A/N: First I would like to thank all my lovely reviewers! I love you guys! There's really not a lot to say before this chapie, so I guess just. . .enjoy! (

Chapter 13: Discoveries and Surprises.

Hermione spent the entire afternoon with Harry, Ginny, Seamus and Dean. She also had a multiple meaningful conversations with a few of the old Professors of Hogwarts. The day or so she had been present in the mysterious and odd house, she had figured out, that it was Dumbledore's. Though that was hardly a surprise. She didn't know any people who reallyknew where his place of residence was, including herself. In fact, now that Hermione was thinking clearly, she realized how little she about the house, she hardly knew a thing. Questions galore were popping into her head. 'Easy, easy girl. Plenty of time to get all of your questions answered. . .' She thought to herself.

Currently, Hermione sat in one of the many over-stuffed plum armchairs in the fourth floor Sitting Room. The house was huge; six stories that Hermione knew of. It seemed never ending. A huge grin was plastered on Hermione's face. She was so happy to be back with the ones she loved and cared about; the danger and harassment of the past year seemed so distant.

Seamus leaned forward, a curious expression on his face. "So Mione', how have you been?" Hermione sighed. An entire afternoon and none of them have touched on anything dark-related. She figured she'd have to tell them sooner or later, but she preferred later.

Drawing a deep breath, Hermione began her tale, starting from where Malfoy first visited her and Fred's cell. Praying that they wouldn't interrupt, she forged on in her tale, finding it became easier to talk the further she got into the story. By the end, she was enthusiastically gesturing with her arms, her facial expression a mirror of terror.

"And then I just. . .woke up here." She ended, somewhat lamely. Not that anyone cared, the looks of dumbfounded horror on their faces were a mark of that. After a few moments, Ginny dared to speak.

"Mione'. . . we had no idea, I mean, we knew you'd go through some tough shit, but that was just. . ." Her voice faded. Hermione chose to ignore that particular blatant example of profanity from the young girl, now was not the time for the scowling corrections Hermione was notorious for.

Once everyone seemed to have recovered their voices, she was bombarded with questions.

"So do you think they're planning an attack?"

"Wait- where did you say Ron went?"

"Malfoy- that git, I'll kill 'em, I swear it!"

"Where's Malfoy Manor?"

"HOW did you survive all that?"

"When-" Hermione cut Dean off.

"One at a time, for Goddess' sake!" Laughing lightly, she began her explanations. "I don't think, I know they're planning an attack. Ron was just wandering around Azkaban for days on end- rather fishy if you ask me. No Ginny, you will not kill Malfoy, that will be my pleasure. And Seamus, do you really think that they'd let me know the location of Malfoy Manor?" Drawing a breath, she continued. "Now, if you don't mind, I have a few questions myself." Turning mostly toward Harry and Ginny, who gave her an encouraging smile, she began. "Starting with, Ginny. What the bloody hell were you doing in Azkaban? How are you here now? Where are we? Where are the others? Who are the others? How long have you been here-" Ginny cut her off.

"One at a time for Goddess' sake!" She said mockingly with a smirk plastered on her face. Harry laughed at Hermione's expression; if she had glasses, she'd be peering sternly over their rims at the young Weasley.

Harry began the explanations. "Ginny was sent to Azkaban to retrieve information about your whereabouts and such. She was removed the moment she knew where you were." Seeing the unspoken question on Hermione's lips Harry spoke quickly. "We're not sure how they got her out of there, Ginny's not even aware of that." He took a breath. "We are in Southern Ireland, at Dumbledore's house, God only knows how big this house is, I've been living here for a year, haven't been allowed out actually, and I still don't know how far this house goes." He glanced at the ceiling, as if willing himself to see the multiple floors above. He then opened his mouth to continue. "The majority of the others are in this house, mostly secluded in their own dorms. And yes, Somehow Dumbledore found a way to have dorms." He spoke these words almost bitterly. Hermione looked upon him with amusement. In her opinion, it seemed as if Dumbledore was trying to keep the atmosphere here as Hogwarts-like as possible. Harry disregarded her thoughtful expression and began again. "The others that you would be familiar with are Lavender Brown, Hannah Abott, Just Finch-Fletchly, Pansy Parkinson, and Luna Lovegood . . .the rest are either captured, or worse. . ." Hermione had suspected as much, but it still didn't stop the growing feeling of doom rising from her stomach.

One astonishing moment later, Harry's words sunk in.

"Pansy Parkinson?" Hermione half-screamed incredulously. Harry scowled at her, and she had the sense to hang her head in guilty shame. "But. . . I thought she was a Death Eater for sure. . .given, I never saw her, but at Hogwarts she was so-"

She was cut off, not by Harry, but by Ginny. "Things have changed since Hogwarts, Hermione, things are different." Hermione was surprised at how sharp her words were. Pansy Parkinson?

"Believe me Mione', you weren't the only one that was surprised when Dumbledore brought her here. We were skeptical. But now were sure, we know she's on our side." Harry gave her a lopsided smile. "Mind you, she's still the biggest pug-faced, ignorant prat to ever grace my presence. . .other than Draco Malfoy himself that is." Hermione laughed at this, all apprehension gone from the situation.

She was about to speak but was abruptly cut off by a familiar voice that nearly brought her to tears once again.

"However nice it is to see my youth united once again, I would like you to take note that it is indeed past curfew." The smiling, wrinkled face of Albus Dumbledore looked upon them from the doorway with something akin to amusement.

0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o 0 o

Though in a slightly better mood, Draco was finding that he indeed hated everything he looked at. So far he had cursed every Death Eater within sight, thrown two books, and 'accidentally' lit his own fathers hair on fire. You could officially say that Draco Malfoy was in a bad mood.

Of course, Draco looked to his bad mood for inspiration. Already he had found how Hermione had escaped, what spell was used, and who had assisted her. He was well on his way to tracking her down to the exact spot she was hiding. All because of his anger. . .or was it the maddening desire for revenge? Either way, he was by no means satisfied; but as he laid down for an fitful night of sleep, his last thoughts before drifting were of the things he was planning to do once he found the young Mudblood.

He did not notice the ghost-white slip of parchment that slid under his locked and cursed door.

A/N: Ohhh, the plot thickens! So sorry this chapter wasn't the most exciting of the lot, but you had to know a few things! Hmm…oh yes, and sorry that you didn't see a lot of Draco…next chapter he will be the STAR in all of his hot glory. I promise. Please don't forget to leave me a review, that's what inspires me to update!

Draco: I better be the star, or I think I might have a B.F.

Hermione: a what?

Draco: Bitch Fit…duh.

Hermione: can you say Gay :cough cough:

Harry: Draco is ggaay Draco is gaay. :says in singsong voice:

Draco: Am not!

Harry: Are too!

Me: SHUT UP OR ILL MURDER YOUALL!

I think I'm going psycho. . .

What to look forward to in the next chapter. . . (for some reason I thought one of these things would be fun to have)

Hermione and Pansy meet head to head. . .watch out. . .CAT FIGHT!

Draco makes some startling yet satisfying discoveries

We learn a bit more about what the Order has been up to

We meet some old and missed characters!

Hermione's hope is nearly shattered. . .(later chapters)