Posting two chapters at once! This chapter is the last chapter of Part One. I will start posting Part Two within the next couple of weeks. See you soon!

Chapter Twenty Six

Draco leveled his stare at Dumbledore who smiled kindly at him. "So the time has come Draco."

Draco felt tears fill his eyes. "I – I can't. I can't kill you. I thought there was a plan in place?!"

"Have faith, Draco. Things will still go according to plan. How are you feeling?"

"Like shit, thanks. I'm probably going to die tonight because I can't complete this task and my lunatic aunt is here… And Greyback. He sent Greyback! There is going to be so much blood on my hands after tonight."

"No. It is not on your hands. You have performed admirably."

"It is not admirable to let Death Eaters into this castle!"

"Perhaps not, but you have done so to save yourself, and your mother. And that is what is admirable. Your lives matter just as much as anyone else's."

Draco couldn't believe the barmy old man in front of him. He didn't have long to contemplate though, as he heard footsteps on the spiral stairs, approaching rapidly. Draco nearly began convulsing as he anticipated his aunt cresting the stairs and seeing he hadn't killed Dumbledore…

Snape appeared at the top of the stairs. "Severus," Dumbledore whispered. "It's time."

Draco watched as Snape nodded and raised his wand. Draco didn't have time to process the words that were muttered, before a green light encased Dumbledore, and he was falling over the railing.

Snape grabbed Draco's arm and dragged him down the stairs, heading toward the staircase leading to the lower floors. They passed a Masked Death Eater along the way, and Draco was shocked to see Snape send a Stunner straight into the back of the Death Eater as they passed, saving a cowering group of what appeared to be Gryffindor first years.

Draco barely registered much as his godfather dragged him down toward the Entrance Hall. At last, they reached the final staircase. At the bottom, stood Bellatrix, standing in the midst of rubble and bodies, staring up at the duo descending the stairs.

"Draco," she cooed. "How did it go?"

Draco found he couldn't answer. "He's in shock," Snape shoved him roughly at Bellatrix. "It was his first, you know how it is with the first. It's complete, but he will need time to recover."

Bellatrix beamed at Draco. "I knew I could trust you, dear nephew."

"Get him out of here, get them all out of here before the Ministry arrives, and I will consider not tell the Dark Lord you left our youngest recruit on his own to complete a task that our Master himself asked you to oversee," Snape growled at her.

Bellatrix hissed, but did as she was told. She whipped around, jogging toward the open doors of the castle, Draco stumbling along behind her, trying not to glance around at the destruction around him. Just as they reached the threshold of the oak doors, a scream filled the air.

"YOU!" Draco turned to see Potter sprinting down the stairs, wand pointed at Snape. "He trusted you!" a jet of red light shot from his wand, and Snape deflected quickly. It bounced back at Potter and he dropped to the ground. To his dismay, Weasley and Hermione were also cresting the stairs, grasping each other's hands, eyes frantic as they stared after Harry.

Draco's heart dropped into his stomach as Hermione fell to her knees beside Potter, sobbing and looking around frantically. She locked eyes with Draco for a brief second and her tears ran anew. Draco turned and prodded Bellatrix to exit the castle, before Potter was re-enervated…

Potter must've been the second broom. Perhaps he was disillusioned on the tower? Whatever the case, it didn't matter. He knew the secret. He had heard his conversation with Dumbledore, he had seen Snape kill Dumbledore, not Draco. If word got back to the Dark Lord…

He couldn't think about that at the moment. He just had to get back to the Manor and away from the wreckage that was now Hogwarts. Bellatrix was dragging him towards the edge of the grounds. They passed through the gates and immediately Draco felt Bellatrix Apparate them away. They landed roughly on the floor of the entrance hall of the Manor.

He steeled himself, blocking his mind off in case of invasion. He wasn't sure what to tell the Dark Lord without his godfather being present, but he knew Bellatrix was about to take Draco straight to the lunatic. Sure enough, she dragged him off in the direction of the Manor library. Draco straightened himself as he walked beside his aunt.

She opened the door without preamble and met the Dark Lord's eye. "He's done it, it's finished," she thrust Draco forward. The Dark Lord didn't look away from Bellatrix as he gave what Draco thought was supposed to be a smile.

"Excellent. I will call a meeting. Bellatrix, come," The Dark Lord and Bellatrix left the library and Draco stood stunned. He couldn't believe his mind wasn't even tested. He let himself wander toward his rooms, hoping Snape would appear soon. He collapsed onto his bed once he reached his suite. He stared at the ceiling for what could've been minutes or an hour, until finally he was disturbed.

"Thank Merlin you are here!" Draco jumped from his bed and rushed at his godfather who had just entered the room.

"We don't have long but I have to make you aware that Potter now knows you're a spy. As does McGonagall."

"What? How?"

Snape sighed. "Potter was in the tower with Albus. I had to take him to McGonagall once you and the others fled and explain it. I showed them my memories. Potter is irate and McGonagall has sworn herself and him to secrecy. He can't tell anyone, nor can she. Weasley doesn't know."

"Is there any way he will find out it was you who actually performed the task?"

"Not unless it comes from you, myself, or Granger. Now, come. We have to go."

Draco nodded and together they met the rest of the Death Eaters in the dining room. The Dark Lord was not yet present, so the duo took their seats to await his arrival. Moments later, he swept in and took his seat at the head of the table.

"Tonight, we had a success in the death of Albus Dumbledore. It is my belief that the Order will crumble without him and we shall have our victory."

The room erupted in loud cheers and many hands clapped down on Draco's back in congratulations. Draco kept his gaze averted from the Dark Lord's red eyes as he accepted the praise. He felt sick to be celebrated for something so sinister but he worked hard to keep his true feelings at bay.