How could this happen? How could this be? His whole world was falling apart and no one was doing a bloody thing about it. He could hear the snickers and the taunts. "It's started. It's started" was heard all down the hallway.

Only the thing was, it had started and in they had gotten to him in the worst way possible. Taken away his only support system, they did. He should have expected this from these people. They weren't exactly known for playing fair. He cursed under his breath as he nodded at Dumbledore, not hearing a single word he was saying. It didn't matter though because he had heard the speech from just about all the bloody teachers and it was all the same, only with different words.

He rubbed his temples and interrupted Dumbledore in the middle of his speech and excused himself. He walked silently to the Griffindor common room, not feeling very much like eating at the Great Hall. He sat on his bed and looked across at Ron's bed and almost cried.

How could they be gone?

Missing

That was all they knew. Someone lured them out of the castle and into the Forbidden Forrest. That was all they knew... they didn't even really know that. All they really knew was that they left the castle and entered the Forrest and then their tracks vanished.

No one knew a damned thing and he couldn't do a bloody thing about it. There was no one to go after. There was no adventure to go on. There were no companions to help him figure out who and where to go. He was totally lost. The hero left hopeless and alone.

He sighed and took out his potions essay when the Daily Prophet slipped out. That horrid article on the front page.

The Daily Prophet

The Boy Who Lives friends kidnapped by possible Death Eaters

Exclusive story

Ruth Forrest

Yesterday at midnight it was discovered that two students from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (names not available for disclosure.) were kidnapped from the Hogwarts campus. The two students left the castle about 11 PM yesterday night, according to the pictures in the corridor of Hogwarts.

The Aurors arrived at the school at around 12:30 AM and were able to track them as far as the Forbidden Forrest that surrounds the school. They sensed some dark magic still lingering there and suspect that there was more than one of them. They believe that they apprintated though it is possible a portkey was used.

This is not the first time a student has been taken from the Hogwarts campus and put in danger. Last year during the Triwizard Tournament two students were taken from Hogwarts and put in mortal danger. One student died.

We believe this might have been an attack from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but this cannot be confirmed. Authorities are wondering if the security is significant enough and are considering taking action in securing the premises.

Special interview with a Hogwarts ghost on page 8

He cringed and stuffed all his stuff back in and went to lie down when the door busted open. In tumbled Dean, Seamus and every other block that he didn't want to see. They all had their copies of the Daily Prophet in their hands. He managed a weak smile and said stiffly that he didn't feel up to talking.

He again looked over to Ron's bed noticing something he hadn't noticed before.

He nodded along to the chatter of his friends. There was always something going on at this school. He always knew what was behind it, but this time he didn't. That worried him.

Why hadn't father said anything?

It made no sense unless they weren't behind it, but who else was after the bloody Boy Who Lived? He raked his mind of all the things father had said in his letter. He couldn't remember any hidden message about an attack. He made a mental note to re-read his father's letter.

This was obviously a war declaration against Potter, but who was it. Of course the whole school was going on and on this death eater talk but he was almost positive that there was another element involved now. This would make it interesting. He let them all think it was the death eaters and nodded and commented but all the while was thinking about what he was to write to father.

Everyone was anxious when the Daily Prophet came down. The whole hall quieted as they read the front page with the picture of Potter. He once again made the front page without having to do a damn thing. Pretty soon the silence was shattered as the senseless chatter began.

Everyone had known what had happened because at about 3 in the morning ever bloody house was woken up and informed two students were missing and to be careful of spells and charms. We were told not to trust anything, then told to go back to sleep. Like hell anyone went back to fucking sleep. We had just been told our lives were in danger and then to go sleep.

That was really where the useless chatter began but the Daily Prophet just gave it a new jolt of life. Nothing of remote sense was running through his mind, just a bunch of useless thoughts and confusion. As soon as his mail had arrived he through the Daily Prophet aside and ripped open the letter from his family.

Dear Draco,

I'm sure you've been informed by now of the danger the school is in. We don't know who it is, we don't even have a lead. You know to defend your honor at school from the unknown. We would like you to remain in account until the law is sorted. Please keep your wits about you.

Sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs.,
Malfoy

This letter was short and straight to the point. He supposed it would probably not make sense to many but Draco understood it completely.

They didn't know.

'Defend your honor.' Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The 'law' would be 'sorted' once they figured out who and what and until then 'remain in account' or keep on edge. He was supposed to 'keep his wits about' and inform them of what was going on in the school.

Nothing in the letter surprised him. He had already figured they weren't behind this. If they could lure out those two why not Potter himself?

The next few days were spent watching the events of the school in silence. He reported everything as it happened to his parents. Potter seems to be in hysterics. In fact the whole Griffindor tower seemed to be shaking in fear. The Slytherins of course thought they had nothing to fear.

He kept up with his friends in the chatter and played off the whole thing with bullshit. He pretended he thought it was the death eaters. He was under strict orders, but he was used to this. They all bought it, feeding off it. If Draco said so, then it must be true. Look who his father is!

Warren seemed a bit different. He was still fiery and loving. He was still quiet and mysterious, but he seemed a little... different. Every time he tried to bring it up with Warren, he would blow up. Everyone was a little on edge but not that much. He was worried but he couldn't get through to him.