A/N: READ THIS!!! Ok, I have romance in here, and you'll have to read it to find out who's with who. PLEASE remember a couple of things: 1, the tide can always change. 2, I'm trying to please everyone here, so please don't flame me saying why did she do that with...yeah, you get the idea. Whatever happens in ANY parts, don't get mad at me until the end, because things are never what they seem! Well, not never, but quite often.
And seriously, this fic takes a lot of time, and if no one reviews it I just don't feel it's worth it, barely anyone reviewed the last part *sighs dejectedly* So please do me a favor and review I really have to thank everyone specifically some time, er...at the end. Anyway, I love all of you and you have no idea how much I appreciate the nice reviews...hopefully they won't stop after this part *clears throat nervously*
Might be a little while before part 6, because I'm just really busy and such. And I am taking votes for who Hermione ends up with now! Review, email me, whatever you'd like. Hope you enjoy it!
"H-h-harry?" Hermione breathed, stumbling backwards.
Draco gave her a smug grin that made him look angry. "What would anyone want with you two?"
"The Potter boy should have gotten that book," Lucius was saying to the cloaked figures. His tone was deadly and soft, scarcely above a whisper. Hermione opened her mouth, as if to interrupt Lucius' explanation, but then she whirled on Draco, no longer bothering to keep her voice stable or soft.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US?" she screamed. "How could you do this to me? I trusted you!"
Ron looked hurt. Draco couldn't figure this out, it made no sense. He and Ron had been equal in their enmity since day one. Why, they possibly hated each other more then him and Harry...Wait. Of course he was hurting. Hermione was upset, therefore Ron was upset. Draco had the fleeting yet strong desire to kick something.
"Do you think you matter to me, Granger? Do you think I give a damn what happens to you?" Draco asked incredulously. He hated himself. He hated his words, his face, his past, his present, even his future...
Hermione felt hot tears coursing down her face. She bit her lip, trying to get the pain to distract her from her emotions. But she was still crying. She was biting her lip so hard that she could taste the spot of blood on her tongue. Everyone was turned to her, the cloaked figures were staring her down, Lucius looked faintly amused, Ron furious...
Draco glared at her for a moment and then stormed up the steps, cursing to himself. Hermione felt herself drawing a blank, and then she raced after him. It was so sudden that no one could have stopped her had they tried. Reaching the top step, she flung open the door in front of her.
"What is your problem?" she breathed. Draco looked up at her. He was sitting by the window, the moonlight bathing his face and pronouncing his already sharp features. His face was completely unreadable. She loathed how she could never read his emotions, even if they were erupting from his core.
"You really don't know?" he said.
"All I know is that you lied to me! Is this what it's all going to come to? Me and Ron, killed? You brought me straight to your father, straight to death!" Hermione raged, "Oh right, and of course straight to the Dark Lord."
"No. I didn't mean this to happen," said Draco, looking down at the floor.
"You didn't mean...?" Hermione said quietly. "How could you have not meant for this to happen?"
"It started out that way. But Hermione, it wasn't meant to end like that," he sighed.
"But it's going to," said Hermione, "And that's that."
The door swung open so hard that it hit the wall with a thump. Ron glared at Draco, then at Hermione, and then shouted, "WHY THE HELL AREN'T YOU DOING HIS HEAD IN BY NOW?"
Draco looked faintly like his old self, as the familiar smirk crept onto his face. Hermione couldn't suppress a half smile at Ron. He was fuming.
"Because I happen to think that we should know the whole story before we..." she trailed off, with a meaningful look at Ron.
Ron looked furious, "We don't have time! We have to..."
Lucius and two other figures swept inside the room. Ron looked livid, as he sat down sulkily on the floor. Hermione felt her knees wobbling and she sat down with a thud. Draco stared at her, his eyes piercing through her skin and bone. She shuddered and turned away.
"Lock them up. In the morning we will question them. Then," Lucius sneered at the two figures, and sauntered from the room. Hermione choked back a sob.
Then...?
One of the death eaters grabbed her roughly by both arms and dragged her along the narrow corridor. She was thrust against the wall, the wind almost knocked out of her. Just as she caught her breath Ron flew into her, coughing and cursing at the same time. The door slammed, an audible click was heard, and she and Ron sat silently in the dark.
"Miserable son of a bitch," Ron muttered.
Hermione was about to reprimand him when realization seeped into her. Draco had deceived her. He'd admitted it, though he also said there was another side of the story. But nothing could justify this. Nothing could justify their deaths.
"What are we going to do?" she gasped.
"What can we do? We're going to wait here all night, spill out every secret we have, and then die. Sounds jolly, eh?" said Ron in a falsely chipped voice.
"Be serious for once," Hermione replied bitterly. "If only I could wake up again...or whatever happened."
"That's only delaying the inevitable," said Ron. "Anyway, at least we'll have time to prepare for it. I say we decide on some nice farewell speeches, and then our wills. You can have Pig, Herm, and then..."
"How can you joke at a time like this?" Hermione breathed.
"Because something will save us. Something always does."
"Why don't you ever listen to me?" Draco whispered, trailing his father. "You said it was a mistake. Well, mistakes can be fixed, but they'll always remain in your memory. Therefore you can only fix it, not erase it. And killing them won't do anything. Nothing will be gained. Father, listen to me..."
"Nothing will be lost either," Lucius replied, quickening his pace.
"NOTHING BUT LIVES!" Draco shouted.
"A pauper and a mudblood are hardly a loss, Draco. In fact, I'd say it's a gain. One less for Lord Voldemort to deal with."
"You just don't understand," Draco said shakily. "Hermione's parents are muggles, but she's the top in every class. You hear that, father? A mudblood is smarter then your pureblooded, wealthy son."
Lucius glared at Draco with the deepest hate. "You have changed. You are hardly my son."
"I'm glad of it," Draco said very coldly.
Lucius whirled around and slapped him sharply across the face. Draco staggered back, his cheek blotchy and red where he'd been hit. "That's right, go on and hit me! I won't fight back, you always like to pick on those who don't fight back..."
"Shut your mouth, boy, or you'll be feeling more then just a slap across your face," growled Lucius, stalking away as fast as his feet would carry him.
"I CAN TAKE IT!" Draco screamed recklessly. Suddenly, he found that in this moment he had more courage then he'd collected during his entire life. And it was a relief.
"Don't ask for pain, Draco," Lucius replied.
"What if I want to? What if I don't care?" Draco sneered, "I'm tired of my life. So I'm figuring that I don't have much to lose." Lucius glared at him with contempt. Draco raised an eyebrow in mock thought and added, "Except maybe some blood here, some skin there. But I guess it's worth it to save lives. That's called sacrifice, father. Have you ever heard of that?"
"I'm killing both of them and there's nothing you can do about it," replied Lucius.
"I won't let you."
"You can't stop me." Lucius whirled around and sped up the steps. He flung open the door, Draco racing after him.
Ron blinked in the sudden rush of light. Hermione winced.
"You, boy, come with me," Lucius said angrily. It wasn't a statement, or even an order. Before Ron could say a word Lucius was out the door, dragging him behind him. Hermione let out a squeak and rushed for the door. She hit it with a sickening crunch as Lucius slammed it behind him.
"Are you okay?" Draco mumbled as Hermione frantically rubbed her head.
"Leave me alone!" Hermione shouted, breaking down into tears. "Ron's gonna be killed and I never even got say goodbye! And you know what? It's all your fault! And you're asking if I'm okay?"
"I tried to stop him...but my father's not an easy man to stop," Draco sighed helplessly. "We'll find him, Hermione, I swear..."
"We can't! And we're not going to..." Hermione sobbed. Draco shook his head guiltily and awkwardly put an arm around her.
"Yeah, we are. Listen, I need to tell you everything first. Will you listen?"
Hermione sniffed, "I guess so. But no matter what you say I'm never going to forgive you."
"So long as you know the truth I can deal with that," said Draco solidly. "First off, you weren't supposed to get the book. I was supposed to make sure it got to Potter. But I screwed up, and you got it. The book is....powerful. It can transport you into your nightmares. But it wasn't working correctly when I gave it to you. Because..." Draco said all of this very quickly, then slowed down his words at the very end. "Voldemort changed it."
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" Ron screamed, desperately pulling at the ropes binding his arms. His wrists were already red and chapped.
"Oh. Can't I?" Lucius scoffed. "But it's too perfect. I simply must."
"I won't let you," Ron whispered, "It's not..."
"But it is. That mudblood's smarter then my son, then you, probably smarter then me."
"Hermione would never do that!" Ron hissed.
"You might not think so, but the Dark Lord knows more then you ever will. You don't know how much a simple thing like your life means to her... "
"What do you want with her?" said Ron.
"Nothing. It's my lord that wants her. He insists..." Lucius sniffed haughtily, "That she will be valuable later on. She would be willing to make the trade under certain...conditions. Once she experiences the power, she will never want to turn back."
"That and the five hundred spells you're sure to put on her!"
"Really, how dare you accuse me of such...treachery," Lucius drawled. Ron glared at him. This couldn't happen...Hermione couldn't...wouldn't...but what if she really did...but surely she knew of what was at stake...
He shivered as the door closed.
Hermione blanched. Then she slapped Draco sharply across the face.
"You...you..." she stammered.
"Want some ideas?" Draco asked, rubbing his face. He fluently rolled off several synonyms for Hermione. She glared at him.
"You're all of those things and more. I can't believe you! And here I was, just thinking that you'd changed..."
"I have changed. I'm trying to tell you the truth. Now listen to me!" Draco snapped. Hermione stared at the floor but nodded her head. Draco closed his eyes and drew in a sharp breath, gathering all the strength he'd ever had. He'd need it now.
"Father told me to get the book to Potter. He said it was part of an important plot, and only I could make everything work. Potter's invincible it seems, and Voldemort didn't know how to reach him...except through his dreams..." Draco sighed heavily, "You're always vulnerable when you're asleep."
"I can't believe you would have gone through with that," said Hermione.
"I can't either. Not that it matters now. I'd way rather have Potter die, then you. You..." he flushed, "You're not like anyone I've ever known, Hermione."
"Neither are you. And I have to ask myself if that's good or bad. Draco, Ron's going to die. Do you understand that?" Hermione gasped.
"Weasley won't die. I won't let him."
"You can't stop your father, you said so yourself," Hermione replied, drawing out the book. "What do I do with this?"
"Keep it. Don't let anything happen to it. It's your only chance. Weasley's too," Draco flipped through it. Detailed descriptions of everything that happened yet filled it. But nothing about Draco or Ron alone, only about Hermione.
"I'm scared," Hermione whispered, "What if you can't find Ron?"
Draco shook his head, "Don't say it. Don't even think it."
"If anything happens to him..." Hermione drew in a steady breath and leaned back "I'll never ever..." she sighed, and hit her head once against the wall.
"Whatever happens, remember that it's not your fault," said Draco reassuringly. "You know what?"
"What?"
"If we ever get out of here, I'm going to have to go back to being your enemy," said Draco pointedly.
"You don't have to do anything," replied Hermione.
"But I really doubt we could remain..." Draco trailed off.
"Oh, I see," said Hermione dejectedly.
Draco frowned, "I guess I should get out of here."
"Sure," said Hermione, "Be sure to look for Ron, and tell him that I'm alright and that we're going to get out of here. I won't go because it's too risky right now. Tell him what happened, but say it quickly or else he'll probably hit you out, and that would be horrible right now, on top of everything else and..."
"Hermione, stop talking for once," said Draco, wrapping his arms around her waist.
And he kissed her.
Hermione gasped, almost pulling back in the abruptness of it all, but then she found herself melting. It was as if the room was spinning all around her, and there was absolutely nothing there except them. Lightning zapped through her, and she could feel her head pounding as she kissed him back. She couldn't tell if she was doing it from lust, love or just from...longing. From that vacant place in her that was now being filled up. It was exciting, and new and just invigorating. Draco lowered her to the floor.
"Stop," said Hermione, pushing up on his chest.
Draco sat up, taking deep, steadying breaths. "What?" he gasped.
Hermione swallowed and said softly, "Not now."
Draco grinned at her, "All right. It's been about a minute, is now good?" He pulled her close again. Hermione shook him off.
"I mean it. Not now," she said impatiently, "Go find Ron."
Draco stood up, brushing past her and through the door. "Way to ruin the moment, Hermione," he said spitefully, then stalked out.
Draco flung open another door as hard as possible. Maybe is he did it enough some of his anger would be flushed away. Each and every room was as empty as he felt. He stormed another door and saw Ron crouched in the corner, his head buried in his arms.
"Hey Weasley, I came to get you out of here," he said.
Ron looked up. His eyes were red and puffy, and his face was blotchy under his freckles. "Leave me alone, Malfoy," he said.
"I'm only trying to help you now," Draco muttered.
Ron paused considerably and suddenly made a valiant struggle to stand, forgetting that he was tied up and could not. "YOU LEFT HERMIONE ALONE? YOU GREAT PRAT!" Ron screamed.
"If she came she might be dead now!" Draco snapped.
"She'll be worse then dead if your father gets to her," Ron said, seething.
"What's going on?" said Draco, paling before his eyes.
"I'm not entirely sure, but it's not just Herm who's gonna be in trouble if you don't get your ass back to that room right now!" Ron growled.
"Hold on." Draco raced from the room and came back a moment later with a shimmery knife clutched in his hands. Ron grinned at him.
"Oh, instant death, always a pleasure," he said sardonically.
"Shut up, Weasley," said Draco, edging closer. Suddenly, he leapt back. His hand was raw and shiny, though he's only touched thin air. "There's a spell around you, Weasley. I need a wand to get you out of here."
Ron sighed, "Don't bother. You've already wasted enough time. Go and get Hermione, and bring her back here. I need to talk to her."
Draco glared at him. At the time it didn't seem any different from his usual glare, but Ron said quietly, "What's with you? I only want to warn her about something."
"Ahh...right. I'll be right back," said Draco, sidling from the room. He crept back to Hermione and pulled her up by the arm. "Weasley wants to talk to you. We have to go before your stuck as well." Hermione raised an eyebrow in question but followed him obediently from the room.
Ron looked up as they entered. Hermione looked as if to run to him, but Draco held her back. "He's trapped. Invisible wall about him."
"Are you alright?" whispered Hermione, tiptoeing as close to Ron as she dared.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, brushing a wisp of hair from his face.
Hermione pouted, "You are not fine." Her eyes darted skeptically from the dried blood on his head and face, to his ripped pants.
"Hermione, I need to ask you something."
"Shoot," said Hermione.
"You'd never join the Dark Side, would you?"
Hermione looked shocked, "What sort of a rubbish question is that? Of course I wouldn't! I'd rather...die."
"Promise me. Promise me that no matter what might happen you'd never ever do that. Even if it meant a life, swear that..." Ron bit his lip, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
"I don't understand," Hermione whispered. "But yes. Yes, I promise."
"Thank God," Ron breathed, sinking against the wall.
"Weasley, what's going on?" said Draco sharply.
"V-v-v...you-know-who wants Hermione. He wants her to join him," said Ron unsteadily. Hermione let out an audible squeak. "I can't say now," Ron glanced around as if the walls had sprouted eyes and ears. "It might not be safe." He turned to Draco and said accusingly, "If you're trying to help us, then why'd it take you so long to find me?"
Draco and Hermione both looked at each other and turned away. "Couldn't find the room," Draco grunted.
Ron glared at him, "Rubbish, it was easy to find."
"We were talking," Hermione piped in.
Draco sniggered, "It was really interesting," he said with a trace of a grin. Hermione punched him in the arm, trying her best to keep herself from turning red. Ron looked suspicious and irritated.
"Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me something?" he said slowly.
"Because you're a dolt and you're really thick?" Draco replied innocently.
"Stop it," snapped Hermione, "We don't have time for this. We have to get Ron out of here. And now."
"I'll try to get a wand," said Draco. He looked from Ron to Hermione and added, "Hermione, you stay here and if anyone comes..." he trailed off. "Scream. Scream really loud."
Each stair creaked under Draco's thin body. He tried to support his weight on the railing, but he just wasn't that coordinated! The castle looked enormous and intimidating from outside, but within it was rather small. If it wasn't for the false doors, trap hatches, and staircases that never ended, it would be quite easy to find your way around. Draco's foot touched on the floor below, and he scampered behind a nearby armoire. Footsteps echoed off the walls. Draco peered around the bend to see his father speaking to another man in an amused drawl. Oh, how he despised that drawl. He always had. And now, it was his.
"Don't see what 'e wants with 'er," the man was saying loftily.
"Neither do I. But I don't dare defy another order, as I have already disobeyed my lord. I was disloyal once, and shall never be again," Lucius shuddered. "Unless....other opportunities should arise. Situations change int time, you know."
"I won't be doin' anything that's not what 'e wants me too," said the man.
"I hardly think that's a matter of importance now. We have to fetch the mudblood. Come," sniffed Lucius.
The man grunted in reply and both turned around, heading for the stairs. Draco crept out from his concealed spot, trailing his father by scarcely an inch. The two wands were tucked deep in his cloak's back pocket. Draco grimaced, he'd have to be awfully slick to pull this off without being notice.
It's for Hermione, he thought dully, you have to...
He made a brief snatch for the wand, missing by a mile. Lucius continued walking. For once, Draco was glad to be so thin and light. It made this far easier then it might have been, had he been fat and slow. He wondered why he was thinking such pointless things.
Draco breathed deeply. He had to get both wands, because that was twice the power. With two, he stood a chance of standing up to his father when he felt the audible tug on his cloak. Draco was sure he'd feel it, because it was near impossible to reach the bottom of a cloak's back pocket without having the one who sports the cloak realizing it. Draco suspected that cloak's were made that way just for that reason. Oh well, it didn't matter now. He made another jab at the pocket, but brought his hand up empty.
"Three times is charm," he muttered very softly. His hand plunged in again, almost up to his elbow. He brushed what felt like a tuft of feather or fur, as Lucius took a large step forward, Draco stumbled, almost crashing into his father's back. He could feel his clothes on his body, sticky with sweat.
Draco cracked his knuckles and strode right up to his father's back, getting ready to get the wands once and for all. And if not, he'd die fighting.
Draco reached down up to his shoulder, and felt his fingers clamp tightly on two wands. He pulled them out, a silent grin on his face, one wand clutched in each hand.
"Oh, I forgot something," Lucius said suddenly, whirling around.
He gaped at Draco, who looked nervously back before pointing at him with both wands at once.
"I swear he's changed Ron," Hermione insisted.
"Malfoy will never change. He's a miserable bastard, and he's going to stay like that forever. Hate to burst your bubble," said Ron angrily.
"It's not his fault..."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Why do you care so much? He doesn't have any feelings for what happens to either of us. He only cares about himself! You may not like it Hermione, but you have to face facts."
"You're so, so wrong," Hermione whispered softly.
"And how would you know? Has he ever once showed that he cared about us in the least, without later taking it back? Every time he does something that you think is all lovely and sweet, we turn around and he's replaced it with something horrible!"
"Not every time," said Hermione shakily.
"Alright then, when? Because I don't recall it."
Hermione twisted a wisp of hair about her finger and then said sullenly, "I can't say. Not because I don't know, but because I just don't care to tell you."
"Because there hasn't been a single time!" Ron shouted.
"Stop being such a jerk, Ron. A silly grudge isn't worth it. It's your turn to face facts. Draco isn't all bad, just like you and I aren't all good."
Ron clenched his hands into fists as if he was going to hit something with all his strength. Then he blinked once, and began to cry.
Hermione wanted nothing more then to comfort him, but she knew he was out of her reach, both in touch and in reach. It was horrible. Worse then the dementors, worse then being locked up...Because Ron never cried, even when things looked their most hopeless. And watching him break down pulled her apart and tore any hope she still had in her.
"Don't cry, Ron. Whatever you do, just don't do that!" Hermione pleaded.
"And why can't I?" said Ron quietly. "I don't know why I'm here. I'm trapped all alone. And I'm going to die that way, never saying..." he broke off and wiped his eyes frantically. "I'm such a bloody wimp," he said sullenly.
Hermione gave him a weak, strained smile. "There's nothing wimpy about crying. I think you're brave."
"Real brave," said Ron sarcastically. "Sorry I was being so stupid. I'm just not myself right now. I was afraid that I might..." he shrugged, "die all alone."
"How could you when I'm here?" Hermione said softly.
Ron grinned at her and said cockily, "Maybe it's a good thing this barrier's here, after all."
"Give back the wands, Draco," said Lucius swiftly.
"No, you stay away from me...I've had enough from you," Draco said nervously. "Leave me alone, I don't want anything to do with this..."
"You'll just get in above your head. And you'll drown. Give me back the wands."
Draco backed up, "No."
"Don't make me harm my own son," Lucius said coldly.
"I'm willing to take that risk," replied Draco.
"That is a very stupid choice on your behalf."
"Don't you call me stupid! Unless it's stupid that I'm not throwing away my life like you have. Or maybe it's stupid that I don't hate like you do. Maybe I'm not the one who's stupid! Maybe it's you." He sneered at his father.
Lucius drew out his wand. Draco felt his breath coming in gasps. Sure, the taunts were all well enough but was he really willing to die for this? He knew his father would have no trouble hurting him, even killing him.
"It's worth it," he said aloud. "Care for a duel, father?"
"I'm not playing with you, Draco. Give me the bloody wands!"
"Don't you speak English? I'm not giving them to you. I took them fair and square," Draco twirled one between his fingers and pointed at his father. Suddenly, the other man spoke up in a deep, raspy voice.
"Your boy needs to learn a lesson, Lucius."
Lucius simpered. "My sentiments exactly." He pointed his wand at Draco who pointed right back. "Crucio!"
"What's that?" said Hermione, feeling a sharp prick inside of her, as if she'd swallowed a pin. She tingled all over, but not a pleasant tingle. It was eerie, almost painful...and yet not. "Do you feel anything, Ron?"
"I feel lots of things. I'm freaked out, I'm in quite a bit of pain..."
"Tingly. Do you feel tingly?"
Ron tilted his head to the side in mock question, "Do you want me to feel...tingly?"
"Shut up, I mean it."
"No. Why would I?"
Hermione sighed. "I really wish that I'd stop seeing and feeling all sorts of things no one else can see or feel. I'm probably going mad."
"Er..." said Ron uncertainly. "No...of course not."
Hermione reached out to punch him but drew back quickly. Draco had better hurry back...she felt a stabbing pain in her stomach and doubled over. And just as suddenly as it began, a moment later it faded without a trace. She had to get out of here. Something was wrong.
It was pain beyond all pain. So many times had he watched his father cursing people. And he'd laughed, jeered, even grinned...
He was such a jerk!
All he wanted was for the pain to end. He felt his grip loosening as he sank to the ground, his body twitching uncontrollably. And he was helpless against it. There was no way to stop the agony shooting throughout him.
"If you want me to stop, just let go of those wands," Lucius floaty voice said over Draco's thoughts.
"NEVER!" Draco gasped back. His body stopped twitching and Lucius walked towards him. Draco fumbled for a moment and then shouted, "Expeliarmus!" feebly pointing at his father. The wand wavered in his grip and then slid to the ground. Draco scrambled madly for it, as his father dove down to the ground and reached as well.
"You're both too slow."
Draco looked up and saw Hermione standing there, the wand clasped in one hand. "Looks like you needed some help, after all."
"I could have gotten it without any help," Draco replied sulkily.
Lucius stood up hastily, "Clever trick, but it won't work for long. You're as good as dead. You, and that speccy redheaded boy. Enjoy the taste of victory for a moment, because very soon it will turn sour. When you least expect it..."
He waved a hand and faded into thin air.
A/N: Ok....R/H people please don't stop reading after this part because nothing's final until the very end.