Hi, everyone! Here is Chapter 26, if you haven't read Chapter 25 yet, please go back and read it. I replaced the One-Shot of Peggy and Sirius with Chapter 25. On the Chapters Bar it would be under number 26. I hope this doesn't cause too much confusion, but if it is extremely bothersome, I'll just re-post the last two chapters.

Anyway, here's some good news, if you haven't already heard, I am have started Tom Riddle's back-story that will go along with this Descent, but I won't start posting that until I get to about fourth year or fifth year in this story. Also, I am planning on doing Peggy and Sirius' story, and a founders story, Dumbledore's story, and even a Marauders story to go with this one. The only one that has been started is Tom's, but the Founders and Peggy/Sirius have the outlining almost done. Also on a high note, I will start on Harry's second year very soon! I have the basics of the first official second year chapter written out.

Anyway, here is Chapter 26, if you haven't read Chapter 25 go back and read it, please enjoy!

Warning: Mild Violence

Chapter 26: Forward Motion Part VIII

Draco really, really wanted to hex himself. His plan to get his godfather to catch the Gryffindors with a dragon had failed. Not just failed, but utterly fell to pieces as though someone had cursed him to have bad luck. No, not bad luck, but plain to earth, rotten luck. Draco didn't know whether to blame himself or someone else, but he was certain his day couldn't get any worse.

"So, is it true you're really a mudblood?" Draco asked the bushy haired girl next to him as they trudged through the Dark Forest.

"Mudblood?" one Hermione Granger asked with guarded caution. Draco internally groaned. His day did get worse. First, Longbottom and Andrew?- Anthony?-...and one of those stupid Holiday twins overheard him at breakfast about catching their friends with a dragon. Then, he just had to get caught by McGonagall while trying to tail his stupid godfather; and then to find out that Longbottom and the twin tipped the others off. And they had somehow managed to get the dragon off of the school grounds. It was utterly preposterous that they even had the brains to get a plan formulated in a single day.

Draco seethed for a moment. But the real cherry on top of the cake was the fact that the girl he had a crush on was a stupid, filthy mudblood! What would his parents think if they ever found out? Surely they would be furious. He would be disowned, disinherited, and probably cursed within inches of losing his life. Draco was thankful that Hermio-Granger- was walking ahead of him, or else she would have seen him scowling at the ground. He could be seen as many things, but being an indecisive prat wasn't one of them; a pompous prat, yes, because he had all the blood purity that anyone could ever want. According to his parents at least. Draco gave one last look at his would have been crush and sighed.

"A mudblood is someone with dirty blood, a person born into non-magical families." Draco made an annoyed noise in his throat, the way his father did when Draco did something distasteful. "I knew I should have went with Longbottom. At the very least, he is of pure blood."

Granger stopped in her tracks as she listened to Draco. The brown haired girl turned on her heel to stare at Draco. She looked like she wanted to say something, but in the end she just bit her lip. Draco felt sudden and unusual shame, but he continued to look at the angry Gryffindor in disdain. The two first years just stared at each other. Each willing the other to miraculously disappear.

"If you're going to say something, say it!" Draco snapped. Granger's eyes widened for a moment before she tried to say something. She was cut off by the yells of Longbottom and Holiday. The two Gryffindors came running from the depths of the woods with panicked expressions. Longbottom darted past Draco and had pulled Herm- Granger along with him. He yelled out a run. Draco stood still for a moment until Holiday pulled Draco along with him as he yelled for Hagrid, for Fang, for anyone that would listen really.

"What the bloody hell is happening?!" Draco yelled.

"We found the unicorn!" Holiday yelled.

"Then why are we running?" gasped Granger.

"The thing hunting the unicorn found us!" Neville called back. Draco saw that he was still holding Hermione's hand. Granger's hand. Granger's hand.

"Why is it chasing us?!" Granger wheezed.

"I might have made it angry," said Holiday. He was looking behind to see if that thing, whatever it was, was still after them.

"How?!" Draco and Granger yelled together.

"He healed the unicorn."

"I didn't think it would work! I've only used that spell once! I was firing blind!" Holiday cursed. Then Hermione screamed. Longbottom had somehow managed to stop himself and Granger. Holiday had to brace himself against Longbottom's shoulders. Draco just barely had time to stop, and it was Holiday that stopped him from falling to the ground.

All four students stared at the approaching figure in terror. It was making hissing noises and it crawled along the ground unnaturally fast. Sparks! Draco thought. Red sparks! Draco quickly pointed his wand into the air and shot out red sparks. He then pulled on the Gryffindors to get them to start running in the opposite direction of that phantom, creature thing. "Shoot the sparks!" Draco yelled, as Holiday and Longbottom pulled Hermione in the opposite direction

Longbottom and Holiday were shooting sparks with him. Draco looked back only to see the specter gaining on them. "You just had to make it bloody angry!" Draco yelled before he could stop himself.

"Well, it wasn't my fault that it happened to see us before we could set off the green sparks!" Holiday yelled back.

"You were too busy trying to heal a dying animal!" snapped the Malfoy heir.

"I don't think this is the best time to be fighting!" Longbottom yelled. Draco and Holiday looked behind them. The specter was nearly on them.

"Shit!" yelped Hermione as she tripped and fell hard into the cold dirt of the forest. Longbottom went down with her because he was still holding her hand. The brainy girl was gasping for breath.

"Stupid! Stupid! STUPID!" Draco yelled as he sent more red sparks into the sky. Draco pulled on Hermione's arm to get her up. "Come on! Get up! Hermione get up we have to move!"

Longbottom was trying to pull the gasping girl up. Her breathing was so heavy that Draco thought she was trying to suck all the air in the world into her lungs. Longbottom wasn't much better. Neither was Draco for that matter.

"ANDREW!" Hermione screamed. Draco's head shot up to the Holiday twin. What he saw was one of the stupidest and craziest, and quite possibly the coolest, things he had ever seen. Andrew Holiday had a rock the size of a grapefruit in his hand poised to throw in one hand and a thick broken branch in the other. He threw the rock at a startling speed. It hit the specter right in the head. The specter fumbled and tripped over itself in surprise. Andrew shot forward, the branch held high above his head ready to strike. He was yelling for the others to run. The specter lunged at the crazy Gryffindor.

From the left came a towering creature that slammed into the specter and lifted Holiday into the air. The specter fled from the creature. The oaf Hagrid came barrelling into view as the specter fled. It was a centar that had Holiday in the air. Holiday was gasping for breath along with the other three students, the branch was still in his hand. The Gryffindor dropped the branch dumbly and he started to laugh. In the future, Draco would deny wholeheartedly, but he too began to laugh. He would also deny that he let himself fall back onto the ground with elated relief, arms and legs splayed out. Hermione let herself collapse. Her head rested on his arm. Longbottom sat on the ground with his arms propped up on his knees. And all four of the students laughed.

The next morning Draco laid down on the loveseat on the far wall of the common room exhausted despite just getting up. He was waiting for Vincent and Greg to come down. When Pansy came down with the other Slytherin girls they all stopped to talk to him. It wasn't everyday that you saw Draco Malfoy, the Malfoy heir, lounging on a couch like he was a common Gryffindor.

"Are you that tired from detention?" Theo said from the stairs. The other first year boys came down the stairs after him.

"You have no idea." Draco said. "They had us chasing unicorns around all night. Unicorns! Bloody hard creatures to find, let alone catch. But, more importantly, I have some bad news and what could be even worse news."

Theo paused for a moment. A little taken back by his friend's casual behavior. So Pansy spoke up first. "What's the bad news?"

"Well, it has been confirmed that Hermione Granger is in fact a mudblood." Draco shared a look with Theo. Theo was the only one that Draco had told about his crush on Hermione. Draco was silently asking for it to never be spoken about again.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Sally-Anne Perks asked from the stairs.

"They're going to get into trouble with their parents," said Potty Potter with a smirk. "Most of their parents are what you would call…"

"Mudblood haters. And our parents will be very upset with us because some ignorant mudblood is first in class" Pansy finished with a snotty attitude. Sally-Anne Perks sneered at Pansy before walking away.

"So what's worse than that?" asked Daphne.

"If Andrew Holiday makes the Gryffindor Quidditch team, we will be in a world of hurt." Draco thought about how good of a chaser Holiday would be. It was a pity that he wasn't a member of Slytherin.

"What's so special about him?" asked Theo, who would likely try for the Slytherin team in the future.

"He's bloody crazy, and he has one mean throw." Draco chuckled as he thought of the throw Holiday made. The worst part of the whole situation was that Draco somehow managed to respect Andrew Holiday. But only a little.

Harry pushed past everyone and took a page out of Sally-Anne's book and left for breakfast. Harry thought about what Draco has said. He wouldn't get into any trouble because a mudblood was best in class. His mother is a muggle-born so it wouldn't be a problem. The problem came with the fact that Harry wouldn't stand to be behind any mudblood. Especially a nosey one like Granger. Besides, Harry wanted to be the best regardless. He wanted to be worthy for his companion, for his lord.

Harry thought about Draco's behavior. He seemed more relaxed this morning that he had ever been the entire year. Curious thing detention is. Harry sat down at Slytherin table in a spot that he could observe everything in the Great Hall. Andrew Holiday was sitting at Gryffindor table talking to Neville. They were both smiling ear to ear. Harry briefly wondered what Neville found so interesting. Andrew Holiday was very different from his friend, despite all that they had in common; and Harry found it strange that the two of them were so jovial together. Harry took a bite of his eggs before he set his mind at ease. It didn't matter.

The week leading up to exams is what mattered. That week was boring. In every class except for Binns they did review and presentations. If Harry was anymore prepared for his finals, he would have been the one to write them. The practical portion of the exams was almost as easy as the written portion. Even the potions exam, even with Snape breathing down his neck, his coal eyes watching for the slightest mistake. Harry was glad that he had taken a liking to potions before he came to Hogwarts, and that it was his mother that that taught him.

When the exams were over, Harry sat under his favorite tree that stood next to the lake. Godric the giant squid was doing tricks with his tentacles in what looked like a desperate attempt to impress Harry. Fred and George were laughing and making kissy faces at Harry and the Squid. Harry chuckled. It was nice to relax like this every now and then. Several other students were relaxing along the lake as well.

"So, what are you so chipper about?" George asked as he started to skip rocks to Godric, who was happily skipping them back.

"I'm pretty sure something good will happen in the following days," said Harry cryptically. George left it alone. Harry looked around for a moment. "Where did your brother go?"

"Look who I found!" said Fred as he pulled along Anthony Holiday. Harry could tell it was him by how long his hair was. Andrew always kept his cut. Anthony looked frazzled. "So tell us, is your brother a good flier?"

"Wha-?" Anthony stared at Fred like he had grown another head. "What does that have to do anything?"

"Well, I heard from Malfoy that Slytherin would be in trouble if he joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team. So, tell us is your brother a good flier?"

Anthony smiled slyly, "We played Quidditch with everyone at Yule break, remember. You should already know if he's a good player or not."

Harry watched as Fred thought for a moment. Anthony was playing him well. Harry remembered that game. How Andrew knew his way around a broom the way Harry did. Andrew's strategy worked well too. Andrew would be a problem if he joined the Gryffindor team.

"Okay, so he was a good flier," Fred said with his brows furrowed. Anthony smirked.

"Yeah, but I'm the better flier of the two of us," Anthony said proudly. "I'm one of the best junior broom racers in the U.S. So feel threatened."

"Oh, please, I flew circles around you that game," Fred admonished.

"I'm not is as brash as Drew is. Besides, there was no way I was getting injured for a game of Quidditch." Anthony said.

"You would have made a good Slytherin," said Harry from his spot. "What were you doing here anyway?"

"I saw your hair, and I had hoped you were my brother, then he," Anthony pointed at Fred, "press-ganged me into coming over here after I saw you weren't my brother."

"I wanted to know about your brother," Fred said defensively.

"Yeah, and now you know," Anthony said sarcastically.

"Hey, Harry?" said Daphne Greengrass. She startled Fred and Anthony, and Harry heard George snort. Daphne apologized before she spoke to Harry again. "I was wondering if you would like to visit my family home over the summer break?"

"He's visiting us over the summer so he can't," said George. Daphne paused and looked at the Weasley twins incredulously.

"So, he's visiting you two all summer?" the light haired girl asked. Harry shook his head.

"I would have to ask my parents, but I'm sure they would have no problem with it. I'll let you know before we go home." Harry liked Daphne well enough. She was much better that Sally-Anne and Pansy. Andrew Holiday came up with Ron.

"Oh, hey I was just looking for you," Anthony said to his brother.

"Really, well I wanted to ask you something," said Andrew.

"Do you want to spend the end of the summer at the Burrow?" Ron asked. "I know that they two of you are going to be busy all summer, but I was wondering if you wanted to spend the end of it with my family."

Anthony smiled wide. "I would love to stay with your family! Did you already clear this mom?"

"Not yet, but it shouldn't be a problem," Andrew shrugged.

"How do you guys willingly subject yourselves to the twins?" Daphne asked. She then put a hand to her mouth. She obviously didn't mean to say that aloud. Daphne then strategically placed herself so that the Holiday twins between her and the Weasley twins.

"Hey!" the redheaded twins said at the same time. "What's wrong with us? Harry is there something wrong with us?"

Harry laughed but didn't say anything to defend the third years. Then the older pair of twins were huddleing in on the younger twins and Daphne. Ron watched, trying to make himself as invisible as possible. It didn't help, because his brothers blamed him for Daphne's opinion of them. The small group went back to the castle together for lunch and separated to their designated tables. Harry was invited to go to Theo's house over the summer as well. Blaise said that he would have invited him to his home, but he would be spending the summer with his sister. Pansy had invited him as well, and Harry politely declined the invitation. Flint told Harry that he needed to practice over the summer.

The end of the year would be within the week, and until then it was just everyone saying goodbye and telling everyone to write. All very boring stuff. The only thing noteworthy going on was what his lord was planning, but Harry wasn't sure when that was going to happen; so when he checked the map just before he went to bed, he was surprised to see Quirrell's name working its way through the third floor corridor. What was more shocking was the fact that there were several names: Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley heading to the third floor, while Anthony and Andrew Holiday were going through one of the passageways that opened up on the second floor, and Neville Longbottom was headed straight for Professor Snape.

Harry's jaw dropped slightly as he watched these moving names. The green eyed boy almost choked when he saw Snape's name on top of Neville's when Snape's name went darting in the opposite direction. Why the hell were five Gryffindors wondering about the castle in the middle of the night? Harry searched for professors that were on patrol other than Snape. McGonagall was wondering about the library. In the dungeons was Sprout who had stopped near Filch's name. Harry didn't know where these Gryffindor's got their luck, but it was a little annoying. They just had to choose this night to go sneaking around. Harry dropped the map.

They couldn't possibly know about what his lord was after. Not even Harry was privy to that information. The Holiday twins were now going up to the third floor. Ron and Granger were almost to the forbidden corridor. Neville was tailing Snape around, who met with McGonagall. Neville was around the corner. Harry left his dorm and went to the third year boys dorm.

Fred and George were sitting on the same be going through what looked like to be candy and potions. They looked up at Harry in confusion.

"We need to go, now!" Harry hissed. "He's made his move, but there's a problem."

The red headed twins got up immediately, and Harry explained the situation quickly. They nodded. George dug through his trunk and pulled out what looked to be various prank items.

"We need to use the statue down the hall from Dungeon. We'll come out on the fourth floor. After that we set off as many dung bombs as we can. Then, we'll use the African plain painting to get to the seventh floor and set off the prototype Shrieking Poppers. Then, we distract whoever we can for as long as we can." George planned quickly. It was simple enough, and the professors would just think that it was some of the students trying to pull a prank.

The three Slytherins moved quickly. None of the other Slytherins were up at the moment, and if they were, they ignored the three underclassmen. Especially so when Harry dawned his Invisibility Cloak. He manouvered himself easily between the Weasley twins.

When the fourth floor smelled like sewage the three Slytherins could hear the pounding footsteps of the nearest professors. McGonagall almost caught George as he ducked behind a curious suit of armor. Harry turned to the go to the staircase to the south, but Snape's looming figure rounded the corner in an attempt to cut off the culprit. Harry took the Shrieking Poppers from Fred and bolted to the African plain painting. He just barely managed to get into the secret passageway before Snape bared down on him and the twins. Harry had confidence that the twins wouldn't get caught.

So when Harry was on the seventh floor, Harry pulled the tab on as many Poppers that he could at once, and a loud, shrieking noise blasted throughout the seventh floor. Harry had to cover his ears. Harry cursed, before starting the journey back towards the dungeon using various hidden paths. Harry came out onto the second floor staircase. The Slytherin first year was getting ready to descend the stairs, he heard several yells and thundering footsteps coming down from the third floor. Fred, George and each of the Gryffindor first years were running with frantic looks on their faces. Harry stood stock still, a bit stunned at the sight.

Then, he smelt it. Rotting flesh, feces, and something that reminded Harry of vomited fruit waifed down the stairs. Harry was about to ask what was going on, but Andrew Holiday ran into Harry at full speed. Harry and Andrew hit the ground hard. Someone yelled, and there was a loud snarl. Harry saw the large legs, like tree trunks smashing down the stairs. Harry gasped. It was a large troll. It was so big that it's head was almost touching the vaulted ceilings of the castle.

"Harry?" the Slytherin heard someone say above him. Harry looked over to see Andrew holding his jaw. There was another snarl, and Andrew pulled Harry to his feet and started running. The invisibility cloak was whipping behind Harry. Fred, George, and Anthony were poorly being held back by Ron, Hermione, and Neville. Harry dared to look back at the monstrous troll.

"Shit!" Harry hissed. In a quick motion, Harry pulled Andrew to the nearest wall and threw the cloak over them. Andrew was about to yell something, but Harry all but slammed his hand over the Gryffindor's mouth. Harry put his index finger to his mouth as a gesture to be quiet. Then he pointed twice to the end of the second floor hall. The two inched their way down the hall, and Harry could feel his companion's anger flare almost unpleasantly.

The foul smelling troll lumbered right past Harry and Andrew, and was shuffling toward the others. Andrew tried to get away from Harry, but the Slytherin forced the other boy to stay against the wall. Andrew glared down at Harry, like he was trying to kill Harry with just a look. It actually made Harry pause for a moment, before he pulled his wand out and looked up. Andrew's eyes followed. He looked down quickly and nodded at the Slytherin. Andrew took a deep breath and pulled out his wand. With another nod at Harry, the Slytherin pulled the invisibility cloak away from Andrew and the Gryffindor shouted out a simple exploding spell that his mother had taught him.

The resounding explosion made Harry's ears ring again. Harry turned to see the troll whipping it's head around to find the source of the explosion. Thankfully, the troll was dumb, and didn't think to look down. In that time, Harry pulled Andrew under the cloak again, and the two were shuffling down the hall as quickly and as quietly as they could.

Suddenly, the troll made a screeching noise. Both of the invisible students turned to see Professor Sprout standing feet shoulder width apart and wand pointed at the troll. Even from the distance they were away from the head of Hufflepuff, Andrew and Harry could see a burning fire in her eyes. Professors McGonagall and Snape came running down the stairs; spells already whizzing through the air at the large troll.

The troll let out a loud roar, and it nearly kicked the two students. Apparently, Andrew had had enough sneaking around, because he pulled on Harry's arm so hard that Harry almost tripped. With all the noise, the two were able to get away without being heard. It was a little amazing that the invisibility cloak managed to stay on the two of them.

When Professor Flitwick arrived, Sprout ushered the others to go to the dungeons while the professors handled the troll. Filch was there, and though he looked like he ate something sour, he lead the students away from the troll. Fred, George, and Anthony were still trying to look around to find Harry and Andrew.

Harry pulled Andrew down a pathway hidden behind a burgundy curtain. It lead them to the kitchens. The Slytherin knocked on the kitchen door and a little house elf answered the door with a deep bow.

"What can Bitsy, do for the youngs master?" the large eyed creature said.

"I need you to take my cloak-" the little house elf looked panicked for a moment. "Don't worry, you're not being sacked. I just need my cloak and this parchment put safely into my trunk. I can't get there without causing trouble. Please, Bitsy, would you do this for me?"

The little elf looked teary from being asked so nicely. "Yes, youngs sir! I be doing this for you!" The little elf snapped her fingers when the cloak and map were safely in her arms, and she disappeared to the Slytherin Dungeon.

"We need to get ourselves caught," Harry said to Andrew.

"What? Why?" Andrew asked and fell into step with Harry.

"I don't think we are going to get back to the dorms without getting caught. Or at the very least we'll be questioned on why are scurrying about the school after hours." Harry explained. "Why the bloody hell is there a troll in the castle?!"

"Why were you and the Weasley twins out after curfew?" Andrew asked. Harry blankly glanced at Andrew.

"Why were you and what- five- other Gryffindors out past curfew?" Harry asked back. Then he cringed. McGonagall wasn't going to be happy about this. A feminine voice gasped, causing the two boys to jump.

Hermione Granger was staring at the two of them. Ron walked into her, and his brothers walked into him; almost causing the entire group to fall forward.

"Andrew!"

"Harry!"

Argus Filch popped his head out of the classroom that he was… holding the students in until the issue with the troll could be gotten under control. "Well, well, this is quite the night." he said. His voice a strange combination of fear and cruelty. Filch certainly did love punishing children. "In the the both of you. McGonagall is going to want to talk with all of you."

All of the students shuffled into the room. This wasn't going to be good at all. Harry thought. After what felt like hours, three of staff professors came into the room: Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. The latter two were glaring down on the students like they were dragon dung on their shoes. Even the twins averted their eyes to their feet. Dumbledore, however looked to be happier than pixie causing trouble.

The younger professors seemed to be waiting for Dumbledore to say something, and the silence stretched for a few long moments. Then, finally, Dumbledore spoke, "Would anyone care for a midnight snack?"

"Albus!" McGonagall gasped in disbelief. Each of the students looked surprised and a little more than suspicious.

"Before what needs to be said is said, I think we all could use something filling. I find myself craving a good biscuit truffle. What about you, Miss Granger?" Albus asked kindly. Hermione squeaked a little at the attention that she was given.

"Um, maybe a bit of pound cake with hot chocolate?" she more asked than said.

"And what about you, Mr. Holiday?" Dumbledore was addressing Andrew.

"A cheeseburger with onions, lettuce, pickles, and mayo with a side of fries," Andrew said almost instantly, then added, "And a cup of coffee."

"And you?" Dumbledore asked Anthony.

"...um, rice dream vanilla ice cream with banana slices."

"Mr. Potter?"

"I would like a piece of raspberry crumb cake, professor."

Dumbledore nodded and said that a crumb cake would be good. He then turned to the three Weasleys. "Mr. Fred, you first I think."

"A kumquat pie would be delicious."

"Fresh cinnamon bread," said George.

"Apple pie, please." Ron almost whispered.

"And what would you like Mr. Longbottom?" Dumbledore asked cheerfully.

"If Pally is still working at the castle, sir, I would love to have her chicken soup."

"Good Pally is becoming quite aged, but I'm sure that she would love to make you her soup, Mr. Longbottom." Dumbledore smiled fondly. All of the food appeared before them. McGonagall and Snape didn't order any food. Then, with a more serious air around Dumbledore said, "We have some very serious things to discuss. The first of which, why were you out of bed past curfew?"

The plates of food were left untouched. No one said anything.

"I was going to the kitchens to see if I could get a cup of coffee from the elves," said Andrew. "Anthony followed me."

"I tried to get him to go back to Gryffindor Tower, but he wouldn't listen to me." explained Anthony. "Hermione had fallen asleep in the Common Room, and I accidentally woke her up while I was trying to get him back to bed."

"I might have convinced, Ron and Neville to go after them before they got themselves into more trouble. I don't know what I was thinking! I should have just went straight to bed." Hermione looked devastated.

"We were just trying to help…" said Neville. He, like Hermione, looked broken up by this entire experience.

Dumbledore looked at the twins with a piercing look. "We were exploring the school." the Weasley twins said together. Dumbledore turned to Harry.

"I followed them," said Harry simply. The professors looked less than convinced at the explanations they were given, but McGonagall and Snape didn't say anything. Professor Dumbledore seemed to be thought.

"Many unforeseen events happened this night. One of which, was that a troll was let loose in the castle. The others, though small in comparison, were still worthy of detention. Repeat offenders will be put on probation until further notice." Dumbledore looked at the Weasley twins, Andrew, Hermione, and Neville. They all looked a bit desolate at the news. "All of you will perform various chores, and each of you will have thirty points taken from your house. Now, eat, then your head of house will escort you back to your house."

Harry almost couldn't believe they had gotten off with only losing thirty points each. McGonagall looked scandalized. She usually took fifty points from students that wandered around the castle after hours. Snape would occasionally take more if the students weren't in Slytherin.

The students ate quickly and silently. None of them wanted to give the two toughest professors a reason to take more points away.

Snape glared down on the Weasley twins and Harry when they reached the Slytherin Dungeon. He didn't say anything, but then he didn't have to. The other Slytherins would probably try to rip them apart.

Harry opened the Marauder's Map before he went to sleep. He scoured the map for his lord's name, but it wasn't anywhere on the map. Desolately, Harry went to bed. He wasn't looking forward to tomorrow.