Starsmiles – Thanks a lot, I think it was an interesting enough chapter

Baggins - ? Well generally you'd have to read past chapter 1 to find out, but I think it's around the 6-8 range

Sclub8 – Thanks and sorry, hopefully this quicker update will be good

Chapter 26 – The Training

Harry virtually sprinted out of Dumbledore's office, running into the rotating gargoyle staircase. Darting out into the corridor, he glanced both ways. Where was Dumbledore? Harry took a wild guess and started running towards the direction of the Great Hall. His footsteps echoed loudly as he ran and finally found the entrance. The Great Hall was completely vacated, so it was time for another guess. Harry took a somewhat better guess and started running towards the Hospital Wing, feeling slightly out of breath. When he reached the doors he took a breath to study himself and opened the doors soundlessly, quietly walking in.

"Mr. Potter?"

Harry's head turned to see Professor McGonagall wearily looking at him.

"Professor McGonagall, I need to see Professor Dumbledore."

McGonagall nodded and pointed towards the far end of the Wing. Harry saw Dumbledore conversing in low undertones with Madam Pomfrey. Dumbledore was repeatedly making calming motions and had a hand on Pomfrey's shoulder, who was clearly distressed and tired. Harry started to approach Dumbledore but saw Hermione and Ginny lying in a bed to his left. He turned to face them and looked at them in confusion; he couldn't remember either of them being seriously injured during the attack. An image of Ginny's face upon learning that Ron was dead invaded his mind, Harry shook his head to clear the thought but at least it had given him an answer, they must have been given Sleeping Potions to relieve the stress.

"Malfoy," Harry murmured. "This is all your fault."

Harry started walking towards Dumbledore, slightly unnerved, and stopped in front of Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey, waiting for them to finish. Dumbledore turned towards Harry after giving a last comment to Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes, Harry? Is there something wrong?"

"Professor Dumbledore, I was using your Pensieve and the memory of the – bucking broom scenario with Ron," Harry faltered slightly, "came. Malfoy cast the spell, Professor. I saw the memory."

Dumbledore seemed momentarily shocked before regaining his composure.

"Thank you, Harry. I'll certainly be having a talk with him, then. For now, though, I would advise that you get some rest. You've been up for hours."

Harry nodded, finally convinced that he had done all he could, and started moving in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room, sparing one last glance for Hermione and Ginny before leaving the Hospital Wing and walking wearily towards the 6th year boys' dormitory.

Draco Malfoy was exhausted. He had imagined being a Death Eater would somehow be glorious and incredible, awesome and feared. Draco had always had an intense thirst for power because of his father. He trained me, Draco thought bitterly. He trained me to be another slave to Voldemort's cause. Ever since the start of fifth year, Lucius Malfoy had started to incorporate Draco into the army of Death Eaters. Draco had been elated, but there had still been some problems from the start. Draco had always preferred calling Voldemort "Voldemort," as opposed to "The Dark Lord." Eventually he started to say "The Dark Lord" instead but mentally he had never stopped calling Voldemort by his name. Voldemort had always been unsure about the loyalties of his deputy's son. Draco remembered the fateful night, two weeks ago.

"If you want to be a true Death Eater, the Dark Lord says that you must open Hogwarts to him. On the night of the Ball," his father told Draco. "I believe we're going to kill Weasley, finally." Lucius' eyes glittered maliciously. "On the third try!" Lucius' joyful glance suddenly turned angry. "Are you sure you've learned your lesson?" Lucius was fingering his wand. Draco eyed the wand nervously. Voldemort, and indeed his own father had mercilessly subjected him to the Cruciatus Curse after he had failed to kill Weasley at the Quidditch match. What they didn't know is that Draco hadn't actually "failed to kill" Weasley, he had held back. In the end, he had actually hurt Weasley significantly more than he had intended to. Dark Magic could not be controlled unless the intent behind it was total evil, and it had unleashed a lot more power than Draco intended. He had also been subconsciously hoping that Dumbledore or some of the teachers would be able to help Weasley. For some reason though, none of them were there. He supposed Voldemort had provided some type of distraction – still though, what kind of distraction was big enough to draw all the teachers that Voldemort suspected was on Dumbledore's side away simultaneously?

"All right, I'll do it," Draco replied nonchalantly. Still, the proposed death of Weasley didn't sound as joyous as he had imagined it being. He felt something like a pit in his abdomen, and for the next two weeks an impending dread filled him constantly. He was constantly sweating and kept glancing around nervously. He wasn't sure if Potter and his gang had noticed but Malfoy had been eerily absent from their lives. It was because he was afraid of them – every time he saw Weasley a picture of him dead popped into his mind.

Then the night came. Draco was nervous and ashen, and didn't have a date because he had to sneak out. He quietly escaped the Great Hall and went into the Forbidden Forest. He spoke the incantation and pointed his wand at the Dark Mark. A bubble formed around Draco that nullified the protective measures – but it was only temporary. All the Death Eaters felt the signal of the Dark Mark burning on their arms, and apparated within the bubble. Draco was surprised at the sheer number of Death Eaters – it was huge, and they all went towards the doors of the Great Hall. For the dementors, Draco repeated the procedure right at the border of the protective incantations as they couldn't Apparate. They passed through the bubble all as one, and Draco felt all his despair suddenly overcome him. He nearly fainted from exhaustion, but the feeling passed fast, as all the Dementors had a single purpose in mind – get to Hogwarts. Draco then mounted his broomstick and went to join the Death Eaters.

Draco remembered what Weasley had looked like when he died. Granger and Potter's faces as they saw Wormtail kill him. But most of all, the screams of the girl Weasley were burned intensely into his mind. He could hear her as she screamed in the Hospital Wing, and now he could hear her screams over and over again. His guilt was torturing him. And Snape. They had killed him. They had killed his favorite teacher, the only one who seemed to sympathize with him. Draco had felt lost and horrible. So he had admitted what he had done to Dumbledore, the only thing he could think of to do. Then he offered filling Snape's postion for Dumbledore. Dumbledore had said he would think about him, and then put him in a cell. Draco was wondering what would happen to him. Would they kill him? Or would they do something Draco dreaded even more, and take him up on his offer? Spying for Dumbledore sounded like a truly terrifying prospect.

An apparition of Dumbledore suddenly appeared. That is, that was the only way Draco could think of describing it. It looked exactly like Dumbledore except like a ghost. Draco imagined it was a way to contact him without actually being with him.

"Professor?"

"Mr. Malfoy, I was just informed of something very interesting..." The ghostly Dumbledore seemed to settle down onto an invisible chair. Draco sighed inaudibly. This seemed like it would be a long talk.

I don't have much to say here, except that you guys shouldn't worry and that we will finally get out of this night, as the last four chapters or so have encompassed solely one evening and night. My guess would be next chapter we'll finally get into the next day. Thanks for all reviews!