*walks in, taking a break from studying and working, Snape brings his correcting work to do, sits in the most comfortable chair* Hey people. I know, I know- I'm late. But I really have lots of midterms and work to prepare for my students. It's midterm week(s). So wish me luck.

Without any more ado, let's get to the chapter!

Chapter 13 *hit play*

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            Ludo Bagman felt that he was caught between hammer and anvil. No matter what choice he made, he would end up being the loser. There was no gambling to do, no risk to day. Ludo Bagman was, in rough terms, fried. He swallowed uncomfortably and glanced at the tall, severe form of the Headmaster, who had come with Arthur Weasley by his side- another ministry official. There was no way bagman would disprove both their testimonies, even if they hadn't both been members of the Order of the Phoenix.

"Well, Ludo, I expect your explanation on how it is possible for escapee convicts from Azkaban prison to be patrolling my school in your name."

"It is obvious that they infiltrated the ranks of the Inquisitors. You can't hold me responsible for this!" Ludo said quickly.

"I will be very interested what the board of directors of Hogwarts will have to say on this, once they hear that the Minister himself compromised the safety of the school," Albus said, his eyes sparkling with bright, unrelenting flame. When Albus stared like that, not even Severus Snape could hold his gaze.

"If you tear down the trust of the people in the Ministry now that Voldemort is on the loose, you will put the whole wizarding world in danger!" Ludo tried to defend his position.

"Nobody said the Ministry will be proven untrustworthy," Arthur said sternly. "But I don't know what will happen to you personally, Mr. Bagman," he added.

            Ludo felt his brow sweating, and he fidgeted this way and that in his big minister's chair. How could he really get out of this in one piece? As if Dumbledore read his thought, he said:

"I think it would be to your interest if you told us the whole truth, Ludo- as a token of your good will to serve the Order. That was your oath when you took this position, do you remember?"

"I remember," Ludo said, rubbing his temples. He was becoming more and more agitated by the minute.

"I might even find, in your words, just reason for what you allowed to happen, and help you," Dumbledore threw a crumb of hope towards the minister's way.

"Although you probably don't deserve it. Setting the lives of children in jeopardy!" Arthur fumed, but a glance from Dumbledore calmed him down. Ludo breathed raggedly. He suddenly got up from his chair and paced up and down in the office.

"I really am pressed for time, Minister," Dumbledore said, his voice cutting like glass, and Bagman flinched. He turned to look at Dumbledore, his eyes wild like an animal caught in a lethal trap.

            Suddenly, he got out his wand and pointed it, trembling, towards the other two wizards in the room.

"I won't let you destroy me! I will fight for my life!" he croaked, his eyes shooting back and forth between the Leader of the Order, and his ally. Dumbledore smiled amiably.

"My good man, I do believe in this way you are doing the exact opposite. Do reconsider. All I want from you, is information."

"It would be to your interest to give it up willingly- not under interrogation," Arthur said with clenched teeth, his hand ready to go for his wand.

            Ludo stayed immobile, wand out for a while, watching the two unwavering wizards. Then his hand fell to his side as if made of wood, and he covered his face, with a sob.

"If I tell you, I will die," he said.

"If you tell me, there is a chance you will live longer," Albus amended. Bagman bent his head in defeat.

"Alright," he said, his voice trembling.

***

            Sombre lounged in the Slytherin common room. He felt much more comfortable there than in Harry's Gryffindor prefect room. Far too… red and gold for my tastes. Draco was sitting at the edge of an armchair, his fingers intertwined in front of his mouth. He bit his lips many times. Sombre hopped up on the armchair's arm, and his tail brushed against Draco's knuckled. He turned and looked into the Burmese's black eyes.

"I know, but I am worried," he whispered, watching Slytherin students go back and forth with lessons and other affairs. The news that the Inquisitors had been unmasked by some unknown force was still going around in the houses, in many interesting variations. Everyone thought that Dumbledore was behind it, and some bet that there were Aurors hiding in the school. Draco smirked mirthlessly. In a way, you are right. You wouldn't want to face Potter in a duel anytime soon.

            Then, it was time for the third period- the common room emptied. Draco pretended going through the motions of preparing his bag to go to class. He heard the footsteps- the practice with the blindfold that Harry had put them all through had helped his hearing become somewhat acute.

"Going anywhere, Draco?" came the voice, and Draco froze. Pansy! He turned slowly and looked at her. It took his all to put on a pokerface and pretend he didn't know why she was there, smirking sinisterly.

"What business is it of yours, Pansy?" Draco asked, as Sombre hopped off the chair and stood behind Draco.

"It is very much my business- not only mine, actually. Blaise's, too," she grinned, knowing that Draco would be mollified. He seemed to stick around to Blaise a lot- probably to extract information from the girl death eater. Pansy was still mad at Draco that he hadn't tried to stick to her to extract information. Blaise walked up, and she glared at Draco with comtempt and disgust- as befit a true Death Eater. Draco shivered- it all seemed so real, as if Blaise had not been the one to want to protect him from Voldemort.

"I don't see how- and aren't you afraid Lupin's gonna ask where we have been, instead of in his classroom?" he tilted his head.

"Draco, we come to you in the name of the Dark Lord," Blaise said. Pansy remained silent, as she'd promised the other girl.

"What would he want with me?" Draco asked, and his heart started picking up in beats.

"You are unmarked. The Dark Lord wants to speak to you, for a mission that only one such as you can do," Blaise said. "Do you refuse?"

"Please, Draco, don't refuse, I'd hate to have to kill you," Pansy said with mock concern.

"I won't refuse, of course. I am dedicated to the Dark Lord. Right now?"

"Yes. Follow us," Pansy said and the girls went out. Draco picked up Sombre and followed. However, soon enough, in the aisle, Sombre dropped down and fell back.

"Seems your familiar doesn't want to come," Pansy drawled.

"Probably he got stifled by the waves of heavy perfume you are wearing," Draco snapped back, and Pansy grit her teeth. Blaise looked at her in warning, to stop her from attacking just yet.

            The girls led Draco down to the dungeons. Sombre realised where. They are going to use my route to the apparating point I would use. The dungeons were empty- no Potions class was taking place, as Dumbledore was absent- everyone was gathered outside with Hagrid, who had just returned from wherever it was he'd gone.

            They were in the potions classroom when Draco heard a small mew from behind- Sombre's signal.

"You know, Pansy- you really should not have entered Voldemort's service," Draco drawled. Pansy turned with a terrible scowl.

"Don't say his name with your filthy tongue, traitor!" she growled, forgetting herself. Blaise growled, rejoicing inside that Pansy had fallen for it.

"Idiot, Parkinson!"

Draco threw his arm forward and his wand came to his palm- another trick that Potter had taught them all- and he Stupefied both girls before Pansy had time to react.

            With a small 'pop', Snape turned into his human form and grabbed a piece of paper and a quill. He scribbled a line.

"Read it, quickly now," he ordered. Draco looked at what Snape had written.

The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number 12, Grimmaud Place, London.

Then the paper self combusted, and fell through Draco's fingers, in ashes. He blinked up.

"Only the secret keeper can tell you where it is- and that is where we are going. Hold on to my hand," Snape said and pulled Draco into his office, used the floo powder to his personal apparating point, and apparated into London.

            When Draco found the chance to speak again, he blinked.

"You are the Secret Keeper for the Order!?"

"Dead men tell no tales," Snape said wryly, and rang the bell so that Sirius Black would open up for them.

***

            When Dumbledore was back to the school, he was accompanied by Bill and Charley Weasley, who took the Inquisitors that in truth were illegal convicts or even death eaters. No student ever knew what happened of them, and where they would end up. Azkaban? Perhaps. But no vine on that piece of information grew, no matter the fertile ground. The rest of the Inquisitors, by order of the Minister's office, were withdrawn. Hogwarts was free again, without checkpoints, and teachers did not have to escort groups of children everywhere.

"It feels great, to be able to move around as we please again," Ron exclaimed with a wide grin on his face. He was still receiving congratulations by anyone who knew what had really happened with the Inquisitors. It wasn't many- only the Study Group, really, but still, they were the best student duellers around, and Ron was pleased. Hermione smiled happily as well.

"Yes! Now, I won't have to wait for curfew to go to the library- OWLs studying will be so much easier."

"You have covered all the material already, Hermione," Harry said with a small smile, hearing his friends chatter.

"Yes, but learning resides in recapitulation," Hermione said sagely. Ron couldn't help making choking sounds at that. Hermione smirked.

"Go on choke- but you will thank me when OWL results come!"

"I thank you anyway, Hermione," Ron said and winked.

"Well- it's great that it's all back to normal, somewhat," Hermione said, flushing lightly. Ron smiled. Harry frowned.

"It isn't really. We don't really know where Draco is. Of course he's probably safe, but Voldemort won't be happy."

"Blaise said they would all be okay- You-Know-Who can't spare any death eater," Hermione said, but she sounded unsure.

            And then, Harry brought his hand to his scar on his forehead and screamed, before crumpling on the floor, his cane rolling away from him.

***

            Narcissa Malfoy was not a happy wife. Or a good mother. In any way, she was nothing of what she should be- except a nice doll for Lucius to walk around with. At least that had been the case up until he got incarcerated. She watched him as he drunk his brandy, his eyes furious. Up to then, Narcissa hadn't really thought much about what her husband had been doing, how he had acquired his riches and with whom he affiliated to remain where he was. She hadn't even bothered to look into what her son was growing into- until last Christmas. She side-looked at Lucius again, who was leaning against the fireplace like a sinister spectre, waiting for the moment when his Lord would summon him, eager to go and kill the only thing that Narcissa had ever created in his world: her son.

            Now, Narcissa feared her husband. She feared him, and he disgusted her. For whatever it was that Draco had done- even dishonouring the family- it did not deserve death, especially not in front of that- that Lord of his. So terrible, and yet he is no better than a trained killer dog, she thought, and walked to the other side of the room, silently. She had not called her son for Easter, fearing for his life. She had not sent him any messages, fearing what he'd write back to her. For somehow, the way her son had looked at her the single time that she saw him- at St. Mungo's, where she'd gone to receive information regarding the attack casualties- had made her understand that he was changed. Now, she understood in what way. Just what happened to the Blacks, not so long ago, it would seem. Hadn't Sirius denounced them with his actions, too? Narcissa felt glad about it, for some unfathomable reason. And her mind raced for a way to help her son.

But none came, and then her husband hissed in delight, as his black mark called him for her son's execution. As soon as he was gone, she ran to the fireplace and threw in a pinch of floo.

"Dumbledore!"

***

            Voldemort was furious- Blaise and Pansy were already suffering from the pain of the Cruciatus, for they had failed. Lucius was mad with malice. How had his incompetent bafoon of a son managed to elude them? He never had been that good when Lucius had asked him to do things. He always messed up in some way, yet how was it possible that now, he realised the trap, and escaped so effectively? Lucius felt he'd go insane.

"Where is Draco Malfoy now?" Voldemort asked.

"We do not know, my Lord," Blaise said, and arched backwards, screaming.

"Then what use are you to me!?" the Dark Lord roared, letting up the curse. Pansy whimpered, and Blaise breathed, saying exactly what Snape had told her to say:

"Because we… we can lead you… to the base of the Order of… the Phoenix, my Lord. That is… were Draco must have… taken refuge…"

The rage washed away from the face of Voldemort, and he lowered his wand.

"I'm listening," he said in a purring, complacent voice.

***

            Harry moaned as he slowly regained consciousness, his mind reeling with the sense of sight, his body aching with the sensation of every single Cruciatus Voldemort cast that night. However, the pain did not ceace- the twisting of the senses did not diminish as it usually did. He arched backwards and groaned.

"What is going on?" he heard Remus' anxious voice.

"I am not sure," Poppy murmured back.

"Harry? Can you hear me? what's wrong?" Remus' voice, closer to his ear now.

Harry hissed in pain.

"Wont'… stop… can't stop… feel him… still… I HATE… it hurts so much…"

"I'm going to pick you up now, Harry," Remus said again, and harry felt himself being lifted into the air. He was glad, he wanted the proximity, and in the same time, it revolted him.

"Put me down, werewolf," Harry's voice snapped, then he whimpered again. "No! Remus, what is happening to me?"

Remus swallowed, his heart racing in fear.

"We will find out now, Harry. Hold on in there," he said, and looked in the young Gryffindor's face. He frowned. The boy's scar was bright red, yet not bleeding- it seemed to be glowing. And when he would mutter in that hard, sinister voice that simply could not be Harry's, his eyes seemed to focus- something that Remus had not seen Harry do every since the summer. He ran.

***

"Narcissa? What can I do for you?" Dumbledore said, a little impatient to close the connection, as he was about to gather up every member of the Order, including Snape, to tell them what Bagman had told him.

"He is going to kill my boy! He is taking Draco to be killed, they have gathered up again. Do something Dumbledore, and I will give you anything, do anything, anything that you want me to in return!"

Dumbledore swallowed, looking Narcissa's face carefully. Never had she been seen so expressive, so anxious for anyone- not even Draco. Could he trust her now?

"I assure you that your son is safe. You have nothing to fear," Dumbledore said.

"He was going to be taken from your school! Don't you get it? You have spies in your school!" she screeched in despair.

"Really, Narcissa. Trust me. Your son is alive, and well protected," Albus said soothingly. "You should really break the connection, before you are seen talking to me. You, I might not be as effective in protecting."

Narcissa breathed. "You are telling me the truth?"

"As always."

"Thank you… thank you headmaster. You have yourself another ally," she said and disappeared. Dumbledore smiled thinly, but the smile faded when Remus barged through the door, Harry in his hands.

"Something went wrong!" he panted, as he gently helped Harry in an armchair. Dumbledore peered into Harry's face. The boy shuddered and seemed to start a scream, as if his glance was painful to him, then Harry's expression shifted altogether, and he leered at him, in a way Dumbledore knew only too well.

"I'll take you apart," Harry cackled, and his laughter made Dumbledore's heart skip beats.

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*very evil smile* see? Things are NOW hairy. *Snape rolls his eyes* So, till next time, try and infer what is going to happen. *chuckles*

As for my reviewers:

To all that egged me on to update and said how much they are worked up by this story: THANK YOU!

Now, for those with questions:

Skysong1: well… I am not sure. I am not too eager to shower the Study Group with immense magical capacities. I mean, they are only 15!

water drifter: I wonder what you'll do now, with THIS ending. *snickers*

Shinigami01: what good would it be if he got the boot now? *L* he needs to pay first.

Chantelli: Ginny acted out. She was pretty good, wasn't she?

Kemenran: If Draco faced Voldie? hm… wouldn't be good. And he'd probably get killed in the end, I think. He gets surprised easily- Harry is used to expecting the unexpected.

Shawn Pickett: I thought of giving a bit of Marauder déjà vu there. *grin*

PhoenixPadfoot89: well, how do we know if Dumbledore wasn't a prankster too, in his time? *chuckles*

Ms. Padfoot: You made Snape's day, talking to him instead of me. *chuckles*

ShortySC22: You may have a glimpse of what the plan is with this chapter.

Marauder3Moony: well… life catches up with you. I try to update as fast as possible.