Chapter Eight: The Master Makes His Move

At precisely 7:15 Kaelyn descended the stairs for dinner. Unfortunately the path to her destination was non-descript. When she arrived her breath almost caught in horror, but she managed to simply quirk an eyebrow.

"You're late," purred Draco.

"And you, are missing," she stated, taking her seat.

"You look exquisite," he returned.

"You look…different," she retorted.

"I though it high time I stop denying what is rightfully mine."

"And that is?"

"I am Lord Malfoy. It is my right to rule."

"You're not Draco," Kaelyn demurred.

"Of course I am. Why do you think Blaise follows me so willingly? What keeps you here?"

"Blaise is coerced. I am curious."

"About?"

"Why?"

"Why, what?"

"Didn't the failure of Tom Riddle, and the continued existence of Harry Potter, despite being hit by two killing curses, teach you nothing? There can be no greater wizard than the Savior of our world."

Draco sneered. "The Dark Lord was a fool. He treasured theatrics over results."

"Who are you?"

"Surely you know your own fiancée?"

"Draco calls him Snake Face. Tom was never The Dark Lord to him," Kaelyn smiled.

"I have changed. Seen the errors of my ways. My father was right. I only wish he were here to see all that we will accomplish."

"We?"

"Surely you wish to rule by my side?" asked Draco, one elegant eyebrow raised.

"Will I be your prisoner locked in a tower?" she asked.

"That depends on you," he told her, glaring at her down his nose.

"I will not stand by and witness the murders of people whose only offense is to not bow to a delusional megalomaniac."

"Pity," he sneered. "You are dismissed."

Kaelyn snorted. "Just like that? I am not a servant. I will come and go as I please."

"You forget your place, woman!" Draco seethed.

Kaelyn shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Draco and I are equals."

"Draco is weak!" he screamed.

"Where is Draco?" she smiled softly, walking away; letting the mans mistake slowly sink in.

"This is bollocks!" said Harry. "All this research makes Draco look guilty. There has to be something were missing."

"Maybe he just had us all fooled," said Ron, sounding pained.

Harry shook his head. "He wouldn't do this to Kaelyn, or to Father. He thinks the world of them. Besides, look at all the intel he gave us."

"Maybe he was building trust while disposing of his opponents?" offered Sirius.

"No! Draco wouldn't do this. There's something missing..."

Just then the wards went off signaling a disturbance and the group was on its feet.

"It's St. Mary's. They're under attack," shouted Shacklebolt.

"Teddy!" gasped Harry before running after his boss.

Making it to the apparition point 17 Aurors found themselves in the middle of a nightmare within seconds. Bodies were everywhere and the fighting continued. With no time to think they each assessed the scene and then dove in.

"I want prisoners!" bellowed Shacklebolt.

The Aurors adjusted their spells accordingly, Harry stunning every opponent in sight, desperately searching for his Godson. Finally he spotted a werewolf sniffing at a hole in the floor. One well aimed spell and the beasts head left its body. Banishing the carcass Harry wrenched open the trap door to reveal roughly twenty students ranging in age from 5 to 10.

"You lot alright?" he asked.

"Uncle!" screamed a voice as a black blob flew at him, arms wrapping around his neck.

"Teddy!" he breathed, holding his Godson tight. "Thank God you're alright!" "Over here!" shouted Harry. "I have students over here!"

Two medics and an Auror came rushing over.

"Teddy!" a woman screamed.

"I've got him Tonks! He's okay! He hid," called Harry.

Remus and his wife came running over, both pale.

"Son!" whispered Remus.

"Papa!" cried teddy, his hair turning a sandy brown as he flew into his father's arms.

"Thank you, Harry," wept Remus.

"Whoever did this is gonna pay Moony," he said, walking away.

"Harry!" he heard Finnegan call. "You'd better come quick. It's not good."

Harry rushed after Seamus only to come upon a retching, crying Ron. Stopping to survey the scene, Harry felt suddenly ill, and for a moment, he was back at Hogwarts five years earlier, staring down at the shredded, mangled body of Fred Weasley. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. This wasn't Fred, or George, thank Merlin. It wasn't even a Weasley. But someone's red-haired, freckled son would not be returning home.

"Ron," said Harry softly. "Ron, it's alright. It isn't Him. It isn't Fred," he offered, wrapping his arms around his friend.

"I couldn't…I couldn't…I..." stuttered Ron, he was covered in blood. He had probably tried to save the poor bloke.

"It's okay Ron. You did the best you could." Turning to Seamus he quietly requested a healer, never once letting go of his friend.

Once Ron had been stabilized and taken to St. Mungo's for treatment Harry found Kingsley.

"Ron's down. Nothing physical, but…"

"I know. I saw the body," Shack said sadly.

"How many survivors?" asked Harry.

"All the students are accounted for. The Headmistress and Charms Master perished, the Deputy Head and two teachers are missing, and three have been taken to St. Mungo's, though one is not expected to make it. They had special wards in place. As soon as the alarm sounded the towns folk came running. They suffered two causalities, and a dozen were injured before we arrived. We have five prisoners, nine dead, and the rest got away," Shack sighed.

"Interrogators?"

"You. Severus can have one."

"Who we got?"

"A werewolf, three wizards, and a weirdo."

"Maybe Sirius or Remus should take the fur ball," offered Harry.

"Remus is a traitor, he won't get anything."

"They attacked his sons' school. They will talk and die quickly, or will remain silent until they are begging for the mercy of death. We didn't take any prisoners today." And with that, Harry walked away.

After grabbing a quick shower Harry floo'd to St. Mungo's. Walking up to Hermione and hugging her, he inquired after his best mate.

"He's okay. Sleeping. They have a Master Mind Healer coming. He'll be out for a while."

"'Mione, I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay. I knew this was coming. He never grieved properly, and it was all getting to be too much. I'm just glad someone was there for him when he finally broke," she said.

"He's my best mate, yeah? My brother. Doesn't matter I married Ginny. We were brothers before that. And even if you had married a pouf like Krum, were still family too, 'Mione. We've seen too much together to be anything less. You and Ron were my first friends, and I'll see you guys through to the end, grey hair, walkers, and all," he laughed. Hermione laughed too. "I've got to get going. Tell him I'll stop in later, and he owes me for his paperwork that I'll do. I want box seats to the Quidditch Worlds."

"Thank you for stopping by Harry."

"Don't mention it. It's what families do. We protect each other."

Harry came billowing into the Auror Department, turning heads as he did.

"Crickey Harry! For a minute there, I thought you were Snape," gasped Dean.

"Ron's 10-7 for a while. Any luck with the hostages?"

"The wolf died. His heart exploded," offered Dean

"No it didn't. Remus let Moony out to play and ripped it from the bastards' chest," said Sirius, like he was discussing the weather, or the latest Quidditch scores.

"And?" asked Harry.

"Just said 'The Master' sent him and that he would rather die than betray his Savior," said Seamus

"What about the others?"

Somewhere within the Department came an ear splitting scream.

"That would be Carmichael," snorted Boot.

"Father I assume?"

"He is one sadistic man. Remind me to never be on the bad end of him," whispered Carlton.

"You miss potions?" asked Boot.

"Durmstrang," said Carlton to which they all nodded and another scream tipped through the halls.

"I won't be able to concentrate over that. Perhaps I should let the other three simmer for a bit, then tell them two of their buddies are dead and see how they sing," mused Harry.

"I dunno…that one kinda freaks me out. He smiles every time he hears a scream," said Sirius. "He's not right."

Harry sighed. "Guess I'll start with him. Name?"

"Thranduil," said Boot.

"Like Lord of the Rings Thranduil?" asked Harry.

"The Hobbit, actually," said Dean.

"What are you lot on about?" asked Sirius.

"It's a muggle series. Books. Thranduil is the Elven king of Mirkwood. He's Legolas father, who is the elf in the Fellowship. Good books," explained Harry.

"He kinda looks like an elf. All haughty and shit," mused Sirius.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Why do I always get stuck with the weirdoes?"

They all laughed as he headed down the hall to the interrogation rooms.

Entering the room, Harry surveyed the man, just as he was being surveyed.

"So this is the 'great' Harry Potter? I don't see what all the fuss is about, really," he purred.

"You look an awful lot like a Malfoy," Harry said. "Are you 'The Master'? We know he's associated in some way with that lot." The man scoffed. "What kind of name is Thranduil?" He tried again.

"Mine, obviously," said the man in his silky voice.

"Are you a Malfoy?" The man raised an elegant eyebrow. "Look, I don't have all day, so we can be nice, or you can die slowly while I get my answers," Harry steamed.

"We each of us die slowly. Growing slightly older with each passing day; one day closer to our death. Is that not so?"

"How are you involved with 'The Master'?"

"Who said I was?" the blonde man inquired. Harry just snorted, to which the man smiled. "I was simply viewing a situations descent into glorious chaos."

"Where is Kaelyn?" Harry asked, eyes hard and voice cold.

"Who?" Thranduil smirked.

"My. Sister!" Harry ground out.

"No idea."

"I will kill you, you filthy excuse for a Malfoy wannabe!"

"Not, a 'want-to-be'," the man snarled.

"So you are a Malfoy!" Harry said triumphantly, the man just smiling. "You are too old to be the son of Lucius. His disowned brother, perhaps?"

"Hardly! I simply came into my inheritance and left to claim what was mine."

"What inheritance?" snarled Harry, tired of the word games.

"My creature inheritance."

"Your…what?" gaped Harry.

"You silly boy! My. Creature. Inheritance. Malfoy blood is not as pure as Lucius would have everyone think, Draco's even more so. I suspect Lucius was jealous that I had received something that he did not."

"What are you on about?"

"The Malfoys carry Elven blood in our veins. It makes for the fine, aristocratic features. I came into that inheritance, and my twin did not. He was quite furious."

"Where is Draco?"

"My nephew? He has been 'dealt with' I am told."

"By whom?"

"'The Master', of course."

"And who IS 'The Master'?"

"What's in it for me?"

"I shall kill you quickly," Harry seethed.

"You cannot kill that which is immortal."

With that Harry threw his chair against the wall and stormed out.

"How many hostages are left?" asked Remus.

"One," said Harry. "The elf. He knows something."

"And the bodies?" asked Sirius.

"Banished," rasped Severus.

"Father, don't speak. You have overexerted yourself. Kaelyn will have my head for not taking better care of you," moaned Harry.

"Clues?" asked Shacklebolt.

"The werewolf was useless," sighed Remus.

"Crabbe and Goyle, Jr., actually. Said they were returning the favor for an old school mate," said Sirius.

"Dad…did Draco…did he have 'creature' blood?" asked Harry to which Snape just nodded. "High Elven?" Another nod. "I thought he was Veela?"

"Cissa," choked Severus.

Harry nodded. "So then Draco has betrayed us?" he asked, his voice full of sadness.

Severus shook his head and getting Harry attention, dropped his shields. "Carmichael said this isn't Draco, though it looks like him. His hair is longer, his voice older, smoother. Possibly he is being controlled by someone?" Harry relayed.

"No," said Sirius. "I taught Draco how to throw the Imperius myself. He's quite good."

"Did Carmichael say where base is?" asked Remus, but Severus shook his head.

"Have all the Malfoy properties been searched?" asked Shacklebolt.

"He sold most of them. There is the London flat where Draco and Kaelyn live, and the house by the shore. Too many bad memories in the rest," supplied Harry.

"What about Zabini?" asked Sirius.

"He only has his private villa manor. Zabini Manor has been locked down for Isabella when she comes of age, and he sold the flat in London to a muggle business," offered HARRY from Snapes thoughts.

"Are there any other Malfoys we missed?" asked Sirius.

"Who knows," sighed Harry, his head starting to hurt. "Did you know Lucius has a brother, Father?"

Snape just shook his head 'no', his voice exhausted for the day.

"I grow tired of these games, Good Sir," drawled Kaelyn.

"Why won't you come to me?" he smirked.

"Because I am promised to Draco Malfoy, and you are not he."

"I could be," the man smiled.

"Tell me who you are. Show me your true face. If what you say is true, then Draco is as good as dead, and I will have been declared a traitor. If I am to be your Queen, bestow upon me the honor of knowing my King," she purred, letting her High Elven heritage shine through.

"You are very persuasive," he mused.

"When I want to be," she smirked.

"How do I know that you won't betray me?" he asked.

"Because I am a Snape. We are self-preservationists by nature. If I run, I will be killed. By you. By your servants. By the Ministry. It matters not. If I fight, I will be restrained and tortured. If I rule by your side, then I will be afforded a life of comfort, and assume that my only duties will be to obey you, keep my mouth shut, and provide you an heir."

"Smart girl."

"I've been studying," she smiled.

"If you have created a trap, you will die," came his venomous reply.

"I have simply…chosen…My King. Let me be your Queen."

And with that the white haired man lowered his hood, revealing his true face for the first time since her capture, and Kaelyn promptly fainted.