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Make Me Proud

By Dishonorable

Chapter Seven: The Death of a Malfoy

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AN: It's exceedingly important to reread this chapter, especially the parts after Remus and Sirius fainted. Thanks for your reviews.

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It was several hours after it was discovered that Professor Pomona Sprout, Herbology Professor and Head of Hufflepuff, had perished at the hands of a Dark wizard and had chosen to become a ghost. There was still no news of the occupants of the other stretchers and everyone, gathered in their individual common rooms, was worried. This led to an unordered roll call and it was discovered that two students were missing from Slytherin, one from Ravenclaw, and four from Gryffindor. The identities of the students were quickly figured out and the three houses were in a state of panic, similar to headless chickens.

However, Ron Weasley wasn't as stupid as he sometimes acted. Sometimes, when he was wise enough to do so, he used the strategical skills he acquired from playing years of chess and his Gryffindor rashness. (He used this a lot.)

And sometimes guilt is one of the best catalysts. That and the fact that he and plenty of others were currently-

Was that a flash of silver? ...No, it was just a girl's bracelet...anyways...

The whole school knew about the Halloween troll incident with Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, Susan Bones, Neville Longbottom, and Harry Potter. According to the grapevine, (nobody believed that cock and bull story Harry Potter told), Susan Bones had been retrieving Hermione Granger's textbook from a girls' loo, (which Hermione left after being comforted by Susan and Su Li after being teased by Ron), when the troll attacked. Somehow, the other four knew about the attack the moment it happened and came to her rescue. In a daring and exciting fight, the five had managed to injure and knock out the Mountain troll. It was already a legend; though in the beginning the Gryffindor house didn't revere it as such because of the loss of House points and their best Seeker.

But what if Susan hadn't fetched the textbook for Hermione? What if Su and Susan hadn't comforted Hermione at all and she had remained crying in that bathroom? She could've died because of Ron's taunts...and he didn't hate her so much that he wanted her dead, quite the opposite in fact. And the guilt was weighing more than a million tons. For all they knew, the four missing Gryffindor first years could be on death's doorstep. Any second there could be another flash of silver, but instead of a bracelet it could be another new ghost gliding into the Gryffindor Common Room. And the guilt and confused worry was weighing more than a gazillion tons.

So Ron Weasley, midst the huddled clusters of Gryffindors snuck up to the dorms and then into the one the twins occupied . It wasn't entirely foolproof plan, but it was a plan and Ron was dying to see what had happened to the missing first years, especially Hermione Granger.

Ron cautiously made his way to Fred, -or rather George's bed since they always switched names and initials-, and to the Cleansweep that was lovingly laying on his trunk. In a quick motion, he swiped the broom and winced, expecting the worse, but nothing happened, no booby traps or anything. He let out a sigh of relief, unaware of the angry boils that had broken up across his forehead that spelled: SNEAK.

Ron took one last glance at the dormitory, a bit too ordinary for Fred and George for Ron's liking, and swung onto the stolen Cleansweep and flew out the window.

About ten or fifteen minutes later, Ron flew past the windows silently, glancing each one carefully, a bunch of daisies clutched tightly in one fist. He kept telling himself that Hermione would be conscious to accept them.

"Aha," muttered Ron, catching sight of a few splotches of telltale whiteness between many robes.

"Bloody hell," Ron then breathed in awe. There was squad of aurors and the Minister himself! But then Ron saw the numerous weeping people and there in the middle was a cluster of Granger hair gathered around one bed. Perhaps he could sneak in quietly through one window...Ron was shocked that he actually pulled it off as he flew in through a high window, unnoticed by the occupied witches and wizards. But it was only a matter of time before someone noticed a broomstick in the air with a rule-breaking first year Weasley on it.

With great stealth, (or at least Ron thought), he flew slowly down and behind a door in the shadows. Taking one deep breath he stepped out in the light like he belonged there, a look of solemnity upon his face. No one noticed him, but Ron would rather have McGonagall catch him then to be crying as she was questioned by an auror.

He pushed past the aurors and witches and wizards, who dismissed him as a relative of some victim or another, and to the area of Granger hair. A pretty girl with perfect curls noticed him first.

"May I help you?" she said delicately, arching an eyebrow at his flushed face and the broomstick and daisies in hand.

"Ron?" said Hermione, her face craning around her mother and her eyes puffy.

"Err, hullo Hermione," said Ron, his ears red. Damn, all the words he had prepared to say if she conscious were suddenly gone.

"Why do you have boils spelling out 'Sneak' on your face?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.

"What?" Ron immediately felt his face and sure enough, huge boils were on his forehead, no doubt spelling out 'Sneak', "Oh, err, I sorta stole George's broom to get here," he said sheepishly.

"Oh," Hermione said as if this explained everything, "Well...why are you here? You could get in a bunch of trouble, you know."

Ron pushed down the mild twinge of annoyance, "I wanted to apologize," he thrust the daisies out clumsily, causing one or two of Hermione's sisters to giggle, "For the troll and the dragon..."

"Dragon?" repeated Mr. Granger, turning to look at Hermione with raised eyebrows.

"Yes, dad," said Hermione easily, "It's a role-playing game called Troll and Dragon. Ron wanted to apologize for cheating."

Cheating? Ron was many things, but he was not a bloody cheater.

"Yeah," Ron said, swallowing his pride, "I cheated."

"Ah huh," said three Granger sisters skeptically with identical disbelieving expressions. Ron had to do a double take.

"You're triplets?" said Ron in surprise.

"Well, duh," the three replied in unison as if Ron was daft.

"Be nice, girls," reprimanded Mrs. Granger. The trio didn't look too remorseful Ron noted with mild irritation.

"This my parents," Hermione introduced, suddenly remembering her manners, "And these are my sisters, Desdemona," The prettiest of the lot smiled sweetly, but Ron, usually daft in these sort of things, wasn't fooled. Something wasn't right with that girl, perhaps it was her Metamorphamagus abilities or Ron's irritation at being thought dumb, "Portia," Another girl who cared a little less about her appearance then Desdemona, smiled friendly. Again, Ron felt a strange sense of unease. It grew further when Hermione introduced the last Granger girl, who nodded politely, "And this is Isabella. Everyone, this is Ron Weasley, he's in Gryffindor, too."

Ron shifted uneasily under the triplets scrutinizing eyes.

"He's cute," pronounced Portia finally in a decisive tone. Ron turned the infamous Weasley red, forgetting his earlier annoyed state, as Desdemona and Portia nodded in agreement, Hermione blushed, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger rolled their eyes.

"And he brought you flowers, Hermione," noted Desdemona.

"And he can fly," added Isabella, eying the broomstick with envy.

"Uh, yeah," he shifted again, "I can fly."

The triplets giggled as Ron flushed even more.

"Come on, girls, let's give them their privacy," said Mr. Granger. The triplets rolled their eyes simultaneously as they were led away by their parents while their mother kept shooting glances back.

"Well, uh, I just wanted to say sorry and see if you were alright..."

"It's horrible, Ron," whispered Hermione, surprised that she still had tears to shed, "Draco Malfoy was attacked by Fenrir Greyback..."

Ron swallowed hard. Even the most stupidest gits didn't deserve that.

"They don't know whether he'll live or not," Tears began to leak down her cheeks, "And Su Li..." They started to come down faster, "She's dead..."

"I'm sorry," said Ron sincerely. He didn't Su Li that well; she had only really talked with Harry Potter, Susan Bones, Hermione Granger, Theodore Nott, and Katie Bell sometimes.

"An-and Harry," sobbed Hermione.

"He's recovering, right?" The Boy-Who-Lived couldn't be dead, people like Harry didn't just die.

"He's dead," Hermione managed to say before falling to her tears and burying her head in Ron's shoulder

Around a different Hospital Wing bed...

"Oh, Neville," breathed Augusta Longbottom, sitting stiffly in a chair beside her grandson's bed and ignoring Neville's distraught face, "Your father would be so proud! You're finally living up to his-"

"Su Li and Harry are dead, Gran, dead!" said Neville, his voice wavering and his eyes suspiciously wet, "Draco Malfoy is on death's doorstep!"

"What do you care about some Malfoy, Neville?" asked Augusta sharply, "I thought you hated the boy. Your-"

"Shut up, Gran!" Neville interrupted in a yell, shocking the elderly woman and drawing the attention of several aurors. Neville was too distraught to care, "Shut up, shut up, shut up! I'm sick of you and your fantasies! I'm not in a feud with Dark families! I'm not dad!"

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James sat silently beside Harry's body in a private room in the Hospital Wing, holding Harry's hand like a lifeline. Remus and Sirius were sitting on both sides of him, trying to comfort him and themselves the best they could.

"Lily needs to know, James," said Remus quietly.

"Why? He's going to wake up, Moony," promised James, "I just know it."

"James," said Sirius in choked voice, "Harry wasn't invincible." James flinched at the past term.

"He's going to wake up."

"Should I tell Lily?" Remus finally suggested sadly.

"He's-"

"Dad?" James couldn't help but grin madly as emerald green eyes looked at him tiredly.

"Too tight," Harry gasped as he was enveloped into a fierce hug.

THUD! THUD!

Remus and Sirius had fainted.

Meanwhile...

"This is unacceptable," Lucius said tightly as Narcissa clung to a sleeping Draco's bandaged hand. Much of his torso, lower body, and his right face cheek were also wrapped in bandages, but he was in a potion induced, comfortable sleep in St. Mungo's, the Wizarding World of England's major hospital. Draco was going to eventually wake up, but St. Mungo's healers weren't sure if he was going to transform when the full moon rose. The facts still remained though; Draco had ultimately turned traitor against his family and his family's beliefs by aiding the Light against Voldemort and was officially considered a Halfbreed in the Wizarding World whether he transformed or not.

Narcissa's red-rimmed eyes finally tore away from Draco's face, "Wh-what?"

"He turned traitor, Narcissa! He -he's a Light-sider Halfbreed," Lucius spat the last words angrily, his grip on his cane tighter than the words he spoke.

"He...he just made bad decisions, Lucius," said Narcissa softly, safe to speak her mind as silencing spells were around the room to ensure privacy, "Or perhaps he didn't know it was the Dark Lord."

"He knew," said Lucius grimly, "He knew. Or are you doubting the Dark Lord's word?"

"Never!" Narcissa looked horrified at the mere thought of it, "I-I don't think that Draco understood what he was doing..."

"Draco fully comprehended what he was doing, -showing his true loyalties."

"Please, Lucius, with guidance-"

"Guidance?" he looked amused by what he viewed as hopeless fancies, "I have given Draco proper guidance since he was birthed and still he has betrayed his family. No, there's nothing I can do to save Draco. If we do not deal with him properly the Dark Lord will have all our heads."

"You're not suggesting we kill Draco to save ourselves?" whispered Narcissa, her eyes wide, "I won't let you-"

"Silence!" Narcissa stopped short in her protests, drawing back from her husband from instinct. She promptly recovered, though, "I am the head of the family and I decide how Draco should be dealt with-"

"Surely you cannot kill your own flesh and blood?" Lucius ignored her pleading face.

"My loyalty is to the Dark Lord and only to the Dark Lord, Narcissa. I suggest you determine your loyalties quickly...And if it's not the right side to which they lay-"

"I have always been a faithful servant to our Lord," Narcissa hissed like an angry cat, "Always! But Draco is our son."

"Draco is a traitorous Halfbreed, nothing more."

"He is your son," said Narcissa beguilingly with begging blue eyes . Lucius scoffed, but let her continue, "There's a way where we can please the Dark Lord and set Draco on the right path. Without harming Draco."

Lucius raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow, "And what is this miraculous solution, Narcissa? Offer ourselves up in sacrifice?"

"No," Narcissa replied, looking hopeful at the fact that Lucius was listening, "We offer to have Severus take him in."

"Severus Snape?" Lucius repeated incredulously, "His loyalties are murky-"

"The Dark Lord trusts him," Narcissa interrupted firmly, "That is good enough for me as it should be for you."

Lucius looked at her with an unknown emotion, but Narcissa plowed on.

"If Draco is a full werewolf Severus can brew him Wolfsbane whilst swaying him back to the right side...Draco can be saved, Lucius, I know it."

"I was unaware that you had Seer abilities."

Narcissa didn't reply, but simply looked at Lucius pleadingly. Lucius gave her a disgusted grimace before looking rapidly away. Finally Lucius spoke again.

"Fine. Severus can take the traitor in and do what he can," a small smile twisted onto Narcissa's face, "But if I ever see him on the opposite side of the battlefield I will not hesitate..."

Narcissa nodded and turned to stare at Draco's slumbering form.

"I hope for your sake that you will do the same, Narcissa."

Later..

My Dear Severus,

There is a matter that must be addressed immediately. Destroy this letter as soon as you have committed it to memory for if it should get into the wrong hands the results, as you know, would be disastrous. You must have a good idea what has occurred earlier today from our Master and Lord or from your own means. Today Draco has gone against his family and as a result has become a Light Halfbreed.

I must ask you a favor, Severus.

You know the punishment for traitors. I ask you to prevent this from becoming Draco's fate. I ask you to take Draco in, to care for him, to sway him to the right side, and, if it is necessary, brew him the Wolfsbane potion. The incompetent healers of St. Mungo's say that while Draco will live, but they don't know whether he will transform during the full moon, merely have Halfbreed characteristics, or some other effect as the result of Greyback attacking him whilst he not transformed. Lucius has agreed to this. Despite everything I think he truly loves Draco, but his first loyalty is rightly to our Master and Lord.

Please. If you do not take Draco in he will meet a fate worse then death. I ask this of you, his godfather and hope.

Narcissa B. Malfoy

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Narcissa,

I agree to take Draco in and do my best to sway him to the correct side under much consideration.

It is a fool's fancy to believe Lucius loves his son.

SS

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"Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, Mr. Snape" said a goblin, bowing in a fancy suit the day after letters had been exchanged between a trio of Malfoys and a Snape, "How may I help you today?"

"We wish to disown...our son," Lucius replied crisply, though he said the last two words with great disdain, "As soon as possible. Severus Snape shall serve as our bonder."

The goblin resisted the urge to raise its eyebrows. The Malfoys disowning their heir? How very...unusual. And Severus Snape, who was hanging back in the shadows, as their bonder...

"As you wish," said the goblin politely, "Let's draw up the papers, shall we?" He snapped his fingers and a thick stack of scrolls of parchment appeared on the intricately carved desk, "Now, do you wish to leave young Draco with any inheritance?"

"None."

The goblin marked something on a parchment.

"Do you wish to hold any control over him whatsoever any longer?"

"No."

Again something the work of a quill was heard.

"Do you wish to leave him with any grievances?"

"No."

The goblin snapped his fingers again and the stack disappeared to be replaced with only two scrolls. After much signing and initialing the papers were filed away and a copy given to Lucius and Narcissa.

"Now if you would join kneel and join hands, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy," the Malfoys did so, "And you, Mr. Snape, touch your wand to their hands," Snape had already done so as soon as the two had joined hands. The goblin waved his hands and icy blue writing appeared in the air, "Please exchange the oath, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy."

"Do you, Narcissa Black Malfoy, forever find Draco Lucius Malfoy no longer worthy to be called a Malfoy nor your son?"

"I do."

A thin tongue of red flames shot from Snape's wand and wound itself around Lucius and Narcissa's joined hands. One would appear for each vow.

"Do you swear that he shall nevermore receive benefits from being your offspring?"

"I do."

"Do you hereby disown our son, Draco Lucius Malfoy?"

"I do."

"Do you, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, forever find Draco Lucius Malfoy no longer worthy to be called a Malfoy nor your son?"

"I do," said Lucius, perhaps in a stronger voice than Narcissa's.

"Do you swear that he shall nevermore receive benefits from being your offspring?"

"I do."

"Do you hereby disown our son, Draco Lucius Malfoy?"

"I do."

Then in unison, "I swear this upon my magic."

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A day or two after the news broke out that Draco Malfoy had been disowned and was now Draco Snape...

A loud alarm sounded as Alice Longbottom's pulse monitor didn't detect any beat. Her husband stared blankly at the Devil's Snare wrapped around her neck. For a reason unknown to his battered mind, he began to weep uncontrollably.

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AN: The chapter title may have made the changes predictable, but...whatever...

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I've gone against my no slash warning in Chapter One. No, this isn't going to be Harry/Draco, it's just going to be background characters. It's not going to be anything major so if you don't like it, ignore it or quit reading. I'm following JK with Dumbledore's love life. (Besides him being gay, he will not be in a pairing.) Lastly, there will be mentions of abuse and possibly disturbing battle scenes. Check my Chapter One Warnings for full details.

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If Ron suddenly seems mature and everything...you're wrong...it will be explained later...Also, I think I implied that Hermione had around eight or ten siblings in earlier chapters. She did in my plans, but then I decided that was too many OCs and cut out all but the triplets.

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So the first year at Hogwarts has ended with a total of five deaths, (Professor Sprout & Quirrell, Su Li, Harry, and Alice Longbottom)...and unless I'm going more AU, (nobody knows, -inserts mysterious sound-), we all know what occurs in second year...A brief summary/preview/teaser for the following summer and second year:

After a summer filled with funerals, magical growths, split families, and the insufferable Rita Skeeter, Harry & co. return to Hogwarts...but something's awry. Amidst new students, (A Creevey, Lovegood, Weasley, and Grangers, oh my!), rivalries, and fashion trends, Hogwarts isn't so safe anymore. Monsters and the Founders' heirs are on the loose and more than one beloved Hogwarts' figurehead is lost to Azkaban, the Ministry, and/or the Wizarding World. After several shattering blows, Harry's insane Aunt Lucille is there to take her nephew where he rightfully belongs. And he's done being the heroic Gryffindor. He's done with the Wizarding World. He's done with life.

Revised 12/1/07.

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