Hello all!! I received a notice that some of my plot was kind of confusing, and decided to clear up a few foggy points. One question was why, if Voldemort was really Dumbledore, would he get Hermione to watch Draco? Well, since Draco is the next in line to Voldie's throne, he wanted to be absolutely sure that there was no chance of him turning to the light side. He used Hermione, by "forcing" Draco to love her, to try and see if Hermione could turn him over to the good side. If she could, then Draco would no longer be the heir. He just wanted to check his loyalties. Another question was why Voldemort would want Draco to "love" Hermione, and that was because of her connection to Harry. If Hermione "loved" Draco, she would follow him anywhere, even into trouble. They could put her in a deadly situation and Harry would come running into their trap.

Hmm…. But will it all work out that way?? Suspense!!!!

Well! Hope that cleared up some confusion. Thanks as always for the reviews.

Try to spot the "Wicked" reference in Chapter 8!! Imaginary cookies if you can!!

Chapter 8-The Battle Begins

Draco stood before the cursed house, every breath taking a great deal of effort. It was the house he and his brother had grown up in, the house where he learned the good and bad of life, and the house that had been neglected ever since that fateful day.

It was the house where he first truly knew what it felt like to be alone.

He hated it. As much as he wanted to see it burn, he clung to it desperately the way he clung to the shreds of his memories. He wanted to let go, but seeing it now, so real and so close, he just couldn't forget the sorrow felt within its deadly walls. He couldn't forget the first time he felt like a human being, just like he couldn't forget the first time he became a deadly killer.

There was so much that had dwelt in that house, but the person in there now was far more important than any of them.

Pushing his doubts and fears aside, Draco strode through the front doors, following the haunted screams that tormented his soul directly down to the dungeons.

XXXXXXXX

Ginny couldn't stop pacing. Harry had told her to wait outside, but she was never good at waiting for others. To take her mind off of it, she decided to go and find Hermione. She could always pass the time easily with her.

Ginny strode through the halls, wondering what sort of place Hermione would be haunting tonight. Most likely the dining hall, it was dinnertime, after all.

However, she entered the Great Hall, and still could not spot the trademark bushy hair that belonged to Hermione. She did, however, find a shock of red hair that matched her own, belonging to a boy who was sitting alone.

Hermione's not with Ron? That's strange, she thought to herself. Maybe he knows something about where she is.

"Oh, hey, Ginny. You have GOT to try this pumpkin pie, it is absolutely amazing!!" Ron said with a full mouth. He apparently didn't have a care in the world.

"No, thanks, Ron. I'm actually looking for Hermione. You haven't seen her, have you?" Ginny asked.

"Nope, not lately. She's been spending a lot of time with Malfoy. She's probably with him now." He said with obvious disgust on his face.

Suddenly, Ginny's mind flashed back to the terrorized Draco that she had encountered not one hour ago. She knew when she looked into his eyes that something was terribly wrong, she just didn't make the connection.

She's probably with him now…

Her heart jumped into her throat.

She needed to find Hermione.

Without bothering to give Ron an explanation, she darted off towards all of Hermione's favorite places, praying that she would find her there.

If she could not find her anywhere, then she would wait no longer.

She would tell Harry and Dumbledore, no matter what she was interrupting.

XXXXXXXXX

Harry was at a complete loss. Dumbledore had vanished, replaced by the heart of his worst nightmare. All his feelings of security fled him, to be replaced by a terrible, sudden feeling of dread. He was alone with the Dark Lord, finally fighting him after all these years.

Fighting, it seemed, to the death.

"What have you done with Dumbledore?" Harry accused, trying to keep his voice steady to hide his growing fear.

Voldemort laughed at him. "You need not worry about that fool of a Headmaster anymore, Potter. He will not be coming back from where he is now."

"Is he in Azkaban? The Forbidden Forest? Godric's Hollow? I don't understand. Where is he?" He asked desperately.

"That is not for you to worry about. It is time you faced me without the aid of that disgustingly perceptive bastard." Voldemort spoke, smirking at the confused expression that covered Harry's face at his words.

"I should have killed you when I had the chance, Potter. You have caused me much turmoil ever since my return, for which I have paid dearly. But no more of that… now you are alone. Now that you must face your worst fear, where are your friends? They have left you. You are as alone as you were the night that I killed your parents, the night when I took from you your very existence. And now I have come back to finish the deed." Voldemort raised his wand, Harry raised his, willing his hand not to shake.

Although all of his thoughts should have been concentrating on the battle, Harry couldn't help thinking about Ginny. She was waiting outside for him, trusting fully that he would come back to her. Despite whatever danger she had felt looming in this ominous office, she had faith that Harry would overcome it.

He couldn't bear to let her down.

He would come out of this alive, no matter what it cost him.

"Nobody in the world, no wizard that there is or was, is ever going to bring me down!!" Harry argued bravely, his courage mounting.

Voldemort scowled angrily at him, his eyes burning with fury inside. He shot a sectumsempra spell at him, hoping to hit him square in the chest, but Harry's seeker reflexes were quicker than he thought. Harry dodged out of the way, and the spell hit an unlucky victim in a portrait. Harry heard a few shrieks from terrified portraits behind him, but he didn't allow himself to be distracted. It took all his energy simply to avoid attacks, he knew that he would have to wait a long time before even attempting an offensive spell.

"Deprimo!" Voldemort shouted as a band of golden light emitted from his wand. Harry dove out of the way, leaving a gaping hole in place of Dumbledore's wall. Ruins fell in large chunks on the floor, splintering as they hit. Dust emitted from the broken stones, giving the room a smoky appearance.

"Confringo!" Voldemort shouted out another spell, and Harry quickly stood and escaped it. The place where he had been laying only moments ago burst into flame, growing treacherously high. Harry's heart sank, even if he did make it out of this alive, Dumbledore's office at least would be damaged greatly.

Harry sprinted over to Fawkes, the bird was absolutely terrified of the battle. He flew around the room panicked, not knowing what to do to help.

"Get Dumbledore! Go!" Harry said quickly. It was all he could say before another curse came flying at him from Voldemort.

Fawkes flew out of the room quickly, going through the hole that Voldemort had blasted with his deprimo charm. Harry could only pray as he sprinted around the room, diving deftly each and every spell Voldemort sent his way, that Fawkes would find Dumbledore in time.

"No! What have you done, you wretched child?" Voldemort spat. Harry took the opportunity to hit him with a spell.

"Crucio!" Harry yelled as he pointed his wand. It was his best bet, other than the killing curse, that Voldemort would be in extreme pain.

Voldemort barely flinched.

"What?" Harry asked confusedly. Surely Voldemort could be harmed by the deadliest spells in the book, couldn't he? If even Voldemort was immune to such things as pain, then this fight was going to be more complicated than Harry thought.

Voldemort laughed, the joy that usually encompassing laughter replaced by malice and evil. "You didn't think that a simple spell would be able to bring me down, did you?"

Harry's heart sunk. What did this mean? Was Voldemort invincible?

Harry shot an expelliarmus spell at Voldemort. Voldemort didn't even try to dodge it, the spell hit him straight on. Harry's heart lightened, maybe he had a chance after all!

But as Harry watched, he realized that the spell had no effect. It was simply absorbed into an orange haze, and harmlessly disappeared.

"I am too strong to be brought down by mere spells and incantations! I am everything evil that exists, it will take much more than words to take me down."

What was that supposed to mean? Harry dived to the floor to avoid another curse. Voldemort must have some power that can't be brought down by normal means… he has reinforced himself so that I can't beat him straight out.

Voldemort cackled. "You can never beat me while you are alone, Potter. Never. As long as no one is willing to die for you, your wand and magic will not be enough."

Harry continued running, diving like a madman while trying not to think about the true meaning of Voldemort's words.

XXXXXXX

Ginny frantically ran through the school, looking for any sign of trademark bushy hair and big, brown eyes. She ran through endless staircases, ignoring her aching legs as they struggled against such labor. However, her pounding heartbeat had nothing to do with the physical exertion she was placing upon herself. Hermione was in danger, she knew this beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Ginny continued searching the school, hoping that if she kept going for just a little while longer she would see that Hermione was safe. If she kept going just a little while longer and was successful, it would mean that all of her feelings of dread were nothing to worry about.

It would mean that her current feeling of overwhelming despair was nothing more than a dream.

XXXXXXXX

As a red-haired girl stormed Hogwarts in search of her friend, Draco descended stairs, following the screams of the one that he loved, each step bringing him closer to his worst nightmare.

Each step brought back memories, each turn was a flashback of his old life. The musty smell that he had seemingly forgotten overwhelmed him now, yanking him out of his current life and back to the terror of the old. Each footstep leading back to that fateful place assaulted him with memories of his brother, each one more real than the last.

Her screams were growing louder, only adding to the agony that Draco already felt. She was in pain, terrified, unsure of what would happen next.

And it was his fault.

He would do whatever it took to save her, even if it meant slaying his own father.

Draco rounded the last corner, her screams now all he could hear. He descended the last step, and entered the dungeon where his brother's life had ended.

Hermione was laying on the floor, cringing from what Draco immediately recognized as the cruciatus curse. Lucius stood above her, only a few feet away from Draco, administering the curse with a heartless stance.

This scene was all too familiar to Draco. Hermione was his brother, and Lucius was the exact same as he was so many years ago. The screaming, the dank of the dungeons, the bloodstains on the wall… nothing had changed. The heart-wrenching agony of the final death blow…

Lucius raised his wand to attack again. Draco saw the curse coming, saw it headed her way. There was not enough time for a counter curse, only enough time to act.

Draco dove in front of her, and pain exploded in every part of his body. He was met with her astonished brown eyes as he fell forward, seeking embrace in her perfect arms from his searing pain.

"Draco! …It.. hurts." Hermione started to say.

"Get out of here. This isn't your fight." Draco answered before she could say anything, bravely fighting the pain that was taking over him.

"Draco… he'll kill you… can't leave you." Hermione argued, fighting her pain.

"Hermione… d-don't… don't argue with me, just this once." Draco said, much more gently this time, his face still contorted with pain.

"No, I won't leave you." Hermione said stubbornly.

"Hermione, I'm not brave like you!" Draco said, suddenly sensitive, biting back his pain. "You spat in Lord Voldemort's face. Even now, you're refusing to leave me, although you might die. I'm… I'm not like that. Right now, I'm terrified. I'm scared of dying, but I'm more scared for you. Please, just this once… let me protect you."

Hermione sobbed and held him closer. Before she had a chance to answer, however, Lucius interrupted their moment.

"Draco, I raised you better than that. Dying for something worthless is a disgrace to our name! What are you thinking?"

Draco stood, despite the pain, and turned to face the menace that was his father.

"I'm not dying for something worthless. I'm living and fighting for the love of my life, no matter how many times death tries to claim me."

Hermione shakily stood up behind him, clutching the wall for support, refusing to show her weakness to Lucius Malfoy anymore.

Lucius scowled. "Draco, I taught you better than that. I taught you to preserve yourself and yourself only. Fighting for this will only hurt you in your quest to become the Dark Lord. Is that what you want, Draco? Do you want to give up that position for her sake?"

Draco answered through clenched teeth, "I will give up nothing."

Quicker than a flash, Lucius spun Draco around and put his wand against his temple. All of the life seemed to leave Draco, he knew that in this position he was no match against his father. However, while his father was preoccupied with him, Hermione could escape. Hermione could save herself.

"Go! Escape, while you can!" Draco shouted, his pleas cut short by Lucius jabbing his wand sharply to his temple.

"You cannot have everything, Draco! You must make a choice." Lucius' voice said unwaveringly, his tone all too familiar to Draco.

He had heard those words before.

"You must eliminate whatever gets in your way."

He couldn't mean… he couldn't…

"Take out your wand, Draco." Draco obeyed, hardly knowing what to think anymore. He held it at his side, ready to use it at a moment's notice.

"My, my, doesn't this look familiar? I seem to recall a similar incident happening in this exact place not so long ago, don't you, Draco?" Lucius taunted.

Draco saw the fear enter Hermione's eyes as she put the pieces together. She glanced around her frantically, as if she was beginning to see this place for the first time. Finally, her gaze rested on his eyes, realizing what Draco would be required to do.

"If you want to raise to the throne that you have been striving for since birth, you must show me how badly you want it. You must prove your loyalties in one undeniable act. If you do not, I can assure you that you will not live to see Lord Voldemort's disappointment."

Draco stiffened as his father whispered the words, the most sinister betrayal a father could ever administer to his own son.

"Kill her, or die."