Chapter 45: The Beginning of the End

Malfoy was well informed, that was for sure.

His plan for getting rid of Nagini was simple: call in my life-debt from Wormtail, and make him do it. He was the one who fed the bloody snake anyway, so it wouldn't look odd if he approached it. And if there was something mixed into the food, who was he to blame?

"Brilliant." I breathed, amazed at the extent of Draco's 'contacts'.

"Yes," he replied, picking a bit of imaginary lint off of his clothes, "I know. But it's nice you know it too."

"Prat." I accused, amused.

"Hey now, there's no need for all that. You're the one that said it, I'm just agreeing."

"Again – prat." I shook my head in wonder. A few months back, if someone had asked what I thought of Draco Malfoy I'd probably have pulled a face and told them just how horrible and self-serving I thought he was. Now if someone asked, I'd probably tell him that he was funny, and a good person to be around, if not a little sneaky.

"So, I solved your problem, now you solve mine. How do you kill a hundred-fifty-plus-year-old war hero?"

And self-serving, let's not forget that.

"You poison him, of course." I said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"He'll never fall for that." Draco scoffed. "His enemies must have tried that a thousand times by now."

"Yes, but it won't be his enemies that do it. It'll be his apprentice."

One pale brow arched upwards in surprise. "You're going to poison Albus Dumbledore." It wasn't even a question – more like a statement of disbelief. I shrugged by way of response.

"You scratch my back, I scratch yours. You pick the poison, I'll use it to coat some of those lemon drops that he's so fond of, and send them to him alongside my condolences for his recently-deceased lover."

"So that was you." Again, not so much a question as a statement. "It seems the Golden Boy isn't quite as 'golden' as he appears."

"Me, 'golden'? More like bronze, if anything. And tarnished at that. After spending the past umpteen years suffering in ignorant silence in Durzkaband, my valor could definitely use a little polishing."

"Durzkaband?" he queried. "I assume you are referring to your relatives?"

I shrugged. "According to one old meddling Headmaster, it was for the 'greater good'."

The blond only shook his head in what could have either been pity or morbid fascination. I decided on the latter, since my pride wouldn't allow me to take the other lying down. "I'll never understand why you insist on fighting for them, Harry. Honestly, after the way they treated you…"

"How do you know how they treated me?" I asked, defensive and not a little suspicious.

"News like that travels fast in the circles I run in. We are the Ministry, after all, and the Government has eyes everywhere -- even on Privet Drive."

"I see." And I did, kind of. I had been too preoccupied at the time (having been entered illegally into a tournament that was obviously outside of my skill set, by someone probably trying to kill me), but looking back I realized with a start that not only had my first Hogwarts letters been addressed to 'Harry Potter, The Cupboard Under the Stairs, Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey', but Rita Skeeter had commented that I should 'feel right at home' sitting in a broom closet.

"If you knew -- or rather, if the Ministry knew – why did no one try to do anything to change it? Why leave me to suffer?"

"Because we had no choice. My father might have had pull over the Minister at the time, but the Minister's decisions on things regarding the public – even if they only directly affected a single citizen – are subject to review by the Wizengamot. No matter how hard he lobbied in your favor, my father – nor anyone else – could sway the Wizengamot to your cause. Dumbledore's opinions were too highly respected, and without any proof we had no case. Actually, it likely wouldn't have succeeded even is we did have proof, he was so adamant about keeping you there. My father would come home from the Ministry practically quivering in suppressed rage at the way the Wizengamot so blissfully turned a blind eye to your plight."

"If he's such a good man, why did he try to kill me?" I asked, mulling over this new information.

"Did he? I thought it was my father who agreed to allow you and your friends go free."

"He did, but that doesn't excuse the spells he was slinging everywhere."

Draco sighed. "You must understand, my father was only doing his job. He has to, to keep up appearances. It wasn't his idea to take Bellatrix with him that night – that brilliant piece of insight came from the Dark Lord last minute. Bella is unstable at best, and completely unsuited to any task that doesn't involve torture and chaos. My father was going for subtle – Bella and the others were more of a hindrance than a help. If it makes you feel batter, my mother visited him for the brief time he was in Azkaban and ripped him a new one for allowing Bella to escape unharmed after killing your godfather. They may not have been close, but he was family, and my mother has very strong views on such things. Views made stronger still by her family's rapidly dwindling numbers."

"Bellatrix will die. I swear on my honor that I will see her dead by the end of this."

Draco only nodded, humming in quiet agreement. "One step at a time." He said after several moments of quiet contemplation. "One step at a time."

I returned his nod with one of my own. "Hopefully one step at a time will keep us one step ahead."

Draco turned his gaze to the bright fire crackling away between us, and said nothing.

Xxx

Standing in the Owlery, I watched as a nondescript school owl took off into the night. In its talons it held my missive to Wortail, which, after consulting one blond Slytherin, was worded to invoke the Life-Debt the wretched little traitor owed me. Although the bird eventually faded from view, the words that I'd so carefully penned had not.

Dear Wormtail,

I, Harry James Potter, herein known as the Collector, call upon the Powers that Be to enforce the Rite of Repayment upon Peter Scott Pettigrew, the Debtor. The Debtor shall perform for the Collector the task of their choosing, and upon the completion of the task set upon the Debtor by the Collector, the Powers that Be shall consider the Debt repaid.

Peter Scott Pettigrew, you have been tasked with the disposal of Lord Voldemort's snake, Nagini. Should you fail this task in my lifetime, the Debt you owe shall be held in Trust by the Powers the Be until such a time that the Debt can be considered repaid. Should you complete the task set before you, the Debt shall be voided, and all compulsions to see it fulfilled removed by the Powers that Be.

I bid you good luck, you shall need it.

Harry J. Potter

Hopefully he would be successful, and we could gain the upper hand in this war. If not… 'Well… I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.'

I sincerely hoped I didn't.