"Harry, he told you to wait an hour!"

"It's almost been!"

"It's only been 45 minutes, mate."

Harry looked at Ron in a plea for help. He was panicked from the moment he figured out that Draco was nowhere in Grimmauld, not even hiding somewhere under his invisibility cloak. He had to be captured or lured out some way, he just had to.

"You have to face the fact that this could just be a trap, Harry. Even if Malfoy didn't intend for it to be, maybe he was on our side, but we don't know that for certain. Maybe this was the plan all along." Hermione was right, but it didn't help Harry's agitation any. Snape was also right about him needing to be trained up and not spending time playing chess with his friends.

Then again, if he was doomed to start with, maybe those happy memories with them was all he was going to get in this life. Those would be better to carry on than working. Perhaps that's why Dumbledore did things the way he had; to give Harry more time to be himself, be a child. Sure, it didn't go to plan, but what ever does?

Something occurred to him. "Wait." Harry ran up the stairs to his room. He heard Hermione and Ron bickering. At least Ron was on his side. He couldn't blame Hermione's fear but if it was all going to come to a head, today was as good a day to die as any. Maybe they'd save Draco and even greasy old Snape in the bargain.

Ron laughed at Lolly under Harry's arm. "Going to make You-Know-Who giggle to death?"

"Or are you going to infantilize him?" asked Hermione.

"He's bringing it for me," drawled Draco from behind them. "Or at least I assume that this wasn't just a grand plan to steal my childhood toy."

"DRACO!" Harry whirled around and wrapped his arms around him. Draco had a book held across his chest which came in contact with Lolly. In spite of the distractions between them, he was so relieved to have him there. "I thought I lost you. I thought you were captured... I thought... so many terrible things."

While Harry was too distraught to ask questions, Hermione wasn't. "Where have you been, Malfoy? Harry could've been killed chasing after you. Snape too."

"I didn't think I'd be gone that long," he answered to Harry, not even acknowledging the sound from Hermione. His voice remained soft and placid as they looked into each other's eyes. "You were going to bring me my toy?"

Harry blushed and shrugged. "I thought if they were hurting you... you might like it."

Draco kissed his forehead and shook his head. "No, I went to the Manor after owling Mum. We do have books on Horcruxes. The library is organized in its own fashion-- which means that the rules of logic don't apply."

"A book?" Hermione was instantly interested and moved to where the two boys were still clutching each other. She pulled the book from between them and when she opened it, a cascade of mud shot from the book all over her face.

"You should probably let purebloods open that." He smirked.

Hermione wasn't amused. "We don't have time for your little pranks, Malfoy. We get it; I'm not of pure blood."

"It's not my prank, it's the book's prank, and you did ask. Go wash up." He picked the book up off of the floor and set it open to the page he wanted. "Horcruxes are made by murder, it tears the soul apart and then you may take that half of your soul and put it into something or someone else."

Ron looked over Draco's shoulder and he stood aside for him to read with him. They crowded Harry out while Hermione huffed about stupid purebloods and books.

"We knew that much Draco."

"This tells you how to do it. And you can actually segment what parts of your soul that you want to push to the other side. Some emotions and spiritual impulses don't mix. Love and hate being the most obvious. They're like oil and water." Draco flipped to a diagram in the book.

"Like salad dressing?" asked Ron.

"That would be the common way you see it-- it separates. So this will make it easier to separate him from you." Draco smiled at Harry, who sat on the edge of the fireplace.

"Just one problem."

Draco raised his brows.

"I'd have to kill someone." Harry looked around the room, wondering which of his friends he could sacrifice.

Allowing Harry to look between them a moment while Hermione and Ron became steadily more unnerved, Draco finally rolled his eyes. "Harry, you are killing someone. It's a lot to do all at once, but you can kill Voldemort and make a Horcrux."

"So... what will I... make it of..." asked Harry.

Hermione interrupted him. "It's been an hour. We need to go."

"But Draco's here now," Harry pointed out.

"Snape isn't back. We can't just leave him. He put his life on the line to save Malfoy," she argued. Ron didn't appear impressed.

"He's right. I said I'd be there in an hour, let's go." Harry started to the fireplace in a rush and Draco grabbed him by the back of the collar.

"Let's go... slowly. Quietly. See what we're up against and if there's a trap. One of you needs to stay here. Granger? You'd be the most likely to know how to reopen this if they close it, right?"

Hermione did not appear to be pleased with taking orders from Draco, but she was the most likely to be able to do that.

"I have to go as I know how to make the Horcruxes work. Ron, you're lookout. Harry, you're bait."

"Hermione, try and contact the Order," Harry ordered. "Please?" he added, seeing her disgruntled look. She nodded.

Ron climbed into the Floo first, then Draco and then Harry. Emerald flames plumed at Harry's direction of where to go and they were in Snape's room. Quickly they formed a line against the wall and after checking the corridor and finding no one in it, they crept out.

They gestured in nods and meaningful blinks and winks. Though this had never been worked out, they understood one another. Their wands were at the ready as the slipped down the stone wall corridors. There were so many doors, doors that could lead to everything and nothing and probably did. It felt like a maze if only because it was straight and long, but you never felt like you got anywhere. Ron stopped them in front of one of the doors. Harry heard voices.

"We will hear them when they come, Severus. Alarmed about the younger Malfoy," the high, cold voice said. "They will come on angry feet."

"But it has been an hour, My Lord. We have no idea where Draco has gone to. He could show up there."

"That would be poor luck for you, Severus. I promised you could own the boy should this work, but if he is combating alongside them then I will have no choice. Now, be gone and monitor your room."

Harry unfurled his invisibility cloak just in time to keep them from being seen. On the bright side, it would seem that Snape wasn't in any danger. Draco didn't seem terribly impressed with the notion of being owned.

"What should we do?" asked Harry after Snape had gone down the hall.

"We'd definitely have the element of surprise right now," Draco pointed out.

"On his turf," Ron added.

"I'm not sure that there will ever be a chance like this again. He's expecting us, but he thinks he'd hear us and he hasn't. He's alone in his study. We should end this now," said Harry.

"So this is it?" asked Ron, finally coming in. "I'll go in first, get the first round. You two... get ready with the... Horcrux... thing."

It was a crazy, lousy plan, but it was their plan.

Harry and Draco flanked Ron and Ron hexed open the door.

Lord Voldemort was sitting on a large throne-like chair. It was square at the bottom and then fanned out in a complete circle covered in serpents, metal serpents that writhed and wriggled behind him. "Finally, you have gathered the courage to come."

Harry brought up his wand. "I've come to kill you. Avada Kedavra." The green bolt of light struck the empty chair, setting it on fire.

"Oooh, but it's not that simple, is it?" Harry heard the smooth voice behind him and he whirled around. But he was gone. Again. Behind him, he heard a word that filled him with that sick, sinking feeling when you realize your mistake.

"Crucio!"

"Protego!" Ron's shielding charm mitigated the pain at least somewhat, or maybe that's just what Harry fancied as he spilled to the dusty, stone floor. He heard Draco shout something unfamiliar and suddenly the pain dulled and ebbed away.

"Good, but slow Malfoy. I could help you with that." Voldemort was standing in front of his throne, Draco's wand was swishing, his eyes unfocused with intent.

"Stupefy!" Ron shouted.

A loud pop sounded near Draco, obfuscated by the loud roar from his wand as a putrid orange flame decimated Voldemort's throne, again barely a second too late. Harry rolled to his feet just in time to see Voldemort grab Draco from behind. He twisted Draco's wrist around so that his wand pointed at his own face. Draco shook visibly.

"Very dark magic, Malfoy. Your father would be proud. I could teach you more. Better spells. There is only so much you can learn from books, my boy." After a pause where Draco didn't budge, Voldemort purred, "Imperio." The spell poured from Draco's own wand. "Now, kill Potter."

Draco pointed his wand at Harry, but to everyone's evident surprise, he stomped Voldemort's foot and tried to jerk away. Unfortunately, the gambit proved fruitless. Voldemort didn't even flinch. Instead, he whipped Draco's wrist around again. "Foolish boy. Now you shall know the meaning of disfigurement."

"No!" Harry started forward, but Ron grabbed his upper arm. Apparating to just before Voldemort and Draco, he grabbed Draco's wand and threw it to the ground.

In a startlingly quick movement, Voldemort pitched Draco to the side and grabbed Harry in his stead, whipping him around to face Ron.

Scrambling to the floor, Draco grabbed his wand and Apparated, Lolly, book and all to a few feet from Ron. He was wild-eyed when he recognised the position he'd left Harry in.

"The tides have turned, Potter. Choose which of your friends you wish to see die first," Voldemort hissed, tightening his grasp on Harry's waist, sickeningly clammy skin radiating through his t-shirt.

This was the end. It wasn't how he had ever foreseen it. Part of him held out hope that someone would come to their aid, but he had the sinking feeling that his luck had finally run out. Ron and Draco looked back at him helplessly. "I love you, Ron." Lolly obscured the book Draco was clutching to his chest. "And I love you, Draco. I love you both so much. I'm so sorry."

"I love you, too Harry. If we have to... well, I'm glad we're together." Ron turned to Draco and gave him a quick nod. "I love you, too Draco. It's been... well, you make Harry happy and... we tried."

Whether Draco was frightened of near death or Ron's assertion that he loved him, it was hard for Harry to tell. Draco looked back and forth between them, and then to Voldemort, which made him shrink back.

"Your choice is clear, then," said Voldemort, pointing his wand past Harry's head at Draco.

"I love you, Harry!" Draco said in a panicked voice, clutching Lolly against his chest. Harry wondered if this was a last-minute gambit to add a precious few seconds to his life.

Draco's eyes were glassy and his face pinking. "I mean, I think I do. I don't really know. It's... I... this isn't how I ever wanted... I just needed more time. More... I thought we'd..." he trailed off and looked pleadingly into Harry's eyes. "Time."

"It's fine, Harry. Choose me to go first." Ron stood proudly, chest out, ready to die.

"I love you, Ron!" Draco babbled. Harry was rather surprised by this, and while he wanted to doubt the conveniently-timed sincerity, Draco certainly didn't have to admit anything at this point.

Ron rolled his eyes initially but then graciously nodded and gave Draco a weak smile in return.

"Choose," Voldemort ordered.

How was he supposed to choose? Draco was so scared and Ron was ready, but Harry couldn't pick one to die before the other. He didn't want either to die. Not for him, not for any reason. "I can't. I won't."

In response, Voldemort gurgled. Gurgled? He looked at Draco, whose eyes were narrowed at the spot behind him. Voldemort's grip on him tightened and then slackened. Harry looked to Ron, who was staring just as keenly at Voldemort.

Harry jerked away from the man's grasp and whirled around. The movement unbalanced Voldemort, and he tumbled onto his arse. His skin appeared to be disintegrating, blood the angry dry colour of a clot pumped through easily defined veins. It looked like it was boiling.

Voldemort's face plumped and reddened. A blood vessel near his flat nose burst and the air hissed with heat and the smell of boiled copper permeated the room. Screaming, Voldemort dropped his wand and shrieked at his spindly hands that resembled veined sausages. "What did you do to me, boy?"

"Quick, kill him!" Draco sat a couple of feet away from the body and was opening the book. Lolly sat next to Voldemort as if in mockery.

"Malfoy, he's dying already." Ron glared at Voldemort, but his visage was tinged with sympathy for his obvious pain.

"It is no matter, I will return," Voldemort gasped.

"Which is why Harry needs to kill him now, before he's dead and then Harry has to kill someone else." Rolling his eyes, Draco leafed through the book till he found the correct page.

"What?" Harry's question was echoed by Ron and Voldemort's. "If he's dying then why would I need to kill anyone but myself after this?"

Draco pointed on the spot on his forehead where Harry's mark was. "Horcruxes are made when you commit murder. It splits your soul. If we split your soul right, then we can put V-V-" Draco looked at the suffering man, but still dared not say his name. "His soul into a Horcrux and destroy it without killing you."

"What would you use as a--" Harry looked at Lolly who had fallen on her side. It was Draco's toy, his childhood, what his mum brought him. Clearly it had great value to Draco, and he was willing to give it up for him. Harry was touched.

Shrugging, Draco said, "I haven't been sleeping with her much lately, anyway." He blushed and paid closer attention to the book.

"What book is that?" Voldemort was lying on the hardwood floor, blood was leaking from several ruptures. Lolly's white fur was tainted with the boiling blood. Draco wriggled back to avoid scalding.

"You left it with my father," said Draco, holding it up triumphantly.

"You couldn't have found my other..." Red eyes wide in comprehension, Voldemort made his final attempt to do damage, lunging at Draco.

"Avada Kedavra!" The spell was instantaneously out of Harry's mouth. He was a murderer.

Draco picked up chanting immediately, his wand flourished in the air and Harry felt a rush of anxiety as he saw many copies of himself in varying shades of translucence. Some were very, very dark, and some were shining and bright like a Patronus. Draco summoned together the darker aspects. The language he spoke was unfamiliar but Harry's soul, or the fragments of it, seemed to speak the language and were having a conversation.

Standing, Draco's tone became terse, almost threatening. Harry looked to Ron, who was staring in utter fascination at the proceedings. It was a relief that he wasn't the only one in the dark. Out of the circle of his darker selves formed a coiled, angry snake with bright eyes and huge fangs. It grew larger, crowding the room with its influence. Draco paled.

"It's all right, Draco. We're here." Harry didn't know what to say to him to soothe him, but that appeared to work.

He watched as Draco steeled himself and pointed his wand at the blood soaked unicorn. Her fur was matted, tufts had turned pink through soaking and she suddenly looked much more menacing than friendly. Draco gave the command two more times before the thing started to respond and funnel itself into Lolly.

Harry closed his eyes as he felt the lighter reflections of himself, along with the darker came together, pushing into him, each with the force of life, pushing his body with the force of each reentry. He opened his eyes just in time to see the last of the serpent coil into Lolly and Draco collapse.

"Draco!" Snape's voice had never been more unwelcome. He rushed to Draco's side.

His limbs wouldn't cooperate and Harry felt the odd disorienting sensation just before the pain in his knees told him he was falling down himself. "Ron... don't let him..."

But Ron was looking to the door. Harry managed to turn his head enough to see Remus and Tonks rushing through, red hair flashing behind them signaling that the Weasleys were also there. The Order. Now he could sleep.

--

Harry awoke to Ron and Hermione bickering over his bed. Some things never changed. He listened to the argument that seemed to stem from Ron's lingering gaze on Tonks's arse.

"If he's grinning, he's awake." Ron grabbed Harry's arm and shook him playfully.

"I'm not grinning, I'm wincing." Opening his eyes to the familiar surroundings of his room at Grimmauld Place, Harry was grateful he wasn't at St. Mungo's. "Malfoy?"

"He's asleep, but he woke up a few hours ago demanding tea and biscuits so I assume he's fine." Ron grinned, although Hermione was still shooting him death glares.

"How long have I--"

"A few days. You missed most of the celebrations, I'm afraid." Hermione eyed Ron. "Some of us had too much butterbeer and got--"

Ron piped up with, "But the brilliant part is that the Healers were willing to come here so you wouldn't have to wake up at St. Mungo's."

Harry grinned and nodded. "So, how did we... I mean... he just... fell apart?"

Sitting up, Hermione looked as if she'd been waiting to show off her knowledge. "The best that we could deduce from what Ron told us was that the blood that Voldemort had infected himself with when he took it from you responded to the bonds of the love you three shared. There being power in a certain number, three must've been the one that activated that old magic." Quite pleased with herself, she prattled on. "It's almost ironic that Voldemort's fascination with numbers ended up his undoing as well as his lack of understanding of love or blood sacrifice. Three is as powerful a number as seven according to ancient texts."

"That's..." Harry started.

"I know, I'm not sure what to think," said Ron, scrunching his face in mock disgust. "Malfoy loves me."

"That's weird, too, but not what I meant." Harry smirked. "I suppose three Horcruxes would've been too easy."

"Be glad he didn't choose thirteen," Hermione teased.

Harry chuckled half-heartedly. "I guess I should also be glad you got a hold of the Order."

Hermione gave a true wince. "No, I didn't."

"Who did, then?"

"Snape." Hermione took a breath. "I was about to summon the Order when Snape came flying through the Floo and sent out his Patronus, which is a wolf, isn't that weird?" Harry waved his hand. It was weird, although if he were afraid of Lupin, maybe he thought another wolf would protect him? Harry couldn't be arsed to care right now. "Anyway, they all showed up in minutes and flooded in."

"Which side is he on?" Harry asked.

After a moment's silences and traded glances, Ron answered, "His own, I'd wager."

There appeared to be something else they wanted to say, but right now Harry wasn't sure he could handle it. He wanted his life back to normal, or at least back to the magically normal way it had been. Or what he'd at least thought of as normal. Maybe what could be normal without a bloodthirsty dark wizard hell-bent on killing him would be. The thought of not having this looming responsibility over his head and just concentrating on his studies (or not concentrating) like everyone else cheered him. "So we can go back to Hogwarts?"

Hermione and Ron exchanged glances. That was never a good sign. "Not yet."

"Is there still a Hogwarts?"

"Of course, Harry, don't be silly." Hermione shook her head, her bushy hair blocked the light and Harry blinked to get his eyes to adjust. "It's just that... well, some of the Death Eaters escaped before the Order arrived and there have been a few riots. It's not safe for you to go out just yet."

Harry's heart sank. He thought once he'd killed Voldemort that this would be all over. He brought his hands up to his face. "It's never going to end, is it?"

"Don't worry, mate. The Ministry is rounding them up. Kingsley brought in Bellatrix just yesterday. Nasty bit of work, that one. Just needs some time to settle down." Ron patted Harry's elbow.

"Yeah," Harry said, feeling the weight of his stunted victory oppressing him. "I need s'more rest."

"Harry, don't let it discourage--" Hermione started.

"Please."

He watched Ron tug her arm and they both left. Harry rolled onto his side, pulled the covers up and wept softly. He was a murderer and still the world wasn't safe.