Two Sides of the Serpent // Draco Malfoy

Twenty-Six: Finding Common Ground

Days passed in a blur as I dreamed of the day when freedom would pry open the iron doors of our confinement. The dullness of captivity hung heavy in the air, and the celler's silence clung to the walls like suffocating. Griphook, Mr. Ollivander, Luna, and I found a bit of comfort in the quiet exchanges that wove through the chains, our shared resilience a silent proof to the spirit that refused to yield.

Then, one day, an unusual amount of commotion erupted from above, a cacophony that reverberated through the stone walls and stirred the curiosity of all us trapped. Luna's eyes met mine, a silent question mirrored in her eyes.

The distant sounds of hurried footsteps, muffled voices, and the clinking of keys reached our ears. As the commotion intensified, I strained against the chains, an involuntary surge of anticipation coursing through my veins. Draco's promise lingered in my thoughts, and the prospect of freedom loomed tantalizingly close.

The gate groaned open, revealing Pettigrew as he callously tossed two boys into the damp chamber. The newcomers stumbled to the ground, swiftly rising to face the gate, their hands gripping its bars with desperation. A voice cut through the air, oddly familiar, questioning the dire situation.

"What are we gonna do? We can't leave Hermione alone with her," one of the boys exclaimed.

'Hermione?' I thought to myself.

"Ron?" Luna's soft voice echoed as she cautiously emerged from around the corner. "Harry?"

A ball of light floated past me, finding its place in a small lantern, casting a glow that illuminated the room.

"Luna?" Harry's bewildered voice filled the space.

Hermione's agonizing screams pierced the air, reverberating through the stone walls, accompanied by her desperate pleas.

"We have to do something," Ron insisted, his tone frantic.

"There's no way out of here," Mr. Olivander interjected, his voice laden with resignation. "We've tried everything! It's enchanted."

Harry, seemingly unperturbed by his bleeding leg, bent down and retrieved something from inside his sock.

"You're bleeding, Harry," Luna observed, her eyes following his every move. "That's a curious thing to keep in your sock."

Harry moved to a quieter corner, the ongoing screams of Hermione serving as an unsettling backdrop. As we stood in anxious anticipation, he revealed a shard of broken mirror.

Soon, the unsettling echo of footsteps on the stairs heralded Pettigrew's return. Ron stepped forward, pushing against the gate.

"Let her go!" he demanded.

Pettigrew, undeterred, raised his wand to Ron. "Shut up. Get back," he commanded, stepping in and pointing his wand at another captive. "You. Goblin. Come with me."

Silence hung heavy in the air as we observed Griphook pass through the gate and ascend the stairs, with Pettigrew trailing closely behind. Just as they vanished from sight, a small familiar house-elf apparated into the cellar. He scanned the surroundings for a moment, and Harry recognized the creature immediately.

"Dobby?" Harry inquired, his brow furrowed. "What are you doing here?"

"Dobby has come to rescue Harry Potter, of course! Dobby will always be there for Harry Potter," he elf responded with unwavering loyalty.

"Are you saying you can apparate in and out of this room?" Harry questioned. "Can you take us with you?"

"Of course, sir. I'm an elf."