AN: It's been forever, I know! But this chapter was giving me trouble. Only a few more chapters to go until the end. Please review!

            Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter sort.

Chapter 11: Loneliness

Lord Voldemort eyed Draco as he stood near the table at his Manor awaiting the arrival of other Death Eaters. Today was the day they were supposed to break into Hogwarts. Draco had arrived early, a mistake that he had not foreseen. He was alone with Voldemort. "Mr. Malfoy, I presume you remember the conversation we had before this day was planned?"

            Draco nodded as his insides turned to ice. Voldemort had promised that Draco would be screaming for death if this mission were ruined. Suddenly, a series of pops sounded around Draco, signaling the arrival of many Death Eaters.

            Professor Snape was among them. "My Lord, everything has been prepared," he said in a low voice. "Should we begin?"

            Lord Voldemort laughed wildly. "That mudblood loving twit will get what's coming to him. Remember where we are to Apparate. Wormtail, go first and make sure everything is clear."

            "Yes, Master," Wormtail, said silkily. He Apparated and returned a second later. "Everything is safe, my Lord."

            Draco laughed inside his head. If everything went according to plan, Wormtail would be getting his comeuppance before the night was over. Voldemort gave another high-pitched laugh. "Those Curse Breakers did a fine job, it seems." With that he Apparated, and the other Death Eaters followed suit. Draco took a deep breath and Apparated himself.

            The Death Eaters had already begun to penetrate the barrier that had been the curses around Hogwarts. Draco counted them as they slipped onto Hogwarts property. There was a baker's dozen. Three more than Draco had expected to go. Would Dumbledore be prepared?

            Some students were enjoying the Saturday afternoon around the lake. Draco's eyes went wide when he saw Potter and Weasley playing with a giant black dog. Didn't they know what was going on that day? They had to. They were in the Order. Feeling slightly less confident, Draco followed the rest of the Death Eaters to a grouping of trees.

            "The time to attack is now," Voldemort began. So this is what it feels like to be at a Death Eater pep rally, Draco thought. Should I be waving a flag, or just brandishing the filthy mark on my arm? He scowled and continued to listen to Voldemort. "Six of you will come with me to the lake to take care of the brats around it. The other seven, will wait behind the school until Dumbledore comes. We need to overpower him."

            Draco followed Voldemort to the lake, wondering what he could possibly do to help out the other members of The Order. Dumbledore had told him not to give up his cover for any reason. Did that include death? He shook his head, attempting to clear away the confusing thoughts to no avail.

            When the lake finally came into view, two third years pointed at them and shouted, "Death Eaters!" Potter and Weasley turned towards them with their teeth bared. The big black dog stood in front of them and growled too. The students joined Potter holding their wands out threateningly. One of the smaller ones ran to the castle, presumably to get help.

            Voldemort looked at the small coalition with a twisted grin on his serpent-like face. "Potter, I see you made some new friends? What happened to the others…did they become extinct?"

Potter flinched visibly, but stood tall with his head held high. "We're not afraid of you Tom Riddle."

This time it was Voldemort who flinched at the use of his real name. He recovered quickly. "No matter. You will fear me in a few brief seconds." He raised his wand quickly and shouted, "Crucio!" Potter dropped to the ground, convulsing. Draco stared. He felt frozen to the ground.

Fortunately, someone else was not standing around and watching. "Stupefy!" it was Weasley. Voldemort dodged the curse, but it was enough to throw his concentration. Potter stood on his feet as the Death Eaters began to attack.

Draco ran to the back of the small group and whispered, "Stupefy." Crabbe dropped to the ground and no one was any the wiser. Teachers began pouring out of Hogwarts and then more Death Eaters came around from behind. The battle was in full swing. Draco thought he heard someone shout the killing curse and looked around for a fallen comrade or enemy. It was no use; there were too many people. Trying to forget what had just happened, Draco looked for someway to help without being seen.

He crept behind his own father and raised his wand to stupefy him. Someone grabbed his arm and twisted him around. It was Voldemort. The Dark Lord dragged him over to a nearby tree.

"So hard to find loyal compatriots these days," he whispered softly. "I knew you were trouble from the start. And now little Malfoy, you shall pay. What a pity it will be that your father will never get to see his son achieve."

Draco looked into those cold red eyes and hatred burned through him, as he had never felt. Voldemort had ruined his family. His father no longer cared because he was too concerned with pleasing his Lord. "I'm not afraid of you," he said quietly.

            Voldemort laughed cruelly. "That seems to be a popular opinion today. I never thought I would see a Malfoy joining sides with a Potter. Your father will find this interesting." Draco cried in his mind. His father would know of his treason. He wished Voldemort would kill him first.

            "Lucius!" Voldemort hissed. His father joined them.

            "What is it Master?" he asked. Draco was ashamed to hear the oily tone of voice that his father used when addressing Voldemort.

            "Your son was about to attack you. We have a traitor on our hands. What do you have to say to that?" Voldemort shouted.

            Draco saw his father's eyes flash with anger, eyes that had never shown love. "I'm sorry my Lord. He deserves death," Lucius said, his voice full of hatred.

            Draco dropped his head. He knew that he had been expecting a miracle, but he had hoped for a second that his father would side with him and go against Voldemort. "Good. Now that we agree, you will be the one to kill him," the Dark Lord said threateningly.

            Lucius merely nodded. "Of course, Master." Draco could barely believe his ears. He watched, as his father did not hesitate to raise his wand. Draco closed his eyes. For some reason he did not want to look into the face that he had associated with heroism when he was a boy as he was killed. He waited for the curse to come.

            But it did not. Instead a loud moan was heard. Draco opened his eyes to see the black dog chewing on his father's leg while Voldemort looked shocked. He raised his wand, perhaps to kill the dog, but Draco was faster. Knowing he only had seconds, Draco pushed Voldemort as hard as he could causing him to fall to the ground. "Stupefy!" Draco yelled with his wand pointed at this father. 

            Draco looked at Voldemort who was now bearing down on him. "You piece of filth! Crucio!" Pain beyond anything that Draco could imagine coursed through his body. He felt his eyes roll up into his skull. Pain was all he knew. And then as suddenly as it started, it stopped. With blurry vision, Draco looked up. Potter was now dueling with the Dark Lord.

            Draco could not stand up. Still breathing hard, he watched the fight that was taking place in front of him. Potter ducked as Voldemort sent a Cruciatus Curse his way. Potter yelled, "Impedimenta!" but his curse, too, missed its target. They circled, each waiting for the other to make a move.

            "Imperio!" Voldemort yelled. This time, the Dark Lord did not go off his mark.

But suddenly, Harry yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" Draco could barely believe his eyes. He had never seen anyone shake the Imperious Curse that quickly. It had been mere seconds. It took a minute for Draco to notice that Potter and Voldemort were no longer fighting. Voldemort was lying on the ground, stiff as a board. Potter breathed a sigh of relief, but looked to be on the verge of tears.

The two boys stared at the fallen body of evil. His eyes were still moving, frantically searching for one of his allies to help him. However, Draco looked around the Hogwarts grounds. It seemed that the Death Eaters who were not incapacitated or dead had abandoned Voldemort. The large dog bounded up to them and transformed into a man who Draco instantly recognized as Sirius Black. Even though Draco knew he was innocent, it took quite some effort to not shout at the sight. "Stupefy," he muttered. Voldemort's eyes closed.

"Kill him," Draco spat. He wanted to see the vermin who was responsible for so much death and chaos get what he deserved. Sirius said nothing. "Did you hear me? Kill him!"

Sirius grit his teeth. "Don't tempt me."

"What the hell are you talking about? Do you want to see him get free again?" Draco could not believe what he was hearing. Was everyone just content to see Voldemort go to Azkaban? He was not.

"Look!" Sirius shouted. "Things aren't as simple as that…" he began, but Draco interrupted.

"I know the Order was given permission to use the Unforgiveables! Just do it!" Sirius looked torn between killing the piece of filth at his feet, or being moral. Draco knew which he preferred. Potter was staying unusually silent as they argued.

Draco peered closer at Sirius and noticed something he hadn't a moment ago. Tears were pouring down his face. It shook Draco to see a grown man cry. "I guess you don't know," Sirius said hoarsely. "Dumbledore…Voldemort got him. Right before he came after you. Avada Kedavra and just like that. Dumbledore wouldn't have wanted him killed. I know it."

Draco scowled. Maybe Dumbledore had helped him onto the right path, but the revenge part of him had never left. Draco raised his wand and before anyone could stop him yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" The green light hit Voldemort at full force and life was wiped from his body.

Potter and Sirius stared. "You shouldn't have done that," Potter said after a long pause. His voice was dull. Draco could feel Potter's pain as he spoke. Potter walked away from him with a sigh. Draco watched as he joined Granger and Weasley. They hugged each other tightly.

Despite himself, Draco felt his eyes water. Soon, his own parents would be taken to Azkaban where they were sure to stay for the rest of their existence. Friendless and parentless, Draco longed for someone to hug.

AN: Whaddya think? Was it good? Did it suck? Please review!