A/N: I apologize for the lengthy delay in update. I've seriously hit a writer block with this. I hope this is enjoyable, let me know what you think.

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Chapter 26:

"What do you mean...you can feel it?" Narcissa asked fully alert at this point.

Draco didn't answer his mother right away. He clenched his hands into fists tightly at his sides. His mind raced with far too much to concentrate on just one thing. Narcissa got up from the chair to move quickly to her son's side. "Draco! What's wrong?" She asked again, this time holding his shoulders to shake him.

"I spelled the bracelet on her wrist. It would allow me to feel when she was in danger. She should be with the Potter's right now...unless she…"

"Didn't go..."

"Damnit!"

Narcissa stepped out around him. She knew that her son was in a total panic and wouldn't calm down unless he knew where she was or what he was getting into. There was no turning him away from whatever was going on inside his head. Though, she shouldn't be surprised by that notion. She had done the same things for Lucius in their school days.

The lightheaded feeling overwhelmed him to the point he had to sit down. He gingerly turned his head to see what his mother was doing on the other end of the room. "What are you doing?" He asked relaxing his head in his hand.

"Trying to find Hermione's location; but it could take some time."

"Who knows how much time she has left? I promised to protect her...and I let her down..."

"No! You've done everything you could for her. I seriously doubt she'd feel like you let her down."

XxXxXx

Groaning in pain, Hermione awoke to a cold concrete floor under her. The last thing she remembered was seeing Daphne on the back of a large Chimera. She couldn't believe after all this time that it had been her all along. The information caused her mind to escape to multiple questions. Why did she go this far? And why her? As far as she could remember, she's never done anything to hurt her. They barely spoke in school.

"Ow, what the hell..." She stated sitting up to get a better look at her surroundings.

There was only two lanterns that lit the dark, dingy prison that looked like it hasn't occupied a single soul in over a decade. Looking down, she saw that her bracelet was still around her wrist and the image of it left her feeling calm. Draco gave her confidence in her skills to get herself out of this mess. Of course, she had no doubt that Harry would be out looking for her when she never arrived. She was such a punctual person.

"So you're awake..." A voice called from the other side of the darkened room.

Somehow the voice seemed familiar to her; but couldn't put her finger on where she had heard it before. Looking around aimlessly, she caught sight of a tuff of dark hair against one of the stone pillars. The figure moved to make eye contact with her. The family resemblance was uncanny. This woman was related to Daphne, which meant that it was Astoria.

It struck her as odd that Daphne's own flesh and blood was down in this damp, disgusting prison. The first question that came to mind was, why?

"Astoria...is it not?" Hermione asked weakly.

"Yes. I suppose you are wondering why I'm down here with you." She stated getting to her feet.

"That's just one of many questions."

A laugh erupted from her throat as she made her way closer to where Hermione was sitting. The gem in the dragon's eye on her bracelet sparkled against the dim light in the room. She pulled her legs up closer to her chest, wanting nothing more than to be held in his arms. She knew that she had made a mistake by trying to do this alone.

Astoria sat down next to her. Blood seeped out of her open wounds in her hands and rolled down her wrist. Hermione caught sight of the crimson fluid and wondered what had happened to make this woman in such a shape as she was currently in.

"Understandably so...unfortunately I don't know much. The only thing I do know is that Daphne is crazed with jealousy over your status in the wizard world. You've been labeled a war hero and head of your own division within the Ministry of Magic...and the significant other of the richest wizard of all...Draco Malfoy."

"Maybe if she would have stood up for herself while we were at war instead of hiding behind everyone else, she would have been labeled a hero to. The Slytherin's were cowards, the exception was Draco. He was confused on what to do. He never wanted to be a part of Voldemort's army; but his father was so deep in there was no going back. That death eater mark is forever a reminder of his past that continues to haunt him to this day."

Astoria simply nodded her head upon hearing Hermione's rant. There was so much of what she said that was indeed the truth. Looking down, she saw the silver bracelet around her fellow prisoner's wrist. There was no doubt in her mind that Draco had given it to her. "Pansy knew that you were Draco's hatred and love in school, in which eventually we all saw it. He was determined to challenge you in every way."

"So where does Daphne fit into this? Why does she want me dead?"

"She wants Draco...she wants to be at the top of everything."

All the hatred towards one person over another. It made no sense to her. Though, she shouldn't be surprised. Hermione had come to learn that everything was done for a reason, whether it made sense or not. "I'm not going to just roll over and die for her sake. I will get out of her and if I have to...I will go through her."

"I expect no less from you. I'm down here because I sided with you."

"What?"

Astoria looked down at the blood that was rolling down her wrists. She wiped it across the fabric of her pants. "I felt my sister's jealousy was far too much. I sided with you and she tossed me down here to rot while she figured out what to do with you...and with me..."

XxXxXx

Draco paced across the room floor. His vision temperately back to normal; but he knew that another wave of dizziness would come. He wished that he had known the side effects of the spell before he had cast it; but at the time it didn't matter. He just wanted Hermione to be safe and now she was missing.

"Mistress...Mr. Potter is at the front door and wishes to speak with the young master." A house elf came into the room to report.

"Allow him inside and escort him here." Draco demanded.

The house elf immediately left the room to retrieve Harry. Narcissa narrowed her brows further while concentrating on the spell she cast. Within moments, Harry stepped inside the room with a panic stricken expression on his face. "She never arrived..." He said through clenched teeth.

"I'm aware. My mother is trying to locate her as we speak." Draco answered.

"What the hell is going on? How would know that she went missing?" Harry shouted in pure anger.

"I spelled her bracelet to allow me to feel when her life's in danger."

At those words, Harry calmed down. He turned to look from his subordinate to his mother at the other end of the room. The concern was clearly written on Draco's face. He indeed loved his best friend and if he was honest with himself, there couldn't have been a better person for her.

"I've found her." Narcissa stated turning from the table.

"Where?" Draco asked.

"She's at the Greengrass estate..."

There was a sudden silence that filled the room. No one could say a word when the realization came to ahead. Draco couldn't believe what he was hearing, nor could Harry. It meant that either Daphne or Astoria had been behind the attacks and threats all along.