Ok chapter 19 hot off the hard drive!

I still don't own Harry Potter but I'm looking forward to the next book!

"Tea?" Dumbledore asked Hermione from the large green armchair near the fire. Quite unshaken by her little tantrum at the door, he pulled out a wand and with a delicate flick of his wrist a steaming cup of tea appeared next to her on the sofa. On the saucer sat two lemon drops and a spoon. "Oh don't worry Ms. Granger I assure you it is Earl Grey. It is far too late in the morning for Breakfast tea." Dumbledore winked and smiled a childish grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Blaise, she realized, was slumped into the opposite armchair. He looked a sorry sight, his head bent and his eyes staring vacantly into the fire. He looked… defeated.

Suddenly 'Mione felt chilled to the very bone, dread had burrowed itself into her very marrow and danced about like cold fire. Her eyes flicked quickly to her room. M,aybe…

But Dumbledore cut off her escape as he started to speak.

"Now that all parties are present, I believe there is a story I am in need of hearing. From start to middle," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "as this is certainly not the end."

'Mione snuck a hopeful look over at Blaise but he hadn't moved an inch. Her gaze fell to her tea cup. She picked up the delicate piece of china and took a sip. Perfect temperature.

Hermione took a deep breath, set down her cup, and began to tell the long story of how Dra- Malfoy and Ginny came to be well… missing.

Two cups of Magic tea and a lemon drop later, 'Mione had come to the end er… middle of the story. "So you see Professor then our portrait told me she had known that Ginny was Lucius Malfoy's… inside man, I think she called it. And well the rest you know."

Now Dumbledore sat looking off beyond the fire, his fingertips touching in a way that that vaguely reminded Hermione of an old nursery rhyme that talked of churches and steeples.

Blaise hadn't budged through all of Hermione's talking and suddenly she was starting to think she knew what he was feeling. The corners of her eyes were damp, but no tears slid down her cheek. Now is NOT the time to cry 'Mione c'mon pull it together, there's still work to be done.

"Thank you ms. Granger for the detailed account of events I am sure are difficult for you to speak of." 'Mione blinked and realized Dumbledore was now looking right at her, his eyes radiating comfort and an understanding of her sadness.

'Mione managed a faint smile in return.

"Now Ms. Granger, Mr. Zambini," Blaise turned away from the fire for the first time since Hermione had stormed in, "I am sorry to say I greatly underestimated Lucius and Mr. Zambini's drive to get their son's back. I am afraid I must ask you both to put aside your feelings of rejection," Dumbledore looked directly into Hermione's eyes as he spoke these words. A memory of Draco having walked away outside of Honeydukes flashed behind her eyes. It was followed by a second and more painful memory of when he slammed her into the wall and denied ever having any feelings for her. The pressure behind her eyes began to build.

" And your feelings of being used," Dumbledore moved his gaze to The occupant of the other green armchair. Blaise's eyes dropped to his feet. As it is my belief that Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Weasleyare not in control of their own actions."

Dumbledore had 'Mione's full attention. "Professor do you mean an imperious curse…" her hands came to her mouth as the horror of what Draco's father would do to his own son sank in.

"Yes I am afraid so, or some other form of… persuasion." Dumbledore looked through her now, lost in thought.

"Now however, to the matter at hand." His eyes were focused back on her and Blaise. "I am going to look into the means used to hold our dear friends against their wills, and as I am sure Lucius is not done with you two I will be updating the security spells in the head's dorms.

'Mione and Blaise nodded mutely, completely overwhelmed.

"So for about a week's time I will be sending the both of you to a safe house in Nice, France." Dumbledore stated as he stood slowly from his chair, the teacups all having disappeared.

"But Professor!" 'Mione was on her feet in seconds. "Surely there's something I coul-" she started but Dumbledore held up a hand signaling her was not to be argued with.

"I expect you both to be packed and ready to depart at midnight this evening. You are not to leave these rooms except for dinner which you will walk to together, and you are not to let anyone except myself in. Thank you." And he was out the door, leaving behind two very confused teenagers.

"Albus?" Minerva spoke quietly as Dumbledore let the Head's common room.

"It is as we feared Minerva, Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Weasley have been taken." Albus rubbed his temples and as though some magic had fallen away Minerva could see the dark circles under his eyes.

"But Albus I'm sure we will get them back! We have faced these kinds of issues before with young Mr. Potter and it has always worked out." Minerva's voice though steady, was strained.

"Yes, well Harry has always had our full attention and protection as well as his parent's from beyond." Dumbledore Smiled half-heartedly at the thought of Harry, who was almost a son to him, but the smile fell quickly. "If we had only known about Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy from the beginning like we had with Harry. Minerva their connection is getting stronger. If we don't get him back soon we may lose them both."

Minerva's lips pressed into an impossibly skinny white line.

Draco lay staring up at the plain, milk white, ceiling of the room he had been locked in since his arrival at Malfoy manor.

His would-be-prison was a guet room with only an off-white bed, lace white walks and a grey-white bathroom. Not that Draco had any inkling as to what his surroundings looked like or even cared for that matter. He had just woken from a dream that left him completely… unsettled, an unusual feeling from his usual state of non-being. His dreams were always of her. The filthy mud-blood he couldn't- wouldn't kill. He felt that he was doing some major wrongby her and a deep buried part of his heart screamed for him to fix it. But he shouldn't care should her? After all, it was thoughts of herthat kept him from slipping into the blissful oblivion that seemed to consume him most of his waking hours. He was happy only to do his father's bidding but thoughts of her made his heart hurt terribly.

The door to his room opened but he didn't look up.

"Alright Son now you will learn what happens when you don't come when you're called." Lucius entered his bleary line of vision. Standing over him Lucius was a black figure against a stark white ceiling.

Why do I have these fuzzy dreams of memories of me with the mud-Hermione?

"CRUCIO" Lucius's cold, cruel, voice resounded in the empty room.

Something's wrong

The pain consumed him then.

He shut his silver eyes as it started in his littlest toe engulfing him like a slow burning fire, until his heart slowed in clenched agony, and all his thoughts were ripped from his head.

His dry scream tore apart the quiet atmosphere of the Malfoy manor and bounced off the entrance hall's walls.

Lucius lifted the wicked spell five minutes later. An sadistic grin on his face. Without another word he turned and stalked out of the room, making sure he locked the door behind him.

When Draco opened his eyes again he looked out at the world with dead, flat grey orbs that saw nothing.

'Mione couldn't stop blinking. She sat in the great hall fidgeting incessantly as Harry and Ron both satacross from her chewing loudly.

After Dumbledore had left she and Blaise had both retreated to their own rooms, 'Mione had collapsed onto the bed and eventually drifted off. She woke, screaming in agony less than an hour later, but the pain, like a flash was gone in seconds. For the rest of the evening she hadn't been able to shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong.

"Harry, Ron, er… There's something I really should tell you." She took the plunge, her hands trembling just slightly as they held her silverware.

Harry and Ron stopped in the middle of their argument on who they thought was the best candidate to be Gryffindor's new beater, and turned to look at her expectantly.

She nearly lost her nerve right then and there. She had hardly gotten to see her two best friends as of late. Harry and Ron had started Quidditch practice and tryouts about two weeks ago and seemed to be out at the pitch far more than they should be. Not to mention Ron's prefect Duties, and Harry's constantly saving the magical world as they know it. But to be fair she was busy too. God what I wouldn't give NOT to be busy.

"Well… you see- lately I've been…" She stuttered. Just how do you explain you've been er… fraternizing with your best friend's biggest rival? He used to be mine too though, If I can get over it they can too. Right?

"What is it Hermione?" Harry asked, his penetrating green eyes were searching her face for some sort of clue.

"Yeah spit it out 'Mione, it's not like you've been shagging Malfoy that filthy little prat." Ron and Harry both laughed. 'Mione's heart had just sank into her stomach.

"We-well not exactly." 'Mione said quietly. The boys weren't laughing anymore. In fact both of them were staring at her looking as though their chins were going to hit the table, their mouths were open so wide.

"WHAT!?" Ron's stood abruptly, shaking the table. Harry caught his arm and forced him back into his seat.

"What do you mean Hermione?" Harry leaned over the table eyes glinting dangerously. "What is it you're trying to say?"

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