"I'm still not clear on the details yet." Draco Malfoy explained. He was stretched out in his high backed chair behind the desk in his private study of Malfoy Manor. His legs were out as far as they would go and his arms were rested behind his head.

The older wizard just scowled at him. "As I just told you Malfoy, the details of this assignment are on a need to know basis only. We decide what you need to know, understand."

Draco spun the chair around a few times before answering. "You see, the trouble I have with this is if I don't know exactly who the 'we' you're talking about is I could very easily get myself in a situation that would result in me being very dead if I say the wrong thing to the wrong person. We wouldn't want that now would we?" he asked with a sly smile. Threatening his death was always a sure way to get some more details out his higher ups. They needed him alive, whether they trusted him or no. Draco Malfoy was worth nothing to them dead and buried and they all knew it.

"I've told you all that I know" his companion replied. "Appears they would rather have you dead then informed on this one. Can't say I blame them."

Draco stopped spinning and glared at the man. He thought about his situation for a moment. "Well, thanks for your time. I'm not interested." Draco rose from his chair and guided the elderly wizard out of his study. "I'll show you out."

The man became furious. He whirled around and grabbed Draco by the throat and pinned him against the wall. "You ungrateful ingrate! I warned them they couldn't trust you. Do you think you can refuse us after all you've seen and heard? There's no way out for you unless you fancy a coffin like your father's. I always knew you're attitude would get you in trouble one of these days and I am utterly overjoyed that I lived to see the day that it did. You do what we tell you to do. There is no negotiation. There are no offers, just orders and those orders don't come from you. We're tired of you doing what you see fit and I'm here to tell you that it ends as of now. You will go to A. Academy. You will tell us everything that is said within those walls. You will tell us who teaches there, who visits there, who attends the academy. You will learn everything you can about everyone you meet. And then, when we are satisfied, you will help us kill them all and you'll be lucky if you don't get killed in the cross fire."

Draco managed to slightly loosen the man's grip with his hands. "If only you had said 'please'" Seconds later Draco had his feet firmly on the ground. He had his would be assailant on the ground and was standing over him. Draco had his wand pointed at the man's heart. He massaged his neck and rolled it back and forth to see how much damage had been done. There would be a few bruises but nothing permanent. Draco looked down at the man and shook his head. "Where on earth did you learn your manners? Seriously, you have to learn how to talk to people better Walden. It's not healthy for a man your age to be so aggressive. You're liable to have an attack." The man was slowly reaching for his wand but Draco saw. "Ah ah ah! None of that now. Hand it over" he said as he lowered his wand closer to his hostage's body. Walden McNair slowly pulled his wand out of his robes and gave it to his captor. Draco threw Walden's wand across the room. "What am I to do with you?"

"Kill me if you must. But they'll come after you with everything they have. You won't make it out of England and that sister of yours will join you in death all too soon."

Draco rolled his eyes and stepped back from McNair. He offered him his hand and pulled the wizard back on his feet. "I don't plan on killing you. If I did, you'd be dead already. I don't plan on being a traitor either, that is better left to the Malfoy women."

McNair watched Draco Malfoy walk back to the desk and resume his position in the chair as if nothing had happened. Draco had taken McNair completely by surprise, something that wasn't easily done. Walden watched him for what seemed to be several minutes. He had the same wicked charm that his father had. Many times McNair had been in this office with Lucius Malfoy sitting in the chair that his son now occupied. Draco and Lucius both filled the room with an unearthly presence. Draco wasn't physically large for his age but he seemed to pour into every inch of the study.

"You can tell them I'll go on their little mission" Draco said hostilely. "But you can tell them that I don't take kindly to threats. Don't ever dare to put your hands on me again. Now get the hell out of my house."

McNair complied. It was late and he wanted to get home. He made his way to the exit but Draco called after him.

"Oh Walden." McNair turned to face him. "You might be needing this." Draco tossed his wand to him from across the room. McNair caught the wand and continued but was called after again. "Oh Walden, I have a feeling this wont be the last tussle we have so maybe you should know that using my sister as a threat holds little weight with me." McNair nodded and turned to take another step. "Oh and Walden!" Draco called. "Have a nice night" he said with the sweetest smile he had.

McNair hurried out of the manor, not sure what to make of the night's events. He had just been threatened and patronized by the son of one of his former colleagues. Not only that, but he had been the one planning to threaten someone that night. He tried to put it out of his mind. Draco Malfoy was over rated. Not only that but he had made the mistake of coming to the conclusion that he mattered. The idea was laughable.

Everyone thought that the Death Eaters were still trying to gather forces. Little did they know, the Death Eaters were more powerful than they had ever been. One person like Draco Malfoy wasn't going to make a difference. He was expendable. Draco had made himself believe that he was the second coming and was going to make some kind of difference in the battle. That would lead to his downfall, McNair was sure of it.

As soon as he stepped out of Malfoy Manor McNair disapparated. He would inform his superiors of the night's events tomorrow. He didn't feel the need to bother them this late at night. Draco would be dealt with soon enough. Why loose any sleep over him tonight?

Back in his study Draco was spinning in his chair again. This wasn't the same playful spin he had done earlier to try and break the tension; this was because he was nervous. In his fury, McNair had let some details slip. They were going to kill every one at A. Academy? Not only that, but they wanted Draco to help them commit the murders. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up this charade.

Despite his best efforts, Draco had come to care about some of the people that would be at the academy. First and foremost there was Faith. His sister could be very maddening and had an annoying habit of never leaving Draco alone but she was his sister. Draco couldn't ignore his feelings for her. She was family and that took priority over all else. Then there was Sirius. Draco had heard that Sirius Black would be pulling double duty at both Hogwarts and the Auror Academy. He would teach one day at the academy and spend all other days at Hogwarts. Severus Snape would also be making some appearance at the academy to speak at lecturers. Draco never wanted to see either of these two men hurt. Not only did he care deeply for them both, but they were just so damn entertaining when they were in the same room. Further more, he wasn't so sure that people in the ministry would be all that happy if the little project they called Auror Academy was blasted to kingdom come in its first year back up and running.

Draco wasn't sure what his next move should be. If he alerted the academy's board members and they stepped up security of the employees and students then the Death Eaters would know they had a rat. That would mean intense crack downs, assassinations, and they would eventually find out who was responsible. If he did nothing, then all the people he cared about would suffer. He would have to give the Death Eaters some information either way on a somewhat regular basis to keep them from getting suspicious but he couldn't give them too much. There was no guarantee that they would keep Draco informed or tell him when they were going to make their move. Draco couldn't give them enough information to carry out the hits but he had to give them something to keep them off his back until he figured out what the hell he was going to do.

You can always give them what they need on the prats who give you a hard time Drake, he thought to himself jokingly with a sinful grin. This thought made him laugh slightly to himself. He would never do that, but it was fun to pretend.

Draco decided to put all thoughts of the war out of his mind for the time being. He had to get some rest. There was still a lot of work to be done before the orientation for the academy. He had no idea how he was going to get through the next week but knew whatever happened, he'd find a way. Malfoys always did.