The Fall of Darkness

Chapter 12

Realizing that Draco was, in fact, familiar with the wizards in the shack and the one that had killed her mate, the first one dove in attack. Draco easily evaded her, stepping to the side and grabbing her lashing tail, wrapping it around his arm as Harry had done his. Then, he slung her, pushing her to the ground as he deftly let go of the tail- blood dripping down his fingers. She shrieked, lashing with her talons but Draco caught her arm with his, his other coming around to slash her. Her wings beat forward and he pushed back, releasing her. The wings just barely missed enveloping him. She pulled them back, smiling evilly and he lunged again, this time he hit his mark. His talons ripped through her lower stomach, blood spurting everywhere. His tail cracked around with a sickening crack and tearing sound, ripping a wing from her body- severing it cleanly at a joint. She fell, writhing, to the dirt.

Covered in blood and grinning in such a way that all three Gryffindors found they were holding their breath, Draco turned, glancing up at the other two.

"How many more will die before you leave?" he asked, his voice cool and calm, "That's two. Don't think I don't smell you either," he hissed, turning to look at a large nearby oak. Hermione hadn't seen the two Veelas in it's branches until then.

Another Veela, one they recognized to have been a Slytherin ahead of their class laughed.

"Did your chosen rip your wings from you, Draco? You are weak, as you have always been!" he laughed. Draco just shrugged.

"If I am so weak, McClain, please- come take me out. Show me what a disgrace I am!" The Veela shook his head, gesturing for the two treed Veelas to come forward with a wave of his hand,

"Orion! Tibbault! Show our *dear* inpennatus what he's made of. Litterally." Draco spun on his heel as the swept down to him, two matching sets of black wings and talons and fangs bearing down. Draco took his attack stance, his hands pushing outward and a stream of fire seemed to enveloped one of them like a snake, dropping it to the ground- wailing.

"Ah! So you *have* been near your chosen!" McClain called, rolling and laughing in the air as he landed. The other Veela did nothing, watching coldy as her companion burnt and did nothing to put him out, waiting. As McClain approached the other Veela- the doubtful one- landed as well and together they began their slow walk toward Draco. He sneered at them, backing up toward the shack. They stopped, their wings poised back behind them except for McClain who wrapped his around himself like a cloak. "Your wings were so pretty, Draco. You could have defeated me then, you can not now. I will find out which one is your Chosen and kill the others. I will then spend the rest of the day with them, letting them slowly bleed to death." Draco let out a sharp laugh, grinning.

"My Chosen is not here, no one knows them, you'll never find them," he cooed.

At that moment, the two Veelas flanking McClain raised their hands, flames catching the entire roof of the shack ablaze. All three Gryffindors rushed out, realizing the flames were too much to put out. Draco hissed, his tail cracked.

"We want Harry Potter, Draco. You may have the other two," McClain said, as if this were all a business deal. Draco smirked, moving himself to the far right of the Golden Trio. "I'll not follow your distractions either." McClain added, lunging forward a bit towards the Head Auror. Harry jumped back, wand drawn and flung a hex that merely slid off the magical wings. Draco snarled, and like a flash he yelled the same incantation, dropping the doubtful Veela as he raced forward and placing himself between the three and McClain.

"Seems doubtful, Draco." The other Veela said, rushing forward to grab Hermione. Draco seemed to flip over, tackling her and grinding her to the ground as Ron and Harry hit her with a string of hexes. McClain lunged forward, grabbing Draco and flinging him off of her, his wings beating hard and hitting the blonde. The Veela on the ground screeched, writhing in pain, one of her wings lay limp at her side- broken. Draco fell to the ground hard, rolling and crying out. McClains tail lashed out as he dove for Draco and Harry Ron and Hermione stood united, casting spells in his direction. One finally struck and he fell limp, laying on top of Draco who was making the strange eagle sound again, struggling to get out from beneath him.

The three Aurors rushed forward to him as he stood, holding his tail to him and looking dejected. He rose his wand toward the and they stopped dead, confused.

"ALIABICIO!"

Another Veela, one they hadn't seen, fell writhing and screaming behind them. They turned in shock, watching as her wings twisted and tore apart as she died. Nearby in the bushes a Veela took off, taking flight and crying out. Two black swirls- Death Eaters- took out after her, laughing. They were too far away to strike.

"I'll give you two choices," Draco hissed through clenched teeth. "you can all either stay with me, or I can stay with you. *That* was not normal." He staggered forward a bit, Ron catching him deftly before he fell and he hissed in pain, straightening himself. There was the sound of yelling as Aurors apparated in, wands drawn. Harry calmed them, holding up his hand, and went forward to tell them what had happened.

"Draco, we've got to get you to St. Mungos!" Hermione said. Ron nodded,

"You need medical attention Malfoy." Draco scowled at him, sitting down hard in the dirt.

"I will need no such thing. I knew what I was doing and I'll be fine. I will wait here, with you lot. You will go nowhere without each other and myself. They're not just attacking... there's some sort of plan..." he hissed again, wincing as he adjusted himself. Harry was rushing back over, kneeling beside him.

"Draco, how bad are you hurt?" he asked, looking concerned.

"I'm fine. Or I will be."

"He's insisting on staying with us." Ron said, "says we all need to stay together- there's some sort of plan, or something."

"Then we need to stay together at St. Mungos!" Hermione said, kneeling beside Draco as well.

"No. I'll be fine. Too many people there, if they followed or attacked, lots of lives would be lost. I make healing potions, remember? I'll be alright once I get to my shop." Draco snapped, looking irritated.

"Then, go." Harry said, leaning back for Draco to disapparate.

"You lot go first, I'll follow." Draco said, looking around at the small batches of bushes and trees, some blazing with flames as the Aurors began putting them out. There were a lot of hiding places.

"Draco-" Harry began.

"I am not so hurt, Mr. Potter, that I can not defend myself. If you don't go first, I won't. And you are incapable of *making* me do anything, short of an Unforgivable." Draco cut him off. Hermione sighed,

"let's just go, then!" and with a soft pop she was gone. Ron sighed and was the next to go. Harry glared at Draco who just glared back.

"Fine. But we're going to talk about this- it isn't over." Harry snapped, giving in and disapparating away. Draco smiled and was gone.