A.N. *grrr… * Durn h-work….

Mal

Harry watched as the wand was raised. He could hear the more explosions going on in the background. The man dressed all in black started to say something, just as Harry ducked back into the compartment.

"We need to get out of here," Harry gasped, just as he heard a loud, nearby explosion.

"What's going on?" Hermione demanded.

"You don't want to know," Harry said, quickly locking the door and rushing over to the window. He opened it and motioned for Hermione and Ron to climb out.

"Are you mad?!" Ron said.

"Either we stay in here and get fried, or we get out of here!"

Hermione was already clamoring out of the window. Ron and her were already outside when the door to the compartment shattered, and the Death Eater strode in.

~*~

Snape was running again, dashing back up the lawns of Hogwarts.

"PROFESSOR DUMBLDORE!" He bellowed, running through the doors and down a corridor.

"PROFESSOR DUMBLDORE!"
"Severus?" said a voice behind him. It was McGonnagal. "What on earth is going on?"

"The Death Eaters, they're going to attack the train!" Snape gasped.

"Wha-"

Snape didn't let her finish, and instead went sprinting down the corridor. He ran all the way to Dumbledore's office, panted the password, and then took the stairs. He didn't bother knocking and just strode right in. Black and Lupin were there, obviously discussing something about the Potter boy.

"Severus," Dumbledore said sharply. "We were in the middle of a meeting. And why on earth are you still wearing those Death Eater's robes?"

"Professor, they're-they're going to attack!"

"Pardon?"

"The train! They're going to attack the train!"

Black and Lupin's faces paled. "What?"

"The train!?"
"That's where Harry is!"

"No shit, Sherlock!"

"My name's Sirius!"
"Who cares! Let's go!"

~*~

Harry quickly jumped out of the window, just as the Death Eater started to raise his wand again. He felt two pairs of hands pulling him to his feet, and saw Ron and Hermione holding him.
"Run!" Harry yelled, as the window to the train was broken by another explosion. Harry didn't recognize where they were, but it had to be loads miles away from Hogwarts. There were trees all around the train tracks, that were now horribly mangled. Students were screaming and running all around.

"RON!" Yelled a new voice. It was Seamus. He had a nasty cut on his cheek. "WAIT UP!"

"Seamus! LOOK OUT!" Harry yelled, as he saw a Death Eater advancing behind him. Seamus jumped out of the way just as the Death Eater shouted, "Avada Kadavra." Harry felt the curse fly by and ruffle his hair, and he jumped too. Hermione screamed loudly.

"Run!" Ron bellowed.

All of them went bolting over to the forest, not stopping to look back until they were among the trees.

"Why are they attacking us now?" Seamus panted.

"I don't know, but it probably has something to do with me," Harry said, trying to catch his breath.

"Where are the others?" Hermione asked.
"The last time I saw Dean and Neville they were running to the forest too. They're probably somewhere in here…"
"C'mon, we should keep moving," Harry said, looking back at the train. Death Eaters were looking all around the train.

The four of them set off, deeper into the forest. Every so often they came across more Hogwarts students. Some of them were injured others were just scared. It had to be getting quite late, for the sky was getting darker and darker… someone had to be wondering where all of the students were…

~*~

"Holy crap…" Sirius whispered. He was staring at the train. Or rather, what was left of the train. It had now been reduced to a giant, blazing bonfire. Smoke was billowing up from the flames that had engulfed the train. However, through the smoke Sirius could clearly see an emerald green skull imprinted in the sky.

"Where is everyone?" Remus asked.

"How should I know?" Snape spat.

"Who said he was asking you?" Sirius snapped back. "Look!" He was pointing at something that was beside the huge fiery train. It was a person. Dumbledore, who had been gazing intently at the train, now rushed over to the figure. He turned it over.

"Oh my…" he gasped. "It's the cart woman."

"I remember her…" Remus replied. "She once gave me an extra box of Jelly beans…"

"The killing Curse," Snape whispered. "I'd recognize it anywhere."
"We must find the students," Dumbledore said, standing up. "Severus, you will remain here and see if anyone is still close by. Keep your guard. Sirius, Remus let's go searching for the children." Remus nodded, and Sirius grunted, still looking up at the burning train. They followed Dumbledore away from the train and into the forest.

~*~

It was almost pitch black in the forest. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had lit their wands, but Seamus had left his back at the train.

"I can't believe that this is happening," Hermione moaned, sitting on a log and putting her head in her hands. "I mean, we're supposed to be going to a safe place. Hogwarts! Where Dumbledore, the only man You-Know-Who was ever afraid of, is!"

"Well, Hermione, I don't think Voldemort was there," Harry said, running a hand through his hair.

"How would you know?" Seamus asked, looking utterly confused.

"Whenever Voldemort is near, my scar hurts," Harry replied, motioning to it.

"That's weird."

"Yeah, but my scar didn't hurt so he probably wasn't there…"

"Oh, well that's good news," Ron said bitterly. "Instead he sent his servants to do his dirty work."

"Hmmm…" Harry said, not really paying attention. Suddenly his eyes widened. "What about Hedwig?"

"Oh… I'm sure she's fine," Hermione said. "I mean, she's been through you two getting in a car crash, she can survive this."
"And I did leave her cage door unlocked," Harry said. "She probably escaped."

"Yeah. And Pig can slip through his cage bars. He got loose this summer in the middle of the night, and we woke up with him in one of the leftover stews…"

Harry, Seamus, and Hermione laughed.

Suddenly there was a rustling in some nearby bushes. The four of them went silent as they stared at the bush.

"Don't leave! I'll get lost again!"

"WE'RE LOST NOW!"

"We'll find someone soon."

"Oh shit! Where the hell am I!" Shouted a familiar voice that no one was happy to hear.

"Language, Malfoy," Ron said mockingly.

"Oh no, not Weasley," they heard Draco mutter under his breath.

"Ron!" Exclaimed Neville, who was accompanying Draco. He tripped over the bush and fell on his face. Harry went over and pulled Neville to his feet.

"Thank goodness we found you!" Neville squealed, holding onto Harry's arm as though Harry was going to go away. "Do you know where we are?"

"Not an inkling," Seamus replied.

"ARRGGHH!" Screamed Draco.

"What's the matter with you?"

"I'm injured!" Draco said, coming out behind the bush and clutching his hand. He held up his finger and showed them a thorn that was sticking out of it.

"Oh my god, Malfoy I'm more injured than you and you don't see me screaming like a girl. No offense Hermione."

"Hmph."
"Ouch! Get it out it really hurts!" Draco moaned, prodding it lightly. "OW!"
"Of all the people in the world, why did we get stuck with you?" Ron said.

"I could almost say the same to you," snapped Malfoy.

"Will the two of you stop it?" Hermione spat. "We're all kind of in the same situation right now, it might be nice not to drive everyone crazy."
"Malfoy's already crazy."

"And you're naturally stupid. Is there some point to this conversation." Malfoy looked around the small clearing they were in. His eyes landed on Harry, and a sly smile appeared on his face.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Convict Potter."
"Why I outta-" Ron leapt forward, trying to throttle Draco, but Harry and Seamus held him back.

"It's not worth it."

"Oh, let him go," Malfoy said tauntingly. "See what he does…"

Harry raised an eyebrow and let go of Ron's arms.

He didn't move. "He's right… you're not worth it."
"Once again, I could say the same for you."

Ron bared his teeth.

"Okay, all of you, stop it. I don't know how long we'll be here, but as long as we're here we might as well act as civilly as possible," Hermione said.

"I'm not staying with you," Draco sneered. "I can find my way out on my own."

"Fine. Go. We don't care," Hermione said in a dismissive way. Draco scowled and prepared to leave the clearing, when the sound of howling wolves reached their ears. He tensed and turned back to the other 5 people.

"Er… I'll stay here."

Ron grinned slyly.

"Besides, I can use my outdoor skills," Draco said. "You should be grateful I'm staying."

"Said the man who was screaming because he got a thorn stuck in his finger," Harry whispered to Ron.

"We should probably get some sleep. Who want's watch?" Hermione asked.

"Watch?" Ron asked.

"Well, we should have someone keeping watch. It's safer that way."

"I'll do it," Harry replied.

"All right."

"But I haven't brushed my teeth!" Draco said. "I have to brush them!"

"I think your teeth will survive not being brushed one time, Malfoy," Seamus snapped.

"All right, all of you, shut up and go to sleep," Ron said, trying to find a comfortable piece of land to sleep on. The others started to choose where they would sleep, while Harry sat down on the log. Draco jumped at the sound of the wolves continuing to howl.

Hours later, Harry sat awake, listening to the sound of howling and Ron's snores. It was going to be a long night…