A/N: Sorry this took so long to get up, haven't been motivated much to write, but since I'm bored outta my mind, I figured I might as well get to it. As always, I'm not happy with this chapter, but meh, hopefully you like it. Oh, by the way, the language is getting worse. It's mostly due to my own swearing problem. XX

We trust and believe so easily,

in words they speak, we seek security

In one another but there's no way to cover this

And these tragic nights and afternoons wreck disaster

And I can still feel you as if you were in the room

Where did our story end, where did it start

I buried you along with my heart

Shadows Like Statues-Matchbook Romance

Severus watched the boy with vague interest, as he impatiently waited for the others to arrive at the meeting. He did not seem nervous, but not anxious either. It was the fourteenth anniversary of the eve that he had made himself, Harry Potter that is, famous. Severus figured the boy did not know what to expect. Unlike Draco, he was nervous..

Draco had a hell of a lot of pressure on him tonight. He was for one point, the only prodigy child. In his mind he had been preparing for this night. If he had failed tonight, the shame he would surely feel could quite possibly eat him alive. Draco had working on his animagi for quite some time, and he had promised to be done tonight. Draco seemed unsure, and kept looking to his father for support.

Lucius seemed calm and aged; a new light Severus seen in Lucius. Lucius had been a timeless character in his life; he never seemed to have had to mature, or show this wisdom. What with being on the run, the stress of keeping Narcissa and Draco out of trouble, responsibilities as a father and the Death Eater responsibilities... His white hair seemed to contain a few strands of grey, his eyes seemed to become hollows, face sunken from starvation and his skin becoming less resistant to the smirks and sneers he so loved to shine. He had a hand on his son's shoulder to keep his son's anxiety down. Severus felt he ought to do the same, but never dared.

As other Death Eaters arrived, and bowed low to their master, it seemed to dawn on Severus that it was almost a suicide mission. As the loyal looked to their master with respect, none dared to question the plan. Perhaps that is why there was a strange feeling in Severus' stomach, growing.

"You're the son of Vance, are you not?" The Dark Lord boomed, seeing a dark haired boy of about twelve.

He fell to his knees, whispering something unaudiable.

"Speak up, boy!" The Dark Lord snapped, he was angry, perhaps he wanted all to hear what the boy was saying.

"..heavenly father, teach me to resist temptation.."

A few Death Eaters laughed. A young faithful.. the Dark Lord would be what those with faith would call the 'devil', or the 'anti-Christ'. This young child would remind the circle why religion is for the weak.

"Speak your name!" The Dark Lord hissed.

Severus could see his eyes shut in his mind. "Daryl.. sir.." See no evil.. speak no evil.. hear no evil.. The boy went back to his prayer.

Other arrivals bowed down beside Daryl Vance. The Dark Lord bellowed, "Pettigrew! Take care of this pitiful child!"

Severus looked to the boy now, who was staring intently for the familiar face of Peter Pettigrew. Instead he heard the reply of one of those before the Dark Lord. "Yes, my Lord." A female, younger.. she rose, pulling up the smaller boy, taking his arm, bringing him to the others.

She looked about the age of fourteen, with thin colorless hair like her father. She was not pretty, but not ugly, with light beige skin and hazel eyes. Severus had seen her the night previous.

Peter had been married once to a German broad, if Severus recalled correctly. Peter supposidly died, then last year he showed up at her small flat to discover he had an heir. Surely, the sight of her dead husband put the woman into her grave. Polly. Severus remembered. The girl's name was Polly.

Without turning his head, he knew what was going to happen. He heard it before. On occasion the circle would find someone with a religion on their raids. He heard the noise of sharp blades dragging together, a deafening squeal. He placed his hand on Damon's shoulder. The horrifying noise carried on for about a minute. It was to show that religion wouldn't save them. The only God to wizarding humanity should be Lord Voldemort.

Damon looked up, his green eyes meeting his own. He had a horrified stare to what he had just witnessed. He opened his mouth, almost about to speak, but did not. He had questions, but he could not ask here.

"Draco! Draco Malfoy!" He called, causing not only Damon but Severus to glance to Draco. "I believe you have something to show uss.." The Dark Lord spoke finally, drawing the attention from the mess to their right.

Severus could almost feel Draco swallow his worry. His father pushed him forward; he was always pushing him. Draco did not try to show fear, as he walked to the center, he was concentrating. Lucius came over to Severus, causing Damon to move away slightly.

Everybody was watching Draco. He better do it.. if he does not do it, he will kill himself in his embarrassment and shame. If Severus was a religious man, he would have prayed for Draco. He, however, did enjoy having a head.

It seemed an eternity, as Draco stood there, awkwardly, concentrating. He broke onto his knees. Must be his first full transformation, Severus thought. Finally, there was a loud pop heard in the dawning silence.

A silver coated unicorn with a platinum blond mane and tail and bright silver eyes, stood there for nearly a minute, silently. No one seemed to know what to think, as the unicorn hoofed boredly at the ground, and took two steps forward.

Lucius had started the applause. If Draco had wanted approval, he surely got it. A unicorn may not be an evil creature but they were powerful and useful. It also marked something very important to all the Death Eaters; Purity. Purity of the wizarding blood. The only one who had not showed praise was the Dark Lord he was before.

The unicorn disappeared and soon Draco got to his feet. He stood there waiting for orders, for any sort of comment from the Dark Lord. Finally, he spoke.

"Damon, Polly, you both shall begin your animagi soon," He then spoke, "Tonight is the eve of my downfall and we are to make my presence feared more than it had been before!"

Draco returned to Lucius' side, Damon muttered, "Good job."

"Despite that I would most enjoy putting an end to Harry Potter, he is missing, so The-Boy-Who-Lived, will live one more day. No, tonight, we attack the Ministry!" He started to outline the plan, even though a good portion had heard most of it.

"I had originally planned that this be lead by my precious prodigies. I do not doubt their strength, but their wisdom and experience.. certainly could lead us all to our deaths." Relieve. Not so much a suicide mission, as it now was a highly dangerous one. "You are to follow the orders of the inner circle!"

He rose, "I'm afraid I shant be there tonight. I have other things I must partake in."

As the Death Eaters began to apparate away to their designated areas to wait for further order, Severus caught Damon staring over in the direction the Pettigrew daughter brought the boy. A bloody mess met his eyes, as a body lay on the floor, and near that was the decapitated head of Daryl Vance.

Of course, Severus understood once why this was done. Emmeline Vance mothered Daryl and sheltered him under God, to try to protect him. He would never be useful to the circle, despite having the blood.

Severus took Damon's shoulder and followed Lucius and Draco.

The group Damon travelled with found little resistance getting inside the Ministry, through the underground. It was dark and eerie silent and Damon felt surprisingly calm. Both Severus and Lucius decided to keep Draco and Damon together, but just as soon as they made that decision they buggered off.

Damon was keeping up just fine to the pace of the group. Draco was not. He glanced back and Draco was constantly looking around. Damon slowed down to stick with Draco.

The Ministry seemed to still have no idea there was intruders, as they walked passed the courtrooms.

Damon glanced at the one he had once been in for using a Patronus Charm on a Dementor in the summer to protect his cousin. It came to him that his relatives had no idea he was not truly who he seemed to be his whole life. Not that they would understand.. Damon threw the thought aside.

The two had slowed down too much, and had lost their group. Draco, who claimed to have been in the Ministry thousands of times and knew the place like the back of his hand, took the lead. He lead him down the moon shadowed hall to the elevator, and pressed the call button.

It was rather ironic to be in the elevator on the way up with just Draco. Silence between the two, having both seen some hard things to take in today, seemed fitting.

However, Damon finally broke the air out of curiousity, "How long did it take to become an animagi?"

"I had taken the potion last year and started the training this April." Draco replied simply.

They got off at the floor that Draco chose. He, however, hesitated before getting off the elevator, and pressed every single button on the elevator.

He grinned childishly at Damon, "Always wanted to do that! Father would never allow it.. 'This is a place of business, Draco, not a toy factory'." He said trying to mimic his father.

It would have made the atmosphere much more cheerful because of Draco's immaturity, however, at that moment, the alarms went off.

"Where the fuck is Fudge!" Draco shouted in frustration, stopping at one of those 'You are here' maps.

Damon asked, "I thought you knew the place like the back of your hand."

"Father never told me where his office is!"

Damon thought of the time he and Mr. Weasley went to the Ministry. "It's on the top floor, isn't it?"

Draco did not answer, he just turned his head to the sudden noise. Guards. He ran in the opposite direction. Damon followed suit. They were on the top floor, were they not?

Panic seemed to ensue, and they began to run for it. Damon was much faster a runner than Draco, so when he reached a door, any door he found unlocked, he threw it open and shouted, "Come on!" They held the door shut for a little while, until the noise died down.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Draco cursed. "Father is going to be disappointed!"

"If we make it out of here that is." Damon corrected.

"They better at least have found Fudge and killed the bastard." He slid down against the door, and sat on the ground.

They heard a shift, and looked to each other, silently asking if it was the other. Followed by mumbling, "Oh God, oh God.."

Damon, still on his feet, walked forward, kicked a chair out of the way which slid into the filing cabinet.

Draco got to his feet, and deciding it was most likely safe, pulled out a chubby man known as Cornelius Fudge.

"Working overtime?" Draco asked with a sneer.

The door long forgotten, opened. With fear, Damon whipped out his wand and looked to the threshold. Two dark men. He lowered his wand as he heard Lucius speak, "They beat us here, figure that,"

Lucius walked to his son, and took Fudge by the neck and asked, "How many are working tonight?"

"I don't know.." He answered. Lucius tightened his hand on Fudge's throat. "You made the mistake of running from us the first time, Fudge. How many?"

It did not take Damon long to realize what he was trying to figure out. Their odds of getting out of their alive.

"Sixty-three." He choked out.

Severus asked looking to Damon, "Run into any on the way up here?"

"Three came up from the other far hall."

Fudge laughed, "And the Aurors will be here any second, so even if you kill me, you won't make it out."

Lucius threw him into the wall, angry. "Get out of here," He ordered to Severus and then nodded to the door.

"Don't be a fool, you're no Gryffindor." Severus said.

Lucius laughed, "Nor are you."

They gave a small chuckle, as if it was a long lost inside joke from their youth.

Reality seemed to be setting in. Damon was getting lightheaded and he felt a sickening in his stomach growing. He heard running steps. The Potion's Master looked back to the door, holding his wand.

Lucius rose his wand as well, and without giving Fudge a fighting chance; put him out of his misery.

Damon stared at Fudge for mere seconds, lifeless, when all of a sudden, the Potion's Master was thrown back into the wall.

Lucius was quick, sending a curse at the attacker, but he was thrown to the floor just as quick.

Draco went to Severus' side, not realizing his father had been on the floor.

They were all going to die..

"Kill.. so hungry.."

It was a split second that he responded to Lucius on the ground to the attacker. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" The same curse used on Fudge, shone a flash of green before the man's body collapsed on the ground.

They quickly made it out of the office, and into the elevator much to Lucius' disbelief that they were taking such a risk in using it.

"Fast reaction, your boy's got, Sev." Lucius said finally.

Severus replied with a snort, "He's trying out to be a Keeper for the team."

Lucius gave a snort.

The two adults continued to talk as Damon closed his eyes, leaning his head on the wall.

"Blood.. kill.. so hungry.."

"I won't.." He had spoke along with the voice, but it was not the same voice as the one he heard previously.

"You won't what?" Draco asked, snapping Damon out of it.

Damon thought stupidly, "I won't make it being a Keeper." He glanced up at his father.. if you could read my mind right now, that would be great. Severus blinked not getting it, or if he did, he did not show he understood.

The elevator stopped at the underground. Lucius and Severus rose their wands defensively. Draco stayed back, as Severus quickly disarmed the foolish witch at the same time as Lucius cursed her.

Damon stared in awe as she screamed out, "Tonks!"

Severus took the boy's arm and made him follow.

Lucius said rather breathless at the end of the hall, "The Aurors are arriving. We'll have to go out through the "emergency" exit."

"..blood so fresh.. let me kill her.."

Damon's eyes burned, he felt them begin to water, but he had not shut them as Lucius lead them through a strangely familiar hall. The further Damon went, the more the pain in his head increased.

Lucius threw a door open as he heard curses and spells being chanted towards them. "Through to the back.. Sev, you do remember." He glanced at Draco as they hurried off.

Damon was getting dizzy, this causing him to hit a shelf. He fell to the ground, shutting his eyes, biting his tongue.

"..only this one.. I only want this one.. it'll stop if I have this one.."

"Will it?"

"Sev, he's bleeding!" Draco said hushed.

Damon opened his eyes and saw Severus' eyes reading him, trying to figure out what was happening. Staring at his forehead.. "Through one more door, and we can apparate." He helped the boy up.

Severus helped Damon into the room, and he saw it very familiar.. the brains that Ron touched were safely in their jars.. the Department of Mysteries.. Sirius..

"..it'll be over.. she won't feel a thing.."

Damon winced at the sickening feeling as Lucius ran up.

"Aurors.. plenty of them." He announced, taking Draco's arm.

Severus was still holding onto Damon. Damon felt as if his body broke down into a million pieces quickly, like a television picture. Each little speck of himself seemed to be placed by pins; he shivered.

"Lay down." Severus instructed. The grassy field he had apparated them too was damp, but he had not objected.

Severus transfigured a leaf into a cloth, and carefully placed it onto his forehead. "Your scar is bleeding." He said quietly, cautious for open ears.

Damon shut his eyes, "You said it was a side effect.."

"I did say that."

"I killed someone." Damon said softly, full of remorse.

Severus removed the cloth, not knowing what to say.

After a few minutes silence, Damon asked, "Where is Draco?"

He said dryly, "At the Malfoy Manor, I expect. He shall return tonight." Severus rose to his feet, giving Damon cue to rise as well. "It is quite a walk from here to the grounds.. but you need that concealing potion."

They walked in silence for what seemed an eternity. Damon was grateful for the silence, he did not feel like answering questions. Not that his father would question him, unless he felt it necessary.

It was near dawn when they arrived at the school, walking up the stony steps. It was not the secret return Damon was expecting. The school was buzzing with fright. Damon looked to the Potion's Master, who just lead him down to his rooms.

It was not hard to pick up why the school was up so early. Damon easily picked up the word "attack".. but somehow, he did not think it was just about the Ministry.