Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Eighty-One: Loyalties Revealed

Draco and I made our way down towards the main floor. Somewhere around the third floor, Draco grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Where are we going?" He asked me.

"To help defend the castle!" I answered.

"And how's that going to work out? Everyone on both sides will be against us!"

"We shoot spells near Hogwarts students and Order members but miss on purpose and hit Death Eaters instead. It makes it look like an accident."

Draco's eyes widened at my suggestion. "What? How can you manage that?"

"It's easy enough. I did it last year on our way out of Hogwarts after Dumbledore was killed. And again when we had to ambush the Order while they were moving Harry," I confessed.

He took a step back. "What? You can't be serious!"

"Why would I joke about that?"

"You've been doing this this whole time?"

"Yes! Now come on, we need to get going!"

"But-"

"We don't have time to get into this, Draco. Let's go!"

Before we could move anywhere, the Dark Lord's voice penetrated the walls of the castle once more. We looked up and listened intently.

"You have fought," said the high, cold voice, "valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately."

Draco and I looked at each other.

"You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured. I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."

After the voice stopped, Draco spoke, "We're not going back to him, are we?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course not," I answered. Without another word, we starting walking again, making our way to the Great Hall. Along the way, we found lots of damage to the castle. Huge piles of stone and wood were everywhere and there were gaping holes in the walls, blasted away by spells.

When we arrived, we found the house tables were gone. Madame Pomfrey and a group of helpers were moving around to the injured, helping in whatever way possible. Bodies of the fallen laid on the ground. I gasped and put my hand over my mouth as my eyes fell on the bodies of Professor Lupin and Tonks. I continued further into the room and noticed the Weasley family and Maddie gathered around a body on the floor.

It was Fred. I gasped again. Maddie looked up and saw me. Forgetting sides, I rushed over to her and wrapped my arms tightly around her. She let out a sob as she returned my embrace.

"What are you doing over here, Snape?" Ron asked, interrupting our moment.

"It's not like there's any fighting going on now anyways! Just let it rest, Ronald!" I scolded, tears now spilling over my own face. Ron remained silent and I turned my attention back to Maddie. "I'm sorry, Maddie. I'm so, so sorry."

I looked over her shoulder and made eye contact with George. Breaking away from Maddie, I ran over to him and embraced him tightly. He hesitated for a moment before hugging me back, burying his face into my hair. "I'm so sorry, Georgie."