Hermione found Luna waiting for her outside the library. Using the fake galleon, Hermione sent a message to the DA members from the previous year to come to the library immediately. She hoped they hadn't tossed their coins after Umbridge caught them all.
Something was off about Dumbledore—Hermione could sense it. He didn't seem too concerned with what was about to happen. He hadn't thought to go over his detailed plan with Draco. Was there something they weren't seeing?
"What's wrong?" came a voice over her shoulder. Hermione spun around to see Neville running to her and Luna.
"We'll see who else shows up before I explain what's going on," Hermione told him. To her surprise, every member of the DA who hadn't graduated arrived at the library within minutes, save for the four Slytherins in hiding.
After getting everyone to settle down, Hermione spoke. "Alright, I hope you've all remembered your training from last year and that Snape was an adequate teacher for you this year because a time has come for us to use those skills. I discovered a plot involving Draco Malfoy leading Death Eaters into Hogwarts," murmurs rang through the crowd "but I couldn't learn where he'll be or how he plans to do it so we can't stop him." Sorry, Draco, she thought. "Dumbledore is aware of this plan and is presumably recruiting Aurors to help him, but with Snape behind our walls, I can't guarantee that it will be enough. We may be a ragtag group of students here, but we've got to pull out the best of our knowledge to defeat any Death Eaters in our path."
"How do we know where they're gonna run through?" asked Zacharias Smith.
"We don't," Hermione admitted, "which is why we must all stay on guard for the next few hours. I suspect that they may enter through the Hogsmeade facing doors, but they could very well come from behind Hagrid's hut. Whatever the case, we have to assemble ourselves in front of the Great Hall and be ready."
As she led them to their waiting area, Draco paced back and forth in front of the Vanishing Cabinet. The Death Eaters would be arriving soon, but he had no clue which ones it would be. What if it didn't work? The previous day, Hermione sneaked away to Hogsmeade disguised as Draco, courtesy of some Polyjuice, and apparated (a skill the sixth years had finally been taught) to Borgin & Burkes to send random items through to the real Draco at Hogwarts. Every single thing had made it through unharmed, and Draco didn't need to speak a word. Still, he was on edge about the whole ordeal. And Dumbledore surely hadn't made it any easier on him.
At least his two least favorite Death Eaters were gone. And for once in five years he'd been able to celebrate his birthday. It wasn't a huge spectacle—just him, Hermione, Luna, Theo, and Pansy, the last two having hosted them at Grimmauld Place once more. Luckily, Mrs. Weasley wasn't there.
Snapping out of the memory, Draco checked his watch: it was exactly eight. He left the cabinet door open and rushed out of the room, making his way to the astronomy tower.
"Nothing will go wrong," he repeatedly muttered to himself as he climbed the stairs, clutching his wand so tightly it might break. As he got closer to the top, he heard voices.
"You must retrieve Professor Snape," Dumbledore was saying. "Take the cloak. And do not stop until you bring him here."
Draco ran up the last few steps as a sharp breeze passed him. That must've been Potter in the Invisibility Cloak.
He reached the top of the tower and instantly disarmed Dumbledore. "I heard voices," he said to his headmaster, whose wand flew to the side. "Who else is here?"
Dumbledore shrugged. "Just the ramblings of an old man is all. You see, I sometimes find it helpful to talk to myself. Of course, talking to others is often beneficial as well. Tell me, Draco, is something bothering you?"
Draco didn't speak.
"Draco, you are no assassin."
"How do you know what I am? I've done things that would shock you!"
"Like cursing Katie Bell to bring me a cursed necklace? Or perhaps lacing a bottle of mead with poison? Forgive me, Draco, but it seems that these actions are so weak that your heart can't really have been in them."
He caught Dumbledore's eye and knew that Potter must still be lurking. So the headmaster was trying to make the Slytherin Prince look like a broken soul—a scared little boy, forced into his position, as if he had no other choice. The scared little broken boy with a big job to do was exactly who Draco would now play.
"He trusts me!" Draco exclaimed, rolling up his left sleeve. "I was chosen!"
He couldn't help but wonder if Snape was supposed to come of his own accord or find the Death Eaters and come with them. Just then, they heard a door jolt open.
"You're not alone," Dumbledore remarked. "There are others. How?"
"The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement," Draco said. "I've been mending it. It's sister lies in Borgin & Burkes."
"I see." Dumbledore paused. "Years ago, I student of mine went on to work at that very store. I knew him since he was a boy and he seemed to be drawn to all the wrong choices. Please let me help you."
"I don't want your help!" Draco screwed up his face as much as he could. "Don't you understand? If I don't do this...if I don't kill you...he'll kill me."
There were footsteps coming up the stairs. Draco turned and faced...his aunt Bella? She still had the same evil look about her as always, as if Draco hadn't erased her memory at all. How was this possible?
Draco tried not to let his bewilderment show as he directed his attention back to Dumbledore.
"Look what we have here," came Bellatrix's voice from behind Draco. "Well done, Draco!" She cackled.
"Good evening, Bellatrix," Dumbledore casually greeted.
Why did I disarm him? Draco wondered. Then again, Dumbledore didn't need magic. And Voldemort would probably kill Draco had he not done a thing at all before letting the headmaster escape.
"I would introduce you to my colleagues," Bellatrix said, "but I'm afraid we're on a tight schedule." She turned to Draco. "Do it!"
When Draco hesitated, Rookwood taunted, "He doesn't have the guts. Just like his father."
SLAM! With a swift motion, Draco made the Death Eater fly back into the stone wall. "Don't you dare talk about my father!"
"Focus, Draco!" Bellatrix demanded.
"Let me do it—" Rookwood started but Bellatrix cut him off.
"No! The Dark Lord requires that Draco do it."
Draco pointed his wand at Dumbledore, feigning fear the best he could, letting his arm shake madly.
"Go on, Draco," Bellatrix urged. "NOW!"
"No."
Draco spun around to find Snape. He was relieved, although still a bit anxious. How did Snape plan on letting Dumbledore get away? And why hadn't the headmaster left yet? He certainly knew how. He watched as Dumbledore's eyes flickered down for a quick second. Potter must still be here.
"Severus," Dumbledore spoke, wearing an expression of solemn. He glanced at Draco with a hint of regret. "Please."
Without further hesitation, Snape pointed his wand at Dumbledore and said, "Avada Kedavra!"
Draco's jaws nearly fell open as the men he'd grown to admire was shoved off the balcony by the green light. It took all his willpower not to run over and peek over the side.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED? he thought. Frozen in his spot, he had no clue what to do, what to think. All this detailed planning, and Snape just threw it down the drain! How the bloody hell were they supposed to defeat Voldemort if Dumbledore was bloody dead?
Bellatrix giddily ran up to the ledge and shot the Dark Mark into the air, screaming in delight. Snape and the other Death Eaters vaporized away as Draco's aunt dragged him from his position. While Bellatrix was distracted, Draco summoned Dumbledore's wand, the Elder wand and ran down the stairs to where he'd passed Potter earlier. He nearly slipped on something.
The Invisibility Cloak.
"Potter," he grumbled, aggravated. That fool was going to get himself easily killed. He'd probably be dead if Voldemort didn't tell all his followers to back off and save the Golden Boy for the Dark Lord.
Dead like Dumbledore.
Draco grabbed, shrunk, and pocketed the cloak. He placed Dumbledore's wand in the wand protector Hermione had given him before running after his aunt.
Meanwhile, Hermione was still waiting when Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas burst through the doors. She had sent them on lookout duty ten minutes ago.
"What is it?" she asked, approaching them.
"The Dark Mark," Seamus panted. "In the sky, above the Astronomy Tower."
This wasn't good.
"Okay, everyone follow me!" Hermione commanded, racing out the doors.
Just as they left, Draco and Bellatrix arrived at the Great Hall. His aunt shrieked as she brought down all the windows in the hall, sending millions of tiny pieces of glass flying at Draco and herself. The sixth year shielded himself and followed Bellatrix out of the hall.
They came outside to find the Death Eaters battling a group of students.
"Enough!" Snape ordered, putting up a shield between the students and themselves. By this time, Draco and Bellatrix had managed to get on Snape's side. Bellatrix ran towards Hagrid's hut.
"SNAPE!" came a roar from Snape's unblocked side. It was Potter. Draco turned to see Hermione's face very clearly. She was shocked and confused.
"HE TRUSTED YOU!" Potter screamed as Dumbledore's Army tried to break through the blockade from the other side.
From the corner of his eye, Draco saw Hagrid's hut go up in flames.
"WHEE!" Bellatrix jumped up and down like a little girl.
"Go!" Snape told Draco, who backed up but didn't follow the other Death Eaters, who were vaporizing away.
"Incarcerous!" Potter yelled, and Snape easily deflected it.
"FIGHT BACK! YOU COWARD, FIGHT BACK!" Suddenly, Potter flew back. Draco saw Bellatrix retract her wand as Snape reminded her that Potter belonged to Voldemort. The witch crossed her arms and grumpily stalked off.
Giving one last glare to Potter, sprawled on the floor, Snape turned to follow Bellatrix. Draco started to go with him when he heard the familiar "Sectumsempra!" from behind.
Snape blocked this again and stormed closer to Potter, who had gotten up. All the Death Eaters had gone and now, Dumbledore's Army had broken through the barrier and were coming their way.
Draco followed Snape, who was now towering over Potter.
"You dare use my own spells against me?" Snape drawled. At Potter's startled expression, the former Potions master continued. "Yes. I am the half-blood prince."
He spun around and marched off. Draco stared at Potter for a few seconds, not knowing what to say.
"You take good care of her," Draco muttered under his breath, but it didn't go unheard by Potter. Draco turned and ran, all the way past Hagrid's hut, passing Hermione. He didn't dare look at her, even as he felt her eyes on him until he vaporized into the air.
A/N: Oh. My. Bloody. Salazar. I've been sitting at my computer for five hours. FIVE HOURS! I don't know why it took so long, but here it is! I hope you enjoyed my take on this iconic scene. I believe I'll need one chapter to wrap this book up and hopefully I'll update later tonight because I'll be out of town for the next few days and don't want to keep you all waiting so long for the final chapter.