[3] downfall ~ harry potter × marvel

2.11

Hereby a trigger warning for the next few chapters:

- mention of death, torture, despair and impossible pain ahead

2.11

the war, part 1

The Room of Requirement. Shit, last time he was here, he'd unleashed Death Eaters into Hogwarts. Many Gryffindors had sent him dangerous glares, as soon as he'd arrived, with Sirius and Theo at his flanks.

Draco scanned the crowd of familiar faces for ones that would welcome him. Then he found Granger and Weasley, standing side by side, their eyes on Potter and Ginny Weasley.

"Well, if it isn't Sirius Black, the feared criminal," a voice said from Draco's right. He stiffened, as Remus Lupin came into view.

"If it isn't the infamous Remus Lupin, the soft werewolf," Sirius mocked, as they embraced each other. "Brother, I have missed you." The werewolf grinned, an action that made him look younger than Draco had ever seen him.

"NO!" Merlin, Potter, what now? Draco headed for the middle of the room, finding a heavily distressed Harry Potter "I don't want any of you to get out there and fight for me! Enough people have died by now. You should all stay here and keep yourselves safe."

Draco rolled his eyes. "By Merlin's Beard, Potter, not everyone is here to fight for you." He looked around the circle that had formed around them, some nodded at his statement. Draco turned back to Potter and put a hand on his shoulder. "These people are here to fight for everyone and everything they've lost; let them."

Potter stared at him in bewilderment; just as the rest of the room. "OK, Malfoy. What do you propose?" All eyes were on him. Draco wanted to sit in a corner far, far away from here. The scrutinizing attention of his classmates had him tongue-tied.

A shoulder appeared on his hand. Sirius. "I, personally, think it's wise so sit down. Concoct a plan, as they won't be able to find us for at least an hour –"

"By that time this place will be crawling with Death Eaters and Dementors!" Weasley exclaimed, stirring up the crowd again. Potter agreed with him, though.

"We can't wait, Sirius. It's time to take action!" The crowd around Potter cheered in agreement, adrenaline overriding anyone's logic. They wanted to fight – as much as Draco hated to admit, he wanted to fight. But it just wasn't right.

Whilst the whole room started discussing where to find the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw, Narfi appeared from the crowd. "No offense to all of you, but why in the Nine Realms did you go to Hogwarts, Potter?" The discussion stopped. Everyone went silent and looked at Narfi, agitated.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Seamus Finnigan yelled, "We've waited long enough, it's time for some fucking action."

Narfi was unfazed, his eyes focussed on Potter. "You made a deal, Mister Potter. I understand you are impatient, but why could you not have waited? You are wasting the assistance of a valuable ally."

Narfi was right, of course. He should've waited for Skyler, Draco would admit that. His eyes passed along the lines of the Order, all of them ready to fight. How many of them would survive this night?

"He started to notice our actions, there was no more time left. Besides, we wouldn't have lasted another week. It's time for me to take on Voldemort." An odd look appeared on the Boy-Who-Lived's face. Calculated and sly. It sent shivers down Draco's spine. "Alone."