52 | ﴾ Impossible ﴿

                                    

                                          
Harry and I pushed through the flying rubble and debris towards the hallway that led to the great hall and beyond, that being the most direct access to the castle from the courtyard. A large troll inadvertently provided immediate refuge as we passed below the archway by smashing down onto the entrance trying to hit us, causing a domino effect of collapsing bricks. We were both covered in bloody cuts from shards of flying stone as the initial entry into the castle filled in behind us. 
                          
For only a split second we looked at each other, gasping painfully, forcing our ribs to breathe. "You-you said Malfoy would help us," he choked out. Both panes of his glasses were shattered and I mildly wondered how on earth he could even see.
                          
I bent over, my hands covered my face as I tried to register the fact that Draco had just made his best effort to murder us both, and had succeeded in doing so to my beloved father. "I don' know what 'appened to 'im 'arry, something is very wrong," I cried.
                          
"Come on, we don't have time to waste getting the horcrux," he yanked at my arm harshly and I spun to run with him, tears seeping from the corners of my eyes. We ran for minutes deep into the castle, farther and farther from the blasting echoes and sharp cries of war. I let him lead us, having no idea where to find this Rowena Ravenclaw ghost or even what a horcrux was.
                          
We'd rounded a corner when my neck scalded suggestively followed by the thunderous crack of a Death Eater's apparition rocketing down the hallway we were in. Thick furls of black smoke ebbed away from his form in large swirls and dark snapping sparks. 
                          
Draco approached with his mask on and his long robes billowing in his stride, whipping his wand down to the floor sharply. His hood hung large over his head, covering much of it save for his blistering silver eyes. "Found you," he growled menacingly.
                          
He waved his hand over his face and the mask floated away like mist, revealing his familiar features. He was scowling deeply with hatred, his nose now characterized by dozens of wrinkled lines like an angry lion. His piercing blue eyes could have shot us dead on their own.
                          
I realized he would just continue to follow us because of the mark on my neck. It would be useless for me to follow Harry; he had to go ahead on his own. I reached an arm backwards across Harry and whispered hoarsely, "Run. I'll distract 'im."
                          
"No!" Harry yelled, refusing to drop his wand that was pointed at Draco, who held his straight back.
                          
I shut my eyes brutally and saw sparks swimming in front of my vision, knowing I would likely not survive a fight against Malfoy, "'arry, get out of 'ere! Dis is my fight! Go!" 
                          
He hesitated for only a moment and then was gone, finally comprehending the severity of the situation. Within a split second Malfoy shot a killing curse at me which I hardly dodged. 
                          
I stood up and screamed at the top of my voice, channeling my rage. Scalding black flames licked viciously up the arched ceiling and dropped down between us, forming a thick wall of black flames. I could see his darkened gaze on the other side taunting me. He paced for a few moments before it, twisting his wand in rage. He looked unrecognizably barbarous.
                          
He shot several powerful spells at the wall and I felt my defenses weakening, crumbling to my knees with my hands still outstretched and crying out from the painful exertion it was costing. I'd basically used up my energy reducing the castle wards and now Malfoy was deleting what was left of my reserves.
                          
I pushed back up onto wobbly knees to back away, still holding the flames as he shot wickedly at the wall before him, "You can't hold it forever, can you?" He snarled the words and his pretty face contorted as he pummeled my magic with his. 
                          
I was nearly at the corner of the adjacent hallway, "Don' you remember me?" I shouted. 
                          
He ignored me, and I let the flames drop. He stepped through the charred ring of bricks before him and ran to follow me as I turned and jogged at full force down the hallway I'd just backed into.