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

Chapter 74: Dobby's Return

When I returned to the living room I found Bella hovering over a screaming Hermione and I struggled to keep my expression neutral as I approached Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco.

"You want to explain what's going on?" I hissed. "Why the hell is she so afraid?"

"Apparently that sword was in her vault at Gringotts," Narcissa answered.

Hermione screamed and I jumped at the sound as Narcissa placed a hand on my arm. "You don't have to stay, sweetheart."

I shook my head. "Yeah... I do."

She smiled sadly as Hermione let out another gut-wrenching scream. "I didn't take anything!"

"That's enough, Bella!" I yelled, turning to face her.

She quickly scrambled away from the girl, her head bowed low as I stalked toward her. "Why is the sword so important to you?" I growled.

"H-he trusted me," she muttered.

"With what?"

"I can't say."

I huffed, rolling my eyes as I turned away from her.

"Bring the goblin!" she ordered and Wormtail scurried out of the room, quickly returning with a Gringotts goblin. There was a popping sound from the cellar and Bella sent Wormtail to check on the sound as she began questioning the goblin and I knelt to Hermione. Her face was covered in sweat as tears slipped from her eyes.

I expected to see hatred in her eyes but I found none as she grabbed my hand. I saw only relief as I pushed her hair out of her face.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered and she softly shook her head.

"Consider yourself lucky, goblin," Bella hissed, moving toward Hermione and I. "The same won't be said for this one."

"Like hell!"

I turned to see Ron and Harry emerge from the stairs. They disarmed Bella, before sending Lucius flying backward. Before I could stop her Bella grabbed Hermione and dragged her upright, holding a dagger to her neck as Harry and Ron were fighting Narcissa and Draco.

"Drop your wands!" Bella hissed. "I said drop 'em!"

Their wands clattered to the ground and she ordered Draco to pick them up. He grabbed them from the floor and quickly ran over to me.

"Well, well, well." Bella smirked. "Look what we have here... It's Harry Potter. He's all bright and shiny and new again... just in time for the Dark Lord."

I turned to see Harry's face slowly returning to normal and I searched the room, trying to find a way out of this.

"Call him," Bella chuckled in delight.

Draco looked at me, his eyes widened in fear, as Lucius slowly approached.

"Lucius..."

He shook his head and began rolling up his sleeve just as I heard a squeaking sound coming from above. I looked up, seeing Dobby clinging to the chandelier before he disappeared and it fell over Bella and Hermione. She pushed Hermione away from her, a loud scream leaving her throat, as Hermione collapsed into Ron's arms. We quickly moved back and Harry began wrestling their wands away from Draco. Lucius raised his wand but Harry sent him flying backward once again. Harry moved backward where Ron, Hermione, Dobby, and Griphook were waiting.

"Stupid elf!" Bella shrieked. "You could've killed me!"

"Dobby never meant to kill," the small elf reasoned. "Dobby only meant to maim... or seriously injure."

Bella smirked, pressing her finger to the mark on her arm. I screamed as my chest began burning. I looked around the room, my eyes settling on Harry, noticing he was wincing in pain, holding a hand to his scar.

Draco and Narcissa approached me.

"Y/n, what's going on?"

"He's angry," I hissed as the pain began spreading.

"Kill the elf!" Bella ordered but Dobby snatched Narcissa's wand before she could do anything and Bella began yelling once again. I slowly stood as the pain began to subside and Draco held my arm.

"Are you alright?"

I nodded, though neither of us believed it. Narcissa approached us, placing a hand on my arm as Harry's eyes fell on me.

You... You can't come with us... can you?

I smiled sadly. No, love... I can't.

I turned to Ron and his eyes locked with mine as Hermione clutched him tightly. Take care of her.

He nodded, looking down at Hermione. Thank you, she mouthed and I nodded. Narcissa watched the interaction but said nothing about it as she gently squeezed my arm.

They joined hands and apparated, but not before Bella threw her dagger and it swirled away with them.

No...