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The Hunt

Ginny had barely leapt five steps up when Hermione's piercing scream echoed loudly through the walls, waking every portrait around her.

Soon she was surrounded by the bombarding screams and shouts of help from all the portraits. "GET THE PROFESSORS!" She shouted at them, and many dispersed, running from frame to frame to get to the nearest room with a teacher in it. Ginny flung herself up flights of stairs with great speed. Her heart was in her throat.

"Avada Kedavra!" She heard a roar.

"NO!" She cried, still climbing as tears welled up in her eyes. "Hermione." She whimpered. Sprinting to McGonogall's chamber door, she hammered on it desperately.

"PROFESSOR! PROFESSOR WAKE UP!" She screamed.

McGonogall wasted no time. She emerged in her tartan gown and hat. "Mrs Weasley? What in God's na…?"

"DEATHEATERS! THERE'S DEATHEATERS IN THE SCHOOL!" Ginny shook, pointing aimlessly behind her.

"Nonsense!" McGonogall scoffed. No way could they breach Hogwart's defences…it was impossible. "Don't be ridicul…"

A blood curdling howl made them jump. Ginny's skin erupted into goose bumps at the chilling noise of the werewolf.

"Greyback!" MgGonogall gasped. "My god…the children!" Images of students being dragged from their beds and bitten in their sleep flooded her mind. Greyback was a notorious killer. He would target the young, for revenge, for recruits, for his own sadistic pleasure. A school to him would be like a buffet.

"Hermione's down there!" Ginny whimpered.

"We must wake the professors…" MgGonogall withdrew her wand. "I need you…to take this…" She disappeared into her chamber and came out with a jar of floo powder. "Use my fire place…I'll open it for you…go to 'Grimmauld Palace!' Inform the order! Bring back as many as you can find!"

"What about Hermione?" Ginny sniffed.

"It's probably too late…go Ginny…go now!" She waved her wand at the fireplace and its embers started to smoke. "Grimmauld Palace! Get Bill!"

---

Draco and the Deatheaters slowed to a jog as they approached the headmaster's office. The gold Phoenix towered over them like a huge guard dog. He couldn't help but shiver as he thought of what lay beyond…failure? Death?

"Ginger Biscuit" He croaked reluctantly. He didn't want to go up those stairs. He didn't want to die…for die he would…he was no match for the old wizard.

Fenrir and the others laughed as the Phoenix started to ascend, revealing the stone spiral staircase that lead directly to Dumbledore.

Malfoy took some deep breaths and gripped his wand tightly. He forced himself to toughen, his face growing a sneer, his eyes burning with deep rage. He was NOT going to lose…Wormtail was not going to sneak into Azkaban bearing news of his failure…he would make his father proud…he would make Voldemort proud.

He stepped slowly onto the stairs and climbed them one by one, until Dumbledore's chamber door stood in front of him. The last barrier between himself and his mission. His trembling fingers gripped the carved brass handle and turned, opening the door with a creak.

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"BILL!" Ginny screamed. The dusty old house of Sirius Black seemed completely abandoned. "LUPIN!" She hollered, running through each room, hoping someone would answer her.

She spotted a sofa, where her brother's long red hair was draped over the side. It was most likely his shift, and he had fallen asleep. A book resting on his chest.

"BILL!" She ran over to the corner of the room and shook him. "GET UP!"

Her brother yawned and ignored her. "Go away Ginny." He mumbled sleepily, then after a seconds realisation he almost fell off the sofa in alarm. "GINNY!" He sat bolt upright, slamming his head on a shelf above him. "OW!"

He fell back down on the sofa, grimacing and clutching his sore head. Ginny groaned desperately.

"Biiiilll!" She whined. "GET UP! HURRY!"

He winced and climbed to his feet. "What is it?"

"Deatheaters are attacking the school!" She shouted.

"WHAT?"

"We have to get everybody to Hogwarts! IMMEDIATELY!" She slammed her foot down.

"Right…er…right!" Bill shook. He removed his wand. "LUPIN! TONKS! KINGSLEY! EVERYONE! TROUBLE!" He called. No answer. He looked at Ginny, not sure what to do. Then pointed his wand angrily at the floor. "ERUPTIO!" He hollered.

The ground beneath them cracked and splintered as a shockwave vibrated the whole house. Items and ornaments fell off surfaces and crashed to the floor as they heard running footsteps on the floors above.

Lupin charged down the stairs, wand aimed and ready. "Bill? GINNY?" He barked. "Wha…"

"Hogwarts need us! Assemble the 'order'!" Bill nodded. "No time to lose."

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"What do you mean he's not here!" Fenrir pushed past Draco and pulled back the velvet curtain which shielded Dumbledore's living quarters from view.

He rummaged around, ripping the covers off the bed, and looking absolutely livid. Draco just looked defeated. How was he not here? He had it all planned…Dumbledore was meant to be here! He couldn't speak. Terror gripped him as he realised there was no turning back. He had failed.

Fenrir furiously ripped the curtain off its hooks and laughed in disbelief.

"…oh…this is just PERFECT!" He may have been laughing but his face showed nothing but fury. He placed his face right in front of Malfoy's.

"You're in big trouble now." He grinned brutally.

Draco ignored him. The wrath of Fenrir Greyback was nothing compared to that of Lord Voldemort. Fenrir was but a worm by comparison. He started for the door, but Fenrir stood in his way. "Where do you think you're going?" He hissed.

"To die…" Draco said blankly, pushing past the werewolf without a care. As he did so a screech slammed into his ears, and Draco felt a stab of pain on his back. Fawkes the phoenix had emerged from his hiding place and was furiously nipping and clawing at Draco's back. Showering him with feathers.

Draco yelled and struggled to grab the bird. He made to protect his face from the sharp talons, which clawed relentlessly at his back and neck. The other deatheaters tried to help him but Greyback held them back.

"If he can't manage a stupid bird, how the hell would he manage the great Albus Dumbledore!" He laughed wickidly.

"Get it off!" Malfoy roared.

"Come on…there's blood to be spilled…I can smell it coming!" Fenrir exited the office, followed closely by the others. They abandoned Draco with the enraged Phoenix, and he fought it helplessly.

"GET OFF ME!" He snarled at it. Then realised it must have known…all this time…it knew what he was planning…it had glared at him every time he stepped foot in Dumbledore's office…and now it wanted revenge.

With one last effort he grabbed the bird and flung it against the bookcase. Fawkes slammed against it and was showered with books. It made baby-like noises, as though it were injured. "I'm sorry…I have to try…I have no choice." He whispered to it, as if it were Dumbledore himself. Then he ran…ran as fast as he could…out of the room…down the stairs…just run away.

He flung himself from the stone steps, and found himself in the corridor. A beam of light was moving ahead and he tried to focus his eyes. Suddenly two strong arms grabbed him from behind and dragged him back behind a suit of Armour.

Draco started to protest but then a hand flung across his mouth. "SHHHH!" Fenrir's voice hissed in his ear. Draco struggled, fearing the werewolf was going to rip his throat out. "DON'T MOVE!" He whispered.

Sure enough running footsteps were heard in the corridors beyond.

"Any sign of them?" McGonogall's shrill voice broke the silence. Her wand lit like a torch.

Professor Binns the ghost was patrolling ahead of her. Being invulnerable to curses made him the perfect alarm system. "SHHH!" He whispered.

"What is it?"

"I thought I heard something…near the Headmaster's office? Is he back yet?"

"No…he told me he'd meet me at the astronomy tower."

Draco's ears pricked up, and he could have gasped, were it not for Greyback's fingers clamped firmly over his airway. Instead what escaped was a muffled cry.

"LUMOS!" A beam of light hit them both and bathed them in light.

McGonogall had her wand pointed at the shape hiding behind a knight. "Show yourself!"

Fenrir stepped out from his hiding place, Draco still in his grip. "I just came for the boy!" He lied, a vicious smile stretching across his lips. "The Dark Lords wants…'a word' …with him!" He licked his teeth hungrily and McGonogall trembled.

Fenrir had no idea whether his plan would work. He had dragged Malfoy out in the hope that he could use him as a hostage. There was a small chance she didn't know it was Draco who organised this raid in the first place. Her fearful reaction said it all…the woman had no idea.

Draco looked horrified. What the hell was Fenrir doing? It took him a moment to realise that McGonogall hadn't been informed of his treachery. It wouldn't be long before she was. He had to play along. He struggled against Fenrir's grip, and muffled shouts of alarm.

"Let him go Greyback!" McGonogall's wand shook uneasily.

"No…no I don't think so!" Fenrir grinned. He licked a drop of blood off Draco's neck. Draco grimaced. A hungry werewolf at your neck was not the best position to be in, even if he was on your side. Fenrir would hurt him, if he had to…if it was the only way they could both escape. "Your Daddy's been a bad boy!" He taunted. Draco's verbal curse was stifled by Fenrir's grasp on him. But it wasn't pleasant. Fenrir let out a hysterical laugh.

McGonogall was on the verge of panic. Professor Binns the ghost had dissolved into the wall a while ago, and returned with Professors Sprout and Slughorn.

"Draco!" Slughorn gasped, raising his wand to the boy's captive. Sprout did the same.

"You're outnumbered Greyback! Let the boy go!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that madam!" Fenrir said ever so politely. "You see my master always gets what he wants…isn't that right Malfoy? And right now he's very, very angry with your Daddy! Maybe kidnapping you will give Lucius incentive to keep his bloody mouth SHUT!"

Draco groaned and tried to wrench away the arm that held his mouth. Then he felt the small lump in his pocket…The hand of Glory…gave light only to its user. Draco had an idea, but Fenrir wouldn't let him speak..

"OKAY!" Malfoy's barely audible shouts erupted from behind the werewolf's hand. "OKAY!"

Fenrir released his clasp on the boy's mouth.

"Okay!" Draco shouted, and winced in pain. "Okay…My father doesn't have it! He gave it to me! …" He gasped. "I have it…it's in my pocket!"

Fenrir looked momentarily confused, then played along. "Get it…slowly!" He had his wand pointed at McGonogall, and Draco's body as a shield.

"No…Draco! Whatever it is…don't give it to him! Don't fall into the trap like your father did!" Slughorn warned him.

"DO IT!" Fenrir roared.

Draco thrust his hand into his pocket and brought out the hand of glory, which shrouded them in thick black smog in less than a second. Only Draco's path was lit, and he grabbed Fenrir's arm and dragged him away from the professors, who were clawing their way in the dark, trying to find them.

"Where the hell are we going?" Fenrir snarled in the darkness. "I can't see a damned thing!"

"Hold on to me!" Draco forced Fenrir to grab his shirt, as the light from the hand of glory lit his way. A light only he could see. "IM GOING TO KILL HIM!"

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