Sorry for the late update! It is near the end of the academic year and so things are very busy! Will have another chapter out by Sunday.

Italics show lines lifted directly from HBP

The next few weeks went by quickly. As suspected, the DA weren't too disappointed that the Monday sessions would be cancelled. Many of them were already finding that attending three times a week was too much for them. Despite the war brewing outside the halls, many students still wanted to just enjoy their time at school and their minds were focused on other things.

Dumbledore had been true to his word and he and Harry did work on some more advanced conjuration during their next session. Much like Battle Transfiguration, Conjuration that was used in battle involved much more power and will than normal; like the normal conjuration they had been learning about with McGonagall. Dumbledore had got Harry working on how to control a fire whip, one that could be used to lasso a group of opponents, particularly effective against inferi. Much like when he had done the Battle Transfiguration, Harry was exhausted afterwards. But he managed to make his way to the Room and share the lesson with the other three.

With the added Monday session and the longer session times on Tuesday and Thursday, the four secret allies were making great strides in their magic and it was beginning to show beyond just their Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons. McGonagall and Flitwick had both commented to Harry about how outstanding his output in class had become. They were glad he was finally showing some interest in his studies and applying himself. Draco, Pansy and Hermione had also received words of encouragement and pride from their teachers. They were by far and above the strongest in their year when it came to practical magic now.

Hermione and Harry continued to work diligently on their Occlumency training. Harry had begun to form an idea of what his mindscape was going to be and was beginning to put the pieces of it together. He was trying out a theory that he could have specific traps for certain people who might try to invade his mind, but he wouldn't be sure that it would work until he actually faced those opponents.

Another notable change that had taken place, but wasn't noticed by anyone, was that the animosity between the four had continued to slowly fade away. There were far less snide comments, or angry retorts to genuine questions. While they were still a long way away from trusting each other, no one was jumping to conclusions about motivations of meanings behind certain words anymore. At times they had even shared a laugh or two while they were studying.

-break-

It was the day before Slughorn's Christmas party and Draco and Pansy were sitting in a corner of the common room finishing off some homework when Draco leant back in his chair and dropped his quill.

'I've been thinking about the vanishing cabinet. We have looked all over the castle and there is no sign of it.'

And look all over the castle they had. When Potter and Granger were working with the DA, Pansy and Draco had been searching the castle for any sign of the vanishing cabinet.

'Agreed.' Pansy replied. 'So what are you thinking?'

'Well the Dark Lord is adamant that it is still in Hogwarts. The magical signature that comes from the cabinet points that way, which means it hasn't been destroyed or moved.'

Pansy just nodded along. They had discussed all this before, but she knew sometimes Draco needed to say everything that was in his mind to get to his point.

'So, the question is. Who moved the cabinet?'

'My guess will be Filch.' Pansy surmised. 'He seems the logical choice. He is the caretaker of the school so I'm sure that would have fallen under his duties.'

'Exactly, and as we know he is a squib and after running tests on the cabinet in Borgin and Burkes, the cabinets would need magic to destroy them. They are impervious to any physical attack. So, if I was a squib, tasked with getting rid of a cabinet, that turned out to need a magical solution, but I am ashamed of my lack of magic and so I don't tell anyone about it. What do I do?' Draco posed the question, clearly with an answer in mind, seeing if Pansy would come to the same conclusion.

'Well I would search the castle for somewhere secretive to hide it over the summer when no-one was around. That way I could use non-magical means to transport it to the place I found. Like the trolley on the Express.'

Draco nodded for her to continue.

'But I've been here for years, so I would already know all the hiding spots. Which means, I'm not waiting for the students to leave to find a place. I already have a place in mind. A place that no-one knows about. A place to hide things where no-one will find it... A place that can become anything you want it to be!' She finished, realisation dawning on her face. 'Bloody hell. The Room!'

'Exactly.' Agreed Draco. 'I imagine all we would need to do is go to the seventh floor and ask it for a place to hide something and it'll give us what we want.' He concluded. Satisfaction oozing from his confident posture.

'Brilliant Draco!' Pansy praised. 'So when do you think we should go?'

'I was thinking tomorrow night during Slughorn's Christmas party. People will be so distracted by it that we won't be noticed leaving our dorm.'

'I agree. And if we find it? Then what.'

'We let Potter and Granger know and we start planning on what to do next.'

The next night as Slughorn's guests went off to the party, Draco and Pansy slipped out of their dorm and made their way to the seventh floor.

Once outside Draco took a breath and walked back and forth in front of the wall asking for a place to hide something.

Thankfully after his third walk by, a door appeared. It was much different to the door they had been using for their meetings with the Gryffindors, it was older and seemed more worn down.

They were not prepared for what they found once stepping inside. There were rows and rows of discarded junk from generations of students, stacked high above their heads.

'Bloody hell.' Draco swore. 'This is ridiculous.'

Pansy nodded her agreement. 'Well we better get started then.' She sighed and moved down an aisle, Draco following behind her.

It was about an hour later when they found it, stashed away in a random corner of the room.

Glad that they had finally located it, they placed a tracking spell on it so that next time they came they could find it much easier.

'What do you want to do with it?' Pansy asked.

'Nothing right now. It's in the best place for us to work on it. No one will find it or move it so it's safe. We don't have time to do any work or analysis on it tonight so we can make a plan and come back later.'

And so they slowly made their way out of the room. Once on the sixth floor, they knew they had to be careful passing Slughorn's office, they didn't want to get caught in such an out of the way place at this time of night. Unfortunately for them, someone had been lying in wait for this exact moment and they felt a hand on the back of both their robes. Both Pansy and Draco wished in that moment that they had had Potter's map with them.

'Well well well, what do we have here. Two students trying to sneak into a party they weren't invited to!" Came Filch's squeaky voice, 'let's see what professor Slughorn has to say about this!' and he started dragging them into the Professor's office.

'Unhand me you cretin. We were not trying to get into this pathetic party.' Draco snarled.

'Do not touch me, peasant!' shouted Pansy.

But it was too late, the useless caretaker had pushed them through the door, right into the middle of Slughorn's Christmas party.

'Professor Slughorn,' wheezed Filch, his jowls aquiver and the maniacal light of mischief-detection in his bulging eyes, 'I discovered these students lurking outside this corridor! Clearly they were trying to gate-crash your party!' He got out, obviously so incredibly pleased with himself.

Draco and Pansy managed to free themselves from his grip, Draco looking murderous while Pansy looked disgusted at having his hands on her.

'We weren't trying to gate-crash you imbecile, I already told you that.' Draco growled at the man.

'Then what were you doing in the corridor!' Filch shouted gleefully, You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the Headmaster say that night-time prowling's out, unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?'

Draco looked like he was about to kill the man, but it was Pansy who managed to think quicker. She took Draco's hand in hers and said 'If you must know, you lecherous old man, my boy-friend and I were on a date. We wanted to see the moon light from the astronomy tower. We wanted some time together, we did NOT want some miserable old fool handling us for no reason.'

Filch seemed to wither under her gaze. It was Slughorn who finally jumped in before things got worse.

'Oh ho ho, young love hey! Who could blame them. I remember when I was caught once or twice out of bed with a young lady.' He said to the crowd, which drew some laughs. 'No harm done here. You may stay if you wish.' He jovially invited and returned to his conversation.

Draco and Pansy finally had a chance to settle themselves and look around the room. They caught the eyes of Potter and Granger who were standing off to the side.

Before they got a chance to properly assess what the two were wearing Snape stepped in front of their view. His face set. 'I think it would be a good time for the two of you to return to your rooms. Follow me.'

'Yes professor.' Chorused Draco and Pansy as they followed him down to the dungeons. When they made it to the common room entrance Snape spoke again.

'Mr Malfoy, I would like to speak to you in my office. Follow me.' He said leaving no room for argument. Draco gave her a look to say it will be fine, and she returned one to say she will be waiting up for him.

Draco followed Snape to his office and once he was seated his godfather spoke.

'That was foolish tonight.' He said coolly.

Draco decided to keep the ruse going that Pansy had started, 'It was foolish to go on a date with my girlfriend?' he scoffed in response.

'Do not take me for a fool Draco. I have watched you and Miss Parkinson grow up, you are as close to brother and sister as I have ever seen. The two of you were clearly sneaking about tonight. It would not do well for you to get caught and bring more attention to yourself.'

'I do not know what you are talking about, professor.' Draco replied flatly.

Snape sighed and leant back in his chair. 'You used to trust me once Draco. What has happened? I could help you with whatever you are planning.'

Realising that playing dumb was pointless any longer Draco responded. 'I do not need your help. The Dark Lord has given this task to me, and me alone.' He confidently declared.

'Yet you have clearly brought Miss Parkinson into whatever you are planning.'

'Pansy is unaware of my true intentions. As you said, we are family to one another. She will lie if I ask her to, but the plans I have are just for me.'

Draco felt Snape try to get into his head, however he had had enough of playing games and he forcefully removed him. Snape, not expecting such a vicious defence, was briefly surprised.

'It seems your Aunt has taken up where I have left off, some interesting choices there Mr. Malfoy. Whom is it that you are trying to keep your thoughts from? Surely you do not think you can keep the Dark Lord out of your head?' Snape asked, his tone even, but Draco could tell he was worried.

'When you are in a school with Dumbledore as your Headmaster, is it important to have at least some defences.' Draco retorted.

'A wise choice, I admit, but I still wish you would trust me, Draco. I made a promise to your mother to look out for you. I cannot do that if you do not let me help you.

'It seems you might have to break that promise, Sir.' Draco replied not giving an inch.

'Dammit Draco, I took the unbreakable vow for you!'

-break-

Hermione and Harry were on their way back from the party. They had had a lovely evening together, and not for the first time, were thankful that they had decided to go together rather than trying to find dates.

They were curious as to what was going on with Malfoy and Parkinson, they were surprised to see them being brought into the party in such an unceremonious way. They had been surprised even further when Parkinson had declared Malfoy her boyfriend and taken his hand. It was clear that they had been up to something and Parkinson was merely covering for them. They had both felt a little sick after seeing their intrusion, but they put it down to the wine they had tried and didn't mention it to the other.

They were almost back at their common room when they felt their coins heat up. They had all agreed to keep them on their persons at all times in case there was an emergency.

They pulled them out of their pockets to see a message that read, "ROOM NOW." They looked at each other, clearly whatever had happened tonight was important enough for them to meet right away. It was the final night before the Christmas break so they assumed whatever Parkinson and Malfoy wanted to talk about couldn't wait a couple of weeks.

-break-

Harry and Hermione got to the room before the other two, purely due to the location, and settled into their normal chairs, still dressed in their outfits for the party.

When Draco and Pansy walked through the door they both had to do a double take.

Hermione was wearing beautiful dress robes that seemed to float around her and pool at her feet. They framed her figure making her look beautiful and powerful. A soft steel grey that turned to coal at her feet, embellished with botanical floral coal coloured beading on her chest and waist… Draco felt the air leave his chest in a puff of surprise.

Harry was wearing stiff traditional wizard robes, velvet and silk. A charcoal cravat to match Hermione's robes. He too looked powerful and Pansy was taken aback. She didn't know what she was expecting but traditional wizard robes certainly weren't it.

Hermione could feel Draco's eyes on her when he entered the room. To his credit, he did not linger too long, nor did he look away too quickly. Rather than feel affronted by this gesture, she found she rather enjoyed that he had looked. She sat back in her chair feeling much more confident, a fluttering in her belly.

Harry saw Pansy look at him when she entered. He wasn't sure what it was that flashed across her face when she saw his face, but it almost looked like approval.

When they sat down it was Harry who spoke first. 'What was so important that you needed to speak to us right now?'

'We found the vanishing cabinet.'

'Snape took an unbreakable vow to protect me.'

'Well fuck.'

'Bloody hell.'

It all came out in one big rush that the four couldn't help but laugh.

Hermione was the first to speak. 'Okay, how about we hear about the vanishing cabinet first.' Hermione suggested.

So Pansy explained what they had deduced about the cabinet and their search for it, which led her to the point of being grabbed by Filch. Draco then took up the story and explained about his conversation with Snape.

'When did he make the vow? I thought your mother had been locked away most of the summer?' Harry asked

'Snape is one of the Dark Lords most trusted so he has the ability to go wherever he pleases in the manor. He went to Mother's room to give her some potions, he told the Dark Lord I would be more willing to complete the mission if my mother is in good health. When he arrived my aunt was there as well and my mother asked him to look after me.' Draco answered.

'So what exactly did he vow?' Hermione asked, curious to see how bound he was.

'He vowed that he would do everything in his power to protect me and that if I was unable to finish my mission, he would finish it for me.'

That pronouncement was met with silence.

'So Snape will kill Dumbeldore if you don't?' Harry finally asked.

'It seems that way.' Draco answered.

Harry got up at this announcement and placed, "Taken a vow to kill Dumbledore", onto the side that marked him as loyal to Voldemort. 'Well that answers that then.' He said simply. Looking at the board.

'Not necessarily.' Pansy said slowly.

'What do you mean not necessarily? How could he be on any other side if he's planning to do that?' He said pointedly.

'You could make the argument that this could still point to him being loyal to no-one. That he made the vow because it best suited him.' Draco offered, unsure.

'I was thinking that this could still be loyal to Dumbledore.' Pansy stated.

'What? How on earth does that make sense?' Harry asked, his mind racing.

'Just relax Harry,' came Hermione's voice. She had been quiet throughout as she was thinking over all the options. 'Let's just go through each option and see how it could make sense: Loyal to Riddle, that's obvious, Loyal to himself, not exactly clear how that keeps his options open, it is forcing him into one direction, so unlikely. Lastly, Loyal to Dumbledore, which means two things. Dumbledore does know about Malfoy's plan and it means Dumbledore is well aware that Snape will kill him if Malfoy fails.'

Harry had finally sat down as Hermione began to talk and listened carefully.

'Which means,' Pansy offered, 'that Dumbledore knows he will die soon and is content with Snape being the one to do it. Just like the Dark Lord, Dumbledore would know that Draco would not be able to get to him and kill him, so he has made it so that if he is to die, it will be by Snape's hand.'

They all were quiet for a few moments as they pondered on this option, when Harry's whisper broke the silence.

'His hand…'

'What about his hand? Draco asked.

'You wouldn't have seen it because he was wearing a glove on it. I saw it over the summer, it was black and withered, like it had died. It was the hand with the ring on it. What if he is dying?' Harry said, mortified by the thought. He might be mad at the old man, but he wasn't prepared for him to die.

'The ring isn't just a ring…' Draco said while he now got up and went over to the board. This time everyone followed him.

'What are you thinking Malfoy?' Hermione asked, coming and standing beside him. Pansy and Harry stood next to her.

'Well if the ring was more than a ring, then let's say it has somehow cursed the Headmaster. We can assume from the memory that it has something to do with the Dark Lord. The ring appears on his hand, his hand turns black and withered and he has potentially agreed to let Snape kill him. Plus, he is really motivated to get Harry to see these memories and has made a focus on the ring.'

'Bloody hell.' Harry said aloud. 'What the fuck is going on?'

'I have no idea.' replied Draco.

'Well then... what do we do?' Hermione asked the group.

'What can we do?' huffed Pansy, ' We can't tell anyone, we can't trust anyone. We just have to sit on it and keep putting the pieces together until it makes more sense.'

They all nodded to that.

'If we can figure out Snape's loyalties, then we can use this vow to our advantage.' Posed Hermione. 'Think about it, most of the vow is there to protect Malfoy. So we could use Snape by putting him in a position where he either has to help us, or die through the vow he has taken. He would have no idea that you would turn to us on this when he made the vow. He wouldn't be aware that he would be tied to your choices like this.'

'Okay.' Draco agreed. 'But we still need more information before we can act in any definitive way.'

'Tomorrow is the Christmas break and it is an opportunity for us to get some more answers.' Harry said. 'I have agreed to go to the Wealey's for Christmas, but I will also be going to Grimmauld Place for a few days. I will look into the grimoire to see how I can get control of the house, and I will speak to Remus about Snape. He might have some insight as to why Dumbledore thinks he is loyal. I have never seen the two of them have as much animosity towards each other as Sirius did.'

'Pansy and I will be staying at Hogwarts for Christmas. I am sending a letter home tonight to say that I have found the cabinet and wish to use the holidays to work on fixing it. Pany is going to help me.'

'The cabinet! I forgot all about that.' Hermione said excitedly. 'Where is it?'

'Right here.' Draco motioned to the room. Hermione and Harry looked confused for a moment before they both made an 'o' with their mouths as it dawned on them.

'Can you show us?' Hermione asked.

'It will have to be quick, we are already up well after curfew.'

And so the four left the Room and watched Draco ask for a room to hide things and the same small beaten down door appeared.

'Wow.' Was Hermione's response to seeing the room.

'Holy shit.' Was Harry's.

'Amazing isn't it.' Commented Pansy, 'Hundreds of years of forgotten, lost and broken things.'

'Its incredible.' Hermione's voice said softly. 'We have to come back after the Christmas break and do some exploring. We might find some useful things to help us.'

They all agreed and then Draco and Pansy led them to the cabinet.

'Doesn't look like much does it?' Harry said.

'Nope, just a regular old cabinet.' Draco said.

'But sometimes Mr. Malfoy,' Hermione began in her best Dumbledore impression, 'a cabinet is more than just a cabinet!'

And the four of them burst into laughter.