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A/N: HA! I have FINALLY updated, sorry it took so long, I plan to update more often. What happens in this chapter happens for a reason so yeah. I really hope you enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 9: There and Back Again

Hermione grew more nervous throughout the days. She had not heard nor seen Draco in over a week. She supposed she should be glad- and in a way she was, but with his visit earlier that week. . . she began to wonder. Hermione had continued with her normal chores; stopping every once in a while for a chat with one of the other servants. But really, Hermione felt very alone. She missed Fred, and Ron, and Harry. Harry. She had not seen her beloved best friend in over a year now.

Sighing, Hermione sat down on the cot in her corner of the kitchens. Tucking a stray strand of hair gently behind her ear; she rubbed her temples. Headaches weren't uncommon at Malfoy Manor. Though calm at the moment, she had seen more Death Eaters come and go here than she had from her measly cell before. Hermione thought of it as an advantage. She had heard things. . . things that she was sure she was not supposed to hear. She had learned, for example, that all prisoners were being held in Azkaban. Also, one glorifying day, she had learned that the Dark Lord was still on his never ending quest to destroy the Boy who Lived. Which meant, there was still resistance. If she could just get free of this damned place.

A clattering of pans near the front of the kitchens interrupted her thoughts. It looked as if Lucius Malfoy was back. Getting up, Hermione went to help the cowering young girl on the floor. Gently guiding the girl across the room under Lucius' watchful glare, Hermione kept her dignity and poise.

"Ah, our resident Mudblood." Lucius spoke menacingly. Hermione had to control herself from rolling her eyes. 'That's original.' She snorted to herself. Glaring she turned.

"May I help you. . . sir?" she gritted, making sure the hatred in her eyes broadcasted itself loud and clear. She thought that she heard a low chuckle.

"I believe you can." Her eyes widened slightly at this. "There is a slave needed at Azkaban Prison, I believe you fit the profile of one," he glanced at her tattered clothing. Hermione was sure to keep the delight out of her eyes. She simply nodded. "Tomorrow, Entrance Hall at noon." With that, he was gone, black robes whipping around the corner after him.

Did he think he was punishing her? Hermione thought later that night, while sweeping one of the side rooms of the Main Hall. Did he think that she wouldn't enjoy being away from the Malfoy's and near her friends once again?

Hermione was not stupid. Lucius was either ignorant, or had bigger plans for her at Azkaban. She was willing to bet on the latter; for Hermione knew, that, like herself, Lucius was not an unintelligent man; as much as she would like to believe so.

Collapsing on her cot a mere hour later, Hermione's thoughts still dwelled on her removal from Malfoy Manor. The feeling welling inside could be described as. . . happiness? She hadn't felt it in so long. . . and a sad situation it was that Hermione would be feeling happy to go back to a Prison. 'A prison with my friends.' She thought gleefully. 'With Fred and Ron. . .' With a twist of her stomach, she wondered if Ron had gotten free, or if he was captured. Maybe he was with Harry. . .

Her mind drifted off into an uneasy sleep; near happy thoughts flitting across her mind, thoughts of her Friends, of the hope of light triumphing over dark. It wasn't until the first sunrays of morning danced across her eyelids did Hermione Granger wake.

0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o

Bustling about the room, Hermione finished tidying things up. She glanced at the clock. 11:18. Only three minutes since she had last looked at it. She needed to leave in 10 minutes. It took nearly a half an hour to get from the servants corridors to the Entrance Hall, which was located on the base floor nearly across the huge manor. Excitement flooded through her, though a worrying thought nagged at the back of her mind. The thought repeatedly told her that Lucius had a reason . . . and Hermione knew it was true. But until she had to act upon it, Hermione preferred to think of Lucius simply as lower intelligence.

Her eyes shifting once again to the clock, Hermione realized she needed to leave in a few minutes. Tidying up her cot space, and slipping her romance novel in one of her deep, tattered pockets, Hermione straightened her skirt, and walked briskly out the door, an air of a woman on a mission around her.

0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o

Draco Malfoy glared. Glared at everything. The Entrance Hall was a grand hall indeed. Carpets, tapestries, and grand doors decorated the halls interior. But the hall had nothing on his mood. The Mudblood would be returning to Azkaban. Him and his father stood patiently in the hall, waiting for her, she who had the nerve to be late. He had only begun his torments with Granger, and now she was being tossed back into that hellhole Azkaban. Where the Weasel ran free, and her friends remained. Draco could only wonder what his father was thinking.

He was jolted out of his thoughts by his father's loud voice. "Mudblood." Hermione, glancing around the room, noticeably stiffened when her eyes fell upon Draco. The all too familiar smirk slid onto his face. His father was speaking again. "I shall go ahead, then you, Mudblood, shall follow, and Draco will bring up the rear." Lucius looked at her like something unpleasant on the bottom of his shoe before stepping into the fireplace and disappearing.

"After you, Mudblood." Draco smirked, enjoying the way she refused to meet his eyes and flinched violently when he pushed her towards the brick fireplace. She was gone. Now he went, with a whip of his robes, he was off, the familiar fireplace whisking him off into a familiar dungeon.

0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0

Hermione flinched as the putrid smell of dried blood reached her nostrils. It was familiar in a horrible sort of way. Wordlessly following Lucius down the corridor, she was surprised when a bag of some sort was shoved into her hands.

"You are to feed them."

Hermione stared blankly at Lucius, feed who? Then it dawned on her. Them. The prisoners. Her friends, the light side. Feed. Right. Glancing into the bag, Hermione scrunched her nose at the shriveled carrots inside.

"You are to return here in one hour hence forth. If you fail, you will be, severely punished." His words were icy, and Hermione had no problems believing them. Turning quickly, Hermione dashed down the stone steps to the cells below, not meeting eyes with one Draco Malfoy as they passed.

A/N: YAY! I haven't updated in months, and I'm really sorry, school just got so hectic. And now that finals are approaching I start updating? I make so much sense. Anyways. Hope you enjoyed, any suggestions, comments, or questions, review them to me. Or if you just want to review, review! I love review, as you know by now! I love all my readers!

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