Disclaimer: None of the HP Universe belongs to me. sigh All other characters and situations do, though.

A/N: This fic is slash! Don't like, don't read! Pairings: HP/DM; any others I take a fancy too! Also, this fic is post Half-Blood Prince. I, in my absolute power, have decided that for this fic, I must CHANGE THE ENDING! So, yes, Dumbledore is still dead, but instead of Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy killing him it was… Ron and Hermione! Yes! Rather quite dreadful, don't you say? I just never really liked them.

Summary: Ron and Hermione have killed Albus Dumbledore at the end of 6th year. After the funeral, Harry talks to Professor Snape and decides to go on a quest for the remaining four Horcruxes. Snape persuades Harry to let Draco come along, despite their obvious differences. Draco has a talent for exposing curses, charms, spells, etc. on any objects, so they decide to put him on as a rather pretty safety precaution.

Harry Potter and the Four Horcruxes

Authored By: The Legendary Black Beast of Argh

Every stable universe, whether it is a healthy one or an outrageously large black hole, has a delicate balance. This delicate balance is held in check by a large number of factors, the main being the normal function of atoms and molecules; protons and neutrons; and so on and so forth. Even the slightest mistake, if that certain atom went caput, it could cause a disturbance so large it could cause the end of everything! But, as our scientists of today have proved, with large amounts of scientific evidence, that such a disturbance is highly unlikely. There is a better chance of Michael Jackson reversing his plastic surgery than that.

Just like the normal, run-of-the-mill stable universe, every 'normal' person also has a delicate balance revolving around them as well. However, these delicate balances are just about as delicate as Stone Cold Steve Austin. So, they get knocked around and busted up quite a bit. Friends have fights, couples break up, people fall in love, etc. And this is how we start our journey, a long, very balance-upsetting story that begins in the heat-laden summer month of June, in which a certain boy's balance, which had never been stable to begin with, was shattered beyond all reason.

This unbalanced young man was Harry Potter, and he realized, while sitting at his only father-figures' funeral, just how delicate and unpredictable life can be. His best friends, who had been with him since he was eleven, had betrayed him to the Dark Lord, Voldemort, and murdered Harry's friend, mentor, and father-figure, Albus Dumbledore. He shook with silent anger, staring off across the calm face of the lake. The Weasley's, of course, had been absolutely mortified. Mortification had worn off to anger, anger that their son had ever dreamed of going to the Dark Lord. They had joined the manhunt to find Ron and Hermione, and had started petitions to give them the much-feared Dementor's Kiss when they were ultimately discovered. They had stunned the wizarding world with that one. Not much had been heard of from Hermione's family, they were muggles, after all, and had only been told that Hermione had disappeared. They too had joined the hunt, but did not understand why everyone was giving them the cold shoulder and being mean to them.

Harry's gaze flicked around the people around him. He looked at Ginny, who was staring straight ahead. Ginny's face had been stark white for the past few days after she had learned of what her dear brother had done. Lavender Brown, Ron's old flame, was holding Ginny's hand out of friendship, and patting it gently. Harry suddenly became aware of Hagrid and Grawp howling, and looked over at him. Grawp was almost sitting in his half-brother's seat; he was hugging him so much. The legs of the spindly chair Hagrid was sitting on were three-fourths of the way into the ground from the combined weight.

Harry closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Ever since Dumbledore's death, he had been in deep depression. Everyone around him that he cared about either betrayed him or died… now he had no one to go to, no one to help him on his journey to find the Horcruxes… he knew what two of them were, but the others were unknown. He needed someone close to Voldemort, but fought for the light… he needed…

"Professor Snape!" Harry said, after he had almost flown down to the dungeons. "Professor Snape, I need to talk to---" He pushed the heavy wooden door open roughly, his eyes searching for the potions master, his voice dying away. No one was in the room. He walked in, wondering how many house points Snape would dock if he caught Harry in his classroom unsupervised. Snape's office door was ajar, and Harry walked almost silently over to it and knocked gently.

He heard some shuffling around, and then heard a voice.

"Enter," it said, sounding unusually emotional for Snape.

Harry pushed the rest of the door open, and leaned his head in. "Professor?" He said. "Sir, I was wondering if I could talk to you."

Snape leaned back in his chair, eyes closed. "Yes, Potter, you may." Harry came in and sat in the plain wooden chair in front of the large desk. "What was is you needed to talk to me about?" Although Snape had been civil to him, there was a sarcastic note in the way he said 'me'.

"Sir," Harry said, trying to ignore the pungent smell of dragon dung and other various potions ingredients. "I need your help." Harry said bluntly, hoping the moody professor wouldn't turn on him.

"Hmm," Snape said, putting a lank strand of black hair behind his ear. "Now what would the amazing Potter need from the great bat?" Snape said sarcastically, looking Harry dead in the eye. Harry was shouting all sorts of rude vulgar things in his head, forgetting that Snape was a master at Occlumency.

"I need someone smart to help me with the four Horcruxes," Harry said quickly, almost desperately. "I thought you would know a little bit about them, with you being close to Voldemort," He finished, muttering.

The corner of Snape's mouth turned up a bit. "You figured right, Potter, and I was also wondering if you would come to me. You must not be as big as a dunderhead as I thought." Snape stood suddenly, and Harry jumped up, almost toppling over as Snape extended his hand. "Severus Snape, spy for the Light," Snape said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Harry looked at the hand for a second, wondering what he should say. "Harry Potter," The Boy-Who-Really-Hoped-This-Was-Going-To-Work said. "Glad to be working with you." Finished Harry, a bit cautiously.

He was positive Snape almost smiled.

The few days after Harry had spoken with Snape, the strangest things had been happening. Twice, they had drank mint tea and talked for a few hours. Once, Snape had complimented Harry, and Harry was polite back. Gone were the snide remarks of the years past. Now it was time to grow up, Snape had said, and forget the petty differences of childhood. When he had said that, Harry had been suspicious. Now, his suspicions had been confirmed.

"Malfoy is NOT coming with us!" Harry half-yelled at Snape, after he had told him.

Snape's face was turning a purple to rival Uncle Vernon's when he countered, "Mr. Malfoy is one of the most accomplished student curse-breakers I've ever seen!" Snape roared. "It would be wise to take him along!"

Now Harry was turning red as well. "He's a stinking Death Eater! He's Lucious Malfoy's SON! He'll blab!"

"Mr. Potter," Snape said, quietly, "I assure you Mr. Malfoy is not anything like his father."

Harry contemplated this fact for a second before answering. "Fine. The ferret git can come. But," He said. "One slip-up and he's gone, ok?"

Snape nodded. "I agree with your terms. Now," Snape said, his lip curling, "We get to tamper with a baby dragon."