Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a figment of my imagination

Against the Fold

Prologue: The Failure

"Let's get our wands out. Now."

"Goyle, stop fidgetting. No one's going to jump out of any bushes but us. So stop it and focus because if we mess up we won't be likely to get a second chance."

"Relax a little, will you Blaise? It's not all that black and white. I got a second chance, remember, so it won't be over if it doesn't all go your way."

Blaise breathed through his nose angrily, not even trying to hide his disdain. "Yes we all know about your miraculous talents for weaseling yourself out of sticky situations. Too bad you don't have a lot of talent for anything else. And too bad we're not all as lucky as you when it comes to name and fortune."

"Yeah Draco, we'd all feel a lot more at ease if you didn't act so casual. For us, there are a lot of things riding on our succes."

"You heard Nott. Stop being so damned coy. We don't all have your leverage."

"Fine," Draco huffed. "Just don't expect Him to inaugurate you the second you get back."

"No, again we're not as lucky as you. How you were Marked before you even started remains a mystery to us all," he hissed. "So get your wands out, like Goyle said. We've only got the one shot to get this family of Muggle-lovers. So, like we discussed, I want Nott by my side. Malfoy, you and Goyle go round the back and I want Crabbe on the look-out."

Blaise turned around and peered over the top of the high garden fence.

"Look at them. Sitting around peacefully, not knowing we're about to pay them a visit. Everyone ready?"

"Let's go."

Draco nudged Goyle forward.

"Come on," he whispered. "You take the back door and I'll do the window."

"And the Mark?"

"I'll do that too."

"Well, just mind your timing," Goyle remarked. "You know Blaise, Nott and I need to be inside before they can raise a shield against us. If they're alarmed-"

"I can handle it," Draco hissed.

"...Whatever. Just don't mess up."

When Goyle had turned around, Draco grimaced. He'd had it with everyone treating him like a huge failure. So he hadn't managed to kill Dumbledore. He had already been punished for that. He'd show them that he was the one with the most experience. They'd pay him more respect once they would realise he was the best man on their team.

He blinked when he finally raised his head above the windowsill to look inside. The brightness of the room blinded him temporarily. With his hands stretched out he tried to make his way back to the fence through the darkness of the night.

Suddenly the ground seemed to slip away beneath him as he stepped on something, later he assumed some form of Muggle toy, that rolled away. A cry escaped his mouth that mingled with the sqeaking toy as he fell down, piercing the utter silence of the night.

As he hit the ground, his wand was knocked out of his hand, sending a stream of red light through the window, shattering the glass. Almost instantly Draco saw Goyle's body be thrown back to the fence as a shield brusquely blocked his entrance to the house. A series of hexes rebounded on the building, followed by screams and cries.

Still on the ground, Draco could hear his teammates swear. He tried to feel around for his wand, but he knew it was out of his reach. The screams had died down now.

"Fuck..." he whispered.

He had really messed up this time. Suddenly the moonlight on his face was blocked out as several shadows encircled him.

"Yes, Draco. Fuck," Blaise hisssed seethingly. "You really- You- Stupefy!"

"Nice work, Blaise."

"Don't talk to me right now. Any of you. We're taking him back and we'll make sure that He knows exactly who's fault this was, got it?"

'Fuck...'