Disclaimer: I beg of you, stop asking!

Strawberrylemonade520: Who does like Voldemort?

Bunniecutie: Haha, thanks. Sigh… I just love cliffhangers…

Ritsu-the-monkey a.k.a. Mz122: Thanks. I luv having cliffhangers…

Cass: Haha, thanks. Glad I updated, huh?

DracosChick124: Thanks. Aren't my chapters always good? Lol, jk.

DrAcO'sblackrose: Thanks. I was just kidding when I said you're making me feel guilty. I like Draco too.

Arrrgh: Sorry. I have to keep getting him into trouble because it makes the story more suspenseful. And I like it when he manages to barely escape trouble.

Greengrl: Okay, okay, okay!

Friday13: Well, when Draco started kissing Hermione, she liked it. But she then realized that it was Draco that she was kissing and all the stuff he's said over the past six years came back to her. She couldn't believe that she was actually kissing him and liking it, and she couldn't believe that he had started kissing him in the first place. So she called him a moron.

Ivy: Uhh, wow… That was some review! I loved the songs that I put in too, and they fit well with the story, so I had to put them in. But, I don't really think that my story seems so realistic. It's so cheesy and… I dunno, I just don't exactly think so, but it's still nice to hear you say that it is. I kinda do want to be a part-time author when I grow up. Wow, on the edge of your seat? And you practically fell off? Lol, sry about that, but I'm glad my story has such an impact on you. Well, thanks for your long review.

Dark dimension: Somebody pointed that out before, and I agreed, so I slowed down their feelings within the next few chapters. Still, thank you for your advice. Keep reading!

OutOfTouch: Wow! Thanks! It made you cry! Sorry! I didn't realize my story was that touching!

Amycharys: Thanks, I will if you keep reading!

Sexyslytherin2: Okay!

TakinMyLastBreath14: Thanks. I will. By the way, awesome name.

Hpfanatic53072: Haha. Well, I thought it would be interesting to experience the ceremony.

Friday13: Uhh… okay… Thanks, I think.

Dracosgirl2515: Hopefully he will… Unless I feel evil… Muhahaha! I luv the power of being a writer!

Green Apple: Thanks. Keep reading!

Slytherinprinces23: Thanks, keep reading and I'll keep writing!

Gary loves sporks: Thanks. But I LOVE cliffies! They rock! Thanks again.

AMI MIZUN01: Thanks. Plenty of irony? Is that a good thing?

Confusedthoughts: Excuse me! I'm losing it? What does that mean? I'm losing what? Well, if I can't get rid of you that way, I'll just have to try harder.

Lnk: Thanks so much. Haha, I love leaving people in suspense.

Scholcomp25: Thank you, I'm trying to update, but I'm having major writer's block!

A/N: I just wanted to apologize for updating so slowly. I am currently writing another story at the same time, and I am alternating writing chapters. Please check out my other fanfic if you haven't already done so!

BTW, I'm sorry that this chapter is so short! But I had MAJOR writer's block!


Chapter 26

Indeed, it was Ginny at the door.

She was still wearing her Hogwarts robes, although it was clear she had put up quite a struggle. They were torn and ripped in spots, and there were even a few blood stains – probably from the bloody nose Ginny had.

Ginny stared in shock at Draco. Her eyes darted from him to Hermione. The Death Eaters dropped her on the ground. "Here's another one, Malfoy. Be careful of her. She put up quite a fight, biting, screaming, kicking… Foolish girl. We always get them in the end," one of the Death Eaters snarled. Draco nodded.

The Death Eaters left. Draco knelt down and offered Ginny his hand. She hesitantly took it. "C'mon, Mini-Weasley. Listen, Potter is going to come here to rescue you and Hermione. We're all going to escape together," he whispered. Ginny glanced over at Hermione and then nodded.

Draco pulled Ginny up and then hurried to unlock Hermione. He kissed her lightly on the cheek and gave her hand a squeeze. "I expect Potter should be here soon, probably the minute he finds out that Mini-Weasley is gone. Once Lupin and Moody find out that Hermione's gone, they'll surely contact Dumbledore. Dumbledore will tell Potter. Potter will only get here faster. A genius plan, I must say," Draco mused.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the corridors. "Get in!" Draco hissed. He shoved the two into the cell and quickly locked it. The door burst open. Lucius Malfoy.

"Draco!" Lucius hollered. He glanced around the place, and his eyes fell on the cell. He smirked. "Well, I see you are at least performing your duties to your master. Be prepared, Draco. We have just been informed that Harry Potter will be coming soon. Be ready to stand and fight for the Dark Side – for your lord."

He smirked again and turned to leave, when he paused. "Oh, yes. This is for all the trouble you have caused the Malfoy family. Crucio! Crucio!" He fired one at Draco, and the other at Hermione. Both writhed in pain and fell to their knees. Ginny immediately knelt down next to Hermione and tried to help her up. Lucius laughed evilly and left.

"Hermione…" Draco choked out. He pushed himself up, wobbled unsteadily, and clumsily limped towards the cell. His fingers trembled as he unlocked it. Hermione collasped into his arms. "I'm so sorry… My father is a bastard."

Hermione was silent. "God… I hope Harry is okay," Ginny murmured, interrupting the silence. "He should have been warned about this being a plan." Draco swallowed hard.

"I suppose we better get some sleep. There's nothing to do except wait," Draco suggested, sighing heavily. His eyes flickered toward the door. "You guys will have to sleep in the cage, I'm afraid. If somebody walks in and finds you guys on the ground, they'll know something is up."

Hermione took her wand out of her robes and pointed it at the cell. "Comfroto! Makes it comfortable to sleep on," she explained hastily. Draco swung open the door and the two girls crawled in quickly. Draco closed the cell door and sank onto the ground. His body was tired, but his mind was wide awake.

Potter should get here soon… If he doesn't show within the next few hours, I suppose we'll have to get out of here ourselves. After all, Potter can handle Voldemort, can't he? But the Mini-Weasel doesn't know how to Apparate yet. How can we get out of here then? Can we even Apparate from here?

All those thoughts jumbled up inside his head. Slowly, he drifted off into a sleep.


Harry Potter was confused. Confused, and worried. Hermione Granger had suddenly disappeared from Hogwarts without a trace. As if that weren't bad enough, Draco Malfoy just happened to go missing at the same time.

His brow furrowed as he headed towards History of Magic. There was definitely something going on here. Suddenly, he just turned around without even stopping and began to walk the other way. I need to find out where they are. He stopped at the familiar entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"Cherry lollipops," Harry stated. The gargoyle leaped up and sprung to the side, revealing the winding staircase. He tentatively stepped onto it.

Once again, Harry found himself in the familiar office. However, Dumbledore was not there. Harry walked over to Fawkes and lightly stroked his back. Fawkes pecked him affectionately.

Dumbledore then appeared, walking through a cloak hanging in the back of the room. "Harry Potter," he addressed him, nodding politely. Harry smiled awkwardly. "I've been expecting you… I suppose you are here to learn the whereabouts of your fellow classmates – Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger."

"Yes, Professor."

"I can assure you that you do not need to worry. Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger are in perfectly good condition. They are simply… away," Dumbledore said. Harry frowned slightly.

"But, where? And why? Surely the Head Girl and Boy don't just leave in the middle of the school year," he protested. Dumbledore sighed.

"Harry, I believe that you deserve to know this, so I will tell you. I am afraid that Lord Voldemort will go after Draco, and possibly even Miss Granger too. They were in hiding at Grimmauld Place. However, Voldemort managed to get a hold of them both. Professor Snape – yes, Professor Snape – felt his Dark Mark burn and was immediately summoned over there. However, he used that chance to rescue Miss Granger. Mr. Malfoy, unfortunately, is still there," he explained in a hushed voice.

Suddenly, Professor Lupin Apparated right into the room. A sickening feeling rushed into Harry's stomach.

"Albus, serious matters! Miss Granger has disappeared! She disappeared right from Grimmauld Place, even with all the extra guards!" Lupin shouted. A grave look was cast over Dumbledore's face. "But, the odd thing, there's no sign of a struggle anywhere!"

Harry turned to run out of the office, but Dumbledore placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "Stay here, Harry." Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of all the surprises. Professor McGonagall came bursting into the office.

"It's Ginny Weasley. She's gone!" Without another word, Harry spun around and fled out of the room.


Draco woke with a start at the creaking of the door. Hermione bolted upright, and Ginny gasped. "Harry!"