Dancing with Fire

The morning of the final task Draco finds himself hiding in a classroom by the door to the quidditch field. He’s technically supposed to be at breakfast, but Harry has to be at the field by 11 and food doesn’t really seem that important to him right now. 

He checks his watch, figuring he has about one minute before his boyfriend scurries by. 

Sure enough, the familiar footsteps approach and Draco sticks a hand out from behind his door, grabs Harry by the back of his robes, and tugs him inside. 

Harry has his wand out and at Draco’s throat quick enough that he actually smiles, and yes, Draco technically has the upper hand because Harry is the one against the wall, but his boyfriend’s bat bogey hex is nearly as good as Ginny’s. 

“Draco!” Harry scolds, “Don’t do that! What if I hexed you?!”

“Then I’d have a black eye and a prepared boyfriend.”

Harry rolls his eyes, but leans forward for a short kiss. Draco releases his hold, letting his hands come down to squeeze Harry’s. 

“I’m going to be okay, you know. I’ve dealt with a Basilisk, Dragons, and Merepeople. A maze can’t be that difficult.”

Draco lets his head rest on Harry’s left shoulder. “You’ve said that every time and every time we’re worried that you won’t make it back.”

“But I always do, right? Come on, I’m only fourteen. I can’t die until I’ve taken my NEWTs. Hermione would kill me otherwise, and I wouldn’t put it past your mother to bring me back just to yell at me for being reckless.”

“Mum doesn’t do necromancy. She’s more the reason why people have to do necromancy.”

Harry chuckles but pulls him close and Draco savors the feeling. It’s warm here, safe even. The thought scares him a little, he’s only fifteen, he shouldn’t be this emotionally attached to someone. 

He hates this. The whole Triwizard Tournament has been nothing but a pain in his ass. When Harry’s alone out there, Draco can’t protect him. Draco is meant to protect him. He literally got pulled into everything because he was supposed to protect Harry. How the hell is he supposed to be okay with this? 

They pull away, and Draco’s about to launch into a lecture about how Harry better be safe, but then the door opens and they launch apart.

“Oh calm down, it’s just us.”

Blaise, Pansy, Hermione and Ron all trickle into the room. It’s quiet for a moment, and then Hermione launches herself at Harry for a hug.

“You’ll be safe won’t you? Statistically speaking, the final task is usually the one where people die.”

“Way to instill confidence, Herm.” Blaise drawls, but he leans forward to put a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Seriously, Potter, if you’re not with us on the train I’ll be very cross.”

“And you wouldn’t want a Slytherin cross with you,” Pansy adds, slinging her arm around Harry’s free shoulder, “I’ve heard it’s rather terrifying.”

“I’ll be safe, I swear.” Harry sighs. He looks like a child reassuring his parents. 

All four of them, Draco included, take a step back so Ron can come forward. He places his hands on Harry’s shoulder and looks him dead in the eyes.

“No funny business. You get in and don’t die. Got it?”

“Yes. No dicking around, and no dying.”

Ron gives him a hard look and then pulls him in for a hug. It’s a little funny to see, because Harry is by no means short, but Ron is taller than Draco these days, so Harry’s head is nearly obstructed by the boy’s shoulder.

“After this, when we go home I mean, mum is going to get you early from the Dursleys. She wants us to help her bake mince pies, you know?”

Harry nods, “Then I have to be there to help.”

“Yeah…” Ron releases him. “You have to be there.”

They’re all quiet again, which is quite over dramatic, so after a moment Draco steps forward.

“I’ve got something for you.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his old pocket watch.

“It has medical salves in it, click this button once for major wounds, press it ten times for minor wounds. Got it? If, on a scale of one-to-ten it feels like a seven, click it three times. Okay?”

Harry nods like he gets it, so Draco hands the watch over.

It eases some of the worry in his chest.

He’s surprised that the group let them go as fast as they did, but Harry was already fifteen minutes late, and the later he is the worse it is for everyone else.

Because he’s so late, he has to run to the pitch and because he’s so worried about time, and also running as fast as he can, he accidentally runs smack into a large man with red hair.

“I am so sorry-”

“Harry!”

Bill Weasley picks him up in a hug, twirling him around once before putting him on the ground and patting his head.

“Bill!” Harry grins, “What are you doing here? I thought you were in Egypt?”

“I was, but Dumbledore asked me to be the curse-breaker for the final round. I’ll be right on the sidelines with Madam-oh! Here, the family’s all a bit worried so I made you this.”

He fishes into his pocket and pulls out a black log-shaped stone on a string.

“It’s Black Tourmaline, the string has a protection spell on it so it should ensure, you know, your general safety.”

Harry takes the stone necklace and slips it around his neck. It hangs right next to the locket Draco gave him and something about it just feels right. 

“Thank you,” He says as they continue their way to the fields.

“Don’t worry about it. You’ve done a lot for us, mum was telling me that she couldn’t really imagine a summer without you and the boys bickering about Quidditch, even dad is a little concerned. They’re all coming to support you today. Even Percy.”

“Percy’s coming?! I thought he only worked now.”

Bill sighs, “He does. Practically lives at the ministry, but you forget that you’re family, Harry. Weasleys are very protective of their family. He forced the minister to come so he could be here today.”

“I thought he was an assistant for Mr. Crouch?”

“He’s supposed to be, but Crouch is an assistant to the Minister, and since he’s been gone for so long Percy has just been acting as the unofficial Minister’s assistant.”

Harry doesn’t get it at all, he has tons of questions. Like where did Mr. Crouch go? Why isn’t he doing his job? Just how stressed out is Percy now? But Bill steers the conversation back to Egypt and before he knows it he’s in the Champion’s Tent, getting ready with the others.

Nearly all of them are dressed, so Harry has to rush to get changed. For no reason, of course, because they still have thirty minutes by the time he’s done.

He comes out to the waiting area, right into an incredibly somber mood. Harry’s never really been the best in these types of situations, so he takes a seat near Fleur, only a little surprised when she takes hold of his hand.

“I am happy to have met you all, and I understand that this is supposed to be a competition, but it feels wrong to fight against friends.”

“It is wrong to fight against friends.” Cedric says. “I won’t do it. If one of you needs help, I swear I’ll be there.”

Krum nods, “Yes. We enter the maze as brothers-in-arms and we leave the same.”

It’s really touching, like Harry has never felt more supported, but he’s very confused.

“Krum...what exactly is a brother-in-arms?”

The boy blinks at him and then smiles softly. Harry can definitely see why Hermione is so attracted to him. “It is a term for those who fight together, like soldiers in a war. But it’s importance comes from the bond that is shared. In a war, Harry, people find solace in those who share experiences. Soldiers watch their fellow brethren die. They see each at their worst, they see the fear in their eyes as they face Death, when their loved ones are threatened. They are with each other through the most horrible occurrences, and when the war is over, they turn to each other for peace. They understand that war is pointless, yet they fight anyways. Not for themselves, but for those who are in the trenches with them. To become a brother-in-arms is a high honor where I am from, and I extend the offer to you all.” 

He takes a breath, looking at the three other champions, “You all have lives to be lived, fulfillments that have yet to be discovered. I cannot sit idly and worry for myself knowing the holes that would be left if one of you did not make it out of the maze. When I fight today, I will not fight for myself, but for all of you.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Cedric nods, “People often see Hufflepuffs as weak, but we are fiercely loyal to our friends. And if I am lucky enough to call the three great wizards in the room my friends, then they are lucky enough to have my protection.”

Fleur stands, pacing around the room.

“When I came here, I knew I would see my family. My precious Draco and my darling Luna...but I did not expect to come across souls like yours. You,” She looks to Krum, “Who would be proud of my Veela instincts with me. You,” She turns to Cedric, “Who would help me ensure my family’s happiness all because I asked you to. And you,” She smiles at Harry, “Who would save mine and my sister’s life...I am honored to stand in the same room, to fight with you, never against you.”

Since everyone else made a speech, Harry kinda feels compelled to. But what would he say? Don’t die? Be careful? He’s only ever felt this sense of comradery with Ron and Hermione. 

Fortunately, his mouth apparently does know what to say.

“I first heard about magic from a shitty card-trick guy outside one of the stores my aunt shops at. She came home ranting about how ‘unseemly’ it was, but since discovering how very real it is, I’ve learned a couple of things. Magic is great and all, but it’s the people behind the spells that make it wonderful. Each of you is so powerful and great I can’t begin to describe how lucky I feel to know you. I hope to keep knowing you, and if we’re all fighting for each other, I think I see a celebratory dinner in our near future. With all of us at the same table, laughing about how horrible it’s all been.”

“Trelawney is finally making sense to you then.”

“Oh, shove it.”

They laugh for a bit, and then somehow wind up in a group hug right before time is called.

Marching out of the tent feels a bit like marching off to war, which is crazy because it’s just a maze. 

Harry repeats this to himself as Dumbledore fills in information.

Red sparks means bad, they have to get the cup and then all of this is over. A simple objective, really, like a twisted version of capture the flag. On the sidelines Pomfrey, Ellios, and Bill are sharing worried glances, but it can’t be worse than his friends and family in the stands. He wishes Sirius and Remus could’ve come, but that was out of the question. 

Cedric is the one with the most points, so he goes in first. Krum follows behind him. Fleur smiles his way before going in. Lastly, Harry strides past the tall bushes.

He only jumps a little when they close behind him.

Because he promised literally everyone that he wouldn’t die, Harry takes out his wand and starts to wander through the maze. He has to run a few times when the walls start closing in, and the vines keep trying to grab his ankles, which is very annoying.

His personal favorites are the bogarts that keep popping up, but since he’s fairly sure that his friends and family are in the stands and not dying or trying to kill him, those really aren’t much to deal with.

Harry’s just finished off his tenth bogart when he sees him.

At first he thinks the stupid creature has just taken on a new form, so he approaches Krum carefully.

He’s on his knees, gasping for air. His wand is a few feet away, and the closer that Harry gets the more concerned he is. Blood is dripping from Krum’s mouth, and that just can’t be good.

“Krum?” Harry says as gently as he can.

The boy whips his head around, and Harry knows his eyes are usually clear and focused, so seeing them clouding over is not comforting in the slightest.

“Harry.” Krum rasps, “Harry I can’t fight it, you have to stun me!”

Okay, another boggart then. 

Harry raises his wand and casts ridikkious, but nothing changes. 

Other than the situation, which just got bad.

Really bad.

“Harry! Hex me!”

“Hex you?!” Harry shouts, helping Krum sit instead of kneel, “I can’t hex you! We have to get you to a medic-”

“You don’t understand! I can’t fight it much longer please-”

“I’m not going to hurt you-”

“-I can’t...Harry.”

Krum eyes fog over completely, going from the warm brown he’s so used to seeing to an unnerving white color. He reaches for his wand, and Harry’s hoping he’s going to cast up red sparks, a healing charm, something, but then Krum kicks Harry away from him and stands.

He points his wand right as Harry’s face. “Avada-”

“Confringo!”

Krum blasts backwards, leaving just enough time for Harry to look back and see Fleur charging at them. 

“Stupify!”

“Reducto!”

Their spells meet in the middle. Harry scrambles out from under the sparks, rushing to Fleur.

“Wait! Something isn’t right! Look at his eyes! He was saying he couldn’t fight-”

“Expulso!”

Fleur grabs him by the arm and pulls him close right as the force of magic hits them, throwing them back into the shrubs. 

“Confringo!” Fleur casts over their heads. They rush to their feet, though Fleur’s limping a bit.

“His eyes?” She squints a little as Krum rises. He’s so battered and bruised Harry’s not really sure how he’s standing, but Fleur gasps so it can’t be good.

“Fuck. Harry get behind me-”

“Avada-”

Fleur releases something like white flames from her hand. They swallow up Krum’s killing curse, pushing him back three feet.

He glares at them, raising his wand once more. “Diffindo!”

Fleur releases her flames again, it’s a wonder to behold. Their heat is nearly unbearable, but Fleur looks like a creature from fairy tails. Her long blonde hair blows back from their force, her stance is strong, and the last time he saw her skin change it was grey like stone but now it glistens in her flames like polished marble. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop a bit of Krum’s spell from getting through and slashing Fleur’s leg open.

She falls to the ground and Harry doesn’t want to hurt him. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone, but he can’t let Fleur die, and he knows Krum, the real Krum would be horrified if he ever knew about any of this. 

So Harry raises his wand. “Incarcerous!”

Thick ropes spill out of his wand and tie Krum up before he can cast another spell, but he still has his wand and he did ask Harry to stun and hex him, so Harry adds a stupify to knock him out. Just in case.

He rushes over to Fleur to look at her leg right as Cedric rounds the corner.

“What’s happening?! I heard shouting, and spells and what the bloody fuck?!”

“It’s Krum.” Fleur says. The gash is rather nasty, spilling out blood that’s steadily covering Harry’s hands. “He was attacking Harry.”

“Krum attacked Harry? Mister brother-in-arms?!” Cedric marches over to them, only to curse at Fleur’s leg. “That looks bad, you need a medic.”

“They both need medics. And Krum didn’t attack me at first...he was trying to fight something. I found him kneeling on the ground, he said he couldn’t fight it and asked me to hex him and then he grabbed his wand and…”

Cedric and Fleur share a look.

“His eyes were fogged over...almost like-”

“He was under Imperius…”

All three of them swear.

“That’s not right. None of the creatures I’ve fought can cast anything significant.” 

“Do you think someone else has gotten in?”

Ron’s words from the first semester pop into Harry’s head. His best friend is right, Riddle always has a helper of some kind.

He reaches into his pocket and grabs Draco’s little watch thing. This kinda feels like a ten situation, so he clicks it once and is surprised when the watch face pops open to reveal some sort of creme. Even so, he trusts Draco, so he rubs the ointment on Fleur’s leg, trying not to wince as it turns from white to pink. 

“We need to get out of here.” He says, wiping his hands off on his legs “Like now. It’s not safe anymore. Not that it was safe in the first place, but...well, you know. I’ll send up red sparks for the two of you.”

Fleur nods, but she can’t walk anyways so it’s not like she had much of a choice. Though blood has stopped gushing from her leg. “You two go get the cup. Stay together. Be safe.” She reaches out her hands for both of them to squeeze.

Harry points his wand to the sky. He and Cedric nod and then they’re running.

Cedric stays a bit behind him as he blasts through boggarts and these weird gargoyle-like creatures. They run for about ten minutes, Harry’s sure they’re getting close, and then he hears Cedric curse behind him.

Harry turns to see something almost as frightening as his friend trying to kill him.

Cedric is screaming, fighting as best he can to get free of the vines. Instead of being minorly inconvenient, they’re swallowing the boy, like he might make a nice addition to the shrubbery. Harry jumps into action, firing diffindo at the area around the boy as he tries to pull him out.

As soon as Cedric’s free they run a bit more, just to be safe, and then stop to catch their breath.

“Thanks,” Cedric pats his shoulder, “You saved my life back there.”

“Well, call me crazy, but I prefer my hedges without live bodies in them.”

Cedric laughs, “Rotting bodies never make for good lawn ornaments.”

“Yeah, rotting corpse isn’t something I’d want in a candle either.”

Cedric completely misses his inside joke, but Draco would’ve loved it. Harry holds onto that thought as they run the next few minutes. They’ve just passed another round of hedges when Cedric pulls him back by his shirt.

“Harry! Look!”

He points down the corridor Harry had intended to run past. It’s glowing blue. 

Something is up there.

They approach carefully, wands out for when the walls start to close. But the walls don’t close, and they arrive at a glowing blue cup.

“Do you think it’s the right one?” Harry asks.

“I dunno. You should take it and find out.”

Harry shoots him a look.

“No, you take it.”

“Absolutely not. You saved my life back there, and I promised Cho I wouldn’t win, she has her money on Fleur.”

Harry does a double take, glaring at him. “What the fuck Cedric-”

“Look, I’m already in first place, and you’re so far behind that it wouldn’t matter anyways. Plus, if I win Cho owes Astoria twenty gallons.”

“Are you trying to give me pity points?”

Cedric rolls his eyes, “No, I’m trying to give you thank you points.”

“No. You take it or we both stand here and argue about it.”

“We’re not arguing, you’re taking it.”

“Funny, because if you don’t take it then Cho won’t owe Astoria.”

“Do you even know Astoria?”

“Yes,” Harry says, “She showed Draco a lovely ten minutes at the Yule Ball, I have to thank her somehow.”

“So you want to thank her by not winning.”

“Absolutely. Come on, Cedric, this isn’t a Quidditch cup, why would I care about winning it?”

Cedric glares this time, Harry glares right back until the boy sighs.

“Will you settle for taking it together?”

“If it means you take it, then sure.”

They grin at each other, both reaching for the cup. 

But Cedric, the sneaky bastard, pulls back at the last moment.

“Don’t give me that look! You deserve a win-Harry?”

He’s felt like this before. The pulling at his stomach, the feeling of his head swirling. He barely has time to see Cedric’s terrified face reaching towards him before the maze spins away.

He almost misses the red sparks.

Almost.

Draco’s up in the stands, letting Pansy braid his hair because he’s bored and there’s nothing else to do. Plus, Pansy is calmer when her hands are moving, so it seemed like a win. 

And then two red sparks flash across the sky and she pulls so hard on his locks he almost scolds her for it.

But red sparks means bad. Just like the button on his ‘cell phone’. 

They all watch as Ellios and someone he assumes is another Weasley argue with Dumbledore for a minute, and then, like the wonderful person they are, Ellios flips Dumbledore the finger and marches towards the maze. Weasley hesitates for a moment, and then goes after them. Dumbledore strides towards them only for Poppy to catch his arm. She looks furious, which can’t mean anything good, but she’s enough of a distraction to let Ellios and the Weasley get the shrubs open. 

The entire stadium is on the edge of their seats for five minutes.

And then Ellios comes out, Krum floating in ropes behind her.

Draco’s heart goes cold, because if Krum is tied up then-

His eyes widen.

Weasley has someone in his arms. Someone with long blonde hair and a leg that he can see discolored from where he sits. What the fuck happened in there?

They rush the champions over to Poppy, who appears to have aged substantially in the last few seconds. She pulls out her wand and casts a patronus. The white hare listens to her instructions, and then bounds up the bleaches right to him.

“Draco.” Poppy’s voice says through the bunny, “Get down here immediately, I need someone competent.”

Pansy grabs his shoulder, Blaise hands over a hair tye. Theo and Millie stand up and clear a path for him, gently lowering him to the ground once they reach the seats closest to the field.

As soon as his feet touch down he’s rushing towards Fleur.

“What happened?”

“There’s too much to explain-”

“Draco! Heal her leg quickly, I need help with Krum!”

He curses just once, and then whips out his wand. He recognizes the salve on her leg, it’s from Harry’s healing watch. “Is Harry okay?” He whispers as he works.

“Yes. He and Cedric are looking for the cup.” She grabs his wrist, looks him right in the eyes, “Draco...something isn’t right. Someone cursed Krum. He was trying to kill Harry, but it wasn’t him. The maze has been compromised.”

Fuck.

His night just got so much worse. 

Draco heals her wound quickly, though the salve has already begun stitching the gash on her leg together. A simple episkey does the job, and then he’s hugging her and running off to Krum.

“What happened?”

Ellios shoves a knife into his hands so he can cup off the ropes and they can focus on their chart.

“This doesn't make sense.” They whisper. “He has brain damage similar to those who have fought the Imperius Curse.”

“The Imperius?!” Poppy curses, taking the ropes and throwing them on the ground. “So you’re telling me someone used an unforgivable on a child and tied him with magical ropes?”

“Not quite.” Fleur limps over to them, “Harry tied him up-”

Poppy turns on her, “What?! Potter tied him up?!”

“In his defense, Krum was trying to kill us.”

“Kill you?!” Ellios scoffs, “Krum adores the three of you!”

Draco throws his hands up, “Everyone stop! Fleur, what happened?!”

Fleur gives them a hard look, and then explains as best she can. She heard Harry shouting about hexing someone, thought he was in trouble and ran to help. When she got to the scene, Krum was pointing his wand at Harry’s face and casting the Killing Curse. Naturally she had to get involved, but Harry stopped her. Said something wasn’t right, and then she noticed how weird Krum’s eyes looked.

“His eyes looked weird?” Poppy repeats.

“Yes, tell me, Ellios, what color are Krum’s eyes?”

“Brown.”

“They were white. White. Fogged over to the point that my flames had no effect.”

No one says anything, and then Ellios sighs. “Well, at least that explains the brain damage.”

Poppy curses again, and then, to make matters so much better, Dumbledore comes strolling over.

“What seems to be the problem?”

Draco has been afraid of Poppy before, but he’s never seen her so angry. She whirls on the headmaster, pointing a short finger at his chest. Fleur sits down on Krum’s bench to watch the show.

“You, Albus Dumbledore, have no place here! If I recall correctly, you didn’t want us to gather these two from the maze, and I’m glad as hell that we did! Miss Delacour could’ve lost her leg, if not her life, and Mister Krum has suffered under the imperius curse! Just what type of creatures did you put in that Merlin-forsaken maze?!”

Draco and Ellios both busy themselves with Krum’s chart and general health to avoid the disturbed look on Dumbledore’s face.

“I assure you, Poppy, I would never put my students on a path with the Unforgivables.”

“Never?” Poppy sneers, “So I didn’t heal a dozen of students just a month ago under the same issue? They were all lying, and Minerva and Severus shut down Moody’s class for no reason?”

Dumbledore frowns, Draco has to fight with himself not to laugh. This is a serious moment, he’s healing cuts on Krum’s body for Merlin’s sake. But fuck, he loves Poppy so much for this conversation alone.

“Well, yes, that unfortunate incident did occur, but Alastor is locked in his room. I have a key tied to him, I would know if he left.”

“Did I accuse Alastor?” Poppy asks, turning back to Fleur to make sure her leg is fine. “No, no I didn’t. I said that a child has been cursed again. Where is Bill?”

“Right here!” The Weasley, Bill, comes running up, “Sorry, I was closing up the maze again. Woah, he’s been under one of the Unforgivables.”

Draco steps back to let Bill work, taking over Poppy’s place with Fleur so he can heal some of her minor scrapes and cuts. 

“How can you tell?” Ellios asks, “I can see through the chart but you just walk up and know?”

Bill shrugs, “It’s the way his veins in his left temple are protruding. They’re more fluid, so if I had to guess, probably Imperius. Veins from the Cruciatus are more like lightning bolts, and well, I don’t think I need to explain what happens with the Killing Curse.”

“But how did you know?” Draco asks.

“Well,” Bill rolls up his sleeves without a glance in his direction, “The Unforgivables are curses, and since I’m a cursebreaker I kinda have to know them. Let me just…” He ties up his hair with the flick of his wand, then points the thing at Krum’s head and does a few complicated movements.

Draco, Poppy, and Ellios all watch the results on Krum’s chart. The way the red around his prefrontal cortex lessens, the swelling in his hippocampus goes down as well. After a few seconds Bill stands back. “There! He should have some minor brain swelling, just because he fought it, but he’ll be fine. I’ve never seen you fail before, Madam.”

Poppy seems pleased. Her and Ellios begin a new scan while Bill approaches Fleur.

“Do you mind if I look you over? Your, um, brother?”

“Cousin.” Draco corrects, surprised when Bill smiles.

“Right, your cousin did a wonderful job healing your wounds, but I’d like to make sure that you don’t have any lingering curses like Krum did.”

Fleur flushes at his smile, which is very interesting, then nods once. “I would appreciate that.”

“When Krum wakes,” Poppy says to Dumbledore, “He’ll tell us of who cursed him, and when that happens he better not say it was one of your creatures. Do you understand me, Albus?”

Never in his entire life has he seen Dumbledore nod so quickly.

Something isn’t right.

No, that’s an understatement. 

Something is very wrong.

Narcissa is sitting in her living room when it happens. It’s terribly dreadful outside, all rainy and strangely cold for June. Even so, rainy weather is perfect for tea and reading, and since Harry is in the final task, she needs something to keep her distracted. Grey hair is only acceptable when she’s angry, and stress lines simply annoy her. 

She’s just flipped to the next page of her book, settled more into her most comfortable white chair, and begun reading when he stumbles in.

Lucius throws open the door, a little parade of house elves behind him.

“Sir-”

“Narcissa.”

She stands immediately, already on high alert.

Her husband has looked so much better lately, more and more like the man she fell in love with, strong, loving, helpful, good. But now he tumbles from table to table, clutching at his arm, knocking over lights and coffee table décor.

Narcissa rushes over to him, forcing him down on the velvet couches. “Lucius? What’s happening, love?”

He’s terrified, eyes wide and frantic. Instead of answering, he pulls back his sleeve and shows her something to be afraid of.

The Dark Mark, twisting and turning around his arm. 

“He’s calling.”

“No.” She says, “No, that’s not possible, he can’t be recovered yet!”

“Narcissa!” Lucius cries, “I can’t fight him, he’s going to-”

“No, don’t you dare Lucius. Don’t you dare-”

“I love you.” Lucius manages. “Keep Draco safe-”

“Lucius!”

“I love you-”

“Stop that! You’re not going anywhere-Lucius!”

The swirling starts with his legs, which she tries so desperately to grab a hold of. They slip through her fingertips, she barely has time to catch a final glimpse of the fear in his eyes before he’s gone.

It’s only then that she realizes she’s crying.

The Dark Lord is calling, which means he’s back.

And Harry might be dying, which means her son is probably in danger.

And she’s just watched her husband be taken to fuck knows where without his wand. 

“Misses?” Sisily asks, “What should we do?” 

Narcissa blinks twice, accepting her tissue and wiping her face.

The Dark Lord has a history of being wherever Harry is, and wherever Harry is Draco typically is too.

Right now, they should both be at Hogwarts, and that’s exactly where she’s going.