Thanks to Serian, my wonderful beta for keeping this understandable!

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"Not pleased to see me? And here I thought you'd be happy I'm joining your Death Eater ranks…." Zabini said, his words laced with a sarcastic tone.

"What are you doing here?" Draco asked again wildly. "You're not supposed to be here!"

"What, I'm not allowed to come back to my own school?" Blaise replied sarcastically. Then his voice took on a more boyish, excited quality, "I've seen the light, Drake. I'm finally doing what you tried to convince me to do years ago; I'm choosing a side."

This can't be happening, Draco thought madly. Blaise is supposed to be the one who holds out on us…

Turning the men flanking Blaise, Draco said quickly, "Give us a moment?"

Draco prayed that they would comply, but he could only hope for so much; he doubted that these thugs would pass up a chance to bully a boy whose family was now out of favor.

After a moment they nodded briefly and went over to the fireplace at on end of the entrance hall. Huddling as close to it as possible, they stood warming their hands and glancing at the two boys every so often.

Draco grabbed Blaise by the collar and slammed him into the wall. The taller boy looked down at him in shock.

"What the hell was that for?" Blaise said loudly. Draco shushed him hurriedly, glancing nervously at the guards, who were now looking at them, suspicious of the outburst.

"You shouldn't be here!" Draco told him. "I've got to get you ou—"

"And why shouldn't I? You've always wanted me to join up; well here I am, Drake, happy now?" Blaise cut him off, his voice getting progressively louder. "You were right all along about the mudbloods, they're no good; they're just keeping us from what's rightfully ours!"

"Oh yeah?" Draco asked him, cutting off any more loud words that might arouse the guards. "I'm glad you feel that way Zabini, now if you'll just dump Granger, I'll actually believe you."

That shut him up. His eyes flickered with some unknown emotion.

"What do you mean 'dump Granger'?" Blaise said slowly. "I'd never go out with a mudblood like her…."

"Nice recovery, Blaise, really. Would've been better if your face hadn't completely given you away," Draco smirked and let go of the other boy's shirt.

Blaise adjusted the clothing, looking slightly disgruntled. "So what if it was a one time thing? She's not a bad kisser, for a mudblood at least. And she's a pretty easy go. I just thought it'd be fun to mess with her."

"Right."

Draco turned away from Zabini and checked to make sure the men were still at the fireplace. Facing Blaise once more, he said, "Listen, I know you're lying."

"What—"

"Doesn't matter how I know. We both need to get out of here… fast. If you get me to that Order bunch, I have all sorts of information that they'll need. Just get me to them and get out of here yourself."

Blaise looked slack jawed at him.

"Come on!" Draco demanded. "Let's get going."

"How do I know I can trust you?" Blaise asked, eyes narrowed. He crossed his arms over his chest and stood quite still looking suspiciously at the shorter boy.

"Feel free to use Veritaserum as soon as we're somewhere safe," Draco said desperately. The men were beginning to look over at them again, mistrustful looks on their faces. "But let's go now! They've taken some of the wards down – you can Apparate out."

"Oi!" one of the men shouted. "You've had long enough! It's time to bring you both in." He gestured at the Great Hall, a leery half-grin evident on his dirty face.

The men took their wands out and aimed them at the boys, taking great pleasure in being able to round on Draco as well.

"Not so brave now that Da's on the out, eh?" The larger of their captors sneered at him.

Draco tensed visibly and Blaise decided to take a chance.

"This doesn't mean I trust you again."

Draco nodded and grabbed Blaise's wrist. The men were perhaps five yards from them when Blaise closed his eyes and concentrated very hard on a house he had seen long ago.

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For those of you wondering why Draco's acting kind of bipolar this chapter, it's because he's just suffered an enormous amount of stress. I don't know about anyone else, but when I get stressed I tend to act a tad bipolar…. He'll be better next chapter though. I promise.