Ch.10 hiding

Disclaimer: this story is based on characters created and owned by J.K. Rowling no money is being made off of this story. Sara, Sharen, and Suki are mine. Special thanks to Morrigan my co-author and beta reader.

Draco almost had to carry her up the stairs she was so weak. Hermione fell a few times, but never cursed or cried out. When they finally reached his room she collapsed on his bed. "Don't get too comfortable there, I'm finishing a spot for you in here." he said as he walked into his closet. "there! Finished." He emerged to find her looking at him skeptically.

"Just how do you propose to hide me in your closet, Draco? Won't I be just a little conspicuous?" She queried.

At least she's quit calling me Malfoy "Trust me, come on in and see." He replied smoothly as he helped her up. She raised an eyebrow, but followed him shakily anyway. When she stumbled into the closet she gasped, it was huge. The entire closet looked to be about as big as her room at home. The really amazing thing was that it was actually full to bursting with boxes and clothes. Draco led her to a corner in the back that seemed to be nothing but boxes. "I hope your not claustrophobic.", he said as she rounded the boxes. He had cleared a space barely big enough for her and put together a small pile of old robes and cloaks on the floor. "it's not much, but it'll hide you until I can figure out how to get you out of here." It was a lot better than anything she had been in lately as far as Hermione was concerned. Hermione settled down on the "nest" and asked, "are you sure this will hide me?"

Draco nodded and said, "Suki only comes in far enough to do my laundry, she'll be nowhere near here, and she's the only person besides me who comes in. I better go make your getaway tracks."

"My what?"

"Getaway tracks, We need to make father think you ran as fast and far as possible. I'll run into the woods, make a trail the get on my broom and fly back. He'll think that you managed to disparate your little stunt with the wand will help there." He left her to her thoughts cutting out the lights.

"Hermione wake up." She came to with a start. For a minute she couldn't place where she was. Then it all came rushing back to her. Draco motioned for her to follow him. He guided her to his bathroom and motioned for her to do what was necessary. She started to say something, but he put a finger to his lips in the universal gesture of silence, getting the point she nodded and did as directed.

Once back in the closet he started talking very softly, "Father hasn't been down to the dungeon yet, when he does get down there if he has a search of the manor I'll take this floor. I doubt he will though." She nodded mutely and he continued , "I hope I don't have to tell you to keep your head down and be quiet." She gave him the "you-stupid-male-look" that all girls develop at puberty and he nodded. "I'll bring you food when I can." Draco went down to breakfast and acted as if everything was normal. When his father asked if he wanted to accompany him in torturing the "mudblood" Draco declined saying that he would go down later in the day.

Hermione waited in her little corner for the inevitable. She still winced when she heard the roar of anger and shock. This is it, if Draco is really trying to help me I'll know soon enough. Even though she waited for what seemed like hours for Lucius to come barging in and find her, no one came into Draco's room at all.

Draco was beside himself, Lucius had taken the bait, he honestly thought Hermione had escaped on her own. He had even offered to search the manor, but Lucius had dismissed the idea that Hermione would hang around completely out of hand. Draco went about business as usual hoping that Hermione would be alright.

"he bought the whole thing?!" She couldn't believe it.

"hook, line and sinker." He replied using the old muggle cliché. She ginned at that while attacking the turkey sandwich that Draco had asked Suki to make him as a "bed time snack". She finished and handed him the plate back along with the glass of water after she drained it. Draco looked at her and had a sudden urge to kiss her. Instead he took the glass and plate and left.

He tossed and turned that night plagued with thoughts of the beautiful girl in his closet. I have to tell her soon. I can't. why can't love be logical? Tell her. Don't. Why won't it make sense? Never mind that how will I get her out of here? If she goes to school with me then…… He didn't fall asleep until the plan was complete, he hoped she would go along with it peacefully. Somehow he doubted that would happen. Either way she would definitely not be pleased.