Disclaimer: Do not own anythiing :D

Authors Note: Yes. So here is the 10th chapter.. I hope I make it a good chapter. Sorry for the long wait though. I have to furthurmore clear up MORE things =.=

Chapter 10

All four of them was awaken by a very loud commotion going outside. Sitting up, Hermione tried to stand but then remembered that she was still bound with ropes. By now, her arms and feet hurt from being idle for too long. They could hear voices growing. It seemed like quarrels.

"NO! We can't do anything to do Mudblood girl. Don't you understand? Voldemort wants her blood!" They heard someone say.

Draco tensed at the words. "Damn it. What time is it?"

"How would I bloody know?" Harry replied looking tired.

"Shhh! I hear them talking!" The voice came again.

"They are not talking, Bella. What do we do with the rest?" A cold familiar voice hissed.

"I don't know! The Weasel Girl and Your son, they are no use to the dark lord!"

"He is not my son, Bellatrix. I suppose I don't need to keep constantly reminding you. We can just kill the lot."

"Kill them? But what if they are useful to the Dark Lord?"

"Then we shall consult the Dark Lord in this! Get them up!"

A loud "clang" was heard and the creaking of the door filled their ears. A pair of hands grabbed Hermione and Draco by their arms and roughly pulled them up, snickering as they did so.

"Get off me!" Harry yelled as they grabbed him and Ginny too.

They pushed all of them out of the dungeon and up the stairs. Light slowly being visible. As they reached the top, they were then forced into another room.

"Ahhh.. You've brought her.. Now who are these? Haven't I told you that I wanted the Slytherin girl only? Have you not heard me, Lucius?" A dark figure stood up from the chair he was sitting in.

"My Lord, we have heard you and we obeyed you, by bringing the girl. But these few were with her, and they would not let us take her without taking them. We got the Potter boy too, My Lord." Lucius said, bowing low.

"Potter? I don't need him now, Lucius. All I want is the girl. Where is she?"

"She is here beside Draco, My Lord." Bellatrix, whom was the closest to them, quickly pushed them forward.

"Hmm.. Interesting.. Untie them and bring her to me." He replied, advancing closer to the two.

Bellatrix immediately released them with a flick of her wand and pushed Hermione forward.

"LET GO OF HER!" Draco shouted, pulling her back.

"No, Draco. Please." Hermione whimpered.

"You dare disobey the Dark lord, Draco?" Bellatrix's sneering voice came.

He remained silent, staring at Hermione the whole time.

"Interesting... " Voldemort said again, this time standing up. "You two make and interesting pairing... This may be able to work out.."

"What? What is able to work out?" Draco grabbed Hermione by the waist and pulled her behind him.

Voldemort's red eyes narrowed on Draco.

"You two, can help me on something I so direly need. You see, there is a stone called "The Snake Stone". It was found in Anthony Slytherin's safe when I killed him that night. It contains what, I don't know. I tried to take it but it repelled me. I wonder.. I am the heir of Salazar Slytherin. Why can't I take it? Since Hermione here is the only person I know to be descended from Salazar Slytherin.. She will help me take it.. And her life will be spared. You- " He pointed a long finger at Draco. "Will make sure no harm comes to Hermione. I also want both of you to find out what this Stone does.. For now, you will remain at hogwarts. And do as Severus says. Do you understand?"

Hermione nodded furiously, wanting nothing but to get everyone out of here alive.

"No, Hermione. He will still kill you." Draco said, grabbing her tighter to him.

"No, Draco. I CAN do this. Please. Just let me."

"Hermione.."

" DRACO PLEASE!"

Draco looked at her, unsure. He turned his head to Voldemort whom was now staring at Hermione with a wide smirk.

"We will help you. But if we suceed, we go free and you never bother us again." Voldemort knew the words were directed to himself.

"How dare you order me around?"

"So, do you still want us to help you? Or not."

"Fine."

"May we leave now? Potter and Weasley too."

"Yes.." Voldemort sneered, turned and disappeared.

Draco immediately grabbed Hermione's hand and led her out of the house, Harry and Ginny following close behind. His arm never leaving her waist. Hermione clung onto him, feeling weak. They arrived outside, breathing in the fresh air.

Hermione said nothing. They just stood there, at the Malfoy's backyard. Unable to say anything. Until Draco released his arms from Hermione's waist, and turned to Harry.

"When we get back, we must pretend that we got lost. No one must know about this. I can't risk Hermione's life like this." He spoke, his voice shuddering from his encountered with Voldemort.

"Draco, someone must know about this!" Hermione said, holding his hand and looking him in the eye.

"Hermione, If someone knows, Voldemort is bound to know!" He hissed back, Hermione flinched a little. He looked her back in the eye which was almost watering. He sighed and brought a hand to the back of her head and gently pressed it against his chest, resting his cheek on her hair.

"Please, Hermione. For me."

She nodded, wrapping her arms around his back.

"Where have you beenz? Do you know zat zis is a very zerious matter?"

They were in the headmaster's room in Beauxbatons after they apparated back and found out that Madame Maxime had sent out a group of twenty students around the school, (including Fleur Delacour) to look for them.

"Sorry. We got lost.." Harry said with an innocent smile on his face.

"Itz okay.. As long as we foundz you!" She said, heaving a big sigh of relief. "You may go backz to your dormitories now. I assumez you are tired?"

"Yes. Thank you." Draco said kindly, smiling sweetly and they all left to their dormitories where Ron stood pacing about.

"Where have you guys been? I have been searching my heads out for you guys! I even had to go around asking every single person where you guys were until they told Madame Maxime!" Ron threw his hands up into the air, looking oddly relieved.

"Wait. You told Madame Maxime?" Harry asked at Ron's sudden behavior.

"Uhh.. No. I told the students, the students told Madame Maxime." He scratched the back of his head.

"Oh."

"So what exactly happened?"

"Nothing. We just got lost in the school grounds." Hermione quickly said, fearing anyone might slip up.

"Oh." Ron said again and walked away.

"Im hungry.." Ginny said absentmindedly.

"Im tired.." Hermione said, yawning and stretching at the same time.

Harry and Draco exchange glances and grinned.

"I guess its time for the boys to the rescue!" Harry said, smirking.

"Wha-?" Ginny said, rubbing her belly.

"Just go rest, we will cook for you." Draco said, pushing Hermione to the sofa.

"Wha-?"

And with a 'crack', they apparated into the kitchen.

"Its just a few metres away and they have to apparate." Ginny said, shaking her head in amusement.

"They really are getting along well aren't they?" Hermione sat on the chair, leaning her head on the arm rest.

"Mhhmm. Where's Ron?" Ginny asked, looking around the room.

"Probably outside."

"Maybe.."

"So what do you think they are going to cook for us?"

"I don't know.. Lets go check!" Ginny jumped and walked into the fire. Hermione following her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Oh, Damn it!" Harry cursed as he added the eggs into the frying pan.

"What?" Draco asked, mixing more of the egg. They hadn't realized that the girls were behind them , secretly watching.

"I forgot to add the oyster sauce." Harry said grimly, his shoulders slumping.

"Ahh, nevermind. I will eat that one. Not really hungry." Draco shrugged.

"No way. I messed up. I should eat it." Harry argued.

"I will jinx your mouth of if you don't let me have it." Draco smirked.

"Then I will jinx your hand off before you jinx my mouth off." Harry smirked back.

The girls couldn't control it anymore, they started laughing so loudly that it caused Draco to jump and the mixture of eggs he was holding to fly and landed on Harry's head.

"Oh, God. Sorry." Draco said, doubling over in laughter, handing him a cloth while clutching his stomach, unable to stop laughing. Meanwhile, Ginny was still giggling and helping Harry get the bowl of his head. Even Harry laughed with them. Hermione giggled. She loved these moments when everyone was happy, joyful. Then she remembered the task Voldemort gave her. Her laughter stopped. Her happy face changed. She looked like she was in pain. Draco noticed and quickly walked over, brushing her hair back from her face.

"You okay?" He whispered.

"Yeah. Yeah, Im perfectly fine." She nodded, trying not to make eye contact with him.

He pulled her into a tight hug. "Everything will be okay. I promise."

She hugged him closer to her. She knew, at that very moment. Why he had told Ron whom she was 'dating' back in the train when they were about to leave for Beauxbatons. She knew it all.

Is this crappish or is this crappish? Please review :) Appreciate all your great reviews!! :D THANKS MUCH! And sorry for the long wait!