Harry had finally harassed Ron into formally apologizing to Hermione, and the three of them plus Draco, Blaise and Fiona were hard at working thinking of a plan to save Draco's life.

"Never thought I'd be spending nights up in the library trying to save your skin, Draco," Fiona laughed as the she pulled off Harry's invisibility cloak.

"Neither did I!" Harry, Hermione and Ron all three chimed in at once. All of them chuckled a bit, but grew quickly serious again.

The small group had taken to meeting in the Room of Requirements at night, taking turns running to the library under Harry's cloak. It was Thursday, so it was Fiona's turn to seach.

"Find anything useful?" Blaise asked.

"Nothing, really," Fiona sighed back.

"The way I see it, we've only got one option," Hermione said slowly. "Putting a Fidelius Charm on somewhere very well hidden, making someone unsuspected the secret keeper, and wait it out."

"I'll never do it," Draco countered quickly, his voice defiant. "I might have to hide my entire life before someone kills Voldemort. I'd be a prisoner forever."

"There's got to be another way..." Ron mused. "What about a Polyjuice Potion?"

"That wouldn't work," Hermione said, dejectedly. "We only have three weeks until Draco's birthday, not a month."

"I know a way," said Blaise. All eyes turned upon her, and she blushed, then continued. "Great potions masters often find ways around the standard procedures used in spells and potions, with little ill effects. Professor Snape is one of the greatest potions masters alive today, I'm sure he knows something."

"Should we wait unitl morning?" Ron asked. He was less than keen to wake Snape up in the middle of the night.

"No, we'll go to Dumbledore now and ask his help, too. Then he can go with us down to Snape's office," Harry said.

-----
When they arrived at Dumbledore's office, Harry immediately began spouting Hunydukes' candies. Draco cut him off abruptly.

"Ice Mice," he said.

"How did you know that?" Harry asked, bewildered.

"Oh, you aren't Dumbledore's only favorite boy now, are you?" Draco answered smuggly as he jogged up the spiral staircase. Professor Dumbledore was seated at his desk, hands pressed together, and a Pensieve under his chin.

"I see you've been moving about the castle these last few nights, Draco," he said, smiling. "Have you thought up any clever ideas?"

"Yes, Professor, but we aren't sure if it'll work," Hermione asnwered breathlessly. They had run so quickly up to Dumbledore's office that they were all tired and panting.

"Please, enlighten me," Dumbledore said, leaning over his desk in interest.

"A Polyjuice Potion, sir," Blaise said quietly from the back of the group. "We're nearly sure that Professor Snape can find a way to make one in the time we have."

"Of course, of course... Severus can surely do this... but how will this protect Draco?"

"We'll change him into someone who's out of danger, like ... Neville Longbottom, or Snape," Harry said. He was growing impatient with all this talking. There was a life at stake.

"Both of those people would be foolish to change Draco into, Harry. Neville has already been marked, like you, with the sacrifice of his parents, and Professor Snape is still spying on Voldemort for me. It would be unwise to allow Draco to be so close."

"We'll think of something while Professor Snape is brewing the potion, sir," Fiona said finally.

"Yes, yes... quite," Dumbledore answered. "Well, all of you should be off to bed now. I'll ask Severus about this right away. Goodnight, all." And with that, they left, going thier seperate ways.