Chapter 27 - Escape from the Castle
Draco’s duty for the evening consisted of the Entrance Hall and Grand Staircase. He walked the same routine, back and forth, for what seemed like days until the hands on the clock approached midnight. As he passed the fifth floor, he glanced into the east corridor to see Hermione standing near the bit of swamp left from the Weasley Twins’ prank on Professor Umbridge. She gave him a short nod. There were but a few minutes left and they would all be meeting in the Trophy Room. Blaise would be leaving the male Prefects’ bathroom momentarily and Hermione would lead him down to the third floor. Draco descended the stairs to the first level for one last pass through the Entrance Hall and caught glimpse of Pansy entering from the dungeons. Her post was complete and she was ready to join them.
He didn’t look at her when she passed him near the bottom step of the staircase. Draco stayed his course all the way to the front doors. His thoughts were on Ginny and of finding her unharmed. He had no idea what to expect from the journey he was about to make.
The clock began its twelve chimes as Draco headed back up the steps to the third floor. He saw the back of Ron’s robes entering the third floor corridor a half-flight above his head. A quick glance behind him confirmed that the stairs were vacant and now was his chance to move swiftly to the Trophy Room.
Draco was the last to arrive. The others stood near the window in a small huddle, Hermione’s trunk open before them. He crossed the room to join their circle and said, “Well, this is it then.” Draco couldn’t lie – he was nervous and scared. All of their questions were about to be answered if and when they were able to get to Hogsmeade and Apparate to the Manor.
Everyone nodded their heads, faces filled with apprehension, yet also determination. Ron was the first to speak up. “Who’s first? Blaise?”
Blaise didn’t hesitate before he stepped right into Hermione’s trunk and disappeared within it. Draco glanced at her and gave her a tiny smile. Without Hermione they wouldn’t be able to do this and he was finally able to admit this to himself.
“Pansy?” Ron motioned for her to step into the trunk and she disappeared right behind Blaise. Hermione followed and then Ron. Draco and Harry were left standing next to the trunk.
Harry motioned for Draco to climb in, but Draco hesitated. Harry gave a sigh. “Look – it’s not like we’re ever going to be friends…but I think for the next 24 hours we need to trust each other. We’re going after the same thing, you know?”
Draco glared at him. “Yeah. But I don’t have to like it, do I?” It really wasn’t a question. Draco was stating a plain fact and wanted Potter to be quite aware of it.
“Just wanted us on the same page.” Harry glared right back at him. “Ginny’s the sister I never had.”
“And she’s the wife I never had.” Draco startled himself with those words, and from Harry’s expression it looked as though Draco had startled him even more. All this time he knew he couldn’t be without Ginny; wanted to take her away with him and be free of everything but her. Sure – he’d had that thought in the shower about him and Ginny as husband and wife as they were older…having a child together. But that was a dream to him; something that he didn’t really think possible because of their family situation. However, his heart was telling him what he truly believed. He was able to admit this to his nemesis without a second thought. And, oddly, he felt good about that.
Harry gave Draco a slow smile. “Well, okay then. Let’s go and get her.”
Draco stepped into the trunk and blackness surrounded him. He couldn’t see a thing. “Ouch!” Someone had stepped on his foot.
“Oops – sorry.” Hermione’s voice rang out apologetically.
“I thought you said this trunk could hold the whole of seventh year students, Granger. Can’t we spread out a bit?”
“I didn’t say that it could hold that much. Ronald did. Just be grateful we aren’t piled on top of one another, Malfoy.” Draco could barely see her standing before him, his eyes having not adjusted to the lack of light, but he could imagine the bossier-than-thou expression painted across her face.
Draco heard Harry speaking to them outside the trunk. “Everybody snug?” Several scowls were heard throughout the group as he closed the trunk lid, shutting out what little light they had. He heard a muffled “Wingardium Leviosa” and a feeling as though he was being lifted from the ground. The trunk, now air born, began to glide softly along and they were on their way.
“We’re about to leave the Trophy Room,” said Harry, still quite muffled. “Everyone keep your mouths shut so that we make no noise at all. I’ll let you know when we’re in the passageway to Honeydukes.”
Draco nodded his head before he realized how ridiculous he looked, considering no one could see him. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander as the trunk glided out of the Trophy Room and silently along to the statue. Moments later he felt the trunk slow to a halt. Harry spoke a few words and Draco could hear movement. The trunk began to move again until, finally, it came to rest and the sound of Harry fiddling with the latch could be heard.
The trunk sprung open and the lot of them rolled out onto the dirt floor of the passageway; staring at each other from the light of Harry’s wand. He was beaming at them all. “Well, the hard part’s done.” he said.
Draco was impressed, though disinclined to show his enthusiasm. He gave a short nod toward Harry and replied, “Let’s be off, then. The sooner we get to Honeydukes, the sooner we can get to the Manor.”
Harry spun around without a word and led them down the passageway. Draco exchanged a quick glance with Pansy and Blaise before the three Slytherins picked up the rear. No one said a word from the moment they left the entrance of the passageway until they reached a dead end, each staring above them to look at the underside of a trap door.
“Well,” said Harry, poking his wand at the trap door. “This is it. Who wants to go first?”
Draco shoved his way to the front of the group. “I’ll go. After all – this is all on my head.” It was his not-so-subtle way of telling Harry that his leadership skills weren’t appreciated.
Draco slowly lifted the door - brushing the dust that fell from the musky wood boards from his eyes - and peeked out into the cellar of the sweet shop. It was dark, but his eyes adjusted to darkness and he could tell it was safe to continue. Lifting the door the rest of the way, he stepped up into the cellar and turned to give a hand to Pansy, then Blaise – leaving the Trio to help themselves through the door. It was only once the group stood at the bottom of the cellar stairs that Draco turned to them and told them his plan.
“Once we’re out into the street we’ll Apparate to the Manor.” He pulled a small, black and white picture of Malfoy Manor out of his pocket and shoved it toward the Trio. “Just so we aren’t all scattered about - try to focus on the entryway. Blaise and Pansy have been there before, so they needn’t see it. Get the image fixed into your heads and we shouldn’t have any problems with the Apparition going wrong. When we get there, I’ll go in first and look for Mother before I come and bring the rest of you lot inside. Understood?”
They all nodded their heads in agreement and Draco began to climb the stairs, pulling his wand from the inner-pocket of his robes. “Alohomora!” He spoke the words just as he’d reached the cellar door and quietly pushed it open; careful to not make a sound. One by one, each of them stepped out onto the floor of the shop and made their way toward the entrance. Draco softly uttered the words to unlock the front door.
He glanced back at Harry. “Where’s your cloak?”
Harry looked at Draco with a surprised expression on his face. “Here,” he made a gesture toward his torso. “In my robes. Why?”
“Don’t we need it before we’re out on the street?” Draco was rather annoyed by Harry’s ridiculous question.
“That was the plan in the beginning, yeah. But do you honestly think six people are going to fit underneath it? We’ll have to sneak into the alley and Apparate from there. Seeing as it’s midnight, we shouldn’t be seen.”
Draco gave a soft sigh and held the door open for the others to file through…all but Ron, that is. He was rummaging around in the shop apparently looking for something.
“Weasley!” Draco hissed. “What in bloody hell are you doing?”
Ron shot Draco a look of disdain and continued to search around the shop until he held up what appeared to be Honeydukes’ best chocolate. Ron quickly stuffed the blocks into his robes and followed Draco outside and into the alley.
“A fine time to think of gorging yourself, Weasley. I know you can’t afford to buy it - and I don’t exactly care whether or not you steal it – but don’t you think you could’ve managed a more appropriate time to do so?”
Pansy put a hand on Draco’s arm to silence his insults toward Ron. “I don’t think he’s taking it for that reason, Draco.” She spoke very softly, but everyone in the group was able to hear her words.
Draco’s face flushed red when he realized what she meant. Pansy was right. How could he have been so careless as to forget the dementors that Voldemort would most certainly have on hand?
He looked at his feet. “I didn’t…I…” He just couldn’t finish his sentence.
Ron looked at him and gave a careless shrug. “Let’s just go, alright?”
Draco stepped up to the others and they formed into a circle, all closing their eyes in preparation of Apparating to the Manor. Draco took a breath as his feet lifted from the ground - within seconds he was standing at a familiar entrance, eyes fixed on the silver “M” door knocker proudly displaying his front door. He spun around to see the rest of the group, scattered a few paces from him along the cobblestone drive that hugged the perimeter of the lawn.
After counting heads, he opened his front door and walked into the foyer, quite unsure as to what he should expect.
Draco’s duty for the evening consisted of the Entrance Hall and Grand Staircase. He walked the same routine, back and forth, for what seemed like days until the hands on the clock approached midnight. As he passed the fifth floor, he glanced into the east corridor to see Hermione standing near the bit of swamp left from the Weasley Twins’ prank on Professor Umbridge. She gave him a short nod. There were but a few minutes left and they would all be meeting in the Trophy Room. Blaise would be leaving the male Prefects’ bathroom momentarily and Hermione would lead him down to the third floor. Draco descended the stairs to the first level for one last pass through the Entrance Hall and caught glimpse of Pansy entering from the dungeons. Her post was complete and she was ready to join them.
He didn’t look at her when she passed him near the bottom step of the staircase. Draco stayed his course all the way to the front doors. His thoughts were on Ginny and of finding her unharmed. He had no idea what to expect from the journey he was about to make.
The clock began its twelve chimes as Draco headed back up the steps to the third floor. He saw the back of Ron’s robes entering the third floor corridor a half-flight above his head. A quick glance behind him confirmed that the stairs were vacant and now was his chance to move swiftly to the Trophy Room.
Draco was the last to arrive. The others stood near the window in a small huddle, Hermione’s trunk open before them. He crossed the room to join their circle and said, “Well, this is it then.” Draco couldn’t lie – he was nervous and scared. All of their questions were about to be answered if and when they were able to get to Hogsmeade and Apparate to the Manor.
Everyone nodded their heads, faces filled with apprehension, yet also determination. Ron was the first to speak up. “Who’s first? Blaise?”
Blaise didn’t hesitate before he stepped right into Hermione’s trunk and disappeared within it. Draco glanced at her and gave her a tiny smile. Without Hermione they wouldn’t be able to do this and he was finally able to admit this to himself.
“Pansy?” Ron motioned for her to step into the trunk and she disappeared right behind Blaise. Hermione followed and then Ron. Draco and Harry were left standing next to the trunk.
Harry motioned for Draco to climb in, but Draco hesitated. Harry gave a sigh. “Look – it’s not like we’re ever going to be friends…but I think for the next 24 hours we need to trust each other. We’re going after the same thing, you know?”
Draco glared at him. “Yeah. But I don’t have to like it, do I?” It really wasn’t a question. Draco was stating a plain fact and wanted Potter to be quite aware of it.
“Just wanted us on the same page.” Harry glared right back at him. “Ginny’s the sister I never had.”
“And she’s the wife I never had.” Draco startled himself with those words, and from Harry’s expression it looked as though Draco had startled him even more. All this time he knew he couldn’t be without Ginny; wanted to take her away with him and be free of everything but her. Sure – he’d had that thought in the shower about him and Ginny as husband and wife as they were older…having a child together. But that was a dream to him; something that he didn’t really think possible because of their family situation. However, his heart was telling him what he truly believed. He was able to admit this to his nemesis without a second thought. And, oddly, he felt good about that.
Harry gave Draco a slow smile. “Well, okay then. Let’s go and get her.”
Draco stepped into the trunk and blackness surrounded him. He couldn’t see a thing. “Ouch!” Someone had stepped on his foot.
“Oops – sorry.” Hermione’s voice rang out apologetically.
“I thought you said this trunk could hold the whole of seventh year students, Granger. Can’t we spread out a bit?”
“I didn’t say that it could hold that much. Ronald did. Just be grateful we aren’t piled on top of one another, Malfoy.” Draco could barely see her standing before him, his eyes having not adjusted to the lack of light, but he could imagine the bossier-than-thou expression painted across her face.
Draco heard Harry speaking to them outside the trunk. “Everybody snug?” Several scowls were heard throughout the group as he closed the trunk lid, shutting out what little light they had. He heard a muffled “Wingardium Leviosa” and a feeling as though he was being lifted from the ground. The trunk, now air born, began to glide softly along and they were on their way.
“We’re about to leave the Trophy Room,” said Harry, still quite muffled. “Everyone keep your mouths shut so that we make no noise at all. I’ll let you know when we’re in the passageway to Honeydukes.”
Draco nodded his head before he realized how ridiculous he looked, considering no one could see him. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander as the trunk glided out of the Trophy Room and silently along to the statue. Moments later he felt the trunk slow to a halt. Harry spoke a few words and Draco could hear movement. The trunk began to move again until, finally, it came to rest and the sound of Harry fiddling with the latch could be heard.
The trunk sprung open and the lot of them rolled out onto the dirt floor of the passageway; staring at each other from the light of Harry’s wand. He was beaming at them all. “Well, the hard part’s done.” he said.
Draco was impressed, though disinclined to show his enthusiasm. He gave a short nod toward Harry and replied, “Let’s be off, then. The sooner we get to Honeydukes, the sooner we can get to the Manor.”
Harry spun around without a word and led them down the passageway. Draco exchanged a quick glance with Pansy and Blaise before the three Slytherins picked up the rear. No one said a word from the moment they left the entrance of the passageway until they reached a dead end, each staring above them to look at the underside of a trap door.
“Well,” said Harry, poking his wand at the trap door. “This is it. Who wants to go first?”
Draco shoved his way to the front of the group. “I’ll go. After all – this is all on my head.” It was his not-so-subtle way of telling Harry that his leadership skills weren’t appreciated.
Draco slowly lifted the door - brushing the dust that fell from the musky wood boards from his eyes - and peeked out into the cellar of the sweet shop. It was dark, but his eyes adjusted to darkness and he could tell it was safe to continue. Lifting the door the rest of the way, he stepped up into the cellar and turned to give a hand to Pansy, then Blaise – leaving the Trio to help themselves through the door. It was only once the group stood at the bottom of the cellar stairs that Draco turned to them and told them his plan.
“Once we’re out into the street we’ll Apparate to the Manor.” He pulled a small, black and white picture of Malfoy Manor out of his pocket and shoved it toward the Trio. “Just so we aren’t all scattered about - try to focus on the entryway. Blaise and Pansy have been there before, so they needn’t see it. Get the image fixed into your heads and we shouldn’t have any problems with the Apparition going wrong. When we get there, I’ll go in first and look for Mother before I come and bring the rest of you lot inside. Understood?”
They all nodded their heads in agreement and Draco began to climb the stairs, pulling his wand from the inner-pocket of his robes. “Alohomora!” He spoke the words just as he’d reached the cellar door and quietly pushed it open; careful to not make a sound. One by one, each of them stepped out onto the floor of the shop and made their way toward the entrance. Draco softly uttered the words to unlock the front door.
He glanced back at Harry. “Where’s your cloak?”
Harry looked at Draco with a surprised expression on his face. “Here,” he made a gesture toward his torso. “In my robes. Why?”
“Don’t we need it before we’re out on the street?” Draco was rather annoyed by Harry’s ridiculous question.
“That was the plan in the beginning, yeah. But do you honestly think six people are going to fit underneath it? We’ll have to sneak into the alley and Apparate from there. Seeing as it’s midnight, we shouldn’t be seen.”
Draco gave a soft sigh and held the door open for the others to file through…all but Ron, that is. He was rummaging around in the shop apparently looking for something.
“Weasley!” Draco hissed. “What in bloody hell are you doing?”
Ron shot Draco a look of disdain and continued to search around the shop until he held up what appeared to be Honeydukes’ best chocolate. Ron quickly stuffed the blocks into his robes and followed Draco outside and into the alley.
“A fine time to think of gorging yourself, Weasley. I know you can’t afford to buy it - and I don’t exactly care whether or not you steal it – but don’t you think you could’ve managed a more appropriate time to do so?”
Pansy put a hand on Draco’s arm to silence his insults toward Ron. “I don’t think he’s taking it for that reason, Draco.” She spoke very softly, but everyone in the group was able to hear her words.
Draco’s face flushed red when he realized what she meant. Pansy was right. How could he have been so careless as to forget the dementors that Voldemort would most certainly have on hand?
He looked at his feet. “I didn’t…I…” He just couldn’t finish his sentence.
Ron looked at him and gave a careless shrug. “Let’s just go, alright?”
Draco stepped up to the others and they formed into a circle, all closing their eyes in preparation of Apparating to the Manor. Draco took a breath as his feet lifted from the ground - within seconds he was standing at a familiar entrance, eyes fixed on the silver “M” door knocker proudly displaying his front door. He spun around to see the rest of the group, scattered a few paces from him along the cobblestone drive that hugged the perimeter of the lawn.
After counting heads, he opened his front door and walked into the foyer, quite unsure as to what he should expect.
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