Author's Note: So I said that this wouldn't come for a while, but I really didn't feel like working after getting back from the midterm, and today was kind of a long day. So I'm putting up another chapter. And after this one, I really will have to put the next chapter on hold.

Chapter 74

"Hello, Miss Granger."

"Oh, you're awake," I say, sitting down on the edge of the bed that Ginny had slept in.

Naree smiles up at me. "Naree is happy to see Miss Granger again so soon."

"Why is that?" I ask.

"Because Master likes Miss Granger. Master likes Miss Granger, so Naree does, too."

For some reason, his words make me feel extremely guilty. I suppose it's because that I'm back with Ron right now… But I shouldn't have to feel guilty about my emotions, should I? It's not as though it's something that I can control.

"Is there anything you need?" I ask the house-elf.

He shakes his head. "Naree thanks Miss Granger for being so thoughtful, but Naree will be able to recover on his own."

"At least let me clean up your pillowcase a little," I say, drawing my wand.

He nods, so I point my wand at him and murmur, "Scourgify."

The blood stains fade away, and the pillowcase is left as white as it was before.

"Did you know Dobby well?" I ask Naree.

He nods. "Dobby was a bad house-elf. Always wanted to disobey. He was Master Lucius' personal elf. Master Draco said a long time ago that Dobby would leave at the first chance he got. And he did! Naree knows he did. Master Draco is always right."

Then there's a faint thud, and I hear Ron's voice.

"Hermione!"

He's calling for help. Alarmed, I get to my feet.

"Naree, I'll be right back—just stay here," I say.

I exit Draco's bedroom and quickly cross the living room to the kitchen, opening the door cautiously. I see that Ron has been bound up and placed against the far wall. Draco's standing with his back to me. I send a mild Stinging Jinx his way, and he stiffens. Then he turns his head and sees me.

"Let him go," I say.

He hesitates before turning around and pointing his wand at me. "You don't want to fight me, Granger."

"If you don't let him go right now, I won't have a choice," I reply, narrowing my eyes at him.

He holds my gaze, and I see that he has no intention of releasing Ron.

"Expelliarmus!" I shout.

I seem to have caught him off guard—his wand goes flying out of his hand. But then he smirks, and I wonder if he let me Disarm him. Irrational fury rises in my chest as I realize he's patronizing me.

"Confringo!" I bark, my wand still pointed at him.

He ducks out of the way, and my spell blasts a chunk out of the opposite wall. I cringe—I'd almost hit Ron!

Then Draco points a finger at me, and ropes shoot in my direction. I Vanish them with a wave of my wand and fire a Jelly-Brain Jinx at him. He pushes his palm out toward me, and the jet of purple light comes flying back at me. I immediately duck out of the way and point my wand at him, throwing a Trip Jinx at him.

He smirks and repels this jinx as easily as the last, and I have to leap out of the way of the rebounding spell. I send a jet of blue flames in his direction, but he extinguishes it before it can touch him. Then he waves his hand at me, creating a wall of ice between us.

Expulso!

The wall of ice explodes, but Draco's nowhere to be seen. Did he Disapparate?

Homenum Revelio.

The spell tells me that he's still present, so in the next moment, I cast a Disillusionment Charm on myself, copying him.

"Hermione—what are you doing?" I hear Ron ask in a panicked voice.

I don't reply, moving swiftly and silently away from the spot where I'd been standing. The kitchen is rather narrow, however, and I feel that Draco and I won't be able to pass by each other without colliding or at least brushing against one another.

Sure enough, my outstretched fingertips find the fabric of his shirt. I instantly grab a fistful of his shirt to hold him in place and point my wand at him.

"Bombarda!"

He somehow manages to block my spell and spins out of my grasp. Why isn't he attacking me?

Just as I think this, a jet of fire much larger than the one I had created spurts toward me. I backpedal rapidly, buying myself just enough time to cast a Flame-Freezing Charm. The tickling sensation flows over me quickly, and suddenly Draco's standing right in front of me, visible now. I back up a few steps and try to throw him backwards, but he blocks the spell.

Then I point my wand at him and shout, "Impedimenta!" He sidesteps this spell, but I immediately send two more his way, and while he avoids one, the other hits him squarely in the chest.

I know my Impediment Jinxes are strong—he'll be immobilized for at least twenty seconds, and that's enough for me.

I take a few quick steps over to him and point my wand at him, keeping it only an inch from his neck—I won't let him come into contact with my wand. He may be immobilized, but I'm fairly certain that he could still work that magic for controlling others' wands.

"Don't move," I hiss.

I lift the Disillusionment Charm on myself—it's a little bit harder when my wand isn't pointed at me, but I manage it.

"Finish him!" Ron says. "He was going to kill me!"

The incantation crosses my mind, but I hesitate. I look up into Draco's eyes, and instead of fear or anger, there's a strange calm. Does he think he's going to die?

Then he smirks at me again. I hear him snap his fingers, and with that, he Disapparates. Bewildered, I spin around, expecting him to attack from behind.

But he isn't there. I turn back around and see that he's now standing by the wall opposite the door, a hand around Ron's neck.

"No, let go of him!" I say, pointing my wand at Draco again.

If he hurts Ron…

"If you attack me, I'll kill him," he threatens.

"Kill him, Hermione. Kill him!" Ron growls.

Draco's hold on his neck tightens visibly, and Ron gasps for air.

"If you want to save him, you'll have to drink what's in that bottle over there," Draco says, jerking his head toward the counter.

I turn and see a medium-sized bottle of clear liquid.

"No, don't drink it, Hermione. It's poison!" Ron cries.

"Exactly," Draco says. "A life for a life. If you drink that poison, I won't kill Weasley."

I glare at him. "I thought you were on our side, Malfoy."

He grins. "I changed my mind," he says simply. "It's your choice. Only one of you has to die today."

"Hermione, don't do it!"

I look back at the potion. "It's okay, Ron. I can die for you."

Ron shakes his head as best he can, but Draco's grip tightens, limiting his range of motion.

"Don't hurt him!" I warn him.

"Drink the potion, then. Don't you want him to live?" Draco replies.

I lower my wand and pick up the bottle. Ron continues to plead with me not to do it, but if only one of us can survive, surely it should be Ron. He still has a family, and they can't afford to lose any more people. My parents don't even remember me.

I look back at Draco for a moment. "Give me your word," I say.

"I won't kill him if you drink it," he says.

For some inexplicable reason, I trust him.

I pull out the cork and lift the bottle to my lips. After one last look at Ron, I tip the bottle and pour the liquid down my throat.

Author's Note: And on that wonderful note, I bid you farewell. Sorry I haven't been able to respond to many reviews lately, by the way. It's just been a bit hectic.