Nymphetamine pt 13

"I knew he was a snake." Ron growled, rubbing a sobbing Hermione's arms trying to sooth her. Harry sat on her other side, staring into the fireplace.

"Oh the scandal! Wait until I get my hands on him!" Lavender shrieked. Hermione sniffed, looking up at all her friends.

"It just doesn't make sense. We were so close and the task…he has two petals left, that gives him a few more days!" She said, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"It just doesn't seem right." Harry said, looking at his friend with pity in his eyes. "Maybe he gave up." Hermione put her head down.

"I feel so stupid. I shouldn't have trusted him." She said, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"I was really hoping this would have worked out for you Hermione…even if it was Malfoy." Ron wrinkled his nose. "You deserve it." She shook her head, curls flowing around her face.

"I was hoping too. Harry was right. I shouldn't have gotten invested in his problems. I should have listened." She stood, her face emotionless. "I'm going to go lay down. I'll see you all later." She slowly walked to her room, her tears hitting the floor.

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Draco had a pounding in his head that he could not explain. What had he been doing that caused such a migraine? He slowly opened his eyes, his confusion growing even more. He was lying on a stone floor inside a cell. He looked around, noticing the only light came from his flower outside the cell, only one petal remaining. Where was Hermione? He thought to himself, putting a hand to his head. What about Lyra? Everyone was gone, he was alone. A chill ran through his spine.

"Finally awake are you?" A voice said in the darkness. He strained his eyes, trying to get a look at the man who had him locked away. A light appeared on the end of his wand, it was Perkins.

"How did I get here? Where is Hermione?" Perkins laughed, getting closer to the bars.

"I assure you, young Draco, that the witch you call Hermione is safe, though she is probably suffering quite the broken heart because of you." His laugh grew, sending Draco's heart down into his stomach.

"What do you mean heartbroken?" He spat, his anger bubbling over.

"You were getting too close. I couldn't let her actually confess her love to you, then I wouldn't be able to make my potion. No, I needed to get her away from you." He paced back and forth, light dancing on the end of his wand. Draco balled his hands into fists.

"When I get out of here you are a dead man Perkins." He growled. A sly smile crept across his lips.

"Oh but you see, no one knows you are here. There's no way to get out. You get one more day, as I've sped up the wilting process, and then you are mine." His laugh echoed in the dungeon as he walked away, leaving Draco to the darkness. He sat on the ground, his face in his hands. This was it. His final resting place was going to be this cell. His heart ached, he just wanted Hermione. He was so close, he thought to himself. He felt a lump forming in his throat; he swallowed, trying to keep his tears down. A mist formed next to him.

"Lyra…what happened? How did I get here?" He looked up to his guide, sadness plastered to her ghostly face.

"You were tricked. A young woman cursed you with an Imperius, controlled your mind so you would follow her here. Hermione saw the two of you kissing." Draco lurched forward, feeling bile rise up into his throat.

"You can't be serious! I was on my way to tell Hermione how I felt! How could I…" His hands began shaking. "What do we do now? Perkins has my wand somewhere." She floated beside him, thinking.

"I can go to her as a messenger! I can seek her out and tell her where you are!" Draco's lips curled into a smile.

"Perfect. Let's save our souls Lyra."

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Hermione sat on her bed, thinking to herself about the past few months of her life. 'If he was going to honestly snog someone else, why would he ask me to live with him?' She thought to herself. 'Something just isn't right…" Just then, a mist formed in her room in front of her, Lyra materializing.

"Hermione! It's urgent." Hermione sat up straighter, her eyes going wide.

"What's going on?" She asked calmly, her voice shaking.

"Draco! He was Imperio'd and taken to Perkins's house! He's being held prisoner there until the flower dies. He also put a spell on it to speed up the process, we don't have much time!" She almost yelled without taking a breath. Hermione felt her throat tighten up.

"Prisoner? So this was Perkins's plan all along? To cheat so he couldn't succeed?" Lyra nodded up and down.

"Come on! We have to get him time is running out." Hermione stood, grabbing her wand and exiting the room.

"There are a few people I need to contact, they will help us out." She said, walking to Ron, Harry and Lavender who were still sitting in the common room.

"I need your help!" She said frantically. The trio looked at her, then at the mist woman floating behind her.

"What…what's going on? Who is that?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. Hermione sighed.

"This is Lyra. She's the spirit guide I was telling you about! She came and told me Draco is being held captive by the man who sold him the potion. He sped up the flower and there's mere hours left! We have to go save him!" She said, pulling on a sweatshirt. Harry stood, grabbing his wand.

"Lyra, do you know where to go from here?" He said, looking at the ghostly woman. She nodded.

"Yes, I also want to tell Draco's friends what happened. They are a big reason Hermione and Draco united and I think they have a right to know. Wait for us down by the schools entrance. We will meet you there." She dissolved into smoke, leaving the four Gryffindors. Hermione headed towards the door.

"Well, lets go!" She said, walking through the portrait hole. The three followed her.

"Are we really going to save Malfoy of all people?" Ron grumbled quietly so Hermione wouldn't hear. Harry shrugged.

"We are doing it for Hermione, remember that."

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"He did WHAT?" Pansy yelled, crossing her arms. Blaise rubbed circles into her back, trying to calm her.

"We need to go before his time runs out. Hermione and the others are already waiting by the entrance. We don't have much time." Lyra said, ushering them towards the door. They all rushed to it.

"I can't believe this." Blaise said, trying to keep up with the mist. "We all worked way too hard for this to be in vain." Pansy nodded, breathing heavily.

"We will get there In time. I swear, I'll murder this Perkins guy." Blaise agreed. They saw the steps to the entrance hall, where Harry, Ron, Hermione and Lavender were standing.

"Is everyone ready?" Lyra asked. They all nodded in agreement. "Perfect. Let's go!" She said. They rushed onto the courtyard, Lyra floating in front of them. Hermione felt a burning in her chest and stomach, bile rising in her throat.

'Don't worry my love. We will be there soon.'