As I was doing my homework in the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry stopped reading that stupid Potions book long enough to tell me that we were supposed to meet with Dumbledore tonight. Fortunately, I was doing some last minute work on my essay for Defense Against the Dark Arts. I stuffed all of my books and homework back in my bag, ran upstairs to throw my stuff in my room, went back downstairs to Harry, and finally headed out with him to go see Dumbledore.

While we were walking to his office, Harry started to make conversation with me. "I wonder what Dumbledore wants us to do this time."

"Me, too," I said. "It probably has something to do with getting what he wants from Slughorn."

"Yeah," he replied. My brother paused for a moment before talking again. "I don't know how to act normal around Ginny."

"You want to act normal around Ginny Weasley?" I asked, raising my eyebrows in shock.

"Yeah. I don't know, I just feel all awkward and shy around her," he explained.

I scoffed. "That's because you are awkward and shy around her. The first thing you need to know about Ginny is that she's wild. It's a good wild, bro, trust me. But she's daring, fearless, someone who is always on the edge at all times. You have to be able to keep up with her."

Harry nodded as we approached where Dumbledore's office was located. We said the password and ascended up to his door. I knocked on the door twice as soft as possible.

"Come in," he said from the other side.

We entered inside his office and found him sitting at his desk. "Ahh, Harry, Max. I'm glad you two made it in time."

"No problem, sir," Harry responded.

"Well, let's get started." Dumbledore led us to the Pensieve like last time. The memory was already there.

I reluctantly stuck my face inside the Pensieve and watched as the memory slowly came alive.

*******

"I'd like to know where you boys get your information. More knowledgeable than half the staff, you are." Slughorn and a bunch of Hogwarts students were sitting at a table, talking and laughing. Tom Riddle was sitting there, thinking about something.

"Sir, is it true that Professor Merrythought is retiring?" he asked.

"Now, Tom. I couldn't tell you if I knew, could I?" Slughorn chuckled, taking a piece of pineapple from a plate and biting into it. "By the way, thank you for the pineapple. You're quite right, it is my favorite. But how did you know?"

Tom just simply shrugged at him. "Intuition, I suppose."

As the clock chimed, Tom didn't take his eyes off of Slughorn. Even when everyone left, he was still there, staring down Slughorn. He was thinking about something. Something that he had to wait to talk about until it was just the two of them.

"Look sharp, Tom. Don't want to be caught out of bed after hours," the man warned him. "Is something on your mind, Tom?"

"Yes, sir," the boy replied. "You see, I couldn't think of anyone else to go to. The other professors...well, they're not like you. They might misunderstand."

"Go on."

"I was in the library the other night, in the Restricted Section, and I read something rather odd about a piece of rare magic. I thought perhaps you could illuminate me. It's called, as I understand it..." His voice was becoming muffled.

Slughorn looked mad. "I don't know anything about such things, and if I did, I wouldn't tell you! Now, get out of here at once, and don't let me ever catch you mentioning it again!"

*******

I lifted my face up and gasped. I moved away from the Pensieve so that Harry could see the memory. Why was Tom's voice muffled like that in the end? What was he asking about? So many questions ran through my head as Harry looked at the memory. He finally raised his head.

"Confused?" Dumbledore asked. "I'd be surprised if you weren't."

"Well, we don't understand. What happened?" Harry questioned him.

"This is the most important memory I've collected," he explained. "It is also a lie. This memory has been tampered with and by the same person whose memory it is, our old friend, Professor Slughorn."

"But why would he tamper with his own memory?" I spoke up.

"I suspect he's ashamed of it," the man said.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Why, indeed? I asked you two to get to know Professor Slughorn, and you have done so. Now I want you to persuade him to divulge his true memory in any way you can."

"We don't know him that well, sir," my twin told him.

"Harry, this memory is everything. Without it, we are blind. Without it, we leave the fate of our world to chance. You two have no choice. You two must not fail."

We looked at each other and hung around for a little bit longer. Once we talked more about the memory, Dumbledore bid us goodnight and sent us out of his office.

On the way back, we took our time heading for the Gryffindor Tower.

"We must not fail, huh? Great. This is just great. Dumbledore gave us a task to get something that is entirely impossible to get!" I said, throwing my hands into the air, laughing nervously. "We're screwed."

"No, we're not, Max. We just have to think of a way to get that memory from Slughorn. No matter how crazy the plan might be."

"Harry, there's no way he's going to just hand us that memory. He's going to figure out that Dumbledore set us up to get it. Forget it. I can't do this."

"Max, listen to me," Harry said, stopping me and holding onto my arms with both hands. "We need to get this memory from Slughorn. If we do, we'll be one step ahead on how we can kill Voldemort. This memory can change the way we end this war. We have to get that memory, and we will. I promise. Just relax, okay? Everything is going to be alright."

I hesitated before nodding my head. We walked back to the Gryffindor Tower without talking again. I was really hoping that Harry was right about everything was going to be alright. With a war about to unfold, how could everything be alright?

*******

"Okay, you know the plan, right, Max?" Harry asked me the next day as we were heading down to see Slughorn.

"Right. You do all the talking while I keep my mouth shut," I confirmed. "Got it."

He nodded as we headed inside his classroom. "Aha! If it isn't the Prince and Princess of Potions walking in. What do I owe this pleasure?"

"Well, sir, we were wondering if we might ask you something," Harry replied.

"Ask away, dear boy, ask away!" Slughorn insisted.

"The other day, Max and I were in the library, in the Restricted Section, and we came across something rather odd about a rare piece of magic."

"Yes, and what was this rare piece of magic?" he questioned us, giving us a funny look.

"Well, we don't know. Neither of us can remember the name exactly. It just got us wondering, are there some kinds of magic you're not allowed to teach us?"

He paused for a moment. "I'm a Potions Master, Harry. I think your question would better be posed to Professor Snape," he told us.

"Well, Max and I don't exactly agree with Professor Snape, sir. What I mean to say is...well, he's not like you. He might misunderstand," Harry stated, glancing at me as I was getting really impatient.

"Yes. There can be no light without the dark, and so it is with magic. Myself, I always strive to live within the light. I suggest you do the same." He started walking out of the room.

Finally, I had enough. "Is that what you told Tom Riddle, sir, when he came asking questions?" I blurted out.

Slughorn turned around, facing us again. "Dumbledore put you up to this, didn't he?" We didn't answer. "Didn't he?!" With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving me and Harry alone in there.

We huffed a sigh. I looked at Harry and shook my head, giving him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that."

"No, it's okay. It's not your fault," he said.

"I'm so stupid. I should've kept my mouth shut."

"Max, don't blame yourself for it."

But I ignored him, walking out of the room. Why did I always have to mess things up?

~~~~~~~

A/N: Hello!

So what did you think? Anyone ready for more Drax? I bet you all are.

Comment, vote, and wait for the next update on Monday! Bye! :)

-A