Chapter 12

To say that the three humans in the room were shocked was an understatement Was this creature, this fearsome monster really the same boy that the fake Professor Moody turned into a ferret in their fourth year? This Draco was something else, he was not that spoilt arrogant brat. This Draco was different, dangerous and in true essence an embodiment of the darkness that now radiated through the room.

"Dra-"began Harry as stepped forward to intervene, though thoroughly unprepared and unarmed, was pulled back by Hermione who had what looked like a tiny syringe in hand as she cautiously walked forward. Both boys tried to protest but she held up her right hand in a gesture to silence them, her eyes completely trained on the two non-humans

"Draco" Hermione said quietly, she knew he could hear her and as if to prove the same the vampire shifted his attention from his would-be victim, to the entity that had the gall to interfere with his kill! His eyes met Hermione's and he saw something that evoked what months of Ariana's training could not, a sense of shame. She pitied him. This little human who he always thought below him even as a mortal and who at this moment he could break with no effort, pitied him?!

That thought sobered him. He looked to the other two men in the room their stance defensive, wands held at their sides. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Feeling his fangs receding he let go the elf he nearly strangled to death in his rage and opening his eyes stepped back. "I think its best you take the lead here Potter"

"You won't need that but keep it close," he said to Hermione before phasing out of the room.

"Filth!"

"Enough Kreature" I forbid you from calling anyone by any names other than their given ones. Do I make myself clear!"

"Yes Master"

"Now about the locket…"

Harry walked out of the kitchen and into the parlor, with Kreature sent on his mission to find the elusive thief Mundungus Fletcher all that was left to do was wait. Harry found Draco facing away from him looking through the furthest window to the left. "We found out –"

"I heard," replied Draco before Harry went any further.

Harry moved closer as he spoke "Was that it? The bloodlust I mean?"

"No. That was my temper, had it been the bloodlust I would have slaughtered Granger without a second thought for getting in my way. Next time use the vervain first and risk reasoning with me after." Harry just nodded filing the warning for another time. 'But the risk payed off' He wanted to say, Draco was not a friend, not yet, but he was not the boy that they knew and loathed either.

It was a full two days and still no sign of Kreature or Mundungus and things were getting a bit tense especially with Ron who kept making sure that Hermione and he were at least five to six feet away from Draco at all times. "Ron you really need to let what happened go, the fact that he even has the amount of control he does is remarkable"

"That's exactly it Hermione what happens if tomorrow he losses that control! I said it before I don't trust the git and after that last slip I don't trust him at all."

"I won't say that I don't have my reservations Ron, a blind man can see he's dangerous but he's trying, otherwise he wouldn't have given us the vervain not to mention he's serious about bringing down Vol-" Harry's defense was interrupted by a crash from the kitchen.

Before any of the three could move an inch Draco was in front of them eyes completely focused on the door. "It's your elf with the thief and… my old elf as well"

"Dobby?" Draco nodded "Alright we'll go in there and confront him, Draco could you hang back we don't trust Dung and we would rather that he didn't know you were here unless absolutely necessary." Draco looked Harry and nodded again in agreement, as the three friends moved to enter the kitchen.

Draco leaned against the kitchen door resigned, he heard their conversation, if he slipped again he might jeopardize his and by extension their mission but letting go of old habits is difficult, what the elf said earlier should not have affected him but for some reason… "Well that's just perfect! Came Ron's voice from the kitchen, the trio were by themselves again, not counting the elves.

"What did we find out?" asked Draco as he took the risk and entered the room. "Master Draco!" yelled Dobby, who promptly jumped down from the table and his wrestling match with Kreacher, to defend the trio from a supposed magical threat; arms raised, ready for attack.

"No Dobby! He's on our side!" yelled Harry as the Elf was ready to release the magical energy built up in his hands. "Oh, ok then" blinked the elf as he lowered his hands and walked back to the dining table to look for his kin who seemed to have retreated to his cupboard. The group blinked at the elf's nonchalant attitude before Harry turned to reply to Draco who looked, for lack of a better term skeptical at the encounter.

"We know who has the original," Harry said as he passed on the newspaper he held to the vampire.

"Perfect! Just perfect!" any ideas on how we are going to get it from the hag?"

"Hag? I thought she was your favorite teacher?"

"It's called garnering political favor Weasley, it's the perfect tool for getting what you want in the long term."

"So back to the point how do we get it off the pink banshee?"

"We need a plan. Any suggestions?"

"Hmm… the only way would be for us to somehow get to her while she's at the Ministry, but getting to her undetected…that poses another problem all together… and you can't come with us."

"That's dangerous Potter, the entire point of me being a part of this is to make sure that you remain alive till we get to Voldemort, the Ministry is filled with Death Eaters that will either kill or torture you if you are caught. My being there could deter that from happing considering I could get you in and out before anyone is the wiser."

"True, but you are our only advantage at the moment and we can't afford them knowing about you. Besides, wouldn't that lead them to Arianna as well? And consequently, compromise her position as an Order informant?"

"God! I keep underestimating your intelligence Granger."

"Wait. Arianna is the informant?" Asked Ron incredulous at this latest development. Draco just nodded before continuing, "She has been for a while, she was somehow connected with Dumbledore's family; I am unaware of the details. Getting back to the discussion at hand. How do we penetrate a magical parliament building overrun with Death Eaters"? All three humans look baffled by the question…