and Hermione commenced their assault on the ballroom.
It would not do to alert the other Death Eaters before they had had a chance to dismantle the protective barrier around the ballroom.
He was just about to engage the Death Eater in wandfire, when Toolip hovered a large vase filled with fresh flowers over the man's head. She dropped it on him with a loud sigh.
"Miss Pansy liked that one," she lamented.
"Miss Pansy will understand, come on!"
When Goyle finally kicked the study door open, they found a perspiring and panting Harry holding a fireplace poker and two wands. His glasses were missing and there was a cut and darkening bruise on his forehead.
On the floor was an unconscious Death Eater, looking markedly worse than Harry.
Toolip peeked out from behind Goyle's leg.
"Hi," Goyle began, somewhat uncertainly. "I' m, um, Boris, Miss Parkinson' s manservant."
Harry dropped the poker when he saw them. It fell to the carpeted floor with a dull thud. "Is everyone alright?" He limped forward with the staggered gait of someone who had recently been hit with a body binding curse.
Goyle knew the look in Harry's eyes. Hell, he was feeling that look.
Pansy was as much a prisoner as Ginny Weasley. The look said that Harry's entire universe was liable to be shattered if Goyle delivered any news apart from what he said next.
"As far as I know, no one has been harmed."
Harry deflated with relief. And then he was occupied staring at the doorframe which was drunkenly hanging off its hinges. He goggled at Toolip, and then at Boris.
"That was some kick, mate," said an impressed Harry. "I think you need to come and work for us."
'Boris' went from adrenaline pumped to meek and unassuming in the space of a heartbeat. "I assure you, it was just a heat of the moment... thing," he said. "Can I take you to the ballroom now, Mr. Potter? Only there' s a rescue attempt in progress there and maybe you'd like to help?"
**
The Quiesco Dust was doing what it was supposed to, though certain people responded better to its effect than others. The difficult part had been breaking the barrier that contained the ballroom without making too much noise or having the complex spells blow up in their faces.
Draco's attempts did not work. Somewhat ruefully, he handed the task over to Hermione. She was successful on her fourth attempt. With the barrier down, cold winter air was virtually sucked into the room through the broken windows.
Now alerted to the breach, the Death Eater team readied themselves at the entrance doors. They were undoubtedly surprised when the attack came from above.
Hermione focused on her Whirlwind Charm from her hiding spot in the ceiling over the ballroom. It was a large whirlwind for a large space and it was taking more concentration than she would have guessed to maintain the spell.
Neville Longbottom went down like a ton of bricks, which was unfortunate really because he was rather good at Stunning. Ginny, on the other hand, was almost unaffected by the Dust and with the aid of a groggy Nicholas, proceeded to knock out the nearest Death Eater with a silver serving tray.
Other guests joined the fray, though everyone seemed to be wobbly and moving in slow motion.
The whirlwind had done its work. Hermione ended the spell and the shower of purple dust rained to the floor.
Draco dropped into the room, landing silently in a crouched position. He was able to Stun twelve Death Eaters before they worked out what was happening. Hermione saw him only briefly; a black blur that disappeared into the more colourful, slow-moving crowd. He proceeded to pick of Death Eaters with the speed and precision of a military sniper.
To Hermione's relief, Harry and Boris arrived exactly as they had planned, coming through the entrance. The dust was beginning to lose its effect and accordingly, the spell casting in the ballroom was starting to intensify.
With Harry no longer a hostage, the odds were no longer in the Death Eaters' favour, especially when guests began to reclaim their wands.
It was a matter of numbers. Two hundred versus twenty wasn't much of a struggle.
From that point, the attack on Malfoy Manor was over in less than ten minutes.
**
Hermione stood beside Harry, leading him by his elbow as he limped. Ginny took over this duty as soon as she was through raining kisses over his face while he said, "ow."
Neville was still out cold, though someone had been thoughtful enough to shove