"I'm cold. My toes are numb." a girl's voice said, tiny and beaten. The chilling wind was creeping through the cracks of stone, causing ice to hang from the cold ceiling. A single torch gave light, sending odd, dancing shadows across the floor.

"Come here, Pansy. I'll keep you warm," a manly voice said, followed by a shuffle of clothing against concrete. There was a sigh.

"Here, me too. I'm freezing." More shuffling.

"Thank you, Blaise, Theo. That helps," Pansy said sincerely, letting her head fall onto Theodore's shoulder. Another man, this one on the other side of the dark room, stood to his feet. He walked toward the edge of the room, reaching to shake the bars that made their room a cell.

"Stop it, Draco. It's not going to budge," Blaise said to the blonde. Draco shook the bars again, this time more fiercely.

"I know that, but does that mean I have to give up? They were like paper last time the door closed behind me two years ago," he said out loud, punching one of the bars. The sound echoed throughout the cell, radiating for a moment before returning to a still silence.

"Draco, come sit down. You need to sleep," Pansy said, trying to sound sincere despite her own groggy tone. Draco shook his head, reaching down to flick a stone from the pad of his bare heel.

"I'm fine. Millicent has the cot today, and you three need to rest before I do," he said in his leader tone. "Besides, if he comes back, I'd rather be the one he takes than any of you. We all know I have a stronger resistance for Unforgivable curses."

"Only because your the one that has been tortured. The last time you were taken, you came back bloody and unconscious. You didn't wake up for eight meals," Blaise said with a hard, almost sorrowful voice inflection. Theodore nodded in agreement.

"You can't play God, Draco. Some of us have to take a blow, too. For Merlin's sake, they dipped your hands in toxins to burn the skin away, and now your hands are black!" Theodore exclaimed, Draco looking at his dead skin. His hands were charred, fingernails gone and only now growing back, his skin flacking away like bark, the crisp flakes replaced by red oozing blood.

"The time I allow you tortured for my failure is the day Hell freezes over." Draco said plainly, his knuckles peeling as he gripped the bars, the tops starting to bleed.

"It's not just your failure. So Snape killed Dumbledore instead of you, so what? So we didn't do our part by taking the Mark, who cares? You-Know-Who can't keep us down here forever-"

"Three months." a voice said from the cot. Millicent rolled over, facing the remainder of the group. Draco looked at her as she wrapped the blanket around her sadly naked form. She was stripped of her clothing after being found out to have a Gryffindor boyfriend. The Dark Lord had deemed her unworthy of such an honor as to be clothed. "Three bloody months."

"What, Millie?" Pansy asked, raising her head. Millicent bit her lip, turning around to tie the blanket firmly around herself before standing.

"I've been counting the meals they've been dropping off. If we were given breakfast and dinner, it would be one month, but we all know that's not the case. We all know they usually feed us every three days. In other words, we've been trapped in the cell for three months, give or take." she explained, crossing her arms over her chest. "I, for one, am fed up with this hell hole. We are pureblood wizards, not some mudblood half-wits. I'm tired of being treated like an animal."

"Same here," Draco said, propping himself against the wall. They all stared at the ground, Draco scanning his friends faces.

Millicent was covered in only a blanket that barely reached her mid-thigh, her bangs pulled back from her face by an amateur headband. Theodore was clothed in torn sweatpants and a black tank top that was covered in dirt stains, his hair starting to cover his ears in a curly mess. Pansy was in her Slytherin uniform, minus the sweater and socks. It was filthy as well, and her hair was in pigtails in a poor attempt to keep her cute demeanor. Blaise was in his uniform as well, but his slacks were torn at the ends, ending in strips at his knees to make the hair ties for Millicent and Pansy. Draco looked down at himself. He wore a black long sleeve shirt the fell to his mid-thigh at the bottom, his tight black pants still in tact and in decent condition. The sleeves were pulled up to his elbows, the Dark Mark flashing on his dirt-covered skin. None of them had anything on their feet.

"Where do you think Potter is right now?" Theodore asked, making Draco jump.

"It would be the end of August if Millicent's prediction is correct. He must be getting ready for Hogwarts," Pansy said. Draco shook his head.

"No. If I remember correctly, which is not likely, he was speaking with Dumbledore about Horcruxes right before I stepped in." Draco informed, Blaise standing at the word. Pansy shivered at the lost of warmth, Theodore bringing her in tighter.

"Whose Horcruxes?" he asked, suddenly interested in conversation.

"You-Know-Who's most likely," Draco replied, running a hand through his mattered hair. "It was their quest to destroy them, I believe. To weaken the Dark Lord."

"I don't know where, but I've heard of those before. Must have been my fifth stepfather or something," Blaise said, rubbing his stubbled chin.

"What is a Horcrux?" Millicent asked, walking back to the cot to sit down. Blaise reclaimed his seat next to Pansy, breathing in deeply before speaking.

"It's very dark, very cruel magic." he started, Draco shifting his weight to ease the sudden feeling of discomfort. "It's when a piece of your soul is torn from your body, sealing it away into an object. It's like a way to taunt Death. When your real body dies, that piece of you still lives on, so you never truly die."

"But, I still don't understand." Theo said calmly, looking over Pansy's shoulder to look at Blaise. "That's just what a Horcrux is. How do you make a Horcrux?" Blaise opened his mouth to respond, only to snap it shut. The color drained from his face, and he coward back against the wall. Draco rolled his eyes.

"Murder."

Pansy squeaked.

"What do you mean 'murder'?" Theo asked sternly, tightening his grip on the pigtailed girl.

"Exactly what it sounds like. When you kill someone, it's as if a piece of you is gone, and you become less human. The way I see it, you take that piece and put it somewhere else so the you don't feel guilty." Draco explained. "I heard Auntie Bella talk about hem as well. According to her, Voldemort has six. One of them is in her Gringotts vault."

"Let's go get it!" Millicent said, standing from the cot again. Draco raised a curious eyebrow, holding back a laugh. The fire in the torch shifted, almost going out.

"We can't, Millie. We're in a cell and You-Know-Who was our wands, remember?" Pansy said, trying to smile. Millicent rolled her eyes.

"I know that. But I've been thinking, you said the bars were like paper before we were thrown in here, right?" Draco nodded, glaring at the metal rods. "What if the reason they are so strong now is because they want us in here. If we were simply trapped, and not captured, the bars would let us break through easily."

"But the Death Eaters trapped us here. We don't apply to that." Blaise said.

"I know, but while I was counting meals, I noticed something. Every time they bring us a meal, the arm of whoever brought it is inside the cell for a mere moment. Maybe if someone was to stop the arm from leaving, in other words, someone who wasn't wanted here, the spell on the bars would break, letting us out." Millicent concluded with a devious smirk. Draco smiled. The other three looked at her with disbelief, Blaise about to start laughing. Millicent gave him a glare.

"Look, I just want to get out of this fucking jail cell. I know you do, too. We could get out and make a run for it. Head to the forest or something. Maybe we'll find our wands or take someone else's. I don't care, I just want out." she said motioning to her blanket-dress. Everyone remained quiet, silently agreeing with the girl. An uneven cold spread through the room again, making them all shiver. Millicent muttered something about laying down, the other three promptly closing their eyes to sleep. Draco slumped to the floor, his head resting on the wall.

Draco thought back to that June night. He just had celebrated his seventeenth birthday with the people he was now trapped with, and with a cold summons from Snape, went to allow the Death Eaters into Hogwarts. He didn't expect so many to come with his aunt, and instantly regretted having ever repaired the Vanishing Cabinet, wishing he had never taken the mission.

It started out easily enough, visiting the Room every night, slowly but surely repairing the cabinet on his own time. His mind was set of pleasing his lord and his father. He kept his studies up during the day, such trivial matters in his opinion. He worked for the Dark Lord now, what did he need Hogwarts for? At least, he thought so.

Come November, he started his attempts to murder Albus Dumbledore, starting with the necklace. Placing the Three Broomsticks barmaid under Impirous was easy enough, along with Katie Bell. He was almost resistant to give the parcel to the girl, a tug of remorse pulling at his heart. Nevertheless, he handed the package to her, only for her to land in the infirmary for possession. That was the day he met Moaning Myrtle, the ghost girl he had slowly become fairly fond of.

Next was the mead. It was easy to land in Professor Slughorn's fat hands, with the help of the barmaid. He gave the toxic mix to the maid, saying to not give it to anyone but Slughorn, and to drop hints about giving it to Dumbledore. It had worked, of course, so Draco left it without notice. It was two weeks later news of Ronald Weasley being poisoned on accident in Slughorn's courters did he almost break down. He had failed a second time. The mead wasn't meant for him, it was meant for Dumbledore! Dumbledore was Draco's only target, not the students. The school was to be handed to Snape after the Death Eaters came through the Cabinet. By that time, it was halfway repaired.

Weasley and Katie were released on the same day, and when Draco walked into the Great Hall, it all came crashing down. He had almost killed both of them. Killed. Murdered. Slain. Such filthy words. The room had suffocated him, and he ran, trying to get away before his regret swallowed him hole. He only made it to the sink before he broke down, Myrtle trying to comfort him. For some reason, he let her. In the reflection, he saw Potter, wand drawn at his side. Draco looked at him, and without thinking, threw a curse at him. How dare he see him cry! His emotions were his alone. His failures were his alone, not to be shared with others. They had fought for not even three minutes before Draco had succumbed to an Unforgivable. He was too late. His chest was ripped to pieces, and for a small moment, he wished it would be his undoing.

Of course, it wasn't. He had lived, thanks to Severus Snape. By then, the Cabinet was almost completed, leaving his last plan; he needed to finish his mission with his own hands. That sad day came in June, when Draco had waited patiently in the Astronomy Tower for the return of the professor and his pet. The Death Eaters were due in the castle any second, giving him minutes to finish his task. He sat by the door, waiting for the pop of Apparition to signal his cue. It came all too soon. He trudged up the stairs, only hearing the word 'Horcrux' before coming face to face with the man the Dark Lord feared most. The man looked at him with forgiveness, hope, and trust.

How? Draco was about to end his life, and still, his elder had faith in him.

'Let me help you.'

The blonde shook his head, aware of not only the headache firm in his skull, but the sudden creeping of tiredness. He sighed, sliding along the wall until he hit the floor, curling into a ball for warmth. He closed his eyes, a restless sleep slowly engulfing him.

-:-

"Such a pity, a face like this to be maimed." a hissing sound echoed, the air hot and sweating, a horrid pain rocketing through his body. "Such a pretty one you were. Now nothing but a simpleton. Not able to complete such a simple task as murder. Pitiful, weak, a failure. A Blood-trailer."

Draco jerked awake, his head hitting the wall with a smack, a groan exiting his mouth. He breathed through his teeth, rubbing the bump on the back of his head. Another nightmare, one he had been accustomed to seeing night after night. At least he had assumed it was night, having not seen daylight in the assumed three months they were captured. A new wave of grief rafted over him, making his chest tighten. It had been three months since the others had step foot outside the cell. Draco had the pleasure of seeing sun every two or so weeks, no matter how devilish the reasons.

Tragic was the only word Draco could find in his mind to describe it.

A clank came from further inside the dungeons, making Draco sit perfectly straight. Sure enough, a flicker of light, most likely a Lumos, came their way. Draco looked over at Millicent, who nodded and sat up from her laying pose. The other three stood to their feet, understanding what he was about to try. Lucius Malfoy rounded the corner, his posture hunched and hands shaking. In his hands were five bowls of what looked like cold soup, something they all had become familiar with.

"Your meal for the day, prisoners." he said with a laugh, kneeling down to slide the tray across the floor.

"How generous of his evilness," Theo drawled, smirking at the phrase he said each time a meal appeared. Lucius hissed, just the tip of the tray making it past the barrier line.

"You will call his Lord, as you shall!" His arm went the rest of the way, Draco running forward. He stomped on the forearm, the man howling in pain.

"Now!" He yelled. Millicent rushed forward, grabbing the bars with fever. They tore like cheap fabric, a cry of victory coming from Pansy. The five of them rushed out, Lucius raising his wand to stop them. Draco tackled him, grabbing his right arm to take the magical item. A fist hit his cheek, making his vision swim. The metal cane of Lucius jabbed his side, tugging at his skin, making him scream in pain. He retrieved the wand, Theo grabbing his shoulder, tugging him toward the back exit. Draco knew the wand was not Lucius' true wand; it was his back up, one with the power to only cast ten spells.

"Duck!" Blaise yelled, three streams of red shooting over their heads. Behind marched Bellatrix LeStrange and Wormtail. They were screaming, yelling at them to stop. Draco aimed the wand, casting his own spells. They were countered easily, Bellatrix aiming her wand at Draco with a green shimmering end.

"Avada Kedavra!" she screamed wickedly, the jet of green hurtling his direction.

"Draco!" Theodore yelled, shoving the blonde to the side. Pansy screamed, making the escapees stop in their tracks. Millicent gasped, Blaise trying to get the two girls to run again. Draco stared in disbelief.

Theodore Nott was dead.

"Draco, let's go!" Blaise screamed, Draco jumping back into reality. He aimed the wand with anger spouting random syllabus and fragments on words. The walls around them crumbled into dust, a hand tugging the back of his shirt. Blaise pushed him toward the door, his legs feeling light and jelly-like.

"Oh Merlin, what have I done?" Draco whispered as the dungeon door closed behind him, Pansy and Millicent letting go of the heavy metal latch. The latch landed with an exploding clank, making Pansy squeak.

"We need to keep moving. There is no doubt in my mind You-Know-Who already knows we escaped." Millicent said with a shaking voice. Pansy was already in tears.

"I can't believe we left him behind." she pepped. Blaise wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close. Draco gripped his father's fake wand tightly, his eyes squinting in anger.

"It's my fault." he said plainly.

"We don't have time to mourn, we need to get out of here!" Millie yelled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. Pansy nodded, starting to run down the corridor. Draco caught up with her instantly, making sure to be in front of his group. Their footsteps echoed as they main their way to the front door, more following close behind. Shots of red and green and blue headed their direction, making them fall to the ground. Draco pointed the wand at the source, casting two disarming spells.

He only had five spells left.

"Draco!" a new voice called from up ahead. Draco looked hopefully toward the new voice, his silver eyes widening. Marcus Flint and Narcissa Malfoy were at the end of the corridor, a door open wide.