A/N: This takes place right after the sixth book and has nothing to do with my other fanfictions Battle Between Heart and Mind, and The Pendant Glows Again. Hope you enjoy it. Tell me your thoughts.

Please review.

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It was a dismal June morning. A cold wind blew down Privet Drive. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley and their pig of a son Dudley were sitting at the breakfast table. Life was different now as Harry moved out that spring. He didn't give much explanation to the sudden turn of events. The three Muggles were somewhat aware that Harry was going into his last year and that he would be moving out next year, but their nephew came home earlier than expected. Harry entered the house as though being a storm. He quickly ran up the stairs. Vernon tried to interpose with a word or two, as the three stared at the huge school trunk by the entry. Harry came downstairs moments later to find Hermione and Ron at the entry; Ron glaring at Dudley, and Hermione trying to be polite.

"I'm ready," said Harry darkly. He stuffed some things in his trunk and then closed it shut. Hedwig was sitting on Ron's shoulder and her cage was in his hand.

Harry pocketed his wand and turned to his Aunt and Uncle. "Er… thank you for taking me in and I will no longer be a burden. Let's hope we'll see each other again." The Dursleys nodded slowly and then watched how the three disappeared down the street and out of sight.

"Grimauld?" asked Hermione.

Harry didn't answer and kept walking. His thoughts were in a jumble right now, but the only thing that was clear to him was this, the locket…the cup…the snake…something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's… the locket…the cup…the snake…something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's…The cold wind beat against his face and his hair flew back, revealing the lightning-bold scar. Ron and Hermione didn't press him and Harry answered a few minutes later, "Yes." They located a port-key and then appeared outside of the building. There they found the Order of the Phoenix.

"We thought it would be fine with you, if we used this location one last time," said McGonagall grimly.

Harry nodded and set his truck down. He did not join in the meeting and just lay down in his new bedroom and fell asleep. Hermione and Ron would fill him in later. But, it probably all the usual. They would be briefly talking about Dumbledore's death and the effects that would have on the future. Damn it. He already knew all the causes and effects of that death. And the Horcruxes… there's not much to say about them. He has to find them, destroy them, kill Voldemort. period. He awoke later that evening and found Ron and Hermione downstairs drinking something and whispering. Hermione quickly shushed Ron as he came downstairs. Harry stopped in the middle of the staircase as he saw the action and asked, "What?"

Hermione and Ron exchanged glances. Hermione then slowly and carefully began to speak, "Harry, you woke up."

"Yes…" said the other slowly and finished his descent.

Hermione waited for him to sit down and then continued, "Ron and I talked and we came upon a decision."

She waited for any reaction, but Harry seemed like an empty shell, waiting for the words.

"We think it would be better if you went to live at the Burrow."

"And what's the point of that?" snapped Harry, not able to control himself.

Ron swallowed and said, "Because Bellatrix and the rest of the Death Eaters might come here."

Harry took in a deep breath, cooling his anger. He replied in an even voice, "You might be right, but I do not want to endanger your family. No, I will stay here. If they come, let them. I will probably be out most of the time."

"But, Harry," began Hermione, but she was cut off.

"No, I have my mind made up. I will go to any measure to destroy Voldemort once and for all."

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The night of Dumbledore's death…

"Wait, stop!" yelled Draco, causing Snape to halt.

The man turned sharply around to face the young Malfoy; his expression cold.

Draco caught his breath, at the same time yanking his hand out of Snape's grasp. "Why? Why didn't you let me kill him?"

Snape raised his head and looked down at Draco, "Because you faltered, Draco and I made a promise to your mother."

Draco looked sharply at him out of the corner of his eyes.

Snape continued, "If you wouldn't be able to fulfill your task, then I would step in and finish it for you. And…"

"And?"

"the consequence would be death."

Draco stared angrily at the man before him and then looked down, unable to match the strong gaze.

"Listen, Draco," whispered Snape taking a step closer to him. "You will have to appear before the Dark Lord and you have to play your cards right, so you won't have to suffer death. All of the Death Eaters will be present along with your mother."

Draco glanced at Snape at the mention of his mother.

"She will plead for you and there might be the possibility that His Lordship will ki…"

Snape was cut off as they were joined by the other Death Eaters. "What are you doing? Let's go, the Dark Lord is waiting."

Snape straightened himself and they immediately set off; Draco pulled along. He was anxious and fearful for himself and his mother. In some time they arrived at a dark castle. In some time, they were all standing in a large circular room. It was all in black and white. The floor checkered and the wall with pillars and painting of scenes of pain and suffering. The whole room was made of marble. A magnificent gold throne stood at one end of the room and Voldemort occupied it. The walls were lined with Death Eaters; all unmasked. To the right of Voldemort stood Lucius, his face displeased. In the middle of the grand floor stood Draco. His back was straight, head bowed and hands at his sides. The events were explained to Voldemort and the other was now passing sentence.

"You have failed me Draco," said the Dark Lord in a chilling voice.

Draco shivered and as his heart gave a tremble, Voldemort continued, "I can not have anyone as such among my people. There is only one punishment I think suitable." Voldemort reached into his inside pocket and pulled out his wand. He gracefully raised it, poised to say the incantation.

"Nooo!" screamed a woman, who rushed out towards Draco.

In a split second Voldemort turned and sharply said, "Avada Kedavra."

A light shot out of the end of the wand and the woman fell dead. Draco's eyes got big and his lips parted, but no sound came out. The shock of his mother killed before him stunned him to the point of no feeling. Voldemort let out an evil laugh as he saw the identity of his victim. "Let that be a lesson to all to not contradict me." He then turned his attention to Draco. A smirk spread over the wizard as he saw the effect it had on the boy. "Maybe there is hope for you yet, Malfoy. Let us see how you prove useful in the next few days. You have much to do to redeem yourself. You are now to follow your father."

Draco stared at the Dark Lord before bowing slowly. The Dark Lord spared him, but at a large price; his mother's death. Also, he had been handed over to his father. That was the worst punishment in his eyes and the Dark Lord knew that. Before following his father out of the room, Draco caught Snape's eye. He had the outmost pity in his eye and that confirmed Draco's thoughts about the next few moments.

"YOU WORTHLESS WORM," screamed Lucius, hitting Draco with his cane. "All these years of training and this is what I have to show for it?"

"Fath…" tried Draco, but he was silenced by the cane.

"Silence. You have disgraced yourself and lessened our name in the eyes of the Dark Lord. How hard was it to kill that old fool? ANSWER!"

Draco looked at his father through one eye, the other bruised to heavily. No answer ever came. That infuriated the father and Lucius screamed, "CRUCIO!"

A scream of anguish filled the hallways and Voldemort smiled as he heard them. Draco fell onto the floor, twisting on the ground from the pain. Lucius continued to increase the power of the spell, until Draco passed out from the pain. As he left the room, no compassion fell over Lucius' face.

A/N: Please tell me what you think. This just came upon me. I have a pretty good plot planned.