A/N: I know its been a while! I've been busy and kind of distracted with my own actual story. :) Hope you enjoy this, it might be a while before I post chapter 9 :)

Chapter Eight

Finding the Target

I don't know if many people know this right now, but the Northern part of India is quite cold this time of year. Of course, the Himalayas tend to be. I had been searching on and off for three days for their base. Crossing places off on my map, locating new places that weren't the right place. Every day brought new disappointment, and every disappointment made me more and more worried about my family and Hermione. But I kept searching. Not wanting to see Hermione's face and worry what would happen to her the next time the Dark Lord came, and I had nothing to give him. She would be tortured for information. She would be beaten and raped again. And I would be able to do nothing about it. I would be dealing with my own punishments.

So I had to keep searching. For her sake, for my family's sake, and for my sake. I was currently staying in a small hostel, somewhere above India. The Middle East to be unspecific. I had no new leads on where the Rebel Force was located, but I had to be sure. I knew that they were close by, I could feel the surge in magic somewhere, but I wasn't sure where exactly. At times I could feel it, but there were times when it was completely obsolete.

I had my work cut out for me, I'll admit. Whoever this Maroon character was, he was actually semi smart. But he wasn't smart enough. One day I was perusing an area, and I felt it. The jolt of magic being used, and close by. Usually you don't notice it in Hogwarts, but if you're in an area what magic isn't a very common thing, you notice when someone starts using magic.

I knew I was close by and I began searching in the right way for wherever they were hiding. Now that I knew I was really near to it, I could find out where it was. It wasn't long before I was on top of the building they were hiding out in. I let go of a snitch sized object that I had created. It would act almost like a satellite and allow me to hear whatever went on within a a mile of where I had put it. It would not move until I picked it up again. I muttered a simple spell that told me where I was geologically and Apparated back to Malfoy manor. Now that I knew where they were I could use technology we had adopted from the Muggles, and get blue prints of the buildings, keep tabs on guards and watch times, and easily make a plan to invade quietly, disturb no one and steal away Maroon. Of course I'd have to listen in on conversations to find out exactly where he was.

I listened in on every conversation that went on down there. I locked myself in my quarters during the day and never came out. I never talked to anyone while I was listening and wrote down all the important things that they said. If I did this right, Hermione would be safe for the time being from Voldemort. I knew what awaited the end of this mission. What would happen the moment I was done. But I had to focus on the mission at hand. Had to focus on getting Maroon into my grasp. I listened to a small conversation between who I had pegged as Maroon and a Rebel who had been identified earlier as Rapier. From previous conversations, I had assessed the personalities and characteristics of the Rebels. And it seemed that Rapier listened to Maroon only because he was the leader. Most of the Rebels appeared to be older than Maroon but listened to him because he had some information none of them had. But there was definitely a connection between Rapier and Maroon beyond colleagues.

A few more days and I had all I needed. I contacted the Dark Lord, remembering that I had to get his permission before I could leave to infiltrate. I triple checked all the information, before going in and informing my father that I was done with my research, and that I would be inviting the Dark Lord back into our presence.

"May I look over your notes, Draco? While I do so, I ask that you return the prisoner's to their cells and make sure they hold some signs of torture. I don't think the Dark Lord would believe us if they looked as freshly clean as your mother and yourself." Lucius said smoothly before, spreading the notes over his desk, and beginning to peruse the documents.

I nodded and walked out of the room and began to move the prisoner's back down to the cells. We had to move a few around, and I of course had to throw a few curses at them. I changed their clothes and performed a spell that would make them look all dirty and gross. I apologized profusely every few seconds, and I was always met with a smile. They understood. All of them knew how much we were risking by being nice to them. They knew that this small amount of punishment was much better than what they thought they had been getting themselves into.

Finally I had to move Dezi and Hermione. I walked into Dezi's room and told her what was going on. However I told her all of what was going on. I had been wanting to talk with her for days. I needed her guidance. She had been my friend for years, for nearly as long as I could tell. And she knew me better than anyone. It wasn't long before her advice was to keep this from Hermione as long as possible. And that she would understand. Hermione understood what we were doing by allowing the prisoner's the freedom they had. She understood what we were putting at risk. She would understand my mission if she ever found out.

I nodded, recognizing her reasoning as sound, and we walked over to the room Hermione occupied to retrieve her. I hated doing this. I hated when the Dark Lord came and I have to make it look as if we actually were the cruel family everyone had pegged us to be. I said sorry probably a million times before Hermione finally told me it was ok. She had blood on the outside of her temple, and she had smudged dirt on her cheeks. Her hair was tousled and looking even worse than it did her first year, and she was cut on her arms and legs. She still had bruises from the last time the Death Eaters... I forced the thoughts out of my mind, not wanting to remember that night.

I lead them down to the cell they supposedly occupied and left them there. But not before muttering to Hermione the spell that would turn on and off the lights in the cell. I left them in the cell, and went back to my father's library. He looked up at me from something and smiled.

"Congratulations Draco. The information seems accurate enough. I believe the Dark Lord will be pleased. I will call him soon enough. Are the prisoner's back where they should be?" Lucius asked looking a bit sick. He always hated the thought of being rude to them after being so good to them. My father obviously hated the Dark Lord's visits almost as much as I did. He had renounced his association publicy with him years ago, hoping he would never return. But with his unfortunate rebirth during my fourth year, my father had no choice but to join him again. He would have killed us if he hadn't. My father saw no way out of it. I nodded, and assured my father that all the prisoners were back and were looking as if we were cruel prison keepers.

My father laughed at that and led me out of the room. He called my mother and we went into the kitchen for a small family dinner before the Dark Lord came again and ruined everything as he always did. There were people who had no life because of him. Young children whose worth had not be claimed because he had killed them. Or turned his werewolves on them. Some children, Harry, had been orphaned without even knowing his parents. And then killed right after he had come of age. Draco despised the Dark Lord. And hated being associated with him. Draco knew that the only way to stop him, was to find Maroon, strike up a deal with him, and kill the Dark Lord. He had to do it. He knew that Harry was the only one who could kill him, but Harry was dead. Someone else had to kill the Dark Lord. It was the only thing to do. For Hermione, for Harry. He had to be stopped.

When the Dark Lord arrived he approved my plans, and allowed me to go take Maroon from his hide out. He told me to take a few others just for back up. I decided Nott, Goyle, and Crabbe would be the best choices. Goyle and Crabbe, much to everyone's surprise, are actually quite good with their wands. And Nott was big and strong, and filled to the brim with curses. I knew they would be the best decisions. It took only an hour to go over the plans and discuss how we were going to get through all of this. After that, we were on our way to the Middle East.

A/N: Please review! :)