|In The Dark|

87

1 WEEK LATER...
ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

"Miss Lupin-Black, please stay back. I need a word with you in private." Snape said. I nodded and stood up, waiting for everyone to leave. "I'll meet you in the Great hall." Enzo said. I nodded and he left. Once everyone was gone, Snape locked the door and silenced the room. "What's going on?" I asked. "It's happening soon. I don't know exactly when or how. But it has to be done before the end of the term." he said. My eyes widened. "That's in 2 weeks." I exclaimed. He nodded. "Draco is still in the hospital wing. He can't-" I started. "He has to." he said. Tears filled my eyes and I forced them away. "Is that all?" I asked. "I would say your goodbyes and pack your things. You'll be at the safehouse within the next 2 weeks." he said. I just nodded. Then he reached into the drawer and pulled out a key on a wire string.

"What is this?" I asked as I took it. "It's the portkey to the safe house. In case I'm not with you." he said. "Why wouldn't you be-" I started. "Just take it." he said firmly. I nodded and pulled the necklace on. "Thank you, sir." I said quietly.

5 DAYS LATER...

Over the past 5 days, I've done exactly what Snape said. I wrote a letter to Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Enzo, Pansy, Blaise and my dad. I explained everything and apologized for what I've done. I put all the letters in a box and brought them to Luna. "If anything happens, I need you to give these out." I said. "Annabelle, your aura is fearful. What's wrong?" she asked. I forced a smile. "Nothing. I just- I need these letters delivered and you're the only one I trust not to open them." I said. She gave a small smile. "Ok." she said. I hugged her. "Thank you, Luna." I said. Then I went back to the hospital wing. Draco was sitting up, sipping his water. "How are you feeling, Draco?" I asked. "Like I want to leave," he said. "Madam Pomfrey said you need a few more days." I said. "Wouldn't that be nice." he mumbled. My face faltered. "Draco, did you fix the cabinet?" I asked. He looked down. "No." he said quietly. I nodded. I felt a wave of relief. Maybe if he didn't fix the cabinet, I could get him to the safehouse before Voldemort even knows he failed. Maybe Dumbledore doesn't have to die. "I'm feeling sort of tired." Draco said. "Oh, right. I'll let you rest." I said. He nodded and laid down. I sat in the chair next to him and soon enough, the sun went down and I drifted off.

A Few Hours Later...
"Anna!" I jolted up and looked around quickly. Theo was standing in front of me. "What?" I said. "Where the hell is Draco?" he asked. I looked at the empty cot in front of me and my stomach lurched. "Fuck- he's doing it tonight." I said. Theo's face dropped and we took off. As we ran through the halls, I dug through my back and pulled out the map. "Where is he?" Theo asked. I scanned the map and I saw his name. "The Great Hall." I said. We ran down the corridor and turned the hall. Just as we did, Snape walked by with a group of other death eaters. I stood there, frozen and we locked eyes. "Go." he mouthed. They passed us and we ran into the Great Hall. I stopped in the doorway as I saw Bellatrix standing on a table cheering and destroying everything. "Dahlia, sweetie!" she said. I ran over and Draco looked at me. "What are you doing? You have to hide." he said. "We are. We're going to hide." Theo said. He understood. I knew he did. Theo grabbed him and we started to drag him out. "Dahlia, you can't run from me!" Bellatrix yelled. She started following us and Draco was fighting us. "No! I won't leave my mother! No!" he yelled as he thrashed and kicked. "Draco, stop! There is no other way!" I said. "I won't let him kill my mother!" he yelled. "I won't let him kill you!" I yelled. Theo dug his wand into Draco's side and spoke. "Stupefy." he said. Draco's body went limp and Theo held him up. Bellatrix turned the corner and drew her wand. I pulled the necklace off and held it in my hand. Then I grabbed Theo's arm and he held Draco. "Apparate." I whispered. We were sucked into a black blur and it felt like eternity before my feet landed on the ground. When I looked around, we were in the middle of a forest in the middle of nowhere. "Where the hell are we?" Theo asked as he struggled to hold Draco. "Snape said the portkey would take us to the safe house." I said. I looked around and in the distance, I saw...a house. "Look-" I said, pointing in the direction. He looked closely. "Is that a cabin?" he asked. "I don't know. There's so much greenery over it." I said. He picked up Draco and we started walking. I felt the feeling of wards pulsing as we approached the house. I turned the doorknob and the door opened. "I don't like this." Theo whispered. We walked in and I looked around, drawing my wand. "Snape?" I called out. Then I heard footsteps coming in from another room. "Snape, it's Annabelle!" I called out as I gripped my wand. A man I'd never seen before stepped out in front of us with a calm smile "Annabelle, I've been expecting you." he said.