Hello everybody! Sorry about the delay but it took me ages to write this chapter. Turkey was great, I definitely recommend it as holiday destination.

So as I was saying chapter 25 was a toughie… I spent quite some time trying to figure out what to write and then ended up deleting everything. You guys would have flamed me big time if I had kept the first draft… it was just soo boring!

Finally I can get through to thanking everyone personally for the reviews, I can't believe the number of reviews I'm getting now! Keep it up people!

Senya Lady Of Serpents: Thank you for the reviews. I like you penname by the way. Are you a fan of Hermione and Draco pairings too?

Jaded Rena: Glad you liked it! Thanx for the review, I try my best to please you guys!

Roguish muse: Thank you so much for your reviews, I luv 'em! Lol, yep Hermione was being a bad girl in chappie 23 and unfortunately Draco is an evil git because he left her! So you think this fic isn't going to end well? You'll have to read til the end. I'm glad you appreciate the Harry/Abby pairing, its hard to bring in OCs. This next chapter will answer your questions about Draco and Hermione, enjoy!

Valoankea: Thank you for saying my English is good. I tried my best to update asap but it was kinda hard from Turkey…Whether Draco is good or bad that's up to you to decide for the moment. Enjoy the next chapter.

Rachel: Thanx for the reviews, I like hearing from new people!

Sweetblood17: Lol, I'm evil aren't I? Making Draco simply leave Hermione just at the start of the holidays as well… oh wellthey'll be together soon enough. Thank you for the reviews!

Starlight-Heart: Hiya thanks for the reviews, they were really cool and don't worry, you made perfect sense to me. Draco and Hermione aren't a couple in my fic… yet.. and that's all I'm saying! As for Harry and Abby well you'll find out soon but I thought their last conversation was quite harsh coming from him so it was cool that you found it funny! Unfortunately as you'll read, there'll be no letters from Draco… enjoy this chappie!

Nikki: Glad you like my fanfic and yes you're right, now that New Year and Turkey is out of the way, I can write more! Though I have tons of homework to catch up on…. Thanks for the review!

Cranky: I can't believe my fic made you cry. You're not the first but I still can't believe the effect some of my chapters have on people! I hope you got to read the next chapters and you'll enjoy this one.

Lady Serpent: Thank you for reviewing and don't worry about Draco and Hermione, more sex to come… lol. Enjoy the chappie!

XOxOkIsSmYaSsXoXO: Sorry it took 23 chapters to Draco/Hermione finally together! But hey where's the fun in making them shag straight away? I've tried to make this fic somehow plausible. Thank you for the review and I promise I won't take so long next time.

May: Turkey was great! I'm glad you found chapter 23 well written, I was really anxious about it. Thanks for the review!

Bootstrap Beka: Hiya! Thank you for the two reviews, I'm glad you're still following my fic. Enjoy!

Halo marine1: Thank you SO much for this review! I'm glad you appreciate the character development because it's the hardest thing to do! Hope you'll catch up and read the next chapters.

Captain Oblivious: I'm so happy you think this fic is well written, I'm always anxious about my English. I know Abigail sometimes behaves like Mary Sue but its soo tempting, lol. Don't worry, she's very far from it though.

Dracocrazyem: Hello! Happy new year too! Yeah, they finally did it, I'm glad too! Harry and Ron won't discover about Hermione and Draco for a while but Hogwarts will soon know about Abigail and Hermione being related. As for Abigail's mom, she was handed over to her closest relatives in England at the time. Unfortunately Abigail and her dad live abroad as the Serpents have been forced to exile for unknown reasons… enjoy the new chapter!

MelMalfoy: Thank you for reviewing. Don't worry Draco and Hermione should son get together but I can't promise anything more. Glad you liked it and you'll soon find out for Abby and Harry.

Aikia: Wow, I can't believe you read it all in one go. I don't know if I could even do that… Thank you for the review, I love hearing from new people. Enjoy the rest!

Black Rose15: Hiya, I'll read your fic this weekend if I can and leave a review. I'm glad you enjoy mine and you think it's a good one. Thank you for the review, they make my day!

Lachupaca: Lol, sorry about the evil cliffhangers but its hard not to finish a chapter without one. I'm glad you were surprised by the sudden twists in my fic, I try my best to keep you guys interested! Thanx for reviewing!

Moonshine07: What can I say? His name is Malfoy after all…hope you get to read the rest!

I think that's all for now, if I missed anyone, sorry and definitely flame me for it!

And now to the actual fanfic…

..~**~..

Chapter 25

"I've never been here before," Draco admitted as he led a nervous Abigail down to the dungeons.

He lit the torches up and Abigail gasped at the horrific sight before them. Draco wasn't surprised by what they found. Several tables lay before them covered with blood and surrounded with torture instruments. The walls were splattered with dried up blood and the smell was intolerable. Along another corridor there were several cells which all had metal chains and shackles inside.

Draco followed Abigail, who panicking, ran from cell to cell, calling out for her father. They were all empty except for the last one.

She recognised her father immediately and halted. He was sitting on a stone bench, his wrists and ankles chained to the wall behind. His clothes were dirty and falling to pieces and he looked very thin and tired. His left cheek was bruised and his lips were dark with dried blood.

Draco opened the cell for her. Unlike Abigail, he knew what Death Eaters were capable of to extract from their prisoners important information for the Dark Lord.

"Abigail?" her father feebly asked, lifting up his head in pain.

Abigail rushed by his side and hugged him gently. "Yes, it's me Father. I'm here. Everything will be all right now. I've come to take you home," she said in a soothing voice.

She released him from his chains with the help of magic and Draco helped her father up and out of the dungeons. He could feel the man's bones through his clothes and as soon as they were out, he used a spell to lift him in the air and carry him effortlessly to one of the numerous guestrooms.

Abigail laid him on the bed, inspecting his wounds.

"Draco, get some towels and water. Call the house elves and make sure they don't warn your mother or touch the statue and get them to make dinner. My father needs to eat something," she ordered calmly and for once, Draco did as he was told.

..~**~..

Abigail stayed a week at Malfoy Manor taking endlessly care of her father, who was recovering quickly. He had slept several days, his wounds had healed and now he was eating normally again.

Draco had helped Abby as best as he could, giving orders out to the elves but mostly staying out of her way. He had hid the stone statue in one of the cells, away from his mother, who did not seem to mind the Serpents presence. On the contrary, she was delighted to have such distinguished company.

Draco spent most of his days alone in his room, thinking about his future, his present and Hermione. He couldn't get her out of his mind. Memories from the other night kept coming back in his mind at night, memories of how she felt in his arms, her pale soft skin shivering under his, her warm lips against his…

She was taking over him and he couldn't let that happen.

Draco had had enough of dreaming about Hermione and decided to go out. It was nearly midnight and the manor was quiet. Grabbing his jacket, Draco took his car keys and walked out of the manor.

He didn't realise Abigail was watching him from her window as he sped down the road towards London.

Several hours later, Draco noisily closed the large front doors behind him as he came back. He had spent the night in a Wizard nightclub, avoiding Hogwarts students and flirting with every witch he met. Even though he had drunk heavily, Hermione's image still haunted him through the night. He tried to make as little noise as possible but the Slytherin Prince was horribly drunk and kept walking into everything that surrounded him. He walked in the sitting room and saw a light on.

Abigail was sitting in an armchair, writing a letter.

"Who are you writing to?" he asked rather loudly.

She turned around and frowned as he clumsily sat next to her. "My aunt. I've accepted her invitation to spend Christmas with her."

Draco smirked at her. "At this time of night?" he saw another letter by her side and tried to snatch it but Abigail was quicker.

Who the hell is she writing to now? It better not be Potter!

"I couldn't sleep," she smiled back innocently to him. "Why are you drunk?"

"I don't need a reason," he answered shortly.

She helped him up and Draco suddenly realised she was only wearing a short, black nightdress. Her hair cascaded behind her and her dark eyes glistened with the light. Being drunk and horny, Draco stared down her cleavage and smirked at her. Before Abigail could protest, Draco pulled her closer to him and he licked his lips in anticipation.

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked him dangerously, but she was trapped between his arms with no wand to protect her.

Draco kept his hands around her waist and leaned his body against hers. Abigail groaned as she felt his breath filled of Firewhiskey on her face.

"Come on, Abby," he whispered amused. "Relax, I know you want this."

Abigail raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "Oh really?"

She tried to push him away but he kept a strong hold on her. "I heard a lot about you from Blaise, you know. He assured me you're the best shag he's ever had!"

Abigail's eyes nearly popped out at his words but as Draco leaned in to kiss her, she suddenly disapparated from his arms and he quickly connected with the ground.

Abigail stood behind him laughing. She helped Draco up as he groaned in pain.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," was the last thing he remembered that night.

..~**~..

"Concentrate Draco!" Abigail yelled to him from across the garden.

He was learning yet another difficult spell and having a hangover wasn't helping.

"Devio Impedimenta!" he shouted brandishing his wand at Abigail. She had taught him a new spell, which allowed him to curse someone even though obstacles stood in the way. If Draco concentrated hard enough then the spell would bounce off the objects until it reached its target. Abigail found the spell very useful in crowded rooms.

Unfortunately Draco's spell hit one of the numerous chairs levitating in the air between Abigail and him. It exploded in the air and Abigail ducked as several wooden pieces flew towards her.

"For fuck's sake, Draco!" she shouted angrily. "You're gonna get me killed! Concentrate!"

Draco looked back at her with the same fury. "I am concentrating!" he yelled back at her. He was angry with her, but unconsciously even angrier with himself for being drunk last night and acting like a sleazy git. Before she was ready, he shouted the spell again. It hit her square in the chest and sent her flying back several metres. She landed hard on her arm and Draco heard a crack. Wincing in pain, Abigail sat up as Draco ran to her side.

"Is that good enough for you?" he said sarcastically, helping her up.

"Are you kidding me? You broke my arm, you bas–"

"Tsk, tsk, language Abigail," Draco cut in, smirking down at her. "Didn't your parents ever tell you? Swearing is not fit for purebloods."

Abigail pushed him aside, trying to repair her arm magically. "That is it Draco! No more lessons, no more spells! We are through, my debt is repaid!"

"Fine." Draco was on his way back to the mansion but he could feel Abigail's eyes on his back.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked suspiciously. "Something's been wrong with you all week! What is it?"

Draco paused at her words and turned to face her. She seemed determined to find out what was wrong with him. He hesitated as he saw her. Normally he would have dismissed her question and walked on but deep inside he wanted to tell her. He wanted Hermione out of his head and maybe Abigail could help.

Should he tell her everything? Should he admit Hermione's image had haunted him since they left Hogwarts? As Draco looked into Abby's eyes, he suddenly realised that she already knew everything. It was only a matter of time before he admitted it to her.

"It's Granger," he admitted sheepishly.

"Does she love you?" Abigail asked seriously, frowning her brows.

Draco knew the answer, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. It was too surreal, it couldn't be.

"Of course she does," she answered for him, rolling her eyes. "And you love her too."

Draco's eyes grew wide as he heard her. "What?"

She smiled at his outburst. "I can't believe you haven't realised yet. The way you look at her, the way you danced with her, how you're jealous when other guys get near her and how you absolutely love taunting her! The symptoms are there for you."

Draco smirked back. "You're out of your mind. Besides, she must hate me now after what I've done to her." He paused as he realised what he was about to tell her. "After the Ball, we did something we shouldn't have and I haven't seen her since."

Draco watched as Abigail's confused expression gradually grew into a surprised and shocked one.

"You guys had sex!" she cried out.

The grin on Draco's face was enough to answer her and she started pacing around him.

"Oh Merlin! You left her didn't you? That morning after, you left her and then she was looking for you everywhere." She stopped and looked at him slowly. "You're such a bastard!"

Draco was about to lecture her again about swearing, but quickly realised Abigail had stormed back to the mansion so he followed her.

"I don't know what to do now!" he shouted across the garden.

"That's not my problem!" Abigail shouted back, reaching the veranda but Draco quickly caught her arm and stopped her.

"You're the only one who can help me. No one else can know about it. She's a bloody Gryffindor, Abby!"

Sighing deeply, Abigail looked up at his face noticing how paradoxical he seemed with his angelic features. "You shouldn't worry about her being a Gryffindor. If you keep it a secret it'll be fine and when the war comes, you'll be able to show your true loyalties to the world so-"

"You think I'm loyal to Dumbledore," Draco cut in sternly.

"No, but you're not loyal to Voldemort either," she replied with certainty.

As Abigail caught the blank look on his face, she felt obliged to explain. "Oh come on Draco, do you actually want Voldemort to win? Are you completely insane? Of course he won't win and believe me you won't be following him till the end either. You'll have to choose your own path one day, lead your own life Draco. You'll eventually become a powerful wizard and people will follow you whatever you do-"

As she spoke Draco was surprised again at how much Abigail knew about him. How did she know he wasn't loyal to the Dark Lord? How did she know he intended to follow his own plans once the war was over? But what was all this about people following him?

"How do you know all this?" he questioned her, holding a tighter grip around her arm.

Abigail tried to pull back but couldn't. She didn't seem too keen to answer his question. "It's just a prophecy that was made a long time ago," she said vaguely. "I just thought you'd like to know that there's more to you than being a Death Eater."

Draco let go of her. He was so confused he didn't know what to say next. There was a prophecy about him? How come he never knew about it? Why had he never read anything about it anywhere? So many questions filled his mind as he sat down in the veranda seat that he didn't notice Abigail slip inside the mansion and disappear to her room.

..~**~..

Abigail finally left the mansion a couple of days later with her father. She had waited enough time for him to be fully recovered and able to apparate back to their home. She didn't mention the prophecy again and Draco never got a chance to ask her about it. Before leaving, she assured him that his father would turn back into flesh and bones in a couple of weeks. That left Draco enough time to return to the safety of Hogwarts before his father's wrath could fall upon him.

The last two weeks of the Christmas holidays went by quickly for Draco. He didn't hear from Abigail during that time but spent a lot of time with Blaise and his other fellow Slytherins. They all seemed eager to start school again and very excited when Blaise was around. Obviously they were up to something and Draco made sure he'd ask Blaise all the details as soon as they were back at Hogwarts. He had other things on his mind though, such as what to do with Hermione but also the Dark Mark, burning in his flesh.

There was to be a meeting that night; the last night before Draco returned to Hogwarts and the spell on his father had still not worn out.

"My Lord."

Draco bowed to his master and stepped aside waiting for his instructions. His father's absence had instantly been noticed but Draco had not been questioned about it yet.

"Draco, my boy. Step closer." A raspy voice called out.

Draco looked up, meeting two terrifying beady red eyes, those he had served for the past months. He stood up and stepped closer as Voldemort had ordered.

"I know about Lucius," the Dark Lord hissed quietly. His words seemed to be for Draco's ears only. "Your father is a fool and let himself be humiliated by this girl. You shall replace him, my boy. You shall take your father's place, Draco; I want you by my side, I have grand plans for you."

"If it pleases you, my Lord," Draco answered, turning to face the others. He half-listened as Voldemort announced his promotion to the others, lost in his thoughts. He was to become Voldemort's right hand, to know about all his moves and plans. The power this represented was incredible. Though Draco hated his father, he had always been jealous of him when he witnessed the power he had as second in command. He had as much control over a Death Eater's life or death as Voldemort and was the only person allowed to advise Voldemort on his next moves. Now, Draco was in charge, he was the one with the power.

The crowd below him broke into loud whispers and murmurs but none dared contradict Voldemort's choice.

"I want the Serpent girl to join us or die," Voldemort hissed at Draco as the celebrations began. "I shall give you more specific orders next time but till then let Zabini do as I told him without interfering. He came up to me with a very interesting plan and it shall certainly favour us in the approaching war."

Draco nodded to him and tried to spot Blaise among the dark hooded figures. His friend was certainly up to something and somehow Draco didn't feel reassured about it.

He turned to watch the events before him. His new position meant that the Death Eaters would therefore be celebrating that night and so according to tradition a couple of Muggle families were kidnapped, tortured and killed that night, all in Draco's honour.

That night Draco participated in these acts to celebrate his new status of Voldemort's closest and deadliest Death Eater.

That night Draco forgot all about Hermione.

..~**~..

Haha! That's all for now! Draco's obviously getting high on power, I can just picture him being the new Darth Vader or something… (just kidding!)

Next chapter: Return to Hogwarts! Hermione decides to venture on a relationship with Draco and Abigail has not returned yet, something's happened to her…. Trust the chapters following are gonna be big!

Review please!