Long A/n at the end. Lots of thank you's.

Chapter 17

Caught in your trap,

Too far away in your world,

Stranded in your love,

With only you,

Simply numb,

My heart bleeds no more,

I don't live anymore,

With only you,

Nobody can touch me now,

Except you and your silver clouds,

And your silk that wraps around me,

And drifts me away in the night.

Ron was very red. Not just his hair, but his cheeks, neck and the back of his ears too. He took one glance around and let out a huge sigh.

They were surrounded by a vast amount of trees.

"I think we're in the Forbidden Forest," Harry said.

Ron sighed again. Harry felt irritation rising in his chest. At least he could try and be helpful, since he already lost Hermione. Harry was still a little angry.

"Well, if we are, we should head for Hogwarts. I think it's that way," Harry pointed south west of him.

"It's that way," Ron pointed south east.

Harry thought the direction that Ron was pointing to looked very unfriendly.

"Are you sure?"

"Why?" Ron spoke in a low savage voice, "You're doubting me?"

"No I-"

"You think it's my fault, don't you? You think I lost her. You think I'm stupid and weak, and pathetic."

Harry saw red. His own voice went down to freezing point, "Are you saying you're not?"

Ron punched Harry. Ron, who was taller and stronger than Harry, had a good advantage over him. Harry knew he could not use his wand. This was not a wizard's duel. It was a physical match. Harry jumped on Ron, and Ron, although astounded a his sudden attack, threw Harry off of him, and into a tree. For a minute, bright dots danced in front of Harry's eyes.

"How dare you," Ron breathed, standing over him, "Not so pathetic now, am I? Huh? C'mon Harry, tell me how stupid I am."

"You are stupid," Said Harry, "You couldn't even win a chess match. Chess! The one thing you're good at."

"It hasn't even got anything to do with you, Harry," Ron shouted, "Why does everything have to revolve around you the whole time."

"It matters to me because I love her," Harry said coldly, shutting his eyes.

"And you think I don't?" Ron said slowly.

Harry snapped open his eyes, and was about to say something but Ron cut him off, "Shut up, Harry. You've said everything I need to hear." With that Ron stormed off.

Harry stared after him, stupefied, before remembering where he was. He called out, "Ron? Ron?"

But Harry knew instinctively that Ron was gone.

*

Hermione couldn't believe this was happening. Well she thought it was happening she wasn't completely sure. It was the worse thing that could happen.

Worse than becoming a slave, worse than being tortured in her dreams. Worse than being raped. Worse than being played for. Worse than being treated like property. Worse than losing the game and watching her friends disappear.

No, this was past all that. This was the one thing that made her life completely and utterly identical to hell.

***

"You called?" Weasley said in a snappy voice.

"Yes," Draco said silkily, "Would you like to sit down?"

"Cut the crap, Malfoy."

"In a bad mood?"

"Yes."

After a moment of pause, Weasley sat down and sighed.

"It's about them," Draco said in a pleasant voice.

"Them?"

"Potter and Hermione," Draco was losing his temper quickly, "Since they're together."

Draco had the satisfaction of seeing Weasley go red.

"Now, I feel you won't like this arrangement, am I correct?"

"How do you know that?" Weasley asked sharply.

Draco smiled, with a patronising sympathetic look on his face, "It's obvious you're in love with-"

"Okay, so you know," Weasley said, going even more red, "What do you want me to do with it?"

"I want you to get rid of Potter."

Weasley looked at him for a minute, horrified as if Draco had asked for Potter to be killed, until understanding seemed to dawn at last, and with a brisk nod and smile, stood up, and made for the door.

When Draco spoke again, he knew Weasley was listening.

"It was nice doing business with you, Virginia."

~ DIARY ENTRY ~

Dear Diary,

I found you today, on my dresser. I think a house elf might have put it there. I've noticed that the house elves are always giving me pitiful glances everytime they see me.

Funny that.

I am pitiful. Pitiful and stupid.

I suppose it's not that funny, really.

**

Ron was very angry. Angry at Harry, but furious at himself. How could he lose? He was so angry that it took him the best part of fifteen minutes to realise he had no idea where he was going.

His anger drained away to cold blooded fear as he looked around. He was surrounded by darkness, but there were eyes gleaming in the darkness. Three pairs of eyes, and they were looking at him.

***

There was a knock of the door. Hermione didn't rise from her corner, which she had inhabited for the last couple of hours.

The person walked in. Hermione had been sure it was Malfoy. She hadn't seen him for the last couple of hours, and she was sure he had got bored of giving her space or he had got bored of her. 'He won the game but didn't want the prize' kind of thing. On some level in her mind, Hermione found this hysterically funny.

But the person that walked in was not Draco Malfoy.

Instead it was Pansy Parkinson. It was strange seeing Pansy without her school robes on. Instead pansy was wearing conservative navy robes which hugged her in all the right places.

It was impossible to call Pansy pretty (Although Hermione wasn't making much of an effort). Sure, she had shoulder length blonde hair, that seemed like liquid gold, but Hermione strongly suspected it was under a shining charm. And Pansy did have the toned figure, and the expertly done mascara.

But no amount of makeup or shiny hair could hide that pug nose or her spotty chin.

Hermione snapped out of her surprised state of shock, and asked rudely, "What the bloody hell are you doing here?"

Pansy shrugged, a small petit movement of her shoulders, "I was visiting Draco."

"And you decided to come to me for a visit? Because we were such great friends at Hogwarts?"

"There were rumours going around that Draco had fell in love with a Muggleborn." Hermione noted that Pansy did not say Mudblood. "I knew it would probably be you, if anyone."

"Congratulations, You have more brains than I gave you credit for. That's not saying much though," Hermione said flatly.

"You look like hell," Pansy pointed out. "There's a bath in there. It might make you feel better."

After a few minutes of staring at Pansy, Hermione agreed to the bath. Afterwards she sat in a fluffy robe on her bed, with a pillow under her chin. Pansy sat by the fireplace. She didn't speak at first but when she did, it surprised Hermione beyond belief. It wasn't just because Pansy's voice was low and serious, not shrieking and bitchy, but the actual words as well.

"Thank you."

Hermione looked at the girl she had always hated with wide eyes. She couldn't muscle up any hatred at that moment because she was so tired so she simply answered, "For what?"

Pansy seemed to hesitate. She was staring into the fire with her feet curled under her. Hermione knew it was very late. There wasn't a sound in the house but the occasional scamper of house elves.

"Mr Malfoy," Pansy began. This seemed more out of habit than out of respect for Lucius. "He, er, he raped me too."

Hermione nearly fell off her bed in shock.

Pansy turned and gave her a half smile. It seemed almost apologetic. "Not just once, either," She whispered, turning back to the fire, to avoid Hermione's eyes. "When Draco found out," Pansy continued, "he was furious. He tried to stop him. Mr Malfoy promised his son he wouldn't rape or hurt me again."

Hermione shook her head mutely.

"That was the kind of man, he was, you see. He was a coward. And the next day, guess who comes back but Mr Malfoy. Ad he had his wand ready and he told me if I told anyway, especially Draco, ever again about "our little Encounters", that's what he called it, he'd kill me."

Pansy stopped speaking and took in a deep and shuddering breath.

"But because of you, he's gone. Draco did for you, what he couldn't do for me. He found the courage to kill him. Now I don't have to live with the fear of him coming again."

Hermione felt so empty, so void of tears. But she was crying on the inside. Everything she had gone through, and Pansy had gone though worse. She had never felt such a strong link with anyone before. Not even with Ron or Harry.

"Thank you," Pansy said softly again.

Hermione made no move to hug her. She wasn't ready for hugging Pansy just yet.

Instead, Hermione whispered, "You're welcome."

Their eyes met, and they looked at each other properly for the first time. Hermione no longer saw a pug faced girl. She saw a young woman, who had to deal with things all her life that she shouldn't have had to even know about.

She saw somebody who could understand her. She saw somebody she could trust.

"Pansy, I have to tell you something."

Pansy's eyes seemed to dim and she gave a sorrowful shake of her head, "I think I already know."

"But-"

"You will have to tell Draco," Pansy said wisely. "Do it now."

***

Draco hadn't seen Hermione in a long couple of hours so he was pleasantly surprised when she walked into his room so late at night.

Before he could say or feel anything, she spoke, "Malfoy…"

"Yes?"

The moment dragged on.

"I-I-I think I may be pregnant."

****

A/N – Well, here I am. I'm sorry it's taken me so bloody long to update. Gr, I'm been so in a bad mood lately. How can it be, that the guy that really really liked me, I had no interest in him at all, and then the minute he has a girlfriend, suddenly I want him? Suddenly he's all good looking, and winking at me like he's all that.

My job is sooooo hard! But there's a cute fella working with me! Yum! Oh, and I got revenge on a fella that hates me (And I hate him) cos he has a really red nose, and my friends and I all started singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Immature yet hilarious!

So this is to you, Red Nose, for calling me a bitch and tell taling on me to J : Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, had a very shiny nose (Like a light bulb) and if u ever saw it you would even say it glows (like a light bulb) lalalalala…

Anyway, enough of my personal dilemmas. Oh yeah, I did great in my Junior Cert exams and got an A in English. So, I'd like to thank everybody for keeping me writing with your lovely reviews, cos it kept me going and I think that's why I did so well in English! Thanks!

You thought Ron had gone evil, didn't you? But it's actually Ginny!

Harmonic Sakke – Ohayo! How's life? Yeah, Hermione has it bad here. It's good that you get into these stories! That's what inspires all us writers! Anyway, thanks very much for your lovely review!

Lady Tskuya – I only realised afterwards that it did sound like I killed em. But I didn't! They're alive and well (Hehe, at least for now). Thanks!

Sazy-Bear – I went to check out your stories, but, er, there wasn't any. Maybe my computer was just acting up! Anyway, thanks for the review!

Jjbridget – Fanfiction and writing is the only thing that keeps me alive at the moment! I hate school! Summer, plz come back!!! Thanks!

Shadow Violet – Harry and Ron are in the Forbidden Forest, but will they get out, is the question. School's a pain! I sooooo want to just quit it, but I can't cos then I'll be stupid for the rest of my life, and that'd be bad (I suppose!). Thanks!

Miss Potter – I made you cry? Aw, I'm sorry! Thanks for the great review!

Unhealthily Obsessed – Thanks for the lovely review! It does mean a hell of a lot to me!

Demon Of Fear – Ah, you'll just have to wait to see what happens! (Anotherwords I don't know myself!) Thanks.

Couch_potato01 – Yep, poor Herm! She got it really bad! Thanks so much!

AniGirl7 – How'd your interview go? I hope it went okay! Draco does piss you off sometimes, but that's good. At least I'm keeping him kind of in character. Thanks for the review!

Jules – Thanks very much! You're so nice!

Draco_Malfoy_Severus_Luva – How's things, girl? I dunno how things are going to go. Don't think there'll be a sequel. I think this story might just go on for a while. Thanks for the lovely review! You will be updating your story soon, right?

Padfootsknightingale – I hope I spelled your name right! Thanks for the review! Hope this chappie's okay as well.

Malfoyelf – Hey! So, you are up for Draco then? Hm, I will keep that in mind! I'm not sure what I'm going to do, just yet. This won't be a R/Hr story! I couldn't write that! I can't really write Ron, because he's either lovely or in a temper! This chapter he's under a temper, but that's because he's so mad at himself! I'm sorry I took so long to update! Life keeps getting in the way!

Super_Sycoh – I updated as soon as I can. It's not so much school getting in the way, but my job. It leaves me wrecked at the end of the day! I will update as soon as I can. I'm not one for waiting around. If it's on my computer, I update.

Someone – Hehe, well at least I got you confused! Yep, Poor 'Mione. I never knew I could be so mean! Thanks!

BluePhoenix – I really did update as soon as I could! I don't do hw. It's just that school takes up so much of the day, and then work, and friends and stuff comes afterwards and I just can't find the time!

AmericanWings – Thanks very much. I know, some characters go way out of it and it does get kind of annoying. I'm not saying my Draco is like this in the book, but… Oh, I'm contradicting myself. *Shuts up now* Yep, school is a pain! It takes up so much of the day! Hope everything's good with you! Thanks for your lovely constant reviews! I really enjoy reading them!

Soccargirl2044 – Hehe, I'm glad I make you happy! Thanks!

Purple Spotted Hedwig – Nope, they're not dead! I didn't mean to make it sound like they did! A lot of people pointed that out to me! That's why I put a extra bit with them in it! I like your name. Very original! Thanks for the review!

Danishgirl – Thanks for your review! I have to remember to email you! I'm a bit thick actually, so I'm going to do it right after I finish typing this!

Mrs Malfoy – Thanks for the encouraging review! It's people like you who make me want to be a writer! Thanks!

Squorpionlady – Thanks very much! You'll be receiving an email from me soon! Ciao!

DanceingFae – Yeah I thought it'd be a bit silly if Draco won the Quidditch match! I mean Harry is the better player! Yeah, he did give em back their wands! Thanks for the brill review! Hope this part is all right.

DazedPanda – Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked how that chapter turned out.

Rina – yep, well Draco will always be mean. It'll be a long and gradual change if he gets nice. And yet, as nasty as he is, I still like him, you know?

Stardust_n_Dreams – I'm not sure how this'll end but it's definitely not over! Thanks for the review!

Chach-A-Lot – It was supposed to be sad! I really didn't see Hermione jumping around for joy 'cos she lost. Hehe, Thanks for the review!