Harry Potter and The White Queen (BP3)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
28,189
Reviews:
234
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
28,189
Reviews:
234
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Dead and Buried
Chapter Number/Total: 8/49
Chapter Title: Dead and Buried
Words: 2939 Words
Harry had enjoyed himself immensely over the last few days. He had almost forgotten who he was for a while, but he knew that the world didn't stop simply because he was getting married, and so it was soon back to the discussions of Voldemort and Horcruxes that left him stressed and tired.
Bill and Fleur had gone home the previous day, since the wedding plans had been decided on much quicker than expected and Harry, Draco, Ron and Hermione were able to hit the books without any distractions. They were in the main library now doing just that.
"Well, it's not so much finding out about Horcruxes now, right?" said Ron. "I mean, we need to start finding spells for when we actually find the next one. That cave story sounds difficult, and if they're all going to be like that ... well, you get the picture."
Harry nodded. "Knowing Voldemort, they will all be like that. Possibly worse."
"Worse," Draco said, not looking up from the book he was studying. "That was an earlier one, I believe," he explained. "I think he got progressively more deranged as his soul was split."
Harry winced, but had already thought that himself.
"Yes, that makes sense," said Hermione. "We should still be looking up things about the Hogwarts founders, too. We'll never find anything if we don't even know what we're looking for."
Harry huffed. "I honestly don't think books are going to help us find anything about where they are. I need to leave, to go out and find them. I'm never going to find them in a library."
"Well, you still need to train, Harry. Perhaps Professor Lupin could help you. He was the Defence teacher," said Hermione.
"We have a training room here," Draco said. "Do you think he would be willing to come?"
Harry made a bit of a face. "I wouldn't want to bother him," he said. "He's got his own assignments."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind," said Hermione. "He would understand why you need to learn, so we wouldn't need to explain anything. And he cares about you, Harry."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," said Harry. "I know he cares, but - I don't know, do you think he would be a help?"
"What about the way you organised that little group of yours in fifth year?" Draco smiled. "We could do something like that."
"You mean the group that you broke up?" Harry asked, shaking his head and then leaning over to kiss Draco's nose. "You mean with just us?"
"Yes." Draco smirked. "I don't like clubs I am not invited to join. And with us and anyone who wants to train with us."
"We could do something like that," said Harry. "And training with Order members would help a lot."
"Yes, especially with the Aurors of the group," said Hermione.
"Yes, and it would give Harry a chance to show them that he really does have what it takes outside just meetings, " Draco said.
Harry smiled. "I'm not all that great, but a little training would help."
"You do need a little polishing, but you are very good, Harry," said Hermione. "And you learn very quickly."
"Yeah, mate," said Ron. "You've always had an edge with Defence."
Harry snorted and shrugged.
Draco nodded. "Looked good to me," he said, smirking and raising an eyebrow.
Harry snorted again. "I'm sure," he said.
"All right, well, if we're going to do that, then we need to let everyone know and set up days for it. But it doesn't take care of the Horcruxes," said Hermione.
"Like I said," said Harry, "I really think I'm just going to have to leave to find them. Information from people outside will help me track them down. We've already decided we're going to the town that Voldemort grew up in, now it's just a matter of when."
"I have a question," Draco said, leaning back and considering the others for a minute.
They all looked at Draco.
"What is it?" asked Harry.
"I understand the need for secrecy, but why is it just the four of us," Draco paused, "Snape and Aberforth accepted."
"Well ..." Harry began slowly, "Dumbledore told me not to tell anyone else. Ever. Besides Ron and Hermione. I broke the rule with you, but only because I had to. And well, you're you."
"Did he tell you why?" Draco asked, frowning.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Could you imagine what would happen if it got out?" he asked. "It would ruin everything. As long as Voldemort doesn't think that anyone knows about his Horcruxes, I can win. And it's not even a matter of not trusting everyone else from the Order, because I do. It would just be taking a huge risk. I could see myself telling Lupin maybe, but the others - it's just too much to lose."
"It's a lot like the Secret Keeper role," Draco said. "If they were captured, they might tell. So we can't tell Lupin or Tonks because they are too vulnerable to that."
"That's exactly the point," said Harry with a sigh. "They would never tell on their own, but if captured there's no telling what would happen."
Draco nodded, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "So we keep on trying this without help. I think it is time to find that grave and see what is there. And, yes, set a date to start your army again."
Hermione nodded. "So, we can do that then. Are we wanting to start this all up soon? I mean, with the wedding coming up?"
"We have to do it sooner or later," said Harry with a sigh.
"I love Harry and want the ceremony," Draco said, giving his lover a smile, "but I want a future more than a ceremony, which means the war is more important."
"Yes, I agree," said Harry.
Hermione nodded again. "So how soon?"
"As soon as we can, I suppose," said Harry. "There's no use waiting. We need to get this ... army thing started, and then soon after that, we've got to go and look for another Horcrux."
"Have them come in a couple days. Hermione, will you send the messages?" Draco asked.
"Yes, of course," she said. "I was just going to suggest that."
Harry nodded again. "So we've got this fighting thing to set up, robes to buy, invitations to get made and sent, decorations up, rings to pick out, and a Dark Lord to destroy. No big deal." He sighed and shook his head.
***
Harry was wearing Muggle clothes, a jacket with its hood pulled up. Draco, Ron and Hermione looked much the same as he did. They were four teenagers checking out an old grave yard. It didn't look too odd, and there was no one around anyway up on the very top of this nearly bare hill. After much searching, Hermione had expertly located the grave of Tom Riddle's mother through records and old Muggle reports from the town the orphanage was located in. This graveyard wasn't far from where the orphanage had been.
They were there now, having just Apparated from the Manor. The graveyard was old and crumbling, located next to an equally old church, one that looked like it wasn't used anymore and hadn't been in a while. The grass was unkempt and grew up around some of the headstones. It was creepy being there. The air was cold and the sky grey, as if it knew what they were there for.
"This is the right one, isn't it?" asked Harry in hushed tones.
Hermione nodded. "Yes," she said just as quietly. "The headstone will only say Riddle. It was the only name she ever gave the people at the orphanage."
Draco looked around, the chill he felt less about the temperature than the atmosphere of the place. He buried his hands in his sweatshirt pockets and wished for his robes.
"All right, let's look for the grave. See if there's anything we can find," said Harry, moving forward and examining a headstone. Ron and Hermione went off in other directions, searching like Harry.
"You feel anything?" Harry asked Draco, moving pretty quickly along the rows.
"Cold," Draco said as he walked with him, but his attention kept returning to the church. He had that prickly feeling like when one is being watched.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, it is a bit cold for only September," he said, eyes sliding over names.
Draco found himself walking toward the old building, his hand reaching out. He didn't really want to touch the cold stone but his hand reached out and pressed against the damp surface.
Harry turned his head and looked at Draco, eyebrow raised.
"Harry!" Hermione called softly from near the back of the small graveyard.
He looked up at her as she beckoned for him. He turned his head towards Draco again. "I think she found it," he said.
Draco began to run his hand along the wall, the feeling getting stronger as he did. He didn't even hear them.
Harry watched Draco with a slight frown on his face. He held up one finger to tell Hermione to wait a moment, his eyes following Draco's movements.
Draco stopped one quarter of the way from the back of the church. He was frowning and staring at the brick. "Something inside," he whispered.
Harry took a few steps towards Draco. "Inside the church?" he asked, looking up at the old, creepy building.
"Yes," Draco said, his hand still pressed to the stone. He could feel the creeping cold even stronger here and it seemed like it had worked its way up his arm to his elbow.
Harry stared at the church for a few more moments and then beckoned Ron and Hermione with his hand.
They looked at each other and then made their way back over to Harry and Draco.
"What is it?" asked Hermione, frowning. "The grave's back there." She pointed.
"Draco said there's something inside the church," Harry said quietly.
Hermione looked at Draco, her eyes on his hand pressed flat to the stone.
Draco was frowning still, looking at his hand on the wall.
"How would he know?" asked Ron, frowning at Draco.
"He can sense magic," said Harry.
Hermione's eyes widened slightly. "I've read about being able to do that," she said almost automatically. "You can, Draco?"
Draco began to walk toward the back of the church, his hand skimming along the brick and not leaving the stone as he moved.
"He can," Harry answered for Draco, following a bit behind him.
"What's he doing?" asked Ron, following behind as well.
Harry gave a small shrug.
"Shh," Hermione hushed Ron.
Draco reached an old wooden door. He pushed with his hand but it was locked. He couldn't seem to take his hand away.
"How do we get in?" asked Harry, staring at the door as his heart began to beat a little quicker. "Can you open it, Draco?"
"Use your wand," Draco whispered. "Alohomora."
Harry wondered if such a simple spell could work, but Voldemort did possess a very strange mind. He pulled his wand and pointed it at the key hole. "Alohomora," he muttered. He watched as there was a tiny click and the door creaked open a crack.
Draco pushed the door, walking into the gloom in the back of the church. The place smelled of dust and rot. He felt his way along, unable to see in the interior.
Harry's eyes widened as Draco simply walked into a place that could be loaded with traps. He followed behind him quickly, lighting his wand tip.
"Does he know what he's doing?" asked Ron in a slightly frightened whisper from behind Harry. "What are we doing in here anyway? What does he feel in here?"
"I don't know," Harry whispered back, eyes focused on Draco in front of him.
Draco was drawn forward, pulled by something cold. Part of his mind knew it was reckless, but that portion of him was no longer in control.
"Draco, maybe we should slow down," Harry said quietly, eyebrows pulled together. He didn't like the fast pace of this and felt they should take their time.
Unable to reply, Draco stopped at another door, his whole body shaking now as he fought the desire to push the door open and descend into the basement of this place.
"Okay, Draco," Harry said seriously. "I really think we should slow down now. We don't know what's in here."
Hermione looked a bit nervous next to him and Ron was frowning from his other side.
Draco's hand rested on the door and he was still shaking. "Down there," he whispered.
Harry swallowed. "Is it locked?" he asked.
"Trap," Draco whispered. Fighting the urge to shove the door open was getting harder with every moment he stood there.
"Don't touch the door - anyone," said Harry quickly, reaching out and grabbing the hood of Draco's sweatshirt to pull him back.
Draco stood as if rooted to the spot, body still shaking. The sweatshirt pulled at his neck, but he didn't move.
"Draco, come here," Harry said firmly, eyes wide as his heart sped up even more. Flashes of what had happened to Dumbledore in the cave invaded his mind.
The compulsion hit, forcing Draco's body back toward Harry, his hand still outstretched as if trying to get through the door, but he was unable to reach it.
"Draco, look at me, listen to me," said Harry. "What do we do? What sort of trap is it? Can you tell?"
Draco shivered, looking at Harry. "Lure, to trap s-someone l-like me."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Harry, talking quickly. "Someone who can sense the magic?"
"Y-yes." Draco's teeth were chattering now, the cold having reached his shoulder.
"Will it hurt any of us if we go through?" asked Hermione, frowning and clutching Ron's arm.
"D-don't t-think s-s-so," Draco answered, the compulsion and the trap seeming to be at war inside him, his arms straining toward the door and his body standing close to Harry's. "B-but c-careful," he said.
Harry was torn between not wanting to leave Draco alone, and not wanting Ron and Hermione to go in before himself. He stood silent, thinking for what felt like a long time. Harry knew he had to go through the door. He found that he was actually sort of glad that Draco couldn't go through. "I'll go first. Draco, you stay out here," he said, taking a step towards the door.
Draco hissed as Harry stepped away, but nodded. "C-careful," he said again, unable to say more as the cold spread further, his throat and other shoulder feeling it now.
Harry faced the door determinedly. "Pull your wands," he said quietly to Ron and Hermione. "Don't touch anything through here. There's no telling what it could do."
Ron stood straighter and nodded, pulling his wand like Harry had said. Hermione did too, taking a big breath.
"All right, stick close to me, but if something happens, get out," said Harry.
"We're behind you, Harry, and we won't leave you," said Ron.
Harry sighed quietly but nodded, reaching a steady hand out to push the door open.
It opened very strangely without resistance and he looked through to see an old-looking staircase descending into empty darkness. He walked forward and gingerly placed one foot on the top step, tapping it a few times. "I think it's all right," he said, stepping onto it fully. It creaked loudly, but nothing else happened. "I'm going down." He looked over his shoulder at Draco. "Back in a minute, okay?"
Draco nodded, wanting so badly to say something more, but gritting his teeth to keep his teeth from chattering. The cold had reached his chest now and he was having trouble breathing.
Harry frowned slightly, but turned back to face the blackness before him. He took another few steps, each stair creaking as loudly as the first, if not louder. Ron followed behind him and Hermione behind him, and that's when Harry stopped, a little less than half-way down the stairs. He suddenly flung his hands out to the sides of him against the narrow walls of the staircase. "Wait," he said, eyes wide.
Hermione and Ron stilled.
At that moment, there was a flash, a violently purple light. It swept up from the bottom of the stairs, even whipping Harry's hair and clothes back. His heart was pounding as everything then went very still and quiet, the sounds of the three friends' breathing the only noise.
"What the hell was that?" asked Ron, sounding very, very nervous.
"Do not move," said Hermione, obviously trying to keep her voice even and calm, but her breathing was heavy. "It's a protective spell, used in Wizarding prisons or any place where people aren't supposed to escape. I've read about it."
Draco strained to hear them. His heart was beating fast and he felt helpless where he was.
"But we're trying to get in, not escape!" said Ron.
"It doesn't matter. It's activated when a person tries to take the staircase. It can't tell if they're going up or down."
"Then what do we do?" Harry asked, also trying to remain calm. He stood like a statue with his hands against the walls.
"If we move it's going to fall," Hermione answered. "It's going to collapse so that we can't get back up."
Harry's heart skipped a beat and he closed his eyes. "Any suggestions?" he said, already knowing that they were going to fall.
Ron and Hermione were quiet and Harry knew they had nothing.
Harry took a very large breath, preparing himself. "Voldemort designed this," he said, "so we are going to fall. We have to get down there anyway, so just - stay calm and be ready, okay?"
There was no answer for a moment.
"Okay, Harry," said Hermione.
"Behind you," was Ron's reply.
Harry nodded, his heart racing even faster now. "Okay, on the count of three I'll move and the stairs will fall. Are you both ready?" he said.
There was another pause and then, "Yeah," Ron and Hermione answered.
It was like Harry could almost feel their fear and he was very scared himself. Taking another big breath, he nodded one last time. "All right, one ... two ... three!" he said, and he dropped his hands from the walls and took a quick step.
As soon as the very tip of his foot hit the next stair, all of them seemed to tremble. There was a powerful whooshing noise that took Harry's breath, and then another flash of that purple light. Quite suddenly, the steps gave way, taking Harry, Ron and Hermione with them.
Harry shouted in alarm despite being ready for it as he fell, hitting the hard, stone floor of the church basement, surrounded on all sides by total darkness.
Draco struggled to move but ended up falling to his knees in the dust. The compulsion and the cold held him in place. He could no longer feel his arms and his torso was numb as well.
Chapter Title: Dead and Buried
Words: 2939 Words
Harry had enjoyed himself immensely over the last few days. He had almost forgotten who he was for a while, but he knew that the world didn't stop simply because he was getting married, and so it was soon back to the discussions of Voldemort and Horcruxes that left him stressed and tired.
Bill and Fleur had gone home the previous day, since the wedding plans had been decided on much quicker than expected and Harry, Draco, Ron and Hermione were able to hit the books without any distractions. They were in the main library now doing just that.
"Well, it's not so much finding out about Horcruxes now, right?" said Ron. "I mean, we need to start finding spells for when we actually find the next one. That cave story sounds difficult, and if they're all going to be like that ... well, you get the picture."
Harry nodded. "Knowing Voldemort, they will all be like that. Possibly worse."
"Worse," Draco said, not looking up from the book he was studying. "That was an earlier one, I believe," he explained. "I think he got progressively more deranged as his soul was split."
Harry winced, but had already thought that himself.
"Yes, that makes sense," said Hermione. "We should still be looking up things about the Hogwarts founders, too. We'll never find anything if we don't even know what we're looking for."
Harry huffed. "I honestly don't think books are going to help us find anything about where they are. I need to leave, to go out and find them. I'm never going to find them in a library."
"Well, you still need to train, Harry. Perhaps Professor Lupin could help you. He was the Defence teacher," said Hermione.
"We have a training room here," Draco said. "Do you think he would be willing to come?"
Harry made a bit of a face. "I wouldn't want to bother him," he said. "He's got his own assignments."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind," said Hermione. "He would understand why you need to learn, so we wouldn't need to explain anything. And he cares about you, Harry."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," said Harry. "I know he cares, but - I don't know, do you think he would be a help?"
"What about the way you organised that little group of yours in fifth year?" Draco smiled. "We could do something like that."
"You mean the group that you broke up?" Harry asked, shaking his head and then leaning over to kiss Draco's nose. "You mean with just us?"
"Yes." Draco smirked. "I don't like clubs I am not invited to join. And with us and anyone who wants to train with us."
"We could do something like that," said Harry. "And training with Order members would help a lot."
"Yes, especially with the Aurors of the group," said Hermione.
"Yes, and it would give Harry a chance to show them that he really does have what it takes outside just meetings, " Draco said.
Harry smiled. "I'm not all that great, but a little training would help."
"You do need a little polishing, but you are very good, Harry," said Hermione. "And you learn very quickly."
"Yeah, mate," said Ron. "You've always had an edge with Defence."
Harry snorted and shrugged.
Draco nodded. "Looked good to me," he said, smirking and raising an eyebrow.
Harry snorted again. "I'm sure," he said.
"All right, well, if we're going to do that, then we need to let everyone know and set up days for it. But it doesn't take care of the Horcruxes," said Hermione.
"Like I said," said Harry, "I really think I'm just going to have to leave to find them. Information from people outside will help me track them down. We've already decided we're going to the town that Voldemort grew up in, now it's just a matter of when."
"I have a question," Draco said, leaning back and considering the others for a minute.
They all looked at Draco.
"What is it?" asked Harry.
"I understand the need for secrecy, but why is it just the four of us," Draco paused, "Snape and Aberforth accepted."
"Well ..." Harry began slowly, "Dumbledore told me not to tell anyone else. Ever. Besides Ron and Hermione. I broke the rule with you, but only because I had to. And well, you're you."
"Did he tell you why?" Draco asked, frowning.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Could you imagine what would happen if it got out?" he asked. "It would ruin everything. As long as Voldemort doesn't think that anyone knows about his Horcruxes, I can win. And it's not even a matter of not trusting everyone else from the Order, because I do. It would just be taking a huge risk. I could see myself telling Lupin maybe, but the others - it's just too much to lose."
"It's a lot like the Secret Keeper role," Draco said. "If they were captured, they might tell. So we can't tell Lupin or Tonks because they are too vulnerable to that."
"That's exactly the point," said Harry with a sigh. "They would never tell on their own, but if captured there's no telling what would happen."
Draco nodded, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "So we keep on trying this without help. I think it is time to find that grave and see what is there. And, yes, set a date to start your army again."
Hermione nodded. "So, we can do that then. Are we wanting to start this all up soon? I mean, with the wedding coming up?"
"We have to do it sooner or later," said Harry with a sigh.
"I love Harry and want the ceremony," Draco said, giving his lover a smile, "but I want a future more than a ceremony, which means the war is more important."
"Yes, I agree," said Harry.
Hermione nodded again. "So how soon?"
"As soon as we can, I suppose," said Harry. "There's no use waiting. We need to get this ... army thing started, and then soon after that, we've got to go and look for another Horcrux."
"Have them come in a couple days. Hermione, will you send the messages?" Draco asked.
"Yes, of course," she said. "I was just going to suggest that."
Harry nodded again. "So we've got this fighting thing to set up, robes to buy, invitations to get made and sent, decorations up, rings to pick out, and a Dark Lord to destroy. No big deal." He sighed and shook his head.
***
Harry was wearing Muggle clothes, a jacket with its hood pulled up. Draco, Ron and Hermione looked much the same as he did. They were four teenagers checking out an old grave yard. It didn't look too odd, and there was no one around anyway up on the very top of this nearly bare hill. After much searching, Hermione had expertly located the grave of Tom Riddle's mother through records and old Muggle reports from the town the orphanage was located in. This graveyard wasn't far from where the orphanage had been.
They were there now, having just Apparated from the Manor. The graveyard was old and crumbling, located next to an equally old church, one that looked like it wasn't used anymore and hadn't been in a while. The grass was unkempt and grew up around some of the headstones. It was creepy being there. The air was cold and the sky grey, as if it knew what they were there for.
"This is the right one, isn't it?" asked Harry in hushed tones.
Hermione nodded. "Yes," she said just as quietly. "The headstone will only say Riddle. It was the only name she ever gave the people at the orphanage."
Draco looked around, the chill he felt less about the temperature than the atmosphere of the place. He buried his hands in his sweatshirt pockets and wished for his robes.
"All right, let's look for the grave. See if there's anything we can find," said Harry, moving forward and examining a headstone. Ron and Hermione went off in other directions, searching like Harry.
"You feel anything?" Harry asked Draco, moving pretty quickly along the rows.
"Cold," Draco said as he walked with him, but his attention kept returning to the church. He had that prickly feeling like when one is being watched.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, it is a bit cold for only September," he said, eyes sliding over names.
Draco found himself walking toward the old building, his hand reaching out. He didn't really want to touch the cold stone but his hand reached out and pressed against the damp surface.
Harry turned his head and looked at Draco, eyebrow raised.
"Harry!" Hermione called softly from near the back of the small graveyard.
He looked up at her as she beckoned for him. He turned his head towards Draco again. "I think she found it," he said.
Draco began to run his hand along the wall, the feeling getting stronger as he did. He didn't even hear them.
Harry watched Draco with a slight frown on his face. He held up one finger to tell Hermione to wait a moment, his eyes following Draco's movements.
Draco stopped one quarter of the way from the back of the church. He was frowning and staring at the brick. "Something inside," he whispered.
Harry took a few steps towards Draco. "Inside the church?" he asked, looking up at the old, creepy building.
"Yes," Draco said, his hand still pressed to the stone. He could feel the creeping cold even stronger here and it seemed like it had worked its way up his arm to his elbow.
Harry stared at the church for a few more moments and then beckoned Ron and Hermione with his hand.
They looked at each other and then made their way back over to Harry and Draco.
"What is it?" asked Hermione, frowning. "The grave's back there." She pointed.
"Draco said there's something inside the church," Harry said quietly.
Hermione looked at Draco, her eyes on his hand pressed flat to the stone.
Draco was frowning still, looking at his hand on the wall.
"How would he know?" asked Ron, frowning at Draco.
"He can sense magic," said Harry.
Hermione's eyes widened slightly. "I've read about being able to do that," she said almost automatically. "You can, Draco?"
Draco began to walk toward the back of the church, his hand skimming along the brick and not leaving the stone as he moved.
"He can," Harry answered for Draco, following a bit behind him.
"What's he doing?" asked Ron, following behind as well.
Harry gave a small shrug.
"Shh," Hermione hushed Ron.
Draco reached an old wooden door. He pushed with his hand but it was locked. He couldn't seem to take his hand away.
"How do we get in?" asked Harry, staring at the door as his heart began to beat a little quicker. "Can you open it, Draco?"
"Use your wand," Draco whispered. "Alohomora."
Harry wondered if such a simple spell could work, but Voldemort did possess a very strange mind. He pulled his wand and pointed it at the key hole. "Alohomora," he muttered. He watched as there was a tiny click and the door creaked open a crack.
Draco pushed the door, walking into the gloom in the back of the church. The place smelled of dust and rot. He felt his way along, unable to see in the interior.
Harry's eyes widened as Draco simply walked into a place that could be loaded with traps. He followed behind him quickly, lighting his wand tip.
"Does he know what he's doing?" asked Ron in a slightly frightened whisper from behind Harry. "What are we doing in here anyway? What does he feel in here?"
"I don't know," Harry whispered back, eyes focused on Draco in front of him.
Draco was drawn forward, pulled by something cold. Part of his mind knew it was reckless, but that portion of him was no longer in control.
"Draco, maybe we should slow down," Harry said quietly, eyebrows pulled together. He didn't like the fast pace of this and felt they should take their time.
Unable to reply, Draco stopped at another door, his whole body shaking now as he fought the desire to push the door open and descend into the basement of this place.
"Okay, Draco," Harry said seriously. "I really think we should slow down now. We don't know what's in here."
Hermione looked a bit nervous next to him and Ron was frowning from his other side.
Draco's hand rested on the door and he was still shaking. "Down there," he whispered.
Harry swallowed. "Is it locked?" he asked.
"Trap," Draco whispered. Fighting the urge to shove the door open was getting harder with every moment he stood there.
"Don't touch the door - anyone," said Harry quickly, reaching out and grabbing the hood of Draco's sweatshirt to pull him back.
Draco stood as if rooted to the spot, body still shaking. The sweatshirt pulled at his neck, but he didn't move.
"Draco, come here," Harry said firmly, eyes wide as his heart sped up even more. Flashes of what had happened to Dumbledore in the cave invaded his mind.
The compulsion hit, forcing Draco's body back toward Harry, his hand still outstretched as if trying to get through the door, but he was unable to reach it.
"Draco, look at me, listen to me," said Harry. "What do we do? What sort of trap is it? Can you tell?"
Draco shivered, looking at Harry. "Lure, to trap s-someone l-like me."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Harry, talking quickly. "Someone who can sense the magic?"
"Y-yes." Draco's teeth were chattering now, the cold having reached his shoulder.
"Will it hurt any of us if we go through?" asked Hermione, frowning and clutching Ron's arm.
"D-don't t-think s-s-so," Draco answered, the compulsion and the trap seeming to be at war inside him, his arms straining toward the door and his body standing close to Harry's. "B-but c-careful," he said.
Harry was torn between not wanting to leave Draco alone, and not wanting Ron and Hermione to go in before himself. He stood silent, thinking for what felt like a long time. Harry knew he had to go through the door. He found that he was actually sort of glad that Draco couldn't go through. "I'll go first. Draco, you stay out here," he said, taking a step towards the door.
Draco hissed as Harry stepped away, but nodded. "C-careful," he said again, unable to say more as the cold spread further, his throat and other shoulder feeling it now.
Harry faced the door determinedly. "Pull your wands," he said quietly to Ron and Hermione. "Don't touch anything through here. There's no telling what it could do."
Ron stood straighter and nodded, pulling his wand like Harry had said. Hermione did too, taking a big breath.
"All right, stick close to me, but if something happens, get out," said Harry.
"We're behind you, Harry, and we won't leave you," said Ron.
Harry sighed quietly but nodded, reaching a steady hand out to push the door open.
It opened very strangely without resistance and he looked through to see an old-looking staircase descending into empty darkness. He walked forward and gingerly placed one foot on the top step, tapping it a few times. "I think it's all right," he said, stepping onto it fully. It creaked loudly, but nothing else happened. "I'm going down." He looked over his shoulder at Draco. "Back in a minute, okay?"
Draco nodded, wanting so badly to say something more, but gritting his teeth to keep his teeth from chattering. The cold had reached his chest now and he was having trouble breathing.
Harry frowned slightly, but turned back to face the blackness before him. He took another few steps, each stair creaking as loudly as the first, if not louder. Ron followed behind him and Hermione behind him, and that's when Harry stopped, a little less than half-way down the stairs. He suddenly flung his hands out to the sides of him against the narrow walls of the staircase. "Wait," he said, eyes wide.
Hermione and Ron stilled.
At that moment, there was a flash, a violently purple light. It swept up from the bottom of the stairs, even whipping Harry's hair and clothes back. His heart was pounding as everything then went very still and quiet, the sounds of the three friends' breathing the only noise.
"What the hell was that?" asked Ron, sounding very, very nervous.
"Do not move," said Hermione, obviously trying to keep her voice even and calm, but her breathing was heavy. "It's a protective spell, used in Wizarding prisons or any place where people aren't supposed to escape. I've read about it."
Draco strained to hear them. His heart was beating fast and he felt helpless where he was.
"But we're trying to get in, not escape!" said Ron.
"It doesn't matter. It's activated when a person tries to take the staircase. It can't tell if they're going up or down."
"Then what do we do?" Harry asked, also trying to remain calm. He stood like a statue with his hands against the walls.
"If we move it's going to fall," Hermione answered. "It's going to collapse so that we can't get back up."
Harry's heart skipped a beat and he closed his eyes. "Any suggestions?" he said, already knowing that they were going to fall.
Ron and Hermione were quiet and Harry knew they had nothing.
Harry took a very large breath, preparing himself. "Voldemort designed this," he said, "so we are going to fall. We have to get down there anyway, so just - stay calm and be ready, okay?"
There was no answer for a moment.
"Okay, Harry," said Hermione.
"Behind you," was Ron's reply.
Harry nodded, his heart racing even faster now. "Okay, on the count of three I'll move and the stairs will fall. Are you both ready?" he said.
There was another pause and then, "Yeah," Ron and Hermione answered.
It was like Harry could almost feel their fear and he was very scared himself. Taking another big breath, he nodded one last time. "All right, one ... two ... three!" he said, and he dropped his hands from the walls and took a quick step.
As soon as the very tip of his foot hit the next stair, all of them seemed to tremble. There was a powerful whooshing noise that took Harry's breath, and then another flash of that purple light. Quite suddenly, the steps gave way, taking Harry, Ron and Hermione with them.
Harry shouted in alarm despite being ready for it as he fell, hitting the hard, stone floor of the church basement, surrounded on all sides by total darkness.
Draco struggled to move but ended up falling to his knees in the dust. The compulsion and the cold held him in place. He could no longer feel his arms and his torso was numb as well.