Author's Notes: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. If I did, I would have Remus tied up to my bed and Sirius cooking in the kitchen while James plays with my daughter. Peter would be running from my cat. I don't own any of the Marvel Comic book Characters either. If I did, Logan would be out in the yard hurting my husband while Scott and Alex are arguing about how to hurt my husband. I don't own any of the Inu-Yasha characters. If I did, Sesshomaru would be joining Remus in my bed. Inu-Yasha would be with James playing with my daughter and Kagome and Sango would be helping Lily and Ororo beat the tar out of Miroku. I don't own any of the Star Wars characters. If I did then Qui-Gon would still be alive, Obi-Wan would not have had to train Anakin, and Anakin would not have gone to the Dark Side. I don't own the Mystic Force Power Rangers. If I did, do you really think Leanbow would have become Korag? I don't own Charmed or anyone from them. If I did, do you really think I would have them fight all those stupid demons that seem to think that they can take them out? I was just laughing at the thought of owning Lord of the Rings, Fantastic Four, or even Pirates of the Caribbean. It's just so flipping funny! Enjoy!
So sorry about taking so long but my home computer decided to crash and I had to work on it with the work computers and then we were closed most Saturdays for either renovations or the holidays. then the heat went out at work. So I'm back and I hope to finish a few more chapters within the next few months. I appreciate all the folks that kept aggravating me to get this done. I hope you enjoy.
Carey Ann Lupin
October 25, 1996
Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair as he watched Lucius. "What brings you to Hogwarts, Mr. Malfoy?"
Lucius sat in the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. "I understand that you have found and destroyed several of the Dark Lord's Horcruxes."
"I believe your master knows that this is true." Dumbledore relaxed slightly in his chair. "What does that have to do with you?"
"He killed Narcissa two days ago when he found out that his diary was destroyed and that the cup had found its way into your hands." Lucius ran his hand through his hair. "I will no longer follow that madman after what he did to me and my son."
"I see. There might be a way that we can help each other."
"And what would that be, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly as he started to explain the plan.
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Lucius made his way to Severus's office. Once the office door came into sight Lucius opened it without knocking. There sitting on Severus's desk was a beautiful brunette woman with Severus kneeling in front of her rubbing her foot and ankle. The door banged against the wall causing Severus and the woman to look toward the door.
"I never thought I'd see the day that you would be doting on a woman." Lucius stripped his leather gloves from his hands before undoing the clasp of his cloak and draping it across one of the chairs in front of the desk...
"And I thought that you knew how to knock on a closed door before coming in." Severus scowled at Lucius as he climbed to his feet. He looked at the woman who was still watching Lucius with a scowl on her face. "Your ankle seems to be just fine, Phoebe. Perhaps you would like to head up to see your sisters?"
"And leave you here with him? I don't think so." Phoebe crossed her legs and stared at the blonde man still standing next to the chair. "I'm Phoebe Halliwell." She stuck out her hand for Lucius to shake.
Lucius accepted her hand but turned it so that he could kiss the back of her hand. "A pleasure. I am Lucius Malfoy."
"I know who you are and get your thoughts the hell out of the gutter." Phoebe snatched her hand back and rubbed it against her jeans.
"How did you know what I was thinking?" Lucius looked to Severus for an answer.
Phoebe slid off of the desk and glared at the man in front of her. "It just so happens that I'm an Empath and can feel what you think you can hide from me. Not only that but I happen to be one of the Charmed Ones so don't piss me off."
"My, my, Severus, you had to pick one of the most powerful Wiccan witches in the world." Lucius looked over at his friend who was leaning against the corner of his desk.
"Was there a reason that you came to see me, my old friend?" Severus deftly ignored Lucius's smile.
"Of course. I need to speak to Draco immediately and request the use of your office." Lucius turned and sank into the chair that wasn't holding his cloak. "Ms. Halliwell is more than welcome to join us. I'm sure she'd just love to hear what it is that I have to do for the headmaster."
"As much as I would love to, I have to head up to help some of the students with their potion making skills." Phoebe gracefully moved toward Severus. "I'll see you at dinner tomorrow night with my sisters." She stood on her toes and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
"Of course. I'll walk you out, Phoebe." Severus wrapped an arm around Phoebe's waist and started toward the door. "I'll retrieve Draco and we can discuss whatever it is that you need to discuss with him."
Lucius nodded as the two lovers walked out the door. Strange. I never thought that I would see Severus falling for a woman. Lucius ran a hand through his perfect hair. Narcissa would like her. She's got a fire that would have done her well in Slytherin House. Lucius was lost in his thoughts as the door to the office swung open.
"Why did you have to pull me away now, Professor? I was winning the game." Draco stopped just as he cleared the doorframe and saw his father sitting before Severus's desk. "Father? I thought you had left."
"I needed to speak to you before I left, Draco." Lucius motioned to the chair next to him. "Sit down please."
Draco sank into the chair. "Why didn't Mother come with you?"
Lucius blinked rapidly to keep the tears forming at bay. "The Dark Lord killed her for my failure to keep his…possessions protected."
"But, Father…"
Lucius held up a hand. "Please understand, Draco. I loved your mother very much and at one time did believe everything that The Dark Lord taught us but that died the same day he killed Narcissa in front of me and the rest of the Death Eaters." Lucius looked up at Draco who was gripping the arms of the chair so tightly his knuckles and fingers were turning white from the pressure. "As you know you are scheduled to take the Dark Mark at the end of the school year. This is now a decision that you will make because I will not force you to take it but if you decide to take the Mark I will have nothing more to do with you. I will not have my family serving that madman any longer." Lucius glared at Draco. "I will disown you and you will not receive your inheritance."
"Father, I've been thinking about not taking the Dark Mark…but how will I get out of it? I mean, The Dark Lord won't exactly be happy if I don't take the Mark."
Severus leaned on the corner of his desk. "Perhaps I can help with that. I have already been telling the Dark Lord that it would not be wise for any students to take the Mark after what occurred when the others were discovered only last month. It seems that he might even take it into consideration if the students who were to take the Mark told him that they were worried about being found out, especially you, Draco. After all, Professor Croft-Lupin does like to keep an extra close eye on you and the rest of the Slytherins."
"But will he accept the advice? He seems to be getting crazier as the days go by." Lucius leaned forward slightly.
"I'm not sure if he will or not but I sent word to Veronica and some of her friends to meet us here. The Headmaster hasn't been doing well to keep Veronica and the others in the loop about what is going on around here and I doubt that he has told them about your meeting." Severus moved like a mountain cat toward the door of his office as a knock echoed through his office. "I would suggest that you get ready to answer her questions. Veronica can be as tenacious as a mountain lion when she wants to be."
"Hence her animagus form." Lucius watched as the door swung open to admit Veronica, Remus, Tori, Sessho-Maru, Legolas, Aragorn, Captain Jack, Will, Piper, Leo, Regina, Harry, Sirius, and Daggeron entered the room. "Well, it seems that Miss Halliwell let you all know that I wished to speak to you."
Veronica fingered wand. "You can bet she did. What do you want with us, besides handing us over to your master?"
"I assure you that I will not be handing any of you over to the Dark Lord." Lucius waved his wand and several sofas appeared around the room. "Perhaps we should discuss everything."
Piper and Leo sat on the sofa closest to Lucius as Regina pushed Draco and Harry onto the one beside them. Jack perched himself on the back of the teen's sofa and Sirius threw himself between Harry and Regina, effectively squishing Draco, as Veronica pulled Remus to the one farthest from Lucius. Tori joined Piper and Leo while Sessho-Maru stood behind the sofa. Severus stood between Legolas and Aragorn while Will and Daggeron stood near the door.
"Perhaps we should put up some anti-eavesdropping wards. You never know who could be walking outside." Piper jumped as the door slammed open again and everyone froze. "I hate when I do that." She flicked her hands once more and unfroze the room. "Sorry about that but the door startled me."
"And I know that you're not having a meeting without us." Logan, Scott, and Jean stood in the doorway.
"That's why we left word with the others where we were." Tori rolled her eyes as Scott and Jean sat beside Veronica and Remus and Logan flipped one of the wooden chairs before the desk around and sat in it.
Severus closed the door and quickly warded it. "Well, Lucius, what does Dumbledore want you to do?"
"Since Severus has been found out as a spy, Dumbledore has asked that I spy for the Order of the Phoenix and let the Order know what the Dark Lord is doing." Lucius steepled his fingers and looked over them at the group. "However there is one other thing he wants me to do."
"What would that be?" Harry was skeptical of Lucius. After all he was the man who put Riddle's diary into Ginny's cauldron a couple of years ago.
"He wants me to kill Nagini." Lucius heard the gasps from around the room.
"But that's going to next to impossible, Lucius." Severus placed a hand on his old friend's shoulder. "He doesn't trust you anymore so you won't be able to get close enough to him to kill Nagini."
"Besides you're going to need a sword to kill her with." Harry had climbed to his feet and started to pace the small space in the center of the group of chairs and sofas. "There is only going to be one way to do this without giving yourself away as a spy."
"And how is that, Mr. Potter?" Lucius looked over at the boy…no young man…pacing the room.
"You'll have to get either me or Regina in there so that we can kill her." Harry ignored the gasps coming from the adults around the room.
Logan jumped to his feet. "You and Rosie ain't going in there without me and you know it, bub."
"Logan, that's the thing. Only one of us will be able to hide under the invisibility cloak." Regina looked over at the man who was like a father or older brother to her. "How would we hide you and your claws?"
Harry snapped his fingers. "Disillusionment Charm." Everyone turned to look at Harry. "Think about it. We'd be able to get in three or four people with it and no one would be the wiser."
"He's right. No one would see you and you could kill the snake and I wouldn't be found out by the Dark Lord." Lucius sat there nodding his head in agreement.
"But if they fail, all of you will be found out." Severus looked worriedly around the group.
Regina snapped her fingers as she realized something. "There was a potion that I found when I was studying called the Felix Felicis potion or Liquid Luck. If Professor Snape were to brew it and everyone who is going takes a bit, not much just enough to get in, kill the snake, and get out, this plan just might work."
"Do you remember the book it was in, Miss Lupin?" Lucius looked over at Regina, who was nodding vigorously, before turning to look at Severus. "Do you think you could do it, Severus?"
"I'm a Potions Master; of course I can do it." Severus turned to look at Piper. "Ms. Halliwell, would you care to assist me in making it?"
"I'm shocked that you're asking me and not Phoebe." Piper watched Severus's cheeks heat up slightly.
"This is a potion that requires the utmost attention and I'm afraid if Phoebe were there it wouldn't get the attention that it deserves."
"In other words, Phoebe would distract you while I wouldn't." Piper crossed her arms as she stared at Severus who was nodding slightly. "I'll do it but you'll have to explain to Phoebe what we are doing. I don't want her thinking that I'm out to steal her man."
"No worries about that. I am totally devoted to her." Severus's cheeks reddened slightly as he turned to look at Lucius. "Are we sure that we want to be attempting this? I mean the Dark Lord is not known to be merciful with his prisoners or his victims."
"It's a chance we'll have to take." Regina jumped to her feet. "So who all is going?"
"You're not going anywhere without me, Rosie." Logan climbed to his feet as he looked around the room.
"I will also go." Legolas stepped forward and bowed his head slightly.
"And Harry and of course me." Regina looked around the room for any other volunteers.
"I guess I should go in case anyone gets injured and to get us out quickly." Leo stood up and Piper grabbed his hand. "Don't worry they can't kill me."
"I know but I can still worry." Piper squeezed his hand slightly. "I don't think anyone else should go. A small group can get in and get out without being seen where as a larger group would have trouble."
"I agree." Lucius climbed to his feet. "The Dark Lord is planning a Halloween revel. That would most likely be the best time to get in, kill the snake, and get out. Hopefully he doesn't find out about it until long after we get out."
"So we've got little more than a week to plan, make the potion, and get this ready to go." Veronica climbed to her feet. "Let the games begin."