A/N: Sorry about the long wait. Had to study for exams and what not, but now they're over! Probably won't be updating this very often, but I will try my hardest. Enjoy!
Hermione entered the Ministry office the next day to find it in uproar. Officials were stressfully running around and flooing in and out rapidly. Hermione tried to ask one wizard about the commotion but he disapparated the second she opened her mouth. She saw Draco enter and stare around with an expression much the same as Hermione's. His eyes found hers and he raised an eyebrow questioningly. Hermione shrugged and motioned to the elevators. They entered to find thirty people already occupying the small cubicle. When they reached their floor, everyone got off and made a beeline to Harry's office which was already swarmed with reporters and officials. Hermione pushed her way through the crowd and knocked on the door.
"Harry! Harry! It's me, Hermione! Harry, let me in!" Hermione screamed over the multitude of voices. The door opened a little and Hermione slipped in and closed it on all the other people waiting outside. There were already a dozen people sitting in there with flustered expressions.
"Harry, what is going on out there? It's chaos!" Hermione began.
"Lestrange was murdered in Azkaban last night," he said solemnly. Hermione looked at him quizzically, but decided not to question his tone of voice.
"How? That place has immense security. No one could have done that unless it was a top ranking official stationed there," Hermione said.
"That was our first thought as well, but we interviewed all of them and none of them did it" Harry said looking at a picture on his desk. Hermione moved closer and looked at it before Harry could move it out of sight.
"Oh, my…" Hermione gagged at the mangled body in the picture. "Who could have done that?"
"I don't know" Harry said simply before falling silent. Hermione knew he wouldn't be talking further so she left the room.
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Draco was sitting in the office thinking when Hermione walked in. He eyed her warily deciding she knew the news.
"We should help in the search for Lestrange's killer and put our task on hold," Hermione sighed falling into her chair.
"We will do no such thing Granger. You want to find her killer? Why don't you go and ask dear Potter," Draco snarled.
"I wouldn't go implying such things Draco. He's the one that gave you a second chance in the first place even though so many people didn't like the decision," Hermione said dangerously.
"Yes it does seem that Potter has the amazing power to influence a lot of people. Makes it easier to make sure they keep quiet about this new occurrence doesn't it? I'm going back to the village," he said and left the office. Hermione hated what Draco said but couldn't help think there could be some truth to it.
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Hermione walked into the still village shivering slightly. She remembered her last unpleasant village. She put on a silver hat and heard a snigger behind her.
"Is it Halloween or something Granger?" Draco said.
"No, it is a shield hat. You'd be better off wearing one as well," she lectured.
"I will die before I wear something made by the Weasel family" he said scathingly and conjured a rat. Hermione did the same and threw it at a house. It burst into flame and fell into a pile of ash.
"I feel so inhumane doing this," Hermione said.
"Oh, it gets fun after a while, trust me. Especially with muggles," Draco said seriously. Hermione stared at him in disgust and shock as he threw his rat at one house. This time, the rat sailed right through the house. Draco looked at Hermione quickly to see if she'd seen what had happened. He then started walking toward the house.
"No! Stop! You can't just go into it like that, who knows what could happen," Hermione yelled grabbing Draco's arm. He stopped and looked down at her.
"Are you concerned for me Granger?"
"No, of course not" Hermione said hastily removing her hand. "I just… I don't trust you. What if there are death eaters in there and you all come out and kill me?" She placed a hand on her hip. Draco just stared at her as if she were a small child.
"I think we should go back and tell Harry and the others and then come back," Hermione said defiantly.
"No. They are all busy with Azkaban and we don't even know if this is the right house," Draco said walking toward the house again. Hermione trailed after him slowly. He paused before walking through the wood. Hermione waited outside right next to wood, hoping to hear something.
"Malfoy? Are you in there?" she tried. No answer. "Malfoy? Are you alive?" she tried again. This time an arm reached out and pulled her screaming into the house.
She opened her eyes and looked around. The place was enormous. She was standing on lush green grass staring at the large cream mansion in front of her. The gardens were dead and neck high in weeds. She gasped and reached into her pocket for her wand.
"You won't find anything in there mudblood" a voice drawled behind her. She turned to find Malfoy twirling her wand in his fingers. Alarmed, Hermione made to run back through the small cottage behind Draco but he grabbed her waist tightly and pulled her into him.
"You're mine now mudblood," he whispered into her ear before laying a tender kiss on her forehead. She turned her face away from him and struggled with all her might to get free. Draco stunned her and carried her into his home.
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She awoke a few hours later to find herself lying in a large bed in a fairly large room. She recollected her thoughts and sat up with a jerk. The room was empty. Quietly, Hermione tiptoed to the door and turned the handle. It didn't move. She jostled it harder and was met with the same outcome.
"So, you're awake" a voice drawled behind her. She whipped around to see Draco standing in the doorway of what seemed to be a corridor.
"What do you want with me Malfoy" Hermione spat. Draco smirked and closed the door behind him. He slowly made his way over to her until they were a hairs breath apart.
"Don't think yourself so valuable mudblood. Your use is more as… say as a bargaining tool," he said quietly.
"I knew you were bad news from the beginning," Hermione shot at him.
"Yes, you did. Too bad the other idiots didn't." He sneered at her and walked back toward the door he entered from without another word.
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The next few days found Hermione alone with only the short-timed company of the house elf that brought her meals. On her fifth day in the room, Draco entered with a smile on his face.
"Well, you'd be happy to know they're all worried sick about you," he said gleefully.
"And they still trust you, even though you were there when I went missing," Hermione asked simply.
"Yes Granger they do. One thing you should know about me is that I am a brilliant liar," he beamed. She turned away disgusted.
"How come you're not frightened?" he asked her.
"I will never be frightened of scum like you Malfoy. I will never be frightened of those below me," she said looking at him pointedly. His face twisted and he crossed the room quickly and grabbed her shoulders. Her heart quickened but her face didn't show it.
"The day will come when you will cower before me mudblood," he said dangerously. His hand trailed slowly down her body coming perilously close to her breast. She went rigid in his arms and he smirked knowingly before dipping into the crook of her neck and nipping the soft flesh. She gasped and he pulled away triumphantly.
"Looks like I will have you shuddering before me as well Granger," he said. His arm circled her waist and pulled her into him as he planted his lips over hers. She didn't respond. He ran his tongue over her lower lip and still she didn't respond. Draco pushed her away angrily before storming out of the room. Hermione finally cried that night for the first time since her capture.