Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but I wish that I did.

Author's note: You probably thought I forgot this story, right? Well, I didn't forget it but I've been having major writers block issues. Also, this chapter messes a lot with the Canon time line if you think about it. I tried to mend it slightly by saying that they'd been searching for the horcruxes and working to destroy them for a while before Dumbledore's death, but it's still not exactly right, and I acknowledge it. I needed to do this for the story to come out the way I wanted it to, and besides, it's an OOC story, so I'm hoping you don't mind this. Usually I prefer Canon facts, but this is quite different from my usual type of writing, so it doesn't fit the time line that's used in book 7. Anyways, enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter eight:

Draco woke the next morning to the smell of ripe strawberries. Noticing that the others were not in the tent, he stepped cautiously outside, where he was greeted by the sight of the others silently eating breakfast as he approached.

Wordlessly, Draco sat down with the others. He didn't dare reach into their food until Potter offered him a portion, which he accepted with a nod of thanks.

"We, meaning Harry, Hermione, and I, brought these with us when we left," the Weasley boy informed Draco, putting particular emphasis on the names of each of Draco's companions to stress that Draco was not included amongst them. Draco ignored the jibe and nodded once again.

"We were just discussing what to do next," Potter said, in a tone just a shade kinder than Weasley's.

"Well," said Granger, "I think we should look for the next hor-"

"HERMIONE!" shouted Weasley, indicating Draco. "Don't talk about the you-know-what's in front of him!"

Harry rolled his eyes, although Draco thought he looked rather concerned about the same thing himself.

"Well," Granger said, turning to Weasley, "maybe, since he worked with You-Know-Who, he'll know where some of them are.

"Some of what?" thought Draco. "If they think Voldemort trusted me with important information, then they're wrong."

"Alright, we can try," Potter agreed. He turned to Draco. "Malfoy, has Volde-"

"Don't you mean 'Your Master' since he's a Malfoy?" interrupted Weasley.

"Oh, come on, Ron!" said Granger, exasperated. To Draco, she said, "Has You-Know-Who said anything to you about his Horcruxes?"

There was complete silence. Draco was thinking desperately, trying to decide what to say. He hadn't any idea what it was that they were asking, but knew only that they were looking for something. Suddenly, and idea hit him. He didn't know if it would work, but figured it was worth the try.

"Oh, yeah, he told me." Draco told them, hoping that they would believe his performance.

"We've found all of them except for something of Ravenclaw or Gryffindor's," Harry informed him. "Dumbledore and I have been trying to destroy them for a while now. We were searching for one of the only remaining ones the night he died." Draco was thankful that there was only a shade of resentment in his voice when he said the last part.

"Oh, well, I know where it is. We can apparate close to there." Draco held out his hand, an invitation for them to side-apparate along with him.

Harry hesitated. He didn't like the idea of trusting Malfoy, but this was the closest they'd come to finding the last horcrux. Hesitantly, he lightly placed his hand next to Draco's wrist. Hermione laid hers close to Harry.

All three of them stared at Ron, who sat, unmoving, staring at the group attached to Draco's arm. "Well…..Are you coming?" Draco asked.

"Ron, please?" Hermione asked. "It's the only way to find it."

I don't want to do this. I don't know how I'm doing this. They're going to hate me even more. I'm going to hate myself. Thoughts raced through Draco's mind as Ron slowly stood. It's too late now. They think I know. It's the only way.

Ron gripped Draco's forearm. "I'm holding on to the arm of a Malfoy," he muttered under his breath.

I'm doing the right thing. I'm saving the Malfoy family.

Slowly, with the Golden Trio hanging to his arm, Draco turned into the darkness…and appeared at the front door of Malfoy Manner.