Friday 12th – Sunday 14th July 1996
Friday 12th
Breakfast
The Great Hall
Hogwarts
As usual we all had a huge breakfast before we left the castle to go home. Hermione and I weren't going home of course. I had to go to see Tom for a couple of weeks and she was going to stay at Grimmauld Place since her parents had moved to live in Australia. Even after I left Malfoy Manor I wouldn't be going home. I was going to stay at Grimmauld Place too whilst Sev was going to Spinner's End.
I sighed as I finished up breakfast. I really wanted this war to be over.
Hermione looked as thrilled as I did to be leaving. We gave each other supportive glances and then followed everyone down the path to the Thestril pulled carriages which took us to Hogsmeade station. Hagrid was waiting for us as usual to see us all off and smiled and waved as we got into the carriages. We quickly found a cabin and closed the doors.
The strange thing was was the amount of room on the floor. Crookshanks had taken up a lot of it before now. Lynx wasn't here either because she'd decided to stay at the castle with her kittens. There were four of them and they were a right handful, but the forbidden forest was perfect hunting ground. At least, that was the excuse I was going to give Tom.
The only animas we had for company were Hedwig and Pig. We also had one of Neville's many plants when he joined us making it quite a squash for all of us. Me, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Ginny, Luna and Neville.
"So what are all your plans for the summer?" Neville asked.
"We're going home." Ginny said speaking for Ron too.
"I'm going back home too. With Sirius." Harry grinned. It was to be his first summer with Sirius after his clearing. "He said we can go flying and everything."
"I'm going home too." Luna said. "I might visit you if you don't mind, Ginny. I think I might need some help with the potions homework Professor Snape set."
"Me too." Ginny nodded.
"What about you, Abigail?" Neville asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Between the Order HQ and You-Know-Who's place. I think I'll be able to swing being with the Order for my birthday, though."
"We could have a joint party." Harry smiled. "That would be nice."
"Yeah it would." I nodded. "Double the pudding and double the fun!"
"Hermione?" Neville asked.
"Sirius's." she glumly replied.
"Oh."
"What about you?" I asked him.
"Just going home with Gran." He shrugged.
"Oh."
And then the platform in London was all too soon upon us. None of us had been up for much conversation and had actually done a lot homework to take our minds of things. When the train began to slowdown we quickly got changed and got our luggage off the racks. When Neville saw what I was wearing – a long dress made from raw silk – his jaw dropped.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"To see my dearest father." I sighed wishing I could go back to Grimmauld Place with Hermione and Harry. "He likes me to dress well."
"Oh. Well, have a good summer besides." He said.
"I will."
The train stopped then and we all stepped out to the platform. Severus wasn't anywhere to be seen, but I could see Narcissa and Lucius so I headed over to them with Draco dragging my things behind me since I wasn't supposed to show people that the Trace had been removed from me.
They smiled when they saw us and we were pulled into warm hugs.
"How are you?" Narcissa asked us.
"I'm fine, Mother." Draco warmly replied.
"And you, Abigail?"
"Fine." I smiled. "Severus said he'd meet us here."
"He got caught up in Diagon Alley doing something for him." she said in that tone she used when she was talking about Riddle. "He'll be – oh there he is." She pointed behind us.
I turned to see him hurrying through the crowd. He quickly swept his eyes over me to make sure that I was okay and then turned serious. "We have to go. He's already –"
I gasped and fought the urge to clutch my left arm. Oh yeah, he was expecting us. "I think we're slightly late." I said and gripped his arm.
He disapparated us to the gates of Malfoy Manor. I opened them and swept inside already ready for what was to come. I knew I'd have to at the very least kiss his cheek, maybe even hug him. The thought sickened me, but I'd do it.
Bellatrix was waiting on the doorstep for me. She looked perfectly healthy compared to the last time I'd seen her and we were being battled against in Scotland. She bowed her head when I was close and asked if I wanted her to do anything for me. I haughtily told her to take my things up to my room and ensure that 'the elf has a cold drink ready for me'. Then I walked into the Dark Lord's private rooms with a soft knock.
He was sat in a chair glaring at the window. Silently I walked over to him and knelt by his knees with my head bowed.
"Forgive my lateness, Father. The mudblood is rather… tearful when saying goodbye."
I felt his hand in my hair and repressed a shudder.
"You deal with much whilst there, child. When the war is won you will be vastly rewarded."
"Your success is all the reward I ask for."
"You are selfless, Child. Come, kiss my cheek to reunite us."
I lifted my head and did as I was bidden. "I am glad to be back. I missed you greatly."
"The Manor is better for your presence. I understand you have just sat your OWLs. You were successful in all of them?"
"As far as I can tell I gained at least Exceeds Expectations in all of them." I nodded. It had been a tough few months keeping up with all the revision. I was just thankful that I had Hermione to help with all but divinations. I think that each other's support was the only reason we'd both stayed sane. No one had taken as many OWLs as us since Bill Weasley was there and he'd had a timeturner's assistance where as we had not.
"You plan on taking the same subjects for your NEWTs?"
"Yes, Father."
"Excellent. The skills from many subjects will be most useful to you. Come there is something I wish you to learn." he grasped my arm and apparated us to the back garden. "Severus tells me that he taught you to fly without a broom."
"He did."
"Good. I will teach you how to do it invisibly."
I actually hadn't been aware that it was possible and my eyes went a little round.
"When you jump as it were, there is a moment when you leave no trail as I am sure you have noted."
I actually hadn't but I didn't tell him that. I nodded instead.
"In that short window one must cast another spell and turn yourself invisible. It sounds simple, but you may find it a challenge."
"It's just the general invisibility spell is it?"
"Yes. You know it?"
"Of it. Severus doesn't consider himself skilled enough to risk teaching me."
"Yes it is complex magic, however you will learn it." he produced a book from his pocket. "Turn to page sixty two. The incantation is written down here. Memorise what it looks like for that is how you will have to activate it when you are flying."
"Can I have a go doing it stood still first? I find that with complex magic taking it in steps speeds the learning process."
"Proceed as you will, Child." he crooned.
I looked back down to the book and mouthed the incantation. It was a long string of Latin which didn't flow well, but did make sense for what I was about to do. I didn't dare look at the list of things that could go wrong. I was nervous enough as it was.
Draco had unpacked and was walking around the front garden rather aimlessly. I spotted him as I was talking to Lucius about his progress in lessons. His transfigurations work was exemplary, as were defence against the dark arts (at least when it had been a proper subject it had been, now he just didn't bother and I couldn't say blamed him) and charms, he regularly got O grads in potions, but could easily add more finesse if he really wanted to, as with care of magical creatures.
"Good. At least he is still able to appear the normal student." Lucius sighed. "And his other classes?"
"There is nothing more I can teach either of them. I allow them to relax in those lessons now and be friends." I replied.
"Good." he nodded his thoughts somewhere else.
I left him to his thought to focus in my own. In a few short weeks Abigail would be starting her NEWTs and if she hoped to pursue eleven subjects she was going to need help. True Hermione would help her, and she'd help Hermione in return, but eleven NEWTs? Not even Albus had been mad enough to take that many. I decided to advise her to take fewer subjects this year. Divination would have to stay, as would the compulsory OWL subjects bar one, but she'd want to take those anyway. But ancient runes, care of magical creatures, muggle studies and that other one she took which escaped me at the moment could all go. It would make the coming year easier at least.
"What do you think the Dark Lord has planned?" Lucius eventually asked him.
"I do not know. And that worries me."
"Why does it worry you, Snape?" Bellatrix asked in a shrill voice as she appeared out of nowhere.
"If I do not know what he is planning I can't keep Abigail as safe as I would like." I easily replied. Something along those lines always worked with her. She was too predictable. "Do you know what he has planned?"
"He wants something." She said. "Something important."
"So you know no more than either of us." Lucius dismissed.
Late Evening
Malfoy Manor
Riddle sat in the downstairs lounge looking scarily pensive. Draco and I were doing the little homework we had left and couldn't help the uncomfortable feelings we shared. It was never a good sign when he looked like that as far as we'd learned.
"Let's have a look at yours." Draco murmured and looked at the potions homework I had in my hand. I had no idea why our professors had given us homework as we were going to be doing NEWTs next year, but this was a lot harder than normal and was maybe more of a taster of what was to come. If so I think the potions stuff was to discourage us.
I silently passed it to him and looked at his. Then they were both snatched from our hands by magic and Tom looked at them approvingly.
"You are both skilled in the subject." He said which was the most praise we were ever likely to get from him. "Come see if you both can best me at chess." He lazily waved his hand over the table and a black and white diamond chess set appeared at the table. I'd seen it before but we'd never been so much as allowed to touch it let alone play with it. It was his and his alone. He sometimes allowed Bella to play against him, but mostly played by himself as he plotted and schemed.
He was, of course, black and we were white. Oh if only he knew.
"You are smirking, Draco." He commented.
"I beat Severus once. He wasn't happy." He lied. Severus hadn't really cared. And it had only happened once.
We began to play and right from the start we used all of our cunning and guile. Predictably he beat us.
"You two must know each other well to know each other's strategies that well." He observed and began to set the pieces out again. "You did not even communicate."
"We've played against each other many times, My Lord." Draco explained. "It helps."
"Then you will be an asset to my child in battle."
"I will not disappoint you, My Lord."
"As I expect. You are to sit in on the next meeting, young Draco. I wish to see how you handle yourself."
For a long moment I couldn't think or breathe. He'd done it. He'd dropped the bomb we'd been waiting all year for. My heart hammered in my chest and… Oh God it was really happening now. Since the war started I'd been telling myself that when Draco got involved things would be getting serious, and now it had happened. Everything was going to accelerate from here and it would get a lot more dangerous.
Only his cackling brought us round.
I blinked and looked at Draco. He was holding up well though he'd gone pale.
"You look as surprised as the boy, child." Riddle said.
"I did not think you'd believe Draco ready yet, that's all, Father." I honestly replied.
"He will be an asset to you this year. This game of chess is proof enough of that." He replied gesturing to the chess set.
Why did we play? Would Draco be involved if we hadn't played? I asked myself.
"I am glad he will be better able to stand by my side. It will be a refreshing change to have someone to work very closely with beside the Gryffindors." Distaste dripped from my voice.
He smiled. "If not for your mother's planned excursion to the theatre, Draco, I would call a meeting tomorrow, but I feel a reward for such fine hostessing is in order. It will be the day after."
"I am honoured to attend, my Lord." Draco replied.
Tom nodded and began playing chess by himself. Draco and I excused ourselves from the table.
"Mum has invited you and Severus to the theatre if you want to come." He listlessly said.
"It'd be great." I smiled. "Come on, let's pack our homework away." I suggested to give us an excuse to get out of there. Draco hurriedly got to it and had to pace himself out of the room so that he didn't run.
He all but jumped out of his skin and nearly dropped his books when we saw Bellatrix prowl inside.
"Uneasy, Draco?" she asked.
"Leave him, Bella." I genially said. "He will soon be given a task and he is anxious, that is all."
She smiled which wasn't very comforting and laid a hand on his shoulder in what was supposed to be a comforting gesture, but once again fell short of the mark. "And he will perform it most diligently to please our Lord. You are most privileged to be singled out. People will watch you and judge you. Shine, Draco."
"I will, Aunt Bella." He smiled.
"Tell me, Draco. When are you to join us?"
"I am to attend a meeting the day after tomorrow."
Narcissa joined Lucius and I as we walked around the grounds of the Manor. She looked worn beneath her mask of bland indifference. It was warm even this late at night which I knew would lift her spirits slightly. At least we'd all be able to get away from it all for the afternoon tomorrow. Lucius put his arm around her waist and let her head rest on his shoulder.
We eventually began to make our way inside and saw Abigail and Draco finish a game of chess with the Dark Lord. Narcissa groaned aloud and tears came to her eyes. We all knew what this meant. We hurried inside to hear them talking to Bellatrix by the grand staircase.
"He will soon be given a task and he is anxious, that is all." Abigail said confirming all of our fears. We'd hoped he'd have more time, or that the war would be finished before the Dark Lord even considered giving him a task. But he wanted to get things moving. Wanted to bring the end nearer. Narcissa clutched Lucius and he clutched her back. It was fortunate we were in the shadows.
"And he will perform it most diligently to please our Lord. You are most privileged to be singled out. People will watch you and judge you. Shine, Draco." Bellatrix all but hissed. I resisted the urge to walk over there and hex her.
"I will, Aunt Bella." Draco managed to smile which only made our hearts break that much more.
"Tell me, Draco. When are you to join us?"
"I am to attend a meeting the day after tomorrow."
Narcissa gasped out loud drawing attention to us. Three sets of eyes darted in our direction. I mentally sighed. True we would have had to reveal ourselves eventually but having time to compose ourselves first would have suited us better. As it was we all relaxed and stepped forward, smiles on the Malfoy's faces.
"You will do well, Draco." Narcissa said.
"I will not let you down, Mother." He replied and then looked to Lucius.
"It was only a matter of time, eh. Come, we will celebrate with a bottle of wine in my study." Lucius stepped forward and put a hand on his son's shoulder and guided him away. Narcissa followed.
Bellatrix walked away and Abigail and I headed upstairs and went into her room. She flopped on the bed and let out a slow breath. I sat next to her and looked out the window.
"Tired, child?" the Dark Lord asked surprising both of us.
Abigail jerked into a sitting position and I stood facing him.
"Severus's homework is giving me a headache." She replied.
He chuckled. "I wish to speak with you in private."
Recognising the dismissal I silently left the room and closed the door behind me. As they talked I paced around mine.
"Something is troubling you, Father?" I asked because it was obvious.
He sat in a chair near the window and beckoned me over. I leaned on the desk opposite him and looked out the window. The stars were out but it was warm. The kind of night Narcissa liked from the times when she taught Draco and I astronomy.
"I think I have made a mistake, child." Riddle admitted.
My eyes snapped over to him and my mind began to speed up. What could that mistake be? How can I use it to my advantage? How can it benefit the order?
"If it is your wish I will rectify it." I promised.
"It is not of that nature." he replied. "Rather I think I made a mistake with you."
"Wh… What kind?" I nervously asked well aware that he could kill me right now and not think on it. Was this something to do with what happened at Easter? Something to do with me being in Gryffindor? Had I done something wrong and given myself away? Did he know that I was spying on him?
"You are afraid." He commented.
"Only of disappointing you, Father." I replied with a stronger voice than before.
"This is something of a different nature entirely, you may rest at ease."
The sigh of relief that escaped my lips wasn't fake. I wasn't suspected. I wasn't going to die.
"All ancient religions have a virgin goddess," he began making me wonder where this was going to go. "I do not expect you to live a chaste life – I desire you to have sons to help command sections of the lands I will control – but a life of purity. I think asking you to harm the Granger girl was a mistake." He looked over to me expecting some kind of answer.
"I will do whatever you desire, Father. Though I admit hurting the filthy mudblood was rather… satisfying… after all the suffering she makes me endure." I felt sick to my stomach seeing it, but I had to. What other choice did I have?
"Ah I understand, child, I do. But you are to remain innocent in that respect. The only killing or cursing you will do hence forth is in battle and I will be sure to keep you out of that as much as possible. You will have another task. Different to what I initially intended for you, but important nonetheless."
Eagerly leaning forward I asked, "What is it, Father?"
"I will tell you at the meeting on Sunday." He said with a smile and stood up. "Rest now, child. No doubt Narcissa will wish to spoil you tomorrow on your outing."
Saturday 13th
Morning
Kitchen
Malfoy Manor
I found Narcissa in the kitchen as was usual at this time in the morning. She was helping Dobby prepare breakfast. Her eyes were wet and her hands trembled.
"Severus, pass the salt will you?" she asked and put a jar down.
"You were just holding it, Narcissa." I gently replied.
She turned back round and picked it up looking flustered. Then she broke down into tears and collapsed to the floor. I walked over to her, picked her up and sat her on the table. Dobby carried on working knowing that the consequences of a meal being late were severe. He kept looking over at her though with concern in his eyes.
"Narcissa, you need to control your emotions." I told her. "He expects you at breakfast too."
"I know." She sobbed. "But my boy… He's only fifteen!"
"I know. He'll manage. We taught him well."
"How do you know?"
Truthfully I didn't know how he'd cope at all because training was different to doing it in real life, but…"Abigail has been coping well and Draco learned just as well as she did. They have people surrounding them at the castle. Minerva, Charity, Filius, Albus and me. He will not be without help."
"The children's food is ready." Dobby quietly said.
"I'll take it to them." I said. "Compose yourself, Narcissa, we have to be there in five minutes."
I took the plate from Dobby and hurried to the basement where I knew Evelyn's children were being kept.
They were sleeping on the floor when I got to the gate that locked them in, but as soon as I opened it they woke up and looked around.
"Where's Dobby?" the elder one, a girl called Millie asked. She looked exactly like her mother did when she was eleven. She even had the same hair.
"In the kitchen." I replied.
"You're Severus?" the other child, a five year old called Carmen asked. She took after her father in her looks I guessed. She was dark haired and eyed, and more solidly built.
"Yes." I nodded.
"Mum told us about you." She said. "Said you were friends."
"We are. I have to go." I gave the food to Millie who was stood protectively in front of her sister and then swept out.
I went straight to the dining room. Abigail and Draco were already sat there with Lucius, Bellatrix and the Dark Lord. I heard Narcissa making her way up behind me. We sat down at the same time and helped ourselves to the breakfast that had been prepared.
We ate in silence.
Evening
Magical Menagerie Theatre
Diagon Alley
None of us really watched the ballet we went to see. We were all too anxious about tomorrow.
Sunday 14th
Noon
Meeting Room
Malfoy Manor
Draco sat between Narcissa and Lucius. I wanted to sit next to him and hold his hand, but I took my usual spot by Riddle's side. He quickly called the meeting to attention and beckoned Peter Pettigrew – I'd seen him earlier and Severus had had to stop me killing him on the spot even though I was sure he wanted to do the same – to open the doors.
Umbridge walked in. Reflexively I narrowed my eyes at her but that was okay because it was well known in the Inner Circle that I despised her. At least here she lost her superior attitude and looked like the useless lump she was.
"Abigail, Draco, tell us what you think of Dolores." Tom commanded.
"Fairly useless." I lazily supplied. "I'd rather see her gone."
I looked over at her and she went white as a ghost.
"Her instructions for the Inquisitorial Squad are hazy at best, but I interpret them and lead the team." Draco said.
"As I thought. Dolores, your objective at Hogwarts is to change. You are no longer to position yourself as the headmistress seeing as you do not possess the ability to oust Dumbledore. You are to remain there so that there will be another of us there when I take over. That is all you are worth. Ensure that they know that I am closing in on them. Make their lives miserable and put an end to this army Harry Potter is training. Someone else will deal with Dumbledore.
"Abigail, you are to locate and retrieve the Philosopher's Stone. It is no longer in the possession of Nicholas Flamel and I expect it to be in Dumbledore's hands. Ask him about it, I believe he will tell you its exact location. Bring it to me as soon as you can. Do it without being seen and then return there as soon as you have given it to me."
"Yes, Father." I replied.
"Yaxley, your progress?"
"We almost had Fudge out, but the Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt managed to give him some kind of strength and he is determined to fight against us."
Riddle bristled at this and I felt magic build up around him.
"However, my Lord, we have gained allies in with some of the unspeakables and have convinced a few of the training aurors that there is no hope of the Light winning and they are passing information."
The magic calmed a little, but not much. I could still feel it heating my arm.
"A few on the wisgnmagot are beginning to think that Dumbledore cannot win." Yaxley nervously finished.
"Weasley's assistant in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts is also on our side," Dolohov put in because he was thick as thieves with Yaxley mostly because they afforded each other protection in the ministry. "More muggles will suffer now. Also, my Lord, others in the law enforcement division are beginning to question Dumbledore."
"Between you, you have avoided a death." Riddle snarled. "Get Fudge out! Leave."
"Yes, my Lord." They both said and scurried from the room.
"Now, onto our newest member," he crooned and looked at Draco. "I have plans for you. Plans which will speed the war up dramatically."
Please review and let me know what you think! They all make me smile and write faster!
Next time... Plans are made and Mrs. Weasley gets in a tiff!
J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.
