I am approaching the end of the story…it'll be done soon I promise: just a few more chapters. Thank you to those who have reviewed since my last chapter and I hope this is up to standards.

Xavs, I know we discussed what would happen and this is different, but what can I say? You in town anytime soon? Xxxx

Please R+R!!

Hermione turned up her collar to keep the biting wind out, trying to keep warm in vain. She wished now that she had gone home the way normal wizards do, by Floo, as it would have been much more comfortable. True she could apparate, but she hadn't gone by Floo because she wanted time to think and now that she was out she figured that she might as well take advantage of the walk. It hadn't been long since Ron and she broke up, but she realized that their relationship had been over long before they had actually ended it. She also realized that she wanted to give things a try with Draco. He was handsome, intelligent, sensitive, but most important of all he was kind and he was a good man. She smiled as she finally realized that she had always had a thing for him, even when he had been a complete jerk.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A helpless girl wandering around by herself in a deserted alley?" a rough voice trying to be silky broke into her thoughts. Hermione immediately turned, simultaneously bringing out her wand. But before she knew who was her attacker her wand was wrestled out of her hand and another wand pointed in her face. Nott's smirking face came into her vision. Hermione felt the wind go out of her lungs, knowing that he was still a Pureblood supremacist. Out of the corner of her she saw Crabbe and Goyle step out of the shadows, flexing their arms. She felt fear flood her body, but brought it under control, taking several deep breaths. Investing as much menace into her voice she demanded,

"Give me back my wand, Nott."

He laughed.

"I don't think so, Granger. And I don't think you should be giving me orders. Don't forget that I'm the one in power right now. You're the victim and imagine how upset Draco will be when he finds out just how much of a victim."

He ran a finger down her arm whilst raking his eyes over her figure, which was slightly discernible despite her thick coat. She felt shivers run down her back as disgust filled her. His intent was clear as day and there was nothing she could do about it. Suddenly a voice came to them.

"Get away from her."

Hermione turned in relief as Draco easily blasted Crabbe and Goyle out of the way. But this feeling quickly evaporated when Nott held her to him, wand pointed at her temple.

"Surely you wouldn't want to kill your…whore."

Draco surveyed them, his eyes the only marker of his fury.

"Let her go, Nott. You're not deep enough to get in any material trouble. Let her go and all of this is past."

Nott laughed again, an attempt at non-chalance.

"You're not in any position to make any demands, Malfoy. I've got your slut and I plan to enjoy her. There's nothing you can do about it. And I won't get into any trouble…I'm going to be the new Dark Lord. The only people who will be getting into trouble are the people who displease me."

Draco was the one who laughed this time, a real laugh, but frighteningly nevertheless.

"You the Dark Lord? That's a good one, Nott. How can you even hope to do so with a brain the size of a rat's? At least people respected Voldemort as much as they feared him, but you? You would be laughed at…in fact I'm willing to bet my fortune that no one apart from Crabbe and Goyle support and they don't count as they're even dumber than you."

Suddenly Draco's gaze shifted. Nott turned 90 degrees so that he could see what he was staring at the same time as keeping an eye on the grey-eyed man. What he saw made him turn fully exposing his back to Draco, who didn't waste the opportunity.

"Petrificus Totalus," he said in a cool voice. As Nott's arms snapped to his sides and he fell back, Draco looked over and said,

"Thank Merlin you were passing by Weasley."

Hermione gave a slight sob and threw herself into Draco's arms, shock beginning to set now that she was no longer in danger. He locked his arms around her, stroking her hair and murmuring sweet nothings into her ears. Ron strode forward and said,

"What's going on? What was Nott doing?"

Draco looked at him over Hermione's head and said,

"He was trying to become the next Dark Lord. Apparently he had learnt nothing from Grindelwald or Voldemort. Not that he was anywhere near as smart as those two. He thought that he could force me, a Malfoy, to do his bidding. What stupidity."

Hermione turned, not allowing Draco to release her (not that he had any intention of doing so) and addressed her former lover.

"Ron, what are you doing here?"

He turned red.

"Well, I was coming back from a date with Luna…"

She smiled at his obvious embarrassment.

"It's alright, Ron. There's no need to be flustered."

"I'm not flustered! I'm just trying to protect her privacy…" he spluttered, the words sound lame even in his ears. Draco grinned before saying,

"Listen, Weasley, I'm going to take Hermione home. Will you take care of that idiot?"

Ron nodded and walked over to Nott as Draco held on tightly to Hermione and apparated. As soon as they appeared on her doorstep the door was flung open and Ginny ran out, saying,

"Where on earth have you been Hermione? I thought you were walking straight back and then you didn't come back and I had no idea what had happened to you!"

"Take a breath, weaslette. She's alright now. It's taken care of."

"What do you mean 'taken care of'? What happened?" Ginny began to sound hysterical.

Draco drawled,

"Hermione can explain it. I have some matters that I have to attend to. We'll have lunch tomorrow at the usual place, Hermione. Goodbye."

And he was gone before Hermione could open her mouth to yell at him for leaving her in a position where she would be forced to answer all of the redhead's questions.

GROWING UP

Draco first apparated to Harry's apartment. Upon seeing him, Draco said curtly,

"Has Weasley told you what happened?"

Harry looked up surprised, a guilty look on his face.

"No. What did he have to tell me?"

Draco studied his face, but understanding dawned when Cho walked into the room, obviously unaware that Harry had a guest. Draco's mouth curled into a smirk that rapidly disappeared as he told Harry what had happened less than an hour previously.

"As Head Auror, I would have assumed that Weasley would immediately tell you."

Harry frowned.

"I haven't seen Ron since he left for his date with Luna. Maybe he took Nott straight to the Ministry. I'll stop off there. Why don't you go that alley just to make sure that nothing went wrong?"

Draco nodded and they parted directions as soon as they stepped out of the door, Harry shooting a quick apology to Cho over his shoulder."

As soon as Draco arrived at the place where the attack had taken place, he spotted a head of undeniably red Weasley hair. He hurried over to Ron to make sure that he was alright and saw at once that Nott was missing. He cursed and grabbing hold of Ron, apparated to the Ministry where Harry was waiting for him, a tense look in his eyes.