"MALFOY!" Harry shouted, grasping desperately to one of the dragon's grey horns.
Draco turned around abruptly, annoyance crossing his face. "POTTER!" he yelled back.
"Where the bloody hell do you think we're going?!" Ron screamed, a hint of fear in his voice. "What d'you think's gonna happen when this thing lands?!" he asked.
"Don't know, Weasley!" Draco said, the wind puncturing his response.
Hermione, who was holding on to Draco's robes for dear life, rolled her eyes behind him.
Suddenly, they all were moved downwards, as the dragon swooped further towards the lake below. "Bloody hell!" Ron's muffled voice cried behind them all.
"JUMP!" Harry said, almost pushing Ron off, as he climbed off the dragon's back and plunged into the cerulean waters below.
"I don't think I can-" Hermione started, but her words trailed off into a scream as Draco jumped too, taking Hermione along with him. She was sure she heard him whisper something that sounded like "Prude..." under his breath, but before she could reply, they both crashed into the lake.
Once they were safely on land, they all watched the dragon for a moment, as it drank from the lake's water and stretched out its wings contentedly. And then it was off, water splashing from its spiky tail.
"I'm...freezing..." said Hermione, unbuttoning Narcissa's sopping wet jacket.
"Me too." Harry agreed, looking to Ron who added, "I reckon there's some spare clothes in 'Mione's bag, right?"
She nodded and began to rummage in her beaded bag for clothes, while Ron picked at Bellatrix's dress with a sullen expression on his face.
She handed them each a plain shirt and trousers, and ignored Draco as he grimaced at having to wear another set of Ron's clothes. "Harry's would be too small for you!" Hermione said. Ron shrugged. "I don't want them back, by the way." He said, throwing a nasty look at Draco.
"Well..." Hermione looked at them awkwardly. "I suppose we can get dressed..." She turned around immediately, and dug her own clothes out of her bag. Once she began to pull off her shirt, however, she glanced around her shoulder quickly, only to find Draco doing the exact same thing. She scowled and he smirked.
"So how long are we staying here?" Ron asked.
Hermione tucked a stray strand of hair out of her face, and answered. "We could probably head back to where Draco and I were staying."
"Since when did things become 'Draco and I'?" Ron demanded.
"Ron, stop being such a prat." Harry said diplomatically. "He saved her life, didn't he?"
Draco, himself, refused to look at either of them, and instead stared desolately at his feet, his head resting on his knees.
"Well, we were just staying at the Shrieking Shack for a few days." Hermione said quickly, as Ron opened his mouth to speak. "I think we should go back there—we'll need to buy some things from Hogsmeade anyways; where were you two?"
"Bill and Fleur's cottage." Said Ron, who seemed slightly subdued. "Luna and Dean were there too."
"Luna?!" Hermione cried. "I hope her father knows she's alright..."
"Yeah, after he sold us out to the Death Eaters..." Harry replied stubbornly.
"So, are we going back to the Shrieking Shack or not?" Draco interrupted irritably, twirling his mother's wand between his fingers.
"I think that's actually a good idea, Malfoy." Harry said, a sudden look of remembrance on his face. "I think the next one might be in Hogwarts." He motioned to Hufflepuff's cup. "And the-"
"Basilisk fangs..." Hermione finished. "So it's settled?" She nudged Ron. "Fine..." he muttered.
"Hold on to me." Draco told her, taking her hand gently.
"Harry, take my hand." Hermione said.
"Ron-" Harry started.
Ron took Draco's arm, mimicking, "Hold on to me" under his breath.
And then, with a flash of blue, and yellow and white streaks whirring around them, they all came to a halt in the Shrieking Shack. Ron instantly snatched his hand away from Draco, and went to stand next to Harry, who had collapsed onto the bed.
"Harry? Harry? Harry, mate are you okay?" Ron asked, shaking him violently.
"Harry, don't let him in!" Hermione cried.
"What's wrong with Potter?" Draco asked indifferently, as Harry began muttering as though in a trance, and he thrashed upon the bed.
They both ignored him, and instead stood over Harry worriedly, as they could decipher the words, "He knows" from Harry's jumble of speech. Suddenly, he shot up, sweating terribly, and rubbing his neck. "He knows." Harry confirmed, to the amusement of Draco, who bit the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from sniggering. "He knows that we took the Horcrux from the Lestrange vault, and he's angry. He wants to keep the snake close to him—Nagini."
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked doubtfully, only to be shushed by Ron.
"Yeah, I saw him Apparate out with it. The snake, it must be the other Horcrux..."
"And the next Horcrux must be from Ravenclaw if it's located at Hogwarts!" Hermione concluded. "The thing is...we don't know how to get in..."
"We can figure that out later..." Ron complained. "Right now, I'm starving!"
"Ron, we're looking for Horcruxes, and the first thing you can think about is eating?" Hermione reproached.
"Okay, is someone going to tell me what a Horcrux is?" Draco demanded loudly.
"Not now, Draco." Hermione answered.
Ron, who looked smug, added, "Shouldn't you be going back to your mommy by now?"
"Ron!" Hermione shouted, a frightened look on her face.
Draco, himself, had already pulled out his wand, and his eyes glinted murderously. "I would say you should go back to yours, but I'm sure your own mother's happy another one of her breed has left that small nest she calls a house." He said quietly.
"You take that back!" Ron yelled, drawing out his own wand, and pointing it fervently at him. "You're just a Death Eater anyway!"
"Bombarda!" Draco shouted furiously, blasting Ron backwards as the tip of his wand exploded in flames. He ran out of the shack, slamming the door behind him.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, extinguishing the flames with his own wand, and propping Ron up against the bed. "Hermione—help me put him-" he started.
"No." she said flatly. "He shouldn't have been such a prick!" there was despair mixed with the anger in her voice by then, and she ran out the door, calling Draco's name.
"Well that was an interesting turn of events." Said Harry.
Author's Note- Haha, I agree with Harry on that one! I promise you though, the next chapter will have some Dramione happenings...if that's a thing. Is that a thing? I think it's a thing. I mean, I'm sure it could be a thing. Do you think it would be a cool thing? *coughs* Um, yeah, enough talk about things. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and remember to review if you liked it or have suggestions! I love hearing from you guys! (Trust me, if you've reviewed, I've already read your review, stalked your account, and most likely commented on stories you've written.) Is that creepy? Sorry...