Sorry this chapter is so short, it was originally supposed to be part of the last chapter, but I decided to cut it off so I could get the damn thing posted. The next one will be longer, I promise.

So, I was too lazy to do it last time, but I thought I should explain why Draco and Harry's reunion went the way it did.

I'd always thought that Buttercup should be a bit angrier with Westley, and I simply couldn't see Draco just going "Yay! You're back!" without being at least a little irritated with Harry for deceiving him.

Anyway, I'll be posting the next chappie soon (hopefully), so ONWARD!


Draco and Harry made their way through the forest, only daring to slow down and talk once they were completely out of sight of the edge of the huge trees.

The forest was dark, despite it being daytime, and things were moving and yowling and all other sorts of things all around. The trees were all hundreds of feet tall and their bases were impossibly large, making it hard to see anything very far ahead.

Draco, feeling slightly nervous, kept right at Harry's shoulder and voiced a question that had been bothering him for some time. "So, Harry, how did you come to be Voldemort? He has, after all, been terrorizing people longer than we've been alive. You were even captured by him! Unless…" a thought struck him, "Don't tell me this was all a conspiracy!"

Draco looked suspiciously at Harry, who just laughed. "No, no, nothing like that," he chuckled, "See, the original Voldemort retired to the Bahamas with all his riches years ago, but passed on the name and ship to his first mate. That was the 'Voldemort' I met. When they first captured me, they thought I was a goner for sure. Then he turned out to be pretty decent for a pirate; even took me on as cabin boy and kept the crew from touching me. Apparently, he'd been looking for a replacement for awhile, and I was perfect. After a year or so, he kicked out the old crew, helped me get a new one, and stayed on as first mate for awhile to establish my identity. Then he took all his riches and retired to England or someplace like that, to live with his lover who worked in a zoo, I think."

"So if his name wasn't Voldemort, then what was it?" asked Draco curiously, "Couldn't he have used his own name?"

Harry chuckled, "Well if he had, where would that leave me? Who would tremble in fear at hearing 'Harry'? Certainly no one in their right minds; it's much too common a name. As for his name, I believe it was Sirius Black, and if I remember correctly, his lover's name was Remus Lupin. Terribly nice people for being pirates. As soon as we get out of here, we'll have to settle down like they did."

Draco turned and beamed at Harry, who silently congratulated himself on a suggestion well-timed.

Unfortunately, because Draco was so pleased, he did not see the sand trap in front of him and stepped directly into it, falling straight down and out of sight without time to even scream.

Thinking quickly, Harry grabbed a sturdy vine wrapped securely around a nearby tree and dove down into the sand after Draco. The vine pulled taut and Harry's head reappeared a minute or so later, gasping for air and blinking sand out of his eyes. Draco's head closely followed his, also gasping for air; his arms were locked about Harry's neck in a death-grip.

Straining a bit, Harry used the vine to pull himself and Draco out of the sand pit, collapsing on the ground wearily once they were free. Draco coughed up a bit of sand while Harry held him tightly.

"Well," said Harry after a minute or so, laying flat on his back with Draco curled on his chest, "Now we know at least part of the reason why they call this the Forbidden Forest. Though I don't see what all the hoo-haw is about, it really isn't all that bad. We could build a summer home here; no one would dare bother us."

Draco lifted his head and fixed Harry with a half-hearted glare, "Remind me to burn this place down when we get out."

Harry laughed and, sliding Draco off him, stood, offering the blonde a hand to help him up. "Come on," he said, pulling Draco to his feet, "All we have to do is get out of this forest, then I can call my first mate to come get us and we'll be in my ship and gone in no time."

"Sounds good," replied Draco, brushing sand out of his hair and off his clothes, "Let's get the fuck outta here before we run into some R.C.s or something."

"Rabid Capybaras (1)? I'm, not even sure those aren't a figment of someone's overactive imagination," Harry replied airily, turning so they could continue on their merry way.

Just then, an animal leapt out of the bushes, slamming into Harry's chest and knocking him to the ground. It was a bit bigger than a German shepherd, but obviously not canine. It had golden fur, a squarish snout, a rounded body, rat-like feet with webbed toes and beady red eyes.

It was a Rabid Capybara.

Rolling, Harry pinned it beneath him and reached for his sword, still hanging at his waist. Before he could reach it, the R.C. began to struggle violently and snap at his free hand. Wriggling, it got free and made a beeline for Draco, who was standing off to the side, shocked.

Seeing the beast coming for him, Draco was wrenched from his stupor and looked wildly around for something to use as a weapon. Stepping instinctively backward, he tripped over a log, falling to the ground.

Twisting sharply, Draco hit the ground on his side, gasping in pain as a large blunt object was jammed into his ribs. Scrambling to his feet, he discovered that it hadn't been something on the ground, but rather an object hidden within his jacket.

With a start and a groan at his own stupidity, Draco remembered the gun he'd purchased after Harry's "death" to protect himself from his parents' more sinister plans. All his jackets had a hidden pocket for it and he'd been carrying it for so long without needing to use it that when the time had actually come, he'd completely forgotten about it!

Mentally smacking himself on the forehead, Draco smoothly withdrew the gun, and, remembering the classes he'd taken, braced himself for the kickback, aimed, and fired. The Capybara, a mere three feet away, was hit right between the eyes and died instantly.

As Draco flipped the safety on and calmly replaced the gun, Harry stared in shock from his place on the ground, trying to form words.

"Since when do you have a gun?" he finally spluttered, his tone conveying his shock.

Draco shrugged and offered him a hand up; "I started carrying when I heard of your kidnapping to protect myself from my parents. I forgot I had it though; otherwise I would've used it on the morons. I would not have willingly subjected myself to their nonsense for anything."

Harry chuckled as Draco pulled him to his feet, "Somehow, the fact that you forgot you had a gun in your jacket and completely forgot about it when you most needed it doesn't surprise me in the least." His face hardened, "But even if she hadn't kidnapped you, Ginny still got what she deserved. She was always against the relationship I had with you, always wanting me for herself. She thought she could use me to garner sympathy and move up in rank." His expression darkened further, "That, and she wanted to kill you. You're mine, Draco, and no one harms what is mine."

Draco was surprised by Harry's possessiveness, but it suited him just fine; he felt the exact same way about Harry.

"Well how do you think I felt when Ginny said you and she were practically married when you left? If I hadn't been tied up, I would've killed her with my bare hands," snapped Draco waspishly, "Stupid bint, trying to steal my lover."

Harry laughed and kissed Draco's forehead, "It's okay, love, I'd never leave you for anyone else. I haven't even looked at anyone like that in the past five years and took all sorts of crap for it. Apparently pirates aren't supposed to be celibate."

Draco just laughed, "Good, I'm glad to hear that, because otherwise I would've had to hunt down the people and kill them; I've been celibate too, you know."

Harry leered down at him, "Well, I am a hard act to follow."

Draco laughed and punched him on the arm and they set off down the path once again. They both kept a wary eye out for any more sand traps or R.C.s, but encountered nothing.


After another forty-five minutes or so, Harry and Draco noticed that the trees were thinning, and soon they broke free of the massive things, blinking in the bright sunlight. They stopped for a moment to let their eyes adjust, then, quickly exchanging a grin, rushed forward in hopes of finding a road or something to follow.

Suddenly, an authoritative voice rang out, stopping them in their tracks, "Halt, kidnapper!"

Harry whirled around, simultaneously pushing Draco behind him and whipping out his sword to hold it defensively between him and the speaker; a tall man on horseback flanked by several others.

The man was about Harry's size with a lean build, thick, wavy, black hair, startling crimson eyes, aristocratic features and pale skin. He seemed to radiate authority tinged with no small amount of menace and his way of speaking compelled the listener to obey or suffer the consequences. This was, of course, Prince Tom Marvolo Dumbledore of Linai.

"Who are you?" Harry demanded as Draco peered nervously over his shoulder at his fiancé, knowing that this could only end badly.

Tom, ignoring Harry's question, barked, "Surrender now!"

"Surrender? To me?" Harry asked mockingly, "How kind of you to save us all some trouble."

"Return Draco to me immediately and I may yet allow you to live," Tom continued, unperturbed by Harry's taunting.

"Never!" Harry returned instantly, "He's mine!"

"Then you shall die," Tom replied calmly.

"Well that's certainly the only way I'll let you get to Draco!" Harry snapped.

Shifting nervously, Draco caught a glimpse of something glimmering in the corner of his eye and he turned his head to better see what it was. To his horror, he found a sniper partially hidden behind a tree, his rifle firmly fixed on Harry. Getting a sinking feeling, he looked to the opposite and found another one.

I will not lose Harry again! Draco inwardly cried.

Thinking quickly, he met Tom's gaze. "If I go with you, will you give your word that no harm will come to him?" he called out, startling Harry.

"Yes, if that is what you wish," Tom replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Draco, what are you doing?!" Harry demanded, slightly panicked because he got the feeling he knew exactly what Draco was doing.

"Just go with it, love," Draco replied softly. Louder, he said, "Fine then, I shall return with you to the castle to marry you."

Harry was horrified, "But…Draco…I…"

Draco turned and laid a finger over his lips, effectively silencing him as calm gray eyes met panicked emerald ones. "Harry, I love you with everything I have and it nearly killed me when I heard you had died," Draco explained softly, "If it were to happen again…before my very eyes…when I could stop it…I would never forgive myself." He paused, his eyes filled with pain, then forced himself to continue, "Remember, Harry, I will always love you."

Draco's expression was calm, betraying none of the inner turmoil he suffered from at the thought of being separated from his love once again, but his eyes did show his pain.

Turning, Draco forced himself to walk calmly to Tom, ignoring Harry's protests. It was the only unselfish thing he'd ever done, and it almost killed him.

Eyes glittering in triumph, Tom turned to Snape at his side, "Count Snape, make sure that Harry is properly taken care of. Understood?"

Snape gave a brief nod of assent and urged his horse forward, a couple others following him, "Understood, my lord."

Quickly, Tom pulled Draco up onto his horse in front of him and they rode off, a couple soldiers tailing them while the rest hung back to assist Snape.

Dismounting, they rapidly rid Harry of his many hidden weapons and led him over to Snape, hands held firmly behind his back.

Snape was a tall, thin man with cold black eyes, an unfortunate nose, harsh facial features and a permanently unpleasant expression. His lank shoulder-length black hair was ridiculously greasy. He smirked nastily as Harry was forced to a stop before him.

"Dishonesty is unbecoming of men like us," said Harry slyly, smirking slightly up at Snape, "So let's just be honest and say that you're going to kill me now."

Snape's smirk widened, "If you wish. Men, tie his hands; we're taking him to Azkaban."

The soldiers hurried to obey and Harry finally noticed his captor's unfortunate hair; it almost looked wet, it was so greasy.

"Excuse me, but have you always had such greasy hair?" Harry asked, a secretive smile dancing about the edge of his mouth.

Snape ignored the question, glaring furiously down at him, "It seems the prisoner would be better off unconscious."

That being said, Snape drew his pistol and, reaching down, slammed the butt of it into Harry's head. He crumpled and fell; Draco's sad silver eyes the last thing he saw before losing consciousness.


(1) Well, if you think about it, capybaras are real-life R.O.U.S. (Rodents Of Unusual Size) so I couldn't help but put them in. I made the descrition as accurate as possible, but I may have gotten the size wrong (they may have actually been a bit bigger). Oh, and capybaras are herbivores. I highly doubt they will attack you and attempt to eat you. (But hey, you never know.)

AGH. It is currently one in the morning and my eyes feel like they're going to fall out. Sorry about the slight cliffie; I should be posting relatively soon because this week is spring break (HALLELUJAH!).

Then again, I must just sleep all week; always a possibility, especially because I'm housesitting for my aunt and uncle.

Anywho, review and tell me what you think, I'm always open to suggestions. I'm off to stop the aliens from invading and stealing all our curtains, (quiet you, I'm tired) so I really must be going.

Ciao,

Waffles