Before I begin, I have one very important thing to say to all of you-

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!

I wish all of you the very best for the year 2005!

I find that hardly any of you remember about the Death repel. If I were more sensitive, I'd probably feel insulted! But anyway, a Death Repl is a charm that repels death ( duh). And if you'll remember, it was stolen from the ministry, during the Death Eater attack. Go back and read if you don't remember.

Thanks again to all of you who were kind enough to review. I love the feedback! Oh, and one more thing…I've noticed that one of my major critics is Lilly. You've mentioned that I made them fall in love too quickly. One of the main points that I've been trying to establish is that they were in love the whole time, but only now did they realize it. Maybe I didn't write that very well. Lilly, I'd love it if you could contact me and tell me how to improve the story. Waiting to hear from you!

Oh, and do you ppl want me to write replies to all your reviews? If so all you have to do is tell me and I promise I will!

If any of you want to contact me, my email id is

On to the next chapter, now:

CHAPTER 28

'No,' she whispered.

Her mind was filled with a blank buzzing.

'But…but I don't understand. Fudge told me that there were only 3 of these. And all three are with the Ministry. The stolen one was dropped by the Death eaters during the attack. That can only mean that…'

a cold chill spread over her. Suddenly, she felt insecure and scared.

'The Death Eaters have made another.'

Fear tightened around her. What was their power, if they could actually make a Death Repel.

'And why would Draco leave it for me?' she wondered our, aloud.

There were too many questions, and too few answers. Hermione set her jaw firmly. There was only thing to do- find Draco.

She slipped into his room. It was warm, and magically heated. The bed was neatly made, and his desk had papers that were arranged in tidy bundles on its surface.

She moved towards the desk, and began surfing through the papers. Most of them were bills, and payments. A few were letters from somebody who owed Draco money. Nothing else.

She slid open one drawer, and found it filled with stationary.

'Wrong one,' she muttered.

The second try was more satisfactory. Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat.

In front of her was a small, black, leather bound book with the word "Journal" stamped across its surface.

'Draco's Journal,' she whispered. 'Yes!'

XXXXXXXXXX

The meeting was held in utmost secrecy. They were all made to pull their hoods over, and swathe themselves in black silk. They arranged themselves around a black metal podium. He would come there.

There was a slight restlessness. He was late.

'Where is he?'

'Is everything steady?'

Uneasy whispers filled the hall. He was never late. It had to be important,

A dark shadow stepped up on the podium.

Uneasy anticipation showed on their faces. It was not Him. The figure was dressed in black, and hooded just like them. But he had a silver snake stamped onto his chest. Wormtail scurried forward to welcome him. Reaching out with him metallic hand he touch the snake, and brough his fingers to his lips.

The figure moved a little, and Wormtail scuttled away.

'I am not He,' the figure began, in a low hiss.

'I am not He, yet I have come to address you, Faithful Death eaters. He is busy elsewhere. He has lost a prized position.'

One of the figures, dressed in black stirred. He looked guilty.

'The Death repel, recently constructed out of pure metal and bone has been stolen.'

A gasp rang all around.

'The Dark Lord had it with the rest of his prized possessions- in the Cave of Darkness. It was stolen from there. Nobody knows of this caves existence. But us.'

'Brothers…I have come to tell you. We have a traitor amongst us.'

There was an angry buzz filling the hooded figured. One shouted out, 'Who are you to say that amongst our dearly loved brother lies a traitor! Speak then- who are you?'

The figure swayed a little.

'I am that person-.' He said, his voice filled with quiet anger.

'I am that person who made the ring in the first place. I am him.'

A gasp rang around.

Thy were now facing Lord Voldemort's Right Hand Man.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Draco felt the steady pounding of his heart against his ribs.

The meeting had been hell. First of all, the Dark Lord not turning up. The coming of that blasted right hand man

Who is he? Draco wondered.

Ever since his father had been put in Azkaban, Lord Voldemort had brought this man into the open. A spy. A traitor, who had remained in the shadows, for all these years.

'Many fo you think that Lucius Malfoy was my right hand man,' he had drawled. 'Rumors fly, I know. But this man, standing beside me, holds the position, and had done so for decades! In my absence, he will guide you!'

Narcissa Malfoy's pale white cheeks had been filled with red burning shame. None the less, the bowed her head, and whispered, 'We will follow him.'

Draco felt a small pang as he thought of it. He disliked his mother, quite strongly in fact. She was the reason he was in this position. If it hadn't been for her, he would be happy and innocent right then. Instead of facing all the lies…

But the fact remained, that at that moment, he had felt bad for her. Her husband was in Azkaban, exposed as a lying traitor, and out of the shadows had come another man, who had all along been the Dark Lord's true Right Hand Man.

'You will never know who he is. His identity remains a secret. Always.

He heard the Dark Lord in his mind. He cried out in frustration.

And as if the meeting hadn't gone bad enough, they had found out- realized the ring had gone, put two and two together, and realized that there was a traitor in their midst.

'Wonderful.' His voice sounded bitter, and hard.

He stopped in front of the manor's gate. The sky was dark, and light rain was drizzling down. He walked up the drive way, and into the manor. Immediately, a house-elf rushed to his side.

'Get lost,' Draco snarled. 'I don't need anything.' With a pang of satisfaction, he watched as the house-elf scuttled away in fright.

'Bed,' he muttered. All he wanted now was to sleep. He pitied his mother, thinking of her assisting the Dark Lord's servants in finding the missing "prized possession."

He walked up the stairs, and into his bedroom. He froze.

Hermione was sitting on his bed, glaring at him. In her hand was his journal. It was wide open.

'So,' she began, in a steely voice, that chilled his heart.