a/n A quick thanks to all my reviewers. Now on with the story! Oh and don't worry this won't turn into a dark Hermione fic. She might not be as good, but she won't be dark.

Draco stood there in utter chaos; did the Dark Lord just say what he thought he said? There was no possible way that the Mudblood that he had tortured for so many years was the daughter of his soon to be lord. Draco was not getting involved with this, it was just screwed up. It would be best if he just take Granger back to the castle and leave her alone. That would be much safer; the memory of the light bursting across her fingers was still fresh in his mind. Granger was not someone to reckon with.

"Is there something you wish to share with me Draco?" The Dark Lord hissed in his direction.

"Yes my lord," Draco said with a low bow.

"Then open up your mind to me and show me what you saw." Quickly Draco did as he was told and the Dark Lord saw what Draco had seen. He hissed slightly. "It seems that the good and evil powers in her fight, or at least that is what that fool Dumbledore would say. No, I saw the weaker and the powerful powers fight within her. Draco, I have a new task for you. Watch out for my daughter, no one is to harm her. Do not fail me Draco, your father already found out what happens to failures." Draco took another deep bow before taking Granger by the arm and putting the bottle cap in her hand. They were back at Hogwarts within seconds.

Hermione pulled away from Malfoy as soon as her feet touched Hogwarts grounds. She made a run for it dashing from the edge of the Forbidden Forest towards Hogwarts. Malfoy was running behind her she could hear his foot falls fast behind her. Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and pushed against the sooth stone wall, she had been right at the door, but Malfoy had caught her.

"Now I don't know about you, but I don't want to get on the wrong side of the Dark Lord. So if you know what's best for you I suggest that you not go running away from me like that. I'm here to protect you." Hermione looked into his cold gray eyes and nodded. "Good," he smirked. "Where were you planning to go anyway? Do you really think that Potter and Weasley would welcome you back with open arms when they find out who you are?" The truth sunk into Hermione, she had not thought about that.

"What do I have to do?" She asked with a sigh.

"Just let me protect you," he said grudgingly. "Snape asked me to come see him afterwards. I suggest you come with me," with that he took her by the arm and led her through the doors to Snape's office.

Draco decided that he had it easy, when everyone asked what he was doing with the Mudblood all he had to say was that he was on the Dark Lord's orders. They would leave him alone after that. Granger wasn't allowed to sit by herself, walk by herself or even sleep by herself. Draco had no idea how he was going to pull that one off. The Dark Lord didn't want to take any chances of having her fall into the wrong hands. With these thoughts in his head Draco arrived at Snape's office with Granger on his arm.

"Come in," Snape said coldly when he knocked.

"Ah Mr. Malfoy… Miss Riddle," Draco smiled as Hermione jumped when Snape said her last name.

"Please sir, just Granger," she pleaded with him.

"But that isn't your name and the Dark Lord gave specific instructions to use your proper last name." Hermione shot him a dirty look before collapsing into a chair.

"Professor Snape, the Dark Lord has instructed me to watch over Granger," Draco began, but Snape cut him off.

"Call her Riddle, it is her name." Draco nodded.

"Well, I was wondering why," he finished lamely.

"She is his daughter, she knows Potter, she knows Dumbledore and she is very powerful. He doesn't want her falling into the wrong hands. Many of his Death Eaters are willing to try and kill her in hope of becoming the new Dark Lord." Draco nodded.

"Now I think it best if you get some sleep, there are classes tomorrow."

"Professor, about the sleeping arrangements," once again Snape cut him off.

"The head master has unknowingly taken care of that," his smile was broad. "The head ship was late this year and has been given to you and Miss Riddle. Professor Dumbledore announced that today while you two were gone. You know where the head's rooms are Draco, the password is tangled web." Draco nodded and took Hermione by the arm. He decided to call her Hermione because he didn't feel like calling her Riddle. The head's room's portrait was a spider, thus the password.

Hermione looked at the picture of the spider hanging on the wall and silently laughed. There was no way she was going to get Ron in her common room with the picture of a spider, then she realized. As soon as Harry and Ron found out who she was they wouldn't even want to see her, let alone be friends with her. Not telling them wasn't an option, how else was she supposed to explain Malfoy? He had permanently glued himself to her arm. How was she supposed to tell them, "Hi guys how was your day? Mine was great, oh and I found out that I'm Lord Voldemort's daughter, but who cares?" Harry and Ron cared that's who. Hermione thought glumly to herself.

Draco looked over at the sulky Hermione. She wasn't taking this very well. He didn't even know why he was taking it so well. All he knew was that for some weird reason it wasn't bothering him that Hermione was his lord's daughter. It also was an easy way to get back at Potter. What bothered him was that she was Dumbledore's niece. If their fight for power over her was equally matched it worried him, only because Dumbledore's power would be weaker then if he was straight blood related. While the Dark Lord's power was at his strongest because she was his direct descendent. His head whirled. He was thinking too much.

Quickly he put Hermione in her room and locked the door. No one could get in and she couldn't get out. Perfect he thought to himself as he went to his room and shut the door. Time for a well deserved nap.

Hermione waited until she was sure that Malfoy had fallen asleep then quickly muttered the counter spell for his locking spell. He didn't know that she had heard what spell he used. One thing was on Hermione's mind, she had to speak to Dumbledore. She had to get some real answers.

She quickly made her way to Dumbledore's office and went inside. The spiraling stairs made their slow ascent up and Hermione, being impatient ran up them. When she got to the office door she knocked sharply at it.

"Come in," said Dumbledore's voice and Hermione entered.

"Sorry to come at such a late time, but I need answers." Hermione said quickly.

"Yes," the head master/Hermione's uncle let out a sigh. "Severus has told me that you met you father."

"Why didn't you tell me? Why keep it a secret?" She looked at him pleadingly.

"Come sit down and you shall receive all your answers, well most of them any way."

a/n Ha a cliff hanger! Tell me what you like about it tell me what you don't. Hope you enjoyed it.