Friendship and Beyond 34/?

Rated: R contains mentions of rape and torture, although not actual scenes. Possible HP/SS in later chapters, also HG/RW.

Authors Notes: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, that would be JKR. Subject matter not for children, although nothing too graphic, but be careful when reading just to be on the safe side.

Duplicity Among the Faithful

Harry and company left Dumbledore's office at twelve-thirty that morning, after having spoken to the Order of the Phoenix. All of its members had been on standby since the kidnapping of Ron and Hermione earlier in the year. It had been decided upon before the trio even arrived that they would only be allowed to come if they stayed out of harms way. When Harry and even Ron disagreed, sighting their promise to protect Malfoy in return for Lucius' help, the headmaster was far from pleased.

"Harry, I understand you feel you are honor bound to protect young Malfoy, but you cannot put yourself at risk to accomplish this." Dumbledore had stated looking rather pale. "You need to be kept safe until such a time that your presence will make the most good."

He was alluding to the prophecy, not knowing that he had already told Ron and Hermione of its existence near the end of last year.

"With all due respect Headmaster." Harry answered coldly. "That is my decision to make. I wouldn't expect you to understand, but I gave Lucius Malfoy my word and I intend to honor it. Now we can either work together or we can go alone. The choice is yours, but either way I can take care of myself."

"Harry why do you continue to act this way?" Dumbledore asked softly, his voice laced with hurt. "I am only doing what I think is best for you."

"Perhaps." Harry acknowledged, letting his voice thaw somewhat while in the Headmaster's presence, for the first time since returning over a month ago. "However it is not your choice to make any longer."

"You are obviously determined."

"I am."

"Very well, just try to stay out of the crossfire while getting Draco inside school grounds." Dumbledore told them, before continuing to discuss the upcoming battle.

Harry, Hermione and Ron met up with Draco at the entrance to the Slytherin dormitories a few minutes before one. Before they headed out Harry took out his father's invisibility cloak and hastily cast an enlargement charm on it. Since all three of them had grown quite a bit since first year the cloak wouldn't have covered their combined height otherwise. The trio walked in silence behind Draco as he strode towards the main exit near the Great Hall. The teachers and Order members were waiting for Voldemort to appear before moving to attack. They were situated at all of the entrances near the forbidden forest, waiting for the wards to drop.

"Don't do anything foolish, Harry." Hermione admonished quietly right before they began walking off the school grounds.

"Yes mum." Harry answered flippantly before quieting as they walked further away from the castle. They continued to follow a strangely pensive Draco as he walked slowly toward the forbidden forest, near the side entrance to the school grounds. The trio followed carefully behind him, not more than ten feet, only stopping when the blonde did. All four Slytherins waited with baited breath for Voldemort to appear. They did not have overly long to wait. With only a snap for warning the ground in front of them was suddenly filled with Death Eaters as well as the Snake himself. They were all shrouded in their customary black robes and white masks as they stood outside of the still-raised wards in eerie silence.

"Draco, I need you to cut your hand with this." A death eater stepped forward carrying a ceremonial dagger made of silver. The blonde hair gave him away as a fellow Malfoy, as did his ice grey eyes.

"Of course, Father." Draco answered arrogantly. "I am honored to be of service to our Lord."

Lucius threw the dagger without ceremony at his son's feet. It stuck in the ground a foot away from where Draco was standing. Draco didn't flinch as he picked up the dagger and calmly cut a shallow line in the palm of his own hand. As the blood began to drip slowly on the cold ground, coloring it red, Voldemort and a few of his Death Eaters began to chant in an ancient form of Latin. Before their very eyes the wards surrounding Hogwarts became visible, a smoky green wall encasing the castle grounds. As Draco's blood continued to flow, the incantation gained power as the Death Eaters continued their casting. Before long the wards rippled creating a hole where Draco stood, and soon thereafter blinked out altogether. The gateway was small but continued to exist as Mafloy bled on the opening.

"Well done." Voldemort hissed walking through the wards followed by as many of his Death Eaters that would fit through the small opening. During the incantation even more Death Eaters had arrived in a second wave so that their numbers were up to well over fifty. "This however is only a temporary solution. I am afraid a more permanent opening is needed."

Before Lucius could protest Voldemort transfigured a nearby rock into a dagger and levitated it with considerable force towards Draco's chest. Neither Malfoy had any time to react before the dagger reached its target. It was only Harry's quick reflexes that saved Draco's life. Harry tackled Malfoy from his position hiding behind him. The dagger would have then hit Ron had he not jumped out of the way. Unfortunately this caused the invisibility cloak to blow out of the way, revealing the other two students to Voldemort's view. Thankfully before Voldemort had the chance to attack the teens, they were beset by curses thrown from above. As Voldemort looked up he saw Remus Lupin and Arthur Weasley on brooms attacking his followers.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Voldemort yelled in frustration barely dodging a blow from Dumbledore who appeared out of nowhere, flanked by teachers and Aurors.

"I do not know my lord." Lucius answered.

"I'll be damned if I retreat now that we are so close to victory! Fight through their line." Voldemort ordered, looking maniacally at where the four students were dusting themselves off from the ground surrounded by Order members. "I want them destroyed once and for all."