AN: I know I know I promised to put up the next part the next day. I ran into some computer problems and some health problems and I started back at school…ick…I'd much rather stay home and write all day long.
Anywho, I love your reviews, keep em coming!!! Since you were such patient people, I'm giving you two parts this time.
Disclamer: Harry Potter…Blah blah blah…don't sue…
Parts 3 and 4Draco jerked awake and sat upright, startling Hermione. He didn't look the least bit cold, in fact, he was drenched in sweat.
"Morning Sunshine." She said. She had intended it to sound sarcastic, but instead it came out almost sincere.
He looked around groggily for a few moments before his eyes fell on her.
"I got a fire started. My wands almost dry." She added flatly.
They stared at each other for a moment before Draco cleared his throat and averted his gaze. There was a tense moment of silence. "What are your nightmares about?" She asked, not taking her eyes from him.
He turned back to her. "That's private." He said softly, a mix of anger and sadness in his tone.
"Ok," she said sighing and slowly standing up. "You know, when I was a child and I had a bad dream, my mother said I should talk about it. It might…help you feel better." She waited for him to snap at her, tell her that he would never take advice from a Mudblood, but he never did.
"I doubt it." Was all he said.
"Well, you never know." She said lightly, turning away.
There was another short silence. "I was a death eater for Voldemort." He said suddenly. Immediately she turned back and sat across from him. "The funny thing is, I never really wanted to do it. It's just my family…we've all understood that it was what we were supposed to do."
She nodded solemnly but said nothing.
"Then…" he said slowly. "Then I did something stupid." He looked away, and Hermione thought she saw him wipe something from his face.
"What?" Hermione asked softly.
"I fell in love."
Hermione was shocked. Draco? In love? She was beginning to see that there was more to him then the selfish boy she had known at school. He was sensitive and almost…sweet.
"Voldemort discovered us of course." He continued. "Then I refused to swear allegiance to him. I thought he was going to kill me, but instead…" he trailed off again.
Hermione was almost afraid to press on, but something told his that this was very important. "What?"
"He kidnapped her. He must have thought it would change my mind…" he laughed sadly. "It didn't. He held her for a whole year before he killed her."
Hermione was speechless. They sat in the silence for what seemed like forever. Then suddenly, something changed.
Malfoy's features hardened. "What do you care anyway?" He snapped.
"I do care."
He snorted in disgust.
Hermione sighed. She was so close to getting him to open up, she saw a sweeter, more gentle side of him. She liked it. But he had shut her down again.
"Fine." She stood up and walked to the other side of the small clearing, facing away from him. "Don't say I didn't try to help you."
She heard the leaves rustling in his direction. She turned to see him standing and walking in the other direction. "Where are you going?" she called.
"Do I have to ask permission to go to the bathroom?"
"Stay where I can see you."
"I'm flattered." He shot back.
"Oh please." She turned back to the woods.
There was silence. In fact Hermione was shocked at how quiet everything was. There were no birds, no breeze…
Suddenly a cold wind swept through the clearing, so powerful that it nearly snuffed the fire. She shuddered and pulled the blanket more tightly around her.
A second later she heard what sounded like a grunt followed by a thud. "Very funny Malfoy." She called over her shoulder. There was no response.
Slowly she turned, scanning the woods for him. "Malfoy?" she called.
She walked into the woods, picking her way through barren, fallen branches. "Come on Malfoy," she shouted, annoyed, "This is no time to be—"
She stopped when she found him, lying on the ground, unconscious. She knelt beside him, and felt for a pulse. He was alive.
That was her last thought before something heavy struck her, knocking her into darkness.
* * * *
"Wake up Mr. Malfoy." Said an unfamiliar voice
He rolled his head from side to side, trying to clear his head. "Wha—What's going on?" he mumbled.
"Wake up." The voice said again.
At last he opened his eyes. He found himself tied to a chair in a plain, dimly lit room. In front of him stood a tall hooded figure.
I've been captured, he thought numbly, I'm going to die.
"What do you want?" he asked, trying to sound brave.
"Relax Mr. Malfoy. I do not wish to harm you. I simply want to talk."
He was beginning to think that the voice wasn't so unfamiliar. He still wasn't quite sure who it was.
"Talk?"
"Yes. I have a simple proposition for you."
"Who are you?" he asked.
There was an intense quiet in the room. "Very well." He said. He pulled back his hood and Draco felt his stomach turn.
He knew now who the voice belonged to. The man standing in front of him had dark hair mixed with gray. His features were long and narrow. He had dark eyes and his lips were pressed into a thin line.
That face. That was the face that had haunted his nightmares for the past ten years. This was the man that had murdered his wife.
"Voldemort!" he screamed. An uncontrollable rage boiled over in him. He threw himself against his restraints and thrashed at him.
"Please Mr. Malfoy, control yourself."
"You deserve to die!" He fought harder for a few seconds, but then gave up. He collapsed back into the chair.
"Now you see why I had to take certain…measures." He said, indicating the restraints. "now, if you are finished, as I said, I have a proposition for you."
He stayed silent.
"I am aware that you have been looking for me for some time, and I also know what you intended to do once you did find me."
He laughed sarcastically. "And?" he said through gritted teeth.
"I propose that you forget about me. Imagine that I don't exist, and move on with your life."
"You took that from me the day you killed my wife."
For the first time in their conversation, Voldemort showed anger. He stepped forward and clamped both of his hands over Malfoy's. "Don't test me boy." He said, "I do not wish to harm you, but you have seen what I am capable of, and if you don't leave me alone, I will be forced to protect myself."
Draco showed no fear. He looked him in the eyes. "You kill innocents." He said coldly.
Voldemort stood bolt upright and released Malfoy's hands. "Mistakes were made." He said softly.
Malfoy was suddenly confused. Did Voldemort just admit to making a mistake? And was that…remorse in his voice?
"Hello?" came a voice from behind them. Distantly he heard the sound of a door being opened. The room suddenly filled with bright light from the hall. Malfoy winced and squinted in the direction of the doorway. What he saw made his breath catch in his throat.
In the bright doorway stood a little girl. She couldn't have been more than 9 or 10. Her dark blonde hair fell halfway down her back, and her bright blue eyes looked almost luminescent in the light.
With a wave of Voldemort's wand, Malfoy's restraints were gone. "Stand." He ordered, and though he wasn't sure why, he obeyed. He kept his eyes on the little girl in the doorway.
"I hope you will seriously consider my request." He said, but he wasn't listening. He was focused only on the girl. There was something about her, something he couldn't quite put his finger on…
There eyes met, and the angelic little girl's bright eyes widened, and a strange sensation came over him. It was like a rush of blood to his head. He felt dizzy and weak.
"I've been waiting for you." She said, turning her attention to Voldemort. "you said you'd—"
Voldemort turned. "I know Adrian." He replied, "I'll be up in a few minutes, I promise."
He turned her gently and led her from the room.
Malfoy stood, dumbfounded. He could have killed Voldemort when he released him. He could kill him now, but he didn't. what he had just seen was somehow stopping him.
"I don't understand." He said to Voldemort, "Why did you release me?"
Voldemort considered this for a moment. "I have certain…responsibilities now." He began, "I have very important people looking up to me. Seeing such a thing would not be very good for my daughter."
"Your—Your what?"
"Goodbye Mr. Malfoy. I sincerely hope we do not meet again."
Then he was hit again and fell into darkness.
* * * *
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