Draco's friends grew more and more curious about his strange mission. He sent Crabbe and Goyle out on stranger and stranger tasks. Pansy grew sick with worry of her 'little Drakkie-kins' and his problems. Draco grew sicker and sicker as he lost more and more sleep over the mission.
He missed class. He worked and he worked, but he kept finding more things wrong with the Vanishing Cabinet. Mr. Borgin could only help him so much, what with the mail being searched.
There were days where he couldn't handle the pressure that Voldemort constantly increased upon him. He broke down in the bathroom, only to be discovered by Moaning Myrtle.
"Don't," crooned Myrtle, "Don't…tell me what's wrong…I can help you…I understand…"
"No one can help me," said Draco. His whole body shook with wracking sobs. "I can't do it…I can't…It won't work…and unless I do it soon…he says he'll kill me…" He paused to gasp for air. "a-a-and my whole family…" Suddenly, he spied Potter himself staring at Draco from behind.
Draco spun around, drawing his wand. Potter drew his as well. Draco's hex missed Potter by inches, shattering a lamp on the wall instead. Potter flicked a curse towards Draco, but it was deflected. He raised his wand to shoot another curse towards Potter as Myrtle screamed.
"No! No! Stop it! Stop! STOP!"
There was a loud bang, and something exploded behind Potter. Potter then managed to smash the cistern below Myrtle; water poured everywhere and Potter slipped. Draco's face was contorted in concentration. He cried, "Cruci –"
"SECTUMSEMPRA!" bellowed Harry from the floor.
Blood spurted from Draco's face and chest as though he had been slashed with an invisible sword. He staggered backward and collapsed onto the waterlogged floor with a great splash, his wand falling from his limp right hand.
The world spun for a moment before Draco sunk into a black darkness not unlike the night that he received his Dark Mark. His face shone scarlet, his white hands sprawled across the floor in stark contrast to the crimson that spread slowly.
Potter received detention for the rest of the year. Draco received a dreadful pain in his chest for months after he awoke.
Draco awoke one morning, fresh from a night of wonderful sleep. He had finished the Vanishing Cabinet yesterday. His plan was put into action already. That evening, his help would arrive. That evening, the Death Eaters would invade Hogwarts.
After what seemed like years, but was truly only a few classes, the time had come. Draco snuck away to the Room of Requirement. He helped the Death Eaters through the Vanishing Cabinet one by one, smiling to himself the entire time. He had done it! He had accomplished his task by himself!
The Death Eaters did not seem to keen on taking orders. Draco's aunt Bellatrix led a group out through the school, invading the classrooms. Miraculously, Dumbledore was nowhere to be found.