* * * * * * *

Draco returned to his room in Little Hangleton. He flopped back on the bed and smiled at the ceiling for a few minutes. He admitted to himself he was little worried that Ginny would try out her new hex the moment she saw him, but that had gone fine. Maybe even good. Yeah, it had gone good.

Not that it was quite over. With an effort he rolled back out of bed, and transfigured his hair back to it's natural shade. He kicked his Death Eaters robes in their pile on the floor, then picked them up and put them back on. He put the skull mask on and looked in the mirror. He made a "boo!" gesture to the mirror. Then located the portkey, still lying on the floor. He picked it up and was whipped back to France.

After he let go, Draco pointed his wand at the portkey and blew it to pieces. He wasn't sure exactly where the Death Eaters had gone though he was certain from the noise, they were still in the city. They would come back this way when they were done, and he was likely to spot them first. He sighed and sat on the grass to watch the fires.

Severus was leaning against a tree watching the chaos from afar when he heard a thunk and an oof off to his left. He peaked his head around the corner to see Malfoy landing on his face via portkey. Wonder where the boy went... he knows he's not to leave meetings while they're still in progress.

He watched him for a moment longer to see if he was going to go join the "fun" but when Draco relaxed onto the grass Snape figured it was as good a time as any to discuss his whereabouts.

Snape walked out from the cover of the tree and approached Draco silently from behind. "What're you doing here boy?" he drawled silkily, bringing one of his eyebrows up in his infamous gaze. He wouldn't ever tell anyone about the pleasure he got from that look. It wasn't a frightening one, but it showed him as he truly was. A sarcastic. Witty. Bastard.

Draco started at the voice but relaxed when he recognized it as Snape. "Smoke got to me," Draco lied, glad Snape couldn't see his face. "Felt like I needed to sit it out for a bit."

Snape chuckled, and a within the same second was horrified with himself. He was becoming relaxed.... and comfortable around the boy. Which was a dangerous thing to be when he was in the position he was in.

"Where'd you go? The Dark Lord doesn't tolerate people leaving without dismissal," he said in a monotone, being sure to keep all emotion from his voice.

"Were you dismissed then?" Draco asked.

Severus almost wished that Draco could see the scowl spread across his face.

"I never left," he snapped.

"Why are you here and not down there with them?" Draco tried again.

"You know very well why not," he sneered. "Why aren't you?"

"Same reason," Draco said. He looked down at the city. "Do you think I need to go join the raping and pillaging and make my father proud?"

"It's for the best boy. You're leading a dangerous life now," he said slowly, clasping Draco's shoulder hauling him to his feet.

Draco let Snape haul him up, the words no kidding, running through his mind. But his sarcasm drained away pretty quickly. He was feeling a great empathy with his professor at the moment, like this was the right place for him to be. "Lead on," he said.

Snape let go of Draco's shoulder and began to make his way through the brush towards Dijon. Moans of pain and screams from the distance could now be heard. There was panic in the streets and hundreds of people ran around in terror and a man (or woman) in a black robe was closely behind. He'd noticed through the years how the Death Eaters liked to chase their prey instead of hex them. He figured it invoked more fear in the Muggles.

Snape let out a sigh, and put on his greasy bastard bat persona. He had his wand at the ready, and began a heavy stride towards the nearest house.

Draco followed Snape closely. He had avoided everyone last time, but now he was wondering exactly what Snape did in these situations. He had to learn...to survive.

Severus approached the small and conservative house with a scowl. "Alohomora," and the door unlocked and opened letting him in to spot the family of four huddled in the kitchen corner. A man, probably the father, spotted Snape and stepped in front of his family in an attempt to protect them. Snape pained at the expression, knowing they would all be dead by the end of the night. "OUT!" he barked at them. He wasn't going to kill them without having Death Eater witnesses. The less deaths he was a cause of, the better.

The family moved immediately for the back door. "Crucio," and the wife fell to the ground and writhed in agony. "The front door if you will," he growled. He released her and watched the horror in the children’s eyes. They made a mad dash in the opposite direction, and Severus moved to give them easier access to the door.

Once they were onto the street, they realized what was to come. The father made a quick glance back at Snape with the utmost disgust. He whispered something to his family and tried to usher them away. Snape rolled his eyes and followed behind.

When he spotted Bellatrix, he knew it was time. "Avada Kedavera!" and the youngest girl slumped to the ground. The mother let out a blood curtling scream and dropped to the ground beside her daughter. She cradled her head, and rocked back and forth while the husband tried to coax her up and get her moving. The little girl’s brother just stared wide-eyed in horror at what just happened.

Bella smirked at Severus and continued on with her torture.

That feeling of being in the right place died with a heavy thud. Draco once again felt grateful for his mask. He wanted to run away, but he was fixed in his spot. His eyes watching Snape and the terrible dance of his wand. How could he?

Snape followed around the family for the rest of the evening. Occasionally hitting one of them with a hex. The mother’s leg was broken, and the little boy was passed out on the ground. Only the father remained in what would be considered good health.

He gave the father an apologetic look (not that he could see it) and walked away into the brush.

* * * * * * *

Bellatrix saw Draco and Severus walk away. She turned back to the family, huddled around their young girl, and quickly disposed of the mother. The father stood up, and tried to rush her. "Crucio" He slumped to the ground, screaming and yelling. She took a step nearer to him, pointed her wand down, and smirked as she cackled "Avada Kedavra!" The little boy screamed and hid behind his mother, cowering in fear. She rushed over to him and grabbed him by the cuff of his shirt. She conjured ropes to tie around him and dragged him back to the rope and grabbed it.

* * * * * * *

Draco continued to follow on Snape's heels, keeping his own wand at his side. They met up with the other Death Eaters at the portkey. Lord Voldemort was laughing, and Draco felt a cold chill. "Come, come," he summoned them. "I think Amycus has liberated some promising looking wine for us to taste, and I prefer to do so at home." At his command they all took hold of the silver rope once again.

The Death Eaters reappeared in the meeting hall, some making the re-entry more gracefully than others. Draco wobbled a bit, but managed to land on his feet. He wondered how quickly he would be able to slip away. At the moment, he wanted very desperately to retreat to his bedroom. Some of the other Death Eaters were congratulating each other on particularly creative bits of destruction. The wine was being passed. Draco turned to see if the exit was clear and saw Bella clutching the Muggle boy who Snape had left hurt but alive.

Draco hurried up to Bella. "What is he doing here?" he whispered harshly from beneath his skull mask.

Clutching the Muggle boy, Bella was about to head off to the dungeons and put him there when Draco rushed up to her. "Has a good build, this one, Draco, and I haven't had a slave in a long time. Couple of weeks since the last one kicked the bucket." Continuing on her rampage, she raced down to the dungeons and locked him up. Apparating back to the Meeting Hall, she smirked and continued on her celebrating, knowing that Draco kept looking at her strangely.

Draco decided to play it safe and wait until someone else had left the party before doing the same. He nursed the same glass of wine for half an hour, before he felt that he was clear.

He went up to his room and shed his Death Eaters robes. His reflection caught his attention. He rather liked how he looked in these blue robes. It wasn't a color he would normally choose, but it suited him.

He sighed and rummaged inside his secret snack stash. He ate a few Pringles, but there weren't enough left in the can to sate him. He found one of the chocolate frogs Neville had given him, and opened it up. He let the frog jump out of his hands before catching it again and deciding that he wasn't really in the mood for chocolate. He sat back down on the bed and looked to see which card had come with the pack.

Dumbledore.

Draco threw the card down as though it had burned him. For one angry moment he thought Longbottom had done that on purpose, but the box had been sealed. He cursed under his breath.

It had been a long day, but he didn't feel even remotely tired. He thought of the boy and decided to visit the dungeons. He hadn't been in the best of shape and knowing Bella, she had not taken the time to untie him or even make sure he was in a comfortable sitting position.

He stopped in the kitchen first, made some broth and grabbed some crackers. Then he went down to the dungeons. Sure enough the boy was coiled in a heap, still bound by ropes, and shaking. Draco put the mug on the floor and propped the boy up by the shoulder. He struggled and cried out for his mother. Draco shushed him, and spoke to him in French to try to calm him.

He didn't untie him because he wasn't sure what the boy might try to do, but once he stopped struggling, he tried to get him to take the broth. The boy wouldn't drink at first, but he finally gave in. Some of his color returned as he took the warm broth.

When he finished, Draco loosened the ropes and put the thin blanket that had been left by the cell's last occupant around the boy’s shoulders. The boy wasn't capable of much speech beyond whimpers, but Draco got him to take some of the crackers.

Draco couldn't think of much to say either. He could offer no words of consolation that weren't false, no comfort that wasn't hollow, and knew he really shouldn't bother for a Muggle boy anyway.

"Draco! What do you think you're doing!" Bellatrix raced towards Draco and took the broth from him. She spoke in French to the boy, before quickly casting a non-verbal Impervius. He popped up and began to race around the room and jumped around. "...and that, Draco, is how you get yourself a Muggle slave." She willed him to come to her, and he quickly obeyed. Taking off her cloak and putting it around the boy, she began to walk off, talking to the boy. "Draco, leave my slaves and victims alone next time, or you won't be too happy with yourself."

Draco cast Bella an annoyed glance as she snatched the empty mug from him. "I wasn't trying to take your slave," Draco shot back. "Just thought he might work better for you if he didn't die from shock tonight. I guess I've learned my lesson about trying to do you any favors." He thrust the crackers at her as he quickened his pace to stalk past.

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