I think there's a few people who didn't quite understand the last chapter, so I will explain: Lucius Malfoy put Draco under the imperius curse, so he controlled Draco's actions. That's why he kissed Pansy. But when he saw Hermione, he broke the curse and willingly (no one was controlling him this time, because he had broken the curse) he kissed her. If someone still doesn't understand please e-mail me and I'll try to explain it better.

Oh, and someone asked me a looooong time ago how old I was. I'm fourteen. Sorry for not answering sooner!

Ok, this chapter doesn't have much action… BUT it has to be this way in order for my next chapter to come out nicely. All my chapters are linked together, and, depending on how one goes, the next one will turn either exciting, or calm. Er… hope that made sense ^_^

And I am SO sorry for not updating sooner!! But we're starting with our tests again . *cries*

I'm surprised to many people signed up for the mailing list! Lol. I never thought so many people were interested… again, if you want to be in it, please say so in your review!

WOW!! 767 REVIEWS!! Lol. Thanks to Aindel, Girl-Named-Belle, Scarlett, Kate, She who is annoyed, SunshineMelody, sierradogbaby, TriGemini, freakyleaopard, *karly*, Nikki, SVZ, Rage, Sparkle-eyedDreamer, Sailor Moon Rose, Crystalline Lily, Lightning, sb1, willowwiccantara, Courtney, AngelEyes101, Blak n Blu, BlueBird, Elise Tucker, Draco Lover, hyper_shark, mainey, SophieBabe, Laura, ex-jlo, pamela, Brit, ashley, FiliaTheRyuuzoku, Steph, Shivohnsongbreeze, Proffesor Smith, Tom*Feltons*Babe, The Blue Flying lunch Box, _someOne, sierradogbaby, Guardian Storm Demon, Joanna, Sarah, oceanguardian, Cindylea, DMLvrMudbldHtr, sqt Pepper, Intuerimors, Ely-Baby, Silver Fawkes, JenCarpeDiem, Jayne Elizabeth, Unicorn777, fb90, hunnie angel, Fire Phoenix, Zeriae, Jasmine, kelsey, Crazee Croaky, iceangel, Vixie Pixie, Fire Demon, Starry Skies, Saiera, Demon Child, Anonymous, and SwimminisSweet676 for reviewing!! I love you guys! Lol.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Other citations will be made where necessary

****

When Lavender entered her room, she found Hermione lying on her bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hermione!" Lavender exclaimed, and quickly came over to her. "What's wrong?"

That only made Hermione cry harder, because, in her opinion everything was wrong.

Lavender sat by her patiently.

Then, between sobs, Hermione said, "Draco kissed me,"

"Shouldn't that make you happy?" Lavender asked.

Hermione shook her head madly. "Before that, he kissed Pansy,"

She started sobbing again. She put her face in her pillow, and, after a while, calmed down.

She looked up. "Why did he kiss me, Lavender?" she asked softly.

"Well, normally, if you kiss someones, it means you love them," Lavender suggested.

"Then why did he kiss Pansy? Does he love her, too?" she wiped away the few tears that were still going down her cheeks. "He can't love both of us. In fact," she sobbed. "He can't love me. I'm a Gryffindor, Pansy's a Slytherin…"

"But there must be a reason!" Lavender insisted.

"Well, I don't care what the reason is!" Hermione exclaimed. "But he's not going to go around making a fool of me!"

She put her fingers around the silver necklace Draco had given her, and threw it as hard as she could to the floor. It was as if she wanted to get rid of anything that might connect her to the Malfoys.

She looked out the window as the last rays of sun disappeared.

"What did your Joggart turn into?" she asked after a few minutes of silence, wanting to talk about something else.

That made Lavender grin. "You really can't tell?"

Hermione smiled. "Ron,"

Lavender nodded, and then added, casually, "Do you know, by any chance, what his Jogart turned into?"

"He said it turned into candy. But I don't think that's true,"

"Oh," Lavender sounded dissapointed, and looked at the floor, biting her bottom lip.

Now it was Hermione's turn to cheer her up. "Come on, Lavender, I know you can conquer Ron's heart!"

It worked. Lavender smiled. "Thanks,"

Just then, Parvarti entered the dormitory, and stretched. "I'm tired…" she explained, seeing Hermione's face. "Hey Lavender, let's go down to dinner,"

Lavender got up from the bed, and smiled at Hermione. "If you need anything, just tell me," she said, and walked out of the room with Parvarti by her side.

If she needed anything?

She needed Draco, that's what she needed.

She looked at the necklace again. There was that cold, silver snake around the letter M, lying on the floor, helpless.

She sighed, and picked it up again. Slowly she put it around her neck, and felt the M with her fingers. "I hate you," she whispered.

But, in the deepest corner of her heart, she knew it wasn't true.

***

At dinner, Hermione couldn't bring herself to look at the Slytherin table.

She could've gone without dinner, but to avoid any sort of questioning from Harry and Ron, she acted as normally as she could.

Which wasn't enough.

At least, not for Harry.

He had known something was wrong the minute he had glanced at Hermione. She wasn't her cheery self. She wasn't smiling, wasn't laughing… she wasn't the Hermione he knew.

In the common room Hermione didn't participate much in the conversations they usually had before going to bed.

"I'm going to bed," she finally said, getting up.

"So soon?" Harry wanted to know. "Aren't you feeling well?"

"Well, I…"

Harry reached out, got her by the wrist, and sat her down by his side. "I want to talk to you," he whispered.

Reluctantly she nodded.

Once the common room was empty, and they had convinced Ron to go to sleep, Harry turned to her. "What's wrong?"

Hermione tried to look surprise. "Nothing's wrong, Harry,"

Harry's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her closely. "Yes, there is," he insisted. "You've barely talked since you came back from seeing Malfoy-"

"How did you know I saw him?" she cut him off.

"The look on your face when you left the common room, as if there was something you needed to see terribly,"

Hermione blushed and looked away.

Harry got her hand in his.
Hermione looked at him, startled.

"Tell me what troubles you, 'mione," he said softly, rubbing her hand with his finger.

Somehow this affectionate gesture made her cry again. The tears began to go down her cheeks.

She cried softly. Not hard, but softly.

Harry held her hand the whole time, and didn't make a sound. The fire crackled, heating the room. The once sunny sky had clouded, and the rain was tapping against the windows gently, as if the sky were crying, too. And together sat the two friends, one sobbing, the other remaining respectfully silent.

Finally Hermione calmed down, and she couldn't help telling Harry.

"My Joggart turned into Draco," she began. Her cheeks and nose were red from crying, and her eyes were watery. "If a Joggart turns into a person, it means love,"

Harry didn't make any sign of emotion. He continued to silently stare.

"Today I saw him kissing Pansy Parkinson," surprisingly, Hermione didn't feel embarrased while she told this to Harry. It seemed perfectly natural to her, and she knew Harry wouldn't laugh. He'd understand. But retelling the story was painful… it was as if she were living it over again.

She was finally finished, though, and she felt better, as if she had just taken off something really heavy from he shoulders.

For a moment they stood silent.

"Well, thanks for telling me," Harry said finally. "I was really beginning to worry,"

Hermione smiled. "Thanks for worrying,"

She leaned her head on Harry's shoulder, and soon she was fast asleep.

***

"HARRY! HERMIONE!" Ron yelled at the top of his lungs.

Hermione opened her eyes and sat up drowsily. She looked around her. "Oh no! Don't tell me I've slept in the common room!"

Ron looked strangely at her.

Harry opened his eyes and stretched.

They were both still sitting on the sofa. In the fireplace there was only ember covered in ashes, and the first rays of light were lighting the room.

"So what, may I ask, were you two doing sleeping on the common room's sofa?" Ron demanded.

Hermione looked at Harry, wondering just what were they doing here.

"Well, er…" he looked at Ron. "Hermione and I stayed up talking last night,"

Ron looked strangely at them again. "Well, I better dress up," he eyed them. "Not that you'll need to do so, as you still have yesterday's clothes on."

He left.

Hermione looked at Harry. "Why didn't you wake me?" she asked.

He shrugged again. "You just fell asleep resting your head on my shoulder, and I didn't dare move, because you might wake up. I didn't want you to wake, because, after such an exciting day, it was a miracle you slept so soundly,"

She smiled. "Thanks, then,"

She stood up and yawned. "I'm going to take a shower. You should go to your room," she advised him. "Everyone's going to come down soon,"

Harry nodded and stood up. "See you at breakfast,"

***

After that, Harry was almost always with Hermione. He accompanied her everywhere, talked to her, made her laugh. He was like her bodyguard.

And Hermione appreciated it, because that prevented Draco from getting near her. Besides, Harry took her mind off Draco. So they spent a lot of time together.

This really bothered Draco, of course.

He watched from afar as she and Potter talked and laughed.

I could be doing that, he thought glumly one day in potions, if my Father hadn't come along and ruined everything.

Pansy, who was sitting next to him, pinched him playfully. "How come you don't pay attention to me anymore?"

Draco decided not to tell her about the imperious curse, because, if he did, she would probably tell her parents, and her parents would tell his.

But of course, his father knew.

Draco had broken the curse, so his father was bound to know, as he was the one controlling him.

Now it was just a matter of time before he made another move.

"Huh?" Pansy insisted.

She's still wearing the necklace I gave her, he observed.

"Draco!" Pansy kicked him. "Are you listening to me?"

Draco resisted the urge to kick her back, and simply stared. "What?"

"I said, why aren't you paying attention to me?"

"I'm listening to Snape," he said through gritted teeth.

Pansy raised her eyebrows. "Is Snape more important to you than me?" she asked sweetly.

Draco really didn't want to answer that one, so he just looked away and started writing.

I need to talk to Hermione, he kept on thinking.  I need to explain to her everything that's been going on.

"Mr. Malfoy," Snape said. "Could you please tell us what polyjuice potions are for?"

Draco looked up. This was such an easy question. "When someone drinks the potion they turn into someone else, as long as they have added a hair, or a nail, or anything else, from that someone else,"

"Excellent," Snape said. "Ten points for Slytherin,"

Draco looked at Hermione again, and caught her eye. She turned away sharply.

He definitely needed to talk to her.

***

It went on like this.

Harry and Hermione went everywhere together, Draco watched from afar with jealousy, and at the same time he had to avoid Pansy.

On and on.

January passed, and soon they were into February.

One day Draco came to think that Harry was in love with Hermione, and wanted her all for himself.

The next day, he was sure she was in love with him too.

He couldn't stand it.

So, one day, he saw her walking down the corridor.

Alone.

For a moment he hesitated. They hadn't talked for so long, hadn't made eye-contact… but he had to do it.

"Hermione," he said.

She looked at him and, for the first time from what seemed ages, they looked into each other's eyes.

It was so familiar.

For a moment Draco thought he saw happiness in her eyes.

But she looked away, turned around, and walked the other way.

No. He wouldn't let her go!

Draco walked quickly, and blocked her way. "Hermione, listen to me…"

"I don't remember ever saying you could talk to me," she answered sharply.

"You never said I couldn't," he reminded her.

She gave him an angry stare, dodged him, and started walking away again.

Draco was beginning to get angry.

He blocked her way again. "Hermione, please just listen to me!"

"Why should I?" she asked loudly. "Why should I listen? Why should I talk to you?"

"I want to explain what happened the other day, why I was kissing Parkinson,"

Right at that moment, Pansy appeared. She took Draco's arm and looked at Hermione with a look that clearly stated 'Back Off'

"He did it because he loves me," Pansy informed her.

Now Draco thought he saw sadness in Hermione's eyes.

"Well, I would love to listen to your explanation, Draco, but I see you're busy," she started to walk away but, just as she passed Pansy, she stopped next to her, and intentionally added, "It would be very pleasing to know why I saw you kissing her," she looked at Pansy. "And then why you kissed me,"

And, happily leaving an astonished Pansy behind, she left.

Pansy looked at Draco, her mouth dropping open, with a stare full of pure anger.

Oh no, Hermione, Draco thought. What have you done?

He was in trouble.

***

Hermione walked into the common room angrily.

She looked around. Ron and Lavender were sitting on a couch, in a deep conversation.

Harry was out practicing quidditch.

There was nothing that could take her mind off Draco.

Except homework.

She sat down on the nearest chair and set her things on the desk.

But, for once, she didn't feel like doing her homework. Instead she stood up and looked out the window. Far away, in the quidditch field, she could see little red dots flying about. Obviously the Gryffindor team.

I need some fresh air, she decided.

So while Draco tried to avoid Pansy in the dungeons, Hermione got her cloak and went down the stairs, and out of the castle. She went down to the lake, and rested her back against a tree, watching the sun going down.

Innocently she stood, without knowing all the trouble that was to come.

***

The next day, Pansy acted oddly… nice.

She didn't bother Draco, didn't demand his attention, didn't hug him.

Nothing.

When Draco had been about to go out the common room to have some breakfast, she had been sitting on one of the couches.

When she saw him, she only rised her eyes briefly from the book she was reading and said, "Oh, hi Draco,"

That was it.

Of course, this was highly suspicious.

Maybe something was wrong.

So, when he saw his Father that afternoon, he was sure something was wrong.

Lucius Malfoy was walking out of the library.

"Father?" Draco asked in an astonished tone of voice.

Lucius stared at him as if he were something disgusting. "Draco,"

"What are you doing here?" Draco demanded.

He was here to casue trouble. He could feel it. His eyes were colder than usual, he looked strangely happy… and he only came to Hogwarts when something was wrong.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think that was any of your business, boy."

People were starting to whisper amongst themselves. After all, it was the first time they saw Lucius Malfoy in person.

"You're here for trouble, aren't you?"  Draco went on. "I broke the imperius curse, and you're here for more. Well, it won't work. I know how to break it now,"

"Hush," his father commanded. "I have no intention whatsoever of putting you under any curse,"

That's when Draco noticed that Hermione was walking towards them. Heading towards the library, no doubt.

"Ah," Lucius said as Hermione passed by. "Is this Miss Granger?"

Hermione stopped, and looked from Draco to Lucius, as if they were both in on a plan to do something against her.

"Now, don't worry, I wasn't insulting you," Lucius said. It wasn't a soothing voice. It was more of a mocking one. "You see, I've heard so much about you. I wanted to finally see you,"

Hermione gave one last angry stare at Draco, and left them both standing at the door.

Lucius smiled unpleasantly, and left.

What was going on?

What was his father doing here?

And what did he want?

There's only one way to find out, he thought.

And that was to follow his Father.

So that's what he did, all afternoon. His father, though, didn't do anything suspicious. He walked around the castle, walked around the castle grounds, and even greeted Dumbledoor. Draco didn't get caught. Since he was very little he'd had to sneak around their mansion, either to find something out, or to look for something important.

He was used to it, and he had trained himself to be quick and silent.

Once Lucius had walked around the castle for a while longer, he returned to the library. Draco followed, and hid behind one of the many bookshelves.

Lucius had stopped in front of a desk, and he was looking at a book that was resting on it. "This should be interesting…" he said as he took the book into his hands, and put it in his pocket.

Then he walked out of the door, and Draco started following once again.

His father went out of the castle and got into a carriage that was obviously waiting for him. Draco recogniced it as one of their carriages, the big, dark ones they had at home.

As he watched the carriage leaving, there was only one question running through his mind: Why had his father come?

***

It was evening when his question was answered. He was in his room, doing his homework, when he heard something tapping his window. He turned sharply around and there he found his eagle owl, tapping the glass madly.

Draco stood up and opened the window, letting in both his owl and a cold gust of air.

The owl flew to Draco's chair, and held its leg out, from which hung a letter.

Draco unwrapped it from its leg, ad the owl flew out of the window, which was still open.

Draco unfolded the letter, and immediately recognized his father's writing.

Draco,

I am on my way back to our mansion. You're probably wondering why I visited that filthy school. Well, I'll ask you this: Have you seen that Granger lately?

Draco felt as if his stomach had suddenly emptied. These were not good news. He kept on reading.

I'm afraid you won't be seeing her for long. Why? Because she's right here, with me. Locked up tight in a book. The Malfoy Book.

Draco felt anger rising up inside him. The Malfoy book. The Malfoy book! Hermione was locked inside its pages! How could this be? How had his father dared to do such a thing?

Yes, Draco. Your little mudblood friend was foolish enough to open it. Curiosity killed the cat, didn't it? I'm afraid she was too nosy. But don't worry, she'll be fine. She can wander around the pages forever. She will be with the Malfoys for eternity.

Lucius

Draco's hands started trembling, and he ripped up the letter into little pieces.

Hermione. Hermione was gone. She wasn't at Hogwarts. She was in one of the worst places to be: the Malfoy Book.

"I've got to get her back," Draco told the empty room. "I'm going to get her back!" He didn't exactly know how he would do it, but he was certain he would.

But first, much to his own displeasure, he had to tell Potter and Weasley.

*****

Ok, so not much happened in this chapter, but the next one will have more things, I promise! Don't worry, I'll explain everything you need to know about he Malfoy Book in the next chapter, but I'm leaving it like this for suspense. And, again, I apologice for taking so long with this chappie! Please review ^_^