A/N: Here's another short chapter coming at you. I've decided against merging it again because it just wouldn't be right. LOL. The funny part is that I think I had written about how I wouldn't be changing the original story. Well, I guess times and opinions change!
Disclaimer: "Oh what a beautiful story! Oh what a beautiful book! Ever since I read Harry Potter, I've been completely hooked!" thanks J.K.Rowling!
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Chapter 20
"Forsaken"The day went fast and Hermione, Ginny and Harry began to prepare for the journey to Azkaban. Hermione had done a complete research on the structure and foundation of the wizard prison with an alarming speed. She had managed to find books on it hidden deep within the restricted section and took it out from the library without a hint of thievery. It was the closest thing they had to a map of its location and the best way to know where to begin looking for an entrance. Harry and Ginny began packing things that they might be able to use on this mission including Harry's gift from Lupin. "You never know!" said Harry as he put it all in a back sack. In their hurry Hermione had reminded Harry to bring his phoenix ring with him. Theoretically, if hers was able to make her see Ron though the anti-magic barrier then both rings will have their uses. Before long it was nightfall and they had all sneaked out of sight to Ron's car that kindly lay hidden near Hagrid's old cabin. With the invisibility cloak over their heads, they rushed out and made their way past the prefects. They reached the car and Ginny made her way to the driver's side and spoke gently.
"It's me. Listen, we need to get out of here but we have to do it quietly alright?" the car purred happily. It seemed that it like being stealthy.
"What kind of car is this anyway?" asked Hermione a bit hesitant to get in.
"A very special one, come on, I'll –"
"Ginny, you've been a bit weak. Maybe I should drive," suggested Harry.
"No. This car knows me more then it does you. I'll drive. We need to get Ron out of there as fast as we can,"
"Right," agreed Harry as they all got in and loaded their things. Hermione sat up front with her book at hand and began to read a passage.
"Azkaban, is located in an isolated island on the English Channel… Are they any islands there?"
"Not that we'd know of Hermione," said Harry reminding her that they probably didn't learn about any magical wizard prison islands in their muggle geography classes.
"30 miles west of… the Hag's Head isle… now I KNOW I have no idea where that is,"
"That… That's near Portsmouth! We have quite a ride. Luckily, this car can go faster then most, at least when it's in the mood!" said Ginny as the car swayed happily, feeling the confidence of its riders. "I can bring us near there but after… I – I think it will be up to you Hermione,"
"Me?"
"Yes. Maybe you can try contacting Ron with your ring and you can tell us where to go. You have a connection with him, it might enough," said Harry suggested hopeful.
"I'll try but I've only managed to have him see me once. I just hope he'll hear me. Well, come on, let's go!" she said as they lifted off.
Little did they know that three pairs of eyes looked at them from a top a very high, round room in the castle tower. These eyes, brown, sky blue, deep black all surveyed the grounds and saw the car lift off slowly. The woman gave a sigh and the youngest of the three looked onto his colleagues.
"Will you really let them leave?" he said a deep snarl.
"Oh yes. You remember what Sybil told us," said the other man in a more fatherly tone.
"But do you think it's wise to –" began the woman.
"Yes. Sybil had made another real prediction that horrible day and in her memory we should respect it Professors,"
"But Headmaster…"
"Now's not the time Serverus. You had done your part as predicted and now it will be time for Minerva and me to do you ours,"
"Albus, they're still children," said McGonagall.
"Yes Minerva, I know. But it is these children that have and will shape our futures. We must let them go on, as they should. Come, we still have to do our part," said Professor Dumbledore as they all left the window.
***
Lucius' cold eyes bore into his silver-haired son's. Draco had never heard of anything like this. His father had done all this for the sake of Voldermort? He had endangered himself, left him and his mother vexed and worried and had killed and used who ever was there in the process, even his own son? An old feeling began to revive within Draco; A feeling that had overwhelmed him last year when he was compelled to leave his father's side to join with Harry and Dumbledore. A feeling that he had never hoped to ever feel again towards his father after such terrible experiences: hatred.
"Getting cursed that day was a surprise. However he must have known that it was all ending that night..." he muttered. "And so, to make this all happen we used a few old 'tricks of the trade' and we had a plan. The plan, that even though was completely altered, should be proceeding perfectly,"
Draco was mute. What more could be said?
"And so at this very moment the final stages should be moving forward. Harry Potter will have no other reaction then to end up exactly where we want him… in Azkaban. He'll be ready to receive the kiss that he escaped four years ago but this Dementor will do more then take his soul and mind… You see Draco? Once Potter becomes a shell then it will leave room for a new Voldermort to arise. The very essence that lives in Potter will awaken in a new body. His legacy will live on in a new shape and I will be the first to gather the spoils," he said masterfully.
He couldn't hold it in any longer.
"You… you are a monster! You have no shame! How could you? How could you do this to me? It wasn't enough when you…" his nerves made him shake. He still didn't have the courage to go on.
"Monster?" he said a touch of anger in his voice.
"Yes! You're a cold-hearted monster! A monster that I had thought I could never care for again! But then I thought – no! This is my father! This is the person that is supposed to love me no matter what!" Draco began to shout. "The person that I was never supposed to ever doubt in! The person I was supposed to trust! But you've betrayed my trust twice now! The first time was horrible enough! The first time –"
"Now listen here!! You will NOT shout at me like this boy! You're acting like a pitiful child! And if anything I should be cursing you after leaving me and -"
"YOU KILLED MY BEST FRIENDS!! You thought they were a liability when they got scared of everything! You though they would jeopardize everything!!" said Draco the veins in his neck throbbing.
"YOU didn't get scared! You were strong! They were weak!"
"It's not about that anymore!! Father it's NOT!" he said as the room fell silent.
Draco looked at the floor. He finally said it. He finally confronted his father about it all. About why, when the Death Eaters were collecting to take over Hogwarts he left them. In his mind he believed it was all for pure vengeance but in his heart he discovered that it was deeper then that. He wanted to stop it all. Stop the killing, the madness, and the destruction and most importantly, reclaim his father whose life became bound to the Dark Lord. This entire search for power, all this effort to reach supremacy was useless if all he got for it was to be a slave. Draco then realized that he never hated his father in those moments… and looking at him now he knew that he loved him more then ever.
"Then what is it about Draco?" he said quietly as the tension filled the air.
"It's about… it's about doing what's right," he said as he turned around and began to walk towards the exit.
"Where are you going?" said Lucius abruptly.
"I'm leaving. I'll see you on the 30th…" he said as he made his way out.
Lucius sat on the bed again. Something felt different about Draco and Lucius knew it but then again, he had suspected it from the start. Perhaps his boy had finally become more then a child. Sirius who had heard shouting looked at Draco strangely when he exited the room. He told him that nothing was wrong but that he would need to speak with him before the trial for he had important things to reveal. Sirius looked at Draco saddened. He knew something big had happened but decided it was best to leave him be with this. They walked down the stairs and outside. Black offered him a trip to Hogwarts through the Floo Powder network that was connected from the ministry because Draco has not passed his apparition tests yet. He thankfully accepted and followed him to the building as Sirius made a connection with the Slytherin common room under special circumstances allowed by the ministry.
Soon he escaped through the emerald green fire and appeared in the underground room and startled quite a few Slytherins. It was dark and night had settled a few hours ago.
He brushed himself off and dashed out of there as fast as he could. Now was not the time to relax. He had to warn Harry, he had to tell them what was planned for him that is until he was suddenly stopped.
"Mr. Malfoy, so you've returned. Is your father well?" the man questioned curiously the moment Draco left the common room.
"Oh – Eh, yes…" he said trying to move passed him.
"What's your hurry?" said Snape grabbing Draco by the shoulder.
"Professor I – I need to meet with someone," said Draco unsure of what to really tell him.
"If you're referring to Potter and his friends, they've left hours ago,"
"What? To where?" said Draco surprised.
Snape looked to his sides to make sure that no one was watching in. Then, with a hand gesture, he signaled for Draco to follow him. The coldness in Snape's eyes made him feel like there was more going on then he knew. He obeyed without a word and followed the slow-footed man. They both made their way to a stone gargoyle and Snape muttered something to it as it stepped a side to reveal a moving, spiral staircase. Draco looked at it suspiciously. Snape was leading him to Dumbledore? Why? With that, he followed the limping, sallow skinned man. Snape seemed a bit relieved to have stopped moving as they lifted higher into the tower. Once at the top, he moved a side, allowed Draco to step before him and rested himself on a chair in the corner. Afterwards, Dumbledore appeared with Professor Mc Gonagall holding a cloth wrapped around something long. They both had a strange look of foreboding yet before Draco could ask if anything was wrong, Dumbledore smiled.
"Sit Mr. Malfoy, there is much to discuss,"
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A/N: Well, I've decided to just post regardless of the reviews I get. I guess what I'm really looking for is a place to store my stories more then anything else! Yep, spoken like a true looser.