Disclaimer: Yup, it ain't mine.
"Life isn't worth living in without a little risk. That's what fun's made out of"
- Henry Rangworth, Dragon Hunter
Ron glanced calculatingly over the audience hall. He quickly averted his eyes when they met the beckoning ones of his brother. Sorry Bill, I can't sit with you today. No, sitting with his eldest brother would only dampen their plans. It's a shame Bill chose to sit at the heart of Dumbledore's faction. His eyes swept over the Death Eater faction. All members were glaring at the Gryffindor boy. No, that place wouldn't do either. The middle, that's where Ron would head to. Putting on the air of a lost boy, Ron stumbled up the dias and headed straight for the centre of the Neutral territory. He ignored the harsh coughs Bill aimed his way and sat at the first available seat. To his displeasure he landed a seat next to the Ferret.
"My my Weasel, look at you," Malfoy sneered. "You only look half as bad as you usually do. First time using soap perhaps?" Ron did look different from usual. His hair was neatly combed and he gave an overall clean appearance.
Ron decided to ignore the comment. "What are you doing here," he asked.
"Well you couldn't very well expect me to sit with those lunatics did you?" The Slytherin sniffed towards the Death Eaters who were aiming their glare at him too. "Especially not after what I did."
"They know already?" Their information gathering was more frightening that Ron expected.
"No," answered Malfoy. "Just breathing the same air as you a blood-traitor is betrayal enough." As if on cue, one of the nasty looking goons chose that moment to send the blonde a death glare.
"Well you're not welcome either," interjected the person who had been sitting in front of them. The two faced the boy who interrupted their conversation. It was Neville. "Who would want Death Eater scum?"
"Correction Longbottom," Malfoy responded cheerfully. "Ex-Death Eater. I was not one by choice I'm afraid. If I still was, I wouldn't be sitting next to you and Weasley now would I? Do try to get something right." Neville looked like he was itching to take out his wand. "Nu-uh-uh Longbottom, there's magic canceling wards remember." Neville turned towards Ron.
"Why are you sitting next to this prick," he asked. Also why isn't he sitting with the Order?
Ron shrugged.
"Don't be rude Weasley," Malfoy scolded. "We're friends now." Bloody friends my arse Ron thought moodily. Neville gaped at Ron in disbelief.
"You're friends..with HIM?" Ron didn't know what to say. To be honest, the Gryffindor didn't really know what he saw the Slytherin as. Life was much simpler when he had to righteous excuse to hate him.
"Camera," Malfoy called out suddenly. The three boys immediately pasted smiles on their faces as the cameras flashed at them. News reporters watching the meeting had been eyeing the new member of the Wizengamot hungrily. Ron decided to shake the Malfoy's hand for good measure. When the vulture-like cameras moved away from them, Ron dropped Malfoy's hand like a hot potato and scowled.
Malfoy sighed. "Look I'm not any more happy about this situation either, but if we are going to work together to give Harry more power, then we should at least try to get along." He spoke low so only Ron could hear. Out of the corner of the Slytherin's eye, he saw Neville straining to listen into their conversations.
Ron raised his eyebrows. "Oh, I was more worried about you. Having to sit next to a Weasley and all. Wouldn't that hurt your reputation?"
"Yes I'm afraid it will," Malfoy agreed solemnly. "But such sacrifices for success must be made. It was bad enough having to be in the same room as the other Weasley over there." He pointed towards Percy who was sitting by Scrimgeour's side. "And now you too. The struggles are real."
"You're forgetting Bill," Ron added unhelpfully.
"By Merlin," Malfoy exclaimed aghast. "You Weasleys just pop up everywhere like a bunch of red-haired cockroaches."
"Better a cockroach than a disease-ridden vermin with hair the colour of hippogriff piss," Ron quipped brightly. Neville watched this exchange in fascination. The remarks the two shared were certainly snarky enough, but somehow he didn't feel the vicious air that normally surrounded the two. Neither were reaching for their wands. Also the matter of them sitting in the neutral territory. Were they really aware of the implications that brought? Looking at both their faces, Neville saw that yes they did. They were fully aware of their actions and they were plotting something.
Harry and Hermione didn't get much chance to explore the manor properly, having just hours before bringing the here, merely finding out the location. To their surprise, immediately as they arrived, the two were greeted by an aged houself by the name of Nokki.
"Welcome home Master Potter," Nokki greeted as he bowed with difficulty using his cane as support. "We have been waiting a long, long, long time. I'm glad to see you're safe." His eyes lightened up with youth that didn't match his ancient appearance. It's strange to see a house elf that is this articulate, Hermione thought.
"The late Mistress Potter had taken up to herself to properly educate the Potter elves basic language and reading skills in order to enhance serving capabilities," Nokki answered as if reading her mind. The late Lady Potter, does he mean mum, Harry wondered.
"How many house elves are there," Hermione asked.
"Apart from me," Nokki responded. "There are about thirteen elves at your command, Master Potter. Thirteen! Harry had a hard time wrapping the number around his head. And I thought one was luxurious enough. Of course, Harry knew that couldn't be true. After all the Malfoys had more house elves on their staff than any other family.
Nokki gave them a basic tour around the premises. There was not much time for the two to properly explore and nose around the rooms. Hermione practically had to be pried from the library to Harry's amusement. In all honesty, he felt slightly guilty at the betrayed look on the witch's face when he told her she couldn't read the books yet, but they had to move along with their plan.
Which was how the two Gryffindors found themselves sitting across an irate middle-aged woman in a sitting room of a manor they had barely discovered.
"Do you prefer earl grey or chai tea ," Hermione offered the woman with as much friendliness as possible. just regarded her coldly and neglected to answer. A vein popped in Hermione's head. How rude. Looking towards Harry, she could see the boy wasn't much better. He glared at as if he wanted to melt a hole through her skull. Hermione sighed. For the past half hour, she had been trying to start up a conversation to loosen up the awkward atmosphere, but all her attempts were brushed aside. I feel worried about leaving these two alone together.
"We should be fine now," Harry said suddenly.
Huh?
"I can handle the conversation now 'Mione. You go ahead with your side of things." He purposefully left out exactly what Hermione was going to do. Looking at Malfoy's mother, there was no way he could trust the woman yet?"
Hermione was skeptical he could handle it. "If you're sure," she responded warily. It was true that she needed to visit Fred and George to see if they would be interested in leaving the Oder and joining Harry, but they had all winter break to do so.
"Yes, go see them," Harry urged reassuringly.
"Very well," Hermione agreed. She faked a smile towards . "It's so great to meet you. I hope you will listen to what Harry is going to say." She then turned and left the room, taking a portkey out of her pocket as she did so. The only thing left to do was to trust Harry to not mess this meeting up.
Whatever Ron expected the Wizengamot meeting was going to be like, it certainly wasn't this. It was just two hours of talking about changing the legal thickness for cauldron bottoms. The only person who was finding that fascination was Percy, that prat! Where's the talk about defeating You-Know-Who? We're in a bloody war for Merlin's sake, Ron grumbled in his mind. The council was currently in a recess having not coming to a decision on what the thickness should be like. The Order side was saying it should be 6 inches thick while the Death Eaters said it should be 5.5 inches. Of course, the Gryffindor voted with the Order to give the appearance he was still loyal to them but in reality Ron wanted to cry, "What's the difference!" When he heard that the meeting would have to go on overtime because no decision couldn't be reached.
Malfoy was just looking cool and composed as ever, the bastard. Even Neville couldn't take that boredom for very long and nodded off ten minutes in. Malfoy on the other hand seemed to be actively listening to both sides of the arguments with amusement. When Ron asked him what was so funny all he responded was, "This petty fight isn't about cauldron bottoms. They're revealing their true intentions." Just what the hell was that supposed to mean?
"Look over there," the Slytherin in question ordered, poking Ron for attention. He pointed toward the Death Eater faction at a lanky, straw-haired man. "That's Pius Thickness. He's a known Death Eater. The Dark Lord had been talking about getting the Ministry under his control lately and he mentioned a puppet minister. Seeing as how vocal Thickness was in this meeting about cauldron bottoms he's probably the chosen political spokesman of the Dark Lord's faction."
Malfoy pointed his hand at another man, this time of Dumbledore's faction. "Amos Diggory you already know. I think he's Dumbledore's favourite candidate for the Minister's position."
"But Rufus," Ron argued before realizing, "They both think he isn't going to last very long,do they?"
"Yes," Malfoy agreed. "Both sides were surprised when Scrimgeour was chosen. Bet it was Fudge's final attack against both Dumbledore and the Dark Lord for ruining his career. Sometime in the future, the man will probably be forced to resign or get arrested, it doesn't really matter. The end result will be that Diggory and Thickness will need to fight for the Minister spot…"
"Which is problematic for Harry," Ron finished. Before when Fudge was still in Dumbledore's pocket, the Death Eater's had no hope to take over the Ministry, but Fudge decided to go rogue. Now the spot was up for grabs for both sides. Whoever wins, will gain the power to use the ministry against Harry once he comes out into the open as a third power. No, the Minister's spot couldn't be allowed to go to the Order or the Death Eaters. "We need to get support for Harry fast."
Malfoy grinned, "glad to see your keeping up. Now onto the candidates." His eyes scanned across the Neutral territory. "First up we got representative Macmillan." He pointed towards a pompous-looking old man. "While he may hate Death Eaters with a passion, he didn't give his allegiance to the Order for some reason which suggests that he doesn't agree with their methods. Being a family of Hefflepuffs, it tells a lot about an organization if someone like Representative Macmillon doesn't join. Thankfully, Potter is such goody goody that it might draw Macmillon towards our side."
"Ok who else?"
"Representative Bones," Malfoy continued pointing discreetly towards Susan Bones. "She recently lost her aunt and has to at a such a young age take up the family's responsibilities as the only surviving member. It's just so sad." Ron noted that Malfoy didn't look sad at all. "She's probably looking for someone to depend on. Who better than Harry the already hailed saviour of the Wizarding world. She was also in your vigilante, Dumbledore-loving group right?"
Ron nodded. "Ok who else?"
Malfoy swung an arm around Ron's shoulder to his disgust. "And then he got us. One dashing, clever man with the noble blood of the Malfoys and one light weasel. Once the public hears about how it was Potter who ended the never ending feud between the Malfoys and the Weasleys he'll no doubt gain more support. Not to mention both of our names gain some weight here in the political side of things. Mine especially."
"Dashing and clever? More like spoiled and rotten," Ron retorted. "Also how will that work when we still hate each other."
"That's true," Malfoy agreed reluctantly. "But the rest of the world doesn't need to know that. It's called acting my dear chummy old pal." He squeezed his hand on Ron's shoulder hard making the boy wince.
"Aren't you forgetting someone," Ron remembered.
"No."
A slow, evil grin formed on the Gryffindor boy's face. "There's still one more person who can join Harry's side."
"Oh yeah? Who?"
Ron didn't answer just glanced downwards. Malfoy's eyes followed him before resting on the snoring form of Neville.
"Really," he asked. "Longbottom?"
"What's the matter, "Ron countered innocently. "Neville's part of a powerful pureblood family whose lineage dates farther back than both of our own. He was a member of the DA and he likes Harry. He's perfect." Malfoy scowled unable to argue any of these points.
Ron clapped Malfoy on the back with as much strength he could muster. "Congratulations, you just gained another pal."
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The grandfather clock behind Harry was the only sound present in the sitting room. Already he regretted telling Hermione to leave things to him. The lady in front of him had not averted her cool gaze from his for the last ten minutes. It was quite unnerving. Harry quietly gulped. To be honest, he was extremely nervous about meeting with . This was the same lady who gave him a veiled threat in Madam Malkins that he would be murdered soon just like his godfather. The worst part was that she was also Sirius's cousin. Though to be fair, he was murdered by his cousin…
"Will you tell me what's going on, or are we just going to stare at one another," asked snidely, taking a sip out of her chai.
"I'm sorry but it's hard to talk when someone is trying to kill you with their eyes," Harry retorted. He noted that made no attempt to deny his comment. Harry rested his head in his hands. "Recently, I've discovered that my beneficiary was not acting according to my best interests."
took another sip.
Harry folded his hands over his lap. "I approached your son at first to find out about what Voldemort may have been upto. Then once I found out that the person I looked up to the most had betrayed me, I gave your son an offer." once again didn't react and took another sip.
"I requested that he cut off support for Voldemort and join another side in this ridiculous war. My own." Harry made sure to look at Mistress Malfoy directly in the eyes. All he saw there was calm indifference. So he continued, "In return, I would give my fullest efforts in protecting you and your son from Voldemort and the Order." But not your husband, Harry left that unsaid though he could see that she received the hidden message.
set the teacup onto the table gently. "There's no one more important to me than my son," she said suddenly. "All the other people around me were fools. My sister was a fool. My husband was one too. Sirius…" Harry flinched. "Was one of the biggest ones of them all." Her eyes lowered. "You see, what they all have in common was that they all put their faith in the wrong people. People like my husband were not meant to be followers. No, he wasn't wired for that. Lucius had the blood of a leader, but his choice of following a deranged man was his downfall. Same with Bella and Sirius. Sirius placed his faith in the old fool and now he's dead. At least only he was affected. But my husband...his choices were threatening the safety of his own family. You can understand why I am uneasy about placing my faith in you. Especially with my son."
"I don't want Malfoy as my follower," Harry insisted. "I want him as my equal. I'm not like Voldemort, I'm not like them. I don't see people as my pawns."
Tick Tock. Tick Tock. The silence returned. Harry could see mulling over what he said. He hoped she would accept. Truly, it would be much easier for him to rest at night knowing that she wouldn't suddenly turn on them in some misguided attempt to save herself and her son. Also was well known in pureblood circles which would be useful should they decide to recruit people in the future. That's only if she decided to help them.
"Posture," she called out to a worried Harry.
Huh. Harry looked at her weirdly. Did she crack?
" You're posture," she said again, annoyance seeping into her voice. "It's atrocious. You slouch far too much. And your hair! By Merlin, it looks like it's alive. No, no you can't appear in society like that. There's so much work to do." Completely unlike the poised woman Harry viewed her as in her mind, he now saw ramble and mutter to herself in a fussy manner.
"I'm afraid I'm completely confused right now."
"Three days," responded. "Give me three days and I will transform you into a lord anyone can follow."
Harry lit up. "That means you'll help us?"
sniffed. "Of course. By next week I'll have you look the part of an ally of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Malfoy."
"Ah hello Miss Granger," greeted Tom the barkeep. "You fancy a glass of butterbeer this morn'?"
"Not today Tom," Hermione answered heading to the back of the bar. "I'm heading straight for the alley today."
"Well have a nice day Miss Granger."
"You too." Hermione tapped the respective bricks and entered Diagon Alley. Today she would be beginning the first phase of the recruitment plan. Her target : Fred and George.
Hermione fiddled with the wand in her pocket. If by chance the meeting went wrong and they refuse to join, she'd have to perform a memory charm on them, for safety. Unfortunately, using her own wand was not an option but luckily, Harry instructed Nokki to follow her orders. As much as she may hate it, it might be necessary. Hermione didn't know the depth of the twin's loyalty to Dumbledore.
Here goes nothing. She swung the doors of the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezies open. Hermione was greeted by aisles upon aisles of coloured toys, gimmicks, and pranks. Multi-coloured candies designed to give the consumer a terrible hex littered the was hard to imagine that the delinquent twins who played pranks on first years could develop so many inventions such as these ones. Some of the candies alone could bring any master potioneer to shame.
But, Hermione was not here to admire the magic today. She headed towards the front desk where a bored witch in magenta robes sat.
"How may I help you," she asked Hermione.
She answered," I'm looking for Fred and George."
The receptionist looked at Hermione, sizing her up. "And who might you be?"
"Just tell them Hermione Granger is looking for them."
The magenta robed witch smacked her mouth open and it was only then Hermione realized that she was chewing gum. "Just a sec." The receptionist pushed a red button on the desk. " , , there's a Hermy Banger looking for you."
"Hermione Granger," Hermione hissed.
The receptionist held up a finger. "Sorry I meant a Hermione Granger… oh ok. I'll send her up then." She turned to Hermione. "They'll be waiting for you up on the third floor."
Hermione stomped off without thanking her. So rude! She walked up to the office the lady gestured towards and knocked on the door.
"Come in," chimed the two voices of the twins. Hermione entered the office, which was as colourful and decorated as the rest of the store. The twins themselves sat behind a mahogany desk each in their own pair of magenta robes with their feet resting upon the desk.
"Great to see you Hermy, chummy old pal," Fred greeted.
"Didn't know you changed your name," George added.
Fred looked Hermione up and down. "And does it suit you because my you look like a banger." They both laughed as Hermione felt a vein pop.
"Knock it off you two," she grumbled taking one of the open seats in front of them.
"You're right," Fred said, wiping a tear from his eye. "So what.."
"... brings you here today," George finished.
Hermione shrugged. "Maybe I just wanted to see how you both were doing."
"Bollocks," they sang out. "You want something."
Hermione scowled. Well to business. "How satisfied are you with the Order?"
"That's a weird question to ask, out of the blue," Fred stated narrowing his eyes.
George added, "Yeah what brought this on?"
"Please make sure that the doors are locked and there are silencing charms placed in the room," Hermione instructed. "Because what I'm about to tell you must not leave the room." Also it would be easier to obliviate you without any witnesses.
George flicked his wand towards the door lazily. "Well tell us. We're just dying to hear whatever juicy stuff you brought straight to us."
Where to start? Hermione realized she didn't exactly know what to say. So much has happened the past few months that it was hard to figure out where to begin. She looked at the twins' expectant faces. Maybe she should just start from the very beginning. If anything went wrong she'd just wipe their memories and try again.
"A few months ago my parents were murdered," Hermione started. Their faces sombered up. "A week ago, our school librarian was poisoned. Just yesterday, someone tried to kill me too and I think the culprit is Albus Dumbledore." Her fists clenched. "And I think they were all to shut me up."
"And that concludes the final Wizengamot meeting of the year," concluded the Supreme mugwump, Dumbledore. "I wish you all a Merry Christmas. Uh-oh Ron thought noting the hard gaze the old man aimed right at him. "Hey Malfoy we need to get out of here before the old fart gets to us," Ron whispered.
"We got trouble on this end too," Malfoy whispered back. The Death Eaters were focusing all their attention on them now. Ron gulped.
"Are you sure they didn't find out?"
"Yes I'm sure," Malfoy insisted. "Which is why we need to leave now."
"But, what about getting support for Harry," Ron argued. It didn't feel right for the only thing he could say he accomplished was yelling at Malfoy in public and voting for cauldron bottom thickness.
"We didn't get the opportunity to talk to anyone remember?" Malfoy felt like clawing his hair out.
Ron looked down. Malfoy looked down. Oh no. "Longbottom, really," Malfoy cried looking at the still lightly snoring body of Neville.
"Well we talked to him and he's a part of our list," Ron argued.
Malfoy glanced at the Death Eaters warily. "Hurry up and wake him then," he urged. "I think those blokes are waiting until everyone left before trying to make a jump on us." The Gryffindor kicked the back of Neville's chair.
"Who the," Neville yelled out confused before recognizing Ron. "What do you want?"
Ron swung his arm around the confused Neville prompting Malfoy to do the same. "As a welcoming gift to myself, I felt like treating you to a drink. How about we go to the Leaky Cauldron for a night? Hmm?"
"Well, I don't know, " Neville mused. "I told Gran I'd be coming home early today."
"Oh come on it's only for a while," Malfoy urged.
"Don't tell me he's coming," Neville demanded.
" Yup," Ron answered brightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that members of both the Death Eater faction and the Order faction were already making their move towards the boys. "And we also need to leave right now."
Ron and Malfoy guided the reluctant Neville to the entrance of the Wizengamot building passing by a group of vulture like reporters.
"Representative Prewett, what was your real reason for entering the Wizengamot," crowed one.
Another asked, "And what is your relationship with Representative Malfoy?"
"Isn't true that you were present on the day of Lucius Malfoy's arrest?"
"No comment," Ron kept repeating trying to wade through the sea of journalists. Seeing a way out, he cried, "Any questions regarding the reason why I joined can be directed to my brother, Representative Weasley. Good day." The reporters left, jumping towards a bewildered Bill.
"Ron," Bill roared. "Get back here."
Sorry Bill, Ron thought unapologetically. The wall of reporters managed to effectively block the boys' pursuers. Five minutes later, they found themselves out of breath having sprinted to the Leaky Cauldron and out of the public eye.
"We'd like three butterbeers please," Malfoy requested. "Preferably warm." I've about frozen by buttocks here. He stretched his aching limbs, ignoring the glare Tom aimed his way.
"So why exactly have you called me here," Neville asked wanting to get straight to the point.
"I told you to have a nice drink…," Ron gave up looking at the sceptical look on Neville's face.
"We want to be friends," Malfoy answered. Seeing the expression on Neville's face he added, "What? I'm a nice guy." Tom slammed the drink in front of him, miraculously not spilling a single drop. He nonchalantly accepted the drink and took a long sip just to antagonize the man further. Needless to say, Neville was not impressed.
"Oi, Tom," Ron called out. "Mind casting a couple silencing spells around us?" Tom, obliged and Ron turned back to the other two. "You see Neville, we're getting rid of the DA."
"What, why?" The DA was one of the best things that happened to Neville. It was our group and now they're taking it away. Gran only likes me because of it. "Is it because of him?" He pointed at Malfoy. "Is he threatening you?"
"Why are you so convinced I'm the root of all evil," Malfoy asked.
" 'Cause you are!"
"No, it's not because of this prick," Ron explained. "It was a well thought out decision." Merlin, it's like explaining a divorce to a child.
" Yeah, the only person being blackmailed was me," Malfoy added. "Go yell at Granger, it's her fault."
"Anyways," Ron continued. "You're probably wondering why we sat together in the neutral section today instead of with the Order. You see…" Ron explained the circumstances surrounding Hermione's parents' deaths, the death of the librarian, Dumbledore controlling every aspect of Harry's life. At every sentence, Neville's eyes widened until Malfoy was afraid they'd pop out of his head.
"Merlin," Neville breathed. To think the man everyone idolized, the symbol of the light was actually doing this behind everyone's backs.I need to tell Gran.
"While we are ending the DA," Ron started again. "We are starting a new group. A group that will enter the war as a third party under a leader the wizarding world can actually trust."
"And you want me to give Harry the support of the Longbottom family," Neville realized, eyes shining with determination. "If it's to defeat the Dark Lords of our time, then I will gladly do it. I will join the...what was it called again?"
"It's called," Ron rambled off, looking to Malfoy for assistance who just shrugged. "It's a work in progress."
"I will join 'it's a work in progress'," Neville finished proudly. "Wait what?"
"We don't exactly have a name," Ron admitted sheepishly.
"You need a name you know," Neville scolded. "If you just approached a possible ally and didn't sell them your organization well, they'd refuse you."
"How about Team Insert Name Here," Malfoy suggested. "It allows the other party to imagine an impressive sounding name."
"Yes that's just perfect," Ron sassed. "Just a three way battle between The Death Eaters, The Order of the Phoenix, and Team Insert Name Here. Very impressive."
Neville chipped in, "What about Team Harry?"
"That makes him sound like a narcissistic bastard," Malfoy rejected.
"I like the idea of The Order of the Ferret Eaters myself," Ron declared earning a death glare from Malfoy.
Malfoy exclaimed. "Ferrets deserve rights just like every other animal."
"Guys," Neville interrupted. "We're bollocks at this."
"That's true," Ron admitted. "Time to ask our esteemed leader then."
"Harry?" Neville didn't think the boy could come up with a better name either.
"No," Malfoy answered. "Granger."
What Neville thought.
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "But, Hermione would probably com up with a stupid acronym."
"Oh you're talking about SPEW," Neville put in.
"We got no other choice," Malfoy argued. "I'll just give her a quick message." He quickly jot down in his green charmed notebook:
Longbottom decided to join us but, he also said that we need a name for our faction. Surely you're smart enough to come up with one.
-Malfoy
What the hell, Fred thought staring at the girl in front of him skeptically. Is this some kind of joke? He looked over at his twin brother.
The look on George's face read Naw man she's serious. Fred narrowed his eyes. But, why on earth would Dumbledore wish to do something like that. He's the bloody leader of the light!
Of course they don't believe me, Hermione gritted her teeth. "He controlled Harry his entire life. You saw the living conditions Harry was under. His uncle literally put bars on his windows." The twins looked away guiltily. "Did you know, Harry had no idea about his heritage. That's he's a twice lord and owns property and the Potter business?"
George cried, "What? Who's been managing his estate then?"
"Who do you think?" Hermione leaned back into her chair.
"... this is serious," they answered. Fred asked, "So, Dumbledore just decided to tell Harry about his fortune now?"
"No," Hermione replied. "We found out about it ourselves."
George had a sinking feeling in his stomach. "What about the other witnesses?"
"Dead," Hermione responded simply. She noted the stricken faces and decided to go for the kill. "Funny, all the major deaths these days seem to revolve around Dumbledore and Harry. I told him about my parents. The librarian betrayed him by giving us the first clue to Harry's fortune. The witnesses, were murdered before they could tell Harry about his inheritance." Hermione bit the inside of her lip hard enough to draw tears from her eyes. She faked a tremble and covered her face with her hands, the very picture of a scared girl. "Now," she sobbed. "Now he's trying to kill me because I influenced Harry too much. All I wanted was to keep me and my friends safe."
"Wait, don't cry," Fred rushed. The twins made their way towards the witch, George awkwardly patting her on the shoulder. There was no doubt in their mind now, that Dumbledore might be targeting her life after all. "Alright, we'll join you. We owe Harry our very lives, right George?"
"Yeah!" George nodded his head rapidly. "We can't let our baby brother's best mates get killed. It wouldn't be good for business right Fred."
"Yeah no one would want to buy from a couple of heartless jerks."
Hermione hid a small grin from behind her hands and looked up at the twins after rubbing her eyes hard enough to make it seem like she was crying. "Are you sure?" The two nodded. She gave them a grateful smile. "Then we have work to do."
"What do you have in mind," asked George.
"We need spies in the Order," Hermione confessed. "Now that you both have graduated Hogwarts, you're both full members. Knowing what they're planning would be helpful." They both looked hesitant. "Think of it as a prank." That perked them up Hermione thought amused at their lit up expressions. "We also need someone outside to spread the news of our organization."
Fred replied, "No problem. Kind of like a second DA minus the Dumbledore part. What's the new group going to be called?"
Hermione noticed her notebook in her pocket glow red. She held a finger up, just a sec, and took it out. It read:
Longbottom decided to join us but, he also said that we need a name for our faction. Surely you're smart enough to come up with one.
-Malfoy
Neville decided to join, they work fast. But again with the name. Hermione felt embarrassed that despite all the planning, a name for the group that will one day destroy both the Death Eaters and the Order were currently nameless. Not to mention that every organization had a symbole. For Death Eaters it was a snake, the Order a glorified flaming chicken. Her eyes landed on a miniature model of a Hungarian Horntail on Fred's desk. A dragon? She mused. It's a simple symbol of power. Everyone would be able to recognize it. It's neither a light nor dark symbol which means that any wizard of any magical practice would feel welcome to join. Perfect for publicity. So we got our symbol. Making up a name on the fly is hard.
The name must also be simple. Not too long, it needs to be something that is easily memorable. Nothing like SPEW I'm afraid. How about a 'the union of"... no. What about the Union by itself? Doesn't sound as good. What's another word for union? Wait… She figured it out.
"We're called The Syndicate."
Malfoy and Ron quietly portkeyed back to Harry's manor for a brief meeting before the Gryffindor trio headed back to the Burrow. Today was rough Ron thought tiredly. Between the boring meeting and ferret over here… Speaking of the ferret, Ron noticed that he was lagging behind.
"Oi Weasley," Malfoy called out suddenly. "You mind going ahead of me? I need some time to think. I'll be in soon."
Ron shrugged. "Suit yourself." He left the Slytherin in the courtyard by himself.
This is where I'll be living in for a while. Malfoy took in the manor's appearance. Unlike the white walls of his own manor, this one was made out of bricks. The red was the prominent in this building. My manor… Yes, the Malfoy manor did belong to him now, after he signed the papers that cast aside his father from the family tree. Speaking of casting aside.
Malfoy reached into the inner left pocket of his robes and pulled out an ancient, weathered book. The age didn't match with the rest of the boy's belongings but was worth much more that the boy himself. The Malfoy crest was etched on the cover and the cover was black. The Malfoy black book. Right now his manor was overrun with vermin and as it was his job as the owner to get rid of them. At first he wasn't sure how to expel the Dark Lord but luckily Potter did tell him his real name. Under the safety of the unplottable Potter manor, Malfoy began to write,
Tom Riddle.
"What news have you brought me, Bella," Voldemort inquired softly. Nagini slithered by his side as the man himself sat relaxed at the head chair of the Malfoy dinner table.
Bellatrix sank to her knees. "My lord, we have received word that the man, Burke, who had been helping Draco is dead. Draco had been keeping this from us."
Voldemort reached a bony hand towards his snake stroking it's head. "Who killed him?"
Yaxley who had been trembling next to Bellatrix was the one that answered. "We don't know, my lord." He braced himself for a crucio but to his surprise one never came.
The calm expression never left Voldemort's face. "We must punish Draco later then."
Feeling quite brave Bellatrix asked, "You aren't furious my lord?"
Voldemort sent her a sharp gaze. "Are you trying to imply that I cannot control my temper, Bella," he hissed dangerously.
"No, no , no of course not."
"You see," Voldemort continued feeling generous enough to explain. "Little Draco had no chance of succeeding. How can a useless fifteen-year-old boy defeat the one wizard that managed to take me head on?" He gave his signature cold, high chuckle. "No, Dumbledore will die this year. I have a backup plan. But, Draco shouldn't have kept this from us. Where is the boy now?"
"We don't know my lord," Yaxley replied.
"You just let him leave," Voldemort asked. Without waiting for a reply, he cast, "Crucio." Yaxley fell to the ground writhing in pain. "What about Narcissa. She should know where her son is."
"She went shopping my lord," Bellatrix answered.
"Both are missing…" Part of his sentence was cut off, when Voldemort felt a force lift him in the air and throw him out the window. Who dares attack me! He looked around only to see that he was thrown out on the outskirts of the estate just past the border. All around him, Death Eaters flew in the air and were dumped in the same manner he was. A shimmering light, not unlike a glass wall appeared and formed in front of Voldemort.
"What is going on," he yelled to a group of confused and frightened Death Eaters. "Is it the Order?"
"We seem to have been locked out," one Death Eater replied banging against the magical barrier.
Another group of Death Eaters suddenly apparated. "Oh no we were too late," declared one.
"Too late for what," Voldemort demanded.
It dawned on the Death Eater just who it was he was talking to. "Um you see my lord," he started cautiously. Please don't kill me. "We received word from one of our sources in Azkaban, that Lucius had been visited today by a couple goblins. They were there to inform him that his name and his family magic had been taken away from him so the current Malfoy lord is Draco Malfoy."
"Where is Draco now," Voldemort roared, taking out his wand. As if by 'magic' a letter fell from the air and landed softly in the grass before him. Waving his wand, the letter flew into his waiting hands.
It read:
It is my pleasure to inform you, that the House of Malfoy will no longer be affiliated with the Death Eater organization from this day forward. All members will be considered blood enemies of the House of Malfoy and are expelled from the Malfoy estate. Expect your funds to be canceled as well. Good Day.
Lord Malfoy
"Avada Kedavra," Voldemort screamed at the man who gave the news of Lucius's current state. "Avada Kedavra." He shot randomly into the crowd. How dare he. How dare this boy betray him. "Listen well," he yelled at the fleeing crowd. "All of you, spend your efforts into getting me both Potter and this brat. I want them alive. I'll kill Draco Malfoy myself."
Draco stood in the courtyard shaking. Not with fear but with hysterical laughter. Oh he could imagine how angry the old crazy half-blood must be. With each person who was expelled from his manor, the words turned red on his list. The true nature of the Malfoy Black Book, was to write the names of your enemies on it, to protect your family from attacks. For Draco, every person expelled was just one step closer towards his freedom. The silly little grin on his face melted once the adrenaline of the moment came. For the sake of his freedom he painted a target on his back. No doubt the entirety of the Dark Lord's forces would be devoted into finding him, the traitor.
Draco looked up in that courtyard, at the starless sky and thought, Oh Merlin, what have I done?
A/N : Sorry for not updating in a while. Man I was busy. But, moving on with the story now. I got the next few chapters already planned out. Also some predictions if you have any. I love hearing from everyone. So please Read and Review.
This is my first time writing in Voldemort's point of view. I prefer writing Dumbledore's parts. But then again Dumbledore is my favourite character. Everyone loves a good villain am I right? XD
