A/N: Woohoo! If you're reading this you probably made it through all the chapters of The Zoo and first four of The Island. I've got a special announcement! There will be a third and (sort of) final installment to these stories called The Window. I wanted to tell you guys now so that I couldn't actually avoid writing it. I like to trick myself like that. Anyhow, onward and upward!

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Draco reached the beach just as the sun was preparing to set; he hurried through the sands past survivors until a pair called out to him, "Draco!"

Draco skidded to a stop and looked to see Ginny hurrying up to him; she looked at him sadly and he knew that she knew, "I'm sorry."

"You…" she paused, "Thank you."

Draco nodded and looked at Hermione who stood beside her friend, "Where's Viktor, then?"

Hermione pointed down towards where a small covered fire burned, "He's there, why?"

Draco turned away and began to walk, "Draco, why?" Hermione called louder.

Draco smirked to himself very slightly, the Malfoy strut was back in his step, and had Harry or Ron been on the beach, they would have scowled instinctively to see such a familiar act of arrogance. Draco swaggered over to Viktor who gave him a curious look, "I can help you find Weasley." he said simply.

Viktor's face became hard and determined as he stood, "Where?" he rumbled.

Draco nodded, "Follow me."

As the boys walked, Hermione caught up to them with Ginny at her heels, "Viktor where are you two going?"

"Ron." Viktor said simply.

"Viktor you can't! He's… obviously upset or confused and he'll kill you! You're hurt!" Hermione argued.

Viktor ignored the brunette and continued at Draco's side towards the forest; pleased with himself, Draco turned and blew a kiss towards the two girls that would have melted any other girl, and most any boy's heart. Hermione clenched her hands into fists; "Ooh!" she growled in frustration, "Hero or not he's still the same old Malfoy."

"He's doing the right thing." Ginny said calmly.

"Just because y-" Hermione forced herself to calm, "Ginny, we all loved Neville, but-"

Ginny's face turned red with anger, "NO ONE EVER EVEN LOOKED AT NEVILLE…" she paused as she struggled to calm, "Not even me until… until I really saw him." Tears found their way back into Ginny's voice as she continued, "He was… he was too wonderful for something like this, and if Viktor and Malfoy find my brother, I hope they kill him."

"Oh, Ginny." Hermione whispered sadly.

"I know he was your friend Hermione, but he isn't upset or confused… he's jealous, and he's a monster." Ginny said darkly, walking away down the beach.

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Snape turned his head as he heard twigs snapping; he reached for his wand and rolled his eyes in frustration at the instinctive act. He leaned down and picked up a rock and backed against a tree in preparation for whatever creature would burst from the trees. A flash of pink passed into his vision before Tonks burst clumsily from the trees beside him; Snape scowled and dropped the rock to the ground, "I told you to stay behind."

"I've seen it." Tonks replied quietly.

"This isn't like a concert, Nymphadora. Just because you've seen it doesn't mean it will be the same. With the things living in these woods it's possible the body could…" Snape trailed off as he remembered he was speaking to a woman, a woman he was involved with no less, "It could be… hard to handle."

"I want to be with you." she said stubbornly, crossing her arms.

"This is not the job for a young girl! Why are you Hufflepuff women all so needy?!" he demanded.

Tonks sighed, "Well you Slytherin men are just so charming that we can't stay away!" she said with violent sarcasm.

"Leave." Snape said firmly, but his anger was gone.

"In fact we used to have pajama parties in the girl's dormitories and trade our pictures of you that we took from the bushes!"

"Nymphadora…"

"And we would all giggle and flounce about and say 'Ooh there's my favorite, SEVERUS BLOODY SNAPE'!" she shrieked.

Snape blinked, staring at the woman; he had made the fatal mistake of overlooking the temper that all women possessed, "Are you quite finished?"

"You shouldn't have to carry him back all by yourself, Severus." Tonks said, "I know that he… was terrified of you for some reason, but this can't be easy for you, no matter who it is. You've been so strong and confident since we crashed… I thought it would be nice to have someone to… be with."

"You can forget about me being with you; I have morals. You're too young and I'm too old and…"

"Stubborn?" Tonks offered.

"Just don't slow me down." Snape muttered, continuing into the forest.

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Tears spilled down Ginny's cheeks as she looked down at the forest floor below her; she'd ran from the beach shortly after yelling at Hermione, and had climbed the first tree that she had come to with low enough branches. Suddenly a hand brushed across her cheek; Ginny jumped and opened her eyes, "What's the matter Gin? You look upset."

Ginny wiped her eyes, "Don't you know what happened?"

"Well of course I do."

Ginny scowled, "Then that's not funny, Neville! You were murdered; this shouldn't be a party!"

Neville smiled gently and sat back against the opposite branch, pulling his knees to his chest, "I'm not partying, Ginny; who is? I mean really… I want to know."

Ginny crossed her arms and looked down, "Oh, Neville."

Neville leaned forward and touched her face again gently, "Our time together isn't over; no matter what happens on this island, Gin. I am not going to leave you." he looked gentle and tolerant as he spoke, as if she were a child, "Snape'll make this alright."

"What do you mean Snape will-"

"Did they find your brother?" Neville asked suddenly.

"No." Ginny said quietly, "Draco and Viktor went after him."

"Draco's a good guy, Ginny; can you remember that?" Neville urged.

"Of course, but-"

"Harry didn't know what he was doing." Neville said, "And Ron didn't know he was going to kill me, but he meant it… he meant it when it happened. I could tell… I didn't run because I wanted to protect you and the baby… I should have run. When the rock hit me in the back and I stood up I should have just-"

"Neville… I can't listen to anymore… I think I'm going to get sick." Ginny whimpered quietly.

Neville looked down sheepishly, "I'm sorry; I … I forget… You should get back to the beach. It's dark and… the woods aren't safe."

"I still don't see how Professor Snape is going to fix this." Ginny said, looking down at her hands.

"He will fix it; I'll be with you and our daughter soon." Neville comforted.

Ginny gasped and looked up quickly at the mention of a daughter, but Neville was gone, and she was alone in the tree.

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"He's close." Draco whispered, "I can hear him breathing; I know it's him because he isn't hacking."

Draco could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as Viktor gave him an unseen look in the dark, "Where?"

Draco pressed his back against a tree, listening carefully before reaching around the tree and touching a hand; it moved quickly but Draco reacted quickly and grabbed Ron's wrist, pulling him forward, "HERE!"

Viktor rushed forward and landed a hit to Ron's stomach, knocking the boy to the ground, "Good." Viktor growled.

Draco stepped over Ron's form and looked down uncaring as he uttered two words, "Hold him."

Viktor nodded and jerked Ron up, holding him back against him with such violence that a loud crack sounded as Ron's shoulders were forced out of place. He cried out and his eyelids fluttered momentarily. Draco looked annoyed, "Well don't let him pass out; this doesn't do Neville any good if it doesn't hurt."

Ron glanced up just as Draco's fist connected with his jaw; he spit out a bit of blood, "Since when have you cared about Neville Longbottom?!"

"Since you killed him, idiot." Draco shot, hitting him again.

Ron struggled experimentally to test Viktor's grip, "Give me a break, Malfoy; you hit like a girl."

Ron cried out again as Viktor pushed his arms upward, his shoulders pulling further from their joints as Ron fell limp against the Bulgarian, "Viktor doesn't think so, and I would expect a better insult from somebody with a sister as frightening as Ginny."

"Don't talk about my sister!" Ron cried.

"Why should you care? You were going to kill her, or at least mutilate her in some awful way." Draco replied calmly, landing another hit to Ron's face, "Besides, it wasn't an insult."

"NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM RUINED MY SISTER!" Ron roared suddenly, lunging at Draco again.

Viktor quickly grabbed Ron's right hand and bent back the first three fingers, snapping the bones. Ron let out a heart wrenching scream and passed out. Viktor dropped the redhead to the ground. Draco pushed his bangs from his eyes as he looked at the older boy, "You do know we have to take him back."

"I just wanted to see his filthy face in the dirt." Viktor rumbled, bending down and picking up Ron, throwing the tall boy over his massive shoulder.

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The small group of survivors had gathered to bury Neville just away from the tide line. It was getting light out and Harry was almost completely delusional by the time he stumbled out onto the beach; the twins stood instantly, walking towards him. Fred looked concerned but George simply showed anger; Ginny quickly intercepted and stood in front of Harry as Draco had done with her, "Back off!"

The twins were both taken aback, especially when Ginny repeated her warning to an approaching Snape. Snape was tolerant, "I need to check him over, Ginny; I'll respect your wishes beyond that, but this boy was with your brother when-"

"Neville told me that he didn't understand." Ginny said calmly, turning back to look at Harry.

Harry looked at her, but made no sign that he recognized her other than a thin whisper of a smile; dehydration and the heat of the forest had only sped his mental deterioration out in the jungle. The twins exchanged glances before turning back to her, "Neville told you?" they asked in unison.

"He needs water." Snape said in mild annoyance as Harry slapped his hand away for the fourth time, "This isn't helping your case any, Potter." he muttered to the nearly catatonic boy, but finished looking Harry over and stepped back, preparing to leave, "I can't see that he's injured beyond a few bruises across his face; I imagine Neville knocked him in the face hard enough to break his glasses. The bruises seem right for that."

After fetching water, and shooing the twins away, Ginny sat down and invited Harry to join her, handing him the water once he sat. He drank it quickly and glanced over at Ginny once it was gone, a few droplets of water sliding down to drip onto his chest as he spoke, "I'm so sor… I should have…" Harry trailed off as though his mind was simply changing the subject and he grew quiet again.

"You too, huh?" Ginny muttered, glancing over to where the others had gathered to finish laying Neville to rest.

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"What I don't get," Sirius grunted as he lifted another heavy rock that they were using to line the boy's grave from beneath to prevent animals from burrowing after it, "Is why Ginny is so protective of Harry. I mean; I wouldn't have allowed anyone to harm him but… he probably does deserve a lecture or two in the least."

"Ginny says Neville told her Harry's innocent." George muttered, "She's taking this pretty hard, and Harry looks like he's been running from dementors out there in the forest. I'd say something strange is going on here."

"I'll say." Sirius muttered, "Where's Fred while we're doing all this work?"

George cast his gaze out over the beach and caught sight of Fred and Angelina just as his twin pressed a kiss to the girl's forehead, "He's busy." George muttered quietly.

"We're almost finished here, George; go be with your sister." Snape ordered softly; both he and Lupin had been all but silent since Harry's return, and George didn't have the heart to argue.

When the boy left Sirius turned his words against Snape, "It took you a while… making sure that Tonks was alright before you came back."

Snape stiffened, but his expression remained dull, "She was upset."

Sirius nodded, "Yes you both always seem rather flushed when you come to the beach. I suppose you two do a lot of arguing."

"That's enough." Lupin said quietly, "Pick another time."

"What is she… twenty years younger than you, Snivellus?"

Red crept across Snape's face, but he avoided eye contact, and continued working. Lupin straightened and gave Sirius a warning scowl, "Sirius."

"I always thought it was cute when she had a crush on Moony… of course he had the decency to tell her he was too old." Sirius muttered.

"Black, I'm warning you!" Lupin snapped.

Sirius gave Lupin a playful smirk, "Of course… he's always had a thing for our women, hasn't he, Moony? First Lily and now Tonks."

Sirius grinned as both men froze; Lupin looked at Snape for a moment before turning to Sirius, "Well at least he isn't a mean-spirited deviant! You're only upset because before long you may have a cousin with his last name! Now, as I have said; now is not the time!"

Sirius chuckled and shook his head, showing that he was finished, and Snape didn't say a word, although he was holding back a very satisfied smirk.

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The twin made his way to his sister, scowling when Harry half-rose from the sand, "Take it easy, Potter; I'm not here for you." he muttered, sitting beside Ginny.

"He tried to apologize earlier and… he hasn't said anything since. I think he's in shock." Ginny said thoughtfully.

"Yeah well I'd venture a bet that Neville's in a bit more shock than him at this point." George shot before he could stop himself.

Ginny looked at him sadly for a moment before leaning against him, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about us sooner."

"It should be me who's apologizing." George said, taking her hand in his and patting it, "There must be something I've done in the past to make you feel you couldn't talk to me about something like this."

"I didn't think I could tell anyone; it was Neville who told Snape, and I only told Hermione when we were picking fruit alone." Ginny answered, "Why aren't you with Fred? All of this sibling bonding is making me uncomfortable."

George smiled and nudged her, "I suppose you do need some time… well sort of alone." he said with a glance at Harry.

"I think he's safe to have around." Ginny said.

George rose, "Get some sleep." he said, ruffling his hair as he left.

Ginny gave him a look of false annoyance as she straightened her hair, "I can't wait to get somewhere with a hairbrush." she said to Harry.

Harry stared at her through his shaggy bangs for a moment before turning back to the small hole he had dug in the sand, remaining silent. Ginny was truly annoyed this time, and she sighed, "First Charlie and now you? Isn't anyone going to talk to me?"

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Fred wrapped a comforting arm around Angelina as she spoke, "It's going to be alright."

"I know but… just thinking about your brother killing someone; it just gives me the creeps, Fred. That could have been any of us out there. What if Ron decides he doesn't like you, or me? We could all be in danger." Angelina sighed.

"It's good that you're comforting her." George shot as he approached, "You remember that one little redheaded girl down the beach? Our sister? Did you know she's pregnant and the boy responsible was just murdered? I ask because here you sit with a girl we play sports with treating her as if she were more important!"

"Easy!" Fred defended, "I'm just helping Angelina."

"You want her to end up like Neville? You think if you shag her that Ron won't do the same thing?!"

Angelina burst into tears and Fred's face turned red with anger, "You're being ridiculous!" he shouted, jumping to his feet.

"YOUR SISTER IS OVER THERE DYING INSIDE AND ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY IS YOU'RE HELPING ANGELINA?!" George demanded, "YOU'RE A RIGHT FOWL GIT YOU KNOW THAT?!"

Fred threw the first punch, and George took it; his head snapped to the side and when he returned his gaze to his brother, it was dangerous and threatening, "I saw mum die, Fred, while you were snogging this cow."

"George." Fred growled.

"I saw her bleed to death in dad's arms; I know why he left us! I know why he stayed!" George was forced to stop as a sob strangled him and he cleared his throat, "And just because you don't understand doesn't me you can ignore Ginny and me!"

"You know we grew apart, George. I've just accepted it." Fred said.

"No, you grew apart." George spat, "I was with our entire family except for you and Ron and all I could think about was you; you were with a friend and all you could think about was getting her skirt off. Hit me again if you want to, but it's me or her, Fred. You're twin, or our teammate."

Fred stared at his twin for a moment before slowly sitting down, taking Angelina's hand. George's face turned red and he nodded, "Well then… I'm leaving, for good."

Fred opened his mouth to protest, but his brother quickly left the beach, disappearing into the forest.

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Goyle chewed his bottom lip as he stared out into the jungle; he strained to hear footsteps as he awaited the return of Draco and Viktor. When the blonde boy finally arrived in the clearing, Goyle's heart leapt and he rushed to meet him, "Did you find him? Where's Krum?"

"He's taking Weasley to the beach… things will probably get ugly. I'll help keep the blame off of you if you promise not to run off."

Goyle nodded, remaining silent for a second before speaking, "I was wrong."

Draco looked up at the boy, "About?"

"I don't fancy Ginny Weasley."

Draco smiled, "She's alright."

"They're all alright, yeah?"

"Yeah." Draco replied.

Goyle frowned slowly, "Are we alright?"

Draco didn't look at Goyle, but sighed as he stared towards the beach, "Well Greg, I guess we'll see about that. Come on; let's get to the beach before all the good rocks are thrown."

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A/N: Woot! Ok so initially I'd planned to show Ron's return in this chapter but the whole Draco/Goyle conversation just seemed like a good stopping place, which of course means the next chapter will start out all crazy and dramatic. It's almost the fourth of July here so I guess I'll leave on this note: Don't blow yourselves up! If you must, however, I recommend you make sure you have at least one good hand so you can check for my updates! Hehe… anyhow, happy 4th to those of you who celebrate it, and happy early July to those of you who don't! Hope you enjoyed it, and I look forward to reviews! Only two chapters to go!