Note : I changed a bit in the first chapter. The signature of the note Dumbledore found from "M" to "F".

Beta by d1n0s.

Severus had been commanded by the Dark Lord to join him at Malfoy Manor, where he was sure the other Death eaters would be as well. Before coming here Albus had worked out some excuses for Severus' ignorance on how the Order had figured out their plans in regard to the graveyard.

The quiet from outside was disturbed as Snape passed the threshold of the manor house by the screams of a man in great anger and another in even greater pain, entering the great hall Severus came to see which was which.

"Crucio!"

"I gave you one simple task and yet again you failed me, Lucius!!

Crucio!"

"Ah,. Severus you've arrived." The Dark Lord said as he casually glanced towards the just entering Potions Master. Severus Snape walked up to Voldemort, knelt, and kissed the hem of his robe.

"Report Severus." Voldemort spoke.

"I've just come from an Order meeting my Lord," replied Severus "Dumbledore has informed us that his planned visit to friends and his son's grave in Godric Hollow was interrupted by a group of masked grave robbers, that he of course fought off with the Order's aid."

"If I had been informed of this moonlit excursion of Malfoy's perhaps this run-in with Dumbledore could have been avoided." He sneered while glancing at Malfoy laying on the floor.

"I hope you're not questioning my decisions Severus; you wouldn't like to end up like poor Lucius, would you?" said Voldemort his eyes narrowing slightly.

"My apologies my Lord." Voldemort waved his hand at Snape to continue "Dumbledore decided to move his son's remains to a safer location and with Fudge's approval they will be interred at Hogwarts. Of course, security will be increased around the school and the nearby village of Hogsmeade." Severus finished his report.

"Well done, Severus. Now return to your post and get me the information on where the body is to be hidden within the school." Said Voldemort.

"Now I wish to be alone. Not you Draco, you stay." Said Voldemort "Oh and Severus take Lucius with you."

Narcissa hurriedly knelt before Voldemort. "My Lord please don't kill my son, kill me instead!" she pleaded, tears in her eyes.

"There is no need to fret my dear for today I just wish to have words with your son. Now leave me." He sneered.

Severus helped the crying Narcissa to her feet and with a flick of his wand levitated Lucius and walked the two out of the room. Glancing back as the great doors slowly shut behind him, Severus worried about the task the Dark Lord must have for his Godson and the horrible punishment if Draco should fail.

~~The Burrow~~

"Children, breakfast is ready!!" Molly Weasley called from the bottom of the stairs.

The Weasley brood raced down the stairs followed by a more sedate Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Hermione had arrived 2 days earlier than Harry. As they entered the kitchen they found Remus, Tonks, Moody, and Mr. Weasley already seated.

Both Remus and Mr. Weasley's heads were hidden behind the same copy of the only Wizarding newspaper in Great Britian, the Daily Prophet. The front of the paper faced outwards where the rest of those seated could see the headline: GRAVE OF FELIX THE PHOENIX RAZED

"Felix the Phoenix?" asked Harry questioningly as he saw the headline.

"Who is that Remus?" Hermione asked.

"Felixus Albus Dumbledore." Answered Remus as he popped his head out from behind the paper.

The children gaped; this astonishing news was new to every last one of them. Hermione looked to Ron questioningly and he raised his hand pleadingly "I've never heard of him before either." He replied.

"We didn't know either." Responded Fred and George in unison.

"Of course, you wouldn't know him, he died over 30 years ago." Interrupted Molly as she finished placing the breakfast dishes on the table, before taking a seat beside her husband.

"Did you know him Mum?" asked George.

Molly shook her head, pointing at Arthur.

"I didn't really know him personally but because of him I got my first job at the ministry."

The children all turned to Mr. Weasley interest in his story clear on their faces.

"I was at the Ministry for a job interview with the Department of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office and coincidently took the same elevator as him. He asked me what had me so anxious and I told him about my upcoming meeting. A small smile appeared on his face and with a firm grip on my shoulder he looked at me and said "I don't even know your name but from the short period of time we've spent together in this lift you've shown me that you can unburden yourself to a complete stranger so you shouldn't have any trouble talking to your interviewer, so off you go."

"And with a firm pat on my back the lift doors opened, I stepped out and before I could thank him for the odd encouragement the doors closed behind me. I was then greeted by the head of the department Mr. McLaggen and to this day I believe the short time I had with Felix Albus is what enabled me to get that job. Unfortunately, the next day he was dead, the newspaper said Muggles had murdered him." He finished his story sadly.

Hermione put a hand to her mouth, unsure whether to laugh at the odd little story or sob at how it was concluded. The others all sat stunned, the thought that Muggles had killed Dumbledore's son swimming through their heads.

"Another person sitting at this table knew Felix better than me though." Arthur said, as he turned his gaze towards Moody.

Moody scowled as he was dragged into the discussion.

"Muggles couldn't kill Felix." Moody said grimly.

"Do you know who did it sir?" asked Hermione.

"Felix's friend You-know-who of course. Tosser showed up at the funeral spouting false condolences at Albus." Growled Moody.

"You-know-who used Felix's death to stir up anti-muggle sentiment." Said Mr. Weasley.

"The hostility against muggles increased soon after Felix's death, especially within Pureblood circles." Added Mrs. Weasley.

"No wonder they hate muggles." Hermione said sadly.

"Sir, what makes you think muggles weren't responsible?" asked Harry.

"When questioned all they could remember was having a drink and then waking up in the Ministry cells, the wound in Felix's side wasn't serious enough to kill a Wizard, and when Albus performed Priori Incantatem on Felix's wand a slew of spells used only in a fight came out." Explained Moody.

"What did he do for a living?" asked Remus

"He was an Auror, became Head of the Auror department, cross promoted to Head of Magical Law Enforcement, and before his death my mentor and friend." Moody replied

"Felix Dumbledore was a great wizard, skilled duelist, and only second place to his father in raw magical power. The Wizarding world lost an icon that day and an even greater man." Moody growled.

Everybody sat silently, the breakfast cooling on the table.

Finally, it was broken by a question from Tonks "Why did everyone call him Felix the Phoenix?"

"His animagus form was a Phoenix. It's been a thousand years since the last animagus to take on the form of a magical creature and that was that of a Griffin taken on by the son of Godric Gryffindor, Gordon." Answered Moody.

"Wicked!" exclaimed Fred and George as they glanced at each other.

"Now the big question is why Voldemort would want his body?" asked Harry.

Moody shrugged and said "Knowing old You-know-who, nothing good."

Harry followed Draco spotting him as he entered the Room of Requirement.

After working on the vanishing cabinet for a time Draco stood up to stretch and out of the corner of his eye noticed a large rectangular box. Out of curiosity and boredom he opened it to find the key to saving his family. Closing it back up he rushed out of the room and headed down to the dungeons where he could contact his Aunt Bella using a two way mirror he kept locked in his trunk.

Earlier, frustrated he couldn't enter after Malfoy, Harry headed back to Gryffindor tower to discuss what he saw with Ron and Hermione.

"Malfoy is up to something, I know it but I don't know what." Said Harry frustrated.

"Maybe he's up to something for You-know-who." concluded Ron.

"If you're really worried about it maybe you should talk to the Headmaster about it." Said Hermione.

"He's already busy with the Horcruxes, I don't want to burden him with anything I don't have proof about." sighed Harry resignedly.

"Draco, let me help you." Offered Snape.

"It is my task Godfather, with this the Dark Lord will no longer curse my family name." hissed Draco.

"I'm more concerned about your life than your name." Snape exclaimed.

"You should worry more about yourself Professor, unless you've found the casket you still have your own task for the Dark Lord to finish." Spat Draco.

Severus roughly shoved Draco against the wall.

"Don't interfere in other's affairs boy." Threatened Severus.

"Then learn to mind your own business old man!" said Draco angrily, finally managing to struggle free leaving Snape to look after him angrily as he walked away and an anxious Harry Potter hiding in the shadows waiting for Snape to leave and wishing he'd had his invisibility cloak so he could have been close enough to hear what they'd been arguing about.

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