Shadows and Spells: A Love Forged in Danger

Elinor's POV:

Dawn came quicker than I'd expected, but we were ready to go. With some help from Hermione, I'd created an Undetectable Extension Charm, so now my bag could fit a whole hippogriff inside it. I've packed a tent, some spare clothes for both Harry and I, our brooms (just in case we need an escape method other than Apparation), a variety of healing potions I'd brewed a few days ago, an assortment of food, and even a few Trick Wands that George had lent me. "Use them wisely," he'd told me. "Those ones were specially crafted by Freddie. I don't want them going to waste."

Breakfast was... interesting. Mr. Weasley kept glancing at us, and his expression practically screamed "Why would you even consider going on this journey?!" Hermione alternated from taking a bite of food and digging through my bag, muttering to herself and scanning the entire thing with the eyes of an eagle. Ron barely talked, nor did he eat much, which was new. He just fiddled with his cutlery and kept his eyes on his plate. George was the only one at the table other than Harry and I who seemed relatively calm about the matter. Mrs. Weasley, on the other hand, threw question after question at Harry and I. 

"Now, are you two all packed?" "Do you need me to get you anything before you go?" "Are you sure you're healthy enough to be traveling? It is winter, after all; you could catch a cold!" "Will you write to me — all right, Arthur, to us — when something goes wrong?" 

Harry chuckled and reached across the table, patting her on the shoulder. "We promise to let you know when things take a turn for the worse.", he reassured. 

I nodded my head in agreement and flashed a kind smile. "Don't worry, Mrs. Weasley, we'll be careful. And you don't need to worry about sending us anything. We're prepared."

Our words seemed to have calmed her down, because she didn't say a word for the rest of breakfast. By eleven, everyone had eaten, and it was time for me and Harry to leave. We were both smothered by hugs (and kisses from Mrs. Weasley), and the onslaught didn't stop until Harry verbally said that enough was enough. We walked out the door, bidding our goodbyes to our friends and family, and I closed the door behind me. I took a deep breath of the fresh, country air and locked hands with Harry. 

"So, where should we look first? That Death Eater could be anywhere in the continent.", I inquired. Harry thought for a moment, then looked at me with an expression of resolution. "We'll start with the most popular place the Death Eaters gathered — Malfoy Manor.", he declared.

Malfoy Manor, once the home of the Malfoy family, had been deserted after the Second Wizarding War. It's rumored that its most recent inhabitants — Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco Malfoy — had fled Britain for the time being. Lucius and Narcissa have been cleared of all the crimes they'd committed as Death Eaters, and I read somewhere in the Prophet that Draco was dating another pure-blood named Astoria Greengrass. You know what? Good for them.

"All right. Malfoy Manor it is, then. Would it be easier to Apparate?", I asked. Harry nodded, and we both tightened our grip on each other's hands. I felt a familiar tug in my stomach, and before I knew it, my vision was constricted, and all I could see was blurred colors; mostly greens, browns, and blues. When the Apparation was done, we found ourselves standing at the rusty gate of Malfoy Manor. But the place had changed a lot since we'd last been here...