A/N: Sorry if the scenes are mixed up... still need to figure out this new QuickEdit thing which gets me everytime.
Hermione stared at the house, her eyes wide and bright, but not with happiness. It was almost like Draco's home – the same style and furnishing, but this one seemed more… regal and majestic. But besides that, it seemed to be full of doom and fear. There seemed to be fear and doom leaking out of every crevice and soaking into her heart.
She closed her eyes and pictured Neville and Ginny. She did not want to lose either of them. As she focused on them, the thought of saving her friends banished all the fear. She reopened her eyes, a determined and almost feral look in them.
'Let's go,' and started forward, but her knees trembling and her hands clutching the other. Obviously not all her fear had been banished.
Once inside, the place seemed worse than outside. Not only did it ooze fear and doom – it reeked with it. The air itself was clammy and stuffy – and full of fear and doom. And every step she took, her heart seemed to increase its already rapid pace.
Draco saw her alarm, and squeezed her hand. She squeezed his hand back, forgetting she was holding a grudge against him and that he was – used to be - her worst enemy.
He draped a casual arm across her shoulders. 'It'll be okay, sweetheart.'
She didn't hear him – only heard the loud beating of her heart and a strange buzzing in her ears.
It was dead silent inside. They walked slowly, they shoes making a loud sound on the stone floors. They then stood in the middle of the cold room, Hermione pressed up against Draco's chest, shivering.
Abruptly, two double doors burst open, and Tom Riddle stood there.
She had never seen Tom Riddle before – and was ashamed to admit that just looking at him made her weak at the knees. Dark hair fell elegantly into black, reptilian eyes, and his black outfit hugged every curve. He stood there – a twisted smile lighting up his twisted eyes.
And next to him stood none other than Ginerva Weasley. She was dressed in black too, but lace, mostly, and a long dress which trailed onto the ground. Her stunning red hair was cascading down her back, and she held herself tall and proud – only Hermione caught the glimmer of tears in her green eyes.
Hermione gaped at this new Ginny, who seemed to not be trying to escape at all. She's probably under a spell, Hermione reminded herself, but it was still unnerving.
Tom offered Ginny his arm, and she took it, gracing him with a nod. They walked towards Draco and Hermione.
'Draco!' Tom exclaimed, turning his attention to Draco.
Grasping this opportunity, Hermione caught Ginny's eye. 'Are you alright?' she mouthed.
'And Mrs. Draco Malfoy,' Tom cried. 'How lucky you are.'
The reptilian eyes turned on her, and she gasped, a cold terror squeezing her heart painfully.
Draco's arm tightened around her shoulders. 'It is her.'
'It's a pleasure,' Tom smiled, extending his hand for her to shake. For a moment she stared at its smoothness, and then she summoned the courage and shook it.
Nothing happened. He didn't 'Avada-Kedarva' her as she was expecting. He merely gave her a polite smile and offered his arm to Ginny, leading the way to the dining room. By this time, Hermione's knees were weak with fear and she leaned heavily on Draco's arm as they traced Tom's footsteps.
The dining room table was very long and very thin. They all sat down, Ginny and Tom each at one head of the table, and Hermione and Draco opposite each other in the middle.
First course was served. It was some sort of orange soup. Hermione wrinkled her nose. It smelt of old fish and turpentine.
'So, Ginny, darling,' said Tom, flashing her his trademark seductive smile. 'Tell Ms. Malfoy how you're enjoying your stay here.'
Ginny and Tom locked eyes, and for a moment, Hermione felt very negative vibes as they had a silent battle.
Ginny broke. 'Yes. I'm… enjoying my stay here.'
Tom gave a satisfied smirk.
Hermione suddenly felt very sick. 'P-Please excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.'
'Of course,' said Tom. 'Crawley will accompany you.'
Crawley turned out to be a house-elf with large ears and eyes that twitched. He led her to the nearest toilet and waited outside.
Inside, Hermione leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. She felt extremely sick – her stomach was doing back flips. It was the orange soup – she was sure of it. She had taken three sips, and now felt sick. Was it because she was allergic to something in it or was the soup poisoned?
She hoped it wasn't the latter.
She moaned as her stomach churned faster, and a familiar feeling rose up in her throat. Just in time, she raced to the toilet and threw up.
After cleaning herself up, a devious plan had been formed in her mind. She wondered why she had not thought of it before.
Hermione came out of the toilet, her face slightly greener than when she entered.
'Alright, miss?' asked Crawley.
'Yes,' Hermione answered, 'and Crawley, I'm really, really sorry about this.' From behind her back she produced a roll of toilet paper. In less than five minutes, she had tied Crawley up with it multiple times, in hopes it would not break.
She dashed off down the hall, leaving behind a bewildered house-elf.
It was only then it struck Hermione that she had no idea where to look.
Where do sadistic guys hide innocent schoolchildren? She thought. It hit her then – the dungeons, of course!
Time was running out – she'd been gone for about ten minutes, and they'd have started to wonder where she was. Starting at a run, she ran down the nearest flight of stairs. Then the next – then the next. The dungeons are usually in the basement of houses, right?
Her hope was almost gone – when she stumbled across a stone wall, slimy with grime. She smiled. She'd reached the dungeon.
Taking the bulky handle in uncertain fingertips, she pushed open the door, wincing at the screechy noise it made. The room was dark, and it took a few blinks for her eyes to become accustomed.
Neville was at the other side of the room. He looked awful. His school uniform was dirty and in shreds. Cuts, bruises and smudges of dirt decorated his plump face. He was tied up by thick cords which cut in his skin and a filthy gag had been shoved into his mouth.
He seemed to be trying to warn her of something. His eyes were full of fear and he was trying to shout through the gag, waving his hands around feebly.
'Neville!' Hermione cried, relief flooding over her.
Neville said something, but all she heard was a muffled noise.
'What's wrong, Neville?' she asked. 'It's okay, I'm here to rescue you. Everything will be alright.'
She took her first step towards him, and out of the darkness emerged Tom Riddle.
She gasped.
'I thought you'd be here,' he whispered. 'So much bravely – just like young Harry.'
'F-Fancy seeing y-you here!' Hermione tried. 'I, erm, got l-lost on the way to the bathroom.'
They both knew she was lying.
'I'm going to have to do something about you, Hermione,' said Tom, his face a mask of seriousness.
Hermione stood there, frozen, watching him advance towards her. She did the only thing she could have done –
She dived at him.
Ginny and Draco glared at each other.
'Tom's not gone to get the chicken, has he?' said Draco, glaring at Ginny. 'It's all your fault, you weasel bitch. If you'd at least tried to escape, maybe none of this – '
'Shut the hell up, Ferret!' Ginny screeched. 'I would have, but I'm under a spell, can't you see? I may love Tom, but the world means more to me. Of course I would escape if I could! Oh, and I suppose Tom's not gone to get the chicken,' she said as an afterthought.
Draco swore loudly and stood up. 'He's gone after Hermione, hasn't he?'
Ginny nodded.
'Well, c'mon, we've got to rescue her!' Draco shouted.
Ginny's eyes filled with tears. 'I can't – he put a spell on me, I can't move from this spot unless he removes it.'
Furious, Draco whipped out his wand. 'Reppelio!'
The invisible bonds holding Ginny to the chair broke.
'Let's go,' she said, and they sprinted from the room.
Tom towered over Hermione. She was lying on the slimy stone floor, blood trickling from the wound on her head, where it had made painful contact with the stone.
'I won't kill you yet. I'm going to use you first,' Tom whispered. 'Imperius!'
Hermione's eyes glazed over.
Draco and Ginny burst into the room, and the scene that met their eyes was not what they had expected. There was Neville, first off, tied to the wall, Tom leaning casually next to him, and there was Hermione, standing beside him, not fighting or trying to escape. In fact, she was smiling.
'Hermione?' Draco choked out, rushing over to her. His arms wrapped her in a hug, but she remained stiff. 'Are you okay?'
She paused. 'Tom here has shown me he's right. Neville should die. I'm joining the Dark Side, Draco. Come with me.'
Draco stared. Something was wrong. Was this a clone of Hermione? His brain seemed to be working in slow-motion.
'There's no good, or evil, Draco. Only power. And those too weak to find it.'
The words seemed familiar to him.
'We could live happily together, you and I. It would be perfect, Draco. Don't you want to make your family proud? Make me happy? I'd be yours forever.' She stared into his eyes.
It struck him then.
'Take the spell off her!' he demanded.
Tom smirked. 'She makes a valid point, though.'
'Tom, just do it.'
Tom smirked, yet again, playing with his wand between his fingers.
'Do it, Riddle.'
It was not Draco who spoke, but Ginny.
Tom looked uncertain. 'Ginny, sweetheart – '
'Do it!'
'No – '
'You know I won't come with you willingly,' she continued. 'Won't it be a bother, forcing me to do every little thing? And I'd hate you for it – but let Draco, Hermione and Neville go free, never go after them again, and I'll come with you willingly.'
'Weasley!' Draco snapped. 'Don't be stupid!'
She ignored him, only kept her gaze firmly on Tom.
There was the longest pause in Hogwarts history.
Tom waved his wand. Hermione blinked, and the spell was taken off her.
'What did I miss?' she asked desperately.
Tom walked up to Ginny. For a moment, they locked gazes, then their lips met in a passionate kiss.
Hermione flinched. How Ginny could snog something so evil was beyond her.
A grunt reminded her of Neville.
'Neville!' she cried, hastening to untie him.
'C'mon,' Draco whispered to her, once Neville was free.
Hermione nodded. 'Ginny, lets go.'
Ginny, who had long stopped snogging the most evil man ever the walk the earth, gave her a sad look.
'I can't leave, Mya.'
'Why – why not?'
'I promised I'd stay with Tom willingly if he'd let you three go.'
Hermione was floored. 'You. Did. Not.'
Ginny nodded, tears spilling from her eyes.
'Well, I'm sure Tom won't hold you to that,' Hermione said weakly.
'Yeah, whatever,' Tom scoffed.
Hermione blinked back tears. 'I can't believe you sacrificed yourself for us.'
Draco wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
'We're gonna come back for you, Ginny,' she promised, her eyes narrowed. 'Right after we slaughter that bastard.' She directed her gaze at Tom, who returned it with a mock I'm-so-very-scared look.
'We won't leave you behind – and it's not really goodbye.' The two girls smiled.
Next to Hermione, Neville was weeping too. From sadness, or relief to be free, she didn't know.
'Bloody Gryffindors,' Draco shook his head. He took out his wand. He and Tom locked eyes for a moment – and a flicker of hate flashed between them, right before Draco apparated them home.
A/N: This fic is almost finished. Next chapter is the last one. :( But I do have plans for a sequel whether you want to read it or not. lol. And I'm looking for people who'd like to be a staff on my C2 community Opposites Really Do Attract. If you're interested, please email me.
And I know action/adventure scenes aren't my best, but please review anyway!!