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Chapter 5:

Once outside the house I cast every protective charm I'd ever learnt, there was no way anyone would ever find him. He deserved a shot at a good life.

I apparated back to Malfoy's hiding place. The small two story house stood mere meters from the edge of the cliff, it looked utterly small and plain. I was glad Malfoy had chosen this place, it made me feel at peace. The garden was green and full of flowers in every shade. It had a pretty brick road which led to the house's entrance. It looked like a real home. Thinking about it there was some resemblance between the style of this house and the one Harry was currently living at. If they only knew they share the same taste in architecture. I've no doubt they'd throw a fit.

Taking the whole scene, I started to cast the same spells I had at Harry's place. I was going to do my best, if we were to stand a chance this was it. No more fooling around.

Last time Tom had found me because I had been careless. He was an expert in tracking my magic. I made one mistake and he found me. In my months in that rotten dungeon I realized I had mispronounced one rune in the Damocle's Shield Charm that was all he had needed. Never again would I be so careless.

As the last ray of blue left Malfoy's wand I dropped to my knees. I shouldn't have done two rounds of this set of charms in the same day, let alone within a few hours of each other. I was breathing hard, my head was pounding and my heart felt like it was about to explode.

I was still getting used to using magic. I don't think I will ever be able to forget the day he decided it was time for me to regain my magic.

Malfoy had just finished a long round of the Cruciatus Curse. I was trembling.

"I don't know what my master sees in you. Sweet pie, why don't we make a deal? He will be here this afternoon, and I want you to ask for his forgiveness. Once you are at his side, I want you to convince him I'm to be his right hand man. Snape doesn't deserve that position.

Once you ask for his forgiveness you'll be under my power for a couple of months. I give you my word I won't ever touch you again if you do as I say."

I mentally cringed. He was such a disgusting pig. I lifted my head. I could bearly distinguish his blonde hair. My eye had been shut for a couple of days. I was glad Voldemort was coming today. I was afraid to lose my eye if I didn't get proper treatment soon. There are some things not even magic can mend.

"I won't, not today not ever," I said, looking into his cold eyes.

He looked disappointed, "I see, it doesn't really matter, you'll give in eventually. It'll be a couple of hours before he gets here, we must find a way to entertain ourselves till then."

He smirked at me, and cast a refreshing charm.

I knew what was coming. It didn't change a thing. I endured it as best I could.

Hours later I was wearing a beautiful white dress. My wounds were healed. I looked like a family girl ready to go out for an afternoon picnic.

Tom entered the room and looked at me.

"Leave," he said, with an inexpressive voice.

As everyone left the room he transfigured a rock into a chair and sat in front of me. I avoided his eyes. In days like this, I didn't feel like fighting or talking.

"It pains me to see you like this child. Have you understood why you mustn't fool around with other men? Ask it of me and this will be the last time Malfoy touches you. Just one tiny I'm sorry, Tom would work wonders."

I smirked at him. I looked to the side and remained silent.

"As you wish, tell me would you like to go out and have a proper meal. I bet they don't serve good food in this dungeon." He took one of my hands into one of his and kissed my knuckles.

I tried to free my hand, but I didn't have enough energy in my body to do even that.

I looked at him with real hate. I hadn't eaten in weeks, not a single crumb. I could bet anything those had been his orders. This sick man, wanted me to need him, to acknowledge my belonging to him. He wouldn't force me into anything. He would simply manipulate the situation to his convenience.

"You look beautiful when you are angry. Say yes, there is this muggle place I have a table at. I know you'd love it."

"Tom, this is sick."

"Love, I would do anything for you. You are my life. I'll kill Lucious after this is over. But I need you to learn your lesson."

I looked at him. Something in his tone wasn't right. Was he pleading? His voice was softer, his eyes full of tears.

"I love you, Hermione. Come with me. I'll be gracious, just have dinner with me and everything will be forgotten."

As he spoke I knew he was offering me his heart. He really wanted me to stop suffering, it broke his heart to have me in this place.

I was so hungry, not only for food but also for love.

I tried to stand up. I couldn't. Tom helped me. I sat in his lap and kissed him. Then I leaned on his shoulder.

"So what will you order? Perhaps some pasta?"

His voice was so cheerful. Poor Tom.

"Tom, I'm not going to have dinner with you tonight."

His grip on my thigh got unbearably strong.

"Of course you are, don't be silly."

"No Tom. I won't, not tonight, not ever again."

"Yes you will. I'll have you here for as long as it takes."

"I'm not coming."

Silence descended in that awful place. He made a move to stand.

"Tom, do you think I could stay here in your arms, just for a little while?"

He didn't answer, but he didn't push me to the floor either.

"Sleep my love, you'll need it."

I couldn't help shivering. I started to cry.

"Shh, my love there is no need to cry, at least not this night. I was planning on giving you a present at dinner. But I guess I'll have to give it to you here."

I felt my magic flow from him to me. It was so utterly comforting. I couldn't cast a single charm without a wand. I couldn't defend myself. But still it made me feel whole again.

I fell asleep in his lap. That night there was no more pain.

Heavy footsteps got me out of my thoughts. I turned, and Draco was there, not a scratch on him.

"Granger, where is Potter? Please tell me you didn't let him lose in my home without anyone to look after him! Our provisions are numbered if he eats half of what Weasel used to…"

He was smiling.

"I didn't know you had a sense of humor, Draco."

"Well, I just got away from Voldemort in one piece. That is enough to get me into a cheerful mood. There are posters with our faces all over Europe. The sooner we get a plan the better. So, where's Potter?" As he said this he stared looking around, like he expected Harry to appear just any minute from thin air.

I couldn't trust Draco with any information regarding Harry.

"He isn't here."

"That's obvious Granger. You know what, I'll go look for him myself. That house isn't big enough to hide him."

"Draco, he is not fighting anymore."

"Give me a couple of hours with him, and I'll make him come to his senses."

His strides got longer.

"Harry did not come back with me, from now on, it's just you and me."

"What Mr. Boy Who Lived is giving up?"

Silence.

"It's just you and me the sooner you get that head of yours around the idea, the sooner we can start planning things."

"You know we are screwed, right? The two of us against him, we don't stand a chance."

"I beg to differ Draco. Who says it's only you and me?"

"What do you mean?"

"All in due time my friend."

Saying this I started walking towards our place, "By the way, do you feel like pasta tonight?"

His footsteps sped up till he was right beside me. He grabbed me by my shoulder and turned me to face him.

"Granger we need to get a plan, now! I escaped, but it won't be long before he finds out where we are."

"He already has."

Draco blanched, "What!"

"He has been trying to get past my charms since the moment you put a foot on the grass."

"Then we must leave. Why are you so calm?"

"He won't be able to get across my shields. We are safe. We can stay here for as long as it is convenient for our plans. We need to start training ,and I need you to fashion a wand for me. Then we will go looking for help."

"Hermione, have you lost your mind? He is Voldemort, he can get across any sort of spell, ward, shield, anything."

"He can, but he won't. I rooted every single charm, shield and spell around this place directly to my person. Any attempt on his part will result in my immediate death."

"So it is true. He is truly in love with you. Aunt Bella threw a tantrum about it, she killed a whole neighborhood of muggles in her rage. I never thought it was possible."

"It is. He knows how I made those wards. He won't bridge them."

"How is this possible?"

"There are some things you need to know."

During dinner I told Draco everything. He didn't say a thing.

"I need a wand. It would be best if you started working on it tonight."

"Granger I can't make a wand out of thin air."

"You are a Malfoy. This house must have at least one dragon heart string, there are trees around this house and I've read how it is done."

"Then why don't you do it yourself?"

"No wizard can wield a wand of his making. The person who does it puts too much of himself on the material for it to respond accordingly."

"You'll teach me how to do it tomorrow. I need to rest."

He stood up and waveringly took a couple of steps.

"Are you alright?"

"Mind your own business, Granger."

"If you drop death it's my business. What is it?"

"Let's just say I didn't exactly discover he truly loves you, because I found poetry with your name under his pillow. He came after me all by himself."

I realized there was a wet spot close in the upper left part of his torso.

"He is rather possessive of you. He cast a spell on me. I'll be alright, don't worry."

"You are bleeding Malfoy! How are you going to be alright? Come here I'll help you."

He reluctantly came towards me.

I was about to open his robes to see the wound, when he said, "Wait. Hermione, I…"

He didn't say anything more.

I opened his robes and gasped. Written in red with Tom's calligraphy was the next message:

"Hermione, I thought you would like to know that Malfoy here, is the one who killed your parents. He tortured them for weeks. Remember the Longbottom, they are nothing compared to the work he did on your parents.

Love,

Tom."

"He said it wouldn't stop bleeding till you read it."

I grabbed a napkin, got it wet and started wipping the blood away.

"Why?" he asked with true wonder in his eyes.

"Malfoy, if there is one thing I know about you is that you were a coward. If you did that to my parents you must not have had any other choice. It's Tom's fault. He wants me to love only him. He wants to be the only thing I've got left.

Killing my parents changed you. I can see it. The fact that you decided to get me out of that room and stand up to Tom is proof enough for me. After tonight I don't want to talk about this ever again."

That was the first night I didn't dream of Tom.

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