Notes: Hey, sorry for the delay in chapters I zipped off to San Diego Comic Con so I wasn't writing. Also this part was little harder to write because it was so plot heavy. I wrote it three times before I got it to where I liked it. This chapter is 1,000 words instead of the usual 500 and introduces a new character. More to come. Disclaimer at the bottom of the page, basically I don't own the Harry Potter characters.

Sean lounged against the wall of the common room, waiting for the other Slytherins to assemble. So far, only Baddock, Pritchard and Parkinson had arrived, and they were too busy whispering in the corner to spare him a glance.

//I'm not being ignored.// He scowled at them anyway and absently traced the gold embossing on the cover of the old book he was carrying.

Malfoy was up to something. The last week or two had been filled with strange pointless requests and errands. Like the book Sean held in his hands.

He traced the two words of the title. //"Easy Summoning."// He wondered how the book fit into Voldemort's plans.

Why bother with summoning anyway?

Malfoy himself interrupted Sean's thoughts, swaggering into the room flanked on either side by a yawning Crabbe and Goyle. With Malfoy's entrance the others appeared and Sean abandoned his wall to join them.

Malfoy sneered at each of them, starting the meeting off on the right foot. "I'm hoping you all managed to find the items we need."

They nodded. "Hand them over," Malfoy sighed. "I might as well see how bad it is."

Sean watched as the others dug out their items. Parkinson eagerly handed Malfoy her brown leaves, Zambini a parchment, Baddock passed him a vial, Sean the book, Pritchard a wrapped package, Bulstrode a stone, and Crabby and Goyle passed over two feathers.

Malfoy inspected the items curling his lips at some as if they were just barely suitable. He looked at the book last, stopping at the title.

//Wait for it.//

"Sean, was the book I wanted checked out or did you not have enough sense to read the title?"

"I didn't have a pass for the restricted section."

"So instead you give me THIS." Malfoy snorted, roughly flipping through the book looking for something. Sean waited, feeling everyone's gaze on him.

Malfoy stopped somewhere in the middle of the book and read a little ways down the page. Seeming to find it adequate, he slammed the book shut and leveled an appraising gaze at Sean.

"Where did you find this book?"

Sean remained quiet under Malfoy's scowl, resisting the urge to squirm. There was no reason to tell Malfoy that the book belonged to his family.

Malfoy shrugged.

"It'll have to do," Malfoy said, dismissing Sean as he tossed the book into the pile with the rest of the items. Malfoy regarded the objects with obvious distaste before turning back to the group.

//I wonder what he plans to do with all of that junk?//

Everyone was probably wondering the same thing, but no one was brave enough to ask.

"Well, tell me what you've found out?" Malfoy said.

They all relayed their findings to Malfoy. Parkinson talked about the conversations she'd overheard from the remaining Ravenclaws, unfortunately her information was mostly gossip. It all revolved around Potter and the sword he carried. Sean found it interesting but wasn't sure how much he could trust was true and what was straight out hearsay. Like whether or not the sword could fly, and was Potter really unable to take it off. Sean listened, watching Malfoy for his snide reactions.

Zambini and Baddock got into another argument about the students who had switched houses and whether or not they could be trusted. As always, they degraded into senseless bickering.

And the question came up again.

"Can't we just attack them?" Pritchard asked itching for blood.

Malfoy's eyes rolled in frustration and Sean watched him, amused. Malfoy's arrogance was a honed art form.

//He must practice with a mirror.//

Sean was waiting for THE speech and Malfoy didn't disappoint him. He went right into it and Sean was sure now that the little prick had it memorized.

//He should, we've only been asking him about it for months.//

Only tonight, Sean asked the question again.

"Dumbledore's gone, why not?"

Malfoy glanced at Sean, his expression between contemplative and like he smelled something foul, as if Sean were nothing.

"Sean, could you not fathom the words I was just speaking?" Malfoy said in a patient, patronizing tone. "Maybe I should speak slower for you so you can keep up."

The others laughed.

"What part of the problem does Dumbledore leaving fix? They still outnumber us not to mention that we work better when people can't attack us. Also, Lord Voldemort's orders were very clear that we're to remain undetected, which means we don't attack anyone. Are you getting all of this? I could explain it more simply."

The other Slytherins smiled. But Sean was watching Malfoy, trying not to hit the smug bastard.

//I know what you are. You're only in charge because your father's rich and supported Voldemort back in the day. But he's spent years pretending he had nothing to do with Lord Voldemort to avoid Azkaban. He's afraid.//

Malfoy might be refined, wealthy, and snobbish but he was every bit the coward his father was.

// I can prove it.//

Zambini cut in breaking the tension. "But with Dumbledore gone wouldn't this be the perfect time to do something?"

The others looked at Zambini but Sean ignored them, focusing on Malfoy. Only Malfoy didn't look surprised but almost expectant, like he'd been waiting for this.

"Yes, it would be the perfect time. If WE were making the decisions." Malfoy paused. "But we're waiting for Lord Voldemort to give us further instructions..."

Malfoy looked at each one of them, weighing his next words carefully.

"...He should be here by the next meeting. So do try to make a good impression."

There was shocked silence as Malfoy picked up the items they'd collected. Sean looked around at them, noting the reactions, which ranged from pleasant surprise to controlled fear.

Malfoy himself showed nothing.

//He's known about this for awhile now. I wonder what else he's hiding?//

Sean watched Malfoy and his bodyguards leave, feeling the anticipation. Something was about to happen.

//Voldemort was coming to Hogwarts.//

~~~

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. (it's true)