A/N - SUCH a short chapter and I know that I could make this SO much better, but I just wanted to post it. Once I've posted all the chapters though, I intend to come back and change the content slightly to make it better. Enjoy!

~ Hermione POV ~

Hermione spotted her in Diagon Alley. Pug-face Pansy Parkinson. She held back a feral snarl at the sight of her and started towards her, knowing she had the eyes of the Order on her back, all in various places around her.

"Pansy, how good to see you" she ground out, faking a smile.

"Oh, it's you. I trust you saw the Daily Prophet? Draco and I are so happy" Pansy smiled sweetly, her eyes mocking Hermione.

"I know how you can test if he's truly in love with you" Hermione started carefully, knowing she had to tread carefully round the Slytherin princess.

Pansy's ears pricked up at this. "Go on, then" she urged.

"Well… Draco's taken Ron hostage, and we want to… ask for your help in getting him back. Now, I know you don't care about Ron, but it's also a test to see if Draco chooses his task over you" Hermione then faked being upset, or so Pansy thought anyway, "He chose the task over me… but wouldn't you like to see if he chooses it over you? All you have to do is come with me, and we'll arrange to meet up and it will all be over before you know it"

Hermione crossed her fingers behind her back while watching Pansy digest this information. She and Harry decided the best way was to be truthful with her, but just twist it a tiny little bit to make it more appealing.

"Too risky, bye Granger" Pansy waved and was about to turn around, when she suddenly disappeared from sight. She heard muffled grumblings and sounds of a struggle until it went silent and the sound of footsteps walking away. Humming to herself, she backed out of the shop and walked down Diagon Alley, with members of the Order each coming out their hiding places, all smiles of satisfaction plastered on their face.

If she wasn't going to come voluntarily, then they would have to take her by force. It was an unfortunate thing to happen, but it was the only thing that would work. Besides, they'd make sure she wasn't hurt. If Draco didn't save Pansy and tried to get away with Ron, then they'd simply push her towards the back of the group and get her to Apparate to somewhere safer. They would then use their wands instead to get Ron back. Hopefully it won't come to that.

When they were back in the house with Pansy sent to sleep with a simple potion, Hermione started writing a letter from the Order to Malfoy detailing the deal and the meet up.

'Draco Malfoy,

This letter is to arrange a negotiation of getting Ron Weasley returned to us safely. We have Pansy Parkinson. Meet us at the Leaky Cauldron in two hours, alone, and we will do an exchange. Let's put an end to this.

The Order of the Phoenix'

It was short and simple and it got the point across. Hermione breathed deeply and attached the letter to the owl and watched it fly off.

"We're going to get things sorted you know" Ginny said softly, standing next to her. "But I don't think things will work out between you and Draco now. Not now all this has happened, you understand that, don't you?"

Hermione understood.

The Order was ready.

~ Draco POV ~

He knew this would happen. He had planned perfectly for it. He didn't know they would take Pansy but he knew that they would want to meet up to arrange some kind of deal. It just means they get to see him kill Ron. It means that the Dark Lord will be happy with him, and then he can leave England, go to France maybe.

He Owled back a reply that yes, he would meet with them and then went down to the dungeons.

Ron was slumped against the wall, his laboured breathing making Draco shudder. He couldn't keep Bellatrix away, so Ron was in quite a bad shape after a few Cruciatus curses.

Opening the gate, he walked in.

"It's time"

Ron simply nodded, too tired to retort a reply.

Draco arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, which was empty except for the landlord. Giving him some galleons, he ordered him to stay away for a couple of hours, and that when he came back the pub would be as he'd left it. Tom didn't want to argue with the infamous Malfoy so just took the money and ran.

Pushing the tired and bedraggled ginger boy down in to a chair, he waited with his wand drawn towards the door. It wasn't long before the Order arrived.

They came in a group, and he saw Hermione's face peep out at him from behind Arthur's shoulder. She didn't smile, she just looked towards Ron and bit her lip in worry, like she always does.

Draco had to keep up the charade.

"Where's Pansy?" he demanded.

A droopy Pansy was pushed towards the front of the group by Fleur Delacour, still drowsy from the sleeping potion.

"Dra-co?" Pansy said sleepily.

"It's me, Pans, you're safe" he said softly, noting the poorly concealed sob from Hermione. He felt so guilty, but he needed to get this over with. Then maybe he could patch things up. Maybe Hermione would forgive him… love him again like he still loved her.

"I'm afraid your attempts to get Ron back will be futile… I have been given a task to do this by the Dark Lord. Nobody refuses him. I don't want anyone to die, including myself… but this is what I've been told to do" he said sadly.

"Don't do anything stupid Malfoy, we don't want anyone to get hurt either. I stand by what I said, we can help you" Harry yelled, panicking about what was going to happen.

Hermione pushed forward, and stood a little out from the group.

"Please don't do this" she begged, "I know you're better than this"

Draco hated how sad she looked; he hated the deep black circles under her eyes, the way her collar bones jutted out. Had no one been taking care of her?

"I'm sorry, but I'm not" he mumbled, and in a lightning quick reaction he shouted the killing curse at the unconscious form next to him and swiftly Disapparated. The idiots hadn't put up any wards.