''Bugger. That snooty brat wouldn't agree, I knew he wouldn't!'' Millicent Bulstrode raged on, pacing back and forth within the limited confines of the small warehouse.
''Well, we do have a lot on our side – cares if Malfoy joins us or not?'' Goyle said, downing a glass of pumpkin juice and picking up another sandwich.
''Shut your trap, Goyle. We needed Malfoy with us – he's the only one left with a decent amount of cash, not to mention we could use the Manor as a headquarter- '' Marcus Flint hissed.
''Well, Parkinson did give us her summer home – '' Pucey stated, eager to be included in the conversation.
''We can't rely on just that. If we can't get Malfoy to join us straight away, we'll use an indirect approach.'' Nott intoned, calm and collected.
''And how do we do that?'' Zabini asked, grimacing as he spotted a rat run across the floor. The warehouse they were hiding in was quite filthy – he couldn't wait to return home – the meeting was going nowhere.
''He doesn't need us right now – we need to put him in a position where he can't possibly say no.''
Zabini gave Nott an appraising glance. Like him, Nott remained standing, refusing to sit on the moldy couch – his contempt of the current Cultus Serpentis headquarters was quite apparent.
This was not what they had in mind when they decided to create a new secret group simply out of spite.
''Go on then, Nott, I am sure you have it all planned out.''
Theodore Nott gave a slight nod, casting a tempus charm.
''Draco's trial starts in six hours. He clearly needs to make a good impression on the Wizengamot, what with his father already doomed. Now what happens if he doesn't make it to the court?''
''Contempt of Court.'' Zabini said, figuring out where Nott was going with this.
''Malfoy is wandless – has been since the day Potter took it from him in his own home. How hard can it be to stun him, and apparate away?''
''What about Mrs. Malfoy?'' Bulstrode asked, quitting her pacing.
''Wandless as well – we'll have to stun her, of course.''
''And then what? Keep him hostage?'' Zabini asked, furrowing his brows.
''Use your brain, Zabini. What will the Wizengamot think? That he's made a run for it- they don't know about the Cultus Serpentis! At that point, he wouldn't have an option other than joining us!''
Zabini thought about it for a while, and nodded. ''Sounds like a plan.''
''What about that mudblood's funeral? Is that plan still on?'' Bulstrode asked.
Zabini and Nott affirmed yes. Zabini was particularly proud of that plan.
We'll show them – we won't go down easy.
Harry had been planning to sleep early, but the Gringotts planning took a surprisingly long amount of time. He was quite sure what he wanted to do with the Lestrange Manor – he would be bequeathing it to Andromeda and Teddy – Ron assured him it was within his rights to do so.
He was planning out a complex legal procedure that would allow him to somehow transfer some of his gold to the Weasleys, when there was a knock on the window.
It was a magnificent looking tawny owl, and Harry had no idea who it belonged to. There was an envelope clutched in its beak, and Harry slid the glass up and let it in. The owl settled on the edge of his desk, and Harry frowned. Whoever wrote the letter clearly wanted an answer back.
Potter,
I ask no favors of you, but I think you should know this – there is a sort of group called Cultus Serpentis that might be up to something, I'm not sure what. Blaise Zabini and Marcus Flint are in the group, I am quite positive of that. Greggory Goyle may be a member as well, but as I don't know for sure I won't confirm it.
Remember this piece of information when you testify against me in court tomorrow.
Malfoy.
P.S. There is another matter I would like to discuss with you – Feta, my owl, will wait till you write back. It is extremely urgent and I shall await your arrival by the fireplace.
Harry groaned loudly. Was this the latest trend? Dudley apologizing, Malfoy slipping information about his own side – what was going on? Had the world been turned upside down?
He looked at the sleek tawny owl. The owl showed no signs of leaving – it perched on his desk- top, keeping its amber eyes trained on him.
Harry searched about for a spare bit of parchment and scribbled his answer and held it out for Feta, who grasped it in her beak and swooped out.
As Harry tip-toed down the stairs, he wondered if he was being stupid. Was this an ambush? Should he tell someone where he was going?
''You need to stop sneaking out, mate.'' Came a voice from the first floor landing, as the wooden floorboards creaked under him.
Harry motioned Ron to come over as he pinched a bit of floor powder. Ron frowned, and pointed at the small clock ticking away on the mantle.
''It's two at midnight, you lunatic. Where do you think you're going off to?''
Harry put one finger up to his lips to signal him to remain quiet, and threw his cloak over Ron as he protested. Wasting no time, he threw the powder into the grate and whispered fiercely – ''Malfoy Manor!''
Draco paced infront of the fireplace in the study impatiently – Feta had arrived a minute ago with Potter's reply.
Wasn't he coming, even though he said he would?
Briefly, Draco considered if Potter wouldn't believe him, after all, his credibility with Potter's gang was incredibly low.
There was a muffled thump in the living room and Draco started. Cautiously, he creaked the door of the study open and peered out.
Harry Potter was sprawled on the carpet, having tripped over the logs in the grate.
Draco strutted out, incandescent with rage.
''Potter!'' He hissed, as Harry struggled to get up. ''Not the living room, you daft fool! The study – quick, get in before Mother or Father wake up – ''
Draco could already hear Mother's footsteps echoing through the parlor.
''Wait in the study, and for Merlin's sake, be quiet!''
Draco rushed out to intercept his mother as Potter indignantly huffed and slipped into the study. Halfway through the huge living room, Draco realized something was wrong.
Why would Mother be in the parlor?
Draco glanced up towards the open door of the little parlor and instinctively ducked as a red stream of light hit the bust of Abraxas Malfoy behind him, toppling it over as it fell with a resounding crash. He crawled over behind the sofa, his heart thumping.
He was about to peek out to see who the intruder was, when he heard a very familiar voice.
''Did we get him?''
Millicent Bulstrode.
Draco was more furious than scared. How dare they, attack him in his own house? No - how dare they even think of attacking him, Malfoy? They used to simper and flatter him all through Hogwarts, especially during his sixth year, and now they were out to get him?
He dearly wanted to get up and hex her to oblivion, but he didn't have his dratted wand.
''Harry, mate, you need to see a mind healer!'' Ron hissed, trying to pull Harry under the cloak as soon as Malfoy rushed out of the study.
''I know – I was going to come alone- Malfoy said there was something urgent – ''
''This could be an ambush – '' Ron started hissing again, trying to keep quiet, when there was a mighty CRASH! In the living room.
Ron gripped Harry's forearm tight, giving him an I-told-you-so look, as Harry inched forward, wand pointing towards the door of the study.
''Did we get him?'' a female voice asked.
''It's Bulstrode!'' Ron whispered in his ear.
Harry wasn't quite sure what to do about this situation, when Ron said – ''That git, Malfoy! He called you in here to use his cronies to attack you – ''
Harry shushed him forcefully, and creaked the door of the study open slightly. It was dark, but he could see Malfoy's pale blonde hair glinting as he crept behind the sofa, clearly trying to avoid the open parlor door.
''Ron, I don't think I am the target.'' He whispered back as quietly as possible, as he watched Millicent Bulstrode stride out of the parlor, another gorilla like figure following her – was that Goyle?
Goyle gave a dumb laugh. ''Come on, Draco, crawl out from your hidey-hole!'' He cackled.
Draco was trying to grab a candlestick from the side-table beside the sofa, and unfortunately Bulstrode spotted him.
''Crucio!'' she yelled out, her shrill voice echoing through the silent Manor.
She missed, of course, but as soon as she hefted her wand again, Harry leaped forward, ignoring Ron's furious warning.
''Expelliarmus!'' He said, and watched Millicent's surprised face as her wand shot out from within her hands and sailed away towards the banister.
Goyle had hit Malfoy with a jelly-legs jinx and was about to point his wand at Harry when Ron yelled –
''Stupefy! Stupid oaf.''
He took off Harry's Invisibility cloak and strode over to where Malfoy lay on the ground, as Harry quickly stunned and bound up Millicent.
''You have one minute to explain what just happened.'' He threatened Draco, pointing his wand at his nose.
''Use your brain, Weasley. Obviously I had no idea there were intruders in my home- other than you two, of course.''
Draco's eyes widened as glanced up towards the first floor.
''My parents! How have they not been awakened by all this noise!''
Harry started running up the stairs as Ron held Malfoy at wand-point, distrust clear on his face.
Draco and Ron kept glaring at each other, both a little worried- Draco for his parents and Ron for his pig-headed best mate, when Harry came rushing down the stairs.
''They've been stunned in their beds – and your house elf has been stunned too – she's infront of the master bedroom.''
Draco nodded, relieved, and pointedly looked down at his useless legs. Ron snickered.
''We came here to listen to whatever you wanted to talk about- I rather think your legs don't need to be functional for you to talk.''
Harry gave a long-suffering sigh as he pointed his own wand at Draco's legs and muttered – ''Finite.''
Draco stood up, scowling at Ron and gestured for them to sit down on the sofa.
''Keep in mind, that whatever you are about to hear, you would have never known without me.''
By the time Draco had finished his speech, which took a little over twenty solid minutes, Harry's blood was boiling with rage and head reeling from all that information.
There were two dungeons within the Malfoy Manor, one that Harry had already been to – where he, Ron, Luna, Dean and Mr. Ollivander had been imprisoned. There was another one, towards the west wing, that had essentially been used as a storage for Muggleborns that the snatchers brought in. The Muggleborns were sold at exorbitantly high rates to several pureblood families all around Britain for several purposes – torturing exhibitions for the amusement of bigoted purebloods, unpaid slaves in Manors owned by purebloods, and for creation of inferi. Several Dark Arts made the use of blood sacrifices as well as human sacrifices, and if the human were also a wizard, it increased the strength of certain Dark Rituals. Draco had even provided the location of twelve of the Manors that he was sure was involved in the trafficking business, and furthermore gave an estimate of almost 500 muggleborns that had been trafficked only through Malfoy Manor last year.
''You twisted bastard – you knew all this was happening and yet you just sat there, sucking up to Riddle?'' Ron exploded with rage as soon as Draco stopped talking.
Malfoy sneered, his face filled with contempt. '' Not everyone has the power to stand up to the Dark Lord, Weasel, neither do normal wizards bounce back after being hit by the killing curse like your loony mate Scarhead!''
Harry held his hand up, and the two rivals fell silent, chest heaving.
''I don't think you are doing this out of the goodness of your heart, Malfoy – further, since your Manor has been involved in this trafficking business, I doubt the Wizengamot will let this pass. What is it that you want?''
Draco leaned back into the sofa, smoothing his silk robes.
''Cut me a deal.''
''Absolutely not.'' Ron exclaimed, fists shaking.
''What deal?'' Harry asked, putting his hand on Ron's shoulder, who was almost shaking with rage.
Draco sighed, suddenly looking very tired.
''I won't ask for amnesty for my Father. Nothing can be done for him. But I will not be going to Azkaban, neither shall my Mother. We will be given our wands back – set the fine as high as you wish, but our vaults shall remain under the name of Malfoy.''
''I don't make the decisions, Malfoy, nor do I decide the sentences.''
Draco snorted. ''The wizarding world will bend over backwards if you tell them to do so, Potter – you are the Vanquisher of He who must not be named.''
Harry clenched his jaw, trying to not lose his temper at the supremely sarcastic tone.
''I shall talk to Kingsley after the trial. And I suggest you report the break in to the Aurors.''
Harry dragged Ron, who was swearing at Malfoy, and floo-ed back to the Burrow, landing right in front of furious Molly Weasley.
''Ah, bollocks.'' Ron muttered, as Mrs. Weasley turned an impressive shade of magenta and Harry blanched.
