Little Bird

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Eve

            My feet slammed onto solid ground again just outside of the Manor's back gate, the black shadows from the overhanging trees washing down on us from behind as we looked up at the dark building. Draco's grip was still tight on my hand even when he reached to unlock the gate's latch, but I didn't want him to let go just yet. With the way I was feeling right now—panicked and head spinning from how quickly things were happening—I needed to feel the pressure of his palm against mine.

            "No one else can know you're here," he told me in a low voice as we hurriedly walked up the short, paved path to the back door. "I'll show you where they are, but I'm going to have to leave you and go back to the parlor. If—if something goes wrong and you need to leave fast, just Disapparate to outside the gate at Hogwarts. I'll meet you there so you can get back inside the castle."

            I swallowed hard before nodding, trying not to trip up the steps as I said, "Okay. But have your parents called the Dark Lord yet—?"

            "No, we would have felt it," Draco said quickly. I expected him to reach for the door handle so we could get inside as soon as possible, but he hesitated for a moment and looked down at me a bit guiltily. "There's—there's something more I haven't told you. Luna's here, she's in the cellar with Olivander and Dean Thomas."

            My heart dropped, and all I could do was breathe out a shocked, "What?"

            "I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do, I couldn't Owl you about it without—"

            "It's okay, we can talk about it after," I interrupted hastily, worried I was seconds away from going into a panic. "I'll Disapparate her out too, we don't have much time—"

            Draco nodded quickly, bending down desperately to kiss me hard. He was pulling away before I could even react, reaching to twist the door handle and telling me seriously, "I love you."

            The house was silent when we stepped inside, and the brass door hinges creaked noisily even when I gently pushed the back door shut behind me. Draco still held my hand tightly as we started down the hallway as quietly as we could, our footsteps sounding soft and echoing through the pressing silence. As he led us quickly deeper inside the Manor, muffled talking from the parlor could be heard through the paper-thin walls further in. My heart was pounding so rapidly inside my chest that I was sure Draco could hear it too.

            When we finally reached the stairwell that led to the cellar, the voices were so close that I could nearly make out what they were saying. I heard the unmistakable tone of Bellatrix as she snarled something from further down the hall on the other side of the parlor door, and I tried to swallow back the panic. If I was caught trying to sneak anyone out of here, I was sure the Dark Lord wouldn't hesitate to kill me.

            "I'll be back to get you," Draco whispered, so quietly that I had to lean closer just to hear. "I love you, be safe—"

            "I love you, too," I breathed, but he was already starting away towards the parlor door and I couldn't be sure if he'd heard. I swallowed hard and turned for the staircase, because I knew that if I kept watching, I would end up following him.

            The temperature had cooled significantly by the time I reached the door, the cold cellar air seeping out from under the crack and onto my toes. I gripped my wand tightly and pointed it to the lock, whispering a soft, "Alohamora."