were afraid to let go, and she was unable to control the sobs that escaped her, all the fear and pain from what had happened and the relief of him being there mixing inside of her, emotions taking over.

“It’s all right, it’s over. He’s dead, he won’t hurt you again,” Severus whispered into her ear, trying to calm her, and she had the impression that he was telling that to himself as much as her. “You are safe now.”

She let him hold her, protect her for a few moments, but then she started to calm down, and reality came crashing back down. There was no time for comfort, no time to relax. They were still in the middle of a battle, and her brain started working again. She would have wanted to stay there with him, to hold on to him for the rest of her life, feeling safe, but she knew that was not an option.

“Draco,” she muttered, the first thing that came to mind as she tried to put her thoughts back in Order, and Severus’ hold on her loosened as he leaned back. “He was here,” she added, seeing Severus’ confused expression. “Lucius attacked him, I have to help him, I have to-”

“Did Lucius hurt you?” Severus asked her, and she shook her head slowly. “Not much, at least,” she added, when Severus’ eyes fell on the blood still on her face.

Severus pulled back, keeping his eyes on hers, trying to see the truth in them, find out if she was telling the truth, if she was all right, and she had to look away. She couldn’t afford to be vulnerable, not anymore.

“He could’ve killed you,” she said, as she felt his fingers trail the side of her face, healing the lines Lucius had carved into her skin.

“I can take care of myself,” he replied, taking a step back, moving his wand down her body, searching for more wounds. “I should have killed him when I had the chance,” he said, almost to himself, a hint of anger back in his voice.

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” she told him, and couldn’t stop herself from glancing back to where Lucius’ body had fallen, needing to make sure he was really dead, that he wouldn’t hurt her again.

Tightening her hold on her wand, she took one last deep, calming breath and then stepped away from Severus, turning around and walking away.

“Where are you going?” Severus asked her, his hand on her wrist stopping her before she could go far.

“Draco’s there, I have to help him.”

“There could be Death Eaters there.”

“I don’t care. He got hurt trying to help me, I will not leave him there to die.”

Severus looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, trying to decide what to do, but when she tried to turn again he tightened his hold on her wrist. “Where is he?”

“He was thrown into the woods over there,” she told him, pointing at the trees spluttered with his blood.

“Stay here, I’ll go.”

“I’ll go with you,” she said, trying to follow when he started walking.

“No, you’ll stay here, I’ll go find him.”

“But…”

“Do you think you can be of more help than I?” he asked, and she shook her head. “If you want me to help him, you will stay here and wait. I don’t want you wandering back into the woods where any Death Eater can find you.”

She wanted to argue, wanted to go with him to see Draco, to make sure he was still live, but she knew Severus was serious, he really wouldn’t help him unless she did as he asked, and every minute that passed could be the last one for Draco, so she reluctantly nodded her head and waited, wand at the ready in case someone found her there.

As the minutes passed she did her best to keep her eyes away from the figure lying just a few yards away from her, but it was almost impossible. After everything that had happened, everything Lucius Malfoy had done to her, it was hard to believe he was really dead, that he would never come back and hurt her again, but the relief that knowledge brought was obscured by the way he had died. The pained sounds he had made when Severus had cursed him, his blood dripping to the ground from the slashes crossing his chest, those moments were etched on her brain as permanently as those of all the things he had done to her.

The sound of ruffling leaves startled her, and she spun around, lifting her wand and firing before even seeing what had caused the noise. Severus was just stepping out of the woods, his expression one of surprise as he saw her raised wand and reacted, barely managing to block her attack.

“I’m sorry, I… you startled me,” she said, trying to calm her nerves as she walked to him.

He didn’t reply, instead he waited until she reached him. She noticed his expression was guarded, and saw he had blood in his hands.

“Draco,” she whispered. “Did you find him?” she asked urgently, and he nodded.

“The curse Lucius had used against him was a very powerful one, and he was barely alive when I found him,” he said, and she felt tears come to her eyes as she waited for him to tell her what had happened. “I healed him as much as possible, but there was not much I could do without my potions. I sent him back to headquarters, but I don’t know if they will be able to do for him at the Order. There are probably dozens of wounded there, and even if they could pay full attention to him…”

“No,” she said, shaking her head slightly. “There has to be a way, there has to be something…”

“Perhaps you should go back to the Order as well, make sure they do their best to save him,” he said, even though she could see in his eyes that he didn’t like the idea of her going to Draco.

“I can’t go, I won’t leave until this is over,” she told him. She was worried about Draco, but there were things more important. She had to find Harry, had to help him defeat Voldemort.

“You will be safer there.”

“I don’t need to be safe, I need to be here; I need to help the Order, help Harry.”

“Potter has all the help he needs. I doubt you staying here will make any difference.”

“I’m not leaving, Severus,” she said, hoping he would hear the resolve in her tone. “Please, don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

“This is a mistake.”

“Would you leave? Would you leave everyone here and go?” she asked. She knew he wouldn’t, and he knew it as well. He understood her need to fight, she could see it clearly on his face, and she wouldn’t give him time to think up more arguments to get her away.

He looked at her for a few moments, as if giving her another chance to change her mind, and then turned around and started walking.

“Come, then. We have to hurry.”