Entranced (Draco Malfoy)

•twenty-eight•

Six months later, June 30th, 1997, Dove Taylor receives a letter. It isn't too out of the ordinary as she receives a bunch of letters daily from her friends at Hogwarts. Her and Draco had ultimately decided not to return to their school with immediate approval from David and Lorraine Taylor.

She opens it, noticing the name 'Dove Malfoy' scrawled on the top. She hesitates, looking at her bed where Draco is reading a book, looking comforted.

"Draco," she whispers, holding the letter up. "I think Blaise sent me a letter."

He's up in an instant, throwing the book on the bed, effectively losing his spot. He joins her, putting his arm around her. He nods, encouraging her to open it. Hesitantly, she does.

Dove Malfoy,

I know I'm not someone you want to hear from. I don't want to owl you. However, something I said to you a few months ago keeps replaying in my head. I told you that not everyone has a choice, do you remember? I think I was wrong. Every day that goes by, I feel that the statement I made isn't true. We do have a choice. I don't want to kill Dumbledore. I don't want Hogwarts to be overtaken by Death Eaters. I hope this reaches you in time. Assemble an army. Tonight, Dumbledore dies and Voldemort rules the world. Or, tonight, you kill a bunch of Death Eaters and Dumbledore lives, saving the world from his rule and terror. Please, save the world, Dove. I know you can do it.

Blaise

Dove takes a shaky breath, turning to Draco, "This is what we've been waiting for."

"I knew he'd make the right choice." He kisses his girlfriend unexpectedly, making her gasp. He pulls away too soon, "I'll go tell your parents. Do you want to go to the Burrow?"

She nods, "I'll meet you back here soon, okay?"

"I love you."

"I love you," she murmurs, kissing him once more. Grabbing her wand and red cloak, she rushes downstairs and to the fireplace. Without any hesitation, she grabs a handful of Floo powder and throws it down, exclaiming, "The Burrow!"

Her feet land on steady ground a few moments later, and she exits the fireplace to find herself face-to-face with four outstretched wands. She shrieks, launching herself backwards.

"Dove?" Mrs. Weasley asks in astonishment. 

"We don't know if it's Dove," Fred or George Weasley interjects. 

"Dove, sweetie, what did I do for you after your cousin passed?" 

Swallowing heavily, the memories hard to accept, she answers, "You sent me my favorite cookies and made me a blanket with a hidden message that told me I'm stronger than I think I am. I sleep with that blanket every night."

"It's her," she gasps in relief, rushing forwards to hug her. "Where have you been? Ron told us you and Draco have left Hogwarts!"

"It's not safe for us there," she admits. With a heavy heart, she explains everything to Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, and Bill Weasley. "And so, we need to get everyone we can to Hogwarts by nightfall or Dumbledore will die and the Death Eaters will invade the school."

"Blaise Zabini almost killed you?" Fred asks, concerned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm not worried about myself," she's quick to say. "I'm worried about Draco. He lost his mother over all of this. I need to make sure she's avenged."

"Are you sure you and Draco going is a good idea?" Bill asks tentatively, almost as if unsure of his place. "The Death Eaters will do anything they can to ensure the two of you get hurt."

"I know," she admits, looking away. "But this is something I have to do. If not for me, then for Cedric. He's never gotten justice. If not for Cedric, then for Draco. He never wanted any of this. And if not for him, then for Narcissa. All she wanted was to save her son."

"And if not for her?" Bill asks warily.

"Then for everyone at Hogwarts. I'm a Hufflepuff. I am loyal, and I will always fight for my friends and for what is right. If I were to stay at home and let others fight a battle that I had a part in, I would be not only letting myself down, but I'd be going against everything I've learned in the past six years." 

"Then let's fight," Mrs. Weasley agrees. "I'll owl the Order."

Dove nods, a strange relief filling her. Can this really be over tonight? Will her and Draco defeat the task holder, save Dumbledore, and save the world from Voldemort's rule? An uneasiness courses through her, the relief leaving. Something doesn't feel right about this.

But what can she do? She's assembling the army Blaise asked for, isn't she? She's going to fight. She checks the time hurriedly. Six o'clock. She needs to hurry.

"I'm going to get Draco and then head to Hogwarts to warn Harry and the others," she decides.

"We'll come with you," Fred and George chorus.

She nods, Flooing to her house. Draco, Lorraine, and David stand there expectantly, her parents hugging her boyfriend to them.

"Oh Dove," Lorraine whispers, pulling her into a hug. "We're so sorry."

"Don't apologize," she says, voice strong. "Fight."

Draco comes forwards, holding her to him, "Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Fight with me?"

"Forever."