Chapter 1

Draco watched in horror as the spell came closer and closer. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. He used what he thought was the last second he had to move around Hermione and stand in between her and the curse. He soon realised he didn't need to. Out of nowhere, a shielding spell was cast. The shield blocked Voldemort's curse. Draco looked around for who had cast the spell. He watched as Tonks stepped behind the shield as well as Voldemort kept firing curses. "Tonks?" Draco and Hermione exclaimed at the same time.

Hermione turned around as Draco continued to stare at his cousin. She saw Lucius sneaking up on them, his wand drawn. She quickly pulled out her wand and cast another shielding charm. It was just in time, for Lucius fired a curse at the exact same time. Draco watched in horror. Tonks' charm was weakening against Voldemort's powerful attacks. He knew that he had to do something, or they would all be goners. Draco suddenly knew what to do. He grabbed both Hermione and Tonks' free hands and turned on the spot. Both girls were surprised when he had grabbed their hands and they had lost concentration on the spells. But it didn't matter. They disaparated too fast for the loss of shields to mean anything.

The three aparated in the middle of Hogsmeade. "Smooth thinking, Draco," Tonks said. "I think you just saved all of our lives.

"Consider it thanks. You saved ours," Draco replied. Tonks smiled. "What were you doing there anyway?"

"I went to McGonagall, knowing something was up. She told me that she had just received a message from one of the bartenders in Hogsmeade that you had gone to your Manor. She said Hermione was also missing. I knew there would be trouble, so I went to the Manor as fast as I could. And it appears I was just in time."

"You were. Thanks again."

"By the way, what you did when the spell was coming towards you was very courageous." Draco's pale cheeks turned slightly pink. But you wouldn't have noticed in the dark. "Where is Hermione anyway? You did grab her hand, right?"

Draco spun around. Hermione was nowhere to be seen. "I did grab her hand. Why isn't she here?" Draco looked down and saw Hermione unconscious on the ground. He dropped to his knees. "Hermione, are you all right? Come on, wake up Hermione." Tonks dropped down beside him. "What if my father or Voldemort hit her with the curse?"

"Don't worry Draco. She's not dead. She's probably just passed out from using the shielding spell. It's not every day a shielding spell is up against the unforgivable curses.

"Good point." Hermione stirred and then opened her eyes. Draco helped her sit up. "Are you alright Hermione?" Hermione looked around and realised she was now in Hogsmeade.

"Yeah I'm fine. I just want to know one thing. Who used the Imperious curse on me!?!" Hermione yelled.

"Calm down Hermione. It's still the middle of the night," Tonks said.

"Imperious curse? No one used the Imperious curse on you," Draco said, confused.

"Someone did. I recognized the feel of it. I recognized it from when Moody taught us and when you used it on me. I heard the voice inside my head telling me what to do. I wanted to scream 'no', but I couldn't. It was a really strong spell."

"I don't know. It could have been my father. He was there," Draco suggested.

"Possibly. But until I know the truth, I'm not talking to you Malfoy." Hermione stood up and walked through Hogsmeade towards Hogwarts.

"I don't get it. One minute she's telling me she's in love with me, and the next she's saying she won't talk to me."

"Well, girls are like that Draco. Now let's get you back to the castle. McGonagall will want to know that you're alright. Draco nodded and followed Tonks back towards Hogwarts.