Harry had successfully managed to keep Draco hidden beneath the cloak for the whole time he had been with Hagrid with the blond opting to stand in the corner and listen to what the half-giant had to say, just happy he could see Harry. But suddenly there had been a knock on the door and Harry now found himself pressed closely to the taller boy's chest as the cabin filled with visitors, some more welcome than others.

...

Harry had felt Draco freeze at his side as the tall, imposing figure of Lucius entered Hagrid's cabin. He carefully reached back to give Draco's hand a supportive squeeze and was relieved to feel a squeeze in return. He could not imagine how Draco felt being this close to his abusive father, he leaned back against Draco and felt the Slytherin place his forehead to the nape of Harry's neck. It was almost as though Draco did not want to see his father, but he could hear him and is fist clenched in Harry's as he realised what Lucius was there for. The fist did not unclench until Dumbledore has left his parting message and vanished in to thin air.

...

'If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right! That's all I'm sayin'.'

...

'You are joking right? He actually wants us to follow spiders, Not happening, no way.'

Harry sat perched on one end of Ron's bed filling him in on what had happened at Hagrid's, Ron had sat leaning against the headboard, listening open mouthed as though in a daze, it was only the mention of Hagrid's cryptic message and his worst fear that had snapped him out of his daze.

'Ron listen...'

'Nope no way, you know how I feel.' Ron shuddered visibly and Harry felt the pangs of sympathy for his friend.

'Well I will just have to go alone.' Harry stated with a determined look on his face folding his arms stubbornly across his chest.

Ron's eyes bugged out of his head as he stared at his best friend in a cross between awe and horror, typical of Harry, no thought for his own safety, then, without warning, he snorted and shook his head.

'What?' demanded Harry, Ron just looked at him with a smirk, 'What?' Harry once again demanded with a little more volume, turning to face Ron fully.

Ron shook his head, 'Mate, seriously, as much as I hate to admit it there is no way on earth that Malfoy would let you do that.'

Harry gaped openly at his friend, he felt betrayed 'He is not my boss!' he huffed indignantly and poked his bottom lip out slightly.

Ron shifted slightly so that he was now sitting side by side with Harry and placed a placating hand on his friend's shoulder, 'I know mate, but as I said I hate to admit it and it's obvious he cares about you and there is no way he would let you follow them on your own, Merlin knows where you will end up Harry and you do have a nack of getting yourself in trouble.'

Harry stared at the floor but he knew Ron was right, he knew Draco would follow him if he went, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to drag Draco in to more trouble than he already had, 'But it's for Hermione,'he tried one more time.

Ron sighed and dropped his hand back to his lap, they had tried on more than one occasion to visit Hermione but they had not been allowed and it was hitting them both hard, 'I know mate, I really do, I hate this as much as you do,but I'm sure the slimey git will think of something, something that doesn't involve you trying to get yourself killed.'

Harry started and stared at his red-headed friend, he wasn't sure whether to wack Ron for insulting Draco or be surprised at the back-handed compliment. Luckily, at that moment Harry was saved from making a decision as Neville blundered through the dormitory door.

Now Ron was many things but stupid was not one of them, in fact he was quite intelligent and very observant, he noticed the things that were going on around him, he just often chose not to comment and watch from the sidelines instead, and this was how he knew that Neville had a way of contacting Malfoy even if he wasn't meant to.

'Nev can you get in touch with Malfoy please? I really need to talk to him'

Neville stared at Ron unblinkingly for what felt like an eternity, then slowly turned his head to look at Harry to find an expression mimicking his own, he turned back to Ron, 'What?' he asked attempting to feign ignorance, it did not work;

'Guys, how soft do you think I am? I know that one, or even both of you has a way of getting in touch with Malfoy and I want a word so come on.'

Neville looked at Harry who ,although still completely shocked, managed to shrug his shoulders, having no idea what it was Ron wanted and not being entirely sure how well it would go down with his boyfriend.

Neville dug around in the pocket of his robe and joined his friends on Ron's bed, he crossed his legs and smoothed the parchment on his knee as Ron turned and watched him with increasing interest.

Draco, Neville wrote.

Yes? Is Harry ok?

Ron couldn't help but role his eyes at that earning himself an elbow in the ribs from Harry. Neville wasn't sure what to say, he glanced up at Ron who just nodded at him to continue.

Harry is fine, he's with me, so's Ron, that's why I'm writing really.

What has he done now?

Ron pursed his lips but said nothing, fully aware that he deserved that.

Nothing, he well, he wants to talk to you.

Me? Weasley wants to talk to me?

Yeah.

Well this ought to be interesting, hand him over.

Neville gingerly handed the parchment and quill to Ron, Ron glanced at Harry and then wrote quickly before the smaller boy could stop him;

Harry has decided he is going to follow the spiders, alone.

He's what?

Harry reached up to grab the parchment from Ron, the two scuffled for a minute with Ron claiming victory, Harry ran across to his bedside table and dragged his own version of the parchment out so he could join in the conversation and defend himself;

It needs to be done, he wrote

It does not, this was Ron, who in turn was glaring at him from across the room.

I am going to rue the day I said this but I agree with Weasley.

Harry watched as Ron's eyebrows almost disappeared in to his hair line.

What about Hermione?

We all want to help Hermione but Harry, why on earth would you listen to a half-giant who has no concept of personal safety.

He would not hurt me.

Not intentionally mate, but I agree with blondy, he's not exactly high on the safety stakes is he.

Exactly! He has no idea about safety for himself and others around him, you saw in the diary that he has no concept of safety, that's why the oaf was expelled.

Drake he's not an oaf, he cares about me, and what other option do we have?

I don't know Harry, do you think it had anything to do with Hagrid at all?

No, I don't, I think you're both right, I think he's daft when it comes to safety, but he's harmless.

I'm inclined to agree,

Yep me too but where does that leave us?

We need to get together, to talk.

How Malfoy? We can't leave the dorms.

We have to try?Harry?

I agree, Room of Requirement tonight at midnight?

It will be dangerous, we have no idea what's out there do we?

Is it worth it?

We need to get together, we need to discuss and see what we can come up with before we decide to follow spiders.

Ok.

Let's do it.

Be careful.

The three Gryffindor's stared wide eyed at each other,

'We're ok' Harry whispered, 'We have the cloak, we'll just about manage under it, but what about Blaise and Draco?'

...

'We have to hide your hair Draco.'

Draco huffed as Pansy pulled the deep hood down over his head to cover his bright and distinctive head of hair.

'Oh and boys, no arguments, I'm coming too, right lets go.'

...

The three Slytherin's left their dormitory a good half an hour before they were due to meet the Gryffindor's. They needed to be able to take their time.

Pansy had insisted that they go bare foot and Draco felt the chilling coldness of the castle's stone floors with every step, but she was right of course, the three children hardly made a sound as they crept through the shadows. Each of the Slytherin's had a dark hood pulled down over their faces and were almost invisible to the naked eye. The moonlight left bars across the floors that stretched like long fingers up the walls of each of the long corridors; these were avoided at all costs.

They made it to the staircase without incident and began the arduous climb, here they were more exposed as there were no walls and shadows to cling to. They crept slowly and kept low, hoping luck was on their side.

They had just reached the seventh floor landing when Draco felt his collar gripped from behind and he was dragged in to an alcove shrouded partially by a suit of armour. Before he could even blink Pansy clamped a hand across his mouth and he looked into her wide panicked eyes. He looked over her shoulder at Blaise who seemed to be shaking slightly. He knew someone must have heard something, he strained his ears to hear past the heavy, fast paced breathing that seemed to echo loudly around the alcove. For a moment he couldn't hear a thing and then, there it was, it was a sound like nothing Draco had never heard before, it almost sounded like something heavy was being dragged slowly across the floor outside the alcove but there were no footsteps, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't place the sound, he just knew that the noise had made his whole body go cold, he felt as though he could feel the chills right down to his bone.

Suddenly as soon as it had appeared the noise was gone again, 'come on lets go,' whispered Blaise. The three Slytherin's broke in to a run, racing down the corridor until they stood before the vast expanse of stone wall.

'Why are we stopping?' hissed Pansy.

Draco ignored her and began pacing back and too in front of the blank wall,

'Have you finally lost your mind?' she hissed once more, grabbing Draco by the shoulder, she opened her mouth as if to speak again but words failed her as a door seemed to grow from the floor in front of her.

Draco couldn't resist a smirk as he pushed open the large oak door.

...