Chapter 7 –Are you with me now by Sixx A.M.

They made their way out of the house after everyone who was leaving had already done so. With Ginevra under a Disillusionment Charm, since they were taking no chances of anyone figuring it out. She had his dagger and her wand, of course, and the four of them with her, but he didn't want to risk having to slaughter someone in the corridors. Not when they were this close to being gone for good. He hadn't brought that up with them yet as more than a passing idea, but it seemed the most logical course of action. Snape was already pushing it to allow so many to 'disappear' and Blaise wasn't about to put his life on the line for anyone save for his mum, Draco, and Ginevra.

Thankfully they made it to the carriages without issue and then onto the train. Snape had told them to go to their usual compartment and wait for Kingsley. Blaise wasn't one for taking orders, but these had been approved of by his mum so he had no reason to go against them. News had come just last night that Narcissa would be at Valhalla by Christmas Eve. Apparently, she refused to go before then though even Snape hadn't known why.

Draco was nervous because of it. Had he been the sort, Blaise figured he would be up and pacing. Instead, he was standing there looking out the window, blocking Ginevra from sight. She'd taken off the charm and pulled on a thick black cloak instead. Theo and Greg were lounging on the other bench, wands in hand though they were clearly struggling to look calm.

When Theo stood, looking determined, Blaise sighed and pushed him back down. "You can't go after her. Staying away will keep her safer and you know it."

"I hate this," Theo grumbled, sneering at him. "She can look after herself, but why can't I just stroll down and check? We'll be going soon and I have a bad feeling."

Wincing, Blaise shook his head. "You can't. There will be people watching her home. It is all we can do."

"I still say a spot of kidnapping wouldn't be remiss," Theo spat.

Low laughter had Blaise spinning around to see Kingsley standing just outside the door. "You're lucky I didn't hex you."

Kingsley laughed. "I'm too valuable a commodity to hex. You lot ready?"

Blaise sat down so that he could come inside. The blinds were drawn quickly. He, Draco, and Ginevra all reached out to take hold of Kingsley as the train began moving. They landed moments later in the foyer of Valhalla.

"You're here!" His mum hurried over, hugging each of them in turn. "Before you ask, I haven't heard a thing from Theo and Greg yet, but not to worry, I am sure they will be along soon."

"They were supposed to stay the whole train ride," Kingsley pointed out testily.

"Plans change," Blaise drawled. "You don't want Theo stuck on the same train as Lovegood whilst unable to check on her."

"Yes, that would be very, very bad," Ginevra said lightly. "Not quite Blaise level Very Bad, but close."

His mum laughed, wrapping her arm around Ginevra's waist. "Oh, you are delightful. Come with me and we'll leave the boys to explain the change of plans."

"You have been busy," Kingsley said softly. "Very busy."

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Blaise took Draco's hand and led them towards the second parlour. "You did say, as I recall, kill with prejudice and wasn't there something about macabre public displays as well?"

Draco snickered, pulling him down on the divan.

Kingsley laughed lightly. "I didn't actually think you would take me up on that, but yes I did say do as you wish. Dare I presume that-"

Blaise cut him off. "You'd best not ask or presume anything. You can guess all you want though."

"Oh so now you don't want to brag," Draco said teasingly.

He hushed Draco with a quick kiss before turning his attention back to Kingsley. "You aren't worried about what you've unleashed are you?"

"Not particularly. I will say that the Hogsmeade one had Marguerite laughing for hours. I brought you in here to warn you that there were rumours of something planned for today."

He and Draco were on their feet and moving towards the door before Blaise even thought about what he was doing.

"No! You're to stay here!"

"Fuck off," Blaise said angrily. "I'm going to find Greg and Theo. You should have brought them with us."

"Lovegood," Draco muttered irritably. "Theo wouldn't have gone any sooner than discussed because of her and you know it."

"Boys!" Ginevra raced out of the parlour with his mum not far behind. She grabbed their arms. "You're not going back out there."

A loud POP sounded just as Greg appeared with Theo over his shoulder. "Had to knock him out when the train was attacked. I know we were supposed to go to Annwn, but you did give clearance."

Blaise was moving to help with Theo, nodding absently. "Yes, yes, it's fine. What happened exactly?"

Blaise and Draco supported Theo, walking into his mum's parlour and laying him out on the chaise. "Before you tell the tale, should we bind him before we wake him up?"

"Yeah, that would be a good idea. Take his wand too or he'll just leave again." Greg sat in one of the chairs and sighed. "We watched them carry Lovegood out."

"Well fuck," Draco said, expressing Blaise's feeling exactly.

Blaise whirled around, glaring at Kingsley. "Do you know where they were taking her?"

"No, and there is no need for you lot to go running amok until I can find out more. I will return shortly. Stay." Kingsley all but ran to the foyer and was gone a moment later.

"Mum?" He turned back to see her wrapping Theo in magical ropes. "Do you know anything you aren't telling us?"

She sighed heavily. "Narcissa overheard a discussion about taking prisoners from the train. That is why she insisted upon staying a few days longer. She has promised to get word about who exactly they have taken."

"She's risking her life," Draco muttered dejectedly. "Again."

Before Blaise could move, Ginevra was holding Draco close and whispering something to him that seemed to help.

"Draco," he said, his fists clenched at his sides. "I swear to you that I will go and kill whomever I have to in order to get your mother back here safely. Believe me?"

Draco looked up from where he'd buried his face in Ginevra's hair, his eyes full of trust. "I do trust you; I just don't trust that you'll make it back in one piece if you do. Don't make me choose."

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair and forced himself to calm down before holding both of them close. "Do you think I would risk my neck now that I have you both? If I were to go, I would be even more paranoid than usual."

"You three," Greg said teasingly, "can do that later. Now, we should wake Theo and explain to him what is going on. It may take all of us to keep him here."

Blaise kissed Draco and then Ginevra before turning back to the closest person to a friend he had. Theo really didn't deserve this. But, Blaise would make good on the promise he had made to himself. If Theo wanted to go after Lovegood, Blaise would be at his side. "Wake him up, please."

Theo blinked, glaring at Greg the moment the spell washed over him. "I am going to pay you back for that, Greg." He tried to move and cussed. "Untie me! Come on! They have Luna!"

"Darling," his mum said, bringing Theo's attention to her. "Kingsley went to search out news. I won't be letting you loose until you swear to me that you will stay here."

Theo looked mutinous. "Just think of what they may do to her." He turned his attention to Ginevra. "She is one of your best friends. You want me to go after her, don't you?"

"Hells yes I do." She held up a hand to shut everyone up. "But, I won't be allowing it. We wait and see what is going on before we go rushing in. Dear gods, the Gryffindor is the voice of reason amongst you lot!"

He laughed, tugging the angry redhead back against his chest. "First Greg and now you, I think that Gryffindor habit of running in with no plan is rubbing off, darling."

She laughed, slapping his arm playfully. "Hush, you. I don't ever rush in without a plan. In fact, I even let you talk me out of setting those demons on that horrid cow."

"Ahh," Draco said with a wicked grin. "They were set loose this morning whilst she was otherwise distracted by whatever the hell it was that made her all but green, literally."

"Blaise!"

He smiled and attempted to look innocent despite his mum's fierce look. "Yes, Mum?"

"You didn't?"

"I did." He held Ginevra tightly. "She and that sick bastard brother of hers would have raped and killed Ginevra if their plan hadn't been thwarted. She deserves it."

"Mrs Zabini," Ginevra said tightly, "without Blaise teaching me to use more than my wand, he would have raped me and I am still bruised from what he was able to do before I nearly gutted him."

"You poor dear! Why don't you come up with me and I will get you some herbs for your bath that will help with the bruising."

Blaise reluctantly let loose of her, though he knew that she was safe with his mum, who had clearly taken a liking to her. Draco slid an arm around his waist and they watched his mum usher Ginevra out, the two of them talking softly and laughing.

"Dear gods."

He turned to see Theo wide-eyed. "What?"

"You sure you want those two colluding?" Greg supplied, snickering all the while.

Draco laughed, barely managing to sputter, "So long as we don't get them angry."

"What Draco said," he replied easily. "Now, Theo, if we take the bindings off, will you stay?"

"Fine, damn it all. Just so my protest to that plan is made clear."

"Oh it is," Draco assured him as Blaise lifted the spell.

Theo shifted so he was sitting upright. "I told you I had a bad feeling, but no, you didn't want to listen."

Blaise sighed and laid his head on Draco's shoulder. He did feel guilty, but their hands had been tied. Lovegood, and likely his mum and Ginevra, would have killed them where they stood had they allowed Theo to kidnap the girl. "Why don't we settle in? Kingsley will be back the moment he has news."

"Fine by me, lead on," Greg muttered, casting one last wary look at Theo.

-ii—

Draco was laid out on the sofa in front of the fire half asleep. Blaise had moved to the bed and was reclined with a book by the time Ginevra returned. He grinned at the sight of the obvious healing she'd done. "Those must be some herbs."

She laughed lightly, shaking her head. "I really like Marguerite, Blaise, just so you know. She shooed me off with a steady stream of how she had shopped for me and I wasn't to say no and how lovely it would be to have another woman around. I just nodded and tried to keep up. I tried, only once mind, to tell her that I had the healing salve of Theo's and she didn't need to fuss. The look she gave me shut me right up."

"Join me?" he asked, holding out a hand. "You too, Draco."

Once they were all settled in, he began, "I don't want you two to be angry with me."

"When you start off like that, somehow I think it means that we will be," Ginevra pointed out wryly.

"Just try," he said softly. "I want to try and explain why, if necessary, I will go with Theo to get Lovegood."

Draco looked up from where he was curled up with his head on Blaise's thigh. "You should get on with it then."

Nodding, he hoped that they would understand. "I owe Theo. I mean, I care more for you two than I ever have anyone else. If I knew what the fuck love was, I would say whether that was it or not. All I know is that you two and mum are the only ones I would kill anyone and anything to keep safe. Sure, I like killing things, but…" he trailed off, running a hand through his hair as he tried to find the words. "It is different. I kill things because it is what I know, what I like, but it is different with you two. I can't explain it, it just is."

Ginevra smiled up at him and he took that as she understood what he couldn't say. "Theo, well, he was the closest thing I had to what others would call a friend until you two came along. He found me, third year, doing something I thought I would have to kill him for witnessing. When I said just that, he sneered and said he'd rather take an Oath and live, thank you very much. I didn't believe him and he pushed on, saying that he would much rather live and be allied with the most dangerous person in the school. I asked why the fuck he'd want to; since I knew well enough that he didn't do the group join in friends crap any more than I did. He laughed and said so long as he got to watch, perhaps assist in my 'funtimes' he would be happy. So I gave him the Oath and warned him that should he betray me or anger me too much, I would still kill him. He has never betrayed me. I owe him."

"Millicent's cat?"

Startled, Blaise looked down bemused. "That is your only question?"

"Well, yes, unless you got up to other odd … funtimes… that year," Draco said with a smirk.

"Millicent's cat," Ginevra said warily. "Dare I ask?"

Draco snickered. "It used to get into our dorms and curl up on Blaise's pillow. He would toss it out again and again, finally telling Millicent that if she didn't keep her damn pet away, he'd make sure she got it back in pieces. She didn't watch it well enough and he made good on the threat."

"Is that what her sobbing, shrieking fit was in the Great Hall?"

Blaise grinned cheekily. "What can I say, I like an audience."

She rolled her eyes. "You got one; it was the talk of the school for days and days. She was tight-lipped about what the problem had been though so people eventually gave up knowing."

"So, you see why I have to help Theo? It isn't that I don't care about you two worrying about me…"

"We get it," Ginevra said, laying her hand over his mouth. "At least I do."

"Draco?"

The blond sat up, frowning. "I get it, that doesn't mean I have to like it. I don't care about anyone but you two and my mother, like it or not. Everyone else, Greg, Lovegood, and Theo included, can go hang if it means you three are safe. If that makes me selfish, then so be it."

"Why not look at it a different way?" Ginevra suggested, scooting up to lean against the headboard. "If your mum is right about those rumours, she and Luna are in the same place. Kingsley will come back with news and we can make sure they are both safe. That will make Blaise and me very happy."

"So," Draco said mulishly, "Why would Blaise need to risk himself then? Clearly, they have a plan to get my mother out."

"Because, Blaise would be upset if Theo was and I am upset at the thought of Luna at their hands," Ginevra said patiently. "I don't think it will come to that though. Kingsley will do what he has to in order to keep Marguerite happy and sending Blaise off to commit mass murder is not something she is going to be okay with-" she paused and sighed. "At least not with these circumstances at least."

"Fine, but I still say we leave the whole Blaise risking himself plan for the very last resort."

Blaise was unable to answer as a house elf appeared. "Master, Mr Kingsley is back and has news."

They were up and across the room before the elf had even finished speaking. Blaise couldn't help but wonder if it was wrong of him to hope that he would get the chance to kill more Death Eaters. He didn't have long to think on it as they reached the parlour minutes later. There was an unfamiliar woman sitting with his mum talking quietly.

"Who the ruddy hell are you?" He didn't feel the question was out of line, nor did he think twice about shifting in front of Ginevra and Draco.

"That is Tonks, Blaise, she's fine. In fact, she's Draco's cousin," Ginevra said, poking him in the side.

"She's right, on all counts," the purple-haired woman said cheerily. "I'm here to tell you how Aunt Cissy and I have planned on getting them to safety."

Draco stepped around him. "How is that exactly and why should we believe you?"

"Because," Ginevra said, moving Blaise's arm so she could step up beside him. "She can make herself look like anyone. That is part of the plan, isn't it?"

Blaise watched as his mum, Kingsley, and Tonks laughed, all nodding their heads. "I should have known you'd see it right off," Tonks said with a cheeky grin. "I'll take Aunt Cissy's place just long enough for her to be seen after Luna escapes. It will give them time to get here and then I will leave. Of course, I will be leaving behind many of the twins' products as well…"

"How soon?" Theo asked, stepping around the three of them.

"Within days," Kingsley assured them. "Now, there is no need for you five to do anything but go and have dinner and relax. We've got this handled."

Blaise looked at Tonks making sure she understood just how serious he was. "I want names; otherwise I will take a stroll to Malfoy Manor and take out as many as I can despite your little plan."

"Fine," his mum said sounding exasperated. "We shall get you names. Now, go have supper, please."

They went reluctantly. Blaise promised himself that no matter what, he would personally end the lives of as many of the Death Eaters that were making Draco's home a safe haven for the minions as he possibly could. Until that happy day, he would be as patient as possible, no matter how much it pained him to do so.