Author's Note: In this chapter you will find out which plan won the vote. Now, let's get down to business
Hermione was woken up by a loud knock on her door.
"Go away, if you know what's best for you" Hermione groaned ,covering her head with her pillow.
"Hermione, it's 10 o'clock. Are you alright?" Harry called through the door ,worried for the sleepy brunette's welfare. Hermione could hear a second person snigger on the other side of the door.
"What!" Hermione jumped out of bed and checked her clock. "Oh no! I slept in"
"You sure did ,Granger" Draco called "Now come on downstairs or Potter shall finish your plate of breakfast too. And I m not making another portion for you" Hermione scowled. Trust Malfoy to make threats.
"I am on my way. Just let me get ready." Hermione shouted before silencing her room ,so they didn't disturb her again.
When Hermione came down, Draco was at the kitchen sink ,using magic to wash all the plates individually.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked after looking around for a tuft of jet black hair.
"In his room ,writing a letter to Weaslette" Draco answered without turning around. Hermione walked across to the table in the middle of the room and sat down to eat her breakfast.
"So what are we doing today?" Hermione asked after finishing her eggs ,licking her lips.
"Well," Draco shook his head at the ,now full, brunette ,smiling "we are going to go through my full plan with Potter and get everybody's first assignments sorted before the week starts" Hermione missed his gesture ,while she was placing her plate and spoon on the shelf after washing and drying them magically.
"Sounds good" Harry said after reaching the kitchen. "I trust that it will be a busy day today" Harry was still not on good terms with Malfoy. He found Malfoy suspiciously kind ,but took Hermione's word that he had changed and had ,so far, succeeded in being civil to the blond. They were far from being friends ,though.
"Oh Harry" Hermione sighed. "You need to accept busy days. They are fun and keep you on the go." Draco laughed loudly at the brunette's view of busy days. He had never really like them until sixth year ,when he had tried to find anything to distract him from his 'task'. Shuddering at the recollection of that year, Draco followed the two Gryffindors ,who had just gone to the living room.
"So?" Potter asked ,looking pointedly at Draco. Harry and Hermione were sitting on the two-seater couch in the living room ,while Draco sat on the armchair opposite them. He was holding a few sheets of paper ,apparently covered with notes on his plan.
"Well, as you know I found a loop hole by which we can destroy all of my master's Horcruxes in one go. I found out that by using a muggle fatal weapon on my master himself, all of his links to his Horcruxes will be destroyed ,meaning that the parts of his soul will still exist but they won't be his soul. It is complicated ,but all we need to know is that if we hurt my master using a muggle fatal weapon ,he will be a mortal again and Potter will be able to kill him. That is the basis of my plan ,which I have already explained to you two already. To get to that stage, will be hard. First of all, we need to choose a fatal muggle weapon to use" Harry opened his mouth to interrupt Draco ,but Hermione shushed him. She was taking notes using an acid green quick-quotes quill she had taken from Rita Skeeter. "Secondly, we need to obtain it legally ,because we don't want to end up in Azkaban or muggle prison before we fulfill our plan. Thirdly, we will need to find a way to actually activate the muggle weapon at or near my master. Then, we will need to attack and finish this war ,once and for all" Draco looked up from his notes to see Granger finishing her notes and Potter looking dumbstruck. Draco smirked. "We shall also need to train ,as facing Death Eaters could mean fatal to one of us if not"
"We are not new to this field ,Malfoy. We know how to duel and and fight very well. Your training will be pointless" Harry stood up from his seat on the coach. Hermione looked afraid and stood up as well ,in case she had to hold Harry back. Malfoy ,however, stayed seated.
"Potter, I am not underestimating your abilities to duel. You duel very well ,in my opinion ,but we shall be faced by Death Eaters ,such as my aunt and my father ,who you know to be mercilessly cruel and deft. To be able to conquer them, you will need to train" Malfoy remained calm ,but he placed his notes on a table beside him in case he needed to defend himself.
"But how will training from you help? You are hardly better than...than a" Harry started ,trying to find a person to match Malfoy.
"Looks like someone hasn't been reading the papers often. Being the Dark Lord's favourite Death Eater, isn't a walk in the park ,Potter. You need to be extremely good at magic and be faithful to the Dark Lord"
"Then why aren't you with with him? At his feet, obeying his commands. Why are you trying to bring him down?" Harry was shouting now ,ignoring Hermione ,who was tugging at his sleeve.
"I've already told you ,Potter. I had a change of heart" Draco sighed ,slouching in the armchair.
"Easy for you to say. Why aren't you at your massive Manor ,with your idiot of a father? Why don't you join him?" Harry continued his rant.
"I am not welcome at Malfoy Manor anymore" Draco resigned into answering Harry's questions.
"You -what?" Harry spluttered, "why?"
"I had a fight with my father ,Potter. You see, before Snape became the Dark Lord's favourite, my father was ranked first and he loved the post ,glorying in his master's glory. After Snape went to the Order to help out, there was no one at the post of the Dark Lord's favourite. My father tried and tried ,but wasn't accepted. My aunt was unsuccessful and shunned to the post named: 'skilful but mad'. When I understood all of the positives about being my master's favourite, I took the post. I was instantly welcomed by him ,unlike the rest of my family. My father was furious and shouted at me. He was jealous of my post ,but didn't show it openly. My aunt was angry too ,but for some reason she didn't berate me. She did ,however, not talk talk to me ever again. I didn't mind ,though. The night that my father shouted at me, I left and was told to never go back again. I have stayed here ever since ,planning my master's downfall. It makes it easier here ,because I don't need to worry about anyone walking in on me. I am also saved from my father's wrath" Draco ended his speech ,looking wistfully out of a window. "I wish I knew how my mother is getting along without me" He whispered the last part ,not looking at the Gryffindors ,still sitting before him.
Harry sat stunned at Draco's speech. He was unsure how to take it. His bully for 7 years and enemy for 6 years was sitting before him (Harry) and pouring his heart out. Was it even the truth? Harry knew that Malfoy was clever enough to pull it off ,but the way he looked at the floor and sighed made Harry feel sorry for him. His thoughts were interrupted by Hermione.
"So you can't ever step foot in there ,ever again?" She asked sympathetically.
"Not if I can help it ,but for this plan to work I shall need to enter that building one more time. Just one more and then it is over"
"So will that mean that we are going to activate the muggle weapon at the Manor?" Draco nodded "You do know that most muggle weapons will also destroy half of the Manor as well as Voldemort's soul?"
"Yes, it is one of the reasons I wanted to do it at the Manor. It will get rid of all of my memories of torture, death and enslavement and I shall at last be free" Draco looked whist fully at the sky and Hermione smiled sympathetically at his hopeful expression.
"But you are free" Harry stated bluntly ,frowning. Draco looked at Harry disbelievingly and Hermione shook her head.
"He means that his soul will be free and he shall not have to live with the burden of his past on his shoulders" Hermione said like she was stating the obvious.
"What ever" Harry shrugged "We are getting off the point here. So, what are are first assignments?" Harry looked up at Draco questioningly.
The rest of the day was spent researching and trying to find out the best place to attain muggle weapons legally. Harry kept on shooting Draco contemplative looks every now and then.
Author's Note: How did you like it? Please review, favourite and follow. Thank you for reading!