I choked on the thick smoke, rivulets of pain running up my body from my hard landing.

"We have to go," Malfoy said, grabbing onto my hand.

"Draco, I can't leave them here," I begged, but he would take no for an answer. As his arms wrapped around my shoulders, a ball of light slammed into Malfoy, throwing him backwards. I rolled to the side, grabbing my wand as another body-binding spell was shot at me. It exploded onto the ground.

Harry stood, breathing heavily, his eyes full of rage.

"You could've done something!" Harry bellowed, running towards us.

"Stupefy!" I shouted. Harry blocked the spell.

"Impedimenta!"

Malfoy put up a shield between us and Harry again. As soon as it went down, I stunned Harry with Petrificus Totalus. Harry Potter fell, unable to move.

"How did you know?" I asked, crouching next to him. "How would you have known . . .Oh." The Cloak of Invisibility. Harry and Dumbledore had been talking before I'd entered the room and the headmaster had told me he was alone. But Potter had been in there the whole time.

As Malfoy stood behind me, looking down at the Boy Who Lived, I whispered, pointing my wand down at him, "Finite."

And then we were gone.

* * *

"My parents," was the first thing I gasped out when we landed. "My parents are going to kill me." He walked ahead, blond hair whipping in the chilly wind. He was limping, his slender figure wincing with every step. Running after him, gravel crunching beneath my shoes. "Where are you going. Malfoy, look at me when I'm talking to you."

Malfoy turned, his grey eyes cold. We stared at each other, standing there, clothes whipping in the wind. My pants were ripped at the knees from all the falling, hands cut from the glass. Malfoy had a gash across his cheekbone, knuckles raw. He was covered in dirt, the dark smudges on his face deeply contrasting with the paleness of his skin. I looked past him.

"What is this place?" I asked in awe, the air disappearing from my lungs. I took a step back, taking in the huge manor. Hedges lined the cement pathway that leas to a fountain in front of the large doors. Lamps lit the dark corners. There were three iron gates protecting it. "Is this your-"

"Our manor. Yes."

"It's bigger than I imagined."

"I hate this place," he said, disgusted. "I hate being here."

"Then why are we here?" I asked, still in wonder at the size of the place.

"Because we have to report back to him." Above us, the dark balls of smoke flew down, whipping past us and bursting into the house. My hair whipped around my head as I ducked. And then all was silent again, except for the whooshing of the wind.

"No," I let out a horrified whisper. "I'm not going in there."

"I thought you wanted to be here," Malfoy said with a cruel smirk. The hatred in his silver eyes was intense. I just hoped it wasn't directed towards me.

"Not like this. It was a thought, Draco!"

"I don't care. You got yourself into this mess," he pointed at me, sneering, "you get yourself out!"

I stood there, wheels turning in my head. My blood had turned ice cold. I felt as if I was about to pass out any minute.

I had only one plan.

I whipped around and started running in the opposite direction of the manor.

"Stop!"

I sprinted, glancing back only to shoot a spell.

"Expelliarmus!" The wand whipped out of my hand. I stopped for a moment to grab for it, but it was a moment too late. Arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me from the ground.

"Let me go!" I elbowed him in the chest, legs kicking air. He nearly dropped me.

"Listen to me for one second!" Malfoy bellowed, dropping my to the floor. I scrambled for my wand, getting up and pointing it at him.

"What is it, for the love of-"

"Bellatrix has seen your face," Malfoy said, his eyes almost pleading. "She'll tell him about you and then he'll order her to hunt you down. As long as you're alive to talk to him, the Dark Lord doesn't care what happens to you. Which means," Draco said heavily. "She will torture you because you ran away. So please, don't run. It'll be easier if you come willingly. I'm trying to help you."

"Why do you even care?" I asked, lowering my wand.

"Another person can't die because of me." Tears pooled in his eyes, making me go soft again.

I put down my hand, shaking. "Fine. I'll go with you. But you have to help me go home after this, to my parents."

"Deal."

I walked next to him, together as we entered the Malfoy Manor.

Everyone sat on a table. Malfoy made me sit next to him, between him and his mother, Bellatrix on the other side of her and his father on his left side.

Malfoy looked straight ahead. Everyone was silent.

Snape entered. Fury spread through my blood. I boiled as I stared at Dumbledore's killer, only wondering what Harry and everyone else would be going through at this moment. I shivered from fear as I glanced at the jeering faces of the Death Eaters I never thought I'd face.

Snape's eyes fell on me. He looked almost disappointed-surprised I ended up here. My eyes burned with shame. Yes, I'd thought about coming here. But under these shameful circumstances . . . never.

Malfoy winced next to me, pressing down on his forearm.

He was close.

I squeezed my eyes shut, holding back the fresh wave of tears. I was frightened of what he would do to me.

Wind blew across the room, whipping through hair and clothes. Everyone covered their eyes in the crook of their elbows.

And then, we looked up.

My heart nearly stopped in my chest. This was the second time I'd seen him, but this was closer than I'd imagined. He had red eyes and a snake-like face, noseless. The color of his skin was so pale it was almost blue, the veins clear beneath the translucent layers. He seemed almost fragile, but it was obvious he was anything but that. There was not a single speck of hair on him, face or arms. A wand toyed between his thumb and forefinger, claws for nails.

A thin smile stretched across his face, unwarm.

"Well?" The word seemed to echo across the room. Everyone cowered as he spoke, but his question was directed at Malfoy.

"It's done," he said, and I was surprised at how calm his voice was, although his face too was bloodless.

"I killed him," Snape spoke up.

The Dark Lord gazed around the table, slowly. And then, his eyes fell on me.

"And who," he spoke slowly, "might you be?"

I clasped my shaking hands together. I couldn't speak. I needed to say something, but no words formed. He was going to kill me. My heart raced with panic.

"She helped Draco," Snape said coolly. "She kept Dumbledore busy until Draco could easily sneak up and disarm him."

I gulped at his lies. How could Voldemort not know he wasn't telling the truth? My head spun as I sat there, trying to keep it together.

"Is that so? Have you come to join us?" Voldemort circled around the table, stopping right behind me. Suddenly, I felt cold. I was freezing inside. This was what Malfoy meant. "Are you . . ." he trailed off. "Dumb?" The entire table cackled as if he'd told the greatest joke is the world. Everyone except Draco and his parents. But even his father cracked a forced smile.

"Silence!" his voice boomed. A hush fell over the Death Eaters as they once more looked down at their laps. "Tell me, can you not speak?"

"I-I can," I forced out. He stood behind me, which made him even menacing. Was he pointing his wand at me?

"We always welcome fresh blood," Voldemort declared, sweeping his hands up. I jumped as his voice got louder. "Are you willing to sacrifice yourself to serve me?"

The room was deadly silent.

Say something, Steele!

Draco nudged me with his foot. And with that nudge, I squeaked out a "yes" against my will.

Voldemort was satisfied. "You will be tested for your blood. If you aren't pure-blooded, you will die." I nodded.

And then, he turned, walking slowly. His feet were bare against the ground.

Voldemort disappeared into the darkest smoke I'd ever seen, half the table following. I looked at Draco, who glanced at me.

"You can't go back on your word," he whispered, reaching out to grab my shoulder.

And we too were gone.