Blood Vengeance

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Malfoy's gait was shallow as Harry followed him to Quality Quidditch Supplies. He saw no indication of pain in his face, but his jaw was clenched, and his muscles were tight. He was trying to hide how much he was shaking. Malfoy's pride and poise were something to see. He didn't have that aura of superiority anymore, though. No, but there was a dignity about him. Self-respect that Harry found... mesmerising. Even after war and losing nearly everything, his head was up.

A woman spat on the ground as he walked by, and Malfoy didn't even acknowledge her. Not exactly the arrogant kid he knew before. Of course, Malfoy's wand limitations kept him from hexing back, but he had always answered most attacks with his wit when they went to school. Malfoy had rarely directly challenged anyone. But he didn't do that as an adult either. Resigned to his current predicament, he was.

But then Harry watched as he slowed as he approached the shop. Preserved in the Pensieve, the memory's surroundings were clearer than Malfoy, or anyone really, could have remembered it. That was the advantage of them, but it was a drawback as well. Some things you don't want to remember. Things like this.

Harry walked DEK approach, slight out of Malfoy's peripheral vision, and stopped, clearly waiting for Malfoy to turn toward Eeylops. Harry stared at DEK, realizing that the kid knew Malfoy's routine. This wasn't a chance encounter. It was calculated. Harry looked back to Malfoy, his expression pained as he ogled the new state-of-the-art Firebolt. Harry could see the longing and disappointment in his eyes.

His head lowered slightly, and he turned to leave, his soul seemingly crushed and defeated. Harry almost missed the moment that DEK moved to attack. Malfoy walked only a few feet where the alley next to the quidditch store, when DEK made his move. Harry saw the syringe in his hand and had to fight the urge to try to knock it out of his hand, as it was only a memory. Malfoy was looking around, but DEK shoved the needle into his back, right through his robes.

Malfoy had just turned to attack, presumably, when his legs nearly went out and DEK grabbed him, pulling him into Apparation. Harry followed, as that was where the memory vial took him. Malfoy was dropped unceremoniously to the floor in the same abandoned house that Harry had been in an hour ago. He was face up and not moving. Definitely a paralytic, Harry decided and noted that Malfoy's eyes and chest continued to move.

DEK didn't cast any spells. Harry grimaced, as that should have been the first thing an attacker should do. Making sure the area was safe, but perhaps DEK had already set up the wards. He was trembling, Harry noted, but in a different way than Malfoy had been. Shaking with a mixture of rage and excitement. He stared down at Mal-Draco and laughed, almost manically. Harry never thought that DEK was sane, but seeing him this unhinged, confirmed his psychosis even more.

"Do you know who I am, Death Eater?" he said, his voice low and laced with malice. "I'm your judge... jury... and executioner. It's judgment day."

Draco, no shit, rolled his eyes, and practically sighed. Harry's jaw nearly dropped. Draco seemed so resigned to his fate that he didn't even care, even knowing that torture and death awaited him.

DEK, obvious to Malfoy's indifference, continued, "But first, confession time. You're going to tell me everything you did... and everything you know about your friends. Where they live, what they did, and how to find them. Even your mum!"

Draco looked at him and glared. Harry could tell he was saying, "Go fuck yourself," in his head.

Even DEK could tell, and he hissed, "You're not going to be so confident for long, Death Eater."

DEK bent down and dragged Malfoy to the center of the room, again, without magic. Then he cut off his clothes, exposing Draco, who didn't like that part one bit. Harry could now see the fear in his eyes, but his gaze was distant. Harry assumed that Draco wasn't thinking about what was coming, but what had happened. Harry glowered, but watched DEK as he hummed and awed over his captive's predicament and what he was going to do. Straight sociopath. He wanted to feel Malfoy's horror and distress, though Harry already knew that Malfoy didn't give it to him.