A/N Wow, I'm so happy to hear from you guys again. In fact, I'm so happy I'll add another chapter... no thank you's necessary. I hope you liked the last chapter, most of this is spur of the moment so yeah, it won't be professional or full of thought. Blah blah, no one reads this stuff so why write it? On with the story (what most consider the real reason to read fan fics.)

Disclaimer- I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!!!! J.K. ROWLING IS A GENIUS AND I CANT TAKE CREDIT FOR HER MASTERPEICE. I can (and will) take credit for something boring like... grammar... or the water cycle. That was all my fault and I am sorry.

Draco gulped as his 'friends' smiled at him in that cold, evil way. He attempted what he hoped was his old smile of spoiled rich-boy glee. He spoke, attempting keep his voice calm and hateful, "Hey guys, boy am I glad to see you. The mudblood got away from me and-"

"Cut the charade Draco." Pansy scolded. "You're cute but not cute enough to fool us. We know all about you and Grain-hairs little adventure."

"Granger." Draco corrected automatically.

"Yeah, whatever." Pansy shrugged indifferently, aiming her wand straight at Draco's heart. "The point is, we're afraid you've grown... soft."

"Voldemort's not happy about this, not happy at all Draco. He finds you to be a threat to the Death Eater ways. He says you're a disgrace to Slytherin... the only disgrace Slytherin has ever had." Blaise added the smile vanishing from his face for good.

"You guys... the only charade I'm playing is on Granger. I've got her convinced that she can trust me... I'm her friend. When the time is right, I'll finish her off!" Draco cried, hoping he was convincing. A little too convincing, Pansy and Blaise took a step back. Then, as if listening for some far away sound, too faint to really hear, Pansy cocked her head to one side, holding up a hand for silence. Then, she whispered in Blaise's ear who in turn smiled.

"Voldemort has something else in mind." Blaise informed Draco. "If what you say is true this should be no problem. He wants you to lead her to Alex... then he wants you to give her a little present, as a token of your false affection for her."

Pansy tossed Draco a silver chain, on which hung a green snake. Draco studied it carefully, then looked up at his companions curiously. "What is it?"

"A necklace... see that she gets it!" Pansy commanded.

"And tell her it was from you." Blaise added. They turned to leave, then Blaise paused and looked back at Draco. "And one more thing... you better not be lying to us Draco. If you are... we'll find out. We always do. When that happens... don't expect to see the next day... watch out."

Draco nodded to them and turned away as they left him. He inspected the necklace in his hands. He had a very bad feeling about all of this but there was nothing he could do. With a sigh he began to retrace his steps hoping to catch up with the others.

Hermione bent down to pat Maggie as she looked back once again to make sure the humans were still following her. She gave a small "meow" and continued to walk, running ahead and then back again impatiently as if saying "you people walk way too slow... jeez and they complain about cats being slow."

Chris walked beside Hermione looking very upset indeed. He closed his eyes remembering where the adventure began and how it all seemed so long ago. Alex... smiling as she retied his bandana. He now took the bandana in question off his head and began twisting it nervously, not caring that his messy black hair was in his face.

Hermione seemed to read his mind. "Hey," she said touching his shoulder. "She's going to be alright you know. I won't let anything happen to her and we'll find her in no time at all."

"I appreciate the comfort and the optimism, but I know she's not as safe as we'd like to think." Chris replied. He stopped suddenly and touched her arm cautiously. "This is just a thought, but what if they want us to go looking for her. Wouldn't we be just walking into the lion's den?"

"Of course it's what they planned. Otherwise, they would have taken me and Draco and went on their way." she replied honestly. Then she glanced at Maggie she smiled a little but her eyes showed fear. "And as for your comment on the lion's den there isn't one around here. According to Maggie, we're walking into this broken down house... sound nice?"

In response Chris shivered. Billy and Rosie walked up behind them and stood gazing up at the deserted relic. Rosie spoke first. "We aren't going in there are we?"

"We have to... that's where Alex is."

"Well... I'll just wait out here till you get back then shall I?" Billy spoke up looking hopeful. A hand reached out and touched his shoulder. He jumped and wheeled around. "Don't kill me! Please, I'm just a tennis player in my last year of high school... I want to live!"

"Calm down! It's only Malfoy." Rosie said, looking quite embarassed to be anywhere with him. She had her fingers against her temples as if she had a headache.

"Oh, ok." Billy said standing up from where he knelt before Draco. He sniffed andwiped a hand across his forehead. Then he pointed at Draco and aid in a very stern voice, "Don't you ever do that again, do you hear me? One it's not funny and two, it's rude!"

Hermione completely ignored Billy's attempts to cover up his embarassment. She stood in front of him facing Draco and demanded, "What are you doing here?"

"I..." Draco trailed off. Hermione raised an eye brow (A/NI hate the eyebrow thing but in stories, it sounds good.) Draco tried again, " I..."

"You what?" Chris asked flatly.

"I..."

"Draco, we really don't have time for this ok? If you're going to say something spill it. If not... go away." Hermione declared coldly. Only Draco wasn't listening.

In one of the windows in the house stood a masked figure staring down at them. He gave Draco the thumbs up then made a slashing motion across his neck, reminding Draco of the promise (lie) he had told Pansy and Blaise. Rosie noticed where his eyes were and she too looked in the window.

"Guys..." she squeaked. She cleared her throat expertly. "Guys... we've been spotted."

Everyone else looked up and the figure stared back defiantly. Hermione trembled a little. Draco put a hand on her shoulder which she shook off.

"Something tells me he doesn't want to invite us to tea..." Rosie continued. Out of the corner of her mouth she added, "Maybe we should wave..."

"Why is he just standing there and not blasting us to who-knows-where?" Billy questioned.

"I have no idea but I don't like this... I don't like it one bit... Chris, where are you going?" Hermione yelled as Chris moved towards the house. He opened the squeaky iron gate and began up the walk but Hermione stepped in front stopping him. "Where are you going?"

"Alex is in there... I was going to go grab her." Chris said simply.

"I have an idea that that's what they're hoping we do." Hermione said.

"We should follow the cat and go around the back." Draco said appearing next to them. "They alread know we're here... but I don't think this is where Alex is."

"Then why'd the cat lead us here?" Billy questioned.

"Maybe there's a path that leads to some other place... only accessable from here." Draco offered, slipping his hand into Hermione's. Hermione stepped away and dropped his hand like it burned. Draco gave her a pained look. "Look Hermione I'm sorry ok. This is hard on me... think about it, I've renounced my dad to his face, I'm running around running from my dad while running right into his hands to save some girl I don't even know, there's a war brewing... I snapped... and I'm sorry."

Hermione gave him a sad look, then she kissed him softly. "Apology accepted... now can we please save Alex?"

"Anything for you." Draco said with a small smile.

"How romantic" Rosie breathed out a sigh. She picked Maggie up and kissed her forehead. "Isn't it romantic Maggie?" Maggie cried, begging to be put down.

"Oh sure... kiss the cat..." Billy murmered. Rosie didn't hear him.

They snuck around the house that was literally falling apart and found themselves in the backyard. Unfortunately the backyard had another purpose.

"Wonderful... a graveyard." Rosie said with a shiver. Maggie bounded across the length off the headstone covered land to what appeared to be the beginnings of a forrest. "Maggie, where are you going? Come back here!"

They ran after the cat, taking care not to 'disturb' the final resting place of anyone. On the waypast aparticularly grim looking stone, Chris slipped in some mud, hitting his head on the gloomy monument. He sat up rubbing his head and attempting to9 brush the mud off his clothes. Then, he looked at the stone. Cautiously, he cleared away the moss covering the name of the deseased. His face grew pale as he yelled, "Uh guys... you better see this!"

"What is it Chris?" Rosie asked standing next to him.

"Read the stone."

Hermione read it first and gasped. She read it again to double check. "It's Voldemort's father's grave! I know where we are now! This is the Riddle house in... in... man, I can never remember the name! Little something..."

"Little house? Little Rock? Little drummer boy?" Billy offered. Rosie smacked him. He gave her an offended look. "I was joking."

"Little Hangleton." Draco cut in. He gave Hermione a grim look, then began ushering everyone away. "Come on, we should start moving. We shouldn't linger here..."

"Draco's right... we need to go into the woods and find Alex." Hermione agreed.

"If something doesn't find us first. There's no telling what's in those woods." Billy said sternly.

"Thank you I feel much better now..." Rosie said glaring at him. She shivered as they all reluctantly entered the woods, Hermione in front, her wand held at the ready while Draco took up the rear.

A/N One word for you--- REVIEW! uh oh... bed time.