The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy

Chapter 25: Wand of Elder

Draco had not Apparated into the front garden of headquarters. He appeared, instead, in Hermione's room.

Before he had even taken in the sight, Hermione was flying into him in an embrace that nearly knocked him off his feet. "You're alive," she gasped, holding him so tightly that he could feel the pounding of her heart. "Are you hurt?" She pulled back and began to examine him, face drained of colour.

"I'm all right," Draco panted. "I'm... yeah. I'm here."

Her panicked expression didn't ease. Instead, small catching sounds came from her throat, and her eyes filled with tears. "I thought you were dead," she said, voice high and shaky. "I r-really thought..."

"I did, too." Draco's eyes stung, but he kept them open, unwilling to blink, needing to drink in the sight of her. Her trembling mouth. The gloss of her watering eyes.

They moved back together, swaying in each other's grip. A strange, hollow feeling was expanding within Draco, as if a bottomless pit had opened up in the centre of his chest. He didn't understand. He tried to remind himself that they were both alive and safe. He tried to feel warmth, to smell or taste anything, but all his senses seemed muted.

"The others?" he managed to ask.

"They're all right," Hermione whispered. "And your group?"

Draco couldn't answer. Staring at the wall, he saw the dark slash of blood soaking through Andromeda's prison clothes. She had died in an Azkaban uniform.

"Draco?" Hermione said, disentangling herself again. Even her lips were colourless now.

"I have to talk to Tonks," Draco rasped.

They found the rest of the Order downstairs. Even magically expanded, the front room was so jam-packed that there was barely room for everyone to stand. Draco surveyed the scene with a sense of great remove. The others were all present, although several were bleeding or cursed. Luna lay on the sofa unconscious. Her burn, apparently more than a simple hex, had worsened since it was first inflicted. Kingsley was tending to her.

Near the steps where Draco stood, Professor McGonagall was saying to Potter and Weasley, "We spread word of the safehouses' locations among the yard. The prisoners should all have Disapparated to one of the four, and Kingsley will finish connecting our fireplaces within the next several days..."

Just then, Percy Weasley let out a yelp, his horn-rimmed glasses slipping askew on his thin nose. He pointed to the door to the hall, where Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy had appeared.

The sight of his parents only served to make everything feel less real. Draco had never seen them look so afraid. His father's cheeks were stained red as if by sherry, and a copy of last night's Evening Prophet was clutched in his mother's shaking hand. "Where is he?" demanded Narcissa. "Where is my son?"

"I'm here," Draco said hoarsely. "I'm under Polyjuice, Mother. I'm all right."

Tonks and Lupin, who hadn't noticed him upon the steps, whirled his way. "Draco," said Lupin sharply. "What happened? Were the others captured?"

A hush spread throughout the whole room. Draco held tightly to the banister. Suddenly he felt sick. He even felt that it would have been easier to fall in Azkaban than to stand here, the one who had to speak the words.

"They're..." He tried to stop his voice shaking. "They didn't..."

"Where are my parents?" Tonks burst out, forcing her way through the crowd to him. Lupin caught her by the door, holding her at bay.

"They're dead," Draco rasped.

A terrible scream tore from Tonks's throat. She sank downward, Lupin half-bearing her weight.