A/N: Very long authors note at the bottom, watch out. And the scenes may be a bit mixed up coz of this new QuickEdit. Sorry if that bothers anyone!

The Malfoy Manor was just as cold and foreboding as ever. Every window seemed black and ominous, and each door was just as ancient and portentous. The house had never looked more like a classic haunted house then it did now. But usually haunted houses were laded with cobwebs, had paint peeling off the doorframes, smelt like a box prised open after many years and seething with spiders and equally disgusting insects but the Malfoy Manor was clean. Not a speck of grime tainted the house.

Draco's hand and never once left her arm, as though he was scared she might run away like a startled fawn.

'C'mon,' he said, starting to walk. Snapped out of her reverie, she stumbled after him.

'You can let go, you know,' she snapped, from behind gritted teeth.

Draco shot her his trademark flirtatious smile. 'You'll run from me, sweetheart.'

Hermione cocked her head to one side, thinking. 'Wait – did you call me sweetheart – again?'

'Yes. Damn truth potion!'

'Well, don't, I said!!!'

Hermione did not feel any better once they were there. 'Where are your parents?'

'They went back to their house. It's not like they live here, you know.'

'Isn't that fortunate.' She stormed off to their bedroom, and sat on the bed, determined to put as much distance as possible between them. Unfortunately, seconds later, Draco graced her yet again with his presence.

'What now?' she snapped, feeling her heart rate increase as she surveyed him leaning leisurely against the doorframe.

He didn't answer, just threw her a letter. She was uncomfortably aware of his serious expression and the way his eyes were fixed on her like a magnet.

'Is it completely relevant for you to watch me read this?' she asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Just open it, sweetheart.'

She scowled at him for using that name again, when something hit her. 'Ask me a question.'

Disbelief struck his face. 'What?'

'Just ask me a question.'

'Why don't you just open the letter?'

'I don't want to!' she heard the words leave her mouth with joy and shrieked. 'Ohmigod! Ohmigod!' she excitedly clapped her hands.

Draco was not finding anything amusing. 'What the fuck?'

'The truth potion!' she squealed. 'It's off! I just lied to you! Yes, yes, yes!'

'I found that out ages ago,' he scoffed, though he hadn't and was actually pleased with the unexpected news. 'Now open the letter.'

'I'll think I'll save it for later, thanks.' She found she could speak freely now and felt rather spontaneous as a result.

A dangerous look burned in Draco's grey eyes. They darkened, and seemed to flash. In three quick strides he was sitting on the bed next to her.

Hermione glanced up, and her eyes were drawn to his like a strong magnet, and locked there. She shivered. Having that look of anger lying just beneath the surface and directed at her frightened her slightly.

I will not be intimidated by him, she told herself. He wouldn't dare do anything to me, anyway.

'Please, just read it now,' his face was so close to hers that his breath brushed her face.

'Why?' she whispered.

'I just want you to see what's in it.'

'Draco...'

He leaned forward slowly, and took her mouth in his. Shifting closer to her, his tongue slipped into her mouth, warm and very experienced, making a full-fledged exploration of it. They sat like that for a few minutes snogging, then Hermione pulled away.

'Draco!' she exclaimed. 'Stop it! I hate you when you do this.'

Draco didn't answer. He tilted her head back and proceeded to kiss her neck. 'Let's kiss and make up already.'

A pang of hot anger shot through her again, reminding her of his crime. Drugging and kidnapping her were one thing, but also ordering Hedwig to be slaughtered? That was fair enough, in a twisted way, but really. He knew it would make her angry! And the anger surpassed the lust.

She pulled away again and stood, the letter still clutched in her hand. Giving him one last glare, she hurried over to the door, to find it locked.

How did he do that? She thought, bewildered. Aloud she said; 'Unlock it, please.'

She allowed herself to look at him, and was breath taken. His figure looked so good sprawled on the bed, with his eyes dark with lust and danger. His hair messed up – she thought it looked much nicer that way. He looked so dangerous – a true bad boy.

'Just open the letter,' he said calmly.

It's just a letter. It couldn't hurt, she thought.

Or so she thought. But telling, or even guessing the future had never really been her strong point. She never really suspected most bad things anyway, even if they were staring her right in the face. This was one of those times.

She ripped it open, taking out some strange inky black paper from inside.

It was not really a true example of a letter – it more resembled a hastily written note.

Hermione Malfoy, it said,

Remember your friend Ginerva Weasley, more commonly known as Ginny? Yes, well, I've taken her. In fact, I'm looking at her as I write this down. She's to be my Dark Queen when I overthrow that old fool, Dumbledore. Unfortunately, she's making that rather hard, resisting all I've tried. I've tried to make her come willingly, to deaf ears, so I'm forced to resort to more reliable methods. In simpler words, torture. I'll do what I must to make her come easily. Anyway, you must be wondering where you come into this. Yes? Well I also encountered a young man who tried to defend Ginny when I kidnapped her. So I took him too. He goes by the name Neville Longbottom, and he will meet the same end as his parents unless you and your husband agree to come to a private meeting with me. No longer than three hours, I promise you. Come, and your friend will be spared. I promise you. And Ginerva will face a lot less pain. As will Neville.

Will you put aside your pride for the sake of your friends, Ms. Malfoy, or let them fall? The choice is yours.

Awaiting your arrival,

Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Hermione recognized the writing, from when she saw it once in a certain diary. She stood there, paralyzed and feeling dizzy, digesting the information. The black letter fluttered from her limp fingers.

'So, what does it say?' asked Draco in a jaunty, innocent voice. That was completely fake. He definitely knew about this.

'Oh nothing,' said Hermione, forcing her voice to operate. Though it was now croaky. 'Just that V-Voldemort has kidnapped my friends and is threatening to torture them. No big deal. I mean, this sort of thing happens all the time.' Her voice was laced and thick with heavy, cruel sarcasm.

Draco cleared his throat nervously. 'Oh. Well, uh – Mother and Father will get them back, it'll be okay.'

'This is some big plot to get me to meet them, isn't it?' she asked, pacing the room, her eyes livid, her mouth moving as fast as her heart was pounding. 'All some big plot to get me to meet Tom Riddle. Draco?'

'Yeah?'

'We love each other right, so why don't you at least tell me why he wants to meet me.'

'I can't tell you that.'

Hermione screamed, felt for the nearest thing and hurled it with all her strength at him. The pillow bounced harmlessly off his chest.

'Calm down, its not like he wants to do anything bad!' Draco said, brushing the pillow aside. 'He just wants to meet you, that's all.'

'Why me?' she cried.

'Because you're the lucky wife of the son of his most loyal follower.'

'Lucky!' she screeched. 'Lucky, my arse! And tell me Draco, do you plan to become a Death Eater when you're of age?'

Draco stared hard at her. For a while, the only sound that could be heard was of the faint ticking of the clock in a nearby room.

Then he spoke. 'No. I'm not becoming a Death Eater.'

Hermione felt a small jolt of surprise and relief. So he wasn't going to become a Death Eater... that was good.

'Nevertheless, you'll still be meeting Tom, okay?'

She snarled. 'It's not like I have a choice in the matter. What did I ever do wrong?' she wailed, more to herself to anyone else. 'What could I ever have done to deserve such a fucked-up life?'

'It's not that bad,' said Draco uncomfortably. He wasn't used to crying women. Women begging to fuck him, he was used to, but women crying? Not very often.

Hermione stopped crying. 'Promise me Ginny'll be okay.'

'She'll be fine.'

'He's not going to force her to do... anything, will he?'

Draco didn't reply.

'Damnation!' Hermione cried. She closed her eyes suddenly – taking ten deep, long breaths. When she opened her eyes, she was calm.

'When did you start doing that – that calming down trick?' Draco asked, astounded at the sudden change from about-to-beat-him-to-a-pulp, to oh-I'm-very-calm-and-reasonable.

'Ever since I've been married to you,' Hermione answered shortly. 'Now, as I understand it, everything is going to work out fine. It's going to be fine,' she said, more to reassure herself. 'When must we meet that slimy son of a bitch?'

Draco assumed she meant Tom Riddle. 'Whenever is best. This afternoon if you want.'

Hermione stared past him, deep in thought. Finally she spoke. 'The sooner the better, you're right. Let's get this over and done with.'

Draco sat there, stunned that she actually wanted to go, but recovered quickly. Unlocking the door, he led her out.

'Will we be back here before dinnertime?' Hermione asked before they were about to Apparate, her eyes wide with an emotion Draco couldn't place.

'Yes,' said Draco, though he doubted it. 'One, two, three – '

Then they were there.

A/N: I'm really sorry for the long wait, I had exams (I know, excuses, excuses). But now that they're over, I should have more time to update my stories. Please review and once again, sorry about the lack of updating!

Malfoylvr: Um, I take it you haven't read chapter 17 then. Don't. I'm kinda embarrassed about it, to tell the truth.

kat: I'll think about that suggestion, thanks!

Alenor: Well, she is going to meet Voldemort after all. But can you blame her? So you're an aussie, eh? Yeah, a fellow 'in the southern hemispherer' !!:)

MysticWillow: I'll try and make them longer, but I do type rather slow! lol

dracolov: I'm sorry that I can't be in your challenge. I have barely enough time for this fic and with all the exams I have it would be 2 busy. Sorry! Maybe another time if you have another one.

Angel338: I will try!

Jessie: Thank-you so much! ::blushes:: Aw, so you didn't like the fifth book? You're idea is really neat, it would probably fit in somewhere in later chapters. You don't mind if I do use it, do you? :)

HPfreakout: Thanks! And yeah, Goyle is pretty stupid.

andrew-needs-to-write: I loved LOTR too! ;) Not all of NZ is like that, but I'm glad you want to go!

Queen of Serpents: Holy shit that was a long review in fanfiction history I'll bet. mucho thanks!! Yeah, I've always had this thing for Tom and Ginny, so I thought I'd randomly add it in this fic. I love constructive critism, thank-you so much! ::hugs Queen of Serpents:: As you might have noticed I DID change my penname, I'd been thinking of doing so but I did!! Yah!!

Thanks to; Crystal, gryffindorgal11, Ashely Nikole Malfoy, Nubia, breziebear, the American Revolution, kayane joel, lizbethr (i luv ur reviews! lol), hp-lover-fifi, jillbrim, KIARI, surfingisfun, jEnNy, Nymphomaniac, moon, crazy azn angel, Dracos-DAMNsexy27, Ren117, simply-brit (lol!), labpotter, Miss Mills, kenshinrulz, crazee (you'll find out soon), Jocelyn Padoga, LillaBella, Elven at Heart, crazysexycool, Wolf Pack Leader (Thank-you for the idea! I'll think about it), Dark-Illusion1, BIGHARRYFAN, xxxpinkkitty5467, Saiyachick, dramaqueen72, XxPadfootiexX, joaniem, WriterGrl03, charmed piper, the girl at the rockshow, xoxobriTtAnyxoxo13, jesska-14, harrypotterismine-ilovehim, QueEnfullofDraMa (soon, my dear, soon. lol), Helkardowen, dee023, BbyChick, Dershana (glad you liked that part!), Lady Angelique of mystique, acdecnerd, orly23, sirius-black-4eva, Pia O'Leary, Sarah-Lynn (that's because she already knew. She overheard Harry and Ron talking about it, remember?), Puzzlette (lol!), J. N. Cahill, TomFeltonBeSexy (you're very welcome!), SwTnDrEaMyPnAy03, Meep, PyrosBlackstar (you have a point there! lol!), waterprincess, Elizabeth the 4rth , Kara Black, marvelous mimosa, Elven at Heart, dracos-or-harrys gal, rainbowfairy, kerry, Gothhottie, Dershana, legolasestelstar, Troublesome-Shorti, JenniferJae, dramaqueen72, Melanie and kjsparkles. Thanks so much for the reviews, I really appreciate them!