Chapter 9

Then There Were Three

Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. I Majasty do not own the characters of this fanfiction except perhaps a few OC's that may make an appearance. Otherwise, all characters belong to JK Rowling. Additionally, this fanfiction gets inspiration from a combination of different movies, books, and real life events. A full reference list will be uploaded at the end of the story. Mischief managed.

This story disregards the Deathly Hallows except for some key dates and times. It also disregards the epilogue. This story is set primarily in the year of 2040 and has some parts of 1997-1998. Hope you enjoy.

Zabini Estate, Belfast Northern Ireland. July 10, 1997

Draco panted heavily as the world around him settled once more. He could taste the imminent flavour of bile as he replayed the last two hours in his mind like a scene on replay. He felt sick to his stomach at what he had watched happen, watched and did nothing. He felt inadequate in his own skin knowing that he had watched another professor of his murdered before him, and again he had done nothing. He had described himself as many things over the years, however he believed the most fitting would be 'coward.'

"We're here Draco." The voice was distant, but it was there, reminding Draco to return to reality. Draco blinked once, then twice more attempting to be reorientated to what was around him. It was only then that he realised that they had not returned to the Order Headquarters, instead they had apparated to the gate of a familiar building…a familiar building that rivalled Malfoy Manor.

His gasp was almost inaudible as he watched the wrought iron-gates swing open on their own accord, revealing the trimmed gardens and grey, stoned walls that beckoned them to come forward, introducing any intruder to what was known as Zabini Estate.

"What are we doing here?" Draco hissed under his breath unprepared for whatever Severus Snape had under his sleeve. They spent one week together in hiding after the Battle in the Astronomy Tower, and when he was lead to believe that maybe Severus was beginning to confide in him, and treat him as a man he pulled something like this.

"I think you and I are both aware boy that the Order of the Phoenix is requiring a lot more…backup." Severus hissed back grabbing the boy by his elbow and dragging him to the entrance of the estate's maze.

"But Zabini? Are you sure about this? Him and Pansy were quite close, and we both know that Pansy will never turn sides, therefore, I highly doubt Zabini will either. This could be a bad idea for us both. What if he turns us both in to Voldemort?" Draco was beginning to panic. If there was anyone else that was more arrogant and muggle hating than Draco, it was most definitely Blaise Zabini.

"Were you not also close with Pansy" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow. "I believe you even dated here, and now look where you stand now. I brought you here because I need you to help convince him to join our side. Now shush." Severus finished matter-of-factly as he hushed Draco's whispering. They were soon approached by none other than Blaise Zabini appearing the same way as he always does – incredibly vain and arrogant.

"You two better be quick with whatever it is you have to say," Blaise said quickly, crossing his arms across his broad chest.

"Is your mother home?" Severus asked with a drawl as he looked to the stone house that appeared empty and cold.

"No…" Blaise replied slowly, his eyebrow raised at the bizarre question. "She flew off to Italy or somewhere. I assumed she was hiding from this upcoming war that everyone speaks of." Blaise continued with a shrug. "However, I think I should be right to assume that my mother's whereabouts is not the purpose of your unwarranted visit?"

"And…what about you?" Severus began, ignoring the Italian boy's questioning tone. "What are your plans for this war?"

"I-uh… had not thought that far yet." Blaise replied, caught off guard. "I assume I would just plead neutrality and hope to be left alone…" Blaise's voice wavered, sounding unsure. He had never actually thought about the war, and he more never expected for his mother to up and leave without even taking him. He considered returning to Hogwarts, however that was only a temporary fix. He knew he had to choose a side eventually…everyone did, however he would like to have the delusion that he could actually stay neutral.

"Look. I am going to assume that you want me to take my mark and become a death eater, or that the Dark Lord has sent you to retrieve me, however, for the purposes of this conversation I would like to state that I do not want to be a death eater. I believe that muggles and mudbloods are inferior to me, yes, but I never thought that they should be wiped clean off our earth. If I join the death eaters and he makes me kill…I won't be able to do it, I'm not a murderer and I fear what would happen if I fail." Blaise stated with a shrug, hoping to Merlin that Malfoy and Snape wouldn't take what he had just said straight to Voldemort.

"So…you are considering joining Potter's side?" Draco asked, his eyebrow raised at Blaise. Perhaps Blaise was just a really good actor, perhaps he knows about Draco and Snape being spies, perhaps he is trying to catch them out to report them to Voldemort. Or perhaps, he was just as scared as he was and wanted nothing more than to survive.

"I never said that…" Blaise replied slowly. "I would much prefer to follow my mother's example and go into hiding until a side has won to be honest."

"You and I both know that he won't let that happen. To him you either join him…or die." Draco replied with a shrug of his shoulders once more. He had to admit, him and Blaise were not "friends," but if he were to choose…Blaise would probably be the closest thing to one.

"Then I guess my only option is to die," Blaise said bravely, but with a sad face. "Too be honest, even that is less of a scary prospect, than sharing a vicinity than that raging lunatic."

"If I may?" Severus replied, cutting Draco off from whatever it was that he had to say. "However, before I say anything, or offer any assistance, I would like you to promise that whatever is mentioned between us three stays between us three?" Severus started awaiting an answer.

"Um? Sure" Zabini responded uncertainly. He had admired Snape the entire time he was at Hogwarts. Looked up to him to protect him and his house. Anything he had to say should be worthwhile…so long as it doesn't involve him taking a dark mark.

"That's not what I meant Zabini. I meant…you need to swear…with an unbreakable vow."

"What? No way." Blaise replied flabbergasted at the suggestion as her started to turn around to return to the safe – for now – walls of his estate. He had enough of this discussion and wanted nothing more than to end it as soon as possible.

"We can help you…survive. However, in return you need to keep silent about what we tell you." Draco explained quickly, hoping to change Blaise's mind. "You and I want the same thing mate, to survive. What if I tell you Snape's method could work?"

Blaise paused at Draco's words and turned to hold out his hand signifying his acceptance of the unbreakable vow. He took a deep breath and hoped to the gods above that he was not signing his soul away. However, he knew Draco. If he says that there was a way that he could survive then he would take it, even if it meant a could-be-fatal vow with his head of house.

"Okay, so what's this plan of yours?" Blaise asked biting his tongue.

"You join the Order of The Phoenix."

Greengrass Manor, Edinburgh Scotland. July 10, 1997

"I need you to go there on your own Draco."

Severus Snape's words to Draco played in his mind like a mantra. He had no idea what he was supposed to say to Daphne Greengrass, and now suddenly he was seated in their drawing room waiting for her to arrive. Why did Snape have to abandon him to do this alone.

"Their family might find it odd if we both go."

They were a family of death-eaters. Of course, it would be odd if Severus and Draco suddenly paid a visit to one of them. Draco knew that Severus' reasoning made sense, but he still did not like the prospect of it.

"You can just pretend to be visiting a friend."

Draco took a deep breath as the double doors of Greengrass Manor swung open revealing a tiny house house-elf dressed with what appeared to be an old dishcloth.

"Master is wanting to know why young Malfoy has come at this time of night," the small house-elf squeaked out, looking up at the taller being.

"I was wanting to um…court one of your young mistresses," Draco's voice quivered at the lie, but went along with it. Everyone knew that Draco and Pansy had broken up due to 'unreconcilable differences' and everyone knew that being courted by a Malfoy would be a great honour. At least…that was what Draco hoped the Greengrasses would think.

"Right this way Sir. Jingle will take you to the young miss."

Draco followed the house-elf to a sitting room where Daphne sat reading a book. She looked up shocked to see who had accompanied her in the room, after all she had assumed that the young man hated her. She assumed most Slytherins did.

"Hello Draco," Daphne began slowly as she closed her book and stood from her seat to greet him. "To what do I owe the pleasure to have you visit this evening?"

"Your morals." Draco said bluntly gesturing to the couch that Daphne had just vacated, questioning if he could sit.

"Oh yes, please do sit." Daphne replied sitting back down herself. "What do you mean my morals?" Daphne asked, unsure of how her morals had caused Draco Malfoy to be before her.

"You always said that you don't have anything against mudbloods and-"

"Muggleborns." Daphne cut Draco off before gesturing him to continue.

"I ermm...well yes you always said that you don't have anything against muggleborns. Well that is why I am here." Draco finished, his voice shaking as he tried to explain to the young witch.

"You are here...because I don't have anything against muggleborns?" Daphne asked, still confused although trying hard to understand.

"Yes."

Daphne raised an eyebrow at the youngest Malfoy. "Do you plan to kill me because of my morals?" Daphne question again, still clearly unsure as to what Draco was getting at.

"No." Draco said before taking a deep breath.

"Because of your morals IWantYouToJoinTheOrderOfThePhoenix." Draco muttered without taking a breath.

"Come again?"

"I want, no I need, you to join the Order of the Phoenix."

On a road somewhere between Cornwall and London, England. November 10th, 2040.

William listened quietly to his grandfather's story, not quite sure how parts of it were connected to the mystery Jean but listening nevertheless. For the last few hours he had listened without interrupting, but there were so many questions that he just wished to ask.

"Blaise Zabini, Blaise…why does that name seem so familiar?" William whispered to himself when his grandfather paused his story, obviously tired from all of the talking.

"Zabini, Zabini, Zabini…I swear I have hear that name before." William revealed to his grandfather as he continued to rack his brain with why the name had sounded so familiar. He tried to recollect all the names that he had learnt in his History of Magic classes in Hogwarts, even tried to remember everything that he had read, however it appeared that the memory was just not returning to him.

"I think I am going to take a little nap Will." Draco announced looking out of the window. He knew perfectly well how William knew Blaise's name, after all the name was published in plenty history books, and tabloids. Even to this day Blaise's name was still mentioned in classes in Hogwarts, but Draco could not bring himself to tell his grandson how he would have known Blaise's name. He couldn't do that to who eventually became one of Draco's dearest friends.

William nodded to his grandfather preoccupied with the name. He had sworn he knew the name and even remember writing it in one of his essays it was only a matter of remembering which essay he had written the name Blaise.

Now there was the essay on the Golden Trio: Potter, Weasley and Granger, then I did that essay on the hierarchy of the Death Eaters with Voldemort, Bellatrix, the Malfoys, Pucey and…Pucey…after that essay he did an essay on Adrian Pucey and…Blaise Zabini…

"It was him." William whispered to himself in understanding, turning to his grandfather who had just begun to stir from his nap. He swallowed hard as the realisation hit him like a tonne of bricks.

"It was him wasn't it?" William asked Draco in bewilderment. He didn't need an answer from his grandfather, because Draco's fallen face was enough of an answer to his question.

"Blaise Zabini…he was the traitor to the Order of the Phoenix."


Author's Note: As seen with my older stories, I have a very bad habit of just abandoning stories when I get bored of them. I am trying my very hardest not to do that in this story. Therefore, I am just writing, and writing, and writing until I finish the story and unfortunately, not really caring if the story is turning out good or not.

Anyways 2 chapters in less than 24 hours! Hopefully, I get to finish this story.

Who's excited to know what Blaise Zabini's story is? That will come in the next two chapters. Apologies for the lack of Dramione... I'm trying to fit as much back story as I can.

Trivia #1: Adrian Pucey was one of the members of the Slytherin Quidditch team in Harry's first year. He is no more that 2 years older than Harry making him possibly a 3rd year when Harry was a 1st year.