Disclaimer: As always the characters all belong to JK Rowling, all that's mine is the plot. I'm just a poor high school student with no job.

Authors Note: Sorry it took me a while to get this one out but I promise that during Christmas Break I'll try to write. Hope everyone is as interested in this story as I am. Please Read and Review.

Expectations

Chapter 3


The forbidding castle loomed ominously in the distance. "Come along, Draco," Lucius said wearily.


"Father am I really going to meet the D...d...Dark Lord?" Draco asked stuttering with obvious fear. If Draco had shown such an emotion for anyone else, his father being the stern man that he was, would have punished him severely. However, he didn't. This was Voldemort and fear was the only feeling there was.


"Yes, Draco, and don't give me that look. You know just as well as I do that I can't make excuses for your absences any longer. His power has exceeded that of my own and if we wish to come out on top as we Malfoy's always have done then you must do what is expected," he said hesitantly.


"Yes, Father. I will live up to your expectations," Draco said with new determination. I will get through this. I must! He thought to himself.


Reaching the cold, stone door, that would grant them access, Lucius took the brass knocker into his clammy hand and tapped twice. Two cloaked men noted their arrival and opened the door. Stepping back, they gave the guests a clear view of just how grand the Dark Lords' residence was. The exterior didn't do it any justice. The walls were covered with brightly colored tapestries woven with intricate detail. There was a large, dusty, crystal, chandler hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room. It gave off a sullen glow, to the already dreary room.


"This way, young Malfoy," came a voice from within the shadows. It belonged to Peter.


"Wait! Where are you taking him, Peter?" a worried father asked.


"Don't worry Lucius. He's a big boy and I'll make sure he doesn't get into any trouble. I suspect you will be busy in his absence and won't even have time to miss him," Peter replied with the usual snicker given when he had gone off on a power trip.


"Draco, go along with Peter now. I'll see you in a little while," flanked by the two cloaked figures that escorted them in, Lucius said as he turned and began walking down a long corridor.


Draco sneered at Peter's lack of respect for a man as great as his father. He would remember this and someday show him how to treat his betters. This though, was not the time, nor the place.


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Harry completed his remedial chores in a melancholy fashion not paying attention to the usual details he, being a perfectionist, strove to reach. He knew from past experience with Aunt Petunia you do it until you get it right, but today his mind was somewhere else.


There was an upside to not getting them completed to her standards. If he didn't get them right, the Dursleys would surely make him stay at home to finish.


It wasn't that Harry didn't like spending the day at Mrs. Figg's, she was certainly better to him than the Dursleys but it would be much more of a treat to stay home alone. He still had several reports that he had yet to begin over his summer holiday, and was especially dreading one on gillyweed that Professor Snape had chosen specifically for him, as he still thought it was Harry that had stolen it from his private stores last year.


Just as he was placing the trash into the can that sat next to the edge of the street he noticed two very familiar cats in front of the stop sign on the edge of the street. He quickly threw the rest of the garbage into the can. Turning around, with the intention of investigating these most unusual felines he noticed they were gone! I must be more tired than I thought, Harry said to himself, and retreated back into the house shaking his head.


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"I see you're back already. Do tell me you have good news?" the old wizard said popping a lemon drop into his bearded mouth.


"We saw Peter. He was at the Malfoys'. Delivering some sort of message from you know who," McGonagall said hurriedly.


"Please call him by his proper name. Voldemort. You know how I feel about all this you know who business. It just creates more fear."


"Oh Albus! Alright Voldemort! Well anyway he requested the company of Malfoy."


"That's not all that uncommon. It's happened several times over the summer already. What makes this time any different?"


"This time he wanted not just Lucius but young Draco as well."


" What could he possible want with a fifteen-year-old boy?" Arabella said jumping into the conversation as only she could.


After a slight pause of contemplation Albus replied, "Like so many pieces to this puzzle, we aren't likely to find that out until we get more."


Two small pops indicated that their fellow house-mates had returned home as well. Sirius was carrying a long, thin package wrapped in heavy, brown paper. His counterpart Remus carried a stubby circular package wrapped in the same. At this Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.


"What? They are presents for Harry. His birthday is after all in only a few days," the young lads' Godfather said raising his shoulders and walked out of the room. The room's other occupants broke out into a fit of laughter at Sirius' new found happiness in his Godson.


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As two o'clock approached, Harry had yet to finish his chores. He still had hope that his failure to comply would result in him getting to remain there while they went into London. This dream was shattered momentarily.


Uncle Vernon gave a sudden assault on the solitude Harry had been in cleaning the empty guest room. "What have you been doing all morning you lazy bruit?! Is this all you've gotten done? Well we have to leave now so get your things and lets go."


"Don't you want me to stay and finish?" Harry asked as his plan began to disintegrate.


"I will not leave you here to tear apart my home boy! No, you will stay with Mrs. Figg and you had better be grateful that we don't get rid of you in other ways," and with that Vernon left Harry to prepare to leave.