It had only been two days since the "big break-up", but Scor was beginning to feel as if it hadn't been such a great idea after all. He hadn't taken into consideration all the acting he would be expected to do every minute of every hour of every day. Scor felt stretched to the limit so it was no wonder that he practically bit Sharpe's head off when he came up behind him in a dark corridor after Transfiguration.

"Hey sorry, mate." Zabini shuffled his feet and looked around uncomfortably.

"It's alright, I just, have a lot on my mind."

"Yeah." They both started walking again, Zabini watching the shadows. "So…you really broke up with Potter then?"

"Yeah. It's over." Scor tried to keep the desolation out of his voice, but he wasn't sure that his friend was convinced.

"Too bad, that—she seemed really…sweet." Scor looked around. The dark shadows in the corridors always felt as if they were spying on him now. Was Sharpe trying to get information out of him, too?

"So where have you been hiding lately. I haven't talked to you since term started."

"Oh, around—you haven't…that is…are you joining the New Order?" Scor looked around at the terrified look on his mate's face and remembered his talk with Nott.

"So Malfoy, now that you've finally regained your sanity," Scor could barely keep his fist from flying up to meet Nott's face. "we have a little group we'd like you to join."

"Oh? What group is that?" The stray thought that maybe this group was connected to what the Potters were trying to discover passed through his mind.

"Just a group of like minded witches and wizards. Those who want to see the purity of blood maintained."

"You mean Deatheaters." The flat sound of Scor's voice seemed to rile Nott.

"That's yesterday's news, this is a new order." Scor thought of refusing, but the idea that he might uncover something that would help the Potters kept him quiet. If he joined, he could find out who was at the bottom of this and stamp it out before anything bad happened.

"Alright, I'll see what it's about."

"Great. I'll let you know when the next meeting will be. You've already covered the initiation."

"Oh?"

"Getting rid of that blood traitor, Potter," and with that the surly boy walked off down the hall leaving a steaming Scor behind.

Scor considered telling Zabini his plan about infiltrating this 'New Order'. Could he trust his old mate? Scor wasn't sure, and he didn't want to take any chances. It wasn't just his safety at stake.

"Yeah, I guess. Got through initiation like a breeze."

"Oh." The disappointment on Shape's face was unmistakable. A sense of uncertainty shot through Scor. Maybe he should have told Sharpe the truth. "Okay, well…I'll see ya later." He watched the back of his mate and wished he had said something else.

The gloom permeating the castle didn't dissipate with Scor's breakup. In fact, the shroud seemed to thicken regardless of the fact that the Slytherin's sneers had become smiles. Scor felt that he would have given up the approval of the sea of green clad snakes just to have his friendship with the Potters and Weasleys back. He had not only lost his public relationship with Lily, but in the process he had lost those he considered brothers. Al and Hugo refused to speak to him, and he didn't dare tell them the truth in case it should somehow get back to his grandfather. James had written him a long letter declaring that the next time he saw him he would not hesitate to cast every curse and jinx he knew at him and warned him to practice his defensive spells, but the worst cut of all was the letter sent by Lily's father.

Scor,

The boys tell me that you and Lily have recently quarreled. Knowing how strongly Lily cares for you and you for her, this came as quite a shock, but I think I might understand the problem. History has a way of repeating itself, so let me tell you a story that might help you to keep from making an awful mistake.

You know the story of Severus Snape's being spy for Dumbledore throughout the war. You might have even heard the reason for his doing so though I'm sure it is not common knowledge. You see, Severus loved my mother from the time they were children, but Severus made the greatest mistake of his life with just that one foul word, Mudblood. He lost any chance he had to love Lily Evans that day, and I don't think you want the same thing to happen to you.

I have always seen such a difference between you and your family, Scor. You have something far greater than purity of blood, and I was honored to know that you cared for Lily. I hope you will reconsider your actions. Lily still loves you I am sure. Please don't make the same mistakes as past generations have done.

Your friend,

Harry Potter

The disappointment was obvious. It cut through Scor leaving his heart in shreds. He had always looked up to Harry for overcoming so many odds to get to where he was, and his success gave Scor hope that he could do the same. All the little attentions father's normally gave to their sons that Draco seemed incapable of performing were carried out with ease by Mr. Potter. He never had to ask for affection even though it embarrassed him at times. To have this man disappointed in him was more than he could bear. Scor contacted Harry that very night via floo and told him the entire story.

Scor sat in the dark classroom Nott had told him they would be having a meeting in three weeks later. Harry had been relieved and concerned when he had found out the reason for their 'fake breakup'. He tried to keep Scor from putting himself in danger, but Scor was certain that he could get to the bottom of this 'new group'. The air in the room chilled him to the bone. The shadows appeared to be more than lack of light but rather a mass of evil looming over the proceedings of this gathering. The group sat in a circle surrounding a sixth year Slytherin named Justin Thanatos. He was to be initiated tonight and Scor wondered if what he was about to observe would cause him to have to reveal his true intentions before finding out anything important. There was no way he could sit idly by and watch anyone get hurt.

Justin sat in the chair and seemed quite content to be the center of attention. His keen piercing eyes held no fear. His bearing exuded confidence and pride. Scor turned to see Nott whispering to Avery and then with a gesture he brought the group to order.

"Thanatos, are you prepared to enter the New Order, to strive to maintain the sanctity of pure blood, to uphold the superiority of the magical race, to fight the amalgamation of muggles and mudbloods into a world not meant for them?"

"I am," he said with a defiant look.

"Are you prepared to prove your loyalty to this assembly?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Your task is…" Nott pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and tapped the magic seal with his wand. It fell open and Nott's eyes moved back and forth over the print. His face drained of all color as he lifted his eyes to a haughty looking Justin. "You have to kill a mudblood." A panic rose up in Scor at these whispered words. Everyone in the group seemed shocked into a stasis except Thanatos. He pushed a lock of dark hair from his eyes and his lips curled in a cruel smirk.

"Any one I like?" Scor saw Nott nod and gulp. "Excellent." Thanatos rose from the chair and hurried out of the room apparently anxious to complete his task. The click of the door behind him seemed to break whatever hold had been upon the startled group.

"He has to kill?" Someone whispered. "I never thought it would come to that!" another replied. "Do you think we should stop him?" "I'm not sure this is such a good idea." The muttering increased until Nott raised his slightly shaking hand.

"We should get back to the common room before we're missed," he croaked. "We'll meet again in two weeks."

They all stood and Scor listened to the murmurings of dissent among the group. He followed slightly behind Nott and Avery trying to listen to their conversation without being noticed.

"I'm not sure Theo. This is pretty serious. I mean pulling a few pranks is one thing, but killing!" Scor saw Avery's white face as they passed a patch of moonlight shining through the window.

"Well…Dad did it. I mean…they're really just like apes aren't they?"

"Muggles maybe, but the mudbloods can do magic just like us!"

"Well they have muggle blood though. I mean, who's to say they aren't just faking it?"

"That's ridiculous. I think this is getting out of hand. I mean…I don't want to end up in Azkaban like my father and grandfather."

"Well you can't back out now, you know what they're going to do to…" At that moment Scor's shoe scuffed loudly and both boys turned.

"Oh, Malfoy, it's you."

"I'll see you tomorrow," Avery said as they reached the blank space of wall and passed into the common room.

"Yeah, see ya." Nott walked off to his dorm and Scor stood beside the fire wondering what 'they' were going to do."

Scor told Lily what he had discovered the very next day. They stayed up until the wee hours of the night debating whether to tell someone about Thanatos or to keep it a secret in hopes that Scor could somehow circumvent him.

"Scor we just can't take that chance! I mean, he's going to kill someone."

"You don't know that. Besides, how could they do anything about it. It's just my word against his."

"We should at least tell my Dad."

"He's not here. We need someone who can tail Thanatos and keep him from hurting anyone without him finding out about it."

Lily looked off into the fire and Scor watched the emotions play out over her face: concern, anger, sadness, fear, and finally determination.

"You're right. We'll do it."

"We'll—you mean I'll. I'm not having you mess with this and get hurt." Scor saw the stern resolution in her brown eyes.

"No, I meant what I said. Here," she handed him the invisibility cloak that her brother had given her to make sure she 'had fun' at school since Al had been given the map. "you can use this to tail him."

"What about you?"

"I have other ways of sneaking around." He saw her mischievous grin and couldn't help but worry. Nothing he said would keep her from helping. All he could do was tail Thanatos and hope he wouldn't try anything when Lily was around.

"You're such a little vixen, you know that?"

"Of course," and he settled down to enjoy a long snogging session.