Too Far Gone (Don't Save Me Book 4)

Chapter 73: Summoned

Minerva, Pomona, and I spent the next few hours simply walking and enjoying the sunset as we conversed over simple things. We parted ways as the sun finally disappeared beneath the horizon and I returned to my chambers to fall asleep for the night, trying to ignore the lingering burning in my chest as several images flashed in my mind throughout the night. This war was only just beginning.

***

A frantic knock sounded on my door a few months later and I opened it to find Severus standing outside.

"Sev? What's going on?"

"You're being summoned to Malfoy Manor. They didn't say why... only that it was urgent."

My heart began pounding rapidly as I pulled on my cloak and we made our way upstairs to use the Floo network from Severus's office.

I arrived at Malfoy Manor moments later and was met with Bellatrix greeting me warmly. She led me into the living room and my heart sank as I saw Hermione and Ron being held back by several Death Eaters as another figure was being hauled forward by Bella. No. Please, no. She used her wand to push the boy's hair back and there was an indent where the scar should be but his face was disfigured almost beyond recognition. Almost.

"We're waiting for Draco to come downstairs but we thought perhaps you might recognize the boy."

I tilted my head, studying the boy's face. "Where'd you find this one?" I asked, relaxing into the familiar role of a loyal Death Eater.

"Picked 'em up in the woods," Scabior replied.

"I thought the Ministry was handling students," I scoffed, my face taking on a disgusted look. "Why have you brought them here?"

"We, uh... we reckoned they might be Potter and his friends, my Lady," Scabior stuttered and I chuckled.

"So, you brought them here?" I rolled my eyes and Scabior nodded, bowing his head.

"You've taught him for the last six years, Y/n... we thought, perhaps... perhaps you might be able to identify him," Narcissa said softly.

"With his face like that it's quite hard to recognize him. Most of my students look the same to me as it is." I roll my eyes.

Bellatrix chuckled at this and Draco finally entered the room. His eyes widened at the sight of the three students and I knew he already recognized them.

"Well?" Bella hissed.

"I can't be sure," Draco replied.

"Draco... look closely, son," Lucius said as he placed a hand on Draco's shoulder as the boy looked to me for help and Lucius continued. "If we are the ones to hand Potter over to the Dark Lord... everything would be forgiven." He moved in front of Draco. "A-all would be as it was, you understand?"

Scabior handed Hermione over to Greyback and took a step forward. "Now we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope, Mr. Malfoy?"

"You dare to talk to me like that in my own house?" Lucius yelled and Narcissa approached him, pulling him back as her eyes locked with mine, silently pleading with me, but I knew there was nothing I could do.

Draco turned to me, his jaw clenched, and lips shaking. Fuck my role.

I approached him and quickly wrapped my arms around him as his entire body shook with fear.

"It's alright, sweetheart. It's alright."

I heard a scoff from the corner of the room and turned to the sound, my eyes narrowing on Greyback. "Do you have something to say?"

"Babying the boy will get us nowhere."

"Oh?" I raised a brow and he lowered his head. "I think you seem to forget, Fenrir, that he is still a child. A child who has accomplished far more in 17 years than you have in your entire life. And when I choose to hug my nephew is none of your business." I could see Ron smirking as Greyback's hands shook.

Draco turned to me. "Nephew?"

I nodded and he smiled.

"Don't be shy, sweetie," Bella soothed. "Come over." She took his hand and led him over to Harry. "Now, if this isn't who we think it is, Draco, and we call him... he'll kill us all. We need to be absolutely sure."

I could see Draco staring intently at Harry as they began discussing what happened to his face. Suddenly Bella paused, abruptly, her eyes locked on the sword of Gryffindor. When the Death Eater said it belonged to him she went ballistic and began attacking them before yelling at all of them to leave. I could see the fear in her eyes as held the sword close, before turning to her sister. "Put the boys in the cellar!" she ordered Narcissa but I stopped her.

"I've got this."

Narcissa nodded and I grabbed Harry and Ron, bringing them into the cellar. "I'm sorry, boys... I've got no choice," I said softly, opening the cellar door.

"We know, Aunt Y/n," Harry said, pulling me into a hug. "We know."

"I'm going to get you out of here... I just... I have to figure out how to do it without blowing my cover."

Harry nodded and I closed the cellar door, the lock clicking into place as my eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry."

Harry grabbed my hand through the bars just as I heard Bellatrix yell. "This situation is graver than you can possibly imagine, Cissy! We have a very serious problem!"

"Harry, where did you get that sword?" I asked him.

"I- I thought you sent it."

"What do you mean?"

"A-at the lake. There was a (your patronus) and it led me to the sword."

Severus, I realized. "So, you didn't steal it from her vault?"

Harry and Ron shook their heads and the fear settled in the pit of my stomach. She's about to torture Hermione for information she doesn't have.

"Do you have anything on you you can use to communicate with anyone? Anywhere they might not have searched?"

Harry thought for a moment before pulling a mirror shard from his sock. "I-It's a bit silly but sometimes I think I can see Dumbledore in this. I'm probably just going mad."

I took the shard from him and saw what he meant, though it wasn't Albus Dumbledore; it was Aberforth Dumbledore. I smiled softly as the man's eyes stared back at me. "We're at Malfoy Manor. Send help to the dungeons." I turned the mirror to show Harry and Ron before turning the mirror back to me. There was a brief nod and the man was gone.

Harry looked at me curiously.

"You're not going mad, love." I gave him back the shard, gently squeezing his hand. "Just be ready."