--don't own don't sue enjoy thanks!

-- sorry its been so long

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A Pause for Breath

Snape did not speak a word when he emerged from the Dark Lords chamber. Pale and exhausted, he limped past Draco and barely acknowledged his existence until he stumbled. He grabbed the boy's shoulder to steady himself and clasped it reassuringly when the young Malfoy's eyes looked concerned.

"Help me to a bed." Snape winced as Draco noticed the pain in his former teacher's eyes. The boy was sniffing uncontrollably, his fear of torture and death combined with the tragedy of losing his mother and witnessing Dumbledore's murder was taking its toll. The pillars of pride and strength known as the Malfoys were crumbling to dust.

"Is he angry with me?!" Draco stuttered as he led Snape to the stairs of Woodsmanor, taking a fearful look at the corridor leading to the library…where the Dark Lord was waiting. He was terrified that he would be next, that he would be tortured for his hesitation to kill Dumbledore. "Is he going to kill me?"

"No." Snape nodded. "He won't kill you! What you achieved was remarkable… to storm the school without anybody (including me) knowing about it, required magic far beyond what he thought you were capable of… and you did it… you may not have struck the final blow but you are the reason it happened." Snape pushed open a door and collapsed painfully onto a nearby bed, holding his side and gasping as if he were terribly bruised.

"The Dark Lord is mad at me Draco…and you aren't to say another word to me about it!"

"But…"

"What happened has happened and that is the end of it... you are to replace Pettigrew as my assistant… He commands it." Snape added.

"What happens to Pettigrew?"

"I got promoted." A squeaky sneer echoed throughout the room. Draco whirled around to see the rat faced deatheater leering at them from the doorframe. Snape clutched Draco's arm as he noticed the boy's fists turn white with rage. "I am Nagini's keeper... I get to stay here and protect her in the Master's absence."

"Well aren't you special?" Snape said sarcastically.

"Spying on us are you?!" Draco sneered. Pettigrew dared not retort, but returned the glare with equal dislike.

"I was sent by the Dark Lord to summon you to him…now." Pettigrew smiled as the colour drained from Malfoy's face.

"Go Draco… first rule…don't be late." Snape flicked his wand and pushed Draco toward the exit.

"…and the second?!" Draco gasped as he was pushed through the doorframe by an invisible force.

Snape looked at the boy, "Don't lie." He said quietly.

---

Draco was staggering a fair bit as he approached the two towering oak doors to the library where the Dark Lord was waiting beyond. He hadn't slept in two days, he had watched Dumbeldore die, found his mother's body, then had seen Snape get dragged out of the very library he was heading, unconscious and barely alive. Now Draco had been summoned and he was filled with nothing but terror.

His trembling shook the floorboards with every tentative step. A single tear escaped and rolled down his cheek. Was he going to be punished…despite completing the mission…was he going to die anyway?

The doors opened wide as Draco approached. Curtains blocked the room from view, and he pulled them aside, stepping into the library with his eyes clamped shut. The doors slammed closed behind him, and all he could hear was his own frantic breathing. He dared to open his eyes, but found he could barely see anything…the fire was not lit, and the only illumination came from the moonlight streaming through the large windows.

Something cold brushed past his leg. He almost yelped as the slithering form of Nagini encircled his ankle before heading to the far side of the library. He followed her obediently.

Two red eyes opened in the shadows ahead. Draco held his head high and looked straight into them. He could not hide his fear, but he would at least try to.

Voldemort stood waiting for audience with the little Malfoy boy. Lucius' child. It seemed only yesterday the boy was branded with his mark. He had grown so much since then. His body had stretched and thinned, making him almost skeletal in appearance, with greasy white strips of hair sticking to the boy's cheekbones. He stank of sweat and fear.

"I trust Severus will recover?" Voldemort was not concerned about the man. He merely wanted to warn Draco what pain would come, if he proved disappointing.

"He should my lord." Draco said softly, folding under his master's terrifying gaze, he stared glumly at the floor. The dark lord smiled wickedly and circled the boy, as if scanning him for weakness or deceit.

"I confess…I did not expect you to return to me…" Voldemort came into view. The snake slithered up the armchair on which he sat and settled itself...a low hiss emanated from it and the Dark Lord responded with a similar sound. Draco lifted his gaze to watch them converse. He had jealously watched Harry Potter speaking with this rare gift, and thought of the boy's face if he could see him now, in Voldmort's inner circle…Potter would pay for his father's imprisonment. He will pay.

"…I was a little…disappointed…with the outcome." Voldemort continued as if the snake had not spoken at all. Draco resisted the urge to ask questions, for the act would surely be seen as an insult.

"Dumbledore is dead my Lord…the deed is done." Draco clasped his hands behind his back and stood proudly.

The Dark Lord's mouth seemed to twitch with mild amusement. "I am aware of that…I'm referring to the manner of his death…Severus should not have interfered."

Draco silently agreed. He looked ashamedly to the floor. Snape had found him, ready and poised to kill, but he couldn't…he hesitated. All Snape had to do was urge him on, remind him why he was doing it, not push him aside and kill Dumbledore himself. That was almost worse than failing.

"I must say I'm impressed." The Dark Lord hissed.

Draco seemed surprised by the word, and looked up in confusion. "My lord?"

"You disarmed Albus Dumbledore." Voldemort grinned eagerly, but his eyes burned with suspicion and disbelief. "How fitting that a wizard as famous and powerful as he, who hides in a school, should be defeated by a mere child... rather like myself…" Voldemort seemed distant as he recalled the events leading to his so called 'death'. "Snape would not have defeated him had Dumbledore been armed and waiting… it is you my boy who deserves the glory in this death. Your parents would be proud… you have done me a great service… continue in your successes and you will soon sit at my right hand as your father once did."

Draco's heart gave a jolt…the Dark Lord had praised him…actually praised him. Despite all the emotions running through his mind, he felt…glad. A flicker of hope and awe seemed to glow in the boy's pale eyes, as if he had been waiting for these words for decades.

There was a long pause. "However, we've lost a great many Deatheaters this night…I see you have inherited your father's recklessness as you have his disposition."

Draco opened his mouth to defend Lucius but was silenced by a fierce stare. Voldemort swept his robes aside and sat himself down. Draco could see a deep fury and rage etched in his eyes.

"I will make you proud my lord!" The adrenaline from being praised by Voldemort rushed through his veins like a drug.

"Theres a good lad." The dark lord smiled. "You proved tonight that you are more than capable to fulfil my tasks…which is why this next one should prove effortless on your part." Voldemort lifted himself from his chair, approaching the boy until he towered over him like a dark cloud of evil. Draco's fear returned full force as he contemplated all the terrible tasks ahead.

"Snape will have told you I have assigned you as his assistant…that is what he believes and that is what he will continue to believe once you leave this room."

Draco frowned in worry. His gut twisted at what was to come, and the pain of it was making his breathing tight. Voldemort could sense his torment. "Ah you have guessed my intention, which means you and I are of the same mind…"

Draco fought the urge to beg, to plead mercy. Snape was his godfather and the only family he had left in this world, aside from a psychotic aunt. But he could not…he would not refuse…or he would die. "What must I do?" He looked at his feet, defeated.

"Wormtail's efforts to report Snape's activities have yet been unsuccessful. Snape doesn't trust him, in fact he seems to trust nobody…except you!" A sinister smile peaked from the dark lord's lips.

"Surely Leglimens-" Draco started but was silenced by Voldmort.

"Not even the most powerful Leglimens could break into Severus Snape's mind…I saw to that… but at a price… I gave my most trusted a gift that could be used against me… and I must be careful Draco…we all must be."

Draco nodded understandingly, and the dark lord couldn't help but notice a childlike obedience. There were no questions…it was do or die.

"You will spend your days with Severus, you will report everything he does to me. If you suspect betrayal in any way, you will tell me…understand?"

"Yes sir!" Draco said softly, and with a wave of his hand, Voldemort dismissed the boy.

"…and Draco?" Voldemort added, forcing the boy to turn and listen. "…if you tell anybody…believe me…I will know." He touched his temple in warning. Not everybody was as skilled an occlumens as Snape…every word Draco spoke from now on would be recorded in his own memory, and all the dark lord need do is access it.

---

Snape had lost consciousness by the time Draco returned. The boy sat in silent contemplation at the task he had just been given and held his head in his hands. His guilt was threatening to spew from his mouth in a cascade of sickness. His stomach trembled and his eyes watered. Draco burst into a fit of sobs and cradling his head in his arms cried aloud and unheard in the empty halls of Woodsmanor.

---

"Hey Bill!" Hermione waved at the semi-conscious Weasley as they stormed St. Mungos as one. The nurses put up a fuss until Arthur Weasley explained they were all family. Bill looked a good deal better. He was sitting up, and attempting to smile. Fleur was constantly at his bedside, and mothered him more than Mrs Weasley ever could.

"Boys? Ginny, Hermione what are you doing here?" Arthur stood up and stared at his children with a worried look. "I heard Harry is in big trouble in the ministry, they've got Aurors out searching for him and Malfoy now…we have to find him before the Deatheaters-"

"Dad Harry's ok and he's searching for the dark lord's Horcruxes with Lu-"

"Lupin!" Hermione elbowed Ron hard, causing him to yelp. "…and he needs help from the order." She gave Ron a stern look and continued. It was still too early to confess they were working with Malfoy.

"All too happy to help a friend in need. What does he need from me?" Arthur smiled.

---

Ron, Hermione and the others apparated outside Grimmauld Place with Mr Weasley in tow. He still did not know Lucius was being hidden by Harry but Hermione knew he would find out eventually. That would be the test. Would Arthur be able to put aside his hate to help Harry? Or would he turn Malfoy in?

Harry opened the door and was surprised to find Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, Charlie and Mr Weasley all eagerly waiting for him. A sharp look from Hermione told him they did not know the plan, and he would have to tell them before Luicus returned…if he returned.

"Quick inside!" Harry motioned for them to enter and pushed them all into the living room, where Lupin was searching the Pensieve. He lifted his head from the bowl as the others walked in.

"Sit down guys this will take a while to explain." Harry motioned to the sofas.

"What are we here doing Remus?" Arthur smiled.

"Listen guys… I promised Dumbledore that I would find Voldemort's horcruxes… pieces of his soul that he's hidden in objects from his past. Ginny has seen one…the diary?" Harry hoped they wouldn't need a lecture on what Horcruxes were and how they were made.

Ginny nodded in understanding. Mr Weasley looked apprehensive. He had heard of Horcruxes in his time, but he had never knowingly seen one.

Harry wasn't sure what to say…and thought it would be best to out with the truth. "I wasn't planning to continue the search until I was 17 and allowed to practice magic outside of school… but yesterday… Lucius Malfoy entered my home with the sole intention of sending me directly to my grave!"

"Why did you not inform the ministry?!" Arthur gasped and leapt to his feet.

"Malfoy had his chance to kill me and return to Voldemort a servant… but he didn't... I spoke with him…and he's switched sides." Harry explained.

"Never!" Arthur spat. "That man would never do that! He's a cruel, heartless deceiver Harry! Don't you dare trust him for a second! He'll be back with his Deatheater pals before you can say Cruciatus!"

"Mr Weasley please listen." Harry begged. "Malfoy knows where the Horcrux are, and he's given me all the information I need to find them! I need his help…and I don't know how, but I think this is what Dumbledore would have done!"

"What? trusted a man like him to keep his word? Malfoy's tongue is as sharp and poisonous as a fanged beeblebrax!" Arthur growled.

"No…not trust him, forgive him."

---

Harry was quick to explain the events leading to this moment. How the locket was not found, and how Lucius believed the Dark Lord had taken it. Hermione thought otherwise, like Harry she had keyed to the fact that Voldemort would have still believed his locket to be safe in the cave, so he would not have searched Malfoy Manor for a Horcrux he didn't know was there.

"Mr Weasley when you and the aurors searched Malfoy Manor did you find a golden locket with an 'S' symbol etched onto it?" Harry asked.

Arthur was about to nod a 'no' when he paused. "I don't recall a specific locket, but the others made a log of every item discovered at the crime scene, and I do remember seeing a 'pendant necklace' among the list." Arthur frowned.

"Where do you keep the log?" Hermione asked.

"Francis Harrogate, head of the department of dark and dangerous artefacts. It will have been sent to his office along with the items. It's his job to process them." Arthur explained.

"Does that mean the necklace will be kept in the department?" Harry asked.

"No, only if it is cursed or marked as dangerous…as far as I know the necklace she wore wasn't cursed, and it is likely Harrogate sent it back to the Manor."

"Well it isn't there now…perhaps he did store it." Lupin stood up to leave. "Arthur and I will go to the Ministry and take a look. Harry you stay here!" He barked as he saw Harry move. "If you set one foot in the Ministry they'll have you! I want you to keep searching the pensieve for any clues on the two remaining Horcruxes."

Harry nodded obediently. The others looked around as if waiting for orders. Lupin smiled. "At ease gents!" He teased. "I strongly suggest you post lookouts at the doors, should deatheaters or ministry officials come looking, I want you all to apparate or floo to Malfoy Manor and pray that Lucius is still on our side.

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