A/N - here it is, the next chapter, on time, its my favourite so far, and favourite to write, hope its your too! please read and review ( i feel like a broken record) thatnks. oh, and thank you to all those who have reviewed so far, seriously, thank you.

CHAPTER NINE

Harry ran into his dormitory and searched his trunk for his beloved marauders map, grabbing it, he sprinted out of the portrait hole and down the corridor, he skidded around the corner and looked around to see the many classroom doors spread along the hall, each one beckoning him to enter, only to leave with disappointment. He frantically, opened the first door, unable to care about the loud noises he was making, he slammed it shut again, and thought about his dubious attempts.

He pulled a blank parchment out of his pocket,

"I solemly sware I am up to no good" he whispered to himself and tapped the scroll, suddenly, as if someone had dropped ink on it, it filled, from the center, with the birds eye view of the Hogwarts castle. He searched the once blank scroll for his name, identifying his place on the map, he searched the surrounding corridors for any sign on threat in the form of a nosy teacher or student, or if his luck was bad enough, a strolling cat.

"Professor Snape" He quickly ducked behind the nearest barricade as Snape turned the corner, his hands secured on his wand, together behind his back. He strolled past Harry's hiding place, glancing at the rounded collum, but continuing without hesitation.

Harry watched as Snape once again, strolled out of sight and jumped from behind the barricade and clutching the map in his hands. He stared as his knuckles slowly turned white on the paper.

"Hermione Granger, Hermione granger, where are you!" he whispered furiously, only to be rudely interupted

"Excuse me, we are trying to get some sleep here" Harry jumped as he heard the unexpected voice. A painting of an old wizard was staring at him rudely.

"Argh, sorry" he mumbled and returned his eyes back to the map in his shaking hands. He watched as Dumbledore pace his office and Filch slowly walked down the corridor to Harry's right. Harry could feel his heart hamering in his chest, as he worriedly thought of the pending danger Hermione might already be in. He continued to scan the map, but failed to find even a glimpse of the desired names.

"Where could you be Hermione?" He whispered to himself, pulling the map out of his right hand and slamming in onto his side.

"Okay, okay we get the point, you're inlove with that Granger girl now please hurry up and get on with it" Harry looked up at the painting, with wide eyes.

"What? Me . . . with Hermione" he forced a laugh "You must be kidding"

"Sure kid, whatever"

"Deary" Harry turned to look behind him.

"It is quite obvious"

"Yeah" the rest of the paintings agreed, nodding there heads and glancing at each other.

"What?" he said "You've all gone bloody mad!" Harry ran around the corner to escape the glaring eyes.

"The whole world's gone mad" he said to himself, as Harry once again gained composure and with his free hand, ran it through his sweaty hair.

"Okay, so Hermione's not in the castle, but how do I know this map isn't wrong? No, Harry, it's not wrong, the maps not wrong" As Harry fell on the wall behind him he sighed, grabbed his dripping fringe, and pulled it downwards with frustration. He jumped off the wall, and began to form a plan in his mind. He rolled up the map and began sprinting down the corridor, slightly panting, as he attempted to straighten out his mind. As He saw the large wodden doors leading into the great hall, he noticed they were slightly ajar, walking inside he caught glimpse of the large wooden clock.

"8:30" he said to himself

"Bloody hell! I'm supposed to meet Malfoy!" Unaware of the presence of Filch, Harry was slightly surprised when he heard the voice.

"Who's there?" Filch opened the doors and looked around, nothing. He walked up to the Gryfindor table and peeked over the chairs. He put his lamp down on the table and walked up the large steps to the staff table; Placing himself in Dumbledore's large wooden chair.

"I think that all you wizards and witches should wipe your feets before you come in" He sat there with a smug look on his face, slowly searching his imaginary crowd then stood up and left.

"What the . . .?" Harry jumped out from behind the wooden clock and checked the map, he grabbed the lamp Filch had left on the table and headed to the abandoned toilets.

The castle was eerie at night. Although he had been out so many other times it was different now. He constantly felt as though someone was watching him, surveying his every move, but all of the paintings were deep in dreamless sleep. He returned his gaze to his map.

"All clear" Taking this brief moment of teacher clear territory, Harry sprinted around the corner, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He thought for a moment, should he be seeing Malfoy or looking for Hermione? If he stopped searching it would feel as if he was abandoning her, who knows what Viktor was doing to her. Overrun by what may be irrational guilt Harry ran down the corridor not entirely sure where his feet were leading him. As Harry turned the nearest corner, he saw a slightly rounded figure coming his way, ducking back behind the corner; he attempted to avoid the sight of Professor McGonagall.

"Why didn't I bring my invisibility cloak?" He waited until the professor had past before he slowly crept around the corner, now more aware, he searched his map, for any threats coming his way, but only saw the familiar name of one Draco Malfoy, coming his way.

"Harry, Harry" he whispered loudly

"Mischief managed" Harry whispered and tapped the scroll with his wand

"Are you coming?"

"I can't"

"Why not, we can get the Albino Fur tonight!" Harry didn't want to share his thoughts with the nosy and vengeful Slytherin.

"Are you wussy or something, little Potter, bit off more than you could chew"

"Don't be stupid Malfoy, okay, I'll come" Why? Why couldn't he just let it go? Draco slid down the hallway and Harry followed close behind.

Draco stood straight and confident, very different from Harry as they walked down the dark and empty halls. Harry had taken the chance of Draco seeing his map, and continuously checked down to see if Hermione was anywhere near. Maybe he could make a quick run for it if she was. Draco turned around and scowled

"Are you coming Potter?"

"oh, yeah" Harry replied in a pre-occupied way. Draco reached the main hallway and pushed open the large wooden doors, barely a sound was made. He strode outside and again Harry followed, closely watching his map, unaware of the direction Draco was taking him. As the unaware accomplice made his way to the Forbidden forest Harry searched through all the familiar rooms to Viktor, each classroom, study place, and quiddich practise ground. Draco took out his wand and muttered 'lumous', Harry, reluctantly waking from his thoughts, did the same. As the dark, knowing shadows of the Forbidden Forest approached, Draco dropped his quickened pace as his shoulders hunched.

"You can lead if you like, Potter"

"Don't be so stupid Malfoy" He gave Draco a scowl unfamiliar to himself, one he was quite proud of. Harry had walked through these parts just a few times before, in first and second year. He followed the gaps in the rowdy bush and hoped that he would not walk into any one or thing that fancied him in any way (with the exception of Draco that is). He held out his wand and scanned the nearest area. There was so much going through his head he couldn't concentrate.

"Watch our Potter!"

"What is it!" Harry said in surprise, jumping, getting himself ready for a fight, he turned around to see Draco doubled over . . . laughing.

"It gets you every time, you should have seen yourself . . . .all macho! HA!" Draco stood up and pulled him arms out horizontally, mocking Harry's reaction.

Harry gave Draco another one of his pre-rehearsed, menacing looks and replied

"Which way do we go Malfoy?"

"Follow the trees with the stab marks, here, I'll show you!" Draco strode up to the first tree and looked at it closely.

"Not this one, go check that tree Potter" Draco pointed his arm towards a tree about three metres away. Harry walked over to it cautiously and looked closely.

"Not that one Potter!"

"This one has a mark on it"

"It does?" Draco looked up from his tree surprised

"Is it supposed to look like a cross?"

"That sounds like it" Draco stomped up to the tree and muttered something under his breath. It sounded suspiciously like 'You're lucky you're a pretty face'.

Draco continued in the same direction and again Harry followed close behind. There was a rustle in a bush close by and Draco turned.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"That noise"

"Stop imagining things, Malfoy" Harry stalked past the bush without giving it a second glance, this situation reminded him so of the predicament in first year, he just wanted to get this over and done with, so he could return to more important details in his life . . . ones that may be running out of time.

The ground was moist from the recent rain and the trees whispered to each other in a devilish way. The staring eyes hid in the darkness and as always, made themselves scarce when a word was spoken of their existence. The rest of the world seemed frozen in the middle of small pocket of continuation. The only other noises that dared to be heard were the sound of Draco stumbling through the running roots, as if they were trying to trap him with so many others that had taken this path before him. Harry just walked, repeatedly as if he was stumbling around in circles. He felt like he was getting no where but the rest of the world seemed to be floating further and further away. The silence was disturbed by a crude voice.

"Where are you going Potter? The portal's this way!"

"Oh, okay" They changed direction and Draco lead him through a tunnel of over curling trees and into a repeat of the last journey. All around him all Harry could see was small, but noticeable marks in the trees leading him to the final strand and ingredient of his savour. Harry followed Draco, trying to keep his attention off Hermione and on his path.

Harry started to think about the different places where she could be when he heard something in the distance.

"Stay there or you know what I'll do" Harry turned to face Draco

"Did you hear that?"

"What?"

"That voice . . . I swear I just . . ."

"Stop thinking so hard, Potter" Harry continued to stumble through the thick trees, disturbed again by something in the distance.

"You can't keep me hear!"

"Hermione" Harry mumbled

"You must have heard that Draco"

"What, Granger, yelling to that Viktor kid over there?" Draco pointed through the thick trees to a small clearing in the distance. In it he could see a tall, dark figure leaning close to a wilting girl, tied closely to a tree.

"It's Hermione"

dum dum dum . . . . and the heroism begins! tell me what you think.