Part Three:

Author Note: I've been watching Blackadder and Monty Python while I was ill so this chapter does have some references and quotes from the shows, as you've probably guessed this is me saying they're not mine. Also, I'm from the UK, so some of my spelling will be different from American spelling. Big thank you to Erin, for betaing this chapter, hope you feel better soon! Also hugs to all my faithful reviewers for the wonderful encouragement you have been giving me!

Warning: Rated R, Mention of self-harm in this chapter, if you can't deal don't read.

Hope you'll enjoy this installment and please remember to review.

Hogwarts Express

Draco Malfoy smiled and boasted with awe-inspiring ease about his future service with Voldemort. His confidence and bravado was his armor, the more he could repeat the lie the more he could believe it, or at the very least sell it convincingly to his housemates. He knew one or more of them would be reporting back to the Dark Lord. Pansy, Blaise and the others all seemed suitably impressed. Inwardly he let out a sigh of relief. He couldn't let anyone see that he really didn't want to be doing this, the danger was too great that one of his 'friends' had been sent to spy on him. Thankfully he was a much better actor than he was Quidditch player and they all seemed to have accepted his story. A sick cold feeling had lodged itself in his stomach weeks ago when he and his mother had been forced before the Dark Lord.

Voldemort's anger at Lucius messing up the whole Ministry escapade had been of terrifying proportions. He and his mother had both been whipped and crucio'd to within an inch of their lives. Then he had been given his death sentence, one that would be long, drawn out and painful. Kill Dumbledore.

There was no way he could possibly do this, but he had no choice, he had to try, otherwise his mother would be raped and killed and Merlin knows what other tortures might be heaped upon her before it ended, he too would suffer that same fate. Hearing a noise as Goyle's trunk struck something on the way down, he held back from leaving the carriage. Closing the blind's he pretended to fiddle with his trunk, then cast a quick Petrificus Totalus. A body crashed to the floor. Potter, he should have known it was that snooping little bastard. All the anger and rage from the past agonizing month roared to life inside Draco's skin.

Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the hero, only he wasn't was he, he was just some kid that escaped the fate that many had succumbed to. What was the point of hero's that couldn't save you? Voldemort had survived and returned and there was nothing anyone could do. His power was more terrible than it had ever been and the dark wizard was also completely insane. Potter hadn't stopped him as a baby, hadn't stopped him when he had used the boy who lived's own blood to resurrect himself, hadn't stopped him from entering his mind and luring everyone to the DoM.

The one person in the whole world, on whom he could place all the blame for all that had happened, was now lying at his feet, completely at his mercy. Unable to resist the urge to make him suffer, he brought his foot down hard onto Harry's face.

"That's for my Father." He told the other boy bitterly, as he watched the blood pool around Harry's face. All of sudden, it all vanished, all the anger, hate and resentment just up and vacated his heart. The boy on the floor was as helpless to stop it all as he himself was. Harry Potter was just a kid. At a complete loss and feeling a little guilty at his outburst, after all a Malfoy never loses control, that would be insufferably common, he began to panic and tossed Potter's cloak over him and made his way quickly to the carriages a deep feeling of self loathing settling deep within his soul.

Hogwarts : Hermione

Harry had arrived at the feast late, covered in blood. Hermione was quick to find out what had happened, the way he had brushed it off made her nervous. Not just that, but he had bumped into Severus, what on earth could have happened? When Dumbledore finally stood up to make his start of term announcement she looked towards him and saw his hand again, it looked much worse than the last time she had seen him and wondered if the healing cream was working at all. Remembering that she wasn't even meant to know about it, she quickly asked what they all would have expected. Harry gave a brief response.

"His hand was like that over the summer," he whispered, "I thought he'd have cured it by now, or Pomfrey would have."

Hermione sucked in a silent breath and tried her best to subtly prepare Harry for what she thought was the most likely thing after having seen it up close and personal herself.

"It looks as if it's died, but there are some injuries you can't cure, old curses and there are poisons without antidotes." Unfortunately Harry wasn't listening properly; she managed to contain a huff of annoyance and briefly glanced up at the staff table again, to where Severus was sitting. His dark hair covered his face so well she couldn't read his expression.

After a moment he returned her look. For the first time in her life Hermione suddenly understood what people meant when they said time stood still. His eyes seemed to look straight into her soul as she saw his. He was distraught, in pain, so much pain it was difficult for her to breathe. Her fingers bit into the wood of her seat, restraining herself from the sudden urge to run and fling her arms around him. Then it changed to anger, there was anger at life and at her and at him, and she couldn't understand the maelstrom of hurt and resentment in the deepest depth of the inky darkness of his eyes. It was as though he were trying to tell her something important. Again his expression changed to one of defeat and this time the meaning was clear, he was sorry. Time started again when the headmaster announced that Severus would be teaching the DADA class. He broke their connection and the world snapped back into focus. Still without looking up he lifted his hand in resigned acknowledgment, a wry smile gracing his bloodless lips.

Hermione was in turmoil, of course she had known it was going to happen, but still it came as a shock, especially in the aftermath of their exchange. There was something else much deeper going on here; she knew now too what had caused such feelings. Finally the conversation around her started to filter in again.

"The job's jinxed," Harry was saying, "No one's lasted more than a year. Quirrell actually died doing it. Personally I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death…"

Hermione's head snapped up at that and before she could stop herself she snapped at him. "HARRY!" Biting her lip between her teeth she tried very hard to say nothing more. How could he talk like that about Severus? He knew he was on their side, it was so horrible to wish anyone to die, but to wish a man who had saved their lives more than once, who was putting himself through hell to help the order, made Hermione want to lean across the table and pound his head against the hard surface until some sense was knocked into him. However in this instance diplomacy won out, after all it was the art of saying 'nice doggy', until you found a suitable rock. Right now there wasn't a rock hard enough to crack his ever, thickening skull.

The Dungeons

Crookshanks was glad to be home. The darkest parts of the dungeons were a good place to find fast food. In this case not fast enough, the remains of a mouse were neatly folded into a little package, tail on top, in front of the great ginger beast as he licked his paws, cleaning the blood and gore from his fur. Purring contentedly he made his way to the Dark one's lair to bring him an offering.

To the half kneazle's mind the two legs should be happy and full of pride at the example of the hunting it was doing to keep the territory pest free. Crookshanks knew he was being followed and he was becoming annoyed. It was the female cat that smelled like moldering chicken liver that was stalking him. A fleeting image of that one's skin neatly folded tail on top was tempting, but right now he was on a mission. It was time to spy on his mistress's dark one.

Severus slumped in his chair by the fire, a glass of amber liquid clutched in his hand. She had looked at him tonight, those warm honey eyes boring into his soul. There had been a faint smile on her lips at first, shy and friendly. But then it had changed and he could feel what she was feeling, for his pain, there was compassion, for his anger, soothing comfort, for his self-hatred there had been denial and reassurance. How could such a young girl begin to comprehend and understand him so well?

He knew what he was going to have to do now, or rather knew what he couldn't do. He couldn't kill Dumbledore, so he must try and make sure that Draco didn't succeed, had to make it look as though he was going to do it himself, then he would die once Albus was safe. It was that simple. He didn't mind dying, it would certainly put an end to his suffering, but it also meant that the prophecy wouldn't come true. How could he protect and care for the person destined to love him and he loved in return, if he were dead? The worst of it was he knew he had to talk to his mentor. There were things he had not wanted to know before, regarding his suspicions, but now he thought he should at least know the truth. He sighed and then glared at the fur ball curled tightly on his hearthrug. Hermione's familiar had, over the last year, been a regular visitor, somehow he just couldn't get rid of the damn cat. But there was something about the giant red monster that offered at least a little comfort, and strangely enough it seemed to understand what he said to him.

"Stupidity got me into this mess, why can't it get me out?"

Stretching and clawing the rug, while curving and arching his back, Crookshanks offered a questioning meow, and then from nowhere in particular he produced a neatly folded hunk of skin and tail and dropped it by the dark one's feet with a satisfied purr.

Severus shook his head at the present and reached out to scratch under the half kneazle's chin with strong pale fingers. "If only life could be so easy, boy, I'd give you smoked salmon and cream for the rest of your life if you could do that to a certain Dark Lord."

Crookshanks purred in agreement, then settled himself in the Dark one's lap. His mistresses future mate had finally taken the hint that he wasn't getting rid of the half kneazel and had given in to the affection Crooks was magnanimous enough to bestow on him.

The Tower of the Hand... umm, Headmasters Office.

Albus sipped his lemon tea quietly, observing the young man in front of him. His shoulders were drawn up tensely, but the only other thing which gave him away were his eyes, for once the black pools were sparking with impatience and dread instead of the usual still calmness. He knew why Severus had come to him tonight, he brought the news of who Draco's target would be and of course, he now wanted to know if Miss Granger had been the child of the prophecy.

Severus sat in the wingback chair, ramrod straight, resisting the incessant urge to get up and start pacing. They both knew that what he was about to say would be difficult, but there was no other way around it. One of them had to speak soon. The silence in the air was thick enough to cut with a meat cleaver.

Albus took pity on him and started first. "I take it Tom's orders were to do away with me then?" He stated more than asked. A short sharp nod was the only response from the dark Slytherin. He had, as he always did in times of strong emotion, hid behind his hair.

"Come now my boy, it isn't as bad as all that, I've lived a long life and your killing me will solidify your position within the inner circle."

Severus stood up outraged, "What?" He roared.

"Settle down Severus," Dumbledore said steadily, "hear me out, this is important. We still have not found a way to remove the ring, my life is at its end, you are still young and in a better position to help in this war than I. You must do the deed. I don't want young Malfoy dragged into this, I promised Lucius I would protect his son, which is what I am doing. That young man should not become a killer." Severus eyed him bitterly, Draco it seemed was to be spared the title of murderer but he apparently did not rate such a boon. Still, he kept his seat and his silence until the daft old fool had finished.

"We can turn this whole situation into a rather cunning plan. One, which will benefit us all. If you kill me Severus, Voldemort will be unquestioning about your loyalty. The information you will be privy to after that will save hundreds of lives. I am ordering you to do this Severus."

Snape shook his head in disbelief. "What do you mean you promised Lucius?" He asked first, not sure he really wanted to know the answer.

"Lucius has been a spy these past seventeen years, just as you have Severus. He joined Voldemort in order to bring him down. When Tom Riddle went to the Malfoy's looking for pure-blood support, they turned him away because of his half-blood status. They told him that he was little better than filth and that a Malfoy bows to no one. Five years later, when Lucius was ten years old, Voldemort had his parents murdered. Somehow he discovered this and vowed revenge. Right now Lucius is on a mission for me, having been left to rot in Azkaban has provided an excellent cover. I have promised to protect his family in his absence. I have been busy this week organizing safe passage out of Britain for them at the right time and will need to get a safe house prepared for them."

Severus seemed to absorb the news with nary a flicker of emotion. Then he looked Albus in the eye and told him exactly what he thought of the plan.

"This is beyond ridiculous, you can't make me do this, I won't do it! It is much better to lose me than you, the Order will be helpless with you dead and no one will ever believe I'm not a traitor, getting them any information will be impossible if they're going to curse first and ask questions later. Cunning plan? You wouldn't recognize a cunning plan if it painted itself purple and danced naked on top of a harpsichord singing 'Cunning plans are here again'. I'd like it noted that this is the single most idiotic idea you've come up with to date. I will not KILL YOU!"

"Enough Severus!" Albus thundered. "We speak no more on this subject. You will try and find out how Draco hopes to accomplish this task and stall his progress if at all possible. I will want to wait until the time is right for my death. As for the Order, I will think of something to ensure any information you will acquire can be passed on."

"Albus…"

"No Severus, what would be the use of both of us dying? With both of us dead, there truly will be no way to beat Voldemort. Now, I believe you came for a second reason."

Severus was pacing now, grief and anger warring with each other. Plunging his hand threw his black silky hair he looked at his mentor again.

"I find I have inappropriate feelings towards a student, I need to know the truth about my connection to Miss Granger."

Dumbledore nodded then motioned him over.

"Sit down Severus, I will tell you what you want to know." Reluctantly Severus retook his seat and clasped his hands under his chin.

"Six years ago you came to me with the identity of the girl who was part of your sister's prophecy. We knew the Dark Lord was returning so you asked not to have any knowledge of her in case he should break into your mind. If you feel you are in a sufficiently safe position to hold these memories again I will unlock them." Dumbledore imparted gently.

The nod Severus gave him was short and clipped. "His mind is not as strong as it once was, and I find that in the intervening years my own occlumency skills have increased dramatically. He would not be able to see anything."

"Good, now I want you to let me into your mind my boy, let down your shields and I'll give you back your memories."

Gryffindor Tower

Dear Diary,

Since returning to school so much has been going on that I'm really not sure where to start. Our first classes were very informative. Slughorn is an interesting teacher, but it's not the same, I'm not really getting much of a challenge even if I am earning house points. Harry found a book in potions class that I feel a little uneasy about. On the one hand it's full of inventive ideas, but it's still cheating in a sense. Whoever wrote in the potions book had obviously been brilliant with them and had researched better ways of producing the potions in the book. I love to learn, but I'd rather find out how to make them work on my own, not copy someone else's work.

Sometimes I wonder about Harry's morals, he's a good person, but from what I know of his home life, it's not exactly one that nurtured him or gave him good examples to live by. Harry and Ron have both been rather snide over it and accused my objections of being jealousy. It's at times like this I feel the extra weight of my age. Jealousy over such a thing is stupid, what I'm really concerned about is what it A) says about Harry's character and B) who the Half-Blood Prince really is.

Severus's DADA class was amazing; he was so passionate about the subject although I could tell he was still unhappy about taking it. It was as though through his words he was trying to show us the lure of the dark arts is seductive. I've read about non-verbal spells before and I think that in a way it's very like occlumency. When I managed to clear my mind and focus using the exercises the Headmaster showed me the year before I managed to create a shield spell quiet well. Severus sneered at me them when he swept past I felt his hand touch my shoulder in approval. He can't give me points but I know he was proud of my quick uptake on the non-verbal spells.

I think at one point Severus was trying to convey to Harry that he had to have control, of course Harry didn't see it like that, his complete inability to read between the lines made him focus on what Severus was actually saying instead of what he was implying. When Severus went to show them how to throw a non-verbal spell, Harry blasted him off his feet before he even had a chance to demonstrate. Being angry with Harry always gets me nowhere so as much as I loathe it I tried the gentle understanding approach.

When I told him that he and Snape actually sounded the same in how they talked about facing evil, he was too busy puffing his chest out that I had memorized his words that he didn't really get the message, maybe the angry approach does work better, at least he manages to listen then.

I don't know what to do about Ron, I really like him and for a while I thought I might feelings for him, but all that changed the moment I found out he was my cousin. Then there is the matter of my waking to find Severus kissing me. No matter how brief the kiss may have been it told me some important things about myself. I'm attracted to him, and I like him as a friend, there is a connection between us that I can't quite define. It made me realise that I never was attracted to Ron, he is only a friend.

After my talk with Professor Dumbledore things that had been nagging at me finally started to make sense. Somehow Severus and I are entwined by fate, a short prophecy. A prophecy that in the grand scheme of things seems to be almost an aside, I have no truly great role in things to come, but it seems I am instead a catalyst for change, one that could be pivotal in helping others do what they have to do to allow the light side to triumph over Voldemort. Taking the prophecy as a whole it describes my time and day of birth that I will be strong in light magic, that I am destined to be a guiding light and a giver of hope. That this role I have will make a difference to the outcome of the war through how I help others, Severus being the focal point of this. As much as I hate divination it really is fascinating, the mechanics of prophecy are explained more thoroughly in the Cassandra Codex which I found in the depths of the restricted section. Lady Prince with the knowledge of her death imminent used a magical biological imperative to hold on until the subject she would leave her last vision to was able to hear. In order to give the final prophecy she would have drained her entire magical core and then burned up a part of her very soul to fuel the seeing. It would have thrown her third eye wide open to thousands of possible futures allowing her to craft exactly the right words to push the recipient into self fulfillment for the best possible outcome. She must have loved him very much to give a part of her soul up to do it. It chills me though, the line that infers I was made for him, it could mean anything from soulmates to a deliberate manipulation through prophecy to bring about my birth, who knows what Severus had done once he became a spy, his words or actions could easily have had a direct effect on my parents making my very existence possible. Perhaps in another timeline Gideon and Dorcas never married or never had a child before they died, perhaps I was born to different parents in another time and place. But the future is ever moving, fluid and shapeable, it is not written in stone, it is unknowable, only seen through shadows and possibilities. Professor Dumbledore was rather annoyed with me when he found the Codex and told me that some knowledge was too dangerous to leave lying around even in books, I haven't seen the book since.

Slughorn's party is soon, I think I'll ask Cormac to come with me; I think it will suitably annoy Ron. He and Lavender Brown have started dating and he has taken every chance to make sure everyone noticed. I have found myself to be thoroughly vexed with this behaviour. I worry about him sometimes, he has a strong need to be admired, but I suppose he's always been compared to and eventually began to compare himself to his older brothers. Unfortunately this has lead to a deep seated root of self doubt and low self esteem. Each of my cousins is brilliant in their own way. Bill's Gringott's top curse breaker, he has an affinity for wards and can detect the intent of magic just from being near it, such an instinctive talent had meant he has excelled in his field and made a very good name for himself. Charlie's dragon handling job sounds amazing on the surface and I'm almost certain he does handle dragons but I have learned from the Professor that he is actually an unspeakable for the DoM which is how the order managed to get their own guards posted in the Hall of Prophecy. Percy is smart, far smarter than he acts, I've always thought there was something not right though with his job. The twins well, they are absolute geniuses with potions, charms and transfiguration but their biggest strength lies in the fact that they are natural born spell crafters. Add all of that up with Ginny being the first female Weasely to be born into the family in 300 years and Ron has a right to feel at least a little behind, but it's his own self pity that often gets in his way, he doesn't try because he thinks it won't make a difference in the long run so why bother. I'm sure that with a little more time and maybe the right circumstances that he will have a moment of clarity that allows him to reconcile himself to it and stop wishing to be like his brothers, that he will stand up and be his own man.

Slughorn's Yule Party.

The party was in full swing by the time Severus got there. The garish red light was starting to give him a headache. Surprisingly the dungeon office was oppressively warm from the heat of the many bodies crammed into the magically enlarged room. Mistletoe was hung abundantly and in darkened corners, the place looked like a brothel. Slughorn was being his usual sycophantic self, sliming all over the more important guests.

Lurking in a particularly dark corner, completely concealed as he melted into the shadows, he watched as Hermione's date, tried to drag her under some nearby mistletoe. The Gryffindor girl was trying to pull out of his hold and eventually brought her heel down discreetly on the idiot's instep. The oaf let her go abruptly and propelled by her momentum she barreled right into his corner and into his arms.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she said looking up into the dark eyes of her professor. "Professor Snape, I didn't think you'd be here?" She said, although true to form it came out as more of a question.

"More questions Miss Granger? I thought we had agreed to a limited number per day?"

She smiled slightly and a faint pink stain on her cheeks, barely visible in the light.

"Sorry Professor, you gave me a bit of a fright, I didn't see you standing here."

"It's quiet all right, as to why I'm here, I felt it was prudent to keep an eye on some of the guests." It was at this point he realized that they were still standing in the same position as when he had caught her, his hands cupping her elbows, their robes brushing against each other.

At the same time he realized this so to did Hermione, reluctantly she thought she should probably step back and straighten her robes, but it felt so right, as though they were caught in a little bubble and nothing else could get in. She could feel the warmth of his hands through her robes and felt an inexplicable urge to step closer instead; to press her body against his and place her arms around his neck.

Awkwardly they drew away from each other.

"I take it then that you were not responsive to Mr. McLaggen's charms?" He asked somewhat sardonically.

Hermione smiled wryly. "No, the idiot's world revolves solely around himself, he couldn't seem to comprehend that I was rejecting his advances."

"Yes, I remember his father, an intolerable twit, and I believe his mother was little better. The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard." He said rather nastily, glaring in the direction of her date.

Hermione let out a choked laugh, if people could see past his cold exterior and appreciate his wit and sarcasm he'd be much more popular. Just then Cormac came in search of her. Giving an apologetic smile to Severus, she stepped out of the shadows, relieved that the other Gryffindor had not spotted the Slytherin Head of House.

"There you are, did you miss me?" He asked, trying to be adorable, but only succeeded in making her think that Malfoy's rather unsettling charm would have been preferable. Honestly, the guy was practically stalking her now. If anyone deserved the title of greasy git it should be him.

"How can I miss you if you won't go away?" She said sharply then stalked off when she spotted Harry and Luna.

Severus watched her from the shadows again; a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he enjoyed the entertainment of the eloquent put down she had laid on the McLaggen boy.

A mocking voice in his head reminded him that in no time at all, the young woman he had held would be looking at him with disgust and hate. There was no way that she would ever forgive him for what he was being made to do. Since Albus had returned his memories to him, he saw quite clearly what she meant to him. But what disturbed him the most was whether the feeling he had for her were a natural result or if they were being controlled or even manifested by the prophecy. Either way there was little likelihood of her ever loving him now. Better to try and create a distance between them than become involved anymore, it would hurt her more if she came to love him before he fulfilled the Unbreakable vow.

With despair in his heart he resolved to put the barriers up between them, he would protect her as he could by making her hate him again. After he managed to escape this hell he would get out that bottle of Old Ogden's 107, and get rat arsed drunk while waving goodbye to the dream he had just begun to believe might come true.

Hogsmeade: Hogs Head Inn

Albus Dumbledore strode along the upper corridor of his bothers pub with purpose ringing on each click of the heels on his silver buckled shoes. Narcissa Malfoy stood as he entered the small drawing room of the suite. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the lamplight and wide blue eyes watched him coldly with suspicion.

"My dear Cissa, how are you?"

"Just fine Uncle, what can I do for you?" A little known fact about Narcissa's mother was that she was the sister of one of Dumbledore's son's wife.

He eyed her shrewdly and decided that if he wanted this to go smoothly, he would be best off appealing to her Ravenclaw intelligence instead of using Slytherin cunning. Manipulating a Black was always a bad idea; they tended to respond with extreme aggression.

"I'll be frank with you Cissa, there are certain things that have been kept from you for a very long time, and it is time now to ensure you know the truth. Lucius hasn't been completely truthful with you about his involvement with Voldemort."

Narcissa flinched at the name but indicated that he should take a seat. "Alright, I'm listening." She said reluctantly.

"Lucius joined him in order to destroy him. It was Voldemort who killed his parents; he wanted to have his revenge. Lucius is now doing something important for me, he isn't actually in Azkaban, he is away on the continent on a very important errand."

Her almost emotionless mask fell briefly and her eyes flashed with fear and anger

"If what you say is true, why didn't he write to me, or come and see me before he left? This is some sort of trick, I won't fall for it, I have to protect my son."

"Cissa, I promise you, what I have told you is true, I have brought with me a small pensive. I'd like you to take a look at it." He pulled a compact stone dish from his robes, which had a carved lid on top depicting the elements.

Half an hour later Narcissa sat on the sofa shivering in shock. Albus took her hand and forced her to grip the glass of dark brandy.

"Drink my dear, it will help."

"Thank you Uncle." She said a moment later, as the warm liquid burned a path down her throat and a pool of warmth spread out from her stomach. She looked at him then, with eyes wide and frightened, how was she going to tell him?

Realizing what was causing her expression he patted her hand gently and soothed her.

"I know all about it my dear, I know that Draco has been ordered to kill me, my spy has informed me of this. You are not to worry. Your son will not become a murderer."

"Uncle, I have to warn you I asked Severus Snape to make an unbreakable vow, that if Draco didn't do it that he would. He'll kill you Uncle, you must get rid of him."

Albus looked on her kindly. Narcissa had been dragged into this whole mess through no fault of her own. She had been brought up in a family that told her that she must obey her husband in everything, that whatever path he took she must follow. With no choice about Voldemort, Lucius had tried to keep her as far away from the death eaters as possible.

Narcissa had never taken the mark, but because of Lucius apparent loyalty to Voldemort she had had to go along with what she was told. As had been tradition for centuries of Pure-blood marriage, her wedding vows were binding, marriage was for life in the Wizarding world and the marriage contract that both parties signed ensured cooperation between spouses and absolute obedience on Narcissa's part to Lucius orders. Even if she could have run with Draco, to her mind it would have been a violation of her contract to support her husband, breaking such a vow held severe magical penalties. Her instant death for one.

"Cissa, who do you think told me about Draco?" Seeing the dawning of shocked realization in her eyes he gave a wry chuckle.

"Yes, Severus has been my spy for many years now, but what must be done must be done, however if it can be done at the right time then we may still salvage some important things from this. What I want to know now though is whether you will be willing to do as I ask of you? Will you continue to follow Lucius now that you know his true allegiance?"

Narcissa's mind was still reeling from the information she had received. Watching her husband in the pensive agreeing to go on his mission had rocked the axis of her world, how could her husband have fooled her so thoroughly? But then again he didn't have much of a choice. If she had known her own attitude and demeanor might have been off and Bella would certainly have been suspicious. Now she had to do as her husband did. Seeing that Dumbledore had promised to protect her and Lucius had accepted this then she felt reasonably safe in trusting the wily old man in front of her. Besides if it meant that she and Draco would be safe there really wasn't much choice in the matter. Her family came first, she loved Lucius more than he loved her she knew that, but they both loved their son beyond everything else. Now was her opportunity to put Draco out of harms way indefinitely.

"Yes, I'll do whatever you want me to."

"Good, now listen carefully to everything I have to tell you, you will repeat it to no one except whom I tell you to."

It was the early hours of the morning before Albus left. Narcissa sat curled up on the couch knees pulled up to her chest, wondering if she was in more trouble and danger now than before. She could clearly feel every single magical binding on her preventing her from divulging anything to anyone, nothing could she say before the time was right. Sobbing quietly, she wondered if Lucius would ever return to her. What he had been sent to do was as close to suicide as you could come without pointing the wand at yourself. Sending a silent prayer to Athena for wisdom and protection she asked that her husband stay safe and return alive to his family.

Gryffindor Tower

Dear Diary,

Christmas break was very hard. Mum and Dad were adamant I tell them everything that has been going on, I had to let them know, but they don't like. However, they're supporting my decision. I'm eighteen now, they know I can do as I please. The Headmaster came at the end of break and we performed the Fidelius charm to protect my parents, they will be safe now from Voldemort, I am the only one who knows their location and I don't intend on telling a soul. Dumbledore was rather cryptic with me though on the way back, he told me that things are not always as they seem that sometimes the right course of action appears to be the wrong one and that people's actions are often misinterpreted. Some people might buy into his barmy old codger act but it's obvious he was hinting at or warning me of something, I just wish I knew what.

Lately my dreams of my mother have become clearer, she is in a room, leaning over a bright blue potion, I recognize some of the ingredients beside her and instantly see the Phoenix Tears she drops into the cauldron. I have been keeping notes on what she puts in and the amounts, unfortunately I seem to be getting the information in a random order, and so far, my attempts to identify the potion by it's ingredients alone have been unsuccessful. In other dreams she reads to me from a book with beautiful scroll work on the binding and illuminated pages, the cover reads 'The Labyrinth: In The Beginning' so far I have been unable to track down the book and no one I have asked about it seems any the wiser. I close my eyes each night hoping to dream of her, she knows who I am and sometimes she speaks to me, she calls me her darling, her baby, she tells me she loves me and that she only wishes she could hold me and comfort me. I wish I could have known her, but I am thankful that I have this one small part of her within me. I feel the tears starting to burn in my eyes now, so I will stop writing of her just now, it is too painful to think and write of what I have lost.

My research into the Half-Blood Prince isn't going as well as I hoped although I did stumble on some rather astonishing information that I'm definitely not ready to tell Harry about right now. I found marriage announcements for twin sisters called Morrigan and Ceridwen Poldark. Morrigan married Gabriel Malfoy and Ceridwen married Julian Potter. That makes Harry and Draco cousins, but why has no one ever mentioned it? Not only did I find the marriage announcements but I found the death announcements as well, Lucius Malfoy's parents were murdered, and I'd bet it was Voldemort who did it, which begs the question, why is Lucius working for his parents' murderer?

I also researched the Sleeping Beauty curse, it can only be counteracted by mandrake potion or true loves first kiss. I'm not certain about my feelings in this matter. One part of me was agreeing with the book and another was telling me it was ridiculous, but upon further reading I learned that the particular curse and potion combination grows stronger with time not weaker. Prophecy aside, how can it be possible for me to be in love with my potions teacher? I like him a lot and I respect him and enjoy our friendship but love is so heavy a word and I'm sure he would never feel that way about me, but the fact that when he kissed me I woke up tells a different story. We hardly know each other, but then that's not strictly true, a part of me deep inside knows him better than I know myself.

I just don't know what I should do; this is confusing on so many levels that it is making me want to cry. But I have to try and look past this and find a logical explanation for this connection between us other then some fate already forecast in prophecy. The only problem is that lately he's been pulling away from me.

His behavior changed suddenly after Slughorn's party, after Harry overheard Snape telling Draco he had wanted to help him to do something. Harry insists Severus is betraying us but Dumbledore told him he understood better than Harry what was overheard. I was going down to the potions lab one-night last week when I ran into Severus. I smiled at him and stopped to talk with him. There was no one around at all, but he just stared at me coldly and warned me of the dangers of becoming overly familiar with a teacher, then he took of fifty points for disrespect. I felt as though he had just punched me, I hurt more than I could have imagined.

He's also stopped looking at me in class other than to deduct points for some imaginary infraction. Although I still work on in the potion lab he has not visited to leave any notes or encouragement. To say I'm confused is an understatement, I really have to find out what's going on, he's trying to hurt me, but there must be a reason for it, and I'm going to find out if I can.

Slytherin Dorm

Draco stared up at the canopy over his bed, the green and shadows creating a landscape of possibility in front of him. He hadn't slept in days and his mind was close to making him hallucinate. He had made it look as though he was trying to complete his mission, but his attempts had been halfhearted. Now the cabinet was almost finished and he dreaded that he would have to fulfill this promise soon. His sneering and posturing lately had begun to lack its usual edge as he tried to figure some way out of this mess.

His complete lack of options in this was making him desperate. If only there was someone he could turn to or trust, but he was alone, painfully alone in a school of hundreds. In a way he wished Dumbledore would find out what he was up to and confront him and stop him, make all his problems disappear. But if that happened what would become of him mother? She was in the most danger right now; she was on her own without any protection, and he knew his aunt would happily hand her over to Voldemort herself should he fail. Rubbing his eyes wearily he knew he would find no sleep tonight.

Drawing a knife from under his pillow, he slipped his shirt off and considering the sharpness of the blade and glint in the half-light he hesitantly, then with more force made a deliberate slash over one on his ribs. The pain distracted him for now, watching the blood seep from the wound he felt a small sense of satisfaction. This he had power over, this he could control.

Positioning the knife once more he made another mark on the opposite side the twin points of pain dulling his senses. He was dying a little more each time he did this but it beat listening to the guilt in his heart and the questions in his soul. He lay back down on his back and tried to convince himself that the tears he were shedding were only from the pain of his wounds and not the pain in his heart. The punishment he was suffering at his own hands would never make up for the deed he had to do.