Transfixed: A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction

Chapter 75- The War Begins

PART 3: THE FINAL BATTLE

As we looked around the room at one another, it became clear that there would be no time to plan or strategize. We had to move quickly.

"Alright, the rest of the Order should be coming here soon through Aberforth's passageway. Aberforth sent a message to them right when we arrived," said Harry, whose eyes were bright with anticipation. "I need to get Snape out of the castle."

"How are you going to do that?" asked Ginny. "You can't fight him Harry."

"Oh yes I can," he said darkly.

"But Snape isn't our only problem," Neville added. "We have to deal with the Carrows as well."

I felt hatred rush through me as I thought of them. My turn towards Dark Magic wasn't all my fault. It was also because of them, and their pleasure in using Draco and I to impress Voldemort.

"You can leave the Carrows to us," I said, my voice low and bitter. "Draco and I will handle them."

...

Draco and I left first, before anyone else. The Carrows were probably searching wildly for us. As far as they were concerned, the students managed to escape from the dungeons on their own. They had no idea it was Draco who set them free. So our best bet was to feign ignorance and beg them for forgiveness. But once Harry revealed himself, our act as Death Eaters would be up once and for all.

We rushed through the corridors and down the stairwell to the Great Hall, terrified and out of breath. Everything was happening so fast.

We finally saw the Carrows at the top of the great marble staircase as they watched the students descend in formation, marching with their heads down in fear. We approached them, and the instant they saw us, murderous looks spread across their faces. I could tell immediately that they were completely fed up with us. The safe house was the last straw. After that, they seemed to hate us just as much as they hated everyone else. We were no longer of any use to them.

"Where the hell have you two been this whole time?" Amycus snarled, his hands balling into fists by his sides. "The Unfavorables have gone missing!"

Draco tilted his head to the side in confusion. "You mean they escaped?"

"Are you stupid, boy? Of course it means they escaped!" Amycus bellowed. He lunged forward and grabbed Draco by the collar of his shirt. "You're pathetic, Malfoy," he hissed, his face mere inches from Draco's. "You're a weak, pathetic man, just like your father."

He let go of Draco with a shove, and Draco stumbled backwards. I could see the anger in Draco's eyes, but he steadied himself and cleared his throat. Neither of us could afford to lose our temper.

"And as for you," Alecto said, turning her black, soulless eyes to look at me. "You're just like your stupid dead father, too. A fool. We looked past your family history when you first came here, but you've proven to be nothing but a failure."

She slapped me across the face, hard, and the sound echoed through the air. A stinging sensation spread across my cheek as I inhaled sharply and slowly turned my face to look back at her.

I expected to feel anger as I looked at the Carrows, the people who had made life at Hogwarts a living hell. But surprisingly, I felt sad instead, because there were no redeeming qualities in them. They worked hard, and they were disciplined, but there was not a kind nor caring bone in either of their bodies. They were consumed by anger and vengeance, and inflicting pain seemed to be their favorite pastime.

I also felt a surge of thankfulness. I realized that if it weren't for my friends and family, my fate would be to become one of them. To be a dark witch, craving power and dominance, using whatever means necessary to achieve it. I would have been alone and without love, without anyone to bring back the humanity I had lost.