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Amy

Hermione's eyes were not the first senses to come out of her fainting -her ears listened intently as she felt her body being carried. Her eyes would not open just yet.

"Scorpius, I said go to bed."

"But who is she?"

"She's a guest-" Hermione could hear a strain in the word, and only she knew why. She was no guest in this house. She was a prisoner. "-Alright?"

"Does Momma know she's here?"

Hermione almost could have laughed if the question wasn't so serious.

"Not yet, Scorp. Mother's asleep. I'll tell her in the morning."

"Why don't you tell her now?"

"Because you'll one day find that hiding something is sometimes the best policy in these circumstances."

Hermione's eyes fluttered open, so that she saw the ceiling above her blurrily pass by. Her eyes focused, and Malfoy's eyes gleamed down at her. She could just imagine how she would feel if Ron brought home some random woman in the middle of the night and asked Rose to keep it a secret. No doubt, his bags would be packed in five minutes.

"What's she doing here?" Scorpius asked, and Hermione turned her head to see him trailing behind, dragging his teddy bear on the floor.

"A friend from work." Malfoy glared down at Hermione, realizing she was awake, and gave her a look that said 'speak and I'll Avada your ass'. "Shouldn't you be asleep too?"

"You're not asleep!" Scorpius spoke of a boy who was years ahead of a normal five year old. "Why should I?"

"Now is not the time to inherit my stubbornness…" Malfoy grumbled, the chagrin on his face glowing.

"Where's she sleeping? -Momma's going to be--"

"Enough!" Malfoy did not sound angry -more annoyed than anything. "Scorpius."

"Yeah?"

"If you promise not to tell your mother about this, I promise I'll buy you that Potions set she said you couldn't have." It was now obvious that this had been Scorpius's plan all along. His mouth widened into a smirk. Hermione was reminded of her school days when Malfoy used that same smirk when he played practical jokes on her --like enlarging her teeth. "But you have to go to bed right now."

"Fine." He ran to his father and gave him a hug around his leg. "G'night, Father."

"Goodnight. I love you."

"I love you, too!" Scorpius gave a flashy grin and took off the opposite direction.

When his footsteps could not be heard any longer, Malfoy stopped and gave his signature smirk to Hermione. "Feeling better?"

"You can put me down now."

"Thank Merlin. What do you weigh? 130 kilograms? 160? " His joke wasn't as funny to her as it was to him, and she gave him a look of disgust as he set her on her feet.

"54 kilograms, thank you." She brushed herself off.

"Skinny bitch."

"Why didn't you tell me you were you?"

Draco raised an amused eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"You're Draco Malfoy."

"Hit the house elf right on the head, didn't you?"

"But… you're a slimy git. Not a… not…"

"A minion for an unknown criminal?"

"Yeah."

"I have no choice." He took the time to unbutton his robes to reveal a sweater and some nice slacks, brushing his silver-blonde hair back out of his face. Nothing about him had changed, except for a higher forehead where his hair had receded only a few centimeters.

"You have no choice." It was a statement, but it had an air of confusion.

"I really don't have to explain myself to you, Mudblood." He grinned.

SLAP.

"Don't call me a mudblood!"

"Fuck!" He yelled, but when he realized their voices echoed in the halls, he lowered his voice to a whisper. "This is my house. Don't slap me in my house."

"Don't insult me. You may have gotten away with it when we were kids and there were teachers present, but now there's no one to hear you scream."

"Must I remind you who has your wand?" The taunt won the argument, but Hermione won the war with a kick to his shins. "Goddamn it! Will you stop that?"

"You swear to God that you don't know where Rose is?"

"I didn't even know I was dealing with a kidnapping." He put his hands up. "Honest."

"Well…" She calmed herself. "What's the plan then?"

"What plan?"

"How are we going to get Rose back?"

"You don't get it, do you?" He withdrew his wand and hers, pointing both at her. "I'm not on your side."

"But you surely can't be on this… this unknown boss of your's side?" She wasn't afraid of the wands. "Malfoy. You may try to be evil, but you're not. I still remember that day. Eight years ago, do you remember?"

His eyes were wide, but he did not answer.

"Harry, Ron and I were here. Don't you remember? Greyback brought us in and-and you didn't give us up! They kept asking you if you knew us and --well, you're not a bad guy-"

"-No, you have it wrong. I said you could be you."

"You knew damn well who we were." Hermione got in his face. "Especially me and Ron. Harry had a Stinging Jinx but you knew. And you said you weren't sure."

"I said I wasn't sure about Potter, and I wasn't! If I had known-"

"You would have said the same thing. Because you truly didn't want Voldemort to get to us."

Malfoy lowered the wands slowly. "I… you're wrong. I didn't want him near my family. That's all. My mother and father were humiliated by that bastard. I couldn't put them in jeopardy if I were wrong about any of you."

"What about the night Dumbledore died?" She insisted. "Harry said you were about to lower your wand before Snape--"

"Don't fucking bring that up."

"You're not a bad guy." She backed away slightly. "So why are you doing this? Why can't you help me?"

"Because if I help you, he'll do things to my family. You saw my son. I don't want him growing up the way I had to. -I don't want him put in the same situations I was."

"How did this happen to you?" She whispered.

"You're not going to give up until I tell you, are you?"

"No."

Draco sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I was a seeker for the Tornados when I got out of Hogwarts. It was about the only job I could get, seeing as how my father was You-Know-Who's sidekick and all. -One day I got a note in my locker that said to exit the building in five minutes. I did, and the entire locker building blew up."

"You were there when the stadium blew?" Hermione gasped. "That was in the Daily Prophet for weeks!"

"I was the only survivor. There was a note when I got home with a key in it. This time it said to go to Gringotts and pick up a wand and deliver it to someone in Diagon Alley, or my family would suffer the same fate as my teammates. I've been doing this ever since."

"How long has that been?"

"Three years." His eyes would not look into hers. "So you see why I can't help you, even if I wanted to? I love my wife and my son. I can't put them in danger."

After a moment, she sighed. "I understand…but, can you answer me one more question?"

"What?"

"Why are you… being… so nice?"

"You want to sleep in the cellar?"

"No, no." She shook her head.

"Then don't call me nice." His eyes bore into hers.

"Fine, you're not nice. You're an evil bastard. Better?"

"Much." He placed his robes on a hanger in the hall. "Now, your room…" He led her down a few more hallways and up a grand staircase to the first door on the left. "I've got to lock you in. Part of my instructions. I couldn't let you leave, anyways, seeing as you know who I am." He let her step in first, then followed suit. "What? Too grand for your picky expectations?"

"Its fine." She mumbled, not looking him in the eyes.

"What is it now?"

"Its just…" Tears welled up in her eyes. "I miss Rose. For all I know she could have been raped or killed by- by now… and I…" She began to cry softly. "I just wish it would have just been me. I would have gladly gone if it meant… She's only five…"

"What happened, exactly?" Malfoy sounded a little annoyed, but sincere all the same.

"Hmm?"

"Your daughter. How was she… abducted?"

"I… I just tucked her into bed. She's had a fever all week, and -and I went down to get myself a bite to eat… and there was a noise -and she…she was gone."

Malfoy looked like he was having a mental struggle with himself, and he said very reluctantly, "I'll do some research before morning. Maybe I can find out something for you."

Hermione debated on hugging him, but thought better against it. "Thank you."

"Yeah. Er…" He sighed. "Don't think I'm on your side. Its only because… Scorpius is the same age. I don't know what I'd do if I were in the same situation as you. I can only help you until morning. After that-"

"I understand." She smiled. "Thank you, Malfoy."

"Forget it. Please. If you ever say a word I'll turn that poor excuse for hair into a bees nest." With that, he put at least ten different spells on the room to make it escape proof. "G'night, Granger."

"Its-"

"I'm not calling you Weasley. Its bad enough you're you. I can only have nightmares about the two of you shagging." He smirked. "So, g'night, Granger. I'll come get you when we leave."

"Night, Malfoy."

He shut the door behind him and said one last spell, locking her completely in. Hermione instantly regretted not asking for any food before hand. With a yawn, she walked to the closet, picked out a sleeping gown that she was sure belonged to Mrs. Malfoy, put it on, and jumped into bed. It took everything she had not to bawl herself to sleep.

---

"Granger. -Granger! Wake up. I haven't got all bloody day!" The sound of the unfamiliar voice startled Hermione to the point where she sprang instantly out of bed, almost exposing herself out of the gown as she did so. When she saw the voice belonged to Malfoy (now dressed in a green turtle neck and black slacks), she felt very exposed. "I see you've taken a liking to my wife's clothing." He smirked.

"I… um…" She grabbed some of the sheets off the bed and threw them around herself. "I was just… they were comfortable… and… I didn't want to sleep in my clothes…"

"Mhmm." He nodded. "Not bad." His smirk became wider.

"You pig." She grumbled, picking up her clothes. "Can I have a moment to change?"

"Into the same clothes you wore yesterday?" He sounded disgusted.

"You know its so silly, but I didn't really have time to pack," She said sarcastically.

"If that's what you want to do, but just incase -" He threw a set of clothes on the bed; a pink lacy bra with real diamonds embedded into it, some matching underwear that would expose much of her rear, a tightly woven grey sweater that revealed a plunging neckline, and a pair of nice slacks. "I checked the size of your clothes when I came in to wake you up. My wife is a size bigger than you, but I found some of her clothes she wore before she had Scorpius. Your measurements are practically the same."

"Th-Thank you." She half smiled, half frowned.

"I tried to find clothes that were as prude as you," He added, "But my wife just dresses sexier than you."

"Can I change?" She sighed, a bit insulted.

"Go ahead." He did not move.

"A-hem!"

"Don't get your panties in a bunch. As much as you'd like it, I don't want to see you naked."

"Then leave!"

"Its my home. I'll do what I like."

"You did say you would be back to your normal gitty self. Alright. If you won't leave." She glared, removing one of the straps of the nightgown off her shoulder. "You'd be tarnishing your name by seeing me naked. I am, as you say, a Mudblood." She began to push down the second strap. He didn't budge. "You're not going to leave?"

"I'd never turn down a free peep show, even if it is from some muggle born scum."

"Oh!" She grabbed up the pile of clothes and retreated into the connecting bathroom, being sure to lock the door behind her. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and saw the rats nest that was now her hair. She looked around through the few drawers but didn't find a thing. Sighing, she put on the clothes that Malfoy brought her and felt a bit foolish. The slacks were nice, but the sweater gave her cleavage that she did not want. "I can't believe this…" She grumbled, stepping out of the bathroom. "You have to be a very profound pervert to find enjoyment in this."

"Its just a shirt." He shrugged. "Looked better on my wife."

"So," She said, ignoring the comment, "Did you find out anything last night?"

"Yes." He offered her a piece of parchment. "Thomas Phidias."

"I don't follow." She blinked.

"He's the man who took your daughter."

"Is he-"

"He's not the boss. I think that he was threatened too." The parchment actually turned out to be a photograph taken from the Daily Prophet with a picture of a small man, probably in his early thirties, and with fire-red hair and too many freckles for his face. "I checked in the news -his family went missing three days ago. Then, so did he. It was in the news this morning."

"How do you know he's our man?"

"We're supposed to meet him at the Three Broomsticks at three."

"Will Rose be there?" Her eyes gleamed with dim hope.

He couldn't look her in the face a moment longer. "I don't think so. I don't think they would make it that easy."

"Will… will you help me?"

Draco gave a large gulp. "I don't know." He rose his head. "I'll do my best. -For your daughter. That's it."

"Oh, thank you!" She couldn't help it. Hermione ran and gave him a humungous hug. "Thank you!"

"Ew, Granger! Get off of me!" He looked like he would vomit. "I said get the bloody hell off!" He squirmed out of her grasp. "Dammit! I just took a shower!"

"Take another then!" She wouldn't relent in her mission to thank him. "You might not be such a cowardly prat after all!"

"I said I'd try! I didn't say it's a sure thing! Now get off of me. We need to get going."

"Could -could I have a bite to eat? I'm starving." She asked politely.

"Just after everything, aren't you? First my bed, then my wife's clothes, then my help…"

"Are you going to feed me or not?"

"Alright. Don't get your panties in a bunch. Follow me." He led her out of her room and after a few minutes they made it to the dining room, where an elaborate meal was already spread before them. Everything from pumpkin juice to rolls to bacon and eggs, ham, coffee, oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, omelets the size of saucers, and anything else you could imagine for breakfast was lined on a table that must have been 20 feet long. Hermione took a bit of toast and some orange juice.

"Thank you." She said after a moment or two.

"You've got to quit thanking me." Draco smirked. "I'm your kidnapper, remember?"

"I followed you willingly." She contradicted. "Yeah. Right." He rolled his eyes. "I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Whatever." He picked up a cup of coffee and started to add cream. "Piss off."

"Still have a fowl mouth, I see." She had finished her toast and was now set on a few strips of bacon. Then, Hermione noticed a portrait on the wall of the Malfoy family -Draco, next to a beautiful woman with long black hair and stunning eyes. Scorpius, just a baby in the portrait, was reaching up to touch his mother's face. "She's beautiful."

"Yeah." He took a sip from his mug. "She can be uptight at times, but all Malfoy women are."

"What's her name?"

"Rowina." When Hermione gave him a look, he added, "I know. Stupidly named after Rowina Ravenclaw. But she's a good wife. Gives great head."

"Oh. You disgusting…!"

"Ready to go?" Draco set his coffee on the table beside him.

"Yeah." Hermione tried to gather her thoughts. The comment had thrown her off quite a bit. "Where… Where is your wife? And Scorpius? Did she ever--"

"No, she didn't know you were even here." He shook his head. "She took Scorpius out this morning to buy him some new robes."

"Oh. Good. I could only imagine if Ron were hiding some random woman in my house under my nose."

"How do you know he's not right now?" Draco pondered.

"I know he's not."

"No, you don't know. My wife has no idea you're here now. You'd have no idea."

"He's loyal to me."

"I'm loyal to my wife." Draco offered. "Have been for four years."

"But… isn't Scorpius five?"

"What's your point?"

"Pig." She made a face of repulsion.

"You keep saying that." He laughed.

"Lets just go."

"Right. Before we do." He looked around as if to make sure no one was looking, and pulled out of his back pockets Hermione's wand. "Here."

"Wha-Why are you…?" She asked, taking it.

"If I can't help -and I don't plan on it- you… should have a fighting chance." A bit of pink formed on his cheeks.

"Thank--"

"Don't thank me again. I may hang myself."

Please R&R

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~Amy~
AKA
ROOTBEERFLOAT