Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas in the Harry Potter books, written by J.K. Rowling. I only own this small plot.

Summary: Things at Hogwarts tend to have a certain pattern. Malfoy hates them. They hate Malfoy. But what happens when a certain spell reveals that the last thing Hermione Granger wants to hear is "He doesn't love you." Who could it be about? Draco is sure curious...(A Draco/Hermione and Harry/Ginny piece.) A friend and I originally co-wrote this as a role-play. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 9: Playing with Fire

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Suddenly the music started within the castle. "Lucius, we are not safe here." Marcus muttered "let us move to somewhere a little more private." Lucius glanced briefly at the castle."Into the forest, mudblood." Hermione stood unmoving, knowing that if they entered the forest...her chances were much less...

"Now!" He screamed.

She knew that if she didn't obey his command, she would she would be forced to, either by the imperius or the crutiatus. She had never endured those curses, and hoped never to feel their pain. She'd rather go by free will...and Draco would notice she was gone, right?

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Back at the castle, Ginny was busily rubbing Madame Soya's Hair Curling Balm into her red tangles. Lavender came up behind her. "Excited? You look beautiful Ginny!" Lavender was in the process of fixing a de-frizz charm. "Yeah, I'm a bit nervous actually. Not a good nervous either. It's almost ominous," she grinned "No matter, I'm just worrying too much."

Meanwhile, across the tower in the Gryffindor boy's dorm, Harry and Ron were fighting over the mirror.

"Harry I need to look presentable for my date! If I'm a total wreck she'll take one look at me and...and slap me or something. You're Harry Potter, you don't need a mirror. I do."

"Ron! This is Ginny we're talking about? Are you telling me this is not important? I mean, I need to be bloody brilliant tonight! And no offense, mate, but you don't even know who you're trying to impress..."

Ron gave Harry a shove and stepped in front of the mirror, "...she won't be ugly, he promised."

Harry laughed. "Yeah, he promised, Ron. Does that sound any alarm to you? I mean, honestly? Why did you have to start being buddy-buddy with little death eater junior? Just because Hermione did doesn't -" Harry stopped, anger coming back about last week.

"Don't worry Harry, I hate to say it, but I'm beginning to trust him. I mean just give him a chance, he's a changed man, he really is." Ron continued to fiddle with his hair.

"In 3 Days!" Harry yelled. "3 days Ron! And suddenly he loves the fact that Hermione's ancestors are muggles and than you happen to come from a less 'fortunate' family, and that I'm - well...me. There's no way, I don't believe it. After years and years of-" Ron cut him off.
"You need to stop being so bloody jealous. I care about her too, and the fact is we need to let her choose who she wants. Now let's go find our dates."Harry nearly argued back, but held his tongue when an image of Ginny appeared in his head. "Alright. I'm just worried, that's all." Harry stuck his head in front of the mirror and straightened his bow-tie. "Ready?" he said.

"Ready," Ron said. His voice shook. He was nervous about meeting his blind date.

Meanwhile, Draco stood in the Slytherin bathrooms, looking at himself in the mirror. He had given up the hair gel, and these days strands of white-blond hair fell into his eyes and loosely about his face. He had to do something about it for the dance…He took out his wand, aimed it at his head and closed his eyes. After a long moment he lowered his wand. He didn't trust himself not to miss his hair and hit his eye instead.

'It doesn't matter.' He thought and smiled a bit to himself. 'Absolute Freedom. No limits or control, just rules to break and people to shock.' he thought. He turned, walked calmly out the bathroom door and up to the great hall entrance, dragging behind him, Pansy.

Ron, Harry and Ginny descended the stairs, making their way into the crowd of socializing students. People at Hogwarts didn't get out often.

"So Draco" Pansy cooed "you said you had a date for me...?" she looked hopeful.

"Yes Pansy, he's dashing really, a real charmer. Very eager to meet you." he grinned a bit to himself. How he loved surprises.

"And here he is! And here she is!" and two firm hands shoved Ron and Pansy together.
"What a cute couple" he grinned and darted into the hall.

Harry and Ginny have Ron a glance as if to say 'Good luck mate...' and laughed a bit to each other, walking into the ball. Ron and Pansy, both looking off into the distance, awkwardly linked arms and shuffled onto the floor where they proceeded to dance without ever saying a word to each other.

Draco walked up and down the rows of people, searching for Hermione. 'Why didn't she come with her friends?" he thought.

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Back in the forest, Lucius and Marcus were having a heated discussion while Cho and Hermione lay tied to the ground by thousands of tiny vines which twisted around their legs and arms, holding them firmly.
Cho was crying. She stared blankly at the sky. Hermione was trying to think; think of anyway she could make this situation any better. She heard Cho muttering to herself. Hermione turned her head; Cho was praying.

"Stop that foolish blabbering Miss Chang. It will do you no good."

Hermione shot Lucius a furious look. "Let her! She has nothing to do with this! The least you could do is-" she was cut off by the sudden presence of a wand, tight at her throat.

"Hush, mudblood." Lucius spit out in a whisper, each word hissing like a snake.

Cho Chang, tears streaming down her face, turned her head to Lucius Malfoy, moved her mouth around, and then spit in his face.

Lucius pulled back, furious. "Why you despicable little brat!" He hissed. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his robes.Cho glared at him, "I'm not nearly as bratty as you two. The Malfoys tend to have that quality." she was awed at her own bravery.

Lucius smiled a bit to himself, kneeling down to her face. "A brave Ravenclaw? Well, I must say, that's new. You do realize the terrible position you're in? If I were you," he threatened in a whisper, "I'd hold my tongue."

Cho, completely unlike her usual self, grinned, "I can't, my arm is tied down."

Hermione elbowed her. "Don't." she whispered.

Lucius stood up, Marcus joining him. "What do we do with the one's who won't shut up Marcus?"

Marcus smiled, "We make them focus on the pain."

Lucius brought up his wand quickly and aimed at Cho screaming "Crucio!"

Hermione's scream was halted by a spell from Marcus' wand, Cho, however, screamed in the most painful and haunting way imaginable. She was squirming under the vines; face scrunched tight, and tears streaming from her eyes. Hermione tried to yell "Stop! Stop it! Please!" but her voice was silent from Marcus' spell.

Lucius' eyes had lit up. The imperius curse was unforgivable, yes, but boring. It was curses like the cruciatus that he had missed so during that decade of stagnation. He held it, enjoying not only the pain and screams from Cho, but the silent desperation and despair on the filthy mudblood's face.

Then he released the spell. Cho lay still, crying and breathing heavily. "Anything to say for yourself now?" She gave no answer, "What's that? Is the pain to much for you? Pity. You should have chosen your words more carefully." Cho whispered something...almost inaudible. Hermione began crying even harder. She heard what Cho said, and she knew Lucius understood as well. "Very well" Lucius grinned "if you insist...avada kadavra!" and that was it. With a flick of the wand and a flash of green light, she was gone.

The vines that tied her to the ground died as well, shrinking and cracking to wrap around Cho's body; like a coffin. Hermione couldn't control herself; she glared at Lucius through her sobs and tears, shaking her head. "No." she said silently through her teeth. "Not like that."

"It's too late, Granger. What are you going to do about it?"

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The ball was going reasonably well. Harry danced with Ginny endlessly; Ron and Pansy were busy glaring at each other as well as Malfoy, every time he passed. Draco Malfoy, how ever, was too preoccupied to notice their glares. His date, the girl he had practically thrown away his entire lifestyle for, had stood him up. Hermione was nowhere to be found.

After walking endlessly through the crowds of people searching for her, he took a chair and sat on the sidelines. Harry spun Ginny around on the dance floor, and that's when she noticed. "Why is Draco sitting alone?" she said to Harry. "Where is Hermione?"

Thoughts were reeling in her head and she was beginning to worry about her friend. Could he have - done something to her? Was she in the bathroom crying? Or could Draco have done something worse... "What's to worry about?" Harry said. "I'm glad she didn't show, she probably came to her senses."

Ginny stopped their dancing. "No Harry, I don't think she would have missed this...It's...well I think it's a bit more serious than you know..."

Harry took the news of Hermione and Draco's library rendezvous grimly. Ginny and he both looked at each other for a while. They both knew what they had to do. They had to save Hermione. Draco looked up from his sulky stupor to see Harry Potter storming towards him full speed through the dancers.

'Oh bloody brilliant,' he thought to himself. 'First he convinces her not to come and now he has to come rub it in my face. Damn it Potter.'

But what came out of Harry's mouth was something completely different. "Where the bloody hell is your date, Draco? What did you do with her? Tell me now or I swear I'll perform every unforgivable curse on you one at a time, and when Professor McGonagall comes down to see..." Draco cut him off.

"Shut up Potter, you bastard, you must be pleased with your little plan to have my date stand me up and then accuse me of kidnapping or harming her. That's very nice Potter, after all the aspects of my life I have changed for your friend. I really appreciate it. Bastard!"

"What the bloody hell are you talking about you slimy git! Where is she? What did you do with her?" Harry yelled. Draco rose to meet his gaze, "Look! I don't know how you convinced her to stand me up, but whatever it was, isn't that enough for you? Bloody Hell Potter! She's all that I have now! Don't you get it? You Bastard! She's the last thing I've got to hold onto in this stupid mess and you had to change her mind! Why!" Draco pushed him and Harry stumbled back.

Harry gained his footing and stared Draco straight in the face. They were about to come at each other when Ginny came in between them. "Stop it, Both of you!" Ron and Pansy caught a glimpse of the argument and ran over.

They both controlled themselves and turned to Ginny. "What!" they yelled.

"Look, boys, say both of you are telling the truth. Then..."

Harry and Draco looked at each other. "Then where's Hermione?" Draco said.

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AN: ahhh another cliff hanger. Much more climax to come, please review if you want more. Thanks,

-slytherinfan