Surprising turn - a turn for the better? Or into madness ... (Draco Ff)

Chapter 64 ~ Peace is not everything, but without peace everything is nothing...

Victoria's Pov.

I broke away from the ice prince and took a good look around the hall.
Dead bodies lay on the ground everywhere.
Some were badly injured and levitated into the great hall.
Many hugged each other.
Some were overjoyed, others were in tears.
Many cried.
They hung over the bodies of the fallen and tried to wake them up with strong shaking.
They were all in shock, not realizing that their loved ones were no longer among the living.
I felt drained.
Everyone in this room had been through unimaginable things.
They had all fought and won.
The rock was crumbling from the walls everywhere.
It fell to the ground like fine sand.
The noise made me uneasy and the bloodcurdling screams of the bereaved made my blood run cold.
I glanced in the direction of the screams and saw a member of the Order trying to separate a student from a former Hogwarts student.
He lay hunched over the lifeless body, whimpering, digging his fingernails into the limp upper arms.
Bill Weasley approached the boy and put a hand on his shoulder as he crouched next to him.
He spoke to him, but I didn't understand anything because he was too far away.
The boy calmed down and released his grip on the prone student.
Along with the eldest Weasley, he stood.
Madame Pomfrey had the dead body covered with a sheet and flown into the great hall.
I turned away from the scenario and continued to let my gaze wander through the corridors that were still standing.
Gradually, the survivors came to rest.
They held each other's hands and gave each other strength.
I detached myself from my place where I had just been standing and walked through the entrance hall with slow steps.
I stepped over some large rocks that were lying on the ground, ignoring Draco behind me who was calling my name.
I stepped over dead students, teachers, Aurors, but also the lifeless bodies of Death Eaters could be made out among the masses.
Some have also fallen.
Others fled when things got serious.
The rest were collected and cornered by the surviving Aurors.
I saw a Death Eater's mask ripped off his face.
I didn't know him very well, but his mischievous grin told me that he had been a loyal follower of Voldemort to the end.
He knew what to expect.
He entered this last journey with pride.
He would rot in Azkaban.
However, with the ulterior motive of remaining faithful to his master forever.
My feet carried me in a certain direction without prompting.
In front of a lifeless body of a woman, I stopped and grimaced in disgust.
My mother's lifeless body lay on the ground at my feet.
Her eyes wide open, but empty, lifeless.
Her body lay contorted on the floor.
Her wand lay a few meters away.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and the warmth radiating from it made me turn away from my mother.
"You okay?" Draco asked me, looking worried and tilting his head slightly.
I blinked back tears and tried to manage a sincere smile.
I was only moderately successful.
I smiled, although some tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Where's Blaise?" I asked the Ice Prince, lifting my head in search.
He exhaled and started to speak.
"I was just going to look for him."
He tapped his foot lightly on the porous ground.
"What are you waiting for, find your best friend." I gasped and saw his face lighten up a bit.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded to his question and watched as young Malfoy disappeared down one of the many corridors.
I looked after him for a while until a deep voice tore me out of my thoughts.
"Miss Lestrange!" the person's words pounded in my ears.
I turned and furrowed my brows as I realized that about half a dozen Aurors had positioned themselves in front of me.
They all pointed their wands at me.
I eyed the Auror standing in the center of the formation.
He was the one who spoke to me earlier.
With his tall and broad body, he made a somewhat intimidating impression.
"Miss Lestrange, drop your wand!  Immediately!” his words echoed off the walls.
They sounded so infinitely loud in my ears.
Everything around me was dead quiet.
Nobody spoke a word.
I felt the survivors' eyes on my back and let my gaze wander through the rows of those present.
I looked each of them in the eye and recognized the immense suffering that Voldemort had caused.
"Miss Lestrange, I repeat myself one last time.
Drop her wand!
You're under arrest!” the deep voice made me turn away from the ranks of the combatants.
I turned back to the Aurors in front of me.
I ran my wand through my fingers.
The piece of wood felt so heavy in my hand.
I rocked the wand, considering, and lowered my gaze.
About six wands were pointed at me.
I didn't stand a chance.
Even if I managed to incapacitate the Aurors in front of me, those who were still able to fight would turn against me.
I bit my lower lip and raised my head again.
My eyes focused on the Auror's eyes in front of me.
I took a step towards him.
"No movement!
Stay where you are!” he said coolly.
He and his colleagues raised their wands a little higher.
I didn't stop and took a few more steps towards her.
I let my wand dangle indifferently next to my body.
Exhaustion tugged at my bones.
Every step I took became more and more difficult.
I felt the adrenaline slowly leaving my body.
I slowly began to feel the extent of my injuries again.
My ribs stung and I could feel the warm blood on my temple.
I stopped in front of the Auror less than half a meter away.
The tip of his wand lightly touched my neck.
A questioning expression graced his face.
I looked into his eyes and didn't take my eyes off of him.
I lazily raised my wand hand.
Alarm bells suddenly rang for him.
He took a step back and now grabbed his staff with both hands.
I saw other Aurors line up next to their peers.
All with raised batons.
I eyed the piece of wood in my hand one last time before holding my wand out to the tall Auror in front of me, the hilt pointing in his direction.
His face collapsed.
He shook his head briefly, then took my staff and tucked it into his robes.
He lowered his wand as well and put it back in its holder.
He stepped towards me and pushed me against a wall.
He crossed my arms roughly behind my back and tied them together with an invisible magical rope.
I felt the recurring electrical impulses.
They were caused by the rope cutting painfully into my wrists.
Another Auror grabbed my hands and dragged me along.
"VIKTORIA!" I heard a roaring voice behind me.
I reflexively turned to the Ice Prince.
He tried to run towards me but was stopped by Blaise.
"No!  Don't take her with you!”, he turned to the Aurors.
These, however, were not deterred and continued to drag me along with them.
I saw how the ice prince sank to his knees and tried hard to get rid of his best friend, who was still holding him.
I caught Blaise's eye and gave the slightest nod.
However, he understood and heaved Draco to his feet.
He dragged him with him.
Take him to the hall.
Take him away from here...
I saw young Malfoy keep trying to pull away.
I was forced to look away from him as the pressure tightened around my wrists.
The Auror kept pulling me and shoving me into the arms of another Auror.
"Take her to Azkaban pending her hearing.
We're going to make sure she's never set free again!” I heard his voice muffled in my ears.
I saw the Auror holding me nod and already felt the familiar feeling of being pushed through a hose.
So this is how it would end...