Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters belong to JKR, not me.

Additional disclaimer: The muggle song lyrics I referred to belong to Ashanti and Ja-Rule, also not me.

A/N: This chapter is pretty short, but the next one will be a longer one, as well as very important. I was delayed publishing because I wanted to finish the next chapter first. Thanks to reviewers, Late-Summer-Night, Sucker for Romance, HermioneG89, purple pie, Silver, Lauren, hyper_shark, Blanche Dubois, IcyFire, dobbie-loves-sweeties, Sora Ketsueki, MaryAnne177 Really? You think this fic is like that 'A Dragon's Feast'?, CjD, Landry Anne, Lena, and of course Hell's Hauntress and Mikomi Kume.

Keep on reviewing! I love getting them =D

Important note: I think DIC's genre should be changed from Romance/Drama to Romance/Action/Adventure. Oh well. I'm not going to change it, but the genre of this fic is officially now Romance/Action/Adventure.

Chapter Six

"Master Malfoy?"

"WHAT?" roared Malfoy. "I am busy!"

Shit! He's coming in!

Hermione felt herself being renewed with adrenaline-pumped fear. She had to get out of here. It was one thing to get caught by Draco Malfoy, quite another to get caught by some other Death Eater. She couldn't be discovered.  Forgetting about Malfoy's weight holding her down, she struggled to get away. To her surprise, he didn't try to restrain her.

Hermione dashed to get her wand. Her other hand yanked Seamus's necklace off her neck and she stammered out the incantation. It became a broom again and she leapt to the windowsill, ready to fly away. 

But something was not right.

Why had he let her go?

She turned around. Malfoy's eyes caught her own, his chiseled, angular, pale face staying cold and unsmiling. He stared at her stonily, as if daring her to go, but still didn't make an effort to stop her from leaving.

Hermione, for some reason, hesitated. Maybe it was a trap, maybe, if she tried to leave, she would get caught in some sort of blocking spell. Hermione bit her lower lip. Was he seriously going to let her go, just like that?

Bang, bang!

The person at the door was knocking again. God, if she didn't get moving, she'd up staying there and get caught. Hermione pulled her eyes away and decided not to take the chance. She kicked off the broom and into the night. This was not the mission to duel with Malfoy.

"May I come in?" muttered Goyle.

Draco swore loudly and hit the door hard with his fist. "What – the – fuck – do – you – want?"

Draco scowled and ran his fingers through his hair, still wet from Hermione Granger's little water hex. He had had Granger right there. Out of a random stroke of luck, they had met, and he had had her. He had had her without her wand, lying helplessly on the ground…and this damned idiot had to ruin it!

"This is important," Goyle grunted.

"Argh!" Angrily, Draco yanked the door open and the enormous lump of a Death Eater Goyle stumbled in.

"We, uh, saw the girl. She was running away."

Dammit, Draco thought. Oh yeah, her. That girl, the one he was supposed to be after.

"Whatever, I'm on it." He said with a disgruntled sigh.

Thirty minutes later, Draco was sulking down a cobblestone road in a muggle district after following Cho Chang on broom. Where she led him to, he didn't really care. Sure, if he didn't catch her, he'd be in serious trouble with the Dark Lord, but those worries were obsolete.

Granger.

Hermione Granger.

It had been re-freshening. Holding her down on the floor in a darkened room. No wands. Forget dueling. Just ripping her robes open and attacking what was underneath. Draco felt a bit of a hot flush down to the lower part of his body thinking about it. Why had he let her go? Did he think it could have been anyone other than one of his stupid co-workers? Dammit, why didn't he simply hold her down while he sent Goyle away and then gone back to finish the damned job?

He could still picture clearly in his mind the image of her face, the expression on her face as she forced herself not to look at him. She was so determined, stubborn. And he couldn't get the image out of his head.

Back in reality, Chang stepped into an average-looking building. Draco absentmindedly followed her inside; it seemed to be a bar of some sort. Inside, it was crowded with muggles dancing raucously to loud music. Draco grimaced. "I'm not always there when you call, but I'm always on time…" sang a pretty, feminine voice, followed by a male line of which the lyrics Draco could not decipher. 

Did Hermione Granger dance well to muggle music? Probably, thought Draco. Considering how good she was at everything, she'd probably make even music as horrible as this seem wonderful with her moves, she'd be amazing to watch…

"Hey there, handsome." A short, chubby barmaid said over the music, winking cheekily at Draco. "Can I getcha anything ta-night, honey?"

"No thanks," Draco said stiffly. He had to get his mind back to work. He spotted Cho Chang again, weaving through the crowd, and hurried after her.

Draco followed her into the back of the building, past a muggle bathroom and down a hallway. They went through a few more doors marked in red lights 'Exit' before stopping at the end of the hall. There, stood an enormous ebony door carved intricately with smooth figures of Greek deities and flowers. It clashed horribly with the linoleum floor. Draco watched as Cho Chang stepped inside. Was it a door only visible to wizards? Or did muggles have really strange taste that he didn't know about?

Draco ran forwards and caught the door before it slammed shut. The doorknob was brass, covered with shapes of flowers and leaves. Draco stood there a waited a few seconds before opening it a crack and going inside.

The room was large, lit by a few candles. The throb of the nightclub had long ceased. Draco halted. It did seem to be a wizard's home. The room was richly decorated, with elegant Louis XVI-style furnishing on the velvety red-and-gold carpet. Porcelain statuettes of nymphs adorned the fine wood tables. Chang's back was still turned to him. Maybe I should just hex her and get it over with, Draco thought lazily, skip the damned duel. Even though it wouldn't be fair. Then again, he wasn't in the mood to have a proper fight. 

Just then, she turned around and saw him. In his lightning-fast reaction time, Draco grabbed his wand and sent three lightning-fast thin cables towards her.

SNAP!

The cables were whacked aside.

Draco blinked.

"What are you doing here?" Chang shrieked. She was at least three meters away from where she was standing before. Had Draco missed by that much?  Or did she move that fast? How could –

THWACK! THWACK!

Draco's entire body hit the wall behind him before he realized it was him being tied down by her. But it was impossible! She moved too fast –

"You!" she cried accusingly.

"Cho?" someone else had walked in the room.

A tall man with very dark brown hair walked into the large room from another door. He was wearing a long black muggle jacket, not wizard robes. He had on a light-colored shirt underneath, orange in the glow of the candlelight.

"What is it, Ankar?" the small black-haired witch asked, turning to him.

"You have a visitor?" the man asked pleasantly.

"Apparently," she replied coldly. "A stupid little one of those so-called Death Eaters by the name of Draco Malfoy."

~

"Hermione!" Lavender bounded over and hugged her.

"We're glad you're safe," Seamus remarked from behind Lavender's shoulder.

It wasn't quite dawn yet when Hermione had just arrived back from Hogwarts. The warm greeting felt a bit more comforting than being in the castle with a vicious Death Eater. Hermione's knees still felt slightly weak from her unexpected meeting with Draco Malfoy.

"How did it go?" asked Dean.

"Alright. I found her," Hermione replied simply.

"Just so you know, we have an assignment tonight, a raid on the muggle thing," Dean continued. "And one on Monday night, too, Dumbledore wants us to find –"

"Dean, she doesn't want to know about that now." interrupted Padma, touching Hermione's arm concernedly. "Are you okay? You're all pale," 

"You look like you've just had an encounter with a ghost," observed Seamus.

"Or a boy," added Parvati, winking.

"Yeah," Lavender said somewhat sarcastically, "A really horrible one."

Unfortunately, Hermione thought, Parvati and Lavender's guess was closer. Which put her into a very tired mood. She excused herself and slumped to her bed, pulling the covers over her head. She reached over to Crookshanks, to try to fall asleep without imagining Draco Malfoy touching her.

"Hermione!" Lavender cried. Hermione winced as Lavender hopped into her room and sat down beside her on the bed and shook her. She did not want to talk to anybody. "Come on, you can't go to sleep! I know you're tired, but Harry and Ron are coming today!"

"Harry and Ron?" Hermione groaned. Yeah, right.

"I'm serious!" Lavender insisted. Hermione looked at her doubtfully.

"I don't believe you," she said flatly.

"I'm not joking, I swear!" Hermione surveyed her again. Lavender gave her an earnest smile. "Why would Harry and Ron come today?" she asked suspiciously.

"Well…it's because Dumbledore wants us together for that stupid raid," Parvati said apologetically. "But, still, you'll get to talk to them first. I know how much you miss them."

Hermione sat up. "They're really coming then? You're sure?"

Parvati laughed. "Of course!"

"Yes!" Hermione grinned ear-to-ear and hugged Parvati. She felt sorry for not wanting to be with her friends. Harry and Ron were coming! Hermione leapt out of bed. All the resentment and frustration and thoughts of Malfoy vented out of Hermione's system as she leapt out of the hall in a very un-Hermione-like way and treated herself to a shower. It was nowhere near as comfortable as the bathrooms in Hogwarts, but Hermione found it amazingly invigorating.

"Are you sure you don't want any make-up?" whined the bathroom mirror.

"Yes I do today!" Hermione cried. It was only Harry and Ron – she knew she was overreacting, but she hadn't seem them in weeks and she had no idea how much she missed them and – oh yes! They were visiting!

She put on lip-gloss, blush, and mascara. It was a lot for Hermione. She went downstairs for everyone to see.

"Whoa – Hermione – you look so pretty!" exclaimed Padma when she came downstairs. Hermione was dressed in a thick blue turtleneck sweater and denim flares.

"Are you wearing make-up?" asked Parvati in disbelief. "My make-up? Well, never mind, it looks great!"

The other three girls positively beamed. Hermione grinned again and sank into a chair. "When are they arriving?"

"Around noon." Dean said. "And it is for work."

"Oh, lighten up!" Padma scolded playfully, giving him a push in the shoulder.

Hermione sighed happily, her heart fluttering in excitement.

"I had no idea Harry and Ron visiting would excite you that much," grumbled Seamus. 

Noon came within a few quick hours. A stir from the fireplace told them that they had arrived. Hermione rushed to the front office. A dusty, redheaded young man walked out.

"RON!!!!!!" Hermione screamed. She ran up to him and threw herself into his arms.

"Hermione!" he gasped.

She buried her face in his shoulder because he was so tall. She hugged him so hard she thought she might have been suffocating him. "I missed you, I missed you, I missed you!" she murmured into his sweater. Ron wrapped his arms around her waist as well. The feel of Ron in her arms and his arms around her and the familiar smell of his skin was overwhelming.

"I've missed you, too," he managed to say. Hermione pulled herself away to survey his face. He hadn't changed much (it had only been a few weeks, just seemed much longer), he was still very freckly, with that bit of orange stubble on his chin, he still had that rough little boy look, and had he grown even taller? Hermione looked into his watery brown eyes and almost lost it. She reached over and planted a kiss on both his cheeks, causing him to flush bright red. I love you, I love you, I love you! She wanted to say. Ron! He was her brother, a best friend, almost more than -

"Hey, what about me?" Hermione looked and saw Harry standing behind Ron, 

"HARRY!!!" Hermione peeled herself away from Ron to throw herself at Harry. Harry grinned and spun her around in their hug.

"I've missed you, too!" she cried. Hermione leaned up and gave Harry a kiss on each cheek as well. Harry hadn't changed either; his hair was still messy, and he still had his glasses and green eyes. She loved them both so much…

"It's been a long few weeks, hasn't it?" asked a gentle, familiar voice. It was Remus Lupin.

Hermione realized that Dumbledore, McGonagall, Sirius, and Remus were all assembled in the room. She blushed, but was on a roll and happily gave each of them a hug as well. Soon it had contagiously spread and soon everyone was hugging everyone else.

"Now, don't forget, this isn't a time for a family reunion," McGonagall said with a small chuckle, reminding everyone what the real point of the visit was for.

"Of course not!" Hermione exclaimed, as they all went to sit down to discuss the assignment. Her whole body tingled with warmth. The war was miles away, it was too safe and happy with Harry and Ron there. She was with her family again. She caught both of their glances and they grinned at her. She broke into another glowing smile and couldn't help but sit lean closer to Ron as she sat between them. To her pleasure, Ron reached over and briefly squeezed her hand affectionately.

"Professor Dumbledore?" Ron asked politely. "Could I have a moment alone with Hermione?"

Dumbledore nodded, and Ron took Hermione by the hand out of the room.

"Hey 'Mione," he said softly. He was now holding both of her hands. Hermione watched him intently. She loved Ron, and she knew he loved her back, but did they did perhaps have feeling more than just the brotherly kind?

They stood there for a while, not speaking. It was a friendly silence, a moment for two friends to share. But why were they holding hands? And why did Ron look so slightly nervous?

"Look, 'Mione," he began. "Y-you're my best friend. Well, I mean I – " He trailed off and looked lost for words. Make him say it, Hermione thought to herself. Don't do anything. Just make him get through with it. It was the smart thing to do, make him say what he wanted to say. But Hermione could not resist hugging him. Ron seemed to relax.

Whether Ron thought they were 'just friends' or not remained stillborn.

~

Draco was tied to the wall by Cho's curse. Another man had joined them.

"Typical Death Eaters. You're so stupid, so blind! All you want is power – that fool, Voldemort, does he really think he can become immortal by killing innocent people? You think you can have that power by following him?" spat the shrill, feminine voice of Cho Chang. Draco looked warily at her. Her delicate oriental features were twisted into an ugly scowl. This was the Hogwarts Head Girl last year, the popular little goody-two shoes that used to play Draco at Quidditch.

"Who is he?" asked the first man curiously. He was tall one with dark-hair. He looked amused.

"Draco Malfoy, Lucius's son." Sneered the other. This one was shorter, with lighter hair.  "It's sewn into his robe pocket. I used to know them. He must be here to avenge us for the time we met them at Torchensend."

"I know who he is, Bardot," Cho said, softening a little. "And damn them. They must have sent him after me." She sighed. "But it doesn't matter anymore, I'm leaving."

"I can't believe you fear Voldemort, Cho," said the taller man.

"I don't fear Voldemort. Ankar, my parents are dead. I don't want to have anything to do with this stupid mortal war anymore," replied Chang.

Draco glowered at the three people in front of him. There was nothing he could say. He was in a humiliating position; anything he said would sound very stupid right now. How had Cho managed to curse him? He was one of the best duelers he knew; it was expected of a Malfoy. And who were the two men? They weren't Aurors, that was for sure. Something was strange about all three of them, something Draco couldn't really put a finger on. Their skin was the bright white of unicorns, but more hostile. Their eyes were dark and shrouded yet bright, and when they stood still, their facial features stood out dreamily, as if coming out of a romantic Renaissance painting like those Draco had seen in a magical museum. What was it?

Draco didn't like it. Maybe it had been stupid to follow Chang. But what the hell could he do? He had to find a way out.

"What do you suggest we do with him?" asked Ankar to Chang.

"I don't care," she answered savagely. "Lowlife, backstabbing Death Eater. It's just a stupid boy I went to school with. Take him, if you haven't fed yet. I'm leaving."

Draco felt a flare of anger at the insult. And what the hell did she mean by 'fed'?

Cho Chang exchanged a goodbye with the others and turned around and walked out of the door.

"He's young. He looks only about my age when…" Bardot began. "It would be a pity…"

The taller man, Ankar, walked up to Draco and looked him carefully in the eye, like a gentle uncle to a small nephew.

"Draco," he said softly. "Do you know who, or what, I am?"

Draco felt his eyes drawn to the man's beautiful face, refined manner and his light-colored lips, and fangs…? Then it hit him - 

"I am a vampire."

~

Another A/N: The fluffy little scene with Harry and Ron was not planned, it was written impromptu during a fit of joy ;) My references to the vampires will have some base to the rules set by Anne Rice in the Vampire Chronicles.