"Hey, you." Daphne said, placing a hand on the shoulder of her boyfriend. Harry looked up into his girlfriend's concerned face and gave a soft smile. She had found him sitting in one of the large windows on the fifth floor overlooking the expansive grounds. She'd barely seen him in the past week, and if what Hermione and Neville had said were any clue, Harry had something heavy on his mind.
"You've been avoiding all of us since Halloween. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry, I just… I've had a lot on my mind."
Daphne smiled, thinking his friends knew him quite well. She gave his legs a light push so she could sit next to him. "Neville and Hermione said you got in real late that night, and that you looked awful. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Dumbledore took me to Godric's Hollow." Harry said flatly. Daphne's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, then her face became concerned. Harry didn't look up as he continued.
"It was really overwhelming. I saw their graves, and then we went to the house where everything started. The funny thing is, I've never really thought about their graves before then. I mean, I've wondered occasionally, but I never gave it much thought. But actually seeing them, seeing their headstones. It gave me, I don't know, this kind of closure. I don't know how to put it into words…"
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you." Daphne said, taking his hand into hers. "I can't even imagine what you must have been going through."
"I appreciate it. And, I'm sorry I've been ducking you guys. It's just, I really needed to sort through all this stuff, and I wanted to do it on my own. I wasn't trying to push you guys away again. I learned my lesson."
Daphne gave his hand a gentle squeeze and she leaned him to kiss his lips gently.
"I 'm glad, I didn't want to have to kick your butt again. And, it's ok if you need time, sometimes we all need a bit of space, especially with something like that. Just don't forget that we're here when you need us. We're not going anywhere."
Harry smiled. "I don't think my parents would be very proud of me if I tried to forget all of you. Thank you, for being patient and not pushing me."
"Anytime. Is there any chance you're done with your self-imposed isolation? Because, I really miss my boyfriend."
"Yeah." Harry smiled, looking up into her dark brown eyes for the first time. "In fact, I was wondering if you'd like to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow? I think we're only going to get a couple of chances to go to the village this year, and I think I might do a bit of early Christmas shopping."
"I would love that." Daphne grinned. "It's been a real long time since we got some time to ourselves. Maybe we could go to Madam Pudifoot's."
Harry's smile melted away into a look of severe horror. He'd heard many horror stories from other boys about the quaint little tea shop with it's horrible pink walls, and it's frilly little tablecloths, and the dodgy china. It was supposed to be a boy's worst nightmare.
"Uh, if you really want to, I guess…."
"Harry, I'd rather be skinned alive than set foot in that place." Daphne grinned. Harry couldn't help but laugh as Daphne herself fell into his arms, laughing maniacally. It felt good to have this moment, as during the last week Harry's mind had been so full of the macabre. He now knew with certainty that Dumbledore was teaching him to hunt down Horcruxes himself.
Harry believed that Dumbledore somehow knew he was not going to be alive much longer. He would let things slip during conversation that seemed unimportant by themselves, but together led Harry to believe that the Headmaster was sick or something. However, he had sworn not to speak about any of what was spoken of during their lessons.
He hadn't truly meant to avoid his friends, but he needed to sort all this information on his own, or he knew he would have betrayed the Headmaster's trust and told all he knew to his friends. As it was, he felt horrible for not confiding in them. More and more, Harry felt they all needed to know all he knew- for their safety, at the very least.
"Listen, I really want to talk to you about something." Daphne said after she calmed herself down. "Do you remember a few weeks ago we caught Malfoy going through my things?"
Daphne went on to explain her suspicions of her fellow Slytherin. Harry listen very carefully, and when she had finished, He sat still for a moment going over everything she had told him.
"Neville agrees with me and Tracey, but Hermione thinks I'm being paranoid or something."
"To be honest, I'm not sure what to think. I mean, it all makes sense, but I just can't figure out why Voldemort would even want someone like Malfoy in his army, even with the fact that he's a pureblood."
"You don't believe me?" Daphne asked, starting to look hurt, but Harry reached out and gave her hand a squeeze.
"I do believe you." He smiled. "I'm just trying to understand Voldemort's motives. Sometimes, I wish I still had that bit of him in me so I could see what he's up to."
Daphne looked horrorstruck. "You don't mean that."
Harry gave her a shrug, and Daphne slapped his shoulder.
"Harry, that thing was killing you."
"No, it wasn't. Dumbledore said it was barely hanging on to me. He said the Basilisk's venom hurt it very badly. The truth is, I'm glad it's out of me, but I sometimes wonder if it was the right thing to do." He gave a weak shrug and smiled at her. Daphne's face remained upset.
"Well, I'm glad that you got rid of it. It was the second smartest thing you've ever done."
Harry gave a mirthful smile, "What was the first?"
"Being with me, of course."
Harry couldn't argue, and pulled her close for a long, deep kiss.
Locked away on the seventh floor, Draco Malfoy sat before the broken vanishing cabinet, his frustration reaching dangerous levels. He'd spent close to two full months trying to repair this stupid vanishing cabinet. He had yet to strip away one single ward yet. Though he was quite sure that he was getting very close.
The problem was that he was beginning to really feel exhausted by all of his efforts. This task was costing him physically and mentally. Every day, he felt weaker and more tired. His face was beginning to take on the sunken, drained look of someone who'd spent years in Azkaban.
But he could not give up. Too much was at stake, including his own life. With every passing day, the tiniest sliver of doubt had begun to grow within Draco's mind. Several times, he had begun to wonder if he had made the right choice in pledging himself to the Dark Lord. But then he would return to the Slytherin Common Room, or take a meal in the Great Hall and he would see Daphne Greengrass, or Harry Potter, and his blood would boil with rage at all the indignities he had suffered because of them, and his resolve would strengthen once again.
And so, he kept at it. Coming to the Room of Requirement, and spending hours and hours trying to undo what other wizards had wrought.
Thankfully, Draco was smart enough to have other plans in motion. Tomorrow, one of those plans was to be set in motion. Unfortunately, he would be unable be there when it began, as the Transfiguration teacher had given him detention for not handing in homework. Not that he cared about something so trivial, but he could not afford to be kicked out of school now.
So, he would have to trust his agents.
Draco smiled to himself. He now had agents working for him. If the Dark Lord wasn't careful, he would have competition in a few years. Draco allowed himself to imagine his own rise to power in the Dark Lord's ranks, eventually becoming his second in command, only to betray and destroy the most powerful dark wizard in history. How the world would tremble at the wizard who destroyed the Dark Lord. Draco Malfoy.
He couldn't help but smile at that. But then, reality came crashing back down on him. His life was forfeit if he didn't fix this cabinet, and kill Albus Dumbledore.
Draco stood up again, and took a deep breath. He felt terribly weak and exhausted. He'd spent most of the afternoon here, trying to strip the first ward. He decided to try one last time before he gathered Crabbe, who was disguised as a first year boy, and standing guard outside, and going to the kitchens for food. He was starving, and he was going to need all the energy he could get.
Taking a few calming breaths and centering himself, Draco focused on what he wanted to happen. Raising his wand, and pointing it at the cabinet, he poured all his power into the spell. He felt the magic build up within his chest and course through his body, down his arm, and through his wand.
Even without opening his eyes, he knew that the spell had finally worked. He could smell the crispness of air sizzling, and he could feel the outburst of energy as the first of the wards broke and fell away.
Excitement filled Malfoy as he opened his eyes. Nothing appeared different, but he knew he'd accomplished something. Unfortunately, he was far too tired to check, and his legs buckled a bit. Draco sat down again, unable to keep from smiling at his success.
The joy he felt was tempered by the fact that he knew the other wards would be just as difficult, if not more so. It had taken nearly a month just to break the first ward. He was exhausted, and he felt drained, as if his own magic was used up. But, he had done it. He had broken through the first ward. Now, he knew he could do it. He simply needed to be patient, and to take better care of himself.
Draco stood weakly, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. He waited until it passed before shuffling towards the exit.
"Roast chicken sounds quite nice tonight." he thought.
Draco left the Room of Requirement on shaky legs. He was going to get his chicken, and then he was going to sleep. He would serve his detention with McGonagall tomorrow, and then he'd come back and get started on the next damned ward.
Harry awoke to Neville whistling, as he got himself ready to go to Hogsmeade.
"I thought you might sleep through the weekend." Neville smiled, as Harry emerged from his closed bed curtains.
"I was out kind of late last night with Daphne."
"Did yeh use that broom cupboard on the fifth floor?" Seamus asked coming out of the bathroom. "The one across from the Prefects Bathroom?"
"No, and it's none of your business, either." Harry scowled.
"Forgive Seamus." Dean grinned, putting on his shoes. "For some reason, Lavender agreed to go to Hogsmeade with him, and now he thinks he's God's gift or something."
"Who are you going with, Dean?" Neville asked sitting on his bed to put on his own shoes.
"Ginny Weasley."
"Oy, watch yourself." Harry smiled, opening his trunk and pulling out some clothes. "Her brothers are always looking for people to test their products on."
Seamus and Neville both chuckled at Dean's sudden gulp of fear. Neville finished putting on his shoes and clapped Dean on the shoulder. He gave his dark skinned roommate an encouraging smile.
"Buck up, mate, all the boys in that family are scared stiff of the Weasley women. I think you're ok. If I were you, I'd worry more about not making her angry. She's really good with that wand of hers."
Harry didn't stop smiling as he showered and dressed. Neville waited for him to finish, and the two boys went down to the Common Room, where Hermione greeted them.
"I was beginning to think we might miss breakfast." She said as she kissed Neville. "You look to be in a better mood. Everything ok, then?"
Harry smiled and thanked her for not pushing him to talk over the week. Hermione gave him a tight hug in return and the three headed to the Great Hall.
"Finally!" Tracey all but shouted as the Gryffindors joined them near the entrance to the Great Hall. "I'm really starving here, and Daphne didn't want to go in without you guys."
"I wasn't keeping you here." Daphne said indignantly. "I just prefer to get my first kiss of the day without my breath tasting like porridge."
Harry leaned in and kissed his girlfriend. "Minty." He grinned. Tracey made a disgusted face, while Daphne stuck her tongue out at her friend and the entire group entered the Great Hall for breakfast. They took up their usual spot halfway along the Gryffindor table.
"So, Tracey," Hermione said as she pour milk onto her cereal. "Are you going to join us in Hogsmeade?"
"I don't think so. I've made other plans." Tracey grinned, though she kept her eyes on her plate.
"John Summers asked her out yesterday after Charms." Daphne grinned.
"From Hufflepuff?" Hermione asked, glancing over to the 'Puffs table looking for the boy in question. John Summers was a seventh year, and a chaser on the Hufflepuff House team. He was tall, with light brown hair.
"Yes, and he was very sweet about it." Tracey said defensively.
"I'm surprised he got the question out with as much as he was stuttering." Daphne chuckled. "The poor boy looked like he was going to be sick.
"You were making him nervous!" Tracey remarked, glaring at her best friend.
"I didn't even say anything to him!" Daphne said defensively.
"What are you two up to today?" Neville asked Harry, ignoring the two girls who were now locked in mock verbal combat.
"I thought it'd be a good time to get some Christmas shopping done." Harry said, also ignoring the two Slytherin girls.
"That's a really good idea." Hermione said, still looking up and down the Hufflepuff table.
"Looking for something in particular, Granger?" Tracey said a little menacingly.
Hermione turned back so fast Neville heard her neck crack. Her face red, Hermione began sputtering. Both Harry and Neville began snickering while Hermione tried to calm herself down. Both Daphne and Tracey simply stared at the bookworm with identical looks of curiosity.
"I just want to make sure he's not shifty, or anything like that." Hermione finally said.
"Thanks, but I learned my lesson, and I CAN take care of myself."
"Sorry." Hermione blushed a bit. Tracey just grinned and shook her head.
"It's fine, really. Besides, I don't think any of the Hufflepuffs are really capable of real 'shiftiness'. He's really sweet, and I think this will be good for me. Besides, if he gets out of line, I'll just write to the twins again."
Daphne and Hermione began laughing while Harry turned to look at Neville, who looked just as confused as he felt. The two boys knew that something bad had happened between Tracey and Blaise Zabini, but they had yet to get the full story. The girls had kept that secret well hidden, and Harry knew that whatever it was, he was probably glad he didn't know. Still, he couldn't help but feel as if he should beat the daylights out of Blaise whenever he saw the boy.
"What do you say we all meet at the Three Broomsticks for a late lunch?" Daphne asked. Everyone agreed that it sounded great and the group of teens finished their breakfast, and together went down to the front gates, where Tracey met with her date for the day. Harry saw Summers looking at Harry, and he gave the older boy a polite nod.
"I haven't seen her smile like that since summer." Daphne remarked as she watched Tracey as Filch ran a Secrecy Sensor over her friend. Tracey looked over at Daphne and Harry who were awaiting their turn under Filch's sensor, and gave a bored look and rolled her eyes.
"Are you ever going to tell me what happened between her and Blaise? I mean, he's still walking funny."
Daphne grinned as she pictured Blaise. Though all the boils were gone, and he no longer suffered severe itching, the swelling had not fully subsided. He looked as if he were riding an invisible horse all the time.
"It's not my story to tell." Daphne shrugged. "And I don't think she'll ever tell anyone else. Besides, she handled it just fine. In fact, last night, he actually came over to her in the Common Room and apologized. She thanked him for his apology, and I think they both learned very valuable lessons."
Harry nodded, and held out his arms so Filch could check him over. Harry thought the old caretaker was rather enjoying this job, as his jowls were aquiver as he poked and prodded each student, looking for contraband. Soon enough, however, due largely to the fact they both remained silent through the process, Daphne and Harry were lined up for a carriage. Harry saw Seamus get poked rather hard by Filch when he made a few wisecracks.
There was a thin layer of frost on the ground and the air had the crispness of coming winter, though there wasn't any snow yet. Daphne and Harry walked up and down the main street of Hogsmeade village popping into stores and making purchases.
They both managed to do a good deal of their Christmas shopping, getting gifts for all their friends. Daphne playfully tried to get Harry to reveal what he had in mind as a gift for her, but Harry wasn't going to give in. He simply smiled, and walked away, causing his girlfriend to chase after him, usually threatening him with injuries.
It was extremely nice to carry on as normal teenagers who were not being trained to fight a war. Everywhere they looked, students and adults wandered about as if they hadn't a care in the world. It was as if there was no war coming, and no one's life was threatened.
Harry and Daphne looked for all the world to be just what they were, two young people in love. Walking hand in hand, perusing the shops, stealing gentle kisses from each other. No one would look at these two young people and ever think they were soldiers in training, which is essentially what they were.
"I want to get Astoria something really good." Daphne said as they stepped into a shop near the train platform on the edge of the village. "I think she's beginning to shed her tom boyishness, and I'd like to get her something feminine. Something to make her feel pretty."
"How can she be a tomboy?" Harry asked confused. "She always wears skirts during school."
"Girls are complicated, Harry." Daphne smiled over her shoulder. Harry smiled at her comment and shrugged. He followed her into the shop and watched as she looked over necklaces and bracelets for her younger sister.
"She's growing up. I think she even has a boyfriend. I've hardly seen her in the last couple of weeks. I think she's going to be a truly beautiful woman one day."
"Like her sister?" Harry grinned, stepping closer to Daphne.
"If she's lucky." Daphne chuckled. "What do you think of this?"
Daphne held up a thin chain with a pendant of a unicorn. The horn of the beast was made of a brilliant blue stone.
"Same color as he eyes, it looks like."
"Harry, are you checking out my sister?" Daphne asked, not even bothering to hide her smirk. Harry shook his head, pulled her tightly to him and kissed he soundly.
"Not on your life."
"There are earrings to match that piece." A middle aged woman said. She was as tall as Daphne, with graying brown hair. She opened one of the cabinets and took a small box out and handed it to Daphne. Inside were two blue stones, shaped like the unicorn's horn.
"Why don't you get the necklace, and I'll get the earrings?" Harry suggested. "That way she'll have the whole set."
"We can give it to her together." Daphne grinned. "I love that idea."
The woman smiled sweetly as she took their money and bagged their purchases. Harry caught her looking at his scar a couple of times, but was thankful that she made no comments. This happened in most every shop they had patroned. The shop owner simply smiled politely at them until they were just about to leave.
"Mr. Potter, I just wanted to tell you that my hopes are with you."
Harry stopped and looked at the woman, who was still smiling at him. Her eyes were bright, and Harry gave her a respectful nod before leaving with Daphne.
"I expect we might get more and more of that as things get darker." Daphne sighed, snuggling into Harry's side as they headed back towards the Three Broomsticks.
"I think you're right. I just wish that people would rise up against him on their own."
"It would make things much easier. But fear's a hard weapon to overcome. And Voldemort is very good at using people's fear. It his most powerful weapon. Not everyone is as brave as you. "
"I think you mean insane." Harry chuckled softly.
"I did. I just didn't want to come right out and say it. But I think I must be insane as well, because I have no intention of letting you face this on your own." Daphne grinned, nudging Harry in the shoulder.
Harry looked into her deep brown eyes and felt warmth spread throughout his body. He smiled and kissed her deeply. After a few moments, and a few catcalls from passersby, the young couple broke their kiss. Daphne shivered slightly.
"I'm cold and hungry. I think it's time to go meet everybody."
Harry was glad they had decided on a late lunch, as the Three Broomsticks wasn't nearly as crowded as it usually was. Though still overflowing with students from the school, as well as a good many older wizards and witches, Harry found it easier to maneuver through the crowd to look for his friends.
"Harry!"
Neville, Hermione, Tracey and John Summers were at a table near the back of the tavern. Daphne and Harry joined them and took up their menus.
"Get enough stuff?" Neville joked, as Harry set down the large bunch of bags he was carrying.
"We went to nearly every shop." Daphne smiled as she unwrapped her scarf.
"This isn't even half of it. A lot of it's been shrunk to fit with the rest." Harry sighed as he sat down and opened his coat.
"Why, Harry, m'boy!"
Harry looked up to se the new Potions professor, Horace Slughorn, approaching the table.
"So good to see you outside of the classroom. I've been meaning to talk to you for a while now, but you have just been so busy. Listen, back in the old days, I would hold these little suppers for some of my more, uh, shall we say, impressive students. I was wondering if you'd be interested in coming to one? Actually, all of you would be invited." Slughorn grinned as he glanced around the table. "It is so good to see the houses intermingling. Never understood why Gryffindors and Slytherins had such a hard time getting along. So, what do you say to joining me at one of my supper parties?"
Harry shrugged. "Sounds ok to me, sir.
"I'd be delighted, Professor." Hermione smiled, as did Neville, though he looked a little nervous. Both Daphne and Tracey nodded as well, while John Summers simply smiled, not sure if the invitation was extended to him as well, as Slughorn had pointedly ignored him.
"Oh, jolly good. I shall send you all invitations with the time and date of the next one. Incidentally, I'm planning big Christmas bash. I'd start looking into dress robes if you haven't got any. Really smashing time for everyone in attendance, and you never know who will be there. Well, I'm off, have a lot of essays to read tonight. Enjoy yourselves!"
"My mum told me about Slughorn's Christmas parties." Tracey said after the rotund professor had waddled off. "She got to go to one as someone's date, and she said she met some pretty famous people there. He's really well connected."
"Dumbledore told me he's famous for making introductions, and helping people get started in their careers." Harry said.
"I like him." Neville said, shrugging his shoulders. "He seems alright."
"Better than Snape, at least." Harry agreed.
The six teens enjoyed their lunch, while talking idly about the coming Quidditch season. Harry felt a little bad for Tracey's date, as he no doubt felt like an outsider. Harry did his best to try and be welcoming, but the poor Hufflepuff seemed far too nervous all through the meal.
After they had eaten, and paid their bill, Harry, Daphne, Hermione and Neville said goodbye to Tracey and John, who weren't finished with their date, and headed back up to the castle.
"I feel bad for John." Hermione said as she snuggled into Neville's embrace. "He looked so lost and scared sitting with us."
"Are we really that difficult to approach?" Neville asked, looking over Hermione's head at Harry and Daphne.
"Well, we DID fight Death Eaters in the Ministry last year." Daphne smiled. "It does kind of make us a bit intimidating."
They joked a bit more, and wondered if Tracey and John would become a couple, or if it had been too soon for the Hufflepuff to attempt to join their group, as he obviously had trouble even talking with them. They all seem to agree that whomever Tracey chose to date, it would probably be best for her to wait until the relationship was stronger before inviting him into their circle.
"At least then she'd know if he was going to be a decent guy and all." Hermione smiled.
"Hey, that's Millie." Daphne said pointing ahead to three girls who looked to be arguing over something.
"I think that's Megan Jones and Lisa Turpin." Hermione said, identifying the other two girls. "I wonder what's going on."
The group walked closer to the three girls. As they drew closer, they could begin to hear what they were saying.
"Just tell me who gave it to you." Lisa was saying. Megan simply shook her head, and clutched a package to her chest.
"I just need to get it to Dumbledore." Mandy said firmly.
"This is just too weird, Megan." Millie said, folding her arms. "Why won't you tell us who gave it to you, and why do you have to deliver it?"
"I just have to, alright? Can we please stop talking about it?" Megan said, getting irritated.
"No. Let's look and see what it is." Millie said, reaching out to take the package.
"Back off!" Megan shouted, sidestepping Millie's attempt to get the package away from her.
As Megan dodged out of Millicent's reach, Lisa grabbed hold of the package. Megan fought against her friend, trying to reclaim the mysterious package. The two girls struggled against each other, both shouting at the other to let go.
"I don't think you should take this to anyone!" Lisa said as Megan fought against her. "You don't even know what it is."
"Just let go!" Megan shouted, her face twisting into a look of anger.
Harry and his friends watched, frozen with astonishment as they watched the tussle. Millicent shouted at her two friends to stop fighting, but Megan seemed to grow more and more agitated.
"Stop it!" Hermione shouted, stepping forward trying to come between fighting the girls.
Suddenly, the package ripped, and something flew into the air. Everyone of them seemed to stop and watch the glittering object as it sailed through the air. Millicent took a few steps and reached out to catch the shimmering object, just as Megan realized the package had torn open. Desperate to reclaim her prize, Megan pushed Lisa to the ground and ran to intercept Millicent. Unfortunately, thanks to Millie's height, the Slytherin was able to snag the flying object out of the air nearly as easily as Harry caught snitches on the Quidditch pitch.
That's when things turned simply horrifying.
The moment Millie's hand clasp around the unidentified object, a wave of magic knocked everyone to the ground, while throwing Millie herself into the air. There was a gut wrenching shriek as Millie's face contorted into a mask of severe pain. Millie shrieked in agony as her body began writhing in very painful ways. She fell back to the ground, her eyes rolled into the back of her head, her breath coming in shallow gasps and blood coming from her nose and ears.
"MILLIE!" Megan screamed, running over to her friend. Lisa was also on her feet, and she began to reach for the object in Millie's hand.
"DO NOT TOUCH THA!"
Hagrid's voice boomed as the half giant came racing towards them. "Step away from 'er, now!"
Harry and the others watched as Hagrid bent down and scooped up the girl. He looked at her face, and Harry could see the part of Hagrid face not hidden by hair go pale. He turned to Harry and nodded towards the object lying on the ground.
"'Arry, grab tha, but don't touch it with yehr skin. Use yehr scarf an' pick it up, then come with me."
Harry did as he was told, and wrapped his hand in his scarf before bending down to pick up what he discover was a very ornate looking necklace. The others gathered around him to see what had caused all the commotion.
"A necklace?" Daphne looked confused.
"Don' touch it!" Hagrid shouted over his shoulder. Daphne jumped a bit at Hagrid's shout, and turned to see Millicent's face hanging over Hagrid's arm. She had gone deathly pale, and her eyes were still rolled up in her skull. She was whimpering lightly, and shaking horribly.
Hagrid brought them all to the Hospital wing where Madam Pomfrey took the Slytherin girl behind a curtain to begin trying to heal her. A few moments later, Professor McGonagall appeared and listened to Hagrid's tale before guiding the other children to her office and sending a floo message to Professor Snape to join her in her office.
"Would someone please explain what happened?"
"We were in the Three Broomsticks," Lisa Turpin began. "Megan went to the loo, and when she came back she said we had to go, and she had this package in her hands. She looked a little weird."
Megan looked lost and confused. She kept shaking her hand as if trying to clear her thoughts.
"I don't remember coming back from the bathroom." She whispered.
"Millie and I kept asking her about the package, but she refused to tell us anything. We wanted to see what was inside, and we tried to get it from her. It tore open, and that necklace came out." Lisa pointed to the necklace that now lay on McGonagall's desk.
Millie caught it, and then we all got knocked to the ground." Hermione jumped in. "Then she got lifted up, and it looked like she was in real pain.
"Who were you supposed to take this to?" McGonagall asked Mandy. The young Ravenclaw shook her head, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.
"I don't remember."
"Professor Dumbledore." Lisa said, her voice a near whisper.
McGonagall actually flinched. She stared at Mandy for a few moments before she seemed to regain herself. Mandy looked as if she were barely holding herself in check. Tears were slipping down her cheeks while she waited for McGonagall to pass judgment, while Lisa simply stared in horror at her friend wondering what exactly had happened.
"Where do you four come into this?" McGonagall asked, looking to Harry and the others.
"We showed up just as they started fighting over the package." Daphne said looking McGonagall in the eye. The Transfiguration teacher nodded just as Professor Snape entered.
"You needed to see me?"
"Yes, Severus. I need you to take a look at this necklace. It injured a student quite badly. Miss Bulstrode, in fact."
Snape swept into the room, pulling his wand and casting a couple of spells over the necklace. His face took on a very grim demeanor as he interpreted what his diagnostic spells revealed.
"I take it that Miss Bulstrode was not the intended victim?" Snape asked, looking to McGonagall.
"It was meant for the Headmaster."
Harry couldn't see Snape's face, but he saw Snape's shoulder's tighten noticeably. He felt Daphne's hand squeeze his and knew that she had seen it as well.
"I believe that Miss Jones was imperiused to bring it to him."
Harry and the others all looked at Megan, who suddenly looked simultaneously relieved and horrified.
"I shall take this immediately to my office and se if I can't work out how it was cursed. Perhaps it will help Madam Pomfrey with treatment." Snape said, taking Harry's scarf and wrapping the necklace within it, before dashing out of the Transfiguration teacher's office.
"Miss Jones, I am going to take you to the Hospital wing to be looked over. The rest of you may go." McGonagall said, taking Mandy by the shoulder and leading her away.
"Who'd want to hurt Dumbledore?" Hermione asked when they were away from McGonagall's office.
"I can think of someone." Harry said pointedly.
"I seriously doubt that Voldemort was hiding out in the girls lavatory in the Three Broomsticks." Hermione gave a wry look.
"Obviously he had an agent there." Neville said. "But it does seem rather underhanded and nothing like what You-Know-Who would do. It doesn't make a lot of sense really."
"You're right." Daphne said, looking rather contemplative. "But it's clear that he's got people working for him in the school."
"You're talking about Draco again aren't you?" Hermione asked. "He wasn't even there today."
"That doesn't mean he didn't have someone helping him. Hermione, you haven't spent as much time with him as I have been forced to. Magically speaking, he's pretty feeble I'll admit, but he does have a very clever mind, especially if his ego doesn't get in the way. He could have put this whole thing together."
"So how do we prove it?" Harry asked.
"We don't even know for sure that it was him." Hermione pointed out. "We can't go around making accusations without proof."
"So we get some." Daphne said firmly.
Draco was a mess. He was pacing back and forth in front of that stupid cabinet he was supposed to be repairing, and running his hands through his sleek blonde hair in frustration.
He had screwed up. He should have been patient, or waited, or done one of a million things differently. If he had just been patient at least, then maybe the right person would be dead instead of Millicent Bulstrode.
It had been announced at dinner that Millicent had died due to coming in contact with a cursed object that had been intended for someone else. Professor McGonagall had made the announcement, and warned the students not to accept anything from strange people, and to not venture anywhere alone.
Draco knew exactly what had happened, though he couldn't figure out how Millicent had come into contact with the necklace. It had been wrapped, or at least it should have been.
"Where had things gone wrong?" He wondered.
It wasn't his intention for anyone to get hurt. He needed someone to get the necklace into the school and deliver it to Dumbledore, who as it turned out was gone for the weekend. But things had not gone according to his plan, and now, he was responsible for the death of Millicent Bulstrode, A pureblood from a very prominent family, though not as powerful as his own.
He had never intended for anyone other than Dumbledore to get hurt, much less killed. Ok, so maybe he wanted to see Potter writhing in pain, sure, but did he really want him dead? Yes, he hated Harry Potter. He hated Potter more than anyone or anything, and thought he gave all wizards a bad name. But did he truly want him dead? After all, with Potter dead, who was he going to have to torment and belittle?
Draco sat heavily on a broken trunk and stared at that accursed cabinet. He began to wonder why he really hated Potter. Where did those feeling come from? Jealousy? Was he, Draco Malfoy, one of the richest, and best looking wizards in all of England actually jealous of Harry Potter? A half blood who's only claim to fame was some disgusting scar on his head?
The answer was a very clear yes. Potter was so much more than Draco could ever hope to be. He was powerful, magically speaking, and he was more than talented on the Quidditch field. Draco knew the Potter family was quite wealthy, and that Harry would likely someday end up as Minister of Magic or something equally distinctive, all while he, Draco was making back alley deals and being as detested as his father had been.
Draco slammed his fists into the side of his head as he imagined just what Millicent went through before her death. He knew the curse the necklace carried would make whomever touched it suffer a most horrible death. He had gone to great lengths to get that fool Borgin to send it to his agent in Hogsmeade. It had been easy to secure his agent, thanks to the use of the Imperius curse. The plan was solid, and yet, somehow, everything had gone wrong, and it was Millicent who had died instead of Dumbledore.
Draco never cared much for the rather large girl, but she was a pureblood, and a Slytherin, and in Draco's book, that counted for something. Draco couldn't help but wish that he had skived off his detention from McGonagall and just done the deed himself. After all, had he succeeded, his banishment would have been temporary. Once The Dark Lord took power, he would have Draco reinstated at the school.
The thought of the Dark Lord made Draco shiver. He was failing, and when the Christmas Holidays came, he would have to stand before his master and report his failures. And then, just as other Death Eaters before him… he would suffer his punishments.
It was then that Draco realized he was in over his head now. He stared at the Cabinet again, and wanted nothing more than to blast it to pieces. He wanted to run and never look back. Forget the Dark Lord, and forget Harry Potter. Yes, he could run away and no one would ever find him. His family had friends in France that might help him, and he had enough gold on him to make it to France easily. After all, what did he owe The Dark Lord, anyway? Sure he'd been promised rewards, but was the Dark Lord going to actually give him what he wanted? And did he truly desire those things anymore?
Draco stood up and was about to head back to his dorm to gather his things and sneak out of the school when an image appeared to his mind's eye. His mother's face, looking at him while standing in the doorway of his bedroom. Her eyes so full of concern and worry.
He had hated her for those looks, but now he finally understood. She was afraid for him. If he ran, the Dark Lord would kill her, without hesitation.
That thought froze him. His father was a bastard, and deserved whatever punishment he got, but his mother… his mother was a kind and wonderful woman, who'd done all she could to protect him and make him a better man than his father, and he was just going to abandon her.
"No." he whispered. He turned back to the cabinet, and took off his robe, pulling out his wand. He was not going to let his mother be killed because he failed. He owed her more than he could ever repay. His life. His happiness. She had stood by him while his father simply tolerated his existence. Sure his father had power and standing… once. But his mother was so much stronger, and smarter than his father, and now she needed him to do what the Dark Lord ordered, or her life was forfeit. He had the power to save her.
He was going to do it. He was going to repair this cabinet so the Death Eaters could enter the castle. He would kill Albus Dumbledore, removing the last obstacle to the Dark Lord's rise. Then, and only then, would Draco run. He would take his mother, and leave the country for good.