Hi all! I'm back with Chapter 7. Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I had a crisis where I managed to delete my Chapters 7,8 and 9 from where I was writing them. Yesterday I spent the whole day rewriting them so everything's okay now :) Anyway from this chapter onwards the story will get a little darker.. :D Enjoy!

"M-master I bring good news."

Peter Pettigrew fell to his knees in front of a large black chair.

"About time too Wormtail," said a cold voice, "what is this news?"

Pettigrew was still terrified,

"M-master I have found a way to bring Harry Potter to us."

The black chair turned and revealed Lord Voldemort's distorted features, far too long fingers and a hairless head. However there was no question that he DID look terrifying so it was no surprise that Pettigrew shrank back.

"Tell me Wormtail, tell me."

Pettigrew began to speak without looking at him.

"I-I was in Hogwarts and I followed the Potter boy to his common room. Since I was a rat I was unnoticed. I-I fell asleep but then I woke up because I heard people talking. It was very early in the morning and it was the young Malfoy and the girl, Granger. She said something about Potter and how she wished that he would take her side... I forget the exact words, but I think we can use the Granger girl to lure Potter in."

Voldemort narrowed his already slit-like eyes,

"Fetch me Lucius, Wormtail."

Back in Hogwarts the potions lessons were going well. Draco and Hermione had no trouble brewing their potion. Hermione felt a little sorry for Harry because his was always going wrong. Slughorn always over looked it and gave him 'points for trying', but everyone knew they were for the boy who lived. Hermione was happy with her how her studying was going, the only problem was Snape. He was giving everyone excessive amounts of homework which even she was finding hard getting done. She needed a time in the common room when no one else would be there. Late at night wasn't an option, plenty of people stayed there until about 12. What about early in the morning? Yes, maybe then she would get some peace and quiet. She went to bed a little earlier than usual and, since her parents were muggles, she had an alarm clock. She set it for 5am. She fell asleep easily after a long day and had trouble waking up so early. The alarm clock beeped pretty loudly, so she knew had to shut it off before another person woke up. She got up and got dressed quickly. She took her bag and another armful of books, then went down to the common room. She studied for a while before she heard a small thump in the corner of the room. She picked up her wand and got up.

"Lumos."

She muttered as she looked in the dark corner. Lying on the ground was a tin can. She prodded it cautiously with her wand, it did nothing. She picked it up- about to throw it away- when she felt her tummy swoop and her feet leave the ground. Suddenly there was a blur of colour and she landed hard on a stone floor. Hermione jumped up quickly, drawing her wand.

"Expelliarmus!"

There was a shout from behind her and her wand flew from her hand.

"Stupefy!"

The voice shouted and Hermione fell backwards. A man stepped forward and bent over her, it was none other than Lucius Malfoy.

It was still early in the morning and Draco woke up a little earlier again. He got up for a drink and looked towards Hermione's bed. He practically jumped out of his skin. It was empty. He took a deep breath and started to look around. He began to get a little worried. He had looked in the bathroom, common room and the corridors. Still no Hermione. He thought about waking up Ron and Harry but decided against it, after all, who needed their help. He decided on waking up Professor Slughorn. Probably the least grumpy and definitely the most sympathetic of all the professors. Draco assumed that Slughorn's bedroom would be near his office. He ran faster than usual due to his desperation. When he got there he knocked loudly. He heard Slughorn fumbling about and a few minutes later, the door swung open revealing a heavy eyed professor.

"Yes, what is it Mr... Malfoy?"

"I just woke up and Hermione's missing. I've looked everywhere and I cant find her. Her bed is empty."

Draco said. Slughorn rubbed his eyes hard and put on his dressing gown and slippers.

"Are you sure boy? Have you checked EVERYWHERE?"

Draco nodded,

"Yes sir, I'm sure she's- she's missing."

Slughorn sighed warily,

"Then we better take this to Professor Dumbledore."

Draco nodded and followed Slughorn quickly out of the room and down the corridor. As they got to the entrance of Dumbledore's office, Draco felt more nervous than ever. He remembered all the times with Hermione. Going to hogsmeade, then having great fun at Slughorn's party. Their first kiss. His breathing got a little faster as he remembered that moment. He wished desperately that she was alright. She wasn't just a girl, she was the only girl he'd met, who he had ever had any feelings for. Slughorn looked at the two gargoyles in the doorway.

"Fizzing Whisbees."

Slughorn said to them. The door opened and Slughorn and Draco entered. Dumbledore was siting at his desk fully clothed and with mugs all around him. Draco noticed that one of his hands looked blackened as he welcomed them.

"Ah Horace and... Moldoy?"

Draco forced a smile,

"Malfoy sir."

Dumbledore took a swig from the nearest cup and gave a drowsy laugh,

"Sorry Milpoy."

Draco didn't bother correcting him again and plunged in to telling him about Hermione. He was just about to finish when there was a bang on the door.

"Its Harry, Harry Potter."

A more muffled sounding voice came after,

"And Ron Weasley."

Draco rubbed his eyes. Great, just what he needed. The chosen one and his useless sidekick. Slughorn's eyes brightened as he heard the name of his favourite student. Dumbledore let them in to his office.

"Harry what was it that you wanted to tell me? I'm having a rather important conversation with Molroy here."

Draco saw Ron snigger, and was tempted to pull out his wand and hex him right there. Harry began talking frantically,

"Sir this letter just came to me in my dormitory. It came through my window and landed on my head and I think you should read it. Its to do with Hermione."

Draco walked over to where Dumbledore was, and read it over his shoulder.

Any friends of Hermione Granger,

We have her. At midnight in exactly two nights time Harry Potter must come alone, and unarmed to Twinight Drive where we will wait. If you disobey this, your friend will die.

Draco stared at it for a few seconds, wanting to tear it apart. Dumbledore gave a small cough,

"Harry could I have a few words with you in private?"

Draco, Ron and Slughorn all left politely. Draco needed to go back to the dorm. He needed to think things over. Slughorn stayed outside the office, but as Draco began walking he knew Ron was following him. He quickened his pace, his hand on his wand. He was nearly there, when he heard Ron's voice.

"This is all your fault Malfoy."

Draco knew he had to ignore these taunts but they hurt him, even though they weren't true. Draco turned to him,

"Go away Weasley. Hermione doesn't need you."

Ron pulled out his wand, Draco did so as equally as quickly. They circled each other like wild beasts while shouting insults at the other.

"Malfoy I don't know what you have been doing, sneaking around with Hermione, but you better just step aside and let her REAL friends help her."

Draco let out a snort,

"Don't make me laugh, I'm the one who has been there for her this term. You just abandoned her."

And so it went on, getting more and more heated. Draco finally shouted a spell,

"TALLENTANGRA!"

The spell made Ron's legs dance quickly. Ron shouted a spell too and pointed it and Draco,

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

Draco murmured 'protego' under his breath, deflecting Ron's spell.

"Give it up Weasley, I could beat you in a duel any day."

Draco then pointed his wand at Ron's nose and shouted a jinx causing torrents of leeches to flow from Ron's nose. He then walked away.

"Thats right Malfoy walk away like a COWARD!"

Draco turned round, a look of contempt on his face,

"STUPEFY!"

Ron was thrown backwards again and Draco smirked his signature smirk,

"Bye Weasley."

That evening Draco was packing a small bag. He thought that he would go home and see if he could rescue Hermione. The easter holidays were slowly starting so others had already started leaving. He was sure that Death Eaters had captured Hermione and, since his father was one, he might be able to find out where she was. He threw a few things in his bag almost unable to think. He knew that Dumbledore and Potter's little plan would be going to the meeting place and fighting the kidnappers, rescuing Hermione in the process. Draco knew that the Death Eaters were ruthless and they would have Hermione under heavy guard therefore he needed a different strategy. He knew the more information he had, the more difference he would make to rescuing Hermione. Twinight Drive was very near his house so he would be able to go there to look around. His biggest advantage was the fact that only a few people knew he'd actually seen the letter, he assumed that it wouldn't occur to them to bring it up. It had passed Draco's mind that they should just give Harry to them but he knew that that was impossible. Apparently Scarface was the only person who could defeat the Dark Lord, You-Know-Who, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Tom Riddle. All these people were him. Lord Voldemort. Draco was Hermione's only chance.

Hermione was still confused as to where she was. Every time she made a noise a masked person came and created a cut in a new place on her body. A Death Eater. He always said the same thing; "stupid mudblood". Her clever mind had been desperately trying to work out why she had been kidnapped by them. The only reason which she could think of was that they were going to make some deal or exchange that involved them getting Harry. She was sure that someone would come for her even if it was the person least expected...

Draco walked up to the doors of Malfoy Manor. He didn't have to even knock on the door before they were thrown open revealing his mother. She ran up to him and hugged his tall figure. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. She pulled away.

"Draco, oh I have missed you so, so much."

He looked back at his mother sadly. She was so thin and so pale. He forced a smile and walked past her.

"Your father is in his room with a few friends." Narcissa stated vaguely. "Don't disturb them please Draco."

Draco nodded and said,

"I will be up in my bedroom. I won't stay here long. Just for Easter maybe."

Narcissa smiled at him.

"Tell me if you need anything,"

She gave him a quick peck on the cheek,

"Dinner will be at 7."

"Thank you Mother."

Once Draco was up in his room he took a few things out of his bag and then crept out slowly. He wasn't keen on eavesdropping but for Hermione, he was willing to do it. However his efforts seemed wasted for as soon as he was outside the door he found that his father had moved in to the sitting room. Unless he was to hide behind their sofa, which was impossible due to his height, he was unable to hear their conversation anymore.

"Dinner!"

He heard his mother shout. He went in to their dinner room and sat down at the long table. Draco saw his father. He looked a little more knackered than usual, but otherwise fairly well-groomed.

"Ah Draco, you're home. How was Hogwarts?"

Draco poked his food with his fork,

"Average."

He said, not wanting to tell them much more. Narcissa chimed in,

"Have you been having fun?"

Draco nodded glumly,

"Plenty."

Lucius raised his eyebrows,

"So have you met a girl?"

Draco blushed faintly,

"Maybe."

Narcissa and Lucius both exchanged glances,

"Is she nice?"

Narcissa asked carefully. Draco looked up at both of them,

"Possibly. Look, I'm not keen to go in to details."

Lucius gave a knowing chuckle,

"Pretty is she?"

Draco thumped down his cup hard,

"I SAID, I don't want to talk about her. I'm tired, I'm going to bed."

He walked up the stairs hearing his mother shout goodnight to him. Still feeling grumpy, Draco went to bed only to have a restless night. He woke up every hour unable to stop thinking about Hermione, worrying about where she was and what was happening to her. Since he had gone to bed far earlier than usual it was only 11 at night when he heard thumping downstairs. He went down cautiously looking around. He hoped it was just one of his parents working late. When he went in to the sitting room he couldn't see anything. He looked everywhere he could think of, still unable to find what was making the noises. He remembered the dungeons. Quickly he ran down there and, seeing Hermione sitting there on a chair tied up and gagged, blasted off the door with his wand. He quickly ran over to Hermione and attempted to take off her binds with his wand. He manage to take off her gag but did not manage to untie her.

"Draco!" Hermione whispered. Draco smiled at her,

"Why are you whispering?"

Hermione looked around and pulled him a little closer,

"You father will hear us if we don't."

Draco suddenly wished his father was here so he could punish him.

"He put you here?! Hermione I have missed you."

He kissed her on the cheek, realising she had cuts all over her body. He touched them lightly,

"What has he done to you?"

A tear trickled from Hermione's eye and stung the biggest gash under eye,

"I was in the common room, studying early in the morning. I heard something in the corner of the room so I went to look. It was a tin can. I picked it up and the next thing I knew I was here."

Draco rubbed her cheek thoughtfully,

"So it was a portkey?"

Hermione nodded sadly, pulling away from Draco,

"It must of been."

Draco wanted to kiss her but knew he shouldn't,

"Hermione they sent a ransom note for you in exchange for Potter."

Hermione's eyes widened and more tears trickled down her cheeks slowly. Draco put his arm around her; she was freezing.

"Hermione who gave you these cuts?"

Hermione looked down to her lap, she was paler than usual,

"He came. Every time I made any noise he came and slashed me."

Draco looked distressed at this and tightened his grip on her,

"Who came?"

Hermione shook her head still refusing to look him in the eye,

"I don't know. He wore a mask so I didn't see his face."

Draco's eyes narrowed. It was just as he thought; Death Eaters. This man must be his father, he thought. His father had

"What did he say to you?" Draco asked tentatively. Hermione looked up at him now locking her gaze with his,

"Stupid mudblood."

With that Draco couldn't stand it anymore. This may be the last time he ever saw her again so he kissed her. He cupped her face in his hands and lingered for a few moments then pulled away,

"Hermione don't worry I'm here for you now," he wiped her tears away with his shirt, "forever."

Hermione gave him a little smile,

"Thanks Draco. Look use: 'abragaro' to undo these bonds."

A cold voice from the doorway spoke,

"Yes that WOULD work."