"Narcissa, what is going on?" McGonagall created a chair for Narcissa to sit in, and drew out her own chair from behind the desk to sit across from her. Narcissa was shaking. "Nothing is supposed to happen until tomorow. I planned to talk to Mr. Potter at dinner and keep him here, in my office, overnight. Why are you here so early?"
"I was here to warn the girl, Ms. Granger, away from my son for the moment. When he came home I realized the new affection for the girl, and became very worried. I can not have her willing to interupt this process to-" Narcissa swallowed. "To save Draco. My son sent me an emergency floo message while I was speaking with her. He had only enough time to tell me that they were in the Manor and that I must warn you. Oh Minerva!" Narcissa collasped into her chair, sudden sobs overtaking her. "He's my son! I have never been able to be there for him, not in his entire life!"
McGonagall held the trembling woman, suprised by this sudden outbreak of emotion. "Now Narcissa, you have done everything you could for the boy. There is nothing any of us could have done for him at this point. This must happen, you know that." McGonagall lifted Narcissa's chin, looking her directly in the eye. "Draco is a strong boy. He will survive this. I know it."
Narcissa nodded, choking back her sobs. "Now," McGonagall questioned. "how did the Death Eaters get into the Manor? With the Location Spell they should have never been able to find it."
"You forget who my husband was. Of course his partners would know how to locate the Manor. I suspected such, and that is why I insisted on him being at my home at this time. This way, no one else could be hurt. But I didn't expect it today. I didn't even get to tell him... that I loved him. That I will fight for him."
"Narcissa, my dear, he is your son. He knows." McGonagall stood and consulted the newest painting on the wall. "Albus, find Mrs. Granger and Mr. Potter please, as fast as you can. They need to come here immedietly."
"Of course Minerva." Within a second the old man was gone.
Minerva returned to the destressed woman by the fire. These were dangerous times, and she wished she had the real Dumbledore here. He would be able to put a stop to all of this.
Hermione bolted up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. She entered the common room gasping for breath. Neville quickly got off the couch and walked up to her.
"Hermione, are you alright? What happened?"
"I'm really sorry Neville," Hermione gasped. "but I can't talk. I need to find Harry right away. It is extreamly important."
"Um, Merlin Hermione, I havn't seen them, I'm sorry-"
"I have!" Seamus chipped in. "I saw them go up to the owlry right as I was leaving the Great Hall, about five minetes ago. They should still be up there."
"Thanks!" Hermione yelled over her shoulder as she ran out the portait door, leaving her friends to watch her back, wondering if those were tears they had seen in her eyes.
"My, my, dear, in a rush, are we?" The Fat Lady called out after her. But Hermione was already on her way to the owlry, running on pure adrenaline, down, past the Great Hall, up another stair case, around a corner, down a hallway, and up a last flight of stairs. She tossed the door open and yelled for her friend.
"HARRY!"
But Hermione's voice caught in her throat when she saw what lay before her.
In the middle of the room a desk, which was usually covered in parchment, quills, and wax, was knocked over, ink spreading over the floor. There was a large burn mark across the stone walls, the evidence of a stunning spell that was deflected. Feathers litered the ground, and Hermione's ears rang from the sound of the owls screatching. But what really made Hermione's heart skip a beat was the mark left on the far wall. Shinning in the morning sunlight, a large mess of liquid spread itself across the wall, speading upwards like thin fingers trying to crawl to the ceiling. It dripped slowly, leaving small, deep red pools on the floor.
Blood.
Hermione clutched at her thoat as her breath refused to come, and she couldn't even scream. She counted to ten, and she tried to gasp for oxygen, while her knees felt as though they could no longer support her weight. The heavy wooden door slammed shut behind her, and Hermione spun around. Finding her breath, she screamed.
"Minerva!" Dumbledore's painting called out. McGonagall rushed to the painting, leaving Narcissa by the fire. "Minerva, I can't find them. They aren't anywhere in the castle. I have all the painting seraching. Would they have gone into the forest? Or prehaps to Hagrids?"
"I will send someone there immedietly, Albus. Are you quiet sure that you-"
"Wait!" Dumbledore interupted. "I'll be right back." Once again the old man disappared, but he returned within seconds. "Minervea, this does not look good. They consulted the Merry Mermaids, who said they saw Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley enter the owlry ten minetes ago, and Ms. Granger entered only five minetes ago. But none of them have left, and there is no sound coming from the owlry now. Yet apparently there was quite a racket only moments before and after Ms. Granger entered."
"I'm on my way. Take care of Narcissa." McGonagall threw the door open and ran down the spiral staircase. Albus sighed, watching the poor woman who knelt before him. Even in his death Albus knew he would always be there to help young Harry, as well as all of his students, but now more then even he wished he could do so much more then sit here, trapped in a frame.
Draco felt strong hands grab his arms and force him to the ground. The grass was wet from rain and he slipped, splashing mud all up his front. The Death Eater laughed, tossing him into the mud. Draco groaned.
"You always were weak. But we will make you strong. A leader we can count on. A leader we can control. And this time, the Potter boy will not be a problem." The Death Eater laughed, followed by the laughter of the men around him. Draco could barely see, pain burning in his veins and blurring his vision. All he could comprehend was black figures floating around the clearing, he couldn't tell how many. His breath was forced, and it burned his lungs. He didn't remember how many time they had preformed the Cruciatus Curse, only that he could no longer concentrate on a thought and move a muscle at the same time. He resorted to simply collapsing on the ground.
A clear, relaxing voice entered his mind.
Draco... do you know who you are? Do you know how important you are? How could you let these men, these fools, punish you? Toss you in the dirt? This is wrong. You should punish them. You should control them. It is your place.
Draco felt himself nodding, agreeing with the voice which soothed his aching body.
Stand, Lord Draco, and take your position as our leader. As our master. Lead us. Punish the men who have brought you so much torment.
Draco slowly sat up, his arms finding strength he shouldn't have had. Some of the Death Eaters near him jumped and hurried away from him. Draco's vison began to clear.
Yes! Stand! Take your place! The pain will end, Lord. It will end and you will punish the ones who hurt you. All of them.
Draco forced himself to his feet and ripped off his robe in one smooth movement. Most of the Death Eaters backed away from him now, creating a semi-circle in the clearing. He wiped his face of on the robe, then tossed it aside. A mix of blood and mud covered his body, and he looked fearce. A single Death Eater stood apart from the others. He smiled at Draco, and bowed silently to him. The other Death Eaters followed his example.
The death Eater produced a thin black wand from the folds of his robes. "It is time you take your place among us, Lord Draco."
Draco nodded. Yes indeed, it is time. It was time for him to take his place as the Dark Lord. Reaching out, he grasped the black wand.
Wow, school sucks. I should not be having this much homework. Anyway, this chapter took me forever because I kept changeing it. Reveiw and I will update faster! The more reveiws I get the more happy I am about this story, and the more happy I am about the story, the more likely I will spend time thinking about it, which makes me write it down faster, which makes me update faster!
Reveiws lead to faster updating!
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-Shakendra