Many apologies to those who have waited for this next chapter! I've been lazy and distracted. This chapter is shorter than the others, but I decided to put it out instead of wait. I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks to all of those people who have been patient and haven't yelled at me for taking my time. O.O! Also, thank you for all the wonderful reviews for last chapter.
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"You can't go!" Hermione hissed. "Are you out of your mind?!"
Draco turned back towards her. "What are you blabbing about, Granger?"
Giving a frustrated sigh Hermione pinned him with a look. "Don't you think the Dark Lord would know his own horcrux?"
Draco seemed to pale slightly again. He looked down and studied the ring.
"Coming, Draco?" his father inquired.
"Yes, father." he called. "I've got to go." Draco turned to leave.
"Are you ignorant or just born stupid?" Ron asked disbelievingly.
Draco narrowed his eyes at Ron. "Malfoy's are not stupid nor ignorant. I do believe that is a Weasley department."
Ron's face grew a dull pink as he took a step forward.
"This is hardly one of those times to fight!" Harry yelled.
"What is the hold up, Draco?" Snape growled as he came back into the Common Room.
"These three buffoon won't let me go." Draco said.
Hermione snorted. "Ask him what he has on and see why we won't let him."
Snape arched an eyebrow up and waited.
Draco murmured incoherently.
Snape gave an irritated sigh. "If you're done playing dumb with me, I'd like my answer."
"I've got on Salazar Slytherin's ring." Draco muttered.
"Which happens to be a horcrux." Harry supplied.
Lucius charged back into the room. "I'm not here to play babysitter or to make sure everyone makes it on time to the Dark Lord's callings!" he thundered.
Snape gave Lucius a grave look. "We've got other things on our hands at the moment."
Lucius turned to walk back out of the door. "Surely we can deal with it later."
"Not if you want your son to survive, sir." Hermione said.
Lucius stopped walking, his stance going rigid. "What did you say?"
"It seems, Draco here, has done something incredibly stupid." Snape said, watching Lucius carefully.
Lucius turned back around and observed his son. "That would be?"
Draco avoided his father's eyes and muttered, "Putting on Salazar Slytherin's ring…which happens to be one of the horcruxes."
Lucius's outraged hiss rang through the room. "This is something I would expect out of Mr. Weasley. Not you!" Lucius yelled.
"Hey!" Ron called out.
Lucius pinned Ron with a dark look.
"We will tell the Dark Lord that you are indisposed, that should hold him off…this time." Lucius spun around and stomped out of the door, his robes billowing after him.
Snape growled, "Fix this." Leaving the four standing there.
Ron sat down on one of the sofas. "Well! Not only do we have them mad at us for our little stunt we pulled, we have Draco here to thank for them being livid."
"Shut it, mate." Harry grumbled. "How would we get rid of a horcrux like that?"
"Short of cutting his finger off…" Hermione trailed off with a small gasp.
"What?!" Ron and Harry asked.
Draco took a quick step back. "We are not cutting my finger off!"
"Oh, do listen. What about Gryffindor sword?" Hermione asked excitedly.
Draco's eyes grew wide.
Harry furrowed his eyebrows. "What would we do with that?"
Hermione threw her hands up in exasperation. "We destroy it!"
"Like…stab at it?" Ron asked skeptically.
"Exactly!" Hermione cried.
Draco looked down at his hand. "I'm going to lose a finger today."
...
Lucius and Snape apparated into a dark clearing in the middle of a forest. The moon glowed behind a mask of clouds. They stepped forward into their spots in the half circle. Voldemort stepped out of the trees pacing in the middle of the half circle. His harsh breathing could be heard, while his eyes radiated an angry red.
The Death Eaters all stood in anticipation, waiting to hear why they had been summoned. Lucius and Snape had a pretty good idea what it had to do with. The Dark Lord was nothing short of livid.
"Tonight I received a package." Voldemort started out in a loud, firm tone. "Would anyone like to know what kind of package I received?"
He received slow unsure nods.
Voldemort gave an eerie smile. "Let's just say it wasn't mother's home baked cookies."
A snort of amusement flittered through the air.
"Silence!" Voldemort yelled. "This is no time for amusement." His voice started out controlled and slowly slipped into a shaky furious voice, "Tonight my precious Nagini went out for her nightly kill. She ended up as snake skin boots with her head on top!"
The tension began to build in the air. No Death Eater dared to make a noise, lest it caused them great pain.
"I want Potter as soon as possible. The audacity!" Voldemort thundered on. "Lucius, where is your son?"
Lucius's grey eyes were cold and hard. "He is indisposed at the moment, my lord. He couldn't get away."
Voldemort sneered. "Very well. How is the look for the traitor going? Just as unsuccessful, I would imagine."
Lucius clenched his jaw for a moment. "Actually, my lord, I have found your traitor."
A collective gasp traveled around the half circle.
"Name the traitor." Voldemort said.
Lucius cleared his throat. "Dolohov."
Voldemort swung around to face Lucius. "You are sure?"
"As sure as anything else." Lucius replied.
Voldemort's steely eyes bore into Lucius before he called out, "Dolohov, step forward."
Dolohov's imposing figured stepped out of the half circle. He knelt down and murmured, "My lord."
Voldemort stared down at Dolohov. "Stand." When Dolohov was standing in front of Voldemort he ordered, "Tell me, why is Lucius accusing you of such a heinous crime?"
Dolohov's voice stayed firm as he answered, "I have no clue, my lord. Perhaps he is the traitor."
Voldemort gave a slight nod. "Lucius, would you care to explain how you have determined Dolohov as the traitor."
"Tonight, myself and Severus, saw Dolohov with Kingsley. We thought that he was going to kill the Order Member. Imagine our surprise when we saw him have a friendly exchange with him. He told him of your planned attack on the school after Christmas."
Voldemort growled. "Is this true?"
"My lord," Dolohov began, "I haven't the slightest idea what Lucius is trying to accuse me of."
"Perhaps reading his mind is in order." Lucius suggested.
"I have nothing to hide, my lord." Dolohov said with slight irritation.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed into little slits. "Step down, Dolohov, do not get that tone."
Dolohov bowed. "My apologies, sir."
"If you have nothing to hide, then you won't mind the Dark Lord shifting through your memories." Lucius put in.
"It matters not what he does or does not mind!" Voldemort yelled.
With that, Voldemort's eyes burned into Dolohov's. He was slowly shifting through Dolohov's memories. His growl filled the air. Voldemort backhanded Dolohov, sending him reeling back.
"How dare you!" Voldemort hissed angrily down to Dolohov's sprawled form.
"M…my lord…I don't know what you're talking about!" Dolohov said hurriedly.
Voldemort held up his wand, staring down into Dolohov with unforgiving eyes before saying, "Avada Kedavra."
...
The halls were dark and empty as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco crept through them. Harry had the Marauder's Map with him, so that they didn't run into Filch.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Draco whispered.
Hermione peeked over a corner before walking across the hall. "Well…not exactly sure, but it's worth a try."
Draco followed as her muttered to himself.
"Don't worry, Malfoy, we can always try to grow you a new finger." Ron said cheerfully.
Draco sneered.
"Must you two always bicker?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Both replied at the same time, which resulted in them glaring at the other.
They stepped up to the two gargoyles guarding the swirling staircases that led up to the Head Mistress's office. "Strawberry tarts" Hermione said.
The gargoyles jumped up as the door started to form in the wall. The four slowly climbed up the staircases, trying to keep their presence unknown. When they slipped into the office, the portraits were peacefully sleeping, with a few snoring.
Ron pointed and whispered, "Over there."
Hanging up behind McGonagall's desk was Gryffindor sword.
"Go get it." Hermione whispered over to Harry.
Harry shot Hermione a look as Ron started to step forward, "I will."
Before anyone could protest, his foot caught in the bottom of Fawkes perch, causing him to fly forward. Fawkes started to flap his wings while squawking in alarm. The paintings jerked away looking around.
"You aren't supposed to be in here!" one of the paintings yelled out.
"Get out!" Another called.
Draco shook his head. "Good one, Weasley."
Hermione cast a silencing charm on the paintings. "We need to do this before McGonagall is alerted."
Harry moved forward and pulled the sword off of the wall. "Lay your hand on the desk, Malfoy."
Draco laid the palm of his hand flat on the desk, while warily watching Harry.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked as she studied Draco's unusual grey complexion.
"Fine." Draco muttered.
"This should only take a moment." Harry said as he raise the sword above his head.
Harry started to bring the sword down towards the ring. Draco's eyes widened. "Wait!"
Harry stopped the sword an inch from the jewel of the ring. "What?!" he asked exasperated.
"I really don't want to lose a finger or a hand." Draco said.
Harry blinked. "I was about to hit the ring."
"This time!" Draco said.
"This is the only time I tried!" Harry shouted.
"Oh, for the love of…" Hermione whispered. She moved forward and wrapped her hands around Harry's and pressed the sword down into the ring.
"Bloody hell!" Draco yelled.
The ring burst into green flames, slowly eating away the ring from Draco's hand as the high pitched wails of someone dying filled the air.
Ron slowly got to his feet. "…Wow…"
"Yeah." Draco and Harry replied.
McGonagall rushed into her office and was greeted by the scene of Ron standing by Fawkes crooked stand, Harry holding the sword with Hermione's hands over his, and Draco's hand under it.
"What is going on?" McGonagall asked.
"We destroyed a horcrux." Harry replied.
Hermione gave a small smile. "We're getting closer."
McGonagall gave a slight nod. "Back to your rooms. We shall have to discuss this later."
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