A/N: Sort of a the Beauty and the Beast but with Draco and Hermione. I've altered it a lot, so this is just basically my version. Enjoy and please review!

Note: THIS IS NOT THE SEQUEL TO MARRIED TO A MALFOY. This is just another random drabble of mine.

The night after his graduation from Hogwarts, Draco was sitting alone in his castle, which was perched at the top of the hill. He was used to being alone. Just sitting there, listening the rain tear at the roof and the wind shriek.

A knock from the door interrupted his thoughts. He leapt up lazily from his armchair, with the subtle grace of a cat, and opened the door.

An old muggle woman stood there, her wispy grey hair out at strange ends, giving him a hopeful smile, revealing stained, yellow and missing teeth. She was about half the size of Draco, and a beggar, if her torn, dirty clothes were anything to go by.

"What do you want?" Draco snarled, his repulsion for Muggles kicking in.

"Please, sir," begged the old lady, "Can I swap this rose here for a crust of bread? Please, sir – '

Her bony hands reached towards Draco, the stunning rose clasped in yellow fingernails, begging, and he slapped them away, scorning her gift.

"Get away," he snapped, "Stupid muggle. Never return here again."

The old lady drew her hands back. A new expression came over her face, but Draco scarcely noticed.

"Do not be deceived by appearances," she warned, "for beauty is found within."

Draco laughed scornfully.

He then started to shut the door on her, then stopped.

The old lady was changing. Her scraggly grey hair turned into sheets of golden hair, the wrinkles faded away, her teeth straightened out and turned white, and she grew seven inches. In seconds, the old lady had morphed into a stunning witch.

Draco realized, with cold horror, his mistake. He opened his mouth to apologize, but the witch pointed her wand warningly at him.

"Don't speak," she said coldly, "I hereby curse you, Draco Malfoy, to live out your life in this house, never to step foot from it again, under pain of death. This curse can be broken only if a young lady can fall in love with you, and you with her. But I doubt any lady could learn to love such a selfish, arrogant pig. By the time the petals from this rose all fall, you will have lost your chance, and will spend all eternity in this house."

With her wand, she cursed him. Blue light landed all over Draco, and was absorbed into his blood. He could never escape.

The rose she held shined white-pink, and melted inside a crystal vase. In her other hand was a mirror, which she placed in Draco's hand. "This is your only window to the outside world. You may use it until you can find love in your heart."

And the enchantress vanished, and Draco found himself in the highest room of his castle, locked inside, the crystal vase on the table beside him.

Hermione Granger pushed open the door to her apartment with her nose, her arms holding two brown shopping bags. Her friend, Harry Potter, took one bag from her, and helped her unload them in the kitchen.

"Whose turn is it to cook dinner tonight?" he asked.

'Ginny's, I think," replied Hermione. "I cooked yesterday."

"At least you can cook," Harry said. "All Ginny can manage is burnt lasagna, and I don't fancy that again."

Hermione laughed, and wandered into the living. Ron was sitting there, reading the newspaper, and Ginny had a teasing look on her face, like she'd heard what Harry said.

"I'm making soup this time," she told them, a grin on her face, marching into the kitchen.

Half an hour later, they were all sitting down at the dining table, spooning a murky orange liquid into their mouths. This was Ginny's soup.

"It tastes like… like vinegar," Ron said, making a face. "What did you put in it?"

Ginny looked worried. "Maybe I put in too much salt."

"It's fine, Ginny," Hermione reassured her, as Ron again picked up his newspaper. "So, Harry, how's the weather for the next match looking?"

"Pretty bleak, actually," Harry confessed. "But the team and I agreed – "
He stopped. Across the small table, Ron was choking on his soup. Ginny leaned over and pounded on his back.

"Thanks," said Ron, his eyes watering. "But, you guys won't believe this."

They waited expectantly.

"The Chudley Canons are having their last ever match tomorrow in Igleville."

Hermione coughed. "And…?'

"We should all go to it!" Ron exclaimed excitedly. "I realize none of you have ever been into the Chudley Canons like I have, but it's their last ever match. We have to go!"

"I can't Ron," Hermione apologized, though not at all regretfully. "We're at the edge of a breakthrough at the office. I can't leave now."

Harry claimed he needed to practice for his big match and Ginny hastily found an excuse.

"Besides, Igleville's quite a way's away," she pointed out to a down-hearted Ron.

"I understand, guys," Ron said nobly. He put his fork down. "I'm going to pack." His excitement had returned to him. "Be right back."

And he rushed out.

Ginny was furious. "Come back now and eat your soup!"

Ron never heard.

Ginny sighed. "If I didn't know better, I would almost say you guys didn't like the soup!"

Harry and Hermione exchanged guilty looks.

"It's – great," Harry assured her.

Ginny beamed.

It was the next morning, and Ron was all set to go, dressed up most elaborately. All in orange, his Chudley Canons hat perched loyally on his head.

"I've invented this little device," Hermione told him, handing over an ordinary muggle watch. "So if you get lost or hurt, all I need do is check and I'll know."

"Thanks, Hermione," said Ron, doubtfully taking the watch. "But I don't think it's really necessary."

"That's what you say now," Hermione warned. "But I've heard rumors about some sort of monster living in Ingleville. Or something. But anyway, take care."

She gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek then he left.

It was three days after Ron had left and Hermione was getting concerned. He should be back by now – half a day to get there, about a day watching the Canons, then sight-seeing, then another half a day to get back. Unless he decided to stay for longer, but that was unlikely. Ron did have a job he had to do.

Hermione remembered the watch she gave him, and hoped he had the sense to put it on. She withdrew from her pocket an identical watch and stared intently at it.

It was a miniature version of Mrs. Weasley's, but more advanced. Instead, it showed the position of the wearing of its twin.

And right now, the dial was pointing at Prisoner.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat. She pushed the watch for more details, hoping it was just a small glitch.

According to the watch, Ron was Prisoner at 1 Ingleview Road.

Hermione leaned back into her armchair. The watch was her own invention, so naturally, she knew it very well. Well enough to know that glitches were rare. Basically never. According to her, an invention wasn't finished if there was a glitch… so that only meant one thing.

Ron was Prisoner at 1 Ingleview Road.

She'd go rescue him of course. With her amazing knowledge of spells (she had been, after all, top in all her classes. Excluding Divination) she had no doubts she could do it.

Should she tell Harry and Ginny? After a moment's thought, decided against that. Ginny was stressed out enough without knowing her brother was missing, and Harry couldn't leave anywhere now, for his match was tomorrow.

She decided to leave at once. Writing Harry and Ginny a hasty note, she packed a few things in a bag, and apparated to the Underground Wizard Train Station. There she bought a ticket, and half an hour later, was on the Wizard Train to Ingleville.

A/N: Hope you like. Please review!