A/N: We're almost to the end, I promise! Thank you to everyone who has stuck around this long. I appreciate you reading!

I had gathered my things from Draco's this morning knowing we would likely be at my place tonight. When I arrived home, I wasted little time in putting my things away and setting my laundry to wash. However, I had barely started on my to do list when there was a knock at my door.

I proceeded to open it expecting to find Draco, food in hand. "Well, that was," My sentence was cut off as I was hit with a stunning spell. It all happened so fast and since I had been expecting Draco, I was caught completely off guard. Before I could comprehend what was happening, we were apparating.

At some point, I must have been knocked out. For how long, I don't know. When I awoke, I was completely disoriented and I desperately I tried to get my bearings. The room was dark and dingy. Survival instincts kicked in and I began to catalog what was going on. Clearly, I had been kidnapped. I didn't have time to catch a glimpse of the person on the other side of my door, but I thought it was a male in his mid-forties to fifties.

Whoever it was that had captured me was nowhere to be found now. Continuing to assess, I realized that while I was no longer magically bound, I was physically. My wrists were held by chains above my head making any attempt to check for my wand or to physically fight useless.

For a moment, I was transported back to my time at Malfoy manor. Laying on the ground helpless as I was tortured. There were many things I learned on that night. Perhaps most importantly was that I am strong and no matter what kind of sick hell I have just landed myself into, I do not break easily.

An anger rose within me. We fought for a life of freedom and here we are, years later, fighting the same crap. Apprehending Death Eaters and being held captive when all Draco and I wanted was a nice quiet night together.

Determined to find a way out, I banged my shackles to see if there was a way to loosen them. There was not getting out but the small noise it made seemed to attract the attention of my attacker.

"Ah, the mudblood awakes." A burly man rounded the corner, clicking his tongue with disapproval.

"Who are you?" Seemed silly to ask and I doubted he would answer, but you never know, criminals are stupid.

"You should know who I am. You are the one that dumped that ungrateful brat on my doorstep. I've been in touch with my brother-in-law and know the trouble he causes. Not only do you leave me with him, but you try to dig your little dirty nose in places they don't belong. I tried to warn you that if you didn't lay off the murder of Burke's wife, you'd be sorry, but when I checked this morning with my sources, I saw that the investigation was still open. Of course, I can't touch the Malfoy boy, his blood is too precious as the end of his line, but you? You'll be just fine to get our message across."

It occurs to me that this must be Bryson's uncle. I wonder what happened to his kind aunt if this man was standing before me with a crazed look in his eye. Before I could even frame which question I wanted to ask first, he continued.

"Let's see, how do I want to begin." His wand was out in the blink of an eye and I felt the sting of pain across my legs. He had used a slicing spell and cut through the flesh.

I grit my teeth and fight against the pain. If I had any hope of getting through this, I need to keep a level head. One thing that's helped me in stressful situations is to focus on a happy positive in my life and why I need to stay strong and level headed. In this moment, an image of Draco came to the forefront of my mind and I'm able to disassociate from the pain. Oh, it's still there, but as long as I focus on something else, I can manage it.

"Think you're so tough, do you? See how you like this."

The cruciato curse hit me and I felt like a million tiny shards of glass were piercing every inch of my skin. I continued to focus on Draco's face as I held the tears and screams at bay. My only hope now would be that he would figure out what had happened. He mentioned a warning. What did we miss?

Finally, he let up for a moment on the curse and I tried to catch my breath without being too obvious. I knew Bryson was still in school for another week, so with any luck he hadn't been harmed.

"We were told his aunt wanted him. She signed the papers."

His laugh was dark. "Don't worry, she's been taken care of. Foolish woman. If it wasn't an arranged marriage, I would have never agreed to it. Ungrateful she was. I was glad when that divorce was finalized. And now I'll never have to worry about it again. She would have ruined the progress Bennett had made with that boy and there is no way the last heir of the Burke line is going to go down like that."

My heart broke. His continued use of the past tense told me she was likely dead.

"No matter. Now I've got you, I'll be able to send the appropriate message."

I stayed silent. The look in his eyes told me there would be no reasoning with him. He wouldn't hear a word I had to say. Without my wand and with my hands tied up, using magic was out of the question. My feet were restrained as well so I was completely helpless to physically defend myself.

I realized exactly how helpless as he approached me and began leering over my body. Swiping his wand again, he performed another slicing spell which opened my shirt and left a gash along my chest and abdomen.

For the first time tonight, fear penetrated my thoughts. Of all the things I had been through, I had maintained my dignity. As the panic took over and he continued to inch closer, my mind swirled with ways I could prevent what he was clearly planning.

He was so close now that I could smell his rancid breath on my skin. I'm Hermione Granger damn it! I will not let this criminal win!

He came in to claim my mouth. Just before he reached mine, I lunged. When I did so, I made it count. My teeth caught his mouth in a vicious grip and I bit off his lower lip.

He screamed in pain just as there was a commotion on the other side of the room. There must have been stairs that I hadn't been able to see at first, but now that my eyes had adjusted, I could see several figures approaching.

Likely he had friends coming to join in. A single tear escaped at the thought and my vision blurred.

Everything that happened next seemed to be on fast forward. There was shouting and blasts of light from multiple directions. My captor fell to the ground and a second later, I was released and falling into a strong body.

My first thought was to struggle. I was so distressed I could have sworn I heard Draco's voice telling me to calm down. Finally, as I realized the man that was holding me was simply giving me a light hug and not trying to harm me, I began to calm. When I looked up, I saw Draco's worried face.

My arms threaded around his neck as I collapsed into him.