The air swirled in a circular pattern, twirling and twirling the dead leaves into a light tornado. Dust and dirt kicked up from the ground. The main doors to Hogwarts burst open with a cacophonous bang. Harry's feet autonomously walked up one set of stairs. Then another. Then one more. He turned, knowing where he wanted to go, but not knowing what to call it.

It was time.

He descended into the bowels of the earth, sliding and slipping down a long tunnel. Here was the place. The damp atmosphere was a heavy blanket. Death was in the air, a rank and odorous smell that permeated his skin. His nose puckered up at the different scents. If he squinted, he could just see the invisible lines tied around the tall pillars running in parallel columns within the antechamber. Holes dotted the muddy walls. Deep tunnels carved into the earth, digging into the ground in serpentine shapes.

A hiss.

Harry spun in a circle, flexing his wrist. To his surprise, his wand did not automatically drop from the holster.

"I'm not supposed to be here," Harry said.

The room erupted in a blinding blaze of light, an orange ball forming within the center of the antechamber. The nigh invisible wires pulled taught around the pillars, slicing through the center foundation. The ceiling caved and Harry screamed as he stretched his hands out in one last bid of wandless magic to prevent his inevitable death.

Dirt filled his mouth. Harry couldn't breath.

He wasn't supposed to be here.

Then, his lungs filled with oxygen. His hands swiped through the cool air, grasping emptiness as he shot upright in his bed. The low light from the candles dimmed overhead as he felt a surge of panic run through his body. His mind spun, recalling the vividness of the dream. He tasted the dirt on the tip of his tongue, smelled the odorous potions in his nasal cavities, and saw the dark chamber with snakelike holes stretching in every direction.

Harry's pulse slowed, his heart no longer threatening to burst out of his chest. He reached for his glasses, the metal cool against his head. Quiet snores filled the room, overlapping sounds that keyed Harry on their state of consciousness. He tried to practice what little Occlumency he could, but he felt rattled and disturbed. These dreams occurred more frequently, and more often than not, they were vivid to the point where they were indistinguishable from reality.

He pulled back the drapes, hoping the glass of water by his bed remained. Peeking his head out, Harry was surprised to find Malfoy awake. Draco sipped on his own drink and eyed Harry down.

"Another nightmare?" Draco asked loftily.

"No. I dreamt of sitting on a beach in Spain and sipping on Piña Coladas," Harry responded blithely.

"Tone, Potter," Commander Malfoy corrected.

Harry bit his tongue, temporarily forgetting his place. Still, he could not bring himself to apologize and closed his drapes in response. Sleep eluded him for the rest of the night. He lay awake, staring up at the ceiling and trying to recall the details of his plan. His thoughts turned to the third task and Krum's hint as to what it would involve. Harry had already told Cedric and the rest of the champions. A few of them played summer Quidditch while the rest had perfunctory lessons during their first year at Hogwarts.

None of them were in the same stratosphere as Krum.

The sound of rustling drapes broke Harry out of his reverie. He opened his own curtains just a crack to see Draco already dressed and heading to the exit. It couldn't have been any later than five in the morning. Draco paused at the door and turned. He caught Harry's eyes and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Potter?" Draco asked.

Harry licked his lips, searching for the right response. Curiosity grasped hold of him. "Going to Trow's classroom this early?"

After a pause, Draco nodded. "Yes. I have to finish a few more things."

The Slytherin Commander left and Harry flopped back into bed.

So do I.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked.

Her skin was pale. Dark rings circled her eyes, and she was drastically thin again. Her appearance was similar to the end of the previous year. Hermione adopted a twitchiness that was unlike her. For the longest time, Harry could only remember the smoothness in which she moved. Hermione was far from a dancer, but her feet usually moved in a practiced rhythm. Now, she shuffled along beside him as they approached Trow's classroom.

Hermione nodded in response to his question, uncharacteristically quiet.

"I would've thought you would relish the opportunity to finally sit in one of these lessons." Harry's tone was light and his words carried a humorous air, but Hermione did not crack a smile.

"Pardon me if I don't show absolute gratitude to Trow for allowing me into one of these precious tutoring sessions. I fail to see what is so important that you need individual lessons. It's a detriment to everyone else's learning." Hermione's response was full of bite and jealousy, her upper lip curling and her chin jutting out while she spoke.

Harry's eyebrows shot into the sky. "And here I thought I would be doing you a favor by inviting you to these things."

"That's the problem. You're always in the position to be providing favors." Hermione's frown deepened. "Speaking of which, we need another favor from you."

"We?" Harry asked.

"Luna and I," Hermione explained. "We've managed to replicate the Board Room on a very small scale. The only issue is that the material we used is far too expensive for Luna or myself to afford."

Her implied request hung in the air between them as they descended a moving staircase together. The torches flickered as they walked, the air heavy with the smell of turkey from the Great Hall. Dinner was still in session, but Trow had requested this particular lesson early. Harry wondered what the Strategy professor's expression would be when Hermione walked into the room.

"How much do you need?" Harry asked.

Hermione slid a leaf of parchment into his hand. Harry curiously opened the once folded document and whistled lowly when he saw the requested amount of money.

"Am I allowed to ask what this is for?"

"Very thin glass," she responded bluntly.

Harry shrugged.

Money was never a particularly strong concern for him. If he ever needed supplies, anything from Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade was billed to Gringotts, who then withdrew the money accordingly from his account. When he was eleven, Harry made a visit to Gringotts to verify ownership of his accounts. One look at the pile of Galleons told Harry all he needed to know. While he wasn't as wealthy as some of the Purebloods, money would hardly be an issue.

"One hundred and twenty Galleons is a lot," Harry said. "We can't even really sell the board. Obviously, Hogwarts has already made it."

Hermione shrugged. "Consider it an investment for future products. I'm confident we can replicate the Board Room if we get the glass. After that, who knows? Maybe we'll find different material that isn't as expensive."

"Starting up a business with Luna?"

"She's smarter than you think," Hermione said, surprising him.

"I know she's smart."

Hermione harrumphed and Harry could practically hear her say, "I know something you don't know."

"I'll request for the money by the end of the day," Harry said.

He let the issue go as they approached Trow's classroom. Normally, the door was as unassuming as all of the other doors similar to it in Hogwarts. Yet, the significance of the moment wasn't lost on Harry. For the first time, he would not have to face Trow and Lupin alone. Hermione might have had her problems with him, but for better or for worse, she was the closest thing he had to a partner.

"You ready?" Harry asked.

"Always."

Maybe not this time, he thought.

To both of their surprise, the door swung open out of its own accord. Harry gestured for her to walk in first. Trow and Lupin stood just five feet from the entrance as if they expected Hermione. A trickle of annoyance ran through Harry at their lack of surprise. Surely, they couldn't know everything?

"Miss Granger. What a pleasant surprise," Trow said with a twinkle in his eye.

Harry fought the urge to roll his own eyes. It seemed as if Professor Trow often vacillated between two characters; the serious, solemn man who spoke in grave tones about Dark Lords and the effervescent teacher with a twinkle in his eye. It was hard to rationalize the two different personalities.

As a habit, Harry scanned the room for potential dangers and exits. He found none of the first and only two of the second. The room looked nothing more than a normal classroom and the only two exits were the door and the windows. Harry braced himself for another lecture on Dark Lords. He would have thought the tutoring pair had received the message during their last meeting. No more lectures.

"Miss Granger. I must ask you to leave," Lupin said, but the conviction lacked from his voice.

"She stays," Harry said.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, no doubt surprised by his lack of respect.

"Apparently, I do," she said.

Lupin pursed his lips, the frisky whiskers of his beard standing on end. Harry swallowed, remembering the Creatures professor's lycanthropy, but he showed no other sign of nervousness. He was not to be bullied by them any longer.

"I need Hermione's help if I am to face what you think I'll face. Perhaps we should take today to bring her up to speed?" Harry offered, willing his voice not to break.

Trow fixed him with a long and searching look. His silver eyes flittered back and forth between the pair and then settled on Harry. The Slytherin returned his gaze gamely, willing to let the silence stretch into uncomfortable levels.

"Can I ask what this is about before I agree to anything?" Hermione crossed her arms and Harry recognized the telltale signs of her impatience. She detested being left out of the loop.

Lupin huffed in a manner unbefitting of a man his age. The werewolf looked sideways at Trow, but the Strategy professor did not seem to mind Hermione's presence. If anything, the ghost of a smile was dancing on Trow's face.

"This isn't a game, Harry," Lupin said.

"Is it not? I thought the purpose of this school was to play games," Harry asked innocently.

An animalistic growl rumbled from Lupin's chest, but Trow held a solitary hand up to silence him. Harry was once again struck by the calm power the man held. A new life had seem to have taken over Trow. A sense of purpose colored the Strategy professor.

"Miss Granger," Trow turned to the fidgeting Gryffindor. "Mister Potter has been on the receiving end of a series of lessons for a few weeks now. It seems as if he has informed you of these lessons though not the contents of them. We had hoped to continue tutoring Harry alone, but he seems to disagree."

Trow's eyes slid over to Harry. "While Mister Potter is quite within his rights to demand help on this particularly difficult subject, he should know that the lesson plan was only ever designed for him. Such alterations at this late stage will have to be made as we go. I, like you, Miss Granger, like to have things planned extensively beforehand. Unintended deviations give way to unintended consequences. What we once could confidently predict must now be stricken and rewritten under a new plan. I think you, Miss Granger, can understand the resistance to such change."

The silver eyes left Harry and turned to Hermione. Trow spoke with a soft but pleading tone. "Miss Granger. You must understand that if we are to continue with what Mister Potter demands, then your life at this school will be changed forever. This might seem incredulous to you, but I know you are astute enough to know that this school is more than just an education on battles and duels. This school represents something. Can you tell me what that something is?"

It would only be fitting that Hermione had to be tested in order to sit in on his lessons. Fucking teachers, Harry thought.

Hermione took a few seconds to measure her response. She was not usually one to act rashly and her answer would be delivered only after careful thought. Her eyes danced from Lupin to Trow and then landed on Harry. She looked at him with an expression halfway between annoyance and curiosity. Harry already knew she would never say no to joining him. Hermione could not resist the temptation to learn.

She finally arrived on her answer.

"It represents the Ministry's efforts to have a batch of students readily available for military conflict. This includes, but is not limited to, dueling, strategizing, innovating, navigating political waters, adapting to extraneous circumstances, and healing. Furthermore, the best of the best are selected for private tutoring and are to be groomed as leaders."

Always the show off.

Trow smiled. "I was looking for something more poetic, but judging from your numerous perfect test scores, I really should have been prepared for that."

Seemingly satisfied with her answer, Trow turned to Harry once more.

"Are you sure about this, Harry?" Trow asked, a sense of knowing in his voice.

He wasn't sure.

When he had initially asked Hermione, all he wanted was someone to share the load. How could they possibly expect him to handle the Tournament of Champions, regular Battle classes, Slytherin deception, and extra lessons at the same time? Harry recognized they were trying to overload him, so he responded with the only possible reaction. More resources.

But it wasn't until Hermione enunciated the supposed purpose of this school that he realized what exactly he was asking her to do. Very few people must have known about the true purpose of Hogwarts Battle School. Furthermore, if Trow was right, he was their golden goose. The final answer to the troubled question: who would lead? Now, he was asking Hermione to come in and learn all of this in one day. It was enough to to overload anyone.

Hermione can handle it.

"Yes," Harry answered.

Something sad and melancholy flickered over Trow's face, but it only lasted for a millisecond. The same demure brightness reappeared in his eyes and he opened up his body to finally welcome them into the classroom. Harry took note that Lupin was strangely quiet, no huffs and growls, during the latter part of the process. Trow glided to the center of the room and stopped at a desk. On the desk was a beat up top hat, dusty and filled with holes.

"Do you know what this is?" Trow asked rhetorically.

"A Portkey," Hermione answered.

"Very good, Miss Granger. Do you know how a Portkey works?"

"It transports a subject from one geographical location to another."

"I asked how it works, not what it does," Trow corrected gently. "Try again."

Hermione bit her lip, her eyes looking frenetic and swollen. She cocked her head, examining the top hat. Harry knew it was a pointless. Magic of artefacts was a seventh year level class. They weren't supposed to know it. That didn't stop them from theorizing.

"It must be some sort of Transportation Charm. The two areas have to be tied together with a ward or a link. Maybe some sort of artefact," Harry answered for her.

"You have the general idea, but the reality is a bit more complicated. It is true that the essence of a Portkey is that it is a Transportation Charm. Much like the Floo network, it creates a warp in space that allows the wizard to appear in another area. The difference between a Portkey and a Floo is that while the Floo can be used to travel between two areas infinitely, a Portkey can only be used once, except for one circumstance. Why is that?" Trow asked.

"Why it can only be used or why there's one exceptional circumstance?" Harry asked.

Trow smiled, but it was less kind. "Try not to be too flippant, Mister Potter. You don't know everything yet."

"I figure I'd take the opportunity to eliminate all vagueness from the question," Harry said.

Trow continued to smile, but the twinkle in his eyes dimmed. Harry gamely met his stare, unwilling to flinch. He was most likely being unnecessarily obtuse, but he had to make a point. Far too often, Lupin and Trow spoke in riddles and metaphors. Harry wanted direct answers and if acting like a prick helped him, then he would act like it for the time being.

Harry was surprised to see the smile fall off Trow's face. A malevolent gleam that Harry had never seen flickered over the Strategy professor's eyes. It was gone like a flash of lightning, but Harry knew what he saw. The unsettling darkness in Trow's eyes caught Harry off guard and the Slytherin responded slowly when Trow asked his next question.

"What was that?" Harry asked.

Trow raised an eyebrow. "Are you familiar with splinching?"

"Yes," Hermione said irritatedly. She cast a sidelong glance at Harry, impatience in her eyes. "Splinching is a side effect of an improper Apparition. It can cause serious bodily harm as common splinching usually includes the tearing of body parts."

"Precise as always, Miss Granger," said Trow. "What I want to impart on both of you is that Apparating during a duel is almost always unadvisable."

"Why not?" Harry asked. "Seems to me that it would be a good way to get away from a curse."

"As you will learn, Apparition is a strong burst of magic that requires the utmost concentration. To give you an idea, the Ministry tracks every instance of Apparition to ensure the wizard or witch is whole when they arrive at their destination. To concentrate on Apparition requires the wizard to be certain beyond measure of their destination and of their source. One stray thought can lead to utter disaster."

"But if you could master it, wouldn't you be at a greater advantage than everyone else?" Harry asked, his mind eagerly racing with thoughts of using Apparition in battle.

Trow looked at him sternly. "Imagine, Harry, a common duel in Battle class. You're focused on a multitude of things. Where are my troops? What is the enemy's next move? What is the counter to this incoming jinx? What is my next attack? What are my opponent's weaknesses? Amidst all this consideration, you must concentrate on willing your whole body, no parts excluded, to a specific and memorized location. You must use multiple sensory items to tie your being to this location. The smell of the grass. The rush of air along your skin. The color palette of the sky. Miss just one part of any of this process, and you will splinch your body."

Harry had to give Trow a small smile. "So it's not impossible?"

"Feel free to try," Lupin added dryly.

Harry thought this was fun. Though it might not have been completely appropriate to wind up his professor, he felt a strange freedom. For once, he had Trow and Lupin on the back foot instead of the other way around. It was a shame Snape never attended these lessons. Harry had no doubt that the headmaster would be displeased with the recent turn of events.

"I encourage you not to Apparate in the midst of a duel, Harry, but I can not stop you," Trow said. "As I was saying - a Portkey can also be charmed to activate on touch. A Portkey charmed to activate on touch can also return to the original source. Keep this in mind if either of you are interested in artificing Portkeys."

Trow gestured to the dusty top hat. "This is such a Portkey. If you could link hands, please."

Harry slipped his right hand into Hermione's clammy palm. With his left hand, Harry grasped Trow's equally cold hand. He shivered at the feeling. It was as if he were holding two dead bodies. He squeezed Hermione's hand unintentionally, willing the appendage to warm up.

"Whatever happens, do not let go," Trow said.

As soon as Trow touched the top hat, Harry felt a pull on his navel. Hogwarts disappeared around them, the world transforming into a blue and black blur. He tried his hardest to keep his eyes open, but he could not. His body squeezed together like he was being fit into a small pipe. All the while, he never let go of Hermione or Trow. Finally, the pull-like sensation on his pelvis stopped and Harry shakily landed on a grassy knoll.

He took a deep breath, releasing their hands and hunching over. His stomach was rolling and he felt light-headed, but after a few seconds, he regained his composure. The sky was a murky gray, the sun nowhere in sight. A small town lay ahead of them, nothing more than a few houses and a small shopping area. The few houses in the town were large and ornate, built many decades ago. The air had an unpleasant stench. It smelled of dung and horses. Harry searched for the equestrian creatures, but found nothing.

Hermione was still bent over, a rattling cough shaking her lithe frame. Twice she dry-heaved, her eyes bulging with tears. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, straightening and taking deep breathes.

"Okay?" Harry asked.

"Peachy," Hermione replied.

Another rattling cough brought Harry's gaze over to the Strategy professor. Trow, hunched over and breathing deeply, seemed to share Hermione's vertigo. Harry declined to comment and watched quietly as Trow recollected himself. The silver-haired man's cheeks were blotchy and his lips discolored. But his eyes...they were determined and focused.

"This town is known as Little Hangleton," Trow said. "Do you see the large mansion in the distance?"

Trow pointed and Harry followed the line of his finger until it matched the aforementioned mansion. It might have once been a beautiful estate, but it currently resembled a derelict and foreclosed building. It stood on another hill overlooking the village and it was easily the largest house in Little Hangleton. Unfortunately, it's windows were boarded and ivy had long staked its claim on the house, spreading and covering almost every surface.

"I see it," Hermione answered.

"That is the Riddle House," Trow said.

"Riddle?" asked Hermione.

"Tom Riddle," Harry answered in a soft tone. "Why are we here, professor?"

Trow coughed and could not hide the mist of blood on the back of his hand. "This, my dear boy, is where Tom made his first Horcrux."

Harry's blood ran cold as he stared at the house. Until now, all of his lessons with Trow and Lupin held an ethereal quality. They were stories, verified through second-hand accounts, but Harry had never seen actual evidence of Tom Riddle and these Horcruxes. Now, this house - it was real.

"Tom Riddle? Horcruxes?" For once, Hermione did not have the answers.

Harry met Trow's gaze and for a brief moment, he understood that this place was more than just history. It was the present and Harry had brought another player into the game. Harry took a deep breath and quietly explained just the barest details of a Horcrux.

Hermione's eyes widened instantly at the implication.

Down the rabbit hole they went.

Tracey walked along the third floor corridor, lost in her thoughts. What was supposed to be an easy project had transformed into something decidedly difficult. Madame Pomfrey had given her students instruction to either brew a potion or master a specific set of healing spells by the end of the year. Tracey had opted for the potion and her selection was the Paralyzation Revitalizer. It was technically considered a seventh year potion, but Tracey had read the instructions and found no reason it couldn't be completed.

But she was now at an impasse.

A specific rune had to be cast about three-fourths of the way through the brew and Tracey had no idea where to start. Runes had yet to be touched upon during her time at Hogwarts Battle School and when she asked some older students about the subject, they relayed to her that Runes was only studied upon by those in the Magical Theory track.

Of course, Harry was nowhere to be found during the day. It was a common occurrence that rankled Tracey. She understood his need for secrecy, given the numerous people who wanted nothing more than to tear him down, but at what point would he trust her? Pride and vanity were for Gryffindors, but Tracey was convinced she had stood steadily by his side.

Blinded by her disconcertation, she ran smack into an opened door.

"Excuse me!" Tracey yelled, indiginitation rising within her.

As the door closed, Tracey immediately apologized. "Draco! I'm so sorry! I didn't really see where I was going."

Taking a step back to asses the blond boy, Tracey noticed their particular locale.

"Care to explain what you're doing in the girl's lavatory?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.

A half-smile crept onto Draco's face. "I knew I wouldn't be able to get away with it all year. You've caught me."

"Something dastardly, I assume?"

"Devious, indeed. So devious, in fact, that I can't let you in to see it," Draco responded, closing the door and whispering a locking spell she did not know.

Now, Tracey was surprised. "What's this all about?"

As he finished the incantation, Draco turned to her and shrugged. "I don't want you to see what I'm brewing for Medical just yet."

Realization dawned upon the Slytherin girl. Tracey had taken to brewing at odd hours of the night in one of the unused classrooms in the dungeons. At times, she found herself unsettled by the noises and sounds of midnight at Hogwarts. Twice, she could have sworn she heard something slithering within the walls, but it might have been a trick of the air. The dungeons were always rumored to be haunted by ghosts, poltergeists, and the dreaded Peeves.

It made sense that Draco would choose the girl's lavatory on the third floor. Neither she nor her roommates used that particular bathroom as it was home to the horrible Moaning Myrtle. Even the House-Elves of Hogwarts avoided the lavatory like a plague. Tracey had never seen Moaning Myrtle, but she had heard the moans of the girl that had died decades ago at Hogwarts. She had no wish to enter that particular lavatory.

"You won't even give me a hint of what you're brewing?" Tracey asked innocently, batting her eyelashes in an exaggerated manner.

"I daresay you'll find out by the end of the year," Draco answered with that same ghost of a smile on his face. "No more questions. I know you're going to try and trip me up. What are you doing walking this way?"

Tracey thought about making up an excuse. Truthfully, she was wandering the halls, hoping to spot Harry. She needed his help if she were to complete the Paralyzation Revitalizer, but he was still nowhere to be found. Draco looked at her expectantly and she realized that she had not answered for a few seconds.

"I'm looking for Harry," she finally admitted.

"All the way over here?"

"If you haven't noticed, he's a bit of a bother to find."

"I have noticed."

Tracey sighed. If Draco knew where Harry was, he would have told her already. His non answer was answer enough. Draco must have seen the defeat in her posture because he showed an uncustomary sign of affection. Laying a cold hand on her shoulder, Draco asked, "Everything okay?"

Thoughts of the night of the Yule Ball returned to her. His touch, while comforting, just did not elicit the same type of response she felt when Harry touched her. Draco's hands were too cold, his touch more perfunctory than emotional. It felt as if he were going through the motions, trying to show emotion rather than actually feeling it. The very thought sounded inane in Tracey's mind, but she could feel the difference. Guilt ran through her as she also remembered Draco's lips on her own. Try as she might, she just couldn't fancy Draco the way she did Harry. Still, she brought her hand to his own and squeezed it in what she hoped to be an amicable manner.

"I'll be okay," she answered, opting for discretion.

Draco, it seemed, did not want to let this particular thread loose. "Are you still thinking about Harry?"

"When am I not thinking about him?" Tracey blurted out before she could stop herself. A red tinge blushed her cheeks at the impulsive response.

Draco considered her for a moment and asked, "Have you ever thought about actually telling him how you feel?"

Her head snapped up, inquisition in her eyes. Was Draco really that perceptive?

"If I did, that would be the end of Harry and I as friends," she bitterly responded.

Draco shrugged. "Not necessarily."

"You don't know Harry like I do."

"I might not, but I do know a little about him. I know that he doesn't have a lot of friends. I know that he cares deeply for the few that he does have. I know that despite what you may think, he would not stop being friends with you unless you pushed him away."

"And how do you know all that?" Tracey challenged.

Draco shrugged noncommittally again. "It's better than just pining for him. Potter isn't going to wait forever, Tracey."

She almost raised her voice to rebuke him. How dare you echoed in her mind. Tracey caught herself, however, and realized Draco must have swallowed a lot of pride in order to confront her. After all, he was the one that had moved to kiss her during the night of the Yule Ball. The least she could do was not throw it in his face that she was in love with someone else.

"Why do you care, Draco?" she asked softly. "I thought - I thought you fancied me?"

"I do," he answered swiftly. "But I'm also your friend, right?"

"Yes," Tracey eagerly responded.

"Then I feel compelled to tell you this. Tell him how you feel."

"It's not that easy," she said.

"Maybe not. Would it help if you told him in another way? Perhaps you should write him a letter."

"A letter?"

"Sometimes, you find it easier to put your words on parchment rathern than verbalizing them. Trust me. I keep a diary or journal to sort my thoughts."

Tracey laughed. "You? Keep a journal?"

Draco smiled slightly, a shadow of mirth dancing across his eyes. "What can I say? I have a way with words."

"I don't think I'm that good of a writer though," said Tracey.

"I'll help you," Draco said. "Maybe if Harry reads how you really feel, he'll think of you in ways that are not so friendly."

Tracey blushed, but she was moved by Draco's words. "It's not like you to be so helpful. Are you just winding me up?"

"I honestly want nothing more than for Potter to know how you feel about him. It will...change the way he thinks. Trust me."

"Trust you?"

"I wouldn't lie to you, Tracey."

Tracey scoffed at the bold statement. She knew better than to believe Draco, but she couldn't help but feel grateful for his understanding. He could have just as easily been bitter with her unrequited feelings, but Draco instead chose the higher road. Perhaps his father's imprisonment had changed his personality completely. The Draco of the past would have never acted this compassionately.

"You're a charmer, Draco, but I don't believe you. Nevertheless, you might be right. Maybe I should wait until after the tournament though. He has so much to deal with right now," Tracey said.

"Why don't we just put quill to parchment and see where it takes us?" Draco offered his arm.

Tracey accepted his offering. It felt good to have some agency. With Harry, she sometimes felt like a bit part player. Whether he liked it or not, the world circled around him and never the other way around. Draco had a way of making her feel important and though Tracey didn't fancy him currently, she could see another girl trapped by his charMiss

As they walked away from the girl's lavatory, Tracey leaned against Draco's cold shoulder. He was always so cold, but a snake could shed it's skin. Maybe Draco had finally found peace with the role he played in Slytherin. He always preferred being leader. She looked up at his gray eyes and smiled. Draco reciprocated, but Tracey couldn't help but feel his smile never quite reached his eyes.

Tracey pushed away that unsettling feeling. Draco was here to help and Harry wasn't.

The flapping wind howled around them.

They stood atop a bluff, the entrance of the Room of Requirement vanishing behind them. A wicked gail carried voices away before they could reach the intended ears. Commander Malfoy had no such problem, his voice clearly ringing in their heads. The Slytherin Commander spoke with great confidence, his demeanor measured and assured.

"Split into three groups as discussed. You are sitting atop a cliff that winds down in three different paths. I want a group on each path," Commander Malfoy ordered from the Board room.

Malfoy had wisely kept Harry and Blaise in separate groups, but Harry intended to cross paths with Blaise regardless. Harry was sure that Malfoy would have words for him after class, but that was a punishment he could bear.

Goyle and Baldock were his partners. His escape would be infinitely easier with those particular Slytherins in his command. Malfoy had done him yet another favor. If he had been paired with Tracey, his disappearance in the middle of Battle class would be far more difficult and he had no doubt she would try to follow him.

Following Malfoy's orders, Harry lead his group down the path on the right. He held his wand in front of him, testing the air with a Detection charm lest their group be rushed by ambitious Gryffindors or jumpy Hufflepuffs. Though it was neither Hermione nor Susan's styles to rush into battle, preparation was also key to defeating surprise. This paranoia had helped Harry before and he had no intention of abandoning that thought process now.

Nonetheless, no one approached his trio as they continued down the winding path. Rocks and tumbleweed littered their walkway, but this particular arena was structured in such a way that made it difficult for him to see the path ahead. The mountain they traversed did not seem to adhere to normal rules. The pathways were too narrow and a clear view was always blocked by another turn or other obstacles.

Harry mused that Snape intended to test their quick thinking and reaction times. Without a long distance to view, decisions would have to be made by the millisecond. Yet, it seemed that Snape had given the Slytherins the advantage by giving them the high ground. As far as he knew, the Slytherins had started atop the mountain and only travelled down. Then again, the other Houses had the advantage of waiting for the Slytherins. Perhaps Snape had even pulled the same trick of teaming the Houses against them.

Somehow, Harry doubted Snape would test Draco the same way.

"Contact," Sadie said.

She pressed herself instinctively against the wall, but it was of little help. Their current pathway was no more than six feet wide and there were no natural obstacles for defense. A yellow badge on gray robes turned the corner and Harry did not hesitate. Whipping his wand like a lasso, Harry used a Blasting Curse to rip a chunk of stone from the mountain wall. He flung the granite into the air, distracting the Hufflepuffs for just a split second.

Sadie read his intentions well and produced a Protego shield that engulfed nearly the whole walkway. He rolled behind her, going right to left as a splash of Stunners smashed against her Protego. Goyle jumped and fired a Stinging Hex over the shield, hitting one of the Hufflepuffs. The other House responded with a Blinding Charm and succeeded. The Protego was an ill-equipped spell to block said charm, but Sadie did well enough to hold her shield steady.

Harry did not need his vision to finish them off.

The block of granite swung back like a boomerang. Harry finished of his Summoning Charm and pulled the chunk of stone directly into Ernie MacMillan and Hannah Abbott. Ernie in the ground with a sickening thud and blood pooled immediately around his head. As Harry bent to examine the Hufflepuff, the boy disappeared with a flash.

Portkey, Harry mused.

"Must have hit him pretty hard for them to take him out that quickly," Sadie commented as she stunned Hannah and Zach Smith once more.

Before Harry had a chance to respond, Malfoy gave them a new command.

"Keep moving forward. The other teams are engaging with different Houses already. They must have concentrated their forces on the other paths."

Harry now saw the difficulty of their task ahead. Without knowing the whole terrain of the mountain, his team would be forced to proceed onwards and then work their way up the other paths to reinforce the other Slytherins. The time constraint would no doubt be amplified by the close quarters nature of the narrow walkways. Harry, Sadie, and Goyle hustled forward and found no resistance. Still, it was taking too long.

The opportunity to split apart was too tempting not to take.

"I'm jumping ahead," Harry said to Sadie and Goyle. "Try to push through any enemies when you encounter them, but if you find yourself outnumbered, retreat. They're going to be cautious chasing you up the mountain. Hold off for as long as possible and I'll be back."

Harry moved to jump but remembered himself.

"Permission to proceed with the adjustment, Commander?" Harry asked aloud.

A moment of hesitation. "Proceed."

He jumped, the wind flowing through his hair.

The aimed Cushioning Charm was second nature at this point and he made no mistake as he landed. Spotting another landing worthy of a jump, he sprinted and soared through the air, arms windmilling his body forward. A surprised Anthony Otterburn of Hufflepuff flashed across his vision, but Harry descended too quickly to be caught.

Arriving at the bottom of the mountain, Harry predictably found three pathways leading up the mountain. He looked upwards, trying to trace the path he wanted to find. His eyes narrowed behind his glasses, carefully tracking the intended pathway. Though he was not totally sure, Harry was confident he knew which path to take.

Upwards he went, his wand in hand. While it might have been tempting to throw himself into the air as in previous battles, the winding mountain made it difficult to predict where he would land. Jumping across a horizontal surface or descending from a higher angle was far easier than trying to fly up a mountain. Using a Lightweight Charm on his trainers, he sprinted up the mountain. His lungs burned, but he was filled with a strange determination. It had been a long time since he had felt this strong sense of purpose.

Commander Malfoy must have been busy with other tasks as Harry did not hear his voice briefing him of dangers ahead or the status of the rest of his teammates. Harry had half a mind to ask for a status update, but thought better of it. If he was going to go through with what he wanted to do, then it was better Malfoy remained distracted.

Up and up he went, zigzagging up the mountain. He heard fighting ahead and kicked into an extra gear, eager to confront the traitor.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

The spell struck him in the back, freezing Harry mid-run. His elbows were bent in a forty-five degree angle, his right foot dangling in the air. In his right hand, his wand was clutched tightly, the knuckles white and straining against his skin. His moment frozen in time would have been picturesque had it not been for Blaise Zabini approaching him from behind.

"We saw you coming the whole way," Blaise said.

Justin emerged from around the corner, his wand pointed at Harry despite the Slytherin's frozen predicament. Harry eyed the tip of Justin's wand, willing his mind to remain blank. Harry hoped that Blaise would act predictably. He did not foresee this part of the plan.

True to Harry's prediction, Blaise opted to talk instead of act.

"This was your grand plan? Convince Justin to tell me something or the other and trap me with the Hufflepuffs? Is that how lowly you think of me?" Blaise growled. Harry detected an inflection of hurt in his voice.

Justin remained quiet, his wand pointed forward as he studied the two Slytherins. Harry kept his eyes on the Hufflepuff boy. It was the one body part he could move and he intended to use it as much as he could. His remained fixed on the Hufflepuff, looking at him with purpose, his eyes watering as he fought to keep them open.

"Why couldn't you just leave it alone?" Blaise continued. "Why do you always have to go over the top? It was supposed to you, me, and Tracey, but you just weren't happy with that! You had to be Commander Potter, lord and ruler of everything in the fucking Slytherin house. Just couldn't keep it simple."

Blaise had always found it difficult to mind his own business. Harry's once friend couldn't help but intervene whenever he saw opportunity. In some ways, they were similar. In other ways, they were not. For example, Harry would have ended this fight long ago. This was Blaise's greatest flaw. Away from the battlefield, he was an excellent asset; duplicitous and always finding ways to gather information. On the battlefield, he was simply a liability.

The battlefield was no place for introspection.

Win. Lose. Those were the options.

Blaise lost the second he opened his mouth and what followed was not Stupefy.

Harry blinked and Justin turned his wand.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Blaise's arm snapped to his side, his eyes bulging wide in surprise. Justin lifted the charm off Harry. Still in a running motion, Harry fought his momentum and came to a stop. He turned towards Justin and said, "You should have stunned him."

Justin appeared annoyed by the critique. "This is between you and him."

Harry made sure not to turn his back on Justin and had his wand in his right hand just in case the Hufflepuff thought it advantageous to turn coats twice. He met Blaise's brown eyes and tried to summon rage and anger. Yet, he could not. Instead, he felt pity. It was clear that this attempt was Blaise's best plan and it fell disastrously short. Did he really think Harry would use Justin to deliver a deceptive message? Blaise would have seen right through that.

Did Blaise not once think it suspicious that Justin would offer to strike back once more after what the Slytherin witnessed in the cave nearly a year ago? Did Blaise not realize the enormous debt that Justin still owed Harry? So many warning signs existed for Blaise, yet the boy simply ignored them all. That point was what directed Harry's emotions to pity. Blaise had been so single mindedly focus on stopping Harry that he could not see the forest from the trees.

Harry did not hesitate.

He stunned Blaise and turned his wand on Justin.

To the Hufflepuff's credit, Justin did not flinch when Harry's wand turned to him. Instead, the turncoat Hufflepuff lowered his wand, not even faking an attempt to duel. Harry did not lower his wand in response. Justin was definitely not Professor Trow, but Harry would not be fooled any more.

"Are we even?" Justin asked.

This time, Harry nodded in earnest. The debt had been repaid.

"Get on with it," Justin said resignedly, his eyes turning downwards in shame.

Instinct compelled him to strike, but his conscience held him back. It never occurred to Harry that Justin would feel shame in his actions, but then again, Harry had not been sorted into Hufflepuff. Loyalty was supposed to be their overriding trait and Justin had played turncoat and traitor for the better part of two years. For once, Harry felt that he owed Justin something as well.

"Go," Harry commanded.

"Excuse me?" Justin looked up in surprise.

"Go," Harry repeated. "Rejoin your team. When I beat you, you'll have put up a fight at least."

Justin regarded him carefully, trying to find the trap. When Harry lowered his wand, Justin could only raise his eyebrows in disbelief. The Hufflepuff knew better than to challenge Harry drawing wands, so he turned around instead. The symbolic movement was not lost on the Slytherin.

As Justin walked away and disappeared around the bend, Commander Malfoy came alive in his mind.

"Time to get back into the battle, Potter."

Harry jumped, almost forgetting Malfoy had been witness to that entire encounter. Instead of reproach for striking a fellow Slytherin, Malfoy had said nothing. Perhaps Snape had been right to give Malfoy command. The blonde seemed to understand what had transpired and let it flow organically instead of trying to intervene. It was a strange sort of honor that Malfoy had. Perhaps the Commander had felt guilty about the means of his promotion. Regardless, Harry thanked Malfoy aloud without going into detail.

"Baldock and Goyle need assistance. Make sure you win," Malfoy responded and then went silent.

Harry turned around, throwing himself off the cliffside to return to the bottom. Sadie and Goyle had followed his command and held ground, and Harry intended to reinforce them with vigor. As he flew through the air, Harry smiled with grim satisfaction. He had proven Snape wrong.

Winning was not everything.

"It is time."

"Now?"

"Yes. Everything has been prepared. Alert the others."

"I will. Have you decided what to do with the boy?"

"Yes. He will not die."

"Voldemort, I don't think -"

"No more Voldemort. When I return, the world will not fear me."

"Tom, I -"

"Never Tom."

"My Lord, you should not let him live."

"I thought that myself, but I have discovered something. The secret they are so desperate to hide."

"And?"

"You have served me well, Peter, but this knowledge will remain in my mind. When the others strike, make sure they cripple their forces. I do not expect one hundred percent success, but we need to destabilize them."

"Of course. We have been planning for years. I will not fail you."

"See to it that you do not. I may not be Lord Voldemort anymore, but I do not forget failure. My part of the plan, though exponentially more difficult, has been carefully laid out. Everything must happen at once."

"Yes, sir. What of the other children?"

"Most will die."

"And Snape?"

"To be killed. He was always my most ardent student. Never did I think he would have achieved something so monstrously difficult. End him."

"And the other?"

"I will see to him personally. I told him once that he feared me for he saw himself in me. Never did I think I would be so prophetic."

"How will you distract the Ministry? They have been more conspicuous with their spies. They sense we will strike."

"A girl."

"A girl?"

"Yes. It will be the girl who breaks him. The Ministry will have no choice but to respond."

"And when they do…"

"...the roving eye of the Ministry will look away for just one second. That is all the time I need."

Next update time: 9 days