Chapter Eight

This isn't quite as suspenseful as I'd like, but oh well. Enjoy and thanks for the reviews.

Viktor opened the door, cracking his knuckles noisily. "Yes?" He asked, observing Mrs. Zabini and Blaise standing at his door. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I was wondering if I may speak with Hermione." Maria asked politely. "I've been wondering when we would make our rain check for lunch." She lied smoothly.

"I'll just go and get her for you, madam." He said, kissing her hand.

When he'd closed the door, Maria made a disgusted face and wiped her hand on her robes. "Sleaze." She commented.

The door opened minutes later, Hermione looking tired and like she had done her best to cover her face. "Maria?" She asked quietly. "W-what are you doing here?" She cast a glance behind her.

Maria looked at her worriedly. "Is it safe to talk?" Hermione nodded and stepped out of the door, closing it behind her. "We're here to take you home with us." She said. "That is, if you'll come." Mrs. Zabini added as an afterthought.

"I-I can't. I can't leave him again." She said quietly.

Blaise stepped forward, indigo eyes enraged. "Listen Granger, he's dangerous. He could end up killing you." He whispered angrily. "You shouldn't have to put up with him."

"He's done nothing wrong." She defended.

"Nothing wrong?!" Blaise raged in whisper. "How can you say–"

Maria cut her son off. "Hermione, I know it's not easy to leave someone who has you wound so tightly around his finger, but you don't deserve any of the things he's done to you." She paused. "You can come with us, or you can stay here with him. It's your choice. But I beg of you, choose the safest option."

Hermione gulped, but nodded silently, a small lump forming in her throat. "He has my wand." She admitted hopelessly. "H-he wouldn't let me come out here with it. It's locked away somewhere."

"Not to worry, we'll get it back for you, come now, we've got to leave." Maria hurried.

"Hermy-ninny, aren't you going to invite your friends inside?" He asked, coming out through the door.

They all inwardly cringed. "Of course, Maria, do come in." She said as bubbly as she could manage without her voice cracking. "We'll have some tea in the lounge." She said, leading them through the large mansion.

"I'm afraid we can't stay that long, dear, we just called in to organise a lunch sometime this week. You see, I'm taking Blaise shopping for a gift for his latest lady-friend. He's just hopeless with gifts." She laughed musically as they sat down, Viktor with his greasy hand on Hermione's knee.

"He's a typical male." Hermione quipped half-heartedly. "Of course, Viktor is brilliant with his gifts." She cast a fake adoring glance at her 'fiancé', though she could feel his gaze on her. Inside she felt like running as fast as she could as he rubbed circles on her knee.

"I bet he is." Maria said sweetly, looking as if she was admiring the loving couple. "Now, to business. I think we're better off having lunch on Thursday. Say, the leaky cauldron at midday?" She suggested. "Just the two of us. That way you can tell me all about your extremely handsome boyfriend."

"Of course, Maria." Hermione agreed.

"It's fiancée, now, madam." Viktor corrected, a smirk on his lips.

"Oh? Really? How exciting?" She feigned excitement, as did Hermione.

Viktor looked at them sceptically, raising an eyebrow at Hermione's behaviour. She could still feel the burn of his gaze on the side of her face, making her heart beat faster in fear of being caught. Oh Merlin, what would he do to her then?

Blaise glanced at his pocket watch. "It's time we got going, mother, we have a time limit." He informed, faking snobbery.

"Of course. I'm sorry my dear, but I'll have to see you on Thursday." She said, a sweet smile on her face. "Will you be walking us out?" She asked Hermione.

"Of course." Viktor insisted. "I'll be in my study, Hermy-ninny." He said, leaving the room.

They walked to the door, making idle fake chatter and quickly Hermione closed the door behind her. She let out a breath and took Maria's proffered hand, side-long apparating away from Viktor's clutches.

They arrived at Zabini manor in a matter of seconds. They stood for a moment in silence, catching their breath.

Hermione was still hanging on to Maria, breathing heavily, holding back tears. She sniffed. "Thank you so much!" She launched herself at Maria and hugged her fiercely.

Maria smiled and hugged the young woman back, rubbing soothing circles on her back as she sobbed into her shoulder. "It's okay, dear, hush, you're safe now."

Blaise let out a sigh as he heard Draco come into the room, "We did it, mate." He said, not taking his eyes off his mother and Hermione.

"The next problem is getting her over him. I don't think it's going to be that simple." Draco said, watching them as well. Krum had done this to her. That bastard. But she had gone back to him. Suddenly, anger welled up inside him. "Granger!" He shouted and she jumped with surprise. "What the bloody hell were you thinking?!" He raged, stepping forward.

She pulled away from Maria, wiping away some tears. "I-I don't know…" She said quietly.

"It was bloody stupid of you to go back to him! Don't you understand how worried Maria was?"

Blaise coughed something along the lines of "so were you."

"Fine… How worried we were?! He could have killed you or something!" Draco raged.

"I'm sorry!" She yelled at him. "I'm sorry, okay? I was angry and afraid and I thought –"

"You thought what, Granger?! Thought that he'd change in a matter of days? Thought that he would never hurt you again? I bet he did, didn't he?" Draco sneered. "I bet he hurt you realy good. And I bet he enjoyed every bit of it." He seethed.

Hermione shrank back in fear and Maria put her arms around her protectively. "Draco Malfoy!" She scolded. "Hasn't she been through enough?" With that, she took Hermione away from them and into her room.

"Draco, you can't just go off at her! She's been through a lot and you come here and yell at her, man. You idiot." Blaise said, walking off and leaving Draco alone.

Draco sighed and ran a hand through his messy blonde hair. She was impossible. But Blaise and Maria were right; he had gone too far. He shouldn't have said those things to her, no matter how angry her stupid decisions made him.

Oh boy. He had a lot of making up to do.