CH 73: Invitation From Daphne

{[Last Time in Tainted Desire]}

Leaving them alone would tell everyone that I didn't care enough about them to do anything other than the bare minimum, which was much worse.

Nott's plan to dominate the school was dead just like that. He was lucky to maintain control of his little clique.

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{[Now]}

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"Heir Malfoy, I would like to invite you to join my compartment," Daphne said, a touch of desperation in her tone.

Her attempt was basically a flat out invitation to discuss an alliance while making a show of it. Her capture was probably already known,

"Unfortunately, Heir Greengrass, I have some personal engagements that I need to attend, so I would regretfully pass your kind invitation," I said.

"Maybe another time, then, Heir Malfoy," she answered, managing to keep her disappointment mostly under control.

I nodded in appreciation, and took a step forward before suddenly turning toward Nott. "By the way, Nott, I was thinking about an exchange or residences? What's your opinion of that," I said, and Nott just glared angrily.

I chuckled "Sorry, I forgot your current circumstances. Blink once for yes, twice for no," I explained. He blinked twice, anger clear in his eyes.

He probably assumed that I wasn't willing to provoke him further.

He was wrong, but I didn't bother to explain that. I just raised my foot, and stomped down with my full power, letting magic free to enhance my physical power.

Nott's knee shattered, his eyes burning in pain, but unable to utter anything other than a muffled cry with his lips locked together. "Let's try again," I said even as I brought my foot over Nott's wand.

He blinked only once despite the tears that were spilling out.

"Smart boy-" I started to say dismissively, but my words were cut short with a sudden swell of magic.

My wand was out once more, and a shield appeared just as the door exploded, a deadly spell on my lips, ready to curse my surprise attackers now that their ambush failed spectacularly.

But I stayed my hand when Daphne shouted with all of her power, asking me to stop.

I vanished the resulting dust instead, only to find two people on the other side, looking at the situation with shock, and no small amount of relief.

Daphne's rescuers were here, I realized as I lowered my wand. Though, their identity was not without surprise. One was Tracy Davis, a girl with a cheerful demeanor that hid a deadly wand.

She was also a half-blood and Daphne's staunchest ally, hence it was reasonable for her to risk herself in an impossible battle. The other person was a surprise.

Susan Bones, niece of Amelia Bones, whose reputation caused Voldemort to hunt her the moment his return was revealed.

And they were strictly light, so seeing her ready to support Daphne in such a monumental situation was a surprise.

Before they could say anything, I gave another bow to Daphne. "Heir Greengrass, since your friends are already here to accompany you, I can leave you without worry," I said as I walked out.

"Would you mind attending a small gathering in a few days," Daphne asked before I could leave, and I noted both Tracy and Susan looking at her shocked. "I have a few guests that you might be interested to meet."

"Maybe, Heir Greengrass, but we can discuss the details later on," I said as I walked out, leaving an exciting scene for others to see. "After all, we're going to be neighbors…"

The opportunity for a push for more with Daphne and her little band of rescuers was temping, but I reluctantly moved away to another empty compartment, because I had much more important things to focus on, just because that asshole Nott decided to act with the foresight of a Gryffindor.

Unfortunately, idiotic actions forced me to act, hence the reason I quickly scribbled a letter to my target, Severus Snape.

In my letter, which I left unsigned, I explained that I had information critical to Potter's continued survival and eventual victory against Tom Riddle, then, followed it by a number of additional commands, including him sending Voldemort an explanation that would ensure his absence and lack of communications wouldn't be questioned for a month or two, allowing him to mention Elder Wand if necessary.

Just to make sure he had no choice but to believe my explanation, I mentioned that I was Dumbledore's trusted agent, and gave him a summary of his own story including the fact that Dumbledore's death had been a ploy to destroy Elder Wand.

more than enough to show that I was privy of his biggest secrets, secrets that were almost impossible acquire from someone other than Dumbledore.

Almost, but to Snape's misfortune, not completely.

I donned the cloak once more before mounting my broom and flying out of the window, apparating to Hogsmeade once I was sufficiently away from the train.

Then, I charmed the letter to turn it into a bird that was tasked to find Snape while I used the secret passage at the Shrieking Shack to an easy passage to Forbidden Forest, and arrived at the location I mentioned in the letter, still concealed under the cloak.

Only when Snape walked into the opening, his wand out, ready for an attack, I let the cloak slid away, revealing myself to Snape.

"Draco," he muttered in shock, not expecting my presence, but his surprise didn't prevent him from sending a legimency probe to my mind, mercilessly delving into my memories.

Despite all the improvements I managed to gain in Occlumency, resisting Snape's assault for more than a few seconds was still impossible.

Luckily, I didn't need to resist, not when I could direct his probe into the memories before my occupation, leaving Snape in a sea of useless emotion.

Ensured of my identity, Snape's wand holding hand lowered.

That mistake cost him a stunner in the chest. The shock dominated his face as he tried to resist, but he had no hope of resisting the full power of the Elder Wand, and collapsed before he could say anything.

I immediately fed him a bottle of the draught of living death, and a couple of supplementary potions to purge any antidotes he might have already ingested.

I didn't want to kill him -mostly because Voldie would notice his death through the dark mark, therefore further complicating the issue- but I still would have preferred his death to his freedom.

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