The Cell

Chapter 14: Into the fray

We are our choices.

- Jean-Paul Sartre

Draco awoke to find Blaise leaning over him on the bed, wand gripped in his hand and his lips pressed into a tight line.

"She stunned me, didn't she?" he asked groggily as he propped himself on to his elbows, already knowing the answer. Blaise nodded as he drew back. "Fucking hell... is she already gone?"

"I think so – I didn't wait around."

Theo appeared behind Blaise's shoulder, a stoic expression on his face.

"We should get on with it," he said, leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms, "Milan awaits."

Draco dropped back onto the mattress and stared up at the dark blue canopy. He squeezed his eyes shut and drew in a breath. Time for Plan B.

"I'm not going," he said. The room went silent, he couldn't even hear Blaise breathing next to him.

"Yeah," Theo finally said with a sigh, "I thought that might be the case."

"What the – I didn't – what the hell are you talking about?!" Blaise exclaimed, outraged.

"He's going after Granger," Theo explained calmly. Draco wordlessly pointed at him in confirmation, keeping his eyes shut.

"No, no way. I'll stun you again myself if I have to," Blaise said. "You aren't running headlong into a firefight. Any Death Eater not hellbent on capturing Potter will be trying to kill you!"

"You're right," he replied, blinking his eyes open and sitting up again. "It'd be a lot less dangerous if I had someone there to watch my back..."

Blaise scoffed and stood up, crossing the room with his fists balled at his sides in anger. Theo, on the other hand, looked contemplative.

"My father is going to be there," he said thoughtfully.

Draco nodded. "Mine too."

"I suppose I do have a bit of a score to settle."

"Couldn't think of a better place for it, mate."

Blaise spun and marched back toward them, fuming.

"Well I don't have any patricidal inclinations," he growled, "where the hell does that leave me?"

"In Italy if you want," Draco said, sitting up again and looking at him. "We aren't going to drag you."

Blaise looked murderous about how quickly the situation had changed. He started toward the door and Theo stepped into the room and out of his way as Blaise walked out, stomping down the hallway until his footsteps faded.

The remaining boys stared at each other. Draco opened his mouth to speak but Theo quieted him and held up a finger. A second later footsteps could be heard approaching again, growing louder before Blaise burst back into the room.

"If I die," he said, voice low and dangerous, "I will come back and haunt you, Draco. I swear to Circe, you won't have five minutes of peace to wank for the rest of your sad, privileged life."

Theo smirked and started bouncing on the balls of his feet while Draco looked up at his friend with eyebrows raised and mouth slightly agape. Blaise huffed in annoyance and shook his head before stepping closer and extending a hand to pull him to his feet. The three boys stood in a triangle, looking at one another.

"Oh Merlin..." Blaise said, shaking his head. "Is this what Potter feels like all the time? No wonder he's such a prat, it's exhausting."

Theo barked out a laugh before taking point as they left the room and descended the stairs.