Giving Up Isn't an Option

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I only own the plot and characters that obviously don't belong to the books. 'Uncle Snape' is Slytherin Girl's idea and I have permission to use it,

~*~*~*~*~

Previously:

Hermione's eyes opened. Or she thought they were opened. It was so black that there was no way of telling. The sound of dripping water rang in her ears. It was so loud.

She tried moving her hands, but they were attached to something. Or something was attached to them. It didn't feel like rope though, not muggle rope. Her head was pounding, and the taste of blood was present in her mouth.

She tried to remember where she was, why she was here or at least what had happened. The last thing she remembered was running from the office and then hearing her name. She couldn't place the voice though and couldn't remember the face.

Hermione didn't know what to do. She was sure that she hadn't come here by choice. If she was she should remember it. She also knew that she couldn't remember being here before. Her eyes began to adjust to the dark, and she saw that there wasn't a single piece of furniture there.

"I see that you've finally awoken" a male voice came from the corner, but she still couldn't place it.

"Who are you?"

"I am the darkness that surrounds you in the day. I am what you want to leave you. I'm your nightmares. I'm what you can't face" was the answer she received.

"Where am I then? At least grant me with that answer" she hissed. She was quickly losing her patience.

"Now, now. I would tell you, but you are nowhere. You aren't anywhere. Now, I can make this easy on you or hard, but it's your choice"

"If by easy you mean I have to beg and grovel to be set free, then you can forget it. I won't beg and no matter what you do to me, I won't cry"

"Oh, that's really too bad. For you anyway, but all the more fun for me"

"Are you such a coward that you won't show your face?" Hermione taunted. The next instant she felt a something solid connect with her face.

He had backhanded her with enough force to throw her into the wall behind her. She hadn't even realized that he had come that close.

"Anymore questions like that and you'll wish that you were never born. That was only a taste of what I can do to you. Now you will learn your place. You are mine and mine alone now"

Hermione glared in the direction that the voice came from. "I belong to no one"

"That's what you wish to believe, but that's a lie"

Hermione heard a shuffle of feet on the ground. She looked up to see a face. She gasped as the realization hit her.

"Surprised?"

~*~*~*~*~

"You bastard" Hermione looked him up and down, hardly believing the sight before her.

"My friend, that's not accurate. I'm anything but a bastard" his voice dripped with amusement.

"You sick twisted sonofabitch then"

"Better, but your life is held in my hands. Whether you live or die is completely up to me. Don't get me wrong, your dead eventually anyway, but we wouldn't want it to come too soon now would we? No, no we wouldn't. I have some business to take care of with a few certain people. People who will all run to save you. Nothing would give me more power, then to have them watch you die a painful death"

Hermione glared at him from where she had landed when he had backhanded her. "You can't make any of this painful. Pain is non-existent in my world. If its pain you wish to give me then you can dream on. Or better yet, just go straight to hell"

"I've been there for the last 6 years. I can't go back because I never left"

Hermione's eyes glittered dangerously. She couldn't believe that he would do this to her. Why? What had she done to deserve this?

"You're not going to get your other wish either. No way in hell. They stopped caring for me years ago and those that didn't don't care enough to know where I am. As far as they all know, I'm at home"

"That's what you wish to believe, but you know that's not true. Actually, right about now, they should all know that you're missing. The Ministry noticed instantly that you weren't where you were supposed to be. They panicked and went to the home of the Weasley's where they were just starting dinner. And the Dark Lord noticed that he could no longer sense where you were. He couldn't find you, so he told Lucius Malfoy, who in turn informed the three young men that care for you so"

Hermione closed her eyes. She knew good and well that there wer five that knew how to find her, but would they do it? Would they risk shattering their newly built lives just because they heard that she was missing?

~*~*~*~*~

"It's been hours Padma! We have to do it! We have to and you know it! There's no other way to find her. I know that you don't want to. That you don't want to risk everything, but we have to. We have to save Mia" Ginny cried at her friend. They had been fighting for the last 40 minutes. "Padma, she would do it for us, why won't you do it for her?"

"She's a smart and extremely powerful witch, the most powerful witch for centuries if I'm not mistaken. She can get herself out of this. For all we know, she got herself into this in the first place! How could you want to do this? I mean, I love her and always will, but she left us. She left our group. Why should I help her? She doesn't deserve it!"

"No, maybe she doesn't. But you've got to swallow your goddamn pride! She's more important then a fight. No matter if it's a fight that's lasted for the last 5 years or if it's a fight that's only been going on for the last few months. I know she told us to leave her alone, but she would do this for us and you damn well know it"

"OK, what the hell is going on you two?" Harry had had enough of this. He and Ron had been listening to the two of them holler at each other for too long. "What can you do to find Hermione? You know what; I don't care what it is. Whatever it is, just do it. She may seem like she doesn't want anything to do with any of us anymore, but we have to help her. Ron and I have more of a fight with her, yet we're still doing everything under the sun that we can to help find her. If there's something you can do, then you better fucking get over yourself and DO IT!"

"You don't understand what it involves though Harry! We would have…" Padma tried to reason, but was cut off by Ron.

"Padma, no. I don't care if it involves traveling to the other side of the universe! Hell, I don't care if it involves those fucking Death Eaters that you were so close to" he was about to continue, but the look on Padma's face gave away everything. "Oh my god. That's what it involves doesn't it?"

"Yes Ron, but someone wont just get over the past for a few hours so we can save her" Ginny turned back to Padma, "Sweetie, I know how hard it was on you. But we have to. There's way too much at stake this time. If we don't do this, she's dead!"

"But what if, what if it's not there anymore?" Padma asked feebly, though she already knew the answer

"Its there, you know it is. You feel it just as I do. Remember around 2 weeks ago (A/N: I'm guessing on this time line here) when you felt like you were going to explode because the inner pain was so great? That was it. That was the connection. It was someone crying out to us and yet someone breaking the bond"

Padma sighed. She knew that they were all right. But she didn't know if she could face him. Didn't know if she could survive seeing any of them again. And asking for help in this situation just made it so much worse.

"Ok" she breathed. "Ok, I'll do it"

Ginny walked up and hugged her. "It's the right thing, you know it is"

"I know, I know. I just hope that, in the end, its all worth it"

"It will be. I promise you, it will be"

With that, they said a quick good bye to the boys and apparated away without any explanation as to where they were gong or when, not if, they would be back.

~*~*~*~*~

"Draco, you know what we have to do" Blaise was leaning against the doorframe, Justin right behind him. They watched at Draco rummaged through all his things, looking for something, but not telling anyone what.

"Yeah, yeah. I know, but it requires more then just us three. How do you plan to get them to agree to this? As far as their concerned, Granger never wants to see them again"

"They love her like we do. You know as well I do that they'll do anything to help her" Justin put in.

Draco finally turned to face them. His features were cold and unreadable, like always. But there was something showing through, though you would have to know him well to even notice it, let alone know what it was. There was a small glitter of pain there. A pain that he so desperately tried to hide but it had a mind of its own.

"But what if they don't? What if they choose to turn their backs on her?" he asked, his voice harsh.

"Yes, she hurt them but they wouldn't do that. Not even Potter and Weasley would do that to her" Blaise reasoned with him. This was taking up precious time that couldn't be wasted. Too much time had already been wasted. The entire wizarding world was looking for her as they spoke, death eaters included. But there was no sign of her. And if Blaise was right, she would never be seen again, unless they did something and fast.

"Zambini, what gives you the idea that they would help us find her? We've done nothing but prove that we can hurt them. And how do you even know that they know about this?"

"They know. They've felt it before, just as we have. Sure, I've known the longest out of any of you. Well, Mia and I have. Meaning that she knows that we can come and get her, no matter where she is, if we don't, then we just prove that we're the pathetic bastards that she thinks we are"

"The pathetic bastard that she believes I am, you mean. She thinks more highly of you guys then she does of me, but I don't blame her"

"You know what Malfoy, I don't care right now. We've all proven to her some how that we're assholes, but that doesn't matter at this point. What matters right now is that we know how to find her and we have to do it" Justin said through clenched teeth.

"I know you guys are right" Draco sighed, "Ok, lets go before I change my mind"

"That's right Malfoy" the other two said in unison.


With that the three apparated from their spot, knowing where to meet the girls.

~*~*~*~*~

"Are you sure they're going to come?" Padma asked nervously

"I'm positive. They know she's missing, there no way that they wont come. You know that" Ginny reassured her friend.

They stood on the edge of the forest, just out of Hogwarts boundaries. They just needed to wait for the other three to show up so that they could go in and do what they needed to do.

"But how can you be sure. They're Death Eaters now. How can you be so sure that they'll help us? Or her?"

"Because A) I'm pretty sure that she is one too. I don't know why, it's just a feeling and B) like I told you earlier, they wont let her die. They care for her just like we do"

"Damned straight" Draco said from behind them, causing the two of them to jump.

"Scare ya?" Justin asked, eyes lit with slight amusement.

Blaise snorted. "Jeez, a little jumpy today are we?"

"You would be too" Ginny mumbled.

"Yeah probably, just I don't think someone would do that to us. We're a little more powerful in this world then we used to be" Draco's arrogant Malfoy side was taking over. He didn't want to be reminded of his past by seeing these two. It was hard enough seeing Hermione everyday. Yet, here he was, falling back into exactly the way he used to be. He wasn't even like this anymore.

"Ok, this isn't going to get us anywhere. We're here for one reason and one reason only. Now, lets go do this" Blaise cut in. Knowing these guys, this could be the start of some incredibly precious wasted time.

They went up to the gates and found them open. As always, Dumbledore knew they were coming. The gates wouldn't let through anyone that he wasn't expecting or anyone he didn't deem trustworthy.

They headed to the old Head common room and into what once had been Hermione's room. They needed to be somewhere where Hermione had felt like she belonged. Felt like she was at home and surrounded by people that loved her. As far as they could tell, this was the last place that she had felt completely safe.

They stood in a circle, not sure what to do. They were where they needed to be, but they didn't know what they needed to do to get this to work. Whenever they had needed to find someone in the past, they would just think about them and would instantly know where they were, but that wasn't working. She had broken that connection for too long and she seemed to be too far away. That or they just weren't putting in the effort.

"Dammit you guys. Come on. What would she do in this situation?" Ginny finally exclaimed. "We've got to do something and fast. We might never see her again if we don't hurry. And it wont be because she's avoiding us either"

Draco sighed. He knew that Ginny was right and he also knew something else. Something that would fix this whole thing. He didn't want to bring it up though. If Hermione really wanted to be found then she would've done something to be found. Or at least, that's what he wanted to believe. He didn't want to admit defeat. Didn't want to admit that all the people standing there weren't enough to do this. Yet, if he ever wanted to see Hermione safe again he had no choice in the matter.

Blaise watched Draco as all this went on. He could tell that his friend was holding something back. What he didn't know was why? Why would Draco hold back something that would bring his one and only love back again.

Draco looked around the room. It hadn't changed at all. The bed was still made and the dresser draw was still opened a crack. He got up and walked over to the drawer, wondering if everything was the same. Only he and Hermione knew about what was hidden there, and he wanted to know if Hermione had left it. After what had happened, he would be incredibly surprised if she had left it there, but it was worth a try anyway.

He reached into the draw, pulled it open the rest of the way. Reaching in, he felt around for what he was looking for. Finally his fingers met a slight bump in the smooth surface. He delicately pried the little piece of wood away, finding that it was still there. All it was, was a letter the Hermione had wrote long ago. Draco had never read it but she had told him where to find it, just in case. Just is case, he had never known what she meant by those words, but he was relying on the gut instinct that was telling him that it was now that those words came into play.

He replaced everything but the letter, carrying it with him back to his spot in the bed. Unaware that every eye in the room was on him, he opened the letter and began to read the loopy writing left behind by her.

Draco, If your reading this its either because I'm in trouble or you just couldn't resist. I know that you could've resisted, so I'm going to guess that its because I'm in trouble. I'm also going to go under the assumption that this means the others are there. But you guys cant locate me can you? Even with the bond we all share, its not strong enough. You know what you need to do it, but I've got this feeling that you don't want to do it. It'll be too hard for you. And I'm not going to ask you too. I don't want you to do anything that you don't want to.

Things wont end nicely with us, like we had planned. I know this as well. Most likely your thinking I'm insane as your reading this or your trying to figure why I would withhold information from you. Here's your answer, the future isn't mine to change. I have powers that most would kill for and no one but me knows I have them. I never told anyone because it'd just be another reason to use me and I cant take anymore of that. I don't wish to change anything either. It's not up to me to risk all of your futures just for my happiness.

Libertà

Remember that. Its Italian for freedom. It'll get you past all things tough, as well as all things easy. Its achievable Draco. You know that, you just never wanted to try hard enough. Please, do this one thing for me. Free yourself from your past while you can. All your past, including me. Unless you have a heart full a love and nothing else, just let me go now. If you have single doubt about anything, then turn and go, and never look back. This may sound stupid and impossible to you now, but its not. And its your only chance to be free.

So I leave you now, with these finally words. I love you and always will but I want you to move on with your life. Forget about me and what I meant to you. I'm not worth it. I had my chance with you, and now its someone else turn.

To the rest of you, as I'm sure that you'll all read this. I love you all, but I ask of you the same thing I ask of Draco. Free yourself now. I know what's to come and I want you guys to move on while you can. Dwelling on the past never fixes anything. Moving on does. Please, just do this.

Each of you know what saying good bye means. Break the bond that connects you too me. Remove every last reminder of me.

Tell Harry and Ron I'm sorry and that I love them too.

Lots of Love,

Mia

Written on June 4

Graduation Dance

(A/N: A) Someone correct me if that translation is wrong as I got it from an online dictionary. And B) I couldn't find any dates in my previous stories, but if someone else did, please let me know. I want to know if I got the date of the Grad right. Anyway, with the story…)

Draco stared at the letter, not wanting to believe any of it. But it was true, he had doubts and she knew he would. She wanted them to leave her where she was, not to save her.

He dropped the letter as he got up and started pacing. Blaise picked it up and looked up in horror as he finished it.

"She cant be bloody serious! And you sure as hell better not actually be considering any of this" he cried at Draco.

Draco just continued to pace, mulling over everything in his head. He didn't know what he wanted to do, let alone what he was going to do.

The others finished the letter and all had similar reactions. Everyone seemed to have just gone over the part at the beginning. All except Justin. It was what had stood out to him. Not the fact that she asked them to just turn away and move on.

"Draco, what do you know? What does she mean that she knows you know how to get her back here?" he questioned, approaching Draco slowly.

This stopped Draco in his tracks. He turned to them, each waiting for an answer. His eyes showed hurt and concern and worry and love and many other things, but nothing was revealed about what he was thinking.

"What she means is that a long time ago I figured something out. I figured out just what she needed in her life. And while we were part of it, we weren't the whole picture and still aren't. There's something missing and I bet that not one of you can say what it is. I didn't even want to believe it when I figured it out, but she's known all along. She also knew that, once I had figured it out, that it would be one of the hardest things I've ever done. It may sound stupid to you, should I choose to tell you what I know. But you don't understand what I went thorough because of this. And I don't know if I can do it again. She knows exactly what's going to take place, yet she hasn't let on in way what it is. Like she said, the future isn't hers to change and she wont even leave a hint as to what's going to happen. The worse thing is though, she's right. I do have doubts and I don't know what I want to do. Her life is quite literally in my hands and for once, I'm at a loss" Draco took a breath, trying to bring his racing heart back to normal.

"Malfoy, this should be a no brainier. You do what ever you have to to save that girl and I wont be forced to murder you myself" Ginny was seething. She couldn't believe that he even had to think about any of this.

"Ginny, you don't know what your asking! Like I said, that should I choose to ever tell you, you'll all think that it's stupid and pointless, but I went through hell with everything that took place and I found out a lot more then the rest of you. I know more then you would ever wish to find out and its all information that I to this day, wish I never would've figured out" Draco yelled.

"Listen, Draco, we need her. I don't care what she asked us all to do. She's why we're all here today and she's the reason that we're actually able to speak civilly to each other. We need to find her while we can" Justin stayed calm while he spoke to Draco, not wanting to get him too upset again.

"I know, I know" Draco exhaled. He knew he had to do it. He couldn't turn back now, not when he had gotten so far and so close. What he was most terrified of was what was to come. His one, true fear, though there were many others, was the future. He couldn't control it and all he could think of was that with each choice he made, he might have just ruined what should be his life.

Was she worth this though? Was she worth going through all this?

~*~*~*~*~

Miracle of all Miracles I'm now done this!! I'm done Chapter nine. It didn't take me long at all. Okay okay, so I've beer promising for awhile that I would get this out, but I hope that this was at least worth the wait

And sorry for any mistakes, neither me nor the one beta that has read it so far has come across anything obvious

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L&H Pure Mudblood