The Half-Blood Princess

Chapter 10

"So this is it? Tomorrow night will be when it is decided?" Draco asked the silent room. Gwen looked over at him as she took his hand into hers. She then looked over at her father worry crossing her face.

"I'll wait until much later tonight to tell him."

"Will you be all right?" She asked him.

He nodded to Gwen. She ran over to Severus and hugged him to her tightly. He hugged her back.

"I love you, Gwen. Don't you ever forget that."

"I love you too, Daddy." Her eyes starting to tear up. "Be safe and come back to me." She gave him another squeeze before letting him go, giving him a kiss on each cheek, and going back to Draco. He took her arm, saluted Severus, and led Gwen away. "We'll be in our common room for the rest of the night."

"Thank you Draco. Take care of her." Severus said as they left his office.

Severus took his time getting ready for later in the evening. He took his dinner in his office as he wrote out his will leaving everything to Gwen, sealed it in an envelope, and placed it in his desk. He wrote a letter to Minerva explaining everything that had happened. He placed that too in the desk next to his will. At 11 o'clock, Severus mentally began preparing himself to go tell Voldemort where Potter would meet him tomorrow night. He walked slowly through the castle and then out on the grounds to the edge of the Hogwarts gates. He stopped when he reached the edge, strengthened the wards and protections around the school before apperating to the forest in Albania where Voldemort was.

"My Lord?" Severus said confidently.

"Severus," Voldemort said coming to stand near him. "What news do you have for me?"

"I have heard from some of my sources where and when Potter will next be." Voldemort looked excited but cautious. He gestured for Severus to continue. "There is a moor south of Godric's Hollow; Potter will be there tomorrow evening."

"Excellent." Voldemort said smiling wickedly. "Potter will finally be out of the way…"

"What now, My Lord?"

"We go to the Manor and ready the troops. Come Severus." They apperated to Malfoy Manor and went right through the gates. Lucius and Narcissa met them at the door.

"My Lord." Lucius said, bowing slightly. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"We will be finishing this whole ordeal tomorrow night. Give me your arm Lucius." He said pausing in the doorway. Lucius rolled his sleeve up to expose his dark mark. Voldemort pressed the Elder wand into Lucius's dark mark to call the rest of the death eaters to him. Upon completion of the call, he swept into the large formal dining room and seated himself at the head of the large table as the followers joined him.

Disclaimer: I only own Gwen. JK Rowling owns everything else.

Author's Note: Short, but more to follow soon. Hope everyone feels the suspense building!

I'm not trying to be a review whore, but PLEASE REVIEW! Let me know what you liked, what you hated and what you went –meh- about.

Thanks, DE :)