Draco found Hermione crying in their tower. She was huddled on the edge of the couch, hands wrapped around her knees.
"Shh, it's okay. I'm not letting him send you back there." He soothingly put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her against his chest.
"And what choice do we have in the matter? Once he tells Voldemort about their stupid rescue attempt, he'll want me to go, too. I can't not do what he asks."
"I know, but we'll figure something out."
"Like what? I'm going back there, there's not going to be a choice. I'll just have to do it." She faced away from him.
"You're NOT letting that filthy werewolf touch you!" Draco took a deep breath, trying to calm down again. He took Hermione's chin in his hand and gently pulled her face to his. He gave her a soft kiss, and wiped away her tears. "Look, if you really have to go, we'll...we'll... I don't know, charm you so that if he does touch you, he'll get burnt, or something."
Hermione smiled slightly, not at his joke, which was lame, but at his attempt. She laid her head on his shoulder, and he held her silently, until they were interrupted by a knock at the portrait.
Hermione opened the portal, and Lucius and Avery came in.
"We've discussed it, and came up with a perfect plan. The Dark Lord is most pleased, might I add." He swept into the sitting area, taking a seat across from the couch. Avery leaned against a table.
"What is it, Lucius?" Hermione asked, not wanting to hear, but knowing she'd have to do it anyway.
Lucius pulled a seashell out of his pocket and placed it on the end table.
Hermione and Draco looked at it quizzically. "We're going to the beach?" Hermione asked.
Lucius and Avery burst out laughing. "The beach, ha! What the hell are we going to do at the beach?" Avery chuckled and got up to sit on a chair opposite Lucius. "No, this, dear Hermione, is a sort of reverse portkey. When that imbecile comes to rescue you, you'll have this in your pocket. As soon as he gets you to Dumbledore, you'll activate the portkey by pressing on the inside of the shell. Lucius, Draco and I will leave Hogwarts grounds so we can apparate to where you are. It's like a tracking device. We don't have to know exactly where you are for it to work, the charm on the shell will lead us straight to it."
"I haven't heard of reverse portkeys before," Hermione said warily. "Are you sure it will work?"
"Of course it will!" Lucius said. "We've just come back from Hogsmeade, where we tried it out. So, now we strategize. Hermione, you've two days till the 'rescue attempt.' When Lupin comes to get you, just go along with whatever he says. Say you were Imperialized, say you were Crucioed, whatever you think he wants to hear."
Draco started to say something, but was cut off by Lucius holding up a hand. "I know what you're going to say, son. Narcissa told me what happened in the Hall. But Hermione," he said, turning to her, "You're only going to have to put up with him for a short while, until he takes you to Dumbledore. Once he does, act as if you want to hug the old bat or such, and sprinkle this-" he tossed a satchel on the table next to the seashell-" on him. It's an anti-apparating powder. He won't be able to get away this time."
"I don't want her to go!" Draco stood up. "She's not going back to that grabby werewolf! She won't be subjected to his hands touching her! She's done more than enough for the Dark Lord, she doesn't need to do this, too!"
Hermione wished she could just disappear at that moment.
Avery sat and watched, amused at Draco's outburst, wondering how Lucius would handle this.
Lucius raised an eyebrow at Draco. He slowly stood, looking up at Draco, who was a couple inches taller than he. "She will do as I say, and you will not put a stop to it. Don't defy me again, Draco. I won't have it, and the Dark Lord won't have it." He turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.
"Prepare yourself, Hermione," Avery stated, leaving as well.
It became very quiet in the room. Neither spoke for a while. Then, "You shouldn't have done that, Draco. Your father is mad at you now, and he's right, there's nothing either of us can do to change what needs to be done. I have to go."
"No!" he yelled, making her jump. "You're staying here where you bloody well belong!" He rushed to her, pulled her roughly up, and yanked her to the bedroom. He shoved her roughly on the bed, and surprising her, turned and left.
--
Fury coursed through his veins as he went after his Father. When he found him, Lucius was alone, reading over some parchment. Draco went up to his father and ripped the paper out of his hands. Looking up, amused, Lucius met Draco's eyes.
"She's not going. That beast touched her before, when she was a spy. She's mine, do you hear me? She won't be touched by anyone but me!" Fire burned in Draco's eyes. Lucius had never seen him like this, and it amused him.
"It's not up to you, boy," Lucius said.
"The hell it's not! I won't let you send her, Father. She's staying here with me. Unless you'd rather your Head Boy and Girl drop out of school before their final year even starts."
"You're saying you'd leave if I made her go?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Draco spat.
Lucius pulled out his wand. "I'm sorry to have to do this to you, son, but you leave me no choice." He cast the Imperius spell over Draco, who had reached for his own wand to deflect, but realized he'd left it back in his room. The blast hit Draco's shoulder, causing him to stumble back. He continued to stare at his father.
"No, run along, son, and tell Hermione to owl the werewolf, to say she'll be in the pumpkin patch as planned."
"Yes, Father." Draco turned and walked out of the room.
---
Draco stepped through the portrait hole into his and Hermione's tower. He trudged up the stairs to their bedroom, and flung open the door. Hermione was still on the bed, and had been crying. He rushed over to her, holding her.
"Baby, please don't cry. I'm sorry I blew up on you like that. I didn't mean to upset you," he stroked her hair and shushed her.
"Draco, how am I going to get away with not going?"
"What are you talking about? Of course you're going." Draco leaned down to kiss her, but she backed away. "What's wrong? Don't you want to serve Voldemort? You'll please him greatly by doing this."
She scooted backward across the bed, trying to get away from him. Her feet found the stone floor, and she stood up, looking at him like he was crazy.
"Draco, what the hell is wrong with you? I know I have to go, there's no arguing that, but why the hell are you so for this now?"
"I've always been for this," he said, lying down on the bed. He patted the space next to him, motioning her to come back to bed.
"Draco, you're the one that said you don't want Lupin to put his hands on me!" she cried.
Something flickered in Draco's eyes, and he broke through the curse. "Dammit!" he yelled, standing up. Hermione was starting to freak out now. "That bastard! He imperiused me in the library, just now!"
"Your own father did that to you?" Hermione asked. Sure, she could picture Lucius doing that to lots of people, but not Draco.
"Well, what do you expect from someone as evil as he is?" Draco said, calming back down. "I gues he just did that to remind us who's in charge here. And it sure as hell isn't us." He sat down on the bed, and pulled Hermione down on his lap. "I guess you're going to have to send an owl to Lupin, telling him to come get you." Hermione put her head down on his shoulder, giving up. It was settled; she was going back to the Order.
A/N: Thanks to all my lovely reviewers! Keep those reviews coming, and I might consider putting up those deleted sex scenes! Now I'm on the author alert lists of 32 people, so I'm hoping for quite a few reviews now! I know this chapter wasn't as great as the others, but I had to show that even though Lucius has a soft spot for Hermione, he's still an evil bastard, willing to do whatever it takes to please Voldemort. Even curse his son with an unforgivable spell. Next chapter will be steamy...if i get enough reviews :)