[4] UNREQUITED ENEMIES ━ Draco Malfoy

10. Suicide Mission

TEN SUICIDE MISSION

Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned hours later, sans Griphook and looking worse for wear. They were soaking wet and exhausted, but besides that, no one was injured or dead so that was really all they could ask for in times like this. They entered the house looking exasperated before their eyes searched for Diana and Xander who were currently having tea with Bill and Fleur, discussing the Weasley's and how they were. Xander had never paid much attention to the Weasley family before, but he would admit he was loving the drama. The twins had dropped out of school before exams a couple of years ago to run a business, which had given their mother -- Molly Weasley -- a heart attack, which was only made worse upon one of the twins revealing he had gotten married without telling anyone. Xander could relate to that one -- his heart warm at the thought of Jo and Alecks and how happy they were.

"One of the Horcruxes we need is at Hogwarts, can you get us in?" Harry asked, alerting everyone in the room. His eyes landed on Xander, who nodded.

"I know someone who can," Xander answers and that settles it. They pack up what little things they have, bid their goodbyes to Bill and Fleur, and they're ready to go.

Returning to Hogwarts feels odd, Xander feels. In the past weeks, the thought of going back to the school that housed and taught him for six and a half years of his life seems so misplaced. He wonders if he'll go back and finish his seventh year one day when this is all over. He thinks he might like that.

As the group geared up to leave, Xander warned them, "There are alarms to track who apparates into and out of Hogsmeade, so we're going to have to act fast. Death eaters are prowling the town at all hours so if one of us gets caught, we're done for. I'm not sure where we'll land, but we should be able to get to the safe house easily enough as long as we're quick and quiet. Everyone understand?"

Everyone nodded and it was weird having these sets of eyes looking to hun like a leader. He had never been anything close to a leader, but for just a moment he felt like one and it was... nice. He looked over at Diana and she wrapped her arm around his shoulders, squeezing gently. She could probably feel how nervous he was, he wondered if anyone else could hear his heart beating.

"Okay, let's get back to Hogwarts, then, I suppose," he stumbled over his words as the group joined hands preparing to apparate and hopefully all land in the same place.

The sounds of the waves hitting the shore disappeared as Xander's feet landed in soft snow. The sound of the alarm filled his ears as they all panicked and hid. He could hear the death eaters getting close at the sound of the alarm and Xander looked around to make sure everyone was safe and okay. His chest rose and fell quickly as he tried to catch his breath, reaching around for Diana's hand so he could squeeze it gently — reminding himself that he was safe as long as they were together. That was all that mattered.