A/N – Wow! I'm once again humbled and amazed by the apparent popularity of this story. Over 2200 hits and 60 reviews in the first 24 hours and we've now hit 700 review in total. Thank you all for your enthusiasm for this story.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. There were a lot of great ideas. One seemed to stand out as soon as I read it and it was for it's humour potential and simplicity – it was the one that seemed to be (to me) the one that inventors of U-No-Poo would come up with.

Chapter 20 – Is Calamari Really Breaded Squib?

Monday morning found many within the British wizarding community contemplating the previous day.

Albus Dumbledore had contacted Fudge the previous evening and had effectively muzzled any new of the Will reading and it's contents. It helped that the official reading had been moved up a week without a public notice. Cornelius had readily agreed that they needed to get some sort of control over Potter before the rest of the world found out that he was now officially the head of two old pureblood families.

He had been planning all morning for his meeting with Harry at Grimmauld Place. He knew that trying to exert direct control over the boy was futile. No, he had to reestablish some sort of trust with Harry. Albus would offer him 'exclusive' training over the summer to prepare for his battle with Tom. He would also give him a highly scripted version of events to show him Tom's past and offer Harry the opportunity to go hunting for Tom's horcruxes.

"I've got to get at least some of Harry's trust back before the end of the summer," he muttered to himself. He had to get closer to the boy again. Right now there was no way Harry would have his guard down enough to be able to slip him the potions needed to get him back under control and open to suggestion.

Granger was another problem. How the hell he missed that her friendship with the boy would cause problems was one of his biggest mistakes since Lily Evans. The only way he was able to keep Evans in line was that she respected McGonagall and Minerva was an expert in manipulation. Granger was even more independent. He still didn't know what happened to the Grangers, but he had the feeling Hermione's trust in Minerva had been shaken as well. He had to get her away from Lord Potter-Black.

/Scene Break/

Lucius Malfoy woke up alone in Malfoy Manor. He sat up and groaned with his head in his hands. Yesterday had been one of the worst single days in the history of the Malfoy family since 1435 when Scorpius Malfoy – a well-known expert in animal husbandry – was found to have taken his vocation too literally. It had been nearly four generations before a Malfoy could sit in the Wizengamot without snickers breaking out and the sound of random moos, oinks and bleating sheep echoing through the chamber.

Now this. Over the past twenty four hours the Malfoy scion had lost a lot of important things in his life – his public standing in the community, a half million galleons, the Black inheritance, and, if Voldemort has his way, his son. I mean really, he wasn't even gone three weeks before Voldemort started getting delusions of grandeur.

"Kill Dumbledore," he shook his head, "what was he thinking? Well at least he's supposed to be gone for another couple weeks. I've got some time to get Draco out the mess he got himself into. I'll talk to Dumbledore after breakfast, he'll know what to do."

He got up and had one of his elves get him dressed. He was going to have a nice breakfast. As he made his way down the stairs, the Dark Mark on his arm began to burn. He grabbed his forearm as the burn suddenly became unbearable. "Oh shit!" he thought, "He's back and his is royally pissed."

Things just got worse – he had to take Draco to Voldemort now before his arm burned off. Lucius Malfoy just surpassed Scorpius. He directed one of the house elves to get Draco ready to leave in five minutes – he figured he had ten minutes before he passed out from the pain in his arm.

He didn't even consider Narcissa's divorce from him to be a problem until later in the day.

/Scene Break/

Harry woke up early on Monday in an unfamiliar situation. He found himself on the sofa in the sitting room. He had been fairly exhausted after the day and remembered cuddling with Hermione once everyone had left. His brain then woke up enough to realize he wasn't alone. He looked down and saw Hermione was still asleep with her head on his shoulder. "I could get used to this," he thought, "it's a wonderful way to wake up." He looked at his watch – he still had two more hours before he had to meet Dumbledore and he wasn't ready to get up just yet.

/Scene Break/

Tom left the Manor in his black cloak and with red eyes blazing. If all went well, this would be his last appearance as the real Voldemort and he was going to make the most out of it.

He arrived at the Death Eater compound unannounced and completely unexpected. Three Cruciatus curses later everyone knew he was back. He was sure one of the new recruits wet himself when he ordered him that he had better get Bella into the study in three minutes or forfeit his life. Under his hood he smiled silently – the poor guy had to face Bella or face me.

He called over another death eater. "Your arm." The death eater extended is arm to show his Mark. Voldemort put his wand to the Mark and concentrated on Lucius and his son. The death eater in front of him was good. He didn't even show the pain he must be feeling.

Exactly seven minutes later Lucius and a rather pale Draco arrived.

Voldemort released the unnamed death eater and he managed to make it into the hallway before he collapsed.

"Lucius, I got word you were free. How did you escape the Ministry?"

"Well, my Lord, Bella led a raid into the Ministry and released us."

Bella walked in at that point having just proved the point that sometimes you do shoot the messenger and took one look at Lucius and pouted whining, "Lucy! I wanted to tell him! It was my raid, you were just part of the spoils."

Voldemort almost slipped back into Tom as he fought the laugh that wanted to escape as he saw the look on Lucy's face.

"Bella why did you attack the Ministry. I thought I had instructed you were just to plan."

"I tried, my lord. But it was just so frustrating. It was driving me crazy. I needed Lucy and you didn't say I couldn't do it myself."

"I see, and how many followers did we lose in this raid?"

"One. But I swear his humming put me over the edge!"

"You killed him?"

"Well," Bella put on the face of a puppy who got caught doing something wrong, "we were in this elevator and the music…"

"Enough Bella! I don't wish to hear the details. Go back to your chambers. I will deal with you later."

She turned to leave and started walking toward the door.

"Bella?" She turned around, "It's later. Crucio!"

She screamed as he held her under the curse for a few minutes. She crawled out without a word once he released it.

"Now Draco, tell me how the Will reading went. My sources tell me it was moved to yesterday."

/Scene Break/

Harry and Hermione were just finishing breakfast with her parents and Narcissa. Harry was mentally preparing himself for his meeting with Dumbledore.

"I'm still not sure you should be going alone," Hermione repeated for the sixth time that morning.

"Hermione, you know that I need to do this alone. I need Dumbledore to think that I trust him enough to come alone. I've got to play the Pureblood game – I'm the head of two major houses and I need to show it. He needs to know he can't force his terms on me anymore."

Before Hermione could object again, Narcissa spoke up, "Hermione, Harry is right. If Harry showed up with other people, it would send the message that he is not secure enough to come alone. If Dumbledore comes with others then he will show weakness so I'm pretty sure he'll come by himself."

Hermione nodded, "I know, it's just I'll be worried. What if Dumbledore has it figured out?"

Harry put his arm around her and pulled her close. "Hermione, that's the risk we are going to have to take until we can get back to the school. We can either choose to hide away for the summer, or we can act like a couple of love struck teenagers who just became rich and independent." His face showed that famous lopsided grin, "That shouldn't be too hard should it?"

Hermione looked at him sternly, "Well, all except for the love struck part."

The lopsided grin turned into a pout. She stuck her tongue out at him and laughed. Hermione's parents laughed as Narcissa mad a gagging noise.

"Go on then. Remember you are meeting us at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch?" Hermione and Harry agreed to meet Neville and Luna for lunch and they just wanted to hang out for the afternoon.

"Yes, dear. I remember," Harry drawled out exhaling slowly.

Hermione playfully smacked him in the shoulder. The two of them were giggling. Narcissa was mimicking sticking her finger down her throat.

Harry noticed her this time, "Narcissa, what's gotten into you today? You're reminding me more like Sirius…" he paused.

Hermione saw the look and gave him a hug. Narcissa saw it too and answered, "Harry, Sirius and I were very much alike. Until I got involved with Lucius, I was quite a prankster with my sisters," she saw the look, "yes, even Bellatrix before she went completely loopy. I would like to say that Sirius learned from us, but by the time he was eight, we couldn't get him, but he was good at getting us."

Harry found that being enveloped in Hermione's arms was not conducive to brooding and he brightened up again. He gave her a light kiss and then straightened up again. "Well cousin, I think I will like to get to know the real you."

Harry got up to leave. Hermione got up as well. "I'm going to spend some more time in my new library."

Harry walking quickly away said over his shoulder, "Well, I'll be meeting Luna and Neville for lunch. I'll probably see you in a couple of days." He disappeared before Hermione had a chance to retaliate.

/Scene Break/

"Now Draco, tell me how the Will reading went. My sources tell me it was moved to yesterday."

Draco nodded.

Are you ready to pledge the allegiance of the Black Family?

Draco shook his head, "N-n-n-no."

"No? Draco, do you realize how many people who have tried to go back on a promise to me actually lived through the meeting? I can't recall a single one. However, I will give you the same chance I gave all of them – please explain."

"My Lord," Lucius started and then fell to the floor screaming from one of Voldemort's Cruciatus curses.

"Lucius, I asked Draco, not you. Now Draco, please explain yourself."

"Well, I can't swear the allegiance of the Black Family because I am not Lord Black."

"The will reading of the last Lord Black was yesterday but you, Draco, are not Lord Black?"

"Yes."

"So, Draco, who is currently Lord Black?"

"Harry Potter."

"Really? How interesting. Now, tell me Draco, how did young Mr. Potter supersede you in the Black Family succession order. Were you not the first in line?"

"I was until the former Lord Black made Harry his son through a blood adoption."

"I see. Well Draco, would you like the good news or bad news?"

"Um, the good news?"

"The good news is that you will be the first person to break a promise with Lord Voldemort and survive."

Draco brightened up. "I might make it out of here," he thought. He spoke again, "And the bad news?"

"Draco, do you remember the last time we talked?"

/Flashback/

"On the fourteenth Sirius Black's last will and testament will be read at Gringotts. Since he did not have a son, I am next in line for the Head of the House of Black. After I become Lord Black, I will pledge the allegiance of the Black Family to your cause."

"Draco, your father has let me down a number of times. How can I be sure you aren't going to let me down here as well? How can I be sure that you won't use your new title as Lord Black to gain favour with Dumbledore and turn against me?"

Draco thought for a moment and gave his answer to Voldemort.

"I swear a Wizard's oath upon my magic that I will pledge the allegiance of the Black Family to your cause following the reading of Lord Sirius Black's Will, so mote it be."

A glow flowed from Draco's wand over him sealing the oath.

"Very good Draco, I will accept that."

/End Flashback/

"Yes, but the oath was for when I became Lord Black."

"Ah but Draco, your oath only mentioned that you would swear the allegiance following the Will reading. Had you mentioned yourself actually having to be Lord Black then it would be a different story."

"But what does this mean?"

"It means Draco, that your oath is forfeit and I want your magic."

Draco's eyes widened in horror, "Y-y-y-you mean I'll be a filthy squib?"

"I'm not sure about the filthy part Draco, but you will be a squib, so mote it be"

Draco felt intense pain as his own magic destroyed itself to fulfill the wizard's oath. When the pain went away, Draco felt an emptiness inside that he had never felt before. "What did you just do to me?'

Voldemort smiled and evil smile, "Me? I just activated the oath. It was your own magic that did the rest. Go on, try and cast a spell."

Draco whipped out his wand and stopped. There was no rush of power, no warm feeling in his hand. For all intents and purposes it felt like an ordinary stick.

"I can't … there's no magic. What will I do?" He looked at his father.

Lucius had known this would happen when Draco told him about the oath. He had rather hoped that Dumbledore could come up with something to protect his son or even find some way to get the lordship away from Potter. But this morning when Voldemort summoned him, he knew it would end up like this. The Dark Lord interrupted his train of thoughts.

"Lucius, come here please." Lucius walked over and Voldemort continued, "Lucius, what are the succession law for the House of Malfoy?"

"The head of house must be passed on to a male heir."

"Now, now Lucius, I know you are not saying everything. Is Draco your heir?"

"No."

Draco looked at his father in shock and nearly passed out as Voldemort continued, "And why not?"

"The heir to the Malfoy line must be male and magical."

"Is there a suitable heir to the Malfoy line now?"

"No."

"Well, I guess you and Narcissa have your work cut out for you."

Lucius mumbled something.

"Speak to me properly Lucius," Voldemort snapped as someone correct a three-year-old child.

"Narcissa and I are no longer married. Lord Black cancelled the marriage contract and reclaimed the dowry."

"Interesting. So Lucius if I understand correctly what you are saying, over the last twenty four hours you have lost your heir, your wife and a good deal of your fortune. Not to mention that you are now an escaped Death Eater and wanted by the DMLE."

Lucius nodded slowly.

"I think dear Scorpius Malfoy can now rest easy don't you Lucius? You could have prevented all this if you had not been incarcerated in the first place and you were only there because you failed at the simple task of retrieving a prophecy from a bunch of fifth year students."

Lucius hung his head, "Yes, my lord."

"Now Lucius, if you want to leave this room alive, you will swear a wizard's oath to me."

"What oath, my lord?"

"You must swear upon your own life and magic that you will not disown Draco from the family and you will support him and allow him to live in Malfoy Manor." Voldemort knew that the last two conditions weren't really necessary – Lucius would have abandoned the boy and stricken him from the family records and moved on as Draco Malfoy would have been dead to the magical world. Now, Draco would forever be a Malfoy squib and Lucius' pride would never allow a Malfoy to be seen in a Squib or, heaven-forbid, muggle occupation. No Draco's presence would forever remind Lucius of his failures and Draco would live the rest of his life on the periphery of the magical world he was once a part of.

Lucius, for his part, understood the implications of the oath perfectly. However he had to get out of here alive and regroup with Dumbledore. Maybe Dumbledore could help him arrange a marriage. He swore the oath.

"Go now and leave me to my thoughts." The two Malfoy's turned and began to walk out as Voldemort said one final thing, "Oh, one more thing?" Draco and his father turned around. "Draco I release you from your obligation to kill Albus Dumbledore."

Tom remembered the expression on their faces. "This will be great in the pensieve memory tonight," he thought as the Malfoys left the room.

Tom composed himself into Voldemort again. He pointed his wand at his throat and after a quick Sonorous charm belted out one word, "Bella!"

/Scene Break/

Harry arrived at Grimmauld place shortly before ten. He had a few minutes before he Dumbledore would be here so he thought he'd check the place out. As he walked in, he noticed the difference immediately. The entire house had been scrubbed, painted and redecorated. Even that ghastly painting was gone. Harry wondered how the goblins had done that. The painting had stubbornly refused to be taken off the wall. Upon closer inspection he smiled and figured it out. "Well," he thought, "that shows creative thinking. If you can't take the picture from the wall, just replace the wall."

Harry noticed how much bigger the house looked unfurnished and cleaned up. It was nothing like the oppressive, dingy residence he had come to know and loathe.

Harry was startled out of his musings by a knock at the door. He went down and opened it to find Dumbledore waiting for him. "Good morning Professor. Won't you please come in?"

Dumbledore came into the house and stopped as he saw the changes made to the inside of the house. Harry saw the startled look on his face. Albus quickly remembered where he was and why he was there and composed himself and said, "Harry it appears that you have been quite busy."

Harry gave him a lopsided smirk, but his eyes showed no mirth, "Well, I never really liked this place so I had it cleaned out and renovated last week."

"Last week?"

"Yes after I received Sirius' inheritance."

"When was that?"

"Last week."

Dumbledore knew this was pointless so he put on his best twinkling-eyed grandfather face and tried a new approach.

"Harry, I'm very upset that our relationship has deteriorated. I've only ever wanted you to be happy."

"Merlin!" Harry though, "How do I respond to a comment like that?" In the next few seconds, many responses came to mind like:

"Oh yes, I was very happy seeing that I'm a masochist with a death wish."

"Happy? As in laughing maniacally as they cart me away in a straight jacket?"

"Did you honestly think I wanted to grow up to be a hermit practicing self-flagellation?"

"Happy? As in Happy to welcome death's embrace?"

But instead he answered with, "I know professor, however it is hard to be happy when you have a reanimated psychopath and his hoard of scary men after you."

"Ah, yes. That is one thing I wanted to talk to you about. I was wondering if you would like to take a more active part in the war which is already waging?"

Harry put on a completely sincere face, "Finally! Yes, what did you have in mind?"

He saw the look of joy in the Headmaster's face. He was glad the he remembered Narcissa's final piece of advice on dealing with Dumbledore. He heard her voice in his head, "Remember Harry, sincerity is the key. If you can fake that you have it made."

"Excellent Harry. Here's what I have planned – I would like to provide you with private training and want you to join me on some excursions."

"Excursions sir? Training?"

"Yes, I will explain the excursions at a later time, and the training will help you when you eventually have to face Voldemort."

"Yes, I think I would like to spend some more time with you." Harry knew now why he could have been sorted into Slytherin, "When can we start?"

"Soon Harry, soon. I'll need to have some way of communicating with you, however it seems that owls cannot find you. If you could only tell me …"

"I can be reached via Patronus. They are the only form of communication that can get to where I am living. Well, and Hedwig of course."

"Oh, yes, very well. I will be contacting you shortly about that. I believe we also have some other business to discuss namely the continued use of this residence by the Order."

"I've been thinking about that Headmaster and I think my father Sirius would have wanted the Order to continue to use Grimmauld place. However, since this is now my house and I am an emancipated Lord, I will add one condition – that I be allowed to attend Order meetings." Albus started to interrupt but Harry put up his hand and continued, "I'm not looking to become a full member of the Order. Merlin knows I'm not ready for that. However, now that I know the prophecy, I realize that I need all the information I can get if I am going to defeat the Dark Lord. I would also like the same courtesy extended to Hermione. She will be of age in a little over two months, and we work best as a team. If you do not permit Hermione to attend the meetings, rest assured that I would tell her everything. Her trustworthiness is not up for discussion. There is no one else who I trust more than my best friend."

"Harry, I cannot take the request you've made lightly. I will think this over and discuss it with the Order at our next meeting tomorrow night. I think we shall have that meeting at Hogwarts and I will present your offer to them. Is this acceptable to you?"

"Yes Headmaster, it is. If you decide to take me up on my offer then I will have the Fidelius charm recast on the house and with a secret keeper of my choosing. If you choose to reject my offer then this house will most likely go to a member of the Black Family."

"Who is interested in the house?"

"I will not disclose this information since it is an internal Black Family matter," Harry said with an unmistakable air of finality.

"Harry I can see that you have grown more mature over the past few weeks. I only hope that by working together to defeat Voldemort, we can rebuild our relationship."

"Well Professor, I am willing to try if you are willing to trust me with information I need to have and provide me with enough information to make my own decisions, not just enough to convince me of yours."

Albus fought down his anger as he thought, "Make this kid a Lord and he thinks he can make demands of me as an equal? I can't wait for Riddle or Potter to eliminate one or the other which will allow me to easily get rid of the survivor." He used his Occlumency to calm down.

"I will try my best Harry. However there will be some circumstances where the information I have will be so sensitive that I will share it with no one. I'm sure you understand."

Harry nodded while thinking, "Yeah no one except Malfoy and Fudge."

Harry looked at his watch, "Well Headmaster it is nearly 11 am. Where has the time gone? I'm needed elsewhere so unless you have anything more to discuss, I await your decision on my offer."

"Certainly Harry. Have a good day too. I don't suppose you will tell me where you will be going? We need to have the Order around to protect you."

"Professor, I am very well protected and I'm sure that if required the Order will be able to protect me. However I have found a certain enjoyment in my new-found freedoms and I think I will keep it this way."

"As you wish Harry. I'm just trying to look out for your best interests."

They had reached the door; Harry opened the door for Albus. "I appreciate your concern for my well-being Have a good day Professor."

Albus bid him a good day and he apparated back to Hogsmeade where his walk back to the castle was full of mental cursing of the "boy-who-lived". As he got to his office he was surprised to see Severus waiting for him.

/Scene Break/

Harry meanwhile was chuckling to himself. He had pulled it off. Speaking to no one in particular he said, "Yeah the Order does protect me – we all protect each other. The Order Eaters that is."

He left Grimmauld place and faded away.

/Scene Break/

"Bella!"

She heard his forceful voice and it sent shivers of pleasure down her spine. She got up and found she was shaking. "He always has this effect on me," she thought with a look of immense pleasure on her face.

She never considered that the shakes might be caused by the short-term nerve damage from the Cruciatus curse she was under earlier.

She made her way back to his study.

As she approached her Lord she was ready for anything. He looked down at her.

"Bella, I'm very displeased with you. But alas, I think I gave you a task you could not complete. Your arm please."

Bella extended her arm and exposed the Dark Mark. She reveled in the pain as her master placed his wand on it.

/Scene Break/

Lucius dropped the cup of tea he was holding as his arm started burning for the second time that morning.

"Merde! Not again! What the hell does he want now?"

He quickly donned his robes and disappeared.

/Scene Break/

Lucius came walking at a brisk but unhurried pace (something purebloods do very well when they are whipped but don't think anyone else knows) back into the study. He looked at Bella who was touching her arm with a look of longing. "You summoned me, my lord?"

"Yes Lucius, now that Draco can not fulfill his duties," He saw Bella's quizzical look, "since he is now a squib, and Bella does not have the knack for planning, I need to reassign our two major projects. Lucius, you will plan the takeover of the Ministry, Bella, you seem more to like action – assemble a team to plan for a kill Dumbledore. Just don't try to attack Hogwarts – kill him elsewhere."

Tom noticed the look of shock on Lucius face and knew what the elder ferret was thinking – Albus may have heard of Draco's assignment and not taken it seriously. But now that Bella and top Death Eaters were on the hunt, he would have to be very careful.

With that Voldemort announced, I must find Severus and get back to our mission. And with that, Voldemort was gone.

/Scene Break/

Back at Malfoy Manor, Draco sat pondering his fate. He had been trying to write a letter to his mother – perhaps she could help him. He needed to get in touch with Potter – and get just close enough to kill him.

A/N – I want to thank PK Fan for the excellent suggestion.