Ok, guys, I am going back and rewriting the entire story and then updating. I tend to use the passive voice a lot and while it works fine, I think some of it takes away from the story. So here you go, the new and revised Chapter 1.

Disclaimer for the entire story: JKR owns characters, settings, etc. that are from the HP universe. I own the rest (except the title, head nod to William Goldman).

Original a/n:

Muahaha. Although I have a number of stories up, I could not help but start this one. I had to. I was moved to write it. The idea has been itching for quite awhile, especially because so many fics I have read that have a similar plot line have been so awful. Only a few have been good reads and hardly any of them turn out the way I want- so I figured if I wanted something a certain way, I was going to have to write it like that.

Summary: Hermione is captured by Death Eaters. This takes place directly after HBP (non-canon DH). Warning spoilers.

Tortured for information, Hermione finds a new person to rely on for strength. DM/HG in future chapters. Now, it's a race against time. Hermione and Ron must help Harry destroy the Horcruxes before Voldemort realizes they have knowledge of his road to immortality.

III

Hermione woke with a start. She sat up in bed frantically, glancing around to gain her bearings. She steadied her breath and gently lay back against her cool pillows, body shaking. She tried to gather her thoughts to calm her racing heart. It had been a week since she and her two best friends had arrived at King's Cross and made the passage into the muggle world.

Hermione gave a sad smile as she thought back on the hasty plans they had made before parting ways at the train station. Harry had returned one last time to the Dursley's, per Dumbledore's wishes, and Hermione had chosen to spend the two weeks leading up to Bill and Fluer's wedding at her father's house. She felt it was important to spend this time with her dad, just in case something happened to her or him during their journey to fight Voldemort. Ron was in agreement and had happily returned to his parents to wait for Harry and Hermione.

Although she had been home for some time in her peaceful muggle house, she was having recurring nightmares since school had let out. Hermione felt it was tied to an event that took place as she was exiting the Hogwarts Express.

…Hermione was gathering her trunk and belongings, readying herself to join Harry and Ron, who were already down on the platform, when a hand softly rested on her shoulder. Startled, Hermione looked up and met the cold eyes of Blaise Zabini.

"Excuse you!" she huffed, shrugging his hand off.

Blaise didn't falter in the least. He looked over his shoulder at the students hurrying past with their trunks, scanning the crowd. Satisfied, he leaned close to Hermione, whispering, "I can't tell you how I know this, but Voldemort is planning something for you. You need to watch your back. Things aren't always what they seem." After a moment's pause, he added, "Be careful, Hermione."

At a loss for words, Hermione pulled away from Blaise, noting the dank dungeon smell that seemed to cling to his robes even outside of the Slytherin common room. She turned to go but was stopped as his warm hand gently grabbed her wrist and slid a folded piece of parchment into her fist. Carefully, she clutched it, "I can look after myself, Zabini."

He smiled cockily as Hermione noticed Pansy Parkinson making her way towards them. "Sod off, Mudblood!" he exclaimed in a loud voice. "You better listen to me." With his back turned towards Pansy, he gave Hermione a last fleeting look before turning around and embracing the blonde Slytherin.

"Come on, Blaise," the ugly girl purred, grabbing his muscular arm with her manicured hand.

Hermione watched the two of them saunter off, Pansy rubbing Blaise's arm and laughing loudly at times.

"Oi, Hermione!" Ron yelled from the platform, snapping Hermione out of her shock, "What are you doing up there?"

"I'm coming," Hermione shot back, quickly stuffing the note into her jean's pocket before grabbing her belongings…

Hermione snapped out of her memory, shuddering at the recollection of her nightmare. She could still feel the chill of her dream and the heaviness it left upon her heart. Blaise's note weighed heavy on her mind. Her dreams were projections in her mind of what was to come. She slowly got out of her bed and made her way to her dresser. Opening a small compartment in the top drawer revealed the crumpled parchment. Carefully, she opened it and read the warning she now knew by heart.

Granger,

I know we have never gotten on, but you must understand circumstances were beyond my control. "Ferret boy," too has been under the same pressures. I hope you find it in you to ignore our past treatment of you and take this message seriously. You are in danger. Voldemort is going to use you to get to Harry Potter. Do not go anywhere alone. If they succeed in capturing you, they will torture you to get information about Potter's plans. You must not let him tell you anything of importance. You are a strong witch, but they have powers beyond your imagination. They will get what information they want and they will use any means to get it. They cannot get the upper hand; you must keep yourself in the dark from Potter's plans. Voldemort will use this information to kill Potter. We cannot let Voldemort win. Make sure Potter knows that if you are taken, he is not to come after you. He will be killed. I'm sorry, "Ferret Boy" and I have had to take the Dark Mark. It does things to you, to your mind, that can't be described. There's such fear and hate. We aren't loyal though… you must know that. Please be safe. They are sick people, Granger, and they will do heinous things to you if they capture you. Please… be safe…

-Z-

Hermione remembered how she had reeled at this message, how she had been shocked about the Dark Mark, Blaise using Voldemort's name, all of it… she had always known she could be a pawn to be used against Harry, but it had been six years, she had gotten lax. She had not shared the letter with Ron or Harry; part of her didn't want them to worry, but another more cynical part was afraid they would not be able to compartmentalize this threat. She had made that decision for them. This was a war and she was just one piece. If her safety was at risk, but Harry was protected, she was ok with that. Before joining her father at King's Cross, she had pulled Harry aside and told him that because of a tip off she received, she could not hear any information related to their fight against Voldemort until they met at Ron's. Harry had seemed puzzled, but his uncle was tapping his foot impatiently and so he had not had time to question her further.

After reading Blaise's warning, Hermione had worried over how to keep Ron and Harry away were she to actually be captured. She finally settled on an idea of charmed rings and after a day of researching and tweaking the rings, Hermione felt she had finally perfected her creations. The table before her was littered with three silver rings. When they were in danger, a simple nonverbal incantation would activate the rings. If the ring pulsed, it meant one of their number was in trouble and needed rescuing. If the ring turned ice cold, it too meant one of their number was in trouble, but attempting rescue meant death. Hermione smiled to herself, feeling more in control of the unknown future. If she was captured by Death Eaters, she would be able to warn away Ron and Harry.

That was three days ago and each nigh Hermione had been visited by nightmares that included Voldemort and a number of his Death Eaters attacking her. She knew she was being silly. She was safe for the moment and not in immediate danger, but she still feared what might happen if she was brought before Voldemort. Grateful for her extensive studies, she had redone the wards around her home the Dumbledore had originally set up when she first enrolled at Hogwarts and had set trigger spells around the property to alert her to trespassers. Still, Hermione felt ill at ease, out of control of the situation and wary of what may come.

Twirling her silver ring about her small finger, she returned to her bed and tried to fall back asleep, the shadows on her bedroom walls increasing her apprehension. She slowed her breathing and tried to be in the moment, feeling the soft sheets lay across her whole body, bathing her in a soft protective shield. After some time, she fell into a fitful sleep, lines creasing her forehead.

III

Original a/n:

I know the first chapter is short, but it's mainly to set up the story. Please review. I have seen the concept of charmed objects used in another fic and also in two fiction stories I've read, so props to those authors for the idea. no theft intended.