"The Silver Haired Boy"

By Sasha Warren

When Hermione awoke it was near one the next day. She opened the letter again. It was adressed in blood. Her heart pounded as she reread it.

GO TO THE FOREST TONIGHT OR SAY GOODBYE TO EVERY FRIEND AND FAMILY MEMBER YOU LOVE!

It was anonymous. Hermione knew staying would endanger her friends at Hogwarts. So, as tears poured down her face, she pulled on some tennis shoes and grabbed her wand.
"Api-io!" she choked. She was instantly as the edge of the forest.
After a long while, she was hopelessly lost.
"Hello," said a small voice
Hermione spun on her heel. Phew! It was only a little boy. He was probably about nine or ten, with silvery blonde hair and grayish eyes. He was slightly pudgy and beared an odd resemblence to Draco, only more innocent.
"Hi," she said softly "What's your name?"
"I'm lucio-I mean Luke!" he giggled "You?"
"Oh, I'm Hermione!" she smiled'
"Are you lost Hermione?"
"Uhh yes actually."
"Come with me!"
He held out his pudgy hand and Hermione grasped it. They began to walk. Suddenly the hand grew larger and tighted it's grip. She looked up and gasped.
"It's you!"
"Why yes, my dear girl it is. I expected a warmer welcome," sneered Lucious Malfoy
"You have no idea what your son did to me," she screamed as she struggled
"Ahh yes," he smirked "Stupid girl. My son did nothing to you. He's too much of a chicken. Of course, it would have been easier if he'd agreed to. No, no I had to do it. I apologize." He smirked.
"Now." he pulled out his wand. "Stupefy!" he shouted. Hermione crumpled to the ground.

~*~*~

"Hey Harry!" called Ron that night after dinner.
"Have you seen Hermione?"
"Nah.." replied Harry as they walked up to the dormitory.
"Dunno what's gotten into her," grumbled Ron. Being as angry as they were at Hermione, they paid no attention to the fact she was gone. About an hour later, a knock at the door came and in walked Dumbledore.
"Hello Harry, Ron"
"Hello Proffesor."
"I'm afraid I have some bad news for you."
"Huh?" questioned Ron.
"It's about Ms. Granger,"
"Is she sick?"
"No,"
"Angry."
"Boys, listen to me."
"Ok"
"She is missing."
"What?" shouted Harry.
"We fear....kidnapped"
"Kidnapped?"
Harry gaped at Dumbledore. Dumbledore turned on his heel and slowly walked away.
"Ron!"
"Yeah?"
"This is ALL my fault.."
"How?"
"If I'd been nicer..."
Harry, for the first time many years let tears collect in his eyes.
"Ron..."
"Yes?"
"I-I think I may love her"
It was Ron's turn to become misty eyed. The two fell asleep in a pathetic heep on the floor.

~*~*~

Hermione awoke to find herself in a small room. The windows were barred and the door locked. There was only a small matress in corner.
"Lot of good that does!" said Hermione to herself.
Boy! She was hungry. Suddenly the lock clicked and Lucious walked in.
"Hello," he said as he stroked her chin.
"How long have I been here?"
"About one day," he smiled.
He put his hand on her chin stroking it gently. She struggled against his hands. She lifted up her leg and kicked him in the *ahem* you know. He gasped in pain. She ran through the open door of the room, running through the halls of the big house. She burst out the door and ran through the woods, the snow sliding up her barren legs. Whipping around trees, her long hair gliding behind her. Suddenly she slipped on a patch of ice. She fell to her face. Lucious Malfoy was right behind her. He grabbed her leg and began to pull. She dug her nails in the ice, thrashing her feet around. She got up and ran again, but Lucious grabbed her around the middle and thrust her down on the ground holding her mouth shut. She kicked and bit as he tore off her robes and began to unbotton her bloody blouse. He ripped it off of her. She was screaming and using all her defenses. Just as he was pulling off her gray skirt a figure in all black came up behind him and performed the stunning spell. His hands went limp and he fell to the ground. Hermione stood up and pulled her robe around her to cover herself. (eww!). She ran to the cloaked figure and stared at him for a second. She pulled of the cover to his face and gasped when she saw who it was. Draco Malfoy. At first she was filled with utter abomination, but her heart softened when she relized he had saved. My, My she thought. He had goten handsome since last year. He was now a handsome seventeen year old. His gray eyes had changed to a very pale blue and his once pale skin had become slighly tanner. Even his silvery hair had changed. The silver had turned blonder and he no longer slicked it back. It now hung in his eyes. For a mintute or two they stared at each other. Draco noticed that the "mudblood" he had loathed was now very..different. Her eyes had become larger and her bushy hair had straigtened as it became longer. It was at elbow length now. She had even added blonde streaks like muggles do. The silence was broken by Hermione.
"D-Draco?" she asked "It wasn't you raped me?"
"No." he said softly "My father...." his voice trailed off.
Hermione smiled. Suddenly, she heard someone coming up the path.
"Harry!" she yelled when she saw his face.
"Hermione!" he yelled "I snuck out to look for-" he stopped
"You!" he screamed "You slimy git! What did you do to her?"
"I didn't-" but Malfoy was cut off as Harry pounced on him.
"Harry don't!" screamed Hermione.
"Stupefy!" yelled Harry as Malfoy immediatly froze.
Harry turned around and embraced Hermione. He leaned in to kiss her, but Hermione turned away.
"Harry-"
"Don't say anything!"
"Ginny! I love you!"
"Ginny?"
"I didn't mean that!"
"Harry Potter, don't you realize I;m just an infatuation!"
"Huh...but I love-"
"No! I'm the princess you wanted to save, but deep down in your heart you love Ginny!"
"But I did save you...."
"No Malfoy did!"
"Huh?"
"I'll explain it all later, but it is true, you do love Ginny!"
Harry smiled and kissed his good friend on the cheek.
"I'll be ok," smiled Hermione as tears streamed down her face.
Harry turned back towards the castle.
Hermione stood over Draco.
"Illinus!" she said softly
Draco awoke and stared up at her.
"Hermione?"
"Uhuh," she murmered as she pulled him up.
"You look a mess."
She giggled and leaned towards him. They were so close they were laughing nose to nose.
Suddenly someone grabbed hold on Draco from behind and broke the two apart.
Lucious Malfoy had waken up........