CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

Ginny took the girl into the kitchen. Harry, Hermione, and Ron spoke with Lupin and Tonks before joining the two girls in the other room. Hermione cleared the table of her things and they all sat down.

"I'm sorry Draco's such a prat," Ginny said.

"It's all right. I'm used to him. He has violent mood swings." She looked at the other three partially unfamiliar faces. "I'm Rebecca."

"We know," Hermione said. "I'm Hermione. This is Ron and Harry and that's Ginny."

Rebecca nodded. "I know. You three are infamous for getting into trouble."

Harry beamed but Hermione scowled.

"I don't think I want to be remembered at Hogwarts for getting into trouble."

"They'll be talking about your illegal club for years," Rebecca said honestly. "There aren't many Slytherins who would actually join it, but they were in awe that you lot created an association behind Umbridge's back and stuck with it for so long. Actually… It's a bit Slytherin to do that."

Hermione's eyes narrowed slightly. "A bit Slytherin?"

"Yes," said Rebecca, nodding. "Slytherins are supposed to use any means to achieve their ends, yeah? You started an illegal club to learn Defense."

Harry straightened up in his seat. "Rebecca, let me ask you something. I know Malfoy wrote to you what was in that prophecy, but I'm still a little bit surprised that you are willing to help us. Why?"

"Voldemort went after my parents – if I don't help you fight he'll keep going after us until we're killed."

"That's ridiculous," Hermione said. "Killing your parents just because they're not Death Eaters."

Rebecca gave Hermione an incredulous look. "No… he went after my family because I'm half-Muggle. My dad's family line can be traced back a thousand years, but my mum's a Muggle."

Ginny seemed to be the only one who wasn't genuinely surprised at this statement. Ron had the hardest time grasping on to the concept that there was a half-blood in Slytherin and that she dated Draco Malfoy.

"I didn't think the hat put anyone who wasn't a Pure Blood into Slytherin?"

"My father was a Slytherin and I am a bit cunning when it comes down to it. I'll do almost anything to stay first in all my subjects." Rebecca gave a small shrug. "I think it has a lot to do with my father being a second cousin by marriage to Voldemort, which makes me related by marriage to Slytherin himself… I think."

"But – you dated Malfoy," Ron said. "Malfoy hates anyone who isn't Pure Blood and rich."

"Draco didn't know until I told him," said Rebecca, looking away from the group. "Then, we broke up. We're both still a lot Slytherin; we're helping you fight because it'll keep us alive, not because it's the right thing to do. If I had my way I probably would stay at Hogwarts where it's safe until this is all over, but I don't want to live in fear of my life anymore, so I'm here, and I'm going to help you fight. I'm only fifteen so I don't know what good I'll be, really. I don't know as many advanced Defense spells. I wasn't in the DA when I was a third year so…"

"That's all right," said Hermione. "You're not allowed to do magic here, anyway. Ginny's still sixteen so even she can't use it. I'll be able to find something for you to do to help and as soon as Malfoy stops acting like a silly git, we'll figure out exactly what he needs to do to help when we go and fight Voldemort as well."

Rebecca nodded. "That's fine. I was told I wouldn't miss more than a couple of weeks of classes? So, I'm assuming that you're going to go after the Dark Lord soon?"

"Yes," Harry said, although it came out as quiet as a whisper.

"How are you going to find him?"

"I'm going to stop using Occlumency and see if I can't break into his mind somehow. This is going to be the last time I kill him."

Rebecca raised her eyebrows. "You've killed him before?"

"Well, sort of. He went through this veil at the Department of Mysteries—"

"Oh, I know about that."

Harry's eyebrows disappeared underneath his hair; he was truly shocked. "You – what?"

"My father's an Unspeakable. People aren't really meant to go through the veil; it's a barrier between this world and the next world. Unspeakables try to talk to people through the veil in order to find answers to some of life's questions. Sounds a bit cliché, I know, but that's really what it's there for. Since the veil isn't meant to be a portal back and forth between realms, if you go through it you only stay on the other side if you ready to accept death. I'm guessing the Dark Lord wasn't ready to accept his death."

"I came back through as well," said Harry.

Rebecca didn't reply, only looked at him with expectant eyes.

"Er, I wasn't ready to die yet either, I suppose."

"I should go and speak with Draco. He's probably brooding up there. That's what he likes to do when he gets upset, brood. Bloody annoying, really." Rebecca stood up and walked to the foot of the stair. "Er, which room is his?"

"One floor up at the end of the corridor," said Ginny.

"Thanks." Rebecca disappeared up the stairs.

"Wow," said Ron, letting out a breath. "Malfoy slept with a half-blood? No wonder his father wanted to disown him."

Ginny nodded. "That's why he's been so moody and distant. She's everything that he hates – half-Muggle, against Voldemort… That's the real reason why he's here. See, his father found out that Rebecca wasn't a Pure Blood and even though Draco severed his ties with her, his father still went to Voldemort and told him of Draco's doings. Draco found out he was going to go after Rebecca's family and told Snape."

"Who, of course, told the Order," Hermione said. "Well, it makes perfect sense, really."

"He's still a git," said Ron.

"Even so, he's been through a lot emotionally. He hates her and loves her and it's driving him mad," said Ginny.

"Is this what the two of you talk about?" asked Hermione.

Ginny nodded. "Yes. But, it makes sense, though. He wouldn't be comfortable talking to a boy about these things, since they're matters of the heart, really. And you're a Muggle, Hermione, and I'm a Pure Blood."

"Yes, it does make sense," said Hermione.

Harry, tired of discussing Malfoy, looked at Ron with a smile on his face. "So, Ron, how does it feel to be bald?"

"Shut it, Harry."

"No, really, is it cold up there?"

"I'm warning you," Ron sneered.

"Do you need a hat? Maybe Hermione could knit you a hat like she did for the house elves? One with a nice bobble?"

Ron flew over the table and grabbed Harry by the shirt collar, pulling him out of his chair. Harry began to laugh despite the raged look in Ron's eye.

"I said, shut it! If it wasn't for you I'd still have hair!" Ron let go of Harry and sank back down in his chair. "I did love my hair."

Hermione patted Ron's shoulder. "It's all right. I still like you…"

"That doesn't make me feel any better," Ron snapped. "I'm going upstairs." Ron pushed his chair back so hard it fell over. He marched up the stairs, leaving the kitchen full of silence in his wake.

Rebecca knocked on Draco's bedroom door. She tried the doorknob; it turned easily. Upon opening the door she found Draco sitting at his desk, leaning over a book. He didn't look up when she entered his room, shutting the door behind her.

"You knew I was coming," said Rebecca.

Draco's eyes faltered on the book and he nodded. "I know. I just didn't know I'd be seeing you so soon. Are you staying here?"

"Yes."

Draco set the book down on his desk and turned his head. He studied Rebecca as if he hadn't seen her in twenty years – her hair, her eyes, her cheek bones.

"We're going to fight him so he doesn't kill us later," Draco stated. "Then, I'll go back to Hogwarts and take my NEWTs and we'll never have to see each other again."

"If that's what you want."

"That's exactly what I want."

A smile crossed Rebecca's face. "You always were rubbish at lying."

"We can't be together. You're half Muggle, dirty, impure."

"That's how you see it. I don't see it that way. I'm a witch; it's as simple as that. Why do you care about blood? Your friends downstairs don't seem to care very much. I know for a fact that that frizzy haired girl has two Muggle parents and the Weasley boy is with her – and he has the purest of blood. Harry's half and the Weasley girl is with him. None of them care about blood!"

"They're not my friends!" Draco roared. "I can't be with you."

"Why?" asked Rebecca, cocking her head to the side. "Afraid of what your father will say? He was ready to hand you over to the Dark Lord last I heard. Or perhaps you are afraid of your mother? She's out of her mind. She'll never leave St. Mungo's. What about your friends? When was the last time Crabbe and Goyle actually talked to you? I think you're afraid of you."

"Come off it."

"I know what you wrote to me in your letters. You said you were sorry."

"I was sorry."

Rebecca crossed the room and stood in front of Draco. "Then why won't you let this happen?"

"You're only fifteen – what do you know about anything?"

"You're only seventeen!"

"Eighteen," Draco corrected quietly. "I'm eighteen. And this is more complicated than just me being sorry, you know. I can't have a relationship with someone who isn't Pure Blood."

"So, after we help Harry kill the Dark Lord you're going to go back to ignoring me? I broke up with Daniel to be with you! I thought that's what you wanted!"

"I never said that!"

"But, you made it quite clear you didn't want me to be with Daniel."

Draco sighed.

"I don't understand," Rebecca said, her eyes filling with tears. "Before you knew about my mum, you were happy with me, weren't you?"

Draco nodded.

"I can't help who my parents are. I didn't ask to be born to a Muggle and a Wizard. I didn't ask to be sorted into Slytherin and I certainly didn't ask to fall in love with a smarmy, thick-headed git!"

"You still love me?"

Rebecca resisted the urge to stomp her foot. "Of course I do! Do you still love me?"

"No."

"Liar."

Draco swallowed and wet his lips. "You always did look sexy in that school uniform. Your eyes match the tie." Draco stood up and took a step towards Rebecca. He leaned forward, his breath hot on her neck, and whispered into her ear, "Will you let me undress you? Ravish you? Defile you like he defiled you?"

"No one defiled me."

"Not even Daniel?"

"You know I didn't let him touch me the way I let you touch me."

"Do I?" Draco asked, pulling back and looking straight in Rebecca's eyes.

"Tra la la la la, Draco. You're boring me."

"You always were a bit of a slag, weren't you?"

Rebecca kept a straight face and took in a deep breath. "Only with you."

Draco reached down and ran a hand up Rebecca's skirt. "No one else?"

"No."

Draco took back his hand. "You always were a terrible liar yourself, Rebecca. Stupid Mudblood."

"You know it was only you! And don't you dare call me a Mudblood!" Rebecca snarled, bringing her hand back and slapping Draco across his face with as much strength as she could muster.

His head snapped to the side and his breaths came in small pants before he turned and looked at her with dangerous eyes. Draco pushed Rebecca back against the door forcefully, pinning her against it with one arm. The fingers of his free hand touched his cheek, feeling where his skin was beginning to redden and swell from the force of her slap.

A smile crossed his face as dangerous as the look in his eye.

He violently ripped away her shirt and tie in a fury of flying buttons and fabric. Before crashing his mouth against hers he whispered, "You always did know just how I liked it."

"How is Rebecca going to be of any help?" Ginny asked. "And I just mean because she's even further behind in Defense than I am."

"You're not far behind in Defense," said Harry. "You learned a lot in the DA and helped us fight in the Ministry two years ago."

After Ron and Rebecca's departure, Hermione took out her measurements of the potion ingredients and went back to work binding them together. She looked up from her work at Harry and Ginny across the kitchen table.

"We can give her a really simple job, but a really important one," she said.

"Like what?"

"Well, Harry, do you know how to release that power of yours again? The mental one?"

Harry nodded. "Perhaps not as forceful this time. Over Christmas I was really upset because Voldemort had Ginny and Ron."

"Right, well, once you weaken Voldemort a bit with that, Ron will morph into his animal – no, Ginny, I'm not going to tell you what it is – and cut Voldemort. Ron may not have time to change back into human form to collect Voldemort's blood and you, Harry, have to be ready with the sword as soon as I've said the incantation to kill Voldemort's body. Rebecca can be waiting for Ron to hurt Voldemort and collect his blood to give to me."

"What will I do?" Ginny asked.

"Protect me," said Hermione, "while I do the potion. There will be other Death Eaters around Voldemort, I'm sure, but if he's unaware that we're going to go to him and attack his forces might be few in number… I hope."

"Besides, won't Lupin tell members of the Order to go and help us?"

Hermione nodded. "That's a good point. I know we'll be able to count on a lot of the members to help us. Mad-Eye would certainly not want to miss Voldemort's destruction."

"Neither would Lupin or Tonks," said Ginny. "I'm really good at Summoning Charms. I'm sure I can Accio a few wands. If Ron stays in his animal form he can certainly do some harm, can't he?"

Hermione nodded again. "Yes."

"But, you're not going to tell me what his animal is?"

"No, I promised him I wouldn't."

Harry clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth in thought. "It's not an embarrassing animal, is it?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think it is. Ron doesn't like it, though."

"It's not a bald animal is it?"

Hermione looked sternly at Harry. "You riled him up enough, I think, over his hair. Leave him alone. You're lucky he didn't hex you with Ginny's Bat-Bogey Hex, you know."

"I'm not afraid of Ron."

"You should be," Hermione said simply, finishing up her binding spell on the ingredients. She slipped them into her pocket. "He's practically twice your size."

"I'm not complete rubbish when it comes to a physical fight."

"Against someone Ron's size you might be," Ginny said truthfully. She covered his mouth with her hand quickly. "Oh, Harry, I'm sorry – I didn't mean to say that I don't think you're strong or anything – please don't brood."

"Why does everyone think I always brood?" Harry snapped.

"Because when you get upset you snap everybody's head off and then disappear into your room!" cried Ginny.

"If the two of you are going to fight, I'm going upstairs." Hermione made her way to the stairwell.

"Oh, Hermione?" Ginny said. "Next time you and Ron shag, don't forget to silence your room. We heard you loud and clear a couple of nights ago."

Hermione didn't reply but her cheeks flushed a violent shade of red and she made her way up the stairs.

Later that night Harry made dinner for everyone. Malfoy made an uncharacteristic appearance which everyone credited to Rebecca. The only sounds in the kitchen were those of forks scraping against plates and knives cutting up bits of meat. While Harry was finishing cooking, Hermione explained to everyone exactly what their roles were going to be when they were to fight Voldemort.

Harry was to protect Ron while Ron changed into his animal. Their roles would be reversed when it was Harry's turn to take Voldemort's life with Gryffindor's sword.

Draco was to protect Rebecca while she gathered Voldemort's blood to give to Hermione. After the blood was delivered, the two of them were to go back and help Harry and Ron with the other Death Eaters once Hermione completed the incantation.

Ginny was to hide underneath the Invisibility Cloak with Hermione to keep the ingredients to the potion safe. Once Rebecca could be seen with Voldemort's blood, Ginny would emerge from the cloak and fight off anyone who tried to get to Hermione before the spell was completed.

Other members of the Order would, of course, be there, but in order to fulfill the prophecy, the six of them would have to openly fight in the battle. This fact seemed to loom over each of their heads except for Ron's. He ate his food quickly, refilling his plate often, as though his stomach were as bottomless as ever. The rest of them picked at their food, not really interested in eating.

"I'm going to do it tonight," Harry said.

"Do what?" Ron asked, his mouth full of candied potatoes Harry got from a jar.

"Keep my mind open tonight. Hopefully, I'll be able to dream or get a vision."

"Get a what?" Draco asked, looking slightly taken aback.

"Harry and Voldemort are connected," Hermione explained. "If Harry doesn't practice Occlumency and close his mind off, he and Voldemort can exchange thoughts and feelings and even mild possessions of one another. Right, Harry?"

Harry nodded.

"Wouldn't that be useful?" queried Draco. "To see what the Dark Lord was doing?"

"No," said Harry, shaking his head, "because he can also see or sense what we're doing and use it against us. It's safer blocking him. Tonight, though, I'll try opening up my mind. I can't have distraction, though, because I'm so used to blocking everything out of my head." Harry gave Ginny an apologetic glance. "And I can't risk anyone waking me up in the middle of a vision or a dream."

Ginny nodded her head once to show she understood.

"So, we get to go back to Hogwarts after this, right?" Rebecca asked. "I mean, I only ask because of OWLs…"

Ron groaned. "Don't remind me of OWLs."

Hermione rolled her eyes. To Rebecca she said, "I hope we get back in time. I'm sure we will, though. We all have NEWTs to take. I just hope that being away from Hogwarts for so long won't hinder us from doing well on the tests since we haven't had proper teachers."

"You'll do fine," Ron said, "but I'm sure I'll be rubbish."

"You weren't rubbish when you took the OWLs," Hermione said. "You did very well, I might add. Your mum was certainly pleased."

"She would be happy with almost anything," said Ginny, "after the twins' dreadful scores. Three OWLs. You could hear her yelling for a week and I don't think the twins got fed very much that summer either…"

"I know I said before that I was only fighting so the Dark Lord wouldn't come after me or my family again… but, I want you to know I'm going to fight hard," said Rebecca. "I don't want you thinking I won't do my share. I'm a Slytherin – I can't help but think of myself first, but there are other important people involved as well. They need to be fought for."

"What other people?" Ginny asked.

"The other half-Muggles for one; those who are just like me."

Ginny nodded in understanding. She caught the glance Rebecca gave Malfoy and noticed how the blonde haired boy blushed slightly under the Slytherin girl's gaze. You would think that Malfoy would be less of a git when he was in love. Unfortunately, he was still a right git, only now he blushed occasionally. Ginny rolled her eyes in spite of herself and turned to Harry who had stopped eating and was staring at his plate.

"Nervous?" she asked.

"A bit."

"Scared?"

"Yes."

Ginny patted his leg in what she hoped was a reassuring gesture. Harry smiled at her, his heart lifting slightly.

"I need to go to bed," he said to her. He kissed her mouth softly and quickly before pushing his chair back and saying good night. He went up the stairs to his room.

The sign at the beginning of the road read Welcome to Wiltshire. Underneath that the population number had broken off, leaving the sign looking old and worn. The road was more like an abandoned dirt path, discarded once paved roads were made throughout the town. The town included Stonehenge and upon passing the structure, a chill crept down Harry's back.

Further down the path, past a thick wooded area, was a large house – a mansion. Four stories high, built of stone, with ominous looking towers on each corner, the house looked like no one but the Darkest of Wizards could live there.

Outside the house, in the flower garden, an old, knobbly looking elf was tossing gnomes into the woods not far from the house. Harry had to dodge left as one of the gnomes came straight at him, wailing a pathetic sounding little scream.

Up the stone stairs and into the foyer of the house, Harry found himself looking at vaulted ceilings covered in gold painted artwork with chandeliers and lit candles. Suits of armor stood along the corridors to each of the rooms. The lounge was grand, with fancy furniture covered in silk and an everlasting fire in the walk-in fireplace. The floors were stone but covered with velvet carpet of the darkest green, threaded with thin silver thread that looked shockingly like unicorn hair.

Harry went upstairs and entered a large bedroom about the size of the downstairs level of the Dursley house. Portraits of Quidditch players hung on the walls and framed pictures on the desk revealed familiar faces of Hogwarts students in grey uniform skirts and trousers with large, silly grins plastered across their faces. The bed was large and an elf was dusting off a night table with a clock much like the one the Weasleys owned and a candlestick without a candle.

Harry felt a tug from something and walked against his will back downstairs. The dining room he found himself in envied the Great Hall of Hogwarts with a table that could sit over a hundred, complete place settings in front of each chair, and portraits on the walls of sleeping Witches and Wizards of yore.

Past the dining room Harry found himself in a drawing room. Black curtains covered the floor to ceiling windows and the only light was from underneath a rug on the floor. Kicking away the velvet rug, Harry saw that underneath the stone floor was not stone at all, but iron in the shape of a door. The door led to a small room filled with Dark items – weapons, books, potion ingredients, and a strange looking hand that looked exactly like the Hand of Glory. In the corner of the room Harry could see two wizards talking, wearing black hoods. Only when one of them turned around did Harry recognize exactly who they were.

But, he felt a tug on the back of his shirt and he found himself being flung out of the house and once again near the garden, looking at the sheer height and magnitude of the mansion. He watched as a group of twenty or so Death Eaters left the house and Apparated away with several loud cracks and pops reverberating in the air.

When Harry woke up the sun was shining in his bedroom. He blinked several times and blindly reached over to his night table for his glasses. Once on his nose, Harry jumped out of bed, throwing a pair of trousers on over his boxers, ran out of his room. He flew down the stairs two at a time to the kitchen where everyone was eating breakfast, including a tired looking Malfoy.

"Couldn't bother to fully dress yourself, Potter?" Malfoy said nastily.

"Sod off, Malfoy, I'm not in the mood."

"Did you dream anything, Harry?" Hermione asked hopefully.

Harry nodded. "I did. And I saw him."

"Saw the Dark Lord?" Rebecca asked, setting down the spoon she was using for her cereal. "Where?"

"In Wiltshire."

Malfoy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "In Wiltshire, you say?"

"That's where Stonehenge is," Hermione said. "It's suppose to old and have lots of—"

"Yeah," Harry interrupted, "but Voldemort isn't in Stonehenge. He's at a mansion close to it, though. He hides in a secret room underneath the drawing room. I saw him. And I saw Lucius Malfoy speaking with him. I had control over part of my dream – I was able to remove the rug and go into the secret room, but, then, I was flung against my will out of the house. But, once outside I saw a huge group of Death Eaters leaving the house, so I think Voldemort's there with very few followers."

"You're sure it was Wiltshire?" asked Malfoy.

"Positive."

"So, that's where we're going, then?" Ron asked. "To some mansion in Wiltshire, England?"

"Not just some mansion, Ron," said Harry. "We're going to Malfoy Mansion."

To Be Continued…


A/N: Erm... hmm...

I don't mean to "coerce" any of you into reviewing my story. If you don't want to leave a review, please don't. As one reader said, they found it appauling that I would coerce my readers into reviewing my story or else risk me not updating with another chapter. I'll always update - have no fear! And I apologize to anyone else I have offended by "coercing" you to review my story.

That being said, if you don't want to review, please don't.

That being said, if you want to review, please do! But, please don't flame me. I appreciate criticism as long as it's constructive. Telling me my story is corny, a cop-out, or portrays the characters poorly doesn't help me because you're only insulting the story - not telling me how to improve! So, if you want to criticize, please do - I'm a writer by nature, I'm used to edits and criticism. I am not used to blatant insults.

Now, to the end of my Author's Note!

As I'm sure many of you have guessed, there are very few chapters left. The end of the story looms near (dun dun dun). So, if there is anything specific you want to have happen before the end of the story, let me know and I will take it under advisement because I want my readers to be happy! I can't write in everything that everyone wants to have happen, but I can do my best!

But, as always, don't review if you don't want to!

Happy reading and I'm working hard on the next chapter!!!