Title: War Within a Breath
Author: Muddgutts
Rating: R
Ships: H/Hr
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Chapter 11
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The first thought that entered Kingsley's mind when he apparated to the temporary command center if front of the Leaky Cauldron was Chaos. The narrowing alley was packed with people trying to leave Diagon Alley, but a pair of large Aurors blocked their exit. Everyone was being held for questioning. As Kingsley pushed his way through the sea of witches and wizards, people started to notice the Death Eaters' mask around Dolohov's neck. The word spread fast within the crowd, but it was only after a single women stopped in front of Kingsley and Dolohov that it got ugly.
The middle-aged witch's face was stained with tears as she wrung the purses in her hands speaking directly to Dolohov. "You! You're the cause of all this, aren't you! Where are my babies?!" Bashing Dolohov's helpless body with her purse she yelled at him, "What have you monsters done with my children?!"
The crowd rounded on Dolohov screaming and yelling for justice. Whether he did anything at all didn't matter at this moment. He was a Death Eater and they had found their scapegoat, and he was going to pay. Soon anyone and everyone within arm's reach started grabbing and punching Dolohov. With his hands tied behind his back and Kingsley using him like a snowplow there was nowhere to run. There was nothing Dolohov could do but hang his head to his chest and take the blows. Kingsley half-heartedly tried to tell the angry mob to stop, but they weren't listening so he gave up and plowed forward to the command center.
When he was close enough to the entrance Kingsley signaled the guards blocking the exit for help with the crowd. The larger of the two men pulled his wand from his belt and started shooting sparks into the air as he pushed through the crowd towards Kingsley and Dolohov. Sparks had little effect on the crowd, but when the Auror started lifting people off their feet one-handed and moving them out of the way people started to clear a path.
The Auror pushed his way to Kingsley and grabbed Dolohov by the shoulders and flashed Kingsley a wide grin. "At least you didn't come back empty handed."
"What?" Kingsley yelled to the guard over the angry crowd. The guard either didn't hear Kingsley or choose to ignore him as he pulled Dolohov through the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. Holding Dolohov tightly by the upper arms, the guards hauled him into the main room and pushed him down into a rickety wooden chair in the corner of the room. When Kingsley entered the tavern he saw Atticus Vagnose, the shift commander, hovering near a table in the center of the room, staring at a map of Diagon Alley.
Kingsley pushed his way to the table through the throngs of Aurors and stood at attention waiting for Atticus to set him at ease. Although he saw Kingsley standing there, Atticus was too wrapped in talking with the Ministry command center over his relay crystal to address the other Auror. "Say again, dispatch, you're breaking up! Say again!"
The crystal in Atticus's hand vibrated as the female dispatch officer's voice spoke back to him much louder this time. "The Ministry is being flooded with reports of attacks all over England! Death Eaters have been spotted in Hogsmeade, and near the Stonehenge campus!"
Running his fingers through his hair in frustration Atticus replied, "Understood, dispatch. Notify all reservists through the Floo network to report for active duty immediately. Was there anything else?"
"No, but the reports keep coming in. We're having a hard time keeping up here," the woman's voice added, almost as an afterthought.
"Just get those reservists ready to hit the streets, and try and find Fudge. We need his authorization to use the killing curse on the giant before this gets out of hand."
"Understood, dispatch out."
Atticus turned and stared at Kingsley standing at attention before him. Saluting him quickly, Atticus asked, "Shacklebolt, I see you've found someone. Who is he?"
Taking a more leisurely stance now, Kingsley removed Dolohov's wand from his cloak and handed it over to Atticus. "This is Antonin Dolohov, low level Death Eater. Tonks and I found him and Lucius Malfoy inside of Borgin & Burkes second hand shop in Knockturn Alley. Lucius apparated away and Tonks is in pursuit. I captured Dolohov just as he was about to leave. He appeared to be the one controlling the giant, sir."
Examining the wand in his hand Atticus ran his fingers over the surface. The edges were rough and unfinished, leaving the wand with a rushed unprofessional look. He tapped the wand in his palm as he walked over to the bruised and battered Death Eater tied to the chair and eyed him closely.
"Well, Mister Dolohov," Atticus paused as he pulled a chair in front of the prisoner and took a seat. "Are we going to do this the easy way, or are we going to do this the real easy way?"
Dolohov raised his eyes just high enough to look Atticus in the eyes. "Piss off, PIG!" Sucking in the pooling blood from his mouth Dolohov spat on the floor and turned away.
Chuckling under his breath Atticus got to his feet, drew a small vial of clear liquid from his belt pouch, and motioned to the guards at his sides, "Hold his mouth open." The guards at Dolohov sides yanked his head back by the hair and pinched his nose. When Dolohov couldn't hold his breath anymore he opened his mouth, gasping for air. The guard to his left grabbed hold of his jaw and held it open as Dolohov tried to struggle free of their grip. Atticus slowly walked forward, unscrewing the cap of the clear liquid, and poured it down Dolohov's throat. The guard holding Dolohov's jaw snapped it shut and covering his mouth with his hand.
Retaking his seat in front of Dolohov Atticus waited a few minutes for the Veritaserum to take effect. Kingsley shifted in place for a moment hoping that his hunch was right and Dolohov had been the one controlling the giant. Dolohov's body visibly relaxed and his head sagged to his chest for a moment as his breathing became steady again. Looking pleased Atticus edged closer in his chair then spoke in a clear commanding voice.
"Now Mister Dolohov, you're going to tell me everything you know about Northern Hill Giants."
~*~
As he ran, Harry slowed to a walk, moving to the edge of the street. Bellatrix cast one, two, three stunners in a row at Ron, who sprinted onto the lawn of Number 12 Grimmauld Place looking for cover. A cool sensation ran up and down Harry's spine and he realized he wasn't scared. No matter what was to happen in the future Harry embraced the fact that to win this war, to defeat these people who are his enemies, he would have to fight. He would have to kill them before they killed him and the people he loved. The words of the prophecy echoed in his head, but it wasn't Dumbledore's voice that spoke them. It was Hermione's, and he remembered his promise to her. "Let's make this quick. She needs me by her side right now . . . This one's for you, Sirius."
Harry swirled his wand rapidly, sending a Leg-Locker jinx skimming across the surface of the street at Bellatrix, who was focusing her attention on hitting Ron at the time. The jinx hit Bellatrix from behind right in the knees. She swayed for a second trying to regain her balance, then fell forward on her face. Rolling onto her back she looked behind her and saw Harry marching across the street towards her with a face like carved granite. There was no emotion in his eyes and his mouth was locked in a tight grimace. Her breath shuddered as she broke the Leg-Lock jinx and jumped to her feet.
"That's the spirit boy," she said, as she rolled her head around on her shoulders cracking her neck joints. "Come on, Potter, let's see what you got."
Ron stepped out from behind a tree in the center of the lawn. Without breaking eye contact with Bellatrix, Harry called out to him, "You all right there, Ron?"
Taking a few steps toward the street again Ron stopped and leveled his wand on Bellatrix. Digging his heels into the soft surface of the lawn he prepared to cast his spell. "Fine…let's show this old hag how the DA duels."
Turning so that Ron was on her left and Harry on her right, Bellatrix hung her head low and muttered a charm under her breath. Harry sidestepped quickly to the right and winged a Jelly-Legs jinx at Bellatrix. Ron's feet dug in deeply to the ground as he sent the most powerful stunner he could summon at her. Without moving from her spot Bellatrix swiftly parried both spells with a shimmering protection charm glowing around her right hand. The way she sent spells flying away from her into the night sky made it look like she was playing tennis. Snarling, Ron sent a wave of stinging hexes toward Bellatrix, who made no attempt even to dodge the incoming spells. Just as the spells reached her she Disapparated then reappeared right behind Ron.
Harry called out to his friend, "Ron, move! Now!"
Hearing the loud crack of Bellatrix breaking into the ozone behind him, Ron spun around quickly to face her. She flashed him a wicked smile before pointing her wand right at his chest. "Expelliarmus!"
A blast of yellow and red light from Bellatrix's wand covered Ron, sending him tumbling through the air. His body flipped and turned until it smashed into the tree in the center of the lawn face first. Ron slid slowly down the front of the tree until he hit the ground.
Laughing at her handiwork, Bellatrix didn't see the shimmering wave of purple light from Harry's Hiccup Jinx hit her from the side, knocking her off her feet. Lifting her bruised body off the ground Bellatrix started to hiccup uncontrollably, disrupting her ability to concentrate long enough to Apparate.
Turning, she saw Harry charging towards her and cringed at the look on his face. She'd seen the fire burning in his eyes only once before - in Voldemort's eyes right before he was about to punish or kill someone. Her blood ran cold and she scrambled to get to her feet, but she wasn't fast enough. Harry leaped toward her from the edge of the sidewalk over Ron's unconscious body.
As he descended towards her, Bellatrix swung her wand around and screamed, "Expelliarmus!" Harry's wand ripped from his fingers and sailed across the lawn, but the spell didn't stop his advance. He grinned like a wild man as he landed with a bone-crunching thud on top of her chest. Bellatrix coughed up a wave of blood as she tried to push Harry away from her.
Eyes narrowed, Harry mumbled through clenched teeth, his fingers finding the pasty flesh of her throat. "I told-you! . . . would happen! . . . Hate you so . . . much, MURDER!" His eyes blazed wickedly as he whispered to her, "Now . . . you DIE!"
Then Harry's fingers locked around her throat as he began to squeeze with every ounce of strength he had.
Though she tried to twist and push Harry away as best she could, Bellatrix couldn't break his grip, and her eyes started to flutter closed as her head began to feel light. With very shaky hands Bellatrix raised her wand and, jamming it into Harry's side, croaked through strangled breaths, "Cr. . .io . . .Crucio!"
~*~
Kingsley was having trouble keeping his mouth closed as Dolohov told the Aurors all about how he controlled the giant. He'd never heard of such a thing being done before. The use of the Namba beetle was illegal in Great Britain, and for good reason too. During the Second World War a group of dark wizards working for the Nazis tested these beetles on their own troops fighting in Russia. The results of those tests were less than satisfactory as a potential option for winning the war.
Dolohov's eyes glazed over and his voice was low and showed no emotion. Atticus was becoming upset and started pacing back and forth in front of Dolohov, rubbing his temples in thought trying to think of a way to solve this crisis. After Dolohov had recounted his whole story to his captors Atticus sat back down in his chair in front of him.
"So you've shoved these infernal beetles into this over-grown behemoth, and now you're saying you can no longer control it?"
"No, the beetles have multiplied now and have grown too strong. I was barely able to give them their final orders before I lost control."
"Final orders?" Standing up suddenly Atticus knocked his chair over to the floor. "What orders? What did you tell him to do?"
The crystal around Atticus's neck started humming loudly. Raising it to his mouth Atticus walked briskly to the table where the map of Diagon Alley. "Talk to me. Where's the giant now?"
Above the loud sounds of the wind whipping by, a female voice yelled back at Atticus, "The giant has just reached Gringotts Bank, sir, and is attempting to break through the protection wards around the building."
As Atticus tapped his wand to the Gringotts' spot on the map, a small scene resembling a miniature version of the bank grew outward from the parchment. Next to it was a giant kicking and punching the shields protecting the bank.
The low monotone voice of the drugged Dolohov brought Atticus's attention back to the prisoner tied to the chair.
"Lucius wanted to punish the Ministry for seizing his funds after it was known he was a Death Eater," Dolohov said. "I told the giant to destroy Gringotts Bank."
"Oh, you son of a . . ."
Atticus quickly looked over the map and started barking out orders to the Aurors within the room and over his com-crystal. "Kingsley, take everyone you can find and get them down there NOW! Hammer that big bastard with everything you got."
Kingsley snapped to attention. "Yes, Sir!" With that he and every other Auror in the room rushed out into Diagon Alley.
Atticus stormed behind Kingsley still yelling into his crystal, "Flight groups Alpha and Bravo, get ready to make your attack run. I'm authorizing you to use the killing curse. Make sure to watch your background."
The same female voice replied back to Atticus, "But sir, we need authorization from the Wizengamot before using an Unforgivable." At this Atticus stopped in his tracks and look around quickly before he replied to her.
"Now you listen to me, sergeant," Atticus said, pointing into the air towards the Auror flying in the clouds above him. "We don't have time for Fudge and his bureaucratic red tape. We need to stop this thing now before the giant gets through the wards protecting the bank."
"But Sir, I still need proper clearance or it's my arse in the wringer."
"Don't you understand?! If he levels Gringotts the system will break down. Wizarding Britain's economy would be in ruins for months as we dig out the vaults below. We don't have a choice!"
Kingsley and two other Aurors stopped and waited beside Atticus.
"I'm sorry sir, but without proper authorization from the Minister of Magic or a member of the Wizengamot I cannot perform the order."
Outside the backdoor of the Leaky Cauldron, Atticus kicked over a barrel and yelled, "Goddamnit!" Straitening his robes a bit he calmed himself and started walking out into Diagon Alley with Kingsley in tow.
"Dispatch?"
"M.O.M. dispatch here, go ahead."
"Has there been any word from Fudge yet?"
"Negative, sir, his assistant said he took a sleeping draft tonight and isn't to be disturbed."
This stopped Atticus in his tracks again and he looked at the other Aurors around him in disbelief. "You're having me on." They all looked back and worth between each other with the same look of disgust on there faces. "Do you believe this wanker?"
"Pardon, sir? I didn't catch your last?"
Atticus rubbed his neck as he started walking faster towards Gringotts Bank. "Never mind that dispatch. I want you to find Dumbledore and ask him to come here as soon as possible."
The dispatch officer didn't respond right away.
"Dispatch, is there a problem?"
"No, sir, but we have been told by Minister Fudge not to . . ."
Atticus spoke over the dispatcher's voice, cutting hers off. He was furious and started screaming into the crystal around his neck. "I DON'T CARE WHAT FUDGE SAYS! We're in a state of emergency down here, AND WHAT I SAY GOES! Is that clear?"
A small whimper was heard before she responded clearly, "Yes . . . yes sir."
Sucking in a deep breath Atticus looked around at the people staring at him and started moving again. He cupped the crystal in his hand and spoke more softly. "I'm sorry about that, Nancy, but you don't know what it's like down here. We . . . I need you to find Dumbledore and please ask him to get here as quick as possible. Can you do that for me, please?"
"Yes, Lieutenant Vagnose, right away."
"Nancy - call me Atticus."
"Sure . . . Atticus."
~*~
"Do you think he's still out there?"
Neville placed the bloody sword down on the cool white tiles of the bathroom floor and took a seat next to Ginny on the edge of the tub. "I'm not sure. I thought I heard something moving in there before, but that was awhile ago."
Leaning forward Ginny rested her elbows on her knees. A long sigh passed her lips as she stared at the floor. "Do you think he really would have killed us?"
Neville opened his mouth to reassure her that Professor Lupin would never harm any of them willingly, but he stopped and didn't speak. Maybe Lupin would; there was no way to know what he was thinking when he was transformed by the power of the werewolf's curse. When Neville didn't respond to her question Ginny turned to face him, but she couldn't find the words to describe the mixed emotions passing through her.
A deep frown crossed Neville's face when he saw the confusion in her eyes. He slowly started rubbing his hand up and down her back as he tried to calm her with the most confident voice he could muster, "Don't worry about it, Gin. I'm sure he's not coming back. Besides I think if he was still after us he would have tried to get in here by now. Right?"
Ginny nodded as she pulled her shoulder-length red hair back behind her head, and tied it back with a elastic band from around her wrist. When her hair was tightly secured she turned and without warning placed a light kiss on Neville's cheek. "Thank you, Neville. You were very brave in there."
A deep red blush spread across Neville's nose into his cheeks. He stammered for a moment before mustering the courage to reach out and cover her hand with his. "Um, ah thanks." Ginny smiled and a small blush colored her cheek as well. She shifted her feet across the floor nervously as she pulled her eyes away from his.
The sound of heavy breathing from behind them caught their attention. After they had broken through the wall Luna had passed out from shock. The bathroom was too small to lay her on the floor comfortably, and they didn't want to block the door in case any unwelcome guests came knocking. So Neville and Ginny had placed Luna gently in the tub so she could rest while they tried to figure out what to do next. Over the last five minutes her breathing had become erratic and she was mumbling in her sleep too. She was quiet for a minute, but when they turned to look at her she bolted upright in the tub and screamed at the top of her lungs, "RONALD!"
Before Ginny or Neville could calm Luna down a sudden bang from the bathroom door almost made them jump out of their skin. Shielding Luna, Neville and Ginny swung around pointing their wands at the door. The door swung outward quickly, and Neville and Ginny both sent stunners sailing through the door together.
"Woo! Hold your fire, it's me!" a voice carried from the outside hallway.
Neville jumped to his feet and moved forward to the sink and looked out into the hall. "Tonks?"
Deep-pink spiky hair appeared from around the corner, and Tonks peeked into the room. "Neville, Ginny! Thank the gods you kids are okay." Keeping her voice low Tonks entered the bathroom and moved towards the tub where Luna was still sitting upright but with a foggy confused look on her face. "What happened to her?"
Still standing by the door Neville looked quickly out into the hallway before answering Tonks. "She got hit by one of those hobgoblin swords."
Moving up behind Tonks, Ginny knelt down by the tub and took Luna's hand. "It's pretty bad - her shoulder is cut down to the bone. She needs a doctor." Tonks didn't need to hear anymore. She reached down in to the tub and lifted Luna out; with Ginny's help they got her to her feet and started moving towards the door.
Tonks motioned to Neville to get the door. He swung it open again and moved out on to the landing. Tonks whispered to Ginny over Luna's shoulder, "Where are Harry, Hermione, and Ron?" Ginny didn't answer but just shook her head. Luna continued to mumble Ron's name under her breath as she faded in and out of consciousness.
"I think they went down stairs," Neville said softly as he crept down the steps one at a time. He hugged the wall with his wand pointed out in front of him, watching the ground floor hallway below them. He knew there was still a good chance of running into more hobgoblins and he was ready for them this time.
Right before Neville hit the last step Tonks made a soft clucking sound with her tongue, catching his attention. Neville turned and saw Tonks motioning with her eyes toward Luna. She mouthed silently, "What are you doing? Get your narrow arse over here!" Rolling his eyes, Neville slipped back up the stairs and changed places with Tonks. He propped Luna's arm around his shoulder and gave Ginny a quick smile before they started moving again.
Tonks swept down the stairs, quietly scanning for movement in the shadows with her wand and pistol ready. As she stepped down into the front hallway something in the kitchen caught her eye. Holding one finger to her lips Tonks motioned for Neville, Ginny and Luna to come down quietly. Without removing her eyes from the partially open kitchen door Tonks motioned for the teens to keep moving out the front door behind her. As gently as possible Neville and Ginny helped Luna to the front door, which was swinging open and closed in the hot evening breeze. Neville craned his head around and saw a pair of dark green hobgoblin legs sticking out of the kitchen doorway. The pair of hobgoblin feet lay motionless for a moment before they were pulled into the kitchen, causing the door to swing open a bit before closing. A low rumbling sound came from inside the kitchen and Tonks started to back up slowly towards the front door.
Propping the front door open with his foot, Neville beckoned Tonks to hurry up so they could leave. When the door didn't open again Tonks relaxed a bit, but just as she turned to retreat out the door her foot got caught on the overturned coat rack strewn across the floor. She slammed to the floor with a loud 'Uhff!' Ginny's heart jumped into her throat as the kitchen door swung open again, smashing into the wall. A pair of bright yellow eyes flashed in the shadows of the kitchen through the doorway and a throaty growl broke the silence.
Tonks scurried backwards quickly as the werewolf form of Remus Lupin emerged from the darkness into the hallway. His snout was drenched in blood and his jaws continued to crunch on a rib bone in his mouth. Once Tonks had regained her footing she made a break for the door yelling to the teens, "go-gO-GO!"
With one strong tug on Luna, Neville pulled her and Ginny off the front stoop into the bushes around the house. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Tonks bounded out the front door and turned. The end of her pistol flared, lighting the night around them as she showered the hallway in a hail of silver bullets.
~*~
Bellatrix tried to twist and push Harry away as best she could, but she couldn't break his grip, and her eyes started to flutter closed as her head started to feel light. With very shaky hands Bellatrix raised her wand and jammed it into Harry's side, and croaked through strangled breaths her curse, "Cr. . .io . . .Crucio!"
Hot, intense pain coursed through every inch of Harry's body. His toes curled and his vision faded away, but he never released his grip on her throat. In fact as the pain mounted his grip tightened, squeezing Bellatrix's precious life giving breath from her body. Just when he thought he would go mad from the pain it stopped. He gasped for breath and an intense lingering pain stung him from his rib cage where her wand was touching him.
He heard Bellatrix's wand fall to the ground and his vision slowly started to return to him. Bellatrix's eyes were almost popping out of her head now as she feebly pawed at his hands around her neck. Harry watched in awe as her eyes closed slowly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her breath slowed and became shallow.
Releasing his grip quickly Harry looked down at his hands in amazement. He pushed himself off of her, standing up on weakened knees. "I did this! I almost killed her with my bare hands!" he thought as he stumbled across the lawn and retrieved his wand from the grass. "I really am a killer . . . I'm no better than she is." A part of his mind refused to believe that last statement. Reasoning that this was only an intense emotional reaction to pain inflicted on him and his friends by this woman, he tried to justify his actions. "It must be," he thought.
But a small voice in the back of his head spoke to him in an eerie voice that sounded like Voldemort's, "You are a killer! Just like me. That's why I choose you. We are the same."
Harry focused his thoughts and raised his inner defenses shielding his mind. "No! I'm nothing like you! I'll never believe you!"
He waited for a moment, but the voice was gone now. He looked down at Bellatrix, who was just starting to move slowly now. She ran her hands gingerly across her bruised throat as a soft whimper crossed her lips, which had turned slightly purple from blood loss. Stopping above her, Harry held his wand high, ready to cast the death curse at her. He could finish it right here, right now, and be done with her forever. But he hesitated, chewing his lip in thought. "Can I do it? Can I take another person's life? Who am I to say who lives and dies?"
Inside Harry knew he could kill her if he wanted to. If it were Voldemort lying there on the ground at death's door he would do it. But it wasn't and he was lost. He didn't know what to do. This was a door he did not want to pass through yet. Harry lowered his wand and resolved not to become what he knew one day he would have to be to end this war. But now he knew he could step through that doorway when the time was right.
"Bravo, bravo, Mister Potter." Lucius Malfoy's voice drew his attention away from Bellatrix to the old broken BMW where Hermione was hiding. "How does it feel to play God?"
Harry shut his eyes tightly and his nostrils flared as he cursed under his breath. With his wand pointed at Bellatrix Harry turned slowly, confirming his worst fears. Lucius Malfoy was leaning against the hood of the BMW with his wand drawn, but it wasn't pointed at him - it was pointed at Hermione, who was bound in magical ropes and lay in the street in front of Lucius.
"Let her go, Malfoy," Harry demanded, pointing his wand toward Bellatrix. "Or she dies!"
Stepping away from the car Lucius moved closer to Hermione. "Now, now, Potter we wouldn't want to do anything rash." With the tip of his wand Lucius gently moved a few strands of hair away from Hermione's face, bringing her damaged eyes into the light of the moon. "We wouldn't want to delay getting your little friend here the care she so desperately needs, now would we?" Hermione moved her head away from Malfoy's touch as she tried to shuffle away, but Lucius placed a hand on her shoulder, restraining her.
A fire was burning a hole in Harry's stomach for he wanted badly to smash Malfoy's ugly cane over his head, but he couldn't with Malfoy holding Hermione hostage. "What do you want? Take me instead and let her go," he hissed at the older man.
"Harry, don't!" Hermione screamed as she turned her head to the sound of Harry's voice.
Malfoy was beaming at him now. "Ah Mr. Potter, always the martyr." He smiled and made a large sweeping motion with his hands. "D'accord, Potter."
"What?"
"An agreement, Potter. A contract if you will." Lucius lifted Hermione to her feet and held her at arms' length in front of him as he spoke. "A straight trade. Your little Mu-friend here for Bellatrix."
Eyeing Malfoy closely Harry tried to detect any signs of falsehood in his tone. "That's it? You're just going to let us walk away from here without a fight?"
Lucius nodded slowly in agreement, his eyes meeting Harry's when he spoke. "That's right. I give you my word as a gentleman. I will not raise my wand against you for the remainder of the summer, Potter. Consider it a birthday gift if you like."
"Why?"
Venom flashed in Malfoy's eyes as he stared at Bellatrix's broke form on grass. "You're not the only one with a score to settle here tonight. Give her to me, boy, and I will finish what you've started."
Harry couldn't grasp what he was hearing, but he had no other choice. Hermione needed to see a doctor quickly, and there was no time to lose. "How do I know I can trust you?"
The question caused Malfoy to stand up straighter. As he turned his head slightly towards the night sky, his voice assumed a lofty aristocratic tone. "Unlike some people, Potter"- his gaze flicked between Harry and Bellatrix - "I still believe in honor. I may be evil in your eyes, but I've never broken my word once I give it."
"Yeah right!" Harry snorted. "You're going to have to do better than that."
Lucius impatiently flicked a lock of Hermione's hair with his wand as his eyes narrowed on something behind Harry. The sound of the front door of Grimmauld Place opening caught Harry's attention. Very quickly he turned and saw Neville, Luna, and Ginny coming outside.
Lucius spoke a clear commanding tone to Harry now. "Our time here has come to an end, Mr. Potter. Do we have a deal or not?"
As the sound of gunshots from the house rang through the night, Harry flinched automatically. "Yes! Yes, we have a deal. Now hurry!"
Malfoy removed his hand from Hermione's shoulder and Apparated next to Bellatrix. Taking hold of Bellatrix's hand, he looked up at Harry as he bounded across the street to Hermione and caught her in his arms. As he snuggled his face in Hermione's hair, Harry heard Malfoy's voice over his shoulder, "We'll meet again, Potter."
Then the sound of Malfoy and Bellatrix leaving broke Harry's hug. "Are you okay? He didn't hurt you did he?"
Hermione shook her head 'No' as Harry began removing the ropes around her with his wand. Once the ropes were gone Harry took her right hand in his left. "Come on, they need our help."
~*~
AN: Thank you all for waiting so very long for this chapter. I'm sure I lost a few readers because of this, but it couldn't be helped. I only wanted to give you the best chapter possible. Plus I really tried to keep Harry and others in character too. Thank you all for reading.