Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.

Author's Notes: I needed to do some re-writing, after reading OotP. I have made some minor changes to this chapter, mostly spelling and grammar. And all mention of my invention of Diplomatic Alley has been deleted.

Chapter 9 - Gryffindors Rush In Where Angels Fear To Tread

I returned to the dorm, at about four thirty in the morning. The other three boys were asleep, but Theo was a light sleeper, and the mere noise of closing the door woke him. It didn't wake the Synchronised Snorers, though.

"Hey." he whispered, as I collapsed on my bed, "How was detention?"

"Bloody awful." I replied.

"What happened?"

I sat up and looked at him solemnly. I explained, in detail, exactly what happened. Theo's expression became more disbelieving with every word I said, until I had finished.

"No way." he whispered, "Unicorn blood ... that's ... that's beyond evil ... a word has yet to be invented to describe how wrong that is."

I smiled bitterly, "Looks like my vampire theory wasn't too far off the mark, after all." I said.

"You think...?" Theo asked, staring at me in shock, "But..." he seemed to be thinking it over, and then, "It does make sense ... I am SO not going near Quirrell ... EVER again." I lay back, blinking furiously, and trying not to think too much about what I'd seen. Theo looked at me, "Are you -?"

"No, I am not crying." I snapped.

"You nearly are." Theo informed me.

"You would, if you'd seen it. Have you ever seen a dead unicorn?" he shook his head in response, "Believe me, it would make you want to cry - if I hadn't been afraid for my life, because of Lord Vladimir, I'd probably have cried in front of Potter - and you know how I feel about showing weakness to anyone, especially HIM." I said coldly. I stared adamantly at the ceiling, refusing to acknowledge the tear running down from my left eye into my hair. You'd have to be heartless to not feel a strong sense of bereavement at seeing a dead unicorn, let alone to kill it like Vampire-Wannabie did.

"What are we supposed to do?" Theo asked, "We can't sit back and do nothing ... it'd be suicide. Half the people who joined Him got killed as pawns, and anyone who tried to oppose Him was eliminated."

"But what can we do about it?" I asked, sitting up and looking at him, "We can't go to the teachers. I sure as hell am not going to try to confront Him myself. The hired assassin didn't work."

"We could try that again. We've still got the Hufflepuff match. Or we could trick the Weasley twins into trying it." Theo suggested hopefully.

"No. It would look far too suspicious if the same 'accident' happened twice." I said, staring at him in a vain attempt to see answers in his eyes.

"The easiest way for evil to win is for good men to do nothing." Theo said, in a voice that had to be meant to impersonate Dumbledore ... not a very good impersonation, but it got the message across.

"I wouldn't call myself a 'good man'." I responded coldly, "I prefer to sit somewhere in the middle. Gryffindors see black and white, but I like the grey areas much better. I'm not the type to risk my life for anyone else ... but I'd try to help, if I can do so safely."

"Look at it this way, Draco. It's in our own survival interests to make sure He doesn't get what He's after. What is it that would be so bad if He got his hands on it, anyway?"

"It's a Philosopher's Stone." I said, watching his reaction - his jaw nearly hit the floor.

"No way." he whispered, shocked. The implications of this did not go unacknowledged. "If He got His hands on that ... the Elixir of Life could bring Him back, and cure the curse from the blood, too. Flaming Hades! No wonder you're so scared that He might get it. We have to tell someone about it. We have to."

"Who?" I asked. None of the teachers would believe us, except possibly Snape, and I don't know which side he's really on.

"Snape." Theo said almost instantly, "He'll believe us, and Dumbledore trusts him. Quirrell could be unemployed by tomorrow evening, if we told first thing."

"I don't know if we can trust Snape." I said simply, "He was one of Them. He still hangs around with some of that crowd, and I saw him at our Christmas party."

"We could just ask him. Like you asked me and Blaise."

"What makes you think that'll do any good. He knows my father was one of Them. He'll think I'll expect him to say he's a Dark Lord fan, even if he isn't." I said, before I realised something, "But I should be able to tell if he's lying. I can tell when Father lies, and he lies for a living." I said.

"Right. That's settled, then. We tell Snape. Now - sleep." and with that, Theo pulled the curtains around his bed, and the only sound remaining was the drone of Crabbe and Goyle's snoring.

* * *

The next morning, we made a point of being up on time (that bloody alarm clock still yells at me, but now I've got it set to say obscenities, just for the humour value), and were to be found knocking on Snape's office door, five minutes before breakfast was due to start.

"Enter!" Snape's voice snapped irritably, from inside the office. I opened the door and peered around it. Snape was glaring in my direction, but as soon as he saw who had the audacity to knock on his door at this hour, he seemed to relax. "Ah, Mr Malfoy." he said in a relatively pleasant voice. I stepped inside the office, and Theo appeared behind me. "Mr Nott." Snape noted, "What can I do for you two?"

"We need to talk to you, Professor." I said, trying not to let my nervousness show.

"Come in." Snape said, in a tone that said it should have been obvious, "Close the door, and sit down." I made a beeline for the seat next to the fire, even if it wasn't lit, while Theo closed the door and took the seat next to me - both seats were facing the desk Snape was stationed at. By the looks of it, he'd been up all night marking homework assignments. "So, what do you want to tell me, Mr Malfoy?" he asked - I'd swear he was trying to be nice to me ... probably still afraid of my father, after all that happened in the Dark Times - I've only heard rumours of the less gruesome parts.

"I have to ask you a question, Professor. And you have to tell the truth." I said, sitting forward in the seat, with my back straight and my hands on my knees - I was nervous as hell, and trying not to show it. What if he gave me the wrong answer? What would I do then?

"The truth is a terrible and dangerous thing, and should be avoided if at all possible." Snape said, watching us, "But I will not lie to you. If I cannot tell you the truth, I will not answer. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes." Theo answered, nodding.

I guess it was. At least if he said he wouldn't answer, then we could just go. "We wanted to ask you -" I paused, taking a deep breath - I really felt like I was jumping off a cliff, with this one ... I just hoped it's a soft landing. "What is your opinion of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" There - I said it. Now I waited for Shit and Fan to be formally introduced.

Snape gave me a look that seemed to be trying to size me up, and evaluating me. He watched me for half a minute, and I held his gaze the whole time. Finally, he answered, "He was an extremely powerful dark wizard, who offered the world in exchange for your soul, and never kept his end of the deal. I would go out of my way to prevent his return to power, if it ever became an issue." he said, keeping eye contact the whole time - he didn't blink once. The chances of that being a lie were a million to one. For a Slytherin, his emotions are frighteningly close to the surface, and I doubt he could lie that well.

"Right answer." I said, smiling. He seemed to let out a breath, as if he had been expecting Shit to meet Fan, too. "Now that we know which side you're on ... ours ... we have something to tell you." I looked around nervously, "Is this room secure?"

"There are silencing spells, and wards against spying charms, around the entire room. I was aware that you brought a certain one of your Christmas presents here, and I didn't want to take any chances." Snape answered.

I gave him a you-sneaky-bastard smirk, "I would never try to spy on you, sir." I said, "Anyway, to business."

Snape gave us a look that said 'I'm listening', and Theo started the tale, "We have solid proof that Quirrell is working with You-Know-Who, and circumstantial evidence that he's been the one killing unicorns and he's after what's hidden in the Forbidden Corridor."

That about summed it up, I thought. Very concise, too. Snape looked stunned, "I had been aware of Quirrell's unusual behaviour for some time." he said thoughtfully, "But I have no proof that he was working with the Dark Lord. I don't think the contents of the Forbidden Corridor are in any danger, as long as Dumbledore is here. And as to the unicorns - what ever gives you that idea?"

"I saw him going out into the Forest a week ago, looking anaemic, and the next morning he looked very well and had colour in his cheeks." Theo started.

"Then, in my detention in the Forest, we saw a hooded figure drinking the unicorn's blood. Needless to say, I didn't hang around to find out who it was, but two and two do make four." I added.

"Interesting theory." Snape noted, "And what might your 'solid proof' be, as to Quirrell's connection to the Dark Lord?"

"Uh." Theo looked blank, then turned to me.

I chewed my lower lip, thinking - I really should tell the truth, here, shouldn't I? "I used my Christmas present. I was suspicious since the troll incident, and wanted to catch him off guard."

"So you would use it against the teaching staff, but not me specifically? You have flexible morals, Mr Malfoy." Snape said, smirking.

"And we saw what's under the turban - well, Cat and I did - Theo and Blaise sort of found out later ... after we asked them the same question I asked you when we came in here."

"You aren't taking any chances. So only the four of you know about this? What about your friends, Crabbe and Goyle?" Snape asked.

"Those two would throw a celebration party if You-Know-Who came back." I said, coldly, "So would Pansy, and I have no idea about Milli."

"Hmmm. So what did you see? Or do I not want to know for fear of nausea?"

"You don't want to know." I answered, feeling sick at the thought of it. Theo nodded in agreement with my statement. "But we're fairly certain that Quirrell is not only working for You-Know-Who, but he shares his body, mind and soul with Him."

"That is a disturbing image." Snape said, giving me a searching look that made me feel like he could read my mind, "Would I be correct in assuming that the incident at the Ravenclaw Quidditch match was no accident?" he asked, looking at me with an intent stare. I'd bet anything that he could read lies as well as - if not better than - I can.

"Well." I said, shifting in my seat, "Bole might have got the idea that he might get his hands on some money if the inside of Quirrell's head met with a Bludger." I said, not looking at Snape.

"How much money?" Snape asked sternly.

"Fifty galleons ... only if he succeeded." I said, still staring off to his left, my gaze fixed on something slimy in a jar that looked like it might be a slug.

"The boy has low standards. No hit-man should take an offer that cheap." Snape muttered, before telling me, "I will pretend I didn't hear about that. I can assure you, however, that no one will be getting through the Forbidden Corridor, while Dumbledore is present."

"What is it that makes the growling noise, just inside?" I asked curiously.

"A Cerberus." Snape answered in an ominous tone.

"As in three-headed guard-dog of Hell, Cerberus?" I asked, stunned. Snape nodded. "Cool. I wouldn't want to cross one of those. Better guard-dog than Fang, any day." I noticed that Snape barely suppressed a snort of laughter.

"Do you know what's in there?" Theo asked.

"Yes, of course I do. I helped protect it. But I'm not going to tell -"

"We already know what it is, sir. It's a Philosopher's Stone." I said, not really meaning to interrupt, but I did, so whatya gonna do? "That's why we were so worried. We know what might happen if He did get it."

"We had to tell someone, and none of the other teachers would believe a word of it." Theo added.

"I do hope." Snape said, in an obey-or-die tone, "That you don't plan to acquire the Stone for yourselves?"

"Nah." I said casually, "I've got plenty of money, and who wants to live forever?"

"And I'm not suicidal. Only Gryffindors are stupid enough to try running a gauntlet like what Cat and Blaise figure is in that corridor." Theo said honestly.

"In that case, I suggest you not concern yourselves with this matter, any more." Snape said coldly, "Now go. You should be concerning yourselves with exams. Leave the matters of life, death, and the future of humanity to those with some more experience."

* * *

Exams. I don't know or care how well I did. I was too busy spying on Quirrell. To hell with what Snape said, I wasn't letting my guard down for a second.

After the exams ended, almost all the first-year Slytherins decided to celebrate by sunbathing and doing absolutely sod-all. Almost all of us. I preferred the shadows, but still was outside with the rest, when Blaise (the only one who had stayed inside) ran up to us, panting, "Draco, Theo, Cat ... bad ... very bad - come on." she said quickly. Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle gave us confused looks, while Milli just lay there trying to tan.

I shrugged to my friends, and followed Blaise up to the school. "What happened? Who'd he kill?" Theo asked.

"What is it with you?" Cat asked, "When Gryffindor lost all those points you asked which one murdered someone, and now you ask who He murdered."

"I've got homicide-phobia." Theo admitted, grinning. "I want to be aware of murderers, so as to avoid them."

"Whatever!" I snapped, "Blaise, spill the beans. What's wrong?"

"Dumbledore just left. I saw him take off a minute ago. No idea where, but if he's flying it must be too far to Apparate safely."

"Why'd he not use Floo?" Theo asked.

"Duh." Cat sneered, "The Floo in the castle is only for communication - no travel. It's safer that way."

"What did Snape say, Theo - it's safe as long as Dumbledore is present?" I asked, twitching slightly, "He's going to go for it while Dumbledore's away. Maybe even tonight."

"Eeep." Cat squeaked.

"So what can WE do about it?" Blaise asked, knowing full well that none of us had any brilliant plans for heroic deeds. Heroism is SO overrated.

"Need to do SOMETHING." Theo said, beginning to panic.

"I'll plant spy charms on some key people, and the corridor itself." I said, trying to think as I went, "Then we'll keep watch, and see what happens. The Stone needs a special potion to make the Elixir, so He won't be able to return immediately, if He does get it - maybe we'll have a chance to warn someone. By that point, even McGonagall would believe us."

"Eyes and ears open, at all times." Theo said, "We need to be doing more than just that, though."

"I'll pester Quirrell about my exams." Cat offered, "He's got to know I'm terrible at his class, and want some reassurance."

"Right." I said, "We actually have a plan that doesn't involve being the heroes - this is good."

We split up, Theo and Blaise heading for the common room, Cat making fast time for the staff room, and I headed up to the third floor. I was about to turn into the main corridor, which leads to the Forbidden Corridor, when I heard an unwelcome voice.

"I suppose you think you're harder to get past than a pack of enchantments!" McGonagall bellowed. She hadn't seen me - she was yelling at someone else. I hid, flattened against the wall, listening. "Enough of this nonsense! If I hear you've come anywhere near here again, I'll take another fifty points from Gryffindor! Yes, Weasley, from my own house!"

I remained hidden, until the three sets of footsteps had receded in two different directions, before turning out into the corridor, and casting a spell above the door - that way, I could see anyone who entered the Forbidden Corridor, from the Spy Ball. I quickly made myself scarce, not wanting to get caught here by either McGonagall or Quirrell ... or anyone else, for that matter.

* * *

I was on my way back to the common room, to commence spying, when I saw Hermione loitering outside the staff room. That didn't concern me as much as the lack of Catarina loitering outside the staff room.

"Hey, Granger." I drawled, trying to sound like I hated her, just in case anyone was nearby, "What are you up to?"

"Waiting to speak to Professor Flitwick. What are YOU up to." she asked suspiciously.

"I'm a Slytherin. I'm always up to something. Sometimes more than one dastardly plot at a time. I can even lose track of them, occasionally." I joked, watching her reaction. She recognised that it wasn't serious. "Really, I'm just heading back to our common room, to see some of the other first-years about a little problem." well Potter called Crabbe and Goyle my 'little friends' so I have every right to use the same misconception, right back at his little clique.

"What 'little problem'?" she asked sceptically.

"The end of the world. I'm guessing some time tonight. Maybe early hours of the morning." I said casually.

"So you know, then?" she asked.

"I know more than you do." I responded coolly, "You still think it's Snape, don't you?"

"Of course it's him!" she snapped back, "We've got proof."

"Bet it's circumstantial." I crowed, "Our proof is conclusive, so you must be wrong. What does it matter who it is, so long as they don't get what they're after? Here's a little bit of advice for you. Don't go after him - I know it's what Gryffindors DO, but don't get yourself killed, Granger."

"And what are you doing about it?" she asked sceptically.

"Taking a back-seat, but we're still in the same wagon as you." I answered, "We don't want to see Him back any more than you do. The stories about Him are enough to give anyone nightmares." I looked around, still concerned about Cat's absence. "You haven't seen any of the other first-year snakes around here, have you?" I asked.

"No. There was no one here when I got here, except I saw Snape going in." Hermione answered, frowning, "Why?"

"Cause one of the girls was supposed to be occupying Quirrell's valuable time." I responded, getting nervous.

"I don't get you. One minute, you're our enemy - the next, you're helping us. Why can't you just pick a side?" she asked, trying to give me the searching-mind-reading look, with little-to-no effect.

"I am always on the same side, Granger. It's not yours, and it's not His. If I have to unite with one enemy, against the other, I'd rather be against Him. But I will not help, or be nice to, Potter. There's always more than meets the eye ... never only two sides ... life isn't black and white, Hermione ... I live in-between, where the line is faded and indefinable."

"What about the good vs. evil thing?" she asked, looking confused, "There's always a conflict between the two -"

I interrupted her, "There is no good and evil, Granger, only power. And power corrupts the weak-spirited. Everyone is BOTH, good and evil. Everyone has a dark side, even Dumbledore. And even if he's beaten it into submission, What's-His-Name probably has a conscience, buried somewhere."

I was rewarded for my deep, meaningful theories into the human psyche, by a blank look. She may be the smartest girl in the school, but she's still as stubborn as any Gryffindor. They always work in extremes. No use trying to reason with her about it. "I don't think I'm ever going to understand you, Malfoy," she said, in what I'd swear was a sad tone.

"Yeah." I said, smirking, "I like being an enigma. But one thing I will tell you for certain. If you ever need help with anything like ... well, like this ... I will always do what I can for you, on the condition Potter never finds out that I'm anything other than the evil git he thinks I am."

"Why won't you let him know you're helping us?" she asked.

"Because he didn't want to know me. If he hadn't judged on first impressions, he would have found out that I wear the mask." I said, smiling a genuine smile, "But I won't let his short-sightedness - I don't mean that in the literal sense - affect you. You never rejected me, even if you haven't accepted my offer of friendship, yet."

"I promise, I'll not ruin your excuse to hold a grudge ... even if it is extremely petty." she said, smirking - I didn't know she could smirk - she's almost as good at it as I am. "Thank you for the offer. I will keep it in mind."

I nodded, in a gesture of gratitude, "You are most welcome. I hope you manage to fix this, without any fatalities ... with the obvious exception of the criminal. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go and maintain the Shadow Resistance."

"The what?"

"I just thought of that name, right now. It fits us perfectly." I said, pondering the concept of using it as an official term for our officially nonexistent group. "I won't tell you about the others, just in case something bad happens, but I'm not the only Slytherin against His return." I stopped talking abruptly, as the staff room door opened to reveal Snape. "I'll just be leaving, now." I said, in by best impersonation of an innocent voice, before bolting down the nearest staircase.

I paused in the Entrance Hall, just long enough to cast another spy charm. Better too many than not enough.

* * *

As I arrived in the common room, I spotted the other three huddled in a corner.

"What took you so long, Draco?" Blaise asked, in the tone that said she'd been in a panic.

"I stopped to chat with someone. Nothing bad. Just a potential ally. Let's start monitoring the danger-area." I said, beckoning the others to follow, as I headed to our dorm.

We kicked Crabbe and Goyle out, telling them we had important matters to discuss, and why couldn't they go and spike the Gryffindors' drinks, or something productive, anyway.

The four of us sat on the floor, circled around the Spy Ball. I tapped it with my wand, "Third floor corridor." and the image appeared. The corridor was deserted. Nothing happened.

And nothing continued to happen for about five minutes, before Theo announced, "This could take all night. We should take it in shifts, or something, so we don't all drop off from sheer boredom." He had a point.

So that was what we did. One of us would stare at the Spy Ball, while the other three would play Exploding Snap. Then after half and hour, someone else would get a turn to be bored senseless.

Theo was on Spy-duty when it happened, at about ten-thirty. "We have movement!" he said enthusiastically. The game was abandoned - all the cards were thrown into a pile, which promptly exploded. We all crowded round the Spy Ball, to see the image it was projecting.

"Quirrell." Blaise said triumphantly, "We were right all along."

"He's not very smart, is he?" Cat asked, "Leaving the door open, like that. Anyone might walk past, and sound the alarm." as she said this, we heard music from the Spy Ball - someone was playing a harp. Music has powers to soothe the savage beast - that must be how to get past the Cerberus. It seemed that way, because the growling and barking had stopped as soon as the music had started, and it had resumed as soon as the music stopped.

"Indeed." Theo said grinning.

"Except everyone's asleep." Blaise noted, "Even Snape, at this hour. He'll be taking advantage of not having exams to mark, and would not be happy to be woken."

"No. He wouldn't." I said, considering the situation, "What about Dumbledore? Would he still be up?"

"Probably." Blaise said, in a knowledgeable voice, "The broom journey to London would take hours - even a Nimbus 2000 would take at least three hours to get there, and the broom I saw him with was pretty old. He might only just be arriving."

"So how do we get him back here, now?" Cat asked confused.

"Floo?" Theo suggested.

"We already covered that, Theo." Blaise said exasperated, "There's no Floo travel from Hogwarts."

"The Knight Bus." I said. It wasn't a suggestion - it was a statement.

"That'd work." Blaise said, her face lighting up, "So one of us takes the K.B. to the Ministry - urgent, so it'll be almost instantaneous travel - and brings Dumbledore back the same way."

"Once he knows why we need him back here, he won't hesitate." Theo said, also getting excited at the prospect of a real plan, "He wouldn't, would he?"

"No way. He's too good to let something like -" Cat stopped mid-sentence, "Guys - I just saw that door move ... and there's more music, again." she was right - this time it was a flute ... a very simple tune, but still music. The Cerberus had been silenced again.

"Someone else is going after the Stone?" Theo asked confused.

"Potter and his gang. They know as much as we do about this - except they think it's Snape instead of Quirrell - and they're Gryffindors, so they're more prone to rash acts of suicidal bravery." I said coldly.

"So why couldn't we see them?" Blaise asked confused.

"I have no idea, but I'd bet Galleons to Knuts that flute music was theirs." I said.

"Now we have two problems." Cat said, "Quirrell going after the Stone, and Potter the Wonder-Boy is going to try to get himself killed. Dumbledore must be found. Now."

"Who goes?" Theo asked, "I can't, 'cause my dad works at the Ministry."

"Mine, too." I put in.

"My mom works there, as well." Blaise noted.

"I'll go." Cat said, sounding exasperated, as if we were being childish for not wanting our parents to know what we were up to. "My mom works at the Belfast branch, and I already told you my dad's in Azkaban, so I've no one to be afraid of at the Ministry."

"Right." Blaise said, "Good luck." We all picked ourselves up, and made our way out to the exit of the common room.

Theo gave an elaborate bow, and said in a pompous voice, "The future of the world rests on your shoulders. Good luck, fair lady, and safe journey."

We all stared at him, "You have lost it." Blaise said.

"I met this painting of a knight. He was funny, and I thought that would be, too." Theo complained.

"Sir Cadogan is NOT funny." I said coldly, before turning to Cat, "Here - money - you will need to pay extra for the urgent journey." Cat took the pouch full of Sickles that I was offering, and nodded, smiling, "One more thing." I took out my wand and pointed it at her, "I want to know what happens. Vi-deo. Good luck. You'll need it."

With everything organised, Cat set off, at a run, for the outdoors, to summon the Knight Bus.

* * *

End of chapter 9