Once outside, Draco began to see how quickly the effects of this potion were.
'Dra – Dra – cooo...' Hermione rested her head on his shoulder, and yawned. 'I'm tired.'
Feeling her starting to slip to the floor, Draco quickly supported her waist.
She yawned again, and her eyes started to flutter close. Soon she was completely asleep and slipping again.
Draco lifted her up, carrying her bridal style out of the hallway.
He met Goyle and Parvati on the way.
'Goyle,' he said. 'Can you do me a favor?'
Goyle nodded stupidly.
'Kill Harry Potter's bird for me,' he whispered, so Parvati couldn't hear. 'Any way you want. Just do it. I want his bird dead by the time I get back.'
'Sure thing,' Goyle said, and they parted.
Hermione awoke to the sweet sound of birds. She felt the warmth of sun of her face, and opened her eyes, staring into Draco's face. She was lying in a king-size bed, and he was sitting on the covers next to her.
'Where am – '
Her brain fast-forwarded. Then it hit her.
'You did not,' she breathed heavily, 'drug me and take me to your house. You did not.'
'Er,' said Draco, 'you wouldn't come willingly.'
Hermione paused, taking this all in. Then she opened her mouth and let out a scream.
But it was cut off by Draco's mouth.
Horrified, Hermione pulled away and slapped him. Her hand met his cheek with a satisfying noise, like a snap of a rubber band. His head spun to one side crazily.
'Draco, look at me,' she said, steadying her voice.
He did.
She slapped him again, on the other cheek. There was another satisfying noise, and he head spun to the other side.
There was pure silence for a moment. Then he looked up at her, two red marks on each cheek.
'Bitch,' he whispered, grabbing her wrist and she raised her hand again. 'Don't.'
When yanking her hand away didn't work, Hermione screamed again.
'Scream all you want,' he whispered. 'It'll do you no good.'
Hermione glared at him, hot tears of anger threatening to spill from her eyes. 'How could you do this to me, Draco! I trusted you! I thought you...' she trailed off.
'What?' he said, a lot more gently than what he felt.
'I thought you...' she was forced to repeat what she had just said. 'I mean, I thought you loved me.' Her head hung.
A pang of guilt hit him. 'I may love you, Hermione, but I still hate you, and I'll still make you do what I want.' His other hand closed around her free wrist, and he kissed her roughly again. He drew away, seeing tears run down her cheeks.
'I hate you too, Draco,' she whispered. 'I trusted you... you betrayed me. I hate you!!'
Her eyes were flaming.
He got off the bed. 'Get dressed into some proper clothing, then come down. I'm waiting.' He left.
Fuming, Hermione rummaged through the wardrobe, and found some clothing she liked. Getting changed into them, she quickly looked through the keyhole of the door. Just as she suspected. There was a house-elf waiting nearby the door, and at the landing. To accompany down, or to make sure she wasn't going to run away.
She surveyed the window. It was perfect. Except for one thing.
She creaked it open and looked down. Yes, she was right. Her room was on the third floor up.
Luckily, though, she noticed a vine that crawled up the side of the house. It was cliché, but it would work if she climbed down it.
Grinning, despite the dire situation, she swung her legs over the window. Her foot found the beginning of the vine, and taking a deep breath, she leapt from the window onto the vine.
Triumphant filled inside her. She was escaping!
It didn't feel anything like a fairytale. First off, it was broad daylight, and she was petrified that anyone would look out the window and see this teenager climbing down the side of the house. Secondly, the vine was full of thorns, cleverly disguised as leaves. Cuts soon covered her hands and arms, some even ripping through her black tee-shirt and jeans.
But she was getting the hang of climbing down. Soon she had reached ground level, and jumped off. She brushed some leaves and dirt off her hands, and grinned in triumph.
It was short-lived, however. Her heart froze, as she felt the weight of a familiar hand on her shoulder and an equally familiar voice in her ear.
'I thought you'd try and get away.'
Draco seated Hermione down in the Malfoy's living room. She was absolutely furious – her eyes were livid and narrowed, and he could almost feel an insane heat from her. But the outfit she'd chosen was perfect. The black tee-shirt hugged her jeans, as did the jeans. But they were ruined – covered in dirt and her hands and arms were covered in tiny cuts. There was a rip in the shoulder of the tee-shirt, through which blood trickled out, and another in the knee of the jeans.
His parents were seated on the sofa opposite them, deep in discussion. He sat himself down next to Hermione.
'I'm sorry,' he whispered into her ear, but she stared straight ahead. 'I've got a surprise for you.'
'If you think I'll forgive you because of some stupid surprise,' said Hermione bitterly, 'you're wrong.'
'I know,' he said, and another guilty pang shot through him. It was a strange sensation, he rarely – if ever – felt guilty about anything. 'But I know it'll cheer you up at least some.'
She raised an eyebrow. 'That's going to be quite a challenge.'
He dropped the subject. 'Mother, shall I show them in?'
Narcissa glanced up. 'Of course, Draco.'
Hermione waited in the living room, curious against her will of what Draco was doing.
But whatever it was, she was certain she would never forgive him. She could not believe what he had done! It was simply outrageous! She felt the angry surge through her. The fucking, fucking son of a bitch –
Draco entered again, and was followed by a lot of people.
Firstly, her parents. Secondly, Mrs. and Mr. Weasley. Then came Fred and George. Then it was Lupin, Tonks, Moody, Bill, Charlie, and mostly every other member of the old Order, and everyone else dear to her.
She sat there, stunned, listening to the old grandfather clock strike three o'clock.
Then Narcissa and Lucius stood, and started greeting everyone in an almost civil way, and her parents rushed over to her.
'Hermione,' beamed Ted. 'Look at you! I'm glad to see that this marriage is turning out okay.'
She opened her mouth to correct him, but her mother interrupted.
'Draco's such a nice lad. And his parents – my! Such lovely people!'
She opened her mouth to correct them again, then stopped. Her parents obviously were oblivious to everything she was suffering from the Malfoy's. And she did not want to bring to back to reality in such a brutal fashion. Perhaps it was better this way.
'Yes,' she agreed. 'I'm having a lovely time.'
They drifted away, and Hermione got caught in the conversation Lupin and Draco were having.
'So, Lupin,' Draco was saying in a voice which was suspicious. He sounded, well too happy, and as if he had the upper hand on something. 'Did you hear the joke about the werewolf and the doctor?'
There was a vein twitching in Lupin jaw, but his voice was polite, though stiff. 'No.'
Draco smirked. 'Well, there was a werewolf, and he goes into the doctor's office and – '
All at once, Hermione realized what was happening.
'Draco!' she said sharply.
He spun around. 'Ah. Hermione.'
She grabbed his arm. 'Nice to see you, Lupin. Now come with me, Draco!'
Holding his arm in a vice-like grip, she marched him from the room.
When they were in the hallway, she threw him as hard as she could against the wall. 'Don't you ever do that again!'
'Do what?' he asked innocently.
'Don't give me that "do what" bullshit!' she shouted. 'You know damn well what! Purposely mocking Lupin about his werewolf dilemma by telling him werewolf jokes! The nerve of you!'
Draco had the grace to look ashamed. 'I couldn't help it.'
'Couldn't help it, my ass,' said Hermione, trying to breathe deeply. 'I swear to god, Draco, the very next time you do anything at all that I deem annoying, I will do something very drastic.'
'Like what -'
'No questions! And I don't know, but mark my words; it will be drastic and severe.'
Draco looked slightly amused. 'Okay, I'll be a good boy.' And he walked away, back into the living room.
Thinking to herself, I must channel my anger in a constructive way, she rejoined her friends and family.
She was quickly joined by Fred, George and Tonks, who's hairstyle now resembled a bird's nest.
'Nice to see you again, Hermione,' said Tonks, vigorously shaking her hand.
'Might want to keep it down next time,' Fred told her, jerking his head in the direction of the hallway she had just entered through. 'You're doing a Harry.'
She blushed. 'Harry has a lot of things on his mind. And you heard all that?'
Fred nodded.
'So I suppose you and Malfoy aren't kicking off to a great start,' Tonks said.
She tried to lie. 'No, it's just some little things – ' she could tell Fred, George and Tonks didn't believe a word she was saying. 'Well, alright, we totally hate each other but you're not supposed to know, okay?'
They barely had time to nod before they were interrupted by the sharp tinkling of a bell.
'Everyone!' called Narcissa, and the noise slowly stopped. 'I'm afraid it's time to leave now, Draco and Hermione have some business to prepare for.'
Hermione's jaw dropped. She had barely had time to greet Mr. and Mrs. Weasley!
She hurriedly bade farewell to everyone, then sat moodily on the couch, arms folded.
Draco tried to snuggle down next to her, but she scooted away. 'Piss off.'
His face crumpled. 'Are you still mad at me over the whole sorta kidnapping thing?'
'Yes. Go fuck your broom Malfoy. By the way, when does this truth potion wear off again?'
'Another day or something,' he answered.
A/N: Thank-you to everyone who reviewed!
Goddess of Gorgeousness: Wow, you've really met Avril? OMG you're so lucky!! Did she say anything to you? Is her signature nice? Sry, she's just my favorite singer! ;) No one famous ever comes to New Zealand. sighs Man, you're so lucky! :)
Kayane Joel: Everyday? Wow, thx!
Gwenevere Morgaine Black: You're probably right, but I haven't really had too much experience in that field! lol ;)
piepiekoh: I'm sorry about that, I must have gone blank at that moment or something. Thanks for telling me!
Ms Q: Yes, you're absolutely right! I'm so sorry! I'll change it as soon as I get the chance.
Thank-you very much to everyone else who reviewed! I will try and do a complete call-out next chapter!