Draco ran after his father and grabbed onto his sleeve, stopping his retreat. Lucius stopped and looked behind Draco and around the dark corridor before looking down at his son with more pride than Draco ever remembered seeing.

"You're doing so well Draco! The Dark Lord is going to be so pleased." Lucius said, a firm hold on his shoulders that made Draco's heart clench painfully. He couldn't risk his father getting caught.

"Everything I do father, I do for you and mother… not for him." He said and placed an amulet on his father's hand. Lucius looked at the dragon pendant with curiosity. "I am sorry father." And with a wave of his wand he activated the portkey. Lucius was gone with a pop but not before Draco saw the betrayed and shocked look his father gave him.

He should be safe in the manor. Draco ignored the uncertainty brewing in his chest and turned to find Potter.

oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo

Bellatrix laughed as she ran toward the exit of the ministry, trying to flee. Harry blasted the fireplace she tried to go into and she screeched, getting thrown back to the middle of the room. She smirked at him maliciously.

"I killed Sirius, Sirius is dead, Potter's all alone! Hahaha!" She mocked in a sing-song voice.

Harry screamed in rage and showed her the prophecy, which he slammed to the ground and broke into hundreds of pieces.

"No!" She cried out, looking at the broken prophecy in horror.

"You failed your master Bellatrix! What will you do now, huh? He'll never hear it because of you!" He yelled relishing in the horror he saw in her face. Enjoying the tears that fell down the madwoman's face.

"No! No master please. Forgive me master!" She cried.

"He can't hear you Bellatrix! He's a coward! That's why he sent you! He's not here!" Harry yelled.

"Now, now Harry." Harry froze as he turned seeing Voldemort standing there, his scar blazing in pain. "There's no need for such anger…" Voldemort said coming closer, Bellatrix's pleas of forgiveness ignored by him.

"The prophecy is gone Voldemort…" Harry challenged as he stepped back.

"So it is…" Voldemort said, walking over the shard pieces without a care in the world. "I however, came for you…"

"Step away from him Tom." Dumbledore said and Harry turned to see the wizard behind him. Voldemort sneered at Dumbledore who stepped in front of Harry, protecting him.

Voldemort raised his wand, blasting at Dumbledore who held his own up, a large shield protecting against the attack.

The air vibrated with power and Harry covered his ears at the ringing it gave him. Voldemort smirked as Dumbledore's shield flickered. Dumbledore stood firmer and without lowering his shield, used it to blast Voldemort with his own curse.

Voldemort lowered his attack and the shield burst into sand that covered the floor. Harry lowered his hands as Voldemort disappeared. Everything was still and Harry looked up at Dumbledore.

Steps running toward them made Harry turn to see Hermione, Ron and even Draco arrive with the rest of the order.

Harry felt a breeze hit his face and he felt his throat close up. He grunted and felt all strength of his legs leave him as he dropped to the floor.

"Harry!" He heard one of his friends called. Was it Hermione?

"Harry…" Dumbledore called gently. Harry cried out twisting onto his back and felt Voldemort inside his mind. Harry turned to look up at the headmaster and the creature spoke through his lips.

"You've lost old man…" he felt himself smirking. Pain coursed through his head. "AHH!"

He saw flashes of his family, of his aunt and uncle. He had no control over what memories the other saw. He tried to fight, but the physical strain only caused him pain while Voldemort's intrusion and control was purely mental.

"You stupid little freak… I'll show you…" Vernon hissed grabbing seven year old Harry by the hair and throwing him into the dark cupboard. Harry held back his whimper as he banged his arm but made no further complain, afraid of his uncle's anger.

"Stop it!" What if he saw Snape? What if he managed to see how important Snape had become to him?

"Harry…" Dumbledore almost whispered and Harry turned to him in pain, feeling hot tears rolling down the side of his face. He already lost Sirius… he couldn't let anything happen to Snape. "Harry… fight it…" he said gently.

"Professor… I can't… he'll find out… about him." Harry gasped and fell back into the battle in his mind.

"Who don't you want me to find out about, Harry?" Voldemort whispered around him. Harry couldn't let him see that person… he couldn't! He couldn't!

"No!"

"Show me this person…"

And Harry instantly knew what to do. He thought of the one person that would make his lie believable. He thought of mister Emwood to save Snape's secret. And he bombarded Voldemort with every memory he had. He felt the sudden release of Voldemort's hold, as if the Dark Lord himself had recoiled in disgust at Harry's dirty secret.

Harry took his opportunity and occluded. He thought of the flickering candle. It was easier than he remembered. He stared at it. He lost himself in that image. He leaned toward the flickering candle in his mind and blew on it, shrouding his consciousness in darkness. Everything became dark and he became weightless, and his real secret remained untouched in his mind.

oOoOoOo oOoOoOo oOoOoOo

Harry opened his eyes. He felt empty. He sat up and Dumbledore reached for him. Harry stared blankly at him before moving back.

Dumbledore's attention was drawn away to the flashing cameras approaching with the prime minister at the head. Then his attention was turned to Voldemort who appeared by Bellatrix's side.

"My god… he really is back." Harry heard the minister speak. Harry's eyes were focused on Voldemort.

"Come to me Harry." Voldemort's voice echoed around the room. Harry ran past Dumbledore who tried to grab onto his robes which shredded easily thanks to Greyback's handy work, allowing him to get away.

"Harry! No!"

"Harry!" Members of the order called. Harry heard none of it and as Voldemort's swirls of darkness started enveloping him and Bellatrix, Harry reached out and took Voldemort's hand.

The Dark Lord pulled him into an embrace and the ministry sounds of the ministry vanished in what seemed like a swirl of the wind. The sound of tinkling plates and sounds of pouring tea replaced it. Harry stepped back to take his first proper look of Malfoy mannor.

Greyback was here, smacking a house-elf away that was trying to tend to a wound on his arm. Lucius Malfoy was here, seemingly having just finished speaking to his wife, who turned around, with a tense expression, eyes flickering between the sobbing Bellatrix and the boy-who-lived.

"Narcissa, if you would be so kind to escort Harry to a room of his own and have the house-elves tend to his needs. I think we all need to freshen up after the long night we've had." He said, his voice echoing with pride of a job well done.

Everyone stood frozen for a minute or two before Narcissa stepped forward. "If you would come with me mister Potter." She said.

"Not mister Potter. Just Harry for now." Voldemort corrected.

"Yes my lord. Harry. If you would come with me…" Harry looked up at Voldemort.

"Go with Narcissa Harry." Harry looked back at the blonde woman and obeyed Voldemort's command. His every step felt heavy. He had no control over his actions, and he didn't care. Mrs. Malfoy took his arm and hooked it with hers as she led him away.