This chapter contains scenes of blood, violent actions, mentions of rape, death, and other disturbing themes. Please read with caution.

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''You're fucking crazy.''

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Her dress fluttered in the wind, the red material dragging behind her as she strode up the path leading to the castle.

The warm summer wind danced through her hair, the strands of it playing graciously in the air.

Theo wasn't far behind her, fixing his black tie. His eyes flickered to the girl, and he reached his arm out, meaning for her to take it.

''Such a gentleman,'' Amelie forced a smile, a troubled curl upon her lips as she folded her arm around Theo's, her fingers tangled with his, ''But don't forget the mask.''

His untied hand hauled the mask up, sheeting his doubtful features with it, ''He's here, Amelie. You know that. I can't believe we're doing this again. If he sees us—''

Theodore was scared to death. He knew that he wouldn't live to see another day if Draco caught them in the castle. He understood that the blond would rip him to pieces for letting her go to a gathering where hundreds of Death Eaters took place.

''He won't,'' She stated, noticing his shaking limbs and the hesitant tremble in his tone, ''He thinks I'm asleep, and he would never think that we're stupid enough to come here.''

''But we are—'' He muttered, displeased, ''I wouldn't be so sure, Amelie. We have been reckless lately. Nothing slips past him anymore.''

''I know,'' Amelie whispered, her shaking fingers moored the material coating her face, ''I know you're scared, but I can't just stay at home when he's putting himself in harm's way. Believe me. I know this is stupid, Teddy. It's so reckless, but I need to do something.''

''I just wish we could've been honest with him—''

''Like he was honest with me?'' Her neck snapped, peering up at the brunet from below, her heels sinking into the soil as she walked, ''He lied, again. Draco always lies to protect me, and I'm not mad about that, so he can't be upset with me for doing the same thing.''

Theodore huffed out a sigh, tightening the grip he had of her, ''I just don't like you being here. We don't know who will attend the ball, and if we get caught—'' He knew exactly who would be here, but he couldn't reveal that to her. He couldn't spill his secrets, ''Then it's done, Amelie. No one will look for your mother, and Atlas will be alone.''

''I won't get caught,'' She said, her tone laced with courage, ''I'm not the same person I was before. I'm stronger now, and I know I can do this, Teddy. I need to find her.''

Humming in response as they reached the tree line, Theo looked around. People were dressed in the most stunning gowns and suits as they strode their way up to the entrance. Light flickered across the darkened lawn, and muffled sounds of music thundered around them.

Amelie was scared as well. Terrified, to say at least.

This wasn't a good idea. Amelie wasn't foolish. She understood that, but she couldn't sit by and wait for the Dark Lord to cease her mother of life. Draco had indeed given her his word to bring her mother back, but she couldn't rest and do nothing.

Stepping through the massive doors, the music leveled higher, the notes of classical vocals tore through her ears.

Peering around anxiously, a thin coat of sweat layered her palms, and she gripped Theodore's arm tighter.

It was beautiful. She couldn't lie.

The castle wasn't anything she'd expected it to be. It shone breathtakingly in dark shades. Inky curtains draped the walls, and candles lit up the cold embrace.

Flinching, as a man suddenly stood tall in front of them. The Death Eater mask she recognized framed his face. He stretched a plate filled with glass out, gesturing for them to take the drinks, and they did.

Amelie felt her fingers shaking around the crystal, forcing an arch on her lips as he bowed his head before vanishing in the crowd around them.

''I don't like this,'' Theodore looked down at the moonshine in his fist, a grimace climbing him, ''I don't like you being here. What if they recognize you?''

''I'm wearing a mask, Teddy,'' Amelie uttered, doubt scored through her voice.

''I think we should leave, Amelie. This wasn't a good idea—''

The crowd began to move forward. Bodies pressed to theirs caused them to follow the movements as she held on to Theo with her life.

''It's a little late for that,'' She whispered, keeping her head low, and she traced the drink up to her lips, taking a sip of it, ''Besides, there are so many people here. We won't get caught.''

''How do you know that?'' He snapped, his head held high, ''You don't know what they'll do to you if they find you here, Amelie. The Dark Lord is furious with how we handled things in both Dublin and Edinburgh. If he gets his hands on you, he'll kill you.''

''Then we better make sure that he won't, don't we?'' She whispered harshly, her heels clicking along the floor, her dress smeared to her figure, ''No one will know I'm here. Do they have someplace where they keep prisoners?''

''What?'' Theodore mumbled, trying to seem clueless, ''How would I—''

''You were here with Draco, weren't you? The night I woke up?'' Amelie questioned, her arm still linked with his as they both sought to seem unbothered, ''He told me you went—''

''Yeah—'' Theodore felt relief as it washed over him, not ready for her to know his sins yet, ''There's a basement where they keep people locked up, but I don't think he'd take your mother—''

''I need to see it for myself, Teddy. Not a place can go unnoticed,'' Her tone lowered, not for anyone else to hear, ''I'm just scared to run into Draco.''

Clenching his jaws, Theodore's heart pounded again, ''I know, but he won't hurt you. It's worse if someone else found you.''

''I know—'' Her body stiffened every time she felt another person body pressed to hers, ''I just need to find a moment to sneak off—''

Stepping through the doors to the ballroom, her eyes widened. The crystal lamps hanging from the roof, along with the orchestra playing the softest yet most dramatic of tones, trailed shivers down her spine.

There had to be hundreds of people here, she believed — her sight flickering, heeding every detail she possibly could as they stopped. Everyone turned to the front of the room.

The music hushed, so did the chatter around them and a man, looking familiar, strode up between the tables, halting in front of the mass of guests.

Amelie felt her veins ice as she met the damned eyes, her skin paled, ''Is that—''

''Welcome...'' The man threw his arms wide, putting himself on display and earning every ounce of attention there was to catch in the room.

''And thank you for joining us on this very special occasion....''

Her knees trembled as she tried to stand solid, but she couldn't help but notice just how much Atlas looked like him.

Somewhere she'd hoped that it wasn't true. That her little brother wasn't the son of the devil — that he wasn't truly doomed to this life. To an entity in hiding and fear, but this simply settled that it was.

Atlas was indeed the Dark Lord's son.

He didn't look like she expected him to — he didn't portray as frightening and cruel as she believed him to be. Voldemort looked like any other man.

''Today, we've gathered to celebrate the most outstanding deaths of them all....'' Clenching his fingers around his glass, he raised it, ''The death of our dear Harry Potter.''

Amelie felt weak, her hands shaking.

She never knew Harry. She didn't have a connection to him, but she knew Hermione did. Hermione loved that boy with her entire heart, and hearing that he'd fallen at the sword of the Dark Lord caused her veins to ice and her blood to freeze.

''It's with the greatest pleasure I can inform every single one of you that this is a milestone. Something marvelous for our world.''

Looking around shyly, she tried to find a way out — when no one was paying any attention to her, she knew it was the perfect opportunity to search the residence, to look and see if her mother was anywhere to be found.

''With that boy gone. With that boy dead, deceased, and no longer breathing... We have what it takes to rule. Every single one of us has the power to take over the ministry and overcome the wizards and witches standing in our way....''

It was a door in the back of the room that trapped her immediate attention, and she moved so slowly that Theodore didn't realize her leaving. Backing through the crowd, she made her way to the far edge of the room, and not thinking clearly — Amelie slipped out that door.

Her spine collided with the wall next to it, and her chest heaved. This wasn't easy for her. Never had she done something similar to this before, but she couldn't stop now — she couldn't give in to the fear. Atlas needed their mother. She couldn't do this without her.

Her eyes gazed through the hallway she was standing in, and she pushed herself off the rocks. Hesitant steps echoed as she strode through the dimmed corridor. Shadows of the torched candles coating the walls made her flinch.

Amelie looked down every staircase she passed, her head poking in every door she marched by, and just as she meant to round a corner, voices began to clone. Panicking, she pressed her back against a tiny space, hiding in the doorway to a different room.

Pinching her lashes shut and holding her breath, she wished that no one would discern her. She couldn't afford to get caught.

As the voices faded, the sound of severe steps mirrored further away — she stepped out again, her fingers grasping at the skirt of her dress, and she tugged it up, sneaking down a gloomy companionway.

Her heels vibrated along the floor, and just as she took her last step, watching the cells in front of her with dread-filled eyes — someone placed a hand over her mouth, and she was pulled into a muscular chest.

''Not a damn word,'' The voice seethed. Her breaths hitched, knowing that she'd heard that tone before, somewhere that felt like a lifetime ago.

Amelie's hands clawed at his, and she tried to pry him off her, but without luck. The arms around her waist kept her firmly in place.

''What—'' She gasped against his palm as she stilled, not finding a reason to fight anyone. He had the upper hand on her. She knew that.

''Can I let you go without you making a sound?'' The hoarse voice asked behind her, and she nodded, her hair spilling wildly around her, ''Okay, calm, Avery. Calm and easy—''

Letting go of her, Amelie spun around, ripping the mask off her face. Her eyes were broad as she felt like she saw a ghost. Someone from another life, ''Blaise—'' She choked, her head shaking.

''Avery,'' Zabini muttered, narrowing the brown hues in hers, ''It wasn't yesterday that I saw you.''

Feeling as if she was held in a state of shock, she gulped, taking a step back, ''I don't—'' She stuttered, ''I don't understand — what are you doing here?''

''Isn't it obvious?'' Blaise tilted his head, glaring at her, ''I'm one of them.''

''I know you are,'' Amelie's sight flickered to the doorway, making sure she would have a way out of she needed it, ''I know you're one of them, but why aren't you upstairs, why—''

''I was told that you might show up here.''

Her chest tightened. Her throat strained.

''What?'' She blurted, ''How could anyone—''

''Over a year with him, and you still can't understand that he'll always be one step ahead of you?'' Blaise said, sounding amused, ''Malfoy was down here, half an hour ago, looking for your mother.''

Shame burnt through her vessels and she felt caught, even if the blond hadn't seen her yet. Never should she have doubted the possibility of Draco knowing she'd be here.

''He said you'd most likely find your way down here and asked me to stay behind to make sure you didn't run into someone you're not supposed to,'' Zabini took a step towards her, aiming to sit down at his desk as the scream from a prisoner made her turn around, looking away from him.

Amelie walked, step by step up to the bars, seeing nothing but darkness behind the cells, yet it pained within to hear people call out for help, ''Who are they?'' She whispered, surprisingly at the aching pain inside.

''Muggles,'' He stated, nonchalantly, ''We don't keep wizards and witches down here, it's far too easy for them to escape even without wands, but muggles can't.''

Nodding, she backed up from the fence, facing the boy instead, ''And you?'' She questioned, her tone low, ''What are you doing here, Blaise? The last time I saw you, you said you'd stay in school—''

He scoffed, dryly shaking his head at her, ''School?'' He hissed, but somewhere she caught a slight pitch of hurt in his vocals, ''Hogwarts doesn't exist anymore, Avery. The second they killed Potter, they stormed it. There weren't many survivors. Most of the teachers were slaughtered on sight. A massacre if you ask me.''

It turned hard to breathe. Her head clouded, and it struck her that she'd been so captive in her own world — her own misery that she barely paid any attention to the world around them.

Her breaths trembling as her lower lip quivered, ''Do we know if anyone survived? Do you know if Hermione—''

''You didn't hear?'' Raising a brow, he stared at her from his desk, fiddling with his quill between his fingers, ''She was killed, with Harry and the rest of the Weasley clan. The Death Eaters stormed the burrow... They didn't stand a chance.''

Amelie looked away.

Tears pearled in her eyes as she closed them, fighting it with all she had.

She couldn't cry. Not now. She couldn't risk getting caught. Still, it stung so violently in her chest, and Amelie turned furious. She never felt this much hatred before.

Hermione was her only link to Pansy, and now — now she didn't have that anymore.

Once again, she didn't get to say goodbye.

Her eyes darkened at the thought of always losing someone, of always being the one person to have a dear one taken from her, and she nearly unconsciously lifted her wand, pointing it directly to the boy in front of her.

''I know—'' Blaise swallowed thickly as he forced his chair back, creating a horrible sound over the stone-covered floor. He was scared of her.

Zabini indeed knew Amelie back in school. He was one of Adrian's closest friends, and he had a thought of what that boy was doing to her — but he'd also gotten the word of what she was capable of. How she almost took out twelve Death Eaters at once in Edinburg and how Draco slaughtered them for approaching her.

He was intimidated but what Amelie and Draco could do together.

''I know I didn't treat you fairly back in school—'' He gulped, his hues hooded, ''I know I seemed like a complete fool for speaking to you like I did and protecting Adrian, but I want you to know, Avery — that I will do everything I can to help you and Malfoy.''

Shaking her head, Amelie felt the burning tears streaming down her cheeks as she kept her wand aimed at him.

''I know I hurt you by looking after you when Adrian was away, and I regret that. I do, but he held things over my head. He was so powerful back then, and I—'' He took a step closer, ''I couldn't speak against him, no matter how much I wanted to, but I want to make it right, Avery. I gave Draco the information about this ball tonight. I don't want this to continue—''

''Where is my mother?'' Amelie breathed out, wiping the fallen tears off with the spine of her hand, ''Do you know where he's keeping her?''

Clearing his throat, Blaise shook his head, ''They don't tell me that. The Dark Lord doesn't trust me enough to let me in on any of it, but he's still looking for your brother. Ever since they caught Athena, they've been looking none stop for the child.''

''But not closing in on anything?'' She asked, quietly and her eyes continuously flickered to the gate, scared that someone would catch her, ''They don't know where he is?''

''No, they don't,'' Blaise peered over to the door too, growing nervous, ''But that's all I know, Avery, and you have to go — you need to leave before they find you down here.''

Amelie let a nod tip of her head, and she watched the boy with sorrow in her eyes, ''You can't remember this, Blaise, but I want you to know that I forgive you, everything you've done — everything you said, I forgive you.''

That was all it took for Zabini's lower lip to quiver and his hands to shake. He wasn't worthy of her forgiveness. He knew that — yet she granted him with it. She pardoned him without a second thought.

He'd been nothing but cruel to her, but Amelie could never let that convict a person. She believed in kindness and redemption, even with someone like Blaise. Someone that stood entirely on Adrian's side and someone who was meant to watch over her, guard her like a hawk.

''Wait—'' Blaise breathed, his hands running across his skull, ''Save him from this,'' He pleaded, his pulse stressed as she once again swallowed the tormenting lump in her throat.

''Malfoy...'' Zabini held his low note, ''He's not going to make it, Avery. The second the Dark Lord gets to him, no matter what he promised Nott — He will kill Draco. He has a plan for it. He'll make a spectacle out of it, torture him to death in front of everyone just like he did with Potter.''

Amelie felt the tears as they smoldered in her eyelids, her field of vision blurred, ''I won't—'' Taking a deep breath, her fingers quaked around her wand, ''I won't let them, Blaise. They won't get him.''

''They can't, Avery, because the second they do and the second he's not here to be feared anymore, we'll die. All of us,'' His hues bored at her wand, and he gave her a nod, confirming that he was ready for what she craved to do, ''Save him, Avery.''

''I will. He's safe with me, I promise,'' Amelie tried to breathe through the pain, shredding her apart from the inside, ''Obliviate.''

Disappearing up the stairs before Blaise had the possibility to wake up properly, Amelie strode back out into the hallway, hearing as the coarse tone of the Dark Lord's speech was still mirroring across the castle.

She knew that Draco was somewhere in the crowd of souls and was well aware of her plan to sneak her way into the ball. She needed to leave before the boy had any chance of finding her.

The carpet running down the corridor eased the sound of her heels, and just as she meant to haul her mask back up — Amelie fell, her knees bruised against the mat she landed on.

Cursing to herself, she picked up her pouch, and she forced her palms into the floor.

Amelie winced back roughly. Nearly tripping over again as she watched a man standing tall in front of her.

He came out of nowhere.

Alarmed, her fingers moving across her own frame to straighten her dress as she realized she didn't have her mask on. The man could see her, perfectly in the shadows they were standing in.

He didn't speak a word. He simply stared at her. The damned eyes he carried behind the metal mask caused her skin to shiver. Amelie had never seen him before, yet she could almost place her finger upon the fact that she'd indeed spotted him prior to this.

''I'm—'' Her voice was light as feathers, and the man coiled because of it. Not that he showed it — he didn't, but Amelie felt it. The slight ounce of wind swirled between them by the sudden change in his breathing.

''I was just—'' She choked. Not once was she capable of tearing her eyes from his. It was something that detained her in them, something keeping her there, ''I didn't mean—''

Tidying his shoulders and sprawling his spine, the man clenched his jaws, looking down at her with distaste as it crammed his pupils, ''You're not supposed to be here.''

She recognized him — Amelie knew she did. His voice she'd never heard, that she knew for sure. It sounded strange, tampered with, but the way he was looking at her was indeed something she'd been used to once.

''I got lost....'' Her chest rose and fell heavily as he inched closer, his eyes trailing down her chest over her dress and back up to the broad sight she owned, ''On my way from the bathroom, I'm—''

''If you're here, it means that he's here,'' The man didn't look away from her, not once did he ransom her eyes from his, ''He's here, isn't he?''

''Who—'' The hair leaking over her shoulders tickled her skin, ''I don't—''

''And to think you'd grown up. To think that you'd actually change, that's a whole lot of disappointment to see that you didn't, darling.'' He said darkly. A chuckle fleeing his throat.

''What are you—'' Taking a step back, she shook her head confusingly, not fully grasping the verity as it passed, ''What do you—''

''You're still nothing more than an ungrateful bloody witch—''

Amelie took another heel back, and just as she did, her spine collided with something, a toned chest pressed into her from behind, and she could recognize that scent from anywhere.

The man in front of her pierced his stare through her savior, and just as his lips parted to speak.

''My witch,'' Draco gritted, his hands tucked into his pockets as he rolled his tongue on the inside of his cheek, his sight flickered down to Amelie, ''She's my bloody witch, and if you as much as look at her again — I'll kill you.''

The figure moved away, backing up, but he still looked at them, both of them, ''No, you won't,'' The mask over his face glimmered in the dimmed lights, ''You won't kill me, Malfoy. Want to know why?''

Amelie's veins iced, her bravery failing her as she turned around, so quickly that Draco couldn't follow, whispering 'lumos' underneath her breath. Icing light coated the tip of her wand, and she gasped, seeing all the Death Eaters closing in from the shadows around them.

Amelie's hand caught his, fingers tangled as they faced different directions.

''Draco—'' Her voice heard so low, seeking comfort in him, but before she knew it, a wand was aimed at her, and everything shifted in complete darkness.

_____

Amelie's head felt so heavy.

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head the very instant she wished to peel her lashes wide, and it stung. Her chest ached uncontrollably.

''Let her go,'' She heard a voice shout, but it felt like a dream to her — something from far away.

''Let her go, or I swear to God that the second I'm out of here, I'll find you, and I tear you to pieces—'' The voice was cut short as a loud scream took its place, and that shout brought her back to being.

Arching her spine off the floor she was lying on, she gasped out, her eyes snapping across the gloomy, horrifying room. It was an oval shape, the walls smeared in bricks, almost like a cellar.

Tears prickled the second her gaze fell upon the blond.

They had torn his shirt off, his arms chained above his head as he was placed on his knees. Tracing her hand up to her mouth, she sobbed out at the sight of his skin, cut and carved, blood gushed down his torso.

But the man from the hallway wasn't there. These two men were different.

His head hung, the blond drenched strands held damp in both sweat and blood.

Amelie needed to do something. This was exactly what Blaise had warned her about. They would kill him, the best chance they'd get — they would tear him to pieces, and she couldn't do one single thing to stop it.

Hearing his scream again, the sound of chains rattling together, Amelie's whole body coiled.

She didn't care if there wasn't a thing to do. She didn't bother to seek the logical reasoning in this — Malfoy saved her every time, no matter where she was or what situation she'd gotten herself into, and it was her turn to rescue him now.

''Let her go—'' He tried so hard not to shout, not to give them the satisfaction, but it was impossible, even for Malfoy.

''She won't be going anywhere, mate,'' One of the men snickered, amusingly as he backed up with a sword in his hands, ''Except for my bedroom, of course — or she won't be going there to be blunt. I'll carry her there. God knows she won't be able to walk after—''

Draco breathed so harshly through his teeth, doing everything he could not let their words get to him.

''Right. We promised each other we'd take turns, ruin her a bit for each other, ease the thrill if you know what I'm saying,'' The other one taunted, ''She already got with two Death Eater's, a few more wouldn't harm her, right?''

Draco yanked, so violently at the tied up grip, feeling the blood as it dripped down his features, ''Don't you fucking dare touch her—''

They tore the sword across his chest again, causing him to growl out.

One of the men kneeled in front of Malfoy, tipping his chin as his hand arched Draco's head back, making the blond meet his eyes, ''Does she sound nice? When you fuck her? Does she make those pretty little noises when you force yourself inside her?'' The man rose a brow, ''Does she feel good, Malfoy? Your little witch? Do you even please her correctly or do you—''

Draco spat in his face, hewing him off as he grunted out of the soaring pain, ''You pathetic fucking cunt,'' Malfoy heaved, ''Think you could talk about my witch like that, yeah?''

''You disgusting—'' The man crawled back, wiping Draco's saliva from his face, and he looked up at his friend, holding the sword, ''Cut him deeper this time, puncture a lung. He's getting way too cocky now.''

''There's a reason she never spared you as much as a glare in school, mate,'' Draco smirked, ''You can never compare to me, not then, not now, so go ahead. Go ahead and puncture my lung, hurt me some more, it still won't make you more of a man if that's what you was aiming for.''

''You fucking—''

The other man held this one back, gripping him by his shoulders from killing Draco on the spot.

''She'd still never look in your direction,'' Draco kept going, mocking them right back, ''So come on, big guy — hurt me, make me bleed before I kill you.''

The Death Eaters standing around Draco had no idea that Amelie had woken up, too distracted by her boyfriend as she pushed herself up on two feet, staying close to the walls as the light gloomed from the center.

''You can't fucking touch me, Malfoy. That's the beauty in having you chained up. You can't fucking—''

Draco twisted his upper boy, throwing himself forward a bit as all of the Death Eaters around him flinched, ''Looks like I don't have to touch you, for you to piss yourself. You're so fucking pathetic, scared of someone in chains, yeah?''

Amelie shook. Her whole body wrenched within as she tried to stay calm.

Her eyes flickering to the table on the far side of the room from her, seeing her wand as it splayed out on the wood.

Her steps hurried now, yet so tender. She couldn't risk getting caught.

''You'll never compare to me. I will always be his favorite, no matter how much he loathes me. That's why you haven't killed me yet, yeah?'' Draco rose his chin, spitting out blood, ''You can try and match up to what I was to him, but you'll never get anywhere close to me, mate. I was his favorite. The Dark Lord never found another like me, did he?''

Both of the Death Eater's stoned.

''He tried, I presume?'' Malfoy laughed out now, pearls of sweat rolled down his neck, his hands ripped at the bonds around his wrists, ''He tried to form and shape every single one of you to something he could use like he used me, but you didn't even get close, did you? You'll never be of as much worth to him as I was.''

Amelie tried not to listen as her bare feet scraped against the ground. Draco was talking in terms she didn't know.

He usually didn't talk about his time as one of Voldemort's loyal servants. It was too difficult for him — too much pain and regret.

''So go ahead,'' Draco dared them, ''Go ahead and do what you please to me, I promise I'll make you hurt ten times worse when you're done.''

One of the boys gripped the other by his shoulder, ''Perhaps we should stop, it's not—''

''We can't stop now!'' He countered, evilly as he shoved his friend back, kneeling next to Draco again, ''You might not hurt, you know,'' He laughed out, ''But I can make your little whore of a girlfriend hurt.''

Malfoy's smirk faded. His eyes darkened.

''That's right, Malfoy. If you don't fucking behave — I'll take her right here, in front of you.'' He spun around, gesturing to where he believed Amelie would be, and his face dropped, instantly with the reality of her not being there, ''What the—''

''Drop it,'' Amelie breathed, her wand pushing into one of the Death Eater's throats, ''Drop that sword, right now, or I'll kill him.''

''Amelie—'' Draco growled out, yanking his arms in the chains he was trapped in, ''Amelie for fucks sake—''

The Death Eater scoffed nonchalantly, ''Go ahead. He's disposable.''

She could feel how Draco's stare burnt through her, and she understood that the vicious boy in front of her wouldn't bother if she indeed hurt his friend, so she did the next best thing she could think of.

Amelie pushed herself back from them, and she traced the wand up to her own neck, scratching the tip so deeply against her skin, ''What about myself?'' She said, her dress still hugging around her, ''What if I kill myself?''

''You wouldn't—''

''I would. It wouldn't be the first time, but you already know that, don't you?'' She questioned, being more terrified than she'd ever been, but not once did she show it, ''And there's a reason why you threaten to hurt me but never to kill me, right? It's because you can't. You're not allowed to.''

''Amelie, get the fuck out of here—''

The two men looked at each other before looking back at Amelie.

''That's the real beauty in all of this, isn't it?'' She kept her wand, firmly pushed into her throat, ''That you can't touch me, because the Dark Lord needs me, doesn't he? I'm the only link back to the child.''

Cocking his head, the man took a step closer to her, but Amelie didn't falter, not once.

''Perhaps I should do as my mother? Erase my memories? Obliviate myself? But the Dark Lord would kill you if I did so, wouldn't he?'' Her tone intimidating now, her hair spilling wildly around her.

''That's it, correct?'' Amelie studied the two men in front of her, neither of them wore their masks, and she could tell they were at least two years older than her and Draco.

''Don't you fucking dare—'' He spat at her, still so hesitant of how far he'd be able to push before the girl, standing in her red dress, would push just as hard back, ''Isn't it funny, thinking you're the smartest person in the room—''

''Why would it be funny?'' Huffing out, her brows raised in question, ''You're the one who'll be losing either way. Why would that affect me?''

''How am I the one losing?'' The Death Eater's hands curled into fists.

''Because either I kill myself, or I take my memories away, and you'll probably be facing death for failing your task in bringing me unharmed to the Dark Lord—'' Sighing out, Amelie narrowed her sight in his, ''Or you hurt me in all the ways you said you would, and if the Dark Lord doesn't kill you for doing so, I'm certain that Draco will.''

The man stayed quiet, his breaths ragged as he caught onto the meaning of her words.

Amelie was right. There wasn't a way he could turn this for him to win.

''So it looks to me that you indeed are losing no matter how you play it,'' She lowered her voice, shooting Draco a swift look over her shoulder, ''So either you let us go, and I'll convince Draco to spare your lives, or you don't and face the consequences of the Dark Lord and what he'll do to you for ruining all chances he has to find my brother.''

Draco weakly coughed out a peel of laughter as he still rested on his knees in chains. He couldn't shape a word to express just how proud he was of her.

''Your choice,'' Amelie proceeded, blood slipping out of the wound she was creating on her own neck.

''No one besides us know you're here—''

''No one?'' She tilted her head, ''What about the people I brought here? The man in the hallway?''

The Death Eater's eyes flickered, looking down at the stone-covered ground. Just as he did, when he wasn't in his clear mind, and he battled the fight within himself, Amelie quickly yelled a spell at the two boys, making it bounce between them.

They fell to the ground, and she threw herself at Draco, her arms clinging around his neck, ''I'm sorry—'' She heaved, feeling his heated breaths on her shoulder before her fingers grasped at the chains holding him up.

Amelie freed him, and Malfoy wasn't slow to follow.

He rose from the ground, wrapping his arms around her and bringing her up with him.

Staring in a fusion of rage and relief at her, he pushed his lips to hers. Draco kissed her fiercely before he let her down.

''You're fucking crazy,'' He mumbled against her lips, ''You amaze me, but you're fucking crazy.''

Her arms falling from around him, her skin stained in his blood, ''You make me crazy,'' She whispered before she stepped aside, ''Here,''

Reaching her wand towards him, but he merely shook his head.

Malfoy grinned viciously, ''I don't need that,'' He stated, rolling his neck and gathering his strength.

The Death Eaters on the ground regained consciousness, and both of them crawled back over the rocks, realizing that their wands were thrown across the room by Amelie's magic.

''Draco—'' Amelie understood what he was going to do. The air in her lungs felt restricted, ''Please, don't. We don't have to hurt them—''

''Yeah?'' He hissed, looking right at the men, ''No one talks about you like they did. No one.''

''Draco—''

''Go upstairs, find Theodore and meet me outside,'' His eyes were so dark now. He couldn't tame himself any longer, and he couldn't have her here to watch as he'd rip their bodies apart for threatening her.

''Please—'' She begged, ''Come with me, Draco. Don't do this—''

Malfoy wasn't human in this state. They threatened his Amelie, and he couldn't leave without their insides smeared to the walls.

''Get out of here—'' He growled, still not looking at her, ''Get out of here, right now, Amelie or I swear—''

She backed away, her feet hurting, and her heartbeat swelled in her ears.

''Now!'' He shouted as she ran, her legs trembling as she ripped the door open, and she fell to her knees outside it. The second it slammed shut behind her — Amelie heard the screams of the men as Draco tore them to pieces.

She couldn't listen. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she forced herself off the ground, hurrying her way through the corridor. She followed the music, finding her way back to the ballroom.

Eyes snapped to watch her, how her dress was slightly ripped and blood covered her bare arms.

''Teddy—'' Amelie could recognize those messy curls from anywhere, but she halted. Freezing in her tracks as she saw who he was speaking with.

It was the same man that approached her in the hallway before she passed out, and yet again, Amelie felt the strongest bond of recollection to him.

She knew him. Still not being able to place her finger upon from where, but he was so familiar to her.

The way he stood, the way he looked around, scanning the area, and how his jaws clenched.

Theodore flung around quickly as she met the gaze of the man in the mask, and he turned fully to face her.

Excusing himself, awkwardly — Theodore marched toward her, ''What the—'' He gasped at the way she was looking, blood dripping down her arms, ''What happened?''

''We need to go outside, now,'' Her fingers grasped at his suit jacket, the crimson color on her fingers shading the white shirt.

She tugged him with her through the crowd, keeping her head down, not for anyone to recognize her without a mask.

''Amelie what—'' Theo stopped on the yard, yanking her back from walking further, ''What the fuck—''

Dragging her hands through her hair, she peered around, searching for the blond, ''Draco found me and we—'' She stilled, trying to focus, but she couldn't stop thinking about the man Theo was seen with. Meeting her best friend's hues, ''Who was that?''

Theo scratched the back of his neck, hauling lightly at his collar, loosening his tie, ''What?'' He pretended to seem clueless, ''Who?''

''Don't lie to me,'' Amelie hardly breathed, her head clouded by the fact that Draco had yet failed to show himself, ''Stop lying to me, stop keeping things from me—''

The darkness swallowed them, her skin shivering as she heard someone shout her name, her eyes growing broad at the sight of Draco storming towards them.

''Amelie!'' His voice was muffled by the orchestra. His bare chest wounded, blood gushing across his frame, ''Leave!''

Timed slowed for her as she noted how Draco turned around, facing the sea of masked men.

''No...'' Amelie whispered, ''No, Draco—''

Trying to run to the boy she loved so deeply, Theodore stopped her, his arms wrapping around her as she screamed out, ''Let me go! Let me go — they will kill him, they will kill him Teddy and I—''

''Amelie, go—'' Draco yelled, the desperate tone in his vocals drowned her, ''Leave, now, and I'll be right there—''

''No,'' Amelie cried. Her feet didn't touch the ground anymore as Theo held her, preventing her from throwing herself on the sword for Draco.

She would do that. Amelie would easily sacrifice herself for Draco to stay unwounded.

''Theo, take her out of here, now!'' Malfoy's voice held so dangerously low as he sought to stop the Death Eaters from getting to them, ''I can't have her here. She can't watch this, Nott. Take her away, right now!''

Tears drenched her cheeks, her breaths none consistent as she fought Teddy's hold of her, tossing and twisting — kicking and screaming. She did everything she could to earn her way to Malfoy, but it was for nothing. Her best friend didn't let go of her.

''For fucks sake,'' Draco roared. He knew he couldn't stall the dark magic being thrown at him any longer, and he couldn't risk Amelie see him die.

She'd leave this world if he did.

''Take her out of here now!'' Falling to his knees by a curse, striking the blond in his chest, Draco's body was forced into the soil.

Even when he was tortured with magic, he didn't protect himself. He shielded them.

Always them.

Amelie couldn't leave him. She couldn't leave him to fight for himself — Malfoy was already injured, he wasn't strong enough.

''Teddy, let me—''

''Now!''

Reality looped around her vividly, and it felt like she couldn't breathe. Daggers ripping through her throat every time she took a breath.

The sphere stilled, hugged in Theodore's arms, Amelie cried.

Her tears staining his shirt as he kneeled to the floor with her, resting safely within the walls of their home.

She didn't dare to peel her eyes open. She didn't want to see their room, knowing that they had left Draco behind. Not knowing if he would make it.

_____