Title: Plans for Glory
Word Count: 435
Rating: PG
The thick, heavy velvet was a dark maroon color, so dark that it could almost be mistaken for black in the dim light. Very carefully, the young, blonde wizard unfolded the cloth to reveal a gruesome, grey hand lying within it.
"The Hand of Glory?" one of the three men who stood with the boy half-asked, half-stated, peering down at the object with something akin to disgust. The three wizards wore black robes with heavy hoods which were down at the moment. The boy with them wore his Hogwarts robes, a green-and-silver scarf peeking out, a timid dot of color on the otherwise swallowing black.
"Yes," the boy replied, straining to sound confident. "This, and the darkness power, are the last pieces of the puzzle." He looked up at his commanding officer and blinked.
"I think it's brilliant," the man said after a pause. "A well thought out plan, Draco. Your father can be proud."
"Antonin, this thing…it's so…"
"Shut up, Rodolphus, you don't have to touch it if you feel so repulsed," Antonin sneered.
Lestrange drew himself up, making his best aristocratic face, which was ignore by everyone. Antonin was still looking at the hand, intense and concentrated. "Alright, let's go over this again, Draco."
"On the signal, at the confirmed time, you will come through the vanishing cabinet into Hogwarts. You will end up in the room of requirement where I shall meet you. Using the darkness powder we will blind any onlookers as we leave the room and the Hand will give us enough light to get to the pre-decided location undetected yet without blind wanderings."
"Are students not routinely searched for Dark Objects?"
"They are, sir. That is why I must entrust this to you for now." Draco gingerly wrapped the hand up again and held it out.
Antonin took the velvet-wrapped hand and hid it within his robes. "Good. Now you should get back before one of the chaperones notices you are missing. I will write to you later with more details.
Draco nodded, subdued and relieved, and ducked his head in a sign of reverence, waiting for the men to leave, but Antonin held back. Draco looked up cautiously, fluttering eyelids betraying his uneasiness. "Draco," Antonin said quietly. "If this works as it is supposed to, your family will not only regain its graces, but I might recommend you as a budding strategy specialist."
Draco tried to keep his expression blank, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It was the most pleasant prospect he'd had in many months. "Thank you, sir. I'd be honored."