Chapter Eight:

Panic

Hermione's last hope ran out the door and her confidence gone with it. Madam Rosmerta had come in only moments ago, to open up the pub and after seeing Hermione tied up in a chair and being threatened with death from Ron she had fled.

"Ron please let me go." She pleaded tears streaming down her face.

Ron circled around her slowly, "And why would I do that?"

"Because maybe you still have some compassion left. And because we both know that you could never hurt me." She said looking into his eyes, silently pleading with him to be set free.

"What do you mean?"

"I know that you could never hurt me because…because you love me." She whispered.

He charged at her and held her neck in his hand, "You are really full of yourself aren't you Hermione Granger. Always think you have everything figured out."

"Malfoy." She grunted.

"What?" he remove his hand so she could speak.

"My last name is Malfoy." She corrected defiantly.

He slapped her across the face. "Even when you're this close to death you have to be right about everything."

"Stop acting like this Ron. Just let me go. I never meant to hurt you by marrying Draco, it was what the minister wanted. When we discovered we had feelings for each other I was as shocked as you seem to be. Please Ron, I know you don't really want to do this, I can see it in your eyes."

Ron pulled out his wand angrily and put it under her chin, "Two words. That's all it takes and you will be dead. It's up to you how long this goes on before I say them."

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

"What do you mean? How do you know?" He questioned panic rising in his voice.

"I was going to grab a drink at the Leaky Cauldron after work and on my way there I literally ran in to Madam Rosmerta. She looked completely panicked. She said that she had gone to open up her pub this evening and she found Hermione tied up in a chair in the middle of the room. Before she could help someone came up behind her and held a knife to her throat, they told her if she didn't leave that they would kill her too." He explained quickly.

"Did she see who it was?"

"Yes. She said that it was Ron." He said.

"I'll kill him." Draco grabbed his wand back off of the coffee table and looked over at his wife's best friend. "Well are you coming?"

"Yeah." They both stood there for a moment and then disappeared.

The two landed side by side in front of the Three Broomsticks. Through the window they could see Ron saying something to Hermione with his wand shoved under her chin. Apparently Ron hadn't heard the crack announcing their apparation because he didn't so much as glance in their direction, but Hermione had. Draco saw her eyes move towards the window and when they met his, he could see the relief flood her face.

Harry and Draco stormed in the building wands drawn and pointed at Ron, "Let her go Weasel." Draco hissed.

Ron spun around, "How did you find out?" He asked pointing his wand at the blonde.

"Are you really thick enough to believe that when you threaten someone with death, that they aren't going to go tell someone?" Their confrontation had given Harry the opportunity he had needed and he ran over to untie Hermione from the chair.

"That doesn't matter. I wasn't going to kill Hermione anyway. I only kept her here, knowing that you would eventually come and I could kill you."

"Really? Because it sounds to me like you have no idea what you're doing and you're just making all of this up as you go." He stated. Ron raised his wand and opened his mouth to utter a spell, but Draco was too quick for him, "Expelliarmus." Ron's wand went flying and Draco caught it in his left hand, and pocketed it.

"Ron just stop all of this. It's over, can't you see that?" Hermione said, standing up after being released from her bonds.

"It's not going to be over until he is dead and you are mine." He pulled a metal object from his pocket and Draco saw him raise his arm back and throw it. The following events happened in slow motion for him as he watched Hermione throw herself in front of him and he saw the knife plunge into her abdomen.

Hermione's POV

She screamed in agony as the sharp object imbedded itself in her stomach and she fell to the floor. The searing pain didn't matter to her though, as long as Draco was safe. She had just found the man that she could possibly see herself spending the rest of her life with and she couldn't let anything happen to him.

The objects around her were beginning to blur as she saw Draco's face hovering above her, "Hermione stay with me. Don't close your eyes, ok?" she inhaled sharply as someone pulled the knife out of her middle. She winced again as someone also applied pressure to the wound.

"It hurts so much." She whispered.

"I know and I will make Weasley pay for it. You just have to hold on. Harry is going to get help." He said, stroking the side of her face with his free hand.

She smiled through her pain, "You called him Harry."

"What?"

"You said Harry is going to get help, not Potter is going to get help."

He chuckled a little despite the situation, "Yeah I did. I guess he's growing on me."

"Who would have ever thought that Draco Malfoy could be friends with Harry Potter." She laughed grimacing at the pain it caused her. "I need to tell you something."

"Ok, what is it."

"I want you to know that I … I love you. No matter what happens." She whispered coughing.

"Don't talk like that. Everything is going to be fine." He said not knowing himself if the words he uttered were true. "I love you too."

She placed a hand on the side of his face, "Do you really mean that?"

He laid his hand over hers, "Always."

Hermione could feel the darkness pulling at her, "Do you want to know something?"

"What?"

"Even after I asked the minister to put that one year rule in place, so that if couples weren't happy they could leave each other, I knew deep down that I wouldn't need to use it." Her eyes began to close and she whispered, "I love you Draco Malfoy, don't forget that."

A/N: *hides under big rock* Another cliff hanger, well I couldn't resist sorry. Don't forget to review, even if it is just to yell at me for leaving you on yet another cliffy. ;)