Thank you all for sticking with the story! I love writing it and getting into the mood of writing it by listening to some Harry Potter ambience music. It really helps with my mindset, and it may help with yours as you read. Just a thought.

Also, if you are a Druna fan, you may like this chapter =)

Chapter 21

The Black Lake's surface glowed in the early morning light as Draco stood at the top of the astronomy tower gazing out over the view. His hands balled into fists in his black uniform slacks pockets as the sun rose a little higher over the tall mountains and the cool wind whipped his very blonde hair. This is the location in which Draco was supposed to kill Dumbledore. He was to have Dumbledore meet him there to discuss a school matter, and he would cast the Death Curse on him... but that is not going to happen, when it was supposed to happen in only one week.

Draco took in a massive amount of the crisp morning hair and let it out in relief. The weight of that task is gone, as is the one he was given to kill Hermione, but he doesn't have to do that either. Another task stood before him, one that will aid in ending the Dark Lord altogether.

And Draco can't wait to get started on it. Two horcruxes are already destroyed, and they have five more to go. But who is the they? Just Dumbledore and Draco? Are they the only two looking for them, at least right now? No doubt others tried to find and destroy them in the past. Hold on... Harry knows about them. Could he help find them? Is that what he is doing right now? And the others?

His heart pulsed in shock. No, that's not it. Why would Dumbledore send them off to find the Dark Lord's horcruxes when he was trying to hide them from the Dark Lord in the first place? It's best not to think about that and focus on his plan of action. It was already set into action the day before when Dumbledore asked Draco to perform a sleeping charm on himself, which he did. He slept from 1pm all the way to about 5am. He has never gotten that many hours of sleep in row in his life, and he felt incredibly refreshed. He had gotten up, gotten ready, and headed straight for the tower on which he stood. He had to kill some time before breakfast since it starts at 6:30 and goes on until eight. He usually goes sometime after seven, but today is different. He hasn't eaten since the morning the day before, so he's ravenous.

The bell gonged signaling breakfast. He grabbed his schoolbag from the floorboards and turned to head down to breakfast. He plans on eating, going to classes, then at lunch, writing Luna Lovegood an owl stating that he needs to talk to her about an important matter, and to meet him here atop the astronomy tower after dinner so no one will hear them. That will give him enough time to get missed homework done, eat dinner, and after speaking with her, going to Helena. As for the Chamber of Secrets, he plans on going there after he has the diadem in hand. He knows that is contrary to what Dumbledore said to do, but it makes more sense to destroy the item far below the school than in it. One may never know what will happen when a horcrux is destroyed. Harry almost died, but was that due to the basilisk? Regardless, he's going to get rid of it down in that chamber.

Draco stepped down the winding stairs that led up to the tower and eventually came into a corridor that had only a few students walking around. Not many are out and about this early. He walked with one hand holding the handle of his schoolbag, and the other hand was in his pockets as usual. He walked on for a few minutes until he reached the corridor that leads to the great hall. His stomach growled in hunger, and it pinched his stomach almost painfully. He really needs to eat.

Passing windows that let cool air in, he walked down the corridor, but stopped. There stood, at one of the windows, dreamily gazing out of it, was Luna Lovegood, her long kinky blonde hair that was almost the shade of Draco's dangling down passed her hips onto her blue Ravenclaw uniform skirt. Draco stood there and stared for a moment and his pulse started racing. Should he just go up to her now and say that he needs to talk to her? Will there be enough time? Maybe now he can just say to meet him that night so they have more time to talk.

A couple of people, a boy and a girl, walked by and pointed at Luna and snickered. Yeah, maybe he should just ask her to meet him up on the astronomy tower that night at seven and then move on to breakfast. His stomach protested again, and that got Draco moving, but slowly. Cautiously. Dumbledore was right in saying that Draco's never associated with Luna before. He has had no reason to. They're not in the same house, and she's a year below him, as far as he knew. And his father hates her father because of things he's written about the Malfoys, and other topics that the Ministry hated, in The Quibbler. Now, though, he has a very good reason to talk to her.

She looked over when he was only a couple meters away and he froze. She caught him. A small smile crossed her thin, light-pink lips, and she turned to fully face him. "Hello, Draco Malfoy."

"Hi..." was all he could get out, and it irritated him that it was.

She stepped up to him and her bright blue eyes and fair skin both shined in the sunlight coming through the window. She's a pretty girl. His heart jumped. Did he actually just think that about the looniest girl in school? He has a girlfriend, but he's male—he automatically thinks girls are pretty just by looking that them. He cleared his throat as he tried to dismiss that thought.

"You clearly want to say something," she remarked in a light voice with a slight Irish lilt. That, as well as her pleasant demeanor, eased his nerves a bit.

"Yes, I do."

"Did you want to talk to me to inquire about Hermione? I have noticed that the two of you have become rather close in the past month."

"No, actually. I already know what she's up to, along with her friends."

Her blonde brows rose. "Really, you know? Where did they run off to? I am their friend, you see. Well, I think I am. I am curious as to where they are."

As is he. "They are on an errand for Professor Dumbledore, and I am not positive as to their exact locations."

She nodded, accepting that. "So, for what reason did you feel the need to come up and talk to me? Not many people do willingly."

She seems to know very well of her reputation, and he surmises that she doesn't care about it. From what he has seen of her in passing, she seems pretty carefree. "I came on an errand from Dumbledore. He wishes that I speak to you about a rather important matter."

His stomach growled rather loudly at that exact moment, and he grimaced. Normally, people would chuckle at that, but Luna's expression showed that she didn't notice it. He knew she did, though, since it was loud enough for a passing boy to look at him when he walked by. "I suppose it doesn't have to do with your appetite?"

Draco's neck heated up in embarrassment. "No, I need to talk to you about something really important, something that should not be discussed here. Would you be able to meet me up at the astronomy tower after dinner today so we can talk about it? It's a rather heavy-weighted topic."

Again, her expression didn't change. "Of course. I would be happy to help Professor Dumbledore with this particular errand, whatever it is."

That was easy. "Great. Well, I'm gonna go."

"Alright. Go ahead and eat. I'm sure your belly would appreciate it."

"Right."

He walked on passed her, smelling some type of fruity perfume, and headed to the Great Hall. "That was awkward," he muttered, and then immediately thought that it was probably only awkward for him. She seemed more than comfortable talking with him. It could be because he's one of her friend's boyfriend, and has heard of his character change. Or she's just like that to everyone. She may have not cared if he was the way he was before. She kind of reminds him of a little white dog, not caring who the person is and is friendly to whoever. That character of hers is going to make it easier to talk with her later on in the evening.

Draco walked into the Great Hall, found a seat at the head of the Slytherin table, and dished himself up some eggs, sausage, buttered toast, wild berries, and a cup of orange juice—he's never been a fan of pumpkin juice. He glanced up at Dumbledore eating his own breakfast at the teachers' table and caught his gaze. He nodded once at Draco. He knew what that meant. He nodded once back and got to eating his delicious breakfast.

The sun lowered in the sky as Draco stood on top of the astronomy tower. Dinner has just finished, at least his has. He had stopped eating and left the large room of tables and students. He had caught Luna's eye as he walked out and headed straight on up. He knew that she wasn't far behind him because he saw in the corner of his eye that she had gotten up and started following him, and was considerate enough to stay a fair ways behind him.

He heard footsteps on the floorboards and turned around to face the girl everyone calls loony. Maybe she just seems that way. From what he has gathered so far, she's harmless, pretty perceptive and is not afraid to speak her mind. "Hello," he greeted her.

"Hello, Draco." She came up to him, but stepped passed him and folded her arms over the railing to the tower and gazed over the view of the sun setting behind the mountains. "This is a quite lovely view."

He turned around and stood with his hands in his pockets, gazing out over the view as well. "Indeed."

Cool evening wind caught his hair, and hers as well. "What is it that Professor Dumbledore asked you to speak with me about that requires us to talk alone?"

His heart jumped at the fact that he is indeed all alone with Luna Lovegood, a pretty girl, on top of the highest tower at Hogwarts. He tried not to dwell on that. He should get right to business. "I am to fulfill a rather difficult task for Professor Dumbledore, and it requires me knowing where a certain item is, an item that once belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw. I was told you know about it."

Luna's blue eyes widened, and her brows shot up. She really does show emotion. This has to be a big deal if it made her react in such a way. "Are you referring to her diadem?"

"Indeed." He pulled out the little note from his pocket, the one that Dumbledore wrote. "Dumbledore wrote this note for you, explaining the matter at hand, and that it's alright to talk with me about it."

He handed it to her and she read it. She nodded. "Well, about a year ago, I was walking back to my common room a little before curfew, and saw Helena Ravenclaw, or more commonly known as the Gray Lady, weeping in an empty corridor. She is the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw."

"I know."

"She is rumored to be very shy, so I came up to her cautiously. She noticed my presence and quickly vanished. I told her I meant no harm, and I asked if there was anything I could do to ease the pain she was feeling. She obliged, and told me about her mother's diadem. Do you know the story behind it?"

"Dumbledore told me that it belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw, and after her death, Helena stole it because she believed it possessed the ability to make one wiser when wearing it."

"That is correct. What else were you told?"

"That depends on what you were told as well. Did she tell you of what happened to it? Who stole and turned it into something horrible?"

She pursed her lips. This has to not be easy for her to reveal. "Yes. She told me about Tom Riddle asking about it and claiming that he was going to destroy it."

"But he didn't. He used the darkest magic to create..." Maybe he shouldn't say, even if she knows what a horcrux is. He doesn't want to drag her into this. "To create something horrible, like I said. Dumbledore wants me to destroy it so it isn't a problem anymore. Would Helena know where it is located?"

"She knows. She did not tell me, though, so I wouldn't go looking for it. She may tell you were it is since you plan on destroying it. She seemed very afraid of the object, and hated the fact that it is in the school."

Draco's heart pulsed in surprise. "You know that it's in the school?"

"Yes. Helena said that it was, but she wouldn't tell me exactly where, like I said." Her gaze moved to him, and her eyes shined in the evening light. "Would you like me to take you to her?"

"Yes, that would be great."

Luna promptly turned and started to walk out of the circular room they were in. Draco took up his schoolbag and followed and ended up stepping down the winding staircase side-by-side with her. A minute passed before Luna said, "I have seen you talking with Rowena Ravenclaw, as well as her cousin on a couple of occasions. Are you close with them?"

She saw those conversations? "You knew Rowena had a cousin? Annabelle told me she never appeared to anyone until a couple months ago... when she appeared to me."

"I found out about her at about the same time. I was rather surprised. I have spoken with her as well. She told me about her plans to bring you and Hermione together. She was very proud that she succeeded."

Draco felt slight irritation with Annabelle. She's still hiding things from him. Apparently she's told Luna, and who knows who else, about trying to push him and Hermione together. Thank goodness that it seems the Luna only thinks that and wasn't told about the vision. "Yes, she was."

They passed windows as they continued to step down the stairs, and the light was growing more dim. "I have to say that I am rather glad you two came together. I think you are rather good for each other."

"How so?" He was honestly curious of the answer.

"Well, you and Hermione from the very beginning, at least from what I can see, could never got along and have always butt heads. I believe that is because the two of you are rather similar in character. Hermione always has been to proud of being at the top, and you seemed above everyone else because you are from a wealthy, prominent family."

He didn't say anything to that since he knew it was true.

"But Hermione is kind and has a good heart, and she needed that to help you mend the wounded heart that you have. I may not know you at all, Draco, but I could tell that you were always suffering inwardly for one reason or another. Hermione helped heal that, I think, at least to some degree. And you helped her not be so prideful—pride that caused her to get gravely hurt. I hope you two have a long relationship so you both will be able to help one another."

Draco was astonished that this girl he didn't know knew what she did about him by just observing him. She probably does that with everyone, and does it accurately if she observes them like she has him and her friends. "I haven't thought about it all once like that. I suppose you're right. And... I hope that I have a long relationship with her as well."

She said nothing to that, but smiled as a response. Well, at lease he has the approval of at least one of Hermione's friends. Ron's adamantly against their relationship, and Harry, well, he hasn't really expressed an opinion, but he's most likely not thrilled about it either.

He and Luna exited the staircase and walked on down the corridors. He walked a little behind Luna a couple of meters so people wouldn't suspect anything. He did so for several minutes until Luna stopped in a lower corridor, not as low as where the Slytherin common room is. This area maybe close to where the Ravenclaw common room is. The sun was gone, so the corridor was dim and eerie, and there were no torches on the stone walls. Luna looked up at Draco since she went up to his shoulder.

"This is where she resides. Most people don't come into this corridor because the know that she's here and doesn't like to be disturbed. I believe people are more afraid of her than her mother. But there is no need to fear. She is only shy."

He nodded, his hands balled into fists, one in his pocket, and one clutching his schoolbag. They were numbing up in nervousness. He shouldn't be apprehensive about talking with a ghost since he knows two and is friends with one. "Alright. Thank you."

"You're welcome. And good luck. I hope you accomplish what you are trying to do."

She left him and he walked on down the lone corridor. He turned, and his heart pulsed when he saw a form that wasn't blue like Annabelle or Rowena, but was gray. No wonder she is also called The Gray Lady. She turned and he could see her face. She looked like she could be in mid or late-twenties, and she had on a long dress, and long dark hair draped down her back to her waist.

She saw him. Her dark eyes went very wide.

"Who are you?!" she demanded of him. She noticed his tie and sweater. "You are a Slytherin. A Slytherin never dares come near the Ravenclaw common room, much less this empty corridor. Leave. Now."

He took a deep breath and attempted to not be intimidated by her thin, pursed lips and deep crease in her brow. Angry ghosts can be dangerous from what he has heard. "My name is Draco Malfoy. I promise, I mean you no harm, Helena."

Her features softened. "Well, I am shocked that a Malfoy has entered my presence, and called me by my given name, but I do not wish to talk with you. Off you go."

She turned, but he said, halting her, "I came on orders from Professor Dumbledore. He wishes that I ask you about your mother's diadem."

She turned and floated up to him. "My mother's diadem?" Her fair features turned thoughtful, like she was remembering something. "Luna. She revealed what I told her to her headmaster." Her dark eyes flicked to him. "And he told you of it."

He could feel her irritation, much like he could feel Annabelle's happiness in the past. "Yes, and I think he has told no one else. He wants me to destroy it. I have no doubt that's what you want done with it as well, considering what Tom Riddle did to it."

"It was a grand piece!" she shouted at him passionately with a razors in her eyes. "It was beautiful and that horrible young man defiled it with dark magic after he said he would protect it!"

Draco gulped hard, and stood his ground, despite her yelling in his face. "I understand your frustrations. It was important to you and your mother, and he did the worst thing a person could do to it."

"He's not even a person anymore! He's a monster!"

Tears welled in her eyes, and he didn't like that he was making her so distraught. "I know that he is. I have talked with him personally and know just how black his heart is. He has commanded to do terrible things, and now... I want to make things right. I want to help destroy him, and I can do that by destroying that diadem. I need to know where it is so I can do so."

Her eyes turned frantic. "You what? You talked with him? He's commanded you to do terrible things?!" Her eyes widened in realization. "You are one of his followers! And you dare come to me to tell you where the diadem is!"

"I told you, I want to destroy it! I want to tear myself away from his clutches and aid in ending him. Don't you want to see the Dark Lord defeated?"

He took in a breath, remembering to keep his emotions level. Helena sure wasn't doing that. "Yes, I want to see him gone! That is all anyone wants so see!"

"Then please, tell me where the diadem is located. You do know where it is, right? Where the young Dark Lord hid it when he was younger?"

She suddenly turned away from him and floated about the corridor for a minute. He waited. When she turned to face him again, he stood at attention.

"It is in the place where everything is hidden," she revealed. "If you have to ask, you will never know. If you know, you need only ask."

A riddle. Draco thought about that for a moment. A place where everything is hidden, a place that is there if you know what you need and ask for it... He knew he needed to mend that wardrobe, and that place knew that, too, so it appeared.

"Do you understand, Mr. Malfoy?" she asked.

"Yes, I do. Thank you."

He turned to go, but stopped. He had another pressing question. He turned to face her again. "I would like to know one more thing before leaving you. I am acquainted with your mother as well as your cousin Annabelle. I am just wondering why Annabelle has never spoken of a cousin that she had, one who would be around her age had she lived."

Helena's features hardened. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore has told you my story. I was not fond of my mother, yes, because I was jealous of her and her wisdom and fame, but I also loathed her because she never treated me as a true daughter when she treated Annabelle as such. I was resentful towards her and Annabelle. She spouted nonsense of visions and predicting the future, and was apple of everyone's eye. I stole the diadem from my mother so I could be recognized, not only by her, but by everyone else. I failed in my attempts when Tom Riddle took the diadem and changed it into what it is now."

Once Draco sees Annabelle again, he's going to ask her about Helena and this story since it wasn't even in Rowena's story of Annabelle. She mentioned that she saw her as a daughter, but she never mentioned she actually had one. It's another thing to the list of questions he wants to ask Annabelle—what else she has hid from him. "I see. I am sorry to hear that you two did not have a good relationship."

"And you do? With her?"

"She is a good friend who has helped me in ways that no one ever could. She's a good person and has a good heart. I think it would be worth the trouble to mend your relationship with her. Maybe your demeanor could change from gray and dismal to blue and bright."

She said nothing to that, and he hoped that what he said sunk in, and he turned to go. Without stopping, he headed straight for the Room of Requirement.

He recalled seeing it there. He recalled glancing at it as he walked passed it through all the clutter all the times he went to on mend the transportation wardrobe. He just doesn't remember exactly where it was hidden, and it may take him hours to find since the Room of Requirement is tricky—a certain stack of books can be near the wardrobe one day, and the next, that same stack is on the other side of the large room. Things move around. It's part of the enchantment.

Draco cantered down the torch-lit corridors as fast as he could to the Room of Requirement. He stopped at the large wall and waited until it read his thoughts. Hopefully it will make it easy for him to find the diadem. He has seen other diadems, crowns and headpieces in the room, but the one he has pictured in his mind has two blue stones in it, and it is in the shape of a bird. That has to be the one.

The door conjured itself into the wall and Draco went on in. He walked through the clutter and stopped where the tall wardrobe was. He felt a tinge of relief and happiness that it will never be used, at least in the way that it was going to be in a week.

He passed the wardrobe and went to the place where he thought he has seen the diadem before, next to a tall stack of chairs, desks, dressers and other things, and set on the top of a stack of books. He remember thinking it a lovely item, but passed it, thinking nothing of it. Maybe he should have then.

He came to the tall pile of furniture and stared up at it. It almost reached the tall ceiling. He looked around the pile, but couldn't find that stack of books, or the diadem. He let out a breath in frustration. He knew he saw it here. Knowing the room, it was moved. "Where did you hide it?" he asked the room. "I require that diadem at the moment."

He heard a shuffle and immediately pulled out his wand in the direction of the sound, his heart racing in alarm. He looked around the large pile of furniture and stopped. His eyes widened when, right there, in a place that he passed only a moment ago, was the stack of books, and on it a wooden case with a black velvet inside. On the velvet sat the diadem. Draco stood there stunned for a moment, staring at the ancient headpiece that encased a part of the Dark Lord's soul. He put his wand away and took a closer look at it, intrigued.

"So this is it," he muttered, and he noticed it move slightly, and he flinched when it did. "Have a mind of your own, don't you?"

He opened up his school bag, ready to put the dark object in it. He closed the wooden case, careful not to touch the item, even though he knew it wouldn't harm him like that cursed necklace he tried to send to Dumbledore and it almost killed Katie Bell. Ginny had held that diary before, so he supposed it was the same with the diadem. He still wanted to be careful.

He slipped the wooded case into his bag and shut it. Smirking at how easy it was to find this object, he strode through the clutter and out into the corridor. The sun was completely gone, and some people passed him as he walked down the corridors carrying an object in his bag that housed a part of the soul of the most evil wizard in existence. No one had any idea.

His energy suddenly started to drain out of him as he stepped down some stairs. Once he reached the bottom, he had to lean against the wall. He took a few breaths, thinking this very odd, and took a few steps, but had to lean against the all again. How did he lose all his energy to even walk a couple steps? He clutched his schoolbag tighter.

Oh. It's the diadem. Dumbledore never said that there would be side effects to handling it, but what else could drain his energy like water drains out of a cup?

He got out his wand and muttered a strengthening charm. He felt his energy come back and he was able to move his legs and arms. He walked down the corridor, and he felt his energy drain from him again. He continued with the strengthening charm.

Dumbledore didn't need to tell him where the Chamber of Secrets was located since he knew very well of its location back in his second year. He avoided that corridor, not wanting to go near that lavatory, for fear that he would see the basilisk. But he has to this time, and there was no chance of the monster doing any harm since its dead.

Using the strengthening charm for the dozenth time in five minutes, he came into the deserted corridor the lavatory is on. He came to the door and took a breath of courage before entering it. He knew no one would be in there since people feared the place since when the chamber was opened last. It bugged him that he had to go into a girl's lavatory, though.

Still silence met him, and he walked more into the room of stalls. He looked to the circle of sinks. There's the entrance. He put down the bag and got out the Parseltongue note Dumbledore wrote. He about said it when a blue form suddenly came out from behind the sinks. "AH!" Draco shouted at the surprise, sending his heart into a rapid speed, and the ghost girl with pigtails laughed nasally.

"I got you!" she said with a snicker. "Now, what is a Draco Malfoy doing in here at the dead of night, hm?"

She rose her brows in a suggestive way and he stood back, uncomfortable. He forgot about Moaning Myrtle. She's another reason why people don't come in here. "I'm on an errand for Dumbledore. It's no concern of yours."

She nodded her head to the sinks. "You are going down into the Chamber of Secrets, aren't you? I wonder what Dumbledore would want you to do down there?"

"Like I said, it's none of your concern. Now, if you would, could you leave me and not say a word to anyone that I was in here?"

"I could..." She floated around him, smiling slyly, "But at a cost."

He really didn't have time for this. "And what's that?"

"Tell me what you're going to do down there. I promise I will not say a word to anyone as to why the handsome Draco Malfoy is going down to the Chamber of Secrets."

He knew he wouldn't be able to get rid of her unless he plays her games. "Fine. I'm destroying something, something powerful and dangerous."

Her brows rose. "Oh, you mean like how Harry went down there and ended up destroying the basilisk and that diary? You know, it was the basilisk that killed me about fifty years ago. Some pet that Tom Riddle had," she said snidely. "I know what he became, and I'm not surprised that he did because he had such a black heart. He bullied people, including me."

Draco was suddenly interested in this. "You knew Tom Riddle when you went to school here?"

"Yes, he was in the same year as me. Nobody liked him. The only people who did were his followers that he called his friends. He and they always picked on me. I stood up to him one day, and one of his follower friends made fun of me and my glasses and threw them off my face to the stones. That's when I came in here to cry and... I died."

Draco thought about this for a moment. The Chamber of Secrets was opened about fifty years ago, and a muggle-born girl died because of it. Could that be Myrtle? The timeline makes sense. And, it was also about fifty years ago that Tom Riddle made his first horcrux. His heart pulsed when he made the realization, and his eyes widened as he stared at the blue girl. Myrtle was the person who Tom killed in order to create the horcrux! Myrtle's death was seen as an accident, but it was no accident.

"I can see the shocked look on your face, Draco," she said. "Yes, it really is terrible, the way that I died. Thankfully, though, you won't have to worry about the basilisk getting you. It should just be a skeleton down there." She cocked her head at him. "And how are you going to get down there? It's quite the ways down."

Draco attempted to shake off the shock that he was feeling at finding out how this girl really died, and why. He stood tall and dignified. "I will levitate myself down there. Now, if you would, leave me so I can finish my task."

She floated away from him. "Good luck, Draco Malfoy. And by the way, Hermione is a lucky girl. I have heard of how you changed from a bully to a decent human being because of her. But I sense that there is still a bit of bad boy in you, which is so terribly attractive."

She winked at him and he cleared his throat. He has heard that she likes to flirt incessantly. "Right, well, off I go."

She floated out of sight, but he had the feeling that she was watching him. Oh well. He got out the paper again and read what it said. Even though he had no idea what it said, it still gave him chills. That language always will, no matter if the Dark Lord exists or not.

He jumped when the sinks started to open and walkway appeared in between two of them, right in front of him. He took a step up to see a deep, dark hole. He gulped. He has to go down that? Well, if it's to get this done, he has to go. He took up his school bag, and after only holding it a minute, he started to feel his energy drain. He needs to act fast. He pulled out his wand and muttered the levitation spell. His body lifted off the floor and he entered the black abyss. Darkness overcame him for a couple minutes until he reached the bottom. His shoes crunched something as he landed and he looked down to see... bones.

His blood turned to ice. Those are not just animal bones. People really died down here.

He moved forward, feeling slightly ill, and took in his surroundings. Rocks and more rocks. This is a cave. It makes sense, though, since it's underground. Keeping the strengthening charm on himself, he walked over the rocks, and he appreciated that there was light coming in from somewhere. There must be sun lights in a few places on the ceiling.

"Whoa!" he shouted when he came up to a massive object in the shape of a serpent. It looked like scales. This must be skin that the basilisk shed who knows how long ago. Draco was again impressed that Harry killed something that big.

He walked on a little more through the cave and came up to a circular design in the wall. Could this be another door? There was a snake on the outside of it. He pulled out his Parseltongue note and read it. The metal snake suddenly started slithering around the circle, releasing locks. The circular door opened and Draco peered into it before he entered. He saw a long stone walkway, and at the end of it, a massive snake skeleton near a wall that had a face carved into it—a man with long hair and a beard. He looks familiar... He's seen paintings. It's Salazar Slytherin, the very first Slytherin.

He entered, his nerves tingling all over his body, and his stomach bubbling. His footsteps echoed in the empty chamber as he walked down the stone path slowly. The diadem felt heavy in his schoolbag, and it started to take hold of his strengthening charm. He walked faster until he came up to the skeleton. He set his bag down and ogled at it, at it's large jaw, big enough to engulf him whole easily, and it's long pointed teeth.

"Oh, great Merlin..." he enthused as he stared at the dead beast for a minute longer, imagining how Harry must have faired fighting this beast. His bag moved, reminding him of his task. Not wasting one more minute, he took hold of one of the fangs and yanked it out. He had to use some force since it was wedged in there. His fingers wrapped around the fang with his right hand, he opened his bag with his left and took out the wooden case. The thing squirmed. He wondered if it knew it is going to be destroyed. No, it's a piece of a soul, not a being on it's own. He opened the case to reveal the one-thousand-year-old diadem, the bird shape on it sparkling from the diamonds, and the two blue stones shined in the light. It's a beautiful object, but it must be destroyed.

He got down on his knees and took out the diadem and set it on the stone floor. He held up the fang, his fingers tight around it, and his knuckles white. He could feel his blood pulsing through his veins, and his heart banged inside of him.

"AHHHHHH!"

He plunged the point of the fang right into the heart of the bird design, shattering the blue stones. He heard a loud, aguished shriek erupt from the object, and Draco fell on his backside as he stared at it writhing around.

It went still.

He gulped hard and came up to it, still holding the fang. The bird on the diadem was in pieces. He looked to the fang then to the diadem three times over, shock filling his system.

He did it! He destroyed one of the Dark Lord's horcruxes! Him! He finally accomplished a task given to him!

Draco's lips pulled into a beaming smile. The Dark Lord is another step closer to being defeated. That smile faded. Something told him that the evil wizard was very aware of it. How could he not noticed a piece of his soul being destroyed?

I hope you all liked the chapter! Yay for Draco! So, a couple things—first, I love Draco and Luna. If you, too, are interested in the Draco/Luna pairing, then check out my Druna fanfic called "Stuck With Me." It's about Draco and Luna being forced to live together while hiding from the Dark Lord and Death Eaters. Secondly, let me know what you think of this story thus far! It would be great to get some feedback since I'm nearing the end of the story. There are going to be a few more chapters than I anticipated having. Cheers! =)