Harry sat in the library on Saturday, revising his Transfiguration essay, and adding a few new facts he'd found. He was still a bit dismal in Professor McGonagall's classroom. Mafalda usually helped him later in the day on whatever they were trying to master. Hermione usually caved to pressure and the need to show that she could do the spell and gave him tips on how to cast the incantation.

Apparently the caster had to visualize the outcome very clearly. Being able to 'see' exactly what one wanted and have a 'feel' for the material makeup of the object. Someone who had never encountered silk, for instance would have difficulty turning any of ther object into silk.

Harry had trouble understanding exactly what he needed to 'feel' and simply couldn't imagine why it was so important. Dudley, of all people finally summed it up after carefully listening to the numerous explanations given to Harry that were full of 5 or 6 syllable words and convoluted logic.

"Harry, the magic needs to know your intent." Dudley said. "If you aren't clear about what it is you want, it won't ... can't give it to you. And it needs you to be exact, down to the component parts – so if you aren't sure about that – the spell will go wrong." Dudley sat back happily – he'd managed an explanation in plain language.

Mafalda laughed and shook her head. She knew that she tended to talk using wording that others not in Ravenclaw didn't understand. She tried to explain in simpler terms, but usually didn't remember. She was glad Dudley had been able to 'interpret' for her.

Hermione looked affronted. "That's what we were saying."

Draco snickered, delighted that the Uber-Ravenclaw Granger had been shown up by a Gryffindor. He found Granger's manner abrasive at the best of times. A dozen times a day he had to remind himself that he could not call her a mudblood. After all 'Tuney's parents had been muggles and even Lucius wasn't sure whether Dudley should be called a half-blood or muggleborn - and Draco really liked 'Tuney and Dudley.

Anyway, sneering at her heritage was impossible given the people now in his life that he cared deeply about. However, it was obvious Granger had been raised by uncouth savages without even a modicum of tact. The decade of hearing his mother use the term mudblood constantly fought hard with the last year of learning that muggles weren't all bad.

"No you weren't, Granger." Draco had to settle on just sneering her name. "You were showing off your vocabulary and giving an entire lecture on Transfiguration instead of just saying what Harry needed to know in simple terms."

Hermione flushed in temper. Why was no one ever happy when she had answers? The teachers usually looked resigned when she had her hand in the air. Students cringed when she started explaining things. Why didn't they want to know exactly why the spells needed the mental cues to work? Yes, Dudley's explanation was simple and direct – but it was incomplete - they were obviously just lazy. She sighed and glared at Malfoy, who just sneered at her like he knew what she'd been thinking.

Hermione knew she was accepted into this circle of friends from all houses by virtue of being Mafalda's friend. She and Mafalda were already very close – they understood each other completely. They both had an unending thirst for knowledge and a drive to excel. Malfalda, though was content to just know she was impressing her fellow Ravenclaws and was gaining acceptance among the wizards and witches she admired – namely Harry Potter and his friends.

Hermione, though, wanted to be tops in everything. She'd been looking into past school records, intending to break every 'highest mark' and 'record number of outstandings'. OWLs weren't until fifth year and she was already making plans for how many to take. She had wanted to be the top student in every class she took, right from the start.

Hermione glared down the table at Harry Potter and Malfoy – True, it had only been a couple weeks, but so far she'd been unable to oust them from the top two places in potions. She snorted, even Dudley was doing almost as well as her in that class.

She was right behind the two of them, and Longbottom in Herbology. It had taken time for her to understand what the Hogwarts Professors wanted in essays. Potter, Malfoy and Dursley seemed already be experienced in writing a professor – pleasing essay. It was so frustrating. She knew what to write at the muggle schools she'd gone to. She had always been top of her class, there.

Of course the children and teachers at the muggle schools had been unappreciative of her efforts there, as well. They had advanced her into higher classes, and that had annoyed some of the children and caused alot of name-calling and teasing. They had given her more challenging work, but even the teachers had occasionally called her a know-it-all when they thought she couldn't hear them.

She'd been determined to impress the wizarding world and fit in. After one of the teachers had delivered her letter and explained things her parents had asked how to get information on the wizarding world. The teacher had given them a catalog on books and explained how to order them. They'd sent their order by regular mail to a 'Tom' in the Leaky Cauldron who had sent it on to the wizarding bookstore. To their astonishment an owl had brought the books later that night.

She and her parents had been thrilled, feeling like they were suddenly living in a fairy tale.

Hermione had read through all the books and had pleaded with her parents to go to this Diagon Alley. To her shock she had even met Harry Potter and had met her now best friend Mafalda as well. She'd listened carefully to everything she'd heard that day – from the people they'd met, and overheard conversation in the stores and on the street. She knew that 'muggleborns' were looked down on – she would obviously need to prove herself.

Mafalda, in spite of her earlier resentments toward the wizarding world had seemed to be mollified by her welcome from the numerous Weasley boys. This had blunted her anger over what had happened to her father, Lawrence. Hearing Mafalda's tale – purebloods and squibs and all that had happened in the Prewett family and many others - had disturbed Hermione. Obviously the wizarding world needed an overhaul, she was determined to help that along.

Hermione glanced at Harry Potter, and once again thanked the sorting hat for not listening to her. She'd gotten a Hogwarts alumi book and looked up several people. Both Harry Potter's parents had been Gryffindor, and both the Headmaster and the deputy Headmaster were prior Gryffindors. She'd been so sure that Potter would be in that house as well, and the two most influential people in Hogwarts had come from there. Hermione had been determined to get in that house, among the 'best'. When Harry Potter had ended in Slytherin, she'd been shocked. Since then she'd slowly come to realize how lonely she would have been in Gryffindor. She likely would have been the only one studying at times.

Dudley watched the Granger girl studying the students at their end of the library table. She did that now and then, like she was trying to figure them out. He knew that their mixed bag of houses that were friends was viewed as odd, he was glad that Harry had kept his promise of making Dudley an honorary Slytherin. The whole idea of being 'Slytherin Marauders' had been great, although they were far too busy to plan pranks. Besides, watching the twins and other Hufflepuffs pranking others was more fun.

Dudley was quite happy, now in the Gryffindor dorm. He and Dean, along with Seamus and Ron had settled in quite well after a few days. Ron had only sneered about Harry and Draco once. Dudley had calmly pointed out that Ron's buddy Neville now housed in the Slytherin dorm as well, now. Ron had flushed and subsided. Ron still considered Neville a friend, so remarks about Slytherin we simply avoided.

Inevitably the whole lot of them would get together. They would meet outside in a courtyard on good days, or in the library on rainy or cold ones. Blaise and his bookends – Goyle and Crabbe would jeer at them, but 'Harry's group' far outnumbered the three of them, so they usually moved on quickly.

Harry listened to Draco rambling about their visit to Hagrid's yesterday with half an ear. Harry knew that Draco and Dudley had been rather fearful of the huge man. Harry had been as well, but he had been too curious about what the man had to say to allow his nervousness to deter him.

Hagrid had served tea and 'rock cakes'. The tea had been strong but good. After a few attempts to bite into the rock cakes they'd given up and said they'd just eaten and weren't hungry. Hagrid had looked at Draco a bit dubiously at first, but had said nothing. He'd listened to the three chatter enthusiastically about their classes and Harry had eventually asked about his parents.

Hagrid had reminisced happily about James and 'the Marauders'. The three boys had listened intently. Harry especially was always eager to hear more. It was irritating to have people know so much more about his parents than he did. He knew that James and his friends had been all too human, and the adventerous tales hid a darker aspect at times. Their victims may or may not have found the pranks amusing, and the adventures could easily have gone all wrong. Still, as long as he listened with that in mind, Harry liked to hear the tales.

Hagrid hadn't know Lily very well, to Harry's disappointment. It was almost dinner when Harry said they needed to leave, but they promised to visit again when they could. They made their escape just as Hagrid was suggesting that they might like to look at a few new pets he had 'out back'.

Draco had heard that Hagrid liked magical beasts – the bigger and more dangerous the better. Draco had the idea that he might lure Hagrid into badgering the Headmaster into having a dragon or three visit the school. Dudley was all for it as well.

Harry was less certain. He had listened closely whenever Tom talked about dragons and the Reserve. There would have to be a very specific reason for a dragon and rider to come to Hogwarts, and they would be unlikely to stay for long.

Harry worried a bit, he knew Severus and Tom were going after information today. He suspected that the ordeal was going to stress Tom a great deal. Severus would not give as many detail as Harry would have liked about this Stubbs character, behaving in a rather protective manner. Harry mentally shrugged, hoping the group would have decent luck talking to the people. Getting another Horcrux destroyed, and another piece of Tom's soul returned would be great.

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Tom and the rest of the group approached the bleak grey cement building with caution. They would have to be very careful here, a bad slip-up would have the ministry in an uproar – worse, they would be trying to figure out why the lot of them were at a muggle prison. This was scrutiny they could not afford.

Tom was sporting a glamour to make him look a bit older, and they all had their badges and paperwork. Lucius' lawyer had arranged the 'questioning' ahead of time. The prison had been cooperative, though mystified by their interest in Billy Stubbs.

The guards looked at the elderly looking Albus a bit dubiously, but they were ushered the four of them into a dingy room with a battered table and chairs. Albus and Lucius sat at the table, gingerly. Lucius had wanted to cast a quick cleansing charm on the chair, but Severus had insisted someone might be watching. Severus and Tom remained standing, behind them. Tom was too nervous to sit, and the whole experience was reminding Severus too strongly of his brief stay in Azkaban.

At last, a pair of guards brought a surly and heavily chained Billy into the room. Albus waited until Billy had settled into the chair, and barked out a few sneering comments about them. Albus started off the questions, as they had planned. This gave Albus a chance to delve into Billy's surface thoughts. Lucius continued with leading questions that would hopefully bring the memories forward that they wished to see.

Severus was to try to go deeper into the man's mind and get memories that Billy had perhaps buried, or since they were decades old, he had simply forgotten. Yvane also intended to look into the memories, though Albus was still unaware of Tom's dragon assistant. Tom or Severus could claim to have seen the thoughts when they reported them.

"Tom Riddle?" Billy gaffawed. "What ya wanna know 'bout that freaky maggot fer?" Billy sneered. "'aven't seen 'im since I lef' tha' cesspool of 'n orphanage."

Albus winced at the flood of memories regarding Billy and Tom's life there in the dregs of the London orphanage. He'd known it had not been ... easy. But the children truly had had very little in the way of affection or hope. Billy had been badly traumatized by his relatives before being dropped off with Mrs. Cole. He'd passed on the legacy of horrors to other children, not only Tom. After leaving the orphanage he'd led a varied life, getting some experience as a construction worker.

This had supplied him an easy cover for traveling around the country, mostly simple thefts at first. Then he'd turned his attention to the children. Albus was relieved when the memories became hazy and muddled.

Severus and Yvane were sturdier. They were determined to know as much as possible. They could tell that many of Billy's victims had never been found. Severus could do little about what Billy had done, but at least closure and answers could be given to the families.

Yvane blunted as much of the details as he could, not allowing details of the memories to come through to Tom. There was, however, no way to pretend that Billy's victims had not suffered a great deal before dying.

By the end Tom was pale and sweating, and convinced that his own experience had been rather tame in comparison. Seeing Billy had been a shock. He'd known in his head that it had been at least fifty years – had told himself Billy would now be an old man. It still had hit him hard to see the monster of his old nightmares now a slumped over wreck.

Tom narrowed his eyes at the man, even after finding his magic he'd had horrible dreams about Billy, he was glad he had come here to see the monster had been well and truly caged. He'd been lucky, really, to have escaped with only a scare. These other children had been the ones to truly suffer at Billy's hands.

"No, Tom. This should not make you feel that you did not suffer." Yvane stressed. "True, you did not suffer as badly as his later victims. But don't let anyone tell you that you were not affected by what you experienced."

Yvane whispered to Severus, and they felt that between the two of them they had amassed as much information as possible on Billy's victims and any information that Billy might have had on Tom Riddle – which wasn't much.

Lucius broke off his questions at Albus' signal. The puzzled guards took Billy away. To their surprise a pair of rather official looking men met them at the door. They flipped open some ID to show them some badges. Lucius gritted his teeth ... real police officers – great.

The pair waved them back into the room and they all sat, rather uncertainly.

The older one introduced himself. "I'm Inspector Don Havelock. We've been keeping an eye on Mr. Stubbs since his incarceration. We were alerted to your visit by the warden. We've always felt there was another killing that he did – there was evidence, but not enough to lead us to where the body was."

Severus knew there was more than one left unfound – but how to give the information without causing even more suspicion? Yvane whispered what the Inspectors already knew ... Severus could entwine just enough clues to lead them to where they needed to go, perhaps.

Severus leaned forward to Albus' relief, he hadn't been sure how to answer the Inspectors.

"We have been investigating a similar perpetrator. One we think Mr. Stubbs was aquainted with." Severus carefully eyed the two men. He needed to speak carefully and he drew some of what he said from the men's thoughts – to find the correct wording that they would expect from fellow police officers.

"We found a few people that the other man boasted a bit to. After stringing together alot of separate clues we came to the conclusion that he and Stubbs may have worked together at times. The other man spoke of some places ... ones they may have used to hide things – bodies or evidence." Severus watched the men look hopeful.

"I can't promise that anything will be there – and I have nothing to offer that can be used to obtain search warrants. Perhaps you won't need those, though, as they are mostly in woods on public lands." Severus wrote down some directions and did his best to describe the areas.

The Inspectors looked pleased at the information. "Thank you, we appreciate the help with this." Havelock proffered a business card. "I may need to ask a few more questions, if I could have your number...?"

The group froze ... 'damn' they thought collectively.

Lucius recovered first and pulled out his lawyer's card, thanking Merlin he'd brought it, in case of difficulty. "We're rarely at the office, but this man knows how to reach us." Lucius said, hoping there would be no more questions. To their relief Havelock nodded agreeably, though he looked at them thoughtfully. Severus, for one, was sure he suspected something off.

They all rose and made their way to the main gates of the prison, Albus and his entourage feeling the Inspector's eyes on their backs all the way there. They were glad they had chosen not to apparate here as they felt Havelock observe them getting in the limo that Lucius' lawyer had provided for them.

The driver took them to Angus Essex's office, so Lucius could warn the lawyer he might be contacted by some Inspectors. Angus shook his head ruefully.

"As long as you are here – I should warn you. Marge Dursley is already making noises about the Christmas visit – and she wants a longer time next summer as well – the few days we gave her this year didn't satisfy her." The man looked uncomfortable. "She's been sticking to her probation pretty well – or we at least haven't been catching her breaking it. What concerns me is that she's sold most of her dogs and her house – then bought her brother's old house on Privet Drive." He frowned. "Strikes me she's become a bit ... obsessed."

Lucius and Severus eyed each other. They both knew nothing good would become of this. Lucius grimaced – and here he was, sworn off muggle killing, so he couldn't deal with Marge in his prefered manner.

Lucius hated the idea of breaking all this to Petunia, but he nodded to Angus and they apparated to the Hogwarts gates. Albus talked quietly on the way back, a bit disappointed that Billy's knowledge of Tom had mostly ended by Tom's third year. The most that Albus had gotten was that Tom had been given excellent reasons to hate everyone at the orphanage. Albus said that the cave, at present seemed their best bet, after all.

Albus went up to his office to enlist Shacklebolt and a few other Aurors in the search for the cave. Tom turned toward the Gryffindor Tower and was stopped by Severus' hand on his arm.

"You will be alright, then?" Severus asked, Lucius looking on intently as well.

"Yes, I'm sure if faced with a boggart – he won't be Billy Stubbs." Tom smirked, "Not that I ever let myself be faced with a boggart in the past."

Severus and Lucius smiled tightly and nodded as Tom went up to the Tower.

"You think he will be alright?" Lucius frowned.

"Yvane has always told me if there were problems, though he rarely needed any help. It's not like Tom can hide difficulties from Yvane and Yvane is in a position to make sure Tom is honest with himself. Like it or not." Severus answered.

Lucius nodded and flooed from the main hallway back to the Manor, after promising to owl any news.

Severus walked slowly to the Slytherin dorms and his rooms. An interesting day, and much accomplished, really. They had felt that the cave would be the next place to search. Now they were even more sure. Albus' Auror friends would look – but so would dozens of Lucius' minions ...er - henchmen ... um – employees. Severus was never sure what to designate those rabbit-like people as.

It was not the frantic race they had run before – even if the Aurors found the cave first, Albus would likely send them to get the Horcrux – if one were there. Their greatest fear was that Albus would come along and insist on helping destroy the thing.

Well, they would have a plan in place by then, or have convinced Albus that since they had destroyed the others so handily that they should continue to do so.

Severus slipped into the Slytherin common room which was nearly empty. Supper was not for another hour and it was a beautiful day outside. There were a few studious fifth and seventh years that were worried for their OWLs and NEWTs.

He noticed Pansy Parkinson scribbling furiously in what he assumed was a letter to her mother. He knew that her family was fence-sitting a bit. Pansy was not happy with the Malfoys defection, mostly because that made Draco less likely to see her as the most viable option as a marriage partner. Severus snorted softly. Even if Lucius had stayed a Death Eater, Pansy had not had a very big chance to be chosen as Draco's wife.

Blaise was playing some game with Goyle and Crabbe – he was unlikely to lose at any games with those two. Blaise at one time seemed a quiet and a rather nice kid when Severus had seen him at the Manor. His mother might be a black widow, but Blaise until now had been hiding his ambitious side. Draco's stepping down as the leader of any future Death Eaters had spurred either Blaise or his mother into pushing him forward.

Severus looked around. There was an apparant lack of followers for Blaise. Likely a great deal of former supporter were waiting. If Voldemort never re-emerged, they were better off ignoring Blaise and his ilk. If Voldemort did reappear, there was time to step forward if they wanted to continue to follow the Dark Lord.

Severus went to his own quarters and showered and changed. He planned to see Rosemerta tomorrow, he wanted to catch up on news with her.

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Lucius gathered up a wizardspaced picnic basket with a dinner of both their favorites inside. He knew Petunia had been busy settling in a couple new families into Spinners End today. An elderly couple (they were both over 150 years old) into a modest sized house, and a pair of newlyweds into one of the condos.

The elderly couple had been living their huge rambling family mansion with their children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, etc. They welcomed the peace and quiet of the smaller home – there were extra bedrooms to have the numerous relatives visit, but in ones and twos instead of twenty or thirty.

The newlyweds wanted a small starter place, of course. They seemed as excited to be served by 'The Boy Who Lived's' aunt as they were by the condo. Lucius found that annoying. Petunia seemed amused by it, so he didn't rip up their application.

He arrived at Petunia's house, looking around as he always did. Lucius wasn't sure why he had started to feel like coming here was like coming home. He'd lived in Malfoy Manor his whole life. This was much more cosy, of course. He didn't have to use a sonorus charm when trying to communicate with someone at the other end of the dinner table.

Lucius set the basket on the dining room table and looked out of the large window overlooking the back garden with the owlery. Petunia was directing Dobby at some chore or other and was cradling a bouquet of roses she'd picked. It was rather disturbing to feel his heart lift at the sight. He really had been looking for an agreeable companion that he could entrust Draco to.

He didn't mind caring about Petunia, but too much affection would just lead to alot of disappointment. Women always did disappoint him in the end. They always had an agenda. He was sure that Petunia's was likely relatively benign. She was a muggle-raised squib turned loose in the wizarding world and needed protection for her and her son. He could admire her efforts to fit in and find ways to earn a healthy amount of galleons, but she likely knew she needed a wizard with decent amounts of magic to keep her safe.

At New Years, when he'd kissed her he'd had no suspicions about her. But he'd just 'liked' her at the time. Then he'd started admiring her, then cared about her, now affection was worming it's way in ... and was bringing uncertainty and doubt along for the ride. The problem was that he wasn't sure if Petunia felt anything for him – or if she just saw a rich, strong protector.

Lucius shook off the lingering shadows of doubt. He was fairly sure he could court Petunia successfully. True he'd never actually courted before. With his marriage to Narcissa all he'd done was stand there while Abraxas and written out a check to Narcissa's father and their betrothal was announced the next day. He'd not really spoken more that a dozen words to her beforehand – she'd been several years below him in Hogwarts and he'd not paid much attention to her.

Any other liasons had been similar – the hooker shouting a price from the street-corner and he deciding if she was worth it.

Well, he'd been watching Severus' courtship – though it had provided few clues. He certainly hoped it didn't take him the better part of a decade to decide to buy a ring.

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