Edge Of Gravity

The Forbidden Forest felt lifeless; dead and dying flora and fauna mute testimony to the toll this world had taken over the eleven years of constant battle. It was as though the very scythe of death was there, sharp and glistening, waiting in the shadows to claim its next hapless victim. Draco shivered, nervously shuffling over thick over-grown tangles of tree roots, trying to keep his eyes from focusing on any one thing longer than a moment.

The two red head fools in front of him were making it seem all the more like a death march. Both of them having long since fallen silent after he had mentioned Potter‘s name. They incessantly cast withering looks over their shoulders, a sure sign that meant he was due for a few Weasley creations in his food and/or bed.

“Where do you think Hermione went?” George murmured quietly, pushing aside a web of low hanging vines from their path.

“She couldn’t have gotten far. The bloody forest doesn’t allow quick travel through it.”

Draco didn’t ask how they knew that, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. Instead, he continued to look out across the mass of trees, alternating between looking for Hermione and any signs of danger. “You don’t think they were captured, do you?”

Draco knew all to well that where Dementors roamed, Deatheaters were not far behind. Whoever or whatever not claimed by the creatures would be helpless to the Deatheaters, who would take great delight in torturing them. Death would be a welcome retreat for either side.

“No, Dementors are the only creatures that still return to the ruins.” Fred whispered, voice and posture taunt with restraint.

“Habitual blighters that they are.” George muttered, disgustedly.

“They feed off of the castle after nightfall.” Fred explained, grimacing at the high pitched shrieks in the distance.

“Which is why you and ‘Mione should of never returned!” George snapped, turning on Draco then. His eyes blazed with a ferocity that Draco was rarely on the receiving end of. “Both Fred and I have warned…”

“W…we had too.” Malfoy choked, frowning at the fact that he sounded like a child being scolded. “We had to come. This would be the last chance that…” He fell silent then, knowing Hermione had made him swear an oath not to tell.

Both red haired wizards had stopped by now, looking at him with mirroring expressions of incredulity. Draco swallowed, damning himself twice the fool for saying too much.

“We would not have been able to bring Harry back if we did not come.” He said eventually, nerves fraying slightly around the edges when a familiar screech echoed in the background.

“Draco.” Fred started before shaking his head with a sigh. His eyes scanned around the distant woods before coming back to land on Draco‘s. “Let’s just find Hermione.”

George nodded, expression, as always, identical to his twins. They both spoke of anger, desperation and…pity.

Draco snarled, stalking past them both, nearly making George fall over a bulging root. Damn Potter had only been back for an hour and he was already making his life a living hell! “Fine! Don’t believe me! Tossers!”

“Draco.” George snapped, watching the blonde stalk up the steep hill in front of the them. “Don’t…”

“Leave me alone.” Draco snarled again, hiking up the hill.

“Draco, don’t get so far ahead of us.” Fred warned, following up behind the blonde as quickly as the overgrown wood would allow. He ignored him.

“Hermione!” He bellowed, ignoring the bickering behind him.

“Draco, don’t be such an arse!” George yelled, staring up at the stomping man as he too, scrambled up the incline. “Come on and…”

“Oh, Oh I’m the prat…”

“Arse.” Fred corrected, nearly tripping over a thick root.

Draco pulled out his wand, pointing it at the red headed Weasley’s. He took perverse pleasure in the twined shocked expressions. “If you prats…”

“Draco.” George stumbled backwards, nearly snagging himself in the a maze of vines.

“Draco.” Fred breathed, his eyes widening momentarily before narrowing. “You don’t want to...”

Malfoy smirked satisfied, watching the sudden terror gracing their faces. “No, I…” His triumphed turned to shock as Fred tackled him to the ground.

“GEORGE!” Fred screamed, holding down the twitching captive.

“Get off me you…” Draco voice gave out, seeing a huge bloody mass of hair and legs fall beside their heads.

“Hurry!” Fred pushed himself up, pulling the smaller man along with him. Draco nearly shrieked in horror seeing the mammoth sized spider curled up on the ground.

“RUN!” George screamed from the bottom of the hill, crystal at the ready.

“Move.” Were Fred’s only words, as he yanked the blonde downhill. Draco tried to keep his footing, rushing forward, George hurling a yellow crystal over them.

Draco let out a yelp as his robe yanked him backwards. “DRACO!” Fred shouted, turning in time to see the young blonde hit the root infested hill.

Malfoy felt as though his head had been cracked open. He opened his eyes blearily, pausing only long enough to look at the unforgiving root his head collided with. He blinked, staring up at a terrified Fred, who was urgently yanking at his robes. “Fred?”

“Don’t worry.” Fred cooed shakily, pulling at the thick material. Draco felt confusion cloud his head, wondering why the red head seemed in such a panic.

Fred eyes turned to the hill, watching the line of spiders filling the hill. The insects were probably one of the few creatures that could survive the forest. Another danger to keep most at bay.

“Just take it off!” George roared, throwing another crystal over their heads, trying desperately to keep the carnivorous monsters away.

Draco jerked, terror seeping through him upon seeing what Fred was looking at. An entire nest of spiders, most bigger then the one that had fallen dead by his side. “Throw the fucking crystals!” He screamed, pulling himself free of the robe to sprint past the pair of Weasley’s.