Summary: "I know why you couldn't kill him." Malfoy stared, gasping for breath. "What?" She lowered her wand slightly. "You don't want to be one, but you have to." HBP SPOILERS--if you've read, you know who him is.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything. If I owned HBP, I would've NOT killed off Dumbledore. Humph. And I would write it in a week after HBP came out so everyone knows what happens.

A/N: Wow! I was SO happy to see tons of reviews. Honestly, I've never gotten this much attention from this many viewers in my past years of writing--even though this is a new account. I love you all, and thank you so much for giving this a chance. Also, I enjoyed reading everyone's insight on HBP, too. Response to my awesome reviewers are at the end of this chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as the first--I tried updating sooner, but I'm a slow updater just for you guys to know when I don't update for a while! I never get inspired that much, sadly enough. Haha.

Well, love you all.

Thanks!

Chapter One

The Capture of A Weasel

She studied his stony, impassive face carefully, fear flickering in his gray eyes, his wand hand shaking violently. Her anger slowly faded as pity slowly slithered into her heart. She loosened her grip slightly on her wand, watching his jaw set. "Aren't you going to kill me?" she managed, her voice echoing across the faint noises of battle. The green glow of the Dark Mark hovered above the abandoned shops of Diagon Alley, illuminating Malfoy's pale, pointed face with a ghostly glow.

"No. The Dark Lord wants you," he said sneering. "And I tricked the Order into coming here…he knew you would come too." He looked satisfied with himself.

Her heart skipped a beat. Why would Voldemort want her? She tried to hide the fear and panic spreading across her face, glancing down at her wand purposely. Every memory that scarred her first year at Hogwarts flooded back--the rooster feathers, the blood, and Tom emerging from the diary with the manic look on his handsome face. She shuddered involuntarily. "Of course," she murmured distractedly. "You couldn't kill me anyway." She paused. "I know why you couldn't kill him." Her eyes burned with tears at the thought of the ivory tomb, reflected on the lake's waters.

Malfoy stared, gasping for breath. "What?"

"You don't want to be one, but you have to," she said serenely. "You know what I'm talking about Malfoy. Being a Death Eater…a big, bad Death Eater." She knew she was right as soon as she looked into his eyes. "You never wanted to kill Dumbledore in the first place…and that's why Snape did it."

"No, it's because he wanted the credit!" Malfoy said angrily. "He wanted to steal my--"

"You are lying," she said calmly. She even surprised herself.

"Shut up, Weasley!" he snarled. "I don't have time for these stupid conversations--you're coming with me. Stu--"

"Protego!" She stumbled slightly as the red beam hurtled at her. He smirked.

"So, the Weasel can play?" He breathed heavily, his slightly, shaking hand gripping tightly around his wand. "Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!" Her wand flew slightly out of her fingertips, but she snatched it back quickly.

"Is that all you can do?" Malfoy sneered. "No wonder you're not in the Order yet. Cru--"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

With a sharp gasp, she fell forward onto the cobblestone road, her arms pinned to her sides. A foot kicked her body aside, rolling her over. Her horrified eyes stared up at the Death Eater, his gray eyes staring down maliciously behind his mask. Her heart pumped violently in her chest, fear evident in her brown eyes. "Draco," the Death Eater said silkily. She recognized the voice as Lucius Malfoy. Hatred surged through her as she glared furiously up at him. "Can't you even catch a Weasley? I'm starting to think the Dark Lord made a terrible choice."

Malfoy's face hardened slightly. "I was getting her until you--" He trailed off, irritation evident in his voice.

"The Dark Lord is waiting, Draco. He and I don't have time to listen to you constantly whining like a child," Lucius drawled. "He needs the girl." He ripped off his mask, smirking down at her unpleasantly.

"Hello, Weasley," he sneered, poking at her stiff body. She glared as he leaned down to pry her wand from her lifeless hands. "You won't need this anymore." He twirled it with his fingers, tossing it carelessly to his son. "Well, you'll be seeing someone familiar soon…I suspect you still remember your last visit. Hopefully, it will be much more pleasant last time. We thank you for your great help." His twisted smile never faded from his pointed face.

What did Malfoy mean? Why did Voldemort need her? The echoing beats of her heart filled in her ears. She silently hoped that the Order would rush to her side as Draco Malfoy pointed his wand at her easily, lifting her up into the air, following Lucius Malfoy as he hurried toward Knockturn Alley. Please, please, please. Save me. Save me. Save me. Panic flickered in her eyes as Lucius paused in the dark street, Apparating wordlessly with a loud crack. Malfoy lowered her carefully, grabbing her stiff arm. She rolled her eyes desperately back toward Diagon Alley, toward the battling Order in the distance.

"Nothing can save you now, Weasel," Malfoy muttered as he Apparated. She closed her eyes tightly, the strange sensation of her body parts compressing together tingling through her. She opened her eyes again, staring at the dark skies, realizing that her deepest fears since her first year had come true.

Draco gasped in pain, jerking from his sheets, gripping his left arm tightly as the searing flames licked his arm. He rolled up his pajama sleeves, staring down with dread at the ugly mark branded on his skin, the glowing skull sneering at him. He glanced at the glass window, the light navy skies glowing with a faint trace of sunlight. Dawn was quickly approaching. He glanced at his black robes, tossed in a careless pile on the floor, his mask and wand on his bedside table. Reluctantly, he picked up his mask and his wand, Summoning his tangle of robes toward him. He caught them quickly, slipping them onto his bare chest. He placed on the mask and tucked his wand carefully in his robe pocket, his hand shaking considerably. His heart raced as it always did before a Death Eater meeting.

The door creaked open, black robes whipping ominously as it revealed Lucius Malfoy, his gray eyes watching Draco coldly from behind his mask. "Today is an important day for you, Draco," he said silkily. "I'm glad you are ready on time…for once."

Draco stared. "May I ask why?" he said in a hard tone.

"Potter has found the last Horcrux," Lucius drawled. "Do not ask too many questions." His mark burned again, searing through his skin. Lucius stared pointedly at his son. "We must go. You've already wasted our time--the Dark Lord will be displeased if you were late."

Draco glanced at him, closing his eyes. His body parts compressed, the strange sensation flooding through him, his breathing irregular and ragged--he opened his eyes, staring at the dark circle of Death Eaters surrounding him.

"Ah, are they all here?" the shrill voice echoed. Draco shuddered involuntarily, staring up at the lightening skies before forcing his eyes to rest on the tall, thin figure of the Dark Lord, his blood red eyes gazing hungrily at his. He blocked his mind cautiously, adopting the methods of his Aunt Bellatrix.

"Potter's found the last Horcrux," the shrill voice continued. Murmurs ran through the circle. "I was quite displeased with Nott's frail efforts to collect information about Potter's plan to find the Horcrux." He rested his red eyes on Draco. "Surprisingly, Crabbe discovered a useful bit of information about a weakness of Potter's…somebody that he loves and cares for most…if we have that person, Potter would be more willing to cooperate with us about the Horcrux."

He paused, a nasty smirk spreading across his shallow, white face. "Ginny Weasley. I hoped to see her again…" He never lifted his eyes off Draco, burning holes through him. "The Weasley girl needs to be captured…and I think Draco would be a perfect man for it."

Draco's hand shook violently. "If he should fail…" He lifted his gaze, staring at Lucius. "…he shall pay with his life…and his family." The Dark Lord smirked amusedly, twirling his wand in his pale, skeletal hand.

"If he should fail, Snape shall capture the girl. He was quite able to take over for Draco when he killed that Muggle-loving fool, Dumbledore." His manic eyes gleamed.

An incredible, heavy guilt weighed in the pits of his stomach at the thought of the wizened man falling off the tower, the green jet hitting him squarely in his chest. You are not a killer. "I'm sorry, my Lord," Draco murmured. "I will succeed this time."

"I should hope so," the Dark Lord said.

"You must find a way to…rattle…the Order. My sources have informed me that the Weasleys live in the Order's headquarters…which we cannot penetrate. Their Secret-Keeper was Dumbledore…and he's dead, isn't he?" Satisfaction spread across his snake-like face.

"Remember the consequences should you fail, Draco. Perhaps, I should give you a taste of what it feels?" He twirled his wand in his hand.

"No, my Lord," he muttered.

"Good," Voldemort said. "Perhaps, I should let you go and think of your options. As long as the Ginny girl is here by tomorrow evening, you will be rewarded greatly. You are dismissed, Draco."

Draco did not dare release his relieved sigh, closing his eyes, the picture of his manor floating through his head. He opened them again, staring at his room, rays of sunlight falling through the window now.

"If he should fail, he shall pay with his life…and his family." The cold words rang in his mind. Slightly overwhelmed, he sat down on his bed, mulling over his plan. It was simple enough; lure the Order with a Dark Mark, wreak havoc upon the place, feign a few deaths or two, and corner Ginny Weasley. He vividly recalled her nasty Bat-Bogey Hex, wincing slightly at the challenge the Dark Lord handed him on a platter. "If he should fail, he shall pay with his life…and his family."

He sighed. Somehow, he would capture Ginny Weasley.

"Diagon Alley," he murmured softly. He would lure them to Diagon Alley and burn a few shops.

"It should be easy enough," he said smirking. "Ginny Weasley will be in our hands by this evening…and I will be rewarded greater than Snape."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. At least, he didn't have to watch another person fall to their death with their glazed eyes and surprised expressions illuminated by the green glow he'd grown accustomed to.

"A simple plan, Draco," Lucius said smirking. "But…the Order can't help but be noble as they always are. It's their weakness. The fools."

"Yes, father," Draco said attempting an identical smirk. "Burn a few shops, kill a few, and put a Dark Mark, and they will come."

"And should the girl not come?" Lucius said softly, twirling his wand in his hand, his eyes filled with glee at the thought of killing.

"She will. I've seen her at school--she's determined to be in everything…she's like that Sirius Black--he can't be kept caged forever. He has to be noble like Gryffindors. More like cowards and fools. Of course, we outsmart them to their deaths," he sneered, staring at his wand sickeningly, feigning enthusiasm.

"It's about time, isn't it?" Lucius said glancing at the grandfather cloak.

"Yes." Draco felt sick as he pulled on his mask, his father following the suit. They Apparated quickly to Diagon Alley. The dark skies hung above them, still, Diagon Alley practically abandoned--ever since the war, rarely any wizards appeared, lest they risk meeting a Death Eater. He raised his wand as his father watched him expectantly, his hand shaking violently. His heart pumped quickly. He forced the words through his mouth as they stuck stubbornly to his tongue. "Flagrate!" he muttered, pointing at Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor. Flames erupted from the tip of his wand. He watched as the flames ate at the parlor, erupting into a large blaze, the red flames illuminating their faces as the handful of Death Eaters watched gleefully. He never liked this part. Screams ripped through the air. He whipped around, staring at the helpless store owners as the Death Eaters grabbed them from their shops, throwing them onto the cobblestone road. "Crucio!" The echoing screams of pain pierced the air. Draco's stomach churned nastily.

"We're not here to torture them," he managed in a sneer. "They're a waste of time. You're wasting time and energy on them while you should be on the Order. Crabbe…it's time." Crabbe's thick body acknowledged his words, while the Death Eaters muttered under their breaths as they kicked aside the writhing people on the ground roughly. The Dark Mark hung over the burning parlor, a green, ghastly skull amid the velvet sky.

It only took a few minutes before the Order arrived. Until then, the Death Eaters set aflame the shops, while Draco watched in horror as Diagon Alley erupted into a blaze, crumbling before them.

"Stupefy!" a shout cried. He turned around, staring at the joining Order, relieved at the sight of a few redheads in the crowd as they immediately dueled with the Death Eaters. Draco easily slipped through the dueling wizards and witches, staring fixedly on a redhead with long, tumbling hair, her freckled face angry in the illuminating flames, far from the main battling. She easily Stunned Crabbe, wrapping thin ropes around him with her wand. He marched purposely toward her.

"Stupefy!" he yelled, finally making his presence known.

The red light missed her narrowly as she glared at him with pure hatred on her face. He impatiently ripped off the overbearing mask, tossing it on the ground. Her hatred flickered slightly with a mixture of pity as she stared at him disgustedly. "Malfoy," she growled. His hand shook violently. He stared stonily at her, setting his jaw. He had a job to do. He pointed his wand at her.

"Aren't you going to kill me?" she asked calmly. Admiration flooded through him as she noted her strange calmness at the situation.

"No. The Dark Lord wants you," he mustered with a sneer. "And I tricked the Order into coming here…he knew you would come too." Pride flooded through him as he thought of how the Dark Lord would be pleased--and he and his family wouldn't die because of him. He detected the flitting fear across her face. He pitied her; he was quite aware of her experience with the Dark Lord in her first year through the diary his father slipped her.

"Of course," she muttered distractedly. "You couldn't kill me anyway." She paused. Anger flooded through him. What did Weasley mean? "I know why you couldn't kill him."

He immediately froze, stiffening. Dumbledore's frail body flying off the tower…You are not a killer. The same anger he felt when Dumbledore uttered those words came again as he stared coldly at Ginny Weasley. "What?" His ragged breaths pierced the silence between them.

"You don't want to be one, but you have to. You know what I'm talking about Malfoy. Being a Death Eater…a big, bad Death Eater." He knew she was right, but his anger never faltered as a smirk flickered across her face as she stared into his eyes intensely. "You never wanted to kill Dumbledore in the first place…and that's why Snape did it."

He immediately felt a burst of fury erupt in him. "No, it's because he wanted the credit!" He knew he sounded like a child, but he didn't care. "He wanted to steal my--"

"You are lying." How dare she! His temper was released.

"Shut up, Weasley! I don't have time for these stupid conversations--you're coming with me. Stu--"

"Protego!" She stumbled slightly as the red beam hurtled at her. He smirked.

"So, the Weasel can play?" He breathed heavily, his slightly, shaking hand gripping tightly around his wand. "Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!" Her wand flew slightly out of her fingertips, but she snatched it back quickly.

"Is that all you can do?" he sneered. "No wonder you're not in the Order yet. Cru--"

"Petrificus Totalus!" He recognized the voice immediately as his father's. He cursed him for interrupting him.

With a sharp gasp, she fell forward onto the cobblestone road, her arms pinned to her sides. A foot kicked her body aside, rolling her over. Her horrified eyes stared up at Lucius, his gray eyes staring down maliciously behind his mask. "Draco," the Death Eater said silkily. "Can't you even catch a Weasley? I'm starting to think the Dark Lord made a terrible choice."

Malfoy's face hardened slightly. "I was getting her until you--" He trailed off, irritation evident in his voice.

"The Dark Lord is waiting, Draco. He and I don't have time to listen to you constantly whining like a child," Lucius drawled. "He needs the girl." He ripped off his mask, smirking down at her unpleasantly.

"Hello, Weasley," he sneered, poking at her stiff body. She glared as he leaned down to pry her wand from her lifeless hands. "You won't need this anymore." He twirled it with his fingers, tossing it carelessly to his son. "Well, you'll be seeing someone familiar soon…I suspect you still remember your last visit. Hopefully, it will be much more pleasant last time. We thank you for your great help." His twisted smile never faded from his pointed face.

Panic flickered in her eyes as Lucius paused in the dark street, Apparating wordlessly with a loud crack. Draco lowered her carefully, grabbing her stiff arm. She rolled her eyes desperately back toward Diagon Alley, toward the battling Order in the distance. He pitifully stared down at her before resuming a nasty smirk.

"Nothing can save you now, Weasel," Malfoy muttered as he Apparated.

"Excellent, Draco," the high-pitched voice acknowledged as he stared into his red blood eyes filled with hunger.

A/N: Special thanks to:

noisy lil brat -- Great minds think alike! I hope you find a great idea for a HBP story! Tons of people have finished it--I've read tons of fics already about Dumbledore's death. Sniff.

Neva13 -- Thanks a lot! Yup, you're definitely not the only one--tons of people have finished the book. It was just to good to put down! And OMG, that would be a good idea for a one-shot but I'm making it into a story. But wow…I should've done a one-shot on Draco's POV. And I'm really sad too about Dumbledore's death. You're really not the only one. I couldn't help but feel depressed after reading it…silly of me actually.

Naruke -- Thanks a lot! I'm glad you think it's good. D/G and G/D is the same thing, sorry for confusing you! I tend to ramble on a bit. Draco/Ginny. The same thing…I hope you like the coupling.

nycegurl -- I had a sneaking suspicion that Dumbledore would die after I went on Mugglenet and read an article in which they said mentioned the person rumored to die. I read it over and over and the only name I found was Dumbledore. Thanks a lot!

Bambiky -- Thanks a lot! I read fics the next day after I finished--I was still depressed about Dumbledore. Haha, silly, yes, I know.

SummerRainForever -- I love all those couplings and HBP! Well, thanks a lot for reviewing! I appreciate it.

Deadwilder -- Well, thanks for putting your insight on Draco. Yeah, I thought it was weird for him to go crying to Mrytle? But I thought it was nice to see the nice side of him so I could try to make a G/D fic! Haha, I can't help it, I just love the pairing even though Draco can be the biggest asshole. But I never expected him to be the hero…Harry will always be hero!

duj -- YES! I love it, I love it--the big, long, insightful opinions about HBP. I loved reading it. I think that Dumbledore made Snape kill him too. It wasn't like him to beg for his life? No, I think he was begging Snape to end his life. Very good ideas. AND this RAB person…you have the same idea as me! I was really excited to see that. At first, I was thinking of someone with a last name with a B. Then I thought of Black and Regulus! It just made sense if you thought about the note, don't you think? I found someone else with the same thought, too. Yeah, I thought about the portrait, too, but since Harry probably won't be returning to Hogwarts, when is he ever going to see the portrait again? I hope he does visit when it's all over though. I thought the romance vengeances was a little over the top…why don't they just ask each other out? It's not that hard…and I got sick of Lavender and Ron. Hermione Confunding McClaggen was unusual of her--she rarely does things like that, but I guess the other Hermione is coming out. I think Harry just doesn't see the other side as he IS a teenager, and he already hated Snape. It's just logical for him to assume it was b/c Snape was betraying Dumbledore. But I think otherwise, but I still won't side with either of them. I'm just sad Dumbledore died. Now, that should be a long, very jumbled reply to your very well-constructed review! Thanks for reading!

Leader Myr -- Wow. That's a cool idea. I like creativity. You never know. But I don't think Dumbledore would want to live on, would you? He just seems like he's ready to accept death and not live it through something else…I guess that's one of the differences between Voldemort and him. Nice idea, and thanks for reviewing!

heartsyhawk -- Sorry! I ramble on WAYY too much, don't I? It's Ginny/Draco. I was talking about how I converted. Haha. Yup, that other side of him is nice…I hope he'll be good in the end! Maybe he and Harry can work together in the end. Who knows? But I have a feeling he has more to do in the book.

Otaku Sae -- Draco doesn't die. Haha. Knowing impatient me, I might as well skipped to the back but I decided to just take it by surprise. I had a nagging feeling he WOULD die thanks to some sources on Mugglenet. Otherwise, it would've been COMPLETELY unexpected. Well, H/G isn't too bad but I guess D/G won't make its way to the real book. But that's what fan fiction is for like you said…right? Haha. Thanks for reviewing!

Estel-Elf-Lover --YEA! I got a Hermione/Dracoer! Haha. Well, thanks a lot! That means a ton to me since you don't like D/G very much.

lovely ravenclaw -- It's not naïve. I thought he couldn't die either. He's like…immortal to me…but still, we got his portrait! Haha. Thanks for reviewing!

A Silver Secret -- Thanks! You'll find out more in the plot. I'm very impatient when it comes to things so I might rush in a bit. If I do, tell me! Yup, Draco's fate is definitely in JK's hands and my fictional Draco is in mine. Haha.

Wizzabee -- Well, nothing stops me from D/G fics! Hehe. Well, I feel the same way. I would die without any stories to read about them. So far, it's neutral in my story, but it'll get better later. I HOPE I can stick with this fic since I'm known to go from fic to fic. crosses fingers

Arch Butterfly -- Thanks for all the insight! I love reading it! Hehe. I thought Tonks/Lupin DEFINITELY sounds like JK read some fan fiction. I'm rather neutral to the couple but…maybe it's relevant to the plot later on (I doubt it). I think Dumbledore's death WAS probably necessary. Harry will have to do it alone in the end…I loved Hogwarts too. Oh well, too bad. Maybe Harry will go back to talk to Dumbledore's portrait, which is what I'm hoping. I want to see more of Dumbledore, even though it's just an imprint of him in a portrait. But still… Well, thanks for reviewing! Well, you'll know most of the plot by now b/c I'm very impatient. Very. So if I rush into things, tell me!

Starrynight12312 -- I know, I am very depressed about Dumbledore. I was so sad for the two days since I read it and then I slowly got over it. Yay! I was the first fanfic since you finished! I am definitely honored. Well, here's an update and thanks for reviewing.

Minchi -- Haha, there's TONS of ppl done with the 6th book, trust me! Haha, it's not a bad thing, I really couldn't put it down. Thanks a lot for the review!

FrogsofChocolate -- Thanks for the tip! I completely forgot about that! Haha. I just made a new account so…well, I'm glad you like it! I love GD but I guess it's only in fan fiction and not in the book. Oh well! Thanks for reviewing!

Wow…now I'm kinda tired…but I did reply to every one of you--and some of it might not make sense b/c I tend to just jumble things together…so it's not well-thought and flows easily. It's just all the things I'm thinking of at the moment written down. Haha. Well, thanks a LOT. I really was SUPER excited about all the responses and thanks to all those who gave their opinions and insight of the book. I enjoyed reading them a lot!

I guess there's only one thing left to do…HINT HINT. Review!

And…to warn you, I tend to be impatient and rush things so I went straight into the plot. Haha. Well, at least, some of it. I don't know what I'm really talking about right now…so I'll just go to sleep! Heh.

Love ya!