a/n hey guys! Here's the next update, wooo! Um I made a mistake last time; I recently checked and Victorie isn't supposed to be born yet, but oh well. And also I was in a very lord of the rings mood when I wrote this, so yeah, you'll see what I mean later on. Any dream/flashback will be in italics.also i want to say thank you to smileyfaces123 who helped me a lot with this chapter, so a big big thank you to her! and make sure to check her out too

I stepped into the dining room, and look around. The place had definitely changed; it was more colourful and less gloomy but that didn't stop the flashbacks.

"Crucio!"

Bellatrix's half mad giggle filled the room. I writhed and flailed around while, what felt like, hundreds of hot knives repeatedly stabbed me all over my body. Pain surged through my body.

"Where is it!?"

"I don't know!"

"Liar, Crucio!" I bit back my screams.

"Tell me where it is!"

"I... don't...know."

"Urgh, you stupid mudblood! You WILL tell me where it is!" Waves of pain roll over me. I turn my head the other way, and see Narcissa and Draco standing in the corner. Both looking guilty and sad, but both standing still and showing no attempts of stopping this.

"Argh, tell me! Crucio." I jerk upwards, and then slam back down again. Travelling up my throat and into my mouth I could feel and taste warm blood. I open my mouth and start choking. I turn on my side, and feel the blood dripping out my mouth. Silent tears falling down the whole time.

My heart started beating faster. And my breaths quicken. My legs felt weak and shaking.

"Hermione."

"Hermione?"

My fingers and toes were numb so I couldn't feel Draco take my hand, but I could feel his other hand around my waist; holding me up. I close my eyes and take deep breaths.

"Oh Hermione dear, are you okay?" I open my eyes and nod at a very concerned looking Narcissa. Draco guides me to a chair and sits me down while Andromenda held out a glass of water for me. Tonks stood next to me, with one hand on my shoulder and the other carrying a very giggly Teddy who had decided to make his hair brown and curly.

"Can I go outside, I need some fresh air."

"Of course dear, Draco take her into the gardens." We slowly made our way to the back. The gardens are enormous. There were hedges, patches of grass and gravel filled paths everywhere making it seem like a maze. Beautiful flower beds appear every now and then, small trees, some with fruit and others without and right in the middle was a fountain with benches surrounding it.

The cool air and the sweet smell immediately took away any feeling of dizziness and weakness. I walk over to the fountain and take a seat.

"Feeling better?" I give a big grin to make my point and watch Draco chuckle and take a seat next to me.

"Hey, um I'm sorry about the nearly fainting part in there." I must have looked like a fool.

"It's not your fault. You've been through so much; I was actually surprised that you even agreed to come here." All of a sudden I could feel an arm wrap around my shoulders and pull me closer to him. I rest my head against his shoulder.

"Hermione I'm sorry for what happened that day. I just stood there in that room, and didn't do anything. In my mind I tried coming up with ways I could get you out, but none of them would have worked. I could have at least tried though. I hated just having to stand there and watch, I could have tried." He sighed took a deep breath and carried on talking.

"I think it was that moment that everything changed. You have no idea how much respect you gained from me that day. The fact that you stayed strong and did what was right no matter what happened to you. I think it was that day too that I realised that I had feelings for you." He turned to look at me. I couldn't think of anything to say and the atmosphere was already too gloomy for Christmas.

"Alright come on, we better go in, otherwise you mum will think I had a panic attack and died." I laugh and stand up and pull Draco up too.

"Please Hermione, those types of jokes aren't funny." What type of jokes? I give him a questioning look.

"You know, the ones about you dead..." I just sigh.

"Okay, I'm sorry." I drag him inside before he could say anything else.

After we got in, and after I was interrogated to make sure I was feeling okay, we sat down, talked and eat some food. I was a surprise to see Andromenda, Tonks and Teddy here, but it was a nice surprise. Teddy seemed to love being held by different people, but refused to leave Draco after changing his hair to match Draco's.

We carried on talking for hours and would have talked for more if Teddy hadn't fallen on Draco, causing Tonks to leave with Teddy and go to bed. After that Narcissa and Andromenda decided to go for walk together, leaving me and Draco.

"Alright I got a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"Can't say, otherwise it won't be a surprise." He put his hands on my shoulders and guided me through a couple of rooms, and down some stairs. He opened the door to reveal a large kitchen and five house elves standing in a line looking up at us. At first I felt angry; Draco knew how I felt about enslaving elves. But then I notice the clothes they are wearing. The three girls in pretty dresses, and the two boys in shirts and trousers. This meant they were free. He better be paying them and giving them holidays!

"Oooo Mizz Hermione. Wes pleased to meets you!"

"Yes, yes, wes very pleased."

"Did mizz Hermione like the food wes prepared?"

"Look Mizz Hermione wes made yous pies! Chicken pies, beef pies! Master Draco tolds us yous likes pie. Please will Mizz Hermione eat some?"

"Dobby has tolds us all abouts yous, and hows yous are very kinds to us house elves."

"Please mizz Hermione, eat some pie."

They sat me down and served me pie while I talked to them. Their names were Frodo, Gimli, Arwen, Eowyn and Galadriel. They get a new pair of clothes every month; they get paid 2 Galleons a week and they get 4 days off every month.

"Wes try and bargain down, but Master Draco too kinds."

"Aw well you deserve it. And the pies are amazing. Anyway I should go now, see you tomorrow."

"Yous wills come see us tomorrows as well!?"

"Yes sure."

We walk out the kitchen and I follow Draco as we make our way to my room. He points out all the rooms, and anything I would want to know about them.

"And this room in the library." I let out a loud gasp.

"Can we please, please, please go in there!?"

"Now? It's really late, and you've had a long day. We can come back tomorrow." I whirl around to face him. He wore a smirk; knowing fully well I won't take no for an answer.

"No. We're going now."

He opened the doors revealing shelf after shelf filled with books. Everything we perfect, even the smell. I run and can't help but squeal. I look around the room and take in the scene.

"There are so many books! You could give Hogwarts a run for their money."

"A run for what?"

"Nothing, just a muggle saying." I walk up to the closest shelf and look around the piles of book until. I come across a book that I've wanted to read for ages.

"You have 'the white wizard'! I've wanted to read that for ages. It's a kiddy story but still."

"I love that book too. It's this story about this wizard called Gangalf right? Yeah my mum used to read it to me when I was small. Then I read it myself a couple of times after that."

"So can I read it?"

"Yeah sure, now put it down and let's go."

"Why can't I just take this with me?"

"Because if you did, you would end up reading it tonight and not actually sleep."

"But-"

"No buts or ifs. Let's go." I sigh and put down the book. I wasn't going to win this one. I walk out the library dreaming of how I could be reading the book now.

"Come on; let's get you to your room." He takes me by the shoulders and steers to along to my room.

It had teal coloured walls, curtains and furniture. Everything looked expensive and posh. The wooden desk and chairs while a muddy brown, and at the top was a small but pretty chandelier. And by my bed was my trunk.

"Well the towels and stuff are in the bathroom. If there's anything you need just tell someone, and yeah that's it."

"Okay thanks. Night."

"Night? I'm not going anywhere until I get a goodnight kiss." He put on his all so famous Malfoy smirk and walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Fine." And before I knew it, his lips were on mine. I couldn't help the shiver that ran through my body. His taste was intoxicating, making my knees give way and I collapsed into him. He smiled into the kiss and I could help smile back. His tongue touched my lips begging for entrance but I pull out of his arms.

"I'm not that easy to get." I said with a flirtatious wink.

"But-"

"No buts or ifs." With another wink I walking into the bathroom leaving Draco open mouthed and staring behind me.

That night I had nightmares. Long painful nightmares.

sooo? what do you think? i quite like Tonks so she's alive and well...

you see what i mean about being in a lord of the rings mood? ;)

and one last thing... pppllleeaaassseee review? :)

-themockingjayxx