DISCLAIMER: All characters, settings, and magical occurrences were all conceived and created in the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. I own nothing but the plot and the muses hard at work on the next chapters.

WARNING: This story will contain SLASH of both varieties. If that's just not your cup of tea, no problem, just click the little back button. It'll save all of us a little trouble in the end I think. Don' say I didn't warn you.

PAIRINGS: Ron/Draco, Blaise/Hermione, Harry/Pansy, and a little Ginny/Neville.

……

Chapter 2

The sun shattered the darkness, casting it's light over the school. It had been expected. Expected and dreaded. Draco was standing in the entrance hall, heavy cloak around his shoulders to keep out the chill in the air. All of this just had to happen in the middle of January. Blaise was standing beside him silently, warming herself as best she could. She had stolen a few things from Millicent and Vince that were supposed to help keep things warmer. Draco hadn't experienced that yet.

The Gryffindors still weren't there and he was almost ready to go alone. He preferred that anyway. Blaise was growing impatient, adjusting the mittens she had upon her hands. She obviously was having a problem with it and Draco found it humorous as she tried to remove the other mitten without much luck to fix it. Finally, he took her hand and pulled the offended blue fabric from her hand.

"Thanks." She mumbled adjusting the problem and slipping her hand back into the warmth.

"You think they won't come?"

"They'll be here. That damned Gryffindor bravery won't let them stay away I'm sure." She mumbled leaning against the wall lazily.

"We have just no luck at all then, do we?" She just smiled and sang lightly to herself staring outside at the beautiful display the sun had put on. "When did you take up singing?" He questioned with a raised brow.

"Since I was told I had a wonderful singing voice."

"And who in their right mind would tell you that."

"Susan Bones."

"Should've figured. You just want to get laid."

"What can I say?" She smiled but continued signing. Draco hadn't recognized it but it was actually pretty soothing. Susan hadn't been lying. Blaise could carry a tune pretty well.

"It's freezing. We should've been gone by now. Where in the bloody hell are they?" Draco cursed scanning the corridors once more.

"Calm down, what more do you expect. You've seen them at breakfast. They aren't exactly morning people." Blaise barely lifted her gaze from outside as she spoke, letting the song fade away into just humming.

"Or rather, seen them rush in with just enough time to grab a muffin?"

"Something like that."

"That doesn't mean they can do it this morning."

"And you're the authority on what we can and can't do, Malfoy?" Draco was startled and turned quickly to see the heavily attired pair of Gryffindors staring at him. The Weasel in particular not looking too happy.

"When you couldn't manage to get your lazy arse down here at the right time." Draco was running on very little sleep and was already feeling particularly bothered by the redhead.

"Does it really matter? We need to go now. We're already running late." Blaise grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him away from the other steaming boy. Hermione had yet to speak but she was silently glad Blaise had acted when she did. It wasn't a good way to start this at all.

"You know where we're going, right Malfoy?" Hermione questioned, pulling her cloak tighter around herself and she followed the pair out of the castle.

"Not a clue, Granger. It is just my home." He replied harshly, adjusting his broom.

"You needn't be hostile with me, I was just checking."

"Well you needn't question everything I do. It would make things much easier." He fought off the urge to mutter something about not needing that from a mudblood, but just barely. They did need to keep some civility between them.

"Fine." She crossed her arms. "Do we have another broom to use?"

"Oh, that's right. We can't expect either of you to bring anything of the sort. The Weasel's probably stretching having clothes to wear on this stupid excursion."

"If it's so stupid why are you here?" Hermione wasn't going to let Ron dwell too long on the comment he made.

"That's none of your concern, Granger. Blaise brought another broom. She'll just ride with me."

"Actually, I'd prefer if no one else flew my broom." Blaise pointed out and she didn't get a very happy look in return from Draco. "I'm just a little protective."

"Fine, I'll ride with Blaise then and Ron can ride with…" She trailed off realizing what she was about to say. That was a mistake just waiting to happen.

"Weasley will ride with Draco." Blaise finished for her giving him a pleading look.

"There is no way. I agreed to this but I didn't agree to sharing a broom with him." Draco shot a disgusted look in Ron's direction. It wasn't surprising either to find a look that emulated the same thing in response.

"Just get on with it. We're late as it is." Blaise grumbled mounting her own broom. Hermione reluctantly followed suit, standing behind her just in time before the broom began to lift from the ground, carrying both on them. "Come on, we've got to get off the grounds then we'll be back on foot anyway." Blaise called and angrily Draco gave in. Him and Ron followed the same procedure as the girls although Ron tried his hardest to distance himself from the blonde. It was rather hard as you could only sit so far back on broomstick.

……

Dumbledore was deep in thought when Minerva entered. She seemed to easily share his worry. She didn't speak at first, just took a seat and helped herself to some tea. Usually she passed but she needed something, anything to take her mind off what was happening. Less than ten minutes later, the room was more crowded as Snape entered, silent as well.

"Are you sure we're doing the right thing, Albus?" McGonagall ventured sipping from her cup.

"What else can we do? I know that people are going to notice their absence but we can come up with something, I'm sure. Having our entire staff disappear is an entirely different story."

"I think that the best course of action now is to determine what could keep the eight of them detained. Personally, I don't like the idea one bit."

"Severus, I have complete faith in the eight of them. The idea isn't an easy one to accept but at this time we must." He stopped for a moment examining the clock solemnly. "I've contacted a school in America. As of noon this afternoon, they have officially been enrolled as students there."

"At this point, Albus, aren't we just hoping that no one will go searching out answers?" McGonagall questioned, finishing off the tea in front of her.

"Oh they will. But things have been arranged. There shall be no searches of any schools overseas. I've contacted all family's involved and they've consented. The only problem that remains is that if the parents go over to retrieve their children, there is nothing that will stop them. They realize they haven't been there at all."

"It doesn't worry you?"

"Oh Minerva, it worries me more than anything. But for now, I believe they are safe and with time dwindling, that's what will have to do." Dumbledore exhaled deeply deciding it was a good time to pour himself another cup of tea. He offered one to Severus and he declined. The look on the Potion Master's face shown that he would need something stronger than tea to get through this.

……

Harry was silently counting down the time in his head. He knew it wouldn't be long before they would have to go. As much as he was putting it off, he would need to leave soon. There was no way around it. He sighed heavily. He began to stand.

"It's time, Harry?" Ginny asked softly meeting his worried gaze.

"I think it is. We best be off." Neville stood as well and the trio walked silently out of the common room unsure when the next time they'd see it would be. Ginny found Neville's hand easily through the corridors towards the Entrance Hall. It was still early enough that no one else stirred but Harry kept a close eye out for Peeves, if he should appear.

Finally, their destination was in sight and a rather impatient Slytherin stamping her foot. Harry eyed her for a moment. She was wrapped up tightly in winter clothing, hands shoved deep in her pockets for warmth. If she hadn't been so insufferable, she might have been pretty.

"I take it you are ready to go then?"

"Ginny brought her broom and I have mine. I also have the Invisibility Cloak." Harry informed her. Ginny and Neville were anxiously speaking, not really listening to their conversation at all. Harry was determined to remain civil with her. They hadn't even left the grounds and he didn't want things to start off bad. He knew they were going to be spending a lot of time with only each other for company and he was trying his hardest not to piss anyone off yet.

"I suppose I'm with you then Potter?"

He turned his head to watch the pair and shrugged. "Looks that way. Come on." With much less disagreement than the group before them. "Does anyone know exactly where we're going?"

"I do." Pansy spoke up and Harry was quite a bit surprised. "I know which way to go." From the look of her face, Harry doubted it'd be a good time to ask how, although he had a pretty good idea in his head. He'd find out in time. It wasn't something she could exactly keep hidden that long.

"OK then. You guys ready?" He turned to the other pair before them and they each gave a nod in approval, before getting together enough to leave.

"Damned Gryffindors. I'll lose it if they spend this whole time snogging." Pansy grumbled, getting up behind Harry. "Just head out that way." She motioned out past the grounds and it was enough for him. Ginny followed suit and soon, the grounds of Hogwarts were behind them, and the hike had yet to begin.

……

I know that it's very short but I kind of needed to get some stuff set up early on. I hope you understand. The chapters that will follow are going to be much longer. I think I'm going to do alternating chapters, one with Draco's group, one with Harry's. Just so that I can get even amounts of action from all the different couples.

Now that you've read the chapter, there's only one thing left to do…REVIEW!

And before I leave you, for my reviewers from the previous chapter….

I Heart DM 11: Thank you for the review. It originally started with just Draco and Ron and then I thought, wow, I could do so many more interesting things with the characters I picked out. So now we have this. I too am a big fan. Thanks again!

Sucker4RedHeads: Darnit! I'd been so busy, I did a check of Harry Potter Lexicon and it said his gender was indisclosed so I didn't check. Forgive but personally, I like it this way too. Besides, it'll make things more interesting in the future, I promise. And of course thanks for the review.

Private I: Thanks for the review! I was pondering that myself but I figured that Dumbledore would over estimate they could do and well that's what happened. And yes, the wizarding world is pretty unrealistic sometimes. Thanks for the encouragement. I know that all too well and hopefully this came kind of make up for the lack of it out there.