Royals (Draco Malfoy x Reader)

Chapter 36

Whomping Willow

As Ron pelts after Scabbers, Harry, (Name) and Hermione give chase, Ron reaches the summit, disappears over the top the trio following and then they stop "You do realize what tree this is..." Hermione trails off as they stare at Ron who is sat under The Whomping Willow, scolding scabbers. "Ron! Run" (Name) shouts Ron spins and faces them "Harry! Run!" the ginger shouts,  Bounding toward him in the gathering gloom is an enormous jet black dog, Harryshields himself when the dog leaps over him (Name) ducks quickly. Ron let out a shriek The dog's teeth close on Ron'sfoot, dragging him towards the tree trunk like a rag doll. Instantly, Harry dashes forward leap out and grabs Ron's hands but he and Ron just keep skidding along the ground. "I've got you!" (Name) calls latching to Harry's feet "me too!" Hermione clung onto (Name) and the four of them were being pulled along the floor. "Harry!" Ron cries, Harry raises his chin. The dog vanishes into the gap at the base of the tree, begins to pull Ron through "Hold on, Ron!" (Name) calls, But it's no use. The dog is too powerful. Harry glances around desperately, then finds himself looking directly in Ron's eyes. He can read his mind. "No! Ron!" One by one, Ron releases his fingers from Harry'sforearm. Sacrificing himself But Ron closes his eyes, releases his hands fully, and Disappears. The trio rises and looks into the hole. The Whomping Willow sweeps first Hermione, thenHarry, and then (Name) into the air and drops them on their backsides. As one, they rise. Run back toward the gap in the tree. A branch swoops down. Hermione and (Name) duck, Harry doesn't and he is flung one way, his glasses the other. The two girls hop over another branch -- looks briefly pleased with themselves -- only to be swept high into the air by a second branch. (Name) looks down, seesHarry searching the ground for his glasses helplessly, "Harry!!!" she shouts as a branch comes flying down towards his head he rolls away quickly just as the branch pulverizes the position he was in minutes ago. The two girls are being swung around and dragged through branches and twigs clinging on for dear life, Harry stands up again, just for the branches to put him back down. Harry spies his glasses and grabs them. Rising, he fits them to his face he sees the two girls flying towards them Hermione screams and reaches out grabbing Harry's shirt and he swings around with them. Hermione throws harry through the gap and he disappears. She jumps next and falls through the hole and (Name) goes flying after her.

Harry and Hermione help (Name) up and she thanks them "Lumos" the three mutter and their wands light up revealing a long tunnel. "where do you think it goes?" Hermione questions "I have a hunch. I just hope I'm wrong..." Harry says as they make their way through the primitive passageway, ducking the roots that dangle overhead. Then, abruptly, the tunnel ends. Confused, Th trio glance about, then -- as one -- peer up. A small opening. Harry reaches up, hoists himself through, Hermione gives (Name) a boost and Harry hoists her up and the two lean over giving their hands to Hermione and pulling her up quickly. "We're in the Shrieking Shack, aren't we?" (Name) mutters, Harry doesn't answer. They glance around and see dog prints in the dust, the ceiling creaks and they waste no time dashing to the stairs. They come out, look down. A wide, shiny stripe cuts through the dust-covered floor -- as if something has been dragged -- to the end of the hallway, where light seeps from a door "nox" the wands light go out and they cautiously creep towards the door, they have their wands ready. Harry kicks the door open Ron sits upon a sagging bed, clutching his bloody foot. "you're okay!" Hermione cried and began to rush to Ron's side as he began to speak "It's a trap, Harry. He's the dog. He's an Animagus..." Ron gasps out. They look down, and their eyes follow the paw prints to a pair of filthy human feet. A man is standing in the shadows, Sirius Black. (Name) draws her wand "If you want to kill Harry, you'll-- you'll... have to kill us, too!" she hisses dangerously. "No- only one will die tonight!" Sirius shouts "and it will be you!" Harry lunges forward "Harry no!" Hermione cries out. Black wheels toward the door, and Harry eyes Black, wand hand shaking violently. As Black turns back, he stops, regards Harrycautiously "are you going to kill me, Harry?" Harry nods shakily and raises his wand. The door swings open and Lupin stands in the doorway "Professor Lupin!" the children call and he ignores them "Looking a bit ragged, aren't we, Sirius? Finally, the skin reflects the madness within." Lupin regards "You'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you, Remus?" The two regard each other, the moment taut with tension, then Lupin steps forward and embraces Black like a brother. "no! I trusted you! I covered up for you. And all this time you've been his friend!" Hermione cried, "he's a werewolf!" the two girls shouted in unison Harry and Ron stared, dumbfounded, at Lupin. Black howls with laughter, bitterly amused. Lupin eyes him, then turns back "how long have you known?" he looked at the two girls, "your boggart was the full moon, that's what gave you a way to me" (Name) explains and Lupin looks shocked "and you Hermione?" "Since Professor Snape set the essay." she answers and Lupin nodded "the two brightest witches I've ever met truly" a smile plays on his features. "Yes, you glow like the sun. And you howl at the moon. Enough talk! He dies. Now. If you won't do it with me, Remus, I'll do it alone." Sirius snaps. "Sirius wait---" "I did my waiting! twelve years of it! In Azkaban! Trust me, you wouldn't have lasted a week!" the rugged man hissed and Lupin nods     "as you wish" Lupin steps out of the way, "No!" Harry cries. Harry raises his wand when Lupin wheels and, with a flick of his own, disarms him. Furious, Harry eyes Blackmurderously "You betrayed my parents! You sold them to Voldemort!" "It's a lie! I never would've betrayed James and Lily!" Sirius cried back "Harry! You've got to listen --" Lupin cut in and Harry stopped him "Did he listen! When my mother was dying! Did he hear her screaming!" Harry cried his voice frail "No! I wasn't there! And I'll regret it for the rest of my life!" Black's eyes flashed in pain. 

"Someone else betrayed your parents, Harry. Someone in this room right now. Someone who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead."