From Wiltshire, With Love

Chapter 61

Draco leaned on the fireplace mantle in the drawing room and closed his eyes, considerably weakened. His body still had muscle and joint pain from the sustained Cruciatus Curses he suffered after the prisoner escape. It would take a couple more days before he healed completely. His mother and father were sitting on the couch together, listening halfheartedly to his aunt lecture them about how there must be a traitor amongst the ranks.

He knew the Dark Lord suspected a spy. Having his drink spiked had scared the shit out of him, and he didn't know if he, Pansy, Vince and Greg were removed from suspicion or not. Draco was terrified he'd be found out eventually. It didn't seem that Aunt Bella suspected him, and she wasn't testing how he reacted to her claims. In fact, she seemed completely oblivious to him, his parents and their pain as she ranted.

His father appeared haggard and Draco felt like he had just been torn apart and put back together. Even his mother, who never had a hair out of place, seemed as if she hadn't slept well last night. He nearly smiled at the thought. Only extended torture by the Dark Lord himself could get Narcissa Malfoy to look like she hadn't had a solid eight hours' rest.

He wondered when Aunt Bella would get bored and just go home. His parents gave the occasional noncommittal reply or encouraging remark. The Dark Lord wasn't here. Draco had no idea where he went during the days he was absent from the Manor and he didn't care. So long as he was gone.

Draco knew he should be more terrified of his aunt's spy accusations, but his body hurt too much. He just wanted to go back to sleep.

Suddenly, he heard shouting and struggling footsteps echoing down the corridor. He groaned inwardly. Nothing good could come of that unless it would get Aunt Bella out of the Manor.

One could hope.

His aunt turned around, waiting to see who would enter.

"What is this?" his father sneered, annoyed that none of them could get back to recovering in their beds any time soon.

To his horror, he saw Hermione, the Weasel and a bloated faced Potter being walked to their drawing room by Greyback, Scabior, Pansy and two other snatchers.

His blood froze in his veins.

How the bloody fuck did they get caught?

"We've caught Harry Potter!" Greyback snarled, stomping in, apparently unaffected by the Dark Lord's torture. Being a werewolf must enable him to recover more quickly from the Cruciatus Curse.

Despite their pain, his parents eagerly rose up from the sofa to inspect the Trio, each with hands bound behind them. Hermione was visibly terrified, and injured from a recent battle, wincing from the manhandling. Draco could tell she was doing everything in her power not to look in his direction.

He had to help. But how?

Pothead appeared to have been hit with a Stinging Jinx, and his father inspected the tosser's head for the telltale lightning scar. They weren't sure it was really Boy Wonder. If they weren't sure, then they wouldn't summon the Dark Lord. At least, not right away.

He wondered if Hermione jinxed Potter on purpose to disguise him. She probably did, and he took a moment to appreciate her cleverness and quick thinking. Not discovering Potter's identify was Hermione's only chance at surviving. They had to keep the Dark Lord away.

And then what?

Draco's mind raced furiously as he considered the situation. Even if his parents and Pansy fought with him, and there was no way in hell they would, they still had four Snatchers against them, with the Malfoys considerably weakened. Aunt Bella was a force to be reckoned with all on her own. She could probably take on all three Malfoys by herself now that they were recovering from torture.