On the Way to the End - Dramione

Chapter 2

Draco Malfoy sat in an armchair, looking into the fire. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he waited for a face to appear in the flames. Draco was supposed to be in London but he refused to kill innocent Muggles who had nothing to defend themselves with. The young man sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time that hour and bore his eyes out the window, the dark gray clouds matching his irises. 

Draco was tired of this hiding business. It made him feel like even more of a coward, but what more could he do? Avoiding the Dark Lord was no easy feat. After the Battle of Hogwarts and being forced to go to the Dark Side to save his mother, he vowed he would find a way to end this war. At first, he would just keep his ears open and look for anything useful. But after being forced to participate in a few outings that he was not interested in joining, the Slytherin began hiding out in his apartment whenever possible. Draco tugged his black suitcoat sleeve down further, wishing to forget about the stain on his skin.  

But soon, something did make him forget. The fire sparked and the flames roared bigger than before. Finally. Draco turned to the fire to see his mother's face appear. "Everyone is gone, you can return." Narissa's voice rang out in his apartment. 

Draco nodded, "see you shortly." He told her and stood from his chair. He glanced around his small safe haven and silently thanked Merlin for it. After one final look, he apparated to the manor. He felt his feet hit the floor of his bedroom and turned to see his mother waiting for him.

"Did anyone ask about me?" The Slytherin asked as she approached him. 

"Everyone assumed you went, out of sight out of mind, dear," Narissa told him, "you did the right thing." She carefully touched her son's cheek. 

"That's a first." He muttered before backing away from her. "Alright then, go on, hit me." Draco stood there expectedly. 

"Maybe you didn't get injured this time?" She offered hopefully. 

"Then there would be no reason for me to come back here. Come, mother, no loose ends." He reminded her and squared his shoulders. Narissa took a deep breath before flicking her wand. Draco lets out a slight hiss in pain but shows no other emotion. He was rather used to this now. 

The Slytherin would get orders to go on a group raid, and if there were enough people going and he knew he wouldn't be missed, he would leave after the first five minutes. Make an appearance and then leave for his apartment. But of course, he had to make it believable that he was in a battle.  

Draco rips the arm of his suit to reveal that gash his mother gave him and nodded, "this will do." Only Narissa and Blaise knew of his tricks. His mother would help him and occasionally, Blaise would join him in hiding when he could. But not tonight. "How did Blaise fair?" he asked. 

"I'm unsure, his father and he went together so he couldn't get out of it." Narissa explained, "you're lucky your father doesn't care to keep a close eye on you during these events." She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. 

"Yes, he's much too busy torturing others." Draco snapped before turning to the window in his room. It was very dark now, but it was still pouring just the same. He felt blood drip to his shoe and whispered a curse under his breath. 

"Speaking of... How's your legilimency coming?" His mother asks, a concerned look on her face. 

"Better than yesterday. It's pretty tight up there." Draco reassured her. He headed towards the door gesturing for her to follow. She nodded and followed him as they made their way downstairs, knowing that others would be arriving soon. Draco wipes his hand across his cheek, causing blood to smear. "Good?" he asks. 

Narissa goes to speak but stops short when she hears the crack of what was most likely an arriving Death Eater. The older woman raised her brows as if to say "be ready". Sure enough, the front door opened and Dolohov walked into the room cursing.

"Bloody Order!" He cursed. Draco remained quiet so he could get his story straight. "They wooshed in and started fightin' back!" He paused when seeing Malfoy, "musta' seen em considering that then?" Dolohov gestured to his arm. 

Draco nodded. Another crack, then another, Draco clenched his jaw, waiting to see the next people in the room. The grand front doors opened and a few more injured staggered in, one carrying who Draco thought to be some Gryffindor or Ravenclaw from school. He realized that she was one of the twins, which he had no idea though. 

"Got one of the little bints," Macnair grumbled throwing her to the floor. 

Another crack. 

Doors opened, but this time, Draco felt as though the wind was knocked out of his lungs. The rain from outside pounded around his head as he watched Grayback drag in Hermione Granger by the hair. The other Death Eaters were surprised and impressed, exclaiming at the capture, but all Draco heard was muffled nonsense. She was crying out in pain and grabbing the back of her head as he dragged her. Draco felt his blood boil. He too, threw her to the ground by the Patil girl. Hermione tried to make a run for it but Dolohov grabbed her and threw her back down. 

Draco didn't know how to make his brain start working. How did she manage to get captured? She was smarter than that! He stood in the back of the crowd all hollering over Grayback's success of "capturing the mudblood." Hermione was soaked from the rain and was clearly woozy from whatever had happened to her. He was snapped back into reality at the call of his name. 

"Malfoy!" Grayback exclaimed for the second time. Hermione's eyes snapped to him and Draco swallowed the lump in his throat as her eyes trained on his. "Help me take these two down to the dungeons hm?" Grayback snarled. 

Draco nodded and walked over to Hermione. She looked up at him with an emotion he couldn't place. He grabbed her wrists and held them in one hand and her upper arm in the other. He walked her in front of him. Grayback took the Patil girl and lead the way. Hermione struggled against his grip but he pushed her onwards. He didn't hold her roughly, something she was thankful for but he kept moving down all the way to the dungeons. 

Grayback threw Patil into one cell and Draco walked Hermione into another. He pushed her to the ground, but not hard enough to hit the ground. He walked outside and Grayback walked inside. 

Draco's mind was spinning. He didn't know what to do. But he trained his eyes on her and gave her a sad look. She read the look loud and clear. He was sorry. Hermione swallowed down her nerves and looked at him as Grayback put a hood over her head. Draco was gone. All that was left was darkness.