A/N For some reason I was unable to get to the FF site for days. I'll make up for it today and add all the missing chapters. Thanks for hanging in there with me. -Neminiwrites

Blaise had waited at the gates of Hogwarts for twenty minutes now and was getting peeved. When he heard the pop of apparition he turned to Draco to give him an argument. "Where have you been? I've been standing here for half an hour waiting for you. And Where's Goyle?"

Draco was playing it cool. "Don't get your panties in a bind. I had another row with father. I sent Goyle on ahead to tell you I'd be late. Where is he?"

Zabini was still miffed. "Do you see that massive moron anywhere?" He gestured to the surrounding hills.

"Well, maybe we should wait for him for a few. He probably went in search of a couple dozen cream puffs for dessert." Draco was trying to egg Zabini's anger on, to keep him off balance and from asking more questions.

"There is no way I'm waiting around for him to finish eating. I don't have all decade. Let's just go in. He'll catch us up." Blaise touched the gateway with his wand and it opened, as it would for any Slytherin now. He started up the path and turned around impatiently to see Draco scanning the area again. "Come on Draco. I know you think he's your pet poodle but forget about him. He'll show up. Let's go!"

Draco took one last look with a worried frown and followed him in. The gate clanged roughly behind him. As they walked through the massive doors a gang of sixth year Hufflepuff girls giggled by. Blaise grinned and straightened his shirt ready to pursue them, when Draco stopped him. "Hold on Zabini. I have to give Snape a message from my father. You obviously… have things to do, so I'll leave you to your hunt and find you later. If I hear more giggling behind a tapestry I'll knock first."

Blaise grinned wolfishly. "It won't be giggling you'll hear, and don't bother knocking unless you're looking for a threesome. That's why we came here isn't it? Where the picking is easy and free!" He left Draco standing there shaking his head. Under Voldemort, Hogwarts had become little more than a walking brothel for young Slytherins. No female student ever went anywhere alone. The rule was no one under a fifth year, and preferably consenting, though that was not always the case.

oopOqoo

Draco knew the way to the headmaster's office better than anyone. He couldn't wait to tell him what Hermione had said about the horcruxes. The corridors were empty for now, but soon classes would be over, and he would be swamped with Gryffindor guys looking for revenge. A part of the challenge Zabini enjoyed. Getting laid and fucking with Gryffindor wizards unrestricted.

He was glad he'd reached the massive stone griffin in peace. Draco took out his wand and said "Slytherin rules". The griffin turned and the stairway appeared. Draco rode it to the top. He knocked loudly and heard an annoyed "Enter". Snape sat in his ornate chair behind the large desk piled high with paperwork. "One moment Draco." He scribbled a few more lines before putting down his quill. "It's about time. Have you any news for me?"

Draco smiled as he shut the door, "You were right. They were hunting horcruxes and they're all gone, but one. It's here in the castle."

"Excellent Draco." Snape stood and walked to the sitting room before the fire. "Come and tell me what she said. Dinky?" A small house elf appeared. "Dinky tea please." The elf bowed and disappeared returning shortly with a tray of tea and biscuits.

Draco picked up his cup. "She said there were seven of them. Slughorn confirmed it. Hermione said five of them had been destroyed. Riddles diary, the Gaunt family ring, Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, (that was what all the ruckus at Gringotts was about), and Nagini at the party. I told her about Harry being one, and our theory about Longbottom. She didn't take it well, but she believed me. The seventh is Ravenclaw's diadem. It's somewhere here in the castle but she didn't know where. Hermione said Potter could hear them and he got flashes into Riddle's mind. That's how he knew what they were."

Snaped nodded his head. "I was aware of the diary and the ring of course. I had to know why Dumbledor's hand had been cursed to develop a counter, so he told me everything. He thought he was being sly about it, but it was obvious from the start who's curse it was. Regulus Black told me about the locket, though I didn't believe him at the time. He disappeared shortly after that, and no one ever saw him again."

Snape was lost in his childhood memories for a moment. He and Regulus had become friends, until he'd turned on Riddle. Another on the list of regrets in his life. "Ravenclaw's diadem. Her daughter Helena was killed by the Bloody Baron and they both ended up here as ghosts. I wonder if she told Riddle her story. He could be very charming and persuasive when he was younger. If he used it as a horcrux, Helena would know where it is. I'll see if I can convince her to tell me."

Draco began to fidget, reluctant to ask for advice on his own problem. He had to at least tell Snape about it. "Uh, Severus. I… have a problem. I could use your advice."

Snapes eyebrows rose over his teacup. Draco was well versed in the gesture's meaning, 'What have you done now boy?'.

"Well? Out with it!"

Draco looked down to gather his thoughts. There was no sense trying to sugar coat it. "Goyle got in my room and tried to rape Hermione. I stopped him, but now he's in the oubliette planning my demise. I am going to obliviate him and dump him in an alley. Unless you have a better idea."

Snape put his hand up to cover his eyes. "Draco! That was careless. We can't afford mistakes like that. Why didn't you just let him have her! We could have managed that. Though I'm sure he would have taken advantage and made himself an annoyance again and again."

Draco looked stone faced at Snape, unbelieving how callas the man could be. "Let him have her?" He stood and threw his teacup in the fire grate. It shattered into a million pieces. "You sound like father. I know your heart is as cold as Riddle's ball sac, but don't ever think I'll put her in harm's way! She actually stopped me from killing him on the spot and suggested the obliviation. Now unless you have a better idea of what to do about him, consider this as just me keeping you informed."

Snape grinned having tested the boy. "She's become more than just a hostage to you." He sighed and sat back in his chair. "I suppose that was inevitable. You've slept with her then? Not a smart move Draco. We may still need to use her as leverage with The Order." Draco's fingers itched to reach for his wand. "That was the original plan wasn't it? Get what information we could out of Potter and use Granger as a shield when the dark lord fell. Potter would have done anything to keep her safe. Including guaranteeing pardons for ourselves and your family. Or was that just the plan you agreed to until you could change it to your own agenda?" Snape stood with his trademark arms crossed, speaking slowly. "Do you plan on betraying me Draco? You are your father's son after all, I see."

Tension built in the air between them. Two wizards equal only in their hatred of Voldemort. Draco knew it would be no contest if it came to blows, but he would not sit by and let Snape run the show unchallenged.

Suddenly Snape grinned and then chuckled. "Riddles ball sac?" He sat down and calmly picked up his cup. "You were the one who found the trio in the first place Draco. We hatched this plan together. I wonder how your new lover would react to that knowledge." The implied threat was a real possibility and Draco felt his face redden. "As for Goyle, he's not a significant player in our little drama. Dump him and move on." He stirred his tea. "Sit down boy. We have bigger fish to fry."

Draco sat down and crossed his arms, fuming.

Snape sighed as he contemplated the folly of youth. "Right now, Riddle is content because He thinks Potter is dead and there is no one left to go after the last horcrux. No one left to challenge Him. If we find and destroy it, He will know that is folly, and the war will begin in earnest. I'm not sure Longbottom is ready to take Him on yet."

"Well he'd better get ready! The longer this drags out the more people will die."

Snape scoffed as his anger built. "He doesn't even know what he is yet. Who's going to tell him Draco? You? Me? He won't believe us, and if he catches you alone I don't fancy your chances. He may be an idiot, but much like Potter, he's an idiot with friends. All willing to die or kill, in his place. This must be handled correctly or none of us will survive!"

Draco rolled his eyes and stood. "So, what's the correct way?" Snape turned to look out the window without an answer. Disappointed, Draco turns to go. "I have to go catch up with Zabini before he becomes suspicious. We are running out of time Severus. One of us is going to have to do it, and soon."

He closed the door softly behind him and contemplated what to do.