The music was just as achingly loud the second time around. I skidded into the bar feeling exhilarated in a terrified, wetting my pants way. The barman looked at me in surprise, he looked in half a mind the grab me, but his hands were full of drink mixtures. Just in case I picked up a nearby bottle and lobbed it at him, he ducked and I took the opportunity to escape. The crowd nearest the bar stared at me in confusion as I forced my way through them, a few sensing my urgency tried to move out of my way but not all. I took to my old ways of elbowing and toe stamping, it always worked when I was trying to get I to /I the bar, and it worked just as effectively in getting away.

I whipped my head around and spotted Draco, bloody faced, as he scrambled over the bar knocking drinks flying, I had about ten seconds head start and I was sure the crowd would not be as accommodating to his pushing and shoving. With any luck some guy would punch him for knocking over his drink or something. I could only hope.

A dark haired guy with a close-shaven beard stepped in front of me, smiling, "Hey!" He yelled over the music. I looked up at him and glared. He gaped, I'm guessing at the blood still smeared around my chin. He was in my way. I needed out. I kicked him hard in I that /I area, he doubled over and I forcefully shoved him out of my way and into Draco who fell over him, he scrambled to his feet but I was already gone, running as fast as the crowd and the shoes would permit me towards the exit.

Another glance over my shoulder showed me Draco closing in and fast. I got to the doors and yanked them open. I was in the small room just before the exit, but there was no point leaving right away, Draco would catch me with in moments out in the open. I pulled the swinging doors closed quickly. The guy with the stamp looked at me questioningly, thankfully without seeming to remember who I'd came with. I gave him the half smile and he smiled back. Idiot.

I sensed Draco almost at the other end of the swing door. I pulled back and then pushed it with all my might. I knew I'd hit my target because my face screamed in protest. I took no time to nurse my hurt instead I spun on my heel and ran like I'd never ran before.

Something seemed to click in the stamp guys head and he tried to grab me, I dodged his hand and kept going. I sped past the bouncers with blood pounding in my ears, even over the roaring I could hear them yelling at each other. They started after me, but bouncers aren't generally made for running. I'll tell you who are made for running though, the paparazzi.

Sensing a story those guys ditched their cigarettes and Styrofoam cups of coffee and pulled out their cameras. The flashes nearly blinded me but I kept running. So now I was hurtling across the car park with Draco, confused stamp guy, two fat bouncers and five camera wielding paparazzi hot on my four-inch heels. Things did not look good.

Still, I've always been a bit of a party girl, I've been dancing in heels since I was thirteen, if any one could outrun these creeps in these shoes it was me. I dodged in and out of the cars in the lot trying to make the chase harder, the problem was I had no idea where I was going. I didn't exactly have somewhere nearby to go. This had been a stupid, stupid idea.

I felt someone's hand brush my back and I didn't have time to think about my next move, I simply threw myself sideways and across the bonnet of a red BMW, the cars alarm began to shriek as I slid across the gleaming paintwork to land painfully on my ass on the concrete below.

Draco took his opportunity and dived on me, in fact to be accurate, he body slammed me. I yelled as he pinned me to ground. Luckily he dropped his wand and it clattered out of reach. There would be none of that hocus pocus shit in this duel sonny. Sitting on my torso he wasn't giving me much room to manoeuvre, but like I mentioned before I've done a bit of judo in my time. I managed to move my leg around him, I pressed my knee tight to my shoulder then kicked him hard in the chest, he keeled backwards off me and I knew I'd winded him because, friends, I was also gasping for breath. This Soulmate thing made fighting SUCK. I scrambled to my feet and tried to run again but Draco lunged for me and took me to the ground with his arms wrapped around my legs. I hit the ground hands first and my palms stung painfully. The bouncers caught up at that point, stamp boy just behind them. The paparazzi had been snapping away ever since I supermaned it over the car.

The bouncers and stamp guy stood awkwardly watching as Draco and I beat each other up, they didn't seem to know what to do. I had Draco by the throat and he was pushing at my face with both hands when he yelled, "FOR FUCKS SAKE GET THE FILM OFF THOSE GUYS!" The bouncers turned towards the paparazzi who started to back up, "THE CAMERAS YOU IDIOTS!" Draco shrieked and I squeezed harder on his neck, if he could yell I obviously wasn't doing my job correctly. The reporters took to their heels and the bouncers were in not-so-hot pursuit, there was no way they were catching those guys. The stamp guy was still bopping around in front of us looking anxious. Dawn had well and truly arrived, the parking lot was getting brighter and brighter and clubbers had begun to exit to club. Many came to see the commotion around the wailing BMW. It was at that point stamp guy took action, he would obviously be in trouble with Reuben if the costumers spotted Draco and I wrestling in the parking lot.

He came behind me and shoved his finger into the soft spot behind my ear lobe. That was the point I knew he'd had some sort of martial art training. That was a bitch. Draco and I screamed, I tried to move my head away but he pressed even harder. I scrambled to my feet, he grabbed me and dug his fingers into the flesh. I got him with an elbow to the stomach and was about to run with my face collided, quite smartly, with Draco's fist.

"She's coming through," It was an unfamiliar female voice that spoke. I moaned as my head throbbed painfully, "He used too powerful a spell to simply keep her unconscious," The voice was disapproving.

Someone snorted, "Yeah well it I was /I Malfoy," An unfamiliar male voice.

I opened my eyes slowly, the room swam before me. "Argh!" At least I was in a bed, that was something right? The last time I'd woken up I would have given anything to be in a bed. Although from now on I was going to try to go to sleep the normal way as opposed to being knocked unconscious. I sat up slowly to take in my surroundings. Thick, cosy, blankets pooled around my waist as I rose, the room smelt fresh and clean, there was autumnal sunlight streaming through a sparkling window. I couldn't help but feel hopeful.

A brown haired girl sat on the windowsill smiling at me, "Hello Naomi," She said brightly, "How are you feeling?"

"Uhh…" Was my oh-so elegant reply. Sitting on the ground with his back to the far wall was a lanky red headed boy, he eyed me suspiciously. "Throbbing a little but more confused than anything else."

"Well I'm Hermione, and that's Ronald," The girl said getting off the windowsill and coming to sit on the end of the bed, "We're friends of Draco's-," Ronald snorted disgustedly but Hermione shot him a sharp glare, "Ignore him. You're in twelve Grimmauld place, the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix,"

OK so now I knew I had concussion. Hadn't the order of the filofax been the bad guys according to Draco? And now they were claiming- well one of them- was claiming to be his friend? "Where is Draco?" I asked as I suddenly became aware I was wearing flannel pyjamas. How odd.

"He's out at the moment, he should be back soon. But until then how about something to eat? It's almost Lunchtime,"

"Actually is there somewhere I could shower or something? I'm feeling kind of gross,"

"I'll show you to the bathroom then," Hermione beamed at me then smiled, somewhat triumphantly at Ronald who rolled his eyes.

Hermione led me out of the bedroom and down two flights of stairs to a bathroom. I appeared to have woken up in a house, with carpets and such. A pretty normal house. Things were looking up. The bathroom didn't have a shower, but it did have a bath with a shower head. It was a big, brass, old-fashioned tub with talons as feet. A shabby mirror hung above a large sink and the toilet was extremely old-fashioned. Hermione went to a cupboard on the wall and removed some towels for me, "That's the shampoos and conditioners we keep here," She pointed at the bottles sitting at the corner of the bath, "But…" She rummaged deeper into the cupboard and immerged clutching a little box, "You can use the stuff Ginny and I buy when we get the chance. It's much nicer." She passed me the box with another of her bright smiles, "And I popped out to chemist when Draco explained your situation, so there are disposable razors, a toothbrush and other bits and bobs in here," She motioned at the cupboard, "When you're finished just come on down stairs to the kitchen. I think we're having stew, is that OK for you?" I nodded and thanked her but couldn't help but be a little relieved when she had left. It unnerves me when strangers are nice to me, especially strangers whose house I wake up in after being knocked out.

After making sure the bathroom door was locked I set about running the bath and getting naked. The pumps clanked and shuddered when the hot water was turned on, how old was this house? Hermione had given me some nice stuff to play with, the shampoos smelt wonderful, nothing like my usual supermarket brand stuff. I figured it must have been some special magic person shampoo. I poked about the cupboard and found the razors and the toothbrush Hermione had mentioned. I headed to the sink and gave me teeth a thorough scrub whilst keeping a careful eye on the rising bath water. Removing a razor from the pack I hit the bathtub.

The water was just this side of too hot, I stood in it for a moment letting my feet adjust then I lowered my butt into the steaming bath, hissing slightly at the heat. But after that it was good.

I gave my hair a good run with the shampoo, then conditioned twice. Then I removed the two-days worth of underarm hair that could have previously caused me great embarrassment had I raised my arm in front of some poor, unsuspecting person. My legs weren't that bad but I shaved them anyway on account of not knowing when I'd next get the chance. I then scrubbed my entire body with some gorgeous smelling body lotion from Hermione's little box of wonders.

Finally the water began to cool and I decided to cut my bath short, I climbed out and wrapped myself in one of the fluffy towels that had been left for me. I combed my hair, which was a lot harder than it should have been. I've never seen my hair so tangled. Then I towel dried it and was thrilled to see that the deep conditioning had not ruined any chances of my hair going into its natural waviness.

Soon I was back in the flannel pyjamas and examining myself critically in the mirror. My face should have been horribly bruised but it wasn't, there were bags under my eyes of course, but that was due to stress. I scrunched at my hair until, even though wet, it sat somewhat presentably. My skin wasn't too bad, a tiny spot on my chin but… there was nothing I could do about that. My stomach gave a fitful growl and I figured it was probably time to stop the vanity and get to lunch.

I put my towels in the wash basket by the door and put Hermione's special shampoos back into their box which went neatly into the cupboard. I'm pretty much the perfect house guest that way.

I padded through the house taking in as much as possible. It all seemed very sterile, very empty. As if it had been recently gutted. Some rooms were completely empty, there were no pictures on desks, or hanging on walls to suggest that someone actually lived here. Of course Hermione had said this place was the headquarters for the order, so perhaps it wasn't lived in? But then why have a bath and homemade stew for lunch? Speaking of stew…

My nostrils were filling slowly but surely with the delicious smell of good, homemade stew. And if I wasn't mistaken… Yes there was definitely fresh oven baked bread a-cooking. Enough of this exploring malarkey! I was going to get me some grub! I followed the scent. I was soon at the very bottom of the house staring a large oak door, it was dark down here without windows but a warm glow was seeping under the crack of the kitchen door, an inviting glow. I couldn't help but be nervous though. I mean who wants to walk into a kitchen full of strangers in flannel pyjamas and with wet hair? Not me.

I considered heading back upstairs and going to bed again but then the sweet smell of stew won and I figured I'd face my fear for a bowl.

The kitchen wasn't at all like the rest of the house. It was very homely. A large table that could seat at least fourteen took up the middle of the room but only Hermione and Ronald sat at it, they were talking although they looked up when I entered, Hermione smiled. The floor had nice, new, shiny terracotta tiling, the walls were painted a delicate cream. There were pots and pans hanging around a huge old-fashioned, black, cooker. A man, barely older than me I'd say, stood beside the cooker stirring the stew with a wooden spoon. He was tall and a little on the skinny side with terribly messy black hair and round glasses. He looked at me curiously when I entered. He was the kind of guy you'd call cute. Never hot, never sexy but that nice, comfortable cute that can be very appealing after spending a night with a sex god and Draco. I felt terribly awkward in my borrowed flannels.

"Hey," I gave the rooms occupants a small, almost shy wave.

"Hey," They all answered simultaneously and I wondered vaguely if they'd been practising. Hermione motioned me to the seat beside her, I sat down glad that I was no longer standing like some sort of… stock at which people laugh.

There was a long silence as the black haired man served up steaming bowls of stew, then, like some sort of short-sighted angel, produced hot bread straight from the oven. My mouth was literally watering as he placed that in front of us. He was the only man I've ever seen wear oven mitts and not look silly. He sliced the bread, after removing the mitts of course, then set some brown and red sauce on the table. A pitcher of juice, glasses and spoons were next. Soon we were ready to rock and roll.

I squeezed a few dollops of brown sauce into my stew then stirred it around for a while not wanting to look like some sort of stew hungry pig. Although I soon got bored of trying to disguise my gluttony and just got stuck in. It was the yummiest stew I've ever tasted and I said as much.

"It I is /I lovely Harry," Hermione agreed as she buttered a bit of her bread.

He smiled looking sheepish, "It's all right I suppose,"

"Naw mate this is great," Ron grinned, finally a smile from the moody ginger man! He was shovelling his stew with almost as much enthusiasm as me.

The silence was back. If it hadn't of been for the amazing stew I might have wished I was back in bed.

"So Naomi," Hermione made a brave stab at conversation, "What are you studying at school?"

"Uh, English, Sport and History," I took another spoonful of stew, "What about you?"

"Oh I've left school now," Hermione said, she sounded bright and cheery but something about her face was a little too forced, "So have Harry and Ron in fact,"

"Oh, what age are you guys?"

"Seventeen,"

"Do you guys finish a year earlier in magic school then?"

"Oh no," Hermione took a sip of her pumpkin juice, "We dropped out actually. It turns out fighting Voldemort- Ron I seriously /I -," Ron had just dropped his spoon at the name, "is a full time job,"

"Yeah I about /I that," I said grabbing onto the subject, "You see, that's where I get confused. Because you know, when I was first abducted I got the impression that Voldemort- are you ok?" Ron had dropped his spoon again, he glared at me, "Anyway Voldemort," I couldn't help it. I had to laugh. He was twitching all over the place. "Anyway, back to my initial point; when I was first abducted I got the impression that Draco was all I go Voldemort! /I but then you guys are all I bad Voldemort bad! /I , and Draco's your friend and I don't get it… being the Voldemort thing," I wasn't sure if I'd made sense, I'd been concentrating more on slipping Voldemort into my sentence as much as possible than I had been on making a point. From the looks I was getting I was pretty sure Ron was not going to be my friend in the near future, "Is that how you pronounce it? Vol-de-mort?"

I didn't get an answer however because at that moment a doorbell rang and at Hermione's insistence Ron grudgingly went to answer it, but not before throwing me a final malevolent glare. Whatever. We could hear him stomping all the way up the stairs. I rolled my eyes, what a I baby /I . When I went back to my stew I caught Harry staring at me with that curious look on his face again. "What?" I snapped irritated, if I know one thing and one thing only it is that it is rude to stare. Plus there was that spot on my chin that was making me testy.

He shrugged and looked away from me but then he went on to share a very meaningful glance with Hermione. " I What /I ?" I demanded but they both just shook their heads, Harry trying to disguise a small smile. "Well whatever then." I finished off my stew and slammed my spoon down feeling very hard done by. I disliked them, I disliked them more than I could say, yeah them and Mrs Allonby. Get the reference? No? Didn't think so.

I could hear Ron stomping down the stairs again and actually found myself hoping he had Draco in tow but alas no. He was followed into the room by someone I can only assume was his brother. Tall, broad shouldered, sporting a fang earring and a ginger ponytail. The new guy had a scroll in his hand, "Got your map Harry," He grinned waving it at Harry who looked relieved.

"Finally," But he was smiling, "Thanks. There's some stew here if you want it?"

But the new guy was distracted. By me I think. "She's new right?" He asked walking over to sit on the other side of Harry and passing him the scroll, his eyes didn't leave me though. He seemed to be trying to place my face.

"Yeah. A friend of Malfoys." Ron growled as he got himself another bowl of stew, then made one for his brother.

"A friend?" The new guy looked surprised, "Where'd he pick up a friend?"

"The friend store." I snapped feeling decidedly irritated at being talked about yet somehow ignored.

The new guy seemed to get the point. Finally. "Sorry," He laughed, "I'm Bill, and you are Draco's new friend…"

"Naomi. But friend is a bit of a strong word for it,"

The doorbell rang again.

"I'll get it," Ron sighed without having to be asked, he took his bowl of stew with him.

Harry had unfurled the scroll and was examining it as he chewed slowly on a piece of bread. "Bill," He said slowly, "Here, what's this symbol?" He pointed and Bill nodded.

"Yeah that means there's a booby trap there, but we're not quite sure what it actually is yet."

Bill turned back to me as Harry continued to pour over his new, fun-filled scroll, "What do you mean friend is a strong word?"

I opened my mouth to explain that I quite disliked Draco and he was actually a nasty kidnapper when Hermione moaned, under her breath, "Oh I great I ,"

Ron's stomping was back but another person had already entered the kitchen. A woman so beautiful that I actually felt my spot pulsing in glee. She was tall and long limbed with hair like gossamer swinging around her hips, she smiled brilliantly, "'Arry!" Oh so she got to be beautiful, magic I and /I French! Out of everyone in the kitchen I disliked her most. The goddess swept down on Harry and planted two large kisses on his cheeks. Harry grinned benignly, "It is good to see you! Are the maps to your liking?"

"Yeah, thanks Fleur,"

I turned to share a look with Hermione that is only passed between girls when a more attractive one enters a room and they want to make themselves feel better. But Hermione wasn't looking at me, she was glaring at Ron who had taken on an expression of someone who had just swallowed something much too large. Like a water boot or something.

"I know where I've seen you before!" Bill gasped suddenly slapping his head, "I knew I'd seen your face!" But before I could ask where he disappeared from the kitchen. I stared after him feeling rather shocked. His swift departure drew Fleur's attention to me.

"'Arry?" She asked sitting in Bills now empty seat, although there were like ten more that she could have sat on. How selfish of her. "Who is you're friend 'Arry?"

"I'm Naomi," I snapped. Why didn't they ask me? Why when discussing me did they talk to one another? Damn it, I'm right here!

Fleur ignored me. I knew I would hate her, "'Arry?"

"That's Naomi Thompson. Draco brought her," 'Arry was buried in his map again, tracing his finger along routes and such. I resisted leaning across the table and taking a peek. See, unlike the French lady I I /I had manners.

"Ahh," Fleur nodded knowledgably, "I see,"

The doorbell rang. Ron left without a word. Stomp, stomp.

"Naomi that's Fleur," Hermione said obviously making an attempt at the manners her housemates had disregarded, "She and Bill are to be married next month."

"Congratulations," I grumbled suddenly very jealous. I didn't even fancy Bill, but he was like some sort of Rock star to look at. I just think Fleur just inspired jealousy, that was her thing.

Stomping. Ron reappeared with Bill who was clutching more rolled up paper. "You know, we should get keys," Ron was saying, "Or a butler, either or. My legs are actually beginning to ache from all this stairs climbing."

"There. There you are." Fleur had stood up for Bill to sit down then draped herself across his knee stroking his ponytail. He laid what turned out to be today's newspapers flat on the table. And there I was, on page one. The scary thing was it wasn't even just a trashy newspaper, this newspaper was actually rather respectable.

'ABDUCTED SCHOOLGIRL SPOTTED AT LONDON HOTSPOT'

There I was. There was a school picture of me beaming in my uniform and looking embarrassingly young, then further along the page a picture of me sliding over the BMW, then another, this one of Draco (although his face was fuzzed out) sitting on my chest just before I kicked him.

I Naomi Thompson, 17, was on work placement with Scotland Yard when she was abducted on September First of this year. The school girl was snatched from under her chaperoning officers nose during a suspected terrorist attack on Kings Cross Train Station, London. Donovan Clarke, 26, has now been suspended indefinitely as the case is looked into.

Scotland Yard released a statement yesterday morning declaring that they are "working day and night to find Naomi" yet Naomi was pictured (see above) outside the thriving London Nightclub, Bite, last night with, it would appear, her kidnapper.

It is unclear as to the captors agenda in bringing Naomi to such a populated area but it would appear that Naomi used her advantage to stage a daring attempt at escape.

Photographers outside the nightclub, which is often frequented by celebrities, were unaware of Naomi's identity as she left the nightspot but saw that she was obviously distressed, Vincent Thomas made this statement, "She came flying out of there, a bit of blood here and there, getting chased by the doormen and some blonde bloke. We thought she was off her head on e's or something, had no idea she was a kidnapping victim,"

A full enquiry is now being made into the nightclubs involvement in abduction crime… (FULL STORY CONTINUED ON PAGES 4,5,6,7) /I

The story was continued, there were more pictures too. And I was in the other newspapers, splashed all over them. Most of them were also quoting my mum and school friends,

I "Naomi was always a good girl," Norma Thompson, 45, mother of Naomi said yesterday, "Never caused a button of harm. I just want to know she's OK, she's my little girl. This family is torn apart without her," /I

and the like. I read it all and felt totally out of my depth. I was the biggest story these guys had. The more I read though the more I realised what a good story it was. Snatched during a terrorist attack and whilst under police guard. Damn. Then to be pictured roughing it up with my kidnapper outside the biggest club in London? And finally to top it all off, the bouncers had tried to attack the paparazzi after they got my picture? If I was the press I would also be having a field day.

I set down the last newspaper and looked around the kitchen at the gaping faces surrounding me. Harry had even put down his map. There was a long silence then Ron muttered something about tea and set about boiling the kettle.

A pregnant pause as the kettle began to whistle then Harry spoke, holding up one of the newspapers, "You gave Malfoy a run for his money," He said and I looked at the picture in that paper, I was trying to strangle Draco, he looked as though he was gagging and the expression on my face was definitely up there with 'homicidal'. I looked at that picture and burst out laughing, after that the tense atmosphere seemed to evaporate. Ron poured tea and we all flicked through the newspapers and laughed about it. Although I did feel really bad for Detective Don, indefinite suspension? That was a bit harsh. He'd only lost a teenage girl. Parents loose us all the time.

"You know I'm not sure why we're all laughing," I said eventually, "He I did /I kidnap me you know. And there I was /I a terrorist attack. You know, everything written here is true. And my poor mums been crying on reporters shoulders and Donovan Clarke's got the sack. There's actually nothing funny about this at all." That surely sobered up the atmosphere. I sipped my tea and shrugged, "I'm just saying, is all,"

The door bell rang. Ron stomped off. A few moments later Draco stormed into the kitchen clutching a newspaper and looking utterly incensed. I took another long sip of tea.

"So how much are you ransoming me for?"