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The Prophecy of Absconditus	By : AndromedanQueen Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 1570 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
Penname: Page of Cups

Email: AndromedanPrincess@hotmail.com

AOL Screen Name: AndromedanQueen

Title: The Prophecy of Absconditus

Rating: R

Pairing: Ron Weasley/Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter/Blaise Zabini

Summary: Wherein Harry suffers, Draco lies, Blaise doesn�t know what�s going on, and all Ron can do is sit by and watch. There�s some gross stuff, too.
I am not J.K., though I torture her characters almost as much.
I have no reason for updating for a long time other than I am lazy and actually forgot I had this story posted here until someone reminded me of it in a lovely feedback email. Thank you so much. You know who you are. Let it never be said that it doesn't pay off to leave feedback.

Chapter Twenty-One: Forgive Me, Father, For I Have Sinned

Ron sat on the edge of the fountain and stared at Leiss. No one said a word before leaving, but the tension mounted until Ron wanted to scream. Without Draco and Harry, the pressure eased off, but it still strung thin in his mind. He hated The Plan, and he didn't know how to remain calm when he had no active part in it. There was nothing to do but to sit here, watch, and wait.

Once Harry steamed and simmered, he reentered the meeting room. For a while, he stood there staring at the rest. Then, quietly, he agreed to The Plan. At first, Ron didn't believe his ears. Harry would never agree to sacrifice his life, chance death. No one objected. No one stopped to say that maybe it was a bad idea. What if Harry didn't live? The odds were great that Harry would remain dead. There was no proof this was going to work, and yet no one argued when Harry agreed.

He felt the determination radiate off Harry once the decision was made. There was no changing his mind. Ron could testify; he tried. It killed him to think Harry was going to stand before the Death Eaters, open his arms, and invite Voldemort to take his life. He felt sick, unnerved, and it didn't help that Leiss wasn't quite as confident as Harry. Her face remained calm and unmoved, but it had been she, herself, that taught Ron to feel out a person's emotions, and her fear drove Ron to insanity.

The Plan went as this: Draco and Harry would go to Hogwarts and seek out the Death Eaters. Harry would be bound and under the full body-bind to keep up the illusions of Draco turned traitor. Using the preliminary Dark Mark that continued to mar Draco's arm, he would confess to being "astray" but that he found his sense, and wanted to come back to the Death Eaters. He understood that he would not be trusted, and was willing to prove his loyalty. As a peace offering, he brought Harry, and wanted to see their Master.

Headquarters were at the Slytherin Manor, or so Draco presumed, because that was where the Fountain of Innocent Blood was located. If the Death Eaters bought into Draco's story (which he presumed they would, as most weren't much brighter than Crabbe and Goyle when it came to reasoning), he'd be led there. Ron thought they should just go to the manor straight away, but Draco wasn't sure how to find it, and it was unplottable. Draco also insisted they go through the proper channels, because so long as it was done in Voldemort's preferred manner, they could keep the upper hand. Any sign of trickery would kill them immediately.

Once at the Slytherin Manor, Draco would speak with Voldemort. He'd offer Harry, do whatever they asked to prove himself, and allow Voldemort to kill Harry. If things went the way Leiss hypothesized, then once Harry was dead, the magic of revenge and Harry's unknown strength should reverse the spell, kill Voldemort, and bring Harry back to life. If things didn't go as Leiss predicted . . . that was something that Ron refused to think about.

After Draco and Harry left Hideout B for Hogwarts, Leiss packed and made Ron lead her to Absconditus. Once Voldemort was dead, Harry Dra Draco would need to get Blaise and make a quick getaway. They'd use the Fountain of Innocent Blood for return, and Leiss insisted they be there when everything happened. In the meantime, she initiated a telepathic connection between the three and herself; she couldn't contact Blaise.

Now he sat in Absconditus by Fontis de Ortus Lux Lucis with little to say. Leiss told him of a way to watch what was happening, a projection used by Keepers to keep watch on each other.

"Alexis showed me," said Leiss, sneering. "Before . . ."

She wouldn't elaborate. The spell was a mental astral projection of her telepathic connection since she was stronger than they. All Ron could do was watch the two-dimensional scene play out on the fountain water. He wanted to help, to do something, but Leiss forbid him. It would only interfere, look strange, and it was something that Draco and Harry needed to do on their own.

Ron watched the scene move before him. In the time it took Leiss and Ron to arrive in Absconditus, it took just as long for Harry and Draco to arrive at Hogwarts. The school looked like nothing Ron had ever seen before; it bore no resemblance to the place Ron called home for close to ten months of the year. The first obstacle presented itself before Harry and Draco made it onto Hogwarts grounds; the Death Eaters set up wards that could not be penetrated. Ron knew this, had read it in the Daily Prophet weeks ago, but forgot their entrance was prohibited.

Some alarm must have been set up in the castle. Draco spent no more than five minutes contemplating how to enter when Crabbe and Goyle (just their luck) came out to investigate. From years of playing leader, Draco knew how to manipulate them, and played them to perfection with his story. Their hesitation was natural, but short-lived; no sooner had they rebutted Draco's argument than he shoved the Mark in their face.

"If I was lying, would this still be here?" said Draco. They stood on opposite sides of Hogwarts gates, Harry lying motionless on the ground beside him. "You know as well as I do that this is supposed to go away when one turns from the Dark Lord. Mine is still here. I'm on your side. I've seen the error of my ways."

Crabbe and Goyle conferred, turned from Draco, but talked loud enough that Ron had no troubles deciphering their conversation. Part of Ron always thought they couldn't be as stupid as everyone made them out to be, but it was hard to back up when they did things like this. Why would you turn away and yet not bother to lower your voice? The Death Eaters should reconsider who they sent out to investigate strange breeches on the wards.

"We shouldn't take him," said Crabbe. "You know what Narcissa said. Under no circumstances."

"But she thinks his Mark has gone. He has a point," said Goyle. "It should have gone away. Why would it still be there?"

"How should I know? Wouldn't it have gone away when he refused? Why would it never go away if Draco admits to have once been on Dumbledore's ?" ?"

"Maybe he was never on their side. Maybe he just thought he was."

"And maybe I'm still standing here," said Draco. They turned and regarded him with suspicion, confusing twisting their large, ugly faces. Heavy, thick brows knitted together, though it was hard to tell as they were mostly one in the first place.

"How stupid are these boys?" said Leiss.

"I have yet to determine," said Ron.

"I'll take him," said Crabbe, his voice floating out of the water. "Don't tell Narcissa. Keep her occupied. She'll want to know where I am. Tell her I'm dealing with one of the first years who tried to run away. It wouldn't be the first time one of them's slipped out."

"Why don't they detain the first years?" said Ron.

"Where are they going? They can't get off the grounds," said Leiss. "To watch over them would makre wre work."

"Good point."

Ron watched as Crabbe led Draco and Harry away from Hogwarts grounds, through Hogsmeade, and into the hills of Scotland. His palms itched and Ron tried to scratch them, but the sweat stuck his skin together and intensified the sensation. Leiss peered at him, frowned, and knocked Ron's arms to his sides.

It seemed to Ron that they walked forever. With each passing step, the bile churned louder in his stomach, and his throat grew tighter. It got harder to breathe, and he watched Draco and Harry, his eyes passing between them. He wanted to reach out, wrap his arms around Draco and make him safe. He wanted his best friend by his side, laughing. Draco carried Harry to certain death, and whether he would come out of it could not be determined. If Harry faltered, Ron would never forgive himself.

They wound through the mountains and came close to Hideout B. It was almost amusing, and Ron could see it in Draco's eyes, that the Death Eaters passed right over Hideout B without knowing who lived beneath. The glimmer in Draco's eyes was nice, enough to hold Ron over, and he felt the oxygen fill his lungs again. It was cool, soothing, and the pressure eased in Ron's veins.

A large, old house sat in a remote area of the mountains, atop a random peak. There was nothing spectacular about it; it had neither the charm of Malfoy Manor nor the desolate abandon of Potter Manor. It was an old house without elegance or grandeur. A winding path led to the single door perched on a wrap-around porch. The knocker was silver, a winding serpent, and Ron was reminded of the knocker at Grimmauld place. Crabbe didn't bother to use it. He opened the door and walked in, allowing Draco to follow. Harry lay perched in Draco's thin, shaking arms.

They walked into a low, torch-lit room. It was bare save for the long table like the one in Hideout B. Only a few hours ago had Ron sat around that table with Harry, and he hoped that one day he'd be able to again.

"I thought you'd come for your friend," said Voldemort. A chill skirted through Ron's body, and Leiss placed a hand on his lower back. "Where's the other one? The Alcor?"

"Ron's not coming," said Draco. "I'm not here for him. I'm here on my own business."

"He says he's seen the error of his ways," said Crabbe.

"Let him speak for himself, Crabbe. You know how I feel about interrupting."

A simple Crucio spell and Crabbe lay twitching on the ground, his cries echoed in the room. Voldemort paid no heed; he stared from Draco to Harry's prostrate, unmoving body. He lifted the curse from Crabbe, and sent him away. They were alone.

"Is what he says true?"

Draco held out his arms.

"A peace offering, my master." Draco bowed his head. "I once turned from you. I rebelled against my father, then. I thought him weak and did not wish to follow in his footsteps. Since he's died, I've realized that weak as he was, his path was the right one. Those who follow Dumbledore are fools. Your powers far surpass his own, Dark Lord."

"Why the change of heart?"

"You've pulled him out from under their very noses, and they're quite lost without him. I've witnessed little but stumbling children since the escape. I bided my time, waiting for the opportune moment."

"Yet you fought against my loyal servants in the fallen city."

"I had to, Master. They would have killed me. They did not know of my plan, but Potter saw through me."

"They said you killed him. Saw his body with their own eyes."

"I cannot kill him, Master. Only you have the power and ability."

"You realize you will have to prove yourself?"

"I�ll do what I can, Master. Anything you wish shall be my command."

Ron couldn't breathe, couldn't scream as he watched Voldemort call the Cruciatus curse, and Draco fell to the ground. A sneer twisted on Voldemort's face, his red eyes glittering beneath a hood of darkness. When he lifted the curse, he shook his head.

"Draco, you used to hold your pain better than that. I'm disappointed. To your feet."

Harry lay disposed on the ground, but Draco struggled to stand. Voldemort strode forward, seized Draco's arm, and ripped up the sleeve. The Mark lay burned into his skin, exposed, and Voldemort grinned. Ron wanted it to go away, wished to cut it off Draco's skin.

"Osiris! Tristan! Hephastus!"

The three Death Eaters from the Train Dream entered. Brown Eyes, Rabid, and Tristan bowed, fell to their knees, and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes. Ron wondered what they were thinking.

"Tristan, I need two vials and the dagger. Hephastus, bring out the boy. Osiris, stay here. I need you to keep an eye on this one."

Voldemort kicked Harry toward Rabid as Tristan and Brown Eyes left the room. A sick grin stretched across Rabid's face, one so similar to his dream, and he bent down. Whispered words bound Harry in conjured ropes and Voldemort lifted the body-bind.

"I want to hear him scream," said Voldemort. Draco smirked. "That, however, will have to wait." He turned to Draco. "You come here so fearlessly. Why is that? Do you not fear me?"

"I only wish to serve you, Master. I have no doubts on my loyalty, and so I have nothing to fear. I will prove myself to you."

Tristan returned with two long, thin, cylindrical vials, and a dagger with a silvandlandle encrusted with rubies and emeralds. Voldemort unscrewed the silver caps and held one out to Draco, the other to Rabid. He passed Rabid the dagger.

Rabid leaned down, took Harry's arm, and sliced into his skin. A thin line separated his flesh, and blood beaded on the surface. Tilting Harry's arm, Rabid held the vial beneath his wrist with one hand. The other hand squeezed Harry's wrist, pushing the blood from its tunnels to slide over skin and into the glass. Once filled, Rabid wiped the top with Harry's robes, bound Harry's hand to the other again, and replaced the cap. Harry never screamed. His wrist continued to bleed, staining the bonds.

Voldemort wiped the dagger off on his own robes and passed it to Draco.

"Fill your vial with blood."

"Shit," said Leiss.

"What?" said Ron.

"Draco's immortal."

"So?"

"They're going to know."

"Doesn't Narcissa already know?"

"She's theorized, but Voldemort hasn't seen it for himself. Draco, be careful."

In the water image, Draco nodded. He made one, quick slash, filled the vial as fast as he could, and ripped a piece of his robes. Draco wrapped the cloth around his wrist, replaced the cap, and handed it to Voldemort.

"That's three Mages down, and one to go. Where's Alcor when you need him?"

Ron pulled his wrist into his body.

"Tristan, take those. We'll need them to access Absconditus and take the gifts once they're gone." Voldemort looked at Harry, fingered his wand. "Potter -- Veriatice -- we've got a little gift for you. You've been very good about hiding it until now, I must admit, but all good things must come to an end. Hephastus?"

Brown Eyes entered with several hooded Death Eaters. Between them, they carried Blaise, bound gnd gagged. His eyes grew huge and he stared between Harry and Draco. Draco stared hard at him, and Blaise thrashed.

"Draco's telling him about The Plan," said Leiss. "I still can't get in contact with Blaise. I wish he wouldn't have been taken."

"That's why you wish he hadn't been taken?" said Ron. She frowned.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"That was very bold of you to pretend to love Alcor," said Voldemort. "No doubt, you care for the silly boy, but Alcor won't save you. Did you honestly think you could hide an affair with Merak from me?"

Blaise stared at Harry, struggled against his binds, and screamed against his gag. It was for show, according to Leiss. Blaise knew The Plan, though, and Ron doubted that Blaise's screams were for show. He hated it just as much as Ron.

"Draco, you wish to prove yourself, and now I command you," said Voldemort. "You cannot kill Potter. That job is mine, alone. You can, however, kill Zabini."

"Damn," said Leiss. Draco's eyes grew wide. "That's okay, that's okay. So we didn't see that one coming. We can work this."

"How?" said Ron.

"Not sure."

Everything froze. Voldemort didn't move; his hand stayed poised. Draco gaped, unmoving, looking like a fool. Harry lay still, as if the body-bind was place upon him again. Only Blaise struggled against his binds. Then, as quickly as it happened, Draco closed his mouth and gazed around. He crossed the space between them, paused to stare at Voldemort, and then removed Blaise's gag.

"Where did you learn to do that?" said Draco.

"I've been practicing," said Blaise. "Before we say anything else, I can't do this very long. Hurry."

"Hurry what?"

"A plan, Malfoy. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. If I don't kill you, they'll find out about The Plan."

"The Plan is terrible, and I won't let you do it."

"How will you stop it? I've got to kill you to work The Plan."

"Would you stop fighting?" said Leiss. "Blaise just said you don't' have much time."

"Well what do you propose?" said Draco. He turned around in the water screen, looking for some source to speak to. "Don't you know what to do? Aren't you a Seer? You should have bloody Seen this coming."

"Who are you talking to?" said Blaise.

"Rebekah. Alecto. Professor Leiss."

"How?"

"No time for explanations."

"Well, if you're going to attack her, then I'm attacking Weasley. He's no help, running around reading Latin, too busy to foresee that you're going to have to murder me --"

"Oh, piss off, Zabini. If you'd have just honed your power before you were kidnapped, we wouldn't be here right now. Can't you turn back time?"

"What good are you? Just because you're immortal doesn't mean that we all are."

"Wait," said Ron, "don't you have the power to affect souls? I remember, Draco said . . . Keepers, they can control souls."

"A soul, yes," said Leiss, "but not bodies."

"That doesn't matter. Can't you just send Blaise's soul somewhere? Keep him alive while his body is murdered?"

"He'd have no body, though. He'd try to come back, but his body would be dead. He'd be a shadow."

"But Blaise would be alive. All we'd need is a body to store him in."

"And what do you suggest, wise one?" Leiss paused, her eyes glittering and lips pulling into a kind of smirk. "I have an idea."

"This isn't like the last one, is it?"

"No. Blaise won't actually have to die."

"That is an improvement."

"Draco, do you know of a spell called The Death Spell?"

"The what!" said Draco. "I thought you said we don't have to actually kill Zabini."

"Excuse me?" said Blaise.

"You don't. The Death Spell is most commonly known from a Muggle play called �Romeo and Juliet,� though it was a potion in that. It puts the affected into a sleep so deep that it appears to be death. Your pulse slows down so much that it can't even be felt. It works instantly, though, so we'd have to execute this carefully.

"What I think should happen is this: Blaise unfreezes time. When that happens, Draco agrees to kill Blaise. He raises his wand, says the killing curse, and as the light is streaming through the air, Blaise freezes time. Draco puts The Death Spell on him, I take Blaise's soul from his body, and I put him in Harry. Harry can just hang around while Blaise unfreezes time again. The killing curse hits Blaise, they check to see if he's dead, and they think he is because of The Death Spell."

"Wouldn't that still kill him?" said Ron.

"Not if Draco doesn't mean it. Light would still emit from the wand but would have little to no effect. Maybe a nosebleed or something because Draco is capable of performing the curse. You need to have the hate to back up the words."

"She's right," said Draco. "It would look like the killing curse, but it wouldn't have the same effects if I didn't want them to."

"Once that happens, I can put Harry back in his own body. Blaise goes back to his body until Voldemort's dead, and then Draco should take off The Death Spell. All three of you jump into the fountain. Don't wait around. Dea Death Eaters will be confused at first with Voldemort dead, but they'll recover fast enough. Use that time to take The Death Spell off."

"I've never even practiced this spell before," said Draco.

"What's going on?" said Blaise. Draco explained.

"You can do it. Just believe you can."

"What's the incantation?" said Draco.

"To put it on is Ad Mortem Dare. To take it off is Almum."

"Okay."

Draco explained, put the gag on Blaise, and they parted. Resuming position, everyone began to move again. Voldemort's hand dropped and Draco steeled himself, his spine straightening. He plucked his wand from his pocket and pointed it at Blaise.

"Sorry, Zabini, but my loyalties don't lie with fool, slave-lovers like yourself. Avada Kedavra."

The jet of green light burst from Draco's wand and poised between them. Draco unfroze, swung his wand a second time, and cried, "orteortem Dare." A jet of blue light burst from his wand, flew into Blaise's body, and then he crumpled. Leiss's face scrunched up; she chewed on her lower lip.

"He's out," said Leiss. A few seconds later, she said, "And so is Harry. Draco, get ready."

Everything burst back to life. The green light flew into Blaise's body. Harry, who laid calm at first, now struggled, screamed, and appeared to be back in his own body. He cursed at Draco, fought to get free. Voldemort's cold, chilling laugh filled the room.

"Hephastus, check to see if he is still alive."

Brown Eyes grabbed at Blaise's healing wrist where blood had been taken.

"No pulse."

Voldemort nodded.

"Draco, that was very brave of you. You have proven yourself, and you've brought me Harry Potter as well. Lucius could have never done such an admirable job."

"I told you we could handle it," said Leiss. "And you doubted me."

"How do you do it?" said Ron.

"Honestly, I get curve balls like that thrown at me all the time. Me and my circle have been very good at working around them."

In the water, the images blurred together for a moment, and then the colors separated again. Draco's face bled into an indistinguishable myriad as the water flowed, but righted itself. Voldemort turned on Harry, any previous exchange lost in the shifting of the water. His wand trained on Harry and Draco stood off to the side. This was it. Harry would die or live, and Ron wanted to turn away but found that he couldn't. All there was left to do was sit and stare as Voldemort swung his wand high in the air and called out, "Avada Kedavra!"

All strain stopped. Harry fell flaccid against the Death Eaters that he earlier struggled with. His head lolled back, his mouth parted, and Voldemort's laughter echoed off the Absconditus walls. The fountain stopped flowing. Ron's head felt hazy and confused, and a razor of pain shot through his body. Harry was dead.

"There's nothing left to do now but wait," said Leiss. "I'm not sure how this is going to go."

*

Ron stared at his watch. Four minutes and thirty-two seconds, four minutes and thirty-five seconds, four minutes and forty seconds since Harry died and nothing changed about the scene. Voldemort walked to Harry himself, checked for a pulse, and certified him dead. Ron knew it was coming -- that it had to happen -- but it didn't make it easier. He might never speak to his best friend again. His throat felt too tight to breathe.

"Now, for a little insurance," said Voldemort.

"Insurance?" said Leiss. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Tristan, the dagger. Osiris, removed the gag and binds. Potter isn't going anywhere."

"Is insurance really necessary?" said Draco. "I mean, like you said, Potter isn't going anywhere. Isn't killing him enough?"

"I've worked too long for this to let Potter off with a simple killiurseurse, don't you agree, Draco? Unless, of course, you have something else up your sleeve?"

"Nothing, Master."

"I didn't think you'd question my judgment."

"Never, Master."

"You know, Draco, that's a very good act you put on earlier, and I thank you. I don't know what you have planned, but I assure you that it isn't going to work."

"Pardon, Master?"

Voldemort seized Draco's arm, turned it over, and ripped off the makeshift bandage. Beneath, where there should have been a fresh cut, was pure, unadulterated skin.

"Hiding your immortality was wise, Draco, but not as discreet as you thought."

Draco tried to pull his arm away but was seized by of tof the Death Eaters. Masks covered their faces and so they were not Brown Eyes, Rabid, or Tristan, but they held him just aght.ght. Ron let out a scream, lunged for the fountain, but Leiss held him back.

"You can't get to him that way," she said.

"This was your plan, and it's gone all wrong," said Ron. "Harry's dead. He's been dead fix mix minutes now. It wasn't supposed to take this long."

"We didn't know how long it would take."

"I'm never going to see my best friend again, and now they've got Draco."

"Ron, calm down."

Voldemort's voice broke through their argument, the hard edges enough to silence Ron. This was a great feat, but a sickening one, as Voldemort kneeled down, grabbed Harry by his unruly muss of hair, and exposed his neck.

"Veriatice, you've caused too much trouble. I'm sure that whatever you and Mizar had planned was very clever, but it will not help you now."

In one, clean motion, Voldemort pulled the dagger across Harry's throat. Blood spilled from the wound, a perfect sever, and pooled on the stone floor. Dark red stained stormy grey, and Ron fell forward from Leiss's clutches. He grabbed the side of the fountain, his head fell forward, and Ron fought the urge to vomit. Beside him, Leiss sunk to her knees, her breathing labored.

"Harry needs a body," she said. "He needs a body to come back to."

Voldemort sliced Harry's body at crucial arteries and veins, allowing the blood to spill in a sticky mess until none lingered. His skin was taut and sickly, dead, and Voldemort broke Harry's neck. His head lolled like a disconnected joint, spinning as far as the skin would allow it to stretch before bouncing back again. Draco winced, his mouth curled in something as simple as distaste.

Taking the dagger, Voldemort forced Harry onto his back. His wand touched to Harry's chest and a sick crunch echoed through the still water. Harry's breast plate broke beneath the touch, and Voldemort ripped the thin, too-big T-shirt from Harry's chest. From its size, Ron assumed it once belonged to Dudley, and would never be seen again. Voldemort cast it aside, touched his wand to Harry's chest.

The skin turned red and charred along the edges as Voldemort sliced a tear down the center of Harry's chest. He created a sort of flap, cutting a horizontal line that ran perpendicular with the center. Voldemort picked up the dagger, and Harry was dead for twelve minutes and forty-nine seconds when Voldemort removed his heart.

Brown Eyes touched his wand to the long, meeting table. A bright, hideous blue fire burst out atop it. Together with Rabid, they seized Harry's mutilated body and threw it into the fire. Flames curled around the skin and the heat was so intense that after half a minute, it was impossible to tell that Harry once lay under the charred remains. With the bright blue color, and way the flames curled, Ron was reminded of Hermione's bluebell flames in first year, and he burst into tears as he watched Harry burn.

Through the whole ordeal, Draco kept his composure. Granted, there was a time or two when Draco grimaced or winced, but that was expected. Ron wondered what Draco had seen before while growing up around Lucius and Narcissa for this not to rattle him. Watching Harry die, bleed, burn was enough to send Ron over the edge, and he couldn't stop crying. Beside Ron, Leiss couldn't move, but clutched at the side of the fountain, her knuckles white and fingertips bleeding.

Fifteen minutes and fifty seconds passed since Harry died when Voldemort carved Harry's heart into pieces with that glittering dagger. The moment the first piece passed Voldemort's lips and he swallowed, Leiss turned, broke her reverie, and retched. Ron felt like vomiting himself, but could not move. His eyes settled on Voldemort as he ate his best friend's heart. Draco's left eye twitched. Off to the side, collapsed against a wall, Blaise slept in a sleep so deep that he may never wake.

Voldemort finished off Harry's heart at sixteen minutes and thirty-nine seconds. Blood stained his lips crimson, so deep that it made his eyes seem dull. Pale, white skin surrounded those lips, making the blood stain set even deeper than Ron thought pble.ble. It was horrible to watch the white clash with red like a sick, sardonic peppermint sweet.

Seventeen minutes hit, and the Death Eaters droptheitheir hold on Draco. Brown Eyes and Rabid discontinued vigil over Harry's burning body. Even Ron couldn't stop the staring as much as he had wanted to look away only seconds ago. Leiss pulled herself into an upright position, blinking away the water which swam in her eyes.

Bumps crawled over Voldemort's skin. One second they were not there, and then they were. It was as if large cockroaches (or spiders) crawled under his skin and traveled beneath. Voldemort howled in pain. It was the most terrible sound Ron ever heard, like a tortured animal crying in vengeance. Light erupted like the most miserable halo, illuminating the terrible disfiguration, and then Voldemort was gone. In his place stood a girl, tall for her gender, but still a good deal shorter than Voldemort had been. Ron would have been lost if it weren't for the messy mane of black hair, the bright green eyes, and a thin scar on her forehead. The The fountain burst to life again.

Draco gaped. It was sort of comical considering the circumstances.

"Potter?"

The girl frowned, looked around.

"Malfoy."

Amid the mass confusion, Leiss reminded Draco to wake Blaise. With a quick look at the girl, Draco pointed his wand at Blaise. Almost without thinking, he said, "Almum." Blaise sat up, rubbed his head, and looked around. The Death Eaters were lost, just as stunned as Ron, but a low buzz began to filter through the room.

"What happened?" said Blaise. "Did it work?"

"That's hard to answer at the moment," said Draco. He stared at the girl. "What do you think, Potter?"

Blaise gaped almost as much as Draco had. Ron would have laughed if he wasn't gaping himself.

"Harry?"

"Blaise," said the girl. "Why does everyone keep staring at me like that? I was supposed to come back from the dead. Where's Voldemort? Did he die?"

"You could say that," said Draco. "I think, anyway."

"Would you three get out of there?" said Leiss.

"Right," said Draco. "The Fountain of Innocent Blood is . . . this way."

Draco grabbed Blaise and the girl (Harry?), and pulled them from the room. Their exit sparked something in the Death Eaters. With the sudden movements, they were followed. Draco wound around hallways, muttering to himself, staring at Harry as he went. Harry didn't seem to notice the recent lack of certain appendages or the appearance of others, or at least he (she?) didn't acknowledge it. Ron wished Draco would get his head together. It was well and good that this crazy plan had produced positive results, but it wasn't going to end well if they didn't get out of there.

They rounded down a hallway and into a large sort of ballroom. In the center was a large, silver fountain. In the center, a large, slithering serpent spit blood into the base. Draco glanced back as the Death Eaters closed in, took a deep breath, and jumped into the fountain, pulling Blaise and Harry with him.
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The Prophecy of Absconditus