Disclaimer: we don't own Harry Potter or the Harry Potter universe. Those belong to J. K. Rowling and her wonderful muses.

Author's Note: thank you everyone for reviewing! And what is this? Gasp! Another chapter! I know, I know, when is Hell freezing over? I'm glad my little twist surprised everyone. Here's a secret. It surprised me too the second I wrote it. Also, this was finished on Sunday but, since I no have any internet, cable, or phone lines at home, I had no way of posting it tell I got to school :p

Chapter Thirty Six: Tumbling into Chaos

Draco Malfoy only had to wait an hour or so. He didn't understand why everyone was treating him so lightly. He had almost just killed Potter and brought the Dark Lord to Hogwarts through the Boy Who Lived. They thought locking him in one of the dungeons was going to somehow make him less dangerous? Stupid, truly stupid. He was a Slytherin; didn't that suggest that he, maybe, possibly, knew his way around the secret passages in the area?

It was a simple tap of his wand to a brick and a passage opened up. It was a tight, cramped area, only big enough for very thin children to pass. Draco was not a child anymore but he had been starved for a bit and so he had only minimal discomfort in sliding through the passage. He ignored the cobwebs and dust that collected on his robes and only grunted when a particularly rough stone scraped his hand. Once free, he shook himself clean and smoothed his hair back.

Alright, he had to find a way to contact the master. The Mark on his arm had burned terribly, signaling that the Dark Lord had completed his part of the plan (not that Draco ever had a doubt in his mind that he wouldn't). He opened the door to the supply closet he had been directed to and walked resolutely out into the waiting corridor.

He walked right into a group of Gryffindor and Ravenclaws heading towards class. Cursing his own luck, he sneered at them and tried to get away from them as quickly as he could. After a moment of walking, he sensed someone following behind him. When he cast a quick glance back, a flash of red hair caught his attention and he frowned, turning completely around to face… Ginny Weasley. Ginerva Weasley. She was the runt of the Weasley family, the only girl.

"What do you want?" He demanded with a sneer, trying to steady his shaking hands by stuffing them into his pockets. It wouldn't do to look as crazy as he felt just then. Draco, relax. You're a Malfoy. You are the Dark Lord's right hand. Calm. He squared his shoulders and arched an eyebrow as she hesitantly moved closer to him.

"I know we're not supposed to acknowledge each other when we're around other students, but you didn't even see me." She said, a teasing smile lilting her lips. The single inquisitory eyebrow rose higher on Draco's forehead.

"Excuse me?" She rolled her eyes and flipped her hair at him.

"Fine fine, play along. Merlin, you can be such a prat sometimes, Malfoy."

"Aren't I always?" This really was a question but Ginny laughed as if he was making a joke.

"No, you're not always a prat, just most of the time. No one's around, you don't have to keep playing around. Actually, I was hoping that you'd help me find Harry."

"Why's that? Are you meeting him for a date?" He was falling into his role easily. The Dark Lord had warned him early on to prepare for completely ludicrous situations such as this one. He would never have spoken to Ginny, ever, under any circumstances, except in a derogatory way. She was speaking to him in quite a different way than anyone had ever talked to him.

"Of course not a date, you prat." And she rolled her eyes at him. "I wanted to know when we were going to practice DA classes later." Draco felt his eyes widen even though he hadn't meant to show emotion.

"DA classes? He's teaching them?"

"I hope he is." She said, pulling at her hair. She was looking at him strangely. "Are you feeling okay? You don't look well." She paused and frowned at him. "You're shaking."

"Am I? Sorry, I'm a bit cold." Draco tried to force his body to stop trembling but it refused to do so. "Should we go look for Potter?"

"Yes, but only if you stop referring to him like that." She rolled her eyes again. "It doesn't make sense that you two keep up that pathetic charade." And then she took his hand and started pulling him away from the dungeons. He wanted to shake her off but he didn't, letting her pull him. It would probably seem strange to her if he acted in a strange way and he wasn't sure if pulling his arm away from her constituted as strange behavior. He knew that in this case, passive was far more helpful than aggressive.

They walked in silence for a while until Ginny turned her probing eyes back to him again. "You really must be cold." She said. She squeezed his hand.

"The dungeons can do that." He said as calmly as he could. He found looking straight ahead helped keep him from feeling too strange. "I should buy gloves and wear them."

"Because that wouldn't look strange at all." She teased. She then turned a brilliant smile his way and dragged him up the stairs and towards the Great Hall. Her entire attitude was really starting to freak him out. Honestly, what was she doing? Wasn't she supposed to hate him? He hated her. That was the natural order of things. He felt himself growing increasingly more uncomfortable. She released his hand then but walked close to him, continuously giving him strange looks. "What's wrong? Really, you're starting to scare me."

"I'm fine." He said, making sure not to answer too quickly. He smiled at her, forcing it, in hopes of reassuring her. He was wondering where he could drag her and knock her out so that she wouldn't draw attention to him. Maybe he could even use her as a hostage? Even better, she could bring him straight to Potter.

"Hey, Gin!" Draco froze at the voice from behind them and, again, cursed his luck. Today was just not his day. Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom both came jogging towards them. Draco tried to escape and pretend he had just been walking in the same direction as Ginny but she grabbed his arm and held him in place. He could already sense the danger.

"Sod off, Malfoy." Weasley growled when he arrived.

"I would, if your sister would get off me." Draco said, arching an eyebrow at the twerp. Longbottom was giving him a mean look that had absolutely no affect on him. What the hell did he think he was doing anyway?

"Ron, stop being an ass." Ginny said, rolling her eyes at her brother. "We're looking for Harry. Have you seen him?" Weasley shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Potter. Ah, Weasley knew. He was aware that Potter was not who he said he was. Draco smirked internally as he realized this. No wonder he looked as if he had been forced to drink one of Longbottom's potions.

"I really don't know where he is." Weasley finally blurted out. Suddenly, he made a choking sound and pushed Ginny and Draco apart. "Hey! Get your hands off my sister!" Draco stumbled and regained his balance. He bared his teeth and prepared to punch the sodding Weasel but Longbottom suddenly moved forward and tried to punch him instead. Draco jerked back and growled, slamming his fist against Longbottom's left eye.

Longbottom screamed and fell back on his arse, staring up at Draco, shock and surprise spreading across his obnoxious face. Weasley and Ginny stared at him, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Draco shook his fist lightly and arched an eyebrow at them. "You never could fight, Longbottom." Weasley got over his stupor at last and went charging towards Draco but he was jerked back when Ginny grabbed her brother's arms and pulled. He lost balance and went tumbling over his own feet, knocking himself out against the wall. Ginny's eyes widened and she gasped, looking horrified.

"Oh Merlin, what did I just do!" She whispered. She too started shaking. Draco grunted in appreciation of her handiwork and moved forward, grabbing her wrist.

"Let's go." He said simply. She started to follow him in a daze, staring behind them as Longbottom whimpered and scrambled away from them and ran down the hall as fast as his legs could carry him.

"How am I supposed to introduce you to my family now?" She mumbled. Draco paused and looked back at her.

"What?"

"How am I supposed to introduce you to my family?" Ginny said, looking up at him helplessly. "How am I going to tell them that my boyfriend beats up Neville and Ron on a daily basis and that you got me to help you this time?" And then she blushed prettily. "How am I supposed to tell them that I snog the son of my dad's rival as often as I can?" Draco felt his shaking stop. He felt his eyebrows shoot straight up into his hair. He also felt insane laughter bubble up in his chest that shook him until he had to let go of her hand, holding his sides as he laughed and laughed and laughed.

Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end for a moment but he shook off the feeling. He didn't want to have to think about anything bad right now. He just wanted to watch his parents sleep. It was very relaxing, watching their chests slowly rise and fall, his father cradling his mother tightly against his chest, Sirius snoring softly and making whining sounds every once in a while. He kept his back towards Ann Pettigrew, who was snoring on her back, her face still pale from when she had been conscious and loud.

Running a hand through his hair, Harry felt desperation and helplessness take over. What was he supposed to do now? He had only just found his family and he was supposed to go back home? And Voldemort was here. Didn't that mean he had an obligation to kill him? Didn't that mean he had to stay? If he didn't, Voldemort would just kill everyone, including his parents and Sirius. Again.

He stood and left the Hospital Wing, trusting that they would be safe behind the special barriers Evans and Snape had erected over that of Madame Pomphrey. She, of course, knew exactly who was being housed in her Hospital Wing. She, however, had her own priorities and orders from Dumbledore to keep the criminals safe, at least for now.

As he walked with his hands in his pockets, Harry thought of nothing. He was exhausted. Now, after all that had happened, research into Ancient Runes seemed totally ridiculous since Ron and Hermione had come to get him. What had he learned, anyway? How could he use anything he had learned here? What was so important about here?

So, maybe his mind wasn't so empty after all.

He sighed and rounded the corner and was surprised to find Draco heading right towards him. He stopped and frowned, suspicion showing on his face. "Draco?"

"There you are! I was looking for you." He smiled as he came closer. Harry slowly relaxed. No, this wasn't Malfoy. Malfoy was locked away, safely, somewhere in the dungeons. Snape had assured him that he would watch over Malfoy, with his customary eye roll at Harry's insistence that Malfoy was more dangerous than he appeared. "I was hoping to find you walking around somewhere, probably getting yourself into trouble."

"I don't think I'll be having DA classes for a while." Harry said with an apologetic smile. He knew, of course, why Draco would be looking for him. Draco's face fell and he shrugged.

"Ah, well, Ginny was really looking forward to it and she asked me to ask you. Hey, are you okay? You look a little under the weather." Harry sighed and ruffled his hair, making it messier, if possible.

"I've been having a rough day, that's all. I don't know when we'll have more classes but it may be unlikely. Things are starting to get complicated." Draco arched an eyebrow.

"Complicated how?"

"Complicated bad. A certain… old acquaintance of mine has dropped by to check up on me."

"Oh, you mean your mum? Ann Pettigrew?"

"No, but she's pretty bad too." Harry grimaced. "I meant another certain someone. He's far less welcome and he knows it, the smug bastard." He rubbed his scar gently, easing the slight pain. Draco's eyes flickered up and widened when he saw what he was doing.

"So this wouldn't be a good time for you to be walking around at night, giving a Slytherin and an outcasted Gryffindor lessons. I mean, it's dangerous enough with your parents and Sirius Black out of Azkaban."

"Funny story, that." Harry opened his mouth to ask Draco if he would please let him just walk and clear his mind, when someone squeaked and came running towards him. Harry immediately felt stupid for thinking he would have a moment's rest. It was the universe's mission in life to make things complicated for him. Neville barely managed to stop himself as he leaned over his legs, breathing hard.

"H-Harry! Come quick!" And then he gasped when he saw Draco glaring at him. He squeaked and pointed a shaking finger at him. "H-How… but I just… but you were!" And he swooned. Harry quickly grabbed him and shook him.

"Neville, what happened? Talk to me!" Neville jerked back to reality, staring wide-eyed at Harry.

"It's impossible, Harry! I just saw him! I just saw Malfoy! H-he punched me!" Harry frowned as he looked at the hysterical Neville. Indeed, a black eye was forming on his left side. "He an-and Ginny knocked out Ron! And I had to find someone, a-a teacher! Harry, he's gone crazy! He just went crazy!" And as he said this, he was pointing at Draco again.

"What the hell are you talking about, Longbottom? I've been here this whole time." Draco said with an arched eyebrow.

"But I saw you! It was you! It was you! I saw you!"

"You must have been mistaken."

"I swear to Merlin it was you!"

"Calm down, Neville." Harry said very quietly. Both Neville and Draco looked at Harry. "Both of you are right. Where did he go? Did you see?"

"He was going towards the entrance." Neville said weakly, confusion mixing with his terror now. "You believe me, don't you?"

"Yes, I believe you."

"Well, I think you're both bonkers." Draco said with a growl. "I've been here this whole bloody time and you're going to say that I haven't?" He glared at Harry as he said this. The hurt and betrayal were hard to see, but they were there.

"It's a long story." Harry said with a tired sigh. "But I know that you're both right. We have to go after him. He's an imposter." That was the only thing that would work right now. He couldn't come up with a better lie until later. He certainly couldn't get into the complicated truth when Ginny (and possibly Ron) were in trouble. "Neville, you have to go tell Dumbledore that Malfoy escaped. He'll understand that it's not Draco." He nodded to Draco as he opened his mouth to protest. "And Draco, I need you to go to the Hospital Wing. You'll find Ron and Hermione there. Yes, Neville, I know you said Ron was just knocked out. Draco will see them there when he goes." Now Neville and Draco were both staring at him strangely.

"Longbottom can go running to the teachers all he wants. I'm going with you. You're going after him, aren't you?" Draco had his face set. Curiosity was also dawning in his eyes, a dangerous emotion, Harry assessed.

"No, I need you to get these people. It's important." As he spoke, he started towards the entrance. "They'll understand the seriousness of this situation."

"Was he a Death Eater?" Neville whispered as he hurried to keep step with Harry. "He was, wasn't he? And he's got Ginny!"

"Yes, he's a Death Eater." The color drained out of Draco's face at the severity in Harry's voice. He quickened his pace.

"I'm coming with you. You can't stop me!"

"Look, you'll get in the way! I don't know what'll happen if you two get close together. He's taken your identity. He might kill you to keep it up!"

"I don't care. I'm going."

"Harry, don't trust him." Neville was glaring at Draco as the three hurried past the Great Hall and towards the double doors leading to the Hogwarts grounds. "He's a Death Eater too! It's a trick!"

"How would you know, Longbottom?" Draco growled.

"Both of you shut it. If you're going to help me, I need you two to work together." Harry started running. Draco and Neville hurried to follow him. Neville had trouble keeping up but he didn't complain, only quickening his stride and breathing hard to keep up. Harry stared ahead of him. There was a shock of red and white, dashing into the Forbidden Forest. Both suddenly vanished and something constricted in Harry's throat. No, a voice whispered in his head, no, he couldn't! He used a bloody Portkey? How the hell did he get a hold of one? Harry tried to run faster, taking out his wand. This was going to get complicated, he knew.

When he reached the spot where the two had vanished, he scowled down at the floor. There was no real sign of a struggle. Ginny had willingly gone with Malfoy, probably because she didn't realize the danger. Harry frowned over at Draco who was, he was surprised to note, looking more and more worried. No, not worried… he was starting to look half hysterical and panicked. He had missed something crucial.

"It's not use, they're already gone. We have to go back and talk to Dumbledore about this. Fast. Ginny's in real danger."

"What can we do? We're just students." Neville looked around nervously, still trying to catch his breath from the sprint across the Hogwarts grounds.

"I know exactly why he took her. To get to me." Harry said, staring into the forest in the hopes of seeing their tell-tale hair. Maybe they hadn't left after all? Maybe Ginny was safe. Maybe this sinking feeling of dread was just the normal anxiety of Voldemort being near him again.

"Mr. Potter?" Harry, Neville and Draco turned to find a tall man behind them. On his chest he wore the insigna of the Aurors. The dread only heightened. "You are Harry Potter, are you not?" The man came closer. In his hand he held an old boot, drooping from the weight of itself. Harry straightened his back and stared into the man's eyes.

"Yes, I'm Harry Potter."

"My name is Peter Kengly. I've been sent by…" and now he paused, frowning. "You're bleeding. Are you alright?" Harry grunted and ran a hand over his forehead, smearing blood from his scar onto his hand. It looked even worse now but his bangs covered most of it.

"Yes, I'm fine. What do you want?" Peter Kengly continued staring at his forehead for a long moment before his eyes snapped down into Harry's irritated ones.

"I've been sent by Lord Voldemort. He wanted me to say that he has set a challenge for you. He has the Minister of Magic and he wants you to come get him." Neville squeaked and threatened to swoon again but Draco stomped on his foot. Harry stared at him for a long moment and sighed.

"I was wondering when the bastard was going to do something stupid like that."