Disclaimer : I do not own Harry Potter & I make nothing off of this but enjoyment.

Chapter VIII: If just for this moment… [Part I

Harry eyed Draco across the potions room, as Professor Slughorn continued to drone on about Amortentia. Draco seemed upset at Harry, and Harry tossed him a folded up note- which Draco turned to dust. It was clear now that Harry had upset Draco, but Harry had only the best intentions. Harry confronted Draco after class let out, and was stared at by all students for rushing to Draco's side.

"Draco." Harry whispered urgently, as he worked to keep stride with the blonde boy. "Draco, please slow down, we need to speak."

Draco's face remained focused ahead, he wasn't even putting up a show of teasing Harry. "There is no need to speak, Potter. You know which side I'm on now. Why would you ever wish to speak to a known Death Eater?" Draco spat, stepping on Harry's foot, causing Harry to stumble.

"I can help you Draco, it doesn't have to be like this…do you really want to be on his side?" Harry pleaded with him, pulling Draco into a passageway hidden behind a suit of armor.

"There's nothing that can be done, I am on his side- it's the only way I can protect those that I love."

"I didn't know you were protecting me, by offering Voldemort a wizard so skilled as yourself!" Harry said, face resolute with emotion.

"You vain creature, you're so quick to assume that I love you. Do you even realize what kind of a person I am? What I'm capable of?" Draco said, breaking free of Harry's arms, which had wrapped around him. He leaned against the castle wall with his arms crossed.

"I think you do love me, and not only me, but Hermione."

"Well think your thinking is skewed. Get away from me Potter, before I curse your little body into nothingness. I could do it you know. Bell and Weasley were my doing, surely you've deduced that much."

"I think it was a cry for help, you didn't want to kill anyone, you just knew no other way to save yourself."

"Wrong." Draco said, and with a flick of his wand he burned a small burn into Harry's chest. "That was a warning, now stay away from me." Draco walked off, leaving Harry feeling completely hopeless.

Harry walked around the castle despondently, thinking of plan after plan for saving Draco, with each new idea seeming less likely to succeed than its predecessor.

Night time came with haste, and before Harry knew it, the clock was striking eight. Harry had almost forgotten his appointment with Professor Dumbledore. He rushed off to the stone gargoyles leading to the Headmasters office, and he gave the delicious sounding password for that evening "Lemon Drops."

The stone gargoyles nodded their approval and the doorway opened up, leading to the revolving staircase, which Harry immediately boarded.

Harry knocked on the big door and Dumbledore's soft voice beckoned him forward.

"Hello, Harry." Dumbledore said, holding a green traveling cloak in his uninjured hand. "I hope you are well, and ready for an outing." Dumbledore said, turning to face Harry.

"Yes sir, I'm ready to …what? An outing?"

"Yes, I do believe that in our last encounter you expressed a desire to travel with me should I attempt to destroy another of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes."

Harry's mouth dropped to the floor, and he nodded enthusiastically. Dumbledore bowed his head and motioned Harry forward. "I trust you still have your Invisibility Cloak on you, in respect of my request?"

"Yes sir." Harry said pulling out the invisible fabric and laying it across one shoulder.

"Good, now if we can just…" Dumbledore paused and looked at Harry with a concerned expression on his lined face. "Harry?" Dumbledore said, moving closer to Harry, blue eyes glistening with worry. "Is there something you wish to tell me?"

"It's nothing , Sir. Just worried about this mission." Harry lied, refusing to look Dumbledore in the eyes.

"Harry…you never were a good Occlumens." Dumbledore sat down on the corner of his desk and waited for Harry's response.

Harry once again sensed that Dumbledore knew much more than he let on and decided to confide certain truths to his headmaster. "It's Draco Malfoy, sir. I'm worried for his well being."

"Ah…I see. Well I can assure you, Harry, that every student in this school is under my protection…yes, even while I am absent from this school." Dumbledore said wisely, peering through Harry like he was a window.

"But what will happen when Draco is not in this school sir?"

"What are you not telling me, Harry?"

"Sir, you've known my suspicions…I've told McGonogall, surely she has told you."

"She has imparted your convictions unto me, yes. And let me say, that no Death Eater has ever been able to make it into my school. Nor will they ever." Dumbledore said, looking over to Fawkes.

"Snape is a Death Eater, he has the Dark Mark, he has shown you in my company."

"And Professor Snape has my confidence."

"But why?"

"That is a story for another time, Harry."

"But…"

"Do you want to come with me, or not?"

Harry lowered his head, feeling like he might have pushed Professor Dumbledore too far. "I'm sorry, Sir. I very much would like to go with you."

"Then let us not dwell on minor disputes any longer."

"Ok. Sir?"

"Yes, Harry."

"Which one do you think you've found?" Harry said, watching as Professor Dumbledore got up from his desk.

"I believe, after much searching, I have found Slytherins' Locket. In a cave, where Tom Riddle used to visit on field trips from the Orphanage. I need you to swear several things to me before we go, Harry."

"Yes, Sir."

"Firstly, will you follow whatever directions I give you without hesitation?" Dumbledore said, raising himself to his full height.

"Yes sir."

"If I tell you to turn back, will you?"

"I, um…yes. Yes I will."

"If I tell you to run, and leave me behind to die, will you?"

"Sir!"

"Harry." Dumbledore said sternly, watching Harry closely.

"Sir I can't…"

"To be able to come with me I must ensure that you will follow every single order I give you."

Harry supposed he never really anticipated that so much danger would be involved, but after looking at Dumbledore's hand, he quickly surmised just how difficult this could be.

"Do I have your word, Harry?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Very well then, please put on your Invisibility Cloak."

Together Harry and Dumbledore walked out of the castle, Harry worked to keep up with Dumbledore's wide strides. After passing through the gate guarded by two flying boars, Harry began to speak to Dumbledore openly.

"Sir, what if someone sees you leaving the Castle?"

"They will merely presume I am out for a drink, we will disapparate in a secluded spot, so no one will be the wiser."

"Albus, oh Albus!" Came a voice issuing from The Three Broomsticks , Harry turned to see Madame Rosmerta approaching Dumbledore. "Out for a drink, Albus?"

Dumbledores' eyes shone brightly and he wore a smile when he turned to face her. "Yes, Rosmerta. But tonight I prefer the wilder atmosphere, I shall give my custom to The Hogs Head tonight, all apologies." He said kindly, bowing slightly to her.

Once Rosmerta had departed Dumbledore spoke lightly to Harry. "All is well." They approached the Hogs Head and Dumbledore looked around surreptitiously before grabbing Harry's arm. "Hold on tightly, Harry."

And with a swish of his cloak, Dumbledore turned and Harry felt an uncomfortable darkness press in upon him, compressing his lungs and making his ears pop several times. It was difficult to breathe, and time seemed to pass slowly. A moment later Harry's nostrils filled with the smell of salty sea, and he opened his eyes and was greeted by a raging ocean. He and Dumbledore were standing on an outcropping of a rock, the wind blowing fiercely against them.

"Very well, Harry. You may take your cloak off. I believe you will be safe now."

Harry took off his cloak and looked around, unsure of how to get into the cave. "Will we be swimming, Sir?"

"If you have no objection to being wet, then yes, that would be the preferred means of entry." Dumbledore said, tucking his beard into his robes. And with a perfect leap, Dumbledore gracefully dove into the chilly black water, and swam into the cave with Harry close behind him.

Harry was amazed at the agility Dumbledore possessed as an older man, for he swam very quickly and Harry fought to keep up. At last Dumbledore made it to the sandy floor of the cave and Harry came in close behind him. Dumbledore quickly magicked himself and Harry dry and then was lost to the cave. Dumbledore ran his fingers along the walls, and sniffed the air like a niffler.

"Sir, what are you doing?" Harry inquired.

"There is known magic here…" He said, using both hands to rub a plain looking part of the cave wall. "Ah." Dumbledore took out his wand and an orange light filled the cave. Where the light had originated had been the wall, and for the slightest moment an arch had appeared, but just as quickly , it had dimmed to nothingness.

"Oh surely not…so crude." Dumbledore said, as if he were disappointed.

"What is it sir?"
"Tom has required a sacrifice…blood, unless I am very much mistaken."

Before Harry could reply Dumbledore took a silver knife from his robes and sliced his own forearm, splattering the wall with scarlet blood. He used his wand to quickly heal the cut. Harry stared at Dumbledore, in shock at his masochistic display of magic.

"No harm done." Dumbledore said merrily, and sure enough, the archway reappeared and allowed them entrance.

They were standing in a large chamber, which consisted of a large lake, at the center of which rested a glowing mass of green light. "Sir, is that the Horcrux?" Harry asked, pointing to the radiance.

"I believe it may well be."

"And we won't need to swim there, will we sir? I don't want to get in the water again."

"We will only end up in the lake if we are extremely unfortunate." Dumbledore said mysteriously, staring out at the unnaturally still water.

Dumbledore began reaching out into the void, as if he were searching for something unknown to Harry. At last he gripped onto something and gave a firm tug. From the bottom of the lake, bubbles started to burst along the lakes' surface, and within moments a small boat emerged, glowing green in the light of the cave. "After you, I believe, Harry." Dumbledore said, motioning Harry forward.

Harry stepped into the boat, and quickly drew up his legs, as that was the only way he & Dumbledore would be able to fit. As soon as Dumbledore moved his final foot into the boat , the small boat started moving towards the center of the lake. Harry watched as the water refused to move, even though the boat should have been making ripples. Harry felt himself start as he noticed some shimmering orb looking back at him. "Sir! I think I saw a face!"

"Indeed, I do not doubt it." Dumbledore said calmly. "Almost there, Harry."

Harry swallowed hard, and realized that surely, these were Inferi. "Sir, aren't these?"

"They are. And should they stir from their slumber, we will use their natural enemies to hold them back." Dumbledore looked at Harry who was staring at him quizzically. "Fire, Harry."

The boat landed on a small island, and at it's center stood a basin resembling a stone Pensieve. Harry and Dumbledore walked close to it and peered into it's depths. It was archaic in nature, with runes scattering it's rims and a light moss growing on one side. "After me, I think." Said Dumbledore, moving his hand towards the basin. It was filled with a green liquid that shimmered, and at the bottom, glowed a golden light. "The locket." Dumbledore said victoriously.

But Dumbledores hand could move no further, and no matter what spellwork Dumbledore performed ; he could move no further. "It appears as though this potion cannot be removed, transfigured, siphoned, or banished in any way." Dumbledore gave a lazy flick of his wand and a silver chalice appeared from the void. "I must imply then, that it is meant to be drunk."

"Sir, this is Voldemort we're dealing with, surely it will kill you!"

"I don't think it would kill me, Harry."

"Sir…this is Voldemort."

"Allow me to reword my hasty sentence. I do not believe it will immediately kill me. Voldemort would want to know why someone has come this far. After all, he believes that he & he alone knows of the Horcruxes existence. For someone to have come this far, he would want to know their intentions." Dumbledore lowered the cup into the basin and it passed, just as Harry knew it would, right through the invisible barrier. It filled with green liquid and Dumbledore removed the cup from the basin. He looked at it curiously and raised it to Harry. "To your good health." Dumbledore tossed the cup backwards and the green liquid slid down his throat.

"Sir, is it…are you?"

"That was no health drink…I assure you of that." Dumbledore shook his head and dropped the cup back into the basin, removing an even larger amount of liquid. He proceeded to do this three times more. On the fourth drink, he fell to his knees.

"Professor!" Harry said, grabbing Dumbledore by the elbow.

"Do not ever let me stop drinking this, Harry. Promise me that, remember your word!"

"Yes Sir, I remember, but isn't there any way?"

"No. Harry. No matter what argument I give you, no matter how much I beg, no matter how much pain I may soon be in , make sure that I drink all of this. Then steal the locket and take us away from here. Please."

"Yes, Professor." Harry said, feeling that he was taking part in a murder.

Professor Dumbledore returned the cup to the basins depths and drank once more. His face contorted in apparent pain, and he forced himself to drink again. He drank heartily, and after the cup had emptied Dumbledore began to pant. "No more…"

"You have to professor…"

"I do?" He said curiously, before returning the cup again. "No! No more! Let it end!"

"It can professor, I promise, just a few more drinks, OK?"

"OK." Dumbledore said bravely, his voice reminding Harry of a young naïve boy. Dumbledore drank again, and this time the cup fell from his hands once he had finished drinking. "This is no good!" Dumbledore said with his eyes closed, and he down to all fours.

Harry picked up the cup and he forced himself to fill it up again, the basin was only half empty now. "Here, Professor, drink this, it will make you feel better."

Dumbledore, believing Harry, parted his lips and Harry tilted the cup backwards, pouring the liquid into his waiting mouth. Dumbledores' eyes were closed now and he lashed out with his fists, which hit against the basin. Harry seemed to think he was in a deep sleep, maybe having a nightmare. For he muttered violently under his breath. "Aberforth, take this despicable man to my chambers! We shall see how his spying ways will benefit him now!"

Harry was intrigued, though appalled, and kept giving Dumbledore the potion. "Severus Snape…a Death Eater. I must confess myself disappointed in you. What did you hope to gain by listening to that Prophecy? No lies to me Severus, but you may well take this back to Voldemort; no harm will come to James or Lily Potter, or their son!"

Harry felt a crashing sense of realization, for surely ; Dumbledore must be revealing to him that Severus Snape was the one who overheard Trelawneys' prophecy. Harry mastered himself and poured more green potion into Dumbledore's mouth, hoping to discover more truth about Snape.

Dumbledore cried out "God, no! Please….I beg you….don't hurt them! Don't hurt them please! Hurt me instead!"

Harry felt haunted by Dumbledore's newest actions, this time Dumbledore surely wasn't reliving the same memory. Harry felt awful for having to do so, but he poured more liquid into Dumbledores' opened mouth. "I want to DIE!!! DIIIIEEE!"

"This one will do it, Professor, one more drink and this will kill you." Harry hoped that his sentence was not true, for the locket was almost exposed now, it would be this last drink, and Harry gave the final cup to Dumbledore.

"I am …" Dumbledore began before falling unconscious at Harry's feet. Harry's attention was on the locket, it shimmered in the light of his lit wand and he removed it from the basin before returning to Dumbledore. "Sir, Sir! We have it , we have the locket…Sir? Professor Dumbledore?"

But Professor Dumbledore was not moving, he was breathing – but it was all too shallow. Harry began to panic, for he realized now that he was not very proficient at Apparition, and as Harry shook Dumbledore, Harry noticed how the cup resting next to Dumbledore had begun to slide along the small beach, until it had fallen into the water. "Thirsty…." Harry looked down, surprised to see Dumbledore's eyes alight with insanity. Dumbledore reached out to Harry and grabbed him by the cuffs of his robes. "THIRSTY!"

Harry was scared by Dumbledore now, and pointed his wand to his face. "Aguamenti!" Harry shouted and Dumbledore's face was hit with full force by jets of water issuing from Harry's wand. Harry laughed uncontrollably as Dumbledore licked his face and seemed to come back to himself. Harry had lost himself for a moment, for he hadn't noticed the water around him had begun to crash and spin, as if acted upon by some underground eruption. Heads were popping out of the water and those heads were attatched to bony bodies, some lacking skin and others writhing in pain. Harry looked to Professor Dumbledore, who had passed out in Harry's arms. Never before had Harry felt so alone, and as the Inferi moved closer to him, he found himself wishing that he could hold Draco close – if just for this one moment.

[AN: Parts of this chapter were based off script used by J.K. Rowling in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I tried to stick to the story line while adding unique additions, that way it is not plagiarism. Part two of this will be up within a week at the longest, and I hope you have enjoyed it so far. True, this chapter had little to do with Draco/Harry/Hermione/Romilda, but it's implementation is essential for laying out the conclusion of this story. Once again, Reviews are always appreciated, without them this story would not be possible. Thanks for all the great reviews so far & I will see you in the next Chapter : If just for this moment [Part II