Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Harry potter and everything else belongs to J.K Rowling!

Chapter Nine

A/N: Rate Review Please! Cookies for anyone who Reviews! Cut In a random place again. Really, REALLY Sorry if it disrupts the flow but im cutting them best I can!

Just as they were finishing breakfast Draco spoke.

"Luwin!" he shouted and the little house elf popped into the room. "Clear these plates."

"Yes master. Plates... Muoh hahahaha." Luwin pressed his fingers together and laughed evilly in a hysterical way resembling evil geniuses from many muggle movies Hermione had watched. Then he exited the room so his back was never turned to them and moved into the shadow of the doors so his face look freakishly evil and then shut the doors behind himself. His mad laughter echoed down the corridor.

"What the hell?" Hermione asked, laughing.

"Toffee. He gets like this for about a month if he gets hold of toffee and eats it. It makes him go loopy. I wonder how he got it." Draco explained while preventing himself from laughing. Hermione blushed for a split second and then the colour faded away. She made a mental note to herself to never give Luwin toffee again before a loud voice echoed within the room.

"Can Miss Granger and Mr Draco Malfoy come. Their presence is needed." Boomed the voice. "Urgently". Hermione shivered. She knew the voice of Voldermort and that was it. She froze for a moment, hearing nothing, seeing nothing. Not even thinking. She just blanked out. She snapped out of her trance when Draco gently clasped her wrist. She looked up at him standing there and stood up. She linked arms with him and they both walked out of the dining hall. Once the doors were shut behind them her breathing rate increased and Draco could feel her shaking. He turned to look at her and pulled her into a side hug as they walked.

"I know your scared. But you cant back out now." He planted a soft kiss on her head and stroked her hair.

"I know." She said as she resumed her place linked with him.

They went up the main staircase of the house. It was made of white marble and golden banisters. They travelled up past the first floor which had all the bedrooms. Up past the second floor containing the library, study and various other reference rooms and when they got to the third floor they exited the staircase and continued down, what was to Hermione, a very long corridor. At the end stood two very large, very heavy looking black doors. Draco unlinked with his love to knock upon them. They then opened and he took a deep breath and walked in. Hermione followed and the doors shut behind her with a bang. She half run, half walked to catch up with Draco and copied him as he knelt on one knee in front of the dark lord, whose face was covered.

The room was dimly lit, with only a few candles here and there, Hermione was sure there was a fireplace somewhere but couldn't quite make it out. The floor was cold and hard and she thought i was probably marble or some sort of expensive material. She avoided looking up as Draco did but was forced to when He spoke.

"Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy. Have you both become... friends?" Said the dark lord in chilling tone.

"Yes my lord. A lot more than friends even." Draco replied curtly.

"Ahh..So if you are not friends you are?" He asked.

"Courting. Dating." Draco replied.

"Lovely...lovely." her replied in a fake sickening tone. "Well. Now I can trust you I shall send you out on a mission with the rest of us. It may be your last if we are... unsuccessful." Hermione shivered at this. "Potter and his friends will be at the ministry of magic on September the first. We will also be there. I will kill potter and his annoying little friends this time. You are both to commence in combat with the rest of us." Hermione gasped and Draco sent her a warning look. "Be warned Miss Granger, any thoughts of re joining your pathetic old friends and the consequences will be severe. Remember what I can do with that mark on your wrist..." he trailed off. He waved at them to leave and they did. In silence.