Heartbreak Warfare

Chapter 52

Harry nodded. "Take him to safety before coming back for us, please."

Dobby nodded and disapparated away.

****

Draco was pacing back and forth in his room, trying to figure out a way that he could escape, when Dobby landed in the middle of his room. He jumped back in surprise.

"Dobby?"

"Harry Potter has asked Dobby to take you to safety," Dobby said and held out his hand.

"Where is he? Is he safe? "

"Harry Potter is with Ron trying to help Hermione."

"They're still here? Dobby, you have to take me to them. "

"But—"

"Please, Dobby. They can't make it out of this alone. "

Dobby hesitated before giving him a firm nod and Draco took ahold of his hand. They disapparated out of his room and into the hallway next to the foyer. Harry had his wand pointed at something he couldn't see and his mother was pointing her wand at Harry. Draco ran over and put himself between Harry and his mother.

"Draco!"

Draco didn't turn at Harry's voice. Instead, he kept his eyes on his mother.

"Please, Mum," Draco said. "Let us go."

She shook her head. "I can't. I just want you to be safe and you won't be if keep running around with these three. "

There was genuine concern in his mother's eyes and he felt a tug at his heart. He wanted so badly to believe her. He missed the time before Voldemort came back when she was just his mother. Maybe they could go back to that. "I'll stay with you. Just let them go. "

"Draco, no!" Draco flinched at the pain in Harry's voice.

"Don't be stupid," his father growled, pointing Draco's wand at him. "We're not going to let Harry Potter slip through our fingers. Stand down. "

Draco kept his gaze on his mum, begging her with his eyes to help him. His mum lowered her wand.

"Thank you," Draco said and started to walk over to his mother.

"I won't let you ruin our chance," his father said, and pointed his wand at Harry.

"No!" Draco jumped in the line of fire and was hit. He fell to the ground in a stiff heap.

"Draco!"

Harry disarmed his father just as the chandelier fell.

****

Harry caught Draco's wand in his free hand. Then the chandelier fell. Bellatrix stumbled back, letting go of Hermione who fell into Ron's arms. In the chaos, Harry threw the counter curse spell at Draco so he could move. Draco stumbled to his feet and Harry threw him his wand.

"You were trying to kill me!" Bellatrix bellowed at Dobby who appeared in front of the trio.

"Dobby never meant to kill. Only to maim or seriously injure. "

Harry locked eyes with Draco and held out his hand. "Draco, please." At the same time Bellatrix said, "you'll regret that."

There were tears in Draco's eyes as he shook his head, mouthing I love you. Harry stepped toward him but Ron grabbed his arm and they were disapparating before Harry could do anything. He was so preoccupied with Draco that he didn't see the knife that Bellatrix threw.

They landed on a beach and Harry stumbled to his feet. "We have to go back! Dobby can you— "Harry turned to see Dobby with a knife in his belly.

"Harry Potter," he said, weakly.

Harry lunged forward and grabbed Dobby before he could collapse.

"You're going to be okay," Harry said, tears filling his eyes. "Hermione you've got to have something in your bag."

Ron was holding onto Hermione who had tears running down her cheeks as she shook her head.

"Please," Harry pleaded, desperately. "We've got to do something!"

"Such a nice place," Dobby replied, hoarsely. "To be with friends."

Tears broke free and started streaming down Harry's cheeks as Dobby stilled. Luna came over, knelling next to him.

"Should we close his eyes?" She asked, softly.

Harry didn't respond. Luna rested her fingers on Dobby's eyelids and softly closed them.

"There. Now he looks like he's sleeping. "

Harry swallowed back a sob. "I would like to bury him. Properly. "