Disclaimer: It's been three months since I updated, and sadly I STILL don't own Harry Potter. Only Ms. Rowling can claim that.

Chapter 8

"Class dismissed," Snape thundered from his desk as the sixth year students filed out somewhat neatly from the Defense Against the Dark Arts room.

It had been a rather boring session today as Snape gave a lecture, and many of the Gryffindors had spent the hour quietly passing notes under their desks. The Slytherins didn't even bother to hide their classroom antics until Snape angrily snatched up a love note meant for Daphne Greengrass and read it to the class, much to everyone's amusement.

Draco had absently thrown his book bag over his shoulder and was about to exit the room, flanked by Pansy Parkinson and Theodore Nott, when Snape narrowed his eyes at the blonde.

"If you will, Mr. Malfoy, a word," the professor called, standing up from his desk with an obvious frown on his face.

Draco froze in place as he turned around to glance at the Slytherin Head of House.

"Do you want us to wait for you?" Pansy whispered, looking at Snape uneasily.

"No," Draco whispered back, shooing them out as his eyes went hard. "This may take a while."

Once his friends had disappeared into the hall, Draco turned back to Snape, his gaze cold and his face giving away nothing of the previous night.

"Come here," Snape beckoned, gesturing for the Slytherin to take a seat in front of him.

Draco walked slowly to the carved mahogany desk, his eyes never wavering from the teacher's gaze. He sat down carefully in the cushioned chair, a million thoughts swirling around in his head as he tried to discern what Snape wanted, although he had a good idea.

"Professor, I…." Draco began, before Snape interrupted.

"I am very disappointed in you, Mr. Malfoy. What happened last night was a very foolish mistake on your part," he berated, eyes furious. "Draco, what were you thinking? Do you have any idea what the implications of offering to keep Ms. Granger alive are?"

"Of course I do," Draco bit out, trying to suppress his anger. "But I don't need you to be telling me how incompetent I am as well, Professor."

"Mr. Malfoy, if you think that is what I'm doing right now, you are greatly mistaken," Snape sneered, before leaning in close and whispering furiously, "Have you forgotten the Dark Lord's task Draco? What progress have you made on that cabinet? This girl will be a distraction! Do you not see that?"

"My task is going fine, if that is what you're concerned about," Draco replied, annoyance etched on his face. "Look Professor, I'm trying to do my best. What more do you want from me? You know I'm not like them. I don't care if I hate her and her friends; I can't just watch them kill her. I know you don't want me to just watch them kill her, either."

Snape sighed; the boy before him clearly did not understand. When he received an owl in the morning from Lucius Malfoy, Snape's first guess was that the Death Eater wanted to arrange another meeting with his son to see how he was progressing with the Dark Lord's task. To his surprise, the letter was an angry ramble about how "My idiot of a son has just offered to protect the Mudblood. If for any reason this interferes with his task, I'll kill her myself."

"Mr. Malfoy, when you realize that not everything you do has its intended consequences, we shall talk again," Snape dismissed. "Until then, don't forget that in your family…in the Dark Lord's ranks…your best is never enough."

"Professor, is there something you aren't telling me?" Draco asked as he got up, his eyes narrowing.

"Mr. Malfoy, there is a lot I don't tell you," Snape replied, dryly. "Believe me when I say it is for your own good."

"But, sir," Draco hesitated, gauging on whether or not he should tell him about Hermione's offer. "Do you not agree that what they are doing is wrong? If…if there was some way to help Granger escape, would you help me?"

Snape's eyes widened, but he kept his composure. Was Draco trying to get himself killed? He had obviously been talking to the Gryffindor witch. But as he thought of a taut reply, Snape found himself asking the same question. She's probably the only hope Potter has right now. The Order is already trying to break her out though, so what sense is there in Draco helping? What sense is there in me helping? Snape glanced at the blonde in front of him, who stared back calmly, a questioning look on his face. She may be of help though. If Draco has gotten close enough to Granger that he is even considering helping her, then perhaps she will help him get away from the Dark Lord. Snape sighed, suddenly feeling a heavy weight settle on his shoulders.

"Draco, sit down." Snape waved for him to take a seat again as he took his own, his face showing his weariness. "Tell me what you're thinking. I will not guarantee you anything because what you are suggesting is very dangerous, but," a ghost of a smile appeared on his face, "it's not like we haven't dealt with danger before."

"You know," Hermione mused to the rat that had become her daily visitor now, "I'm starting to get used to this place."

SQUEAK! SQUEAK! The rat looked up at her curiously. Almost sympathetically, in Hermione's opinion.

"No," Hermione sighed, mumbling to herself, "It isn't a good thing."

It had been five days since her capture now, and although Hermione was certain the Order and Harry were planning a way to help her escape, she couldn't help but feel her mood dim. She had neither seen nor heard any other prisoners in her area of the dungeon, so as far she knew, she was alone, and the only human company she had access to in her week so far was Malfoy. Not that I want anyone else from this terrible household to come talk to me. If Malfoy was bad, then his family was positively evil.

She missed having breakfast in the Great Hall with her friends, reading about various charms and potions in the library, even sitting through Defense against the Dark Arts while Snape made snide comments about her and the other Gryffindors.

"You know little rat, sometimes when I'm alone, I like to imagine I'm somewhere peaceful and calm." She glanced at her friend, who was nibbling on a stale cracker she couldn't eat. "I always wanted to vacation on a lone island. A place in the middle of an ocean where there was no contact with anyone else and it was only me and nature."

Hermione closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. In the distance, she could hear the water dripping in her cell become the sound of gentle waves crashing against a sandy beach. The light draft that seemed to constantly pass through the dungeon became a light breeze that made her hair dance. Her eyes flickered open when she heard the rat squeak and scurry into his hole.

"You know, little rat," Hermione whispered, feeling a small tear fall down the side of her cheek, "it's when I'm alone that I realize there's no place like home."

"Well isn't that cute?" a voice cackled from the door of her cell.

Hermione whipped around and took a sharp breath as she faced her visitor. A frazzled woman stared at her with a mad grin stretched across her face. She was twirling a ring of keys casually as she tauntingly flicked them between the bars before pulling them back quickly.

Standing up slowly, but proudly, Hermione stared back at the woman without a trace of fear, "What do you want, Bellatrix?"

So I'm not even going to make up excuses for not updating because they will all be invalid because I'm two weeks into summer vacation now. I'm SO sorry guys! I guess it's really about managing my time, and I'm still trying to learn to do that. So in May was our IASA show! Our dance was amazing and everyone loved it! Then of course came AP exams, which by the way, did you guys get your results yet? I'm scared to death for AP Econ. :O Last came a string of parties and then finals. Now it's grad party season! Congrats Class of 2012!

Anyway, I will be busy this summer because I'm volunteering at a hospital, ACT prep, and then of course Ramadan is coming up (yes, I'm Muslim ). However my faithful readers, I will do my best to update! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and won't give up on me, because I won't give up on you. 3

Finally, thank you DominoTyler for being the best beta ever! I always feel more confident on posting these chapters after you check them over haha.

Fic of the Week: Footnotes by kateofallpeople
I love this story guys! It sort of plays on Pride and Prejudice and it involves a series of letters between Draco and Hermione as they fall in love. It's very unique, and I highly recommend you read it!

Non-Dramione Fic of the Week: Korrabook by paper walls
FUNNIEST STORY EVER! If you like Legend of Korra, you guys HAVE to read this! I can't go through one chapter without dying from laughter. LoK+Facebook=HILARITY.