A gust of wind blew across rigid leaves of grass. All was quiet around the Weasley mansion. Voldemort's plans had been foiled yet again, and this time he knew not to underestimate the power of Harry Potter and his friends. His wand had been broken, however, so neither himself nor Harry were safe from wand attacks.

The Weasley's mansion held meetings for the Order of the Phoenix, a growing organization fighting the likes of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. The mansion was located by a pond, and on a hill just south of the mansion there was a small studio.

"Shush!" Ron whispered, holding something to his ear. "I can't hear what they're saying!"

Ron had one of his brothers' new inventions. It was an
Extendable Earwig, which was a newer, more compact model of bugging for sound that surpassed the original extendable ears in stealth.

Ginny was straining to hear through the device as well, but the three other people in the room simply stood around, waiting to get a report of what was going on. Harry, who now spent a large portion of his summer at the Weasley's, was looking at Luna, who was staying at the Weasley's because her father was attending an Editors' convention in Brazil. Hermione stood nearby, staying over simply because Mrs. Weasley asked her to; everyone else was over after all.

"Well," Ron muttered, a puzzled look on his face. "They say they've
detained a follower of Voldemort and that..." his voice broke off and he turned to Ginny. "Quick, write this down!"

Ginny grabbed the parchment that they had taken notes of previous Order meetings on, and scribbled as Ron spoke.

"The guy only says the same thing over and over…" Ron was speaking slowly and clearly, saying things as he heard them. "One of one and two of two, three before, 'Oh.' The stinger of a Bee, The head of a Raven, End with a
question, you'll awaken the mayhem. He will lie waiting, for he has just flown, to harbor the dragon egg, of goodness be prone."

Ron looked into space, listening, and he took the device out of his ear. "They say they'll work on it," he said, placing the gadget in his pocket.

Hermione picked up the parchment and read it aloud. Harry didn't really get the riddle himself, but he looked at Hermione, beaming, he knew for sure that she'd say…

"I just don't get it!" Hermione proclaimed, agitated.

Harry had not expected this. They were all sitting around the square table in the middle of the studio, pondering the riddle and speaking it in undertones at random intervals. None of them seemed to get it.

Frustrated, Ron stood up and paced the room. "Three before, 'Oh?'" he grumbled angrily. "What is that supposed to mean?"

He turned around and flung open the mini door in the wall that led to the mysterious room behind. No one could explain how the extra room was linked, as the studio's exterior presented the illusion of only one room. Harry and Hermione both looked with awe as a hole in the wall magically appeared; they could not see the small door, and were always intrigued when Ron opened it.

Ron looked at them with self pleasure at being able to do something that Harry, Hermione and Ginny could not. Luna did not bother to look, as she could see the door, and had grown tired of Ron opening it so many times in one day.

After a minute, they lost interest in the door, so he closed it, sighing, and he sat down once more. The sun was slowly sinking behind the horizon, creating a grayish blue sunset.

"Harry?" Ginny asked cautiously.

"Yeah?" He responded.

"Are you afraid of Voldemort?"

Harry did not answer right away. He stared at the gnarled wood of the table, focusing on a ring in the design. He glanced up to see everyone looking at him.

"I'm sorry!" Ginny piped up. "I shouldn't have asked. How stupid…"

"No," said Harry. "It's a good question. I mean, I am always worried that he may come bursting into the room and kill me."

"But you always act so bravely about him." This time it was Luna who spoke. "You even say his name."

"Yes, I do," Harry said, dignified by her remark. "But no one should be scared all the time. And no one should be afraid of a name!"

Hermione smiled at him and nodded. "You're right, Harry."

Ron looked at the riddle again, shaking his head until he folded it up. He stood up and walked over to a cabinet in the corner of the room, where he placed the parchment in a drawer. "Well, we'll try to solve that later."

They pushed their chairs in and left the studio. All was nearly dark, and as they walked down the hill, they saw Dumbledore entering the mansion.

Harry saw him first and he shouted, "Dumbledore's here!" Everyone smiled and began to run towards the house. They reached the front door and opened it. As soon as they registered what they were seeing, they all stopped dead
in their tracks, their mouths hanging open.

Dumbledore stood by Mr. Weasley, smiling and standing beside him was none other than Draco Malfoy.

For a moment, everyone in the room stared quietly. Dumbledore seemed to be the only one breathing. Molly Weasley walked into the room and even she stopped. She looked at Malfoy with everyone else, however she smiled and said, "Dumbledore, you're here."

Dumbledore bowed slightly and cleared his throat. "Thank you again Molly for being so gracious as to accept Mr. Malfoy into your house on such short notice."

Ron looked at his mother with disgust, but no one else noticed. Harry and Draco both looked at each other and Malfoy looked away, sneering.

Mr. Weasley seemed lost for words and asked if Dumbledore and Molly would fill him in on what was going on.

"Alright, Arthur," Molly assured him. "But let's go into the next room. Children, wait here please."

As Molly and Arthur went into the dining room, Dumbledore guided Malfoy into the room as well. As soon as the door shut, Ron pulled out an Earwig.

"I just planted one under the table in there this afternoon," he explained as he held the earpiece out for all to listen in. Hermione gave Harry an anxious look as they heard Dumbledore begin to speak.

"It was early this morning when Narcissa Malfoy was informed by owl post that the Malfoy manor was to be searched under magical warrant number 1345, for possible possession of dark and dangerous magic and artifacts," Dumbledore said smoothly, not pausing for a breath. "As soon as the ministry arrived, however, they found no one to be home, except Mr. Malfoy here."

Harry edged closer to hear better and he heard Ginny whisper, "Wow."

"And so," Dumbledore continued, speaking a bit quieter. "After inspection of the house, a many number of dark objects, poisons and things of that sort were located in a hidden chamber under the drawing room."

Arthur spoke up, "Yes, this I know about. But why bring the boy?"

"As I have said," Dumbledore explained. "His mother has vanished. Without a trace. Without a note to anyone. Gone."

Molly added, "And he's got no other family that can take him."

"That's right," Dumbledore said. "Also, it would be wise to note that the Crabbes and the Goyles have disappeared as well."

"Interesting..." They heard Arthur say.

"Yes, and I wondered if I could have a word, Arthur?" Dumbledore asked.

Ron held the Earwig closer to his ear. They could hear movement.

"Of course," they heard Molly say. "Draco, dear, let's go out here where everyone is waiting for us."

Ron hastily jammed the Earwig in his pocket and everyone jumped to a different corner of the room, pretending to be doing something and trying not to look guilty.

The door opened and Draco came in first, Mrs. Weasley right behind him. Draco had a bitter expression on and still he had not spoken a single word.

Molly looked over at Harry and Ron and said, "Boys."

Before she said another word, Ron's appearance turned sullen. It seemed that she expected this and so she continued, looking only at Harry. "Show Draco to your room. He will be staying with you two tonight. Oh, and dinner will be soon."

Draco walked robotically to his trunk that lay unnoticed by the door and Ron and Harry started up the staircase. Harry looked down at Hermione, Ginny and Luna, who returned looks of distress and curiosity. Draco however kept his eyes on the steps as he struggled with his trunk. Neither Harry nor Ron offered to help him, and the silence followed them up to the second floor.

Draco didn't sneer or make snide comments as Harry expected, but then again, he knew that the Weasley mansion was impressive, even to Draco. Many paintings of people, animals and castles graced the walls of the staircase. It swirled upwards, a burgandy runner covering the wooden steps.

They reached the second floor and waited for Draco to catch up. Harry was standing near the Weasley's bedroom and Ron by the bathroom, both right by the main stairs. Draco caught up and Ron led the way across the grand ballroom towards his room.

Ron snuck an impassive look at Draco, seeing whether he was impressed. Draco did look around, but he saw Ron looking at him, and his gaze fell to the floor again, regaining its irate appearance.

Harry looked up at the chandelier in the center of the wide ballroom. In the day, the sunlight would reflect from the glass and create colorful splashes on the walls. Now, at night, the chandelier was cold looking. Ron's room was just ahead and Harry couldn't help but notice that the only noise being made was the sound of their shoes stepping on the marble flooring.

Ron opened his bedroom door and Harry and Draco entered behind him. Draco walked in, determined not to look around, and Harry and Ron just stood by the door, not really knowing what they were supposed to do now. The moment was so very awkward.

Luckily, Dumbledore entered the room, breaking the painful silence as he walked up to Draco. "Mr. Malfoy, I know you will find it comfortable here."

Ron glanced at Harry with a look of doubt, but he quickly returned to his puzzled look. Dumbledore turned towards them and said, "I trust you will all get along, as it is in these times that we are most in need of friends."

He turned at an angle so as to speak to all three of them. "We have seen that any one of us is in danger of loneliness and grief, and I know that you will all help each other to fit in."

He smiled at each boy in turn and walked towards the door. Before he left, he turned around and waved his wand in a sort of "L" movement, so that a third bed appeared across from the two already in the room. He winked at Harry and said, "Sleep well tonight."

"Thank you Hermione, dear." Mrs. Weasley said as she placed a roast chicken on the table in the dinning room. "Just set those potatoes next to the salad."

Luna came in through the kitchen door next with a jug of Pumpkin juice and Ginny was at her heels holding a tower of glass cups.

Harry and Ron sat in their seats, watching the procession of savory dishes entering the room, some warm and letting off small silky strands of steam. Harry looked up at the chandelier of the high ceilinged room. He noticed that all the rooms in the house had high cielings, and as his eyes met the wooden paneled cieling above, he realized Ron's room was right above them, and Draco was in the room now. Doing what? Harry wondered silently.

Ron poked Harry with his spoon saying, "Eat slugs, Harry!"

Hermione, who had sat down after relieving herself of the platter of potatos snickered and said, "Ron, that was your finest moment was it?"

Ron remembered all too well how he had tried to curse Malfoy and how it backfired, causing him to burp up slugs all day. He also remembered that it was because Draco had called Hermione a "Mudblood" which was highly insulting. He immediately dropped the subject.

Mr. Weasley came in through the door leading off to the entrance hall; he sat down without saying anything, obviously pondering some matter.

Mrs. Weasley had cooked a large, delicious meal again (as she did every night without fail), and everyone was sitting down, looking eagerly at the dishes of food spread out on the long table, half of which was empty owing to its immense size.

Arthur sat at the end of the table with Molly at his left, along with Ginny and Luna and Hermione. Harry and Ron sat to Arthur's right, facing the girls, who they weren't looking at because the food was much more interesting to them.

Ron grabbed a fork and poked at a roast potato, but Mrs. Weasley asked, "Where is Draco?"

Ron lowered his fork in disappointment, and looked uneasily at Harry. Harry spoke, "He hasn't said a single word actually." His words were true, yet sounded oddly dramatic. "We told him dinner would be ready…" Harry looked at Hermione, who was watching him closely. "But he said he wasn't hungry."

This was a lie, as Harry and Ron had exchanged no more words than Draco had. Hermione gave Harry a disbelieving look; Harry knew she wanted to say, "You just didn't try hard enough."

Mrs. Weasley just clicked her tongue with sympathy. "The poor dear. I guess he wouldn't have much of an appetite."

Ron nodded in agreement, his wide eyes surveying the feast before him.

Arthur Tucked a napkin in his collar and announced, "Well, no reason to starve ourselves! Dig in everyone!" He smiled jovially at Molly, but she lifted an eyebrow in warning.

Arthur knew that she didn't approve of being unkind, even in the slightest to Draco, regardless of him being Lucius' son.

They sat and ate through plate after plate. Harry had gotten used to Molly's cooking and he wondered how he ever managed at the Dursley's. The dinner had vanished almost like magic, and everyone sat around the table, several conversations being tossed about. Arthur cleared his throat and slowly the talking died down so that he could speak. "Now, I know that you know that the Malfoy family aren't our best friends…"

He seemed to be forcing the next part out, his ears reddening. "But Draco is still a guest in our home, and he is in an discomfited situation, so…"

His moral seemed to be surfacing. "Make sure that you make his stay comfortable." Ron made a grunting noise and Arthur turned towards him and Harry. "I mean it! Ron, Harry. I don't care if you never say more than five words to him- pretend he's an illusion of your imagination if you like! But do not make things harder for that boy. Do you hear?"

Everyone at the table nodded.

A wake of silence followed this, so that each person seemed to be staring in a different part of the room, not speaking.

Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands together and said, "Well, now that everyone's had their fill, it's off to your rooms to get ready for bed."

Hermione and Ginny began picking up the plates and cups but Mrs. Weasley stopped them. "Oh, no thank you dears! I'll be getting along with those. Just run upstairs, all of you."

Ginny looked suspiciously at her parents as they seemed to want privacy to speak about something.

They obeyed and walked upstairs, thanking Molly for dinner and saying their good nights.

When they all reached the top of the stairs, Ron pulled out the Earwig and held it up. Harry was close to Ron, listening as the girls stood near, waiting to be told what was being said.

Ron opened his mouth, his eyes glazed as he listened. Then he said, "They say Dumbledore's cracked the riddle…"

Hermione gave a disgruntled look, possibly at not being first to solve the conundrum. Ron continued. "They say that he isn't going back to Cold Castle like they thought, but that he's following another lead somewhere."

Luna nodded, "Cold Castle, that's where we saw Voldemort."

Hermione had apparently not deduced this either and she gave another look of defeat, sighing quietly.

Ron lowered the earwig. "That's all. They're talking about Draco's dad or something."

"He's still in Azkaban." Hermione said, finally having answered something correctly.

Ron yawned. "Yeah, and I don't think he's flown the coop."
Ginny walked over to her room and Hermione and Luna followed, saying "good night" and such. Their door closed and Harry and Ron were left in the dark Ballroom.

They walked silently towards Ron's room, dreading the silence that they would have to endure that night owing to Draco's presence.

"The git." Ron said. "Sharing his family problems with us."

Harry laughed halfheartedly, understanding Ron's motives for anger. For some reason, Harry wasn't quite sure why, but he had felt very little animosity or anger towards Draco since he arrived. He was, after all, Harry's enemy, but Harry couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Draco.

They reached the door and opened it. Harry expected to see Draco lying in bed, pretending to be asleep. He hadn't expected to walk in on Draco looking out the window, neither would he have imagined he would find him crying.

Harry found that he couldn't move his legs, and he guessed that Ron couldn't either as they stood, frozen to the spot. Draco however, turned away from their sight as he scrambled with his robe to wipe any trace of tears.

Harry spoke suddenly, "Dr-Draco, are you alright?" Harry felt stupid asking this as he cared little, but he didn't want Mr. Weasley to walk in and think they had been harassing the boy.

Draco didn't bother turning around as he shouted, "Shove off, Potter!"

"You shut up Malfoy!" Ron retorted quickly.

Draco did not respond, and Harry could tell that he was breathing more steadily, trying to rid himself of the embarrassing tears. Harry knew why he was feeling so bad. He also didn't want to let it go just yet and so he asked, "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

Ron looked suspiciously at Harry, but returned his glance towards Malfoy, who had turned around.

"I told you to mind your own business, Potter! Must you try and solve every problem?"

Ron had a response slipping through his lips when Harry stopped him. Harry could feel a deep rooted feeling of joy at having found Malfoy crying, perhaps wanting always to see this boy, the one who made life so miserable, in pain. But then Harry thought about what Dumbledore said before he left, ("I trust you will all get along, as it is in these times that we are most in need of friends.") and those wisened blue eyes of his seemed to be watching over the scene at hand; Harry would not directly disobey a request from Dumbledore. Harry had a shorter amount of patience, but he kept his calm voice when suggesting, "It's cause you feel you haven't got anyone around, right?"

Draco was still, and for a wild moment, Harry thought Draco was going to agree, but Draco sneered and said, "Shut up!"

Harry continued, "I know it is, because I've felt that way too. I don't remember my parents, I've always felt lost! My godfather is gone…" Harry stumbled a bit. "I know how all that feels! I know because I've lived it!" Harry looked at Draco closely and added, "I still do."

Draco said nothing. He bit his lower lip and eyed the floor.

Ron gave Harry a hurt look because he had said that he was still lonely. Harry looked at Ron, but Ron pretended to have been looking at the Chuddley Cannons poster on the wall behind him.

Harry blinked rapidly, shaking his head in disgust. Did he really just offer comfort to Draco? Did he really just claim out loud that he had something in common with the silvery haired teen in front of him? A quick surge of anger and regret pumped through Harry's veins and he was about to yell something, anything at Draco to let him know how much he hated him. Harry opened his mouth, but a swift and cool breeze fluttered through the open window and brushed Harry's face and Harry found that he suddenly didn't want to say anything.

Draco seemed to have been thinking really hard about something and he suddenly started pacing swiftly by the window. "I woke up and noticed I was alone! No one, not one person anywhere!"

Harry and Ron followed Draco with their eyes, back and forth. They didn't say a word as Draco spoke, more to himself than anyone else.

Draco continued, "My mother vanishing without so much as a strip of parchment! Just leaving! And father locked up in Azkaban, sending me post asking why I haven't become like him yet, a Death Eater, and always putting me down…"

Draco stopped. Harry was suspiciously wondering whether Draco would have mentioned abuse, but Draco looked up at Harry as if he had just noticed him standing there; he knew he had said too much. Harry and Ron were both looking at him, a hint of sorrow in their eyes. Draco said what first came to mind, "And to finish the agony, now I'm stuck with Potty and Weasel."

Ron's eyelids tightened and he said, "Shut it, crybaby!"

Draco laughed heartily, saying that they were entertaining anyways. He swept over to his trunk, opening it with an unconcerned look as if he wasn't in the same room as his enemy.

Harry moved towards the cabinet by the door to get his pajamas and Ron walked past Malfoy, glaring at him as he headed towards his wardrobe across the room. Malfoy didn't notice this as he was pulling his shirt over his head.

Harry noticed that Draco was skinny, not as skinny as himself, but thin. However, Draco had muscles that Harry lacked, and Harry found that he was a bit jealous. Ron was dressing on the other side of the room, and soon all three were in Pajamas.

Harry didn't know about Draco, but he could see that Ron had chosen his nicest pajamas: black and white patterned ones that he wore under a long, lavish black robe. Harry himself had on his favorite blue ones, the top and bottoms smooth and cool. He was not surprised to see that Draco was wearing silken green ones with his name delicately embroidered on the top of the front pocket.

"Listen," Draco said, buttoning the topmost button on his shirt. "I'm not going to pretend that I even want to be breathing the same air as you two morons..." Ron sighed loudly but Draco continued. "But as I'm stuck in this..." he seemed to have no insult prepared. "...place, I think we should have a temporary truce."

Ron gave Harry a look that reminded him forcefully of Goyle's or perhaps Crabbe's confused expression.

Draco put out his hand to shake, and Harry eyed him suspiciously. Why was Draco acting suddenly as if he wanted to be on good terms with him? Was he sincere, or was he playing at something much bigger than he could imagine? Harry watched Draco's hand for a moment and he shook it, his own hand gripping Malfoy's. A quick shake and then they released.

Ron simply gave Malfoy a loathing look, saying, "We'll see how long this lasts."

Harry felt as if he had signed some sort of contract and he watched malfoy snicker and pull out a pocket watch and examine the time.

Draco walked towards his bed and stood still for a moment, before turning around and saying, "Well mates (he said this with sarcastic air) I'll also require that you never mention what you saw tonight to anyone if you want to keep your lives."

Ron snickered loudly, "Yeah we'll see how long that lasts as well."

Draco nearly shrugged his shoulders and turned around.

They all sat at their beds, not knowing what to do next. It couldn't have been a minute after 9:30p.m., so it was much too early to even pretend sleep. Harry suddenly had an idea, for a second thinking he shouldn't because it would seem so dumb and Draco probably wouldn't participate, but he opened the end table by his bed anyway. He pulled out a small package and jumped back on his bed. He would test out this truce of Draco's and perhaps even humiliate him in the process.

Ron looked at him, recognizing the bag, and he raised an eyebrow. Draco eyed them both trying to figure out what was going on. Harry looked at Draco with a wily glint in his eye and he asked, "Want a game of Droobles Truth or dare?"

Draco didn't know what the game was and looked at the bag suspiciously. Harry explained, "It's just like truth or dare, but your choice is determined by blowing the gum, which will say either, T for truth or, D for dare. Oh," he added with a laugh, "And your bound by magic in this game…"

Draco seemed intrigued by the sweets and he nodded, saying, "Alright Potter, let's have a go." He looked at Ron with a laugh, "Gonna sit this one out Weasley?"

Ron laughed defiantly and put his hand out to catch the gum ball that Harry tossed at him. Draco caught one as well and together they put the gumballs in their mouth.

Harry was determined to not appear a fool in front of Malfoy, but he realized that it would be impossible when playing this game. He said, "I'll go first, then Ron and then you, Draco."

Ron nodded, chewing his gum as did Malfoy. Harry wrapped the rubbery gum around his tongue and blew a large red bubble that had a large yellow, T on it, which Ron told him before he let the bubble pop.

Draco's eyebrows coiled as he chuckled to himself, apparently knowing exactly what to ask Harry. He asked, "Do I intimidate you, Potter?"

Harry could feel the truth coming up through his throat and there was nothing to stop him from saying robotically, "Yes, you always seem to get your way, you are strong and lots of people like you."

Draco laughed triumphantly and Ron looked, sighing at Harry for starting the game in the first place. Harry felt his face grow hot and he simply shook his head, pointing at Ron to go next. Ron looked positively terrified at what the bubble would say. It ended up saying, D.

Harry laughed and said quickly, "I dare you to moon the girls through your fireplace!"

Draco and Harry looked at each other and laughed as Ron sprang up from his bed and walked automatically towards his fireplace, which he lit and threw some floo powder at, saying, "Ginny." The flames turned green and Ron, making a grimace and what looked like an attempt at stopping the dare, pulled the back of his pants down and a white half circle disappeared behind the green flames. Harry and Draco were laughing uncontrollably now and Ron started to blush madly, a smile being fought. There were girlish screams coming through the fireplace and soon Ron was thrown to the floor, Hermione's foot disappearing through the flames as Ron had obviously been kicked.

The flames died down and Ron got up, no longer spellbound and he sat down, beet red and trying to suppress a smile. He looked at Harry and Draco who were facing each other at the end of their beds, laughing.

Draco tried to stop laughing in order to blow his gum, but he ended up spitting it out on his leg, which caused Ron and Harry to laugh harder. After another minute, Draco had blown his gum and it bared the letter, T.

Harry snickered, (Oooh) and asked, "What Gryffindor girl do you think is attractive?"

Before Draco could think about what was asked of him, he felt the gum answering for him, "That jumped up mudblood, why is she so hott??"

Ron and Harry stared at each other, speechless. Draco quickly said, "It could be any Gryffindor! And anyways, if she wasn't pretty, I wouldn't glance twice, the mudblood!"

Harry scolded Draco, "Don't say that word!" He took a deep breath and blew another bubble, which pronounced, T.

Ron, still blushed from having just mooned three girls, shot at Harry the question all young wizards ask each other when playing this game. Harry found himself lifting his hands and showing them a size. Ron and Draco turned to each other and pressed their lips together, trying not to laugh. As soon as Harry felt in control of his own limbs, he put his hands down and urged Ron to go. As soon as Ron stopped laughing and apologizing for it, he blew a T.

Harry shot back at Ron with the same question and Ron lifted his hands to show. This time there was no laughing and Draco even muttered, "Jeeze."

Ron, feeling much more proud, waited for Draco to blow a bubble, and when he did, it said, D.

Harry yelled, "I dare you to perform for us, 'Newt in my slipper' by the weird sisters!"

Draco shot up from his bed and began dancing wildly around his bed, singing lyrics from the song. Harry and Ron began laughing so hard that Ron actually rolled off his bed. Harry took off his glasses to wipe his eyes which were filled with tears from laughing. Draco jumped on the bed, belting out a long note and when he was done with it he yelled, "Potter I am going to kill you!"

It was the next morning, and all of the group, including Malfoy were in the hilltop clubhouse. Ron was the only one standing while Harry, Draco, Hermione, Ginny and Luna were sitting around the table, looking at him as he paced.

"I just don't get it!" He said, looking at the ceiling. "Where could Voldemort be?"

The riddle that they had written down the previous day was in the middle of the table. No one was looking directly at it, mostly because they were disgusted that none of them had solved it. It was just a jumbled mess, so they decided to try and discuss where Voldemort could be.

Harry suggested that he could be in Greece.

"Why is that?" Hermione asked skeptically.

"Because," Harry tried to say matter of factly, "I- uh, sense him. Yeah… and he's uh, enjoying a Greek play?" Somehow he had ended his information in question form, and he did not bother to fix it.

Draco smirked, "Good one, Potter." He looked over at Ginny and added, "But please don't feel obligated to inform us when he's using the toilet."

Ginny and Ron laughed at this. Hermione eyed Draco for the slightest of seconds, but no one noticed. She wasn't too sure about his sudden friendliness.

Ron started to laugh loudest, so that everyone looked at him. He started making his way to open the invisible door in the wall in order impress Malfoy. He grabbed at the handle as Draco was watching him, wondering why he was standing in front of a blank wall.

Luna had picked up the riddle and was staring at it. "Ron, go near that door and I will rip it off and make you eat it."

Everyone looked at her. She seemed tranquil as she looked at the parchment in her hand.

Ron sat down and Draco looked at Luna as if she were a lunatic. Ron sighed and then looked at Draco, "Malfoy, do you know where Voldemort could be?"

Everyone (even Luna) looked at him. Draco felt his cheeks turn a bit cold, and he said a little too fiercely, "No!"

Ron bit his lip and looked at Harry, wondering if he should have asked. Harry looked at Draco, speculating why Draco reacted like that. Did he know?

Draco could sense the tension and he added, "Sorry, I don't know! I can't help your little Dumbledore, okay?" He could sense he was being unnecessarily boorish but for some reason he couldn't apologize, it seemed this was the only way he knew how to react.

Hermione looked at Malfoy and asked him straight out, "Malfoy, where do your loyalties lie?"

Draco did not have time to answer, as a barn owl had started pecking at the window, a Daily Prophet in its beak. Ginny got up and opened the window, allowing the bird to land swiftly on the table in front of Hermione. It dropped the paper and lifted its leg which had a small brown sack on it.

"Oh, dear." Hermione proclaimed. "I don't have any knuts on me."

Draco pulled three out of his side pocket and tossed them in her direction. She mumbled "Thanks," but he didn't reply.

The owl left and Hermione unraveled the paper. As soon as she eyed the front page she gasped. "A break out from Azkaban!"

Everyone jumped up from their seats and stood over her shoulder to see the paper. Draco had moved Luna over as he took his place next to Hermione, reading in as quick a pace as she.

Harry and Ron didn't bother reading it, so they waited for Hermione to finish and then they would get their full report.

"Well," she said, folding up the paper. "It doesn't mention who escaped or even how many! It supposedly happened yesterday."

Draco had returned to his seat, silent. Ginny said, "Do you think maybe it was…" her words trailed off and she turned bright pink, glancing at Draco.

Draco didn't look up, but he said, "My father."

Again, everyone looked at him. He seemed to be focusing on the riddle, yet still, his voice made them wonder if this wasn't new or happy news for Draco.

Luna sat down beside him. "Can I see this?" she asked as she pulled the riddle in front of her. "Oh, and that's a nice ring," she added, noticing his silver ring. Draco looked at it, his face emotionless.

"Oh!" Luna said, and everyone jumped.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"The first clue!" She said, smiling. " 'O!' One of One. The first letter is 'O!' "

Hermione shouted, "Of course!" She grabbed the parchment. "And two of two is 'W!' "

Harry snatched it from her. "Yeah but three before…" he stopped mid sentence as he watched Ginny writing down, 'O.' "Oh!" He shouted! " 'L' is three before 'O!' "

Ron took his queue from Harry and snatched the riddle from him. "Lord!" He shouted, and he looked surprised. "The next letter is, 'E!' As it's the stinger, or end of the word, 'Bee!' "

Hermione grabbed the parchment, checking to see if Ron had gotten it right, and she nodded, looking at Ron with amazement. "Yes, of course! And the next one, the head of a Raven. It must mean, 'R!' "

Draco pulled the riddle from her, "And a question, it says."

Ginny was asking Hermione what the previous letters were and Ron suggested, "What?"

Draco shook his head, "No, but... WHY!" That's a question! But it's a letter too!"

Ginny smiled at him. "It's right! The hidden word is 'Owlery!' "

Harry grabbed the parchment (which was getting wrinkled from being snatched so often) and asked, "What about this last bit about, 'You'll awaken the mayhem. He will lie waiting, for he has just flown, To harbor the dragon egg, of goodness be prone?' "

Hermione shook her head, "I don't know, but that part isn't a riddle, it's like a-- a warning."

"Well," Ron said, "We can't worry about it if it isn't a riddle! Let's go tell Mum and dad about it!"

They all ran towards the Weasley mansion, Ron in the lead. They reached the door and flooded through it, yelling for the Weasley parents. Draco looked in the dining room while Ron ran upstairs with Ginny. Hermione ran through the bathroom under the stairs that led to the kitchen, and Harry checked the family room. Luna simply lifted a small cushion on a chair and sighed when she did not see Mrs. Weasley. They were not there.

Hermione yelled for everyone to come to the kitchen and Harry, Luna and Draco got there first, Ginny and Ron coming down the back staircase and into the kitchen.

"It's a note written by Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, skimming the letter and looking at Ron. "They say that they are on important business for the order, and for us to stay put."

Ginny looked at Draco. "Did they figure out the riddle as well?"

Ron grabbed the note from Hermione and announced, "Wait there's more!" He read quickly, "There's dinner in the oven and a jug of…"

Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron blushed, putting the note down. His ears were turning red. "Well then we've got to go see if we can help!"

Harry looked at Hermione, and she said, "No, Ron! Not only has Mrs. Weasley ordered us not to leave the house, but remember what Dumbledore said about going on missions by ourselves!"

"Yes!" Ron said indignantly. "He said that we shouldn't do it again by ourselves! But my mum and dad are at the castle now, so we won't be alone!"

Hermione was about to say something, but Draco stood next to Ron and said, "Ron's right. They may need our help. I mean, who knows, right?"

Luna was nodding to herself.

"But," Hermione said, as she could tell she was fighting a losing battle. "We don't even know if they're at Cold Castle!"

"C'mon!" Ron said. "They have to be! The riddle practically says that Voldemort is there!"

"Maybe not!" Hermione responded, looking at each person, eager to get some help. "Ron, why else would Dumbledore say that he wasn't going to Cold Castle?"

Ginny seemed to agree with Hermione, she looked at Ron, expecting an explanation. He simply spat out stumbled phrases before saying, "Harry, will you tell her please??"

Harry felt like he was passed a hot potato. "I- I don't know." He said truthfully. "But maybe it wouldn't hurt to check it out."

Draco, who to everyone's surprise seemed especially fond of the idea of defeating Voldemort, said, "Wait, how are we going to get to this castle? Is it near?"

No one had bothered to explain the door to him, and so for the next minute Ron explained to Draco the secret of the red door hidden in the clubhouse. That by placing a description through the mail slot, whether it be a letter, a photo or even a postcard, the door would open to that location.

"Wicked." Draco said, trying to imagine what adventures the door could be used for.

"Then it's settled." Ron said. "We're going."

********************

They arrived back at the clubhouse, Ron holding the letter Hermione had written while captured by Voldemort as it explained the scenery of Cold castle, the lair that Voldemort had lived in.

Ron opened the small, hidden door and everyone ducked to go through the opening, all arriving in an empty space where a mysterious red door stood in the middle of the room.

"Okay." Ron said as he slid Hermione's letter through the mail slot. "Wands out, mates."

He opened the door and a bitter cold air made them all flinch. They stepped through and looked around them. They found themselves in the middle of a snow covered field with purple mountains in the distance. It was getting dark and the snow under their feet crunched loudly. They looked around the door and saw Cold castle in the distance.

Ginny shivered and asked, "Ron, what about the door? Do we leave it open?"

Ron apparently hadn't thought of what to do about this, for he knew that when they closed the door, it would vanish and leave them stranded at the castle.

Hermione walked up to the door and said, "Here, let me do this."

She spoke some quick words and the tip of her wand lit up in a deep rich purple. She tapped the door frame, which glittered for a moment and then slowly stopped. She lifted her wand, still alit with the purple glow and as though passing on a purple flame, she touched the tip of everyone else's wand, each one glowing. She waved her wand and the purple lights died out.

Ron, utterly bewildered asked, "And what was all that about?"

She shook her head, "It was a pin-point spell." She said it as if it were only too obvious. She then placed a disillusionment charm on the door, so that it disappeared from sight.

Ginny gasped, "What happened to the door?"

Hermione responded, "It's still here." She grabbed the door and twisted the handle, which looked odd since it was all invisible, but the creaking convinced them that the door was indeed there.
"And the pin-point spell will cause your wand tips to glow purple when you get near to the door." Comprehension dawned on everyone.

Draco, who was deeply impressed, said, "So that we don't have to worry about anyone going in, and we don't have to close the door. Clever idea, Granger."

Hermione sniffed and wiped her eyebrow, unconcerned.

"Alright," Ron said, looking at the darkening sky. Let's get to the castle before it gets so dark that we won't be able to find it."

They traveled in a straight line towards the castle which grew in size with every step. There were no lights on inside, which gave it a very creepy appearance.

"Oh, look." Ginny said as they finally reached the castle. "The wall me and Harry destroyed hasn't been covered.

They noticed that there was a giant hole in the side of the castle. They walked towards it silently.

Draco looked at the castle, making a face that no one could read. The castle was large, indeed, but it was only one floor.

They walked into the dark castle, which reminded Harry of the first time he entered Grimmauld Place. It was very cold and gloomy. Everyone started muttering, "Lumos," and their wands lit brightly in the dark.

"Anyone know where the Owlery is?" Draco asked, looking at Harry.

Harry started walking, but his wand light didn't reach very far. "Voldemort was in a large room at the other end of the castle," Harry said, remembering vaguely that Dumbledore had led them all out through this long hall.

Luna stepped in front of Harry. "It's through that door." She was pointing at a door a bit away, her wand light barely touching the door frame.

Draco, who had found Luna to be more of a hindrance than help asked, "And what piece of furniture told you this?"

Harry shook his head, "No, really Luna. How do you know?"

She looked appreciatively at Harry and said, "I saw an owl leaving a window in that room."

Ron shrugged his shoulders at Ginny. "Well, sounds good enough for me."

Draco nodded, "It's worth a look, I suppose."

They walked towards the doorway, Hermione shaking her head in thought and Harry opened the door.

Harry, Draco and Ron jumped in, swinging their wands around to cast light on every inch of the room. There was no one there. "It's alright." Ron called to the girls who were standing outside the doorway. "There's no one here."

They walked in, Ginny in the lead, apparently afraid of the dark. Indeed, there was no one here, not even an owl.

"Great," Draco said, annoyed. "And why is it that we're here?"

Hermione stood, tapping her foot. She apparently was waiting for someone to admit that she was right all along, and that the castle was indeed deserted.

Ron felt horrible and like a fool. It must be true. He stood near a nest where an egg sat. He picked up the egg and tossed it at the wall. It did not break.

They all looked at it, Draco, Harry and Ron standing together and the three girls by the door. The egg sat, quaintly on the floor. The nest that the egg was in started to sink slowly into the stone cabinet beneath it and a loud rumbling noise seemed to be roaring under them.

Ginny, Luna and Hermione all grabbed onto each other, while the guys simply tried standing over the quaking ground. The stones crumbled and everyone fell through.

Harry landed in shin deep water. He felt Ron land near him, pulling him down, and he could feel Draco land in front of him, splashing him with cold water. He stood up straight and held up his wand, vaguely wondering how he had kept his grip on it.

"Oy!" Ron said loudly. "Harry, I've lost my wand!"

"Mine as well," Draco said.

Harry whispered, "Lumos."

His wand lit up so that he could see Ron and Draco's disgruntled faces. They began looking in the murky water at their feet and soon both of them lifted their wands up.

Ron wiped his wand on his robes and Draco flicked the water off his, angrily. Harry's shoes were filled with water and were squelching, and uncomfortable. The water was black looking and freezing their ankles.

The room came into focus as Ron's and Draco's wands were lit. It was about as big as the Gryffindor common room with its high ceiling and wide space; however, the walls were like blackened stone and the water resembled polyjuice potion.


From the light cast across the room, they could see a stone door. Suddenly, Hermione's scream sounded from behind the door.

"Hermione?" Ron shouted.

"Reckon it's safe to cross?" Draco asked Harry urgently.

"I hope so!" Harry said as he lifted his legs and they all began tramping through the water, their wands sending light in all directions.

"Gah!" Ron yelped and he tripped. Harry could see as Ron tried to gain his balance that something had obviously grabbed onto his heel. "Harry! Help!"

Harry brought his wand towards Ron's heel and saw that a scabbed, dead looking hand was gripping Ron's ankle. Its grip was strong and Harry could only stare. Draco, however yelled, "Relashio!" The hand let go, looking as if it was torn.

"Thanks," Ron told Draco as he pulled his leg away from the now struggling hand. Harry heard the water bubble around him, and soon, hands began popping out from the surface. They grabbed around, snatching for flesh.

********************
"Aaaah!" Hermione had shouted again.

Three obviously dead creatures were making their way towards the far corner of the room where Hermione, Ginny and Luna were standing, all shaking with fear. The creatures grunted and screeched, their arms grabbing outwards.

"H-help!" Ginny screamed, clutching onto Luna and crying.

Hermione pointed her wand at one of the creatures that was ambling towards her and shouted, "Empous!"

The zombie-like being was pushed back several feet, hitting the floor. It was stuck, rocking on the floor and making choking sounds as it struggled to get up.

"Look out!" Luna shouted as a zombie approached Hermione. "Stupefy!"

The monster fell to Hermione's left as she squealed and moved away from the motionless being. He grunted horribly, but remained still.

The door in the wall burst open and Ron's, Harry's and Draco's faces appeared in the darkness. Ron noticed the last zombie in the corner and he stood in shock. The being noticed them with surprise and did not walk any further.

Harry too stood still, shaken. Fortunately, Draco shouted, "Stupefy!" so the creature fell over, motionless.

Hermione ran up to Ron, shaking and looking at the same zombie that he was looking at. Ginny and Luna ran over to Harry, looking at the struggling zombie creature on the floor. It appeared to have lost its leg and arms. Ginny was still crying as she latched onto Harry, who felt he was about to be sick. The zombies all looked horrid. Their flesh reminded Harry of a dementor's gray, dead, but still raw looking. Their clothes were torn and their faces looked morbid.

"Flesh cleavers." Draco said as he looked down at the fallen bodies that were tall, but thin. "They are dark creatures, but I don't undersatnd why they're here."

"Yes," Hermione said quietly, regaining her composure. "Aren't they found mostly in deep forests?"

"That's right." Draco said, "They can be deadly if they can get a hold of you."

Harry felt his heart beating more quickly and he whispered to Ron, "It's a good thing Malfoy's here." He gave a weak smile which Ron tried to return, but he was too shaken.

"Whoa!" Draco said as he looked through the door they had came through. Hermione ran to his side and gasped. The zombies from that room were rising out of the ground now. They were muddy and slow moving, making gargling noises as they pried themselves from the marshy ground. Hermione quickly grabbed the door and shut it.

"Colloportus!" She said, sealing the door tight. "We've got to find a way out of here!"

"It's alright, Ginny," Harry said, pulling her off of him and guiding her to Hermione.

Ron began pointing his lighted wand around the walls, looking for another door. "Mates, I don't see any way out of here."

"There," Luna said, pointing at the wall opposite them all. Everyone went towards it and looked. There was an opening that had been invisible at a glance, but they could now see it with everyone's wand light pointing in its direction.

A loud thud sounded on the sealed door and all of the girls shrieked. Hermione looked again at the hole and said, "Let's go."

"Harry! Ron!" Draco barked, "help me with this boulder!"

He pointed his wand at a boulder and Ron and Harry walked over to it. They lifted it up and brought it towards the opening. Another loud bang sounded at the door, and it appeared to have been shaken.

Hermione stood on the boulder, but she was still unable to get to the hole. "Here," she indicated Ginny and Luna to take out their wands. "Engorgio!"

The boulder started to grow, though very slowly. Ginny and Luna caught on and together said, "Engorgio!"

The boulder began to grow at a much more noticeable pace, so that soon it would be easy to reach the hole. One by one they climbed up and went through the opening in the wall.

Harry was the last to go through and he, Hermione and Ginny cast a shrinking charm on the boulder so that it was again too short to reach the opening.

Harry looked around, but he did not recognize where he was. Hermione, Ron and Luna, however looked as if they had returned to an unwelcoming site.

"The dungeons," Ron groaned as everyone looked at the shackles and cells of the prison. They had ended up in a cell, and Hermione noticed across the room was the cell that she had been kept in earlier that month.

"That means," she said, nervously, "We've got to get to the other side of the castle to get out."

There was a clatter from somewhere in the dungeon and everyone froze. Their wand lights were blaring, but they couldn't see what had made the sound owing to the cell's cement walls.

Draco managed to move a bit around the cell so that his light could make it around the corner a little and he said warningly, "It's another cleaver."

Ginny had muttered, "Oh my god." And Hermione lifted her wand, saying, "Nox."

She could not cast a spell with Lumos already in place, so she said, "Alright, Ginny, Ron and Luna, we're going to need to count on your wands for light so that we can use curses."

Ginny's wand hand was shaking so that the light was moving wildly, but Luna nodded, concentrating on keeping light. Ron nodded as well; Lumos had always been a particularly good charm of his, so that his wand tip was the brightest of all of them.

Draco and Harry had muttered, "Nox," as well and started keeping a spell in mind to cast on enemies.

Silently, everyone cast each other a glance and nodded.

Ron jumped out of the cell and his light fell upon a male flesh cleaver wandering around an adjacent cell. Another was standing in the middle of the cells, while yet one more was lurking at the exit way.

Luna and Ginny went to Ron's side while Harry and Hermione ran past them, trying not to block the light. Hermione ran to the cell block where a short, balding zombie was standing and she pointed her wand at the cell door, shouting, "Fermius!"

The cell door slid shut and she ran up and locked the flesh cleaver inside. Harry rushed up to a nearby zombie woman who was dragging along on a broken leg and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" The flesh cleaver jumped out of the way with speed that surprised Harry. The creature ran up to Harry and he yelled loudly. The zombie grabbed his arm and yanked him closer, but Hermione sent a stunning spell that knocked the creature back.

Draco had ran towards the exit way, with little light, and he sent a stunning spell at a zombie. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and coughed hard. He might have been killed just then.

"Watch out Harry," Hermione explained, "These aren't like the dumb and slow zombies in movies."

"AAAAH!" Ginny screamed. She had been standing by the cell where Hermione had trapped a flesh cleaver and its arms were grabbing out to her.

Ron grabbed her and shouted, "Let's go! Draco's up there in the dark!"

When they reached the hallway outside the dungeons, Draco was standing over the body of a flesh cleaver. He was breathing heavily and they all stopped to catch their breath.

"It's not so easy to apprehend them, is it?" Hermione stated, "They are quick, but at least they don't know magic."

Ron wiped his forehead and said, "Thank goodness for that. I expect that as long as we're on guard, we can easily stun them. They'll just slow us down a bit."

"Yeah," Draco agreed, "The bloddy things are smart enough though."

They all went into the next hallway, which was filled with many paintings and murals. Two zombies were by a window, and they quickly ran towards the group, screaming loudly. Hermione stunned them both before anyone could say anything and the creatures fell over. Ginny pointed towards the only doorway leading out.

"Wait!" Harry shouted, "Let's escape through this window!"

Ron ran to the closest window with Hermione and she shouted, "Bombarda!" Her wand sent a flash of magenta at the window, but it merely bounced off and caused a nearby table to explode.

"What happened?" Ginny asked frantically. "Why didn't it work?"

"I... I don't understand." Hermione said. She again yelled the spell at the window, but it bounced off again, shattering a crystal vase on the wall opposite them all.

"An impenetrable charm," Draco muttered, tapping the glass with his wand. "We'd better keep moving..."

They ran out into a long, narrow hallway that seemed to go on for ages. They stood for a moment facing the hall, saying nothing. By the looks of it, the hall went on for miles, whether it was magic or not.

"Ahhh!" Ginny screamed as there was a zombie right behind them. It however was looking in the opposite direction and was stunned by Draco before it could figure out what was happening.

"What is going on?" Ginny asked, gasping for breath, her hand over her fast beating heart. "These flesh things weren't here when we got here!"

"That's right!" Hermione exclaimed. She looked at the floor, thinking hard and she said, "It must be a curse of this castle, which means that it probably isn't completely empty."

"Of course it isn't!" Ron said, pointing his wand's light at the frozen zombie on the floor.

"No, no," Hermione whispered, "I had my suspicions once Luna mentioned she saw an owl leave the owlery. It's highly likely that the owl was sent by someone in this castle."

Harry heard a snapping noise from somewhere and everyone gasped. He lifted his wand and said, "We've got to keep moving. If there is someone here, we'd best keep our wits about us."

They ran down the hallway, looking for a doorway and saw two, splitting the main corridor. They ran towards the one on their right, hoping it led to the back of the castle, but a zombie stepped out, grunting as it lifted its arms. They all skidded to a halt and Harry shouted, "Stupefy!" The flesh cleaver flew backwards and Harry shut the door. Immediately there was angry pounding on the door, which meant more of the zombies were inside.

"Not going that way," Draco assured them.

Ron led them towards the other door which opened into a more spacious hallway; however there were a few zombies here. Luna and Ron ran to either side of the hallway while Harry, Hermione and Draco sprung into action. Two were dangerously close to Harry and he stunned one with ease. Hermione had blasted a cleaver into the another and they both flew into a large cabinet, which fell over them, silencing their grunts.

Draco laughed and shouted, "Volemn sieth!" A flesh cleaver near him shot up to the cieling and floated there like a balloon. He sent the curse at two other zombies and they were out of the way.

Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and Draco went to his side as they all ran towards the end of the hall. Harry started to wonder how much longer they would have to go, as this castle was like a maze.

After they turned the corner, Harry recognized the room that Ginny and he had found Voldemort in the last time they were here. Everyone else except Draco seemed to notice this fact and they sighed with relief, knowing that the giant hole in the wall was nearby.

They ran around the corner, spotting two zombies along the path and seeing the moon through the opening in the wall across the giant hall. From a great distance, Draco and Harry stunned the flesh cleavers, who fell over, groaning.

"Let's get out of here!" Luna said, running towards the exit with everyone else.

Ron and Draco were running side by side when a door flew open nearby, and Draco felt himself being sucked inside the room. His feet were not touching the floor, and neither were Ron's as they were both heaved into the dark chamber.

The door shut behind them and all was dark. Ron and Draco were both sprawled on the ground, disoriented from being pulled so quickly into the room.

There was a floating candelabra in the middle of the room, casting a pale, orange glow around it, however the room was very large, and Ron and Draco were still in the black of shadow.

Ron silently crawled over to the corner of the room, feeling as if he were going to be sick. He could hear Draco getting to his feet and shouting, "Who's there?"

Ron could see Draco's outlined as he approached the candelabra, and he was about to answer him, but another voice spoke from the other side of the room.

"Draco."

Ron and Draco froze, staring at the dim corner of the room opposite them. Ron could hear Harry and Hermione pounding on the door, trying to get in, but it was sealed well. Draco had turned towards it, and Ron did not move. Then, Lucius stepped into the light.

"Draco, my dear boy," Lucius said, but with obvious bitterness. "Wandering around with Potter."

Draco seemed lost for words, surprised that his father was in the room and apparently afraid at what would happen to him now that his father knew he was with Harry.

"Get over here." Lucius said calmly.

Draco hesitated, but walked slowly towards his father.

Lucius spoke as Draco came towards him, "Now, why is it, I wonder, that my son who has already dawdled in becoming a death eater in training, not to mention has not tried to break me from my cell in Azkaban nor contact his mother or any family in our circle..." he seemed to want to end this train of thoughts, "is protecting and fighting alongside Harry Potter, mortal enemy to the Dark lord?"

Ron watched silently from the corner, gripping his wand.

"I..." Draco said quietly and slowly, "I was luring Potter here on purpose."

Lucius raised his eyebrow, but Draco continued. "They helped me solve the riddle see, and I deduced that you would be here. That's what the end of the riddle meant. I…"

Ron was outraged. But a part of him felt that Draco didn't really mean it.

Lucius smiled, "Oh, is that so?" He looked at Draco for a moment and then his hand flew rapidly from his side, cuffing Draco's left cheek and sending him to the floor. "You lying little brat!"

Ron jumped from his corner and shouted, "Stop! Leave him alone!" His wand was raised at Lucius, who had been startled by the sudden appearance.

The door was abruptly blasted open and Harry and Hermione ran into the room. Hermione pointed her wand at the candelabra and shouted, "Doublicatio!"

The candelabra made a popping noise and began to replicate over and over so that the room was completely lit and candelabra's littered the floor.

Lucius shouted, "Stupefy!" He sent many red flashes at the group.

Hermione and Harry, however, both shouted, "Protega!" which shielded them, sending the spells ricocheting off of the walls. Ron, however was hit with a stunning spell and he fell over onto the floor.

Draco watched, a horrified look on his face as Harry ran over, muttering "Enervate," so that Ron was revived.

Lucius turned towards a table and waved his wand wildly, and the table lifted off of the red carpet beneath it and soared with quick speed at Hermione. She tried to move, but the table knocked her down, landing upside down on her. Harry ran over to get the table off of her and Ron, enraged, sent a fiery spell at Lucius, which grazed his left arm, but left him unhurt.

Draco moved towards Hermione as she tried sitting up. She was crying and holding her arm to her as it was obviously badly broken.

Lucius sent a chair hurtling towards Ron, its legs pointing at him, and it pinned him to the wall. He could not move and his wand was facing down, unhelpfully.

Lucius did some quick spell work and Harry found himself stuck to a wall in a think covering of sap.

Lucius stared at all of them and smiled; he had won. Draco looked as if he was on the verge of helping them when Lucius called to him, "Draco, let's go."

Draco looked at Harry and Ron and laughed, "Potty and Weasel, the ultimate prats!"

Ron swore loudly as the two Malfoy's left the room.

***
Hermione was howling in pain, as she held her arm to her side, her feet had been sapped to the floor and she could not move. Her wand was out of reach and to see her like this made Harry and Ron feel so bad for her. They kept talking to her, calming her down.

"Just in there!"

Harry lifted his head as he heard Ginny's voice.

"Ahhh!" She screamed.

Luna spoke next from down the long hall, "Stupefy!"

And then Harry heard Percy, "Oh my god! What is that?"

Ron tried looking out the door from where he was pinned, and he yelled "Oy! C'mon now, we're in here and Hermione needs help!"

Percy ran into the room with the two girls at his heels and he looked frightened at what he saw. Right away he burned away the sap from Hermione's ankles and she picked up her wand, sobbing and conjuring a cast for her arm.

Then Percy freed both Ron and Harry. They both ran to search the castle for the Malfoy's, but they didn't find more than a few wandering zombies. Percy then took them home.

***
Hermione lay on her bed in Ginny's room, her arm a bit off center, but lathered with numbing potion so that she wasn't in any severe pain.

Harry, Ginny, Luna and Ron were by her side, Ron continuously yelling about what a double-crosser Malfoy was.

"I knew it was an act!" he shouted to no one in particular. "No one so evil could become so nice so fast!"

Ron continued on as Harry excused himself to retrieve a sweater. He walked across the giant, eerily dark ballroom to Ron's room. While he walked over to his bed to grab a sweater, he noticed Draco's Trunk sitting on the bed.

He opened it with a sharp click, and saw that all of Draco's things were in it. Sitting on top of a green shirt was a small, silver pocket watch that bared the letter, D. Harry picked it up, examining it and noticing the other side had an, M. Harry didn't know why he put it in his pocket, but he did. He almost felt bad for Draco, but the strong flush of betrayal made Harry angry.

Disgusted, he locked Draco's Trunk, picked it up and brought it to the open window, where he threw it. It landed with a crash on the ground outside and Harry sighed heavily. He walked over to his bed, grabbing his sweater and he noticed an empty Droobles bubble gum wrapper on the floor.

The End
~LO