The Badger And The Snake; Phan/Harry Potter AU

Twenty-Five.

But he felt a pair of tough, hard hands clasp onto his before he could move. Here is where I end. Everything. Everything is lost.

He felt a tug, pulling on his ear and dragging him backwards. All of a sudden, he felt sick and nauseous, and couldn't tell what he was looking at. After his eyes adjusted, he saw he was in The Three Broomsticks, only there were no wizards or witches other than the ones who wanted him dead.

The pair of hands gripped his shoulders and turned him around, pointing an elm wand directly in the middle of his chest.

"Finally. Hello, Howell. Have we formally met? I am Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy."

He spoke slowly, showing off his yellowed teeth. The man had long, wispy blonde hair. He had evil, piercing blue eyes that felt like they could see right through Dan. Felt like they could see every secret, every thought, every panic that flew through his mind.

What was he doing? Why didn't he run? Why wasn't Phil doing anything?

"You're not going to respond? Typical halfblood crudeness. I wouldn't expect proper manners with that hag of a mother you have. Or that lousy father." He giggled at that last part.

His blood began to boil at the way this old man insulted his family, but something caught him off guard and delayed his retaliation.

"Wait. What? Did you say half blood?"

"No... No. I did not."

"Yes, you did. I heard you. Does that mean... my father was a wizard?"

Malfoy said nothing. Instead his lips curled into a knowing half-smile, a smile that made Dan's blood go cold.

"Answer my question," said Dan, faking confidence. His hands shook. So did his voice.

Malfoy only laughed.

Why isn't Phil doing anything? Or saying anything? Why is he just standing there?!

He turned his head microscopically to look behind him. Another masked woman stood behind his boyfriend, with her wand to his head, whispering threats that barely carried to the other side of the room. The room itself was dark. Dan assumed the Three Broomsticks hadn't opened yet.

There was a stream of tears falling from Phil's eyes, down his cheek and onto his outfit. Dan remembered having Phil tie his tie earlier that morning. Was that really only a few hours ago?

The woman continued whispering harsh things into his innocent ears and Dan could feel every inch of him exploding into full rage. How dare she threaten Phil? How dare she even think of telling him she would kill him, or Dan, or his mother, and everyone else he loved just for the fun of it?

Dan didn't even care that this 18 inch elm wand was pointed at his heart. He didn't. Not when Phil was in danger.

His hand gripped the wand in his pocket, his eyes directed at Lucius' steel ones.

"Daniel, don't tell me your father never told you. Surely you would have guessed? How stupid. All those lonely years you've spent complaining and blubbering to him you've never even asked? Just how much do you know about your father, Daniel? Are you so selfish you never even thought to ask?"

These words bounced off the edges of his head, back and forth. Stupid...complaining... Selfish...

And still there was Phil in the corner, silently crying as the woman laughed at his salty tears.

"Do you think your father really trusts you? He's always a little condescending, isn't he? But you always brush it off, because he's dead. But I can assure you, he is sure as hell not gone. He is being nursed back to health... You'll see your father soon, I promise you that much."

Dan released his grip on his wand, confused.

"W-what do you mean? Nursed? The hell?"

"Your father is the most powerful Dark wizard of all time, Daniel."

Lucius' intrusive eyes bore into Dan's brown ones, watching as the recognition flashed across his face.

"No... No, it can't be. You're lying to me. You're shitting me."

At that moment the woman behind them pointed her wand at Phil's chest and screamed, "Crucio!"

And Dan exploded.

For a second he stayed still, then with all his strength he pushed Malfoy onto the ground. The old man gave a shout, but Dan had already Stunned him.

He pointed his wand at the woman and shouted "Petrificus Totalus!"

The witch made a move for Phil but wasn't fast enough. Dan quickly cast the same jinx on Malfoy so he wouldn't be attacking them soon.

He ran and embraced Phil, hugging him with all his might and asked, over and over, "are you okay?"

Phil was sobbing, but he was also giggling.

"My boyfriend is such a badass."