Familiars Love

Chapter 31

Severus stalked swiftly up the stairs leading into the dark mansion Voldemort had claimed as his headquarters. Silence hung over the sprawling manor. The massive castle-like structure was pitch black, the stone seeming to consume the moonlight. He pushed one of the doors open quietly and stepped into the large entrance hall. His eyes immediately searched for the guard that should have been waiting in the shadows. Sighing in relief, he began a quiet glide down one of the halls, every noise-making him halt and pray he would remain undiscovered. Candles flickered along the walls, creating ample shadows for figures to hide in. Moving silently, he slipped into one of the rooms and gasped as he was grabbed and thrown to the ground. His wand clattered loudly in the emptiness of the room. The dark figure standing above him glared down eyes the color of ice meeting those of onyx.

"I see you failed to do as I asked." Lucius Malfoy purred softly, the tip of his cane resting firmly against Severus' throat.

"I tried but the bond was too strong. It's developed a new facet, the Shared Animagus Bond." Severus gasped out, one hand rising to clutch at the cane slowly burying itself deeper into his throat. "It's the rarest form of bond, the type of magic it develops  is unknown."

"I don't really care how rare it is. I wanted my son free. Now he's running around this place with the Dark Lord's nemesis. Do you really think he'll survive something like that?" Lucius growled, leaning on the snake-headed cane, his dark robes swirling around him.

"Andromeda will protect him." Severus snarled, one hand beginning the search for his wand while the other remained locked around the cane. His mind raced as he peered into the cold eyes of death.

"I can tell you who gave them the portkey. If Andromeda and Harry hadn't discovered it first it would have been Draco." Severus offered, knowing that the one thing Malfoys understood was revenge. Lucius's eyes flickered before one pale eyebrow rose.

"I believe it was Pansy Parkinson." Lucius hissed angrily, his fingers whitening as his grip increased. "Give me something useful Severus."

"In my right pocket, there's a portkey that will take us directly back to Hogwarts." Severus gasped, immediately drawing in a deep breath as the cane was withdrawn in one smooth movement.

"Excellent. Let's go and find my heir then, shall we?" Lucius murmured, fingers smoothing the thick black robes. Swirling around he glided out the door, pausing only once to glance back at Severus. Severus grumbled in annoyance as his fingers closed around his wand. Why did Malfoys always have to make a grand exit?

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Moving his gaze from Andromeda to instead look into the eyes of the Dark Lord; Draco snarled and slowly fought his way to his feet, the Death Eaters struggling to still restrain him. Beside Draco, Harry hung his head and panted softly eyes still staring at his fallen friend before a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes and he turned his head to stare at the Dark Lord. Both of their eyes glinting dangerously as they stared at the mocking form standing before him. Draco's nose quivered at the strong smell of blood wafting around the room. The Dark Lord smirked at the boys' exhaustion, his pleasure in the death of the Mage almost tangible.

"Are you going to cry?" Voldemort cooed, his fingers running lazily up the length of his wand. Several Death Eaters' chuckled but even more sucked in deep breaths and pressed themselves into the concealing shadows. Draco rumbled angrily, his eyes glittered dangerously as he began to fight the hands restraining him. The Dark Lord began to walk across the blood covered stones. Draco's silver hair shone brightly beneath the candlelight, marred only by small flecks of blood. His mouth hung open, flashing his sharp incisors to the room as he drew in short gasps of air, his hair dampened with sweat and blood. He drew back his lips and screamed as the Dark Lord stalked around the body of Andromeda.