Trumpets flare

Draco: Could it be? It is! MY GOD It's an update! Ladys and Gents hell must have frozen over!

The Author: Oh come on, i'm not that bad. . .

Draco: You haven't updated in over two months.

The Author:SILENCE! coughs yeah i'm terribly sorry for not updating in over two months. I've been really busy

Draco:Yeah, those video games sure are time consuming!

The Author: Busy with school, and work.

Draco:It's like she's trying to speak to us I know it!

The Author: Anyway, thats my excuse.

Draco: A very lame excuse I might add.

The Author: Oh and unfortunately it's a very sad chapter, my apologies!

Draco: Does anyone really listen to you when you speak? I mean really! The Author does not own Harry Potter, god thats a scary thought, and she's not making any money off this story, I mean come on people! She hasn't updated in two months! If anyones still reading this I sallute you!


Hermione ran over to Mad-Eye kneeling next to him checking to make sure he was alright.He was breathing but his eyes were closed. Hermione shook him gently, but he didn't wake up. Harry took out his wand looking around the room as if expecting deatheaters to appear out of no where. Ron copied this movement. Neville went pale and looked around the room in fear.

"Neville go alert the rest of the order,"Harry said grimly. Neville left quickly. Draco drew out his wand his heart beating fast. If the deatheaters were here, if the deatheaters had some how found the order he was dead. Either Voldemort would kill him or the order would. The order would assume he let the deatheaters in, like Hogwarts.

"He's unconscious I can't't wake him up,"said Hermione standing up.

"Are the deatheaters here? Where are they?"Ron asked looking around.

"I don't know,"said Harry and he grabbed Draco's arm. Draco stared at Harry confused.

"What are you doing?"Draco demanded. Harry pulled up Draco's left sleeve roughly flipping his arm over to get a good view of his left forearm.

"The dark mark hasn't been burned. Voldemort's followers haven't been called,"said Harry releasing Draco's arm. Draco gazed at the ugly mark on his arm, he hadn't felt it burn in awhile. Draco shot Harry a nasty look and rubbed his arm as if Harry had gotten it dirty. The doors swung open and the order members pooled in. Kingsley,Lupin, Mr.Weasley, Fred, George,and Tonks ready for battle. Tonks had changed fast. She wore black robes and had her wand at the ready, her hair was short and eyes were a dark blue. McGonagall ran over to Mad-Eye attempting to revive him.

"What happened?"Fred asked, an uncommon look of seriousness on his features.

"Mad-Eye came in said something about deatheaters and passed out,"Ron said. Mad-Eye coughed.

"Alastor! Where are the deatheaters?"McGonagall asked gently putting her wand away.

"Diagon Ally. They've got full control of it! All the shops are being monitored, even Gringotts isn't safe! Deatheaters are patrolling the streets hording up all the half bloods they can get! The minister has their aurors there but there greatly out numbered,"said Mad-Eye.

"We have to fight,"said Harry.

"Are you deaf? The battle's already won. The aurors are out numbered, the shops are already being monitored, they have control of the goblins!"said Draco looking at Harry as if he had lost his mind.

"Shut up Malfoy,"snapped Ron giving the blonde a dark look.

"You know I'm right! For Merlin's sake even if you get the deatheaters off the street it's no use!"said Draco.

"If he has control this much, he's going to go after the Ministry next,"said Tonks with a grave sigh. Draco let out a snort.

"What?"said Harry looking at Draco fiercely. "You think that's funny?" Draco's silver blue met Harry's emerald green.

"He's not going to go after the Ministry,"Draco said. Everyone looked at Draco, but he fell silent.

"Well go on. If you know something tell us!"said Ron.

"No!"said Draco. Ron looked surprised. "I've given the order enough information to get me killed. The order doesn't have my mother safe why should I tell you anything else?"Draco demanded.

"Because people are going to die, or does that not bother you?"said Harry coldly. Draco looked at the ground.

"Voldemort isn't going to go after the Ministry. He's busy recruiting. He's taking over little places. A town here, a street there. He's putting fear into the people. Showing the people the Ministry can't protect them. Once the majority of the people turn from the ministry and all hope appears to be lost he'll take them in. The Ministry will grow weaker as his reign grows stronger. The people will turn to him to be saved.All he has to do is make the ministry look weak and bad and the pieces of the puzzle will start to fit,"said Draco bitterly. The order exchanged looks of worry.

"We need to help the aurors defend Diagon Ally,keep the faith of the people in the ministry,"said Harry breaking the silence.

"Harry's right. We need to make the ministry look in control until Voldemort is defeated,"said Lupin.

"Well lets go,"said Tonks.

"I'll stay here alert the other members and take care of Mad-Eye,"said McGonagall.

"Good woman,"said Lupin a hand on her shoulder.

"Malfoy, Neville you can stay here and-"

"I'm coming,"Neville said. Harry gave Neville a smile. Neville returned it.Draco frowned.

"Me to!"Draco said. Harry could not hide his shock.

"It's been awhile since i've had a good fight,"said Draco stiffly. It was official Draco Malfoy had lost his mind. If Draco was offering to join them AND risk his life, there was clearly something wrong. Neville gave Draco a smile.

"Knew we could count on you,"Neville said. Draco gave Neville a puzzled look still not quite sure why he wanted to come himself.

"Get ready to apparate. Make sure you don't splinch yourself,"said Lupin. About a dozen loud cracks later the group appeared in the middle of Diagon Ally. Spells were flying everywhere. Broken glass from shop windows littered the street. Angry beams of red, yellow, green, and blue shot all over the place. Spells from the battle. The fighting began. Not a minute after Draco had appeared a deatheater was in his face shooting jinxes at him.

"Imperio!"Draco yelled. The deatheater turned on his fellow deatheater and began shooting spells at him.

"Nice!"said Tonks with a grin.

"Apparently it's okay to use unforgivable curses on the enemy?"Draco inquired raising an eyebrow. Tonks shrugged.

"Hello little nephew,"said a cold voice. Draco turned sharply. The Battle was going on all around him yet Bellatrix Lestrange had been standing behind him untouched. Draco looked at her.

"Aunt Bella,"said Draco feeling as if he had been slapped. He was so dead. So very dead. He had betrayed Voldemort. What had he been thinking? Bellatrix let out an insane smile.

"reliviate!"She said wand pointing at Draco. Draco fell to the ground appearing to be unconscious.

"Draco?"said Neville and his eyes fell on Bellatrix. The woman who had tortured his parents into insanity. Now she had done something to Draco. Neville took out his wand pointing it at Bellatrix. Bellatrix let out an ear piercing laugh.

"Little Longbottom wants to play,"she said with a smirk. Neville's eyes flashed with a coldness few had witnessed. Neville pointed his wand at the crazed deatheater.

"Stupify!"Neville yelled. Bellatrix dodged it.

"Avada-"

"Bellatrix!" Severus Snape's cold voice pierced both Neville's and Bellatrix's ears. Bella turned to Snape who was standing there over an unconscious, or dead, auror.

"What?"demanded Bellatrix looking angry. Neville stood still, waiting for her to turn around. He would not shoot a spell at her with her back turned, he would fight her face to face.

"Draco, did you-"

"Yes Severus! Now I have another Longbottom to drive insane, if you'll please waste oxygen somewhere else!"snapped Bellatrix. Snape rolled his eyes and disappeared into the ocean of fighting wizards. Bellatrix turned back towards Neville."Crucio!" Neville fell to the ground twitching and screaming. Bellatrix let out a soft yet crazed laugh. It took all Neville had to raise his wand while screaming in agony.

"A-AVADA KEDAV-RA!"Neville yelled. Bellatrix stopped laughing as the green death curse hit her in the chest.Her livid eyes widened in shock and she fell down dead. Neville stood up slowly.His parents were avenged. Rodolphus Lestrange looked over eyes wide.

"Bella!?"He cried. Harry ran over patting Neville on the back. "Nice work, come on we need you over here,"Harry said nodding at the heat of the battle a distance away.

"What about Malfoy,"Neville asked. Rodolphus pointed his wand at Neville.

"Stupify!"Harry yelled and Rodolphus fell down. Harry stood over the unconscious Malfoy and knelt down checking his pulse.

"Malfoy wake up!"Harry said shaking the blonde boy. Draco's eyes snapped open and a look of horror passed through his face."Get up!"Harry said pulling Draco up. Draco tripped slightly as Harry ran towards the heated battle, Neville following. Draco slowly followed holding his head. He could not believe what he had just seen.

"Reliviate!"Bellatrix said, and the next thing Draco knew, he was in an old manor. He had been here before, it was Lord Voldemort's current hide out. He had first seen it when he had retreated Hogwarts with Snape. It was a beautiful manor built out of marble. The Manor was five stories high with a jet black roof and looming Gargoyles gazing down, his favorite part of the manor was the golden door knocker with a silver snake entwined on it. He was sitting across from the Dark Lord. Draco frowned, he did not remember this.

"Malfoy, I have a very important job for you,"Voldemort said admiring his wand.

"Where is my mother,"Draco heard himself snarl. Voldemort waved his wand, a stone wall sunk into the floor to reveal a room. Narcissa Malfoy was laying on a bed paralyzed. "Mum!?"said Draco standing up and running to her. She wasn't moving, it didn't even seem like she was breathing.

"She's alive,"Voldemort said quietly, answering the un asked question, "for now." Draco looked at the dark lord in fear.

"I'll do anything my lord,"Draco said.

"Yes, you will,"Voldemort said his crimson eyes boring into Draco's scull. "If you complete this mission Malfoy, I will let your mother go,"Voldemort said.

"I will,"Draco said.

"You must kill Harry Potter,"Voldemort said. Draco blinked but looked at his mother. "How will I do that?"Draco asked.

"It's all really quite simple. You will betray me Draco-"

"My lord I would never do that!"Draco yelled.

"Silence! Malfoy you are weak,"Voldemort said and Draco clenched his fists, holding back his anger. "You will betray me. Either the order will find you or you will find the order, you have not forgotten what Dumbledore said. Promises to find and save your mother. You will not remember this conversation Draco, I am going to block it from your mind. You won't remember this unless a servant of mine does the spell at my command,"Voldemort said.

"My lord! I could easily find the order and trick them, this is not necessary!"Draco snarled.

"Oh it is. They will use truth potion. This is the only way around it. Once you remember this they will have already begun to trust you. There is a sword called the sword of Amarra there. You will take it and you will kill Harry Potter, or your mother will die. Draco was pale and he knelt.

"Yes my lord,"Draco said. Voldemort pointed his wand at him.

"OBLIVIATE!"

Draco shook his head, that was when Harry had shaken him awake. He felt sick. Voldemort had known he would betray him the whole time, hell he counted on it. Now he had to kill Harry or his mother would die.

"Malfoy come on!"Harry shouted behind him as he and Neville ran into the battle. Draco felt sick. Harry wasn't exactly his friend but could he kill him? He had to, his mother would die if he didn't, he had to. Draco followed. Spells flooded the area. Beams of red, gold, green, blue, pink, brown, and black shot into the air. Draco found himself mostly shuffling around confused. He had to get out of here. Draco grunted as Rodolphus Lestrange pushed past him. Rebastian his brother was behind him. Rebastian pointed his wand at Lupin and Rodolphus pointed his wand at Neville. Draco froze.

"Neville look out!"Draco yelled and pointed his wand at Rebastian. "STUPIFY!"he yelled.

"Protego!"Rebastian yelled.

"Torqueo ignis!"yelled Rodolphus wand pointed at Neville. Neville screamed and fell to the ground skin sizzling.

"Neville!"Draco yelled fear flooding through him.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"Rebastian yelled. Remus Lupin fell down dead.

"No!"Draco yelled. Tonks let out a sound between a scream and a sob, Draco never wanted to hear anyone make that sound again. A sound of loss, a sound of pain and hurt.

"Remus!"she screamed running towards him. Rebastian pointed his wand at her as well. Neville was still screaming. Draco held his head.

STUPIFY!"Draco yelled wand pointing at Rebastian. Rebastian fell down unconscious. Draco gave Tonks a look of pity before running over to Neville. Rodolphus was on the ground, stupified by someone. Neville was writhing on the ground screaming, his skin was sizzling like his blood was on fire. Draco felt sick.

"We need to get out of here,"Harry said quietly. The order retreated, the deatheaters had Diagon Ally. Draco helped Harry put Neville on the couch. Tonks was ushered out of the room by McGonagall and Mad-Eye who appeared to be doing much better covered Lupin's body and removed it from the room. Harry wiped his eyes and Draco pretended that he hadn't seen, looking away.

"I"ve never seen magic like this,"Hermione said looking at Neville. Tears were freely running down her face over the loss of Lupin.

"It's dark magic,"Ron said quietly. Draco felt sick. He felt something inside him break. He knew what curse it was, and the curse was fatal.

"It was Torqueo ignis,"Draco said quietly. Molly Weasley gasped and covered her face. Harry frowned along with Hermione.

"What is that?"Harry asked.

"It's a very old but powerful dark arts spell. It's Latin for torture and fire. It literally burns the person alive from the inside. It's fatal,"said Draco and he winced at the steam rising from Neville's body. Neville was still screaming.

"There must be a cure!"Hermione yelled new tears streaming down her face.

"I'm afraid there isn't,"said Molly looking down at Neville. Draco felt a prickling in the back of his eyes, and before he knew it he had his wand out. He had it pointed at Neville. Neville looked up at him. There were no words spoken but a silent agreement seemed to have been made between the two.

"You of all people didn't deserve this...you were my friend,"Draco said as a single tear fell from his eyes. "forgive me. . . AVADA KEDAVRA!"Draco yelled. A flash of green light and Neville's screams stopped as Neville exhaled his last breath. Hermione screamed.

"You killed him!"Hermione yelled. Draco covered his watery eyes looking away, his shoulders shaking. Everyone was silent. Draco composed himself.

"Yes. I killed him, and I don't regret it! He was going to die, slowly and painfully. He was going to be burned alive from the inside out and the only thing we could do was watch? I don't think so! I did the only thing I could do! He was going to die no matter what, what I did was mercy. Something I thought you all were good at!"Draco snarled and stormed out of the room and into Sirius's vacant room. No one ever went in there and he couldn't take going in his and Neville's room. Draco collapsed on the dusty rickety bed.

He had killed one of the few good people left in this world, and he had to do it again, to Harry, or his mother would die, but not today. There was enough blood today.

"I did a good thing right?"Draco said to himself, his voice cracking. Of all the people, why Neville? Draco had never admitted it until today but Neville was probably the closest thing he had ever had to a real friend, a best friend. Why Lupin? He never really liked the guy, but he didn't deserve to die, and Harry was next, and Draco would be the one taking his life, and this time it would be different. What he had did to Neville, that was an act of mercy, an act of compassion. With Harry, it was cold blooded murder, wasn't it? He was doing it to save his mother's life, did that make it right? Draco didn't care. He would do it, he had to, he had to kill Harry Potter.


Special thanks to Bruddy101, Alwayswright, Adoro a los hombres Malfoy, azorianxxx, Beautiful Trix, Kris 932, Aly, and Erika for reviewing :)