Chapter 14

"Tough loss tonight," Harry said as he entered into the library, dropping his bag on a nearby table. Harry glanced at his watch as he moved over to the chair across from Blaise. It was later than he was used to seeing Blaise up. Hell, it was later than he was used to being up.

Blaise sighed as he leaned up from the couch he had been laying on, "The team is half talent and half incompetent idiots who've bribed their way on the team, and it makes for a completely dysfunctional team. However, I think we're more than capable of winning the cup even with the embarrassing loss tonight."

"How did Draco play?"

Blaise took a moment, "He played better than I've seen him play in the last two years. Although he didn't come out victorious, he was a lot sharper than I've seen him in a long time. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it was impressive."

"Where is he? I haven't seen him all day, " Harry asked as he looked around, " In fact, I don't see him at all these days."

"Where do you think," Blaise replied before leaning closer. "I've been thinking recently, Harry. Draco is not okay. He's hurting, I believe."

"What do you mean?"

"The day that Lavender died, I think it really affected him, and that is concerning because Draco, at his core, is still just as fragile and impressionable as he was our first year."

"You're implying that he might betray me?"

Blaise narrowed his eyes, "No, I'm implying that you need to check up on him. Especially, knowing this has been a struggle for him before."

Harry nodded solemnly. As much as it annoyed Harry, he knew Blaise had a point.

"Keep an eye on him, and I'll do the same, but we have something more immediate right now then speculated betrayals," Harry replied, "I think I've identified a potential castor. I believe it's Tracy Davis. "

"Tracy Davis...the Halfblood?" Blaise asked skeptically. "What evidence do you have for this?"

"I was in the library and managed to see something Tracy Davis was writing. It looked familiar, so I went back and checked it with the journal entry Astoria gave us...same handwriting. Same parchment too."

Blaise sat quietly before getting up and pacing around the room, in his own world. Finally, he looked back up at Harry.

"Why her?"

"Why not her? A half-blood with no ties to anyone in Slytherin nor any family history. Think about this...everyone who has died with the exception of Lavender has been in the library at some point."

Blaise nodded, "And the library's restricted section would contain enough dark material to obscure an unforgivable like the imperious curse, or at least not ring any additional alarms."

"Better yet," Harry said. "She works under Madam Pince, which means, she gets access to the restricted section at any time."

"You really found the castor," Blaise replied in disbelief as he continued pacing around the chamber library floor. His dramatic pacing echoing throughout the quiet room, "... but what now? I'm sure you have a plan."

"Yes, but you're not going to like it."

"Great. The only plans you're good at."

"The first part of it involves you contacting Hermione tomorrow."

Blaise stopped in his tracks, "Why would we ever need her help? "

"She knows about the imperious victims, and she's only going to get herself hurt, if I don't involve her...and I-well, she'll be an important safeguard..."

"Then obliviate her memory," Blaise said coldly as he turned toward Harry. "We don't need her help."

"Blaise, I need you to forget your prejudices for a moment, and work with me here," Harry said as he stood up, eyeing the towering Blaise."We'll need her, and I'll need you. Afterward, we can talk about if she needs to be oblivated."

A look of cold indifference flashed over Blaise's face as he folded his arms. "Why do you want me to talk to her?"

"Aurors. Blaise. I don't have freedom in public. I know it's not something you want to do, but it's something that has to happen."

"And if someone from Slytherin sees me talking to her, Harry. What will they think?"

"I don't care! Don't you get it, this is not about you or me, this is about making sure no else fucking dies." Harry said angrily. Finally, he closed his eyes, and took a small breath, "Listen, I need your help on this Blaise. If you trust me then you know I've thought this through the best I could have. "

Blaise sighed, and with a reserved tone replied, "You're right. I don't like it, but I know it needs to be done."

"Thank you, Blaise," Harry replied as relief washed over his face. "It's going to make it easier to tell you that my entire plan needs you involved in every step.."

"You're going to be the death of me," Blaise said coldly. "What about Draco?"

"It's better if he stays uninvolved until after everyone's captured, especially if he's not in a good place like you think."

"What's your plan?"

"I'm not saying it wasn't a good win, I just think it was a lazy win. I think we're just a better team," Ron said passionately as he stood near the Gryffindor fireplace. "it shouldn't have been as close as it was especially with all of their damn blagging fouls."

"Oh come on, don't be so hard, it's Gryffindor's first game to Slytherin's second. I think the team is going to obliterate next term," Neville replied as he continued to sip his coffee. His other hand wrapped around Hermione. "Besides, we won our biggest game of the year, and that's all that matters!"

Hermione sat quietly as she read her book, and enjoying the morning with Neville and Ron. Most of Gryffindor was still recovering from last night's big victory party, that had woken her up throughout the night, despite the dorm's natural silencing charms.

"How long were you at the party," Neville asked as he took another sip of coffee. "All of you came into the room at different times."

"I left pretty early."

"Why? Couldn't take the noise?"

Ron gave a shrug, "I don't know..It just felt weird being there...without Lavender."

"Oh," Neville replied awkwardly.

"Don't get all awkward on me, Neville...it's fine. Anyway, I think that's my clue to leave."

"Where are you going?"

"Obviously breakfast first," Ron rubbed his stomach. "then I need to ask Trelawny if homework is in my future tonight because I definitely don't see myself getting it done. "

Hermione rolled her eyes at the mention of the proclaimed seer causing Ron to chuckle slightly.

"Hermione, speaking of homework, can you help me with charms later this afternoon..if you're free?"

Hermione thought for a moment and nodded, "Yeah, I'll be at the Hospital Ward all day, so just come there."

"Don't be too long though, Hermione and I have a date tonight," Neville interrupted. He winked cringly at Hermione. "I need some of her brilliance for myself."

"Yeah...I'll- I'll keep that in mind, mate," Ron said awkwardly as he turned to leave. "Well, until then."

Hermione looked up from her book and watched as Ron wandered off, leaving her and Neville in the quiet common room. After a few minutes, Neville wrapped his arms around Hermione.

"I'm excited to have some time with you tonight," Neville whispered as Hermione laid her head onto his shoulder.

Hermione leaned up, lightly caressing his cheek to give him a light kiss.

"Thank you for being so patient with me."

"I love you, Hermione. Any wait is worth it." Neville replied as Hermione repositioned herself to kiss him more fully this time. Things began to fade away as Hermione dropped her book and continued to lean into the passionate kiss. A magnetic sensation traveled through Hermione as Neville's warm hands began to move against her cold skin, causing Hermione to moan slightly as Neville leaned her back against the full-

"Ahem."

Hermione and Neville jumped up, both suddenly realizing where they were. Hermione felt her face matched the color of the couch as she turned to see Katie Bell, who looked just as embarrassed as they did.

"I didn't mean to interrupt...if this is a bad time…"

"Hey- Hey, Katie, did you- did you need Hermione?" Neville replied flusteredly as he moved far away from Hermione.

"No...I-" She stammered, clearly just as embarrassed as they all were. "You said you could help me with...uhm... Herbology?"

Realization dawned on Neville's face, "That's what I forgot. Damn it." Neville jumped up but as he did, coffee spilled all over his robe. "AhH shit! Okay. Just give me a moment. Damn it. Let me grab my bag. "

Neville turned back to Hermione and gave an apologetic smile, "I love you...I'll see you...later."

All Hermione could muster was an embarrassed nod as she tried not to look at either. Neville apologized again before grabbing his bag and exiting. Once they left, Hermione bent down and screamed into the book she had been holding. How embarrassing! Thankfully, Katie was probably never going to tell a soul, but it didn't make any less awkward. It was a repeat of last summer all over again.

Hermione gathered herself, picking up her books and bags. She had an hour before she had to be in the hospital wing, and she was going to spend any last moment trying to figure out who was the castor. The best place to go was the library, especially since she had seen Harry there.

As she exited the common room, Daphne flashed into her mind. The change from hating Harry to suddenly being friends, it was too jarring not to ring bells in her head. Then there was the whole Dumbledore and Harry connection, as far as she had read, what was the extent of their relationship. If her hypothesis was true, it begged another question, What really happened to Harry that Halloween night that would make Dumbledore train him?

Hermione sighed as an auror passed by her, he seemed hurried. There was so much she didn't know. As she turned to walk down another corridor, she felt someone gently grab her arm, startling her.

"Ron...Neville," She began, ready to berate them, as she turned around "what are you-

She stopped cold as a tall, lean, and attractive figure towered before her. He looked around quietly and perceptively before looking back at her with an expression that made her feel like she was the one wasting his time.

"Blaise...Zabini," she whispered mindlessly.

If it was possible, he looked even more disgusted at her. He quietly motioned to the classroom door across the hall to which he led the way, quickly striding across and into the room. Hermione followed inside. Although Blaise had been in most of her classes, she had never had an encounter with him...not that she wanted to. She could recall in their first few years at Hogwarts, him being one of the ones to snicker whenever any Slytherin would insult her. She knew that Blaise hung around Harry, but rumors had it that it was out convenience, not out of loyalty, but she didn't know much.

As she entered the empty classroom, Blaise closed and locked the door behind him. Her mind raced with thoughts as she tried to figure out what this was about. Was this it? Was he the castor all along? Hermione moved her hand closer to where her wand was. Before she could move closer, he turned back around and gazed at his surroundings, and back at her.

"I'm going to put wards around the classroom," Blaise said coolly as he pulled his wand out and began muttering incantations.

Hermione moved her hand closer to her wand as Blaise finished up and pocketed his own.

"There won't be any need for violence. I'm not here to hurt you...that would be a waste of energy," Blaise said as he glanced out the window once more. "I'm here to give you instructions from Harry Potter. We know who the castor is, and he needs your help."

"How can I know I can trust you."

"You can't. You can trust in the fact that I haven't made any indications that I'm going to hurt or use you."

He was right. He was intimidating, but not malicious. Harry must have sent him because of the aurors that are constantly guarding him.

"What am I supposed to do?" Hermione said.

Blaise glanced at his watch, "In about two hours, you need to be in the lower west corridor. After that protect Harry at all cost. For now, avoid the library."

Hermione's mind began racing. Why was everything so vague.

"Is that all?" Hermione asked, pleading for more

"Yes, goodbye Granger," Blaise said coldly as glanced at his watch, and turned to the door.

Hermione didn't bother replying but watched as Blaise gazed around once more, and quickly disappeared into the hall. Hermione felt a pit begin to form in her stomach. What was going to happen?

Harry sat quietly at the table behind Mrs. Davis. If anyone were to walk past him, it looked like he was doing homework, as he had been in the past four days, but truthfully, he was looking at his watch. It was almost time. Although he hadn't shared any of this with Daphne, he hadn't been just watching Tracy to see if she would pull out her journal, but he had been watching her figure out everything about her, particularly her schedule. He had figured out she was an adherent to a daily schedule. She arrived and left the library, went to the bathroom, ate dinner, and even socialized on an inflexible schedule that could prove she wasn't doing anything nefarious at any time.

Harry stretched as he looked at the entrance of the library. In five minutes, it would be time to move. Harry continued to stare down at his book for a little while, each minute stretching to hours.

On the dot, Tracy got up, picking up her bag with her. Harry stood up, leaving his bag unzipped.

"Mr. Potter?" Sarah said from behind him.

Harry quickly moved around the table and began sprinting down the aisle.

"Mr. Potter!" Sarah yelled out again.

The sudden outburst caused Tracy to turn around right as Harry ran into her, causing both to fly back and the contents of their bag to spill out all over the floor. Harry wasn't dazed in the slightest by the collision, quickly opening his eyes to look for what he needed.

"Shit," Tracy said as she rubbed her head, "What the hell Potter?"

Before she noticed that her things had fallen out, Harry had already snatched the journal that had fallen out and stuffed it into his bag.

"Mr. Potter, If this happens again, I'm going to be forced to send you to be reprimanded by Headmaster Dawlish." Sarah said in an aggravated tone, as she bent down to help both of them, "Today isn't the day for this."

Harry looked back at Tracy, a sense of urgency began to appear on her face as she rushed to stuff things back into her bag. Harry knew she was frantically searching for the journal, but before she realized what happened, he had to leave.

"I'm sorry about that, I'm in a hurry," Harry said toward Tracy, grabbing the rest of his contents, "and Sarah, I'm sorry about this."

Harry waved his hand, causing both of his guardian aurors to trip on the floor, as he rushed out the library. As he exited, on cue, Morag Macdougal and Blaise Zabini both stood talking at the entrance of the library. Harry pulled out the depths of his bag, one of his most prized possessions, the invisibility cloak.

Harry ran around a corridor, quickly crouching down and pulling it over him.

"Hugo! Tell the patrols we have an active situation, level X, as of right now, possibly double X. I'll go this way," Sarah yelled as she ran past him. Her wand out and ready.

Harry waited a minute before uncloaking, glancing at his watch. Fear began to overcome him as he wondered if he hadn't been as smart as he had hoped.

"Damn it," he whispered. It hadn't worked. The plan had failed. As he prepared to move, he heard the approaching footsteps of someone walking in a fast-paced. Relief overcame him. Tracy Davis stopped at the intersection of the corridor, the look on her face was fear.

"Turn the corner," Harry whispered to himself as he pulled out his wand. It would make everything much easier.

Tracy bit her lip anxiously as she looked between both directions before deciding to turn the corner. As she moved past Harry, Harry uncovered himself, hitting her with a full body bind jinx. She gasped as the spell caused her body to straighten up, like a ruler. Before she could hit the hard stone floor, Harry jumped up and caught her. Her eyes were wide as she frantically searched around. He quickly looked around before slowly laying her down on the side of the wall, and covering her with the cloak. Finally, Harry dropped his bag right next to the cloaked girl.

"Time for some trouble."

"It's simple. There are two parts. First, we need to confirm that she is indeed our castor. Secondly, if she is, then we need to capture her."

Blaise listened carefully for any noise as he made his way down the hall, carefully thinking about every aspect of the plan. Harry had carefully thought this out, but it didn't stop Blaise from having a bad feeling about it, he had seen things go horribly wrong before.

"The first part is easy. Tracy, fortunately, is someone who sticks to a schedule. Tomorrow will be no different. According to our list of people who may be, under the curse, Morag Macdougal is also adherent to a schedule. However, Neither are every in the same vicinity even though they both work for Madam Pince. Either Tracy is there working or studying, or Morag is in there working or studying."

"How long have you been watching them?"

"Four days." Harry said. "I've asked, through Madam Pince, specifically to schedule Morag while Tracy is studying."

"Keep going."

"After you've contacted Hermione, you need to find Morag Macdougal. She's scheduled for eleven-thirty, but It's important that she doesn't enter the library until Tracy exits and you can't let anything distract her. If you notice anything, and the book that you gave us is correct then she's not a primary caster and there's someone else. At that point, keep Tracy from coming down the hall for the next two minutes. If you don't, let her come down the hall and I will stun her."

Blaise hadn't seen any movement, but rather a facial expression from Tracy as she faced Morag Macdougal, almost a guilty glance. Blaise turned the corner, quickly looking for the bag Harry said he would place.

"What will you be doing during this time?"

"I will be sitting in the library, waiting on Tracy to get up. When she gets up, I will run into her, and grab her journal which should have more names in it. Naturally, she'll come after me anyway once she notices that her journal is gone. Once she's take care of. I will cause a chase with aurors. Because of who I am, this will pull all the aurors from their usual patrol."

"Won't that get you expelled, or at the very least hurt?"

"Under auror protocol, they could only use level one stunners as long as I don't use a wand. I'm gambling that Dawlish will not expel me, in fact, because I won't be using a wand that he'll keep this pretty quiet."

"That's quite a risk to take."

"Either way, you'll be free to take her down to moaning Myrtle without running into anyone."Harry said. "Once I start the chase, you'll find my bookbag next to Tracy Davis who will be cloaked under it. You need to bring her to the chamber."

"How can you be sure I won't run into any aurors."

"I will be guiding them to the other-side of Hogwarts. I can't guarantee, but I'm sure they will all come after me." Harry said. "If not, just yell that you have seen me and they will mostly go in that direction."

Blaise looked carefully, finally spotting the bag. As he approached, he carefully reached down patting the ground next to it until finally, he felt the smooth silky cloak, lifting up to see a paralyzed Tracy Davis. He pulled the bag over his shoulder, and sighed as he pulled out his wand and levitated the girl.

"At that point, Blaise, you will head to the chamber using Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. There should be no patrols. Your part is done."

As he quickly rushed through the lower corridors, being careful to examine everything around him. As he continued to levitate the girl, he couldn't help but remember that all of this was just for Harry to murder her. That he was helping murder this girl.

"Then what will happen to you?"

"Simple. You will talk to Hermione prior, and make sure that she gets to the lower west end corridor. She is usually at the Hospital wing early, so you'll have time. Once she's there, I will stop and let myself be stunned. She will ensure that I end up in the hospital wing."

"How is that?"

"Under Auror protocol, all stunned victims must be examined by a healer before any questioning including the examination of one's wand. They will have me sent to the hospital wing where I can make sure all of my belongings follow with me, and that my wand is erased."

"What if they bring their own healer?"

"It's a possibility, but unlikely. Especially not with Hermione there."

Blaise quickly found himself in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, where he flicked his wand causing the entrance to open. He was glad for his portion of this plan to be over. That was one thing less to stress about, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something felt really really wrong.

"What the hell am I missing?" He whispered as the chamber closed behind him.

It only took two minutes before a patrol caught sight of him, and the chase ensued. They were fast, but Harry was elusive. It was becoming a game of cat and mouse, a stunner here and a dodge there, but it felt wrong. He figured they would be a little more aggressive, but the chase felt timider than he thought it should have. It didn't feel genuine.

There were only two corridors left before he would be sure that Blaise could reach the chamber in time. As he turned the corner of the last corridor, he was met with a brigade of aurors. Who all had their wands pointed at him. Harry turned around to the other patrol following behind him. As they stopped and point their wands at him. He was surrounded.

"Stop here, Harry Potter. This is your one and only chance to come peacefully. Please put your hands up and walk forward slowly."

Harry moved his hand upward, if he was smooth, he could do a fake out.

"Keep your hands up, or we will use force," the auror yelled as he came closer.

"Too late," A familiar voice yelled as several explosions and yells came from behind Harry, scattering the aurors behind him, "No one hurts Potter but me!"

Another set of explosions shot forward, to the brigade in front, but it was quickly diverted into a nearby painting. Harry was afraid of who he would see if he turned around, but he already knew who it was.

"The use of level triple X stunners permitted. On my mark!" One of the aurors in front yelled.

Harry turned his head to see Astoria Greengrass step beside him. A look of disbelief must have been evident on his face.

"What are you giving me that look for?" Astoria said innocently.

"Damn it!" Harry expressed angrily as he pulled out his wand, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Aren't you glad, I came running to help you?" Astoria said as she looked around, "You can't handle this by yourself."

"NOW!"

"I didn't need your help!" Harry yelled, "Damn it, Astoria!"

Harry pushed Astoria roughly behind him as a volley of sharp blue volts came flying down toward them, each crackling as they sped toward them. More than one of these stunners could do some serious harm to either of them. Without thought, Harry brought his wand encasing him and Astoria under a dome of fire. The volts hit the wall causing the echoing of loud buzzing sounds throughout the dome and corridor.

"Woah! You never taught me this."

Harry looked back down at Astoria as he wiped the sweat from his brow, "Goodbye."

Before she could do anything, Harry had already stunned her causing her to fall into his arms. It would hurt, but it wasn't anything close to an auror level stunner. Harry laid her down as the fire dome began to fade, the only thing he could do was throw his wand and hope they would accept a peaceful surrender, or he was fucked, he hadn't been prepared for any higher level stunners. As the wall finally came down, Harry prepared to throw his wand to the ground, he noticed the aurors had opened up a path for someone to walk through.

"Harry Potter, you're nothing but trouble..."

Harry felt the world freeze. It couldn't be. There was no way. As the figure came from behind the aurors and closer to him. His heart stopped.

"...But that ends today." Tom Riddle said as he appeared in front of the auror guards, a smug smile etched on his face.

There was no hesitation, no planning or thought, something primal rose in Harry as he felt himself launch forward with one thought on his mind… to kill Tom Riddle. He had only begun to form the wand motions before he began to scream in pain at what felt like a short burst of a thousand volts of electricity being shot through him. Harry fell to his knees in agony as his body failed to respond to him.

As he quickly began to lose consciousness, He could only see the smug smile of Tom Riddle standing before him as the aurors all approached Harry.

A/N Thanks for reading! Updates about the story are available on my profile, I usually update it once every two weeks about my progress!