That filthy traitor! Harry had always known that if the Death Eaters were to have an inside source allow them into Hogwarts that it would be Draco Malfoy who is responsible. Which other death water child would do something so foolish? Plus, it is always Malfoy when trouble is stirring. Malfoy had been extra shifty this semester, he had looked pale and scared but also determined to get his task done. Harry had difficulty telling if it was fear or anger that was motivating him but it didn't matter in the long run. Harry had suspected that his task was to kill Dumbledore but he had hoped that Malfoy wouldn't let Death Eaters into Hogwarts. The school was the home for many students and having an attack here would be devastating for the wizard community. Nothing is more devastating than losing your child or having your child be put in a deadly situation. Hogwarts is seen as impenetrable and safe to all. Harry had tensed and reached for his wand when he caught sight of the Death Eaters. However, a firm hand had grasped his hand and lowered it slightly. Harry turned towards Snape, who he had honestly forgotten about when he realized the terrible situation that they were in. Snape's expression was blank but conveyed the severity of the situation. Harry wasn't always sure if he trusted the professor but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt since he had saved Harry's life more times than he would like to think about. The two of them would not be able to fight off a group of Death Eaters especially if Bellatrix Lestrange was one of them. There was a reason that she was so feared and it wasn't only because of her insanity. Lestrange was a master dueler trained by the best to be the downfall of many light wizards over the years. Harry had gotten to see her in action when it came to the battle last year for the prophecy and seeing Sirius almost die at the wand point of Lestrange was enough reason for him to want her dead but also be wary enough to know that no matter how much he hated her, there was no way that he would be able to win a one on one duel against her. Harry would like to think that he is realistic and he knew he needed more training before he could think of winning against Lestrange. Harry and Snape had backed away from the group of Death Eaters with their wands in their hands, ready for anything. They walked back until they hid behind a column in the courtyard. The thick columns surrounding the quad were enough to hide them while also allowing them to maneuver around to head towards the headmasters office. They knew that they had to save him. Harry reached for the map that was in his pocket. Harry was lucky, when he had reached for the map to look around for people sneaking around he had managed to get the map reveal itself but hadn't hidden it when he was attacked. As he looked at the map, it confirmed their fears. On the map the names Bellatrix Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov, Draco Malfoy, Corban Yaxley, and Rabastan Lestrange. Four of them were infamous death eaters and it was clear that Draco Malfoy was responsible for allowing the murderers into the castle. Snape looked at the map and if it was possible, it seemed that his face looked even more grim than Harry had thought possible. Harry knew a little about some of the death eaters from stories from family and friends, the news, and a little information from listening to rumors in the castle. Harry knew that Bellatrix and Rabastan were both in the group that tortured Neville's parents into insanity. Yaxley was known for being one of the ones who pleaded the imperious curse but was obviously an inner circle death eater who had Voldemort's trust. Antonin Dolohov was a bit of a
more obscure name but Harry felt like he had heard that he was in Azkaban and that he was in the Department of Mysteries when they had the fight last year where Sirius nearly died. This didn't tell Harry much about his opponents but he knew that they were all dangerous individually and deadly as a group. Harry had thought that it was curious that Rodolphus Lestrange wasn't there considering that his wife was here but he didn't have time for passing curiosity. Snape grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him closer. He whispered in Harry's ear, "Do not be foolish, Potter. These are enemies that you have no hope of matching and would only lead to your demise." Harry rolled his eyes, like he didn't know that. Harry was under no illusions, he knew that he didn't have enough skill to beat an inner circle death eater, maybe a weak outer circle death eater. Harry yanked his arm away and nodded so Snape knew that he had understood. Snape made a stay put motion which irritated Harry a lot. After all, Harry wasn't a dog and didn't need to be treated like one. Snape and Harry waited until the shadows and voices moved away and confirmed their movements with the map. Snape knew exactly what the map was, he found out from Lupin before he had left the school. The wolf told him but Snape didn't know why. He was not pleased to find out about the map but Dumbledore did not want him to take it away from the Potter brat because it had saved him before. However, Snape knew that it had also led him into danger before. Such a tool didn't belong in the hands of a child. Of course, no one ever listened to him when he gave advice about how to deal with the brat because they always seemed to be convinced that he was blinded by his hatred of his father. Snape always scoffed at that because you do not get this far as a spy by being easily influenced by his own emotions and hatred. Snape and Harry crept through the halls and Snape wordlessly cast Silencio on their shoes and clothes to make sure that no one heard them sneaking about. Snape led Harry to Dumbledore's position on the map. Oddly enough Dumbledore was in the astronomy tower. They didn't know it but Dumbledore had always loved patrolling the halls. It reassured him to see his school quiet and peaceful and to catch his students being mischievous. The sneakiness of his students lightened Dumbledore's heart because he knew that it showed him that they were still untouched by the difficulties and the pain of life. Life was difficult and he knew that life would eventually change them all. Dumbledore had slowly trekked through the school and stopped by the astronomy tower. Just because Dumbledore appreciated the deviousness of young people does not mean that he was blind to the nautiness that they can sometimes get into. The death eaters cast appare vestigium to track down Dumbledore which led them to the astronomy tower. The five had a menacing aura that showed to everyone that they were up to no good. In this case, they were not going to leave the castle tonight without completing their mission: kill Albus Dumbledore and cause absolute panic and horror. The death of Albus Dumbledore will bring down the light side with the loss of their leader and no child would be able to pick up the pieces.
The death eaters pulled out their wands and went up the stairs to the astronomy tower. They were ready and excited for the amount of blood traitors and mudbloods that will die tonight. The reason that death eaters win is because people are too afraid to fight back. Snape and Harry were sneaking up behind the death eaters ready to defend their school. They were about 20 meters away below the death eaters and they moved quickly to catch up to them. If they caught the death eaters by surprise then they could prevent them from succeeding. The students were in grave danger. All of the students were resting in their beds and relaxing in their common rooms without a worry of evil or death. Unfortunately, they would have no warning of the dangers lurking. The stairs to the astronomy tower were steep and punishing on all of them. Snape and Harry traveled quick and the death eaters quicker, all of them reached the top relatively quickly. Dumbledore was standing on the edge of the tower. Harry could feel the negative energy in the air and he wasn't reassured by what he saw. The death eaters were by the entrance to the tower which effectively blocked off the room from anyone entering or exiting without their permission. Dumbledore had his back to the death eaters, a dangerous position. They were lower on the steps so they could see everyone if they carefully peaked over the top stair. They kneeled slowly on the stairs and their dark cloakes protected them from being seen...for now.