The Darkness Behind A Pretty Face

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and Co. Never will. So don't sue me. Please.

Authors Note: This is my first fanfiction, so fingers crossed for me. Also, this is going to be a Draco/Hermione fic, set Post-Hogwarts.

I know that Ginny is supposed to be one year younger than the Golden Trio, but it didn't really fit with the story so I've made her the same age. It just wouldn't do with her still being in Hogwart's. Also, she has moved in with Harry.

Hey!!! I'm back. Sorry for not updating sooner. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

OMG!!! Thank you sooo much to my first three reviewers…

Gwinna

Reticents

ITS ALWAYS THE QUIET ONES

Love you guys so much.

On With the Story…

Last Time…

Seeing that Hermione was distracted by Irene, Narcissa yelled, "Stupefy," sending a well aimed curse in Hermione's direction. Being a Death Eater's wife, you had to have some sort of protection.

Hermione was shocked. 'Cissa had always been so kind and motherly to me,' was her last thought before she was sent into the world of unconsciousness. If only she had seen the glazed look on Narcissa's face.

Chapter 2

On the outside, Malfoy Manor looks like an ordinary mansion – large, rich and spectacular. But on the inside, Malfoy Manor is a totally different story. The brightly coloured walls hide deep, dark secrets. What do you expect? This house was once owned by Voldemort's right-hand man, Lucius Malfoy. Going further into the house, we arrive at the dungeons, where many muggles, muggle-borns and half-bloods once resided. But today, only one solitary figure lay slumped in one of the many damp, grey cells.

HERMIONE'S POV

'Argh… My head. I never knew sleeping on concrete ground was so uncomfortable. Wait… concrete ground? Since when did I start sleeping on the ground?' I realised I was sitting on the floor of a prison cell. 'Where am I?' Then, like a wave, it all came back to me - the fight with Harry and Ron, going to Malfoy Manor, the plot against me and Narcissa. Immediately, I searched for any means of escape. After all, I am the brightest witch since Rowena Ravenclaw. Unfortunately, all the locks were magically altered and were impossible to open unless you had a wand. 'Great… stuck in a dungeon under Malfoy Manor. Who knows what they would do to me? Wait a minute, my wand!' Looking in my robe pocket I found my precious wand as well as all my other belongings. 'Ha! Not the brightest people are they? I still have my wand.'

Without a thought, I alohamora-ed the locks and slipped out of the door. After going around in many circles, I finally managed to escape the labyrinth that was the dungeons and reached the ground floor. Creeping in the shadows, I arrived at the spot where I was previously knocked-out. Once again, I heard the two hushed voices I now recognised as Narcissa Malfoy and Irene. 'Perfect, fifteen more steps and hello freedom.' Just as I neared the front door, an alarm sounded, causing three blonde women to rush out of the sun room. Before they had time to react, though, I had ran out of the door and apparated to the first place I thought of – the Leaky Cauldron. Even the most sensible witches need a drink after a depressing day. (A/N Understatement of the year. Lol)

The last thing I heard was Irene shouting, "That's it. Run away, but if you ever come back here again, YOU WILL DIE!" Scoffing I thought, 'Empty threats, like I would come back anyway.

IRENE'S POV

"At least the mudblood is gone," I said.

Narcissa's face seemed to falter for a second, but her face immediately returned back to her icy demeanour. "What if she comes back again?"

"Oh, she won't. We'll just give her a little push and she will never return to the wizarding world… if she wants to live," I laughed maniacally, earning strange looks from both my daughter and Narcissa. 'This has been so much easier than I thought. So much for being a brave Gryffindork.'

"But, Mother, did you like see her hair. I mean, seriously, my Drakie would never like go out with her, if he had like seen me." 'My daughter can be so stupid sometimes. I wonder how she ever graduated from Beauxbatons.'

"Well Cissa, I need to finalise some business regarding the mudblood, so let's finalise the arrangements to get Pam and Draco together when I get back," I tried to talk as sweetly as possible. 'Narcissa is so annoying. If it wasn't for Lucius, she would be a muggle-lover, just like those disgraceful Weasel's. Thank Merlin I'll only have to put up with her until Pam's wedding. Then I'll get rid of her just like that filthy mudblood.'

Immediately, I apparated to the mudblood's tiny house and set to work in giving her a little push so that she would be out of my way. 'Too bad I won't be here by the time she sees the destruction.'

HERMIONE'S POV

As soon as I stumbled back to my apartment, drunk and dead on my feet, I fainted from shock. The whole house looked like it had been hit by a tornado. Looking around, I realised nothing had been left as it was. Everything was either smashed, cracked, broken, dirty or gone. It didn't take a genius to figure that this was not an ordinary robbery and it that it was conducted by no other than that Irene woman.

As I stepped closer to last room – my bedroom, I silently prayed that the room would be undamaged. Unfortunately, this room was the worst. The sight sent a shiver down my spine. My poor cat, Crookshanks lay in a pool of blood. 'Oh Merlin, poor Crookshanks… how can that witch do that to him?' Turning around, I saw the words:

Beware MUDBLOOD

You and your friends will be next

Written in blood. I started packing straight away, forgetting all my Griffindor courage. I was leaving the magical world. It wasn't like this was a hard decision. Me staying meant danger to all those around me, and even though I was angry at both Harry and Ron, they were my friends since I was eleven. I had nothing here – no friends, no family, some crazy pureblooded blondes were determined to kill me. My house was also completely destroyed. The only thing, well person, that was worth staying for was Draco, but his scheming mother was against me and if I wanted to see him, I was in danger of being kidnapped, injured, maimed, imprisoned or killed.

I picked up a pen, I had to tell someone where I was going, someone in the magical world must care about me. Instinctively, I wrote:

Dear Harry and Ron,

I have…

But then I remembered - we weren't on speaking terms anymore. I decided to write to my best girl friend, Ginny. She, of course, already knew. But knowing the boys, they would probably make Ginny hate me as well. There is nothing wrong in trying, right?

Dear Ginny,

If you have opened this letter and do not hate me, I have decided to return to the muggle world. It is probably best that you do not know the reason. I don't want you to be in danger from those blond clones. I hope you live a good life as this will be the last time you hear from me again.

Love,

Hermione XoXo

'Short and to the point. Perfect.' I figured that writing a letter to Draco wouldn't harm anyone, even if the blonde trio intercepted it. After all, those pureblood queens won't even touch anything muggle, just in case they get infected. I'm so glad Draco changed for the better.

Dear Draco,

Although this letter will most-likely be intercepted, I want to tell you that by the time you read this letter, I will be in the muggle world. I'm sorry, but staying with you is too dangerous. There are some people that are out to get me. I won't say who since you may be in danger as well.

I'm extremely sad that I cannot be with you. You may not realise it, but these people are plotting to marry you off. Have a good life.

You will always be in my heart,

Hermione XoXo

GENERAL POV

By the time Hermione finished writing the letters, each was tear-stained and blotchy. For once in her life, the usually perfect Hermione Granger was broken. She was going to leave the world she had known to be hers for almost 8 years now and return to one that she now hardly knew of. She was going to leave the people she had known and loved for so long.

After sending the two letters off with her silver owl, Diamond, Hermione started the cleanup.

GINNY'S POV

Walking through the door, I couldn't help but notice the strange emotions of my boyfriend and brother's faces. "Hey Harry, Ron. What's up?"

I immediately regretted asking. Both boys practically blew up, especially Ron. "Guess what 'Mione has been doing behind our backs?"

So that's what's bothering them. Of course, being Hermione's best girl friend, I already knew. I pretended to think for a minute before answering, "Umm… going out with Draco?" It was quite amusing actually. Man, I feel sorry for Mia (A/N In case you haven't figured it out, this is Ginny's nickname for Hermione.)

"Bloody Hell! How did you know?" Uh oh, Ron is getting angry.

"Yeah Gin. If you knew already, why didn't you tell us?" Harry added.

Boys, they're all the same. Can't us girls live our own lives. Sending a glare to the duo I replied, "Well for starters, Mia told me first since she knew I would support her and wouldn't blow up in her face. And what Mia does in her spare time has nothing to do with you. She can date whoever she wants, whenever she wants."

"Man, I think Ginny spends way too much time with Hermione. She talks like her, next thing you know, she's going to start dating slimy Slytherins as well," muttered Ron.

Imitating my mum, I said, "I heard that, Ronald Weasley. You have no right to control Mia's life, nor mine." Both boys looked terrified. Perhaps they thought I was actually my mum polyjuiced to be myself.

Suddenly, Mia's silver owl, Diamond appeared, tapping on the window. Before I could react, Harry reached out and snatched the letter out of the poor bird's talons and threw it into the fire.

"Harry! What did you do that for? It was from Mia!"

"What did I do that for? I will not allow a slut to contact us."

"But… but… she's our friend."

"No Gin, she WAS our friend."

I was speechless. How dare they? Mia was their best friend and just because she happened to fall in love with a Slytherin, who now is extremely nice by the way, they abandon her. Argh… they can be so shallow and irritating.

Finally regaining my voice, "Well, I don't care about you. I'm going to Mia's place."

PAM'S POV

I'm like so much better than that mudblood. I mean, seriously. And how like annoying is Mrs Malfoy. I would like die if she was like my mother-in-law. At least Mother said she would get rid of her too. But, Drakie is like so totally hot. My friends would be like so jealous. And I would like have so much like money to buy like stuff. "Ooohh… Mother, there is like a letter addressed to Mr. Draco Malfoy. Who is that?"

"You silly girl, Mr. Draco Malfoy is Draco." Seeing my blank stare, she sighed and replied, "Your Drackie."

My face suddenly lit up in recognition, "Should I like give it to him?"

"No darling, let's see what secrets he has."

"But isn't that like being nosy?"

Giving me a glare, "Does it matter? Just give it to me." My mother quickly read over the letter and said in sugar coated voice, "Aww… how sweet. The little mudblood's written a letter of warning." Then in an evil voice I've never heard her use, "Too bad he's never going to get it."

"Mother, but aren't we like going to like give it to him. I mean, it's like addressed to him."

Throwing it into the fire, she responded, "Well, he's never going to read it now that it's in ashes, is he?"

Oh, my mother can be like so confusing sometimes. And she like has so many little plans and schemes. Oh well, as long as I get my Drakie, I'm happy.

NARCISSA'S POV

Oh… the poor thing. It's all my fault. I hope Hermione's OK. Why those wicked, wicked people. I knew the Clarke's were trouble once they stepped into the house.

Flashback

Narcissa Malfoy was in the library reading an exciting book on Muggles

Knock Knock

"Twinkle, dear. Can you please get the door?"

"Yes miss, Twinkle will get the door."

A few seconds later, Twinkle returned announcing, "Mrs Malfoy, should Twinkle let Mrs Clarke and daughter in?"

"Tell them I'll be down in a minute. Also, can you fetch some cookies and tea?"

"Yes miss, Twinkle will fetch some cookies and tea."

'Hmm… I wonder what the Clarke's are like. If they're anything like the visitosr I usually see, they will probably want to get betrothed to Draco. Guess no one told them that he has a girlfriend already.'

Narcissa quickly yet gracefully greeted the guests and invited them for tea. 'My suspicions were right. Another gold digging mother/daughter pair. They look like those Biebie dolls Hermione gave to Kiera. (A/N Biebie – Barbie expect Narcissa doesn't really know what it is. Kiera is Draco's younger sister.)'

After a round of introductions, Pam went to look for Draco – 'Should I tell her that Draco is at Blaise's house? Nah, I don't like her. She can go wondering around for all I care, if she isn't nosy, she won't get lost.' The two mothers then proceeded to gossip, eventually the topic changed to Pam and Draco.

"We should betroth Pam and Draco, thus joining two of the most famous pureblood lines." 'I almost snorted at that. The nerve of the woman. There is no way Draco is getting betrothed to anyone. I don't want my son to experience what I did in arranged marriages. Also, I've never even heard of the Clarke's.'

"I'm sorry, but Draco already has a girlfriend, Hermione Granger."

"Isn't she that mudblood who tags along with that Potter-boy and Weasley?"

After arguing on this topic for a while, Irene was desperate. Taking her wand, she threatened "You will do what I say, or else." Seeing that Narcissa was not going to change her mind, Irene cast the unforgivable Imperius Curse. "You will help me get rid of the mudblood. Got it?" Narcissa nodded dumbly, like one of those bobble-heads in a car.

With Narcissa on the evil side, it wasn't long before they captured Hermione. But Irene didn't see Narcissa momentarily overcome the curse and return Hermione's wand back to its rightful owner.

End Flashback

Being Lucius' wife, I was on the receiving end of many dark spells as well as physical violence, but never the Imperius. If only I can overcome it.

GENERAL POV

In a small apartment, a curly haired brunette cleared all the mess in her house, with a swish of a stick. This 'stick' was actually a wand, which the girl placed in a box along with other magical items and sealed it shut. This box included items and books from Hogwarts, gifts and her robes. In order to be untraceable, she had to stop all use of magic.

Picking up her bags, the girl descended down the stairs, dropped off her keys and walked through the bricks in the Leaky Cauldron, back to Muggle London.

Hermione Granger had officially left the wizarding world. No-one would see her for a long, long time.

AN: You may have noticed that I am doing individual POV's so… What do you think?? You like?? And now that you've read it, it's time to review!! Just press that little button. You know you want to…

I'll try to update ASAP.

XoXo

Suga

P.S. REVIEW!!!