Author's Note- I know that this was supposed to be the last chapter, but the end is just a great place to leave it off, don't you think? Last chapter will be up in the next couple of days. Again, sorry for the wait Alenor!

Bold- Imperio curse

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Get over it.

Chapter Twelve- Imperio

Lucius cast a fairly complicated invisibility spell on himself as he crept quietly into the huge castle. The velvet night was silent. The starlight reflected off of Lucius' eyes as he slithered into Hogwarts.

Now… he thought, trying his best not to make any noise as he walked through the hallways. I don't know any of the passwords, so how exactly am I supposed to get in? Lucius sighed. This was definitely a problem.

-

"What was that?" whispered Hermione, her hands clutching Draco's shirt in fear. He looked down at her amusedly.

"You're going to rip my shirt, love," he said, not bothering to be quiet. "This is quite an expensive shirt, so if you don't mind…" Hermione blushed, releasing his shirt. She turned away from him and looked around for signs of the noise she had just heard.

Moments passed in silence. And then, CRASH! Hermione screamed in fright, flinging her arms around Draco's neck and clinging to him as tightly as she could. A suit of armor fell down right in front of the patrollers. Miss Norris calmly walked out from behind the suit and meowed at them.

"Told you," said Draco smugly. Hermione sighed and released her chokehold on him. What on Earth was he talking about? He never told her anything! She sent him a quizzical look. Draco just rolled his eyes and began to walk towards the end of the hall. There was a sudden sound from right in front of him. Draco stopped as he heard a slight creaking noise. He soundlessly tiptoed back to Hermione and walked the other way, pulling her with him.

As soon as they were around the corner, Draco leaned in and murmured, "Someone's here. No doubt it's my father. We have to get to safety." Hermione looked at him with wide eyes.

"Dumbledore! We have to get to Dumbledore's!" Hermione whispered urgently. Draco shook his head sadly. Not that old coot again! Will anyone ever learn that he is just an idiot?

"Hermione, you don't understand. We have to get out. Now. I don't even want to think about what he'll do to us if he finds us here. We have to move!" Draco pulled gently, but firmly on her arm. Hermione just silently sighed and followed her star-crossed lover.

Draco was almost to his dormitory when he heard someone rummaging around. He faintly heard his father's voice. How did he manage to get here so fast?

"He has to have the Mudblood's password somewhere! If only I could find it." A pause, then, "Who's there?" Draco silently cursed, and ran the other way, again dragging Hermione with him. Draco's ears picked up the sound of heavy footsteps behind them. He was gaining on them.

"Stupefy!" A flash of red light collided with Draco's back, and the world went black.

-

Hermione silently shook with fear as she stood around awaiting her death. After taking off his invisibility charm, Lucius had used an unfamiliar spell to bind her with ropes. She would have screamed, but she knew she would be dead before hitting the floor.

She watched nervously as Draco began to stir. Lucius walked over to him and gazed at his son's face as he opened his eyes. A look of disgust, pain, and fear crossed Draco's face before he could hide it. Lucius just looked at him calmly. After a few moments of staring, Lucius performed the same curse he had used to bind Hermione.

"You see," Lucius began, "I was very pleased with you, Draco. You showed signs of respect and loyalty to the Dark Lord. You were bound to follow in my footsteps and become a faithful Death Eater. That is, until the beginning of this year. When you met her. I understand that she had gotten a makeover of sorts, and you two proceeded to fall for each other."

"It was more than the makeover, Father," Draco said quietly. Silence came over the corridor. Lucius sneered at his son in contempt.

"It appears you really are in love, then. What a waste. I was hoping it was only physical. Oh well. It will all turn out in the same way." Without warning, Lucius spun around to face Draco with his wand out. Within moments, a single word changed the rest of their lives. "Imperio."

-

Lift your arm above your head. Draco lifted his arm above his head without question. Hermione felt like screamingat him to wake up, to get that dark, blank look out of his beautiful silver eyes.

Lucius smiled, pleased that the spell was working. Quickly, he removed Draco of his bonds. Draco stood there, a vacant look on his pale face. Hermione wanted to scream. He was so… empty. She longed to snap him back to reality. She would never get a chance.

Kill her.