A/N: Omg, I missed you all! But I'm back now, so here's the update! And also WOW, look at all of the reviews that I have gotten! O.O I think this is the chapter with the most reviews….I think. Haha, well, thanks for all of the reviews you guys!

Review total: 124! Yay!

Um, thanks to all of you guys who had reviewed…but I'm just afraid of breaking any rules, so I'm not going to post any review comments anymore…sorry!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters...JK Rowling does.

Chapter 17

'Today's the day that we leave,' Hermione thought sadly. She has already packed, like everyone else has. For the past week or so, she spent every minute that she could with her friends. She was really going to miss them when they have to part away to a different place, along with their partners.

"I'm going to really miss them," she murmured. She thought about being with Draco Malfoy as a partner and having to be stuck with him on that creepy island. Hermione shuddered. She was a bit downhearted when the Headmaster had said that the head's wouldn't be planning the Christmas Ball, but the other prefects would be doing that.

Just then she heard a pounding on the door and heard someone yelling, "Hey Hermione! Get your arse down here this instant!" So she made her way down the stairs and opened the door to find Mark there, his hand up in a fist and was about to knock again, but put his hand down once he saw her.

"Hullo Hermione," he said, and she only stared at him.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We wanted to spend the day with you, that's what." Ron said, and Hermione laughed. Harry and Ginny also laughed. The five of them went together to spend the remains of the day that they have together.

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"Damn it, what's with the crying?" Draco grimaced, as his shirt was getting wet with tears, well what bothered him about the crying was that there were black stains on his white shirt.

"Pansy, stop crying, we'll see each other again." he said, trying to push the sobbing girl away slightly.

"BUT DRACO!" the girl clung onto his shirt again and started bawling her eyes out. "How do you know! How do you know that we will see each other again…what about Blaise, and OH BLAISE!" she wailed as she let go of Draco and clung onto Blaise.

"Ehh, Pansy, it's no big deal…" Blaise said, but was bopped on the head. "What the hell!" he exclaimed.

"What do you mean its no BIG DEAL! Of course it is you big git!" Pansy screeched.

"Okay, okay," Blaise said. 'Bloody Parkinson, always so damn moody,'

"I'm going to really miss you two pricks!" she yelled, getting them many stares.

"Relax Pansy, we're not going until tonight, so why cry now when we all know that you're going to cry later too?" Draco asked with a frown. Pansy quieted for a moment, making both Draco and Blaise sigh, but then Pansy just started crying all over again.

"OHH MERLIN!" Pansy cried out, and then fell onto the green couch. "WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE SEPERATED!"

Draco rolled his eyes. Like he didn't know that one already.

---In the afternoon---

All of the students were gathered in the Great Hall, while the other years had classes.

"What are we here for?" Blaise asked to no one in particular while walking into the Great Hall.

"Shut up would you!"

"Why don't you shut up, you fucking-"

Blaise was cut off to the sound of someone clearing their throat behind him, so he turned around and came face to face to McGonagall, and she did not look happy.

"Mr. Zabini, will you please mind your language."

Blaise smirked at McGonagall fakely, "Why of course Professor." And then McGonagall nodded briskly and walked off. Blaise turned around to the kid that had told him to shut up and glared at him.

"You little bloody shit! Get out of my sight before I hex you to the next century!" Blaise demanded and the boy ran off, scared.

"That was harsh, Blaise," Rolinda frowned. Blaise just smirked at her. Rolinda rolled her eyes at him but laughed when his expression didn't change after a few moments. Rolinda then walked up to him and hugged him.

"I'm going to miss ya Blaise," she whispered.

"Same here Rolly," he said quietly, but then cursed when she punched him. "What in the name of Merlin are you doing!" he exclaimed.

"Who said you could call me Rolly? Eh, Blaise?"

"I did, that's who,"

"Oh come on Blaise, don't be too conceited." Rolinda laughed.

"I'm not conceited, I just tell the way things are."

"You mean you speak the truth?" Rolinda offered. Blaise nodded.

"Hey, what're you two talking about?" Draco asked breathlessly. Blaise raised an eyebrow.

"What's the matter with you, Drake?"

"Parkinson, that's what! She won't let go of me!"

Blaise chuckled. "Well, just be glad that she doesn't like you in that way anymore, or you would've been tied down right now."

"Be quiet you asshole," Draco retorted.

"Oh I'm so scared. AHH" Blaise exclaimed sarcastically. At that, Rolinda couldn't help but let a giggle out.

"You're such a moron…and what is so amusing Rolinda?" Draco glared.

Rolinda continued laughing. "Its just you two."

"What about us?" Blaise asked flatly.

"Well, I just don't get how come you two just fight all of the time, but are still best friends.."

Draco raised an eyebrow, "Well, Rolinda, as you can see, we fight, yes, but that's what we do. What we've been doing to be more specific."

"Oh…well, I'm going to find Pansy so see you." She said and left.

"She's a weird one, Blaise,"

Blaise nodded. "But that doesn't mean that she's not very nice."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Well, come on, what are you doing here standing by the door anyways? Let's go."

Blaise chuckled. "Just got a run in with McGonagall, nothing big."

"What did you do?"

"I was about to hex this little kid, she stopped me by lecturing me on 'not to swear' and all of those bloody rules."

"Let's just go to our table." The two made their way to the Slytherin table and waited for everyone to come in, so that they could finally know the last part of the information.

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Hermione held in the tears that had swelled in her eyes. 'No, I won't cry. Today's my last day with my friends. I can't be sad yet…even though we'll be separated, we'll always be there for each other.'

"Hey, 'mione, are you okay?" Ginny asked with concern.

Hermione smiled lightly. "Yeah, nothing big."

"'mione…I know you're sad too."

"Well, we mustn't cry yet," Hermione said and the two girls hugged.

"Let's just hope that we'll be back here soon from the thing."

"Yeah," Hermione laughed, and they made their way to the Great Hall for the big announcement, and their goodbyes.

They walked in and saw that almost all of the Seventh Years were already there. "Are we late?" Ginny whispered and Hermione shook her head. People were just eager to find out what the news are.

Hermione and Ginny made their way to the Gryffindor Table and sat by Harry, Mark, and Ron, who were all chattering away about Quidditch. Te girls rolled their eyes at the boys.

Soon enough, the Head Master stood up and started his announcement. "Good evening to you all. As you know, tonight is the last night that you would be at Hogwarts until your task is finished. I will just start with the information that you will need for this…trip." People rolled their eyes at the word. "I must warn you, at this point of the project and when you get there, you must be at the ready for anything. You can bring your wands along, of course, but at some spells, such as the escaping spell, would not work. Also, you cannot apparate out of there."

"The things that you would need for this 'trip' is going to be given to you by us. You will need to stick close to your partner, they are your life-surviving buddy." many people snickered at that, but quieted at the pointed look that the Head Master had sent them. "Both you and your partner will help each other get through this task and you will cooperate with each other." he finished, eyeing the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables.

"I hope that all of you will be very careful on this task. For the ride, you will be 'teleported' there, but after that….you are on your own," Dumbledore said gravely. "Please be careful and stay safe. Do not go wandering around without your partner close by. Stick together."

"Now, you all have exactly an hour and a half to eat, say your goodbyes, and start going. Have a wonderful feast."

'Like I'm going to have a good feast…my stomach feels really queasy and the thought of the food when I'm about to go to a very dangerous place? I don' t think I'll be able to digest it.' Hermione thought and then looked around the Great Hall and saw that many weren't eating either.

"'mione, you got to eat." Harry said to her gently.

She smiled meekly at him. "I know Harry. I just want to think right now."

"Okay…" he said unsurely.

"Really, I'm okay."

"Alright, 'mione. But you have to eat, remember that." Harry said seriously. Hermione just nodded. Harry hesitated, but reluctantly turned away and began talking to Ron and Mark.

Hermione sighed and looked down blankly at her untouched plate. Ginny plopped down next to Hermione and did the same thing. Finally, after a while, Ginny looked at Hermione.

"What do you suppose will happen during this assignment?"

Hermione looked up solemnly. "I don't know Gin. I really don't know." she was on the verge of tears now. Hermione heard Ginny sniffle and turned to her friend and saw that she had tears in her eyes, threatening to fall, similar to hers. She decided to change the subject before they both start bawling.

"So, uh, Ginny, are you happy that you're going to be stuck with Blaise?"

Ginny suddenly blushed, "No, of course not,"

"Uh huh," Hermione said in a disbelieving way.

"Honestly! Well what about you? Are you glad that you're going to be stuck with your future hubby?" Ginny said, not having a better retort.(A/N: Haha, that's more like me, not Ginny. Lol)

Hermione snorted. "Oh yeah, can't wait to be married to Draco Malfoy. Oh, what a dream." she said sarcastically. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Humph! You know you like him!"

"Riight, like I would actually like Draco Malfoy in that way! You're mad,"

"How am I mad? You and I both know what you feel for Malfoy!"

"Oh yes, we both know what I feel for him," Hermione smiled. "The feeling of pure loathing? Yes, of course."

Ginny glared at her, and then the little 'fight' started. The three boys who were chattering to one another heard a little argument and turned around only to find Ginny and Hermione practically yelling at each other and waving their hands frantically in the air. The three looked at each other confusingly. They moved closer and got even more confused. Hermione and Ginny were arguing about boyfriends and liars. 'What in the name of Merlin is going on?' They all thought.

"Ay, what's with you two?" Mark asked bluntly. The two girls stopped their little feud and blinked at Mark, then at each other and then started laughing.

"What in the bloody hell is so funny?" Ron demanded. The two girls quieted down a bit.

"Sorry," they said together. "We were just arguing about stupid things…but at least it got our minds off of the…project." Hermione finished explaining.

"Ohh, okay." Mark said. And then, Harry said the most stupidest thing at the time.

"'Mione, did you eat dinner yet?" he asked in the serious tone, which made everyone laugh.

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Draco raised an eyebrow at the sight of the mini redhead and Granger fighting over something. Their hands were in the air and were acting like total maniacs.

"Damn, what are they having a fit about?" Blaise asked.

"They're Gryffindors." Draco just simply said. Blaise chuckled.

"Right, Drake, that's the reason."

Draco smirked. "Of course. What could they possibly be fighting about?"

Blaise shrugged. "Probably nothing important. You know girls these days, they fight over everything." he said, making Draco chuckle and nod in agreement.

The two finished their dinner, sat and talked, it was almost time for them to go in their separate ways.

"May I have your attention please?" the Head Master stood again. "It is almost time for you all to go now. When you and your partner are called, please come up to pick up your supplies, along with a book. Thank you." He finished, and what he got were confused looks.

Then, McGonagall came strolling up from her seat and announced, "Now, quiet down, when I call your name along with your partner, you will be coming up here to pick up your bag of supplies that you will bring with you. After that is done, you will be going through here," she turned and pointed to a red velvet curtain that has big enough for about four people. "You will then be transported there, and once you're at your destination…you're on your own." she paused for a moment and then said. "Will Mister Crabbe and Miss Lovegood please stand up and come up here?"

Luna and Crabbe came up by McGonagall's side and she started talking to them in a hushed tone. After talking to them, she handed them a navy blue bag, which looked pretty full, but neatly packed. McGonagall signaled them to go through the curtain and they did as told. What everyone could hear were whispers and then silence.

"Mister Potter and Miss Parkinson." Hermione gave Harry a squeeze on the arm for reassurance and he smiled faintly back at her, and made his way up to McGonagall with Pansy. The elder witch did the same thing with Harry and Pansy, talked to them, gave them a bag, and signaled them to go into the curtain.

This went on for a while, and Hermione was almost crying when Ginny left, along with Mark and Ron. The room was almost empty by now. Hermione wondered why they haven't called her and Malfoy yet. Later on, it was just only her and Malfoy who were sitting in the Great Hall.

"Alright, Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger, please come up." McGonagall said. They made their way to the professor quietly.

"I apologize for making you both wait very long, but seeing as you both are the Head Boy and Girl, you had to be sent last." The two nodded in understanding. The professor's face became serious.

"I send you my good luck with this. Where you both are going is very, very dangerous, so you must be very careful of your surroundings. The other prefects are going to be replacing for the time being, if you are wondering about your position of Head Girl and Boy." McGonagall said in a solemn voice. She handed them the bag and said, "Now, take this bag and go through that curtain over there, where you will be meeting Professor Dumbledore, and he will be telling you what you're going to do." She ushered them off and they walked slowly towards the curtain. When they reached it, Draco opened the curtain and waited for Hermione to go in. When she didn't go in, and was lost in her thoughts, he got annoyed.

"Granger, would you just get in?" he snapped. Hermione jumped, but walked into the curtains quietly.

"Welcome," Dumbledore said with a smile on his face. Draco took a look around him and raised an eyebrow at the Headmaster. Dumbledore just laughed.

"I am sure that you both are wondering how you're going to get there, no?" he paused for a moment. "You're going to go there using a portkey." The two blinked.

"Well, it is the only way that you can get there, as you know that we can not apparate out of the castle or into the castle. So, you will be using a portkey. I hope you both have a very…adventurous experience." he said slowly. Hermione grimaced.

"Oh my, you two should start going now. Here is your portkey." he then held out an old brown hat to them. Draco frowned and took it from the Headmaster. Hermione reached out her arm and touched the hat too. As soon as both of them had their hands on it, they had that queasy feeling in their stomachs, and then the feeling was gone, and they fell to the floor, feeling sand.

Hermione sat up instantly, after hearing a sound in the distance. "M-Malfoy, what was that?" she asked scared.

"How would I know that, Granger?" Draco sneered loudly at first, but then quieted down a bit when he heard a sound in the distance also. He stood up and dusted his clothes of sand. Hermione did the same. They now heard more noises from far away.

"Let's just get out of here." Draco said, and started walking away from where they were landed at, in the sand by the water. Too bad they couldn't escape by swimming away.

Hermione ran to catch up to Draco and she was looking around her very warily. She really, really, was scared. Now she knows, this place, that they're at, is the Mystical Creatures Island.

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Ginny and Blaise arrived at the Spider Village an hour ago, and they were walking along the deserted pathway that was surrounded by little houses and so-called shops on each of their sides. Surprisingly, nothing bad has happened to them yet.

"Blaise, why is it so quiet?" Ginny whispered.

Blaise shrugged. "I don't know. But its giving me a bad feeling, like it isn't supposed to be this quiet."

"Yeah, me too." Ginny bit her lip and looked around her. 'Why is it so deserted, but then, why are there so many shops around here and nobody there to shop keep them? Could they have-no. That couldn't be it, could it?'

"I'm scared," Ginny gulped, and sighed in comfort when Blaise slung an arm around her shoulders for reassurance.

"It's going to be fine. After all, you arewith the Blaise Zabini." Blaise smirked, and chuckled a bit when Ginny slapped him on the arm.

"Shut up. You're so conceited." Ginny rolled her eyes. They continued walking down the path, thinking that there is nothing to worry about. But what they didn't know was that they were being followed, but by what?

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Harry and Pansy were 'dropped off' in the middle of the Forbidden Forest. Harry was somehow relieved that they were close to Hogwarts, but Pansy, on the other hand, was clinging onto Harry's arm and was shuddering at every sound that had erupted from behind them, from their sides, and in front of them.

"Harry…its so creepy here, I'm scared."

Harry touched her one of her arms that was clinging onto his arm and said. "It's fine, Pansy. I won't let anything happen to you." Pansy nodded, but kept a firm grip on Harry as they walked through. As they walked on, they started to hear something that sounded like hooves. All of a sudden, three forms were in front of them, and since it was dark out by then, they couldn't see who it was.

"Who dares to trespass our territory?" a deep voice demanded.

"We're sent here to do a task." Harry replied confidently.

"We have not heard of such thing. You do not belong here, so leave now." another voice said.

"B-but, we can't-" Pansy was cut off to Harry putting his hand on her mouth. She looked up at him in question, and he shook his head.

"Where did you come from?" the third voice asked.

"We came from Hogwarts," Harry answered cautiously.

"What such business do you need here?"

"I-we just need some ingredients for a project…it won't take very long, we're sorry if we're trespassing, but please, just allow us to get these ingredients."

"The teachers at Hogwarts would actually send two of their students out here, in the dark, by themselves? Do they know what kind of danger that they're putting you two in?" the third voice said in concern.

"Yes, why would they be putting you two out here?" the second voice asked.

"We were…" Harry started, but then Pansy cut him off, "In trouble! We added the wrong ingredients for a school project and the professor assigned us to get it, now, in the dark…since the plants that we need is only noticeable when it is dark out."

"Is this true?" the first voice asked, turning their head to Harry, who nodded.

"Alright, you can go but-" the third voice started.

"Silence." the first voice said. It was obvious that this 'person was the leader. "So, you are out here for plants…for a school project?" he questioned, and the two nodded. The creature paused for a moment, before sighing. "I guess I will allow you both to stay here, but if you run into any creatures, you're on your own." The three of them turned and Pansy and Harry heard hooves moving. Then they realized who they were talking to.

"Let's go Pans," Harry said quietly, while Pansy nodded.

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Ron and Lavender were breathing heavily, after running away from a creature that had the characteristics of an owl, only bigger and more deadly.

"Ron….where do we go now?" Lavender asked, indicating to the two openings that were on each side of them. Ron sighed. They have only arrived at the Enchanted Maze of Beasts not too long ago, and they were this tired from it.

"Should we go this way?" Ron pointed to their left, since on their right, he could hear the distant sounds of a bird squawking and some roars. Lavender shivered and nodded.

"Yeah, let's go…I don't think going to the right would be such a good idea." Lavender said, and then, they were off again.

They walked on for what seemed like hours, until they came up to the point where they had to choose what way to go again. "Where to now?" Lavender whispered.

Ron turned his head to the left, not hearing anything. He did the same to the right, but heard nothing either. He frowned, this would be harder to choose than last time.

"I don't hear anything on either side, so we just have to choose by guessing."

"Oh, no, this is horrible." Lavender thought for a moment. "Let's just go right?"

"All right, lets go," Ron said and they turned to the right, awaiting of what would be ahead of them.

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At the Dragon Lava Mountain, both Mark and Rolinda were worn out, along with burning hot. Their faces were covered with sweat, and no matter of what they did, spell or not, they would still have sweat on their faces.

Mark sighed, and sat next to Rolinda on the rock that they were resting at. "This is bad Rolinda. We have no water or anything."

"Nothing?" Rolinda croaked out. Mark shook his head sadly. He stood up abruptly and held out his hand for her to take, which she did.

"Let's keep moving and hope to find a shelter that we could at least stay at for the rest of the night. It's not safe to stay out here."

They walked on forward, closer to the mountain and heat. They were finally by the mountain and they looked at each other and then started hiking up the mountain. What they saw was very frightening. Right there in front of them, was a dragon, wait, two dragons, the color of fire red, sleeping. Rolinda sucked in her breath.

"Mark…"

"Shhh. We don't want to wake them up. Let's just keep going." Mark directed them to the right and they started walking again.

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Hermione nervously looked around her as she and Draco were still walking. They must've been walking for hours by now. Her legs were hurting really bad, but she was too scared to say anything, in case of the creatures living around here.

"Malfoy," she whispered very quietly, "Let's just go find a place to rest. Its dangerous to be around in the dark, especially if its pitch black like it is now."

Draco thought for a moment and then nodded briefly. "Let's just go fast." he mumbled, and they started to pick up the pace of their walking into a semi jog and a semi walk. They heard several noises that sounded like the creatures that resided there were getting into a fight. Hermione shuddered. 'This is very bad' and Draco was thinking along the same line.

Finally, and luckily, they found a little cave like place but it was covered in grass and was under a very huge tree. "This tree must be at least a hundred years old," Draco muttered, touching the trunk. Hermione's eyes widened.

"Are you serious?"

"Well, Granger, since this tree is as big as it is, it is possible…I'm not sure."

"Oh," Hermione said. She tried all of her might to see what the inside looked like. She would've used her wand, but it might attract the attention of the creatures.

"Let's just go to sleep." she mumbled. Draco and Hermione laid down, surprised at the space that they had. Soon, they both fell to sleep, and getting troubled dreams of what is going to happen.

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I finished! Sorry for the delay…my mom was very sick and I had to like 'fill' in for her…yeah so I really apologize for the long wait. Hope that you all liked this chapter! I tried my best. I would've taken longer though, but I made time to write this chapter! So….I just hope you all liked it! Also, sorry if I made any mistakes in the story!

Please tell me what you think of my story or whatever! Thank you again for all of your reviews!

BabyAngelGurl