Chapter One:

Summer has come and gone. Harry was forced to go to the Dursley's for a week during which he sulked in his room until he was allowed to go to the Burrow. Ron and Hermione managed to get him to come out of his shell for a little while. The trio received high marks on their owls and Dumbledore lifted Harry's ban on Quidditch and gave him his broom back. Everything seemed almost back to normal until school started again. The train ride was a quite one, neither Luna nor Neville felt like talking much and Ron and Hermione were busy with prefect duties. When they arrived at the school, things began to change.

After the sorting ceremony and the feast the trio ran into Draco Malfoy on the way to their house. Instead of making snide remarks he just glared and continued walking. The prefects had a meeting early the next morning and were astonished to hear that this year they would be required to patrol the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid. Each house was assigned a different weekend. The girls had one day and the guys would patrol the other. They were to report to Hagrid's hut at 9 am and be back to their head of house by 8 pm each night. If the saw anything strange they were to tell Hagrid immediately. From then on the school year continued smoothly with only a few out of place occurrences. Then, the day after Halloween Remus Lupin disappeared during a patrol of the grounds, Forest Patrol was canceled that weekend. But, the second weekend in November, Slytherin was once again required to patrol the snow filled grounds. This is where our story begins...

"How was your shift Pansy?" Draco asked softly as Pansy climbed into the common room.

"Nothing odd," Pansy replied. Then, shooting a glance at Draco, she said, "Don't worry about it Draco, it's the same dull thing we did before."

Draco nodded and went back to his potions essay. Five minutes later, he set down the quill and parchment and headed to bed. As he lay awake he thought about what lay ahead of him the next day. He would never admit to anyone that he was nervous. Why should he be? He knew Dumbledore wouldn't have them continue patrolling if it were too dangerous. Assuring himself that it was safe, he fell asleep replying that days quidditch match with Hufflepuff in his head.

Draco's Dream

He soared above the quidditch pitch. Spotting the snitch, he dove. Just as he was about to catch it, the dream switched.

A cloaked figure pointed its wand at him.

"Avada Kedavra"

flash

He was flying again. His arms were wrapped around someone in front of him. Suddenly, a Dementor was gliding towards them. He couldn't move, 'What's going on!'

"Expecto Patronum!"

End Dream Sequence

After breakfast Draco headed to Hagrid's house. He had managed to get on friendlier terms with the half-giant. As he neared the cabin, Hagrid called out to him.

"Mornin' Draco. Ya ready ter go?"

Draco nodded and muttered under his breath, "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Dammnit," Draco cursed at himself, under his breath," Where am I?"

The sun was setting, and Draco's source of light was fading. He had gotten separated from Hagrid and Fang at some point. He had just glanced in front of him and they were gone. Hargird's had told them all what to do if they got separated from him. What had he said?

"Now, if ya were ter get lost, keep movin'. There are things in there ya don' want near ya. Don't stop 'til ya get ter a safe clearing. Dumbledore had me put an orange 'x' on a pole in the middle of most of the magically protected clearings. So don' even go in ter any clearings without that 'x'. You lot'd be easy ter catch fer anything that was a bit hungry. Send up red sparks if you get inter trouble."

'Ahh, yes,' Draco thought, 'Why didn't I remember that before? Ok so, the nearest clearing, would be...'

Draco's thoughts died off as he heard a crunch noise in the snow behind him. He spun around; Fang stared back at him for a moment, then walked forward and licked his hand. Draco looked at the dog and watched him start to trot off. Fang paused, looking back and wondering why Draco wasn't following him. He barked loudly. Draco snapped out of it and hurried after him. Before he knew it they were in a safe clearing.

"Thanks, Fang. Now go find Hagrid. Lead him out of the Forest, okay?" Draco said, as he patted the dog on the head. Fang backed once to show he understood and took off into the now dark, night filled forest.

"Lumos," Draco muttered as he turned to get his bearings. He heart stopped as the light from his wand stopped on a collapsed figure in the snow. Drawing closer he saw that she was unconscious and probably freezing. Where is her cloak? He rolled her off her side and onto her back.

'Draco! What are you doing? She could be a death eater! This could be a trap!' his mind screamed at him.

Shrugging the thoughts from his head, Draco reached out to check her left arm for the dark mark. She moaned in her sleep when he picked up her hand. He jumped back.

'Her shoulder is dislocated,' he realized, feeling foolish for having jumped at the noise she made.

He pressed her down into the snow and with his other hand, popped her shoulder back into place. She cried out and then just whimpered. Checking that she was still unconscious Draco got up and began to check the rest of the clearing for her cloak or other belongings. There! He walked over to the bundle and picked it up. He unwrapped the cloak and was startled by what he found, the eyes of a petrified cat stared back at him. Disconcerted by what was in the bundle Draco figured the best way to deal with it would be to bury it. He solemnly removed the cat's collar and using a few quick spells, buried it and transfigured a nearby rock into a headstone.

Glancing at the darkened forest, he heard a rustling of creatures just outside the clearing. Alarmed, he realized that the magic he just did was causing the outside magical barrier that was protecting them to wear off. He had used too many spells. Sighing, Draco knew that worrying about his fate would get him nowhere and he headed back to where the girl lay, carrying the cloak. He gingerly wrapped her up in it, and stared at her. There was no doubt in his mind that she was pretty. He bent forward and gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face. He froze, when he felt the hard, wooden tip of a wand press against his throat.