Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other character. Neither do I own the places. All I own is the plot. The rest belongs to J.K Rowling.

Chapter seven: Not a thing

He looked at her. She was sleeping. Her brown hair was covering the pillow. The light of the sun was shining on her face. It was a pretty picture. Next to her, on the bedsidetable, was a pile of used tissues.

'She must've cried.' He thought sadly.

He looked out the window. Down in the garden there were three men. They seemed to be cleaning up something. He shrugged and looked out into the sky. It would've been so nice to be one of those birds out there. If he could just spread his wings and fly away, away from this house, from his father. From everything.

A soft mumble made him turn around. Hermione had woken and was now rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She saw him and smiled.

"Goodmorning. Sleep well?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yeah...goodmorning to you too. What time is it?"

"Eight a.m. Would you like some breakfast?"

She nodded again.

He left the room and came back seconds later with a tray. He sat down on the bed next to her and watched her eat in silence. When her plate was empty she looked at him.

"...have you...heard anything? About him?"

He shook his head. "Sorry...I haven't heard a thing."

"Oh."

She stared at the wall and shivered slightly. He rubbed her arms and leaned his chin on her shoulder.

"Hey cheer up. I'm sure he'll come. And if he doesn't then either he is carefully being watched at H.Q or...or he's just a huge prat who doesn't know how to apreciate what he's got."

A light colour of red flashed across Draco's face. Did he just say that? What was he thinking! Quickly he stood up.

"Hermione, please don't fret. He'll come for you. He's the hero of every story, isn't he? And the hero always gets the girl. He loves you and if that's really the case, then he'll find a way to get you out of here. I'm sure-"

"Draco, would you please give me some time alone? I'd like to think...by myself. Just a little while." She said in a flat tone of voice.

He nodded. What else could he do. He turned around, glancing at her one more time before closing the door behind him.

'She's pretty. Even when she's sad.' He thought.

Quickly he banned this thought from his mind and left his room. He was going to find something to do. Maybe try and pry some informatien out of his father. Anything to get this out of his head.
"No."

"Please, I have the right to know what's going on!"

"Harry, go back to your room. I cannot tell you where she is and who she's with. It is my full responibility to keep him safe. I am his Secret Keeper. I would break a sacred trust if I told you."

"But professor...I-I promise I won't go out there again if you just told me who our contact is."

Ron tugged at his sleeve. "Harry, mate, don't. It's not out place."

Harry stared at him unbelievingly. "Ron...you know, you haven't tried a single thing to rescue her! All you've done up till now is stop me. Do you care at all?"

"Harry, how can you say that?" Ginny yelled indignantly. "He's been more worried about her AND you than anyone else! He was the one who ran after you first, who went to save your life! If he hadn't...then you'd be dead by now. And this is how you thank him. Some friend you are."

Harry sighed. "...I'm sorry Ron...sorry Ginny. It's just...we were so close. We were almost there."

Ginny took his hand and lead him back to his room.

"You just go to sleep okay? Rest a bit and you'll be able to think straighter. And don't lash out at us like that anymore okay, we're on your side." She added with a smile.

Harry smiled back. 'Lash out like you did you mean?" he said while pointing at the red mark on his cheek. "No, seriously. I won't. Sorry. I'm just...it's all just too much right now."

"Just rest a bit Harry. I know you'll feel better."

Harry nodded and gave her a hug. "Thanks Ginny. You're a lot nicer than I deserve. Thanks for understanding."

"It's okay. Now get in that bed of yours and go to sleep before I hex you to sleep."

Harry turned around and went inside. He let himself fall down on his bed and listened to all the sounds around him. He heard Ginny's footsteps move away. Outside the birds were chirping. Tiredly he closed his eyes and sleep entered his mind. Slowly his breath camlmed down and slowed.

At least she was safe. If Dumbledore said the contact was safe...then he was. And so was she. It would have to do. If he could just...no. He had endangered his friends once already. He wasn't going to do that again, not for a stupid plan that would fail anyway. He would have to think of another way to get her out.

"No."

"Please, I have the right to know what's going on!"

"Draco, this is not of your concern."

"Yes it is! Why do you never trust me? You treat me like a helpless child."

"I treat you the way you deserve. You are only a child." Lucius said in a cold voice. "This is none of your business."

Draco glared at him. "How do you ever expect me to become a proper Death Eater, a worthy follower of the Dark Lord, if you never train me into becoming one."

Lucius didn't look at his son, but sat down in a richly decorated chair behind his desk. Draco silently took the only other chair left. The silence was eery. He closed his eyes. Here came the more difficult part. How to question his father without sounding too eager. But, after all, he was a Malfoy. And a Malfoy always knew how to act casual. A Malfoy could always get anything out of anyone. Even out of his own father.

"...I noticed Rookwood wasn't on guard duty at the backdoor today." He said, picking at his fingernails.

Lucius looked at his son. The young man's ears were open.

"Rookwood...has been assigned to a different post."

Draco surpressed his eyebrow from rising. 'Transferred? Interesting.'

He straightened his face, trying to look bored again. He felt his face go hot. 'Not now! God not now. Cool...cold...icy.' "Oh...well, if that is the Dark Lord's wish. Perhaps I can make a suggestion for a replacement."

Lucius raised his eyebrow. "You want to make a suggestion? Explain this."

"I want to become a true follower. I want to be useful to the Dark Lord. This seems to be the only way I can achieve usefulness."

Lucius looked at him for a while. His son seemed more bored than anything else. So bored that it didn't seem realistic. And his request...it was so eager. This was strange indeed. Then a sense of enlightenment entered his mind. He smild inwardly. He nodded his head.

Draco tensed. "Well...I know that Dolohov is guarding the mudblood girl. His qualities could be put to better use."

Lucius waited a few seconds before answering. "This is, I'm afraid, impossible. Dolohov is...not available. He is recovering from an accident."

A quick intake of breath. Draco's mind was racing. 'An accident. Recovering.'

This could be no coincidence. Something happened last night, putting both Dolohov and Rookwood out of action. But...then they would have discovered the fake Hermione. This was not good.

Lucius was watching his son's face closely. Eventhough the Malfoy calmness was all over his face, Draco's eyes were panicking. Something wasn't going according to plan. And his son had something to do with it.

Draco felt his stress was noticable. Quickly he got to his feet.

"If you'll excuse me father. I think I shall go back to continue my studies."

He nodded curtly and exited the room. He would have to make arrangements. Soon.

Ack!!! I'm SO sorry I kept you waiting this long!!!!!!!!!!!!! FORGIVE ME!!! Prays on hands and knees Sorry, but testweek was a little hectic and I had to help at an Open House thing. I had to show some theatre stuff I'd learnt this year at an acting course (which was FUN by the way) Okay, so, now updated again and the next update will be sooner than normally, I think...

HYPERdingdong39: thank you for the review. Good luck on that fanfic of yours. Just try and think really hard about a plot, it'll come along soner than you expect it.

Dark Angels: Thanks for the review ;) And....my karate exams aren't this wednseday...one of my friends thought it'd be funny to give me more stress by saying it would be this week...don't worry, I kicked him in the shins...more than once . About Angel...I'll send it to you when I've got the time...first I'm going to try and live through the last few days of our schoolyear.

Mojo the Rock Chick Munchkin: Well'I'm glad you like it so much! And there's LOADS more to come.

Kitimat-born: I'm continueing! Thanks for the review

Shadowrayne: I guess it was just me then...I checked your bio but nothing sounded familiar...anyway, thanks for the review!

Phew...I'm glad I made it...That test week was MURDER, I tell you. How can the plan a music test on the LAST day, on the LAST hour??? And what's with all the oral exams?I already had one last Friday for German...(I scored 9 points out of 10!!!) I got one tomorrow for English...(I'm a wee bit nerveous)...and I've got one this Wednesday for French .Oh well, life goes on...You know, I'm actually glad my karate exam isn't in another few weeks...because I went and got my self a little bit injured...I got a cut, a rather deep one, between my smallest toe and the one beside it. I could barely walk two days ago, but it's getting better Well, I hope to hear from you all soon and there will be a quick update!!!!!!!
-Raven55