Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Seventy: Interruptions

The death eaters gathered at the front of the Malfoy property. I gripped my broom tightly in nervousness. Other than our class with Madame Hooch during first year, I hadn't really practiced flying all that much. We were about ready to take off.

"Hey Draco?" I spoke, turning to face him.

"Yeah?"

"We stay together, okay? No matter what happens, we do our best to stay together tonight."

He reached over and wrapped an arm around me, kissing my cheek. "Good idea. We'll stay together," he approved.

We took off and began flying to Little Whinging. It took forever to get there, but we were able to arrive safely. After hovering in the air for a while, we heard the sound of a motor starting up and could see the Order members flying towards us. Some of the Death Eaters began shooting spells at them and the battle began.

Once we got a closer look, it became clear that every pair of Order members included a Harry Potter. They must have used polyjuice potion to confuse us.

Draco and I shot defensive spells off whenever anything came towards us. One spell flew past right next to Draco, causing him to lose his balance and nearly fall off his broom. He managed to stay on, but had flown downwards a ways before he could steady himself. I turned to see someone coming at me and quickly blocked the spell. I then sent one towards them, but it went by right above their heads and hit a death eater that was behind them.

Turning back to where Draco was, I couldn't find him anywhere. I had no choice, I had to keep going, hoping he'd be alright. I continued to aim at death eaters by having the spells zip pass order members, making it look like I just had poor aim.

Up ahead, I saw Dad battling with Lupin and one of the Potters. He shot a jet of light at them that barely managed to strike Lupin's companion. I gasped as I watched the blood begin to ooze from a hole on the side of his head where his ear used to be.

Eventually we had reached the Order's intended destination. As soon as they passed the threshold of the protective enchantments, we were no longer able to pursue them.

"Come on! Let's get back to the manor," Dad told me, flying up next to me.

He took my hand firmly and began to apparate back just as I remembered that Draco wasn't with us. We landed right inside the front doors of the manor. "Wait! Dad! Draco's still out there! We have to go back!"

"You're safe now! I can't have you going back out there."

"But what if he's hurt and can't get back here! We have to find him!"

"I'm sure he'll be alright, now come on, we have to get going." He tried to drag me towards the stairs but I refused.

There was a loud crack outside and I gasped, hurrying to go see who was here. I ran down the front steps and flung my arms around the new arrival. He instantly reciprocated the action. "You're here! You're safe! I was so worried!" I cried.

He stroked my hair soothingly. "I'm perfectly fine. Are you alright?"

I pulled back so I could look at him. "Yeah," I smiled. "I'm great, now that you're back safe and sound. I'm sorry, Dad forced me to come back before I could look for you."

"It's ok. I'm here. I'm safe. Everything's alright," he told me.

I closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Hurry up, you two!" We broke apart at the sound of Dad yelling at us.

Draco shrugged and grabbed my hand to lead me inside.