Saving the Enemy

Chapter 23

Draco

    Draco has just gotten the rest of the victims out of the house before he realizes Hermione isn’t with him anymore. He feels his heart race, rushing back to the room on the right, finding it empty. His breathing increases to short gasps as he fears Hermione has gone after Amelia without him, that she has found his love and when he finds her, she will be dead. He can’t lose Hermione. He knows he is going to disobey her orders to not interfere, but he loves her too much to just let her risk her life, to not try to save her.

    Draco’s heart stops as he hears a scream in the room to the right, her scream. He runs to the door, not a hesitation in mind when he flings the door open, horrified at the scene in front of him.

    Hermione is facing him, a hand around her neck and a wand pointing to her heart. He recognizes the woman behind her as Amelia. His heart hardens, knowing he has to keep emotion out to win this, to save Hermione.

    Hermione is visibly panting, her wide eyes finding his. He tries to look reassuring, but he is almost positive his fear is shining through. He locks eyes with Amelia, her eyes holding a crazed look that her mother once held, making him glare at her smirking, smug face.

    “So kind of you to join us, Draco,” she chirps, sending chills down his spine, quickly disarming him from his wand with a twisted smile.

    “What do you want?” he spits out, noticing Hermione moving her leg up to her chest. He remembers then that she has a spare wand, for Auror requirements and personal safety, and he knows he is going to have to keep Amelia distracted for Hermione to succeed.

    “I want you two dead. I want all of you to suffer. I want you all to pay for what you did do me. You killed my parents, you killed the Dark Lord, you killed everything good left in my life. It is because of you and your stupid friends that my life is this bad. I failed my parents and this is the only way to make it right again,” she glares, discarding her innocent facade immediately. Draco eyes Hermione’s progress, seeing that she is starting to unzip the bottom of her boot.

    “Amelia, I used to have parents similar to yours, raised with the same punishments, raised with the same beliefs. I lost them because of you, you tortured me, you destroyed everything good in my life and yet I forgive you. Because of you, I have found the love of my life and I am standing here that those prejudices and beliefs we were taught, they are all wrong. Your parents were vile and cruel, they were wrong to feel as though you failed them, and the Dark Lord, he ruined too many lives. I haven’t the foggiest how your life will turn from here, but please, just let her go,” he pleads, trying to keep her distracted, keep her focus on him while also giving her a second chance, just like Hermione did for him. He sees her grip slacken slightly, obviously exhausted with how much evil she is committing. Hermione is reaching into her boot, Draco knows Amelia has to keep talking.

    “I used to hate torturing, killing, being evil. But if I have learned anything from my mother, it’s that torture is the only way you win,” she says calmly, her grip tightening further instead of slackening, causing Hermione to yelp, almost losing her grip on her wand. Draco jumps forward unthinkingly, only focused on Hermione.

    “Ah ah ah,” she taunts, her wand digging into Hermione’s side so hard that Draco sees blood seeping down her wand. He sees Hermione try to aim her wand towards Amelia, but she is struggling for breath, wincing in pain.

    “Let her go,” he begs, tears forming through his barrier, his emotions leading him to become weak. He sees Hermione is finally pointing her wand towards Amelia but she looks about ready to pass out.