The Daughter of the Snake

The Daughter of the Snake Pt. V

Harry ran up the stairs, after excusing himself from Professor Dumbledore.

'Why did Serephine just walk out?' he asked himself. 'What did she see?'

He found her sitting in the room he had first met her in, just sitting staring at a wall.

"Serephine, what did you see?" he asked, standing in front of her.

She didn't look up, but seemed to see right through him.

"You did it wrong. I saw your entire life. I saw your mum and dad, I saw Sirius, Remus and... Peter. I felt what you felt when Voldemort tried to kill you when you were a baby. I felt what you felt when Sirius died. I feel as though I know all of these people, but in reality I've only met like three of them."

"I know. I did it on purpose," admitted Harry. "I wanted you to know what Voldemort was really like. We need you on our side. We need everyone we can get."

"And here I thought I was special," said Serephine dryly. "So what's happening now?"

"What do you mean?" asked Harry, blinking.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Oh. I got Quidditch tickets for my birthday from the Weasley's and we were going to do that today."

"That's nice," said Serephine, smiling. "I hope you enjoy it. I also hope that it doesn't turn out like the Quidditch World Cup. Who's playing?"

"The Chudley Cannons and the Wimbourne Wasps," said Harry. "I've got to go now. Sorry."

"It's ok, I don't mind," said Serephine, waving him off. "See you later."

"Bye," said Harry, waving as he left the room.

Serephine sighed as she watched him leave.

'All alone and no computer,' she thought. 'So I guess it's just us, MP3 and pad.'

She stood up and took off her leather coat, slinging it over a chair. Then she grabbed her bag and MP3 player from the table and sat on a couch. She kicked off her shoes and put her feet up on the couch, lying down. Pulling her bag onto her lap, she rummaged through the clothes she'd brought and pulled out a set of earphones, her drawing pad and a pencil.

She tossed her bag on the floor, and then swapped the mini-speakers for the earphones. She selected 'Numb' by Linkin Park. Turning it up to full volume, she sang softly along with the song.

She sat her pad on her knees with her pencil hovering over it, wondering what to draw. In the end, she decided to draw Sirius in his Animagus form, watching Hogwarts.

She drew Sirius first, sitting in some grass. Then she started on the school. She drew Gryffindor Tower, then the Astronomy Tower, and then three more random towers. Adding in windows, she wondered whether to make it night or day. Thinking that she could put Professor Lupin in, she made it nighttime with a full moon hanging in the sky, with a few stars dotted about. She drew the window to the Defense against the Dark Arts window in, and added a tail sticking up, indication Lupin's wolfish presence. She put in several other windows, and some other people in those windows (Harry, Hermione, Ron and Professor McGonagall being a few of said people). To add the final touch she added shading and a couple of bricks to make it look more castle-like.

"Finito!" she said, looking at it. It wasn't half bad, she decided.

She dropped the pad and pencil on the floor, straightened out on the couch and tried to go to sleep.

At the match, it wasn't going too well for the Chudley Cannons. They were losing spectacularly; sixty-zero to the Wimbourne Wasps.

"Come on!" roared Ron, thumping the arm of his chair.

The Cannon's main Chaser flew towards the goal, Quaffle in arm, but failed to notice the Wasps Beater clobber a Bludger in his direction, and it hit him directly on the chest. The impact of the blow knocked the Quaffle from under his arm, but also threw him from his broom.

"The Cannon's main Chaser, Zack Kennedy, is knocked from his broom by the Wasps Beater, Aldo Bagman, the famous Ludo Bagman's son. Kennedy is taken off in a stretcher," yelled the commentator, Ratch Stewart. "Their last reserve Chaser, Otto Kahn, flies on."

A burly Asian man flew onto the pitch, and grabbed the Quaffle from a Wasps Chaser without giving things a chance to start. The Wasps Chaser was stunned for a moment then gave chase. He was, however, too late.

The Keeper, also startled by Kahn's nimbleness, was caught unawares. Kahn looked as though he was going to feint to the left, and then dived to the right and threw the Quaffle straight through the hoop.

The Cannons fans jumped up and roared their support.

"Bloody hell!" cried Ron, punching the air.

Hermione, dancing a queer little jig, didn't even tell him off.

Harry smiled, but was unable to be more enthusiastic as Ron, Hermione or the other Weasley's. He was thinking about Serephine Riddle, thinking it was too good to be true that Voldemort's own daughter had joined their side. It was a blow to him that he couldn't have expected. It was far too good to be true.

'Spy?' Harry asked himself. 'More than likely. Dumbledore should have used Legilimens on her.'

He sat, simmering in his thoughts, as he watched the game.

Kahn was a real surprise to the Wasps. He boosted the Cannons moral and managed to barrel through the Wasps defenses!

Soon it was forty-sixty and both Seekers ware hunting for the Snitch with ferocity, doing Wrongski Feints like they would never be able to do them again.

The Wasps Seeker, Philadelphia Hunter, feinted, trying to lure the Cannons Seeker, Anastasia Ralicht while she was flying as fast as possible in the other direction.

"Ralicht is in hot pursuit of the Snitch, while Hunter is feinting!" yelled Martin Spry, his eyes widening. "BLOODY HELL! THE CANNONS WIN! THE CANNONS WIN ONE-HUNDRED AND NINTY TO SIXTY!"

Every Cannons supporter was on their feet, jumping up and down! They roared and screamed and shouted while the Cannons players zoomed around the pitch, hugging each other.

"Bloody amazing! Looks like Kennedy's getting replaced, eh, Harry?" asked Ron, nudging him, grinning. Then he noticed his sullen face. "What's up, mate?"

"I think Serephine is a spy," he replied, frowning.

"That much is obvious. We'll have to keep an eye on her," said Hermione, composing herself.

Mr. Weasley overheard them. "If Dumbledore says she's ok, Harry, she'll be ok. Dumbledore is an excellent judge of character."

True though it was, this piece of information did not console Harry.

Mr. Weasley shot a reproachful look at Harry's disbelieving one, and stood up. "Come on, we need to get back to... well, just get back."

He led them out of the makeshift stadium and to where the Port Keys were.

"Hang on, people," said Mr. Weasley, holding up an old kettle. "One- two- three..."

The world around them started spinning madly; different colours whirled by, making the world seem like one giant, out-of-control merry-go-round.

They landed in a desolate grassy park, near Grimmauld Place.

"Come on, then," said Mr. Weasley, starting to walk towards the houses on the faraway side of the park.

Before long, they were back inside Grimmauld Place.

"That was some match, wasn't it, Harry?" asked Ron, grinning, as they started upstairs.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, brilliant," said Harry, with unconvincing enthusiasm.

"Did you not enjoy the game, Harry?" asked Ron, looking upset.

"No, it's not that I didn't enjoy it, it's just that I couldn't keep my mind off of..." he trailed off.

"Serephine," whispered Hermione, with understanding.

"She's a spy," said Harry, with certainty.

"I don't think she is, Harry," said Hermione, frowning. "Dumbledore would surely have used Legilimens on her."

"Maybe You-Know-Who trained her to be able to throw even Dumbledore off!" said Ron, in a fearful whisper, as they came to the room where they were before lunch.

When they opened the door, they did not expect to find Serephine sprawled out on the couch, snoring gently, with her music blaring from her headphones.

"How can she sleep through that?" asked Hermione, her eyebrows raised.

"Methods best known to someone else," said Harry, shaking his head. "Do you think we should wake her?"

"If we leave her sleeping it means she won't be able to spy on us," pointed out Ron.

"And what make you think she's a spy, Mr. Weasley?" asked Professor Dumbledore, standing behind them.

They turned round, surprised to see him there.

"Professor, we didn't hear you there," said Hermione, having the grace to blush.

"Amazing how talking to your friends can make you deaf," said Dumbledore, nodding his head. "I ask again, Mr. Weasley; what makes you think that Miss Riddle is a spy?"

"Uh... because she's the Dark Lord's daughter?" supplied Ron, rather indignantly.

"A poor reason," said Dumbledore. "I used Legilimens on Miss Riddle, to check whether she was telling the truth. She was."

And with that, he started back downstairs, with Harry, Ron and Hermione staring after him.

"I still don't think we can trust her," said Harry bluntly. He was feeling particularly rebellious towards the Headmaster.

"We'll have to keep an eye on her," agreed Hermione, nodding.

They sat d0wn on the chairs the furthest away from Serephine.

"What house do you think she'll get put in?" asked Hermione.

"Slytherin," said Harry and Ron simultaneously.

"It makes sense," agreed Hermione, nodding. "Since V- Voldemort is the heir of Slytherin."

"Hey, do you think there's any heirs of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw still around?" asked Ron.

"Probably around somewhere," said Hermione, nodding. "Why?"

"Well, its Gryffindor and Slytherin who were enemies, so why doesn't the heir of Gryffindor go and fight You-Know-Who?" said Ron.

"V-Voldemort isn't the heir of Slytherin anymore, Ron," said Hermione, shaking her head. "He is still part of that bloodline, but Serephine's the heir now because she's the youngest."

"Still, the heir of Gryffindor should go and kick You-Know-Who's arse instead of Harry having to do it all the time," said Ron, glaring at Hermione for squashing his idea.

"Well, what if Harry is the heir? Have you even thought about that?" asked Hermione, looking from Harry to Ron. "Think about it, his parent's lived in Godric's Hollow, he pulled the sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat and Voldemort... Voldemort is out to get him," pointed out Hermione, looking slightly frightened.

"That's all pretty good, Hermione, but how are we meant to prove whether Harry is or not?" asked Ron, scratching the back of his head.

"Someone somewhere must have a list of all the magical families in Britain," said Hermione.

"I know where you can see one," drawled a voice from the door.

"And I doubt that you'd be so kind as to tell us where it is, Malfoy," said Hermione, scathingly, "After all, such a thing as kindness is beneath you."

"Malfoy Manner, Potter. You can find out if you're the heir of Gryffindork and possibly capture my father," said Draco, his face stony. "I can get you in and out safely."

"Don't, Harry," said Hermione. "It'll be a trap."

"I give my word, on magic oath, that I will see you safely in and out of Malfoy Manner," said Draco, rolling his eyes at Hermione.

"If Harry does this now, and gets hurt on his way in or out of there, Malfoy will lose all of his magic," said Ron, grinning. "Trip up, will you, Harry,"

"Don't bloody bother, Potter, or I'll have your guts for garters," snarled Draco, while glaring at Ron.

"If you haven't noticed, Malfoy," said Harry, gritting his teeth, "I haven't agreed to anything."

"Do you or do you not?" asked Draco, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, I do," said Harry.

Draco held out his hand, and Harry, to Ron and Hermione's surprise, stood up and took it.

"When will we do this?" asked Harry, letting go.

"Tonight, after everyone has gone to sleep. It will make sneaking out easier," said Draco.

"Malfoy, I have an invisibility cloak," said Harry, yawning. "But we should still do it at night, because we'll be missed during the day."

"You will, but I won't," sneered Draco.

"Don't be daft, Malfoy, we're in a house full of Aurors," snapped Hermione, rolling her eyes, while Ron snarled, "What's wrong, Malfoy? Miss the fact that you're finally somewhere where you won't be missed?"

Draco opened his mouth to retort, but Serephine chose that time to sit up and say "Most untrue," in true Dumbledore fashion.

"Fine, you would miss him, but you don't know what he's like," grated out Ron, turning to glare at her.

Serephine raised an eyebrow, took out her earphones, and said, "Oh, but I do. Didn't Harry tell you? I know everything that he's done to you, and, to be blunt, he was an asshole. I suppose none of you've ever heard the phrase 'I will not condemn you for what you did yesterday if you do it right today,'?"

"Malfoy has had a lot of yesterdays and there is only one today," pointed out Hermione.

"Yeah, but if you're counting all of his yesterdays you must also count all of his today's," said Serephine. "And he is already trying to help you, by helping you figure out Harry's heritage. Besides, Harry, you said to me that you needed lots of ally's. Here's an ally."

"You know what? Fine. I'll be civilized to him, and he can be our ally. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be his friend. Or yours, for that matter," said Harry, his jaw set.

Draco nodded, folding his arms. "Meet here at twelve o'clock."

When Harry nodded, Draco turned and left the room.

"I don't think that was a good idea, Harry," whispered Hermione, so Serephine couldn't hear.

"Harry has Malfoy on Magic Oath, 'Mione," whispered back Ron, shaking his head. "Even Malfoy isn't that daft."

"Well, what if V-Voldemort has him under the Imperius curse and he doesn't care if Malfoy loses his magic," snapped Hermione, not bothering to whisper. "Then Voldemort will have Harry and we won't be able to do anything about it!"

"Drake's not under the Imperius curse," said Serephine, back to lying out on the couch. "I'm sure he's not anyway."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sneered, "What makes you so sure?"

"I'd feel it. Like I felt it when you hated me, like I feel it now how you despise me," said Serephine, shrugging. "It's a rather odd feeling, you know."

They stared open mouthed at her disregard for the feelings she was having.

"Yes, I am aware that I am insane," she said, waving at their looks of disbelief. "Not suffering from it though. Enjoying every second of it."

"You are mad," said Ron, his eyes wide.

"I thought we just covered that," said Serephine, smirking as she raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, if you use a Dillusionment charm as well as the invisibility cloak, you'd be fine. Unless he has an eye like Moody."

"I'd forgotten about him," said Harry, frowning. "We can't use the charm anyway, we're not of age."

"Which is where the twins come in," said Serephine. "They've left school."

There were two loud cracks and the twins appeared in the room.

"Did someone call us?" asked Fred, grinning.

"How did you know we were talking about you?" asked Hermione, turning to look at them.

"Testing a new brand of Extendable Ears," said George grinning. "So, young Harry, sneaking off to Malfoy Manner to find out if you're the heir of Gryffindor. We're so proud," he paused to give Harry a look of mock admiration. "So we shall give you our services and will place upon you the Dillusionment Charm,"

"Cheers," said Harry, grinning. "Here, twelve o'clock, tonight."

"But of course," said Fred. "Toodles pip."

They both disapprated with loud cracks.

"I still don't think you should do it," said Hermione, pursing her lips, looking not unlike Professor McGonagall.

"I've already said I would, Hermione," said Harry, sighing. "I'm not backing out now. Besides, you were the one who were going on about me being the heir of Gryffindor."

Hermione went to say something, but stopped.

"Fine, but if you're going there we're going to find all the protection charms we can,"

She got up and left room.

"I betcha a galleon she back in here with a book that weighs more than me," betted Serephine, grinning.

In no less that two minutes later, Hermione came in carrying a book that could kill a two year old child, had it been dropped on them. Fortunately for two years everywhere, Hermione dropped it on Serephine's legs.

Serephine howled in agony, "Mother fucking child-killing bloody book!" she screamed, jumping up, causing the book to crash to the floor.

"Watch that book!" said Hermione, picking it up and sitting it back down on the couch.

"Why, is it going to read itself?" snarled Serephine, rubbing her knees.

Hermione said nothing, and opened the book to where her bookmark was.

"I've been looking up these types of charms since we got back from Hogwarts, but most of them are ones which work over time, and only apply to a certain place," said Hermione, flicking through the book. "However, I have found one or two which might be useful tonight."

She motioned Harry and Ron closer. "This particular one here will make all evil, in our case; Voldemort and his Death Eaters, unable to see you. There a disadvantage though. You won't be able to see them either."

Harry nodded, "What's the other one?"

Hermione flicked a couple of pages for a moment then stopped, "This one," she said, pointing to it. "is pretty similar to the other. It will identify all of those who have evil intent towards you, and make them blind to your presence."

"I think the second one would be better," said Harry. "Is that them all?"

"That's the only ones I've found in this book over the summer, but we might find more before the night's out," said Hermione, hefting the massive book up into her arms, then sitting down with it on her knees.

"When you said 'we' were going to research protection spells all day, you really meant you, didn't you," said Ron, trying to suppress a grin.

Hermione didn't bother to answer him, but glared at him instead.

"Exploding snap or chess?" asked Ron, grinning at Harry.

Dinner that night was in Harry's honor, so it was a feast that could have almost matched Hogwarts in variety. No one knew what to take first, so they just took some of everything!

"After dinner you'll get all your presents," said Remus, as they sat down to dinner.

Harry smiled at him as the plates of food came floating in.

"Choices, choices," said Serephine, looking at the food. "Core overload, meltdown imminent."

"What are you on about?" asked Draco, staring at her.

"Muggle thing," said Serephine, waving his stare off. "You know how Muggles rely heavily on machines. In some movies, and I'm not even going into that, there are spaceships and their core, the thing that keeps them going, overloads and goes into meltdown. I said it as a joke because there are too many choices and I was going into overload and eventually meltdown," explained Serephine, to a baffled looking Draco.

"I'm just going to nod and pretend I understood that," said Draco, shaking his head.

"You should take Muggle Studies," said Serephine.

"How do you know all these things now?" asked Draco, watching her pile a mountain of food onto her plate. "I mean, this morning you were completely clueless about the Wizarding World, but now you know about things all wizards know about."

"Remember Luce was going to do that spell which would have transferred all of your knowledge into my head?" asked Serephine. When Draco nodded in affirmation, she continued, "Well the Big Yin brought over his pensive from Hogwarts and asked Harry to put all of his school memories in it. So he did, then the Big Yin gives me my wand and makes a copy of Harry's memories and tells me to put them into my head. Ergo how I know all about the Wiz World."

"I thought I was going to give you my memories," said Draco, looking put out.

"I guess the Big Yin thought that Harry's would be more useful as he's faced off Voldemort so many times," said Serephine, shrugging.

"What is with you calling Professor Dumbledore 'the Big Yin' anyway?" asked Draco, giving her a strange look.

"A comedian called Billy Connelly did his version of the Crucifixion and in it Jesus was called 'the Big Yin'. Dumbledore may not be Jesus, but I think the Big Yin suits him."

"It does," agreed Draco, "because that what he is."

"'An' in he comes, the Big Yin, "Hallo there boys!" Wi' the long dress an' the casual sandals, an' the aura. Aw 'roon. He comes up and says, "Hallo there, lads, an' how are you's gettin' on an' that, noh?'" quoted Serephine, in her best Billy Connelly accent.

Draco, and others around him, stared at her.

"I was quoting a Muggle comedian," explained Serephine, uncomfortable with their stares, "in explanation to Draco when he asked why I called Dumbledore 'the Big Yin',"

"I was actually staring at you because you pulled of the Scottish accent perfectly," said Draco, shrugging.

"That might be because I'm Scottish," said Serephine, raising an eyebrow. "Funny thing that!"

"But... you sound English..." said Ron, looking confused.

"My mum, well, my adoptive mum, always said that no one could understand me when I talked normally and told me to talk 'properly'. But I couldn't do it and just ended up copying an English accent," explained Serephine.

"You can talk the way you want to now," pointed out Draco.

"'Spose," said Serephine, shrugging. "Don' blame me if yeh canny understand meh,"

"If I can understand Hagrid, I'm pretty confident that I can understand you," said Draco, smirking.

"Has everyone finished?" called out Mrs. Weasley. There were murmurs of agreement and Mrs. Weasley waved her wand and all the plates shot up into the air and floated into the kitchen with Mrs. Weasley following them.

Soon she repapered, with a massive, layered, chocolate cake with sixteen candles blazing away on it, floating in front of her. She made her way round to Harry while everyone started singing 'Happy Birthday', and set the cake down in front of him.

"Make a wish, Harry," she urged him.

Harry closed his eyes, smiling, and blew out all sixteen candles with one breath.

And, even though Harry had stopped blowing the candles, a breeze blew throughout the room, ruffling robes and hair alike, and someone whispered, unheard by everyone but Harry, 'So shall your wish be granted,'.

Harry glanced around the room, blinking, not sure what to make of the voice on the wind.

"Hip, hip, hooray!" called Ron, grinning at Harry.

They said it three times, and Harry blushing, took the presents that Mr. Weasley handed him.

"Get tore in, mate," said Ron, grinning at Harry's shyness.

Harry returned the grin, and picked up the nearest present, which was a box of sorts, and read the tag.

'Harry,

May the fire this brings you, give you clarity and hope.

Albus Dumbledore.'

His eyebrows raised, he took the brown paper off and opened the box. Inside was straw covering a bright red egg. Eyes wide, he gently brushed away the straw over the egg.

"It's... a Phoenix egg," said Harry, lifting it out of the box. "From Professor Dumbledore,"

"Bloody hell!" said Ron, his eyebrows all but disappearing into his flaming red hair. "You lucky git!"

Suddenly a crack formed in the middle of the egg, and a faint tapping noise could be heard.

"It's hatching," whispered Hermione, in awe.

Soon, the egg had cracked open and a tiny, slime coated baby Phoenix sat in Harry's hands, looking around the room.

"Freakin' awwd," said Serephine, grinning at the miniscule Phoenix. "Wha' yeh gonna call it?"

"I don't know," said Harry, trying to overcome the fact that he had just received a Phoenix from the man whose office he had tore apart at the end of last year.

"Wha' aboot Lumen?" asked Serephine, looking at Harry. "It's Latin fir 'light'."

"What do you think about Lumen?" Harry asked the tiny Phoenix.

It made a faint, high pitched noise, which Harry took for a yes.

"Lumen it is then," he said, smiling at the Phoenix. "Thanks, Serephine,"

"No biggie," said Serephine, waving him off. "Open the rest of yer presents."

Harry nodded, and sat the Phoenix down in the straw laden box again, and got to the rest of his presents.

From Ron he got a real Golden Snitch (he suspected Ron got the idea from Sirius somehow). From Hermione he got a chain with a sun on it.

"I bought it in a shop in Diagon Alley," she explained when she saw Harry's confusion. "It's specifically charmed to warn the wearer when danger is near. I thought it'd be pretty useful this year."

Harry thanked her, and moved onto the next present. It was from Hagrid, a book on how to care for Phoenix's.

'They had that one planned,' thought Harry, grinning as he shook his head.

The next present was a long box, wrapped in an explosive orange, from the Weasley Twins. It turned out to be samples of all of their new products and included a couple of their old ones. From Remus he got a small tattered leather book entitled 'The Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers proudly present How we did it; Animagus Style!'. Harry beamed at Remus when he opened this, unable to say anything. He had another link to his parents. He also got an assortment of chocolates and sweets from Mrs. Weasley.

Finally under all of the other presents there was a small envelope.

Frowning, Harry reached over and picked it up.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I bring you congratulations on becoming sixteen. As you are now sixteen, you are considered of sound mind and able to take care of yourself, I am now allowed to give you the key to your parent's family vault.

Yours sincerely,

Malinda Hopgood

Harry tipped the envelope upside down, and a small golden key fell out.

"Did you know that my parents had a vault that I didn't know about?" Harry asked Remus.

"No, I thought it was all in the vault you already have," said Remus. "But it makes sense, because the vault you have is only money. The one you have just received is probably heirlooms and such."

"When are we going to Diagon Alley?" asked Harry, to no one in particular.

"We had planned to go next week, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. "But if you want to go sooner, I'm sure we can arrange it."

"Could we, please?" asked Harry, turning hopeful eyes to Mrs. Weasley.

"Of course we can, dear," said Mrs. Weasley, smiling.

"Right, now that's sorted-" began George.

"-now we can-" continued Fred.

"-eat cake!" they finished simultaneously.

"You two, honestly!" said Mrs. Weasley, sounding scandalized. "Harry gets to cut it, and Harry gets the first piece,"

"That, my dear mother, is the point," said Fred. "The faster Harry cuts it and gets his piece, the sooner we get a bit!"

Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes and handed Harry a rather sinister looking knife.

Harry sliced the cake into small slices, and put them onto plates.

"You get first pick," said Mrs. Weasley, indicating to the many slices.

Harry selected a small slice and started eating it, watching as the others all grabbed a slice.

"There are slices for you, you know," he said to Draco and Serephine.

"Birthday cakes are meant to be shared with friends," said Draco, looking at Harry. "We may be your allies, Potter, but we will never be friends."

Harry shrugged and looked at Serephine. "Chocolate makes me sick," she said, by way of explanation.

"My uttermost sympathies," said Draco, patting her hand. "I, personally, couldn't live without chocolate."

"And I, personally, can't live without McDonalds, but I'm going to have to," said Serephine. "Unless they can make McD's hamburgers at Hogwarts,"

"If I knew what 'McD's' hamburgers were, I'd tell you," said Draco. "But as I don't you'd probably be better asking Granger."

"Hermione?" asked Serephine. "Oh, no. I don't think she likes me much."

"Probably because she thinks you're a spy and going to try and murder Potter in his sleep."

"Probably," agreed Serephine, while thinking, 'No-one else can kill Harry but Voldemort.'

The rest of night was spent eating, laughing and generally having a good time.

At half ten, Mrs. Weasley told them to go to bed if they were planning on going to Diagon Alley in the morning.

They went upstairs, drowsy from all the food and drink they had consumed and stumbled off to their respective rooms.

"An' we're staying where?" Serephine asked Draco.

"How about the room we were earlier," suggested Draco, yawning.

"I tags the couch!" said Serephine, racing off to the room.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Like I care," he said to her once he got there, "I'm having a midnight jaunt with Potter, if you haven't forgot,"

"Oh, bugger off," said Serephine, rolling her eyes at him. "Can I ask yeh somethin'?"

"You just did," pointed out Draco, smirking.

"Ha, bloody, ha," said Serephine, rolling her eyes. "Las' year, after Luce got put in Azkaban, you said to Harry, 'You're dead, Potter'. Yeh hated him for putting your father in Azkaban, but now yeh want for Harry to capture him again. Unless this was planned and Harry is walking into a trap tonight, you are acting very oot a character. I mean, wha' happened fir yeh tae change yer mind, if yeh really have?"

"When my father broke out of Azkaban," began Draco, tiredly, "he took me to be initiated into the ranks of the Death-Eaters, as I was sixteen at the start of June. For proof of my loyalty to the Dark Lord, I was told to kill a Muggle and her child. I did, and received the Mark. I am a Death-Eater, Serephine. I killed that Muggle and her five-year old child!" By this time Draco was looking depressed and had sank down to the floor. "I'm a murderer, Serephine. I could kill you right now. But... but... I don't want to. I never wanted to be a Death-Eater... and I don't want to be my father."

"We have tae see Professor Dumbledore or Professor Snape right noo," said Serephine, trying to lift Draco up.

"What so you can tattle on me?" sneered Draco, his eyes flashing.

"No, 'cause they can help yeh fight against Voldemort, help yeh get away fae him," said Serephine, still trying, in vain, to lift him up.

"Why Professor Snape?" asked Draco, finally getting up. "He is a Death-Eater."

Serephine stood beside him, looking up at him with her eyes squinted. "Swear to me, under Magical Oath, that yeh do not want tae be a Death-Eater,"

"Oh, bloody hell," said Draco, shaking him head. "I swear, under Magical Oath, that I do not want to be a Death-Eater, or any other relation to V-Voldemort,"

"Good," said Serephine. "'Cause Professor Snape is a spy fir the Big Yin,"

"That actually clears things up a little," said Draco, nodding. "Come on then,"

They exited the room, and made their way back downstairs to the dining room.

Entering, they discovered, to their embarrassment, that there was a meeting going on.

"Um... oops?" said Serephine, grinning guiltily.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Riddle, what can I do for you?" asked Dumbledore, peering at them over his half-moon glasses.

"We wanted tae speak tae yeh and Professor Snape, sir," said Serephine.

"Very well, would you kindly wait outside and I will be with you shortly," said Dumbledore, motioning for them to go outside.

They waited for ten minutes, before Order members came pouring out, and Professor Snape told them that he and Professor Dumbledore would see them.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Riddle, how can I help you?" enquired Dumbledore politely.

When Draco made no move to speak, Serephine started, "Earlier, sir, I asked Draco why he suddenly switched sides, why he didn't annoy Harry an' 'at, an' he told me somethin I think he should tell yeh too,"

She indicated for Draco start talking.

He told Professor Dumbledore what he had told Serephine, and lifted up his left sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark.

Neither Professor Dumbledore nor Professor Snape looked surprised that Draco had taken the Mark.

"And you don't want to be a Death-Eater?" asked Dumbledore, looking Draco straight in the eye.

"No, sir, I don't," said Draco, slowly.

"Very well, then," said Dumbledore, straightening. "Were you older, I would ask you to become a spy for me. However, as your not..."

"Wouldn't it make more sense for me to become a spy then?" asked Draco, shrugging. "I mean, as I'm so young, no one would suspect me to be a spy. Plus the fact that I'm... a Malfoy,"

"I would, but I would not ask you to put yourself in such danger," said Dumbledore, sighing.

"But you're not, and I'm offering my services as a spy," said Draco.

"Very well, Mr. Malfoy," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling very slightly. "But if you insist in becoming a spy, I insist that you begin to take Occlumency along with Mr. Potter with me,"

Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes and said, "Alright then,"

"Very good," said Dumbledore, smiling. "Now, off to bed you trot!"

As they walked upstairs, Serephine muttered, "Off tae couch yeh trot, yeh mean,"

"Hey, at least you get a couch! I get a chair!" said Draco, indignantly.

"Wha' happened tae the midnight jaunt wi' Harry?" smirked Serephine, as they reached the room.

"I meant when I came back, you imbecile!" said Draco, getting annoyed with Serephine's constantly upbeat attitude.

Serephine shrugged and sat down on the chair, instead of the couch.

"Why are you sitting there?" snapped Draco, glaring at her.

"Ah thought it would be obvious to somebody who wisney an imbecile," said Serephine, calmly. "Am sittin on the chair so yeh can sit on the couch,"

"But... why?" asked Draco, unsure how to respond to the act of kindness.

"'Cause it bothered yeh that yeh would have tae sit on a chair aw night, so ah decided that, since ah can sleep practically anywhere, yeh could have the couch," explained Serephine, shrugging.

"You confuse me," said Draco, sitting down on the couch.

"Ah try," said Serephine, grinning. "Yeh can go tae sleep fir a while, if yeh like, an' ah'll wake yeh up when Harry comes," she offered.

Draco thought about declining, then decided against it. "Thanks," he said, producing a rare smile.

"Nae bother," said Serephine, watching him settle down on the couch.

Curtains close!