MAJOR HUGE IMPORTANT NOTE: I am CHANGING THE NAME of this account to either Xarkun, or Lord Xarkun 2019, in an attempt to make this my universal account, whether it be Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean… Alias, you name it. I am telling you this so you don't freak out and think someone stole this story, thank you.

Slightly Less Important, But Still Important, Note: About Malfoy becoming DADA professor, trust me, it ain't gonna last long, and I might play to your interests and have Harry become it afterward if the situation calls for it… otherwise (smiles evilly) I've got an idea, muhahahahaha! Understand that Malfoy is there for a minor reason in Voldemort's plan, he needs and inside man you see, remember, this story is about retrieving a last Horcrux, all will be explained soon, as in how Voldemort is able to inhabit Lucius's body, and probably how he obtained his last Horcrux, and how he made it with what kill and stuff…. I believe you will like some upcoming action, I'm gonna give Bellatrix more fight scenes because she's cool like that, Helena Bonham Carter is brilliant at playing her, did you know she's going to be in a new movie also starring Johnny Depp? It's called Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, but enough of this! It's already too long, just read.

Chapter 12: Edges of the Map

It was well past midnight now, every student in Hogwarts now lay in their beds safely and quietly, sleeping and dreading particular lessons tomorrow. Most of the staff had followed suit, and were likewise under the covers of their own bed, save for the elderly caretaker Argus Filch, a patrolling teacher or two, and Draco Malfoy who had cast a disillusionment charm upon himself. He treaded down dark corridors, invisible to the naked eye, with one purpose in mind, to exit the castle and stride into the cold, winter night air so that he might reach his destination, a run down shack near Hogsmeade.

He magicked the great oak doors of Hogwarts Castle open silently, strode across the threshold and shut them behind him with equal noiselessness. The new professor strode across the grown, cutting through a light blanket of snow. He did not deem it necessary to cover any footprints, after all, it was not as though anyone came outside in the wee morning hours for a breath of fresh air, and even if they did he doubted they would notice his prints, mingled in the tracks of others, though his were quite fresh, as opposed to the others. In the darkness, however, no one would notice.

Malfoy reached the iron gates that led off the grounds of Hogwarts. It was quite easy to slip out, and he knew a way to get back in, should he be unable to undo the enchantments. Draco Malfoy took a deep breath, spun on the spot, and apparated.

XxX

Harry cursed loudly in his office as Malfoy's dot vanished from the Marauder's Map. Where on earth could he be going at this late hour? To Hogs Head, or another tavern, perhaps for a drink? No…. That seemed unlikely, perhaps to visit his family?

The last was possible, but still, not probable. Harry found this very suspicious, as anyone would. But, he would not follow Malfoy. He would be impossible to trace, there was no use in trying. No, instead he would have to wait until a better time to question him, and ensure that his newest staff member was watched every night afterwards, and most especially now. Harry decided he must stay awake and await Draco's return, just in case….

XxX

Malfoy took a deep breath as he appeared before the winding path that led up to the Shrieking Shack. There was absolutely no place in the entire world that he could not want to be more. The new professor strode up the path, lightly blanketed with snow. He flicked his wand to open the door. It creaked terribly on its hinges.

The moment the inside of the shack was exposed to the outside, a putrid, abhorrent smell wafted out, attacking Malfoy's nostrils and causing his eyes to water. He pulled his scarf up to his face, to filter out the terrible air, and then stepped over the threshold. The door closed behind him, seemingly on its own accord, he looked up the stairs that led to the bedroom.

Swallowing hard, and attempting to refrain from losing his dinner, Malfoy started up the staircase. Each individual board groaned as he placed his weight on it, and the higher he climbed, the more the horrifying smell grew, his scarf was no longer effective, but he dare not remove it. It was so utterly horrible….

He reached the bedroom, the door was open. He could not bring himself to step inside, why had this place been chosen? Malfoy closed his eyes, and opened them, then stepped in.

The pale, cold, lifeless, and rotting body of Avery Smith lay, his face pressed to the ground, an empty bottle near his hand. The dead man's replacement had to look away. The site was—

"Terrible, isn't it?" A feminine voice hissed, Malfoy's eyes flicked to the left and locked upon Bellatrix Lestrange as she exited the fireplace, now filled with a roaring green flame.

"Why didn't you take the body out?" Malfoy snapped, his voice muffled by the scarf.

Bellatrix laughed loudly.

"The Dark Lord wished for it to remain here, and here it shall stay." Bellatrix replied, it seemed as though she was unaffected by the putrid stench of death.

"I'm in." Malfoy stated sharply. "That's what you came here to know."

"That'll be the reason, yes." The female Death Eater said.

"They why are we both still here?" Malfoy hissed venomously.

"Well I don't know, why don't you tell me?"

"Fine, I expect you forgot. What are the… Dark Lord's… orders?"

"No," said Bellatrix. "I did not forget. There are no orders."

"How does he expect me to—"

"He expects you to get yourself settled in, get acquainted. Then wait for orders."

"You mean—"

"Yes, it's entirely possible you may have to return here. And you know as well as I, Draco, that the Dark Lord's trust does not come easily. Now, leave here, and return to your office before Potter realizes you're gone. Wait for orders, and do not draw attention to yourself."

XxX

Harry monitored Malfoy's activities on the map for the next several days. Never again did his new hire leave the castle so abruptly during the late hours of the night. But Harry was not lured into a false sense of security; Malfoy had acted very suspiciously that night. However, at the moment, Malfoy was not his immediate concern. Although he had just been dragged into it. Harry set down his fork near his plate of bacon, golden toast, and hotcakes, and picked up McGonagall's morning copy of the Daily Prophet to get a better look at it. What he saw was a large picture of himself, as always, and what would seem to the wizarding world like an outrageous headline. POTTER HIRES FORMER DEATH EATER!

Harry dropped the paper onto the table and shook his head. Rita Skeeter was selling papers like mad now, and after her slew of propaganda article after propaganda article, the world was beginning to believe her. Harry looked to James, to Lily, then to Albus. None of them seemed to be suffering from his humiliation, there was at least one positive.

XxX

Albus failed to catch his father's eye, but instead glanced over at their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Draco Malfoy. He'd heard stories about him, none of them were told in a tone that merited respect, like… nothing of the sort. Harry was not fond of Malfoy, his son knew that, so he wondered why he'd been hired, but the primary thought, overriding all in his mind was, now that they had a new teacher, how would lesson plans differ? What would it be like?

Albus wanted to find out, but not first hand. Of course, as luck would have it, Albus, Hugo, Rose, and Phil would be the first to experience a lesson under the tutelage of Draco Malfoy… right… after… breakfast. If only the slow consumption of food could prolong the inevitable gathering of students him the DADA tower…. Alas, the bell rang.

XxX

Malfoy brought his hand down hard on his desk. No more sound was heard in the classroom. Albus stared at their new teacher intently.

"Silence!" Malfoy snapped. "I will not tolerate noise in my class. I am here to teach, you are here to learn, I suggest you begin to desire the knowledge I offer, otherwise you'll join me for detention."

Albus's head turned slightly to a group of whispering Slytherins….

"You two!" Malfoy barked, pointing at that very group. "Are you deaf? Did you not hear what I told you? Detention!"

"But—"

"A weeks worth, the both of you, I will not tolerate that kind of behavior in my class. You will speak when needed, not any other time."

Their new professor was strict, thought Albus.

Indeed he was, thought the professor. He would not loosen up either, nor would he attract suspicious attention to himself, for he was under orders…. Malfoy decided already how to go about handling a class, be even more strict that McGonagall. He hoped it would discourage any students from communicating with him, and along with that, avoid their new, terrible… mean professor. That could make his job easier, being avoided.

"First lesson." Malfoy started, waving his wand, the chalk began to scribble out neatly written letters on the blackboard, seemingly on its own accord. "Today I will gauge your skills while teaching you practical defense that all should know, it is a relatively simple spell, called the Protego Charm, can anyone tell me what it is this charm is used for."

Rose's hand flew into the air. Malfoy's gray eyes locked onto her, as though she were some sort of prey to be hunted.

"Yes, you, Ms…"

"Weasley, sir." Rose replied.

"Yes, I've seen you before; you are the daughter of Granger…. I expected as much…. What is the function of the Protego Charm?"

"The Protego Charm, otherwise known as the Shield Charm protects its caster from a wide variety of curses, hexes—"

"Yes, that'll do Ms. Weasley." Malfoy interrupted, leaving Rose looking positively livid. "Ms. Weasley is correct, the Protego Charm is a shielding spell, it can protect you from all but the most terrible curses, the Unforgivable ones, among others. I assume you are all intelligent enough to understand why it is useful then. Now, I want you all to line up, we're going to practice."

Everyone stood, and within moments the desks were pushed away, leaving room for two combatants to face one another, leaving a no-man's-land in between which Malfoy strode down, to the end of the line.

"The side of the room to my right will use a very simple hex that requires little skill at all. Tarantellegra. Aim your wand and say it, I doubt any of you will fail. The other side of the room shall use the Protego Charm to deflect the curse, begin."

No one moved.

"Sir," someone had said, a timid looking Gryffindor.

"What?" Malfoy snapped.

"What exactly does the Tarantellegra curse do?"

"I'm sure Ms. Weasley can tell you." Malfoy sneered.

"It makes the victim's legs—"

"Dance, yes." The new DADA teacher finished, once again cutting off Rose, who prided herself on giving a full, flawless definition of all spells.

The Gryffindor snickered and faced his plump Slytherin opponent. Albus, who stood next to him, Hugo across the room, looked to Malfoy again.

"Begin," said the servant of Lord Voldemort once more.

"Tarantellegra!" Albus called in unison with his half of the room, everyone seemed to master the spell on their first try.

"Protego!" cried the other half of the room.

After that half of the left side was dancing uncontrollably while the right waited for Malfoy to cast a counter curse. Once the dancing concluded, each side traded tasks; Albus already knew he could cast the Protego Charm. Hugo could not; it was obvious, as he had been the last one left for Malfoy to release from the curse. Therefore Albus easily parried Hugo's Tarantellegra curse.

This process repeated a total of seven more times before Hugo finally, and successfully, produced a magical shield with the Protego Charm. Malfoy gave an odd curt nod… or sneer of satisfaction, mixed with a slight bit of distaste. He then, mercifully dismissed the awkward, new-teacher-type lesson as the bell rang.

Once the door closed behind the very last student, Draco sat down behind his desk and folded his hands, breathing a sigh of relief. All was well… for now.

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