It was quiet, very quiet. The Slytherins in the common room stared at the newcomer in their midst. Someone snickered. The boy stood strait, glairing them down, challenging anyone to face him.

"…he sure doesn't look like much, does he?"

"More muggle than wizard…"

"Disgusting what they're letting in these days."

"Mud on the carpet."

"Mudblood! Mudblood!"

"Half-breed!"

The eyes didn't flicker, not a bit. They stayed fixed. No tears from this one, no shame, nothing. "…how pitiful it will be, when I best all of you."

More yelling, indignant, some raised wands threateningly. The boy crouched like a tiger in a pit of snakes, nearly barring his teeth at the challenge. Then a soft sound, no more than an intake of breath, and everyone grew still as if a lion had growled. It might as well have been a lion. He moved forward quietly, but with an air of constant stalking. Grey eyes narrowed as he appraised the boy, a few strands of white blond hair lay across his cheek. "What's all this then?" an uncomfortable silence.

"…He's the newbie Abraxas, Tom… something or other."

"There letting mud bloods into our house Abraxas! Looks bad for all of us!

"…we were just putting him in his place…"

The lion and the tiger held each others gaze, and the lion smiled. "…He's right. It will be pitiful when he bests you. Tom? I'm Abraxas Malfoy. Would you walk with me for a time?"

Voldemort leaned back, shut his eyes. Nagini slithered under his hand in a silent demand for stroking. The wards vibrated softly, the trees were still. "…Memories… are the dying dreams of our former lives. Seeking to reclaim us to the days of passed and the times of forgotten. A wasted hold for space that fills itself with color and glamour, filled with appeal, but containing nothing..." he turned his head lightly, and smiled. "…don't you agree Draco?" The youngest of the Malfoy line stumbled, the invisibility cloak fell to the dirt.

"…I, well I, of course my lord, whatever you say." Voldemort smiled, but it was a grim sight.

"…My lord, I'm here for a reason, I was sent to, to, to…" He curled his hands into fists, and his eyes narrowed in rage. The dark lord was patient and said nothing; many who had just been marked had trouble addressing him. And though this sign of weakness worried him for the Malfoy legacy, it did not surprise.

From the moment he had first seen the child he had noted the lack of ice that his family was so famous for. The boy was arrogant, cocky, and only decently intelligent. He had at least inherited his proper colors from the careful breeding, but he was a far toss from Abraxas glory, and just as far from his fathers might. Nothing special, nothing particularly grand. A fine waste of space, air, and his over doting mothers attentions.

"…Draco, you are here to tell me something and are instead trying my patience… that, is very dangerousss." The boy turned pale, the fists began to tremble. Nagini raised her head and hissed.

"…I was sent to tell you… that our spies, our spies say, they say that Potter… that he is missing still… that, that's all." He bowed, trying vainly to conceal his shaking. Red eyes narrowed, then shut, and opened again. Draco watched those eyes, watched the slit like pupil dilate, like a snake, like a gigantic snake…

"You are dismissed, Malfoy."

Harry sat in the portrait looking sullen, he watched as on the outside Hermione and Ron argued over where he was. (If you'd taken this thing where you'd said you would you'd know!… Ron! Hermione!) They of course did not hear. They hadn't all evening, no reason they would now. he leaned back and took an annoyed breath through his nose. (Fine, don't mind the hawk trapped in the frame. I'll just stretch my wings shall I? Why not! Savior of the wizarding world and idiot extraordinaire has nothing he'd rather be doing! Nothing at all!)

Once again they didn't hear him. But something did. A breeze… cold, and a feel like all around the world was stopping… (Cold… why is it cold? What is this? …so cold… and the light…) without warning the inside of the room went dark. He heard Hermione scream, Ron let out a muffled curse. But as they fumbled in the dark all three heard something muffled, as if from a distance…

…hsaelf ruoy llems I …taeh ruoy leef I …

…uoy ees I…

From the Author: I have finnaly introduced the third party! yay! and anything in italics is a flashback, yay!