Hermione pulled up a chair and reached towards one of the books that she needed on the top shelf. The library was an impending challenge without magic. Staircases which led to the second floor of the library would move around, leading to unneeded sections. All staircases moved in the castle, but these had been made especially for the library, forcing unwanted visitors to be stuck in a section completely devoted to frog stomachs. The moving staircases in the library were good for protection, but now they were just a hassle. Madam Pince and Hermione were the only ones who knew how to control the stairs, but Hermione didn't have a wand and there was no sign of Madam Pince ever coming back to Hogwarts. Hermione had no choice but to wait for the staircases to move to where she needed them if she wanted to get books from the second level.

A blank sheet of paper flew across the room, and Hermione tensed for a moment. No one was supposed to be in the library. All of the Death Eaters were supposed to be in a meeting with Voldemort, or going out to fight battles for him. No one in Voldemort's world had time for to go and search for books in the library: that is why she felt so safe in the library, but what was a piece of paper doing flying around? Hermione looked around for someone and sighed when she realized that a window was open. The paper must have caught the wind. If only she could do the same.

Hermione's mind sparked at that moment, and looked around the library. There had to be a section on flying. Everything was possible with magic, except, of course, waking the dead, but that was minor. If she could find a book on flying she could teach herself how. Now the question was, where would it be? There was a chance that it could be close to the quidditch corner, or it could be in one of the more advanced enchantment books.

After an hour of searching, the quidditch section had been completely combed through with no success. It was a small part of the library, which was why Hermione had chosen to go through it first, but the only thing that Hermione had found out about flying without a broomstick was that it was illegal in the game of quidditch. At least she knew that it was actually possible to fly cordless.

"I understand that Lord Voldemort has given you free reign of the castle, but that does not mean that you are aloud to completely forget your job," Lucius Malfoy said as he walked around a bookshelf. Hermione hated how people just kept on popping up with no forewarning. It was really starting to get on her nerves.

"I wouldn't call it a job, Malfoy," Hermione bit back. "It's more like slave labor if you ask me."

"That is what my Lord wanted me to talk to you about," Lucius sneered at Hermione. "We are not going to pay you, but Lord Voldemort believes that because you are working for him without any fighting back, that we know of, you will be allowed to have time for yourself once you have gone through two files each day."

"But I barely make it through two on good days. What type of payment is that?"

"This offer can be revoked," he said coldly. "I see no need for you to have any privileges, but if my Lord wants it, then I will follow."

Lucius started walking out of the library, but turned back towards her for a second.

"Don't get any ideas about finding methods of escape. Your room will lock at every midnight, and will not reopen until you finish two files. It would be a bad idea to get locked outside of your room. Very bad indeed."

Once Hermione had the library back to herself, she went back to her research. The library had a clock near the book return to make tardiness easier to punish. She would just have to bring books over to places where the clock was visible. The sun was already going down, and the magical torches were already set aflame. Hermione smiled at the fire, knowing that it had been her that had convinced Madam Pince to make the library open past six o'clock.

With a glance over towards the clock, Hermione rushed towards the books containing advanced charms. She pulled out several books that looked like they might give her a clue. Hesse's Guide to Any Other Day Activities and Things that you never knew you could do with magic! looked promising. Hesse had written a few other good books that Hermione had read in the past. Hermione pulled out another two books that had some potential. Until she actually found the tomb containing information on all the books, things would be a bit difficult. It had to be hidden somewhere, but today was not the day to search for it.

Hermione picked up all four books and started walking towards the door, turned around, and then went to go check the books out of the library. It was stupid, but the library had powerful magic installed into it. Nobody could take any book out without declaring that they had it, even if there was no one to declare it to.

A small creature popped out as she reached the desk, and Hermione started to scream. It looked like a mixture between a sloth and a grindylow.

"Quiet, girl. Don't you remember that libraries are quiet places?"

Hermione nodded her head.

"Good girl, just hand those books over and I'll check them out for you."

After a few moments, the creature handed her back the books.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Allemande, protector of the library," he said proudly.

"Well, if you don't mind me asking, what breed are you?"

"I'm not really any type of breed, more of a creation. I was made, like the sorting hat, by the four founders. I don't die, and I never leave the desk. I'm only here now because there is no librarian. Otherwise I disappear. What happened to her?"

Hermione looked out the window as the sun sank into the horizon. She really didn't want to be in the hallways after dark with Death Eaters roaming around everywhere. Though fascinating, she didn't have the time to tell the whole story to the creature.

"A dark lord has taken over Hogwarts and is planning on taking over the world."

"Oh no," Allemande said, seeming like he had no clue how bad it really was. "I'll just keep on protecting the library."

Hermione turned around and rushed to the doors of the library, but then she stopped. There was something shining at her from one of the tables. Hermione walked closer to it and reached out for it slowly. It wasn't large, a bit bigger than her wrist, and Hermione cautiously closed her hand around it. After a second, Hermione realized what it was.

"A watch," she exclaimed. Then she turned towards the desk. "Allemande, did you leave this watch here by any chance?"

The creature put a clawed finger up to its mouth to silence her. Allemande was a true librarian. "I can't leave the desk," it said pounding on the wood.

"Oh, right," she said to herself. Then whose watch was it? Hermione looked around the bookshelves but to no avail. No person was in the library but herself. She started to put the watch back on the table but clenched it back when she realized that there was a note addressed to her where the watch had once been.

Hermione broke the seal on the back and began reading.

Dear Hermione,

You might be needing this for later use, it would not be very good if you were late to your room. I have heard both Lucius' and Voldemort's plans for if you break the rule.

Just want you to know that you are not alone in this castle.

Burn this letter once you have read it.

-A friend

Hermione reread the letter and then went immediately to one of the torches to burn it. Putting on the watch, Hermione picked up her books and headed out the door. She had luck walking through the castle until she reached the corridor containing her room. Draco Malfoy was sitting against the wall across from her door. He looked over at her with a sneer.

"What have you been up to, Granger?" He growled as he stood up.

"Breathing."

Hermione ignored him and opened the door to her room. Before she could get through the threshold, Draco grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back outside. Hermione had barely gotten her book into her room when she dropped him.

"Those are some suspicious books, Granger. Care to tell me what they are for?"

"I'm bored, what else would you expect me to do? Prance around the Great Hall in front of Voldemort? Oh, wait, that's what you do, isn't it?"

Draco let out a scream of anger and slapped her across the cheek. He had used enough power to completely wipe her of her feet. Her head slammed to the ground and Hermione wished to whatever gods that would listen that she didn't just feel that rip in her skin.

"Don't show cheek to a pureblood," Draco said with all the confidence of his master. Then his mood turned brighter. "Blood can be washed out, but the last drop of blood in a human body stains. Stay off the carpets."

And with that, Draco Malfoy walked off, leaving Hermione to crawl to her door. It opened, and Hermione forced herself to reach a chair that she could put her head on. She had to keep the gash on her head above her heart. That was her only chance now.

A/N: It helps when I listen to music when I write, and recently I've been getting most of this story done while listening to Evanescence. It's five songs on repeat, cause I don't like most of their songs, but they definitely put me in the 'Hermione's stuck in Voldemort's castle' mood. I would like to thank MistressAnime, PrincessOfHeartsNYP, LNluvsHostile17, Mandi, HermioneandMarcus, Hpfanf, and Acdecnerd for reviewing my last chapter. Y'all are the best!