Summary: Harry wasn't sure what power it was that he had that the Dark Lord knew not, and after Ron's departure, they begin to lose hope. However, with the help of a few old friends, and a surprising enemy-turned-ally, they continue their mission to destroy Voldemort once and for all, eventually discovering that Voldemort knew not.

"I don't think either of us should wear that locket anymore, Harry." Hermione said as they began the process of packing up the tent and their belongings. They moved with a sort of saddened determination. They tried to stall, knowing that once they left and wiped the place clean, only fate would bring them their red-headed friend again.

"I agree." Harry said, not really putting up much of a fight. When the last of the remnants of fire had been vanished, and the tent safely bundled up in the small beaded bag, Harry took Hermione's hand, and allowed her to lead them to another random location.

A random location that happened to be at the center of a campsite. Harry had barely heard the shout of two stunning charms when he forced Hermione to the ground and began shooting his own spells.

"Stop!" a familiar voice cried out. "It's Harry!"

The spell fire ceased at once and Harry glanced up to see his former roommate, Neville Longbottom standing a few feet away, wand still at the ready. Besides him, stood Luna Lovegood.

"What side of the room did you sleep on in Gryffindor tower?" Neville asked suspiciously.

Harry helped Hermione to her feet, not letting go of his wand either. "It's really him, Neville. See the way he protects Hermione? A Doppleganger would never do that."

Harry regarded her quizzically before answering Neville. "On the right, closest to the window and furthest from Dean."

Neville nodded and lowered his wand before rushing to hug his friends. "Had to check. Security reasons."

"Don't you put wards up?" Hermione questioned as Luna also pulled her in for a hug.

Neville nodded. "Of course. But we were waiting for-"

"I heard commotion," came another familiar voice and Harry and Hermione whipped around to see Draco Malfoy emerging from the woods, arms filled with firewood. "Is everything...alright?" he paused in his tracks before continuing past Harry and Hermione.

"Perfect." Harry said tightly. "You think I'm an impostor but you're in company with a death eater."

Neville raised his hands apologetically. "I know what this looks like, Harry. But if you let him explain-"

"I don't care about his explanation, Neville!" Harry raised his voice. Hermione tried to put a hand on his arm but he shook her off. "He has the dark mark! Do you know what you have to do to get the dark mark?"

"Harry if you just listen to him-" Luna tried but to their surprise, Draco stepped in front of her and shook his head at her.

"Please don't. I'll explain." He turned to face Hermione and Harry. "They deserve that much."

Neville sighed and began walking in a wide circle around them, casting warding charms to keep them safe. Luna settle on the ground and began picking at the dying grass. Harry and Hermione remained rooted in place, watching Draco's every move.

The blonde Slytherin was very much the same as Harry remembered him from their previous year, although he had to admit, he looked a lot less stressed than he did at that time. He began speaking. "I know you have no reason to trust me, Potter and if I were in your position I would feel the same way. However, you have to remember we are fighting a war. There are casualties. People die. Our safe school is anything but. I thought I wanted to be like my father. I thought I wanted to be in the Dark Lord's circle but when I received my mark, I realized immediately I had made a mistake. I won't tell you what horrible things I had to do to receive that mark, but I've regretted it every since. That's why I couldn't kill the headmaster. Because I knew it would never end there...the Dark Lord would keep using my family as bait. He would keep forcing me to kill people. I had to get away. I had to rid myself of him once and for all."

He settled down on the ground next to Luna. "Luna had been taken and held hostage at my family's manor. I was supposed to be watching over the prisoners that night, but I was too caught up in myself to pay them any mind. She overheard my mumblings and just started talking to me. After what felt like hours I told her I began opening up to her...I'm not sure why, but...well, you've talked to her before."

"It turns out, out little Luna is a very gifted Seer!" Neville said proudly.

Hermione's eyes widened and Harry knew she was trying very nicely not to say anything rude. He knew how she felt about Seers.

"It's a rare gift, really." Luna said in her usual ethereal voice. "Many people don't believe that we exist, or they hold us to such conditions. They think it's a conscious power, but really, it's just being willing to open yourself up to see what's coming before you. It's challenging. On the one had you could see yourself receiving jewels and gold and everything you want for your future, but then on the other hand you could see your future, or the future of those you care about being ripped to shreds. It's a two sided coin, although most people only want the good side."

Hermione didn't want to believe what she was hearing, but the way Luna explained it, it all made perfect sense.

Draco continued. "Anyway, I heard Luna give a prophecy about me and in a horrible way it explained a lot of things I had never considered. So one night, when the Dark Lord summoned us, I didn't answer."

Harry regarded Draco wearily. "How is that possible? Whenever he calls, wherever you are you go to him."

Draco nodded. "That's true, but this time, I was very firm about. I took steps to make sure he could never call me again. I rid myself of the dark mark."

"Proof." Harry said immediately and Draco gave Luna and Neville a sideways glance.

Draco sighed and began shedding his jacket until only a black long-sleeved shirt remained. "I hope you have a strong stomach," he mumbled as he rolled up the sleeve on his left arm and began undoing several bandages that were there. Hermione gasped and turned away, her hand covering her mouth and Harry himself had to fight the urge to lose his meager breakfast.

Is looked as if someone had taken a rusty knife and skinned his arm. True, the dark mark was gone, but what remained was much worse. The skin was ugly and red and in the disgusting stages of healing.

"I had to perform a ritual to separate myself from the residual magic that remained." Draco explained as he hastily began rewrapping his arm. My magical core was nearly depleted as I didn't only separate from the Dark Lord but from my family magic as well. It was dark and...let's just say it didn't end pretty." he tried to make a bit of humor but laughter was the last thing Harry or Hermione was feeling at the moment.

"Me and Luna managed to release the other prisoners at the manor and we escaped. We ran into Neville here, much the same way as you just ran into us."

"Trust me, I didn't want to hear much of what he had to say, either." Neville explained. "But when Luna vouched for him and shared her part as well, well, the rest is history. I left Hogwarts after the Carrows- death eater professors- tried to kill me. I was honestly hoping I'd run into you three." he finished a bit sheepishly.

"Where is Ronald?" Luna asked, as if just realizing they were one red-head short.

Hermione sunk down onto the ground and sniffled a bit. "He's gone."

"You don't mean-" Neville replied horrified.

Harry shook his head and settled down next to Hermione. "I don't think so. We got into a row over the way the search was going and...well, he let his feelings be known completely and then he stormed out. We waited for him but we knew we couldn't stay in one place for too long."

Neville nodded and pulled his knapsack towards him. He pulled out a tattered bedroll and spread it out on the ground.

"Oh wait, we have something that might help a bit more," Hermione said.

Five minutes later, the five of them sat around the wooden table inside the tent sipping tea that Luna had helpfully made. Neville, Luna and Draco especially appreciated the shelter as it had started raining not too long ago.

"Forgive me if this is a bit presumptuous," Draco said after a moment. "But if we're going to be traveling together, care to share exactly what the game plan is?"

Three pairs of eyes looked to Harry expectantly. Hermione stared resolutely at her cup, absently swirling the dregs around.

Harry hesitated to speak and Neville cut him off. "Look mate, I know in your position it must be hard figuring out who you can trust or not. But, I have a feeling that you were led to us for a reason. Let us help you. We all lost something because of You-Know-Who. This is bigger than 'The Boy Who Lived'."

Harry knew deep down that Neville was right and when Hermione confirmed this, he knew he had no choice. Perhaps there was a reason for everything after all. They had lost Ron, but they had gained others.

After sharing a meaningful look with Hermione, she pushed the small beaded bag towards him. He took a deep breath and reached his hand into the bag. Hundreds of items began presenting themselves to his outstretched hand and he waited until he felt the thick chain of the locket. He seized it and yanked it from the bag. It landed with a heavy thud on the wooden table. Draco turned paler than usual and quickly backed up away from the locket.

"What is that thing?" he pointed a trembling finger at it. "I can sense...I can feel his magic all over it!"

"How is that possible?" Hermione asked, confused. "I didn't think he would tell his followers-"

Harry shook his head. "It's because Malfoy used to have the dark mark. He used to be linked directly to You-Know-Who's magic. It's how he was able to summon his followers."

"Blimey, Harry," Neville said awestruck. "Is that the mark of Salazar Slytherin?"

"How did you come across an item of one of the Founder's, Harry?" Luna asked, concerned.

Harry picked up the locket and placed it on the end of the table, furthest from where Malfoy sat. He gestured for him to take his seat again.

"That," Harry pointed at the seemingly harmless thing. "is a key element in destroying You-Know-Who."

...

It was almost approaching dawn and Hermione was settled outside the tent keeping watch. Her head was buried in The Tales of Beedle the Bard and she jumped when Draco appeared from inside the tent.

"Hey, um, Granger, it's my turn to relieve you." He said nervously. "You should get some rest now."

Hermione gave him a quick nod and didn't hide her surprise when he offered a hand to her. He pulled her up and she clutched her book to her chest. She thanked him quietly and went to head inside when he spoke again.

"I was jealous of you, you know."

Hermione turned around, a look of confusion on her face. Draco nodded sheepishly. "Yeah. I was also angry at you as well, all those years of me being petty and disdainful. I'm from a pure-blood family. Magic is supposed to be my very life and yet when I arrived at Hogwarts, I wasn't as great as I thought I was. I was upset that some know-it-all muggleborn could come into my world and make me feel like I didn't deserve my wand. I was stupid and...nothing will ever change how horrible I was, but everyday I learn to forgive myself a little more and deal with the bridges I've burned. I hope, maybe one day you could forgive me as well. I know it'll probably take a lifetime for you or Potter to trust me but...but it would mean the world to me if you did."

Hermione wasn't sure she heard the blonde boy clearly. Did Draco Malfoy just...apologize? All she could do was nod again as she felt her voice would fail her. "Goodnight," she managed.

"One more thing!" Draco called again. Hermione turned around. "Luna didn't tell you guys but..she sort of knew to be expecting someone. That's why our wards weren't up yet. Bu how did you know to apparate to us? What were you thinking of?"

Hermione paused a moment before answering quietly. "Someplace safe."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

So, thanks for reading and please don't hesitate to drop a review below! I know some people are against Draco and maybe my theory about him getting rid of the dark mark could use some more explaining but to me it made perfect sense (this is a fanFICTION after all.)

I also really like Draco as a character...more than Ron actually. Again, it's but my humble opinion.

Thanks again!