Disclaimer: Just so everyone knows, I've got the best boyfriend on Earth. JK Rowling doesn't have the best boyfriend on Earth. She may think she has the best husband on Earth, and that's fine with me. But, I have the best boyfriend on Earth. I mean, seriously, what kind of 15 year old guy spends around 50 bucks on his girlfriend for Christmas? (Hehe: What kind of middle class teenager actually spends a decent sum of money on their family?) I mean, maybe if they've been together for a while, but we've been going out for a month and 21 days... So, I have proved it: I have the best boyfriend on Earth, so I'm not JK Rowling.

AN: I used the 4th book to figure out how many Death Eaters are in Voldie's inner-circle, but it didn't exactly say the exact number, so I made an estimate. Also, please take into consideration that this is taking place during their 5th year, so the 5th book never happened. This means that there haven't been huge break-outs from Azkaban, Bellatrix isn't running around as she pleases, dearest F & G are staying at school, there was never a Professor Umbridge, poor Luna Lovegood won't make an appearance (sniffle), and SIRIUS IS NOT DEAD!!! ^_^ Sorry, I needed that! ^_^

~*~*~**~*~*~

Draco and Hermione were walking with Harry, Ron and Scott down to Professor Weasley's office. That is where they were meeting to discuss their overall plan, and for the two professors to help develop one that would work. Draco had his bookbag with him, which held a blueprint that he had magically sketched out.

They reached the door to Shaylee's office and knocked. There was a pause and then Shaylee appeared at the door. "Hey," she greeted. She let them in and closed the door behind them.

Harry was, obviously, very intrigued on how Shaylee would decorate the office that he had seen belonging to so many people. He was not expecting it to look more like a living room than a study. He was startled by the fancy looking coat rack and the big, comfortable chairs, but what got him the most was the beanbag chair sitting in the corner. He hadn't seen one of those since he was 9 and Dudley got one for his birthday, only to find out he liked to play with the beans more than sit on the beanbag. He wasn't sure exactly why a 26 year old professor had one in her office.

"Go ahead and sit down. Se- ... Professor Snape will be here in a moment," she told them casually. She looked up with a second thought. "Just don't sit on the beanbag, please. Reserved."

The students sat down and conversed quietly while Shaylee set the stack of papers she had been grading aside. The fire in her fireplace turned green and Severus walked in through it.

He greeted them briefly before instinctively going to sit on the beanbag, with Shaylee following him so that she could sit on his lap. When they were both seated, they looked expectantly up at their visitors, who all had either grossed out or confused looks on their faces.

"Oh, well, I have the blueprints here." Draco opened his bag and took out a rolled up blueprint.

The rest of them gathered around them to see as he lay them out on the floor.

"This is the overall blueprint of the accessible parts of the grounds. There is a forest behind the house almost obscuring the backdoor into my father's wing."

He pointed to a part of the house that jutted out from the rest of the house's shape. "That's my father's wing. No one is allowed in there unless there is a meeting of Death Eaters. Most of them come through the front door, but there are a few that always enter through the back way. I don't know why, exactly."

Professor Snape spoke. "You're forgetting that I was always one that used that door. The purpose is for them to make sure that no one is around. They also lock the door on the way in."

There was silence, and Shaylee expressed what they all were thinking. "Aw, shit."

"Actually, if we have Professor Snape coming through that door, then we should be OK. Can you just leave the door unlocked?"

Professor Snape shrugged. "I don't exactly think I'm invited. I believe they've realized that I'm not exactly helping them at all, and it's not long before the fact that I'm a spy penetrates their thick skulls."

"Well, if this plan is going to work, we'll need someone other than Draco and me on the inside," Hermione spoke up.

"Oooo! Me!" Shaylee volunteered.

"No Weasleys," both Snape and Draco said at once.

Shaylee and Ron looked indignant. "And why the hell not?" Shaylee demanded.

"There are no Death Eaters with red hair. While your whole head is covered, there are often short periods when you take your hood, but not your mask, off. The red hair would give it away," Severus explained.

Shaylee scowled at him. "Fine." She crossed her arms.

"Harry's part is already put in stone," Hermione mused. "So, that leaves Scott." Everyone looked up at Scott, who was the only one left actually still sitting on a chair. He grinned at them. "Sure! I'll do it."

"Professor?" Draco turned to Snape questionably.

Snape studied Scott for a moment. He didn't like him, but he might be the only one who could get them out of the mess that they had started. "I can give him my Death Eaters robes. He should blend in well."

Draco nodded. "So, here's the plan: All of you are outside. Professors Snape and Weasley are hidden in or around the stable, so that you can see what's going on. Harry and Ron can stay under his invisibility cloak in the trees. Scott goes in with the other Death Eaters and makes sure the door stays unlocked."

"You'll meet the others over by the greenhouse," Snape added and Scott nodded, showing that he understood.

"After a wait of about five minutes, the Professors go inside. They go upstairs to make sure no one is in my father's office or library. When the coast is clear, they send a red light through the window towards the woods. When Harry and Ron see this, they go inside and down the trapdoor leading to the Dark Lord's Den."

"Is it wise to send both of them down at once?" Scott pondered.

"Is it wise to only send one down with no back-up?" Severus countered. Scott shrugged his agreement. "Very true."

"Anyway, the two of them will set off the alarm attached to the trapdoor, dragging the attention from Hermione. I will have time to get Hermione out, using a passage to the front lawn. The professors can come downstairs and help also. I'll get Hermione to safety, then come back and help."

There was a moment of silence as each individual counted the holes in the plan.

"Draco," Severus finally spoke, pensive. "Do you know how many Death Eaters are to be there?"

"We're getting out lucky. Only his inner-circle is invited."

Severus nodded. "That means..."

"About ten."

"Not including The Dark Lord," Severus reminded them.

"That's... 6 to 11 odds...." Shaylee told them.

There was silence until Scott said cheerfully, "But considering who those six are, it's no problem!"

~*~*~**~*~*~

There were no classes the next day. Everyone who was going home for the holidays were packing, or procrastinating, as some certain 5th year Gryffindor boys were doing. Harry was going to the Weasleys' for Christmas, and Hermione had been nagging him and Ron to start packing.

Shaylee had been in her room all day, trying to figure out what to take. It was warmer in her quarters now that she had used a warming charm, and her coat was laying beside her small traveling trunk.

She had already placed all of her warm clothes in the trunk, and hoped that it wasn't unnaturally warm in Wales. She finally went into her office and flooed Severus.

"Sevvy! What should I be packing?" Shaylee called into the fire.

"Uh... Clothes," he responded.

"I know that. What kinds of clothes?"

There was a pause, but finally Severus said, "Warm ones."

There was a loud thump and a hiss of pain. "Son of a centaur!"

Shaylee laughed. "That's one I have never heard! What'd you do, eejit?" She invited herself to walk through the flames so that she could see if he was actually hurt.

She didn't walk out into his office, as she had expected. She ignored him as she looked around. "OK, you have a fireplace in your living room? That is so unfair!"

Severus was in the next room putting ice on his hand. "So do you," he told her as he winced from the pain on his hand.

Shaylee walked towards him. "Let me see it," she commanded and reached out for his hand. "Ow!" he said. "Sorry..." Shaylee apologized as she looked at his hand. "What in bloody hell did you do to yourself?" she asked as she saw the huge bruise.

"Dropped my trunk."

Shaylee snickered. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. What's so unnatural about that?"

"You mean you're just starting to pack?"

Severus shrugged innocently. "You reminded me."

Shaylee narrowed her eyes at him. "Sevvy, I'm going to have to get myself a thesaurus and look up different ways to say 'imbecile'."

Severus shrugged as he pulled his hand away from her and went through the door that led to his office. He grabbed a potion off of a shelf and a book off of his desk. He tossed it at her as he walked back in his Living Room. "Knock yourself out."

Shaylee looked down to see that she was holding "Pyutlert's Wizarding Thesaurus." She grinned and sat down on a couch to look it up.

When Severus walked back in a few moments later, Shaylee was ready. "Troglodyte!"

"What the hell?"

"You're a troglodyte, you are!" Shaylee said, giggling at his face. She chucked the thesaurus right back at him.

Severus shook his head. "You really are annoying, did you know that?"

"Of course."

"Well, I'm all packed. Are you?"

Shaylee laughed. "Yeah, right!"

"Then hurry your arse up," Severus suggested, pointing to the fire and the pot of floo powder right by it. Shaylee quickly went back to her office, Severus following with his shrunken trunk in his pocket.

She went into her room, where her trunk was currently sitting, and started tossing in random items. She looked around the room for something as Severus came to stand in her doorway.

She was looking under her bed when he finally asked, "What are you looking for?"

She glared at him. "Nothing," she answered coldly as she continued to search.

He entered the room and sat down on a chair beside her bed. There was a fuzzy teddy bear with a red bow tie sitting on the floor beside it and he picked it up for closer study.

Shaylee saw him and snatched it from his hands. She tossed it in her trunk and slammed it with a glare for him.

"I'm ready now."

"That's what you were looking for? A teddy bear?"

"Shut up."

~*~*~**~*~*~

Hermione shrunk her trunk and stuck it in her pocket. She made her way down the stairs to the Common Room, where she already knew she would find Harry and Ron sitting and playing Chess.

She was, as usual, correct.

"Have you packed yet?"

"Yes mum," Ron answered sarcastically as he concentrated on his next move.

Harry looked up at her with a sympathetic grin. "We just finished."

"Good. I'm going to meet Draco now. I'll see both of you on the train."

Ron finally made his move on the chess board and called after her teasingly, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"I should hope not," Harry muttered under his breath and Hermione laughed when Ron's "What's that supposed to mean?" floated out into the hallway.

She went through the halls down to the kitchens, where they had agreed to meet. Hermione tickled the pear and went inside, where she was not surrounded by House Elves like most people would be.

Instead, Dobby the House Elf sped over to her by himself, beaming cheek to cheek. "Miss Hermione Granger! It has been a long time since you has come to see us!"

Hermione smiled down at the little House Elf. "I'm sorry, Dobby. I've been very busy lately."

"Has Miss Granger made developments with her S.P.E.W?"

"Only a few, Dobby, but I am working on it."

Dobby looked around the kitchen. "Dobby is not supposed to speak of S.P.E.W. in here. The other elves do not like it."

Hermione smiled kindly at him again. "That's quite all right, Dobby. I'm just meeting someone here, though I wouldn't mind a bit of hot chocolate for my wait."

Dobby's face turned pale. "Oh, please forgive Dobby, Miss Hermione! I is not thinking!" He wailed painfully and looked as if he was going to start hitting his head against the wall again.

"No, no, Dobby! It's all right! You shouldn't have to act like that around me anyway. We're friends, aren't we?"

Dobby beamed shyly. "Thank you, Miss Hermione. I will go get you some hot chocolate."

Hermione grinned at the House Elf as he went off to a kettle and she sat down. Dobby was just bringing her the chocolate when the door opened again.

Draco stepped in and was surrounded by House Elves.

"What can I get you, sir?"

"Is sir hungry?"

"Did good sir eat his breakfast?"

"What is you needing sir? Is you needing something to drink?"

"Um..." Draco looked nervously around for Hermione, but didn't spot her.

Dobby looked up at the commotion. When he saw who was at the portrait hole, he gasped and almost dropped the kettle. Instead, he finished filling up Hermione's mug, then inconspicuously slid behind her to hide.

"Well, I suppose I'll take a cup of tea while I wait fo-- Oh... There she is." Draco grinned at Hermione and started towards her.

Hermione smiled at him over her mug of chocolate. "Hi, Draco." She stood up to give him a hug, revealing Dobby's shivering form.

"Young Master Malfoy," Dobby said, his voice wavering.

Draco looked down. "Dobby? I had no idea you worked here!"

Dobby nodded his head feebly as Draco studied him. "Are you afraid of me, Dobby?"

Dobby was silent for a few moments then said, "Dobby is sorry, sir."

"Dobby, there's no reason to be afraid of Draco," Hermione said as both her and Draco sat down.

Dobby was silent again for a few seconds, then without warning, started beating his head against the side of the table. "Baaad! BAD DOBBY!"

The rest of the House Elves looked their way for a small moment, then looked back to their work, disgraced looks on their faces. The House Elf that had been bringing Draco his tea thrust it in his direction and hurried off with a mumbled apology on Dobby's behalf.

"Dobby?! Stop it right now, Dobby!" Hermione commanded.

Dobby stopped as suddenely as he had started. "I is sorry, Miss Hermione."

"Dobby," Hermione started off calmly. "I know that you did not like Draco's father, but Draco is really a lot different than his father. Think of all the things Mr. Malfoy made you do that Draco never did."

He paused as he thought. "Young Master Malfoy never made me sharpen his dinner knife." His eyes narrowed. "Master Malfoy always wanted his knife to be sharp. It scared Dobby."

Dobby sniffled as he thought of more. "Master Malfoy made me feed his snakes..." He shivered. "Young Master Malfoy helped sometimes."

Draco smiled as he inwardly realized that this had just been because he had liked Lucius' pet snakes when he was a child.

Dobby smiled also as he remembered something. "Dobby played peek-a-boo with Young Master Malfoy when he was in his crib and wouldn't stop crying."

Hermione laughed at the thought of a baby Draco playing peek-a-boo with a House Elf with such huge eyes.

"See? Draco isn't scary."

Dobby studied them for a moment, then spoke up. "Dobby wishes to ask a question, but it is not nice. Dobby wouldn't be polite. Dobby doesn't want to hit his head again."

"You should ask it," Hermione advised."I won't think badly of you. We're friends, remember?"

Dobby beamed at her. "Well..." He paused again, then said, "Is Miss Hermione loving Young Master Malfoy?"

Hermione blushed, but smiled at Draco. "Yes, Dobby. I love Draco very much."

Draoc smiled back at her and slid his arm around her.

Dobby grinned at them more. "This is happy news. Is Young Master Malfoy going to Miss Hermione's house for the holidays?"

"No. I'm going with Draco to his house."

A look of fear came into Dobby's eyes again, but he shook out of it quickly. "Is it possible for you to do Dobby a favor?"

Hermione nodded. "If I can do it, I will."

"Well..." Dobby looked down at the ground shyly. "If you is seeing Dobby's mother, can you tell her that Dobby is doing fine? Dobby is happy. Dobby..." He looked up at her. "...has friends."

Hermione smiled at him as she and Draco stood up. "I promise that I will try very hard, Dobby."

"Thank you, Miss Hermione. Now, I must go. Dobby should be making tonight's supper."

"I'll try to stop by sometime after vacation, Dobby."

Dobby grinned at her, bowed slightly, then hurried off to the nearest stove.

Draco and Hermione made their way towards the Kitchen's door and headed out towards the main door, where there were people already getting in carriages set for Hogsmeade station.

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Almost there!!! Thanks to all my lovely reviewers!! I hope everyone had an AWESOME Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza/whatever you celebrate. R/R!!!!!!