Entranced (Draco Malfoy)

•thirty-nine•

It's begun. The thought races through Dove Taylor's mind as she thinks of when Draco promised himself to her, remembering how it felt to have him slide the extravagant ring onto her awaiting finger. It's happening.

"Expecto Patronum," she breathes, her peacock strutting from her wand. She takes a deep breath, preparing to lie like she never has before, "The Death Eaters are overwhelming us. We need help on the fourth floor, quick!" She winks at her peacock, "Take this message to the nearest group of Death Eaters."

Her peacock dashes away, waving its feathers majestically. Draco Malfoy appears at the end of the hall, Dean Thomas beside him. Blood tinges her boyfriends icy-white hair, and worry like no other courses through her. The moment he reaches her, he pulls her into a mindblowing kiss that erases any fear in her mind.

"I love you," he says, clearly on a high.

"I love you always," she responds. "Are you hurt?"

"Not my blood," he admits. "A lot of people are here."

And it's true. Dove, Draco, Dean, Seamus Finnegan, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Hannah Abbott, and Ernie MacMillan are all on this floor, hiding together to give the Death Eaters the surprise of their life.

"That's the point, doll," she replies with a shaky wink. "It's been good so far. Only one snuck up here and he got struck with five stunning spells at once. That's why I sent my patronus to lie and say we needed help."

Black clouds of smoke break windows, causing the team to duck. Draco covers Dove protectively, taking the brunt of the glass. They immediately stand, wands raised. Four Death Eaters stand before them, their grins fading fast.

"Get them!" Neville roars. "Stupefy!"

Not wasting another moment, Dove lunges forward and cries, "Reducto!"

Her and Draco fight back-to-back, and all she feels is a high that spreads through her toes all the way to her lungs.

"Sectumsempra," her boyfriend growls, and a Death Eater falls to the ground, shrieking in pain. "That's for my mother."

Turning around, the couple notices the rest of their friends had gotten rid of the other two Death Eaters. Sharing tense smiles, there's a small moment of peace. Screams suddenly ring out below them, and as a unit, the team breaks into a dash, racing towards the sounds of screams.

Dove races down the stairs, her feet slipping a little but she doesn't lose her balance. She hopes her parents are okay. She'd never gotten to say goodbye. She forces herself to not think of that, instead focusing on the task at hand. She has to win this war.

As she reaches the bottom of the staircase, having gotten to the first floor because of the moving staircases, she looks around in horror. Being as they were on the fourth floor, they were sheltered from a lot of the battle. But down here...

Chaos reigns. Spells are shot left and right, and she hurries to duck as a red beam strikes in her direction.

"Protego," Neville declares, saving her.

"Thanks." She looks at her team. "Remember, we are doing this for Hogwarts. We are doing this for our home, for our future, for everyone's safety. We are doing this to finally feel safe and be happy. I love you all," she barely gets out, voice tightening.

Everyone says their goodbyes, leaping into the battle. Hannah and Ernie run off together, able to deflect and shoot spells with ease. Neville and Luna are next, the former having to protect the latter a bit more. Dean and Seamus immediately throw themselves into the battle, dodging spells like they're dodging bludgers in Quidditch.

Dove and Draco nod at each other firmly, leaping into the battle. She notices two large spiders gaining on a terrified looking Parvati Patil.

"Arania Exumai!" She cries, earning a nod of thanks from the Gryffindor.

"Well, if it isn't Draco Malfoy, the traitor," a voice sneers. Dove whips around, anger already burning within her. Megan Jones. "And Dove Taylor, the idiot!"

She laughs, Blaise Zabini looking uneasy beside her. His wand is raised though, firmly pointed at Draco. Dove wants so badly to help him, to save him from You-- Voldemort. His name is Voldemort. But she can't save him unless he wants to be saved, and even still, that would put all of their lives at more risk.

"And if it isn't the lying bitch," Dove growls. "Stupefy!"

With a bored look, Megan deflects the spell, sending it to someone else, "Pity. That almost hit me. My turn. Bombarda!"

"Protego!" She shrieks, sending the spell barrelling right back to its sender.

"I don't want to do this," Blaise mutters to Draco, who is keeping a watchful eye on the battle ensuing between the former Hufflepuff friends. "You're my friend."

"You lost the right to call me your friend the day you cursed Dove," Draco sneers.

"Aveda Kedavra!" Megan screeches, catching the attention of Draco and Blaise.

"No!" Draco screams, running towards her, but it's too late.

The spell doesn't hit Dove, but she falls to the ground as if she were the one who was hit. Instead, Blaise Zabini, the man who would never atone for his sins, takes the brunt of the spell, falling lifeless to the ground.

Dove screams, in both fear and grief. She shakes Blaise's shoulders, but she knows he's gone. Tears rise in her eyes. He died for her.

"I hate you!" She yells, stumbling to her feet. "I hate you so much!" And without a second thought, Dove kills, "Bombarda Maxima!"

Megan Jones, staring in shock at her fallen friend, explodes right before their very eyes. Blood splatters all over Dove and Draco, sending them both into a state of surprise. Guilt immediately sets into the brunette, but she can't stop.

"It's okay," he soothes her shakily, "It's okay. Later."

With the promise of later in her mind, she allows her boyfriend to help her to her feet. But even as he runs, tugging her behind him, she's unable to stop herself from looking back at what she did. She killed her former friend, Megan Jones, for killing her attempted murderer, Blaise Zabini. And somehow, she has a feeling the battle is only going to get worse.