I was still shaking from what had happened the day before. I tried to put it out of my mind but every time I tried to think of something else, it would come back like a bad dream haunting my every waking moment.

The images in my mind were now stronger than ever before. I pictured Harry's face as if he were the devil coming at me with a ring of fire round his face plunging me into the darkness. There was no escape; I couldn't get away. I lay awake that night thinking about it and I didn't sleep one wink.

I was somewhat comforted by Draco's words but even that didn't fully heal the wounds. I was still a captive after all and I was missing my friends really badly. I was amazed that no one had been sent from Hogwarts to come and find me. But perhaps there was. The death eaters were notorious for their excellent hiding places and people may not have found me if they had searched for a million years.

Early in the morning, Draco came in the room, as usual holding a tray of food. He had brought me pancakes and juice again. He hadn't done that since he first put me in this room. He placed it down on the dressing table beside me and wasted little time in gobbling down the whole lot. I had become a bit thin and pale during my illness and I really wanted to get back to feeling healthy again.

"You look better today, Hermione." Draco said. "Last week, you looked so thin, I thought you were going to die."

I didn't answer him but continued to guzzle down the food at an alarming rate.

"Careful there," said Draco. "You'll give yourself an upset stomach if you eat that quickly."

Again I wasn't really listening to him and I didn't really care about an upset stomach at that particular moment in time. After I had finished my breakfast, I closed my eyes. It felt so good to be full with the warmth in my stomach. I beamed with delight.

Draco sat down beside me on the bed and looked a little more serious now.

"Hermione, I can't apologise enough for what happened yesterday. Harry has gone completely mental."

"It's ok Draco. I'm trying not to think about it. I never want to see Harry again as long as I live. Please don't let him come in here again."

"Yes, I will make sure, although Harry has taken it upon himself to appoint himself our new leader and has managed to convince the other death eaters as such. Now he has developed powerful magic for himself and along with your magic, I don't think there's anyone who can truly stand in his way now. I don't know what Harry's real goal is but when he first joined us a couple of weeks ago; he was solely looking for revenge on you. He came to use crying his eyes out like a girl and I showed him a way he could improve his life and get things he wanted by being aggressive. Unfortunately he has taken it too far. I guess I'm to blame really."

"No, Draco, don't blame yourself. Whilst at first I thought that you had influenced him and was controlling his mind, there was just no excuse for what Harry did last night. I can never forgive Harry now, regardless of anything that's been done in the best, no matter how much influence you've had on him what he did last night was just plain wrong. If he ever wanted to be with me, he just blew any chance he had right there."

"You're right, Hermione. And you shouldn't have to face Harry again, not after that. I can't keep you here any longer."

"What?"

"Tonight I will let you go. You will be free."

"Really Draco?"

"Yes. It won't be easy because I'm not in charge of this place so I won't be able to gain permission to let you leave. But I will help you escape from here. I'll come up with some sort of plan."

"Are you sure you won't get in trouble for that?"

"There are no guarantees about anything anymore. But whatever happens - happens. I lost my respect for this place when I saw what Harry did to you last night. If I were to sacrifice myself for your freedom then so be it. But I can't keep you here as a prisoner any longer. We have everything we wanted from you, and were just keeping you here to rot away and die. There's no need for that. Tonight, I will have to pretend I am taking you away somewhere, make it look forced so the death eaters don't suspect anything. There is one of the torture chambers done near the exit, I could pretend to be taking you down to one of those and that's where I want you to make a run for it."

"And what about you, Draco?"

"Forget about me, Hermione. Just get out as fast as you can, you won't have much time."

"But you've been so good to me over the last few days. I'm not sure I will want to leave you behind."

Draco grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently.

"Listen, Hermione. This is the only way to escape. If you want your freedom, you'll do as I say or else you'll never see your friends back at Hogwarts ever again."

"Ok, Draco, I'll do it."

He hugged me tightly and I buried my head in his shoulder and cried.

I cried for hours upon hours.