Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. It is based on the characters belonging to JK Rowling. I, however, only own the plot! :(
A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry it took along time to write the next chapter! I had a writers block and my beta reader helped me out with it! Thanks a Bunch! [PS She knows who she is ;] Anyways, from the authors note I put out, with sneak peeks and things on it, most of that changed. Another thing changed, was the next story, I said Harry and Draco are 'friends' well that has changed as you will soon find out in this chapter or the next ...! Hope all my fans like this chapter! Read and Review! Merci!
Chapter 8: The Curse
It was 4:30 when Draco walked into the common room; he had looked everywhere for Hermione. He checked the Astronomy Tower and even Moaning Myrtles bathroom. He didn't know where she had gone. He finally gave up looking for her and laid down lazily on the couch in front of the fire. He stared at the ceiling. What do I do now?, he thought. She's no ...
"No where. No where to be found. What now?" He heard that too familiar soft female voice. The voice seemed to be crying. He jumped from the couch and ...
"Hermione? Is that you?" he asked, curiously.
"Draco?" she said, sniffling. "I've been looking for you most of the afternoon. I n ... n ...," she stopped to wipe the tears coming from her chocolate brown eyes.
"I need to talk to you too," he finished her sentence. He walked over to her, sat her back on the wall and put a comforting arm around her. "I just wanted to apologize for the other night. I didn't mean to rush things and I'm very sorry and I promise never to do that again. And if you hate me that okay too and..." he stopped rambling, to hear Hermione chuckle behind the tears. "What's so funny?" Draco asked.
"You sound so cute when you talk fast! Firstly, I don't hate you. I would never hate you for something so silly as that. It's my fault anyway. I shouldn't have panicked and I should explain why I said no," she explained. She took a deep breath and Draco moved in and kissed her passionately. They both pulled away. Draco saw a small smile come across her face. He wiped the tears rolling down her cheek.
"It's okay Hermione. I don't need an explanation," he said, playing with her brown hair. "It was your choice anyways. You don't have anything to explain."
"Thank you for understanding. I'm really glad that we sorted this out," Hermione sniffed. They were hugging, still on the floor. They had no idea what was being planned for them.
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In a dark cave somewhere near Hogwarts two people were talking about two certain teenagers. Voices echoing in a scary manor. The caves ceiling was dripping water. The echos were almost frightening.
"Yes, Master?"
"Your son is a disgrace ... how is he going to join the dark side with a change ... A CHANGE IN HEART?" boomed the voice; the cave shook. Rocks started to fall. Lucius dodged the rocks and stood beside the other man.
"Lord, I don't know how he will join the dark side. Narcissa knew about Draco and the Mudblood the entire time. She never told me," he answered with a hint of disgust in his voice.
"Is there an update on their relationship, Lucius? Have they broken up yet?"
"They have not broken up ..." Lucius said carefully.
"WHAT?" said the voice. "THIS MUST COME TO AN END. Lucius, you know what to do."
"Yes Master," Lucius said as he found his way to the exit of the cave.
******************************************************************************
Hermione and Draco were in a much better mood after they had discussed everything. Draco woke up to find himself and Hermione asleep on the floor. He gently lifted her. Slowly and carefully he walked up the spiralled stair case leading to Hermione's room. He reached for the door when he saw his father sitting on her bedroom. He stood shocked.
"Father?" he whispered so, he wouldn't wake Hermione.
"Yes Draco. It's your father. The one who has cared for you for many years now. The one who you BETRAYED," Lucius said, angrily.
"I betrayed no one, Father. Now can you please move so I can put her to sleep on her bed." Draco said politely. His father stared at him. An evil smile crossed his face.
"Mobilicorpus!" Lucius shouted. Hermione's body was floating in mid-air. It looked as though she was attached to invisible strings. Draco stared at his father. He had a bad feeling about this.
"What are you doing here?" he asked as he looked puzzled at his father. Why is he here? What does he want? Draco thought.
"I want to set the record straight young Malfoy," his father said, grinning. "I want you to leave the Mudblood. I want you to find real happiness and love. Surely, she cannot love you and give you what you need. I want the best and only the best for my son."
"But father, I'm happy with Hermione and were in love," Draco said gazing at his father.
"DRACO MALFOY, please tell me you did not say that you two are in love?" his father started to walk toward the door. Draco looked extremely worried, for he knew his father was up to no good. Lucius opened the door and headed for the common room.
"Night, Hermione!" Draco whispered. He shut the door and followed his father to the common room.
"You still haven't answered my question Draco. Are you not sorry for all this ... this grieve you've caused me?"
"I love her father. And there is nothing you can say to change the way I feel. I'm sorry father. I'm sorry that you feel I'm a disgrace. But ... I'm not sorry for loving Her..." he stopped to hear banging. Something had fallen or someone was at the portrait trying to get in.
"DRACO, ARE YOU IN THERE?" It sounded like Harry. "Draco, VOLDEMORT IS ... AHHH..." Harry howled in pain; he clutched his scar. "VOLDEMORT IS NEAR... I FEEL HIM, SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN." Harry fainted to the floor and was still clutching his scar. Draco ran to the door but it was too late to hear what he was saying.
He heard a series scream and whimpers. "Hermione?" Draco yelled, horrified. He ran up the stair case leading to her room. He tried to open the door but it was locked. He said a spell to unlock the door, but it bounced back and hit his abdominal muscle. He yelped in pain falling to the floor. He was bleeding; it was a deep cut. He grasped his wound in hopes it would stop bleeding. "HERMIONE!" he managed to scream, through the excruciating pain.
"There is no use in trying to open it. There is a powerful locking spell on it." Lucius laughed. "In pain, Draco?" he heard a hissing sound. "I must leave now Draco. If you change your mind and decide to stop loving her, you know there is always a spot for you on the dark side." He moved his cane and tapped Dracos lower chin before he disappeared.
"Hermione... Hermione..."Draco cried, weakly. "This is all my fault."
"MR MALFOY?" He heard a voice calling. It sounded like Dumbledore. "Mr Ma..." Dumbledore stared at Draco, who was clutching his abdomen but was around a pool of his own blood. "What happened? Who did this?" Just then Harry burst in the room.
"It was Voldemort, Professor. I felt him near when my scar started to hurt," Harry said, walking over to see if Draco was alright. "Where's Hermione?" he asked, curiously.
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named took her. Am I right Draco?" Dumbledore asked.
"Him and my father were here. And they took her. We have to find her," Draco said, trying to get up. "AHHHHHHHHH!" He screamed. It was far too painful for him to move. He would have to go to the hospital wing. By now, most of the teachers were in the heads common room to hear Dumbledore explain that Draco would be taken care of by Madam Pomfrey and the staff, Harry and Ron, would look for Hermione. The dance would also be cancelled until further notice.
"All the students will remain in their common rooms and the teachers will teach them there. No student is allowed out. Until Hermione is found and the culprit is caught," he gave the teachers a very serious no-jokes look. Professor McGonagall came on the magic speaker and explained everything ... except that the Head Girl was missing.
******************************************************************************
"Girl, do you know where you are?" asked Lucius Malfoy. Hermione looked up at him and nearly screamed. Where am I?, she thought, wiping the tears from her face and her body shook uncontrollably. It was dark and cold. She couldn't see anywhere in front of her. It was by far the scariest place she had ever been in. "I must ask you a question, Mudblood. Do you love my son, Draco?" The thought of Draco gave her a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Although, her shivering wouldn't stop. She wondered how to answer.
"I see that not in your business Mr. Malfoy and I refuse to answer. That is between him and I. I do not ask you if you lo ..."
"IMPERIO!" he boomed; he had used an Unforgivable Curses on her. Immediately, Hermione began to hit her head against the rock solid wall. "I'm a Malfoy and will not tolerating you! And I will not go to Azkaban for hitting you, so you will do that on your own." Little did Hermione know, that was just the beginning of a long period of abuse, she would have to endure.
******************************************************************************
Draco laid awake with his eyes closed. Closed hoping to wake up on his bed with Hermione beside him ... hoping this was all a bad dream. He wondered where the love of his life was ... if she was okay... and when she was coming home. "Harry?" he said, weakly. "How long have I been here for?"
"You've been here for over a month. We were starting to think that you weren't going to wake up. Everyone was worried," Harry said, glad to see his 'friend' was awake. Even though, they still didn't get along, they tried for Hermione's sake. They still yelled at each other every chance they got but just not in front of her or when they talk about her. Hermione was the only thing that Draco and Harry had in common. Harry missed Hermione very much. Although, he had never told her, he adored her for the person she was. He had no idea how much he would miss her, until now. He saw the pain on Draco's face. Not only in his injury but about Hermione. It was obvious to Harry, he missed Hermione. After all . . . they were in love.
"You know, something Harry," Draco said, looking up at him with pain in his grey eyes. "I had no idea that I would miss her this much. I dream about the day she comes back to Hogwarts. I wonder what is happening to her. I hope nothing bad."
"Mr. Malfoy! You are awake!" Dumbledore boomed with happiness as Draco finished.
"Hello, sir." Draco tried to sit up but the pain was unbearable. Madam Pomfrey came into the room with thick lumpy yellow liquid. She unscrewed the lid.
"What in the name of Merlin is that?" asked Draco. She explained to him, it was a liquid that would ease the pain in his middle section and he could slowly get up. The liquid was ice cold when it went on his bare skin. "Damn, that's really cold." Everyone just stared at him. He got up and could now see everyone. Dumbledore handed him a shirt to put on.
"Now, on to business. We have an idea w ..." He started but was interrupted by none other then Naricssa Malfoy.
"Oh, son are you alright?" she yelled, swooping in beside him, nearly pushing Harry off his chair. "I was so worried that you weren't going to wake up. Then Professor Dumbledore owled myself and Mrs. Granger and said that you woke up. We came as soon as possible. Your father is going to pay for this, once he is found; that I promise."
"Mom, where's Mrs. Granger?" Draco asked, in between his mothers tight hugs. Mrs. Granger walked in, impressed by the hospital wing.
"Wow! This is a very beautiful hospital. Did that picture just move?" She walked up to the one that she was pointing at and touched it.
"DO YOU MIND NOT TOUCHING ME?" screamed the man in the photograph. Draco and Harry tried not to laugh. They had to turn away. The desire to laugh was unbearable. She walked up and stood beside Dumbledore as he continued.
"We have an idea where Ms. Granger is. We think she is still on the Hogwarts property and hidden in a cave. Maybe near Hogsmede. We also believe that she is under the Imperius Curse. As everyone knows, the Imperius Curse is one of the Unforgivable Curses. That means, once Lucius is caught, he will go to Azkaban for the rest of his life. Until then, we must look for Hermione. We know that Voldemort is in on this as well. We hope when we catch both men, Voldemort's power will be nothing and he will perish. The students have been sent home and no student will interfere with our investigation. Mr Weasley was unable to stay due to a family emergency."
A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry it took along time to write the next chapter! I had a writers block and my beta reader helped me out with it! Thanks a Bunch! [PS She knows who she is ;] Anyways, from the authors note I put out, with sneak peeks and things on it, most of that changed. Another thing changed, was the next story, I said Harry and Draco are 'friends' well that has changed as you will soon find out in this chapter or the next ...! Hope all my fans like this chapter! Read and Review! Merci!
Chapter 8: The Curse
It was 4:30 when Draco walked into the common room; he had looked everywhere for Hermione. He checked the Astronomy Tower and even Moaning Myrtles bathroom. He didn't know where she had gone. He finally gave up looking for her and laid down lazily on the couch in front of the fire. He stared at the ceiling. What do I do now?, he thought. She's no ...
"No where. No where to be found. What now?" He heard that too familiar soft female voice. The voice seemed to be crying. He jumped from the couch and ...
"Hermione? Is that you?" he asked, curiously.
"Draco?" she said, sniffling. "I've been looking for you most of the afternoon. I n ... n ...," she stopped to wipe the tears coming from her chocolate brown eyes.
"I need to talk to you too," he finished her sentence. He walked over to her, sat her back on the wall and put a comforting arm around her. "I just wanted to apologize for the other night. I didn't mean to rush things and I'm very sorry and I promise never to do that again. And if you hate me that okay too and..." he stopped rambling, to hear Hermione chuckle behind the tears. "What's so funny?" Draco asked.
"You sound so cute when you talk fast! Firstly, I don't hate you. I would never hate you for something so silly as that. It's my fault anyway. I shouldn't have panicked and I should explain why I said no," she explained. She took a deep breath and Draco moved in and kissed her passionately. They both pulled away. Draco saw a small smile come across her face. He wiped the tears rolling down her cheek.
"It's okay Hermione. I don't need an explanation," he said, playing with her brown hair. "It was your choice anyways. You don't have anything to explain."
"Thank you for understanding. I'm really glad that we sorted this out," Hermione sniffed. They were hugging, still on the floor. They had no idea what was being planned for them.
***************************************************************************
In a dark cave somewhere near Hogwarts two people were talking about two certain teenagers. Voices echoing in a scary manor. The caves ceiling was dripping water. The echos were almost frightening.
"Yes, Master?"
"Your son is a disgrace ... how is he going to join the dark side with a change ... A CHANGE IN HEART?" boomed the voice; the cave shook. Rocks started to fall. Lucius dodged the rocks and stood beside the other man.
"Lord, I don't know how he will join the dark side. Narcissa knew about Draco and the Mudblood the entire time. She never told me," he answered with a hint of disgust in his voice.
"Is there an update on their relationship, Lucius? Have they broken up yet?"
"They have not broken up ..." Lucius said carefully.
"WHAT?" said the voice. "THIS MUST COME TO AN END. Lucius, you know what to do."
"Yes Master," Lucius said as he found his way to the exit of the cave.
******************************************************************************
Hermione and Draco were in a much better mood after they had discussed everything. Draco woke up to find himself and Hermione asleep on the floor. He gently lifted her. Slowly and carefully he walked up the spiralled stair case leading to Hermione's room. He reached for the door when he saw his father sitting on her bedroom. He stood shocked.
"Father?" he whispered so, he wouldn't wake Hermione.
"Yes Draco. It's your father. The one who has cared for you for many years now. The one who you BETRAYED," Lucius said, angrily.
"I betrayed no one, Father. Now can you please move so I can put her to sleep on her bed." Draco said politely. His father stared at him. An evil smile crossed his face.
"Mobilicorpus!" Lucius shouted. Hermione's body was floating in mid-air. It looked as though she was attached to invisible strings. Draco stared at his father. He had a bad feeling about this.
"What are you doing here?" he asked as he looked puzzled at his father. Why is he here? What does he want? Draco thought.
"I want to set the record straight young Malfoy," his father said, grinning. "I want you to leave the Mudblood. I want you to find real happiness and love. Surely, she cannot love you and give you what you need. I want the best and only the best for my son."
"But father, I'm happy with Hermione and were in love," Draco said gazing at his father.
"DRACO MALFOY, please tell me you did not say that you two are in love?" his father started to walk toward the door. Draco looked extremely worried, for he knew his father was up to no good. Lucius opened the door and headed for the common room.
"Night, Hermione!" Draco whispered. He shut the door and followed his father to the common room.
"You still haven't answered my question Draco. Are you not sorry for all this ... this grieve you've caused me?"
"I love her father. And there is nothing you can say to change the way I feel. I'm sorry father. I'm sorry that you feel I'm a disgrace. But ... I'm not sorry for loving Her..." he stopped to hear banging. Something had fallen or someone was at the portrait trying to get in.
"DRACO, ARE YOU IN THERE?" It sounded like Harry. "Draco, VOLDEMORT IS ... AHHH..." Harry howled in pain; he clutched his scar. "VOLDEMORT IS NEAR... I FEEL HIM, SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN." Harry fainted to the floor and was still clutching his scar. Draco ran to the door but it was too late to hear what he was saying.
He heard a series scream and whimpers. "Hermione?" Draco yelled, horrified. He ran up the stair case leading to her room. He tried to open the door but it was locked. He said a spell to unlock the door, but it bounced back and hit his abdominal muscle. He yelped in pain falling to the floor. He was bleeding; it was a deep cut. He grasped his wound in hopes it would stop bleeding. "HERMIONE!" he managed to scream, through the excruciating pain.
"There is no use in trying to open it. There is a powerful locking spell on it." Lucius laughed. "In pain, Draco?" he heard a hissing sound. "I must leave now Draco. If you change your mind and decide to stop loving her, you know there is always a spot for you on the dark side." He moved his cane and tapped Dracos lower chin before he disappeared.
"Hermione... Hermione..."Draco cried, weakly. "This is all my fault."
"MR MALFOY?" He heard a voice calling. It sounded like Dumbledore. "Mr Ma..." Dumbledore stared at Draco, who was clutching his abdomen but was around a pool of his own blood. "What happened? Who did this?" Just then Harry burst in the room.
"It was Voldemort, Professor. I felt him near when my scar started to hurt," Harry said, walking over to see if Draco was alright. "Where's Hermione?" he asked, curiously.
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named took her. Am I right Draco?" Dumbledore asked.
"Him and my father were here. And they took her. We have to find her," Draco said, trying to get up. "AHHHHHHHHH!" He screamed. It was far too painful for him to move. He would have to go to the hospital wing. By now, most of the teachers were in the heads common room to hear Dumbledore explain that Draco would be taken care of by Madam Pomfrey and the staff, Harry and Ron, would look for Hermione. The dance would also be cancelled until further notice.
"All the students will remain in their common rooms and the teachers will teach them there. No student is allowed out. Until Hermione is found and the culprit is caught," he gave the teachers a very serious no-jokes look. Professor McGonagall came on the magic speaker and explained everything ... except that the Head Girl was missing.
******************************************************************************
"Girl, do you know where you are?" asked Lucius Malfoy. Hermione looked up at him and nearly screamed. Where am I?, she thought, wiping the tears from her face and her body shook uncontrollably. It was dark and cold. She couldn't see anywhere in front of her. It was by far the scariest place she had ever been in. "I must ask you a question, Mudblood. Do you love my son, Draco?" The thought of Draco gave her a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Although, her shivering wouldn't stop. She wondered how to answer.
"I see that not in your business Mr. Malfoy and I refuse to answer. That is between him and I. I do not ask you if you lo ..."
"IMPERIO!" he boomed; he had used an Unforgivable Curses on her. Immediately, Hermione began to hit her head against the rock solid wall. "I'm a Malfoy and will not tolerating you! And I will not go to Azkaban for hitting you, so you will do that on your own." Little did Hermione know, that was just the beginning of a long period of abuse, she would have to endure.
******************************************************************************
Draco laid awake with his eyes closed. Closed hoping to wake up on his bed with Hermione beside him ... hoping this was all a bad dream. He wondered where the love of his life was ... if she was okay... and when she was coming home. "Harry?" he said, weakly. "How long have I been here for?"
"You've been here for over a month. We were starting to think that you weren't going to wake up. Everyone was worried," Harry said, glad to see his 'friend' was awake. Even though, they still didn't get along, they tried for Hermione's sake. They still yelled at each other every chance they got but just not in front of her or when they talk about her. Hermione was the only thing that Draco and Harry had in common. Harry missed Hermione very much. Although, he had never told her, he adored her for the person she was. He had no idea how much he would miss her, until now. He saw the pain on Draco's face. Not only in his injury but about Hermione. It was obvious to Harry, he missed Hermione. After all . . . they were in love.
"You know, something Harry," Draco said, looking up at him with pain in his grey eyes. "I had no idea that I would miss her this much. I dream about the day she comes back to Hogwarts. I wonder what is happening to her. I hope nothing bad."
"Mr. Malfoy! You are awake!" Dumbledore boomed with happiness as Draco finished.
"Hello, sir." Draco tried to sit up but the pain was unbearable. Madam Pomfrey came into the room with thick lumpy yellow liquid. She unscrewed the lid.
"What in the name of Merlin is that?" asked Draco. She explained to him, it was a liquid that would ease the pain in his middle section and he could slowly get up. The liquid was ice cold when it went on his bare skin. "Damn, that's really cold." Everyone just stared at him. He got up and could now see everyone. Dumbledore handed him a shirt to put on.
"Now, on to business. We have an idea w ..." He started but was interrupted by none other then Naricssa Malfoy.
"Oh, son are you alright?" she yelled, swooping in beside him, nearly pushing Harry off his chair. "I was so worried that you weren't going to wake up. Then Professor Dumbledore owled myself and Mrs. Granger and said that you woke up. We came as soon as possible. Your father is going to pay for this, once he is found; that I promise."
"Mom, where's Mrs. Granger?" Draco asked, in between his mothers tight hugs. Mrs. Granger walked in, impressed by the hospital wing.
"Wow! This is a very beautiful hospital. Did that picture just move?" She walked up to the one that she was pointing at and touched it.
"DO YOU MIND NOT TOUCHING ME?" screamed the man in the photograph. Draco and Harry tried not to laugh. They had to turn away. The desire to laugh was unbearable. She walked up and stood beside Dumbledore as he continued.
"We have an idea where Ms. Granger is. We think she is still on the Hogwarts property and hidden in a cave. Maybe near Hogsmede. We also believe that she is under the Imperius Curse. As everyone knows, the Imperius Curse is one of the Unforgivable Curses. That means, once Lucius is caught, he will go to Azkaban for the rest of his life. Until then, we must look for Hermione. We know that Voldemort is in on this as well. We hope when we catch both men, Voldemort's power will be nothing and he will perish. The students have been sent home and no student will interfere with our investigation. Mr Weasley was unable to stay due to a family emergency."