Chapter Forty-three: Down Underground

Avery popped into Malfoy's room several hours later, only to find no one there. He had a strange feeling in his gut, like something was very wrong. Acting as normal as possible, he stepped over to the same drawer Malfoy had left the recording device in and took it out. Then he Apparated away to his own bedroom to see what might be on it.

After he viewed it, Avery knew he could not rejoin the group lest he lead Dumbledore straight to them, so he popped over to Nott's as they'd previously arranged.

"Well, Nott, it looks like we're going to have to play Quidditch without Brax," he announced in a way that suggested the other young man knew what he was talking about. Stepping forward, he shook his friend's hand, and the small ear-shaped recorder slid against his palm.

Understanding perfectly, Nott played along. "But he's the best player we've got, and now the teams will be uneven. I'll go tell Black, and you can go find Lestrange and the others. Maybe one of them can find us another seeker for the day."

"All right," he agreed. Hoping Dumbledore would follow him, Avery Apparated away again while Nott had a look at what was going on. That recording passed from one knight to another throughout the day, and finally Lestrange brought it to where Hermione was hidden in a cave, waiting for the news.

"Oh, this is all my fault," she moaned worriedly. "All I wanted was to get Tom back, and now we're going to have to figure out how to get Abraxas back, too. What's that creepy old man going to do next, put Horcruxes in us all?"

"Bloody hell, Granger, don't put that idea into anyone's head," Lestrange complained. "If he does take the one you said it to, he may well like the plan."

"If he hasn't thought of it all ready," she said. "Tom and I were going to become parents, you know. But that lousy git stole our baby. Says he grew him fast and convinced him he was his father, only made him completely evil. Just to make sure my memories of the future came true. I hate him."

"Calm down, Hermione," Lestrange said. "We're going to stop him, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember," she said. "If he's dead, he won't be able to hurt anyone. We just have to find all of his Horcruxes before he forces Tom to make some, too."

)0(

It was pitch black when Abraxas opened his eyes. Memories of what had just occurred assailed him and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. He had never really liked Dumbledore, but he'd never thought he'd do something like killing his mother just to stuff a part of himself down his throat.

That evil old git was very much inside his head now, but Abraxas was determined not to allow him access to his memories. He did not want him to know about Hermione's plan.

He remembered being brought down the tunnels, walking for what seemed like hours, and blissfully collapsing on the dusty old mattress at the end of the journey, to exhausted to do anything but sleep. Dumbledore told him that he would now be a companion for Tom, but he had no idea if Tom himself had also been informed.

But then wand light streamed in as Tom Riddle stepped into the area and found him lying on what appeared to be his bed. A strange sensation assailed Abraxas at the sight of the young man-almost an attraction that he could barely control.

Bile rose up in his throat when he realized where that heavy, obsessive desire must be coming from. Dumbledore lusted after Riddle to a shocking degree. The feeling permeated his limbs and settled in his loins like some sort of insidious drug.

"Brax? I always knew you wanted to share my bed, but you're just not my type," Tom said with a smirk.

"Hello Tom," he replied as he sat up. "Looks like our Horcruxes wouldn't mind the endeavor."

"Yes, I believe they have shared before this," Tom agreed. "So Dumbledore's gotten to you too, then? I can feel him in you. You know of course that we're trapped down here till he decides to let us out. If he ever does."

"I don't think Dumbledore would go to all this trouble to create a new menace if he did not intend to make use of it," Abraxas pointed out.

"Yes, but none of that has anything to do with you," said Tom speculatively. "Where does your Horcrux fit into all of this."

"He probably just wants to shut me up-and perhaps discover what I know about Hermione and her plans. "

"You've seen Hermione?" Tom asked, the longing in his voice quite clear. "How is she? And the baby? Surely she must be showing by now."

"Hermione's fine, mate, but I didn't see any signs of a baby, " said Abraxas with a confused frown.

"But he said she was pregnant," Tom whispered. "He said we were to have a son. If he has harmed that child I'll kill him with my bare hands."

"Little good that will do if the bastard is still in me," said. Abraxas with a disgusted sigh.

"Maybe we could get him out," Tom said, but then he grabbed his head as a wave of pain accosted it. "I can't do it myself, as you xan see, but maybe there's a way. Can you tell me Hermione's plan?"

Abraxas considered him for a moment. "No, that's a bad idea. Old Gellert might be able to tell Dumbledore. He hasn't managed to force it out of me, so I believe it's safer right where it is."

"Nothing for it, then," said Tom briskly. "We've been ordered to practice dark spells. Let's go practice. Perhaps I'll teach you everything I know."

Catching on, Abraxas nodded. "Good idea, Tom. Very good idea."