May 30th- Hogwarts
Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked down the halls of Hogwarts with Hermione in a near panic.
"You're sure that's what he told you Harry? Dumbledore showed you memories of him specifically saying that?"
"Well, kind of. The memory was of him asking a man about horcruxes and now Dumbledore thinks he made multiple and hid them in important places. Like, Slytherins ring was in his family's old house and his diary was really important to him so he put pieces of his soul in them."
"And Dumbledore wants you to go destroy them with him?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, he said if he found one he would bring me along," Harry said.
"But Harry that could be super dangerous. What if something happens and there are charms on the horcrux that hurt you?" Hermione asks.
"I have to go with Dumbledore, Hermione. This could be a big step in taking him down for good!"
"I know." Hermione sighed. "Just be careful ok?"
"I will Hermione. I'll be with Dumbledore. We'll be fine."
Later that day, Harry was walking alone near the black lake. He could see the Ravenclaw quidditch practice in the quidditch pitch and the shadow of the giant squid in the lake. Then, Harry saw a familiar blonde head that left him feeling a sense of Deja Vu.
"Oi Malfoy." Harry said stepping closer.
"Potter." Malfoy drawled. "Is there a reason you keep meeting me here?"
"No, I just happened to be walking this way."
"I know you've been watching me."
"No, I haven't."
"Oh really? I think you have."
"Who cares if I've been watching you? I have a good reason."
"Do you? I haven't done anything wrong."
"You look sick." Harry said honestly.
"Hmmmm. Definitely not sick." Malfoy said with a smirk. His eyes were hollow and his skin pale as he faced Harry.
"I know you're up to something."
"And no one believes you."
"Doesn't matter because I know that you and Snape are planning something bad."
"Maybe but, maybe we're just trying to live your lives just like you."
And with that Malfoy turned and left. Harry watched him start to disappear but just like last time, he stayed where he was until Malfoy was gone.
Malfoy walked briskly in the dungeons of Hogwarts. He sneered at a couple of Ravenclaws who were laughing and clinging together before turning down a secluded passage that leads to the Slytherin common room. The painting opened without Malfoy even saying anything and he waltzed in. The common room seemed to freeze when he entered and he smirked at his housemates.
"It's time. Next week you guys are either going to help me or stay in the common room. Do not leave the common room if you're not fighting with me. I cannot guarantee your life." He said loudly.
Blaise and Theo came up to him right away.
"Draco, what's happening?" Blaise asked.
"I think I just said what's happening Blaise."
"They're coming?" Theo asked.
"Yes and now it's time for the pair of you to grow a pair and join us."
"But Drake-"
"No Theo! Don't you see we don't have a choice?"
"But-"
"No Theo. Just stop. You're either going to help me complete the mission or you're going to sit here and leave the Dark Lord to decide what to do with you."
"We'll be there Draco." Blaise said.
"Good."
"And then I'm leaving. I'll need the pair of you here to make sure the snakes stay together."
"You're not coming back?"
"No. Aunt Bella is convinced that things will be changing so much that she doesn't want me here." Draco replied stiffly.
Blaise and Theo nodded curtly like they understood not to ask any more questions.
"We're snakes we'll protect each other." Theo said.
"Good because I have a feeling that things are going to change soon. And it won't be good."
Dear Cho,
Hey! Look I finally got an owl so now it'll be easier to talk to you. I hope you're having fun at Hogwarts and I hope everything is well. Right now, Aunt Lily and Uncle James homeschool me and Soph and it's getting boring. I just want all of this to be over you know? Poor Sophie isn't allowed to go anywhere because we don't want the press to get wind of the fact that she's alive and I haven't seen anyone my age in forever! I mean I didn't like going to school but now I would pay to get out of this house! Although, I have finally learned how to swim so I guess that's good.
Signed,
Dudley Dudley
Dear Dud,
Hey! Hogwarts would be a lot better if you were here. I think everyone here is just getting very anxious about what's going on outside. I don't know if you've been keeping up with the news lately but things are just starting to get darker and darker. I sent you some fun little knick-knacks for Sophie just so she hopefully doesn't feel too closed off. And I know it sucks to be away from your old friends but it's keeping you safe and that's the important thing. I hope we can see each other in person again soon but who knows.
Love,
Cho Chang
June 15th-
The wind howled in a large dark bedroom. There was a desk, a huge bed, and a black wardrobe. The only source of light was an eerie chandelier in the middle of the room. At the first glance, this room looked empty. But if someone came in, they would see a little girl scrunched in the corner near her bed. She was wearing a short black lace dress and her hair was curled so tightly that it sprang up making her shadow look like her head was a triangle. Her hands were pressed against her ears and her legs had so many bruises and cuts that someone might think that she had just been in a fight.
The door started to creak open and a cascade of hot tears feel down the girl's face. 3 death eaters entered the room and stopped a few feet away from her.
"The Dark Lord wishes to see you, Sophronia." One of them said.
"Leave me alone." Sophie said hoarsely.
"We have orders to use force if needed miss."
"I said to leave me alone."
One of them stepped forward and slapped Sophie.
"Get up now."
Sophie had hot tears running down her face as she shakily stood up. The death eaters quickly surrounded her and grabbed her arms to make sure that she was following.
They took her down a long hallway but it all seemed like a blur. Doors flew by and death eaters smirked as she passed. Then she finally arrived in the large dining room of Lord Voldemort's hideout.
"Sophronia. I see you were finally able to join me."
Sophie stood with her head down to hide her wet face.
"You will greet me when I address you, is that understood?"
"Yes." Sophie whispered.
"Yes, my lord."
"Yes, my lord." Sophie repeated.
"Now, I hear your sister had some pretty extraordinary powers hmm."
"Yes, my lord."
"And what about you Sophronia?"
"I'm a muggle my lord."
"I see. Now I think that you've really got some potential. So do you mind if we try to test out your powers a bit?"
"No my lord."
"Good girl."
Voldemort got out of his seat and came towards Sophie. He took his wand out and slowly brushed it against her bare legs.
"Now, I'm just going to do something very simple. I'm to cast a spell and you're going to protect yourself ok?"
"Yes my lord."
"Good. Crucio!"
"No!" Sophie screamed.
And then she was in her bed again. Her pastel pink pajamas were soaked in sweat and her bedsheets were wrapped around her tightly from all of her tossing and turning. She got up with a shuddering breath and walked over to the bathroom. She poured herself a glass of water and then splashed a little of it onto her face before she changed out of her pajamas and put a new set on.
The wind howled in the distance and Sophie had to close her eyes and remind herself that she wasn't a prisoner anymore. She wasn't a weapon or a pawn. She was just Sophie.
June 18th- Grimmuald PLace
Remus sat at the dining room table with a cup of tea and biscuits. His right arm was in a sling and he had a new scratch on his face that was still slightly open from the full moon the night before. He took a sip of tea and his lips pursed slightly from the bitterness.
At that moment, Tonks walked into the room. She didn't seem to notice Remus so he kept quiet and enjoyed watching her waltz around the kitchen grabbing the ingredients to her tea. She walked into the kitchen and started to pour herself a cup of tea but before the cup was even halfway full, she accidentally stubbed her toe on the cabinets and spilled it all over herself.
"Shitty merlins pants!" She screamed.
Remus broke his silence and jumped up to help her but she was already pulling off her shirt to get the hot substance off her skin. Remus stopped in his tracks and his eyes widened as Tonks turned around and saw him. She blushed. Hard.
"Oh um hey Remus." She said while keeping her head down.
"Hey Tonks." He said.
"I uh didn't see you there." She twidled the wet shirt in her hands.
"Yeah, I um noticed."
"I should go uh change."
"Yeah. Yeah, that's probably a good idea."
Remus lifted his head slightly to meet her eyes. Her hair was orange and her cheeks were still beet red. And while Remus was embarrassed that he hadn't made his presence clear to Tonks, he couldn't help but glance at her beautiful body. Her bra was black lace and her black jeans matched it. Remus loved that even though Tonks could alter her appearance to make herself look like whoever she wanted, she stayed true to herself.
Tonks smiled shyly at him and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Uh and sorry about this Remus." She said.
"It's nothing to worry about Tonks." He said.
"Ok well, I'll be going now."
"Ok um, see you around."
June 20th- Black Cottage
"It's done. I am officially off any and all records that the ministry has." Meg said.
She was sitting on the couch with Sirius' arm wrapped around her. She had just gotten a letter from Kingsley saying that everything was set.
"Well that's good news, right? That means that Leo can't find you anymore." Sirius said.
"I know and I should be happy but I miss my job and I miss seeing Skeeter's face when I get my article on the front page."
"That would be a sight to see but just think that once this is all over, you can go back and see Skeeter's sour face again."
"I know. But I've also been thinking that I might not want to go back to the prophet. They just seem way too influenced by the ministry and I don't know if I want that."
"Well you decide what you want to do but for now I believe we've got an Order meeting to attend."
June 29th- Hogwarts
"Honestly kids these days!" Hermione exclaimed as she examined a small vial of felix felicis. "A third year had this in the common room. A third year! And they thought they could slip it into the gobstones tournament."
"Isn't that illegal?" Harry asked.
"Yes and that's why I confiscated it."
"Oh well, maybe I could take it to Dumbledore for you? I'm headed there now."
"Ok thanks, Harry you're the best because I really have to run to potions."
Harry smiled and waved as Hermione took off towards the dungeons and then once she was out of view, he pocketed the potion and went on his way to charms.
While he was walking there, he heard hushed voices coming from a nearby hallway. He pressed himself against the wall and listened.
"Yes. Yes, I know Snape. I'm going to do it as soon as I have a chance." Draco's voice said.
"Good. Are you sure you don't need anything from me?" Snape said.
"Just tell me when to do it."
Harry's eyes widened and he hurried to charms before either one of them noticed that he was there. All the way he thought about what he had heard and he decided that he must tell Dumbledore.
Later that afternoon, before Harry even had a chance to tell Dumbledore about the suspicious conversation he overheard, he received a letter.
Dear Harry,
My office tonight.
-A.D.
A/N- Hey y'all! Here's a new chapter finally! I've just been so busy lately with competitions for sports and homework and a crazy geometry teacher. But on the bright side, this will be completely finished in 2 chapters! In fact, I might even just cram everything into one depending on how I feel but yeah. I hope you guys will hold on just a little bit longer for the ending to this crazy story I came up with but don't worry, this won't be the only story set in this world. I'll have a sequel at some point and I hope you'll stick around to see it!
