Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Nope, not at all.
A/N: This chapter is slightly shorter than the rest, but an important filler one in my opinion. The next few chapters are going to get us back into action, so get a bit of rest on this one - next week we're in for a big ride!
Meanwhile, maybe you might wanna think about - what happens to the Horcrux theory? How many left? Who are the remaining Secret Keepers? This chapter offers some answers, but not all, so you'll just have to keep guessing...
Draco stood there, his feet completely rooted to the ground. He could barely hear anything that came after Harry's screams. Even when there was no sign of Albus Dumbledore; even when Harry and Remus leapt forward to accost Bellatrix Lestrange, who had zipped across to the balcony in a burst of wild cackles and launched herself off the tower as well. He couldn't even move despite everyone rushing past him to lean over the balcony, with horror etched over their faces – pain and despair in Harry's and Remus's. He only found himself jerking back when a warm weight fell into his arms, and he had to back off to catch the weight.
Hermione.
The instant she fell into his arms, which had instinctively reached out to catch her, he found the aching silence in his ears disappear – like whatever was stuffed in his ears had been yanked out. Now, he could hear the cries of horror and rage ahead of him, but his eyes were concentrated on the figure in his arms. Hermione's eyes were glazed over, her lips slightly open – stunned. Completely, and utterly stunned.
Draco pulled her close to him, his face in her bushy curls. He swallowed hard.
"I am Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy..."
"Yes Draco..." The familiar silky voice threaded through the cold air. "You must take on your father's responsibility and perform your duties with perfection. And you are now given one of the most important tasks I could ever entrust to a Death Eater..."
No. No, it couldn't be.
"Voldemort must have given you a mission at your induction. If it's not killing Harry, what is it?"
"Granger, stop prying!"
"Just answer me, and I'll tell you how the plan goes, alright?"
He watched as Hermione Granger sink to the ground, weak from being shaken hard by him.
"I'm to kill Dumbledore."
He looked at the mass of brown curls he had buried himself in, and felt her cold fingers cling to his arms.
Her eyes were wide open. Stricken. "You can't," she whispered.
"I can do anything."
He shut his eyes tightly.
He had pulled out his wand without thinking. Reflex. Anger and rage were overwhelming his senses. All he wanted to do was to blast the wizard in front of him into oblivion. Mission accomplished.
"And what is this for?" Dumbledore had asked, quietly. "To fulfill your duty, or to shut me up?"
"Don't think you're so clever, Albus Dumbledore, you don't know me at all. Yes, I wanted to find out the truth behind my father's death and avenge it. But I will do anything to avenge his death, including rising to the top of the pack. And what would I not do just to get there? You are but a pawn in my game!"
Yes, a pawn. Only but a pawn. He was ready. Even though he knew it was an empty threat. Voldemort would never take him back again. Mission would never be accomplished.
"No, you're a pawn in his game..." And then Dumbledore sighed. "Draco..."
Draco's thoughts were interrupted when he found himself shoved to the side, along with Hermione, as Remus Lupin and the other Order members burst down the staircase. Mad-Eye Moody was launching a tirade as he ran, but Draco could barely make out what he was growling about. Harry made to chase, but Ron pulled him back.
"Harry, let them go and find Slughorn and Lestrange! You can't do anything!"
"What about Dumbledore?" Harry's raw whisper sent a chill through everyone.
Hermione's hand shot out to grab Harry's arm. "What – what happened?" Her voice was hoarse.
"Lestrange..." Corrinne's face was deathly white, her red eyes blurring into bronze. Neville was supporting her, he himself completely shocked as well. "She didn't die; she was levitated back into the grounds by Slughorn... and Dumbledore – he, he..." And for the first time, the strong and defiant Corrinne Whitemayer burst into shuddering sobs, burying her head against Neville's chest.
Hermione slackened in Draco's arms, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. Dumbledore's words came back to him again, reverberating around him.
"I may be weakened, but there are many more weak points about you than you think you have, Draco. One of them is that you are incapable of killing somebody you know who doesn't deserve to be killed."
Harry broke away from Ron and Hermione's grip and quickly descended the staircase. Ginny followed without a word. Ron gave a furious glare at Draco, then turned and ran down, along with Corrinne, Neville and Luna. Pansy was standing by the doorway, shaking badly as she turned to gaze at Draco and Hermione. Astoria took one look at the duo as well, then took Pansy by the hand and led her downwards quickly.
"Hermione..." Draco whispered.
"I..." She struggled to speak.
Draco made a hushing sound. "Talk later. Let's go down first."
Hermione let herself be helped down the stairs by Draco. Everything before her was a blur, and she nearly tripped over a few steps if not for Draco's strong arm holding her around her middle. Eventually they made it to the foot of the staircase, and out of the building into the central square, where the rest were gathered. Hermione broke away from Draco's grip and stumbled towards them... and there were Lupin and Harry kneeling by the great Headmaster's side. Lupin's head was bent, and Harry's fists were clenched as he stared at Dumbledore, tears running down his cheeks. Ginny knelt down to slip her arms around his waist, while Ron placed a hand on Harry. Hermione looked at him, and saw that he, too, was trying to blink his tears away.
Hermione sank to her knees as she picked up the half-moon spectacles that lay by the side of the Headmaster, cracked and twisted. Beside her, Draco knelt down as well, and he let Hermione lean against him as she shuddered with quiet sobs. He kept his gaze on Dumbledore – the wide-eyed expression, the half-ajar lips – so unlike the confidence and regality that usually shrouded the Headmaster. Harry reached out to place his trembling palm over Dumbledore's face, and as he slid it down, the wide-eyed stare was no longer. Looking at the now relatively peaceful countenance of Dumbledore, Draco almost reached out to touch his great white mane. Then he retrieved his hand, and lowered his head into Hermione's curls, closing his eyes.
-.-.-.-.-.-
They were all sitting in Professor McGonagall's office, after she had met with them along with the other staff members. Draco had watched as Professor McGonagall stepped into the courtyard, an aghast expression overcoming the usually serious and solemn look. Upon standing over Dumbledore, she covered her face with her hands for a long while. When she removed them, her eyes were glimmering with sadness. By then, the rest of the school had woken up, and slowly, the streams of students were pouring out, and into the central courtyard. Then everyone had stood there in silence, in shock, in reverence. Nobody even whispered as Hagrid came over, sobbed loudly, and finally carried the body of Albus Dumbledore out of the courtyard. Immediately, Minerva McGonagall had them go to her office without a word, and there they sat, red-eyed and weary.
Draco found himself observing every single one of them in the room as they waited for Professor McGonagall. Or rather, they needed time to compose themselves. Astoria and Pansy were beside him, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Astoria glanced up at him, but he merely looked back with a blank expression, which made her look away again. Pansy was picking at the floor idly, and her face was still pale. Corrinne and Neville were sitting at the far end, with Corrinne's face buried in Neville's shoulder, while he took her hand. Ron was standing beside them, staring at the ground as he crossed his feet and then uncrossed them, before crossing them back again. Harry sat on the chair next to him, and Ginny on the arm, her hand on his shoulder, rubbing back and forth. She looked up briefly, and for a moment looked straight at Draco. The red curtain of hair fell back into her eyes as she dipped her head down again, her grip tightening on Harry's shoulder.
Luna was sitting beside Draco, a very angelic picture – sitting upright and staring straight ahead, her ethereal appearance restored. Draco felt one side of his face twitch just remembering all the cuts and bruises on her perfect complexion earlier. On the other side of Luna, just adjacent to Harry, was Hermione. Her head was hung like Ginny's, and her hand was in Harry's. Draco looked away when he noticed that and sank back in his seat. His sudden movement caught Ron's eye, and the ginger-haired boy's head snapped up.
Draco raised his eyebrows at the sudden perkiness of Ronald Weasley. "You have something to say, Weasley?"
Ron knew better to say anything, so he merely glowered at Draco and folded his arms. Draco turned his defiant gaze to Hermione, and it softened when he saw her looking at him with a quivering lip. Then he gazed back at the little army that had been battling the Death Eaters when they had arrived.
It was my personal vendetta... my personal hunt for revenge... yet suddenly they're all involved in this. All these stupid Gryffindors... and Ravenclaw... I didn't want anybody to be messed up in this along with me!
He gritted his teeth. The image of Dumbledore, lying spreadeagled on the courtyard, without his trademark spectacles – it was a sight to behold, the fall of one of the greatest wizards ever. To think that he once really wanted to kill Albus Dumbledore just to prove his loyalty to Voldemort. If it had not been for Dumbledore, he wouldn't have destroyed the Horcruxes he had managed to do so so far, and definitely not have known about how to go about exacting his revenge.
"Your family..." There was a harsh whisper, and Draco raised his eyes to meet Corrinne Whitemayer's now gleaming red ones. "They're all killers." She bared her teeth. "All of them!"
In a flash, Draco forgot all sentimentality and stood up, almost knocking his chair over in his rage. That made everyone stand up instinctively as well, Neville particularly to shield Corrinne, his eyes daring Draco to make any move.
"My father," Draco seethed, "is nothing like Bellatrix Lestrange! Don't you dareinsult my father again!"
"He MADE MY PARENTS INSANE!" screamed Corrinne, who had to be held back by both Neville and Ron. Draco took a step forward, but Astoria put a hand on his arm. "How dare you say he was nothing like that crazed woman, he was just as ruthless, calculating, and INHUMANE!"
"Stop it, the two of you!" Hermione stepped into the middle, glaring back and forth. "We're all as distraught as it is!"
"Distraught?" Corrinne sneered, her eyes glistening. "How could cold-blooded people ever be distraught?"
Draco was so incensed that he had reached for his wand. At that moment, Professor McGonagall stormed into her office and glared around; Draco and Corrinne were pushed back by an invisible force back into their original positions – the chair and the floor.
"In case you forgot, Whitemayer," Draco's low voice had a hint of danger as he struggled to sit up straight on his chair, "I've lost my father too."
Corrinne's eyes were narrowed into slits, her hands trembling as she righted herself up as well.
"Childish behaviour!" Professor McGonagall glared at both of them coldly, before she strode up to her desk, and sat down on her chair. "I've heard what had happened from Remus and Alastor, so I need not question all of you over that. But in the midst, there were a few of you who had disappeared from the grounds of Hogwarts, and I want an explanation for what went on. Miss Greengrass, could you first begin?"
"I think I'm not the one who's capable of explaining everything." Astoria turned her gaze to Pansy.
"Very well then. Miss Parkinson?"
Pansy lifted up her head, and everyone could see that she had been shocked very badly – first by Blaise's betrayal, and then Dumbledore's death. Professor McGonagall pursed up her lips, then decided that she would speak to Pansy alone, followed by Astoria. The rest were to go back to their common-rooms and not breathe a word to anyone as of yet. She would make the official announcement about Dumbledore's death and give a thorough explanation.
However, just before they were about to trudge out of the room, Harry bumped against Astoria as she was making her way to one of the chairs to wait for Pansy to be done, and his green eyes met her own brilliant emerald ones. In an instant, Astoria's words came back to him again.
"She sent Blaise to kidnap me... and she's out for collateral damage. She will do anything to please You-Know-Who, even if it means sacrificing her own nephew. Maybe even her sister. She's rising in the ranks, Potter."
Once again, the image of Bellatrix Lestrange laughing hysterically as Sirius Black fell backwards into the wisps of smoke that enveloped him... this time, it was followed by the image of Albus Dumbledore tipping off the railing, his arms outstretched, and Bellatrix's look of wild ecstasy as she gazed back at Harry, a maniacal smile on her face – before she burst towards the railing and launched herself downwards as well...
"Harry?" Ron's concerned voice broke through his thoughts. The whole lot had stopped walking because Harry had stopped.
"Potter, is there something wrong?" Professor McGonagall's voice echoed sternly from the back.
Harry spun around, then he walked right to the middle of the office, surprising everyone. He steadied himself to look Professor McGonagall straight in the eye, then he took a deep breath before saying,
"Bellatrix Lestrange has to be one of the Secret-Keepers."
It was at that moment that the Order members chose to enter Professor McGonagall's office as well, and Remus Lupin started a little when he heard what Harry had to say.
"I don't know who the other is," said Harry, his voice shaking. "But Lestrange definitely has to be one of them."
"What's a Secret-Keeper?" asked Astoria, blankly.
"Never you mind that first," replied Harry, looking at her. "But when you told me she had ordered your kidnap in order to lure Malfoy out, and that you felt she was getting a bit too concerned about carrying out Voldemort's orders, there is no other person more important to Voldemort, and more loyal to him, than that – that..." He trailed off, swallowing hard. Ginny stepped forward to take his hand, and he gripped it tightly.
"Dolohov told me that he had replaced Wentervale as Secret-Keeper for the cave where we found the locket Horcrux," cut in Lupin, grimly, and Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows. "He didn't interfere when we attempted to destroy it, because they planned to weaken Albus from the very start." His face had turned very hard. "It was all planned."
"Four Secret-Keepers..." Hermione whispered, stepping forward beside Draco. "Maldash Wentervale, who was then replaced by Antonin Dolohov. Lucius Malfoy, who was then replaced by Augustus Rookwood. Bellatrix Lestrange... there's still one more! I couldn't figure out at all. This just means our last Horcrux and Keeper are completely elusive!"
"No," said Professor McGonagall quietly, and all turned to look at her. "Before Regulus Black was killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named for being a traitor, he had entrusted a Secret to him." Her lips trembled slightly. "And Regulus gave it away to Albus. The moment he gave it away, he was found by Snatchers, tortured, and then poisoned." She closed her eyes. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was unable to find a replacement and whisk away his Horcrux to safety, because Albus found it by then."
"The Gaunt ring!" Draco muttered, enlightened.
"Albus did not tell all of you who he knew it from, out of respect for Regulus. But at this juncture, I think it is prudent that I let you know."
"Regulus Black?" Harry echoed.
"Yes Harry," Professor McGonagall acknowledged quietly. "Sirius's brother. He once turned to the Dark side, but sorely regretted it. He has paid for his grave mistake."
Harry looked stricken at the mention of Sirius once more.
"But, Hermione, you mentioned only one last Horcrux left, excluding the one Lestrange is hiding?" Tonks asked, surprised. "If I'm not wrong, the diary, the Gaunt ring, the locket, and the cup are the only four that have been destroyed?"
Hermione looked at Draco, and he held up the diadem. Professor McGonagall gave a gasp.
"What is that?" demanded Ron.
"May I say," Moody growled. "That what you're holding is the diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw?"
"Yes," said Draco, shortly. "I discovered it surreptitiously in the Room of Requirement. And I have destroyed it." He indicated the silver liquid that coated the base of the diadem. "The fifth one down."
Then Draco's face turned grim and dark. "If Aunt Bella is really the last Secret-Keeper, my mother might know something about it. The two of them are always together. I would like to go back to the Manor to talk to my mother."
"That is out of the question!" Moody retorted. "You are a defenceless child!"
Draco's eyes flared and he grabbed his sleeve, shoving it upwards to reveal the terrifying Dark Mark. Everyone recoiled in horror upon seeing it, and even Hermione flinched.
"Don't call me a child," said Draco, with a sneer. "And I'm not going there alone. I want guaranteed protection for the Manor while I'm there, and continued protection for my mother even after. I will not let Aunt Bella try to get close to her again!"
"Then may I add that that," Moody jabbed a finger towards the Dark Mark, "is a good enough reason why you shouldn't be going there alone! Furthermore, Bellatrix Lestrange is an accomplished witch! And that would be an understatement as well!"
Draco snarled, ready to retort.
"Yes, you're not going alone," cut in Hermione, suddenly, and everyone turned to look at her. "I'm coming along."
"No!" Harry and Ron gasped at the same time.
"No!" Draco was startled, a beat later than the other two.
"Miss Granger..." began Professor McGonagall, but Hermione looked at her defiantly.
"Then we're all coming along!" Ron said, hotly.
"No, Ron, we can't have everyone in there," said Hermione. She stared at Draco, who was torn between looking livid and despaired. "I'll manage."
"Professor..." Harry looked helplessly at Professor McGonagall. However, the newly-anointed Headmistress had a good feeling she would not be able to dissuade her favourite student out of this, and despite Draco's fierce protests along with Harry's and Ron's, Hermione was adamant, as she felt Draco might be too emotional and slip up while talking about Bellatrix. Finally, they gave in, albeit very reluctantly with scowls.
Seeing as that was the best option, Professor McGonagall agreed that Draco and Hermione should go visit Narcissa Malfoy. Draco placed the diadem on Professor McGonagall's desk without looking at her or saying a word. Harry then requested for a short period of time to talk to Hermione, and Kingsley immediately left through fireplace to summon the rest of the Aurors. Lupin and Tonks followed suit, and finally Moody, after giving Draco a long and hard look that was clearly intertwined with heavy suspicion.
Once the students, except for Astoria and Pansy who had to remain to relate their story to Professor McGonagall, were outside, Harry insisted that Draco come along with him, Ron, Hermione and Ginny to the corner where they always went when they wanted a discussion. Draco hesitated, a scowl emerging, but Hermione gave him a look that ended all protest. Luna, Neville and Corrinne left the rest to themselves, with Corrinne still seething with anger.
When they had sat down, Hermione wanted to get the first word in.
"I'm sorry!" she blurted, and then flushed a deep red. Harry and Ron looked solemnly at her, while Draco looked visibly uncomfortable having to sit in the middle of what seemed like a 'confession session'.
"I'm sorry for not telling you guys about the diadem," she mumbled, and Draco – who was bent on appearing bored and condescending – suddenly looked surprised. He hadn't expected that. Why, he thought she would have told them everything about the Room of Requirement. Then he had remembered how cold and furious he had been when they had come back from the cave, and he had prevented her from telling that to Dumbledore. Now, he was beginning to regret that move quite a bit.
"And for just disappearing off to find Dra – I mean, Malfoy."
No wonder they were so relieved to see her just now! Draco had to look away again in order not to appear like an idiot gaping at Hermione's revelations. She had chosen to save him over fighting alongside her friends!
"So what's this about Pansy kidnapping you, and then coming out with you again?" demanded Harry, and Draco turned back upon realising he was being addressed. With a sour look plastered on his face, he reiterated Pansy's tale, and all of them were quite stunned. Harry then added in what he had heard from Blaise and Astoria, and Draco found himself enlightened. Blaise was so stupid! How could he ever have believed anything those people said? If they were even people... Draco found himself clenching his fists thinking of the apparition of Tom Riddle smirking at him.
Ron cleared his throat, and Draco eyed him warily.
"I still don't like the idea of you going to the Manor with him, Hermione. He might kidnap you for all we know..." Ron wrinkled up his nose, and Draco snorted, earning himself a huge glare. "But then Kingsley and the rest are going to be there, so I can't possibly say no."
"Whatever it is..." Harry looked at Draco, although the latter chose to look away instead, a sullen expression on his face. "I trust that if you're really fighting for your father, then we're both fighting to get rid of the same evil being. I can promise that we will do everything we can to obtain the last two Horcruxes. Whether you or I destroy it doesn't really matter as long as he can be finished with. All I ask, Malfoy, is that if Hermione is going along with you, you had better make sure she comes back alive. Or else..." His voice turned hard, and Draco knew what the consequences would be. This time, he met Harry's gaze with a twisted smirk.
"I never thought it would come to the day when I would have to have all you pseudo-heroes helping me. Especially when you had gotten someone to spy on me, Potter."
Hermione looked at him disapprovingly, and Draco's smirk deepened.
"It's not funny," Harry said, a little angrily. "I don't care how much you look down upon us, whether I was being despicable, but Hermione's done so much for you, heck, she's even saved you!"
"I know that better than any of you!" Draco retorted, and then scowled at having been so easily irritated. "I know what to do," he added gruffly.
Ginny looked at him thoughtfully, then she showed Hermione the same thoughtful expression. Hermione knew that Ginny could somewhat understand, and smiled a little. Then she turned to Harry and Ron, took their hands in hers, and squeezed. Ron nodded reluctantly, while Harry squeezed back. He didn't know whether to be guilty or grateful ever since the fateful first day of school in the Hogwarts Express when he had told Hermione to try to be "nice" to Draco Malfoy. However, when he saw how Hermione turned back to Draco to place a hand on his arm, earning a look that didn't seem too unpleasant, some part of him realised that it wasn't such a bad move after all.
-.-.-.-.-.-
The dark grey clouds rolled over with a rumble, like a huge curtain being drawn over the sky. No rain would fall, only a gloomy, despairing air seemed to seep into the little village. People were hurrying back home, praying that they wouldn't be caught in the thunderstorm. The sky grew darker, though for a moment, it lit up with a flash, and the tall obelisk in the middle of the village illuminated for a grand moment.
He stood by the gate, watching the illumination. The corner of his mouth twisted.
The gate creaked open as he walked in, almost ghosting through. There was a heavy fog settling down, but he carried on walking all the way through the long blades of grass. Nobody could have heard him, or even seen him, as the thick layer of fog engulfed him.
But he saw what he was looking for. Long, wretched-looking fingers reached out to touch the top of the tombstone.
"He will die."
A little cackle came from the side. A figure emerged from the fog, her wild hair unmistakeable.
"Yes," she drawled, extending her own slender fingers towards the tombstone. His hand flinched; she drew back. "My apologies, my..."
"Silence!" he hissed, and she seemed to shrink back further.
Then he turned back to the slab of stone before him. He bent down to trace the words with his fingers, a smirk playing across his face.
"You... you who have borne the one who has a vengeance, oh such a deep vengeance – to kill me," he whispered, tracing the 'L' back and forth in the carved name. "The Chosen One, they call him." He let out a cold laughter that would have chilled anyone to the bones. "Chosen to rid the wizarding world of a bubonic plague called the Death Eaters, and then – " His fingers had reached the 'P'. "Me."
"And then..." He straightened himself up, pulling his fingers away abruptly, as if he had been touching something poisonous. "The person who serves me has now turned back on me too. The Foolish One, I call him. How can he ever dream of antagonising me? The Dark Lord who gave him a chance to reinstate the family name after his father had sullied it to the core? How can he?" His voice had risen to a highly dangerous note. A loud crash of thunder descended upon the village, perfectly timed. "And I was told he would prevail against me..."
A sudden shout of wild laughter. He threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Prevail against me! Severus, Severus..." he shook his head, still laughing. "You cannot be so naive as to think that boy could do anything against me." The laughter was cut short as his eyes were trained back onto the tombstone. "But then he destroyed my Horcruxes – first, thanks to your precious son, and then subsequently that meddling fool of an Albus Dumbledore..."
"My Lord, I have..." The female voice was laced with a mixture of fear and fascination.
"I know." The voice was curt. "Do you think I would not know?"
She did not say anymore.
"And then..." His eyes narrowed. "There comes the Foolish Oneto rid me of three more. I will not have it anymore. He has eluded me time and again, and I will make sure he will go down. And I will personally wring his life out of him with my own hands!" He extended a finger towards the tombstone. "Your son included."
He swung himself to face the huge layer of fog that had completely obscured the village. But then he opened his arms wide, and the fog cleared a little to reveal the obelisk in the middle of the square.
"Albus Dumbledore, you may be dead, but I'll make sure that your two precious little students will join you in the realm of the Dead."
His eyes glinted. "Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, just you wait."