A/N: There is no greater joy, than that of a good ol' cliffhanger. Haha, I bet you're all hating me…or you were at least, until I updated. Ok, ok, keep your knickers on. Here it is.


Chapter 29 -Taken

The Headmaster glanced up as he heard a soft knock on his door.

"Enter." He said, cheerily. "Ah, Severus." He said upon seeing who had arrived.

"You called for me Albus?" The Potion's Master said, inclining his head slightly and clasping his hands in front of him.

"Indeed I did." Dumbledore replied. "Please, sit." Severus nodded and moved to sit in one of the armchairs in front of The Headmaster's desk. "Is it true Severus, that there appears to be a rift between our Head couple?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, delighting in his own quirky sense of humor. Severus simply furrowed his brows, clasping his hands in front of his face.

"That would appear to be the case Albus. Both students' studies have been steadily declining in all of their classes. Ms. Granger has even ceased answering questions in class and Draco is…well he's Draco." He finished wearily.

"I see." The Headmaster replied. "Well I suppose it can be assumed that Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy have not continued to practice using their powers?"

"Indeed," Severus sighed. "I checked the records for the Room of Requirement, which is where they usually practice, they haven't been there." Dumbledore clasped his hands together, appearing to ponder the situation.

"It is a strange day Severus, when the fate of the wizarding world lies on the shoulders of two love struck teenagers, is it not?" He said finally, his eyes twinkling.

"It is Headmaster." Severus agreed slowly. Dumbledore pushed his seat back and rose to stand by the window, he sighed heavily.

"It seems as if we may need to take matters into our own hands." He said, gazing out across the grounds.

"What do mean Albus?" Severus inquired, rising also to join the Headmaster at the window.

"I think our two head students need a reminder of how very much in love with each other they are." The Headmaster said finally, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"But Sir." Severus protested, "How can you be sure-"

"They are, Severus." Dumbledore cut in. "They are."

Severus nodded. "Very well Headmaster. I shall see what I can do." He said heading towards the door. He paused after opening it and glanced back at the Headmaster. "Sir…do you have any suggestions?" He asked.

"Oh I dare say a nice little duel is in order." Albus replied, staring back off across the grounds.

"A duel?" Severus asked incredulously. "Surely you can't expect Hermione and Draco to duel."

"No, no I don't." The Headmaster replied. "What I do expect is to have Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter at the ends of their ropes."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "I don't follow, Sir."

"I believe there is one person holding both of those ropes, don't you?" He replied. Severus nodded, still not knowing what the wizened old wizard in front of him was going on about. "Yes I believe Ms. Granger would be quite stricken if one of them were injured, not seriously mind you, say…in a duel perhaps?" A look of realization dawned on the potion's master's face. He smiled, if it could be called that, it was really more of a smirk.

"Yes Sir, I'll see what I can do."


"Duel."

"No!" "Stupefy!" "Protego!" Three voices rang out simultaneously. Draco was quicker, casting the first spell but it ricocheted off Harry's shield spell into the dungeon floor. Harry was the next to throw a spell. "Petrificus Totalus!" He yelled. Draco dove out of the way, not having enough time to cast the shield charm.The spell just missed him, blasting the wall behind where he was standing. Draco rolled out of the dive but stood up wincing and holding his shoulder. Solid stone was not the softest surface to dive on.

"Please Professor, you must make them stop!" Hermione called suddenly running towards the front of the room. Draco saw her out of the corner of his eye but not before he saw Harry raise his wand to cast another spell.

"Internus Inflamarre."

"Hermione no!" He yelled lunging for her as she stepped directly in the path of Harry's spell. He collided with her forcing her to the ground as Harry's spell hit him. He let out an anguished yell as he hit the ground, writhing in pain, his eyes screwed shut.

"Draco!" Hermione cried, taking his hand in hers. Harry's wand dropped to the ground, his mouth was slightly agape in disbelief. Draco's body relaxed somewhat as the spell was removed but he still seemed to be in an enormous amount of pain.

"Potter!" Snape yelled, grabbing the Gryffindor by his color. "What curse did you just use?"

"I, I…I'm not sure Professor." Harry stuttered, staring at the ground where Hermione sat pushing back Draco's hair from his damp forehead, while he clutched her other hand.

"Which one Potter?" Snape snarled, bringing his face within inches of Harry's.

"I thought it was externus inflammare but…" Harry mumbled, his face going somewhat red from the lack of oxygen due to Snape's tight grip.

"But what?"

"I think I may have said internus inflammare." Harry said finally, dropping his eyes.

"Foolish boy!" Snape snapped, releasing his robes roughly and going to join Hermione at Draco's side. "Did you not realize that although that curse is not forbidden, it is still almost as painful as the Cruciatus?"

"I…I didn't think-" Harry started.

"Of course you didn't." Snape interrupted him. "Thinking has never been your strong suit has it Potter?" Harry stared at the floor ashamedly. "Get out of my sight." Snape said finally. He glanced up realizing that the rest of the class was still in the room, dead silent. "As for the rest of you, class is dismissed." The students stood up quickly gathering their things. "For homework," Snape continued, amid the groans. "You shall write a 3 foot essay on the differences between the externus inflammare and the internus inflammare spells. Due the next time we meet." At that he turned back to Hermione who had gone very pale.

"What is it?" He asked quickly.

"I think he's gone unconscious." She said, still holding his hand tightly. It was true, Draco had stopped thrashing. He was still now except for the shallow rise and fall of his chest. Severus sighed.

"Come along Hermione, let's get him to the hospital wing." He said, standing up. She stood up as well and watched as Severus levitated Draco's limp body. She followed him silently up to the infirmary.

"Pomfrey!" Severus called upon entering the ward. The nurse bustled out of her office.

"What is it Severus?" She said, looking somewhat perturbed, until she saw Draco. "Oh dear. Set him down over here." She said gesturing to one of the beds. Severus lowered Draco's body gently.

"It was the internus inflammare curse." He stated. Hermione heard Madame Pomfrey gasp slightly.

"Who would do such a thing?" She asked.

"Potter." Severus replied, maliciously. The nurse gasped again.

"Surely he wouldn't."

"He did but that is not the point, this boy is in need of immediate medical attention." The Potions professor snapped, annoyance apparent in his tone. The nurse sniffed and bustled off to retrieve her supplies. Severus turned to Hermione who was still quite pale.

"Hermione do you have any more classes this afternoon?" He asked. She nodded and opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off. "Do not worry, I'll make sure you are excused from them."

She nodded again and whispered a small, "thank you." Several minutes passed before anyone spoke again.

"Severus? Is he going to be all right?" Hermione asked not taking her eyes off the blond boy. She heard her Professor sigh.

"I wasn't lying when I said it was comparable to the Cruciatus Curse. But he's a strong boy…he'll pull through." He said wearily. She nodded as he slowly stood up. "I must be heading back, I have another class to teach. I'll be back to check on…both of you." She nodded again but didn't turn to watch as he exited the infirmary. She heard Madame Pomfrey's footfalls approach the bed.

"There, there now dear. He'll be just fine." She said to Hermione, waving a small vial under Draco's nose.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.

"He has to be awake before I can administer the potion he needs." The nurse said matter-of-factly, capping the vile and heading back towards her office. Hermione's breath hitched in her throat as Draco's eyes slowly fluttered open quickly followed by a groan as he clutched his stomach.

"Draco?" Hermione murmured, gently touching his cheek. His eyes turned on her half opened.

"Mione?" He croaked through parched lips. Tears glistened in her eyes as she smiled at him.

"It's me, Draco, it's me." She said, brushing his bangs back.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry." He started.

"Shh, it's ok. Don't worry about it." She interrupted him soothingly. He nodded and grimaced as another wave of pain raked his body.

"Out of the way dear." Madame Pomfrey said as she returned with another vial full of a light blue, almost silver potion. Hermione backed away from Draco's bed as the nurse put the vial to his lips and tilted his head back. It must not have tasted too horrible as Draco swallowed it willingly.

"That'll knock him back out in a few minutes so you best finish up." The nurse said before turning and heading back to her office. Hermione turned back to Draco; he looked up at her through heavy-lidded eyes.

"Hermione…I love you." He whispered.

"I know Love." She said. His eyes darkened slightly but she leaned down to gently place a kiss on his forehead. "I love you too." She murmured, resting her forehead against his. He smiled and nodded, as his eyes fluttered closed. "I will always love you." She whispered against his lips before kissing him gently as he passed out of consciousness.


The next few days passed uneventfully. Draco remained in the hospital wing, still unconscious, which, Severus repeatedly assured Hermione, was completely normal after having been hit with the spell that he was. Harry had apologized profusely and after a day of him sulking around the castle she had finally accepted his apology. That alone had made Ron immensely happy since he had been feeling very out of place for the last couple of weeks. So the fourth day after the accident found them all in the common room, Harry and Ron playing chess, Ron winning of course, and Hermione studying Arithmancy. The old grandfather clock in the corner chimed six, startling all three of them.

"Dinner!" Ron said happily, hopping up out of his seat. "Finally, I've been starving since lunch." Hermione and Harry shared a look before they followed their red headed friend out of the portrait down towards the great hall. Dinner was the same as usual with Ron pilling more food than was thought possible onto his plate while Harry and Hermione continually rolled their eyes, while eating their considerably smaller portions.

"You know I was watching the Ravenclaw practice the other day." Ron said through a roll he was munching on.

"You were watching the Ravenclaw practice were you? Are you sure you weren't watching the Ravenclaw keeper?" Harry said, his eyes flashing with amusement. Hermione smiled, she hadn't realized Ron had developed a crush on the 6th year Ravenclaw but she played along.

"Oh yes," she said, chuckling as the tips of Ron's ears turned bright red, an obvious sign of embarrassment. "What was her name again? Katie…Reed right?" She and Harry continued to bait their friend.

"Pretty little thing ain't she Hermione?" Harry said grinning.

"I suppose." Hermione replied. "What do you think Ron?" This caused Ron's face to redden even more.

"Oi, sod off you two." He said quietly but he couldn't hide the small smile that lit up his face.

"Oh so it is that you found a girl!" Harry exclaimed jovially. This caused all three of them to burst into laughter. A fair time later Hermione stood up wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes.

"I need some fresh air." She stated, smiling. "I think I'll take a stroll by the lake."

"You want one of us to come?" Harry asked worriedly. She smiled down at him.

"No, I'll be fine. You two finish your dessert." She said.

"Alright, bye Hermes." He said.

"Bye Hermione!" Ron called as she walked away. She waved back over her shoulder before exiting the Great Hall and leaving the castle following the familiar path down to the lake.


In the infirmary Draco tossed and turned on the small bed. His blond hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat. He continually mumbled incoherently despite the dreamless sleep potions the nurse continued to give him. It was a good thing there were no other students there at that time; they would have thought him mental. His thrashing gotsuddenlywilder; there was no one there to restrain him as Madame Pomfrey was down at dinner.

"No…no, NO!"

Suddenly he shot up, his eyes flew open, the blankets pooled around his waist. His breathing was erratic, his chest rising and falling quickly. There was no one around to hear what he whispered in the twilight.

"They've taken her."

A/N:

MWAHAHAHA!!! Cliffy's are my new favorite!! Go read and review.

Oh btw there's a line in there from Pirates of the Caribbean, see if you can spot it. Haha, I love that movie. Sorry for any mistakes I was rushed to finish this chapter. And the curse Harry uses, internus inflammare means internal fire, he meant to say externus inflammare, external fire but he didn't cause he's a goof. Review!