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The Witch Slayer

Chapter 9: The headmaster

Year 6 - June - Hogwarts

Draco knew something was wrong – he could feel it in the very earth. An imbalance in the force Xander would probably call it. He looked around his common room, not surprised to find his housemates unaffected, playing exploding snap and studying like the world hadn't shifted on its axis.

He placed his wand to his dark mark, mentally telling Voldemort he was finally ready to accomplish his task.

He had realized throughout the year something was wrong with Dumbledore. Tara had taught him how to identify 'auras' once upon a time and it wasn't hard for him to notice the headmaster's was fading.

This was likely why he had procrastinated his task. He had effectively identified a way to fake the headmasters' death – the issue he had been mulling over was how to convince the headmaster of such a plan.

So, watching his aura continue to fade, Draco hoped the man would simply pass gently in his sleep.

But it was not to be apparently. Dumbledore was strong – even now, his aura hanging on by a thread, Draco realized it was not in him to fall naturally.

He quickly wrote off a note to Hermione in their notebook – warning her it was all about to begin. He understood his role in Voldemort's plans – once Dumbledore was out, the dark lord would move fast. Draco wouldn't see his slayer for a while.

He walked towards the astronomy tower – a slow dawdle as he soaked in what would likely be his last moments of freedom. He arrived and saw the headmaster in worst shape than he expected.

"Headmaster." Draco politely nodded as he approached.

"Draco…" the headmaster lolled, obviously not well.

Draco waved his wand over the headmaster, a short diagnosis spell indicating he was suffering from two poisons – the second of which sped up the deterioration caused by the first.

"I'm sorry I cannot help you sir," Malfoy said sadly and, pocketing his wand, held his hands out, whispering a few words in repetition until the soft breeze that had picked up between his hands drifted down to the old man, "I've not healed you but cleared your mind."

The headmaster now looked at Draco quizzically – his eyes cleared from the poison but a small spark there as well from this new puzzle, "I had assumed you had come here to kill me." Dumbledore stated evenly.

Draco let out a light chuckle, sitting down facing Dumbledore and twirling his wand in his right hand, "In a sense, I did. But I have no desire to cause your death."

Dumbledore considered this and then nodded, "So you are the watcher than?"

Draco smiled, "Yes – what gave it away?"

Dumbledore returned the smile, "Your earth magic. As you likely know, Ariana wrote of the watcher blessed in magic of both worlds." Then he frowned, "I'm sorry that I did not see it sooner."

Draco chuckled, "That was the point sir." He tilted his head slightly to the left, letting out a disgruntled breath upon hearing the familiar footsteps of the potions master. "It looks like we have company." He had foreseen the possibility of this and quickly mumbled the earth magic privacy spell.

"What is this?" Dumbledore said, his face masked in wonder as he saw Snape blurry in the distance but frozen.

"It's a spell of sorts – ensures we will not be disturbed." Draco explained, "Hermione was hoping to ask you about something but – it seems she won't have time," he exhaled, gathering his thoughts, "she has been plagued by slayer dreams of late. At the end of each dream, a voice states the same words: 'From beneath you it devours'. Have you ever heard this phrase before?" Draco asked.

Dumbledore looked thoughtful and then his eyes briefly flashed down to his immediate right before meeting Draco's once more, "Once before," he confirmed recollecting it, "It was Voldemort – when he had come to the school to apply for the defense against the dark arts position. I turned him down and he looked out my window and smiled to me – saying those exact words." Dumbledore frowned now.

Draco gave a soft smile and shook his head, "That's what we were afraid of."

"What is it?" Dumbledore asked.

Draco, feeling for the dying man, explained, "We've been collecting various data over the past couple of years – phrases like 'witch slayer', the ever-increasing number of vampires in the forbidden forest, the centaurs cryptic warning. We knew from the beginning that it couldn't be a coincidence Hermione was chosen but – I guess this confirms it once and for all.

"There's an entity known as the first evil – it has psychic abilities. We believe it has been manipulating events in both magical worlds. Trying to force them together." Draco finished.

Dumbledore frowned, "That doesn't sound pleasant."

"It's not." Draco smirked.

"You've encountered this 'first evil'." Dumbledore realized.

"Yes." Draco confirmed, "My sister Buffy, she was called as a slayer 7 years ago." Draco started, watching the headmasters' eyes grow large in surprise, "4 years ago, her boyfriend was haunted by the first. It haunted all of us in the end through the appearances of those who have died. It was not my favorite winter holiday." He finished.

"Your sister was a slayer?" Dumbledore rhetorically asked, his voice sad.

"Is a slayer actually. Too stubborn to stay dead. It's a long story." Draco smiled.

"So your parents…?"

"Are doing everything in their power to protect her." Draco confirmed.

Dumbledore smiled, "Thank you for telling me all of this Draco. I find as I sit here in my final moments, I'm comforted to know the strength of those fighting for our world. And understand what my sister had written about so many years ago."

Draco shifted, the reminder that this was not just a friendly conversation. His face turned melancholy, "Sir – I have no desire to harm you. I can fake your death and take you somewhere to live out your last days – though I'm afraid you will still feel the pain of your poison. Or – well there is an earth spell. Something like euthanasia – it will help you go peacefully if that is your preference."

Dumbledore looked thoughtful as he considered his options, "I think it would be best to end it now."

Draco placed his hand in his satchel, pulling out a black bottle, instructing the headmaster to drink it. As the man dutifully consumed his final drink, Draco whispered to him. Dumbledore's eyes filled with water as he uttered a final 'thank you' and Draco stated a few simple words, his wand firmly tucked away. Dumbledore collapsed and Draco gently placed his head on the floor. He uttered a short wiccan farewell and took a deep breath before standing up and breaking the privacy spell they had been using. He immediately brought his wand to his hand and stood over the headmaster, attempting to appear as though he had just performed the killing curse.

"Draco." He heard Snape from behind, slightly out of breath behind him, "You've done it?" He asked.

Draco merely nodded, attempting to bite back the emotions plaguing him. He placed his wand to his mark and softly uttered "Morsmordre" and watched dispassionately as the mark lit up the sky. Before Snape could say anything further, he started back towards the castle – preparing for his exit. He knew it would only be a matter of minutes until all hell broke loose and he was planning to be far from this place.

He was heading towards the alcove where he had strategically placed a shrunken trunk when he was pulled into an empty classroom. Half expecting Hermione, Draco was surprised to see Potter out of breath and emerging from his bloody invisibility cloak.

"I saw it." Potter said numbly. Draco cocked his head, trying to determine what exactly it was he saw when he continued, "I was within the field of your privacy spell – I saw everything. What are you going to do now?"

Draco looked at his watch, "I have to go."

"What about Hermione?" Harry asked, looking thoughtful.

"Potter – you heard what Dumbledore said – it's critical I stay close to Voldemort. I need you to take care of her now – can you do that?" Draco asked sincerely.

"Of course." Potter confirmed, slightly taken aback by Draco's earnestness.

Draco nodded, preparing to run when he heard the sound of increasing footsteps and a few screams, "Shit." Draco uttered – unsure now of how he was going to get out. It would only be moments before one of the professors identified him as the source of the mark and surmise what happened.

"Here – take my cloak." Harry handed it to him.

"Thank you – I'll leave it in the room of requirement." Draco nodded and took off.

Draco stealthily moved about the castle in an almost dream like state. His classmates and professors were everywhere, confusion and panic abundant, but none with even the slightest awareness of his presence. Until he turned a corner and saw her, and even though it was impossible she stopped two feet away from him and stared.

He kept still, watching her, other students and professors moving around her as she stared thoughtfully. She raised her hand, skimming only inches from Draco's face before she dropped it and whispered, "Goodbye".

"Goodbye Hermione." He whispered back but by then, she was gone.

A/N: I think this is the height of seriousness for this story...I promise there will be plenty of ridiculousness in the future.

(Anyone curious, this story will be 13 chapter & an epilogue.)