Transfixed: A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction

Chapter 18

We apparated to the giant lobby of the Ministry of Magic. Before our feet barely hit the floor, Dumbledore was gone, leaving Harry and I alone. The giant hall was empty. The large clock overhead showed it was only 2:30 a.m. I felt fear, fear of seeing Voldemort in the flesh, but also fear of failure.

I was afraid of dying, too, but I was more afraid of losing those I loved. I looked at Harry to see his jaw clenched as he surveyed our surroundings. The last time he was here, Bellatrix killed his Godfather, Sirius Black, and Voldemort possessed his body. I remembered all of us watching helplessly as he struggled against Voldemort. And now we were back. It was a bizarre feeling.

"Let's go," he said quietly as he took my hand. We walked towards the elevators and stopped. Would house elves be working the elevators at night, or would they be vacant? I guessed we would just have to find out.

We pressed the elevator call button and waited in suspense. Since it was nighttime, elevators weren't at the ready. They were scattered throughout the Ministry, meaning it could take minutes before one finally reached us. Every second we stood there was a second we could get caught. I just held Harry's hand tightly, trying to steady my breathing.

After what felt like eternity, the elevator doors opened, and we froze in anticipation as we waited for movement. But, no one moved. The elevator was empty. We practically dove inside and Harry pressed the floor for the Department of Mysteries.

"How did you remember the floor?" I asked.

"My hearing, before 5th year," Harry said. "It took place on that floor."

I nodded, feeling grateful he had come. If it were just me, I don't know what I would have done.

"We should come up with a game plan," I said. "Dumbledore didn't really give us that much time. I don't know what we're doing."

"Dumbledore said you should follow your instinct. What does your heart say?"

I paused for a moment and closed my eyes. I needed to focus on my instinct. My instinct.... wasn't saying anything.

"I don't know," I whispered, panic seeping into my voice. "Oh God, Harry, I don't know."

"Hey, calm down," he said. "It's OK. Let's see, in the dream you said you were in your dad's office, right?"

"Yes."

"So, let's go there for a start."

"OK." I wanted to punch myself for not thinking of that automatically. "Wait, I don't even know where his office is. We can't just wander around, we'll get caught for sure."

"Hmmm..." Harry looked down as he thought. I reached my hand to rest on top of the brown satchel I brought with my dad's letters, before I remembered. His letters! He had sent me precise instructions to his office! I dove my hand in to retrieve the stack of letters when the elevator door opened.

We stepped out of the elevator before hearing footsteps from our left. We drew our wands.

"Over here!" Harry hissed as he pulled me behind a nearby pillar. I bit my lip to silence my breathing as much as possible, and we watched as none other than Bellatrix LeStrange and Fenrir Greyback came into view. My blood started to boil as I saw them, as did Harry's. Those were the monsters who destroyed the Weasley's house. That was the woman who killed Harry's Godfather.

I could feel Harry start to move, but I grabbed his wrist and held him back. He looked at me angrily, but stayed put. Unfortunately, that small scuffle behind the pillar made enough noise for the two Death Eaters to stop in their tracks. My heart was in my throat, pounding viciously in my ears. If they found us, we didn't know how many Death Eaters would show up, and there was no way we could win. Bellatrix stepped forward, looking in our direction, a crazed look in her eye. I felt chills just from looking at her. She looked soulless, like pure evil stashed where a soul should be. Her eyes had no trace of love, nor kindness. Just malice.