Stella: sigh, I was hoping nobody would notice about they boys going to Hermione's room lol, but when I saw that…I really didn't want to rewrite that whole section, b/c I v. much liked it! Thank you for pointing that out though!

Syd: Thank you, your reviews always make me smile. I just had to stop there! Lol Ron is so awesome to write I know, he's my favorite character in the book and I love putting him in situations that…well, suit him lol.

violin girl: Thank you for the "birthday" and for reviewing! I'm glad you've liked this enough to keep on reading lol. I feel horrible for the long break right after you reviewed :S lol.

RainDateChick: lol, you know I love leaving cliff hangers, really. But, I'll try not to do them SO much lol.

Phillyactress: (guilty look) I can't help it lol! I'm beginning to enjoy Herbert even more than I did the very first time I used him. I hope I can use him in other fics?

Smurphy: Ah dear friend, you asked for it lol. I will use you, my sister thought she saw herself in the fic and got offended by the use of it lol. You have no clue how happy I am that you finally reviewed since, as you said, you were the one to made me post in the first place. I told you I would post again, and here I am after finals…in all my glory…..lol. If I don't hear from you again, I know where you live lol lol.

Ashley: Aww thanks! It was a tough moment to decide when to have Draco say that; this finally seemed like that right place. People do crazy things when they are under pressure and stress lol. I can't wait to hear from you again!

ravioli and chocolate: Oh no…I hope that wasn't towards my story in general…I think I might cry if it is :S

smylz: Why thank you! I'm glad your friends like it too, I hope to hear from all of you sometime again!

ilovefireyredheads: Lol. I was beginning to wonder where you were, I'm glad that you finally reviewed again and I hope I see you name again!

A/N: Well here I am again…v. late but nonetheless here. Finals were a pain if anyone was wondering and I think I got 8 hours or less of sleep that week. Now that I'm home…well, I'll just leave it at that lol. Thank you all for being so patient with me!

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, and anything that you recognize in here is NOT mine. I'm just a "not-so-stressed" anymore college student. sigh, summer is grand.

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Hermione woke up to someone slightly shaking her in a dark corner, looking up she realized it was Draco. Unable to move she looked at him and grunted, before suddenly realizing she didn't know where Ron, Harry and Herbert were. She tried to talk and nothing came out, she cleared her throat a couple of times before trying again.

"Draco," she finally got out, "where are the others? Where is Ron?" She tilted her head as much as the pain allowed glancing at Draco more and seeing his face full of hurt. "Pull me up" she said, "come on, help me up."

Draco situated himself more and grabbed her waist to put her at a sitting position against the back wall. Hermione leaned her head back and took a big breath in, her lungs hurting her with each little movement. Draco scooted over right next to her so that she could lean her head on his shoulder. "Draco, why aren't you talking, what's wrong with them…is Ron…ok?"

Draco shook his head and looked down at Hermione where a line of slowly flowing blood was tricking down her head. "Janeia…Herbert and Harry are still missing. Harry and I got separated by my room when I heard some people running up the stairs. I opened my door and shoved him in just before they came up the stairs…so I ran for it…and got as far as the library downstairs before SHE got me."

"Who is she?" Hermione asked.

"The Death Eater called Megan, well her code name is Megan…I'm not sure if anybody but Voldemort knows her real name."

Hermione looked up at Draco, "What did she do to you?"

There was silence as Draco looked off to the side; he put his hand on the other wall as if to think.

"Draco….."

She saw him raise his arm to silence her and then he started reaching down with the same hand, 'what is he doing?' she thought.

Draco grabbed the bottom of his shirt and raised it up to his chin and turned his body so that the tiny bluish light from the "prison" entrance could reflect upon him. That is when Hermione gasped.

She raised a hand to her mouth and stared wide-eyed at Draco's chest. There, running all the way down to his belly-button, was a slash, a deep one at that. There was still another slash running the opposite way at the bottom of the previous one, making it look like an upside down T.

"Draco," Hermione said with clenched teeth, "WHAT did she do to you?" When he tried to turn away, she put a hand up on his opposite cheek to turn him towards her. "Draco, answer me, this is important."

"She treated me like a bloody fish and basically gutted me, that's what. Janeia, don't worry about me, it's been more than four hours since it's happened, I've cleaned myself up…now it'll just scar. Please….o please don't cry. I promise I'm ok."

Hermione was crying now, with her hand still on Draco's cheek. "It's my entire fault…"she started, "if I hadn't had taken that STUPID potion…you would probably be at Quidditch practice right now. Not risking your life to save me…and Ron wouldn't be…" she stopped and looked around the best she could, "where is Ron?"

Draco sighed and moved her hand from his cheek, "after Megan got me she took me to my father's lair. You and Weasley were there but Harry and Herbert weren't. I'm guessing Harry snuck out my window to go get help, I'm sure he's fine. I don't know where Herbert is however, but I'm telling myself he did the same. Anyway, father started messing with you while you were knocked out, you know with spells and stuff, and Weasley wouldn't have any of it. He got up and ran and father knocking him down. He puts up a good fight when he wants to, I have to admit, but father was too strong for him and pushed him aside.
"Now you'll pay for messing with me boy" is what father said. He raised his wand and pointed it at you…he said a curse in German I think it was, anyway I couldn't understand it. A yellow light came from his wand and came at you, but Weasley jumped in front of it…got it full in the chest…and he hasn't moved since. I'm sorry Janeia, if I could have walked I would have helped…but I was too weak."

Hermione closed her eyes and cried silently, not wanting to hurt her chest with her hiccups. She remembered what Ron had said just a few hours earlier: My love, I won't let them hurt you. I promise. I'd sacrifice myself rather than have you leave me again.

'That's exactly what he did' she thought. 'Oh my god…'

She felt weak and slumped against Draco and cried some more. "Draco, I loved him…I really did." She started to ball up his shirt in her fist in frustration. "What am I going to do without him?"

Draco put an arm around her and pecked her forehead. "I'll bring him back Janeia…I have to, don't worry. I'll do whatever it takes. Don't cry…my friend."

"You meant it didn't you, awhile back with your father. You fell for me really?"

"Yeah…but who wants a book-worm anyway?" Draco kidded.

There was a silence for a second when Hermione sniffed, "Ron did."

"Yeah," Draco sighed, "yeah he did."

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Harry ran as fast as he could, cutting through branches and tripping over roots; but he knew he was almost there. He was almost to the road, which was wide open where people could see him; he wouldn't have to run much further.

He thought he heard someone behind him and closed his eyes as he pushed just a couple more feet. Finally he felt the asphalt underneath him and blessed whatever was close by. He found the closest town and ran to the one place he knew would be the most help to him. The Weasley's house.

"Mrs. Weasley!" he banged on the door as he yelled, "Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley somebody open the door." There was nobody home and time was running fast. 'I've got to think quickly' Harry thought and finally decided what he must do.

He broke the door off its hinges and went inside to where Fred and George kept their brooms. Grabbing one, he headed off towards Hogwarts once more, on a journey to save his friends. Flying for what seemed forever for Harry, he thought of how he would tell Dumbledore. Dumbledore was bright and strong Harry knew, but still, he couldn't help but be afraid of what would happen.

He jumped off in the Quidditch pitch and ran quickly to the castle, opening the doors and flying past the busts of previous Hogwarts leaders. He ran to the gargoyle, "lemon drops" he huffed and the statue moved a little too slowly to Dumbledore's office. "Dumbledore!" Harry screamed as he ran up the steps, "Dumbledore help me please!"

"Yes Harry, what is it?" Dumbledore said with the most concern in his eyes for the boy.

"Please sir, you have to believe me, Hermione and Ron…and Draco," he added, "they're in trouble, huge trouble. At Malfoy's house…Lucius…we have to hurry!" He panted and sat down on the nearest chair to contain himself.

"Mr. Malfoy is in trouble…at his own house?" Dumbledore asked entwining his fingers together. He got up and pet Fawks before he turned to Harry.

"I believe you Harry, now…let's go before it's too late, you can give me details as we're traveling."

Harry told Dumbledore everything as they went to the Malfoy's mansion. Dumbledore, who was usually calm and collected, was wide-eyed and afraid by the time they landed. He didn't say a word as he stormed towards the front door and Harry knew that Dumbledore was worried.

"I hope Ron and Hermione are all right."

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A/N: Thanks all for being patient with me. Review!