Life of a Black (Sequel to Life of a Malfoy)

The Manor

"Blimey, Lexa!" Ron exclaimed. "What're you doing here?" 

"Long story for another time," I said quickly then added, "but I might ask you three the same question. Or, you two. Why is Hermione upstairs?" 

"Long story," Harry said. "How do we get out of here?"

"You mean you don't have a plan?" I asked. 

"No, no we didn't plan on getting locked in the dungeon," Harry sputtered. 

"You can't get out. There's no back door or secret passage. This is a dungeon, Harry." 

"How did you get in here and how are you getting out, then?" he asked. 

"They thought I was Luna Lovegood. And Draco was supposed to get me out."

"That bloody Xenophilous! He sold us out to the death eaters for Luna!" Ron shouted. 

"Ron stop yelling in my ear!" I shouted back. "That's not going to help Hermione get anywhere."

A bloodcurdling scream sounded from upstairs, almost as if on cue. Goosebumps spread throughout my body, and I trembled. 

"HERMIONE!" Ron shouted, and ran to the gated doorway. He gripped the steel bars as if he could pry them apart. "HERMIONE!!"

"How do we get out of here?" Harry pressed. He grabbed my wrists and looked me in the eye, defeated. "There has to be some sort of way out."

"I-I can try Draco," I said. "I don't think he'll respond this time, Harry." 

Harry dropped his hands and I walked into the dark of the cellar. I fumbled with a few objects before I found the right one - the pocket-watch. 

"Draco," I whispered, pressing my lips into the face. "Draco, please." 

The cellar doors burst open and I dropped the watch. Wormtail appeared at the entrance, his slimy face pulled in a scowl. 

"You!" he shouted, pointing one of his metal fingers at me. "What- You!"

"Oh my god," I said, reaching for a vial of poly juice potion. My hands knocked over empty vials and I fumbled to find a full one. 

Wormtail crossed the room and pulled me away from the vials, wand pointed at my neck. 

"Get off me!" I screamed, trying my best to squeeze out of his grip. It was no use: months in the dungeon had made me weak and incapable. 

His grip loosened and I fell forward. With a gasp, I turned around and watched Harry and Ron struggle to grab his wand. He fastened his metal hand over Harry's throat and squeezed tight. I watched as Harry's eyes widened and he retched for air. 

"How dare you?!" I shouted. "How could you?!" 

Wormtail released him and in a fleeting moment of panic, closed the metal hand over his own throat. Harry tried to drag back the hand, but it was futile. Wormtail's eyes began to bulge just as  I pulled Harry away. 

"It isn't worth it," I said, getting as far away from him as we could. "He isn't worth it." 

Harry held up Wormtail's wand and nodded. We simultaneously made our way to the open door, and slowly began ascending the staircase. I took lead, holding onto the wall in front of me to balance my sickly body. I stumbled as I took a step without looking, but Harry's hand on my waist steadied me. I stalled at the top of the stairs. 

"Slowly," I whispered. We entered the passageway to the drawing room and tiptoed to the cracked door. 

The scene unfolded before us: Bellatrix was on the ground crouched over Hermione, whose blood was laying in a small pool next to her arm. Griphook waited patiently for Bellatrix to stand, her hands holding the coveted sword of Gryffindor. She passed it to the goblin.