Draco got out of bed and jumped into his shower. He wasn't in a good mood at all. He fixed his hair and made his bed out of routine while his mind wandered elsewhere.

Granger. Stupid, irksome mudblood Granger.

Granger. The girl who stole his heart.

He had never felt so angry and upset.

Yet, he knew, when he saw her, was the happiest he would ever feel in his life.

*

Hermione knew, as she stepped into the slaves quarters that something was happening. Spotting Laura, she asked, "What's going on?"

"Everyone is waiting for the new arrivals," Laura replied.

"New arrivals?"

"The death eaters are searching Hogwarts all the time for the Muggleborns they might have missed and well, Harry Potter."

"So, there's going to be a couple of new slaves? I wonder if I know anyone," Hermione joined in on the work, waiting nervously for the new arrivals.

A couple of minutes dragged on, and then the door burst open. Lucius Malfoy strode in, holding an alarmingly chubby boy by the gruff of his robes. Lucius was wearing a usual sneer but anger and amusement flared in his cold grey eyes.

"Now, Longbottom, you are where you belong. A useless slave. That'll teach you for trying to play hero with Harry Potter last year, won't it?"

"Neville!" Hermione cried. He was terribly cut up.

Looking at her through a swollen eye, Neville said weakly, "Hermione?"

Lucius threw Neville on the floor and glared at Hermione, "Hermione? Where have I heard that name before. Why, who else? The girl who beat my son in his grades and who accompanied Harry Potter in his many adventures. Miss Granger, is it not?"

"It is," she said defiantly.

"Does Draco know you are here?" Apparently, Lucius was very happy about this arrangement.

"He does."

"You know, I have been looking for a pretty girl to fit my requirements for a personal slave. From what Draco has told me you have extremely good grades and are a hard worker. Also, I have a," he paused, smirked and continued, "A colourful history with you, Miss Granger, which should make your company more interesting."

Oh God! Oh God! He is going to torture me and kill me.

For once, Malfoy junior doesn't seem so bad.

Hermione stood in front of Lucius, pale and shaking.

In a weak voice, she said, "I am already Draco's personal slave."

"Oh, I might have guessed," Lucius said calmly, "Yet I admit myself disappointed. Yet, perhaps when Draco is out playing Quidditch, we can -"

"Father," Draco Malfoy's cold voice drawled, "I am not sharing my slave. There are many others here."

"I have taken a liking to Miss Granger," Lucius said, turning to face his son.

"She's mine!" Draco shouted.

Lucius seemed surprised. "Draco, don't you take the tone with me."

"I'll take whatever tone I want with you, Father, on these matters. Granger belongs to me. She's mine. I'm not sharing her with anybody. You won't touch her."

Hermione stared at Draco. He was defying his father, something he had obviously never done before by the look on Lucius's face, for her. Why?

"We will talk about this later, Draco," Lucius hissed, "This is very serious indeed."

Lucius strode off with a swish of his coat.

Hermione turned, facing Malfoy junior.

"So, Longbottom's a slave now," Malfoy sneered.

"But Neville's not a muggle born," Hermione said shakily.

"Yes," Malfoy said, "But his parents were powerful aurors. It's called revenge, Granger. Father has just put Longbottom in his rightful place."

"This isn't anybody's rightful place," Hermione growled. "Nobody deserves this."

"No," Malfoy said. "But they deserve this." He pointed his wand at Neville and said, "Imperio."

Neville immediately began dancing stupidly.

"Stop, Malfoy, stop!" Hermione shouted.

"Why should I?" Malfoy said, watching as Neville began hitting himself on the head.

"B-because, I-it's wrong," Hermione stuttered. It was upsetting, watching kind hearted Neville hurting himself. He was now banging his head off the table. His head was bleeding.

Malfoy laughed heartily.

"How can you be so cruel?"

"Shut it, Granger, or I might call back my dear father and let him take you."

She looked at Malfoy, and said in a pleading voice, "Please don't."

*

I'd never do that to you, Draco said silently to her, I'd never let him hurt you. I won't let anybody hurt you ever again.

Except me.

He released Neville. The amusement in torturing Longbottom had a short life.

It was obvious that Granger cared for Longbottom. Draco wasn't sure he liked that. He knew she didn't have the kind of feelings that she held for Potter. No, but Draco didn't want to share Granger in any way. She couldn't have any friends, any people she liked better than him.

No, he'd wait for the best time.

When he needed to punish her. Then he'd kill Longbottom and Granger will have learned her lesson.

Yes, that was Draco's plan.

*

Where was she? Draco had told her to follow him up but she was not here. Was she deliberately trying to tempt him to kill her?

Not that Draco ever would.

He lied on his bed, annoyed beyond reasoning. Where was she? If she was with Longbottom than there would be a murder tonight. Not hers, of course. Longbottom's. God, did Granger really hate him that much that she'd prefer the company of stupid Hufflepuffs or fat Gryffindors?

He grinned suddenly. Nah, that would never happen.

*

"It's been two hours, Longbottom! Where the hell is Granger?"

Longbottom, who had always been a terrible wimp seemed overcome with fear, staring with eyes the size of dinner plates at Draco's pointed wand.

"Longbottom," Draco said impatiently. "Just tell me where she is. I'll find the stupid mudblood eventually, anyway. This manor isn't big enough for her to hide forever."

"I-I-I d-don't know w-where Herm- Hermione is," he stuttered.

Draco had been just about to kill Longbottom when a thought struck him. "She hasn't escaped, has she?" Draco was nearly sure it was impossible but if anyone was smart enough to find a way to escape, it was Hermione Granger.

"Um, sir," A voice said uncertainly. Turning, Draco saw the small girl that seemed to be by Granger's side everytime she was down in the slave quarters. "Hermione left about an hour ago to your quarters."

"Well, she didn't reach her destination, did she? Because I haven't seen her."

Or maybe something stopped her before she did get there.

It was like a light bulb lighting up in his head.

Father.