Hours, days, and weeks had went by. Draco had been planning Blaise's downfall since the night of the party. Blaise wasn't aware of any of it though. He came to meetings, stopped by the manor occasionally, and even managed to have dinner with his master and Hermione. But all in all he was oblivious.

Hermione stood one of the nine windows in her bedroom looking out onto the grounds of the manor.

She took time to count all of them, memorize every detail, and what you could see by standing at them. Not only had she made that accomplishment while being locked up in her room, but she also knew the length of her bed, how many dragons were carved into the bed post, knew each detail of the nineteen pictures of the room and had an estimate to how much Draco paid for all of it. She always found something new to do to keep her from going mad.

Knock, knock, knock.

Interrupted by the banging on the door, Hermione made her way over and turned the doorknob. Before she could say anything Draco had came in and made himself comfortable on one of the couches by the fireplace.

"I didn't say you could come in."

Not bothering to look back Draco shrugged and watched the flames of the fire, "This is my house. I don't need permission to come in."

There he went. An obnoxious comment that sent her blood boiling. Storming her way over to his couch, she crossed her arms over her chest and perfectly matched his infamous sneer.

"But this is my room, Draco! I have a right to privacy just as you do. I obey your rules of not going to the dungeons or to your bedroom, so why can't you give me just one place in this godforsaken manor that can just be mine!"

Once again he didn't bother to look. He just ran a hand through his hair and shrugged.

Something was wrong, and Hermione sensed it. After two and a half months she knew a lot about Draco she didn't know before. When he was mad she would stay away. When he was in a good mood she'd make sure to be near the kitchen so he could give her treats. He always read before bed, he read the Daily prophet at breakfast, and he usually read at lunch unless he was stressed. He liked things to be neat. Very neat.

Taking a seat on an armchair Hermione placed her hands in her lap and turned to watch the fire as well.

After an awkward while of silence the blonde finally spoke up.

"What's going on between you and Blaise?" His voice was barely audible over the crackling of the fire.

"Blaise isn't a monster like you Draco."

"Every single one of my followers are monsters, so I don't understand what justifies Blaise to be the saint you make him out to be."

Turning her head sharply, Hermione narrowed her eyes into dangerous slits, "Remember the night in the library? The night Blaise was nice enough to take me out of that horrific room with you? He explained Lavender's role, he explained you, and he told me that he wasn't there. He said that he was with Lavender when it happened."

Draco finally looked over to her. Shaking his head he let out a malicious laugh, "You have a lot to learn about my kind, my dear."

"What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? Hermione, Blaise was very much there that day. Wait let me think. What was his role again?" The sadistic smirk on his lips only grew, "Oh yes, I remember. Blaise was the one that killed your parents and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley."

It felt as if someone had threw the heaviest brick at her stomach. Everything she had thought she knew was thrown out the window. Getting up from her chair, she shook her head and started running. She flew out of the door and down the corridor; stopping for nothing.

Draco immediately ran after her.

After turning the corner he spotted her running down the stairs. Longer legs gave him the advantage. Grabbing her from behind, Draco dragged her down the hallway and ignored her screams, kicks, and constant flailing. Hermione viciously clawed at his arms, even tried biting, but he only increased his grip.

"Let me go, Malfoy!" She screamed only to be silence as he forcefully pounded her against the wall.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" He hissed. His eyes hammered away at her. The only emotion visible was pure fury.

No answer.

"I asked you a question. A simple question."

"I hate you," She answered through gritted teeth, "And if you ever think that I am in some way in hell going to love you back you're truly out of your mind Draco Malfoy."

Those empty, emotionless eyes now had a different emotion. One she had never seen in his eyes. Relaxing under his grip, Hermione stared at the ground.

"Go before I do something I regret."

She didn't though. Slowly she inclined her head to meet his glare and shook her head, "No. I won't go. I'm not afraid of you anymore."

"You should be."

Her hand crawled up the side of his neck and cupped his cheek, "Why? Because you're the dark lord? Is that why I should be afraid? Draco I've known you since you were eleven years old. You don't scare me."

She was a brilliant liar. For once she was using that brain of hers. And Draco knew this. Grabbing her hand he squeezed to the point of breaking her bones, "You are afraid. I see it. You're afraid of losing your baby. And Granger, I suggest you really start using that head of yours or else you'll lose the last thing that you have."

House elves peaked around the corner but where bright enough to stay away.

There wasn't an option of caving in under his grip. Although the pain was unbearable she bit her lip as hard as she could and never broke eye contact with him.

It was like a silly game children played. They were testing each other's limits. And surprisingly Draco was the first to break. He snatched his hands away from her and sneered, "happy?"

Hermione tenderly touched her wrist and shrugged, "What's wrong with you Draco? Why are you doing this?"

The question didn't come as a surprise, but he wasn't ready. Frantically he fought for the answer but something that he didn't mean to say slipped out, "Because you were the one thing that I actually wanted from Potter."

After that statement not another word was spoken between the two for the rest of the day. Hermione resided in the library and Draco --- well Draco had other plans.

Theodore and Terrence had arrived just on time with the one thing that they were required to bring. Draco smirked as the two brought Blaise in. He was passed out, tied up, and covered with wounds and bruises.

"Good work. Down in the dungeons with the others."

The two took their orders and took him down with Draco in the rear. Once they reached the underground Draco tightened his cloak. The dungeons were cold on their own, but being on the verge of winter they were unbearable. Only their footsteps and occasional drips from the ceiling broke the silence. It was a dark, miserable place. Damp and depressing. Spider webs hung from the ceiling. On a few occasions rats were seen. And the smell was revolting. It was a wonder anyone could bare it.

Terrence opened the cellar door and Theodore and Draco followed to enter a cramped room of at least thirty men in black cloaks and white mask.

As planned Blaise was placed in the middle of the room where everyone could witness what was being done.

Draco approached his almost lifeless body and shook his head, "I warned all of you to never double cross me. Let this be an example of what will happen if you do."

He raised his arm and pointed his wand at Blaise's chest.

Hermione sat in her favorite armchair, snuggled up by the fire with a good book in hand. For once that day she was calm. Her eyes scanned the page letter by letter; word by word. Her interest grew with every page read. She was transfixed.

Her fingers started to turn the page until she heard an awful scream. The book dropped from her hands and made a soft 'thump' on the floor. At first she didn't move. She was afraid, but her curiosity got the best of her. Practically jumping from her chair she exited the library and turned to the left. As the scream was heard again she sped up. The pictures on the walls were a blur as she broke into a run and finally came upon a familiar door that lead to a place she dreaded more than Draco himself.

She questioned herself. To open it or not. It was forbidden.

Another scream.

Slowly turning the door knob, Hermione slid into the door and started down the staircase. She followed the voices, the chilling laughter, and came upon a door to the left. Without a second thought she opened it to find her worst nightmare.

Draco continued with the curses. Excitement ran through his veins as Blaise's screams worsened. But as all the room got silent he sharply turned his head to find an unexpected sight at the door.

For a moment all they could do was stare at one another. A long, cold, stare.

"Get out," He demanded.

Hermione slowly started into the room without a struggle. When her eyes lay upon Blaise and what had been done to him a sound escaped her throat. Not a word could describe what she felt. She tried approaching only to be blocked by a few of the deatheaters. Not giving up she pushed and clawed her way to Blaise's side. Falling to the floor she met Draco's eyes and shook her head. She tried speaking but no word would emerge. She only felt anger. An anger that she had felt towards nothing else before.

Time seemed to slow down as the following events took place. Draco grabbed her by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. The deatheaters watched on as their leader took her out and disappeared down the corridor.

They ended up in a guest room somehow. Draco threw her flailing body onto the bed and tried restraining her.

"Get off of me! Draco stop!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.

Draco blinked a couple of times before shutting her up. Pressing his lips forcefully to hers he held her arms down on the mattress to keep her from swinging. The kiss was intense and yet somehow gentle. Hermione fought as hard as she could for him to break it. As a single tear stained her cheek, Draco pulled back and brushed them away with his finger. For the longest time they just stared at each other. Not a glare, or spite, but just stared at one another as if they had met for the very first time. Draco rested his head upon her stomach and Hermione's brain fought to find a simple reason for all of this. She prayed she'd wake up from this terrible dream, but it wasn't a dream and it wasn't so terrible. Finally she closed her eyes and found her hand resting on Draco's head. For once in her entire time at the manor she was afraid of the power Draco Malfoy had over her.

Oh you speak to me in riddles and you speak to me in rhymes.
My body aches to breath your breath; your words keep me alive.

Possession, Sarah McLachlan

Authors Note: I am sorry, so so sorry for the delay. It has destroyed me not finishing this chapter. I haven't had my computer for the past for months thanks to the move. But I promise there will not be another time span like this one. I hope you enjoyed!