Ron and Harry shared a look.
"What?" Draco pressed.
"They're already gone," Ron said.
"Gone? How?"
"Dobby Disapparated them out," Harry revealed. "House-elves can Apparate in
places where wizards can't."
"Dobby is pleased to help Harry Potter," a small voice called from above.
The group turned their collective gaze upward and spotted the elf hanging on the
large chandelier. He smiled down, glancing briefly at the body of his former Master, and
shook for a moment, his large ears flapping.
"Dobby? Can you Apparate this many people out of here?" Harry asked.
Dobby nodded, disappearing from the chandelier and reappearing on the floor in
front of them all. He looked at Draco for a moment as if assessing the character of the boy
before smiling at the result and reaching out for Harry's hand.
One by one, the group reached out for one another, physically connecting, leaving
Narcissa to say a short goodbye to Draco.
Sirius lifted Hermione into his arms, ignoring the look of protest on her face. After
an adjustment that was only difficult thanks to aching joints courtesy of Azkaban, he tucked
one hand beneath her to grasp Harry's arm.
"I'll send a Patronus if I hear of any movement," Draco promised.
"You can make a Patronus?" Ron mocked. "What is it? A ferret?"
"Get out," Draco growled, and before Ron could say another word, Dobby
Disapparated them all away from Malfoy Manor.
April 4th, 1998The large group had been staying with Bill and Fleur for a week, and the small
cottage was overly crowded. Three guest rooms had been set aside for the wounded: