A year ago I was writing you a short account of my life. Well guess what, here is another one.

I was diagnosed with severe reactive depression in early March having pretty much stayed in bed for days on end, refusing to eat or do anything which involved moving. I managed to scrape through my exams after missing over a month's worth of schoolwork and got into university. I've been on medication since March and I'm slowly getting better. I thank you for your reviews and continued support of this story.

I've pretty much forgotten what I had written, or planned for this story, but hopefully this chapter will make sense. I don't want to say it's abandoned, because I really would like to finish it.

Chapter 33: Confrontation

Hermione groaned and looked up, and saw a house-elf gazing down on her.

"Are you alright Miss?"

"Draco?" She called uncertainly.

Draco stood up, and helped Hermione up too.

"Hermione, this is Daisy. She's our house-elf at the Manor. Daisy this is Hermione my fia-"

"Oh do not say that word sir! Daisy does not want to hear it sir! You have caused my elder masters much distress by refusing their orders, sir!" Daisy interrupted, and put her hands over her long ears.

Draco stared coolly at the house-elf.

"I am still your master Daisy and it is disrespectful to speak to your elders in that way. Apologise to Hermione and then you can escort us to our room for the night."

Daisy looked mutinously at Draco, but he stared defiantly in return. Daisy looked at the ground and mumbled an apology to Hermione. Hermione was in shock from this little exchange and let Draco take her by the hand and drag her up the path.

"I'm sorry about that," Draco murmured to Hermione.

"It's OK. She is like Kreacher in that respect. Guess it's common amongst house-elves to have the same views as their masters," she shrugged in reply.

The peacocks were flouncing around proudly on the lawn next to them, and soon a tall majestic white house came into view. Hermione didn't take it in, she could remember it well enough from when she was there last year. Draco squeezed her hand, and she squeezed it in return.

The door opened with a wave from Daisy. Hermione took a deep breath and entered. The door slammed behind her and she was trapped. She stood with Draco by the door as Daisy fetched the elders. Her knees were shaking as the memories of that fateful night came back. Everything about this house felt cold, sterile, evil. She shuddered. She recognised the stone white staircase, and the tiled black floor. She remembered being dragged across by...her. She couldn't even think of her name.

"Ahh, if it isn't our darrrling Draco, come home at last!" A shrill voice jolted Hermione out of her daydream.

"Hello mother," Draco nodded stiffly in return. Hermione looked and found Narcissa leaning against the railing, at the top of the stairs. Her eyes found Hermione's but she quickly looked away.

"And Herrrmione! Goodness gracious, it's been so long. Your hair is as bushy as ever, you really must get that sorted out. It's terribly ugly." Narcissa said snidely.

Draco froze next to her, shocked that his mother would make such an openly rude remark. Hermione didn't reply, her face flushing with anger. She was determined to ignore any rude remarks during the visit, she didn't want to show her vulnerability.

"Is Father home?" Draco asked, changing the subject from Hermione's appearance.

"But of course! He's been expecting you for a long time, darling. He's very upset you didn't write to him during his terrible ordeal."

"He deserved everything he got." he spat. "How did he even get out?"

"Now Draco, this isn't the place for those kind of discussions. Leave...her-" Narcissa shot a cold look towards Hermione, "-with Daisy and accompany me to the drawing room. Your father is there waiting for you."

"No."

Narcissa blinked at her son.

"No?"

"I'm not leaving Hermione alone. She's been through enough in regards to this family. Whatever you say to me, you say to her also. We came to be polite, unfortunately you are my family. I will not have you being rude to my fiancée."

"Well, Draco you've changed. Whatever happened to the obedient, sly, proper boy from a few months ago? He knew his place, and was the perfect son. Where is he?"

Draco was silent for a moment then, "I fell in love."

"Love?" A few voice entered the fray. Hermione shrank back in fear.

"Hello father."

Lucius Malfoy emerged from the shadows and joined his wife. His eyes swept to Hermione, and he smirked.

"Hello son. I see you brought your... playmate.. with you."

Hermione felt Draco's hand tighten around her.

"She is not my playmate," he said through gritted teeth.

"She is a Mudblood, not worthy of being in our company. Stop these games and produce your real fiancée. You daren't go against my wishes."

"Don't call her a Mudblood. She is my fiancée and I wouldn't give her up for anyone else."

Lucius froze and he glowered at Hermione.

"Draco?" she whispered to him, "I'm scared. I don't feel safe anymore. Something is going on, I want to leave."

"What's that Mudblood saying to you, Draco?" Lucius asked, making his way down the staircase with Narcissa by his side. They looked elegantly evil as they glided hand in hand.

"I said; don't call her that!" Draco snapped. "She is my fiancée, and I will not have you disrespect her like that!"

Silence. Then, "take her away."

"Wha-?" Hands seized the young couple and tore them apart.

"Draco! Draco! Draco!" Hermione screamed as she was taken away by masked men. A door closed but she could still hear her name being roared by Draco.

"Hermione! Hermione!"

Then she heard Stupefy, and she remembered no more.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HERMIONE?" Draco roared as he struggled to get away from the two men holding him.

"She is going where she deserves. The dungeon. I will not have the youngest Malfoy marry a dirty little Mudblood. You may think you have power on your side, what with silly old Dumbledore protecting you up at that school. But now you're with me. This is where the real power lies. You will not leave with her," Lucius thundered.

"I will never leave her! Take away my inheritance, take away my name, but don't take Hermione away from me! You're despicable, and you should have been left to rot away in Azkaban!"

Lucius rounded on Draco and slapped him across the cheek.

"Do. Not. Tell. Me. What. To. Do," he spat, "you are my son. And you will obey me!"

Then Draco heard something which made his heart drop. Screams came from the closed door.

"HERMIONE!"

More screams. Draco struggled harder but that got him another slap.

"Ignore her. She isn't yours anymore. She belongs to someone else, and you will marry someone we deem suitable."

"What are you talking about? We were chosen! We're soul mates, and you can't get more suitable than that!"

"Yes you can," a new voice echoed from the shadows. Great, another surprise.

"Why is everyone talking from the shadow?" Draco asked bewildered.

"Quiet Draco," snapped Narcissa. She went to the shadows and held out her hand to the mysterious figure. His flushed ears gave him away.

"RON!"