Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any associated characters. All rights belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 1

A fresh breeze blew the scent of the sea into Severus' face, and the sun burned hot on his back. He felt the grainy sand under his skin and slowly began to wake up. When he raised his head, he saw what he had already felt: A vast, beautiful beach melting into the far palm thicket. His memories of last night were fuzzy only bits and pieces, images swirling in his head.

He got up and tried to remember as much as he could. Santa Rowena, yes this was the name of the ship they were on. What a foolish idea it was of Albus to permit an excursion on a cruise ship. He couldn't say how long he was stuck with the senior year of Gryffindor and Slytherin on this ship. Two days? Maybe longer. Then came the storm. Nobody had seen it coming. They had no time to react properly. The Storm had broken the ship apart. He remembered fighting for air, and the next thing he remembered was waking up here, alive.

Where are the others? They can't be all dead, can they?

Maybe not all of them. Some distance away he heard a moan. His eyes searched the beach when he saw a head popping out of a sand pile. "Where am I? What happened?", Hermione asked with a faint voice.

"Our ship got caught up in a storm, and we washed up at this shore, Miss Granger." He was never the talkative type, and he said her name with such despite that she immediately realised how stupid her question was.

"Where are the others?", she said to herself, not awaiting an answer from the grumpy man. She stood up without hesitation and strode across the beach calling her friends, "ROOOON? HAAAARRY? GIIIIINNY? CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

Stupid brat, where is she going all alone in this forsaken place? Severus followed her but made sure to keep a distance. Why must it be the know-it-all Granger with whom he ran ashore and knowing his luck she would probably find her stupid friends soon.

And of course, she did. Somebody answered her callings.

"Hermione? IS THAT YOU?" Four figures ran in her direction, and Hermione gave Ron, Lavender, Harry and Ginny a hug when they reached her.

Severus observed the occurrence from a safe distance tried to choke the contempt that rose from watching this joyful reunion when two more piles of sand attracted his attention. Severus went in their direction and was pleased to see their faces turn pale when they spotted him. The dreaded professor knelt down in front of them and swept the sand aside. A blue collar appeared which Severus seized and pulled with a sharp jolt another boy out of the sand. "Mr Longbottom", he looked despicable at the boy and let go of his collar then Severus turned to the other pile. The Sand began to trickle and revealed a blond tuft. The blond boy looked around and found some comfort seeing his godfather amongst all these hated people. Severus stretched his hand to Draco and helped him up. "Professor?", Draco asked in a raspy voice. Severus nodded sympathetically then his face darkened again.

to be continued...