When Draco wakes, it's to frantic noises across the hall. He blinks blearily and gets to his feet, padding across the rugs between his room and Harry's, then knocking softly.

The door swings open at the slight pressure from his knuckles, and Harry looks up from where he is digging through a pile on the ground.

"All right?"

"The entire room is covered with symbols again."

Draco looks around at the soft moonlight dipping in through the curtains, painting the room a muted blue. It looks normal to him.

Then he realises what Harry's saying and straightens. "Fuck. You think—"

"The ward's fallen. I don't know if the Ministry finally took it down or if it collapsed on its own. Either way, we don't have time. We've got to get down there. Now. And I think Click's been trying to get a message to me. I think he's in danger."

"We can't leave."

"We're not allowed to leave. There's a difference."

"You think you can get us past twenty armed Aurors without our wands?"

Harry has put on new clothes, something Muggle-looking with dark colours. He throws a black shirt and shorts at Draco next.

"Really?" he asks dubiously.

"We don't have time to debate here and you need better clothes than that." He gestures at Draco's undershirt. "We're getting our wands."

At that, Draco pulls the clothing on without protest. He dips back into his room for a moment to grab the Reveliospecs, just in case they'll be useful, and then he's outside Harry's door again just as he's exiting.

"Get everyone from the east hallway," Harry says, before disappearing down the west.

Draco goes door to door, knocking first and then entering if no one responds. After thirty solid seconds of banging on Parvati's door, he gives up and enters. Her bed is empty.

Draco steps back into the hallway, looking curiously both ways. Then, riding on instinct and feeling a distinct twinge of amusement, he knocks on Lavender's door.

She answers it, robe pulled tightly over her body, eyes guarded. "What do you want? It's late."

"Tell Parvati it's time to go. The ward fell. We're going to steal back our wands and Apparate to North Moor, now."

Lavender fumbles. "Parvati isn't..."

He raises a hand to stop her. "Just be downstairs in ten. Put on something that's better for sneaking around."

He wakes Blaise, Scorpius, and Teddy next, then they troop down the stairs.

Everyone meets in the sitting room, but the lights stay off.

"How are we doing this?" Teddy whispers. "What's the game plan?"

"We need to get to our wands without alerting any of the Aurors," Harry says. "They're probably under a pretty powerful locking spell right now."

"The first problem is actually getting us out," Granger says. "We're locked up in here, remember? They've warded the whole place to Australia and back."

"I might be able to help with that," Blaise says. "I'm not just good at putting up wards, I can do a fair bit of damage taking them down, too."

"Wandlessly, though?" Weasley asks.

Blaise slaps him merrily on the shoulder. "Let's find out."

As Blaise approaches the door, Harry whispers in Draco's ear, "What exactly is he planning to do?"

"Just watch," Draco murmurs back.

Blaise's hands rise, a conductor priming his orchestra for the show to begin. His fingers flick at the air, but Draco sees more hesitation than he's ever known Blaise to exhibit. He pries at the wards carefully, almost lovingly, even as his shoulders grow tense with strain.

Draco's reminded of Quidditch practice back at Hogwarts. He saw Marcus Flint lifting weights one day and laughed in his face. Despite being younger and leaner, Draco could lift things twice as heavy, ten times faster.

Marcus Flint sneered at him, but then his eyes began to gleam with excitement. Draco wasn't smart enough to be wary of that look, back then.

He took Flint up on his bet that he could win in a bench press competition. Same speed, same weight, just trying to outlast each other. Draco's arms nearly broke as they shook beneath the bars. Flint had been able to hold his in place, slow and steady, until Draco's elbows gave out and his bar dropped onto his chest.

It must be the same for Blaise now, trying to take the wards apart delicately and with enough precision to not alert the guards.

Even in the dark, Draco can see Blaise's hands tremble and his eyes close.

Blaise wipes away sweat from his forehead. Draco tries to ignore the trickle of doubt in his chest. Seeing Blaise agitated is never a good sign.

Long minutes pass, and the air begins to feel stuffy, brimming with heightened anxiety from everyone watching.

There's a small flash of light from outside and Blaise grunts.

"What?" Draco whispers desperately.

"They're testing the wards — trying to make sure they're — still secure," Blaise pants.

"Fuck. Can you hold them up?"

"Not for — much longer."

"Can we help?"

Blaise shakes his head, eyes squeezed closed. "Too — difficult. Wear yourselves — out."

Blaise shudders as several Aurors at once press on the wards he's propping up.

They must hold, because Draco hears a chorus of raucous laughter from outside a moment later.

Draco feels the last ward fall, the one tying them to this place.

Blaise gasps, and Draco barely manages to catch him as he drops to the ground.

"Thanks — mate." Blaise pats his hand lazily.

"Did you get them all?" Granger asks in a low tone.

"There's one more."

"But they've stopped testing them?"

"For now."

"The Invigoration Draught you didn't take—" Rolf begins.

"Please. Yes."

When Teddy volunteers to run and get it, Blaise laughs exhaustedly.

"You don't look like you're feeling much better."

"I'm fine." Teddy doesn't seem fine, though. The late hour has his skin looking like it's stretched thin over his face, dull and worn.

"Scorpius, could you..." Draco jerks his head meaningfully.

"What — the potion? Oh, sure."

"You don't have to—" Teddy breaks off in a sigh, because Scorpius is already gone.

He comes back just moments later and gives the potion to Blaise, who smacks his lips after he drinks, then flashes a smile and wraps his arms around Draco's neck.

"Oh, valiant saviour."

Draco rolls his eyes and stops supporting him. For a moment, Blaise simply hangs by his arms, then he hauls himself more firmly up.

"I think I know what the last ward is," Blaise says, "but it might pose a bit of a problem."

"Why's that?" Parvati asks.

"It's going to be loud when I knock it down."

"Shite," Draco says. "Is there a way we could keep them from noticing?"

"I highly doubt it."

"What do we do, then?"

"Can we get out of the front door before the ward is down?" Granger adds.

"Definitely not," Blaise says.

"We can make sure they're as far from the door as possible," Weasley suggests.

"How?" Draco asks.

"I dunno. A loud noise on the far end of the house, maybe?"

"No," says Harry. "Not a loud noise. We need as many Aurors as possible at that end so they won't have time to stop Blaise from getting through the door."

Draco doesn't like the look of an idea on Harry's face. "What are you thinking?"

"There's a window in the back parlour. I reckon I could attract the Aurors' attention if I try to sneak out of it."

"You won't be able to get out until the ward's down," Draco reminds him. "And you'd be facing all those Aurors while wandless."

Harry shrugs. "I can handle it."

"Dear Merlin," Blaise murmurs near Draco's ear. "Perhaps Gryffindor courage is attractive. Who knew?"

Draco pushes him away. "Wouldn't it be better if you had some help?" he asks Harry.

"Are you suddenly good at wandless magic?"

"...No."

"Then you wouldn't be any help. Hermione and Blaise need to stay here. I'll be fine on my own."

Draco hates that he can't find a logical protest. The only one he's got is a voice in his head begging Please, don't make me worry about you. Draco wishes he'd asked for that a long time ago.

"Teddy," Harry begins, "will you be able to see if the Aurors are coming my way or will the Wallygagglers' messages be too distracting?"

Teddy's magical eye roves from one end of the house to the other. "I can see well enough."

"What's the plan once we get out of the house?" Rolf asks.

"Disarm the Aurors, Petrify them, and get our wands back," Granger replies.

"Well, when you make it sound so easy," Weasley grumbles.

"I might have something that will help," Parvati says.

She pulls four little glass bottles from her pocket and displays them to the group.

"Spell-Bombs?" Draco asks dubiously. "Why didn't the Aurors confiscate those?"

"It's not a particularly well known form of magic, and they haven't been activated yet. The Aurors thought they were perfume." Parvati rolls her eyes.

"Activated?" Granger asks. She seems more intrigued than anyone else.

"Each requires a spell. I can't do them myself wandless, but one of you could. There is a little — er — issue, though."

"What kind of issue?" Luna asks.

"There's a different activation enchantment required for each type of Spell-Bomb. And the Aurors put the vials all out of order, so I'm not entirely sure which is which."

Weasley groans. "Brilliant. Let me guess, they'll blow up in our faces if you do the wrong enchantment?"

"Well, no. I'm not exactly sure what they'll do, but they should be more stable than that. They won't work properly, though."

"Seems like a fine gamble to take," Granger decides. "Can you tell any apart at all?"

Parvati frowns. "I think this little red one makes animals grow larger for a time. The other three all look too alike. One's used for sedation, one's for pain management, and the last will stop an allergic reaction."

"Sedation sounds the most useful. I'll do the correct spell on the red one and whatever you use for sedation on the other three."

Granger does exactly what she said she would and then, much too quickly, Harry walks away.

They stand braced around the door, waiting for Teddy's observations.

"Harry smashed the window," Teddy whispers. "There's just one Auror posted below that window, and they haven't called for backup yet."

"Don't they see him?" Scorpius asks.

"I can't tell. They — it's really dark out, but they seem like they're talking to him." Teddy's quiet for a long moment. "Oh, fuck. Now, Blaise."

Blaise's hands tense, flexing in the air in front of him in the shape of a triangle.

"What happened?" Hermione asks frantically.

"Harry threw some curse at the Auror. There are at least ten of them now, and I don't know how long he'll be able to hold them off."

Blaise swears, and his arms jerk back, elbows drawing behind him as if he's a Muggle magician performing a trick, yanking the tablecloth out from under your plates. Draco feels the ward fall, and Weasley is the first to burst through the front door.

There's only one Auror still guarding the steps, and before he's even finished whipping around to face them, Granger whispers, "Petrificus Totalus," and the man is struck by a jet of white light.

He hits the grass with a hushed rustle.

They proceed down the steps with caution, looking both ways before gathering at the right edge of the house. They can hear yelling from the back garden.

"Who of the team do you think is most likely to have our wands?" Granger asks Weasley.

"If they even kept them here," Draco points out. "They might have decided to use a bit of common sense for once."

"Common sense?" Weasley snorts. "I like our chances. Go for Kilgharrah. He's the bloke with the long hair and the shiny pins on his robes."

They look around the corner as one. There are only two guards on this side of the house, and they don't look worried. They're grousing and stamping their feet to stay warm, breath powdering the night air.

"Is one of them Kilgharrah?" Lavender asks.

"No."

Granger nods. "Then allow me." She raises a hand, but Scorpius stops her with a hissed protest.

"Wait! Why aren't they using Warming Charms?"

"Pardon?" Draco says.

"They're cold. Why aren't they using Warming Charms?"

Draco looks again at the Aurors stamping their feet. "I don't know."

"I do," says Granger, and her eyes are lighting up. "It's a Prisoner's Curse."

Draco's never heard of it.

"They must've put a Spell Circle up somewhere ... there! See that ring going through the grass? We didn't run into it on the porch because we were technically still within the boundary of the house. But anyone standing between those lines will suffer terrible consequences if they cast. Potentially fatal. It's different every time the Spell is put up, depending on what the creators want to prevent. Which, in this case, is anyone trying to get in or out who doesn't know about the Curse."

"So we can't do anything at all? No Stunning? No Blasting? No Summoning?" Blaise asks.

"Not unless one of us can do it from the porch. The Summoning, that would be possible, in theory, because Summoning something without seeing it isn't all that hard. But I don't know if the object being within the rings of the Curse would trigger it. Even if it didn't, we wouldn't be able to get what we want because they're keeping it on their person, and it's still locked up."

"Well, I'll call it a night," Blaise says. "This has been fun. I'll miss all your beautiful faces."

"We'll miss you too," Luna tells him.

Granger shoots out an arm to stop him before he's even taken a step away. "You're not leaving. You can take down powerful Auror wards wandlessly without any help. We need you."

"Wow, Granger, if I'd known you felt this way..."

Weasley snorts. "Stop flirting with my wife, mate."

"Understood." Blaise gives a little salute, then he winks at Granger discreetly, and she rolls her eyes.

"Hey, what's that?" Luna asks.

A misty-white mink sprints across the street towards them.

"Who—" Parvati begins.

"Pomfrey," says Draco.

The mink weaves through the grass and stops just in front of them. Draco spares a bit of worry that the bright light will attract the Aurors, but then the mink's mouth opens wide and Madam Pomfrey's voice is speaking quite hurriedly.

"Draco, I don't know what the chances are of you getting this, but if you do, I'd love the name of a powdered moonstone supplier. It's rather urgent. Aurors, if you're hearing this, I beg you to let the message through. I've got a student in very serious condition, a friend of young Mister Lupin. I have all the other ingredients on hand. Thank you. This is Poppy Pomfrey, matron of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

The Patronus dissipates.

"Do you know who she's talking about?" Draco asks Teddy.

He shakes his head slowly. "All my friends graduated."

"You should reply," Parvati says. "We can handle this on our own."

"What condition could possibly require a Draught of Peace?" Granger asks. "That's all powdered moonstone is useful for, right?"

"And Love Potions," Lavender supplies.

Draco doesn't even consider the question. He's focused on the last time that he was helping Madam Pomfrey stock her shelves. "There's no way she's out of powdered moonstone. She had more than enough just a few weeks ago. I commented on it, so she knows that I know. It's code for something."

The yelling from the back of the house is louder now.

"We don't have any more time to waste," Rolf says quietly.

"Parvati, will your Spell-Bombs still work in the boundaries of the Prisoner's Curse?" Draco asks.

"How the hell would I know?"

"Well," Teddy says, "you're about to. A team of Aurors is coming 'round from the back."

"But—"

"Parvati!" Draco snaps.

"Eep!" She frantically pats at her pockets until she finds one of the little green bottles. "Hold your breaths," she says, just as the first guard rounds the corner.

Draco gasps in immediately. Parvati throws the bottle, and it cracks open with a loud snap as it hits the side of the house.

Fumes plume from the broken glass and twirl up the bodies of the two Aurors who'd been stationed on the side. In moments, the air around them turns a thick, soupy green, then the fumes snake away, seeking their next victims as the guards collapse, screaming.

The first Auror who comes from the back only has half a second to cry out, "Hey!" before his body jerks and he topples to the ground, floundering.

More guards come racing around the corner, and — one by one — they hit the grass with dull thuds, their cries tangling together.

The vial Parvati threw wasn't for sedation, then. Whether it was the one for pain management or the one to increase size, he didn't know. But clearly it had a nasty side effect when you cast the wrong activation charm.

As the seconds tick past, the Aurors stop coming, and Draco watches Scorpius's eyes bulge wide above his fingers, which are pinching his nose closed. His cheeks begin to take on a rouge tint, and Draco hopes he can hold on just a few moments longer.

Rolf seems to be struggling to not take a breath. Luna looks even more hazy than usual, and Weasley is pressing a closed fist to his mouth, his freckles standing out starkly on skin that is suddenly very pale.

Parvati finally gasps for air, then waves for them all to join her.

The burning in his lungs eases, and Draco grabs onto Scorpius's shoulder and demands assurance that he's okay before checking on the others.

No one is much worse for the wear except Teddy, who looks woozy, like he may have inhaled a bit of the smoke.

The air still smells of mouldy bread, a kind of cloying, dirt-like scent that leaves Draco feeling dizzy, but at least none of them are harmed. The Aurors have passed out from pain now.

"How long do we have?" Draco asks.

Parvati looks up from the ground. "I don't know. Usually the Spell-Bomb relieves pain for thirty minutes. I'd assume the Aurors will stay unconscious for at least half of that."

"First, we need to find Harry," Weasley gasps. He's leaning over his knees with his hands propped on either side, trying to catch his breath. "Has the Prisoner's Curse fallen?"

Granger examines the grass tensely, then gives a tight nod. "Whoever cast it must be knocked out. It doesn't hold well without maintenance."

Once they've recovered, they step past the pile of Aurors and make their way towards the back.

When they get to the edge of the garden, Draco hears an argument between two deep voices.

"What are they saying?" Granger whispers.

Draco puts a finger to his lips and everyone quiets. No one moves, and they don't even breathe as loudly as usual. He strains to hear Harry's voice.

"I don't know what happened to them," Harry is saying. "Maybe you should go check."

"I'm not leaving you alone."

"Fine. Take me with you."

There's a long beat of silence, then a grunt of approval.

He and Granger exchange a nod.

"If you try anything," the Auror threatens just before he rounds the corner, "I'll—"

"Petrificus Totalus," Draco and Granger whisper as one.

The Auror falls to the ground, accidentally yanking Harry with him.

Parvati approaches and flips the Auror over onto his back without hesitation. "I think we found Kilgharrah."

The man has gone completely stiff, his long brown hair hanging limply over his face. On his uniform are a set of three polished, shiny pins in a triangle.

"Check his pockets," Harry says as he pries his arm from out of a steel grip. He looks tense, but no worse for the wear aside from a few darkening bruises on his cheeks.

Draco feels a rush of anger for whoever put them there.

Parvati pulls out a large, burnished copper box from Kilgharrah's robes, and they all drop what they're doing.

She tries the latch. "Definitely locked."

"Alohomora," Granger whispers.

Unsurprisingly, it does nothing.

"Think it'll be a good bit stronger than that, love." Weasley looks at it fretfully.

"I know, I know. But it was worth trying. Harry, anything?"

"Recludo," he tries. The box lights up blue but doesn't open. Then, "Resero."

The lid glows red, but still doesn't budge.

"What spell do Aurors usually use to lock things, Ron?" Granger asks.

"I dunno, really. I guess it depends on the Auror who's on duty. Kilgharrah likes Seroportus."

"What's the counter-charm for that?"

"Clavis Omnes Portae. But it's not really an unlocking charm, it—"

"Clavis Omnes Portae," Granger and Harry say at once.

Instead of the box glowing, a key materialises in both of their hands. It's long, milky-white, and skinny as a twig.

They look at each other.

"You first," Harry decides.

"Me first? Why me first?"

"You probably did the spell better. Yours is more likely to work."

She squints at him. "Real reason?"

"It might be booby-trapped."

"Oh brave, powerful saviour," Blaise guffaws.

Granger sticks her key in the lock and twists it open.

They all stare at their wands resting on the velvet lining of the box for a moment before snatching desperately for them.

"Wait!" Luna says, just before Draco's fingers close over his.

To their credit, everyone freezes.

"What?" Teddy huffs.

"Boasting Disky infestation."

"I'm grabbing my wand," Teddy says.

"No," Draco holds back his arm, "hear her out."

Luna smiles vaguely at him. "Boasting Diskies feed on curse magic. They wouldn't be congregating if there wasn't something there. I think Harry's right. It's booby-trapped."

"Can you tell what kind of curse it is?"

She looks very carefully, as if whatever she sees is microscopic. "They've put something dangerous on it that'll hurt us if we don't get rid of it, and some kind of trace. They'll be able to locate us using the wands."

"How the hell could she possibly know that?" Weasley mutters under his breath.

"So we have to dispel the curses," Granger says. "Without even knowing what they are?"

"The trace will be easy. Incantation's Investigabilis." Lavender looks at their raised eyebrows briefly before staring resolutely forward, pinking. "What? My parents put tracking charms on me after I snuck out one night."

"How do we dispel the other curse if we don't even know what it is?" Rolf asks. "We're sure it won't be an alarm? I'd hate to alert more Aurors."

"Not an alarm," Luna confirms.

"One of us could always ... try it out," Blaise suggests.

They look at him.

"Well, not me, obviously. I'm necessary if we're putting up more wards."

"We aren't," Draco says flatly.

"Well, I'm still indispensable. One of you lot can go." He waves vaguely.

Granger sighs. "I'll do it."

"Don't be ridiculous," Harry says. "We need you. What about Ron?"

"Thanks, mate."

"You know what I mean."

"I could do it," offers Rolf instead. "I'm not the most magically talented here, and I'd hate to slow all of you down."

Draco shakes his head. "You wouldn't be slowing us down."

"But you hardly need a Magizoologist with you." Rolf smiles feebly. "Besides, who knows what will happen? Might be nothing."

They look dubiously at the wand box.

"I don't feel good about this," Harry says.

"We haven't other options," says Granger.

"Clock's a-ticking," Blaise adds. Then, "With all due respect, Scamander."

Rolf's mouth twists into an expression of grim amusement. "You know, that doesn't really specify how much you respect me."

He grabs his wand and is blasted back immediately.

"Rolf!" Luna gasps. She rushes to where he lies groaning on the grass.

Rolf gives her a bleary grin. "No worse for the wear." He tries to sit. "On second thought, I might have broken something near my shoulder."

"Take him to Pomfrey," Draco orders. "See what's wrong with her while you're there. Don't Apparate to us — we have no idea what kind of trouble we'll run into there. Send another message if you need help, something the Ministry won't understand if they intercept it. Codeword is..." He tosses about for inspiration and lands on Harry's face, "glasses."

"Got it," Luna says. "But I can't create a Portkey without my wand."

"That looked like a Snooper's Jinx," Lavender tells them. "The counter-curse is Resolvo."

They look at her for explanation.

"Oh, would you get over yourselves? I used it on my diary."

"That, you did," Parvati agrees.

"Resolvo," Granger murmurs. She follows it up with, "Investigabilis," and they all reach for their wands in a hurry.

Draco's hand shakes with repressed adrenaline as he finally gets it back in his grip. The magic feels warm and soothing, ready for him. He's reminded of the urgency of their mission.

Scorpius tosses Luna her wand, and as soon as she casts the Portkey Spell on one of her earrings, she and Rolf are gone.

"Well," Granger says, "to North Moor we go."

The air seems to bend in every direction around him as it fights against the force of several spells at once.

He casts to Disapparate and feels the tight wall of energy suck in around him, squeezing him through an invisible tube.

He could not be less excited to see what's on the other side.