A/N: This chapter is pretty short, but I do like its content a lot - I hope you do too. The chapter title is obviously due to all the jumping around that goes on here.


III. Scenes and Snippets

"You're a murderer," Weasley commented. Draco didn't answer. "Aren't you." It was not a question. "Because that's what the Death Eater initiation is, isn't it?" he spat. "To kill a Muggle, or a – a Muggleborn wizard? Well?"

Draco wished Weasley would just learn when to shut his trap. "You forgot the torturing bit, Weasley," he replied flatly. "That's the whole point of it. Keep 'em alive as long as you can. Flies in a web."

"So who was it? Some unsuspecting Muggle, or a Muggleborn?"

Not who. What. "A Muggle. A woman."

"What was her name?" Hermione quietly inquired.

He knew what she was playing at. He wasn't about to fall victim to some ploy of hers.

"I didn't ask."


Draco found his attention drifting away from the little circle. They held no interest for him, anyway; they were his enemies, and he just wanted to be left alone. No more stupid questions and accusations. His gaze settled on the two men who had not moved from their seat on the curb: Lupin and Professor Snape. They were talking quietly; he wondered what was being said.


"I just think you ought to know... after all these years and everything... I really am sorry," Remus said. "For all that we put you through when we were kids."

"You should be," said Severus, his words like a dull knife.

"I am," he responded in earnest. "It's rather late to say it, I know. But you know I didn't encourage it then, either."

"A fine job you did of stopping it, Remus."

The greying man sighed. "I know. Not to make excuses, but I was afraid of losing my friends."

"Better me than you, of course," Severus said sarcastically. "Not having friends and all that."

"I never—"

"Besides," he continued, "you mean you were afraid of losing Black."

A ghost of a smile passed over Remus' face. "But it happened anyway."

For several minutes each man kept his own thoughts; then Remus spoke again.

"I expect Albus will finally give you the Defense Against the Dark Arts job."

Severus shook his head. "Even if he did, I don't think I'd take it. The only reason I wanted it was in preparation for this," he revealed, gesturing at the remnants of the battle, "and... to make up for things I've done in the past. Things I've regretted. But now that it's over... I don't need to anymore."


"The public has the right to know," Rita Skeeter pressed. "I've got to get my story."

"I agree with you, Ms. Skeeter," Dumbledore said cordially. "Wholly and completely. And the public will know in time. But you may not speak to Harry."

"Why not?" she said, trying to shove past him. "He can't hide forever, you know."

"He has been through a lot today," he said, laying a hand on her upper arm in a gentle gesture of warning. "He will not be seeing any reporters until he feels ready."

Rita craned her neck and looked over Dumbledore's shoulder. "Well, what about that blond boy? Isn't that Lucius Malfoy's son?"

Dumbledore met her eyes and spoke firmly, escorting her away from the scene. "All of my pupils have been through a lot today."


Review Responses

samhaincat: I think that yes, we will find out what happened to Narcissa... although I'm not quite sure yet myself. It's something I would like to bring into the story, though. There was a bit of nice Snape stuff in this chapter, so I hope you liked that. :)

Jhaylin: Well, I didn't really update soon like you wanted, but the fic is still alive! And Ron has only continued to be mean...

These two were cool and froody and reviewed the last chapter... you too can be cool and froody if you'll only review and let me know what you think of the story thus far!