Ok, I know you hate me… Feel free to continue, but I'm feeling industrious tonight, so be happy…. It'll probably be awhile after this.

Chapter 6

Insanity

This was crazy. Insane! It would never work! This was even crazier than the minister scheme! I couldn't do this! It just wasn't possible!

I can't be Draco Malfoy!

I scooped the things on the table into my pocket and walked out and behind the restaurant. With a POP! I was standing in my living room. I emptied my pockets onto the coffee table and looked over everything again.

A letter, a flask full of liquid, a chocolate frog card of Merlin and another shrunk wrapped brown package. Picking up the letter again I read through it, praying it would say something else.

Blaise,

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But this is the only way to do this. You've had a Death Eater trail since the day after we went to see Snape. If I had gotten anywhere near you, Voldemort would have known. Of course, he is dead now. Voldemort will know soon. You CANNOT be home when he finds out. I don't know how long you have. I know you probably think I'm crazy, but believe me, this will work.

I need you to become me.

Yes, I'm serious. I've been working closely with some very powerful people and everything else has been arranged.

The hip flask is filled with a very potent Poly Juice potion that you need to drink before the ball. The clothes you will need to wear are in the other packet. The chocolate frog card is a portkey. It will be activated for ten minutes at ten tomorrow night. The results should be announced around 9:30. The speech you will deliver is written below. Immediately after delivering the final line, use the portkey. It will take you to a muggle village where a certain 'nuisance' you know is waiting for you. He will direct you to a safe house.

Again, I am sorry for forcing this on you. If there was any other way, I would have found it. Good luck, my friend.

Dm

It didn't say anything else. I cursed and headed for my room to pack a duffle. My next thought was of Hermione. I ran to the phone and dialed her number.

One, two, three, four rings. I cursed again. I hung up and dialed her cell. One, two, thr-

"Hello?" a groggy voice answered the phone.
"Hermione, you're in danger. Go pack a bag and get to Potter. He can protect you."

"Blaise? What are you saying?"

"Please, Luv, don't ask questions. Just do this for me, alright?"

"I don't understand."

"Just pack a bag and apparate to Potter. I'm afraid this is going to spill over onto you. Just please do this for me." She fell silent for a moment, the spoke, voice confused but full of worry.

"Alright, Blaise. But you have better have a damn good explanation when I see you."

"I will, I promise. Just call my cell when you get there."

"I will."

"Be careful. If anything happens to you-"

"I'll be fine. I love you Blaise."

"I love you too. Just be careful. Call if you need anything."

"I will." She hung up and I hurried to my room and threw some clothes in my bag. Returning to the living room, I scooped the stuff off the table into my pockets. Unsure of where to go, I thought for a minute, then apparated into Meaghan's living room.

A loud crash greeted me. She apparently had gotten a new table. I rubbed my shins and looked around the dark house. A bright light blinded me.

"Blaise! What the hell are you doing here?!" Meaghan had a perfectly manicured had held to her chest.

"I need somewhere to stay for the night." She looked at me for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. I'll make up the spare bed. Some warning would have been nice, though." She led me down the hall.

"I'm sorry, but it was urgent."

"I'm sure it was. How long and why?"

"Just the night."

"Why?"

"I can't tell you, but you have my eternal gratitude." Meaghan snorted delicately at this.

"Like that's going to do me any good." She made the bed with a flick of her wand and stepped out the door. "Is this going to be alright?" I nodded. "Alright. Good night, Blaise." She turned and left. I flicked off the light and fell into the bed, praying for sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long, long day.

Damn sunshine. I needed sleep, but the damn sun had other plans. I rolled over and something stabbed me in the side. I sat up with a curse and pulled the offending object from between the sheets.

My cell phone.

Hermione.

Flipping it open, it registered a voice mail. I punched in my code and was relieved to hear Mione's sweet voice.

'Alright, love. I'm here at Harry's. Malfoy was waiting for me, like you asked him to. As soon as I'm done with this call, we'll go inside. I love you.' The phone beeped and I ran a hand through my hair. Malfoy had been waiting-

My brain stopped short. I hadn't asked Draco to wait. I hadn't talked to the man since yesterday and Hermione had only been mentioned on the way out the door. I cursed and fell out of bed. Jumping to my feet, I pulled some pants on and stumbled into the living room.

"Meaghan, I need Rawley." The blond jumped and spilled whatever she had been drinking.

"Blaise! What is going on?"

"I can't explain now. I need to owl Potter NOW." Something in my tone must have registered in her pretty little head because she jumped up to find the owl. I crossed the room to her desk and wrote out a short note to Potter, then another to Dumbledore. One of them was bound to know of Hermione's whereabouts. I tied the letters to the owl's leg, and tossed it out the window after quick instructions. I watched it fly off and turned around. Now I could only hope and pray that she was okay and my worries were for nothing.

Meaghan was standing behind me, eyes wide and full of worry. She handed me a cup of coffee and pointed to the couch with one word. "Explain." I sighed and sat, trying to compose my thoughts.

"The election results are revealed tonight for the Minister of Magic." Meaghan nodded.

"And what does that have to do with you?" I ignored her verbal jab and continued.

"You and I both know Draco won." Meaghan rolled her eyes.

"He's charming, handsome, good in bed, why wouldn't he win? Especially with almost the entire female population of England voting for him."

"But you don't know the bad part." I stopped, waiting for her comment.

"And what's so bad about Draco Malfoy?"

"His initiation is scheduled for October 31." Meaghan choked on her coffee.

"WHAT?!?"

"Calm down! Someone might hear you!" Meaghan coughed a bit more, then calmed down a tiny bit.

"What do you mean by initiation? You can't mean-?" she dropped off and I nodded. "Does he- Is he-?"

"It's against his will. And he won't be going. Meaghan, you have to swear NEVER to repeat this. If you do, we'll all die."

"But-but how do you know?"

"My own initiation is scheduled for the same night." I said it softly, but Meaghan jumped away at my words, her hand leapt to her mouth.

"No." It fell deathly quiet from her lips. I stood and laid a hand on her shoulder, but she pulled away, horrified.

"Meaghan, I-"

"Get away from me."

"Meaghan-"

"Get out of my house." Her voice was cold.

"This isn't-"

"I said get out!" She was getting hysterical. I grabbed her shoulders.

"This wasn't my choice!" she stopped trying to twist away and looked at me. "I don't want to be initiated and Draco has come up with another insane scheme that put me in danger last night. That's why I needed a place to stay. Meaghan, I trust you. Please, don't betray that trust." Meaghan gave me a sad half smile, then took my hand in hers and held it to her cheek.

"Blaise, you know I love you too much to ever bring you harm. Just tell me what I can do to help."

"I just need to lie low until this evening. Go to work, I have a few things to do."

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do?" I nodded. "Alright." She pulled me into a hug. "You be careful, alright? Cause if you die, I won't cry. I'll go to your funeral and spit on your grave. I won't cry." I held her tight and kissed the top of her head.

"I know you won't. You'll be too busy jumping for joy." She laughed and pulled away.

"I have to go now. Just send me an owl to let me know you're alive. I love you, Blaise and I-I'm sorry I ever hurt you." With that she picked up her purse and walked to the door. She gave me a last look and was gone. I sat on the couch and worried.

Just to let ya know, it was supposed to be a lot shorter, but ya got lucky. I'll try to crank the rest of the stuff I have written out tonight… Hope ya like it! And if ya do, review!

K