Hermione and a reluctant Draco walked in the room to see Professor McGonagall, Lupin, Tonks, Kinglsey, Harry, Ron and Ginny all sitting around McGonagall's office talking in hushed tones. When they entered Ron looked as if he wanted to jump up and both him and Harry wore matching scowls on their face.

It was at this point that Professor Dumbledore swept in to the room. "I do apologies for my lateness, I had some business to attend to." Dumbledore shared a knowing look with Harry. "Ignoring my rudeness, however, I think we should move on to the matter at hand."

At this Kingsley stood up and addressed the room in his deep drawling voice. "We have received intelligence that the Death Eater's are going to launch an attack on the school in the next week. This is an attempt by them to show that not even Dumbledore is safe from Voldemort. We are going to prove them wrong. Our first priority is to evacuate as many students as possible before this happens."

McGonagall nodded. "We are going to start evacuating the Children over the next few days, beginning with the First Years and working our way up from there. Older sibling's may leave with their younger ones.. Kingsley has been able to organize various port key's without the Ministries knowledge." McGonagall gave a swift nod towards Kingsley. "We will also be setting up various Floo network connections. The parent's will be notified as we go."

"You-know-who will want to inflict the greatest amount of damage Minerva. What is to say he doesn't attack the second he hears that you are evacuating?" Tonks shook her head. "There are too many lives at stake here!"

"We don't have any other options. If they stay here, they will be like sitting ducks." Dumbledore interjected looking over his glasses, a grim expression on his face. "We have to move the students as swiftly as possible, and be ready to do as soon as they do. We have every security measure in place but we just cannot rely on that any more."

"Yes, it's our only option." Kingsley continued. "On to the second matter at hand. You have all been briefed on why Draco Malfoy is sitting in our midst. The attack on Hogwarts is the perfect time to convince the Death Eater's of Draco's death. If our plan works, he can come into hiding, without the worry of putting his family in harms way. Before the attack happens we will have to set up the 'fake Draco'. This will be done using a complex form of the polyjuice potion on an animal, which has been sorted out by Hermione. We will need someone to volunteer to stun Draco in the heat of things, and we will have to trade the bodies before anyone notices. We will have a portkey ready to take the real Draco to our meeting point. It shouldn't be too difficult given how hectic the scene will be, we just need to watch our backs with care."

At this point Blaise Zabini walked through the door, to the surprise of a number of people in the group.. "Sorry I'm late." He addressed Dumbledore and moved to sit down.

"Ah yes, Blaise." Dumbledore smile at him. "Our other transfer."

"Blaise?" Draco interjected and gave a rather sarcastic laugh. "You've got to be joking!"

"I assure you, it's no joke." Blaise shot him back a steely look.

"There's no way." Draco shook his head. "I've never met anyone more keen to join the Death Eaters!"

"Well, you haven't really been around this year Draco." The others watched on as the tension rose between the two. "A lot has changed, I can see the same has with you. Surely you should understand better than anyone."

"How do we know we can trust him?" Draco turned pleadingly towards Hermione and then Dumbledore.

"How do we know that we can trust you?" Dumbledore looked down at Draco with a rather knowing look in his eyes.

Draco rolled his eyes and took a deep breath before shooting a glare at Blaise. "You had better be telling the truth Blaise. If this get's back to the Death Eaters, my parents will be dead. And I will promise you right now, that if my parent's end up dead because of you, I'll make sure that you join them."

Blaise gave a short laugh. "If your parents end up dead because of me, I promise that you can."

"If the two of you don't mind, I would like to put the death threats behind us and move on? Whoever volunteers to 'kill' Draco, for the want of a better word, had better think carefully about it." Professor McGonagall looked at them all. "No doubt Draco's family will want revenge and this will put you to the top of their list. I don't think any of us need reminding that Draco's family includes the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange."

Harry sighed and stood up. "Why don't I do it?" He avoided Draco's incredulous stare and focused on McGonagall. "There is no way I could get further up the Death Eaters hit list. Plus, I have the protection of the fact that we know Voldemort wants to finish me off himself."

"That does make a lot of sense Harry." Lupin nodded in agreement. "Of course, I don't think any of us here begrudge the risk." There was a loud scoff from Ron at this comment which earned the sharp glare of Professor McGonagall. "Potter, I want you to have a think about this before you decide. I know you are of age now so I can't stop you. Just promise me you will think about it."

"Hang on." Draco interjected glaring around the room. "Don't I get a say in this? How do I know that the idiot won't try to actually do me in?"

"Harry would never!" Hermione quickly assured him with a shocked expression.

"Some of us are men of our word Malfoy." Harry narrowed his eyes at him. "I still don't believe you, but Hermione does. So you sure as hell better believe that this is for her and not you."

"Draco, for any of this to work. You are going to need to put your trust in someone other then yourself." Dumbledore's eye twinkled down at him. "Now, just so that everyone is aware, Blaise will be fighting on our side. We have already made the necessary arrangements to protect his family. I just thought that it was important that everyone is aware."

"Alright then, Harry, Draco." Kingsley looked at the two of them. "I have to get back to the Ministry now, but I will be back to meet the two of you in Dumbledore's office tomorrow morning. Then we can cover the minor details before the attack. 9 o clock." With a nod to the others he walked swiftly down the hall.

"We had better head off too." Lupin nodded at Dumbledore and he and Tonks made to leave the room.

"Proud of you cousin." Tonks winked at bemused Draco and followed after Lupin.

"I suppose that just about raps things up doesn't it." Dumbledore turned to Harry. "Although I would like a word with you Harry before you leave."

Without another word Draco stood and strode down the hallway without a backwards glance. Ron stared after his departing figure shaking his head with an aporetic look on his face. "And you actually enjoy hanging out with that idiot?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed. "He's not as bad as you think, I swear. Goodnight everyone!" With that she spun on her heel, hearing a muttered she's bonkers float after her, and headed down the corridor. Trailing not too far behind the blonde boy that was causing her so much trouble.