Awww!!! I feel soo loved!

Ok, I'm going to thank everyone who has reviwed so far, and since you're begging for it (even though it was already written) this chapter contains Draco.

So thank you sooo much to those whom reviewed…and here is another chapter for you!

This is a very long chapter.

(Just a warning, Hermione and Draco do not stay in Azkaban for very long…at all.)

Hermione slowly opened her eyes and thought she was in Heaven- bright white light stained her eyes, but after a few minutes of major blinking, Hermione realized that she was staring into two office lights.

Her eyes were spinning with blind spots, as she focused on her lap.

"Do you know why you are here?" a deep demanding voice asked suddenly.

"Because you're a moron?" Hermione coughed.

The voice ignored her. "You are here because you stood up for a Death Eater- an extremely stupid thing to do."

Hermione tried to raise a hand to rub her eyes but they were tied behind her back. She noticed her ankles were tied as well. She squinted as she tried to find the person speaking to her.

"It amazes me that you would stick up for someone that you didn't know…all you know about him was that he was a Death Eater. Now, this is logically impossible. I know all about your deep friendship with Harry Potter, and your fight against the dark lord and his minions. So this does not make sense to me Miss Granger."

Hermione didn't say anything.

"This leads me to conclude that you personally know the man." The deep voice went on. "How do you know him, what do you know of him, and why in Merlin's name did you prevent his mask from being taken off?"

Hermione remained silent.

"Your friends at the hospital are stopping us from talking to the death eater, but believe me Miss Granger, we will get there." The voice started to get impatient. "You are in a very sticky situation Miss Granger! Either tell us what he looks like, or his name, if he gave you one, or you will be taken to Azkaban for with holding information."

"I am not doing this willingly!" Hermione growled. "I want to forget this!"

"Then tell us what we want!" the voice commanded.

"I don't know what to tell you!"

"Alright, alright, don't tell us about the death eater- tell me why you were being followed the day we picked you up off the bus."

"I don't know!" Hermione said, sighing.

"Well you must know something Miss Granger- you were running weren't you?"

"Yes."

"But it wasn't from us."

"What?"

"We weren't chasing you Miss Granger- we are here to offer you protection. It was two Death Eaters chasing you, and we simply took you away to protect you. Now it's high time you returned us the favor."

"I don't know what to tell you." Hermione said, hanging her head.

The voice sighed. "Then you leave us with no choice. In order to protect you, this is what I must do. Take Miss. Granger to Azkaban…"

Hermione felt her stomach dissolve, her throat contract, her forehead go cold and her mind run blank. Someone one placed a blind fold over her eyes, and the light was blocked out. They pulled her to her feet, undid her ankle ropes, and pushed her along.

Whoever it was held onto her right upper arm tightly, and smelt of oranges and mint.

Oh my god, I am actually going to prison…to Azkaban…Hermione repeated the thought over and over in her head, not believing it.

I'm going to Azkaban and I didn't really do anything…in fact, that's why I'm going…well, I didn't say anything. What total rubbish! Protect me my backside! This is punishment for not giving them exactly what they want!

Her feet slightly dragged, and she stumbled countless of times. Then suddenly, the person cutting the circulation to her right arm stopped walking, pulling her to a sharp halt.

"Do you mind?" Hermione spat savagely.

There was no reply, but instead, a POP sound.

Hermione swayed unsteadily on her feet in her new surroundings. She heard the sounds of water hitting something, and the ground beneath her rocked. Then Hermione realized that she was on a boat. Not a very big boat by the sounds of it…just a small row boat, made for small trips and no one elegant…

"Ok, you can take this ridiculous thing off now." Hermione said, knowing that she wasn't alone- someone still had a vice grip on her upper arm.

At first there was no reply, then the blind fold slipped off, and Hermione could see.

She was surrounded by deep ocean, and no land anywhere in site except the island they were sailing towards. Hermione was standing in a little wooden row boat, with two planks used for crummy seats. A small, thin, stick like man was sitting in front of her, rowing them towards the island, his hair missing, and his eyes hollow of life- though he was somehow, alive.

One of the Aurors from the hospital stood next to her, still having a firm grip on Hermione's arm.

The boat rocked, and Hermione nearly fell out, although at least she would have taken the nasty Auror with her.

Her eyes focused on the island they were rowing to. It looked dead, bleak, grey and lifeless. The building on it was black and grey and the grounds around it were void of grass, or anything alive for that matter. A large, scary looking black gate surrounded the island, stopping a meter from the water. She didn't know why they wanted a gate or fence- not when the prisoners inside were trapped within their own minds.

A small, rickety wooden dock extended out, with a scary figure standing on the end of it, watching them approach from beneath its hood. It floated a little above the dock, and its black robes blew around it lazily in the light breeze.

Oh god. He's going to take all my happy memories! Hermione thought quickly, her mind racing and her heart starting to thump quicker in her chest. How did Sirius stay sane? She thought until her head hurt, all the while the boat was getting closer to the dock. Got it! Don't think a happy thought, but think that you are innocent!

She was just starting to get that thought into her mind when the boat seemed to speed up, and stop at the dock, swaying in the water. The Auror quickly pushed her up onto the dock, and ordered the little man to start rowing him back.

Hermione stumbled, and heard the dock squeak and groan violently underneath her. A few planks were missing as Hermione stumbled towards land, her hands still tied behind her back, screwing up her balance if she staggered.

The Dementor followed her silently, but she could feel the air around her was at freezing temperature, and her breath came out in small puffs. She already felt her happy memories disappearing, but didn't try to hold onto them. Instead, she had the firm, unhappy thought in her head that she was innocent.

Hermione thankfully stepped off the dock, and onto solid ground. A dirt track led from the dock up to the main, dead looking building. It was a slight hill, but Hermione managed it without tripping once. A heavy black door, looking extremely foreboding, opened when they neared.

Inside, it was almost pitch black, but there was just enough light for Hermione to see in her surroundings, and feel very self conscious and completely scared to the very depths of her bones.

Her hands shook, and her legs felt wobbly as she continued walking.

The walls were grey stone, and a cold draft was coming at her. Immediately, she saw cell doors, thick silvery metal, kept the prisoners at bay, and let an outsider clearly see what they were doing inside the cell. Hermione dared to peak into a few. Some of the prisoners were quietly muttering to themselves, obviously nuts, and were sitting in the corner of their cell. Others seemed to be relatively sane, and came up to their doors, shouting at Hermione. "Females? Are you serious? I thought this was meant to punish us!"

Hermione tried to ignore them, and continued walking with her hands behind her back.

They all wore the same uniform- torn and ripped pants, and shaggy shirts, both with black and dirty white stripes. They were unshaven and all had messy hair- but what could Hermione expect? Plus, they smelt disgusting, and had horrible breath.

She saw another Dementor up a head, and slowly walked up to it. Its hand floated out to the right, gesturing to a cell.

Hermione walked up to it, and turned right. Her cell looked slightly bigger then the ones she had seen before- but there was a reason for that- she appeared to have a cell mate. The cell door was open, and Hermione slowly walked through it, noticing the strange shimmering within the frame. When she passed through it, she felt extremely cold, and empty. Her hands were free for a spilt second before they snapped around to her front, something heavy on her wrists, connecting them by a chain to her ankles that were also suddenly bound. They were heavy, uncomfortable shackles.

The Dementor shut the cell door behind her, and stood with its back to her. Hermione slowly turned around to look at the cell. It was pretty small, about two meters long and two and a half meters wide. On the opposite wall, there was a small arch window, just out of Hermione's reach. Two metal beds held up by chains were on the two side walls. A thin, moth eaten blanket and a dead looking pillow were sitting on one of them, while the other was occupied by someone with their back to her.

Judging by their shoulders, blond hair, and masculine body, Hermione guessed it was a guy.

It was so cold in her cell that shivers continually broke out over her body, as Hermione slowly made her way to the empty bed, and sat right up the corner, drawing her legs in close.

Hermione studied the wall, and noticed deep finger nail marks, and things written with shaky hands that made no sense. Hermione wondered how many people had lost their minds within this cell.

Then her mind began to wonder as she realized that wasn't a good thing to dwell on.

Why was she in here with a guy? Why was she here in the first place?

"I hate Death Eaters." She mumbled, not noticing that her cell mate reacted.

Slowly, he sat up, and turned around to face her. But Hermione had closed her eyes, and didn't see him.

He stared at her for two long minutes, trying to figure out why the hell she was in here, Azkaban of all places.

"Granger?" he croaked, obviously not speaking in a while.

Hermione's eyes snapped open, and she glanced over at him. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Draco Malfoy sat on the bed opposite her, staring at her with cold eyes. His hair was scruffy, and looked similar to Harry's though blond, his cheeks were hollow, and his eyes didn't seem to have their normal arrogant spark.

"Malfoy?" Hermione heard her own disbelief in her voice.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked.

Hermione sniffed. "It's a long story." Then her eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you doing here?" she wasn't entirely sure that she wanted an answer, but if she stayed silent, then she would surely go insane.

He shrugged. "Stupid Minister is worried I might be a Death Eater."

"And are you?" Hermione asked, unaware that she tried to pull her legs in closer to her chest.

"Not exactly." He answered carefully. He lent back so he was leaning against the wall, facing her. "But the idiotic Minister threw me in here just to be safe…" he hit the wall behind him.

"So you haven't committed a crime?" Hermione asked curiously.

He looked at her a long moment, before smirking. "Of course I have. My father is after all Lucius Malfoy." He paused. "But the things I have done are not drastic, and not at all murder or anything like that…but the ministry is throwing everyone in here…" he exaggerated the word 'everyone' and gestured to her. "And I don't think you would betray Potter and join the dark side…" he continued.

"No, absolutely not!" Hermione snapped.

He nodded. "I thought as much. If you're worried that you are sharing a cell with a killer, then calm down. I did the odd job here and there, and therefore I got to know a lot of things about Voldermort's secrets and plans…when I refused to speak to the ministry and tell them, then they threw me in here…"

"Me too," Hermione said softly. "I didn't tell them what they wanted…"

"What could they possibly want from you?"

Hermione shrugged. "I saved a Death Eaters life."

"You what?" he asked, an eye brow rose in interest. "Risked everything for something that you despise?"

"You don't know the whole story." Hermione sighed.

"No, but I will soon." He said calmly.

"What makes you so confident that I am suddenly going to start talking to you, and act like we are friends?" Hermione asked, glaring at him.

"Because Granger, if you don't talk, then the silence around you will itch at your brain, tug at your stomach, and drive you insane…besides, you'll find I can be a good listener." He said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Hermione snorted. "You only listen when things interest you."

"Don't you?"

She didn't reply to that. "I don't want to talk about it." She said after a long pause.

"Who bought you here anyway?" he asked, not caring that it was Granger who he was making conversation with. He's had two long weeks in this place with no one to talk to except himself- now, he does have interesting conversations, but Draco preferred to not go insane.

"Aurors then Dementors." Hermione said slowly.

"Aurors? Aurors? You mean Potter and Weasel?" he asked.

"No…" Hermione said, momentarily forgetting that her two best friends were in fact Aurors. Did they know about what has happened to her? Probably not, Hermione thought, especially if they're on a job.

"But they did become the knights in shinning armor didn't they? Still itching for glory and their names in the Prophet?"

"They never did that on purpose, and yes, they are Aurors, but they became Aurors for the common good!" Hermione snapped.

"Right…the same common good that had you thrown in here?" Malfoy asked with a smirk on his lips.

She ignored him.

"How are the golden boys doing anyway?"

"I don't know." Hermione answered shortly.

"Don't know? Aren't friends any more?" he had to admit that that was a shock- the golden trio weren't friends?

"We are, but I haven't spoken to them since they left to go on-to do some business." Hermione quickly covered her mistake.

"Really?" Malfoy said. "Some secret Auror business, perhaps?" He was generally interested- after all, the bastard who commanded he be thrown in here had accused Draco of having something to do with the 'job' Potter and Weasel were on.

"I'm finished with this conversation." Hermione said, turning her head away from him and closing her eyes. Maybe she could sleep until they released her?

Then her eyes snapped open and she glanced at him to see him staring at her. "You seem sane," she said suddenly.

"Pardon me?" his brow was furrowed in confusion.

"Why are you sane in here?" she asked. "Haven't the Dementors plucked your memory clean of happy thoughts and driven you insane?"

He smirked at this, and tapped his temple. "I don't have too many happy thoughts Granger. And the ones I did have were indeed, taken from me."

"How long have you been in here?" she asked.

"A couple of weeks." He shrugged. "I don't exactly have a calendar to mark the days off."

"And why are we sharing a cell?" Hermione was just firing all the questions in her brain that she wanted answered, even though a few minutes ago she had finished the conversation.

He almost smiled- he had been expecting an explosion of questions, because well, it was Granger and secretly, he did enjoy the company. He lent his head back against the cold wall and shrugged. "Like I said before, the ministry is putting heaps of people in here- it's getting full." He paused then "And you're not the first cell mate I've had."

"Oh really? What happened to the others?"

He shrugged again. "They went insane because they were totally and utterly guilty and didn't like confined spaces…I think one was already weird when he came in…kept calling me Markus…" he watched her carefully. 'Eventually, they got moved to solitary confinement."

Her breathing quickened, and she started shivering.

"What's wrong?" he asked, though he made no move to go over to her and see if she was alright.

"I don't think I do well in confined spaces…" Hermione whispered. She hadn't been in many tight and small places, and this one would stay in her memories for a long time.

Malfoy nodded. "Yeah, it feels like that, but after the first week or so, if you don't go insane, then you'll get used to it."

"Oh, that's comforting." Hermione said sarcastically.

"It wasn't supposed to be." He said, staring at her with serious eyes. "This isn't a silly school dungeon Granger. It's serious. They're serious in here. Men scream at night, driven by crazy thoughts of insanity. It is a serious test of your mental strength, and there is no escaping the darkness." His voice was calm, but clear. "It isn't a joke, and it isn't a game. In the cell next to you, a murderer is probably listening to our conversation. Next to my wall, on the other side, is a middle aged women claming to be Voldermort's wife."

Hermione shivered. "Thanks for that. Exactly what I wanted to hear."

"I was just warning you." He said shrugging.

"Well easy going on the warnings then if you don't mind." Hermione mumbled, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

"Why?"

"Why do you think?" Hermione snapped. "I don't need anymore worries added to my extensive list thank you very much."

Malfoy shrugged again. "You don't have to be here."

Hermione opened one eye to look at him. "Pardon me? I didn't exactly choose this as a holiday-"

"What I meant is that you would just have to tell the ministry what they wanted."

Hermione opened both eyes now and shot him a funny look. "You could do the same."

Malfoy sharply shook his head. "No, Granger. Our situations are completely different."

"How?" Hermione said. "Okay, you know about Voldermort, but I know the face of one of his Death Eaters…and we both know the Ministry- they won't catch him as he's leaving the hospital."

Malfoy nodded in agreement. "You're right about that." He didn't mention that she had told him about the Death Eater being in hospital. It was just a piece to the puzzle for Granger's imprisonment. It was a great skill he possessed- Draco Malfoy could coax information out of you without you realizing. Then he shook his head. "Even so, I do not give into temptation. I plan to piss the Ministry off by staying sane, and in here."

"And I refuse to be blackmailed into giving them what they want." Hermione said, the shackles cutting into her wrists as she moved a little closer to the wall.

She noticed Malfoy wasn't chained up. "Hey, what gives?" she asked, raising her wrists a little.

He smirked. "I guess I am no threat…or that I'm not a real prisoner."

"That's ridiculous." Hermione spat.

"You think the shackles are bad?" Malfoy raised an eye brow. "Wait until they bring you the food."

Hermione shuddered. "Really? Is it that bad…?"

"It is absolutely revolting. It looks like sloppy porridge, but sure as Merlin doesn't taste like it." He looked towards the cell door. "In fact, they should be bringing some around shortly."

Hermione eyed the door apprehensively. Though she was hungry- not eating since that morning, Hermione decided not to place her hopes in good food.

Back at St. Mongo's, "Andy" was starting to tire of the deserted room he found himself in. In the end, he decided to relax, and enjoy his time. A thin blond headed healer strolled into his room, avoided his eyes- even though they were covered by the mask, checked his charts then quickly exited the room.

He smirked. Even though he was completely defenseless, he still scared the crap out of the magical community. Andy groaned as his stomach stabbed him with pain. He wondered what had happened to his target. He hadn't seen her all week. She was just gone. He wondered if Voldermort had got to her, or if the ministry had arrested her for her protection. He knew how that part worked because he had seen it before. They arrested someone, claiming to protect them, but when it came to it, it was all for show.

Andy heard someone shouting in the corridor. It was those damn aurors. They had been coming back every day this week, trying to get into his room, but the Healers, under orders from Hermione's boss, had somehow stopped that from happening.

Andy rolled off the bed, broke the binds on his hands, and stood up. One of the Healers had removed his shirt so they could examine his wounds. Andy didn't bother about his shirt, but quickly grabbed his jacket and wand, then walked over to the window. He braced himself then punched through the glass, sending shards of it down into the street below.

Andy widened the gap, then stepped out onto the window sill, and looked down. He was standing on a narrow ledge, about 17 stories up. A busy London street existed below him, but Andy took no notice of them, as they of him.

He slowly and carefully shuffled along the sill and concentrated on not falling off. His hands used the wall behind him like brail, and he soon came to a corner. The cold wind blew around him, causing his jacket to flap around.

He made sure he was balanced before reaching for his wand and pointing it to the ground.

Andy took a deep breath then jumped off the ledge, landing on the ground like a cat. His spell had prevented him from breaking his spine, and luckily, the busy street, full of people hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary- no man had just jumped 17 stories, shirtless with a bandage around his chest, slightly wind whipped, breathless, and in tact.

Andy stood up, brushed his pants down, buttoned up his jacket to hide the bandage, and started walking along the street, blending in with the crowd.



Hermione woke up early morning with someone pulling at her jacket. She rolled over and saw a short, plump and sweaty man leaning over her.

Hermione squealed and sat up, drawing herself away from the man.

She saw over the man's shoulder that Malfoy had sat up, and was looking at the plump man with a curious eye brow. The man however, took no notice of Malfoy. He only had eyes for Hermione.

"Are you ready to co-operate?" his voice was smooth like silk.

Hermione shook her head. "No."

"Well, it doesn't matter." The plump man smiled, hands together, rocking back and forth on his feet.

Hermione couldn't understand why the man was so cheerful.

"You are now being held under suspicion." The man continued.

"Of what?" Hermione asked, her eyes widening.

"The whereabouts of Mr. Harry Potter and Mr. Ronald Weasley." The man said, smiling sweetly at her. "They are missing Miss Granger, and we know you had plans to meet with them."

"What?" Hermione's breath caught in her throat.

"You had plans to meet them both didn't you?"

"Yes but-"

"Where are they?"

"I don't know!"

"You were the last person who was supposed to meet them!"

"Yes, but I didn't!"

"Why?"

"They cancelled!" Hermione shouted.

"Cancelled?" the man looked a little taken aback, then smiled at her.

"Yes, cancelled. They told me something had come up and that they couldn't meet with me. I haven't seen them in ages!" Hermione was close to tears.

"Well where is your proof? How did they cancel?"

"Harry wrote me a letter."

"Where is it?"

"I don't have it- I burnt it!"

"Really? How convenient." the man seemed intrigued now, excited.

"He asked me to!" Hermione felt a salty tear run down her face.

"That seems a little suspicious to me Miss Granger. Why burn the letter? Did it even exist?"

"Of course it did!" Hermione shouted. More tears streamed down her cheeks. "Harry asked me to burn it- it just told me that they couldn't meet with me. That's all, I swear!"

The fat man smiled. "Well I don't believe you Miss Granger. Your actions are very questionable. First, you save a Death Eaters life, wont help us to capture him- a sure criminal, and now Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley are missing. Sounds awfully dark to me."

Malfoy snorted. It seems like they are accusing everyone of Potter and Weasel's disappearance.

The fat man turned to look at him.

"Are you serious?" Malfoy drawled. "You honestly believe she has crossed to the dark side?"

"Why yes, as a matter of fact I do." The plump man said, turning back to Hermione.

"Then you are even dumber than I thought." Malfoy snorted.

The plump man spun around. "You are a very rash man Mr. Malfoy. If I were you, I would be careful with choosing my words."

"Why should I care? I'm in no man's land. I have no sides. I can piss either side off, just by talking." Malfoy smirked at the man.

The plump man started sweating profusely, and quickly dabbed his forehead with a hanky. He then turned around to Hermione. "Enjoy your stay. If you refuse to tell us where Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley are, then you will be here for a long time. We no longer care about the Death Eater. He is safely locked up in the hospital. We can wait."

"I don't know where they are!" Hermione screamed. "They are my friends! Why would I do anything to them?"

The plump man chuckled dryly. "For your new lord."

"My new lord?" Hermione jumped off the bed and started screaming. "I hate that man. You hear me? I hate him! Why would I give up my two best friends to a murderer? Get out! Get out now!"

She was screaming, pointing at him, shaking.

The plump man took a step backwards, stunned by her sudden out burst.

"GET OUT!" Hermione felt like her voice box was going to explode.

The man sighed, then headed to the cell door.

"Why is everyone getting blamed?" Malfoy suddenly asked the fat man who paused in the door and looked over his shoulder.

"For what?"

"Potter and Weasel's disappearance." Malfoy said, then waited for an answer. "First you accuse me, and now their best friend. Running out of clues are we?"

The fat man didn't say anything but just left.

Once it was closed, Hermione collapsed onto the ground, shuddering and shaking, finding it hard to breath. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, and felt her mind tear itself apart.

Harry and Ron where missing?

Where were they?

Why was she being blamed?

Are they alright?

How will she get out of this?

Malfoy had also been accused? Since when? Okay, maybe it was plausible that he would do something, but somehow, Hermione had a suspicion that he hadn't. Besides, if it was Malfoy, Harry and Ron would be able to defend themselves against him…but what if it wasn't only Malfoy? What if it was a tribe of them…then maybe…

She suddenly felt two firm arms wrap around her waist, pick her up and place her on the bed.

Malfoy threw her blanket on her then returned to his own bed. Her screams, pure and total agony, fear and confusion had penetrated his mind. He had never heard such sadness before. Malfoy stared at the ceiling of the cell, and studied the cracks. He wondered if she had heard him when he said he had been asked about her friends absence. Who knows? She was probably between the point of passing out. But at the moment, that didn't matter:

Granger being here changed everything. His plan was now flawed.

Of course he didn't plan just to sit here, and rot in this cell. Draco Malfoy was cunning. He had a perfect escape plan. It was going to be easy, and was scheduled to happen tomorrow night. All he had to do was wait. But now, with Granger turning up, a problem had been created. If he escaped, she was sure to follow, and she didn't know the plan. She would be caught within ten minutes, and if she was near him, then he was sure to be caught as well.

Days of planning would have gone down the drain.

But the same thing would happen if he just stayed there. He had spent days thinking up his plan, studying the routine of the guards, the way things worked, keeping his mind sane.

Weather he wanted to admit it or not, the only thing he could do was to inform Granger of the plan. The second they were clear, they would go their separate ways.

Yes, that was his plan. Now he just had to carry through with it.



Two hours later, Hermione woke up, shivering. She rolled over, half expecting to see the fat man. When she saw Malfoy sitting with his back against the wall, watching her, she was some what relieved.

Slowly, Hermione sat up.

She looked at Malfoy curiously- he looked like he was thinking of saying something, but something else was holding him back.

After a moment, he sighed. "Listen Granger, there is something I have to tell you."

Hermione blinked slowly. She wasn't sure if she could handle more news and this defiantly wasn't a good time for confession.

"I plan to escape tomorrow night." Malfoy lowered his voice as two men walked past the cell door. "And you have to come with me."

"What?"

"Did you really think I would just stay here?" Malfoy snorted. "Come on. Now, the only reason I'm telling you is because if I didn't, and tomorrow I went, you would most likely follow. Within ten minutes, you would be caught, and so would I. this is not something I am prepared to risk."

Malfoy got off his bed and sat next to her so they were very close. "I will help you escape but you must do exactly what I say."

Hermione looked at him warily. "Why?"

"I can see that you don't want to stay and I don't think you turned in Potter or Weasley. If you get out, you will have the chance to prove your innocence. In here, they will prove you guilty whether you are or not."

She realized he was right, but something was holding her back- herself. She had never done something like this before. She had never been accused of something like this before. How could she prove her innocence? Easy. With help, but first, she had to get out. Hermione slowly nodded. "Alright. Have you got a plan?"

"Of course I have."

"Tell me." Hermione said, eyes widened with intention.

"It's too complicated. Now, all you need to do is follow my lead, and do exactly what I say tomorrow night, alright? When we are safe, we can go our separate ways."

"Sounds good." Hermione didn't sound like herself. Normally, she'd press for details, and want to help with the plan, but at the moment, she was sick of being in charge. It would be nice if she could hand that to someone else for once. If it got them out, who was she to complain who had been in charge?

"Okay, now, act normal for the time being." When Hermione raised an eye brow, Malfoy hastily continued. "When I tell you tomorrow, start screaming, insane. Pull your hair, attack me, make noise. But don't do it until I say." He was talking faster.

A man appeared at the cell door.

"Hey, you two!" he called. "No whispering."

"We aren't whispering you fool." Malfoy said, quickly raising his hand to Hermione's cheek- the guard didn't see him move. Malfoy then turned to face the guard. It looked like they had been kissing.

Hermione, who had no idea what was happening, just looked innocently at the guard.

The guard frowned. "Do not get interment or we will have to separate you."

Malfoy shrugged. "Alright." He turned to Hermione and smirked. He stood then lent down and whispered in her ear, "Remember, not until I tell you."

Hermione nodded as he went back to his bed.

The guard left.

She was about to ask questions when Malfoy pressed a finger to his lips and shook his head.

:

The next day seemed to take forever to get there.

When it did, Hermione was surprised when she was allowed out of the cell- taken to a small room, without Malfoy. Hermione walked past other cells, all with shouting and screaming inmates.

The room she was taken to was plain, nothing in it. Just her, another woman and a small girl. Once the guards left her, Hermione walked over to the child.

She had short blond hair, dull eyes, very pale skin and thin frame.

"Hello." Hermione said, sitting down in front of her.

"Hello." The girl replied. She seemed frightened.

"My name is Hermione."

"Mine is Ellie."

"How old are you Ellie?"

"Five and a half."

Hermione smiled. "And is that your mother Ellie?" Hermione pointed to the woman in the corner of the small room. She was rocking back and forth, tugging gently at her hair.

Ellie shook her head. "No. My mother is dead. So is my father. I lived with my uncle."

"And where is he?" Hermione asked, frowning.

"He was taken away." Ellie sat down and started to play with the dirt on the floor.

"Where to?" Hermione asked carefully.

"Here." Ellie drew pictures in the dirt.

"Azkaban?" Hermione asked, recognizing the building that Ellie drew. Of course, it wasn't a Picasso drawing but it was good for her age.

Ellie nodded. "I was taken with him."

"How long ago was that?" Hermione asked.

"I think a year." Ellie frowned as she thought.

Hermione shuddered. How could they keep a child in here for a year?

Ellie looked up at Hermione then back at the dirt. She cleared the picture, and drew a small room, with a metal bed. Hermione recognized it as a cell.

"Don't you draw happier pictures?" Hermione asked, frowning again. The pictures seemed too dark for a five year old to be drawing.

"I don't remember anything else." Ellie said, her small nose scrunching up.

Hermione felt her heart light up. Tomorrow night, she will take Ellie with her. She couldn't possibly leave her here.

"Is anyone in your room with you?" Hermione asked.

Ellie shook her head.

"Where is it?"

"Cell 89." Ellie said, like she had stared at those numbers for days at a time.

Hermione nodded. "Alright."

Two minutes later, a guard came in and took her out.

"Bye bye Heronie!" Ellie said as Hermione was led from the room. Ellie couldn't say Hermione's name, so that was as close as she got.

When Hermione returned to her cell, she was fuming.

"It's just wrong."

"What is?" Malfoy asked lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling- he did that a lot.

"They have a little girl here!" Hermione snapped, throwing herself onto her bed. "Its wrong!"

Malfoy didn't say anything.

"Malfoy, we're taking her with us tonight."

Malfoy sat up. "Are you nuts?"

"Yes."

"We can't!"

"We can and by god we will. I am not leaving a child in this place. It isn't fair!"

"No, what isn't fair is that you are willing to risk your freedom for a child you don't even know!"

"Malfoy, I am not leaving without her."

"Fine. Don't come."

"You don't understand me." Hermione said, standing up and walking over to his bed. She looked down at him. "I will leave, with her, and we will follow you. I am sure, as you remember saying it, we will get you caught. If you agree, we can get her out, follow through with your plan and then I will leave with her."

Malfoy frowned. "A kid will make this much more difficult."

"I don't care."

"You can't adopt her Granger."

"I won't. Once we're clear, I will give her to an orphanage- a good one."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "It won't work. Trust me. It's a bad, horrible and stupid idea."

"Let me try."

Malfoy considered this for a minute then slowly nodded. "Fine, but she will be your responsibility. Understood?"

Hermione could have hugged him. "Of course."

Malfoy nodded.

"So, about tonight…" Hermione said, hands in her pockets.

"Remember what I told you…" Malfoy said, sitting up and staring at the cell door.

"Yes…" Hermione nodded cautiously.

"Now." He mumbled.

It took Hermione a moment to register, before she started screaming, incoherent things, started attacking Malfoy, which she didn't mind, scratching, kicking, pulling, anything she could think of.

She made such a racket that a guard ran to the door and opened it.

"What is going on here?" he shouted over her.

"I don't bloody know!" Malfoy screamed. "Get her off me! She's insane! She just started attacking me! Get her off!!!" A long scratch down his cheek was starting to bleed, and bruises were forming on his chest where Hermione had punched him.

The guard reached forward and grabbed Hermione's arm. She spun around to start attacking him when he hit her with a body binding spell.

"I want her moved to another cell!" Malfoy said, sitting up.

The guard levitated Hermione onto her bed, and set her down.

He never noticed Malfoy slowly stand up behind him. All of his attention was on Hermione.

Malfoy came up behind him, and hit him over the temple.

The guard fell down like a dead weight.

He looked at Hermione and smirked. "Nice."

She glared at him. Malfoy got the guard's wand and undid Hermione's body bind. When she was free, they both darted to the door, locking it behind them.

Whoop! Another one! Hehehe. R&R

Aj