Well, I got some news.  First off, here's the promised Monday update.  However, now I'm rushing to finish The Two Towers before I see it Wed. at 3:30, so you might not get another update for a little while.

HOWEVER, I do have the rest of the story planned out, so it should be finished soon.  I'm seeing about two more chapters.

Sadly, Draco/Harry moments will be very few.  Noko will have a lesser role, and Blaise Zambini will do a bunch more.  He's my favorite fanon canon character.  I read him portrayed this way once before and just adored it.

The story will end with a bit of a cliffhanger though.  I'll do what Rowling did and tell you the last word.

Beginning.

There will be a sequel, maybe, if I figure out what's going to happen.

Wolf-Child

            As they all stared in silence, someone placed another white disc in front of Draco.  Turning around, he saw Blaise Zambini behind him with a worried expression on his face.

            "You too?" Draco whispered.

            "Yeah.  Your dad?"

            "I think so."

            Blaise shook his head sadly.  "Think you could owl him before . . ." He trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence, but Draco knew what he was going to say.  '. . . before I die."

            "I'm sure I can."

            "But will he do anything?"

            "I'll make him understand why it's important."

            Noko licked her nose as she listened to this hushed conversation.  She blinked, startled by this new discovery, and licked her nose again.  Giggling, she tugged on Harry's robes and showed him how she could lick her nose.  Harry hugged her.

            No one else even noticed Blaise was there.

            Lucius Malfoy hurried through the halls of the Ministry of Magic, shoving unfortunate witches and wizards out of his away.  He could already hear the shouts coming from Fudge's office.

            "MY SON IS DEAD!  I WANT JUSTICE!"

            "Now, now, Mr. Nott, please calm down. . ."

            "CALM DOWN?  CALM DOWN?  MY SON IS DEAD!!  CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME?  WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH WOULD I WANT TO CALM DOWN?"

            Lucius smiled.  Nott always was such an actor.  He was able to slip through the door without Fudge noticing him.  Of course, that may have been because Nott was practically strangling Fudge, so he was a bit preoccupied.  Lucius stood behind Fudge's shoulder and cleared his throat when Nott paused for breath.  Fudge jumped and spun around, not sure if he should be relieved or frightened to see Lucius.  True, the man was extremely generous with his riches, but there was something about the way he just showed up out of nowhere, even without the pop of Apparation and always had that little smirk on his face that was just scary.

            "Ah, Lucius!  Hello!  I'm afraid I'm a bit busy here. . ."  Fudge trailed off, sparing a quick glance at Nott.  The man was practically foaming at the mouth, but had quieted down.

            "I couldn't help but overhear, Cornelius.  I wanted to talk to you about the same issue."

            "You've heard about it too?  But how?  We've managed to keep it hushed up!  Not even Rita Skeeter knows anything yet!"

            Lucius snapped his fingers and a piece of paper appeared in his hand.  "I do have a son at Hogwarts, Cornelius, and he keeps me up to date with the important events.  He was the one who comforted young Master Nott in his last hours, according to his letter."  Lucius presented the letter to Cornelius to read and turned to Nott.  "Dear Mr. Nott, I'm so sorry for what happened to your son.  I know that if my Draco was the one struck with this devastating illness, I too would be in here demanding justice while nursing a broken heart.  I've actually come here to try to help in assuring justice."

            Cornelius finished reading the letter (A fine imitation of his son's hand, Lucius thought) and looked up.  "Assuring justice?  But how?  It's a disease!  You can't take it to prison or anything like that!"

            Lucius nodded, a sad expression on his face.  (Another excellent imitation)  "I know that, Cornelius.  I was thinking perhaps the three of us could visit Dumbledore.  Perhaps we could come up with some form of compensation, although it will never replace Terence."

            Mr. Nott blew his nose loudly, and Fudge hung his head.  "Yes, yes, of course.  Thank you, Lucius, for suggesting that.  Come along, I'm sure we can catch the Knight Bus to Hogwarts.  That would be the fastest way, unless you'd like to fly . . ."  The disdainful look on Lucius' face was enough to discourage flying.  Lucius Malfoy, straddling a broom, in these robes?  Fudge had to be joking.  These robes were designer robes, not cheap Madame Malkin ones.  "Then again, maybe not.  Alright, Knight Bus it is."

            The three men were rushed to Hogwarts immediately.  Lucius swept in through the huge doors, fully aware of the imposing figure he made with his robes swirling around him.  The other two men seemed struck dumb at the sight of such magnificence, so they followed him meekly.  Lucius strode over to Dumbledore's gargoyle before he reached a slight hitch in his plans.  He didn't know the password!  Just then, the gargoyle leapt aside and a tired Madame Pomfrey exited, with Dumbledore right behind her.

            "Poppy, do get some rest.  You're exhausted, and the students are going to need you.  Sleep.  Everything is fine for now."

            Lucius inclined his head slightly to the left, and Nott set off ranting again.  "FINE?  EVERYTHING IS FINE?  MY SON IS DEAD!  HOW CAN THAT BE FINE?"

            Dumbledore surveyed them before sighing and waving Madame Pomfrey off.  "Gentlemen, why don't you step into my office."

            "Now, I can guess what brings you here this morning.  You have heard of our sad experience last night. . ."  Nott honked into a handkerchief.

            "Headmaster," Lucius began.  "Perhaps the situation has gone out of your control.  While this horrible disease only infected beasts of the forest, it was fine, but now that it has killed a student. . ." he let himself trail off, letting Dumbledore fill in the blanks for himself.  "Perhaps you should step down.  Like I said before, three years ago, it is quite possible you simply. . . cannot control things here as well as they should be."

            "Perhaps you are right," Dumbledore said softly.  Lucius inclined his head slightly, looking smug, and Nott started raving again.

"MY SON IS DEAD, DUMBLEDORE!    YOUR HEADMASTER SKILLS WERE UNABLE TO SAVE MY TERENCE!  HOW CAN YOU CALL YOURSELF A GOOD HEADMASTER IF YOU COULDN'T EVEN SAVE MY BOY?"

Professor Flitwick ran into the office just then.  "Dumbledore," he gasped, "another student, Mandy Brocklehurst was found dead in her bed!  Padma Patil told me that Mandy's disc was white last night!"

Dumbledore closed his eyes and wished that when he opened them, he would discover that Flitwick hadn't really just run into the room with that information.  He opened his eyes.  No such luck.

"DUMBLEDORE, YOUR INCOMPETENCE HAS CLAIMED ANOTHER LIFE!  HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF A SUITABLE HEADMASTER?  I DEMAND YOU STEP DOWN FROM YOUR POSTION OF AUTHORITY AT ONCE BEFORE YOUR BUMBLING ANTICS KILL AGAIN!"

My, my, for such a frail-looking guy, Nott did have an impressive set of lungs, Lucius decided.  He pointed his wand at Fudge under his cloak and whispered "Imperio."

"Dumbledore, I have to agree with Nott, although I wouldn't have used those words.  Two students dead in less than twenty-four hours, perhaps it is best for you to step down. . ."

"It's a disease, Cornelius.  There is nothing I, nor anyone else, can do until a cure is discovered.  Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape are working to create such a cure, but until then, there is nothing anyone can do."

Flitwick nodded his head.  "Yes, I quite agree with Dumbledore.  And with You-Know-Who's. . ." at Dumbledore's look he quickly amended, "Voldemort's return, Dumbledore needs to remain at Hogwarts to ensure the protection of the students."

"This fluff about You-Know-Who's return is ridiculous, Dumbledore.  I'm ashamed at you for believing it, but it's even worse that you have your staff preaching it too.  There has been no reason to believe You-Know-Who has come back.  Like I said before, he is dead.  There is no spell that can resurrect the dead.  However, if we do sack you, we'd need a powerful wizard to take your place . . . Lucius?  What about you?"

            Lucius looked startled.  "Me?  As headmaster of Hogwarts?"  Inwardly, Dumbledore flinched at the idea.  He knew Lucius was plotting something, and Fudge was playing right into his hands.  Even in his school days, Lucius had been far more dastardly than Draco.  Of course, that may be because the Marauders, only a year younger then him, were constantly harassing him.  He shook himself out of his memories.  ". . . quite difficult, seeing as how I've never been properly trained to be a headmaster, or even a professor, for that matter, however, I must think of the students.  I would not want Draco, or any of his peers, to have their lives put at risk due to a weak headmaster.  I would accept such a position, if given the chance, but only temporarily, until a better headmaster is found."

            Fudge smiled tiredly.  "Dumbledore, I hope you understand, this is for the better.  The safety of the children is at stake.  I'll have to talk with the board members, but I'm afraid Lucius will temporarily take over your position.  I'm sorry."

            Dumbledore nodded and stood.  "I do understand.  You will be going now then?"

            Hiding outside the office, Blaise hurried off to wake Draco.

            Lucius was getting ready to leave when he heard Draco calling him.  "Father, Father, wait, please!  I need to talk to you!  It's urgent!"  Lucius groaned inwardly and waved Fudge and Nott off.

            "What is it, Draco?  I'm busy."

            Draco ran up to Lucius and stopped, taking a moment to compose himself.  "Father, I need to know.  Was the shot you gave me when I got the Dark Mark a vaccine for this disease?"

            "Yes.  Is that all you wanted to know?"

            "No!  No, Father, my friend, Blaise Zambini, is ill.  According to the test Madame Pomfrey gave him, he has this disease.  Father, I don't want him to die.  Is there a cure?"

            Lucius sighed.  "How many times must I tell you, friends are a weakness.  The younger Zambini should die.  It would be no less then he deserves, if he's anything like his father."

            "Father," Draco said determedly.  "Blaise has worked very hard to have a decent reputation in all the Hogwarts houses.  While that may not seem much of an accomplishment, think of it this way.  If you save Blaise's life, Blaise will support you in your plan for world domination.  If he supports you, it is more likely that the other houses won't frown on you and try to kick you out.  They would give you a chance.  That's how influential Blaise is.  It's good to have him on your side."

            Lucius frowned.  "Draco, I do not like this assertiveness in you, not towards me."

            Draco immediately lowered his eyes in submission.  "My apologies, Father.  It won't happen again."

            "It had better not."  Lucius glared at Draco suspiciously.  "This Zambini, is he truly as influential as you make him out to be?"

            "Father, I would never dare lie to you."

            Lucius frowned, removing a vial from his cloak and thrusting it at Draco.  "Very well.  Take it and be gone."

            "Thank you, Father.  You will not regret this, I assure you."

            Lucius sneered at Draco and swept off.  Blaise gingerly crawled out of the bushes he was hiding in.  Draco handed him the vial.  "Take it a drink it."

            "Draco. . ."

            "Just drink it already!" Draco groaned.

            "But George . . ."

            "What about him?"

            "George is sick too.  If I drink this, he'll die."

            "And if he drinks it, you die.  If you die and he doesn't, my father will kill me."

            Blaise frowned.  "But we must be able to do something."

            "We couldn't, even if we wanted to."

            "I want to," Blaise pouted.

            "I don't," Draco replied.  "I see no reason why we should save that marauding prankster.  Serves him right."

            Blaise huffed.  "Well, if you won't save him for me, save him for Harry."

            "Harry!?!" Draco cried.  "Why Harry?"

            Blaise grinned wickedly.  "You have a huge crush on him, I see it every time you look at him.  And, the Weasleys are Harry's favorite family.  George is a Weasley.  Save George, and Harry will be happy, thus putting you in his good graces."

            Draco smacked Blaise and started off for the castle.  Blaise hurried to catch up with him.

            "You didn't deny it!  Draco, I'm telling you, I can read you like an open book!"

            "You're a demon, Blaise Zambini."

            "I prefer the term "head vampire of the living dead," thank you very much," Blaise smirked.

            "You have what, a drop of vampiric blood in your veins?  That's not enough!"

            "It gives me fangs if I want them."  Blaise hissed, revealing his fangs to Draco.

            "Fangs which are completely useless," Draco reminded him.

            Blaise groaned.  "Okay, how about this.  Let's drop the topics of Harry crushes, George saving, and my vampiric blood.  How would you feel if Harry got sick?  Lucius certainly isn't about to shell out the cure for him."

            Draco paused mid-step.  "But there isn't anything we can do," he whispered.

            "Of course there is.  Don't you pay attention in Potions?"

            "No.  Snape gives me a good grade because I have a knack for concocting them.  I never listen to their histories."

            "Ah, so the truth behind Snape's Golden Boy is finally revealed!  Anyway, the other day, Snape taught us about taking a completed potion and working backwards to create the recipe."

            "It can't be that simple."

            "You're right, as usual.  It's not.  In order for us to even have some margin of success, it would take at least three intelligent wizards of our experience."

            "And no other Slytherin even has half a brain cell to rub together, unless you know of one I don't."

            "Well, maybe not a Slytherin. . ."

            "No."

            "Yes."

            "Not that Mudblood!"

            Blaise scowled.  "Stop calling her a Mudblood.  You know I hate that term.  I'm a Mudblood too, remember?"

            "You're not a Mudblood.  Your parents aren't muggles."

            "My dad's are though."  Blaise glared at Draco.

            Draco glared back half-heartedly before giving in.  "Fine.  I won't use the term "Mudblood" any more.  Happy?"

            "Yes, thank you.  Now about Granger. . ."

            "No."

            "Yes!"

            "No!"

            "Yes!"

            "No!"

            "Uh, Granger?  Can we talk to you?"

            Hermione turned around to see Blaise and Draco standing there.  Blaise had a triumphant smirk on his face and Draco was looking a bit sheepish.

            "Um, I guess. . . Harry, Ron, wait a minute!" she called over her shoulder.  "What did you need?"

            "Alone," Draco growled, sheepish look gone, as he sneered at Ron over Hermione's shoulder.

            "Hell no!" Ron cried.  "You'll try to kill her or something!" He was trying to tolerate Draco for Noko's sake, but he could only go so far.  There was no way he'd let Hermione go alone with two Slytherins.

            "We're not going to kill he, Weasel, we need her alive.  Now bug off."

            "You've got to be insane if you think I'll let you get her alone, two on one!"

            "Weasel, I'll . . ."

            Blaise laid a restraining hand on Draco's shoulder.  "We don't have time for this.  Leave it to me," he whispered.  He stepped forward and gestured for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to step close.  Taking a deep breath, Blaise called upon the ancient traces of vampire blood in his linage to dim the lights and make himself seem as menacing as possible.  "Since you've insisted on complaining, all three of you are now recruited to help us.  What we will do must remain completely confidential.  If you dare breathe a word about this to anyone you will be dead.  Oh, but it won't be pleasant, no, not at all.  You will become one of my undead minions."  Here Blaise smiled showing his fangs.  Only Draco knew they were not functional.  "Do you understand what I'm saying?  An eternity of torment if you squeal."  He stepped back and the lights flared up again.

            Draco was impressed.  Blaise did have a way of spellbinding his audience, all three of whom were wide-eyed with fright.  Blaise just had to teach him that light dimming trick!

            "Are we doing anything illegal?" Hermione asked meekly.

            "Illegal?  Oh, not yet, but it will be soon, once Lucius seizes power."

            "Lucius is going to seize power?" Harry gasped.

            "Yeah, and it's up to us to save the world as we know it."  Draco was only a little sarcastic.  "Now first, we need a safe place where we won't be interrupted, ever. . . Potter.  Second year, Chamber of Secrets.  You rescued the little Weasel girl.  Did you find the chamber?"

            "Her name's Ginny, and yes, I found it."

            "Great," Draco said.  "We can work there."

            "We'll get stuck down there!"

            "How'd you get out?"

            "Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix."

            "A phoenix?  Blaise, you have Richter, don't you?"

            "Richter?  Yeah, I do."

            "Great.  Summon him.  Harry, lead the way to the Chamber of Secrets."

            "I don't know if this is such a good idea. . ."

            "Would you rather your brother die, Weasel?  We're saving lives here.  Don't complain, just start walking."

My brother pointed out the Chamber is the only place no one could interrupt them, except maybe Ginny, but she'd never want to go back there again.  They needed a secret place, and they needed to use Myrtle's bathroom, so that's why the Chamber was chosen.

Oh, in case you can't tell, Draco and Blaise are changing to the side of their own.  Their motto?  Support no one.  Do they stick to it?  Nope.

~Crawler