Eleven: The Trip Begins

It took them all a while to pack up all their stuff and organize a way where people could conveniently carry anything that they couldn't risk being shrunk again. If their magic didn't work in the middle of the jungle and they had shrunken all the vital items, they would be stranded with no hope left. Ron and Ginny were the ones who decided who got to carry what according to how much they weighed, their current health (which only affected Malfoy but Ron had decided that he could carry more than what Ginny thought), and their stature. It took even longer to plan ways in which direction to use or how they were going to create bathroom spots. Harry refused to build another toilet, and Ron was worried about stepping in dung by accident.

When they finally all agreed on what to do, which took a long time for they had a Slytherin with them too (not to mention the Trio argued over almost everything), they set out for their first major journey on the island. Four out of five of these participants didn't want to go on this journey, but the girls had argued (against their own will) that Malfoy couldn't be left alone in the strange vastness of the jungle. They were eventually able to convince Ron when they said they needed to keep an eye on him too. Of course they knew it was until they had subtly hinted that Malfoy may be a Death Eater who had been tricking them all along to do as he wish until he decided it was the moment for him to sneak up from behind and kill them all, Ron would actually consider keeping Malfoy with him at all times to keep a watch on him.

Having not been trained in searching or camping skills no one knew how they were going to find which way to go. Hermione was able to use The Wizard's Survival Guide To Any Place In The World! to use tracking spells to find out where Malfoy came from. What confused Hermione was that Malfoy's trails seemed to be very long, and it seemed impossible for him to find them in such a short amount of time, especially in his condition. Although she kept her suspicions, she said nothing about this but went on. Now both of the girls were hiding something from their two best friends, they however knew that if mentioned to either Ron or Harry they would immediately leave Malfoy for the wild. They never really cared about Malfoy being eaten alive by a wild manticore, it was just that they knew that it would be their fault they had lost Malfoy when he was seemingly innocent. 'Innocent' and 'Malfoy' never went together, so it was a good idea to keep their silent doubts.

Ron was the one who decided to lead the group. Malfoy was still weakened from the poison, which Ginny finally said was diluted completely, and all the scars he obtained from his so-called business trip. He lagged behind in the group, which although annoyed the trio they didn't mind at all if Malfoy was behind them. At the same time Ron was quickly noted for his great use of strategies. Harry tagged behind Ron, and Hermione followed both of them. Ginny was frustrated for she had to stay in the back with Malfoy to take care of him. Through this line they followed each other into the beautiful but unknown jungle. It felt as if they were following the rose to its thorns. Even though she wanted to talk with Malfoy, Ginny still hated him. She only took this moment to pity him until they found his fiancé. Every time she saw his damn smirk, she clenched her fists and wished to smack him. She hated his smugness and almost wished to see him unconscious again. A sleeping dragon was always better than that which was conscious. The Trio took this time to ignore the both of them. Ginny was used to this kind of behavior from the Golden Ones, but knowing who she was stuck with, she sighed in frustration. She had assumed that Ron would always be keeping an eye on Malfoy throughout their whole trip. He just paused every few minutes and with the corner of his eye he would see what Malfoy was up to; once he was completely sure that Malfoy wasn't planning anything evil, he continued walking.

Malfoy in the meanwhile was increasingly getting better and could probably lead the pack. However, he was enjoying this special treatment he got from the stupid Gryffies, and thought he could use his 'weakness' as an advantage. Draco was always taught to look at every opportunity and take advantage of it. He just loved the way Harry reluctantly had to help him, just like Snape forced him in school. Why did this trip bring back so many memories? His smirk seemed to remain a permanent feature of his face until Ginny had interrupted his thoughts.

"Malfoy as much as we want to lose you, we can't. So whatever plan you have to get rid of us all, just ditch it once and for all."

Malfoy jerked back to reality and realized what the Weaslette was intending. He gave her a smirk in reply and noticed that she was clenching her fists in anger. Snickering would not be a good idea so he decided to quicken his pace by just a little. Recognizing the fact that he was indeed walking slowly, he blamed it on the medicine the daft Weasel gave to him. When he walked faster he saw that his seeker reflexes were coming back to him and in a day's time he would be back to normal. That meant no more medicine.

His smirk soon included something that looked like half an evil grin. Weasley looked at him strangely, but waited for him to come. The others were gaining speed and were lost in their own conversation that they wouldn't realize that the two of them were lagging behind until much later.

"Don't speak to me as if you are my equal Weasel-Bint." He later spat when he caught up to her.

She looked at him with a puzzled look and he replied, "I own a multi-national corporation that grows in size and wealth everyday. You are just a measly healer, who works for me. When I fully strengthen we'll see who will take charge."

"I think you need more medicine." She mumbled. It was unfair. She was infuriated. Ginny would never in her life work for him. After this thought raced through her mind she felt a large amount of pain coming from both of her hands. She looked down and noticed that her fingernails were starting to cut deep into her palm from clenching her fists so hard. He should know about the famous Weasley temper, although she was restraining herself from attacking him, her temper was rising. Currently, she was revising all the hexes she was very well-known for by her victims.

"If your brother and his clan were not in front of me I would be inclined to put an extremely painful curse on you." He said irritated.

"Like you could hex me. I think it was I who caught you up in a bat bogey hex." She said venomously.

"That was in my fifth year, now I am now twenty-two. For all the training I received, I think I could take care of you easily."

"Training?" She asked now that her ears started to prick up. Now her suspicions of Malfoy were growing, but her conscience kept reminding her of the spell that she used on him. The two thoughts were clashing among each other in her mind and she could not understand what side Malfoy was on. It was obvious that she should not trust him, but she had to come to a conclusion. Everybody that Ginny met was either someone not to be trusted at all, or someone that could be somewhat trusted. She had to decide if he was completely evil or just obnoxious. Otherwise, she knew that there would be no way to survive on this island.

"That is none of your business Weasel, now walk ahead."

Ginny didn't dare to provoke Malfoy in his current state. She had heard rumors of him getting very angry. Some people claimed that he had even used an unforgivable on one of his employees. That rumor was disregarded for all the lawsuits Malfoy had been through all ended with his own triumph. What would happen if the famous Weasley temper met with the unspoken Malfoy temper? That was something Ginny wished to avoid, but knew that if their current chat continued, it would be inevitable.

They had caught up with the trio when Hermione and Ron lost the trail. They didn't know which way to go. Ron suggested that they give up and enjoy their trip, or at least find a way to get off of the island. This just led to another long speech and argument that included him and Hermione. Malfoy claimed he was tired from the medicine, but they ignored him. However, after the intense argument that Ron and Hermione had they finally decided to rest a few moments before the journey continued. Not one of them believed that had anything to do with Malfoy's suggestion.

They didn't know if they were in the middle of the island, or if they were not even close to it. Malfoy didn't help at all for he just gave snide remarks to anyone who questioned him. From being in contact with Malfoy for such a short period of time, they realized that Malfoy was really the son of Lucius, who had the same great business charisma and tactics. Lucius did work for the Ministry, but at the same time he headed the corporation. When Lucius lost the job at the Ministry, Draco took over the corporation and dropped the idea of working for the government. Lucius did after all ruin his name in the government section of his job, and at the same time, Malfoy had no desire to work for the government. Through his successful business he found another way to control the government.

"Malfoy, you ferret! Stop being a git and help us." Harry said glaring at him. That one sentence seemed to be dying to roll off Harry's tongue.

"Give me a good reason of why I should help you?"

"Isn't that obvious? Did that medicine Ginny give make you really that dense? We're finding your damn mate," Harry said, growing angrier with every word Malfoy spoke.

"Well from what I heard, you four are going to find her no matter what. After all, you're Gryffindors so why don't you find her yourself? It's the brave and noble thing to do." He said sitting on his bag with his arms folded across his chest. Draco almost looked like an irritated member of the royal family. It was amazing how Malfoy could make himself look like a king on a sack of extra clothes in the middle of some unknown forest. However, the other four weren't thinking of Malfoy's posture but rather of how angry they were at their worst enemy.

Harry almost wished for Voldemort as a companion rather than Malfoy. Almost. Almost. Aarrgh.

"She's your business partner."

"I can get a new one," He said simply. It was as if the new king of the jungle was about to command them to create a new business partner. The last thread of their morality was being drawn tight.

"Yesterday you collapsed, gasping her name. That must mean she's significant to you in some way," Ginny said finally.

"Shut up Weasel-bi..." he was going to finish that, but saw that both Potter and Weasel had withdrawn their wands and pointed it to Malfoy's royal head. If Scarhead really did kill the Dark Lord, maybe he shouldn't try to cross them too much.