Chapter Thirty-Nine:

(A/N. I promise I don't plan out this cliffhangers just to make you die of anticipation for the next chapter! I just try to keep the story interesting! That's what you want, RIGHT??? Oh and Liz, yeah Laura told me about the camp and that's why I used the name! Haha!  Oh and Michelle I have not read Holes but the movie looks kind off bad…yeah…Anywho, enjoy the story!)

Draco strolled through the corridors of the Hogwarts school late one evening. His hands were in the pockets of his black pants and he wore a loose navy blue shirt that had its collar open, revealing Draco's pale, muscular chest. As he passed, many of the girls stared at him hungrily and covering their giggles with their hands. Draco ignored them and continued to swagger through the halls. Finally, he reached the abandoned room in the dungeons where he had agreed to meet Hermione in secret. He smiled as he walked in and saw her sitting in the newly cleaned room with a silver tray which held a small cake.

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Draco! Happy Birthday to you!" She sung and he guffawed loudly. She held out the cake and he blew out the candles.

"But my dear, it's not my birthday until tomorrow." He said and she rolled her chocolate eyes. She pulled out some plates and started to cut the cake.

"I know, but I wanted to celebrate it before…" She trailed off and he nodded, understanding what was left unsaid.

"I…" Draco began but no words came to him and he felt unusually lost. Hermione stopped what she was doing and came over to him. She wrapped her slender arms around his lean waist and rested her head on his chest.

"Sh. Let's pretend nothing is going to happen tomorrow and have fun today." She whispered and he nodded. She pulled away and reached under the desk she was using and pulled out a brightly wrapped box. Draco smiled and took it from her extended hands. Carefully he unwrapped it and found a small, beautifully carved mahogany box. He opened the lid and his eyes widened. Inside was a silver ring accented in gold. The design was two dragons clasping a fiery ruby in their intertwining hands.

"Thank you." He whispered and she smiled and kissed him tenderly. She pulled away and grinned at him.

"I cast as many spells of protection I could find on that ring. You know just in case…" She said and he nodded somberly. He pulled her close unable to push away the sensation of approaching doom.

"Yeah, just in case."

Hermione walked back to her room. She yawned and raised a hand to cover it. She was glad she had decided to celebrate Draco's birthday before. She couldn't shake of the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Soon. She turned the corner that would lead to the Gryffindor staircase, and froze. Standing before her was Lucius, resplendent in his dark robe. He twirled his cane elegantly and smiled maliciously.

"Hello, my dear. I've been looking forward to meeting you. The little slut that managed to seduce my son. Congratulations mudblood." He sneered. Hermione reached for her wand but Lucius was quicker. He took her hands and gripped them tightly, making Hermione wince.

"What do you want, Lucius?" She demanded, her voice icy and filled with hatred. Lucius smirked, the expression an eerie reminder of what his son could have grown to be.

"I want many things, you filthy girl. Namely having the honor of my son becoming the heir to the Dark Throne. You've ruined too may plans for me, I'm not going to let you ruin this plan."

"What are you going to do?" Hermione whispered fear gripping her like a cold hand. Lucius leered at her.

"I'm going to prove that my son doesn't love you." He growled, and then an idea seemed to occur to him. His face lost its hard edge and his grip on her hands loosened. "He does love you, doesn't he?" He asked softly. Hermione felt her anger fade and she wondered if the father could be redeemed as well.

"Yes, yes he does." She smiled. His gaze sharpened and his face regained his vicious look, his hands, regaining their death grip on her wrists.

"Good. Then I can force my plans back into motion. He will become a Death Eater. Nothing and no one can change that." Lucius snarled. He wiped out his wand and put it to her neck. "Sonorus." He dragged her away. Hermione tried to scream but no sound emerged from her lips. Tears streamed down her face. Lucius led her outside and through the school's grounds. Hermione's knees were bleeding by the timed they reached the forbidden forest from falling so many times

"No one can help you now, little Griffin. By this time tomorrow, you'll be dead." Lucius hissed as they walked through the dark trees. Hermione tried to get away from Lucius, but it was futie. Instead, she held her head high and kept her back straight. Her defiance seemed to annoy Lucius because he often hit her with his long, black cane. An hour or so later, Lucius stopped and dropped the silencing charm. Hermione knew it would be pointless to scream, they were in the heart of the forest by now.

"This won't work. Draco will resist whatever you throw at him." Hermione said with false bravado. To her surprise, Lucius laughed.

"How can he resist becoming a Death Eater, whem his other option is to let his true love die?" Lucius asked. Hermione stared at him in shock and horror. "Oh yes, my dear. You shall be the one thing that turns Draco away form the light. Apario." There was a flash of light and the dark forest faded away and Hermione's anguished scream was swallowed up by the magic that whisked her away.