Chapter Twenty- Murder

Harry paused when he heard rapid footsteps and quickly backed away at Dumbledore's gestures. The door flew open and a voice cried, "Expellarmius!" Harry felt himself go stiff and frozen which confused him until he saw Dumbledore's wand fly through the air. He put the Full Body Bind on me. Yes. He doesn't want me to stop Malfoy from trying to kill him.

It was Malfoy indeed, for Dumbledore said, "Good evening, Draco."

Malfoy approached Dumbledore, his wand aimed at him. "Who else is here?" he demanded, spotting the second broom.

"A question I would ask you, but I already know the specifics."

"You know nothing!"

"On the contrary, I do." Dumbledore began to recount everything Snape had told him as well as his speculation to Malfoy's plan to which Snape had concurred and confirmed.

Malfoy scowled. "Yeah, you're right. I put Rosmerta under the Imperius Curse and used enchanted coins to communicate with her. She slipped Katie the necklace."

"Ingenious, Draco." Dumbledore paused for a moment. "Draco, you are not a killer. You do not have to do this."

"I must! He'll kill me and my family if I fail!" Malfoy sounded hysterical.

"Draco, I can help you. The Order can disguise you and guide you into hiding. Your mother too and it can be done tonight. They'll hide your father as well when he gets out of Azkaban."

Harry stood frozen and invisible beneath his Cloak. He couldn't move and was forced to watch as Malfoy stood with Dumbledore at wand point. The blonde seemed unable to do it. Please, don't do it, he silently begged. Dumbledore said there is a way to hide you from Voldemort and I believe him. He knew Malfoy couldn't hear him; no one could except for…Severus! Yes, he and Severus were mates and could communicate telepathically. "Severus, help! I'm under my Cloak and in a full Body Bind Curse and Malfoy's got Dumbledore at wand point. We're on the Astronomy Tower."

"I hear you, Harry. I am on my way up and I must tell you something that I was forced to keep from you until this moment. The Headmaster wants me to kill him instead of Draco."

"What!?"

"I do not want to do this, but he made me promise to do the deed and as he will not live much longer, it seems…gentler this way than the protracted one from the curse he is currently under."

"I understand." Harry shut the link.

Malfoy's wand had lowered when the door flew open and Severus appeared. He strode to the pair, his eyes on them while his nose picked out Harry's location. He drew his wand and he looked sadly into Dumbledore's eyes. His mouth moved silently. "Goodbye and I'm sorry."

Harry heard Dumbledore plead with Severus before the disguised fox looked down at the weak headmaster and point his wand at him. Harry shut his eyes to avoid seeing the spell cast, but could not shut out the words or the green flash that occurred through his eyelids. When he opened them, he saw no sign of Dumbledore. He must have fallen off the tower. Harry then became aware that he could move again; proof that Dumbledore was…gone. Harry couldn't bear to think the word "dead." He saw Malfoy leave, but Severus did not move. Harry removed the Cloak and moved slowly to Snape. The older fox stood stiffly and Harry saw actual tears sliding down his cheeks. "Severus?" he asked softly.

Snape whimpered. "I did not want to do it," he said in a strangled whisper. "He had me promise a year ago that I would kill him. I never killed anyone, despite being a Death Eater."

Harry held out his arms and Snape went into them. "I understand, Severus. You made a promise and had to keep it. You said it earlier: This way was gentler. He…he probably didn't feel a thing."

Snape took a shuddering breath. "You are probably right." He stepped back and rubbed the tearstains away. "Let's head down and send those Death Eaters packing."

Harry managed a smile as they headed inside to battle.

The Death Eaters, Malfoy included, fled to the school's boundary before they could Apparate as the Room of Requirement was blocked by Order members, but there had been injuries among the victors. One was Bill Weasley; Fenrir Greyback had bitten and slashed him, but since it wasn't a full moon, he wouldn't be a true werewolf. He would have some wolfish characteristics, though. Fleur did not care what Bill looked like, she still loved him and would marry him very soon. This declaration thawed Mrs. Weasley's feeling toward her and soon both women were crying and hugging each other.

Snape, amidst the tears, sidled over to McGonagall. "Minerva, I need to speak with you."

"Actually, Severus, I need to speak to all the House Heads, Hagrid, and Potter. My office in ten minutes."

Snape nodded and went to Harry to tell him the message. He slid up behind Harry and put his arms around the waist. "Minerva wants to see us, Hagrid, and the other Heads in her office in ten minutes," he whispered in his ear.

"All right," he whispered back. The pair left the wing and walked down to McGonagall's office on the first floor. They entered to find only McGonagall.

She leveled her gaze at them. "I don't know if you heard, but Professor Dumbledore was found dead."

"We know," Snape said. "Minerva, I have some confessions to make." Snape began to talk, telling her about the curse Dumbledore had contracted, Voldemort's murder plot, and his promise to kill Dumbledore as per the headmaster's request.

"He knew he could count on you to keep your word," McGonagall said at last. "I won't hold it against you. Now, Potter. You were with Dumbledore when he left school for the last time. Can you reveal where you went and why?"

"No, professor. I'm afraid I can't. It's the kind of thing that's better if few people know of it. It would be determinant to its success if too many know."

McGonagall wanted to push Harry harder, but figured if she did, Snape would jump to his mate's defense. "Very well, Potter. You're welcome to stay as we discuss Hogwarts' fate."

Harry decided to stay and though of something important. "Professor, did you find a locket in Dumbledore's pocket?"

"A locket? You mean this? It was lying next to him." She held up the Horcrux.

"Yes, that's it." Harry took it and noticed that it looked wrong. The other Heads entered as did Hagrid and Harry drifted to a corner to look at the locket. It looked like an ordinary Muggle locket. He pried it open and saw a wedge of parchment in the portrait spot. He pulled it out and opened it to learn that the locket was a fake and someone had already stolen the Horcrux. It was signed R.A.B.

Who is R.A.B.? A former Death Eater, perhaps? I need to know in order to find out if the locket was destroyed or if I need to do it.

"Then, we'll consult with the school governors about the school. Now, there's the matter of sending the students home and I feel it would be better sooner than later."

"What about Dumbledore's funeral?" Harry interrupted. "The students should have the chance to say…goodbye."

"Well said," Flitwick squeaked. "I agree."

Sprout, McGonagall, Hagrid, and Snape nodded in agreement.

"The locket's a fake?" Snape gasped.

Harry nodded and showed him the note. "Someone else stole it and intended to destroy it. Somehow I doubt it was and I want to make sure."

"R.A.B. I don't know those initials."

"I think R.A.B. was a Death Eater."

"He very likely was and I wonder how he found out about Voldemort's Horcruxes as he's been very secretive about them."

Harry nodded as he and Snape got into bed. The next few days would be hard as people would be arriving to pay their respects to Dumbledore. Harry would also have some important decisions to make. He didn't look forward to announcing them, but he knew he had to.

Of course, I will tell Severus all of them as they will all affect him. I hate what I have to tell him and I hope he will understand. Harry snuggled up against Snape, felt Snape pull him closer, and he fell asleep with a sigh.