Where Draco learns what it means to kill people and see people dead...

Another great glimpse into the scenes the books didn't give us. I love that what's making things real for Draco is not his very determined, but still abstract plan to proof himself and kill Dumbledore, but the Death Eater terror sneaking into his very home and family.

"Looking at the woman before him, Draco had to agree. Even though she was his aunt, he hated being near her, especially alone. He often wondered if his mother had lied or if prison had changed her. Draco hoped it wasn't the latter. He hated to think what his father would be like when he got out."
And to think Draco grew up around her. That alone accounts for a lot. Who needs enemies with family like this.

"Ollivander.
Another doddery old fool he couldn't stand. Draco knew his name though. That made it different somehow. It was having memories of these people happy and breathing that caused the bottom of his stomach to fall out when he thought about them."
Glad Draco discovers there's a difference between disliking people and thinking himself worlds better and actually wishing them dead.

"In the cellar, I found – something," he began, trying to sound casual. "It was a uniform from the ice cream shop in Diagon Alley. It belonged to that Fortescue that was taken over summer, didn't it?"
In response, his mother nodded, her face unreadable.
"Is he at Selwyn's now?"
"No," she said, opening the door. "He's gone."

Your Draco and Bella are spot on, but I think I was most impressed with Narcissa's nonchalance. There's her indifference for what's going on in her house and in the world and even the unconditional love for her son has something of that removed distance.

Ok, I actually read this right when you published it but haven't had a chance to review until now. Well done! I really liked it - I mean Draco is still a little snot, but I think when push comes to shove he didn't really want to be a part of anything truly evil.

I really enjoyed the parallel between Draco trying in vain to find the solution to his problem in a book, with the clock running out, to Harry and the seemingly innumerable times that happened to him, though most especially in GoF just before the Second Task.

Your Romione is obviously par excellence, but you clearly have some other character muscles to flex, and I'm glad you are!

Can i say how much I enjoyed this twisted -but probably normal in the life of the Malfoys- moment?

You pinned Bellatrix's crazy and manipulative ways. You also got Narcissa's cold and detached attitude but with little cracks appearing through the veneer, showing she cares when it comes to those she loves (chiefly Draco but also Lucius and Bellatrix in some regard).

And finally, you have Draco, showing so many facets of his personality. He's clever, loves his parents in his own way even if he doesn't want to admit aloud, and is just a frightened child when he discovers how far his side has gone. What has been a game for him suddenly becomes reality when it touches people he actually knows, even if he doesn't care for them. We see that same side several times in Deathly Hallows (when Harry sees him cruciating Rowle or during the Malfoy Manor scene).

Anyway, I could go on forever talking about Draco (obviously, I enjoy the character with all his flaws even if I don't necessarily like him as a person) but you did a perfect job of capturing him.

As always, excellent job. I hope your break from university will give you more time for more of these brilliant little one shots.

I thought this was really terrific. Bellatrix was spot on, imo - I loved the line about the clicking of her boots sounding like a countdown. And the idea of Draco having to go down to the cellar to burn the bloody clothes of people who've disappeared is legit chilling. Really well done.

Plotting murders in your last days at uni? That was dark, but incredibly well done!

I can't wait to see what you come up with once your life is off backlog. The stuff you've thrown together when you don't have time is amazing... will we be seeing an epic story from you soon? :)

That was well written apart from a minor typo regarding how Bella strobe into the room, a bit of a 'rock 'n roll entrance even for her. :o)
As ever it was very well thought out and it gives a good scenario for Florian Fortescue's sad and up 'till now mysterious death. It also shows well Draco's increasing stress after having agreed to act as Voldemort's assassin and kill Dumbledore, stress which will come close to destroying him as his attempts go wrong.
Many Blessings.
Oriondruid, (John).

I've never said it publicly but I'll say it now. I could never understand why JKR wrote such a despicable character over seven books yet took the trouble to keep him alive in the end and even had him appear in the epilogue. It just doesn't make sense to me. How he was never called to account for the poisoning will always be a mystery to me. I can never forgive her for killing off Tonks and Remus and keeping this one alive. Just my rant.