A/n: Hello again! A chapter in just one week… wow, I'm a wonder right now! That's right, read it up because there's one more coming and a nice epilogue! The end is coming… Thanks again to my beta Tessa Cresswell!

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters belong to J. K Rowling.

Disclaimer: You've probably seen plots similar to this in multiple books. Hopefully this story will be just a tad different :)

Part 1: Flour and Crooks, 1999 (Life Six)

Draco Abraxas Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger

She woke in a panic that morning, feeling the arms of another around her. She nearly flung the arms of this man off, when she recalled who this had to be. Draco had recommended she join him in bed for a while last night, and apparently they had fallen asleep. She also noted that she was fully clothed, and her wand sat by her head on the bed. She had almost freaked over nothing.

Detaching his arms from around her slowly she rolled over to face him. Blonde fringe littered his face in the early morning, and his usually crisp black shirt was quite wrinkled from sleeping in it. She did not recall him ever being pressed against her back in a loving hold, and assumed that they had somehow ended up in that position in the night. Looking at him now, she was almost jealous. Why couldn't she look so clean and gorgeous in the morning? Years of tolerating her curls had taught her that nothing could make them look normal after a night of sleep, and reaching up she could already tell they were going to be a pain to manage. Draco was simply graced with unnatural good looks.

She adjusted again to look for a clock. If she wanted to get back to her room and shower before the first class of the day, she would need about forty minutes to shower and eat-

"Great Merlin!" she cried, jumping out of bed. Her sudden movement jarred her blonde boyfriend awake, and he was alert within half a second.

"What's wrong?" he asked immediately, snatching up his wand. His eyes danced around the room as he scooted towards the standing girl, searching for a source of danger.

"What's wrong? What's wrong is that we are almost thirty minutes late to our first class! I thought it was earlier, but obviously we slept through your alarm-"

"I didn't set an alarm," he confessed, relaxing when he learned that nothing bad had happened. "We fell asleep before I had a chance to last night."

Her eyes got bigger. "We never had a chance of being on time to begin with," she cried out, throwing her hands up. "And it's a block schedule today so I'm missing double transfiguration with you!"

He rolled his eyes and caught her wrist as she attempted to barrel out of the classroom. "Hermione, if you rush downstairs now in your messy clothes without the proper items for class people are going to know immediately that you did something naughty last night- not that what we did was naughty!" He knew he wasn't helping the matter much as her eyes glowed with irritation.

"Then I'll have to go back, shower, change, collect my things-"

"And by then transfiguration will be nearly over. Calm down and relax; if you prepare for it like you would any other day you're going to arrive too late to really get anything done." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Stay here with me for another twenty minutes and we can use that difficult kitchenette here to make something for breakfast at least."

Her eyebrows shot up at that idea even as Draco pulled her back down to sit beside him. "We? I think you mean me, since I doubt you've ever cooked a day in your life."

The blonde chuckled. "That's true I suppose. If it bothers you to cook we don't have to eat breakfast-"

"Oh no," she replied, grabbing his hand as she stood so he would follow, "I might as well teach you something useful."

"What do you mean?"

"You, Draco Malfoy, are about to learn how to cook a decent breakfast the working class way, even if magic is involved a bit."

After throwing around a lot of flour to make pancakes and getting nowhere at all, the duo agreed to give up on Draco learning to make breakfast that morning and Hermione made toast instead. As she left his dorm to prepare for the day- after sharing a long, large kiss with her blonde knight- all she could think about was how ridiculous she must look with flour in her curls. Any student she passed along the way would surely give her an odd look since Hogwarts did not offer cooking classes.

She doubted there was anything to fear as she prowled the halls, since Snape either had a class or hid in his room during classes, and she took a bit longer getting there than normal. She would have to speed through her shower, but the walk was nice and she wouldn't be able to sneak another peek at Draco until lunch. Since her friends still did not know of her relationship she doubted it would seem inconspicuous if she struck up a conversation with the blonde in front of everyone. Their cover would be blown completely. And that was why she agreed to have the blonde up to her room later so they could hang out more.

It all happened too quickly for her to really register. One moment she was wandering down the halls, and the next she felt a harsh strike to the back of her head that sent her to the floor. Her vision burred as her hand went to snatch her wand from her pocket, but a muttered Stupefy stopped that method of defense. She was picked up and moved into a room where she finally caught the face of the attacker, and it was no surprise when her eyes met his.

She had been careless while walking, relying on previous knowledge of Snape's habits to ease her mind as she wandered to her room. Now she was stuck, and the evil glint in the man's eyes told her nothing good would come out of this kidnapping.

And no one would know she was missing until lunch, since she did not share a class with her friends next period. Merlin knew what Draco or anyone else was going to think when she wasn't present later.

He was on edge. From his seat at the table he could easily see over to her friends, yet she was not there. They appeared to be just as puzzled about this, as they checked the Great Hall doors just as often as he did. There was a sinking feeling in his stomach, and it only got worse the longer he sat there.

"Blaise," he said at length, drawing the attention of the Italian beside him. "Granger wasn't in Charms, was she?"

The boy at his side shrugged, giving the blonde a sideways look when the grey eyes moved away from him again. "No, I didn't see her. Why does it matter?"

But Draco didn't respond, and instead moved his eyes to the Professor's table, biting his lip cheek as he saw Snape there. The man appeared the same as always, but something was different now. He looked… happier.

He did something to her. I was a fool to let her out of my sight for a moment, and he took the opportunity to snatch her. But where would he take her?

He had half a mind to storm up there right then, curse the man's balls off and demand some answers. But as it had been pointed out before, he would be unable to explain things when curious- and possibly frightened- faculty members and students began questioning what drove him to do that. Making a show out of things would blow up in his face.

The blonde stood from the table hastily, not caring one bit when his goblet spilt liquor all over the plate of a younger student beside him. His departure drew many eyes, but none that he bothered to look at. He knew exactly where the exit door led to from the Professor table, and he had every intention of speaking to the man immediately.

And with his back turned, he didn't see the slitted eyes glaring into his back, nor the two lanky forms of protective Gryffindor's rising from the table to pursue him. He was completely oblivious just then to his stalkers, and the delay they would likely cause.

Part 2: Friend, 1762 (Life Four)

Damian P`ere Malfoy and Rivkah Tabitha Clayworth

He watched his eldest son lead his younger children out into the snow, their bodies protected by the thick winter clothing his maid had helped them find in the chests upstairs. The house elves could have done this, but he preferred her to do it. The past two years had been empty without his wife in the house, and her company was appreciated.

And more importantly, her husband worked at the Clayworth home, and if he pried enough he could often hear something about the Lady of the mansion. Rivkah's children- Anastasia and Talon- were roughly the same age as his younger two. If he twisted his questions enough, his maid would let slip some things about the family that should be left private; like how the children loved the mother more, and that the father rarely spoke to his wife. It sounded just as unhappy as his own life, though he had expected Dennis Clayworth to show his beautiful wife more compassion. He wanted a trophy wife to begin with, but he treated her like a rag.

Cepheus, the eldest child, was currently swinging his sister around before throwing her into the snow. His four year old daughter thought it was fun, and continued to return to the eldest boy. It brought a smile to the bachelor's face, seeing his children have fun. And he had the sneaking suspicion that Evander planned to pelt Cepheus with snow.

Beside him, the maid shifted away. He knew she grew uncomfortable if they remained in silence too long. "How ist thou?"

He glanced at her sideways. "Surviving, Annaleen. Thou knowst this, so why dost thee question me so?"

Annaleen glanced away. "Thou seems so sad."

Damian clenched his jaw. On more than one occasion since Annaleen had started working there she had pointed out that he rarely appeared happy. He never gave her a reason, and let her always assume that it was because he was now a lonely man without a wife to share his bed. But it was not only that; it was Rivkah, who still haunted his every dream. For months after her death his wife Gemma became the star of his nightmares, and though she remained a haunting memory he could not say that she was still his greatest fear. She was gone and his children would grow up motherless from seventeen-sixty on, and nothing could be done to change that now. His life would go on.

However, seeing so much pity in the eyes of Rivkah drove him mad. She was so concerned with his state of mind since his wife's passing, that it made her husband mad how much attention he received from her. Lately he had been ignoring her whenever she arrived or demanding that no one answer her knocks. He wanted to speak to her, but never about what she came to discuss. He wanted her to remember him in another life, but that couldn't happen; not in this life. It would highly overcomplicate things.

It was lonely indeed to carry through life all alone, but he would not complain. This solitude would keep things balanced until he could strive to have Penelope's reincarnated hand again, and perhaps the next life would be gracious on his suffering and allow him to finally have her as he had always dreamed. He would hold onto that hope to keep him going each day, for sometimes not even the thought of his children could egg him on.

Annaleen was right; he felt more alone than ever.

Part 3: Hide and Seek, 1999 (Life Six)

Draco Abraxas Malfoy and Hermione Jean Granger

It hurt- her head. The darkness ebbed away slowly, and she was able to raise her head. Immediately it was evident that she was bound to a chair with her wrists tied too tightly, and a cloth gagging her mouth. Swiveling her head despite her discomfort she also noted that the thin rays of sun drifting through a closed window did little to illuminate the space before her, but it smelled foul and she wanted desperately to block off her nose for a moment and get some relief.

Where the bloody hell was she?

And then it clicked- the memories. She recalled being clocked on the head by something on her way back to her dorm from Draco's and then being pulled into a room by Snape. But everything else really didn't come to mind, as she recalled that the darkness had set in. Whatever happened between then and now was a mystery, and she feared discovering what he had done to her during that time, if anything.

She shifted her legs- which were apparently also bound- to try and get away. Another terrifying thing came to her as she realized that her wand had been taken, and her best method of defense was now elsewhere. Where did Snape go, and why wasn't he there to glare cruelly into her face? Where was the malicious maniac?

Twisting again, she struggled to see anything. Whatever he was planning couldn't be good, and she only hoped that her big brain could conjure an idea to get away before he returned. She did not want to figure out what he wanted under any circumstances.

Now if she could only figure out how.

Draco leaned against the wall adjacent to where the Professors had to exit, biding his time until Snape appeared. The bastard had some explaining to do, and he'd be damned if the man blew him off. He knew that Hermione had to be somewhere hidden- or harmed- and it was all his fault. The blonde intended to get answers out of him by whatever means he could; this would not stand.

People were leaving the Great Hall all the time, and he paid no mind when a pair of footsteps wandered in his direction; there were things accessible to students in this area and someone was probably just on their way to their next class.

He wasn't prepared however for the duo to stop beside him. Glancing over his heart stopped and he had to press his lips together to keep from cursing aloud. Well shit, this wasn't going to make things any easier.

"Malfoy," Harry began, shifting between feet, "We wanted to know if you know where Hermione is. She hasn't been around this morning and as the Head's we thought maybe-"

"Potter," he snapped, cutting the raven-haired boy off, "I don't know where she is. Trust me, if I did I wouldn't be standing here."

The Gryffindor's exchanged a glance, the ginger looking far more aggravated than Harry. "Look," Potter tried again, "I know we don't ever talk civilly-"

"There's an understatement-"

"But," he snapped, cutting Draco off this time, "We want to know if you have any idea where she could be. She's been weird lately, often absent from our table entirely." He took a breath. "We believe you're the reason behind that."

Immediately it was apparent that the blonde didn't take that lightly, and he shoved away from the wall to look the pair head on. "What are you insinuating?"

Finally, Ron spoke up. "We think Hermione is spending more time with you and we demand to know why! You're a fucking Slytherin, so I'm sure you've cursed her or something to follow your commands. You two are always missing at the same time, and we demand to know why! Is she hiding in your room now like a prisoner? Tell us Malfoy so we can get this over with and get to our friend." He drew his wand, but the blonde could only roll his eyes.

"That's not the most intimidating speech I've ever heard in my life Weasley. Don't you think if I was harming your pretty little friend that you would've noticed a change in her behavior before now, or perhaps some marks? I might be a bastard, but I'm not causing her any harm."

Harry shifted again. "There has been change in her behavior though," he said, ignoring the glare Ron was now giving him. "She seems, happier, at least whenever we see her these days. And she is still missing all the same periods you are."

To this, the blonde laughed. "Are you actually saying my possible interference in her life is making her happy?"

Ron was livid. "No, he's not! He ate some expired food this morning, that's all. You could never make Hermione happy, not with all the shit you've done over the years. You're probably still trying to figure out a way to kill her, aren't you?"

"Weasley, I have a private meeting with her once a week to discuss Head duties and that of the Prefects. If I were planning to kill her I would've ages ago, since there have been so very many opportunities to."

The man's ears tinged red. "Stop trying to get the benefit of the doubt Malfoy; I know something is up and whatever happened to Hermione has something to do with you!"

"Have you checked the library?" Draco already knew there was little to know possibility of her being up there since she would've told him, and he remained dead set on speaking to Snape. The idiots before him were doing nothing to ease his worries, and he just wanted to know where Hermione was so he could feel better. But the longer they stood there yammering about ridiculous scenarios the less time he had to stage exactly what he planned to do when Snape came out. It was unlikely that the man would outright admit that he had her- especially now that tweedledee and tweedledum were standing in front of him with the continuous questions. If anything, Snape would use that as his getaway.

I know she's with him. No one else is a threat, at least not anymore since Krum isn't around. Why did he have to take her?

Potter was saying something, and he attempted to tap into what the illiterate was saying. "… afraid because we never see her. I don't know if you really do have anything to do with this at this point since all you're doing is standing outside the exit door for the teachers, but we need to know where she has gone. We're worried. Can you tell us anything?"

"I don't know anything," he snapped, fed up with the two before him. Behind him, the door clicked open and he was quick to whip his head around and spot Snape leaving. He made to move, but one of those insufferable Gryffindor's dared to grab his arm and hold him in place. He was going to have to break that limb!

The usual response from Snape about haphazard students never came, and the man turned without a word to continue on his way. Draco shoved the arm off to immediately pursue the man, but Weasley stepped in front of him and again blocked his path.

"We're not finished here," he said sternly, looking to Potter to back him up. But the Wonder Boy seemed to be paying him little attention as his eyes were locked on the blonde, as though studying him. The look in Potter's eye was unexplainable, but the Weasel didn't look like he liked it one bit. Malfoy made to pass him, and in turn the ginger shoved him back.

"I said we're not finished! You owe us some answers, and although you play stupid well I bet that you know something, you just don't want to say!" He pointed his wand at the Slytherin. "So talk! We don't have all night to wait around for you to start talking."

"Neither do I," he growled in response. "You don't realize the mistake you're making Weasley; I need to pass."

"Why?" he taunted. "Have somewhere else to be? Maybe you have to go and release Hermione from whatever awful place you hid her! Go on then, take us to her."

"Weasley…"

"Ron," Harry cautioned, still watching the blonde, "That's enough. We want answers, not a fight."

"I just want to know where Hermione is," the redhead spat, glancing between the two men opposite him. Draco's hand was itching to grab his own wand.

"So do I," the blonde snapped, shoving fringe from his face. "And if you would move out of the fucking way already, I might just be able to find her."

The ginger's eyes twinkled and to this Harry was snapped out of his composure. The other Gryffindor drew his wand at the same time that Malfoy did, and it all went to hell from there.

Draco didn't waste magic on Potter who stood beside him, and instead shoved him as hard into the stone wall as he could, thankfully knocking the wand from his hands. A simple spell had Weasley's wand in his grasp and he rushed the boy immediately, tackling him to the floor in one swift move. He had the boy's nose broken in a moment.

"That's for delaying me," he hissed, jumping off the injured redhead. He whirled around to face Potter, who was already throwing spells in his direction.

"What are you doing Malfoy?! We were trying to be civil!"

"He wasn't," he spat, indicating to the wandless boy. "You've wasted my time; I've got to go save Hermione."

Perhaps it was the use of her first name, or maybe the concern in his voice, but Potter's onslaught immediately stopped. His wand lowered and his mouth hung slightly open in disbelief of what he had heard. Even Ron lay still and let the uncanny words sink in.

Malfoy took a few steps back, watching the pair with guarded eyes. He was about to turn and bolt when Potter spoke once more.

"What's happening to her?" His voice sounded raw- horrified, at the idea that something terrible was actually happening to his friend and it was not Draco's fault. The sincerity and pain that came out with those words from Malfoy's mouth was all that made him stop and consider.

But Draco gave no response, just turned his back. "I can't tell you; it's forbidden." He took off running.

The sound that followed was one he had hoped to avoid. Rushed footsteps picked up directly after his, and although no spells were thrown he could tell that the duo were pursuing him in his run. He should turn and keep them away- for they couldn't know the truth even when he started screaming at Snape- but he didn't. He just didn't care.

There would be a time to explain later. All that mattered then was to find her.

They were moving- but to where she knew not. The man had returned only a minute or so ago and shoved a wand at her throat, silencing her. He then bound a cloth tightly around her eyes before undoing the binds- and it was at that point that she tried to attack him. But he quickly had her pinned to the wall and rebound her hands. Now they were moving, and she couldn't fathom where he planned to take her.

She had been attempting to get away from him since the moment he returned, but whenever she struggled he would lightly sizzle her skin with a careful spell. Perhaps if she was not under a spell her cries would draw attention to them, but he seemed to pause whenever they were too close to something- people, from what she could hear. Were they invisible and that's how they went unnoticed, or was Snape really that sneaky? She wasn't sure.

The moment cold wind hit her face she tried to scramble back- he was taking her outside, but why? If his plan was to get back at her- and Draco- then why would he take her someplace the blonde likely wouldn't find her? Or perhaps that was the point; he wanted Draco to find her, but only once she was dead. She shuddered at the thought and attempted to escape his grasp more.

"Stop squirming," he hissed. "I know it's cold Miss Granger, but do control yourself. We are on some tall stairs, and it would be a shame for you to fall to your death now."

She stopped as he said, but planned to again try and escape his clutches once she felt they were on level ground again. Draco had to be wondering where she was, and even if he didn't show up for a while she did not have any intentions of letting this man end her life.

There had to be a way to escape, she just hadn't figured it out yet.

They followed him all the way down to the potions room, at which point he wasted no time blasting the door in. Damn it all, he was going to find her.

The room inside was empty. As he stopped in mild shock, he heard the duo entering behind him.

"Was that necessary?" Harry panted, only slightly out of breath. "Snape will not be happy when he sees this. What's so important about this room anyway?"

Draco sat atop one of the desks, bowing his head as he rubbed his face. "I don't give a damn about what Snape thinks," he whispered.

Ron angrily pointed his hand at the blonde from Harry's side, who still possessed his wand at that time. "You lied! You made up some ridiculous lie in order to try and slip away. Don't look so fucking sad because you failed; you are just a piece of shit! I actually thought maybe you wanted to find Hermione. But nothing bad is happening to her, at least nothing you will show us." He glared at Harry. "We're fools!"

Whatever Potter said in reply was lost to the blonde as he looked up in disbelief. If she wasn't here, then where? Snape had her- he knew it- but where had they gone? Had she been somewhere else to begin with, or did he come back and move her in the time he was busy trying to ditch the other Gryffindor's. Glancing around, he noted that the potions cabinet was opened and got up to go to it.

Maybe if I don't find her there will be something in here at least that can poison me to death. He paused as he reached the cabinet, noting that over half of its contents were placed neatly on the floor, and there was a chair inside the storage place instead.

He walked in, noting the slashed cloth at his feet and cringed. Had she been here, bound to the chair and away from hope? It sent fire to his veins to think that someone had restricted her like so. Looking up, he saw that just a small trace of moonlight graced the dark space, and for no reason he walked to it and peered out onto the grounds. What he saw made his heart feel like ice.

Two figures were moving in the distance towards the forest. The potions class might've been located in the dungeons but the cabinet had two steps up that gave a viewer enough elevation to see out onto the grounds. The silhouettes were faint, but he didn't need a clear image to know who they were.

He's taking you to the forest, but why?

"Malfoy," Harry called, walking towards the cabinet the blonde had entered. He was shoved out of the way as his enemy soared past.

"Where are you going?!" Ron called, failing to catch onto the escapee as he made it out the door. In the following silence, the two Gryffindor's pondered his strange attitude.

"What was that about?" Ron aquired as he made to leave the potions classrom just as Harry entered the storage room. The ginger was halfway down the hall before he heard his name being called. "What?"

Harry came rushing out of the room too, panting again, and stopped at his friends side. "I think I understand."

"Understand? Understand what?"

"Where Malfoy ran off to. Ron, I think he might actually be searching for Hermione after all. There were figures entering the forest, and it's so late and cold only a fool would go."

"But who would bother going out there with her? What if it's someone else?"

Harry shrugged, beginning to jog. His friend hurried to keep up, continuing their conversation as they went. "I don't know for sure, but Malfoy seems determined that it's someone he must go see. He was spewing shit about saving her, so we may as well follow and see if he is telling the truth."

"You really think he is?"

The boy shrugged, pushing his glasses up his nose. "I don't know, but we're going to find out."