**Not much action in this chapter, just a bunch of conversations. Probably explains why it took me so long to get it out. Enjoy and R&R anyway!
Chapter 17
Just talking?
"I don't like it. The plan sucks." Kyle exclaimed as he and Draco headed toward Snape's private dungeon.
"It's the only way." Draco replied.
"Only way to hell, this is insane. As your older brother I refuse to let you do this."
"You are only my half-brother, so your request has been vetoed. So what did my father's letter say?"
"He's going to pick us up at the Hogsmede trains station. He'll bring Isabel with him and we should bring one of the teachers. He wants me to enjoy the comforts of home, including a meeting with his master."
Draco stopped walking and stared at Kyle with wide eyes. "He wants you to meet him?"
"Yup," he replied with dread.
"When?"
"The night after Christmas."
Draco didn't reply.
"What?"
Draco opened his mouth and closed it. Kyle crouched down in front of him.
"Draco, what is it?"
Draco's eyes were full of fear. "The night after Christmas the Deatheaters gather together and celebrate. They kidnap muggles and torture them."
"Kyle closed his eyes. "Have you ever gone?"
"Once, my father wanted to show me his legacy. That was the night I decided I didn't want it."
"When?"
"Last year."
"Did he?"
"Make me participate? No, just watch, but you're older."
"He's not my father."
"No, but he wants to be."
Kyle looked up. "Will he try to hurt my dad?"
Draco could see Kyle's heart breaking in his eyes.
"I don't know."
"So what did your mum send you?" Harry asked.
"Floo powder," Ron said distracted.
"What for?" Hermione asked.
"Charlie has a girlfriend."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other confused.
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing." Hermione said.
"I wanted to stay and spend Christmas with you guys, instead we are all going to visit him."
"Well, who is she?" Harry asked.
"Charlie's been tutoring her for the past year, and she's an American." Ron told them.
Harry and Hermione again looked at him with bewildered looks.
"Maria, I want to take you to Diagon Alley to get you a wand." Amy said to her daughter as they were leaving the great hall. Maria turned and looked at her mother.
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"Can Liz come?"
Amy smiled. "Sure, you, me, and Liz."
Maria's face was expressionless. "Okay," and with that she turned and walked away.
Sirus walked up behind Amy. She turned and smiled.
"Need a hug?" He asked opening his arms.
"Yeah," she replied embracing him. "At least she talked to me."
"She's come around."
"Yeah, but how long will she hate me?"
"A few days, maybe a week."
Amy slapped his arm as she pulled away, "thanks so much. I always did appreciate your sense of humor."
"I did too. Can I escort you to class?"
She smiled. "Sure, I have (she reached into her pocket and pulled out a worn piece of paper) DADA next."
He smiled as they turned and headed toward the class.
Maria found Liz in the library studying with a housemate. She quietly pulled her aside.
"Maria, what's up?"
"He knows," she replied with worry.
"Your father?"
Maria nodded her head.
Liz pulled Maria toward her, hugging her. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Well, I'm going to Diagon Alley with my mom tomorrow for a wand. Will you come?"
"Of course I will."
Maria hugged her tighter. "Thank you. I know since coming here we haven't been all that close, but…" She pulled away to face Liz.
"Maria, you're my best friend, I'll always be there for you no matter what."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
"So I'm late for class."
"Go!" Liz said, gesturing.
"Thank you, bye." Maria ran off.
"Why do we still take this class?" Ron asked Harry.
Harry looked up to see if Professor Trelawney was listening. "Because it's an easy A?" He whispered back.
They glanced back at the star charts as the professor passed by.
"Just remember after Christmas we're done. No more predictions of death and doom."
"Yeah, instead we have Herbal Medication to look forward to." Harry whispered back.
"Have you seen Hermione's books on that class, she's so excited."
"I just thought she stole half the library's book."
Ron snickered. "So I hear you and her are possibly the only ones staying for the break."
"Oh, great plenty of piece and quiet to start studying. So have you met the girlfriend yet?"
"Nope, I just wish I could bring you and 'mione along. Nobody will be here even Draco's going home."
"Well, Michael and the rest will be here." Harry said, "never mind they're all coupled up. Are you sure I can't come?"
Ron smiled. "I wish my mum will probably pull out Charlie's baby pictures and everything."
Kyle and Draco sat and watched as Snape mixed the ingredients.
"Are you sure this is going to work? How do you know that he can't sense you death guys when he calls you?" Kyle asked.
"He can't, not anymore. His original body was destroyed long ago. His spirit inhabits the form he is in now. The blood is not the same blood he put in this tattoo." Snape explained.
"Okay, but instead of removing the tattoo, you are going to remove the skin? How is this a good idea?" Kyle asked sounding both concerned and doubtful.
"The spell he gave me is meant to be extremely painful."
"And removing skin isn't?" Kyle exclaimed.
Snape's jaw clenched and unclenched. "Not if I mix the ingredients properly."
"Kyle, calm down, it is a good plan." Draco reassured him.
"Yeah, and if something goes wrong, I could lose my little brother and my favorite teacher."
Snape calmed down and gave Kyle a prideful look. "Thank you for your concern, but we will be fine."
Kyle put his head on the desk face down. "I'm sorry, I'm just nervous about meeting my mom."
Draco put a hand on Kyle's shoulder, as he frowned. "I'm never going to escape my family, am I?" He whispered.
Kyle didn't hear him, but Snape did. He glanced at the two boys and then went back to his potion.
"So when do I get to leave?" Isabel asked from the bed. She was tired and wanted to see Kyle and Max and Michael. She wanted to be comforted by Liz and Maria. She wanted to play Quidditch with her team. She wanted to be safe, away from Maria's father. She wanted to see her own mom, Diane Evans. More than anything she wanted to see Alex again. But that last request was impossible.
"5 weeks," the dark wizard spoke calmly.
"Five!?" She exclaimed.
She was alone in the room with him. She sighed heavily.
"Why did Amy leave?" He asked suddenly in the most human voice she had ever heard him utter.
"She was afraid." Isabel replied. Before he could explode, she continued. "It wasn't you. She was afraid of what her parents would do. She couldn't raise a child in a school; it was unheard of. So she ran." She looked up to see him watching her.
Then he said something she didn't expect. "I have to get rid of Kavar and I have to do it soon."
**Yeah, I know it took me forever to get this to you guys, but this is like monster writer's block. I know where I want to go with this story, I just can't seem to get there. So here where you guys can help, when you review tell me which relationships you like best, which ones do you want to see more of. I had ½ of the next chapter written, when I got stuck. If you want more it's time to help me out. Thanks for reading, love ya all.***