Draco Malfoy had managed to find a cabin aboard the train back to Hogwarts away from the sycophants and the mudbloods, and especially his "friends". He locked the door, and pulled the blinds so he would not be disturbed. He desperately needed the solitude.
It had been the worst Christmas imaginable. He had never in all his life felt more terror, pain, and worst of all, humiliation than he had these past few weeks. He had spent his nights being tortured under the wand of his Dark Master while he spent his days being nursed back to health only to be brought before the Dark Lord once again.
It had all started the night he arrived home. The Dark Lord had demanded Draco be brought before him as soon as he flooed in and had already heard about the death of Millicent Bulstrode, as well as Draco's blundered attempt to kill Albus Dumbledore. The master of the dark had not been pleased at all.
After the third day of torture and then being healed, Draco realized that he had become nothing more than his master's toy. No matter who brought the Dark Lord news of failure, Draco paid the price. Thankfully the Dark Lord did not rely solely upon the Cruciatus curse. He enjoyed the snapping sound of Draco's bone being broken, or the terrible screams Draco made when the Dark Lord used some obscure pain hex upon the boy.
Mostly, however, Voldemort seemed to enjoy making Draco's mother suffer as she was forced to watch her only child writhe in agony and be unable to ease the pain. Nearly every night Draco caught glimpses of his mother staring in horror as he flailed upon the floor in unimaginable agony. At times, Draco wanted to call out to her, beg her to end his pain, but his pride always stopped him. His stupid, useless pride.
Professor Snape was the one charged with tending to all of Draco's wounds, when the Dark Lord allowed him to be tended to. It appeared that Voldemort did not wish Draco to be permanently damaged, or bear any marks that would lead others to question what might have happened. Draco needed to look as if he had thoroughly enjoyed his holiday.
Snape had tried several more times to gain Draco's trust, though now Draco feared that Snape was merely trying to trick him. Draco now believed it had been Snape who had reported his failings to the Dark Lord, and likely made stuff up to worsen the punishment. More and more Draco was growing to hate his Head of House, as most of the rest of Hogwarts did, though for far different reasons.
It was on the last day of holiday that Draco had the chance to actually speak with his mother, something he'd been wanting to do since he had come home. Narcissa came to check on him after another long night of suffering the ire of their master.
She had come to his room before, simply watched him, and then left. Draco had never called out to her, as there had usually always been someone there. That morning he had been alone, and he called out for her to come closer to his bed.
"Are you…" Narcissa began, her natural motherly instinct overriding her usual mask of stoic indifference. She managed to regain herself quickly, and asked with a tone of haughtiness. "Are you well?"
"No more games mother." Draco whispered. "Is it true that he doesn't think I will succeed?"
"Our master would not have entrusted you to…"
"Do not think me a fool mother. I'm no longer a child." Draco hissed angrily. Narcissa stared at her son hard for a moment before her mask broke once again, and she nodded slowly. Draco finally understood why she had always looked as if she did not care for anything. It was the Malfoy family mask. He had been trained from a very early age that he was superior to everyone else. A prince among wizards. Now, he was learning that it was nothing more than bravado. A falsity that, had there been no Dark Lord, might have carried him to very high levels of power in government, or whatever he wished. But now, it was broken, and Draco only wished to run and hide away from the Dark Lord and his new world order in which he would be nothing more than a slave.
"You should never have joined his army. I never wanted this for you." Narcissa whispered.
"We should leave. Now. This instant." Draco said, sitting up in his bed. "We'll go to the continent."
Narcissa shook her head sadly. "We would never escape him. He would send his most cruel enforcers to find us, my son. We are locked too tightly into his service with no hope of escape."
"You can't be serious. There has to be someplace we could…"
"Don't think for a second that I wouldn't run away with you if I thought that we might be safe. I wanted to take you away from all this years ago, but your father would never allow it. He would find us, and he would make us suffer much worse that what you have experienced until now." Narcissa tore her left sleeve up to reveal the Dark Mark upon her forearm.
"This is more than a means to summon his faithful, Draco. He can find each and everyone of us through this mark. Why else do you think he brands us with it? The only hope we have is that his enemies can somehow defeat him, or that you can find a way to succeed in your objective. Tell me, do you have a plan?" She asked with hopeful eyes.
Draco wanted to be confident, to say that he did indeed have a plan that would work, but looking into his mother's worried eyes, he felt all his bravado fail. Slowly, very slowly, he shook his head.
Narcissa had to fight to choke down her sobs. She took a few deep breaths before she trusted her voice.
"Perhaps it is time that we swallow our pride, my son. Perhaps it is time that we sought help."
She said nothing more, but stood, gave him a meaningful look and swept out of his bedroom, leaving him to ponder all she had said. He would have liked to ask her who he should seek assistance from, but they never had another moment to speak, not even when she dropped him off that morning to catch the train.
He felt so exhausted, and his body still ached in places despite Snape's masterful ministrations to keep him healthy. Draco stretched out on the bench and wrapped himself in his heavy winter cloak. He'd been quite unable to stop shivering and his eyelids felt terribly heavy. Draco gave a yawn and allowed his eyes to close.
He knew now that he had no choice but to do as The Dark Lord had ordered. He had to kill Albus Dumbledore, and he had to open Hogwarts to the Death Eaters. Controlling the school was tantamount to controlling the Ministry. To the Dark Lord, they were one in the same. Draco knew now that there was a time line, and Draco was the primary cog in the Dark Lord's masterwork.
Tonight he would try again to fix that accursed cabinet. If he could accomplish that, he would most assuredly come up with a way to end Dumbledore's life and save his mother's and his own lives.
"The last night was the very best." Daphne sighed, her eyes drifting into space. She was sitting with Tracey and Hermione in Arithmancy class. They were supposed to be working on their assignment, but the three girls were reminiscing about their adventures over the Holiday. At breakfast, Harry and Daphne had told their friends about the destruction of the Horcrux, though Daphne had been dying to tell her to girlfriends something she felt was far more exhilarating than the destruction of yet another piece of the Dark Lord's soul.
"It was so wonderful to feel his skin on mine. I wanted to let go, and just shag him until neither of us could walk." Daphne sighed, though this time she sounded annoyed.
"Why didn't you?" Tracey asked, totally engrossed in her friend's tale.
"He's too damned noble." Daphne sighed. "Everything we did, I had to start. He just was so scared of hurting me, or taking things too far. I tried to let him know that it was ok, but… I don't know."
Hermione gave a soft smile. "Be patient with him, and he'll come around. The only time he's ever acted on his urges is when it means helping someone else. He hasn't grasped the idea that sometimes it's ok to be a bit selfish. Just try not to let it get to you and before you know it, you'll be together in your room, making love like…" Hermione suddenly seemed to realize what she was saying, and felt her face burn scarlet.
Both Tracey and Daphne turned to stare open-mouthed at their bushy haired friend. Hermione bent low, focusing on her parchment. She didn't dare look at her two friends. Tracey could sniff out a secret like a damned bloodhound, and could make you spill your guts with a look. It was a gift some would say, while Hermione, under that very gaze right in that moment, felt it should be classified as an unforgivable.
"Is there something incredibly saucy and delicious you'd really like to tell us?" Tracey asked, unable to disguise the eager curiosity in her voice. Hermione shook her head not daring to look at her friends.
"Oh my gods!" Daphne whispered, her hand covering her mouth to keep from screaming. "You and Neville…"
"Shagged like puffskiens in heat." Tracey said, leaning forward on her elbows, giving Hermione doe eyes, and a very wicked smile. Hermione looked up in horror at her friends comments. Her eyes were bulging, her mouth hung agape in embarrassment.
"We did nothing as crass as that." Hermione tried to sound convincing, but her face gave away her guilt.
"You'd better start sharing with us, or we'll be forced to go speak to Neville, and we all know that he can't keep a secret to save his life. With the right amount of, shall we say, persuasion, he'll crack like an egg dropped on the floor." Tracey threatened.
"Alright, alright." Hermione said, fearful that Tracey would make good on her threat. She gave a cursory glance around the classroom to make sure they weren't being listened in on. "It happened on Boxing Day. My parents went out to dinner, and Neville and I got to stay in the hotel room alone. I had just taken a shower and hadn't gotten dressed yet. I sat next to him on the bed wearing my bathrobe and we were watching something stupid on the telly. I kissed him, you know, just something soft, and he told me that he loved me. Well, we started kissing more and more, and I started feeling like I wanted him to touch me like he had done during the summer."
Both girls nodded, hanging on Hermione's every word. The bookish Gryffindor tried to clear her throat before continuing. Truth was, it was actually nice sharing with her friends, despite how embarrassed she felt.
"He…he slipped his hands inside my robe, and it just… I felt like I was on fire. I felt goosebumps all over, and I just had to get my hands on him. I …" Hermione's face went even redder than before, which surprised her two friends, and they both thought that Hermione's head very nearly exploded.
"I nearly ripped his shirt off of him." Hermione admitted. Tracey looked like she was about to make a comment, but Daphne gave her a look to silence her blonde friend. Daphne knew that if either of them interrupted Hermione they wouldn't get any more details.
"I thought I had frightened him because he just stared at me for a second. I started to apologize when he started kissing me so… passionately. I felt like I had lost control of myself. The more we kissed, the more I wanted. The more he touched me, the more I wanted to be touched. Everything became a blur of feelings and sensations."
Hermione took a moment to catch her breath, as the memory of that night played in her mind.
"I know what you were saying before, Daphne, about feeling Harry's skin on yours. There are no words to describe what it felt like. When Neville was inside me, I felt…complete. I don't know how else to say it. He was so gentle with me, and tender. He kept telling me how much he loved me, and how good it felt. And it truly did. I just… It was the single most amazing thing I have ever experienced. When it was over, he just held me so tight, and ran his fingers through my hair. I have never felt so alive and content than when we made love. Each time was amazing."
"Exactly how many times did you and our Neville…" Tracey began
"Fifteen." Hermione blushed again, looking back to her assignment.
Daphne's eyes bugged out and she stared at Tracey who was silently laughing.
"It's always the quiet ones" Tracey whispered through her giggles, which made Daphne break into silent laughter, and even Hermione, who was still blushing madly, chuckled a bit.
Neville and Harry sat tucked away in a quiet corner in Gryffindor Tower. They both had a free period, which they were using to catch up while matching wits in a game of chess. The two boys had grown closer over the year, however, they had not really been given a chance to truly bond.
"How was skiing this year?" Harry asked.
"Not bad, though I'm still rubbish at it. Actually, Hermione's dad took me golfing, and I really enjoy that. They have these little motorized carts to get around in, and Dan let me drive. It was really good fun." Neville smiled. Harry gave a chuckle.
"I take it Hermione's parents approve of you then."
Neville suddenly blushed, and Harry gave a inquisitive look.
"They like me, but… I'm afraid if they … Nevermind." Neville said quickly looking back to the chess board.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Neville looked around, and gave a sigh.
"You have to promise never to tell Hermione that I told you, but I need to talk to someone about it. Please understand I'm not trying to brag, I'm just… I don't have any guys I can just talk to about this sort of thing and not have it turn into something disgusting or something like that."
"What are you talking about?"
Neville once again looked around, making sure they weren't being overheard.
"Hermione and I… we took our relationship to…we, that is. We.."
"Spit it out already." Harry all but shouted.
"We made love."
Harry felt like he'd been hit by a thousand pound bludger. Neville looked at him waiting for his reaction.
"Oh." Harry finally said.
"I just sort of happened. It was truly amazing, and I love her so much, but I'm.. I've been worried that we might have taken things to far, to fast. She seems okay with it all, but I just, well I'm afraid. I don't want to screw things up with her."
"Nev," Harry began, finally getting his head to function. "Hermione is the most responsible, headstrong person I've ever met in my life. If she trusts you and cares for you enough to allow the two of you to, er… well then all you need to do is keep on caring for you as you've always have."
Neville nodded, though he still looked worried.
"And, Nev, just so you know where I stand on the matter. What the two of you do is between you. But, if you ever hurt her, I will make you pay for it… once she's done making you pay."
Neville gave a very proud smile and nodded. Harry guessed that Neville just needed some sort of reassurance that he was doing right by the bushy haired girl that they both held in such high esteem.
"How are things between you and Daphne?"
Harry felt himself blush a bit. "Brilliant, though I think she would like to be where you and Hermione are. Just between the two of us, I'd like to as well, but I'm not about to make that move while we're in school. As it is, I'm worried that we're moving to fast."
"Are you worried, or are you afraid of going to far?" Neville asked wisely. "I know you would never intentionally hurt her, but I've watched you guys this year, and I have to tell you that you're kind of in danger of losing her."
"What do you mean?" Harry looked up quickly.
"Daphne is an extremely patient and understanding person, Harry. But, she's also human, and just like anyone else, she needs to feel like she's special, especially to you. I know that you care for her." Neville said before Harry had the chance to argue.
"But with all your training, and classes and everything else, you've hardly made time for her. To spend time with her. I've listened to her talk to Tracey and Hermione while you were in lessons, and I've got to tell you as a friend, that she needs some of your attention. It's almost like you're pushing her away by focusing so much on preparing to fight."
"I don't meant to, it's just that this is important. I'm the only one who can end all this."
"I know, Harry." Neville said. "But if you forget to show her how much she means to you, you could lose her, and I don't want to see that happen. I'm not saying go find her and shag her rotten, like Seamus would tell you…"
"I get it Neville." Harry said, stopping his friend. "And I think she made it clear to me over Holiday. We sort of… Well, we didn't get quite as intimate as you and Hermione, but we…"
"I don't need details." Neville smiled. "But I'm happy for you."
Harry nodded, and the two returned to their Chess match, though Harry could no longer focus. He kept thinking to how it felt to hold Daphne's nearly naked body so close to his own, and how hot her flesh felt upon his own as they explored each other's flesh with their hands and their mouths. He'd been so hesitant, but the more he tasted of Daphne, the more he wanted. Still he was afraid. Afraid of hurting her, or being unable to control himself. Afraid of what it might mean if his enemies learned just how much he felt for Daphne. Afraid of her rejecting him or leaving him. He had never in all his life felt anything like what he felt just being next to her, and what frightened him the most was losing that.
"Hey Harry."
"Ginny." Harry smiled as he greeted the young redhead. "How are you?"
"I'm good. Thank you. Do you have a minute?"
"I can go get…" Neville started but Ginny shook her head.
"You don't have to go anywhere, Neville. I just wanted to let Harry know that he needs to be careful."
"What do you mean? Harry asked. Ginny gave a soft smile and sat down, folding her hands in her lap.
"I overheard some girls on the train coming back yesterday. It seems there are quite a few girls ho don't like the fact that you're with Daphne, and they think it's time you two broke up and gave some other girls a chance at you."
"What?" Harry asked, eyes bulging outt of his head. Neville began to snicker.
"Hermione heard some girls on the train at the start of Holiday coming up with ideas to ensnare you."
"Ensnare me?"
Hermione's words, not mine, mate." Nevi said, holding his hands up.
"The point is that you should watch your back. There's a fourth year girl named Romilda Vane, and she seems convinced that you and her will be together before the end of the year. I wouldn't put it past her to use one of Fred and George's love potions on you." Ginny grinned, and Harry had to smile in return. One thing Ginny had always been great at was lightening the mood, not unlike Ron. Harry suddenly felt very guilty for more or less ignoring her all year.
"So, you're saying I should watch what I eat and drink?" Harry quipped.
"I would."
"Thanks, Ginny. And I'm sorry that we haven't spoken or anything. I just…"
"Forget it Harry. Let's just let the past remain in the past. I didn't make any attempt to speak to you either, so we're both gigantic gits."
Harry nodded, and smiled as Ginny rose from her seat. "I've got to get back to studying. Why didn't any of you prats tell me OWL year was so horrendous?"
"Ginny," Neville called as the redhead started moving away. "What house are these girls in? Should Harry be watching out for any house in particular?"
"All of them really. That Romilda girl is a Gryffindor."
Harry suddenly felt like a hunted animal. He had no idea that he was so popular, though as he thought about it, it was very likely none of these girls cared a lick about Harry, but were after the Boy-Who-Lived, or knew that he was quite wealthy, or some other shallow reason. Harry breathed a sigh as he thought of the girl he was with. Daphne truly cared about him as a person. So much so she had come to his Aunt and Uncle's home to literally beat some sense into him. Harry seriously doubted most of the other girls in the school would do that.
Harry considered himself very blessed, and now he intended to show Daphne exactly how much he appreciated her. Maybe they could skip dinner and sequester themselves in the Room of Requirement for a few hours.
Lord Voldemort sat with a heavy mind. He stared at his wand, lost in thought over his plans and his diminishing power. He was beginning to wonder if he would have the power to rule over the wizarding world when he finally manage to take it for himself.
Once again, he had felt another significant drop in his magic three days before Christmas. He was still able to cast most of his favorite spells, and had used young Malfoy to test his abilities, as he was afraid one of his other followers might feel the difference in power, or think him merciful.
His research had turned up nothing, and the Dark Lord was actually starting to feel anxious about his fate. He could of course, not die, but was it possible to lose all of his magic? To become nothing better than a muggle?
He could not find any answers, and it was disturbing him most grievously. His research had failed him. It seemed there was no precedent for this sort of occurrence, so he would need to try to solve the problem himself. His first thought was to somehow replace Potter's blood with another wizard's preferably with someone very powerful, like that crazy old muggle loving fool, Dumbledore.
Voldemort actually chuckled at that thought. Even if he hadn't ordered the old fool killed, he knew it would be impossible to get his blood. None of his Death Eaters could match Dumbledore's power, or his creative spell work.
Then the idea came to him. His plans were moving quickly, and soon he was going to have access to a wealth of powerful witches and wizards, many of them purebloods.
A very sinister smile began spreading on his lipless face as Lord Voldemort imagined all the young faces staring up at him in awe as he strode into the Great Hall, pronouncing his victory. Then, he could meet with each and every child and drain the most powerful of their life, and infuse their magic to his own.
And of those left alive, he would begin their education of his brave new world, where wizards ruled over Muggles.
But before any of that would come to pass, there was one thing that had to be addressed, and it had to be done in front of the whole of Hogwarts, and the magical world together. Harry Potter would die at last.
"He's placed other within the castle." Severus Snape said wearily. He sat in Dumbledore's office, nursing his third glass of brandy, while Dumbledore listen to his Defense Teacher's report of the happenings over the holiday.
"I don't know how many, or even who they might be, but I do know that Draco is not the only one. From what I could gather, they're in place should Draco fail, or be found out."
Dumbledore took a deep breath and swallowed the last of his tea. He set the empty cup down and sighed deeply.
"Were you able to convince Draco to give up his task?" The elder man asked.
Snape shook his head . "After all that boy suffered through, he still refused to listen to me. He's so much like his father."
"Do you have any idea of what he's trying to do?"
"Other than end your life?" Snape snorted. "No. I do know that the Dark Lord's pulling all his followers in and preparing for something big, though I was not informed of what his plans are. He only told me to prepare myself, an that triumph was near."
"His failure to kill Amelia Bones and her niece no doubt irritated him."
Snape sat up and gave the older man a strange look. "In fact it did." Snape said, rising to his feet. "I don't know why it didn't occur to me than, but something strange happened when he heard about that. He punished Draco for Rudolphus' failure. In fact, Draco suffered for nearly every transgression committed by other people."
"That's unusual." Dumbledore said, steepling his fingers. "Do you have an opinion on it?"
"I'm not sure." Snape shrugged slightly. "Draco had never been tortured by the Dark Lord before, and He didn't rely on the Cruciatus curse. In fact, he use a lot of very simple spells. bone breakers and the like. It was almost as if he were…"
"Losing his power." Dumbledore stood up. "It's working."
"What are you talking about?"
"With every Horcrux that is destroyed, Voldemort loses some of his power. By the time they are all destroyed, and Harry faces him, they should be on equal ground, perhaps a bit more in favor of Harry. It was one of my theories regarding the Horcruxes. It seems that I may have been correct."
"And what if he figures out why he's losing his strength?" Snape asked, a worried expression on his sallow face.
"If he believes that his Horcruxes have been destroyed, he will retrieve the remaining ones, and hide them, and we shall have no hope of finding them, and Lord Voldemort will win this war."
Snape winced at the thought of Voldemort's plans succeeding. "Do you have any ideas on where the rest are?"
"I am nearly positive that one of them resides with Gringotts. Just as Lucius possessed one, I believe that he entrusted another with one with instructions to place it in their family vault. It would have been someone from a very old family so the vault would be in the very deepest part of the goblin bank."
"That narrows the field down a bit. Other than Malfoy, there would only be the Blacks, the Rookwoods, the Carrows, The LeStranges and The Averys. Of those, I believe only Bellatrix would have been so trusted."
"That seems most likely. The Goblins of course will not allow us into someone else's vault without a reason, as well as suitable compensation." Dumbledore sat down again, bringing his hands together once again.
"Another you have seen many times. His familiar."
"Nagini is a Horcrux? How is that possible? How could he place a piece of his soul inside something that already had a soul?"
"He did it with Harry."
"That was some sort of cosmic joke. You told me yourself that the object needed to be prepared to receive the bit of soul."
"A snake would be far easier to contain and keep in one place during such a ceremony. Regardless, he has an unprecedented amount of control over the snake. I believe it is a horcrux. The last one is hidden near the shore. I am very close to discovering it's resting place, and when I do, I will take Harry and we shall destroy it. The snake will be the very last one to be destroyed, and I wish for you to see that it is."
"Me?" Snape turned to stare at Dumbledore as if he'd grown another head out of his chest.
"You will know when the time comes. We must do our very best to keep Lord Voldemort from discovering what we are doing. I have taken steps to guide Harry after I am gone so that he will not try and take on Lord Voldemort until he is absolutely ready to end Lord Voldemort once and for all." Dumbledore sighed.
"You're asking so much of me." Snape glared. "First you want it to be me who ends your life, incidentally making me a wanted man with no way for me to prove that it was you who asked me, and now you want me to finish off your quest, and I have to figure out when the correct time is?"
"Severus, There is someone who would stand up for you if you would just…"
"STOP!" Snape snapped. "I have asked you over and over again to drop this. I am not going to confess my self to Potter. I desire neither his respect, his friendship, or even his pity. My sins, and the reason for them will die with me."
Snape gave one last glare and swept from Dumbledore's office, leaving the Headmaster to ponder why Severus Snape held so tightly to his anger and hatred.
"At least I can count on him to do what must be done." Dumbledore thought as he rose from his desk and prepared himself for bed.