So...it's been awhile huh? I reread what I've written, and I do see some inconsistencies from way back when. I acknowledge them and I'm gonna keep moving forward otherwise I'll never update XD

Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognizable.

Chapter 12

The next morning...

Harry wakes to being treated as a teddy bear to a softly snoring Malfoy. An upset buzz -wherewheresafeareyousafe?- comes from the Queen, a headache already brewing from the bombardment of information. It'd been one night and all his siblings eagerly try to share their discoveries with him. He groans softly and begins the annoying task of squirming carefully from Draco's octopus like grip, bathroom needs calling. "Draco, Draco wake up! I got to go!" The blond just huffs in his sleep. "Dracoooooooo!" Harry gives up trying to be courteous and pry's the clingy limbs away, hurrying to an open door that is hopefully the restroom.

Draco whines at being forced to let go of his comfortable pillow, blearily sitting up and rubbing at his eyes with a large yawn, "What...what's going on?"

The door to the dorm bathroom shuts and the blond turns to stare as the hall door swings open, Zabini poking his head in, "Malfoy, hurry up. The breakfast escort is ready to leave but we can't go without everyone. I'm hungry. And get Crabbe up would you?" Purple eyes narrow at Draco unhappily before the dark skinned boy leaves again, door left open. Draco rolls his eyes at Blaise's grumpy attitude, getting dressed and glancing at the other empty beds. He narrows his eyes in confusion as he stares at Crabbe and Goyle's beds. Empty beds. "Strange, they usually wake me up if they get up before me..." the blond says to himself, but is quickly distracted by Harry emerging from the bath wrapped in a large towel. Draco raises an eyebrow, "Where are your clothes?"

Harry ruffles a hand through his wet locks sheepishly, "I don't have any. Just those gross pajamas." The offended look on the other twelve year old's face has Harry giggling, the other boy already ruffling through his dresser to throw clothes at the brunette. They're quickly dressed and standing amongst the other Slytherins, the prefects making an admirable effort of keeping the others calm as Professor Snape is missing for another day.

"Alright students, new rules have come to light with the disappearances." a man in red robes states, bringing attention to where he leaned on the fireplace mantle. The Slytherins murmur uneasily to each other as he stares steadily at the students, "I am Auror Smith. Until my team can proclaim the castle fully safe, I will be helping keep you all safe. There will be some new rules for you to follow until the all clear is given, rule one; Do not go anywhere alone. Rule two, do not go anywhere without a trained adult with you. Rule three, you are not to go off by yourself at any point. If at any time you feel threatened, or uneasy, come get any one of my team that will be wearing these red robes." Auror Smith eyes them all, lips thinned subtly, and turns sharply on his heel to face the entrance. "We are heading out to breakfast, stay close and Do Not Wander Off."

Draco pales further as Auror Smith reaches for the entrance, grabbing onto Harry's arm anxiously. The stones slide open and the dungeon hall is lit with torches and another man in a red robe seems to be taking a headcount as the Slytherins start to shuffle through after Auror Smith. Harry glances at the pale Malfoy in concern, allowing him to keep clinging onto his arm, "Alright, Malfoy?"

He glances at Harry, a trembling smirk flickers across his face, "Of course. What, you scared Potter?"

Harry smiles back, "You wish." Their footsteps echo off the dungeon walls and they pass an Auror with her wand drawn and examining where the hole in the wall was last night. Harry gives the resin blocking the hole no more than a passing glance, -toobrighttoobrightnowheretohide-, his siblings won't harm him.

Ron shuffles blindly through the dark tunnel, hands pressed to his chest and breath coming in quick, scared pants. He'd been down here for a long time. Scary hisses and scuttling sounds clicking off the pipe he'd been stuck in. Ron hadn't moved from where he'd first encountered that...thing. But no one had come down the pipe. Ron was hungry and tired, he couldn't sleep with the scary noises. He wanted his mum. Or his brothers. Ron wanted his dad. He'd eat those corned beef sandwiches Mum made without complaint if only he could get out of here. Ron claps a filthy, gunk covered hand over his mouth to stifle a sob that tries to force its way out. It comes out a desperate whimper and the scuttling that had been the background for however long he'd been here was suddenly gone. Tears well in his eyes as he freezes, he wants Mum. He wants any one of his brothers. Ron will even take Percy. He's so, so scared. A low rattling hiss whispers from behind him and he can't contain his terrified sobs as he bolts into a stumbling run. His foot catches on something in the dark and the red head falls, hands catching him harshly on ridges of some slimy material. Something scuffs against the stone and Ron flips over to try and see what's coming. It's too dark. He doesn't like the dark. The hiss is closer and Ron wants his Mum. A long fingered, clawed hand wraps around his throat and lifts him, Ron wants his brothers. He automatically grips at the armored forearm of whatever has him and he can feel something carved in the armor. He wants his Dad. The hand squeezes and he chokes on his sob, hot air fanning wetly against his face as it smells him. Ron hears the snick of sharp teeth close to his face and what control over his bodily functions he had is lost. The thing pulls back and screeches, Ron can hear others scuttling nearby now. His head feels funny and he's so tired now as the strange clawed hand refuses to loosen the tight grip. He falls blessedly unconscious as the thing screeches more aggressively and he's clutched to its body.

Harry stares at the tables with a frown, there were quite a few empty seats from Slytherin and Ravenclaw. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors weren't there yet and he's pulled to sit at the snakes table amid severe frowns from the older years, though they seemed distracted. Auror Smith has a grim face as he marches to the head table and whispers into the very old looking Headmaster. "He looks more terrible than usual." Harry jumps at the sudden voice and glances at Blaise.

"What's been happening?" Harry asks mostly to himself.

"People have been disappearing is what's been happening." Blaise replies. He quirks a smile and the heavy doors of the Great Hall admit a very bedraggled swarm of Hufflepuffs.

The 'Puffs prefect is ashen and visibly taps each student that passes through the doors, " We're missing 10." Her voice wavers and the Auror that had come with them turns on her heel with another to return to the halls.

Malfoy's hand grips Harry's arm ever tighter as the blond mutters, "I don't see Crabbe or Goyle." -confusedletushavethehostwhereareyougoinggivegivegive- Harry tilts his head in confusion at the hives whispers in his head. The large form of Marcus Flint drops on the other side of Blaise and Harry is concerned now. He's not the brightest, harry can admit it, but the Slytherins are being nice to him. People are disappearing and Aurors, whatever that's supposed to be, are everywhere. He thought he'd stopped the monster that threatened to shut down the school.