Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Harry Potter. It all belongs to JK. Rowling. I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: Well this is it; we've reached the climax of the story. Here's the action that I've been promising. This WAS going to be the last chapter but as I was writing it, I noticed that by the time it was done, it would have been huge and not as easy to read so it's probably better to just break it up into two. Plus I really don't want to let go of this fic just yet... I can get this way when I get attached to something just so you all know and since this is my first one...well...let's just say that it's not going to be easy finishing it! I'm glad that I'm breaking it up into two actually. At least now I have a jump start on the final chapter... Anyway I hope you all like it! Thanks everyone! x0x0z!

Hermione's POV

Hermione was running as fast as she could with her wand lit in her hand. She had always hated the forest and was terrified, so terrified but she knew that she had to face her fears; for her best friends' sake. She was actually more afraid for Ron and Harry than for herself. She kept on thinking of horrible images of Ron and Harry hurt, or worse, in her head and started to panic even more.

"Ron! Harry!" she called, "I'm coming! Hold on!"

The forest was getting thicker and thicker with trees and the branches were ripping her robes as she tried to plow through them. She tripped and fell a few times and gained a few bruises and scratches from doing so. But she knew she had to keep going; she had to be strong.

She was getting deeper into the forest now; she knew that she would be there soon. But still there was no sign of Ron, Harry or Malfoy.

"Ron! Harry! Where are you?" she cried out again. "Please be alright!" Tears were now falling from her eyes down her face. Trying to be brave, she quickly wiped them away and continued screaming their names even louder now. "Ron! Harry! RON! HARRY!"

She stumbled again, over a log this time. She hastily got up and saw that she was now in a clearing. "This must be it" she thought.

She called again, "Ron?! Harry?! Are you here?"

Hermione looked around her and saw that there were two large green words floating in the air saying, "Hello Mudblood". (A/N: this was like in CoS when Tom Riddle wrote: I Am Lord Voldemort)

Hermione then heard a voice coming from behind the bushes yelling, "Expelliarmus!"

Her wand immediately flew out of her hand and into none other than Draco Malfoy's who just came out from the bushes.

"Malfoy!" she breathed.

"Who else?" Draco said with a smirk.

"Where are Ron and Harry? What have you done with them?" Hermione demanded.

"Oh wondering where Lover boy and Scar head are now, Mudblood? You didn't seem to care so much when you were with the half blood Seamus." Draco said acidly.

"I will always care for Ron and Harry and I despise Seamus almost as much as I despise you, not that it's any of your business, now give me my friends back!" she commanded.

Draco let out an evil laugh and said, "Your friends are still in Hogsmede; where they will be for quite a long time. Well, at least until I've had my fun here. Then there will be bigger fish to fry. But not to worry, I still have a lot planned for right now."

"What are you on about?" asked Hermione nervously, her heart started to beat rapidly. Although she was frightened that she was in a trap, she still glared at Draco trying to show none of her fear to him.

"You're about to find out!" he replied scornfully. He pointed his wand at her and yelled, "Richtosempra!"

Hermione dived out of the way just in time. Draco had narrowly missed her. In her head Hermione let out a whine of panic. Malfoy had her wand and his own; she was done for!

"Oh playing hard to get now are we? Well you're not getting out of this one, Mudblood!"

"That's what you think!" Hermione replied determinedly before lunging herself at Draco in an attempt to catch him off guard and get her wand back.

She fought tooth and nail with Draco, kicking and punching him as they fell to the ground while frantically reaching for her wand. Unfortunately Draco managed to throw Hermione off of him right before she could grab it. Draco had both of the wands again and quickly cast another spell on her, "Richtosempra!" he screamed again. This had sent Hermione flying back into a tree.

Before Hermione could get the strength to even try to get up she heard Draco yell, "Moblicorpus!"

Suddenly Hermione felt invisible ropes all around her, binding her to the tree that was behind her. She struggled to get free but it was hopeless. "You're never going to get away with this, Draco!" Hermione snarled. "Ron and Harry will come and find me and we're all going to make sure that you'll live to regret this!"

"And how's that?" asked Draco, folding his arms and smirking even more than before.

"You'll definitely be expelled if they don't kill you first!" stated Hermione.

Draco laughed again, "You really think that I'm afraid of your big headed friend and hot headed boy friend? As if they could ever match up to a Death Eater's son! I've already taken care of them anyway; they should be no problem for me. And as for getting expelled; the second I'm done here I'm going to flee from this wretched school and set my father free. Together with his master, we shall take over the Ministry of Magic and rule the Wizarding World!" Draco cackled insanely yet again.

"You're mad! You're completely mad!" said Hermione incredulously not being able to stop herself.

"Mad, am I?" yelled Draco, "We'll see who's mad after I'm finished with you! I do believe that you've heard of the Unforgivables? Well Father's taught me how to do one before he was thrown in prison! Let me demonstrate for you. Crucio!"

At once Hermione felt excruciating pain that she had never felt before in her life! She was on the ground still bound to the tree, shrieking in pain!

After another moment the pain stopped; Draco had lowered his wand. "Now, that didn't feel so nice, did it?"

Hermione didn't answer. Still trying to be strong, she just looked up and glared at him.

Draco snickered. "Now Miss know-it-all; pay attention! I'm going to teach you a valuable lesson." He walked up to her, grabbed her by the chin and looked her in the eye. "Never cross the Malfoys!" And to Hermione's horror; Malfoy raised his wand at her again.

Ron's POV

Ron and Harry had just gotten out of the passage way and were quickly making their way up to the Gryffindor Tower. Once they got in the common room they hurriedly looked around for Hermione who was no where in sight.

"OK she's obviously not here, let's get back to Hogsmede and search there!" Ron said to Harry who nodded in agreement. They started to leave but to their surprise, Crookshanks jumped in front of them trying to stop them.

"Crookshanks, get out of the way! We haven't got time to play now, Hermione's in trouble!" Ron said impatiently. But Crookshanks didn't move and started clawing at their feet trying to get their attention.

"Ron, look! There's something in his mouth!" said Harry pointing at Crookshanks.

"Harry we haven't got time for this! God knows what the thick bastards are doing to Hermione at this very minute!" Ron shouted.

Harry ignored him and grabbed the parchment from Crookshanks' mouth. "Ron, I think that Crookshanks is trying to tell us something about where Hermione is. It says, 'If you ever want to see your precious friends again come to the heart of the forbidden forest immediately. Go alone if you value their lives.' Ron! Hermione's gone to the forest! It's a trap! That's why Crabbe and Goyle wanted us out of the way; so we wouldn't be able to help her!"

Ron grabbed the note and re-read it to himself wide-eyed then abruptly said, "Come on Harry! We have to save her! Thanks Crookshanks!" Ron made a mental note to never complain about Hermione's clever cat ever again.

Ron and Harry then tore out of the common room to the Entrance Hall and out the doors, and ran to the Forbidden Forest.

"I'm coming Hermione, don't worry! Just hold on!" Ron thought, "Please don't let us be too late!"