The bloody thing winked at me!" Draco said, looking disgustedly at Snape. Afraid the animal might sense his badgerly adverntures of the past, Draco hurridly held it out to Snape. Rolling his eyes, Snape grabbed the animal and, after conjuring up a bag, gently tossed it in. He then motioned Draco to do the same with the other three badgers. Draco disgustedly picked up a badger and threw it in , shivering at the wet touch of it. After much disgust, Draco finished and demanded, " There I'm done. Now what?"
"Well, leaving would be a good idea," Snape grunted and turned on his heels to stride out of the door, but was held back by Karkarov.
"Now, Now, Severus. No need to be nasty to the boy."
"Well, there are certainly times when a bit of nastiness, as you so cleverly put it, is in order", Snape responded with a smirk.
Draco rolled his eyes at the two 'grown-ups', collected the bag containing the bagders and marched towards the door. Things couldn't possibly get any worse than this, or could they?
"Come on Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, staring at Draco, "Shut the door and get going!"
Draco leered with disgust at both adults as he finally sauntered through the door, closing it softly behind him.

Now it was to get all three of them plus the four badgers out of the Ministry unnoticed. Snape frowned. The shortest way wasn't the safest one, that much he knew. There was no time left, though, and he knew they had to take the chance.

"I've got only this one invisibility cloak," Severus said thoughtfully. "So maybe we ought to transfigurate you again?" he sneered at Draco.
Draco stared at Snape in disgust, "Maybe you should transfigure yourself!"
"Quarreling will make sure the Ministry notices us," said Karkaroff severely. "On the other hand ..." he stopped and looked slyly at the other two. If he let them fight, he might get all the glory and become the Dark Lord's favourite.

"I know Karkaroff," Snape said, staring at Draco, "That's why we must make Mr. Malfoy here be convinced that he must be transfigured."

Igor looked a tad disappointed by this, but then asked: "He's merely a student, where's the problem? At Durmstrang we have this thing called discipline ..."

Draco glared at Igor and wanted to say something really rude, but then he'd be in it for sure. "Just shut up Igor and lets get going" Snape concluded as they set out to find an escape route.

Karkaroff and Snape took off at a brisk walk, their wands out and ready, Draco reluctantly following. He knew he had to somehow escape without the two adults...but how?

Suddenly, an idea started coming to him.

He would have to time it very carefully, though, if he had any chance of succeeding. Perhaps the best move would be to throw them off guard, right....now!

"I don't feel so good, I think I'm going to throw up," Draco grabbed his head and began to stagger forward.

Snape grabbed Draco , telling him that if he is sick on him, he'd be in so much trouble , he would not see the light of day.

"Don't worry, that's the last thing I would want," Draco said, reeling away from Snape as fast as he could.

Snape followed the young Slytherin, making sure he was okay.. After all he did make the promise to Mrs Malfoy.

Draco continued to stagger, nearly lurching into a nearby wall.

Severus grabbed Draco by the neck and shoved him into the nearest wall, keeping his hands tightly closed around the boy's neck. "Malfoy! You will be quiet this INSTANT!" Snape's patience was wearing thin, and if the three didn't hurry, this mission would be totally blown.

Draco smirked, his face still against the wall, and slyly popped a Puking Pastille into his mouth as he wormed out of Snape's grasp.

Snape turned to Draco and commented, "Good, now that that's understood let's go!"

The three carried on as usual. At some point, Draco decided to stop acting like a fool and start actually trying to help the cause. Snape was grouchy, as usual, and Karkaroff was starting to get tired.

"Move it, old man, we haven't got all day!", Snape bellowed at Karkaroff.