Hey guys, sorry again for the delay. I'm really psyched because Goblet of Fire's gonna be showing next Wednesday, Nov 16. That's the Philippine release date so well, I get to see it 2+ days earlier.

No one seems to be reviewing my chapters even though I have a lot of hits. Please review. I want to hear from you guys otherwise I might think that no one is interested in reading my stuff, which in turn might urge me to stop writing this.

READ AND REVIEW. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE INTERROGATION

"Tell me, what is your name?" asked Hermione as she sat on the green couch within the Slytherin Common Room. She was of course, just testing if the Veritaserum was doing its job.

"Draco Malfoy," answered Malfoy in a blank, expressionless tone. He was sprawled upon the green couch in front of a crackling fire, looking upwards towards the black, dome-like ceiling, as he answered Hermione's question.

Now satisfied that the Veritaserum she has placed in his drink was now in full effect, Hermione started asking more useful questions in her pursuit to get some information about Voldemort.

Her questions of course, not only brought her and her friends potentially closer to the truth about the Dark Lord, but also, gave her a kind of power. She felt it and she felt good about it. The fact that she was able to fool and play with a person such as Draco Malfoy—the epitome of arrogance, cruelty, and blood discrimination—was almost as good as getting perfect scores in exams. As she was about to ask her questions, her anger for him was somehow quelled and satisfied. All the years of being called a Mudblood was somehow, slowly, getting rewarded.

"Do you know where the Horcruxes are?" asked Hermione. She was a bit tense yet confident as she said her questions.

"I only know some of them," answered Malfoy. "Lord Voldemort is keeping most of the information regarding the Horcruxes tightly under wraps. He though, has told us that the Cup of Hufflepuff has been found and that Nagini's Replacement has been a success."

"And Nagini's Replacement is what?" asked Hermione, though inside, she knew what it was.

"The minister's eye. The Muggle one. The muggle community is still holding elections for a new minister as of now and so, during this period of instability in the muggle world, the Dark Lord has chosen this time to collect new followers and initiate them into the Death Eaters' circle."

Hermione knew that this was the time Voldemort attacked the Pearl of the Orient Hotel where her parents' were staying some time before. Surely, she was now feeling Voldemort's power—how encompassing it is, how wide its reaches are, now spilling over and reaching the muggle world.

"Why does he want Muggle Death Eaters?"

"The Dark Lord wishes to expand his legion of followers. He knows that true victory cannot be achieved by just ruling the wizarding world but also, to rule the muggle one. The Dark Lord is truly wise, far better than Dumbledore."

"And where is the minister's eye hidden?"

"In the Chamber of Secrets."

Hermione already knew this information of course but felt the urge to make sure. Again, the thought of a Death Eater roaming within Hogwarts and placing the eye in the Chamber worried her.

"How did the eye get to the Chamber? Death Eaters are not supposed to linger within the castle grounds," said Hermione, eager to know how the new Horcrux found its way to the castle.

"I did it," said Malfoy. Hermione was taken aback. "H-How…" she said as she stuttered.

"When my mother talked with McGongall to reenter me into school, she did not know that the Dark Lord had a job for me. The Dark Lord knew the value and benefits of having someone within the school giving him inside information, especially now that Snape has expressed where his true loyalty lies—which is sadly with the Order of the Phoenix, and thus, was murdered. Lord Voldemort then gave me the eye and asked me to place it within the Chamber and so, I did. It was to honor Nagini, his most favorite pet, more favored than his human Death Eaters. He told me how to speak the parseltongue sound required to enter the Chamber and then, I was able to enter it."

Hermione was now pale. It confirmed her plans of having Harry enter the Chamber to seek out the eye. Now, she knew where all of the remaining Horcruxes were except for one—Hufflepuff's Cup.

"Do you know where Hufflepuff's Cup is?" asked Hermione.

"It is hidden safely in Voldemort's lair," answered Malfoy—his eyes as expressionless and glassy as ever.

"Lair? What lair?"

"We Death Eaters know nothing about this. Only the Dark Lord knows. Even the higher ranking Death Eaters are clueless to where this is. Whispers within the Death Eater circle though say that it is a derelict place where no one is supposed to have lived in for years."

Hermione memorized all this information and now that time was almost up, she asked if Draco knew any of Voldemort's plans. Malfoy did not and so, just as her hair was turning brown from the black of Pansy's hair. Hermione stood up, took out her wand, and rushed to the door, whispering "Alohomora" to unlock the door she charmed shut just minutes before.

Just as she was about to step out of the Slytherin Common Room, she hesitated. A curiosity gripped her as she looked back at the blank faced Malfoy. Could it be? Could he be a fully-fledged Death Eater? Is he a threat?

She walked slowly back towards the couch as the bushiness of her hair slowly made itself visible. The Veritaserum was ending its effects but she still had time to check on one more thing.

She approached Malfoy and then held onto his left arm. His black and green robes which were long sleeved covered his arm and so, she slowly folded it towards his shoulder. As she did, his pale skin slowly was revealed. First, his wrist, ending in his elbow, and then his arm.

Hermione gasped at what she saw. She knew she was to expect this but no matter how she was sure of what she will find in his arm, the sight of it made her blood curl. Etched on Malfoy's arm was the Dark Mark.

A skull with a snake on its mouth—Voldemort's mark. The Dark Mark. Malfoy's was of course, obviously new because of the tenderness and slight swelling of the skin surrounding the mark but it was still scary. She somehow felt sorry for him. To be so young yet so willing to risk his life for Voldemort. If only the good people were so willing to risk their lives for the cause of good.

As she contemplated on many thoughts, she saw the clock hanging on the wall. Her one hour had ended minutes ago. She ran to a mirror and saw that she was almost Hermione-looking. Her hair was lengthening as she stood before the mirror. Without wasting further time, she ran for the portrait hall.

The dungeon corridor greeted her as she opened the portrait door. Outside were Crabbe and Goyle eating some pastries on the floor, looking at Hermione with wonder why she no longer looked like Pansy. Hermione ignored them, hoping that their stupidity will allow her escape. This though, was not so. As Crabbe and Goyle looked at her, digesting what they were seeing, and soon, realization dawned on them.

Crabbe and Goyle stood up, looked at Hermione, who was now half running, and went after her. Hermione's face no longer resembled Pansy's. Her long, brown, and bushy hair returned, as well as her face and her body. She quickly ran for it, realizing that Crabbe and Goyle had just realized her actions.

She pushed her legs faster as she sped through the torch lit dungeon halls, wishing to reach the Entrance Hall where Crabbe and Goyle cannot pound her since students and teachers will see. She looked back and saw both her pursuers' faces—determined and a bit embarrassed on how she has fooled them and their "master", Malfoy.

She knew that they were gaining on her when the distance between them dwindled into almost an arm's length. The Entrance Hall was a couple of meters away and so, she knew it was no use running. She had to resort to magic.

Her pulse quickened and a pang of nervousness hit her as she held her wand. She knew that magic outside classes in corridors was heavily prohibited but then, she convinced herself that what she just uncovered for Malfoy was much more important than any form of detention and so, with well a chosen spell in her mind, she waved her wand and uttered "Obliviate."

As soon as the spark from Hermione's wand tip hit both Crabbe and Goyle, they both stopped and fell on the ground. Of course, the spell not only knocked them off their feet but also modified their memory, erasing how they saw Hermione disguise herself as Pansy and how she escaped them.

Hermione made sure that no one witnessed her deed and then turned around, ran off, leaving both Crabbe and Goyle lying stupidly on the floor.

She made it towards the deserted girls' bathroom in no time. Inside, she quickly changed into her Gryffindor robes and then went speeding up to Gryffindor tower, practically bursting to tell Harry and Ron the information she obtained from Malfoy.

Christmas vacation has started soon enough. Apart from Slughorn asking if any student knew where a vial of one of his potions was (the Veritaserum), everything was going smoothly. The students were all packing their bags and trunks and waiting outside for the thestral-drawn carriage convoy to take them to Hogsmeade Station. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were doing no different. They all lugged around their trunks and stood outside the Entrance Hall, waiting for the carriages.

One by one, the carriages arrived and four students boarded it. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny waited in line until it was their turn to board. As they did, Harry again saw the winged beast that pulled the carriage—its skeleton-like form and its bat wings. It emanated a gloom as it sped down the path.

Everyone was silent inside. From what Hermione has said to Harry a few nights ago about her interrogation with Malfoy, he sort of knew how bad this Christmas season was going to get. As he gazed on the magnificence of Hogwarts all white with snow, he knew that he somehow had to return soon to reopen the Chamber of Secrets. Not only that, Azkaban Prison waited for his arrival, too, for he also plans to go there to look for remaining Dementors which will enable him to destroy the Hocruxes.

Hufflepuff's Cup was still missing as it is hidden in the "lair" of Voldemort. Where this lair is is still a blur to Harry. There was no way of knowing where it is since Voldemort was a wizard who had eluded capture for decades. Where can he be hiding? No one knows.

One thing though, was certain. He needs to defeat Voldemort. Neither can live while the other survives. Harry etched it in his mind and heart that the one who will live after all this will be him and the one who cannot live will be the Dark Lord.

END OF CHAPTER EIGHTEEN