Disclaimer ~ Roses are red, and violets are blue

                        Sugar is sweet and so are you.

                        But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead

                        The sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.

                        If you have not learned what I strove to tell,

                        I don't own Harry Potter, so go to hell.

~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Falling Head Over Heels

The Story of Hermione Granger and

Her relationship with Draco Malfoy

By: Befuzzled

Chapter Thirty-one ~ Knight to G7

"Prayed for an angel

 To come at night and shed some sweet light on me

Found only strangers and then you came to me

Just when I'd given up

You gave me love

My world was tumblin' down

You turned it around baby.."

~Kelly Clarkson~

The mixed group of men and boys strategized through the night making their way around the perimeter of the Malfoy estate.  While it sat in the middle of an intimidating 115 acres of manicured land, it was by no easy task to get to the manor without being detected.  They were all forced to follow Draco Malfoy step for step, scraping through bushes, tip-toeing through flower beds laden with lilies and tulips, and along specified stone path ways. If one of Malfoy's feet touched down in a place, when it was removed it was immediately replaced with one of Ron's, then Ron's footprints were covered by the soles of Harry's shoes, the Remus, and Sirius.  It was a long process and they were taking tedious care.  Malfoy had told them to follow him closely but he didn't realize how precise they were actually being.

When they had made up about half the distance to the house, they regrouped in a clump of trees that were plotted around a lake.  They were trying to make the important decision if they were going to storm the manor during the day, and risk themselves being spotted before their arrival at the doors, or hoping that Hermione could handle herself for another day and make a day camp to rest in the trees.  It was turning out to be quite a big debate, divided by age; Lupin and Black trying to use logic to keep the high-tempered Ron and Harry to stay in the group of trees, for the day.

"Harry, Ron, we are all tired.  We have not slept in a day.  How much of your body is working on adrenalin and how much of your brain had shut off?" Remus countered once again, and he was immediately met by protest.

"Moony, you don't know what they're doing to her in there.  She could be chained to the wall, being beaten with wooden sticks, or starving.  Who knows maybe she's suffering 'Crucio" right now, and you want us to just stop and leave her there.  They probably were not willing to let her keep her wand, so it not like she has any defenses.  I know you are trying to be 'smart' about this, but who does Hermione have to wait on and how long can we possibly afford to leave her in there.  They obviously took her for a reason, so let's get her back before they can use her."  In Ron's mind everything made sense to him.  They would go in, find Hermione, stun some deatheater's, and leave while they weren't expecting it.  Moony and Padfoot were just trying to let Hermione suffer, although they didn't mean to intentionally.

"Ron, we have to trust Hermione's intelligence on this one," Sirius started.  "She's the smartest witch any of us know; let us hope that if any of us could work ourselves into the safest position possible in this situation it would be her.  I don't know if this necessarily applies to this situation, but from my experiences of running from the ministry, you can cover more ground when they can't see you.  If we try to sneak up to that place now, somebody is sure to spot us, and then how will we help Hermione?  We have to take the less obvious approach on this one.

"Hermione has dealt with these types of people before.  She's helped you both out of many situations before; she knows what she's doing.  It's our job to get her from this hell safely, but we can't do that if we're chained up somewhere.  Now please, let's just stay here and rest until its dark again.  It will be the longest twelve hours of your life, but they will all serve a purpose, if we can't sleep that Draco might be able to explain some of what we should expect going into the castle."

Dejectedly Ron and Harry finally nodded in their surrender.  They really were quite ready to storm into the Manor and take their friend from whoever thought they had the right to take her away from them.  They kind of felt guilty because they had fallen for the fake Hermione.  Bloody Poly Juice potion.  Bloody Pettigrew.  It was him under the spell of the potion.  He was playing the decoy for another one of Voldemort's plans.  He was however the person who had confirmed the real Hermione's whereabouts once the potion had worn off.  He wasn't willing to spill all he knew willingly but with the help of an extremely small amount of the truth potion he had told them all they wanted to know.  When they had left the castle he was magically chained and bound with the spells of four fully-qualified wizards.  They were awaiting the return of Hermione before calling in the Aurors and the Ministry they didn't want to wave a red flag and alert the girl's capturers.

Amidst their heated battle of what they were going to do the group had neglected to notice that Draco had been extremely quiet and not picking sides.  Now in the subsidized agreement, his silence finally became apparent.  He was sitting with his eyes glazed over leaning against a tree.  He had a set look of determination on his face that no one could exactly read, and he was mumbling to himself again.  It was like a scene from the "Exorcist" or some horror cinema of that sort.

Harry reached over to touch his arm to see if he was okay but immediately retracted his hand.  "He's bloody hot!  What do you think the matter's with him?"

"I'm afraid Dumbledore warned us about this – he's connecting with Hermione," Remus explained vaguely.

"WHAT?!" the two other teenage boys questioned.

"A few months ago cast a protection spell on each other, they were worried about Lucius finding out about, erm, something."

"Their relationship?  Hermione told us about that awhile ago.  What does the spell do," Harry encouraged.

"Well it was some side effect from the spells, or maybe the potion but they basically connected with an emotional link.  They can feel when the other is distressed or in pain or extremely elated.  This side effect is usually very rare."

"Then why did they get it?" Ron asked, "Is it a bad thing?"

"No, no quite the opposite actually, it's a sign that their Protection charms on each other were quite powerful and strong.  They fact that he was still able to connect to her from the school to this place, with all the spells and enchantments on both is quite a feat.  The connection must be stronger now that are in such a close proximity."

They all turned back to Draco, trying to make some sense of his mutterings and being very unsuccessful.

~*~

Hermione awoke pretty early the following morning, felling more refreshed and energized then she thought would be possibly.  She was planning for the event that she would be groggy and tired this morning, not a good combination when you are trying to come back with witty and graceful remarks to two of the most intelligent, albeit evil mind on that side of the Atlantic, and in all likeliness, at least in some standard of the world. 

Even with the new found energy that poured through her veins the day was still not going to be easy.  She had to find someway to escape.  She had been hoping Draco, if not Harry and Ron would have come for her the night before, but alas they probably did not know where she was.  She felt certain that they were looking for her they just didn't know where to start. 

Up until this morning she had felt resoundingly weaker, probably because Draco's strength wasn't able to pass from him to her, she had grown so accustomed to having his support and endurance for everything that she went through now, that she had been slightly disoriented with out it.  She assumed that she was now feeding off of his belonging that resided in this house.  She could almost sense what was his, what was his mother, compared to the artifacts and merchandise that belong to his father.

Hermione gave once last stretch before climbing out of the bed; it had been so warm and comfortable.  She adjusted the night gown quickly and then folded back the blanket of the bed.  They probably had house elves to do that but she wanted to look appreciative and submissive, managing to do all the sucking up she could without being to obvious. 

Obvious. That was the key word for the day.  It was her goal to gather as much information as she could without being obvious. Well it was at least until Draco came to rescue her.  She mentally slapped herself. 

She had for the innumerable time forgotten to mention Harry and Ron in her thought about the rescue effort.  She knew they were probably just as worried about her as Draco was but for some reason she just didn't feel like she needed all three of them there for her, where Ron and Harry had been perfect before, just Draco was sufficient now.  Granted, she would still thanks them with plenty of hugs, and there would probably be some crying involved but when the first reunion occurred, she would probably then retreat to solely Draco's comforting arms.

Hermione shook her head as she pulled open the heavy curtain letting in the light of the rising sun.  She then made her way to the wardrobe where Lucius said an outfit would be waiting for her, and indeed it was.  She pulled out a richly decorated dress, it reminded her of something from the early 1900s, with all the different parts she knew it would be a complicated process to put on but never the less it was a beautiful dress.  Even the color, although black, was rich with unplanned highlights and low lights in the hand dyed and woven fabric that reflected off the contrasting white pieces.

Hermione held the dress in front of her as she looked into the full length mirror that she had found in the closet.  It would be just her size.  She didn't know if there was anything behind why the dress was chosen, if there any significance at all, it was just a lovely dress, more suitable for a mask ball in this day in age but lovely all the same.

She twirled around the room with the dress still held up to her, and as she did she noticed an extra door that she hadn't noticed the night before.  That might have been because it was partially hidden behind the screen and with the dim lighting from the previous evening, it hadn't particularly popped out.  She hung the dress up back up on the hook, now curious to what the mysterious door led to.

She opened it, and to her amazement was a beautifully furbished bathroom.  Deep down it excited her. She had not taken a relaxing bath since before she found Draco's sister for him.  That particular trio, consisting of herself, Draco, and Hermia, had spent almost the entire Eater Holiday together.  That wasn't a bad thing of course, it just had not left her time to relax and enjoy the break with some of the solitude se was normally accustomed to.

She now was anxious to experience a bubble bath with the sweet scented bubbled or even a long luxurious shower.  She just didn't know if she was technically allowed.  She was after all supposed to be a prisoner and enjoying the comforts of a resort were not usually what the description entailed.  Granted she could probably come up with a plausible excuse for her using the amenities provided if she were too happened to be caught or asked about it, she just didn't know how far she wanted to push her luck.  She didn't know how long she would be forced to stay here and didn't want to use up all her resources right away.

In the end after a fierce internal debate she found herself filling up the tub with warm water and scents of sandalwood and rose wafted through the air.  Hermione delicately took off her provided nightdress and adroitly folded it and placed it on an ataman and also sported several novels.  Hermione, however much against her usual character, took no notice to them and quickly climbed into the tub, letting out an exhausting breath as the warm water eased her muscles and relax her.

She made sure to wash out her hair, it could never go to long without getting washed before it went all bushy and frizzy like it had been just last year.  It was never a pretty sight and it left her feeling less confident.  Humidity did it too, so when her hair was just unmanageable it would end up in a messy bun or some simple twist her mother had taught her.  But as of now she didn't have to worry about that minor detail as the recently washed curls floated on the surface of the bath as Hermione fell into a light sleep, the bubbles tickling her nose as the floated throughout the space.  She was however awoken a little while later by a voice.

"I see you found the bathroom."

She looked up quite surprised to see somewhere there and highly disappointed that this would mean the end to her bath.  She begrudgingly nodded, making eye contact with the man, hoping that he would go away and leave her be for just a bit longer.  "Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I hope you don't mind, my hair was in quite a state and the bath just looked so inviting."

"Not at all," he said with a sickeningly sweet smile on his face, which Hermione countered with her own nauseating grin.  "I placed your dress behind the certain for when you come out to change. I assumed you might need some help with many of the pieces so I came to see if you were in a state of struggle."

Hermione forced out a meek laugh, "Not yet, but I did see the dress, it's quite beautiful.  Are you sure you don't mind me wearing it, I could just put on my clothes from yesterday."

"No, it's no trouble at all."

"You're too kind Mr. Malfoy.  Could I possibly just savor this bath a while longer, I will be out in just a moment?"

"Of course.  I shall be waiting out in your room.  I believe once you are ready that My Lord would like to meet with you again."

"Oh I couldn't possibly," Hermione gushed, "I've had time to think about my behavior from last night and I was just awful.  I surprised it didn't kill me just from my lack of respect and knowledge of social status."

"Not at all.  I believe he was quite amused by your display.  Not many people stand up to him, especially adolescent girls.  You were quite the challenge; he was impressed by your wit and ability to think on the spot."

Hermione forced herself to look abashed, "Really?"

"Yes, now enjoy the last few minute of your bath, today will be a monumental day."  With that the elder Malfoy took his leave.

'A Monumental day', Hermione wondered, what could he possibly mean by that?

~*~

Lucius couldn't help but laugh as he stepped away from the bathroom door.  The girl was trying to sell herself to him, he didn't know what she thought she would accomplish, but it was humorous to him that she should she could buy her way out of her predicament.  Still she had not openly offered herself but she nevertheless was shamelessly flirting with him – imagine a girl that could and in all probability should be dated his son with flirting with him.

Something had changed about the girl in the past few years, she had grown and matured much faster then her other teenage counter parts.  He knew she had always been talented with her magic, and she was a great deal more dedicated to her gained craft, she was no doubt incredibly smart, but now there was something else.

Before he gathered the picture of a shy girl that had hid herself behind her intelligence, books, and even her choice of friends, picking the two that would probably make the most trouble and attract the most attention to them.   She still managed to get a glow but retracted herself out from the harsh and heavy lime light.

There was that one occasion when Draco was in forth year, when he claimed that the girl got more mail that even Potter or that Viktor Krum fellow, but it was all hate mail!  She seemed to have gotten herself caught up in a love triangle and apparently had broken Potter precious heart.  He would have loved to see how she had reacted, she probably burned all the damn things, that or filed them all neatly away to use as references further in her life.

And she was clearly different from the time he met her in the book shop, preceding her second year.  She surely had been a mousey little know it all, quite aggravating.  Of course he had seen her at various Quidditch matches and throughout the Tri-Wizard Tournament, but he was never really in close contact and almost ceremoniously was distracted by Potter or in fact his own son, fitted perfectly into his theory about her.

For the life of him he could not pin point what was different about her.  She was acting so open and willing, but he felt that she was acting guarded, like there something she was hiding, but all that could attribute to the very idea that she was going to be of Lord Voldemort's uses.

He himself didn't exactly know why the Dark Lord was so keen about having her.  He had to be explained her qualities, which was how he formulated his hypothesis about her.   His Lord was always knowing things that he could not get information too, he had so many informants, that all snuck around the continent penetrating to the inside scoop like house-elves moving stealthily through the mansions they maintained.

He was Voldemort's abilities to outsmart people and the offers of power, that lead him greedily to the intercircle of the most feared cult in all of Europe.  He didn't necessarily like the fact that he had to serve someone, or the fact that even after seventeen years, this acclaimed 'power' had still not reached him, but he had faith.  His Lord had yet to be defeated even with so many working against him.

He hoped that Hermione Granger would finally be the key to the rise of the Dark Side.  And if she was he would allow her to the full pleasure of being accepted among the Malfoys, she could go after Draco like she had insisted she wanted the night before.  His son in the very least had to find her beautiful and smart, so the only thing holding him back would be her association with Potter, who hopefully wouldn't be a problem after long, and of course her blood, but look what had become of Tom Marvolo Riddle.

His thoughts were interrupted as Hermione stepped from behind the closed door in only towel, and another wrapped around her hair.  He watched her as she stepped behind the changing screen, and he studied her silhouette as she shook her hair loose from the confining towel.  He was still marveling at her figure as she dropped the other towel and slipped the dress over her head.

She twisted her hair up and secured it with a pin before stepping out from behind the screen.  "Mr. Malfoy," she started sweetly making his name sound like a sticky bun, "would it be possible for you to lace me up?"

"Of course, come here my dear."  Lucius Malfoy and directed Hermione to hold on to one of the poles of the four poster bed.  "How tight do you want it?"

"Well I would very much like to still be able to breath, but other than that as tight as you could get it."

He made a quick jerk on the string pulling the cord tightly; she let out a gasp of air.  "Too tight?"  All she did was shake her head.  The process was repeated several times down her back.  It was probably tighter than she wanted, but he knew she probably would not call him on it.

"Are you ready to meet with Voldemort?" he questioned her as she turned around to lean against the post she was just hanging on to.  Lucius remembered why he had picked this dress, it dipped rather low and with how tight it was tied, he was able to view an ample about of cleavage; they idea had been extremely boyish he knew, but he was going to get some pleasure, since she was throwing herself at him.

She shook her head again.  "Why not?"

"My hair, it's a mess and look at me, I'm so pale and colorless, I'm embarrassed standing in front of you," she said ducking her head for emphasis.

"You're really are rather quite appealing in your natural state but if you would like some make-up and your hair done, it could be arranged."

Her eyes perked up, "Really?  I would do it myself but I don't have my wand."

"That's not a problem at all.  Here I'll do it."  He muttered a few spells and instantly her needs were met.  "By the way, where is your wand?  I know I didn't take it from you, I was instructed not to."

~*~

"Malfoy are you all right?  You been out of it for a while," Harry started. Draco's eyes had once again become clear, losing that sheen from its previous cloudiness.  A few minutes ago he had stopped his random mutterings, and was now sitting relaxed against the tree with a sly smile against his face.

He knew something Potter and Weasley didn't, about Hermione, and he was cherishing the moment.  Earlier when they were squabbling about when to attack his home he had taken the moment to concentrate on Hermione to see if the closer proximity seemed to increase their ability to connect, and he was happily please that it had.

He had sensed the changes in himself when she left; he was more bitter and hot headed.  He had snapped at many unsuspecting victims in his worry and haste.  But now, he felt different, a special calm he thought he picked up from Hermione has once again washed over him.

He noticed that the other people in the trees were giving him strange looks; he wanted to wait to reply to them, to claim he was exhausted and needed a nap, but he also knew that these people cared about Hermione as well.  Although he could not believe anyone loved her more then him, they certainly had known her longer, thus giving them some right to know about her condition.  And they were after all helping him, he couldn't be seen by his father or any other Deatheater that would surely blow his and Hermione's cover, and that still could not be risked, especially if it hadn't been uncovered already.

"Malfoy are you getting sick?  You were burning up earlier," Ron prompted trying to get him to talk.

Draco stared blankly at him.  He of course knew what it was from but he hadn't ever realized that he transferred what he was feeling to other people as well.  It was kind of confusing for him, the whole spell confused him.  He knew they had done all the research possible but he still knew so little about the predicament he had placed himself and Hermione in.  The potion and spell had so many unknown side effects, granted they weren't horrible or painful, in a sense, but it was unnerving for him not to have complete control of himself, there were some things that he didn't want Hermione to have to experience, second hand or not.

"Oh was I? How odd.  I don't believe I'm getting sick but if I am Madame Pomfrey can sort me out when we get back."  They were all still staring at him.  He sort of liked the attention but he also knew that they would all need their rest if they were going to be able to rescue Hermione safely; they had to have their wits about them.  He was stuck was a bunch of bloody Gryffindors, he knew they were all brave, but they were going to go for the only intelligent one of the whole lot.

"I suppose you all want to know how Hermione is."

He was met with the four most hilarious expressions he had ever seen all screaming 'Duh you idiot' or 'Get on with it you dolt'.  He couldn't help himself and he started cracking up.  He knew this was hard for them, he knew Hermione was safe and well, for now, but they were all still under the belief that she could possibly getting tortured right now, and he knew how much stress he would be under if he was living with that thought about her.

"I'm sorry," he said with a little remorse.  "Hermione is fine, still in a little shock I believe, but coping none the less.  I think I first connected with her while she was still sleeping, she seemed comfortable, and she wasn't cold so I don't believe that they are keeping her in the dungeon."  Draco paused as they let out a collected sigh of relief.

"Is there anything else?  Did you see anything?"

"Sorry Weasley our connection hasn't allowed us to see what the other person sees, just their emotions.  When she woke she was determined about something, I don't know what, but knowing Hermione as we do she probably plotting her own escape.   But that only lasted for a few minute before she was extremely shocked by something, but it was a good shock she seemed severely pleased with it, like a kid in a candy shop or you two at Christmas, trust me I've heard stories," he quickly interjected before the two young Gryffindors could protest.

"The next emotion I got came with a feeling as well, she got very relaxed and warm.  I think she was taking a bath.  But that seemed so odd; I mean she was kidnapped wasn't she? But she's not harmed or anything, in fact I think she's being spoiled."

"Well maybe they couldn't get her wand away from her-"

"No, she doesn't have it, I do.  I had carried it in my clock pocket when we went to drop Hermia back off at the orphanage.  Hermione was afraid she would hex the place so I held it for her, I never gave it back."

"Well,"  Remus interjected, making an attempt at analyzing the situation," I do believe that they have a use for Miss Granger, other than a ploy or a decoy, they wouldn't have needed her happy for either of those.  There's probably more to this situation then any of us could have predicted."

"Do you think they, um, know about us, could that be why thy have her?"

"It's possible Mr. Malfoy, but if she is as happy as you're sensing then I doubt it.  I would think the if your father found out he would be punishing her-"

At almost that instant Draco put his hand up to his chest and made a coughing sound. He recovered and then there was another pull.  "I think they're tying her to something or something to her," he coughed out, the sudden tightness in his chest still effecting him.

"Where?" asked Lupin.

"It's mostly tight on the sides like she's being constricted by something."

The older man thought for a moment, while pacing through the trees.  "You said she was in a bath, right?" Draco nodded. "Well, this is just a theory, but say your father provided her some clothes, what style would he give her."

"Well if his pampering her some type of dress – dresses that lace up in the back!"  It was a long shot but unless Hermione was experiencing anymore pain they were going to stick with the theory that it was just a tightly laced dress.

Sirius finally spoke up again, "I know were all still a bit anxious and what not but I do believe that we need to get some sleep.  I think shifts would best.  I'll take the first one, you all get some sleep."

"Sirius, wake me up next, we'll need you for this to you know," Harry said while bunching up his robe into a pillow.  "Just wake me whenever you get tired.

~*~

Hermione was decidedly nervous as she allowed Lucius to lead her through the hallways of his home.  She was enraptured by the wonderful architecture and artwork displayed through the house now that she got a chance to look at it.  The night before it had been dark and she was concentrating while flirting and covering up her mistake about mentioning Draco while he held her in his arms.

She knew she should be concentrating on the upcoming meeting more than the layout of the Manor but she could not help herself, she still got this way while walking through the Hogwarts Castle.  The floor plans and old, rich style of both buildings mesmerized her; they were so unlike the traditional style of houses now, so boring, so boxy, and so uniformed.

She knew that she would have to hire someone to customize any house that she built in the future; she didn't want the going style, nor did she want to have the latest trends.  She was one of the few that liked the old European style.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Lusius trying to make conversation.  "Why are you so quiet my dear?  Nervous?"

Hermione nodded.  "I still feel somewhat guilty about last night's events, and somehow out of place.  I miss Hogwarts a great deal, if not the people than certainly the classes.  As you already know we just had a break, and I think a week away from classes is more than enough. And to be quite honest, I'm starting to feel a bit lonely."

"Lonely?"

"Yes Sir," she nodded again.  "Although you are great company, I miss Harry and Ron, and of course the other Prefects.  Having people around that are your age and that are going through the same things in your life at the moment is quite comforting.  I know you can say that you went through the same things as well; my parents say it all the time, but, I guess I feel like you can't really understand.  Things are so much different from twenty years ago; oh I'm sorry I'm rambling."

"Well I'm sorry, I really can't promise that you'll be getting back to Hogwarts soon, or that you'll be seeing your friends in the near future, but if it helps at all, my wife will be coming home tomorrow, maybe some female company will do you some good."

Hermione's eyes brightened, she had only seen the woman once the Quidditch World Cup, and of course she was all dressed up showing off to the public.  Hermione really hadn't received a chance to ever hear her talk and Draco had spoken highly of her.  It was rather exciting to say the least.  "Oh thank you sir that might help a bit."

"Yes, very well then, I shall inform her before she arrives that she will have a guest waiting for her.  Now that that's settled is there anything else on your mind?"

"Yes, but I really don't want to bother you with it right now. The answers might come to me in the upcoming meeting and it would be rather redundant to ask both you the Lord Voldemort."

"Why do you call him by that?"

"Lord Voldemort? I guess it's what I told you before second year 'fear of the name only increases fear of the person' or whatever nonsense I said.  Every where I went I heard about he-who-must-not-be-named, but until I became friends with Harry and did my own research, I only really had heard about his up rises and then his subsequent defeat in all the history text. Having people going around fearing a person's name when only half really experienced what he did, was kind of foolish.  I think if people learn his name they will learn more about what he's done and his reasons for doing so, otherwise he sounds like some violent killer.  People don't understand what a hard childhood he went through, I mean I don't really understand, I couldn't, but I know more about it then most."

"I see, well maybe now your other questions will be answered," he said as he knocked on the door.

Hermione was rather glad that he had started the conversation, it got her mind back on track to what she was supposed to be thinking about instead of such unimportant nonsense about whom she was going to hire to build her house when she got older, that was of course if she got out of here.

No, she was going to get out of here, the friends she missed so much were going to come save her, just as soon as the figured out where she was. 

Hermione fixed a nervous smile on her face as she was once again seated in front of the Dark Lord.  A coffee table was stationed in between them, loaded with tea and all sorts of other bread type snacks to go along with it. Voldemort motioned for Hermione to help herself, so Hermione politely poured herself a cup a tea, be careful to not spill and also hoping that it was spiked with any type of potion.

"Thank you, and before you say anything, please allow me to apologize for my behavior last night, I can't condone it, only make up excuses, but please forgive me."  Hermione said praying it would be the last time that she would have to feel sorry about that event, well pretend to be sorry about that event.

To Hermione surprise, Voldemort started laughing.  It was not smooth and flowing like the kind that would normally appear in friendly banter, she didn't think he was capable of that, no it was still quite sinister just filled with some amusement.  "Miss Granger, I have taken no offense to such a thing, as I told Lucius last night when he informed me of your concern.  I very much appreciate your ability to fight, and I like that you didn't back down, even when you were unarmed-"

"How did you know that I was unarmed?"

"Well for one you weren't trying to curse every little thing, and two you just told me."  Hermione blushed a luminescent shade of red, and ducked her head to try to hide it.  "Now let's forget about last night, and move on to more important things. I am sure that you are very curious as to why you are here."

"It has been on my mind."

"Hermione, I'm not sure you realize just how great of an asset you really are, and I do believe your talents go unappreciated at that school of yours, by your teachers and your friends.  You are a highly intelligent beautiful young girl; I'd even go as far as to say the most intelligent witch since Rowena Ravenclaw herself.  Your enthusiasm, although not unnoticed, has gone un-dealt with for the past six years.  With a little training, you could probably be qualified for the Minister of Magic position within a year."

"I thank you for all the compliments, Sir, but what does that have to do with me being here?"

"I want to be the one to help you do great things.  Dumbledore had his chance and he ignored you.  I want to push you to your limits, see the different extremes you can mange to go to, I want to help you become powerful."

"You want me to fight on your side, don't you?"

"Yes, that would eventually come, but I don't really see you as the warrior type. To be honest, I'm more curious to see what your limitations are then to have you actually fight."

"I'm sorry, but that's against everything I've ever been taught, not to mention the fact that I am everything you are against; we're polar opposites!"

"Are we Miss Granger?  Because the way I see it we are more alike than you know.  You've researched me no doubt? Heard some stories? Heard about my Diary?"

"Yes, Sir, but I don't se-"

"Then you'll know that I was at the top of my class, a Prefect just like yourself, and a Head, which you will un-doubtfully be."

"Yes, it's all true, but you were in Slytherin and I am a Gryffindor, completely different thought processes and methods and reasons for doing everything.  I know you had a rough childhood, and you were angry at your father, which is why you became so angry at muggles and mudbloods in general.  But we are no more alike then the rain and the sun."

"That may be how you look at the situation, but the way I see it we can still work together.  You compared us to the rain and the sun: the sun helps to evaporate the droplets of water from lakes and oceans and once enough are gathered it then rains, and the process repeats."

"I'm sorry, I understand what you're saying, but I just can't.  I would be betraying my friends and all the people I look up to.  What would my parents think? I appreciate that you give me so much credit where it is not do, but please you have the wrong girl…"

Hermione had lost all the confidence from the night before.  She was near tears, but was holding them back only to be adamant about her point.  She thought she was just a ploy to get Harry here, she never would have guessed that she was what they really wanted.  She couldn't take the stress anymore and once she stopped talking she hands started shaking forcing her to put down her tea, while exchanging it for a tissue. 

She was going to cry, it just what she did when things got to stressful.  Normally she did it in her room when Parvarti and Lavender were out, or in a shower so her sobs could be lost in the falling water.  But she couldn't wait to be alone this time and the tears just fell.  She couldn't stop them and she really didn't want to. Her body was racked with sobs.  All she wanted to do right now was curl up and cry, Draco there comforting her wouldn't be bad either, but she needed to be alone.

"I'm sorry," she gasped out through sobs, "I need – to be – alone –right now."  And with that she stood up and fled, trying to remember her way back to her room.

~*~

In the clump of trees outside his home, Draco woke up and said just two words, "She's crying."

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A/N: did you like it this chapter was 1,000 words longer then the last chapter. I guess now that I'm back into the story writing is getting easier and I think my new writing plan is working for me too. I get 1 hour (between 12 and 1 am) to write 1,000 words, so one chapter takes me about 4 or 5 nights to write. But then I wait another week to see if I still like it.

Like always please review and tell me what you think

Next few chapters:

Hermione will eventually get rescued
They'll return to Hogwarts to finish out the year
Then they'll say their good byes

Please review…I'll post anyway but I do it less begrudgingly if you review