:D

"And we're supposed to do what?"

Theodore and Harry were huddled together under the Invisibility Cloak staring at the Hogwarts Express. It was September First and they were no closer to being on the train than they were to being at Hogwarts. Death Eaters and Members of the Ministry were everywhere and it was all they could do to keep from running into them as the two could barely fit beneath the cloak together. Cedric was still outside the barrier, nervously waiting. Their best plan had been to sneak on as first year students, but children's tickets were being inspected and they were being checked over a list to make sure no Muggle-borns were trying to get on.

"Let's just get on like this." Theodore told Harry. "Don't need Cedric anyways."

"He'd murder us when we got back."

"Never would have to know, would he?"

A man shouted a warning to the massing people. Time was running out.

Theodore gave a growl. "Get Diggory."

He slipped out from under the cloak and walked out onto the Platform without fear. Being a Death Eater helped in this regard. Not knowing Theodore's plan, Harry snuck out, acquired Cedric, and slipped back onto the Platform. Walking up to Theodore without running into people was nearly impossible, but they managed to miraculously. Then he heard the plan.

"Have been asked to help keep an eye on the students while aboard the Express." Theodore was informing the Ministry Member checking in students. "His orders. A bit last minute."

The Death Eater's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Theodore stepped onto the Express without hesitation and Harry and Cedric followed carefully. He found them a compartment as if he had known the entire time they were behind him and then he stood outside it, telling students that the compartment was reserved. No one argued with him. Then to ensure no one caused trouble, he left and told every compartment that once they were seated they were not permitted to move...even the prefects. Finally, he returned to the compartment to check on them.

"Got us on, but I can't assure off." Theo mumbled as quietly as he could with the compartment door barely open. "Are Death Eaters on the train patrolling. Don't leave no matter what."

Harry whispered, "Understood." But didn't dare speak more.

The compartment door closed and Theodore set off as if he indeed was keeping an eye on the students. The trip to Hogwarts was long and boring, but the last part was a good thing because it meant they weren't in trouble. When the train finally stopped, Theodore exited last with them, sneaking away out of sight of the guards.

"How do we get to the castle?" Harry asked, heart hammering hard. "Shrieking Shack?"

"Will have it guarded." Theodore shook his head.

"Honeyduke's?" Harry whispered.

"We need to get there now and the shop is closed." Theodore told him.

"Can't we just walk?" Cedric through out.

"No." Theodore glared at him. "If we don't get on the grounds with the other students, we never will. The protective wards will be up and we'll never break through until a Hogsmeade visit."

"Should have used that Vanishing Cabinet in Borgin and Burkes..." Harry grumbled.

"Already told you, it's been moved." Theodore snarled. "Is at the Malfoy Manor and you have about as much chance of getting in there as you do of breaking into Gringott's."

"It's possible then." Harry recalled the break-in when Voldemort attached to Quirrel had tried to get to the Philosopher Stone.

"Focus!" Theo hissed.

"Hagrid." Harry suddenly stated. "We'll sneak on with Hagrid. The first years and him won't notice or recognize three new students. They take the boats."

"Drink the potion then, quickly!"

Theodore tossed out the different potions and began to rummage through his bag for the Hogwarts' robes he'd transfigured. Within a few minutes, three first years had rushed down to the boats, almost too late to get in.

"Hurry up now!" Hagrid called to them, but they instantly saw he didn't look nearly as cheerful as he had the first year he'd led Harry to the boats. "Come on! Don' want ter be late, now, do ya?"

They scrambled into a boat together and began their trip across the lake, whispering to one another.

"We will sneak off once we're in the waiting room beside the Great Hall." Theo, a scrawny boy, explained. "Have no idea where we're going to look for it."

"I'd try Hufflepuff House, Ravenclaw House, and Slytherin House." Harry, a curly-haired girl, threw out.

"No chance he got into Hufflepuff." Cedric, a squat boy, objected. "No outsider has ever gotten into Hufflepuff."

Harry wrinkled his nose. "Then Slytherin House...maybe the Headmaster's office? Or the Potions Classroom...or the Room of Requirement."

"This is going to be so fun." Cedric grumbled.

"You didn't have to come." Theo snapped.

"What are we even looking for?"

Harry sighed and decided to relinquish this information. "Hufflepuff's Cup or Ravenclaw's...something..."

"He gained the Cup after he left school." Theodore growled. "There's no chance he snuck it in."

"Fine." Harry huffed. "Ravenclaw's...whatever."

"Oh, well, that's just fantastic." Cedric scoffed. "We don't even know what we're looking for."

They reached the shore before either one of the Slytherins had a chance to toss Cedric into the lake. Slowly, they made their way up to the castle and into the waiting room where McGonagall met the first years and implored them to wait patiently until they were called upon. She looked twice as old as she had the last time they'd seen her.

Standing at the back of the young frightened crowd, they one-by-one slipped beneath the cloak and slinked off through the castle to hide themselves in the Room of Requirement until they could be sure to snag one of the Ravenclaws, which wouldn't be until, at least tomorrow. The Room of Requirement had assembled with three warm beds, a comfortable fire and a table and chairs.

"If only it'd given us food." Cedric muttered, wrangling himself out of his now too-small robes.

"Dobby." Harry spoke out hopefully and a moment later there was a pop and Dobby appeared.

"Harry Potter!" Dobby cried and rushed forward to hug him. "You are all right! But you shouldn't have come back to Hogwarts, sir! It is dangerous here and that evil Snape is here as Headmaster!"

"I know, but I have business here and I need your help."

"Anything for you, Harry Potter!" Dobby squeaked excitedly.

"For now, we need food." Harry motioned to his companions. "I'll explain the rest later."

"Of course, Harry Potter!" And Dobby vanished, returning only a couple minutes later with enough food to feed ten people.

"God, I love House Elves." Cedric laughed and began to eat ravenously.

"Thank you, Dobby." Harry smiled at the elf. "Now, I need you to tell Luna Lovegood (Theo and Cedric both made incredulous sounds) to meet us tomorrow during lunch in the Trophy Room on the third floor. Only tell her that there is someone, an old friend, who would like to meet her. Nothing else. Make sure she understands she has to be there. This is very important."

"Of course." Dobby nodded exstatically.

"And tell her not to tell anyone she's meeting me or anything about her visit with you. No one can know."

"I will do just that, Harry Potter!" And with a pop, he'd gone.

"Couldn't you have thought of anyone else?" Theodore asked with a skeptical look.

"I don't really know blood purity all that well." Harry snapped. "So I couldn't be sure of anyone except Luna."

"Well, this will be fruitless." Cedric rose from his seat and collapsed in a bed.

Harry, feeling less sure than he had been before, took a seat at the table and helped himself to his first real meal in days.

:P