Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The italicized section is from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, pages 591 and 592.

Chapter One

Harry Potter

(The Lightning-Struck Tower)

"'There is little time, one way or another,' said Dumbledore. 'So let us discuss your options, Draco.'

'My options!' said Malfoy loudly. 'I'm standing here with a wand – I'm about to kill you'

'My dear boy, let us have no more pretense about that. If you were going to kill me, you would have done it when you first disarmed me, you would not have stopped for this pleasant chat about ways and means.'

'I haven't got any options! I've got to do it! He'll kill me! He'll kill my whole family!

'I appreciate the difficulty of your position. Why do you think I have not confronted you before now? I knew that you would have been murdered by Lord Voldemort if he realized I suspected you. I did not dare speak of the mission with which you had been entrusted, in case he used Legilimency against you, but now at least we can speak plainly to each other … No harm has been done, you have hurt nobody though you are lucky that your unintentional victims survived … I can help you, Draco.'

'No, you can't,' said Malfoy, his wand shaking very badly in his hand. 'Nobody can. He told me to do it or he'll kill me. I've got no choice.'

'He cannot kill you if you are already dead. Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine. What is more, I can send members of the Order to your mother and hide her likewise. Nobody would be surprised that you died in your attempt to kill me – forgive me but Voldemort probably expects it. Nor would the Death Eaters be surprised if we had captured and killed your mother – it is what they would do themselves, after all. Your father is safe at the moment in Azkaban … when the time comes, we can protect him too. Come over to the right side, Draco … You are not a killer ….'

Malfoy stared at Dumbledore.

'But I got this far, didn't I?' he said slowly. 'They thought I'd die in the attempt but I'm here… and you're in my power… I'm the one with the wand… You're at my mercy ….'

'No, Draco,' said Dumbledore quietly. 'It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now.'"

Malfoy stood there shaking. He continued to stare at Dumbledore, unsure what to do. Slowly, he lowered his wand and dropped his gaze to the floor.

"Good. Now we must act quickly. Hand me my wand, Draco," Dumbledore said.

Malfoy fetched it from the ground quickly, but hesitated before giving it to Dumbledore.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs and both Dumbledore and Malfoy turned to face the noise. Dumbledore raised his wand and the Death Eaters arrived just in time to see Draco fall to the ground.

They stopped for a moment, giving Dumbledore just enough time to attack first, incapacitating a man and a woman similar in looks enough to be his sister. Another man who Harry realized must be Fenrir Greyback, leaped forward without a wand. He was thrown to the side with a quick flick from Dumbledore's wand. The fourth Death Eater used this time to fire a spell at Dumbledore. Dumbledore blocked it, but the force of the spell knocked his wand out of his hand for the second time that night. Just as the Death Eater was about to deliver the final curse, he was hit in the back by another spell.

Severus Snape stepped over the now unconscious Death Eater. He looked around, taking in the situation. His eyes finally rested on Dumbledore, whose strength at that moment decided to fail. Snape stepped forward and helped him to lean against the balcony.

"Thank you, Severus." Dumbledore said weakly.

"What happened here?" he replied. He glanced at Malfoy.

"It seems to be, that the youngest Malfoy has decided to let us help him. I will explain the rest later. First summon some of the Order. I'm sure they have driven away the rest of the Death Eaters by now. We will need them to help take care of these Death Eaters and take Draco to my office."

"Sir, is he…." Snape looked at him. Was that worry that Harry saw cross briefly across his face?

"He is fine, simply unconscious. I had to use a powerful spell quickly to fool the Death Eaters coming up the stairs." Dumbledore explained. Snape nodded.

"Severus, go now and call the Order. Then return, for I will need you to help me to my office and an antidote for a potion."

Snape left quickly to do as he was told. Dumbledore turned his head to where Harry was invisible.

"You can come out now, Harry, but keep your invisibility cloak close. I do not want the Order to see you. It would bring up too many questions."

"Professor, what about Malfoy? How are you going to hide him? How will you explain this to the Order? Are you going to be okay? Wh - ," Harry said but Dumbledore cut him off.

"Harry, I will get your questions later. I must deal with the problems at hand."

Harry nodded, "What do you want me to do now, Sir?"

"Wait until the Order leave, then head back to your common room. I will talk to you tomorrow, after this has been sorted out. Take this with you and bring it back to me. I don't want it to be known by anyone." Dumbledore handed the Horcrux to Harry.

Harry put the Horcrux into his pocket and pulled his cloak over his head. Several Order members, including Tonks, Lupin, Kingsley and one other Harry did not recognize, were led by Snape. Harry stepped back into a corner.

"We chased away the rest of them," Kingsley said. "They ran out pass the grounds and apparated away."

"Good. Now we will need to find something to do with these four until we can get the ministry to take them away." Dumbledore said wearily.

Hagrid suddenly burst through the steps, "I'm here! I'm here. I saw some Death Eaters run by me house. I came ter see if I coul' help."

"That is great idea, Hagrid. I would like you to take Malfoy here. Seeing as he is unconscious he will need a little help moving." Dumbledore replied.

Hagrid picked up Malfoy in his huge arms and carried him out the door. The Order watched him leave.

"Kingsley, Remus, and Nymphadora, I need you to take these Death Eaters and find a place to put them. I suggest keeping them separate. There should be empty rooms in the dungeons."

The three of them muttered some spells and levitated the Death Eaters from the tower. Dumbledore turned to the unknown member of the Order.

"I need you to send for at least two other members of the Order and Alastair Moody. There is a mission at Malfoy Manor to be completed tonight." The wizard left with a nod.

"Severus, I must ask you to assist me to my office. We should go." Snape helped Dumbledore to his feet and balanced him with one hand around his shoulder. They headed down the stairs. Harry was left alone on the tower.

AN: Well there you go. Did you like it? Was it too long? Too short? Grammatical Errors? Just tell me what you think. Shall I continue?

--J