Disclaimer: I do not own any original JK Rowling characters (why, do you? LOL)

A/N: Hope u liked the last chapter. I would REALLY appreciate a couple more reviews here and there! Hint hint.

(reviews for ch. 6)

Redberry Greenleaf: don't worry about Malfoy. I'm glad u liked it.

The Lady of the 4leafed Clover: Don't hurt yourself! Hope u like the rest of it.

(reviews for ch. 7)

Redberry Greenleaf: I'm glad u liked the chapter. I think Ralph Fiennes will be pretty good, actually. Let's face it, could you see, say, Tom Cruise being Voldemort:-)

Thanks 4 u're reviews. Ok, ch. 8

TITLE!

I might as well have been chained to the bed. Lucius sat next to me, conversing with his master. I tried to look over his shoulder. Before I could move, the back of his hand met with my face. The large ring he wore hit me hard, and I felt the metallic taste of blood slowly seep into my mouth.

"Ouch," I murmured.

"Stop your complaining!" he hit me again, "you're lucky you're not dead!" He resumed his work. I found myself wishing I had no parents at all when Snape strode in. Lucius clapped the book shut and began to pat me on the head fondly. I knocked his hand away. He frowned but stopped.

"Aahh, Lucius, I can see you're still here."

"But of course. Draco does seem to be feeling better. I was getting worried; you know how parents are: always worrying about their children. Narcissa and I only have one, you know he's the world to us…" I could've thrown up.

"I see. Well, if Malfoy is indeed feeling better I suggest he resume his classes. Don't you agree?" Lucius nodded. I got up and began to walk to the Slytherin dormitories to get my things. I muttered the password and the portrait hole swung open. No one was in the common room that I saw, and I was the only one in the boy's dormitories. After grabbing my stuff for Potions and Divination, I walked down the stairs, wondering how the hell I was going to get that bloody diary back.

"Draco!" I looked up and saw Pansy running towards me from the girl's staircase. Shifting my books to one arm, I kissed her. She smiled breathlessly. "Where have you been? I've been so worried, and Flint's been going mad about quidditch!"

"I was really sick, sorry." I kissed her again. She grabbed my hand and we walked to Potions together. Snape was at the head of the room already, telling everyone to "quiet down." He gave a long lecture about how preciseness is key with potions. Apparently the duration of the class had failed the last assignment.

"Only the select few that successfully completed their potion will be allowed to move on. Only TWO in your class made it thus far. Granger glanced at Longbottom and mouthed "sorry." "These two will be," Granger looked up expectantly as Snape finished his sentence, "Draco Malfoy, and Pansy Parkinson." Granger's jaw dropped. I smirked. What a pity. Poor Granger was wrong…for once! Pansy and I walked to the front of the classroom.

"The rest of you, get to work!" Snape instructed us to go into the back room where he kept his potions and find a list of them.

"Can you find," Pansy pointed to the list, "this one?" I looked at the ones in my hands, and then at the shelves. I reached for it, and it gave it to her. She took the potion. Once we had set all the vials in a bag, we were finished. I got up, and was about to bend down and get the bag when Pansy caught my hand. I looked up and saw her looking at me, almost daringly. So I took the dare. I wrapped my arms around her and we made out in a storage closet.

When classes were over, I returned to my dormitories. I sat in the window solemnly. The first snow was falling. I watched as the blinding whir roll my window. The wind howled, the trees swayed from side to side. I wrapped my blanket around myself tighter. I was lost in thought, staring out at the white blur before my face when Crabbe tapped my shoulder. I turned to see his face pale with fear.

"What?" He didn't answer. He grabbed me by the arm. "WHAT?"

"Shhh!" I didn't know who said it, but found myself being evacuated with a bunch of other Slytherins. Snape was walking in front of us. Everyone was silent, except for the questioning glances and to-soft-to-hear murmurs. We joined the rest of the houses who were being silently ushered into the great hall. Once everyone was there, the doors were shut, and Dumbledore and the other teachers muttered sealing curses on the doors. Everyone sat at the tables and Dumbledore quieted everyone – not that he needed to.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news," he began. His voice sounded almost tired. "Please do not panic. You are safe here! Don't forget that. I'm sorry to inform you that Lord Voldemort has found his way into the castle." Immediate panic – just as I'd suspected.

"SILENCE!" boomed that great goon Hagrid. Everyone froze.

"Now," continued Dumbledore, "I will ask you to remain silent as we make sure everyone is here. Minerva?" McGonagall nodded.

"Abbot?"

"here!"

"Arnold?"

"here!" It seemed like hours.

"Crabbe?"

"here!" Slowly, she worked down the list.

"Malfoy?"

"here." It went on and on and on.

"Parkinson?" No answer. "Ahem, Parkinson? Miss Pansy Parkinson?" No answer. Heads turned and the murmurs began. I stared wildly around. Where was Pansy?

"SILENCE!" shouted Dumbledore. "Professor McGonagall will continue with the names so we know if anyone else is missing before we go in search of Miss Parkinson." I sighed restlessly.

"Potter?"

"here!" I saw Dumbledore relax a bit. He looked out at us while Professor McGonagall continued with the names.

"Weasley?"

"Which one?" She sighed.

"Weasley, Fred?"

"here!"

"Weasley, George?"

"here."

"Weasley, Ginny?"

"here!"

"Weasley, Ron?" No answer. Uh-oh. I looked at McGonagall – she was worried. "AHEM! IS RONALD WEASLEY HERE?" No answer. I gasped in the midst of the murmur. No one saw the connection – not even Dumbledore! They took Pansy as a lure for me, and Weasley for Potter. I had to admit, Voldemort was good. I saw a few of the teachers going for one of the doors. I quietly followed them out, and noticed that Potter was doing the same. I took out my wand and raced after Potter down a separate corridor.

"Malfoy."

"Potter," I acknowledged him with the same contempt.

"You know we have to work together for this." I nodded.

"Yes, but I'm NOT going to like it."

"Neither will I." We walked down the corridor slowly.

"Harry!" Potter and I flipped around. Granger and Weasley were running towards us.

"Hermione! Ginny! What are you doing here?"

"Harry, Ron's my brother! What'd you expect?"

"Ron's my friend," Granger said simply. They both looked at me quizzically.

"I'm going for Pansy you numbskulls." They shrugged and the four of us made our way down the hall. We were debating which corridor to follow when we heard a piercing scream and a yell.

"Pansy!"

"RON!" chorused Potter, Granger and Weasley.

Another cliffie! Ooohh! Hope u liked this chapter! READ AND REVIEW!

TTYL, Nightstorm7