A/N: Sorry for such a delay between updates, but have no fear- this story is not on hiatus or discontinued. I am planning on finishing this story, hopefully before the spring semester starts. Enjoy this chapter! Please read and review.

Happy Holidays!

Chapter 10

The next day came more quickly than anyone wanted. Nate stayed awake most of the night thinking about the revelation his friends had made. He kept thinking about the pictures the paparazzi had taken. Was that the stem of the problem? Was that the reason the Camp was now in danger? Gemma- Hermione? What was he supposed to call his new friends anyway? Could he even call them his friends when he wasn't even sure how much of what he knew about them was a lie?

Nate felt tension in the back of his neck as he stared at the ceiling of the cabin. He tried to relax a bit, breathe in and out slowly, so he could start the day without raising too much suspicion in Draco- Drew. Nate huffed softly, this name thing was so confusing. Slowly, he sat up and swung his feet over the edge of the bed. Shane and Jason, he noticed were still sleeping soundly, soft snores coming from their bunks. His other cabin mate was not in his bed, Nate assumed he probably left for the bathhouse already. Nate gathered his own shower things, and stepped outside to walk to the bathhouse. He was slower this morning than usual. His mood reflected the partially clouded weather- unusual for the time of year and morning.

When he reached the bathhouse, his blonde cabin mate was putting his shower things in his carry-all. Draco's back was to Nate, as he walked further into the bathhouse. Nate cleared his throat softly and greeted with a bit of tiredness, "Good Morning, Dr-."

Nate stopped mid-syllable and looked confused for a moment, "What are we supposed to call you?"

Draco turned and gave Nate a sort of half smirk, "If you're absolutely certain its just Hermione, Caitlyn, Shane, Jason, you and/or I then, Draco is fine. If we're around the others who are not in on the secret, then we need to stick with Drew Bonetti."

Nate nodded, and then repeated, "Right-well good morning, Draco."

Draco repeated the greeting, and then added, "You didn't sleep well did you?"

Nate's eyes flicked to the side and then back to Draco. He shrugged, "Not really, but its alright."

Draco eyed Nate shrewdly and then sighed, "Nate- I know that look. You can't feel guilty about this. None of this is your fault."

Nate shook his head, "If I hadn't told Jason to pull Hermione on stage-"

"Someone would have gotten a picture eventually or a magical signature trace. Our intent was never to stay here long. Its just bad luck really, but it'll all work out you'll see." Draco offered with the best reassuring expression he could muster.

Nate snorted, "But there's still a danger and it would have been a lot better if the picture hadn't been taken- which is my fault."

Draco shook his head dismissively with a snort, and replied, "Look, Nate, I'm going to be brutally honest here- yes, the picture put things in motion faster than I would have liked, but I've already lived longer than I thought I would."

Nate gave Draco a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

Draco's face took on that flat quality, the haunted look, "My entire family with the exception of four others and myself have been pureblood maniacs dedicated to the Dark Lord and his ideals. In turning to the Order of the Phoenix and not killing muggles and all that, I betrayed them. People have been trying to kill me ever since, including my own father, and I've killed them all. So the way I see it, I'm on borrowed time anyway."

Nate had a quiet shocked face, as he tried to digest all that information.

"Nate, just take a shower. Don't give yourself a brain aneurysm over my issues."

Draco shook his head as he grabbed his shower things and went back to the cabin. Professor Snape was perched on the bed post in his raven form, watching the surroundings with keen beady eyes.

"I'm going to head over to the girls' cabin. Will you be staying here then?" asked Draco in a soft voice, not wanting to deal with anymore emotional fallout before breakfast.

Snape glared as hard as he could in raven form. Draco glared in return. "They're the closest I'm going to get to friends now that Blaise and Fred are gone. I'd like them to stay alive."

Snape rolled his eyes, which Draco took to be acquiescence. He then left and walked briskly to Hermione and Caitlyn's cabin. The sun started to peak out behind the clouds, as Draco reached the door. The girls and Professor McGonagall were not to be seen. Draco was about to begin panicking when he noticed them coming up the walk way from the bathhouse. A remarkably rumpled silver tabby stalking behind Hermione and Caitlyn, hissing every so often.

Draco raised an eyebrow to which Hermione replied, "Soapy water in her mouth- don't ask."

Draco smirked, "Rough morning, Professor?"

McGonagall hissed at him, while Caitlyn giggled, "Good morning Draco."

"Good morning, love." replied Draco, congenially, "You may want to check on Shane and Jason today, but definitely Nate. He's having a bit of a time handling the current situation."

"Oh?" questioned Caitlyn, sharing a look with Hermione. It was a look that conveyed sympathy and pity. Draco nodded, "Honestly, Nate makes Remus look positively callous, he's so guilt ridden."

Hermione's eyebrows shot up to her hairline, "Merlin's Beard, why should he feel guilty about anything? It's not like he's got any connections to the Wizarding World to rat us out to."

Draco smirked and said, "I know- I told him all that, but he blames himself for the picture being taken."

Caitlyn shook her head, "I'll talk to him. Y'all have enough on your plate to deal with."

Draco offered his gratitude and was then startled by a thump outside the cabin and a loud, but familiar groan. The cavalry had arrived, if in a bit of a loud way. Apparently the great Harry Potter hadn't improved his technique in traveling by portkey even with Auror training. Scuffling could be heard, it sounded as if Harry had brought quite a few people with him.

"Hermione, when are Remus and Dora going to be here?" asked Draco, looking at Hermione with a cautious glance on the off chance that it was not the real Harry outside.

"They were supposed to be here already. Brown let them stay in the guest cabin, so they were going to come early to meet the Order."

Draco stifled a groan. This was not an auspicious start to the day. Hermione and Draco took their wands out and stood at ready positions. Caitlyn crouched down beside a bush, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. Leaves breaking and the soft compression of grass could be heard as the new arrivals moved closer towards the front of the cabin. McGonagall transformed into her human form, wand ready, hiding Caitlyn from view. Draco cast a shield bubble around Caitlyn. If something were to happen to Hermione, Draco, and McGonagall, then Caitlyn would be protected until help could arrive.

Hermione and Draco slipped into their deadliest calm state, ready to face whatever came around the corner. Deep, even breaths punctuated the sound of the approaching footsteps. A few short seconds later, two raven heads came out from around the corner followed by three red heads, two brunettes, and another raven head. Hermione nearly fell over when she saw them. First around the corner was Harry next to someone she thought long dead, James Potter. They were followed by more who died- Sirius, Lily, Cedric, and Fred. Neville Longbottom walked next to Cedric, and George walked next to his twin. Draco also appeared to be surprised, but hid it well.

"Flash." Hermione stated with her wand pointed directly at Harry's chest. Her voice was strong and clear as she initiated the code sequence agreed upon before they left England.

Harry grinned and replied easily, "Thunder." Harry had been impressed with Hermione's suggestion that they use the code words from an American muggle military operation from the 1940's. No wizard would ever think of it. It also saved time- two code words over a dozen or more security questions.

Hermione pinned Harry with a store and a raised eyebrow and said, "You had better start explaining yourself Harry James Potter."

Several snorts and muffled snickers could be heard before Harry replied, "Well there's not much I can explain really. I signed a binding magical contract along with several Unspeakables."

Hermione scowled, and demanded, "Tell me what you can then."

Harry grinned and said, "It involves the Veil and some ancient magic. You aren't barmy- well no more than usual- everyone really did come back from the dead."

Hermione lowered her wand hesitantly, and glanced around at the people in front of her. Sirius. Lily. James. Cedric. Fred. Harry had a real family for the first time in his life. "Well then," she replied, "I'll just badger the Minister when we get back."

Harry laughed, "Right so, shall we get inside then, discuss the situation?"

Hermione took in her surroundings, and then sent a patronus to Remus and Dora. "Waiting on someone"

Hermione frowned and glanced back down the path. "Remus and Dora arrived yesterday- on account of concern for their beloved children being plastered all over the tabloids."

A few snickers met that sarcastic comment. "They were supposed to be here ten minutes ago."

Caitlyn stood up then and came to stand next to Draco. She lightly touched his arm and pointed behind them. "Draco, isn't that Professor Snape coming?"

"Why, yes, it is, love." replied Draco, ignoring the raised eyebrows from his fellow Order members.

Everyone turned to where she pointed , and saw a raven gliding towards them, six people walking a few paces behind. Their faces registered a slightly dazed expression, but a happy one. As they approached it was easy to pick out Nate, Jason, Shane, and Remus, or even Dora's disguise for this mission. The last person to come into view caused several to inhale sharply.

"Impossible." Draco breathed in astonishment. Leading the rear was a dashing Italian man, tall and muscular. A scar peaked out about above the collar of his mahogany dress shirt and leather motorcycle jacket. Blaise Zabini had come back from the dead.

Caitlyn wrapped a hand around his forearm and gazed up at him with genuine concern. Hermione looked at the approaching group wand at the ready. Professor McGonagall next to her, also ready for a fight.

Harry and his father moved up to flank Hermione and the professor. Harry quickly saw what they were staring at. "I didn't bring him with me." he stated warily.

Remus and Dora stopped still in their tracks seeing James Potter a few feet in front of them alive and well.

"Prongs?" Remus questioned incredulously. Sirius popped his head over James shoulder.

"Hey Moony, Dora- didn't think you'd be rid of us forever did ya?" Sirius joked with a grin he'd worn often as a prank pulling teenager. James, too was smiling.

"Padfoot?" "Sirius!" Remus and Dora said at the same time, which caused Fred and George to exclaim excitedly, "Gred! Forge!"

"Well, if we're shouting names-"

"We thought we'd add ours-"

"Just in case-"

"Someone forgot."

Fred and George's witty banter caused a few snickers and pulled everyone out of their haze. Professor Snape transformed into his human state and said in his usual dry tone, "Perhaps we could take this touching reunion inside where the rest of us could hear the information Blaise has brought us."

Amid much eye-rolling the group moved into Hermione and Caitlyn's cabin. The muggles huddled themselves at the head of Caitlyn's bunk against the wall. The witches and wizards welcomed back their resurrected dead and those thought to be dead.

"Sorry, mate. When Selwyn cast the Killing Curse I was able to miss it and apparate away. I conjured up a dead body that looked like me and went into hiding. Nearly went mad being cooped up like that." Blaise explained with eyes looking back at past memories.

Sirius made a sympathetic noise, remembering his own time under house arrest. Blaise continued, "In any case when I heard about what happened to you, I visited some of our old acquaintances, Draco, got some information- sent them on all expenses paid vacation with Jesus. You my friend have a serious problem."

Draco snorted, "Thanks, mate. Think you could drop me an owl next time you decide to play dead?"

Blaise rolled his eyes, "Sure, sure- on the bright side- with everyone we've got here it should be an easy win."

Professor Snape commented drolly, "Let us not become arrogant, Mr. Zabini. You are a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor."

There was general grumble about that particular statement. Professor McGonagall got everyone settled down again, and the planning began. The goals were simple- keep camp safe and destroy the Death Eaters without loss of life on our side. Selwyn and his followers were likely to arrive within two days. James, Sirius, Lily, Remus, and Dora left to set up more wards around camp and a series of alarms to give advance warning of the Death Eaters arrival. Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Harry, and Blaise agreed to follow Connect 3 and Caitlyn around in their animagus forms. Cedric, Neville, Fred, and George would wander around camp under Harry's invisibility cloak or layers of disillusionment and notice -me- not charms.

As it was, Hermione and Draco did not plan to leave their new found muggle friends alone. Unfortunately, Connect 3 was having a bit of a time adjusting to the idea of magic, and all the new arrivals. The idea of magic was one thing, but seeing magic being done constantly, and people coming back from the dead was another thing entirely. Hermione and Draco decided discretion was the better part of valor, and were giving their new friends their space.

Just before lunch Caitlyn, Nate, Jason, and Shane were sitting on the docks looking out at the lake. The clouds had not lifted, in fact they seemed to be getting darker. A silver tabby cat, a black raven, a young stag, and a red fox hung around the road leading to the docks, so they could protect them, while still giving them privacy.

"Hey Caitlyn," Jason began, "Did that raven Gemma bring to the cabin really turn into that guy who scowled a lot?"

There were barely disguised coughs from the animagi in a loose semi circle on the path behind them covering all areas of access to their charges. Caitlyn gave a small amused smile.

"It's really amazing all the things magic can do, isn't it?" replied Caitlyn, looking at her friends with sympathy, "But yes, he really turned into a raven. Some very powerful witches and wizards can teach themselves to become animagi, which is the power to transform into an animal. Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall are both animagi. Professor Snape is a raven, and Professor McGonagall is a cat."

Jason looked awed, "Cool. Can Gemma do that?"

Caitlyn hesitated, before replying, "She's certainly powerful enough, but I don't know if she can. There is a fair amount she does not tell me because of the rules in the magical world. Technically, she was not supposed to tell me she was a witch, but we're practically sisters, and I caught her doing accidental magic one day."

Jason nodded, and looked at his brothers, who were both sitting stoically on the dock next to him. Caitlyn let them sit quietly for a minute, before saying, "I know this magic thing is a lot to take in guys. If you need to talk, I'm here."

Jason, Shane, and Nate traded glances with each other, and shifted their bodies slightly. Jason smiled easily and said, "It is a lot to take in, but they're still our friends no matter what."

Shane nodded in agreement, but did not say anything. Nate stayed immobile. Caitlyn could tell that none of them really wanted to talk right now, about much of anything. So they stayed on the docks just watching the lake water lap the shore, coming in and out. The sound was soothing, and eased their mind a bit.

Later that night, Blaise showed up at Draco's cabin. He along with the Weasley twins opted to bunk their when they were not on duty. Everyone else would bunk in Hermione and Caitlyn's cabin. Draco was sitting on the steps of the cabin, staring out at the night sky. His assigned cabin mates had turned in already, and were sleeping peacefully. The Weasley twins were taking their turn on the night shift guarding camp, on the off chance that the Death Eaters attacked sooner than expected. Blaise settled into a relaxed position next to Draco, and copied his stare. A tense silence sat between them for a few moments before Draco broke it.

"Your death hit me the hardest you know?" Draco carefully avoided Blaise's glance, and clenched his fists at his sides. "Of course I was tore up about Fred, and the other Order Members. But when I saw that article in the Prophet..."

Draco trailed off for a few seconds, and then swore under his breath before continuing, "I got completely wasted, and cried like a baby. Haven't done that since Mum died. Now you're back, and I don't know if I should be angry or relieved or glad or what."

Blaise cocked an eyebrow at his best mate, and replied, "Living among muggles sure has gone to your head. You turned into a bloody Hufflepuff- in touch with your feelings and all that rubbish."

Draco gave Blaise a shove in the shoulder, "Oh shove it. It's all your fault anyway- leaving me the lone snake with a bunch of Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs."

Blaise laughed, "Next time I'm in a life or death situation, I'll just take you with me then."

Draco snorted, and retorted, "You'd better or there will be unspeakable consequences."

Blaise lifted his eyebrow again, and said, "Such as falling in love with the muggle cousin of the Gryffindor princess you were supposed to introduce into the joys of the Dark Revels."

Draco rewarded his friend's observations with a cold stare. "Caitlyn is not something to joke about. That night haunts me, and you know it."

Blaise looked appropriately chastised. "You aren't your father you know. You never were, neither of us were. Look, Draco, if she makes you happy- than I'll go with it all the way, but you know what the rest of the world is going to think. Are you ready for that? Is she?"

Draco looked pensively out at the sky again, "At this point, Blaise. I'll settle for all of us living to see tomorrow."