For The Greater Good (A Draco Malfoy Story)

Chaos

Draco.

Granger didn't deserve this. No one did.

I couldn't help but flinch as Bellatrix carved letters into Granger's arm, eliciting sharp and horrific screams from her until her voice went hoarse. I had to give it to Granger though. With all the intimidation and the pain Bellatrix inflicted, she never gave my aunt the information she wanted. I never knew loyalty like that, never had it and now felt I didn't even deserve it. What was there to be loyal to?

Abruptly, the screams stopped and turned into sobs as Bellatrix backed away, blowing locks of curly hair out of her face. "Draco," she spat. "Bring me the Alvers girl. I think it's about time."

Panic almost choked the life out of me just then but I kept my composure. Stiffly nodding, I turned to the entrance of the dungeons and went down below. Immediately Weasley and Potter took me by the arms and twisted them behind my back.

"You're making it really difficult to help you, Weasley," I sneered. Weasley barked out a harsh laugh.

"Help us? Why would you want to help us? You've wanted us dead and buried since we were children!"

"I never wanted that," I snapped. "You're a fucking twit if you think this is what I want. Do you think I like watching people get slaughtered every day and having my aunt torture me day and night to prepare me for more killing?" I tried to keep my voice low in case someone else heard me but the rage I had kept in check the past few months came out suddenly, tightening my throat.

Potter and Weasley exchanged a look before Gabriel spoke up. "Let him go, I believe him."

They did so with visible disgust. Gabriel scowled with his arms crossed. "What do you want?"

"Bellatrix needs your sister," I started to make my way towards Rose when her brother gripped me by the throat.

"You come in here saying you want to help and then you want to take my fucking sister to that psychopath?"

"She won't hurt her, trust me. I know what I'm doing."

He stared into my eyes for longer than I felt was necessary before letting me go and watching me pick up Rose's still unconscious body with a low growl. To be honest, I actually didn't know what I was doing. I didn't have a plan, I didn't know what was happening. I guess I'll just wing it.

Before I left, I kept the dungeon door unlocked and dropped Potter's, Weasley's and Gabriel's wands out of my pocket "accidentally." Moving upstairs, I took Rose to Bellatrix. She was still limp in my arms but her skin had gotten warmer, the cuts were beginning to scab over.

Granger was still on the floor, barely conscious, with the words "Mudblood" carved into her forearm. Crimson blood dripped from her arm as tears streamed down her cheeks slowly. She made no noise, she just stared blankly ahead with a glint of pain in her eyes. Bellatrix towered over Hermione cackling before she noticed me.

"What did you do to her, you useless child?" she shouted with hysteria.

"Nothing, she was like this when I went to get her for you," I responded coldly. "That's what happens when your Snatchers lacerate prisoners." Bellatrix hissed and pushed my arms away, making me drop Rose onto the hard floor with a sickening thud. Fuck! How am I screwing this up already? Rose moaned in pain and stirred as Bellatrix delivered a swift kick to her side.

"Wake up!" she screamed at Rose. Rose groaned and opened her glazed eyes, barely glancing around her surroundings before her eyes found Bellatrix towering over her. Her eyes snapped wide open but it was like she couldn't control herself, she kept falling back unconscious. Bellatrix's foot came down on Rose's throat, screaming, "WAKE UP!"

"Stop it!" I yelled, pushing my aunt off of Rose abruptly. "How is she to be of any use to us if you keep fucking trying to kill her?"

She sneered. "Oh, you don't fool me, Draco! I know how you really feel about our dear little pet here. Now, just wait until the Dark Lord hears we have his two prizes." Bellatrix cackled maniacally.

Suddenly, a burst of noise pulled her attention away from Rose and I. Quickly taking her back into my arms, I backed away to the corner, hiding under the shadows as Potter and his friends burst through the entrance to the dungeon. A duel ensued between them and my parents before Bellatrix screamed.

"Drop your wands!" she bellowed, catching everyone's attention. She held Granger in her arms, a knife pointed to her slender throat. Gabriel glanced at Rose, his form relaxing a bit at her far proximity to danger. "I said drop 'em!" Bellatrix screamed again, making Gabriel, Ron and Harry drop their wands to the ground. My father quickly shuffled closer and snatched the wands from the floor with a jeer. God, how I wanted to wipe that smirk from his face.

A twisted smile spread onto Bellatrix's lips as Potter's face slowly went back to normal, clearly displaying his scar and his features. She cackled with sick delight.

"It's Harry Potter," she whispered into Granger's ear, bringing the blade against her neck closer, and making her whimper. "Call him Lucius!"

Lucius pushed his black sleeve up to his elbow and raised a dirty finger to his Dark Mark.

No! I wanted to scream. But before my father could kill us all, a squeaking noise drew our attention to the ceiling. Slowly turning our heads upwards, we spotted none other than Dobby the house elf unscrewing the chandelier hanging above my Aunt and Granger. I knew what was about to happen before it did. The chandelier fell quickly and Bellatrix threw herself to the side, accidentally nicking Granger's throat in the process.

It all happened so quickly, so suddenly. I watched as Rose's friends gathered close and the wands and Granger were retrieved, apparation clearly their goal.

"Go without me, I can't leave her!" Gabriel urged, backing away towards me.

"But Gabriel!"

"No, just go!"

And with the slightest hesitation, they disappeared, leaving chaos in their wake.