A/N: Wow! I'm glad and overwhelmed with the response to this story. I'm also dreadfully sorry about the time between updates. Life has been crazy, more so than usual. As for my question, it looks like Mpreg will be part of this! It will mostly be in the epilogue, but you might see it a bit earlier as well. :). Mean, aren't I?

BTW: In Word with Times 12pt font, this is 150 pages!

Chapter 26- Reflections & Trusting Friends

Draco sat in his favourite spot by the window, staring out at the passing countryside. They were leaving Hogwarts, their fifth year finished at long last. There was comfortable warmth against his right shoulder, where Rial was sleeping next to him, curled up on the seat. Blaise, Pansy and Torian sat across from him. It had been a quiet couple of weeks; Zachary Potter had wandered around the school in a daze after the death of his father.

So far he was the only student who knew of the truth behind the death of James Potter. He looked sideways at Rial and shivered slightly, hoping to never see an expression like what had been on his face that night. His outright fury had mixed with blinding power to the point that he, Draco, had nearly been able to feel the magic crackling around Rial. Still, he would never once change the circumstances that had brought them together. He felt honoured that Rial trusted him as much as he did.

As he stared out at a field of cattle Draco wondered if he would ever see Hogwarts again. It was not likely that he would as a student. The Dark Lord was going to be furious with the arrest of Bellatrix Lestrange and the death of James Potter; no doubt he would have wanted to kill the Auror himself. Lucius would be highly unwilling to risk his heir and only child in the upcoming war. Draco was in full agreement but for one exception. If Rial was going to be involved, so was he. He would not leave the other teen to fight on his own.

At the moment his greatest worry was for his friends, especially shy Torian. The quiet, bookish Slytherin was openly relieved to have his crazy mother out of his life, but that still left his father and uncle. They were powerful wizards and Draco was unsure if Torian's grandfather Taryen Lestrange would be able to hold up against both of them. He had greatly enjoyed meeting the fiery, hyper pureblood at the Yule Ball, well remembering the shock his vivid electric blue hair had caused.

Blaise's parents were neutral during the last war, his Italian friend would most likely be educated in Italy or Greece his last two years. Draco would miss his company, as would Pansy no doubt. They'd been getting closer all year, closing the gaps caused by their very different families and their strikingly different personalities. For their sakes Draco hoped they would be able to keep up their relationship despite the distance between.

Albus Dumbledore had been in a violently bad mood the past few days, Draco had caught him glaring at both himself and Rial and less often he'd been directing a vivid stare at Severus. Severus had responded with a bold sneer, Draco highly admired his godfather's nerve. Still, Draco wished he knew what was bothering the old coot so much.

It was about half an hour later that Rial began to stir. He still didn't move from his position against Draco's shoulder, directing a quiet gaze at his friends. "I have something to tell you three. However, I need your binding word that it will not go beyond this compartment."

Blaise, Pansy and Torian readily gave it. They knew Rial well enough to realise he wouldn't ask such a thing of them lightly. Guessing the topic of conversation Draco withdrew his wand and flicked it with a muttered, "Muffiliato."

"I am going to tell you the truth of what happened the night my father was captured and tortured," Rial began. He hesitated and then launched into the story.

By the time he finished the trio were staring at him wonderingly. "You actually cast the Killing Curse?" Blaise breathed.

Rial inclined his head. "I hope I will never have to use that spell again, Blaise. There are no words to describe the horror that spell causes."

Torian looked at him with an evaluating gaze. "I should be angry that you used my mother's wand to kill him. However, I feel that it was the right thing to do. I owe you a life debt, Rial Salazar Black. Had she lived, my life would have become a living hell. In whatever capacity I can help you, I shall do so."

"What are you going to do now?" Pansy asked.

Rial frowned. "I highly doubt my father will let me return to Hogwarts. It is not safe for any of us, in fact. My father doesn't trust Albus anymore and even with my knowledge of Occlumency there is an off chance he would find out that I killed James Potter. I think we're going to go with my plan from earlier this year and form a third side to the war."

"Did you say a third side? You're going to go up against Albus Dumbledore and the Dark Lord?" Pansy said, incredulous.

"His name is Voldemort, Pansy. We need to remove Dumbledore from power on the light side. That would be easily accomplished if someone other than Zachary Potter killed Voldemort. Zachary Potter himself is a hazard as well, along with Voldemort's inner circle. They don't necessarily have to be killed, just swayed away from their side."

"Balance," Torian said suddenly, speaking for the first time since Rial had discussed his plans. "You want to restore the balance of power in the magical world. Take out the opposing Lords and their followers, restoring a grey section between Light and Dark."

Rial elegantly inclined his head. "That is exactly what I mean, Torian. We will need to educate the purebloods as well. Muggleborns and half-bloods have their uses. If pureblood families kept inter-marrying the magic would be bred out in a hundred years or less. Take a look at Severus for example, he's one of the most powerful wizards we know and he's a half-blood. Granger's a Muggleborn and her magical strength is more than both Vincent and Gregory combined."

"You're a half-blood as well," Blaise pointed out shrewdly. "And if rumors can be believed, so is the Dark Lord himself. Then you get pureblood lines like the Longbottoms and their nearly Squib heir Neville."

"According to my father you're the most powerful member of the Black family in several generations," Pansy added. "Your father is a close second. He said the last one with your power levels was your great-grandfather Pollux."

"My father himself says he's lucky to have the power levels he does, considering his parents were cousins," Rial said softly. There was a slight edge to his voice as he continued, "And though I may be a half-blood, I am a Black. I prefer to not remember where the other blood came from, if you please."

They nodded in understanding. They all remembered Rial's annoyance when a picture of his uncle Regulus and Lady Lily Evans-Potter had appeared in the society pages of the Prophet. Thinking back a little further they also remembered his outright rage at her presence on Christmas Eve. Lily Evans would never find friendship with her younger son, Rial's formidable Black temper would see to that.

The group of Slytherins fell back into their private thoughts or conversations, debating on what Rial had presented to them and trusted them with. Draco removed the Silencing Charm and went back to staring out the window. It was Rial's inherent charisma and intelligence that had lured him almost two years ago. If Rial was to succeed in his plans, he would need every morsel of that intelligence, elegance and power.

Draco refused to think about what would happen if Rial failed. If he knew one thing about Rial Salazar Black, it was that failure was not an option, ever.