Disclaimer: As much as I would like to tap Lucius Malfoy and change him into a toad in book 6, I possess no power to do so because all characters unfortunately belong to J.K.Rowling. However I do possess the power to manipulate the characters haha and they are at my dispense.

dimondcrystal124: thanks for reviewing! well the bond hasn't really been formed yet (in terms of love) but they are definitely bound by something intangible ... and strong! hope you enjoy this chapter.
Yun Fei: hey thanks for reviewing :) haha you got that part about Dumbledore spot on ... saviour wise, hehe, you have to just keep reading on. And yes I'm pairing the two up, but that whole romantic part will have to come after the drama. I'm a suckler for action and drama, not lemony stuff hope this chapter is up to your taste :)
slytherin-kittycat: there, I promised to catch up with you:) thanks for your review; well Hermione gets the stronger sense alright. Draco-wise, it takes time to connect to her. Yep so now I shall reveal more answers to the secrets you identified earlier on:) hope you enjoy this chapter.

Professor Dumbledore leant back in his armchair, tapping his fingers absent-mindedly to a random tune that had just come up in his mind, hoping the melody would overshadow the many happenings that were causing turmoils in his wise head at the moment. Sometimes, even the head of a school would like some peace! But as luck would have it, Professor McGonagall's sudden arrival by banging open the door of his office startled all the notes out of his mind and his fingers stopped to grasp the armrest with a jerk.

"Why…"

"I apologise, Professor, for my sudden intrusion but I must inform you of something," said Professor McGonagall, very briskly, as she strode up to the front of Professor Dumbledore's table. "Miss Granger is lying in the hospital wing now from a faint in class, and she is muttering something very conspicuously suspicious."

"Take your time to catch your breath, Minerva," said Professor Dumbledore, trying to sound calm as the pointy-faced witch glared at him, heaving deeply. "And what was that Miss Granger was saying?"

"She said that Mr Malf stretched out his arm and Fawkes flew to land on it, ruffling his feathers as he did so. Professor McGonagall continuking at Professor Dumbledore, who seemed to have gone a little rigid, before he relaxed and looked expectantly at her. She gave a click of exasperation. "What more information do you need, Albus! I think that is a really serious matter of which…"

"Like where Mr Malfoy is now."

"I have no idea!" Minerva McGonagall was completely exasperated. "He has been missing from all his classes, and Professor, only you could have given him permission to skip classes! Do you mean to tell me you have absolutely no clue regarding the whereabouts of Draco Malfoy?"

Fawkes gave a whimper as he buried his head under his brilliant plumage. Professor Dumbledore gave him a glance, then looked back at Professor McGonagall. "I have some clue but I have been told not to inform the staff. But I am not very clear about the whole situation."

"And you let the boy go? Is it Lucius Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall's eyes squeezed into slits as she mentioned the name of the Death-Eater.

Professor Dumbledore said nothing. He stretched out his arm and Fawkes flew to land on it, ruffling his feathers as he did so. Professor McGonagall continued to observe his expressions, but he gave her none. Completely despaired by the lack of attention the Headmaster seemed to be giving this issue, Professor McGonagall threw up her hands and turned around to walk off. She deliberately walked slower towards the exit in hope that he would call her back to discuss the issue with her, but as he made no sound at all, she let out a rather muffled "hrrumph!" and stalked off in fury.

Albus Dumbledore watched her go off, but there was no flicker of amusement in his eyes as he usually would have towards such a comical action. He saw absolutely no humour in McGonagall's exasperation, because he was very worried about Draco Malfoy. He leant back in his armchair, trying to piece together the conversation he had...

...just a while ago...

"Well, well, well, Professor Dumbledore. I am surprised you are still managing Hogwarts after all that drama for the past few years…"

Professor Dumbledore eyed the long blond-haired man before him rather neutrally. "And rather well, I believe."

"Such a fantastic ego, Albus. But then again, you managed to evade us time and again from being sent to Azkaban. Well done, in that manner," and Lucius Malfoy gave a harsh laugh.

"My pleasure." Professor Dumbledore was willing to spend time to play games with Lucius Malfoy, but he was also awaiting the chance to chase him out. Having a Death-Eater in your office was not a particular honour, he had to admit. "Speak your mind, Lucius. What have you come for?"

"Oh, my friend, is there not more we can chat about?" asked Lucius, airily as he settled down in the armchair in front of Dumbledore's desk. "For example…" and he fingered his chin thoughtfully. "Callidus Auceps?"

"So, is that a confession that you sent the man into our grounds?" Professor Albus Dumbledore was doing an amazing job in keeping his cool.

"Not I, not I, the Dark Lord," laughed Lucius Malfoy, a chilling evil laugh. "And he was such a complete fool it was a waste of our time."

"A fool indeed. If not, Callidus would have been one of the most hardworking handymen I would have ever seen. He would have given Filch…what the Muggles say, "a run for his money". Pity though, he tries too hard for your master."

"He hasn't been trained very well in spying," remarked Lucius, coolly. "And he had to run into a meddlesome nitwit like you who originally was not supposed to come back to your office so that he wouldn't have to face your presence."

"Especially not when he's meddling with the school documents. No, no, no," smiled Professor Dumbledore.

"But it can be seen that your school security can be breached rather easily." Lucius Malfoy's lip curled unpleasantly. "What a shame, Albus, a crying shame. And to think Callidus Auceps was one of the lowest-ranking minions of the Dark Lord."

"I suppose he has been…"

"Destroyed with the Avada Kedavra curse."

Professor Dumbledore looked rather surprised as he sat at his seat, fingering a quill. "It warrants such a curse for a minion like Callidus?"

"The Dark Lord had put faith in him because Callidus Auceps was the son of…"

"Ian Auceps. I should have guessed. Calling his son Callidus. Extremely apt."

"Ian Auceps was the most powerful Death-Eater then, had he not committed the grievous sin of falling in love with a Muggle. And so theHalf-Blood Callidus was born. But Callidus Auceps was a hardworking man who respected the Dark Lord a great deal." Lucius seemed to be narrating from an intangible text. "And the Dark Lord rewarded his service (however much he hated him) with a duty that was much to bear. As he expected somehow, that fool of a Callidus could not carry out the job and had to die."

"It's also because he was no Pureblood, wasn't it?"

"I regret starting the topic about the useless fool. Such a waste of time for a discussion."

"Useless? I believe he was quite useful enough to plant things in our classrooms."

"You have not cleared it?" The tone of amusement in Lucius' voice was so evidently dripping with contempt.

"The attempt so far has been rather successful."

"But not completely."

"Speak your mind, Lucius. I haven't got all day!" Professor Dumbledore was becoming impatient with the way Malfoy was beating about the bush.

Lucius Malfoy fiddled with his thumbs for a bit, then looked up with a rye smile on his face. "Well, supposedly if we got a better minion for the job?"

"In preparation already? The Dark Lord's efficiency has increased. Is he that bloodthirsty for Harry Potter?"

"That Potter boy will have to die sooner or later, Albus. You know that. But we will make him suffer…what if his friends…"

"You are attempting to hurt Mr Weasley and Miss Granger?" Professor Dumbledore's eyes suddenly lit up in what would be interpreted as mild horror.

"My dear Albus, it would have been quite easy to predict so. But our attempt is not just disastrous for the three kids. I must inform you the Dark Lord's minion is already in the grounds."

Lucius laughed to see the half-concealed shock in Dumbledore's face, but the Headmaster quickly recovered. "Already?"

"Yes, but not yet invested."

A sudden realisation dawned upon the wise Headmaster. "You are planning to induct your son?"

"You are wise as they say, Albus. Clever, indeed. Yes, I am here primely to excuse my son from the entire day's less

ons. And you know…" Lucius Malfoy leant forward to twist the quill out of Dumbledore's hand. "What will happen if you do not comply."

"I am not sending my student into the depths of darkness!" The firm voice sent Lucius into a sudden rage as he stood up, kicking the armchair away, and suddenly pulling out his wand directly pointing at the Headmaster. "You will comply!"

Professor Dumbledore stared at the wand tip that was merely inches away from his face. He looked calmly at Lucius Malfoy. "You will regret that your son ever became a Death-Eater."

"I rejoice, Professor."

Knowing that he could not risk angering the Dark Lord, Professor Dumbledore gripped his armchair with a grieved air of hidden despair.

Note: Callidus - sly, Auceps - spy Latin