Disclaimer: I only own the plot and any characters I decided to invent
::October 21, 2004::
AN: well this is a lovely chapter...
Last Time...
"Why don't you stay here with Ron and I'll go find him." Harry said and then started to exit the room.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!" Hermione exclaimed and Harry made his way back to her side. "I know if you find him you won't be nice to him and most likely you'll throw curses and use a body bind to bring him to the Ministry."
"No I won't."
"Don't lie to me."
"But…"
"No, you'll stay here with Ron and I'll go find Draco."
"But it's too dangerous."
"What did you just say?!"
"It's…nothing."
"That's what I thought."
"Just make sure you don't get captured too."
"Do you believe in me at all?"
"Not with the Malfoys. You seem to fall weak to their…dare I say…charm."
"Are you implying that I'm going to fall at his feet and beg to be his slave forever?!"
"No but you might go along with whatever he says because you believe his story and feel bad for him."
"I will not be brainwashed. When have you even known me not to think for myself?"
"You got me there."
"Good, I'm going to go find him and then go to Dumbledore."
"Be careful." He called as she walked out the door.
"Shut up Harry." Was her only response before leaving.
Chapter 8 – Lost and Found
Hermione wandered around the town for a while before deciding to check the local hotels. She went to Overnight Stay first. Walking up to the she noticed the place wasn't all that busy.
"Bing." She rang the bell that was sitting on the counter. A head popped up from below the desk.
"Sorry, Miss. I was just looking for some papers in the bottom drawer, didn't hear you come up. What can I do for you today?" the man asked in a very British accent.
"I was wondering if you could possibly check your list of guests for me."
"It depends on what information you would like to know, Miss."
"Would you be able to tell me if a Draco Malfoy has checked in here?"
"I can check that information for you, Miss. Please hold on one moment." He typed something into a computer. "I am sorry to say that the person you're looking for has not been here. Would you like to leave a message if he comes by?"
"That's alright, thanks for your help."
"It was my pleasure." He replied before disappearing behind the counter leaving Hermione to show herself out.
She walked down the street and over a couple blocks till she came to Dreamy Sleep figuring she would try again she made her way inside. Going up to the desk she saw a familiar face.
"Oh my god! Julie, what are you doing here?" she exclaimed.
"'Mione? Is that really you?" Julie answered back.
"Yes, oh my god I can't believe it's really you! I haven't seen you in ages."
"Oh come hear." Julie held out her arms and the girls embraced. "I've missed you so much."
"Sorry, I tried to write but..."
"Oh it's alright. I understand. You didn't really know what to say. After what happened I can't really blame you."
"Really?"
"Yea, it's fine. Henry was a jerk for doing that to you anyways."
"Well it was Harry that paid him to go out with me."
"Still, Henry should've known better."
"Let's not talk about that right now. I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen you. What's been going on?"
"Well I got fired from my other job because, get this, my boss kept hitting on me."
"How would that get you fired?"
"The thing is, I kept denying him and eventually I blew up at him and made a big scene at the coffee house so he fired me."
"Sounds like a pervert."
"I really liked that job too, well besides him."
"Yea. So what brought you into the hotel field?"
"It was the only job open at the time and I figured it wasn't that bad. I do need the money, Mike and I split the rent."
"That's right, how are you and Mike doing?"
"He proposed!" she squealed and held out her hand.
"Oh my god! It's gorgeous!"
"He did it over a romantic dinner and everything, it was so sweet."
"Well it's Mike."
"Very true."
"So when's the wedding?"
"We're going to have a winter wedding."
"Outside?"
"No silly, in a greenhouse."
"Heated?"
"Obviously."
"So how many guests are you planning on having then?"
"We're not really sure yet. But I'll be sure to invite you. Though you might want to make sure you bring a date because of course Henry will be there. Unfortunately I'm required to invite him, after all he is my brother."
"I'm sure I can find someone to go with me, if worse comes to worse I can bribe Harry or Ron."
"How are they?"
"Well Ron caught his girlfriend cheating on him and he's been...upset lately. Harry is being a guy and life just couldn't be better."
"Sounds like you have your hands full. I'm guessing Kendall moved out then." At a nod of confirmation she continued, "Who'd you get to move in then?"
"Oh that reminds me!"
"What?"
"I'll fill you in some other time. But I need to know if you have a Draco Malfoy on your lists anywhere."
"Chasing a guy?"
"You could say that."
"Hold on, I'll check."
"Sure."
"We have a Draco checked in but there's no last name along with it. I'm not sure if that's him."
"Probably is. It's a long story but he most likely wouldn't put his last name for various reasons."
"Well would you like his room number?"
"I thought you weren't allowed to give me that?"
"Shhh. You're his wife."
"WHAT?!"
"Calm down, if anyone asks just say you're his wife and he forgot to tell you what room he was staying in."
"Are you going to give me a key to or something, jeez."
"Do you want one?"
"You can't be serious."
"Sure, hold on." She typed in the room number on a machine and out popped a piece of plastic. "Room 451."
"Thanks, Julie. I own you one."
"Just make sure you're at my wedding."
"Will do. See you later." Hermione called and then sped off threw the lobby and up a flight of stairs till she finally got to the fourth floor. Continuing down the hall she stopped at the door marked 451 and pressed her ear against it. She didn't hear anything so sliding her key into the slot she opened the door.
"Hello?" she called quietly as she hesitantly stepped into the room. She walked into an alcove to the right and looked around. Suddenly she heard the door slam and lock behind her. Whirling around she was face to face with Draco who had her pinned against a wall in a second.
"What are you doing here Granger?" he spat.
"Looking for you."
"That much was obvious. I meant why."
"Well you left rather suddenly, without giving me a chance to apologize and..."
"Shut up."
"Excuse me?"
"I don't need to hear lies from you anymore."
"But they're not lies."
"Another one."
"But..."
"Why don't you just leave me alone and stop wasting both of our time?"
"Because I need you."
"I'm sure you do. Let's add that to your list of lies, it seems to be growing longer by the second. Now if you don't mind I have better things to do." He grabbed her arm and pushed her out into the hall locking the door. She began to bang on the door.
"Draco! I'm sorry, I really am. I was just upset and wasn't thinking. And I really do need you." she slumped against the door and slid to the ground. Burying her head in her hands she began to cry. After a while Draco got sick of it and pulled the door open causing Hermione to fall back onto the rug.
"Stop your crying women!" he yelled. But that just made her cry even more. Finally he had to resort to picking her up and carrying her into the room because people passing by were starting to look at them funny.
"I'm sorry Draco. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry. I really am. Truly." She babbled on as he carried her over to the bed and lay her down.
"Stop." He commanded. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "What is it going to take to make you leave?" her head dropped down again and she scrunched up her face trying not to cry again. The attempt failed and the tears resumed spilling down her face. "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. Just please stop crying." Her sobs mellowed to sniffles and finally she looked up at him with big pleading eyes. "Why do I have the feeling I'm going to regret this." He muttered making her eyes downcast again. "Okay, I'm sorry. Just please tell me what you came here for." She took a deep breath.
"I need you." Draco waited for more but she didn't continue.
"Uh huh, and why do you need me?" he asked.
"Well it's a long story really."
"Oh God," he muttered under his breath, than louder he voiced, "Well we certainly have some time don't we."
"Really?" she exclaimed, as she looked at him again with those big pleading eyes making him fall hopeless to her.
"Really."
"Well you know how Harry got called to the Ministry last night?"
"Yes."
"It was because your father had come in earlier that day."
"WHAT?! What the hell did he want?!"
"Calm down, I'm getting to that. Apparently he threatened the Ministry that if they couldn't find you he would keep the captive he has."
"Who does he have?" Hermione paused.
"G...Ginny Weasley."
"Well..." he began but stopped at the look Hermione was giving him.
"Harry's set on taking you to your father and getting Ginny back."
"That won't work."
"That's what I told him. I said that your father was never one to keep deals and play by the rules."
"Not because of that, though it is true."
"Then why?"
"I'm not going and there's nothing you can do to make me." Hermione laughed. "What?"
"You didn't even listen to what I suggested."
"Oh, right. What was it then?"
"I said that we should find you and ask you what you thought was our best option."
"Well..."
"I wasn't finished yet. We have to keep you from your father but we also have to get Ginny back somehow."
"That complicates things a bit."
"But can it be done?"
"Can my father be beaten at his own game?"
"Is it possible?"
"We'll certainly find out, won't we?"
AN: that was fun wasn't it? well i added a new character, Julie. who's Henry's sister. Henry was the guy Harry paid to go out with Hermione way back when. anyways...
andii( ): Ginny's in a pretty bad place isn't she...except no one knows where she is...well except me lol. well im glad you think its getting good but im not sure where this is really going. thanks for the review - hope you like it
zuvalupa: thanks for the encouragement - you always make me want to write more. i praised you in my other story lol. you're the only reviewed i have who reviews every chapter of all my stories but i read your profile about your computer having screwed up so you won't get this for a while i guess. well hope you like it anyways and i cant wait to hear from you
Alenor: i definetly don't mind long reviews lol. well yes i do thank you again for pointing that out - i'm such a ditz hehehe. yea ginny is in a rather horrible place but we'll get to more on that in future chapters. draco's back in this chapter and he shouldn't be leaving again anytime soon so that's good i think. anyways i always love to hear from you - hope you enjoy
AN: thanks to my GREAT REVIEWERS - THEY ARE THE BEST!!! lol. anyways...i do appreciate any comments so please review. and that's all for now...my lovely brother needs the computer...ugh...evil...till next time