Age of Innocence

~~~~Age OfInnocence~~~~

~~~~Chapter Eight: Hit The Road Jack....~~~~

~~Hotel Wales, New York City, New York, USA - Dec 31st, 1924~~

Draco was miserable, and that wasn't saying enough. It was New Year's Eve, and really he should have been happy, but this week had already started out with a bang - literally. Which was the whole reason Draco was now stuck at the Hotel Wales in mid-town New York City pacing the hotel room rather than in his own room back at Malfoy Manor.

It had all started the week before when someone had planted a bomb in the motorcar of Antonio Avery killing him, his wife and their son instantly. The whole thing reeked of oddities, considering Antonio rarely used his motorcar, preferring to Apparatewhenever possible. Something however had made him and his family use the car on that particular day, and that had been the end of that. That alone wouldn't have brought Lucius to New York though, and now Draco had to wonder what else had bothered his father enough to basically pack up and leave just like that.

It had taken five days to go from Liverpool to the port of Ellis Island in what was now being called 'the Big Apple' or New York City. Draco was surprised that his father had chosen to go by Muggle means rather than just use the International Floo Network, but Lucius vehemently refused to do that for some reason. Not that Draco had really minded,the trip had actually been quite nice aboard the recently refitted R.M.S. Mauretania, the fastest luxury liner in the world to date. Most passengers had stayed indoors during the trip being it was wintertime, and Draco had enjoyed an early morning stroll on the first class deck alone, often ending up at the writing room afterwards to read. His mother had not faired the trip well though, getting seasick only a day out and confined herself to the luxurious cabin. His father however though a bit green, maintained himself and they both had dined with the captain at suppertime, a privilege reserved for the wealthy upper-crust or in this case Draco though, very rich crime kings.

Draco wasn't sure, but it appeared as if Lucius was actually worried, enough where his father wanted to stay in high profile and prove to whomever that he wasn't going to be intimated by what was happening. Whatever it was though Lucius wasn't even confiding in his son at the moment, in fact far as Draco saw it his mother really didn't know the reason why they were now in New York City. Draco had observed his father aboard the ship, and he was a bit concerned actually at how nervous Lucius seemed. Most people wouldn't be able to detect that from Lucius Malfoy, he was always a cool cucumber on the outside, but Draco who had grown up his whole life round the man and studied him, knew Lucius was scared.

Draco didn't really think it was Antonio's death either that was worrying his father, but something else on top of that is what caused him to flee London. Whatever it was certainly was big though, or Draco wouldn't be here in the Hotel Wales scowling in boredom and frustration. It had been a little over a day since they stepped off the boat, and Lucius had disappeared first thing that morning, leaving Dracoand his mum behind with orders not to leave unless accompanied by someone.

Draco didn't know what to think of that comment since neither Crabbe nor Goyle, Lucius's bodyguards had stayed behind, theyhad gone with Lucius to wherever it was he went this morning. It had been two hours since Lucius had left, and though his mum had found things to occupy herselfin her room, Draco was sitting in his own pacing and muttering every oath he could think of. For the first time in his seventeen years of life Draco was well and truly at a loss.

He'd brought some books for the trip but had finished the first one, Oliver Twist, whilst on board ship. The other two books he hadn't even unpacked yet, those being A Study In Scarlet and The Sign Of Four. He had the most recent and updated collection of all the Sherlock Homes books in print now and he loved them. It had been well worth the £100 he'd spent for the volumes too, though at the moment he really couldn't give a care about them. He was bored, bored, bored, and all he wanted to do was leave. If not New York itself, at least the hotel room. Despite that he had a suite of his own that was quite roomy, right now he felt suffocated and even a bit claustrophobic.

He knew it was just a short trip to the Museum Of Natural History from the hotel, and that's really where he wanted to go. Not that he could exactly tell his father or mum this though, they didn't quite approve of Draco going to such 'Mugglefied' places as that, but at the moment he really didn't give a damn. He wanted to go, and sitting down now on his bed he began to think of ways he could 'escape' his mum for a bit and head there. He had heard his father say earlier that he might not be back till very late in the evening, maybe even six or seven o'clock if that. Right now with it only being 10 AM in the morning, that gave Dracoample time to explore.

The only draw back to that was the thug outside stationed inbetween both his and his mum's doors. Draco had never seen this guy before but he looked like a bimbo, and twice as tough as even Crabbe or Goyle. In a small way he reminded Draco of Sirius Black, though in actuality he thought Black could probably do a job on this bloke easily. The bloke outside the door was only round 5'11 and lanky, though the two guns proudly on display in their holsters proved to Draco he was more than a match and dead on shot, not a man to be messed with. Wizards could fight off a lot of things, but bullets wasn't exactly covered in his education at Hogwarts.

Half hour later he was sitting on his bed still wondering how on earth he was going to sneak out without being spotted by the thug outside when a knock came on his door. 'Yes?' he called out in surprise, wondering who on earth it could be.

'Draco darling? Are you available?' a woman's voice called out.

Draco grumbled and got up from the bed and went over to the door to open it. He walked slightly into the foyer and confronted his mother. 'Yes, mother, of course I'm available. What else could I possibly be doing in this benighted shite-hole but sitting here being available,' he scowled deeply.

'You always talk to your mum that way kid? If I was her I'd have washed out your mouth with soap years ago,' a gruff voice said from behind him, causing Draco to twirl round and face the man who'd spoken.

His eyes grew round as he looked right into a pair of black eyes, eyes that were twinkling in some odd form of amusement. 'You! What are you doing here?' he said shocked.

'I'd rather not talk in the hallway if you don't mind kid,' the man said hastily. With a slight nod at Narcissa, he walked into Draco'sroom and sat down in one of the plush chairs within waiting on Draco.

Draco looked at his mother for a moment who smiled at him and nodded as well, motioning for him to go inside. 'Go on my little dragon,' she said softly and began to walk away, giving the thug in the hallway a glare. She then went back into her own room shutting the door behind her leaving Draco to wonder what was going on.

'You coming kid or I gotta drag you in here? Oh and make sure to shut the door behind you too,' the man said from the room.

Draco was too stunned still to even scowl at being order round like this, however he did do as the man asked and walked back into his room, shutting the door firmly behind him. He gave the man in the black clothes a strange look before going back over and sitting down on the bed, a dozen thoughts running through his mind at what was going on.

The man looked over Draco for a moment wearily then took out a pack of fags and lit up, offering one to Draco who took it hesitantly. 'It's a normal damned fag kid, I didn't poison it you know,' the man said with a sniff and threw Draco his lighter.

Draco lit the fag and inhaled deeply, figuring if the man was going to poison him it would at least save him the frustration of being shut up in the hotel room. The taste of normal British tobacco however was enough to satisfy him that it wasn't poisoned, and he tossed the lighter back at the man, taking in another drag. 'All right, so tell me...to what do I owe this pleasure, Black?' he scowled, regaining his usual off-handed demeanour.

Sirius muttered under his breath, rolling his fag between his fingers a moment, then gave Draco a dark gaze. With a glance at the door he got out of the chair and walked over sitting down next to Draco on the bed, leaning in to say in a hushed voice, 'I don't have much time to talk so listen up. I came here as your protection, and Godric knows right now you need it kid. You have any clue why your dad rushed you out of London so fast? Hmm?'

Draco stared at Sirius in surprise now, wondering what he could mean. Shaking his head slowly he said back in a low voice, 'Not a fucking clue. Father didn't barely say a word, only told mother and I to pack and then next thing we knew we were on the ship coming here. How did you get here anyway?'

'By ship, same as you, only we left a day later. You're father owled me secretly, that's how worried he was to even use Owl Post to the Muggle world kid,' Sirius said.

'What? Why? He never risks doing that so what's going on?' Draco said.

'It's like this kid. Avery's death wasn't the only thing that got Lucius scared see. There's a new faction out there, a very secret faction that's out to eliminate Lucius and his little 'gang'. Especially you kid,' Sirius said quietly.

'Me?' Draco squeaked then scowled. 'Shite, I sound like a fucking parrot. Of course they'd want to eliminate me, bumping me off would be a coup de grace for anyone to try and hurt my father,' Draco said bitterly. 'So, what does this group really want? Just to bump off everyone?'

Sirius shook his head and took another drag, blowing a few smoke rings into the air lazily. 'Nah, they want a fucking lot more than that kid. They want all of you out of the way, they're peace lovers, they want to end the reigns of crime and distance the two worlds back to what they should be,' Sirius said.

'Peace lovers?' Draco said with an incredulous laugh. 'Blowing up a fucking motorcar I'd hardly call peaceful, Black!' he sneered.

Sirius snorted and took another lazy drag. 'You're not paying attention kid. I said they are peace lovers, not peaceful. They'll do whatever it takes to bring your father and everyone associated with down. That means you too, Draco, especially you. With you out of the way your father's vulnerable and they bloody well know that. Take down the apple of daddy's eye, and the father crumbles they think,' Sirius shrugged.

Draco was the one to snort now and shake his head. 'They don't know my father very well then do they. My father's a bastard of a git, and I seriously doubt with me out of the picture he'd crumble to anything. He's too fucking caught up in the world he's built to let even his own son's death phase him,' he said bitterly. 'Besides, he's got protection of his own, and I don't mean those gits Crabbe and Goyle.'

Sirius gave Draco an odd look at that. 'Maybe, maybe not who's to say. Right now though your father's worried enough to enlist the help of a couple big time cheeses here in New York to help his cause. Not to mention London wasn't exactly safe at the moment for him after what happened to Avery,' Sirius said practically spitting at Avery's name.

'You didn't like Avery much did you. And who's my father seeing anyway?' Dracoasked.

'He's in talks with two men named Bugs Moran and Hymie Weiss that's all I know. Nothing but trouble though can come of it if you ask me. They're both daft from what I hear,' Sirius said with a sniff. 'As for Avery, I ain't even going to dignify that kid. I hated him at Hogwarts much as I hate all of your father's associates,' he grumbled.

'Even Lupin, Pettigrew and Severus? Oh, and we can't forget to mention you happen to work for my father now, can we,' Draco said raising an eyebrow at him mockingly.

'Don't get cheeky with me kid, you know what I bloody well mean,' Sirius scowled. 'Trust me, I had better things I'd rather have been doing than being holed up in this godforsaken city on New Year's Eve. I always hated New York, always will,' he muttered.

'Well that's a relief to know I'm not the only one,' Draco grumbled himself. 'At least you're alot more freer to move round the city than I am. I'm not even allowed out of the fucking room thanks to that arsehole outside,' he said bitterly.

Sirius chuckled than and glanced at the door. 'Heh, your typical New York street torpedo, big guns and tiny arsebrains. They think shooting down someone is the only way to get the message across,' he said with a gleam in his eye as he pulled out his moon-shape handled shiv. 'Now this beauty is respected. Seen it's share of blood and still working like a charm. No need to load it, just use it.'

Draco rolled his eyes and said in a mocking voice, 'For a man who says he hates what he does you sure as fuck don't show it, Black. You really enjoy slicing and dicing people up? Is that all you really want out of life? Cause if it is I feel sorry for you.'

Sirius reclipped his shiv and put it back in his pocket, giving Draco a strange glance. 'And what would the son of Lucius Malfoy know 'bout anything else? What makes you any less of a murdering bastard then your father eh? Or even me?' he said just as mockingly.

Draco glared now at Sirius, and stood up and walked over to look out the window, seeing the skyline of New York unfold before him. He didn't answer right away, though he could tell Sirius's eyes were certainly on him. After a moment he said in a soft voice though he didn't turn from the window, 'Maybe because I don't want to be him. Maybe because I want more from life than to be a cold hearted bastard murderer.'

Sirius didn't say anything for a moment, just looked at the boy then got up himself and went over to the window and looked out. Gazing at the skyline he said in a quiet voice, 'You see that out there? They're building a new life here, a new world for the future. I hear they want to build all the way to the clouds one day, can you imagine that? Maybe it's just a pipe dream, Draco, but it's still a hope. It's a hope for a better world these people here have. That's what we all should have...a hope for a better life...a better world for our world too, not just the Muggles.'

Draco sighed then nodded slowly in agreement. 'Yeah...but it's still just dreams, Black. As long as people like my father do what they do we'll never be free. We'll never be able to know what it's like to walk down the street and not feel afraid or alone. We'll never be able to...to love or be loved because it's too risky...' he said softly, a trace of bitterness clear in his voice.

Sirius turned to Draco and gave him a strange look, debating at what he was going to say. Taking Draco by the shoulders he said in a strange voice, 'What would you do to gain that though, Draco? To defy your father and make that better world? What would you do to be loved?'

Draco looked back at Sirius and without hesitation said, 'Anything. I'd do anything for that.'

Sirius nodded and then let go of Draco's shoulders, walking back to the bed. In a gruff voice now he said, 'Get your coat on, we're getting out of here, it's time you knew.' When Draco didn't move right off he scowled and said, 'Get a move on kid, now!'

Draco didn't know what was going on but he quickly went over and got on his winter coat and his Slytherin scarf, surprised at the sudden change in Sirius's attitude. Without a word Sirius went over and opened the door, motioning for Draco to follow him. As they stepped outside the foyer the thug stepped forwards and said in a gravelly voice, 'Where ya think yagoing boys? Mr. Malfoy told me to let no one outta here.'

'I'm taking young Malfoy here and I don't think you're going to argue with me on this one,' Sirius said in a dangerously low voice.

'I don't think so buddy boy. I don't know who the futz ya think ya are, but I gots my orders,' the thug said grabbed out one of his guns pointing it at Sirius.

Sirius was on him quicker than lightening, pinning the bloke to the wall with only one hand. 'You have any idea who I am...mate...?' Sirius said in a silky voice and reached in his pocket with his free hand to grab his shiv. Flicking it open he gave the thug a sly grin as the handle of the shiv seemed to be recognised.

'Y-you...you're 'Fingers' Black!' the thug stammered, visibly shaken now and gave Sirius an all out frightened stare.

'Very good, I'm glad to see my reputation's proceeded me. Now you're gonnastay here and guard Mrs. Malfoy, but I'm taking Draco see? If you got a beef with that, take it up with me later, though I highly think you'll regret it. Oh, and I don't like having a gun drawn on me, so maybe this'll teach you to think before you draw on me next time,' he spat and before the thug could even flinch a fresh line of blood appeared on his face. Sirius then dropped the man down to the floor in a heap and with a sniff reclipped his shiv. 'Come on, Draco, let's get the fuck outta here,' he said now and stepped over the man who was slightly whimpering.

Draco shook his head as he watched the blood that was now freely dripping off the man's face, though he followed Black quickly. He caught up to him at the lift, and said in an amused voice, 'And here I thought you wanted peace, Black. Not a good way to start that I'm afraid.'

Sirius glared at Draco and then to Draco's surprise he grinned. 'Eh well, if it's one thing I really hate it's some wise arsed torpedo going right for his gun. Guns don't kill people, Draco, people kill people, don't you forget that. Guns are nothing but inanimate objects, it's we humans that pull that trigger.'

'A shiv's different then? It still kills, same as guns,' Draco said.

Sirius shook his head. 'No, a shiv is controllable, not like a gun. Guns can go off just like that, they can kill when all you want is to maim. A shiv though you have power over, you know where it's going, and where you can put it to make a quick kill. Guns are messy, shivs can be quick and clean.'

Draco snorted however and shook his head in argument. 'It's still a weapon, Black, when all's said and done. You're still just a murderer, just like my father is,' he said angrily now.

Sirius thought on that and actually sighed deeply. 'Yeah, I am, plain and simple. The only difference is now I have a different reason to be one. And if you play your cards right Draco Malfoy, you'll understand soon enough why that is.'

Draco was about to ask on that but didn't get the chance as the lift finally arrived. Getting in Sirius said to the orderly inside, 'Second...er...damn I forgot...third floor please.' The orderly nodded and pressed the button for the second floor. 'Why can't they goddamn just say it normally here in America, damned backwards country,' Sirius grumbled to no one in particular.

Draco chuckled at that and he nodded his head in agreement. Though he did like New York, it certainly was strange to see people not using the metric system, and driving on the wrong side of the street. Not to mention like Sirius said why they had called the first floor of a building the 'first floor' and not the 'ground floor'. It was all very screwed up in Draco'sopinion, and he doubted he would ever get used to it. America was all right to visit, but he'd never want to live here, especially not in New York City, the people were just far too strange for his tastes.

As they arrived on what should have been the second, but was really the 'third' floor of the hotel, Sirius got out and made a motion for Draco to follow him. They went down a darkened hallway that had carpeting so red it reminded Draco of blood and he shivered a moment. He wondered what they were doing in this part of the hotel, especially when Sirius stopped at the end of the hallway and tapped lightly on the door.

The door seemed to open on it own accord, so Draco assumed it was magic that had done it, and walked into the room behind Sirius. The door closed behind him with a light thunk, making Draco turn in wonder as he saw no one had actually closed the door. Turning back to face Sirius now he gasped in pure shock at what he saw and his insides did a double flip.

'Well, we hoped we'd be seeing you one day young, Draco. Please, do come in,' a man with twinkling blue eyes said with a smile.

Draco stood there stunned, not even sure what to react. finally he found his tongue and said in a wavery voice, 'P-professor D-Dumbledore...sir?'

Albus Dumbledore chuckled and with a wave of his hand motioned for Draco to take a seat on a small sofa, one that was also currently occupied by someone else, someone he knew all too well. 'Well please, do sit so we can commence with things, Draco,' Albus said at seeing Draco's reaction to the person sitting on the sofa.

'Severus? What's going on here?' Draco asked in wonder as he sat down on the soft next to his mentor and friend.

Severus smiled at Draco than nodded at Albus. 'He'll explain it all, Draco. I was hoping one day...we all were hoping that is...you would see your father for what he is. I'm glad to see my personal input in this matter was on the mark as well.'

'If we can begin then? Is everyone present?' Albus said quickly now to prevent more discussion. Looking round the room he said, 'For the benefit of Mr. Malfoyfor those present he doesn't already know by name, will you please state your names and ranks?'

'Ranks? Ranks for what?' Draco asked in surprise before he could stop himself.

'Ah, yes, perhaps I should first explain why you are here, Draco, and what exactly we are all doing here for that matter. We are a secret group, and hope to remain as such. It is our goal to bring peace back to our world, and separate what should be separated. We are known simply as 'The Marauders', a name given in token gratitude for a man who once believed that peace was achievable despite the heavy opposition he faced. All we wish is to restore the happiness that the wizarding world deserves, no matter what means we need to do that. Do you understand, Draco?' Albus said quietly and gave Draco an intense look.

Draco's mind was reeling from this information, but he nodded slowly. 'I think I do understand, sir. And...and you can count me in. I want to put an end to what my father's doing much as any of you...maybe even more so,' he said quietly.

'Can we really trust him, Professor? I mean...he is a Malfoy for Merlin's sake...even if he says he wants to help us,' a boy's voice spoke up haughtily.

Albus turned to the speaker and gave the boy an almost glaring look. 'Might I remind you, Mr. Weasley, that Draco has been vouched for by the proper number of people on this council. If they say he is to be trusted, then there is no reason not to trust him. Do I make myself clear?'

'Honestly, Ron, stop being a git and putting your foot in it will you?' a girls voice muttered and turned to Draco with a smile. 'Nice to see you again, Draco...and...it was really a lovely Ball by the by. I had a wonderful time after we settled up things between us. You're a smashing dancer know,' the girl said blushing a bit.

Draco blushed slightly himself though it earned a glare from the boy who'd spoken. Ignoring him Draco said, 'Thanks...Gra-Hermione...for err..everything that night by the way. I'm glad we err...both came to an understanding...about um....things....'

Hermione smiled at him and nodded then turned back to Ron with a glare and smacked him on the arm. 'It's not what I know you're thinking, Ronald Weasley, so get your mind out of the gutter. We only talked and danced that's all. I made it quite clear where my affections are you git,' she said with a huff, though her eyes revealed how much she truly did seem to love Ron.

Ron muttered and rubbed his arm where Hermione had hit him but he seemed to have a hidden smile at those words. However being his normal Ron self he said, 'Fine, whatever 'Mione, let's get on with it, I'm peckish.'

Everyone chuckled at that since it was obviously a running joke amongst these people about Ron and his appetite. 'Now that it's been established who we are, will you all say your names and ranks within the council please?' Albus said and looked at Sirius to start things off.

Sirius nodded and said, 'Sirius Black, information gatherer.'

'Peter Pettigrew, controller of the accounts and books.'

'Severus Snape, in charge of potion and chemical developments.'

'Remus J. Lupin, liaison to werebeasts, vampires and assorted dark creatures.'

'Ronald Weasley, err...student and spy at Hogwarts.'

'Hermione Granger, student and spy within Hogwarts.'

'Poppy Pomfrey, Mediwitch.'

'ArabellaFigg, protector.'

'Arthur Weasley, spy within the Ministry of Magic, in charge of Muggle relations.'

'Minerva McGonagall, in charge of transfigurations of Muggle items for wizarding use.'

'Bill Weasley, information gatherer outside of England.'

'Charley Weasley, in charge of training the assorted creatures brought over to our side.'

'Albus Dumbledore, in charge of the Marauders.'

Draco looked round the room now at the thirteen people in shock and awe. He knew pretty all of them, though some of them more by face than name. He was surprised at how only a few people however were trying to undertake such a task as overthrowing his father and the empire he'd built. Suddenly something seemed to sink in, something important about what had been happening recently and his eyes grew round in shock.

'You...you're the one's who bumped off Antonio Avery weren't you!' he exclaimed now.

Sirius chuckled and gave Draco a wink and a nod of his head. 'I think Severus went a bit overboard on that err..'bomb' design of his but ahhwell...it was effective none-the-less don't you think?' he said with a grin at Severus.

Severus snorted and gave Sirius a wry grin back. 'Well I wouldn't have called it a 'bomb' persay, Black. Just an unfriendly chemical mixture that when heated produces ahh...shall we say...a rather 'smoky' reaction,' he chuckled.

Remus seemed to think that was more than funny and laughed, patting Severus on the shoulder. 'And boy I wish I'd been there to see that too. Ah well, shame we were still on our err...holiday eh, Sev? Didn't even get to see the fruits of your labours I'm afraid,' he said with a slight wink at Severus.

'Yes, well, it let's not go into that now shall we, Remus?' Severus muttered, though his coal black eyes spoke volumes as his gaze greedily took in Remus's smile, among other things.

Draco saw Ron and Hermione shake their heads and stifle a bit of a grin, and he had to admit it certainly was strange seeing his normally cold, staid potion's master acting so well...lustful. Taking hold of himself however he turned back to Albus and said, 'So...I take it you all have been working against my father? For how long now?'

'Quite some time actually, though Antonio's err...death shall we say was more open than we usually like to go,' Albus said giving Severus a slight grimace, though Severus was a bit busy apparently leaning in to whisper something in Remus's ear which was causing Remus to blush slightly and neither were even paying attention. Albus cleared his throat and said now, 'Err..at any rate, as I said, for a while now we've been secretly gathering information and such to find your father's oh...vulnerabilities shall we say.'

'My father doesn't have any vulnerabilities, professor, none that I know of anyway and I think by now I'd have seen them,' Draco said with a grimace.

Albus sighed and nodded his head as if in agreement. 'I'm sad to say you could be right, Draco, we too have seen your father is virtually impossible to phase. Even Avery's death did not have the reaction we hoped for entirely. We did manage to shake him up enough however only after a particular owl post was sent to him.'

'An owl post? I don't understand....'bout what?' Draco asked confused.

''Bout you mate,' Sirius said now with a thoughtful look in his eyes. 'Remember I told you back at the room that you're father's seeing some big cheeses here in New York? That he'd even sent me an owl to come all the way here?' he said in a knowing voice.

Draco nodded slowly, swallowing hard. He didn't know why but he wasn't sure he was going to like where this was going. 'Why?' he said in a voice softer than he meant it to sound.

'Because that owl...we sent it. Altered the handwriting a bit easy 'nuff. We told him that if he didn't want what happened to Avery to happen to you, then he'd better start getting himself off the payrolls. Told him to start going more legit, and stop messing with the Muggle world. Otherwise you'd pay for his crimes,' Sirius said with a strange grin.

Draco was stunned again, and stared at Sirius like he'd just grown another head. 'W-wait...I thought...I thought you said you wanted to help me...not bump me off!' he said slightly afraid now.

'Will you stop scaring the poor kid, Padfoot? Honestly!' Remus said now with a huff, apparently paying attention to things finally. Turning to Dracohe said in a much softer voice, 'Don't take it wrong way, Draco, we're not going to hurt you and we are here to help you. We needed your father out of London for a while that's all whilst we err...set up a few 'set backs' for him if you get my drift. We figure he'll spend at least a few days or a week here before heading back, by then we'll have our plans pretty much ready to go.'

'Plans? What's going on? Are you going to bump him off or something?' Draco asked.

Remus shook his head and gave Draco an odd look. 'Oh no, we've got man power, but you're father's too well protected. We can't seem to even kill him. Everything we have tried hasn't worked anyway,' Remus muttered.

'You...you have tried already?' Dracosaid bewildered.

Remus nodded and sighed. 'We've poisoned him, tried to have him attacked at a club, even tried to blow him up, he seems to escape us every time. It's like he's got some sort of shield round him we can't penetrate. Do you know what it could be, Draco? What protects him?' Remus asked in an odd voice, focusing his gaze on the boy. In fact, all eyes in the room were now on Draco.

Draco cringed and wasn't sure he wanted to do this, but thinking it over he decided it was time to put an end to things once and for all. With a deep sigh he nodded his head now and said in a small voice, 'I know what protects him...and you're right. There's no way any of you can defeat him.'

'What is it? What protects him, Draco?' Albus asked in an odd tone of voice as if he was expecting the answer.

Draco sighed again and it was truly a heartfelt sigh. He hadn't wanted to reveal his little 'secret' to anyone, not yet. However in view of things he realised now it had been foolish of him to think it was something he could have done on his own, and now all these people too had very good reason to fight as well.

'My father as you know was the right hand man of Voldemort before his death. Not just in name only, but by blood. Voldemort somehow transferred some of his powers to my father though a blood bind, enough to protect him anyway. He now uses those powers...one in particular. The Sphere of Slytherin,' Draco said softly.

A look of confusion was on twelve of the thirteen faces in the room, only Albus Dumbledore seemed to understand the graveness of the situation. 'So, it's as I thought. That's why Luciusis untouchable. I should have known Voldemort would have pulled something like that,' Albus said thoughtfully. 'Well then, it seems we do have a problem now.'

'Why's that, Albus?' Severus asked.

'Because there is no one alive now who can destroy that sphere I'm afraid. The person who should have still been alive was lost long ago, and I fear he too is most likely dead by now as well,' Albus said sadly.

'Professor?' Ron asked hesitantly. 'Why's that?'

'Because young, Weasley, the only way to combat the Sphere of Slytherin...is with another true-blood Sphere. And all the true-bloods are now dead, which means we are without hope I fear,' Albus said in a hushed voice.

'Oh, well...that fucking sucks,' Ron said, and not even his father had the ability to yell at him for that statement.

Draco however was furiously thinking, debating again with himself if he should say something, and decided again that it was for the better good of all if he did. 'Professor Dumbledore?' he said slowly.

'Yes, Draco?' Albus asked, his blue eyes no longer sparkling as usual.

Fidgeting in his seat he said now, 'You're wrong. There is a true-blood left. One that's been right under all your noses for a while now.' He thought he saw a glint of something from Severus's eyes, but he was distracted by Sirius now.

'Draco what are you saying?' Sirius asked giving Draco a strange look.

Turning to Sirius, Draco said in a tight voice, 'I'm saying...that there is another of the true-bloods left. A Gryffindor heir at that.'

Sirius shook his head and a low sob came from his throat. 'No Draco...all the Gryffindor heirs are gone. They died...were murdered...years ago.'

'No, Black, you're wrong,' Draco argued back now and pulling out his trump card said in a soft voice, 'The Gryffindor heir is alive...and his name is Harry James Potter.'

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bimbo - not actually what you think it means. In Jazz age it meant 'tough guy'

futz - euphemism for 'fuck'

lift - elevator (British term not Jazz age)

A/N: You really didn't think I was going to call it the Order Of The Phoenix now did you? :gaze up: eesh! Sooooo overdone don't you mates think! Figured the Marauder's had to have a part in there somewheres! :grin:

In the UK the 'ground floor' is the yanks 'first floor', our 'first floor' is the 'second floor' and so on and so on. It is a bit annoying sometimes when I do go into a place and ask for what floor is where I want to go on and have to remember when they say 'third floor' it is actually not the 'fourth floor' :gaze up: I think the worst is trying to figure out 'miles' and 'inches' and such. I have to keep an on-line converter for everything so I can actually figure it out! :groans: PS anyone wanted an on-line currency, mile, kilometre, etc converter let me know I have several very good ones!

The R.M.S Mauretaniawas indeed a star class luxury liner owned by CunardLine during it's heyday. Elaborate state rooms, smoking rooms, writing rooms, lounges and dining rooms graced the First Class deck. Fares to NY would range up to £2000 depending on which type suite you wanted. It was equipped with actual 'beds' not births, even indoor 'toilet facilities' for private use. Docked in July 1921 due to a fire, it was reinstated back into the seas in March 1922 more elaborate, spacious, and revamped than even before. It boasted electric lifts for the First Class passengers and a two storey dining salon as well. New turbine engines rather than coal ones gave it a sporting advantage on the high seas. Not until 1929 would it have any competition even and that would come from the Bremen, a German liner.

However with the new laws in effect limiting immigration into the US back in 1921 passengers were few and far between. The revamping of the Second and Third Class cabins became a necessity, and from that point on a new generation of 'cruisers' boarded. Americans who were now free after WW1 to go to Europe and other points abroad were glad for the cheap fairs in the lower cabins, and though more modern ships bested her eventually she was still lavished upon until her retirement. On July 31st, 1935 she set sail from Southampton, UK to her final destination at the breakers yard at Rosyth, UK, a loss truly felt by the Cunard Line.

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