Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise; all rights go to J.K Rowling and Warner Bro's.

Warning: Around halfway, it gets slightly gruesome, but not too detailed.

Chapter 8 – Nott a Good Plan


Dungeons, Hogwarts

Daphne Greengrass entered the Snakes' Common Room, smiling slightly as she thought of Harry. She gently fingered the small vial of Liquid Luck, unaware of the figure, shrouded in shadows, which remained in the dungeons.

Theodore Nott Jr. cursed at the new development; this was the day that he was going to go through with this plan to kill Albus Dumbledore and enable the Death Eaters access into Hogwarts. But now that Greengrass had Lady Luck on her side, he would have to be very careful. If she suspected him of anything, even for a moment, she might take the potion, and his plan would go to the dogs.

And while there was a part of the Nott scion that wanted to just avoid Potter's whore and act normally around Potter's Slytherin friends, there was another part of him, the more ambitious part of him, which wanted the potion. If he could just steal the vial and down it before she could stop him, then his plan would go perfectly. Theo decided that he would just wait for his chance, and then jump the slag. She likely wouldn't put up much of a fight, but her friends ... they could be more of a problem.

Maybe he could get Parkinson to deal with Davis, while Crabbe and Goyle distracted Malfoy and Zabini. But no, the oafs would find a way to make a mess of things, and Parkinson tended to be rather transparent in her actions. Sometimes, Theo truly wondered what had happened to the Snake Den; they had fallen to the point of housing those three, who were not at all cunning.

He respected Adrian Pucey, a seventh year, but he would ask questions. He would not simply do as he asked, without questions, and without pay. And the Puceys were a respected family; he doubted veiled threats or even blunt ones would work.

As Theo saw Greengrass get up, apparently to get something from her dorm, he realised that this would, most likely, be the best chance that he would get.

The blonde haired beauty had, in fact, decided to distract herself from Harry's possible plight, and went to find her Potions notes. After all, her twenty four inch essay on the properties and effects of the Draught of Rags would not do itself, especially since she did not have one of those Quick Quotes Quills in her possession.

As she entered the room that she shared with her best friend Tracey, Pansy Parkinson, the perfect model of pure-blood supremacy who had a rather unfortunate face reminiscent of a pug, Millicent Bulstrode, a rather heavyset girl who had a very low level of self-respect, and led her to be easily manipulated by Pansy, and Lily Moon, who she was ashamed to say she knew absolutely nothing about, save for that she was a pure-blood, and was dating Zacharias Smith, a respectable (and rather haughty) Hufflepuff, she heard footsteps.

The footsteps were those of someone trying to be silent, but failing rather spectacularly. Slowly, she turned her head, and gaped at her follower. "Nott?" she asked, curious as to what he wanted. However, her curious pause gave the Nott heir the opening he needed, and he sent off a quick stunner, that impacted with Daphne's chest, and she
crumpled to the ground, effectively stunned.

Daphne woke up slowly, confused as to her whereabouts. Thus, it was rather appropriate for her confusion to deepen as she observed that she was currently on her bed. With a quick check, she ascertained that she still had her lover's Felix Felicis in the pouch around her neck, and that she was sprawled on her bed. She also noticed a smirking Tracey Davis looking down at her. "What happened?" Daphne groaned. The last thing she remembered was Nott attacking her ... and now, he was tied up in the corner of the room.

Tracey smiled at her, but it was Draco who replied. "The dumbarse followed you up, so we followed him. He stunned you, and then we stunned and bound him," he said bluntly. He was standing near Nott, who was being glared at by Blaise.

"Uh ... thanks," she said. She feared what might have happened if Nott had not been followed, it was no secret that he considered her to be his property. Blaise and Draco waved off her gratitude, while Tracey just smiled. "So now what?" she asked, honestly curious about what they would do next.

Before anyone could answer, Nott had suddenly been Enervated by someone, as he stood up, his wand out, as Parkinson, Crabbe, and Goyle all charged into the room. Within a few seconds, Crabbe and Goyle were already dealt with. Draco had Banished Crabbe into the wall, and he slumped forward, unconscious, while Goyle was hit by a Bludgeoning Hex to the ribs by Blaise, and was grasping his ribs in pain.

Tracey reacted before Daphne had even taken out her wand, and sent a Cutting Curse to Pansy's abdomen and a Gouging Hex to her shoulder. "And then there was one," Tracey stated darkly.

Without hesitating, Daphne sent a Blasting Hex at Nott. It missed her mark - his chest - but still hit the boy's left shoulder, causing him to fly backwards, and twisting midair. His back hit back up against the wall while he was mid twist, and he fell upside down. The result was his head hitting the ground with a dull thud, his neck twisting as a gruesome snap was heard. Theodore Nott Jr. was officially deceased.

Everybody gaped, Goyle suddenly forgetting his pain, while Pansy did not move. Daphne felt close to vomiting, and Tracey lost control of her nausea, vomiting all over Crabbe. Draco and Blaise looked rather shocked; they disliked the boy, but neither wanted him dead. "I ... I didn't mean to ... " Daphne trailed off, as Draco moved towards Pansy.

"Wow Trace," he said with a serious expression. "That Gouging Hex looks to have done quite some damage. Now I'm no Healer, but it seems to have torn through her carotid artery, if so, then she's dead." Indeed, a quick examination of her pulse revealed that the Parkinson line had ended along with the Nott line that night, as Draco shook his
head solemnly.

Both girls were shaking with tears, when suddenly, with the swish of a cloak, am oily voice drawled, "What the blazes is going on in here?" Daphne in Tracey looked in horror at their Head of House, Professor Severus Snape. Would they go to Azkaban for this? As it was, Daphne already had a tainted reputation after the incident in the Great Hall, surely she would have a trial though, and would be able to state that it was self-defence, and that she was not aiming to kill, her shot had been off aim? Expulsion was a near definite; though the Old Man was very forgiving at times, the outcry, especially from the Wizengamot, where Lords Nott and Parkinson both had prominent roles, he would have no choice but to expel both of them.

Tracey was thinking along these lines as well, though she was less concerned about being expelled.

Draco stepped up, and gave his godfather a detailed account of the night's occurrences. Snape gave a sad look to Daphne and Tracey, losing their innocence at such a young age. "Very well, I will tell the Headmaster everything when he returns. We may also need to obtain some of your memories, and Tracey and Daphne will likely end up in
front of the Wizengamot. If I have my say, both of you will be acquitted, but with the idiocy and incompetence of the Minister ... until then, I suggest going down to Madam Pomfrey, and acquiring Calming Droughts as well as Dreamless Sleep potions."

Unknown to all inside of Hogwarts, Theodore's death was a blessing in disguise. With no one to open the Vanishing Cabinet, the assorted Death Eaters all found themselves travelling around the Void, and nearly half of the Dark Lord's forces, including Rudolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, died. This was the cause of a violet-eyed woman screaming in joy, as she ran out of Nott Manor before any of the Death Eaters
present could stop her, and Apparated away to the home of her ancestors, Black Manor, on the coast of Wales. The last word she uttered caused a feral snarl to erupt from the Dark Lord's mouth, "Freedom!"

In a Cave somewhere off the coast of England, near London, was a scene that anyone would describe as strange. An old man, with garish orange robes and a silvery beard that descended to his waist and was tucked into his belt, slowly dragged himself out of the water. Only moments after this, a boy did the same. This boy appeared to be in his mid teens, and had piercing emerald green eyes, and unruly raven black hair, which concealed part of the lightning shaped scar on his forehead.

Indeed, Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter, the greatest wizard of their respective generations – with their enemy being the greatest wizard of the generation that separated them – presented an odd sight. But their purpose was not to make a fashion statement of any kind; rather, they were there to destroy a part of said enemy's soul.

Albus, the usually manipulative and secretive old man, had had an epiphany recently, where he realized how badly he had treated the son of two of his best friends, Lilly and James Potter. He had acted as though Harry was a sacrificial lamb, and had carefully controlled and tested the boy for over six years at Hogwarts when he decided that no longer would he act for the 'Greater Good.'

No longer would he sculpt Harry into the perfect saviour for the Wizarding World, just to have him killed so that he, or Severus, could take advantage of the situation and destroy a finally mortal Lord Voldemort.

He looked over to the young man, a surge of pride coming over him. Despite everything Albus had done to his life, fucking him over almost as many times as Fate, he was still so strong, so kind, so brave; a Gryffindor through and through. And he had done something that no one had done successfully in recorded history, something that even his mother had failed at; he had improved House relations. Hell, he was dating a Slytherin, and both seemed to be truly in love with each other. 'Ah, love,' he mused.

Dumbledore had always stated that love was the most powerful thing in the world, that it was the sole reason for Harry's survival as an infant, and he still believed this. His thoughts were disrupted, however, as the duo encountered a jagged rock wall. Reaching out with his magic, he detected a ward, a ward that required a sacrifice. "How crude," he muttered, almost to himself. Upon Harry's questioning look, he elaborated, "The only way to gain access into the cave is to make a small sacrifice."

Harry flinched when he heard sacrifice, which, ultimately, he would be. He was unable to prevent the old man from suddenly, with a speed contrary to his age, withdrew a small blade, and carved a shallow wound into the palm of his hand. Ignoring Harry's startled protests, he placed his palm against the rocks, and they withdrew slowly, deliberately, as though they did not want to.

He quickly muttered "Episkey," healing the small injury, and walked forward, unaware of Harry's glare. As they continued on their mission, they came to a small lake, in the middle of which was a small island, from where an eerie green light shone. He walked towards a rope, and pulled it out, revealing a boat. However, he was interrupted by Harry.

"Professor, can't we just use Wingardium Leviosa to levitate each other across?"

The Headmaster looked thoughtful, before chuckling lightly. "Of course, Harry. Tom would likely have been too arrogant to ward against a simple Levitation Charm, bravo," he applauded. He was rather happy that they would not have to brave the waters of the lake, which would, undoubtedly, host sinister creatures.

After he arrived on the island, he levitated Harry over to him. They looked towards the light, which was now revealed to be coming from a basin full of liquid, and underneath the surface was the object of their search, the Locket of Salazar Slytherin.

"I believe that we will have to drink this potion. It will not be a poison, but it will weaken the user, so that only the strong – for example, Tom – would have access to it," he said calmly, though on the inside was a myriad of emotions. Confusion, as to what the potion would do. Disgust, as to what Tom had done to himself. And surprise, as Harry reached for a small goblet and dipped it into the potion.

"Thank you Harry, now if you would be so kind, please continue to administer the potion to me, no matter what I may say?" Dumbledore asked, reaching for the goblet. However, much to his surprise and confusion, Harry pulled the cup just out of his reach.

With a twinkle in his eye that made Dumbledore finally understand why people were so infuriated by his own, he said, "Surely, Headmaster, you do not believe that I will – what is it that they say nowadays? Come quietly?" he nearly quoted the old man. Taking advantage of the befuddled look, he said, "Bottoms up," and raised the cup to his lips, and downed the first gulp of many of the potion.


A/N: So, once again, I must ask your opinion on whether or not to change the rating to M for violence and continued language. If, once again, no reviews are left in response to that, the rating will be changed regardless. So please, review, and give me your opinion on the rating, the story, or on the current political situation; every review counts!