I had no idea where I was. One minute I was in a dark, wet cell, deep underground and now I appeared to be in some sort of palace. Well, it wasn't exactly a palace but there was beautiful red velvet carpet under my feet and it felt so warm and homely.

I had been awake for about an hour or so now and had spent the time just gazing round the room trying to figure out what exactly had happened during the last 24 hours. I first found it strange to wake up in such a comfortable bed. It was a huge double bed and was even more comfortable than my bed at home.

There wasn't much to do in the room. There were no windows, only a small lamp on a dressing table next to bed for light. That was pretty much all there was in the room, just the bed, the dressing table, the lamp and a mirror. Still, it was better than where I was before. I had tried to open the door several times, but it was locked.

I had no idea where I had been taken but it was clearly somewhere far away from that horrible cave. I sat down on the bed and started to think. I remembered being abducted, that was the first thing. Harry was there, he didn't seem is normal self. I argued with him and tried to get away that was when Draco Malfoy caught me. From there, I didn't really remember anything. It was all hazy. Only flashes of light and fits of pain came into my mind after that.

I still had no idea why Harry was acting like such a jerk. Harry had always been such a gentle and nice person, not aggressive in any way. Why would he want to hurt me? I then remembered lying on a stone slab. I remembered Harry saying something to me, but I couldn't make out the words. I felt like a bolt of lightning running up and down my spine as I remembered the pain I was in at the time.

Suddenly I heard a noise coming from outside. The door then opened and to my surprise, in stepped none other than Draco Malfoy. He walked in holding a tray of food in his hand. I gasped and backed away. Draco moved closer and closer towards me and I backed further and further away.

I lost my footing and fell down hard on the floor. I stared up at him. He put the tray of food down on the dressing table and continued to walk towards me. I was still trying to back away, pushing myself backwards with my hands but eventually I reached the wall and had no where to go. Draco stopped just in front of me. I shut my eyes tight; I thought he was going to kill me.

However when the final deathblow never came, I opened my eyes to see him extending his arm out to me. I didn't have a lot of options so I nervously accepted and allowed him to pull me to my feet. He led me over to the bed and sat down next to me.

"How are we feeling today, Hermione?" he asked.

"W-What?"

I wasn't expecting that. Draco had always been so horrible to me. He was the one who was surely responsible for my kidnapping as well. I was shaking, for fear that this boy had something much more sinister in mind.

"We performed the ceremony on you yesterday. I just came to see if you were OK. We've had people who have died as a result, but you seem fine. You must be really strong. Here, I brought you some breakfast."

I looked over at the plate and saw a bowl of cereal, some pancakes and a glass of orange juice. It looked awfully good and I was absolutely starving. I could've eaten anything at that moment in time. I looked back at Draco who was smiling. If he was planning something evil, he had a good way of hiding it. But I still didn't trust him.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"This is your new home. It's not much now. But I'm sure we can add a few things to make you feel more comfortable."

"New home? How did I get here?"

"You were weak after the ceremony so I carried you here. We have always kept this place for special guests, but I couldn't just leave you lying on the muddy ground, you are much too soft and delicate and need to be treated with care."

"You are the one who brought me here?"

"Yes."

I remembered more now. I remembered being in a pair of strong arms; comforting arms, like those of my father, making me feel safe, warm and secure. Were those really Draco's arms?

"This isn't my home, Draco. You can't keep me here."

"I'm afraid I have no choice. It is not my decision."

"Nonsense! Let me go right this minute!"

I got up from the bed. He got up also and grabbed my wrist. I struggled to break free, but once again, he was too strong for me. I pounded on his chest but that had no effect. I looked up at Draco. He didn't look that strong, a bit of a scrawny young man actually but he seemed to possess an inhuman like strength. Perhaps he didn't though. Perhaps, I was just weak.

"Please, Hermione, I don't want to hurt you. There is no possible way you can escape from here, I've already told you that. It's useless."

I kept pounding on his chest and he squeezed my wrist tighter. I winced in pain and stopped struggling. He led me onto the bed again as I began to cry. Draco looked at me and then pulled a tissue out of his pocket. He handed it to me and I wiped the tears away.

"Why did you bring me here, Draco?" I said, still trying to hold back the tears.

"Why did you kidnap me?"

"I wasn't the one who kidnapped you."

"Huh?"

"It was Harry Potter. He did it."

"Harry Potter? But why?"

"It all happened about a week or so ago now. As a prank I thought it would be funny to get Harry to be one of the death eaters, to hypnotize him. We had everything planned perfectly. But when it came time, he seemed willing to join us and said that he didn't like you anymore and wanted revenge."

"Harry said that? But why?"

"He said he was sick of being merely friends with you and that you rejected all his advances to push things further."

"What are you talking about? Harry didn't make any advances on me; he's much too shy. I remember we had some stupid argument because we were talking about where we would be in twenty years time. Obviously since I didn't include him in my plans, he took that the wrong way. Harry was acting like a complete immature idiot though. I guess he's even worse now."

"Yes, he seems to be delusional now too. He says he is more powerful than Lord Voldermort and is fully intent now on taking over Hogwarts."

"Is he mad?"

"Yes and now that he has all of your magic power, I'm not sure what can be done to stop him. I will have a word with him to see if he will see sense. In the mean time, eat up, you'll need your strength."

I looked over at the plate of food again.

"How do I know you haven't poisoned this food?"

"Why would I do that?"

"I wouldn't put it past you Draco Malfoy. You may be acting like the hero here, but I know what you're really like. If you're responsible for Harry being the way he is then you're just as wrong as he is. No, in fact, that would make you worse."

"Well believe what you like, but if you don't eat the food that I give you then you will starve. I'm sure that you'll see sense in the end."

"So, you're just going to leave me here? Why?"

"It isn't my wish, but the wish of Lord Voldermort. There is a chance you will be released soon, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. We have brought people here before and kept them until the day they die."

"No, Draco! You can't do that to me!"

I jumped up from the bed and lunged at Draco. I tried to hit him but he simply put his arms around me and pulled me into a gentle embrace. I burst into tears as he hugged me and stroked my hair softly. He whispered into my ear.

"You know, Hermione. I have always loved you."

He released his embrace and left the room, locking the door behind him. I stood perfectly still in the middle of the room. I couldn't move. My head was spinning, I couldn't think straight.

Draco Malfoy loved me?

Was this the same Draco Malfoy I knew at Hogwarts? The same horrible, insensitive jerk who angered me each and every day?

I went and sat back down on the bed. I ate the food that Draco had left for me. The pancakes were delicious. I was so hungry. This was exactly what I needed.