And then the silence was broken, not with shattering wood or terrified screams, but by simple unabated footsteps. Someone had gotten in, and past the wards of the Ministry... someone with clearance? They shouldn’t be here, everyone had been warned off for this night. Simultaneously Draco and Harry raised themselves up fully to their feet and drew their wands, warily stepping back into the half concealing shadows of the halls. The footsteps drew closer, directly, but soft enough that they couldn’t tell if it was one or two people, or even more, advancing on their current position. As the echoing steps rounded a corner and started down the hall directly parallel to theirs, Harry called out, doubting he’d get any kind of answer. “Who’s there!?” he yelled, sinking down to one knee to more steadily aim his wand and maybe duck a poorly aimed spell.
“Harry?” came the shocked response, and Draco recognized the piping little voice immediately, and with an aggravated groan lowered his wand. It was Longbottom, who hadn’t gotten any smarter since he was an annoying fat arse in school. He’d probably left his wand lying around somewhere, or a cloak... it was raining out, at least when they’d entered for the night. “Harry, what are you doing here?”
Neville rounded the corner, eyes wide with shock, and Draco started that he had his wand out, and for possibly the first time in his life he was holding it steadily. Then Neville’s eyes fell upon Draco, and he jumped, and for a moment Draco thought he understood, but then lost it again, and for a moment the three Aurors merely stared at each other in shock. Then Harry stood up, lowering his wand, and shot Neville an exasperated look. “What’re YOU doing here, Neville?” he responded, “the Ministry is supposed to be sealed tonight.”
There was a pause where Neville raised his wand to scratch his neck, as if thoughtfully, and his face came fully into the light. And then Draco DID understand, and the two spells fired simultaneously, causing the hallway to light up momentarily in green and silver light.
“Avada Kervada!!”
“Magnum sintlis!!”
Neville’s wand dropped, unused, to the floor with a clatter. And he dropped after it, body already stiff, a look of shock on his face. Draco stared at his with a look of disgust for a moment, and turned to Harry, to see he wasn’t standing anymore. He was lying, face down, against the cold wooden floor. “Harry!” he yelled out, and dropped to his knees. He turned his lover over, looking for any kind of mark, and placed his fingers tentatively against his neck. There was a pulse, but it was faint. Damnit, he should have hit Neville faster! He’d gotten a spell off!
“Experillamus!”
Draco’s own wand ripped from his hand and flew across the hallway, clattering against the wall and then dropping to the ground. Shocked, he fell backwards, and peered through the darkness behind Neville’s body. There was another figure, with a raised wand that was pointed between Draco’s eyes. He stepped into the light, but then Draco realized it wasn’t a he. It was a she, tall and fierce looking, with flowing blonde hair and glacier blue eyes. With shaking hands, he pushed himself into the standing position.
“Hello Draco,” she said.
“Hello,” he responded, “Salazar.”