Chapter 17

The Adventure Begins

Christmas Break was finally here and the seven teenagers had successfully executed their escape plan. They were now at the Leaky Cauldron, but were only planning to stay there for a day knowing people would be looking for them. It was evening and they had all gathered in the boys' room to discuss what they would be doing.

"So where are we going first?" James asked.

"The Malfoy's first. They're closest, but it shouldn't be too hard," Harry said. "Draco Malfoy is with Voldemort, if he isn't dead yet, and Lucius is also with Voldemort. You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't said anything about his escape."

"What about Narcissa Malfoy? Where is she?" Hermione said.

"Narcissa?" Sirius exclaimed. "My cousin Narcissa? She married Malfoy?" Sirius made a look of disgust and James laughed.

"Yes, she did and now has two death eaters in her family, but I have a feeling one of them isn't as evil as he claims."

"Which one?" Lily asked. "Because I'm pretty sure Lucius is evil."

"It's Draco. Last year, he was ordered to kill Dumbledore, but he couldn't do it. Someone else had to do it for him."

"Who?" James asked, getting a bit angry.

"It doesn't matter right now. All you need to know is maybe Draco can help us."

"Are you sure you can trust him?" Lily asked.

"Yes," Ron said. "He's easier to trust than Snape is! Not that I want to trust Malfoy either!"

"Ron!" Hermione scolded.

"Snape?" Sirius and James yelled. "What does that evil git have to do with anything?"

"Right now, you don't need to know that. We'll tell you later."

"How did the locket get to the Malfoy house?"

"In my fifth year, I had been taken away to Sirius' house—"

"Cool! I get my own house!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Actually, it's 12 Grimuald Place." Sirius' smile vanished.

"What were you doing there?"

"You now owned the house and had offered it to Dumbledore to be the headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix."

"Cool! We finally get to join!" James exclaimed.

"Yeah, well anyway, when I was there, I remember seeing a golden locket that I couldn't open. None of us could, so we forgot about it. Last year, after you died, I inherited everything. Mundungus Fletcher, a part of the Order, had taken up a habit of stealing from the house. We asked him if he had sold any jewelry to anyone. He was a bit nervous telling us because he would have to admit he had stolen it. He finally admitted to selling it to Narcissa Malfoy. We still don't know if she told Lucius. If she didn't, it's still in the house. If she did, Voldemort might have that one also."

"When are we going?" James asked.

"Tonight."

"Tonight?" Ginny said. "I thought we were waiting until tomorrow."

"We were, but now Remus knows we never showed up at King's Cross and James told him we were leaving over Christmas. He's going to know we lied to him."

James gave Harry a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

"Shh!" James told Sirius as he stepped on a creaky stair.

"Sorry!" he whispered.

"Hurry up!" Harry said who was already at the bottom of the stairs.

When they reached the bottom, Lily asked, "How are we getting there?"

"We're flying."

"That's a great idea, except for one thing. We don't have—"

"Taken care of," Harry said, giving Sirius and James brooms. "Ginny will ride with me, Hermione with Ron, and Lily can ride with James."

"What is that?" James asked, looking at Harry's broom.

"A Firebolt."

"Never heard of it."

"Of course you haven't," Ginny said. "It was only made four years ago and no broom has topped it yet."

"Whoa!" Sirius and James cried. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Shh!" Hermione reminded them. "Let's go."

They all walked out of the Leaky Cauldron and down an alley, Hermione and Lily once again placed disillusionment charms on them, mounted their brooms, and took off. Harry was in the lead followed by Sirius, James, and Ron. Hermione and Lily, who didn't particularly like flying, were clinging to Ron and James as if their lives depended on it.

Suddenly, James got an idea. He pointed his broom upwards and he and Lily slowly ascended.

"James what are you doing?" Lily said, panic apparent in her voice. James pretended not to hear her. He continued to climb in the air and finally, started twirling the broom, they did many circles in the air and as Lily screamed, James laughed. He continued his tricks until Lily hit him on the back to make him pay attention to him.

"Oh alright, Lils. You sure do take the fun out of everything." James smiled.

"James Potter, I am going to kill you for that!"

"Whatever you say," James responded.

After thirty more minutes, they were all frozen and were relieved to see the Malfoy Mansion on the horizon. The moon was getting lower; they had to hurry. Another ten minutes and they reached their destination. They landed by the house and dismounted their brooms.

"So how do we get in?" Lily asked.

"I have an idea!" Sirius said joyfully as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife.

"Of course!" Harry exclaimed. "Sirius, that's brilliant!"

"How did you now about the knife?" James asked.

"Sirius gave it to me."

"Why didn't you bring yours then?"

"It was destroyed in the Department of Mysteries."

"Oh."

The group walked to the back door and Sirius adjusted the knife so it would fit into the lock and the door swung open.

The group stared in amazement. The kitchen was large enough to fit the whole Gryffindor house in it, not that the Slytherin homeowners would like that very much. It was evident that the occupants were rich. Harry led the way through the kitchen into the just as large living area. The furniture was extravagant and the tables were decorated with sculptures of silver serpents. The legs of the chairs were shaped the same.

"You'd never know they were Slytherins would you?" Sirius said sarcastically. James sniggered.

"Shh! We don't know if Narcissa's home or not!" Lily reminded Sirius.

"Oh I'd love to see her face if she saw me!" Sirius said.

"That would be bad, remember Padfoot?" James said.

Harry led them up the marble steps to the second level and turned right.

"Do you know where it is?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, it's in the room at the end of the hall," Hermione said.

Harry opened the door and walked into the room. It was slightly small with a table, dresser, and bed on the three walls. In the far corner, was a closet. Harry walked strait for the closet and opened the door. Inside was nothing but a black table with a silver box on a pedestal. Harry reached for the box cautiously and picked it up. He turned around and walked toward the table in the room. Harry opened the box and peered inside. Wrapped in a silk cloth, was a golden oval-shaped locket with the initials S.S.

"What's going on here? What are you doing?" James froze and felt his companions tense as well. They slowly turned around to face the Malfoy who had caught them.