Disclaimer: If you've seen it, I don't own it.

A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took so long. First a major case of writers block (I think its only gone for a little bit), then school. Who knew that I would still be this busy with only four classes? Gah. I guess that's the price I pay for being a senior. Anyway... I hope you forgive my lateness. I'll try to get updates up sooner but no guarantees. =p

Chapter 31: Missing

Chaos. That was the word Ron would use to describe the day. Utter chaos. It had all started that morning. 5:00 am to be exact...

Ron groaned as two four-year-old boys landed on his stomach. The boys were staying in the dorms because Remus had had patrol all night and couldn't stay with them. Tonks had flat out refused to watch them at night claiming she needed her sleep, and Dumbledore had a meeting with the Minister. This had left Ron and Hermione to baby-sit. Harry and Draco had been very well behaved and even went to bed early without a fight. The result, very energetic little boys early in the morning.

"Ron!" Harry whined as the teen covered his head with a pillow.

"Get up. We want to go outside." Draco pulled at the pillow while Harry pulled Ron's arm.

"Go back to sleep." came the muttered reply.

"No!" Draco yelled loudly. The other sleeping boys let out various groans and curses at being woken by the yelling children.

This gave Harry an idea. Maybe someone else would take them outside.

Harry made his way over to the next bed. "Semus will you take us to play outside?" he asked sweetly, gently shaking the boy.

"Maybe later Har. Not right now though. Too early." Semus managed to reply before falling back asleep.

Draco moved to where Dean slept. "Dean can you take us to play outside?"

Dean grunted not really paying attention.

Harry and Draco took that as a yes and began getting dressed. Harry, after getting dressed, returned to Dean's bed. "We ready. We meet you outside."

Dean grunted again.

The little boys headed downstairs. They met no one in the common room or in the halls as they made their way outside. Draco tagged his brother

Draco touched his brother yelling 'Tag!' before running off. Harry gave chase.

For an hour they chased each other, giggling like mad, not realizing that they were moving farther and farther away from the school.

"Harry!" Draco yelled. "Where are you?"

They were playing tag still, but Draco had lost track of his brother. They were now wandering deeper and deeper into the forest and Draco was starting to get a little scared.

"Draco? Where are you? I can't see you. I'm scared." Came the reply.

Draco looked around. He did what any normal four year old would do in that type of situation. He cried.

Harry followed suit while heading toward the sound of Draco crying. Harry entered the area where Draco was and hugged his brother tightly.

"We be ok." He tried to reassure.

Ron woke up, happy that the boys had went back to sleep. He grabbed some clothes and turned towards the little cots.

He let out a curse. "Have any of you seen Harry and Draco?" Ron asked the other boys who were getting dressed.

"Not since they woke up this morning. Didn't they want to go outside?" Semus answered.

Ron hurried and got dressed. 'They wouldn't have gone outside alone. They know better than that. Unless someone went with them...' he tried to figure the boys out.

"Hey Dean didn't they ask you if you'd take them outside?" Neville suddenly asked.

"Is that what they asked? All I heard was mumbled voices. Did I reply?" Dean was getting his books for the morning.

"I think you grunted in acknowledgement because I think I remember them saying something about meet and outside." Neville finished.

"We better go get them then. Remus would kill us if he found out." Ron figured the boys would still be waiting for Dean to meet them out there.

A growl came from the bushes near the boys. Draco let out a whimper. Harry tried to pull Draco towards a tree so they could hide. It worked with Dudley, he was sure it would work with this thing.

Whatever it was, it growled again. Draco finally decided to follow Harry's example and climb the tree. A huge creature jumped out of the bushes aiming for the boys.

Draco let out another whimper. This time Harry joined him.

The creature had the appearance of a wild cat mixed with a wolf. Its legs were powerful like those of a lion, the eyes and ears of a wolf, the teeth of a tiger, and midnight fur, tail, and grace of a panther. It was scary looking to a grown wizard much less two four year olds stuck in a tree.

It began to climb the tree.

Ron looked around in horror. The twins were nowhere to be seen. Emily and Melissa had now joined the search and it was coming time for class.

A curse spilled from Ron's lips. "He's going to kill me." He stated more to himself than anyone else.

"Who is going to kill you?" Remus asked as he came up behind the red haired teen, Tonks not far behind.

"Um... no one. Er... I mean..." Ron's eyes darted about looking for an excuse to leave.

"So where are the boys? I plan on taking them to Hogsmade today to get them some things to do while we are doing work. I think we've had enough trouble with their entertainment methods." Remus looked around expecting to be knocked on the floor any second by the two little boys.

Emily appeared. "You should really put a tracking charm on those two. It would make this search so much easier." She said to Remus before sighing and continuing her search.

Ron paled.

"What did she mean?" Remus asked noticing Ron's reaction.

"Um. Yeah about that. Apparently, Harry and Draco came outside to play unattended this morning. Now we can't find them." Ron began to back away.

Remus' inner wolf appeared at the loss of his sons. Those were his cubs, and they were in danger.

A/N: I had to. It was just too tempting. At least I updated. Right? Oh and this is only the first event of the day. =p