| Girl on Fire |

32

DRACO MALFOY

"What do you mean you can't find her?" I said frantically. Veronica has been missing since last night. I have no idea where Marcus and Adrian took and Mattheo's mark was our only hope. "I don't know. It must be some sort of magic mislocator." he said. "There has to be another way to find her." Allison said. "Can't we track her wand or what about the trace for under age wizards?" Blaise asked. "I severed it." Mattheo said. "What?" Blaise exclaimed. "When I marked her, it severs all those things." Mattheo said. "Why? Why the hell would you do that? Now we will never find her!" Allison yelled. She hit Mattheo and slapped him across the face. "We have to find her." she cried. Mattheo just stood there taking it. "Come on Alli, it's not his fault. Let's take a break." Blaise said, pulling her away. "Take her to Ronnie's room. She can borrow some of her clothes." I said. He nodded and took Allison away. "She's right. We could have found Veronica if I-'' he started. "The magical mislocator blocks all traces. It wouldn't have mattered." Theo said. "Yeah mate. It's really not your fault." Enzo added. "Draco, are you going to tell us what your parents said?" Theo asked me. I was pacing back and forth. "Draco?" Enzo said. I looked up and they were all looking at me. "Yeah, sorry what?" I asked. "What did your parents say?" Theo asked. "My father said she's fine. He thinks she just ran off." I said. "And your mum?" Enzo asked. "I'm sure she's worried but she won't defy my father." I said. They just nodded. "What are we going to do. We are all underage and there's no way we can find her on our own." Enzo said. "We need help. Someone's help." Theo said. I looked at Mattheo and he looked at me. "Any ideas?" he asked. I shook my head. Allison and Blaise walked back out. Allison was wearing a skirt and sweater. "We have to find her. We have to." Allison said.

I tried to fight back tears as I realized how far we have fallen. My chest constricted and I felt like there was no air in the room. I dropped to my knees and started to hyperventilate. "Fuck, what's wrong with him?" Mattheo said. They all crowded me and it made it worse. "He's freaking out." Blaise said. "Shut up all of you." Allison snapped. She grabbed my hand and dragged me to my room. She sat me on my trunk and knelt in front of me. "Breathe Draco. You gotta breathe." she said. I inhaled with her and eventually my breathing slowed. "I can't- I can't- we have to find her. If I lose my sister, I'll have nothing left." I said. She squeezed my hand. "We are gonna find her." she said. I nodded. We walked back out and they were all talking. "Draco, where is Professor Snape?" Blaise asked. "What?" I asked. "Professor Snape, where does he go for Winter Break?" Mattheo said. "He usually goes home, why?" I asked. "He's your godfather. He's also the only adult we trust." Theo said. "He can help us find Veronica." Enzo added. "Ok. Ok, let's go." I said. We headed outside when my mum stopped us. "Where are you going?" she asked. She had tears in her eyes. "Where's father?" I asked. "He's in his study." she said. "We are going to Snapes. I'm going to find my sister." I said. She nodded and hugged me. "I'm proud of you." she whispered. I stepped and nodded. "I won't stop until I have her." I said. My mother gave a small smile and we heard footsteps. "Go, I'll cover for you." She said. We all ran out and stood outside the gate. "Apparate." we said.

The world spun and we landed in an alley on a cobblestone street. "Follow me." I said. We walked and I recognized a black door with a silver handle. I walked up and knocked. We all drew our wands just in case. A minute later, Snape opened the door and his wand was pointed in my face. "Hello to you too." I said. He lowered it and looked at me with surprise. "What are you all doing here? Get inside before the muggles see you." he said. We all hurried inside and shut the door. It was much warmer inside his house. "What is the meaning of this Draco? Why are they here?" he asked, gesturing to my friends. "Good to see you too Professor." Blaise said. "Marcus and Adrian kidnapped Veronica last night." I said. His face fell. "What? Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes Sir. They locked me and Blaise in a bloody closet for an hour as a distraction." Allison said. "How did they even get to her? Didn't you put up the wards around the manor like I told you to?" Snape asked. I scoffed. "I'm not an idiot. Of course I did. Father took them down for the annual Malfoy ball. Being the wonderful father he is, he invited the Flints and the Puecys." I said. "What about the mark?" Snape said looking at Mattheo. "We think they have some kind of mislocator." Mattheo said. "Please, you have to help us find her. Father won't. He insists she just ran off. My mother said you would help." I said. He sighed and nodded. "Of course I will help. But you aren't going to like how." he said. I gave him a confused looked. "What does that mean?" Blaise asked. "You have to use your bond." he said. "My what?" I asked. "Your bond. You two are twins. This means you have a certain unbreakable bond." he said. "You mean that bond Narcissa always talks about is literal?" Allison asked. He nodded. "Ok? What do I do?" I asked. "You have to focus. It's like legilimency but more concentrated. Think of Veronica. Then when you have established a connection just talk to her. It may only last a second and it will be exhausting. Try and get as much information as you can ok?" he said. I nodded. I closed my eyes and tried to press into Veronica's head. I could feel her resisting. Then I saw flashes. She was in a room. Darkness. There were chains on her wrists. I saw Marcus and Adrian. I saw blood. Then I heard her voice. It was faint but it was there. "Draco?" she said quietly.

VERONICA MALFOY

"That was great." Marcus said as he pulled up his trousers. There was fresh blood on my legs and I choked back sobs. He walked out and it was dark again. Then I felt a sharp pain. It was like someone was prying into my head. Legilimency but stronger. Then I saw flashes. It was Allison holding Draco's hand. Allison yelling at Mattheo. Draco crying. Snape talking. "Draco?" I whispered. Could he hear me? "Veronica? I'm here. I'm here. I'm in your head. Can you hear me?" he asked. It hurt. I just wanted to sleep. But I held out. "Yes. I can hear you. Draco, they have me. Marcus and Adrian. I'm really scared." I said. I could hear the sadness in his voice. "I know. I know Ronnie. We are going to find you. Can you tell me anything that can help?" he asked. "It's dark. It's dark and quiet. They have a mislocator." I said. "Ok. Ok, That's ok. Ronnie, I know you are scared and I know I'm not there but I need you to survive for me ok?" he said. Tears fell down my cheeks. "Can you do that for me Ronnie? Can you stay alive until we find you?" he asked. "I don't know Draco. They are doing it- it again." I said. "Please Ronnie. We are going to find you. Snape is helping, all our friends are helping, Mattheo won't rest until he finds you. You can do it. I know you can." he said. "Ok. I'll try. Please hurry." I said. "I will. I love you Ronnie. I love you so much. You're gonna be ok." he said. "I love you. Tell Mattheo I love him." I said. "He said he-" he started. Then everything stopped. I couldn't see him. Tears fell down my cheeks. "Draco! Draco, can you hear me?" I asked. Nothing. I was alone again.