Disclaimer: I do NOT own the characters or the plot.

Chapter 10: Escaping the Red Queen

They stared at the SWORD for what seemed like an eternity, but was actually only a few seconds, before Hermione picked up the SWORD with ease, and what almost seemed like experience. Harry and Ron stared at her, just the tiniest bit frightened by what they were looking at. It was about a second later that the three decided that they had better go get Luna and leave. Just as they were leaving the small cage Fluffy gave them a longing look, like it wanted to go with them but knew that it could not, at least not at the moment. The three looked at Fluffy for a moment before heading off to where Luna was.

Meanwhile in the throne room Malfoy was kneeling down in front of the Red Queen. "My queen, you simply cannot allow Harriet, Riff Raff, and Hagrid to stay here much longer. I caught them talking to Luna about the White Queen and the SWORD," he quickly told the Red Queen, hoping for something worthwhile to come from the information.

"OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!" the Red Queen shrieked at the top of his lungs, somewhat startling Malfoy, but bringing a smile to his face none the less.

While Malfoy was telling the Red Queen about the betrayal of the three, Abby was trying to pick the lock of the manacle around Luna's ankle when Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the room, Hermione carrying the sword.

"Stand back," Hermione said as she made to raise the SWORD to cut the chain on the manacle.

"No. Do not use it," Luna exclaimed just as Hermione made to bring the SWORD down with force, and just as Malfoy and a few of the guards burst through the doors and into the room.

"Arrest those three for unlawful plotting and treason against the Red Queen," Malfoy ordered, stopping just in front of the open doors and pointing into the room.

"Luna," Abby exclaimed as the guard began to approach them, looking like they would do anything that Malfoy told them to do in order to arrest the three.

"Take the SWORD to the White Queen," Luna said to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, bending a little to pick up two rolls of fabric.

"We're not going without you," Hermione answered, Ron and Harry agreeing with her silently, as the guards began to get closer and closer to them and Luna threw the two rolls of fabric at them, knocking down the guards.

Upon watching the guards get knocked down Malfoy began to approach Luna, sword drawn and at the ready. Luna backed up a bit and, thinking quickly, threw a witches hat towards Malfoy, who easily sliced the hat in half with his sword. She then reached over and grabbed one of the metal mannequins, holding it in front of her as Malfoy continued to advance, ready to get rid of Luna, with his sword at the ready.

The sword and the mannequin clashed many times, while Abby and the three quickly moved out of the way, before the mannequin fell and Luna picked up a potion bottle, filled with a sky blue liquid, getting ready to spray the potion into Malfoy's eyes.

"Run Harry, Hermione, and Ron," Abby screamed at the three before realizing her mistake and regretting it instantly upon seeing the recognition expression that came across Malfoy's face.

"You three," Malfoy said, smirking gleefully, happy that he would be the one to bring the three of them to the Red Queen.

"RUN," Luna shouted at the three, who quickly began to run while she sprayed the potion into the eyes of Malfoy, causing him to pull away, cutting the chain of the manacle doing so.

"AFTER THEM," Malfoy screamingly ordered the guards, pointing in the direction that the three had run in, out of the room.

The three ran out into the courtyard where the small cage, with Fluffy in it, was, the guards following close behind them. They ran until the guards were beginning to surround them from all sides and Malfoy appeared, quite content that he had finally caught the three for the Red Queen.

"Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I realized that it was you earlier, but I just could not be sure, until now. Now, hand me the SWORD," Malfoy demanded gently to Hermione, advancing closer and closer with the guard.

"Stay away," Hermione said, pointing the SWORD first at all of the guards and then at Malfoy, Harry and Ron backing her up with somewhat none threatening looks that just looked like they were trying to scare off a hyper puppy.

"The Red Queen will be so pleased when the three of you are brought forth to have your heads chopped off and put up in the throne room," Malfoy sneered as the guards began to grab the three of them and take them away.

Suddenly there was a roar, coming from behind some of the guards, and Fluffy came charging through the guards, headed towards Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Fluffy quickly stopped right in front of them and bowed a little, looking like it wanted the three to climb on to its back. The three stared at Fluffy for about a minute before quickly hopping onto Fluffy's back, and holding on as tightly as they could, to Fluffy's back, in anticipation for what was to come. Once they were securely on Fluffy's back, Fluffy roared once more and began to run through the rest of the guards, and out of the Red Queen's castle.

Once they were out of the Red Queen's castle they began to make their way to the White Queen's castle. Along the way they ran into Lupin, who had been waiting for them to finally come out of the Red Queen's castle on orders of the White Queen.

"Harry, Ron, and Hermione," Lupin exclaimed delightfully upon seeing them, happy to see them alive and well rather than half dead.

"Lupin, to the White Queen's castle," Harry yelled as Fluffy slowed for a short period of time before beginning to continue their fast travel to the White Queen's castle.

A/N: I'm going to try and finish this this month (October) and have it done before Nano Wrimo. So expect multiple chapters a week.