Disclaimer-I don't own anything except the plot of this story. The
characters are all JK Rowling's.
Summary-(takes place in the gang's 6th year after OotP so there are spoilers) No one knows, but You-Know-Who has a limit, and he needs to find a replacement, but who? And no, it isn't Harry. Also, an unlikely romance that could save the world, or end it.
Chapter 1
The Beginning
The summer was uneventful. Voldermort's return to power had just become known to the people of the wizarding world, and everyone was fearful of what was to come. Children were brought in an extra hour early from play, for anything could lie in the darkness, and Quidditch seemed a little less important these days.
The Order of the Pheonix was still stationed at number 12 Grimmauld Place, even though the place seemed even more destitute after Sirius's death, but Mrs. Black appeared to be quite pleased with the change in atmosphere. You could hear her maniacal laughter echo through the halls as she conversed with the head of Kreacher which now decorated the wall along with his ancestors'.
But nothing like this was what concerned Draco Malfoy as he sat alone in his room in the Malfoy Manor, alone. In a week, he would return to Hogwarts for another "fun"-filled year. This, he actually looked forward to, but what Draco dreaded was the present. Today was the day Lucius, his father, would return from Azkaben. All of the prisoners who were still in their right mind had escaped because the dementors were gone, vanished overnight. Just the thought that creatures like that were lurking in alleys and streets, terrified everyone, but not Draco. The only thing he feared at the moment was his father; that insane man was capable of almost anything in a rage, and he would certainly be angry when he got home. Voldermort would be punishing him for his weakness in getting caught very soon, and Lucius would try to regain most of his self-pride by beating the closest living thing worthy of a challenge, his son.
Oh yes, Draco had been beaten countless times before, but tonight, he sensed, it would be much worse. The same routine, he would be lectured about pride and power and then hit physically; harder and harder until he no longer cried out in pain, for Malfoys show no pain, or any sign of emotion for that matter. No emotions except conceit, arrogance, and hatred. This was the way his world was. Nothing that brought true and complete pleasure was allowed. But how could Draco miss these things when he had never felt them before? So he felt no pity for himself.
Silence. Then Draco heard the large oak door downstairs creak open eerily and shut with a great force that sent tremors throughout the mansion. It was time. A house elf appeared in Draco's doorway sending a message from Lucius which demanded his presence in the study, immediately.
After a few minutes of staring blankly into space, Draco stood and descended the large, twisting staircase. His breath caught in his throat as an ominous draft traveled by him which sent a shiver down his spine. He was going to suffer tonight and there was nothing he could do about it, yet. Someday Draco knew his father was going to die at his hands, he just didn't know when. Draco arrived at the door leading to pain, and opened it. Lucius stood with his back toward his son, staring into the blazing fire. When the door closed he turned with death and anticipation unmistakingly reflected in his eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione grew colder as another slice of wind penetrated her thin cloak. It whistled past her ear and scattered the leaves on the ground, but still there was no turning back. She had to find him. He was all she had left, and she loved him more than anything in the world, but she had never told him and now it was to late. Why must mother nature be so evil!? She remebered their last encounter and, oh and that kiss which she wished had lasted forever. She stumbled on the undergrowth and fell, scratching her arms. There was no will for her to continue.
Alas, voices. Two, she thought. Quickly, Hermione got up and ran toward the direction they were coming from and soon she could see the speakers conversing loudly in the darkness of a hollow in the Forbidden Forest.
"You leave her out of this!" the first one screamed. He seemed to be about her age and had his back toward her, so she couldn't see his face. The adolescent was wearing a dark grey sweater with black pants and no real protectio0n from the harsh winter air. He was tall and muscular, but not bulky and had snowy blonde air that glowed and set him apart in the darkness. The other, however, she could see.
"Filthy traitor! You would be dead right now if I didn't need you! When will you learn that love is just an emotion, it shouldn't rule your useless life! I am power! I will win the war! And all of the mudbloods will be rid of!"
With that Hermione mad a wimper, and two wands were suddenly pointed at her heart. The one closer her to her was lowered as soon as the noise was identified, but the other remained.
"Hermione!"
She heard someone call her name, but it seemed very distant, not apart of the scene.
The man in the back looked at her under the hood of his black robe with his fiery red eyes and began muttering.
"Why are you here!"one of the voices said.
"Hermione!" again the distant voice.
"Avade Ked-"
"No!"
"Hermione wake up! We're leavind for Diagon Alley in an hour!"
Summary-(takes place in the gang's 6th year after OotP so there are spoilers) No one knows, but You-Know-Who has a limit, and he needs to find a replacement, but who? And no, it isn't Harry. Also, an unlikely romance that could save the world, or end it.
Chapter 1
The Beginning
The summer was uneventful. Voldermort's return to power had just become known to the people of the wizarding world, and everyone was fearful of what was to come. Children were brought in an extra hour early from play, for anything could lie in the darkness, and Quidditch seemed a little less important these days.
The Order of the Pheonix was still stationed at number 12 Grimmauld Place, even though the place seemed even more destitute after Sirius's death, but Mrs. Black appeared to be quite pleased with the change in atmosphere. You could hear her maniacal laughter echo through the halls as she conversed with the head of Kreacher which now decorated the wall along with his ancestors'.
But nothing like this was what concerned Draco Malfoy as he sat alone in his room in the Malfoy Manor, alone. In a week, he would return to Hogwarts for another "fun"-filled year. This, he actually looked forward to, but what Draco dreaded was the present. Today was the day Lucius, his father, would return from Azkaben. All of the prisoners who were still in their right mind had escaped because the dementors were gone, vanished overnight. Just the thought that creatures like that were lurking in alleys and streets, terrified everyone, but not Draco. The only thing he feared at the moment was his father; that insane man was capable of almost anything in a rage, and he would certainly be angry when he got home. Voldermort would be punishing him for his weakness in getting caught very soon, and Lucius would try to regain most of his self-pride by beating the closest living thing worthy of a challenge, his son.
Oh yes, Draco had been beaten countless times before, but tonight, he sensed, it would be much worse. The same routine, he would be lectured about pride and power and then hit physically; harder and harder until he no longer cried out in pain, for Malfoys show no pain, or any sign of emotion for that matter. No emotions except conceit, arrogance, and hatred. This was the way his world was. Nothing that brought true and complete pleasure was allowed. But how could Draco miss these things when he had never felt them before? So he felt no pity for himself.
Silence. Then Draco heard the large oak door downstairs creak open eerily and shut with a great force that sent tremors throughout the mansion. It was time. A house elf appeared in Draco's doorway sending a message from Lucius which demanded his presence in the study, immediately.
After a few minutes of staring blankly into space, Draco stood and descended the large, twisting staircase. His breath caught in his throat as an ominous draft traveled by him which sent a shiver down his spine. He was going to suffer tonight and there was nothing he could do about it, yet. Someday Draco knew his father was going to die at his hands, he just didn't know when. Draco arrived at the door leading to pain, and opened it. Lucius stood with his back toward his son, staring into the blazing fire. When the door closed he turned with death and anticipation unmistakingly reflected in his eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione grew colder as another slice of wind penetrated her thin cloak. It whistled past her ear and scattered the leaves on the ground, but still there was no turning back. She had to find him. He was all she had left, and she loved him more than anything in the world, but she had never told him and now it was to late. Why must mother nature be so evil!? She remebered their last encounter and, oh and that kiss which she wished had lasted forever. She stumbled on the undergrowth and fell, scratching her arms. There was no will for her to continue.
Alas, voices. Two, she thought. Quickly, Hermione got up and ran toward the direction they were coming from and soon she could see the speakers conversing loudly in the darkness of a hollow in the Forbidden Forest.
"You leave her out of this!" the first one screamed. He seemed to be about her age and had his back toward her, so she couldn't see his face. The adolescent was wearing a dark grey sweater with black pants and no real protectio0n from the harsh winter air. He was tall and muscular, but not bulky and had snowy blonde air that glowed and set him apart in the darkness. The other, however, she could see.
"Filthy traitor! You would be dead right now if I didn't need you! When will you learn that love is just an emotion, it shouldn't rule your useless life! I am power! I will win the war! And all of the mudbloods will be rid of!"
With that Hermione mad a wimper, and two wands were suddenly pointed at her heart. The one closer her to her was lowered as soon as the noise was identified, but the other remained.
"Hermione!"
She heard someone call her name, but it seemed very distant, not apart of the scene.
The man in the back looked at her under the hood of his black robe with his fiery red eyes and began muttering.
"Why are you here!"one of the voices said.
"Hermione!" again the distant voice.
"Avade Ked-"
"No!"
"Hermione wake up! We're leavind for Diagon Alley in an hour!"