Summary: Many in Hogwarts have been led to believe recent disappearances to be the work of Voldemort; little do they know about the top secret base located in Antarctica. Draco and Harry are among the kidnapped. And what do these scientists want? Their blood, of course.

Notice: This story takes place at the beginning of Harry Potter's 6th year at Hogwarts.

Scrimgeour is now Minister of Magic at this time. I leave this the same.

Harry does not receive the Half-Blood prince's book, as circumstances are changed in this story.

The Base of Blood

---Moreover, in the experimental sciences, the scientific fraternity must test a new theory to destruction, if possible.

Peter D. Mitchell

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"Where am I?"

Hermione had missed classes for three days now. Though most of the school hadn't seemed to notice, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley had.

For three days, there was a silence among the boys: worrying and disconcerting.

The cold toast, bacon and juice sat complacently on the plate in front of him. His green eyes flickered only when someone stood up to leave. After a couple of minutes, he started to stare at his rough hands that sat in his lap. Lines traced up and around his thumb. Callouses mocked him from the curve of his fingers. 'Where are you at, Hermione?'

Following everybody else to leave, Harry noticed, was Dean Thomas. Harry glanced into his lap only to be startled by a hand on his shoulder.

"It'll be alright, Harry. You'll see. Perhaps she's sick and had to be sent home," said Dean.

"It's so cold in here … I need a blanket."

"Yeah. Perhaps." With a heavy sigh, Harry stood up and paced out of the great hall leaving Dean to stare at the closed oak doors.

Harry's footsteps softly echoed in the expansive stone hallways.

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Rufus Scrimgeour sat sourly in his office. He wasn't getting briefed on department cases and organization was lacking. Among these problems and others, Harry Potter still crossed his mind. He bit his lip in deep thought when the fireplace suddenly flared to life.

"Minister Scrimgeour, the Prime Minister of the UK has requested your presence immediately." The brunette secretary was calm and to the point.

"Foster, organize for a jet. I will meet within the hour," Scrimgeour replied.

"Yes, minister." With a nod, her head disappeared from the fireplace.

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The morning had come uneventful. Harry Potter trudged into the showers, stripping as he made his way. He washed his tousled hair, scrubbed his body, and crouched. The hot water pelted his skin, creating red splotches where they landed. He wiped his eyes of water and worry every ten seconds only for them to reemerge again. After twenty minutes, he stepped out and dressed. His wet hair dripped into his eyes.

"Harry … please come soon. Someone. I'm scared."

"Hey," said Ron.

"Hey." Harry glanced at him only to pass him on his way to the common room.

Ron trailed behind and carefully sat beside Harry.

"I owled Hermione's parents,"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Ron sighed.

"Have they replied?"

"Yeah, they did," said Ron.

A brief silence interrupted them.

"And?"

"Well..." Ron sighed again, "they have no idea where she's at."

Harry snapped his head toward Ron. "They have absolutely no idea?"

"No idea."

Both depressed boys stared at the coffee table.

"Others have gone missing, too. Gregory Goyle hasn't been seen in a week, Hannah Abbot in four days, and no one's seen Stewart Ackerley in a month. Voldemort," said Ron, "he has to be behind all of this."

"I feel so weak now … the needle ..."

"When isn't he, Ron?" Harry stared at Ron with a look of conviction. A look of understanding passed between the two, and silence settled upon them again.

The next morning, the sky was dark. Ominous clouds rolled along the velvet sky; Harry looked up as he walked outside. 'Where are you at, Hermione? We miss you... please come home. Or … let me come to you.' Harry sighed as he felt drizzle on his skin and he lowered his head. Care of Magical Creatures would start in five minutes.

Students whispered at the beginning of class; 'Where's Goyle?'; 'Do you think it's going to rain?'; 'I heard about that date that they went on, and...'; 'Please, tell me where you went!'; 'Two days ago, he wouldn't even look at me,'; "I'm just glad to be rid of that mudblood Granger." Harry's head whipped toward the voice.

"Malfoy!" Harry snapped and calmly walked over to him with a pained but hateful expression. "My friends are none of your business,"

Malfoy laughed and looked at Crabbe, who was laughing as well. "Yeah, Potter? None of my business? I'd say someone so disgraceful as that mudblood is very much my business when she crosses my path."

"She hasn't done anything to you,"

"She defiles anyone she comes across,"

"You're wrong!" Harry grabbed Malfoy's robe collar and whispered, "Someday, you'll realize that you're wrong, Malfoy."

Malfoy looked into Harry's eyes. Green – a crystal ball. A wave of fear washed over him; those eyes held his words to be most true. 'Someday is going to be a real day for me, isn't it?' Draco thought. He snatched his eyes away and pushed at Harry's hands to distance himself.

The door to the hut slammed open and Hagrid walked out. "Alright, alright, break it up, everybody. Today is goin' to be an excitin' day."

Everybody groaned.

"Today we will be workin' with the proud but mischievous satyrs."

A couple of satyrs bolted out of their cages as Hagrid pulled the latch. Their goat-like faces flared into a sinister mask. They huffed around and settled enough into one spot.

"Does anyone want to volunteer to walk one of these magnificent creatures?" asked Hagrid.

No one moved. Malfoy's face, Harry observed, was paler than usual at Hagrid's proposition. Lavender shook her head.

"Well!" Hagrid shouted and chuckled. "If no one will volunteer, I will jus' have to choose now, won't I?"

Everybody looked at each other wondering who was going to have to walk the large beasts.

"Justin Finch-Fletchly, you're up! And um … Vincent Crabbe." Both grumbling boys walked up to their assigned creature, grabbed the reins and cautiously led him into the forest. Both disappeared behind the foliage.

"Draco Malfoy!" Hagrid yelled, "you too!"

The startled boy jumped and stood up to stand beside the beast albeit as far away as he could get.

"Harry, please join Mr. Malfoy in this task," said Hagrid. He grumbled, "we can't be hav'en Mr. Malfoy injured again, now can we?" Hagrid turned around and held the reins out to Malfoy.

"Why can't Potter? Why do I have to?"

Harry walked up beside Malfoy and the beast. "Because you were assigned the task. I'm your body guard."

Malfoy looked offended. "Body guard?! Now listen here, Potter! I-"

"Now, Harry, not a body guard. If Malfoy needs help or if either of you get into any trouble, you come yellin' now, understand?"

Malfoy snatched the reins of the disgruntled beast and started to lead with Harry following closely behind.

"Potter, I hate you."

"I know."

"No, you don't. Body guard?! I'm most capable of taking care of myself! Your putrid presence isn't necessary to my survival. Actually Potter, it endangers my survival. So don't hesitate to get the hell away from me while you have the chance," Malfoy glared daggers at Harry, sneering as he realized Harry seemed to be absorbed in his thoughts.

"Did you hear me? I said get the hell away from me while you have the chance!" Malfoy spat.

"Shut up, Malfoy. I can't go anywhere and you know that."

"Does it look like I care?!" Malfoy huffed and looked ahead at the endless forest.

They passed through a veil of silence. Only the creatures of the forest penetrated it.

Suddenly, Malfoy tripped over a tree root. He held onto the reins of the beast to stabilize himself. The satyr growled and huffed, and started to whip out of control. Draco could feel himself falling, and then the satyr's hoofs flailed and collided with Malfoy's back, pushing him into the dip below the tree root.

Harry quickly scuttled away and let the beast thunder off. Malfoy was cheek down in the dirt. "Malfoy?" No response. "Hey ..."

Harry pushed his shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?"

His panic shielded the sound of footsteps creeping up behind him.

Then … darkness.

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End of ch. 1. Tell me what you think. Should have chapter two up tomorrow or within the next two days.