Harry smiled at her. "We have to get the Slytherins, Zabini, Parkinson and Knott to stand with us. They're spies, right? They'll do whatever they can to help Draco."

"Then let's go," Hermione nodded.

The three lions rushed out, down to the large, blank wall guarding Slytherin.

"Horns," the passwords for each common room house were shared between prefects, apparently. The wall shivered and exposed a large, round opening for them to pass through.

Inside the many couches and bookshelves lay silent, lit only by the dying fires. No one sat around laughing or talking. It was as if Slytherin was deserted.

"What now?" Ron asked, looking around in his confusion.

"Can I help you?" one of the portraits spoke up. It was a man in black robes, sitting in a high backed chair reading a thick tome entitled "Corpus Juris Civilis."

"We need to find Draco Malfoy, please," Hermione walked over to him.

"That boy? Why he's through the fourth bookshelf to the right of the second fireplace, just pull out any Latin text and you'll get through. Make sure to not pull the one called Populus, though, that rings the alarm."

"Thank-you so much Hiriam," she smiled. The man in the painting was a former Head of Slytherin. Hiriam Droggs was a Charms professor from the nineteen twenties who was best known for his translations of ancient texts. He had shaggy gray hair and big green eyes and a rather large mouth. Hermione told them that Droggs had sat guard over the common room since his death in nineteen-twenty-seven when he was killed.

The trio walked to the specified bookcase, chose a book in Latin not Populus, and pulled it. The tall, oak fixture slid backwards two feet then to the side, showing a narrow, steep set of stairs leading down.

It had much the appearance of a secret passage and more than likely it was. The steps were rough and uneven, the walls were jagged and wet, probably from the lake, and there were only occasional candelabras stuck in holes along the walls. Then they reached a thick door with iron bars crossing it length and width wise, enforcing the dank feel of the place.

The trio had been there before, of course, for the party a long time ago and Harry had often visited so he could spend time with Draco. The door had a little door in it, able to be locked from the inside, through which Blaise or Draco could look at their visitors.

Ron knocked and they listened to the sound echo within the rooms behind.

Footsteps came next and the slight grind of the iron on the wood.

Blaise's brilliant eyes appeared and he looked at the three. "What?"

"We need to talk to you." Harry said, "Please let us in."

The Persian sighed and the little door closed. The grinds of the locks were heard and then the door opened. Blaise let them in and they took their seats around the fireplace.

"What is it?"

"We need your help, Blaise," Harry said.

He lit up a cigarette and frowned a little. "There are, obviously, a lot of things you need my help with, boy princess, but what is it specifically?"

"Dumbledore is going to try and expel Draco."

"What?" Blaise sat up, "Hold on."

He lifted himself off the couch in a single, fluid motion and went to the fire place. He threw a small pile of black powder in. The flames flashed to black and both Pansy and Theo's heads appeared.

"What is it?"

"Come here now please," Blaise tapped his ash into the fire and waited. After just a few minutes the two stepped out of the fire, brushing dust off their clothes.

Pansy had a long sweater on with leggings. Her hair was still wet and just one of her hands had the nails painted. Theo had on loose linen pants and a wife beater and his glasses.

"What is it, Blaise?" Theo sat down, throwing his arm over the back of the couch and Pansy sat next to him.

"Tell them, Potter," Blaise took a drag and blew the smoke up where it immediately dissipated, as if by magic.

"Dumbledore is going to try and expel Draco. He is going to have a faculty vote and use the fact that Draco was forced to kill Collin as evidence that it isn't safe to keep him at the school."

"That's bullshit," Pansy frowned. "Draco is loved by the professors and we are allowed to attend the meeting if we want. We'll go and implore the faculty to keep him here and remember that Draco is a spy, a pureblood and good person."

"Will they believe you?"

"If you go they will."

"What?"

"Tell the teachers what you feel, what you think." Pansy said, "Tell them that we support Draco and if he risks his life to defend the light then he should not be faulted for continuing to do so. Point out how important you are to the cause and all of us, without the spies and without you three there is no Light. Threaten them if you have to."

"Why me?"

"You're our best bet," Pansy shrugged.

"Blaise," Theo looked at him, "Where is Draco?"

"Sleeping," he answered, "Poor thing has been passed out since he got home about an hour ago."

"We can have Draco attend the meeting too," Theo suggested, "The faculty is fond of him so it should help your point."

"Okay," Harry nodded and looked at the passage into Draco's room. "Can I go talk to him?"

"Sure," Blaise shrugged. "I am going to finish this smoke and start a bottle of wine. You kids want to share it with me?"

Theo and Pansy agreed and Hermione and Ron slowly did the same.

Harry left them and walked to the fourth in the series of doors.

This one was black with gleaming steel studs around the edge. A plaque sat on the front of the door, just below eye level.

"Draconis Lucius Malfoy," it read, "Seventh Year, Slytherin Prefect," on the next line.

"Hey," he knocked lightly.

There was no answer.

He knocked again.

The door opened, "What? Oh, hey."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Draco nodded though he seemed pale and tired.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course," Draco stepped aside and Harry slipped in.

"Are you okay?" He repeated his question, knowing the first answer was false.

Draco sat on his bed, which was unmade as if he had just gotten out of it.

"I've been better but I've been worse."

Harry sat next to him, "Dumbledore wants to expel you…"

Draco looked at him and sighed. "That's not surprising."

"Since your mother is arriving soon he's going to try and play on the fears of the faculty and warn them of the dangers of multiple Malfoys, I guess. Remus can explain it better than me."

"I understand," Draco nodded.

"But I'm going to go to the meeting and convince them to let you stay."

Draco frowned. "That would mean revealing…us."

"I don't care who knows," Harry said, "You're important to me and I want you to stay here."

He did not respond, just crawled up his bed and climbed under the covers. "I am tired, Harry."

The lion nodded.

"Sleep with me?" Draco asked.

"Always," Harry smiled, climbing up and curling his arms around the blonde.

They lay with one another and slept for nearly five hours before Harry roused. The faculty meeting was in less than an hour and he had yet to think of anything to say. "I'll be back soon," he whispered and left a kiss on Draco's cheek. He could not bear to wake the boy from his much needed sleep. He would just speak to them alone and they would have to listen.

He pulled on his sweater and walked to the room where staff meetings were held. Inside he saw the teachers sitting and discussing something, passing papers back and forth and laughing occasionally.

He stepped in.

They all looked up and went quiet.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Potter?" McGonogall asked.

"I came to speak on behalf of Draco Malfoy."

They frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Dumbledore is going to move to expel him from Hogwarts."

There was a hushed whisper among the staff.

"Why would you speak for him?" Snape asked from his seat.

Harry took a breath to steady himself.

"Because I know him."

Dumbledore smiled from his seat. "You do?"

"Yes." Harry nodded. "He is planning to die for this war, to save a lot of us and he's one of the only people I really trust anymore. He was forced to kill Colin and he has suffered to serve the Light and save people. There's no reason to expel him except for the paranoia and prejudices of the head master. I understand that he is dangerous and you may all be scared of him and his mother but you don't know him like I do. He's smart and kind and he's always been a good student and a good person. You all know that Draco and I have had our issues so shouldn't it say something to you that I am here now, speaking for him? He and I are close now, we trust one another and if you force him to leave I will leave too."

"He makes a good point, Albus," someone said.

"What is your argument?" McGonogall asked the head master.

"Mr. Malfoy murdered a fellow student and is a known follower of the Dark Lord. He is a pureblood whose father is more or less openly supporting Voldemort and is responsible for the deaths of many people, including Mr. Potter's own parents. The Malfoys are dangerous and if I had not sworn to protect Mrs. Malfoy, I would never allow her near the castle or the grounds. They are a family of murderers and I would rather the boy have never come here to begin with."

"You're a bigot," Harry snarled, "Draco is as deserving as anyone else of the protection you can provide. Draco is giving up so much to be here and to help us, the least you can do is respect him."

"The boy has a point," McGonogall said. "I vote to let the boy stay."

Snape voted the same way.

Slowly each teacher raised his or her hand.

Dumbledore glared. "If you are all willing to endanger the student body and allow a murderer in our walls then so be it. I will not stand for it," he stood.

"You're leaving the school?"

"I am," he set down his pen. "Are you proud of yourself, Harry? You've condemned everyone here to death and driven me out."

Harry just watched the old man leave.

There was a sigh of exhaustion among the teachers.

"What now?"

"I take over," McGonogall stood. "It will be difficult but war is war and we must move forward."

Harry nodded, "Thank-you all."

"Go on now, Harry, we have things to discuss."

He left the room and wandered back to Slytherin.

"How'd it go?" Pansy asked. She lay on the couch, her eyes slightly glazed from the four open bottles of wine.

"Dumbledore left the school."

"What?" they all sat up.

"Draco can stay but…"

"As much as we all hate to admit, Dumbledore was the only thing keeping Voldemort from the front steps."

"We have to step up and plan this war," Blaise lit another cigarette.

Theo untangled himself from Pansy and stood. "I'll start."

They watched him leave. For the first time, Harry saw a large black tattoo covering the quiet snake's back; a crest of ravens and a willow tree with a Latin phrase along the bottom.

"This won't last too long," Hermione said, "This peace."

Then Draco's door flew open and the blonde rushed out, heavy black cloak around his shoulders.

"Where are you going?"

"I've been called," he said and went to the door. "I'll be okay."

"No," Harry grabbed at him, "You can't."

"Why?"

"Dumbledore is gone, you're under protection here and leaving…it could prove fatal."

"The Dark Lord won't kill me himself," Draco said, "I'm his soul."

"Please be careful," Harry put an arm around his waist.

"I will," Draco kissed him. "I won't be long."

Harry let him go and the door closed.

………...…..

"You came," Voldemort smiled.

"I will always come for you, my Lord," Draco knelt, his white mask in place.

"I am pleased to hear it, pretty one," there was a small gathering of men, only the most inner circle.

Lucius was there, as was Severus, Greyback, and Pettigrew and Draco hardly recognized anyone else.

"Now," Voldemort smiled, "My most trusted spy within Hogwarts has reported that Dumbledore has only just left. We must plan our move, I want to take that castle in one attack and then it can become our base, our powerhouse."

"I support you, my Lord," Draco nodded.

"Good," Voldemort stroked the white blonde hair of the young snake and smiled his horrible little smile.

"What are you thinking of, my Lord?" Lucius asked.

"I want to gather all of our forces; dementors, trolls, werewolves and any wizard or witch that wishes to follow me. We will rise up and invade the castle, hold the children hostage and kill the mud bloods, kill the teachers who will not follow us and brand those who will."

"As you wish," they all bowed.

"For now we will gather our strength." He waved them off, "Leave me."

Everyone did but he kept his serpent red eyes on Draco.

The young Malfoy stayed.

"What would you like, my Lord?"

"I would like to know if you're still with Potter…"

"I am, my Lord," Draco chose not to lie. "He trusts me, you see and has been telling me about their plans, their defenses."

"Has he?"

"Yes," Draco nodded.

"Tell me everything," Draco was pulled close and the mold and death smell of the Dark Lord filled his nose.

………………

The door ground open and Draco slipped through. Blaise and Pansy had long since gone to bed, curling up with one another and dozing off. Ron and Hermione returned to Gryffindor but Harry stayed up and stayed put. He sat on the edge of Draco's bed, watching the bedroom door and hoping it would open soon.

When it did he jumped up and ran to the boy. "What happened?"

"I told him."

"What?"

"I told the Dark Lord that I was with you to find out your plans and that I would report them all back to him. We need to come up with real plans and then fakes that I can feed the Dark Lord."

"Easy."

"It's all so complicated. We have to move fast because the Dark Lord will too. He's gathering his forces and he won't stop," Draco shook his head. "We need to start now."

"No," Harry wrapped his arms around the boy, "We start in the morning. Sleep with me."

Draco nodded slowly and let himself be pulled into bed and undressed and wrapped in the strong arms of the hero.

...............

The story is coming along swimmingly! I am so happy for the reviews and support. I hope you all continue to enjoy it and keep reading!

Love,

Firestorm