Malfoy sat nonchalantly while Harry kept his gun on him. To Harrys chagrin and shock Hermione had not called the police. Rather she had insisted they move to the living room and sit down. So they sat. Hermione and Harry sat together, while Malfoy sat in front of them.

"I can't believe you won't call the police Hermione," Harry grunted. "He was going to hurt you, maybe even kill you!"

"There is no maybe," Draco said dryly. "I was going to kill you. Nothing against you Granger," he gave a shrug, "but the less people that know I am alive the better."

"Call the damn police Hermione!" Harry's voice rose.

Hermione didn't reply. She was looking at Draco. Her old classmate had changed, and yet. And yet he felt like the same young man she had despised in college.

Oh, he had certainly been one of the handsome guys in college. And even despite his cocky and arrogant nature had found popularity. He was quite the opposite of the reserved bookworm that she had been. Now, he looked as though he had aged much more than them. His sunken face, ghostly pale skin and battered body spoke of horrible experiences. Not to mention the state she had found him in.

All logic pointed to calling the police and having him arrested. But something was holding her back from the inside. Something wasn't right.

"I see your screws working Granger," Draco gave a weak smile. "You don't want to get me arrested. It's not my life I am concerned for you see. There are bigger things.."

"We don't care," Harry cut him off. "You tried to kill her! Hermione, what the hell is going on in your mind?"

"Harry, something isn't right," Hermione put her hand over Harrys arm. "I feel like getting him arrested will make something worse."

Draco seemed relieved at that and was about to speak when Harry cut him off again.

"That's not our problem," Harry said. "It's his and the police's."

"Oh but it is your problem Potter," Draco glared. "What is going on there will have an effect on the entire world. You have no idea."

"Then tell us," Hermione said. "Just tell us. What's going on? What are you scared of?"

Draco leaned back and stared at her. Hermione kept his gaze until it began to pierce her, and she looked down at her hands.

"Do you believe in magic Granger?"

Harry and Hermione looked at him confused, and then at each other.

"Magic?" Hermione asked carefully

"Yes," Draco smiled.

"No," Hermione replied firmly. "I don't."

"Well, start believing it," Draco drawled. "Because there is a very good chance you will all soon be slaves to it."

A tall, thin figure stood in the middle of the room. The room was empty except for a table, a chair and small book shelf. It was here that he kept his most important documents. Where he kept his research. With white walls, white roof and white floor the room felt strangely tranquil. Like being lost in the bliss of insanity.

A young feeble servant knocked on the door.

"Has it been found?" came the question from inside.

"No Sir," the servant croaked. "Not yet. We are looking for it."

"Then what did you come here to tell me?" came the response as expected.

The servant took a deep breath to calm himself. "It seems like boy might be alive, Lord Voldemort."

A moment of silence, then a hoarse laugh. "Of course he is you idiot. That father of his, I wouldn't expect him to complete anything."

The door opened and the servant shrunk in the shadow of his master. Voldemort smiled down at the pitiful man.

"Come in," he smiled gently.

Harry had his head in his hands. They had tied Draco to the sofa this time, securing his feet and hands so they could move freely again. Hermione was now sitting close to Draco, while Harry could not believe they were humoring this either insane or extremely clever felon.

"What are you saying Malfoy?" Hermione tried to ignore Harry's exasperation. "Magic? Who is using it? And are they the people you are running from?"

"Do you believe me?" Draco asked her. His smile was soft, much softer than what suited his steel grey eyes.

"I don't know," she admitted. "But I know you are no fool Draco. You are scared I can see that. I will believe you for the time."

Draco sighed and observed her, wondering why he was being so open with a person who had nothing to do with the situation. Her openness and genuineness was making him too careless.

As his mind had stabilized he couldn't help notice her appearance as she sat so close to him. She looked the same as she had back in Hogwarts. Her brown curls, her inquisitive eyes and firm mouth. She didn't look as though she had aged a day. And she was still beautiful in her own simplistic way.

"You will get involved in it," he warned. "I can tell you, and maybe it will help me to tell you. But know that this is dangerous and you're already too involved. Death might be an easier way out of this."

"You said it is something that is dangerous for the general people?" she asked

"It is," Draco nodded.

"Then why won't you go to the police?" she countered

"And tell them what Granger? That magicians will take over the world?" Draco retorted

Harry snapped. "You are saying this to us, so say it to them."

Draco turned to look at Harry with utmost disgust. "Do you have any idea what I have gone through Potter? Do you think if I had the option to simply push this on someone else, I wouldn't have? This nightmare I am living in is beyond your imagination!"

Malfoy's voice had steadily rose until he was practically screaming. His sudden outburst caught them both by surprise and Harry raised his gun again. Draco burst out laughing at this.

"A gun won't help you Potter," he breathed. "Nothing will help you, except maybe this." He raised his chin.

"What?" Hermione asked

"My necklace," Draco replied. "Take it and welcome to the hell I have lived in."

Confused, Hermione reached into Draco's shirt and pulled out a thick thread which was holding a pink stone.

"What is this?" she asked.

Draco muttered some words under his breath, and the stone began to shine. Hermione felt her heart slowing down, and a feeling of shock took over her. Emotions she could not explain, and senses she could not decipher were playing with her mind.

"That's enough," Draco cut off the trance. "This is a part of that person. Now you see what you are dealing with. A part that will prevent him from becoming whole, and at the least delay him from his plans."

Harry had gotten up, and was holding Hermione from the back. She was still shivering horribly, her body contorted and her breathing broken.

"It took all I had in me to keep this hidden on my person and pretend to be dead, so they would throw me out," Draco continued. "I tried to apparate myself away from the institute as far as I could, and landed on your footsteps Granger."

"I have felt this before," Hermione whispered.

Draco blinked at her. "What?"

"This feeling, this sensation, I have felt it before," she repeated. "It reminds me of my …it reminds me of my parents!"

This caught even Draco by surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked, struggling against his binds.

She looked up at him. "And I know you..from before."

"Of course you do Hermione," Harry patted her back gently. "We know him from Hogwarts."

"No," Hermione shook her head. "No… before that.. much before that…A house..A yellow house…My parents were there..And you..you were there.."

Draco closed his eyes and leaned back. A couple of moments passed in which Harry got Hermione tea, and had finally let her out of his embrace while Malfoy had remained quiet.

"What do you know about me Malfoy?" Hermione asked. "How am I related to this?"

"You are still smart Granger," Malfoy muttered.

"Just tell me Malfoy what's going on," Hermione got up and shrugging away Harry's protests made her way to Malfoy. Leaning over him, she placed her hands on either side of him.

He looked back at her. His eyes betraying the smallest amount of pity.

"It is Lord Voldemort."

Her heart skipped at that name, though she did not know why.

"And you are the daughter of his lead two scientists," Draco continued. "Or as he likes to call them, his most trusted wizard and witch."