Author's Note: Hi everyone! here is the next chapter. I dont know if I am going to keep this up. It all depends on you so please.... R&R! Enjoy!

Harry looked up as the flames in the fireplace went from red to green. It was a cold day; frost covered the small windows of the Burrow. Everyone was doing there own thing; nobody seemed to be able to stay in the same room for long. There was too tension in the air; it felt like you could cut it with a knife. Each person was doing there own thing. Fred and George were at their store; concocting new inventions for the teenage demographic. Molly and the other adults were talking in the kitchen. Wards were placed on the door so thickly, not even he could get through. Ron was up in their room doing whatever he did when he wasn't with him. Harry placed the Charms book that Hermione gave him to study and watched as Ginny Weasely walked into the living room. She looked frenetic; her hair was messy. It seemed like she had been up the whole night. She was dressed in a pair of ragged jeans and a loose black shirt. Harry could see a hint of a white undershirt.

"Harry," she gasped walking over to him. Harry quickly hugged her yet was pushed off after a mere second. There was something about the way she was looking at him that made him fearful.

"What's going on?" he asked clearly confused. Somebody was missing. Where was Hermione? Harry had thought that she would visit at least once. He could admit that he had been a butt when she left. Yet he missed her terribly. Hermione always seemed to listen to him; especially when everything seemed to be falling apart. She was what held the trio together. Without her they weren't...right.

"Hermione...she won't come out of her room. Blaise can't get in and she won't let me talk to her. I thought that you could..."she stated stopping as Harry walked over to the coat hanger and grabbed his coat. His green eyes met her's and smiled.

"Let's go."

"Hermione, please let me in." Blaise stated leaning against the door. It was nerve-racking; not being able to get to her. Maria was so quiet when they arrived last night. She was shocked of course. Who wouldn't be? Yet her next reaction was something Blaise wouldn't have guessed. All of the sudden she ran up to her room and disappeared from the world. Ginny had to sleep in a guest room because not even her could get Hermione to open up. Blaise stayed at the door the whole night listening to the random shuffling and crying that emitted from the room.

"Blaise, I got him." a familiar voice stated. Blaise turned to find Ginny running down the hall with the Boy-Who-lived following close behind her. Harry walked up to the door making Blaise move away. The way Harry walked to the door made Blaise feel awkward. Everyone knew of the bond that the Golden Trio seemed to possess. They were always there for each other; day or night. It seemed that whatever the problem, they could always find a way to fix it. Being the only girl, Blaise could see that they were very protective of Maria.

" 'Mione?" Harry muttered sadly. "Hermione, it's Harry. Let me in." There was no answer...only silence. Harry looked over at Blaise who was standing there looking down. What did he do to Hermione? This wasn't right. Something big must have gone on. "What happened?" he growled keeping his eyes on the silent brother.

"We were at Malfoy Manor for a ball." Ginny stated ignoring the glare Blaise was sending her way. "We spotted Lucius leading their mother away front the crowd..so we followed. They were talking about Maria and we overheard something." Harry looked at Ginny; crossing his arms like a scolding parent.

"What was it?" he asked growing impatient.

"There is a marriage contract between Hermione and Draco." Blaise hissed making Ginny jump back. "An unbreakable contract sealed with blood." Harry's big, green eyes slanted.

"Bloody hell!" he yelled turning his attention back to the door. She had to get married to the ferret! Hell must have froze over. "HERMIONE, OPEN THE DOOR! I WON'T LET YOU WALLOW IN YOUR OWN PITY. WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS! NOW OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!" Ginny and Blaise watched as a bright light swept over the door. Harry reached for the door knob and slowly opened it. Blaise was clearly shocked. He had been able to get through to her with one shout. Ginny grabbed his hand; pulling him into the darkened room.

"My life is going to hell," Hermione muttered wiping her face. Harry was watching her from the opposite side of the bed with a worried expression etched onto his face. Blaise had disappeared after a few minutes of her crying. She didn't know where he was...Blaise must have not been able to take it. Seeing her cry wasn't a common thing for her friends to witness. She was their stronghold usually. Hermione listened to Harry when he was grieving over Sirius. Harry wouldn't speak to anyone during that period of time except her.

"Well...we can always kill him." Ginny muttered. She was lounging on the bed beside Hermione with a flask in hand. Probably Fire Whiskey...Ginny was known to acquire the illegal drink from George and Fred sometimes. "That will get you out of the contract." Harry rolled his eyes and looked away.

"I don't fancy a trip to Azkaban." Harry muttered getting up. Hermione watched as he began to pace. "We have to research this; find a loophole perhaps."

"I don't think there is a loophole." Hermione growled taking the flask away from Ginny. She took a long swig and coughed. That stuff was strong. Hermione could feel the burn as it went down her throat. It definitely took the edge off. "Marriage Contracts are known to stick. Numerous people have tried to get out of them but failed. Some acquired more fatal after-effects from trying to fight a blood-bound contract." Ginny shuddered at the thought.

"We will find a way, 'Mione." Harry stated. He looked around the room and back at his friend. A sudden idea flashed into his mind making him smile devilishly. "Let's get you out of here. Let's go to Grimmauld 12." Hermione looked at Harry confused.

"No, I promised to stay here." Hermione muttered sitting up to where she was sitting Indian-style. It was awkward with her still in the dress yet she managed. "If that was even possible, nobody is there to protect us. Everyone is at the Burrow." Harry nodded with a smile on his face.

"Its the perfect place. Nobody is there and the wards are still up. Nobody can get to us and we can send for Ron when we get there." Harry stated with a know-it-all voice. "Come on. You don't want to stay here. Why not just live there? We could have total freedom." Its true. She didn't want to be here. Everything was so different; Hermione felt like she was isolated from everything she loved. This included her friendship with Harry and Ron. Maybe she did need some time.

"All right, let's do it." Hermione stated with a smile on her face. "I need time to pack." Harry nodded and looked at Ginny.

"Are you in?" he asked. Ginny nodded taking a brief swig of her drink.

"Of course. This is bloody fantastic!" she stated happily. "I'll go get my stuff." Ginny ran out of the room leaving Harry and Hermione alone. She met his green eyes and smiled. Love and protectiveness radiated from his brilliant green eyes. A part of her always knew she could count on him; more so than Ron.

"Thanks, Harry." she muttered getting up from the large bed. She walked over to him and hugged him. He received the hug almost instinctively; taking her into his arms. She sighed in relief as the warmth of his body spread through her like a flood. Hermione could swear that she felt him smile.

"I will always be here for you, Hermione. Don't ever forget that." Harry muttered into her hair. Hermione didn't doubt one word.

"Did you know about the marriage contract?" a familiar voice asked making Draco open his eyes. Standing in the door-frame was Blaise. Something was off. His appearance was disheavaled. His hair was a bloody mess and his clothes looked rumpled. Yet the way he held himself made Draco wary. Anger radiated off of him like a pulsing beacon of light. Draco pulled himself up into a sitting position on his bed and shook his head.

"What contract?" he asked clearly confused. Blaise gilded into the room and wiped out his wand. It instantly landed at the base of Draco's throat. His eyes bulged out with the possiblity of being cursed by Blaise. He was quite imaginative with his curses and hexes. More so than Draco; he had an reputation of being the most deadly in the noble House of Slytherin.

"The bloody marriage contract between you and my sister!!!!" he yelled jabbing his wand deeper into his pale skin. Draco's eyes bulged at the thought of their being a contract between him and Maria. How in hell did that happen? Draco had no intentions of getting married; not even at his young age. This must be a hoax. Part of him however wouldn't put it past his father. He was manipulative and was known for getting his way.

"I don't know about any damn contract, Blaise. NOW LOWER YOUR WAND!" Draco yelled his eyes flashing from the wand to Blaise's face. Those green eyes watched him until finally the wand was lowered. Draco took a deep breath and looked back at his best friend. Blaise was leaning against the wall with his face in his hands. His wand was dropped onto the floor beside him making Draco see how afraid he really was. "Blaise, I really don't know what's going on. You have to trust me." Blaise looked at Draco; his eyes dimmed with sadness.

"I know. If I didn't believe you, I would have cursed your arse to oblivion." Blaise muttered looking away. Draco didn't doubt his words.

"I can ask, Blaise. Yet if this is true, then everybody is screwed." Draco muttered running his fingers through his hair briefly. "Maria can't be thrilled." Blaise's eyes flashed with anger.

"Of course, she isn't" Blaise hissed. "She just bloody found out that she is a Zabini and now she has to get married to you. Somebody that has teased her for several years making her life hell. Of course she isn't thrilled." Blaise picked up his wand and made his way to the door. Draco didn't know if he should be hurt or agree with him. He had indeed made her life hell when she was known as Hermione Granger. Being raised to hate muggles and muggle-borns, it was hard for him to be nice to everyone. It just wasn't him.

"I'm coming with you."Draco shouted. He grabbed his wand and ran over to Blaise who was watching him with a bewildered look.

"No, you're not. She would hex you on site." Blaise stated in a matter-of-fact tone. Draco shook his head.

"I am not going to let her think I planned this." Draco stated simply. "Now I'm going with you." Blaise pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Draco was known for his stubborness. He got want he want when he wanted it. If Draco didn't get it, there would be hell to pay.

"Fine. Come on."

The Zabini Manor was silent. That itself was unusual. The Manor was always in a state of merriment. Nothing sad ever seemed to happen here; it was unknown. Shadows decorated the white walls as they climbed up the stairs. It had been a silent trip; Blaise barely spoke. His mind was on his sister as usual. Draco followed the protective brother as they walked down the hall to Maria's door. It was opened slightly; not enough to worry them.

"Maria?" Blaise stated opening the door revealing an empty room. The doors to the closet was opened revealing it to be empty as well. The books that were her own, not bought by Blaise or their mother, was taken from the shelves. Everything was gone. Blasie walked into the room spinning around to observe his surroundings. She was gone.

"She left." Blaise muttered looking at Draco. He was standing in the door-frame like a statue. This was too hard to believe. She could never do this. Maria was supposed to be a bloody Griffyndor. They never ran for the hills. It was just unheard of.

"It's very Slytherin of her." Draoc muttered smiriking. He stepped into the room carefully. Who knew what wards she placed on the room?. A glint appeared in Blaise's eyes made Draco stop.

"Do you think this is funny?" he seethed. "We just found her. Mum is happy for the first time in years. What do you think this will do to her when she finds out that Maria is gone. Runned off because she found out the truth. " Draco shook his head.

"We can find her, Blaise. Its not impossible." he muttered looking around. "There are ways; just not very popluar ones."

"Of course," he growled looking around for anything that she missed. Something that had a piece of her. Then he spotted it. The music box their mother had given her was sitting on the end table forgotten by its owner. He walked over to it and sighed. There was somethign about it that made Blaise feel connected to her. He picked it up carefully and ran his fingers over the engraved designs.

"Do you think she will come back?" Blaise asked looking at Draco. Draco looked at his friend. The aura around him...it was dark and sad. You wouldn't think that somebody could look this depressed. Draco could only guess what he must be feeling, but he had to make sure that Blaise could withstand not having his twin by his side.

"Of course."