Since I'm such an awful author and never update, here's a post. Hopefull that will tide you over until summer approaches and I can concentrate on this heart and soul. I wrote out a giant plot line today and now this story has a definite plot. (Yay! Plot!)

Cheers for all those who reviewed! Now onto the story –

:: Chapter Thirty: Captured ::

Both Hermione and Ron made their way back to the group without even as much as another word being uttered.

"Everything alright?" Lavender asked her fiancée.

"Everything's alright. But it's not the way that it should be. Hermione's in love with Malfoy." He whispered back in a vehement hiss.

"Ron you couldn't have expected her to be with him in the long term did you? Did you see her face when we announced our engagement? There was something there. Like she longed for something more, she didn't even glance at Harry dreamily. She looked off out into space. My bet is that she was dreaming of Draco."

"Draco? He's cast this illusion over everyone hasn't he? Bloody hell, my mother even seemed to be smitten."

"I can't see why not. He's attractive and if he truly has changed as much as Hermione swears that he has then it seems that he's golden."

"But what about Harry?"

"What about Harry?" She mocked. "Harry's all grown up now Ron. He doesn't need you and Hermione to save him from the big bad Dark Lord. Because obviously, Hermione has him her reaches." She looked over at Draco.

"Should we tell Prichard he's here?" Ron asked in a whisper so low that Lavender had to strain to hear it.

"He probably already knows. As does Milord." She added. "Do you think we're making the wrong move?" Her voice was strained and tired.

"I'm tired of being Harry's back-up boy. I'm tired of watching Hermione forget to use her common sense. And I want to bring Malfoy down. If we eliminate him that just places us on a higher pedestal. Imagine a life where the Weasley's don't have to worry about money. Where second hand books are a thing of the past."

"It all sounds wonderful but what if it goes wrong? Draco has cheated death once before. What's stopping him now?" Ron didn't answer for a moment, and then his face broke out into a grin that chilled Lavender to her bones.

"…Hermione."

----

"What did the Weasel want?" Draco asked.

"Draco, be nice." She hissed. "It's his wedding anyhow, you should be nice to him. You shouldn't be trying to start an argument with him just for the sake of having an argument." Hermione concluded. Always with her reason and logic she caused a slight frown to appear on Draco's pale lips. He didn't seem to know any other way to behave around the group of people that Hermione was associated with. For years it was acceptable for him to spit out insult after insult and not have to pay for it later. There would be no tongue-lashings, only praise. But now those days were dead and buried along with the corpse of his father. Days had seemed a lot simpler then; there was no need to keep his words on a leash, no need to walk on eggshells.

"I'm sorry." He said simply. The apology seemed to be translucent. As if she could see right through his words of false sincerity she elbowed him in the side a slight bit.

"Do you just want to get out of here?" She asked him, her voice was tinted with wretchedness.

"Please." He asked in a voice as close to a plea as he would allow in this company.

"Let me just say goodbye and we can go. Alright?" He simply nodded his reply. She walked over to where Ron and Lavender were conversing. Their backs were turned away from her and she was about to speak when she heard muttered conversation.

"… Do you think she knows?" Lavender's voice whispered.

"How can she?" Ron replied.

"This is Hermione we're talking about."

"She doesn't know. After all, he would never tell her." Hermione's ears perked up at Ron's words.

"Ron… Lavender…" She began, drawing their attention. "Draco and I have to be going." She said.

"Awe, that's such a shame." The raven-haired girl frowned. Something about the frown made Hermione believe that it was full of false sincerity. "We'll see you tomorrow. I'm glad that you and Draco are together. I really am." She smiled.

"Thanks." Hermione returned the kind smile.

"I'm glad you came." Ron added.

"I'll see you both tomorrow." She began walking back to where Draco stood chatting… well attempting to chat, with Mrs. Weasley. The one person she had been trying to avoid intercepted her.

"Hullo, Hermione." He said.

"Hullo, Harry." Her voice was meek, she was afraid to open her mouth and sprout false apologies just for the simple fact of not having this bizarre tension between the two best friends.

"I'm sorry." He murmured. "I shouldn't have lashed out at you over Malfoy. Especially when you're about to lose him."

"What are you talking about?"

"A room full of Aurors? You don't think we'd pass up the chance to catch the most wanted criminal in the Wizarding World, do you?"

"He's not a criminal!" She snapped, drawing the attention of several guests.

"Not a criminal? He kidnapped you for three months, he's a Death Eater, he killed a man, and worst of all he's the Dark Lord."

"Harry, don't play these games." She pleaded. "This isn't Quidditch, it's not a game where someone wins or loses. It's kill or be killed, either way you're a criminal. He didn't do anything that is worthy of being sentenced to Azkaban."

"Being the Dark Lord isn't worthy of being sentenced to Azkaban?" He asked unbelievably.

"He isn't the Dark Lord."

"Hermione, stop living in this fantasy world where everything is perfect. Stop trying to believe in him. He's a lost cause." He glanced over at Draco. "As a matter of fact, he already lost." He announced as Tonks and Lupin stepped forward to bound his hands and feet. Lupin muttered a spell and within and instant Draco was bound.

"What are you doing?!" She called out frustrated.

"Only what must be done." Harry said. "It's our job Hermione, you brought him here. You should have known that something like this would happen."

Ahh! Cliffy, I'm so evil :)