DISCLAIMER: I own nothing – it all belongs to JK Rowling.

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Harry and Ron stood frozen against the wall in the Hogs Head, not daring to move or breathe too loudly.

"So, Draco – you know what to do?" said the sinister voice of Lucius Malfoy. Draco nodded, swallowing hard.

"Well then, we will meet you at the appointed place, at the agreed time tonight," said his father from beneath his black cloak. "Do not be late."

They stood and swept swiftly out of the pub. Draco sat there for a second, and then got up and followed slowly. Harry and Ron waited until he had gone, and then crept after him. Shooting a look over his shoulder, Harry saw the barman frowning in confusion as the door opened and closed, seemingly of its own volition. Harry was so shocked by what he had just heard, he'd forgotten they were covered by the Invisibility Cloak.

They dashed down the nearest alleyway, and took off the cloak. Ron was ashen, his freckles standing out in relief against his white cheeks.

"We need to go to Dumbledore straight away, Harry!" he gasped. "The Death Eaters are going to Hogwarts! And we need to get you safe, and …"

"Slow down," said Harry impatiently. "Of course we'll go to Dumbledore – no-one at Hogwarts will be safe tonight. But I wonder how they're planning to get in?"

"Through one of the secret passageways, I guess," said Ron hurriedly, a bit of colour coming back into his face. "C'mon, Harry – let's get out of here before someone spots us."

They swathed themselves in the cloak once more and headed back to Honeydukes. Malfoy was nowhere in sight, so Harry guessed he had already slipped through the trapdoor and on his way back to Hogwarts. They sneaked down the stairs to the cellar, and went through the trapdoor themselves.

"I guess this puts paid to any last-minute Christmas shopping," said Ron ruefully. "I suppose I'll have to get something for Hermione's parents through mail-order."

"What about something from Fred and George's shop?" said Harry wickedly, grinning at Ron's horrified face.

"Oh, excellent idea," said Ron sarcastically, as they hurried along the dark passageway. "How to Totally Upset Your Girlfriend in One Easy Move. I can see Hermione being absolutely thrilled to bits when I present her mum and dad with a Skiving Snackbox."

Harry chuckled. He well remembered Hermione's aversion to the development of the sweets, especially the Puking Pastilles.

They were moving so quickly, and were so wrapped up in their thoughts, that they found themselves at the Hogwarts entrance to the secret passageway before they knew it. Ron poked his head out cautiously to make sure the coast was clear, and then wriggled out of the opening in the witch's hump. Harry followed quickly, folding up the Invisibility Cloak and packing it back in his bag. They set off quickly to Dumbledore's office.

Arriving at the stone gargoyle, Harry realized he didn't know the new password.

"Well?" said Ron impatiently, shifting his weight from foot to foot in his impatience. "How do we get in?"

"Er," said Harry. "Let's try a few sweet names. Droobles Best Blowing Gum? No? OK, how about Chocolate Frog? Mint Humbug? Fizzing Whizzbee … um … Pepper Imp?"

The gargoyle sprang aside, revealing the moving spiral staircase. Ron looked impressed. "How did you know?" he asked Harry as the stepped onto the first stair. "The password, I mean?"

"Didn't," said Harry truthfully. "I usually just keep guessing until I get it."

Ron frowned. "Odd type of security, that," he said. "Anyone could get in, if they keep guessing."

"Not so, Mr Weasley," said Dumbledore, who was standing at the top of the staircase, waiting for them. "I have other ways and means by which I secure this office."

Ron went a deep red.

"Have a look over here," said Dumbledore, twinkling at them. He beckoned them over to what looked like a small blotter on his desk. He waved his wand at it, and suddenly, they could see the corridor in front of the gargoyle.

"Is that the view though the gargoyle's eyes?" said Harry, suddenly understanding.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes," he said. "So it's up to me who I let in. Helps if they have the right password, but not always – remember when Dolores Umbridge tried to get in here after I left last year?"

"The room sealed itself against her!" said Ron, remembering.

Dumbledore laughed gently. "Not quite," he said. "I sealed it against her. I was still here – I just didn't give her entrance, so she didn't know because she couldn't get in. Gave me a lot of freedom, this office – I could come and go as I pleased, and she was none the wiser."

Harry and Ron gaped at him, astounded by this piece of information. Dumbledore put his fingers to his lips. "Mum's the word, eh?" he said, grinning mischievously. "Now, what can I do for you two?"

"Well … we spotted Draco Malfoy going through one of the secret passageways that leads into Hogsmeade, so we decided to follow him," said Harry very fast, realizing that if he told Dumbledore that he and Ron were planning an illicit excursion, they could get into trouble. "So we decided to follow him."

Dumbledore looked at him. "I suppose you just happened to have your Invisibility Cloak on you at the time?" he said, raising an eyebrow at them.

Harry gulped, and nodded. "So," he said, trying to gloss over the details, "we followed him to the Hogs Head and we watched him. He was met by three Death Eaters – one of them was his father. We overheard what they were planning, and …"

Dumbledore's expression changed rapidly, and he suddenly looked stern and worried. "Hold it there, Harry," he said. He went to the fireplace and threw a small handful of powder from a pewter container into it. The flames turned deep purple.

"Minerva, Tonks, Severus?" he said into the fire. "Please come to my office immediately."

Within seconds, the fire turned deep gold and Professor McGonagall appeared, followed closely by Snape and Tonks. None of them looked particularly surprised to see Harry and Ron.

"And now?" said Snape silkily, eyeing Harry with extreme dislike. "What yarn have these two been spinning now?"

Dumbledore held up his hand. "Patience, Severus," he said sharply. "Apparently Harry and Ron found one of your students – young Malfoy – sneaking out of the school. They followed him and overhead him speaking to three Death Eaters. One of them was Lucius."

Harry took a savage pleasure in watching the colour drain out of Snape's face, leaving his usually sallow complexion looking like yellowed parchment.

"Continue, Harry," said Dumbledore, turning back to them.

"They asked Draco if he was ready, and said they'd be coming to the school tonight!" Harry finished desperately.

"Yes," chimed in Ron. "And they said they were coming to get Harry, and they'd meet Draco at the agreed time and place!" He glared at Snape, as if daring him to say anything. But for once, their Potions Professor had nothing to say. He simply sank down into the nearest chair, looking shocked.

"Minerva, I need you to put protective shields up on Gryffindor Tower, and to ensure that the Fat Lady's password is changed," said Dumbledore decisively. "Harry, I want you to stay put in the tower until we can find young Master Malfoy and ascertain what must be done. No," he said sternly as Harry started to object. "Don't argue with me on this one. Tonks, please escort Harry and Ron back to their common-room immediately."

Disgruntled, Harry and Ron followed Tonks out of the office, with Harry muttering under his breath.

"You'd better not be swearing back there, Harry," said Tonks, striding off down the corridor after hopping off the stone staircase. "I'll tell Mrs Weasley and you'll earn yourself a Howler."

"You wouldn't!" said Harry, deeply shocked.

"Oh, I would," said Tonks, grinning slyly at him. "Her Howlers are legendary."

Once deposited at the common-room by Tonks with a stern warning ("Now, don't even think about going anywhere, Harry – I mean it!"), Harry found himself unable to settle. As the day turned into evening, he found himself pacing in a circle around the sofa to the window and back again.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Harry, sit down! You're making me dizzy!" complained Hermione, who was still very annoyed with both Harry and Ron. She had gaped at them in disbelief when they told her about their trip into Hogsmeade, then bellowed at them for ten minutes about their total irresponsibility and lack of concern for others. She'd rounded off the whole fiasco by bursting into furious tears and storming up to the girls' dormitories.

Harry glared at her. "Well, excuse me," he said heatedly. "It's a bit difficult to park your backside on a nice, comfy armchair and kick back when you know a bunch of murderous maniacs are going to try and do you in!"

Ginny, who was sprawled on the hearthrug doing her Charms homework, looked up at him and rolled her eyes. "So what else is new, Harry?" she said, grinning. "You've had the King of Murderous Maniacs after you since you were born – I thought you'd be used to it by now."

Harry stared at her for a second, and then snorted with laughter. He collapsed on the rug next to her, still chuckling.

"You're both nuts," muttered Ron mutinously. "Take this seriously, won't you?"

Harry sobered up slightly. "Sorry, mate, but Ginny's right. There's no point in getting upset about this if I can't do anything about it. I'm sure Dumbledore and the Aurors are on top of things."

However, as the evening wore on Harry became increasingly tense. Why wasn't anything happening? He hadn't even been allowed to go down to the Great Hall for dinner, according to strict instructions from Professor McGonagall, who'd popped in to make sure he was where he was supposed to be. Instead, Dobby had brought him a tray of food.

"Thanks for the tip-off, by the way," Harry said to him before he left. "You were right – the Malfoys were up to something."

Dobby's huge, green eyes filled with tears. "Harry Potter must stay here!" he whispered desperately. "They hate Harry Potter and will try to kill him!"

"I know, Dobby, I know," soothed Harry, patting him on the shoulder. "But I'm safe here."

By midnight, the only people left in the common-room were Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville. Ginny had told Neville about what had happened, and he was determined to sit it out with them. He and Ron were playing a game of chess, and to Ron's amazement, Neville was doing surprisingly well.

"The teachers ordered everyone to their common-rooms straight after dinner," Ginny told Harry quietly. "Seems they can't find Malfoy, though – he's disappeared."

"I wonder if he stayed in Hogsmeade?" mused Hermione. "It would explain why he's not around – maybe he'll sneak back in just before he's meant to meet his father."

Harry and Ron exchanged startled looks – they hadn't even considered that. They'd just assumed that Malfoy had returned to Hogwarts before them. Suddenly, Harry slapped his hand to his forehead.

"Idiot!" he said loudly, causing Crookshanks to jump off Hermione's lap in fright. "The Marauder's Map! That'll show us where they are! Why didn't I think of it before?"

Leaping to his feet, he shot upstairs to his room and dug around frantically in his trunk for the tatty piece of parchment. Finding it tucked into a corner, he belted back down the stairs, smoothing it out frantically.

Jumping down the bottom four steps at once, he nearly landed on top of Luna, who was strolling past towards the sofa, dressed in an orange velvet dressing-gown.

"Sorry," he gasped to her as he trotted over to the table. He smoothed the parchment out, tapped it with his wand and said: "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

Magically, lines appeared from the point where Harry had tapped the parchment, spreading rapidly over the surface

 "Let's see," muttered Harry as he pored over the map. "Tonks and Moody are in the corridor guarding the Fat Lady. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall are in the Entrance Hall … and Snape's in his office. But where's Malfoy?"

Everyone scanned the Map frantically.

"It's too busy out there!" complained Ginny. "How are we ever going to spot Malfoy if he arrives at a place that we're not expecting? We don't know where to start looking!"

Hermione was studying the map, frowning. "I wonder …" she murmured, looking thoughtful.

"What?" snapped Harry. "If you've got any bright ideas, Hermione, now would be the time to let us know about it."

She glared at him. "Let me try something," she said, pulling the map towards her. Tapping it with her wand, she said: "Reveal Harry Potter!"

Instantly, all the other dots on the map disappeared, leaving only one – labeled Harry Potter, and situated in the middle of the Gryffindor common-room.

Ron gaped at her. "That's brilliant!" he said. "How did you know how to do that?"

Hermione shrugged. "I just thought it would be likely that the Marauders add a feature like that – you know, if they were specifically trying to avoid a certain teacher, or Filch."

Harry pulled the map towards him again. "OK," he said, tapping it with his wand. "Reveal Draco Malfoy!"

The dot labeled "Harry Potter" disappeared, leaving the map clear.

"I can't see him anywhere," said Ginny, disappointed. "He must still be off the school premises. Now what?"

"Well, I figure we stand guard," said Ron. "How about we each take turns to watch the Map and see if he appears? If we stare at it all night, we'll go cross-eyed."

"Good idea," said Harry firmly. "You and I can take first watch."

An hour later, they were both looking red-eyed and tired. Ginny had fallen asleep on the couch, and Hermione was losing a desperate battle to keep her eyes focused on her Ancient Runes textbook. Neville was staring vacantly into the fire, and Luna was sitting primly on the edge of her seat, looking dreamily at the tapestry on the wall in front of her.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw movement on the map. A new dot, labeled "Draco Malfoy" had appeared. It was on the second floor, and it was moving through Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. He sat bolt upright, blinking to make sure he wasn't imagining it. He nudged Ron in the ribs, and silently pointed to the dot.

As Ron focused on the Map, there was a huge explosion from outside. Harry leapt up and ran to the window. There, at the gates, was a fire burning as high into the sky, and sparks and smoke were billowing out of it. He could vaguely make out a few cloaked shadows, moving in front of it.

"I never thought they'd come in through the front gate!" gasped Hermione from next to him, shaken out of her sleepy state.

"They're not," said Harry grimly. "It's a diversion – Malfoy's just come in through Myrtle's bathroom."

They all crowded around the map again, and saw to their dismay that the dots labeled Tonks and Moody had moved to the Entrance Hall, where they met up with the other teachers and headed outside.

Malfoy came out of Myrtle's bathroom, and started heading slowly down the stairs. Ginny gasped.

"They must have come in through the Chamber of Secrets!" she whispered. "Voldemort would have told them if there was another entrance from outside Hogwarts."

They all watched in silence as Malfoy moved along the corridor and down the stairs leading to the dungeon.

"Where are they going?" said Hermione, puzzled. "They're moving away from Gryffindor Tower!"

Realisation suddenly hit Harry like a thunderclap. "They're not here for me!" he gasped. "They're coming to get Snape! Voldemort's got unfinished business with him."

He ran towards the portrait hole. "We have to head them off!" he shouted as he scrambled through the hole, the others right behind him.

"I'll go and get Dumbledore and the others," said Ginny firmly. "I'm faster than the rest of you." In an instant, she had transformed into a lioness and had bounded fluidly away, leaping down the stairs from banister to banister.

"Bloody useful," wheezed Ron as they ran after her, skidding around corners and flying down the stairs. "Never thought I'd say that about Ginny."

By the time they reached the Entrance Hall, there was no sign of her. The huge front doors were open, and they could see the glow of the fire at the gates, and hear shouts as the teachers and Aurors battled with the Death Eaters that had ignited it. Hurtling down the stairs to the dungeon, Harry thought grimly that he'd never thought that he'd be rushing off to save Snape, the man who had done his best to make Harry's life a misery for the past six years.

They turned a corner into the bottom corridor, and Harry motioned them to be quiet by putting his finger to his lips. Lining up against the wall in single file, Harry in the lead, they inched their way towards the open door of the Potions classroom. Angry voices could be clearly heard.

"Get out of my way, Draco!" shouted Lucius Malfoy.

"Father – I don't understand!" said a panicked Draco, who was sounding worried and confused. "You told me you were coming for Potter! Why are you attacking Professor Snape? He's one of us!"

"He's a traitor!" shouted another voice, which Harry thought might belong to Macnair. "He betrayed the Dark Lord, and we're taking him to face his punishment!"

There was a pause, and then they heard Draco say quietly: "No. I don't believe it. I won't let you…"

"I warned you, Draco!" said his father. "Stupefy!" there was a flash of red light, and the sound of a body hitting the floor.

Harry looked at his friends in horror. Malfoy had stunned his own son to get what he wanted for Lord Voldemort. He realized that he had led his friends thick of it again, and once again the stakes were incredibly high. Gritting his teeth, he raised his wand and moved forward.