Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, magical/non-magical settings, etc. are the property of J.K. Rowling. No copyright infringement of the Harry Potter fandom is intended nor is any profit made from this fiction.

Notes: This was originally written for the wonderful Dramione_Remix fest!

I'd just like to thank my two betas writermerrin and ellielove_x3! You both have amazing patience for putting up with my all my stupid mistakes! (Any mistakes present are entirely my fault.) Also, for all you readers, I hope there's enough Paris/Helen parallels for everyone who was looking forward to this couple.

Prompt: Paris/Helen of Troy

And now without further ado... Of Captors and Captives.

Summary: Draco fears for Hermione's wellbeing. So, he kidnaps her to protect her. With the war still raging, how will Harry and Ron manage without their female friend? Written for the 2011 Dramione Couple Remix.

Of Captors and Captives

Part One

April 21, 1998
8:51 p.m.

There was a sharp knock on his bedroom's door, but Draco didn't bother to answer. He was too busy staring intently at the single strand of hair on his desk.

This hair was crucial to the new locating spell he'd created. The spell was one the Dark Lord would kill for because it would have given him the chance to pursue Potter constantly (if the pursuer had enough essence of the person he was pursuing). Draco was sure that the Dark Lord would kill him if he knew that he had made such a spell and didn't release the information to his master, but it was a risk he was willing to take.

Draco had gotten the hair off the drawing room floor two weeks ago, the night that he'd had to watch Granger be tortured. The look on her face accompanied by the sounds of her screams still haunted his nightmares.

He felt immensely guilty after that night. Guilty because there was nothing he could have done to stop his aunt. Guilty because no matter how filthy her blood was or how annoying she could get, she was still a girl that he had seen day in and day out for six years. Guilty because she hadn't deserve that,and it wasn't until that moment that he realized that all the years of animosity between them might have been fueled by something other than hatred. Something less ugly.

After that night he had been researching anything and everything that could help him find her. However, the research was slow and unhelpful. He soon changed his search to spell-making. He found a ancient book in his library a few days ago discussing theories on direction spells and the brief thought of attempting to combine them with a Portkey. This had intrigued Draco. He began expanding on these theories and eventually found a combination that worked.

Nactus Capio'sworkings were twofold. First the caster must turn whatever substance of the person they were trying to find into a Portkey. With that done, it was then that Nactus Capio should be cast. This gave the caster the ability to transport to the location of whoever the caster had preset the spell to find.

By the time the day was up, he would know Scarhead, Weaselbee and, most importantly, Granger's exact location. He would then bring her here where he would be sure that she was safe. After all, this war could go on for years, and she'd already fallen victim to it one too many times

"Draco, love," his mother's voice filtered in from the other side of the door. Sighing, Draco flicked his wand and the door swung open. His mother then made her way into his room. "Is everything all right up here? It's been two days since you've been downstairs. Your father and I are starting to get worried."

Draco quickly picked up the strand and gripped it tightly, as if he were afraid he'd accidentally drop it. "I'm fine, Mother."

Narcissa surveyed her son suspiciously. "You've cooped yourself up in your room with only the House-elves for interaction… You're planning something."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Really, Mother, when am I not planning something?"

With a raised eyebrow, Narcissa continued to scrutinize the young man in front of her. "While this is true, my son, the look in your eyes tells me that this time is different," she replied, before hardening her gaze. "What's going on?"

With great debate, Draco decided that it wasn't likely that he'd be able to house Granger here without some help. However, this topic was touchy for his mother, and he didn't quite know how she'd react. "You might not like what I'm planning, Mother."

"Please tell me it's nothing against the Dark Lord's wishes," she insisted, but when Draco kept silent and looked away, she opened her mouth in a silent gasp. "Draco, how could you be even think about defying him so closely after the incident at Gringotts? Or at all, for that matter? Do you have a death wish?"

Draco glared down at his desk. "I wouldn't say it's a blatant betrayal. I'm not going to do anything that's going to flag his attention. What I'm going to do is more of a … personal gain."

His mother was quiet as she contemplated his words. "You'll have to explain yourself, Draco. I don't understand what you mean by 'personal gain.'"

"I'm going to be bringing a guest here," Draco explained. "One that won't be welcome to anyone, but me."

"Who?" she asked warily.

"Hermione Granger."

Silence filled the room for a time. "You can't be serious," she said with disbelief coating her voice with a hint of boredom.

Draco smirked. "Oh, I assure you, Mother, that I am a hundred percent serious. I will be bringing her here. Tonight."

Narcissa narrowed her eyes in anger. "Why would you bring that girl into our home when you know the Dark Lord is temporarily residing here? Do you want to send us all to an early grave? I demand that you stop this ridiculous plan of yours. No good will come of it."

Once again, a glare darkened Draco's face. "I'm sorry, but that's not going to happen," he growled. "I will be doing this whether you or Father give your permission or not."

"How dare you speak to your mother in such a way!" Narcissa gasped, but Draco continued as if he didn't hear her.

"And as for her staying here, I supposed you're right. She'd be in too much danger here," he drawled with a thoughtful expression. "No matter, we have plenty of properties where I can keep her. It really doesn't matter to me. I just want to know where she is at all times."

To Narcissa, Draco might as well have spoken Gobbledegook, for nothing he said made any sense to her. She walked over to him and studied his face. "Have you lost your mind, because I'm having a hard time coming up with a motive for you to do such a reckless, imprudent thing. Please explain to me why you feel you have to disobey your family to kidnap some girl?"

"It's none of your business," he sneered, but the look Narcissa gave him told him otherwise. He sighed in defeat and then rolled his eyes. "…I need her to be safe. I'll never be able to forgive myself for letting her get tortured by Aunt Bella, and there's nothing I can do to change the fact that it even happened, but I can make sure that it never happens to her again. She deserves that much from me."

Narcissa was quiet before she asked, "Do you have feelings for this Mudblood?"

Draco wouldn't meet her eye, and his silence was a good enough answer for her.

She stared at him for two long minutes as she contemplated this predicament. "It seems you're determined to stand by this egregious action," she finally said and Draco looked up at her to hear what she'd say next. "You do know if this were to come to the Dark Lord's notice, you'd be staring down the end of his wand?"

"Do you think I haven't thought about the consequences of this?" he countered.

"That remains to be seen," she retorted, but then continued. "…I don't want that fate for you, Draco. You're my son, and if you're hell-bent on doing this, then I will have one of the elves prepare the summer villa for her."

Draco's eyes widened. He had not expected his mother to be so accommodating so quickly. "Are you serious?"

Narcissa's eyes hardened. "There are conditions, of course," she said firmly. Draco hadn't expected anything less. "You're father will not become aware of what you are doing. Nor will he know of her presence at our property."

Draco snorted. "As if I would inform Father of Granger's whereabouts. Not after he was so eager to hand her over to the Dark Lord. Besides, I don't particularly plan on telling anyone about this plan. I feel it's safer for everyone that way."

Narcissa accepted this. "Another thing, we will not speak of this again. At least not inside these walls."

"Agreed."

"Do you still have my wand?" she asked in reference of his being stolen. Draco nodded to which she reciprocated. Narcissa let her shoulders sag just a tad as she gazed at him. "I hope to Merlin you make it out of this alive, son." She reached out and patted him on the cheek, then with one more sad look, she left.

As the door closed, Draco sighed. He too hoped he made it out alive, along with Granger. He soon turned his attention to the hair in his hand again. In a few short hours he'd have Granger, and in the end that was all that mattered.

He spent the next three hours alternating between pacing and testing his spell on the elves. It satisfied him that it worked every time, but that still wasn't enough to relieve his anxiety about the troublesome night ahead.

Finally as the clock struck half past midnight, he turned his borrowed wand to the hair on his desk. "Portus," he whispered, and he watched the strand light up. Aiming his wand a second time, he continued, "Nactus Capio."

He could feel the magical aura coming off of it in waves. He stared at the hair for a moment, knowing that this was his only shot at finding her. He couldn't mess this up. With a calming breath, he reached out and gripped the strand.

Draco felt the familiar pull behind his navel as his makeshift Portkey transported him to his unknown destination. When his feet hit solid ground, he took in his surroundings. He was in a forest, that much was certain.

The thick brush around him barely gave him enough room to move. For a brief moment, he wondered if he were in the Forbidden Forest, but quickly discarded the idea. This forest didn't feel as sinister.

The next wonderment that came to his mind was where Granger could be in this thicket. She had too be close. The spell would have brought him in sight range of her.

He continued to scan the trees, but when nothing stood out, he let out an angry huff. Had the spell failed? Had he just blown his one chance at finding Granger? He took a step forward and snapped a twig underneath his shoe. The sound was deafening in the silence.

Draco didn't think too much of it at first, considering he clearly was the only one in the vicinity, but just as he took a another step, he heard some leaves rustle. He turned around in time to see Granger suddenly appear out of thin air, wand drawn and pointed in his direction.

She faltered when she saw him, recognition entering her eyes. "Malfoy?" she asked as her wand lowered just a tad.

He stared at her for a moment before a smirk appeared on his face. "Granger," he greeted and then quickly withdrew his wand and cast, "Imperio." He watched as her face went blank and her shoulders sagged. 'Lower your wand,' Draco commanded inside her head, in which Granger obeyed. 'Good girl, now come to me.'

Granger seemed to hesitate for just a moment before walking over to him. Draco continued to smirk. There was something immensely pleasing in having complete control over this girl. He quickly shook the thought out of his head. He was doing this to help her. Not control her.

His eyes quickly scanned the trees behind her. Where had she come from? Where were the Wonder Boys? Both questions left him feeling restless, and he decided that the sooner they were both out of this forest the better.

Reaching out and grabbing Granger's wrist, Draco gripped his wand and Apparated them both to the summer villa his mother had prepared for them.

The Malfoy Summer Villa was located on the Isle of Man. It was a large property, right along the coast. All in all it was a lovely spot. One Draco couldn't believe he hadn't thought of in the first place.

He began walking down the grand entrance hall. "Well, come along then," he commanded over his shoulder at Granger. She obediently followed. They walked up a large flight of stairs and turned down another luscious hallway before Draco stopped outside a tall, oak door.

Grabbing Granger's shoulder, he steered her inside the room. He swiftly removed her wand from her hand before he took out his own and canceled the Imperius curse.

Granger blinked a few times, then focused on Draco. Fear entered her eyes, and she quickly scanned the room, probably for an escape. "Where am I?" she demanded in a shaky voice. "And the word manor better not leave your mouth or I'll-"

"Or you'll what, Granger?" he asked as he twirled her wand between his fingers for her to see. "And please don't get your arse in an uproar. I assure you that we are not at the manor."

Her expression was indignant. "How dare you!" she seethed. "Give me back my wand, Malfoy!"

"Your wand?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. He held out the wand for inspection. "Are you sure this is your wand, Granger? Because, by the looks of it, this appears to be my aunt's."

A dark look came upon her face. "Don't you even mention that vile woman," she threatened as her hands tightened to fists.

Silence filled the room. He really shouldn't have mentioned Bellatrix, but better to get this out of the way now. "This is her wand, is it not?" he ventured on. "The one you and your posse of friends took that night? Along with mine, mind you." Rage filled her eyes, but he continued. "So, how can I give this back to you when it was never yours to start with?"

Granger rolled her eyes, but her tense frame said that she felt like a trapped animal. "You think you're so clever, don't you, Malfoy?" she hissed at him. "Now, give me that wand so I can leave."

Draco snorted. "You Gryffindors are always asking for what you want, but what you've failed to realize is that in a time of war, you've got to just take it." he advised her. She eyed the wand in his hand intently. "Come on, Granger, you know you want it. Try and take it."

In a flash, Granger flew at him, clawing at his hands. Within the first few moments, Draco had spun her around and was gripping tightly to her upper arms. She instantly started struggling against his hold. "Let. Me. Go. NOW!"

Draco chuckled. "Now that we've established that you'll not be getting this wand back, why don't you just settle yourself down," he said as he walked her over to the armchair in the corner of the room. He spun her once again and then shoved her down onto the chair.

She let out a huff. "Why am I here, Malfoy, and where is here anyway?" she insisted as she crossed her arms and glared up at him.

"Somewhere safe," he informed her. "That's all you need to know at the moment."

"That's not good enough!" Granger yelled as she tried to get up out of the chair, but Draco just pushed her back down. "I want to know why you had the audacity to use an unforgivable on me! And I want to know how you found me in the first place!"

Draco started at her calmly. "Well, I'm afraid I'm not in the mood to answer those questions, Granger," he drawled as he finally pocketed his aunt's old wand. "Just know that you will be staying here until I deem it fit to let you go."

Granger gaped at him. "I-I refuse to be your prisoner," she sputtered.

A smirk appeared on Draco's face. "I really don't think you have a choice in the matter," he replied. "And besides, you're really more of my captive than my prisoner."

"There's no difference."

"Ah, but there is," he started to explain, "I don't have you shackled and locked away in a dungeon, do I? Instead, you have this luscious room, a comfortable bed, and you may bathe whenever you wish. In addition, one of my own house-elves will attend to your every need. All you really have to do is stay here."

A look of pure confusion appeared on her face. "I don't understand. Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice more calm than it had been. It seemed her brain was working overtime to try and solve this puzzle.

"Don't worry about it, Granger," he answered as he looked toward the clock on the wall. "You best get some rest. I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a long day." He turned to walk toward the door. "I'll probably be back by late afternoon. One of my elves will be in to check on you periodically." With that he shut the door behind him and locked it.

Quickly Apparating back to his room at the manor, Draco collapsed on his bed. A great burden was lifted from his shoulders tonight and for the first time in a long time he went to sleep peacefully.

... ...

April 22, 1998
6:41 a.m.

As soon as Harry opened his eyes, he knew something was wrong. He quickly sat up and put on his glasses. He glanced around the tent and saw Ron snoring on a nearby cot, and upon further inspection he noticed that Hermione was not there.

He pushed himself out of bed and then made his way outside. "Hermione?" he called as he surveyed his surroundings. Hermione was supposed to switch off guard duty with Ron around three this morning, but by the looks of it Ron hadn't been roused at all. "Hermione?" he called again, this time a little more frantically.

When no answer came, Harry rushed back into the tent and over to Ron. "Ron, wake up," he said as he shook his friend's shoulder. "I think something's happened to Hermione."

"Bloody 'ell, mate," Ron mumbled as he sat up completely disoriented. "Woss goin' on?"

"It's Hermione. She's not here," he explained. "Get up!"

Still half asleep, but hearing the urgency in Harry's voice, Ron stumbled out of bed. "Woss you mean she's not 'ere?" He rubbed his hand over his face as an attempt to wipe the sleep away.

"As in she's not in the tent or anywhere outside," Harry explained.

Ron sat up straighter at this. "Wait, you mean she's gone?" he asked, fully awake now.

Harry nodded. "That's what I've been saying, yes." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Ron rushed from the tent and started yelling for Hermione.

They went off into the forest trying to find any sign of struggle, but after an hour of coming up with nothing, panic started to set in.

"Where could she possibly be?" Ron asked with urgency. "She couldn't possibly have left, could she?"

Harry shook his head. Immediately dismissing the idea. "No, this is Hermione we're talking about. She wouldn't have gone anywhere without telling us, especially when she was on watch duty."

Ron silently agreed as he scanned the surroundings once more. His panic steadily rising. "What if something really bad happened to her, Harry?" he asked in a low voice. "I mean, she's already been through enough. …I just don't know what I'd do if anything happened to her."

Harry placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ron, we will find her. We'll get her back, safe and sound. You'll see." He hoped his assurance helped Ron more than it had helped himself, but somehow from Ron's less than satisfied face, he knew it didn't. "There's no way to know where she was taken, but maybe if we had more eyes to help us look, we'd find her faster."

Ron looked at him questionably. "You mean, alert the Order?" he asked and Harry confirmed with a nod. "But we can't got back to the Burrow. It's being watched, and I don't know if sending a Patronus would be smart or not."

"We could always go back to Shell Cottage," Harry suggested. "Bill will be able to get in touch with everyone. I really think this is our best bet at finding Hermione."

After agreeing with Harry, they packed up their tent as quickly as they could and then after one more survey of the area, they Disapparated to Bill and Fleur's.

... ...

April 22, 1998
1:37 p.m.
Day One

Hermione hadn't moved from the bed all day. Her bladder was full and protesting, but she hadn't wanted to sacrifice her pride and use Malfoy's facilities. She'd even refused the breakfast the old house-elf had brought for her.

She knew eventually she'd have to get up to use the toilet and eat, but until physical pain set in, she'd make sure she stayed right where she was.

…Although, it was proving more and more difficult with each passing minute. The loo was really starting to sound like a fine idea.

She was just about to cast her pride aside and hightail it to the toilet, when the loud crack of someone Apparating into the room stopped her. Her gaze quickly found Malfoy smirking at her. Her bladder problem suddenly forgotten and replaced with anger, she sat up in her bed and glared at him.

"Malfoy, I demand that you let me go," she said firmly.

Malfoy simply ignored her and instead studied her appearance. "Granger," he started, "Your hair literally looks like a bird's nest, and I do mean more than it usually does. Have you not gotten out of bed once today?"

Glaring, she got out of bed, but in the process jarred her bladder. It now physically hurt to move. Her words left her, and she had no choice but to sprint to the restroom, each movement causing a sharp pain to travel through her. As she shut the door, she could make out Malfoy's laughter. She cursed him under her breath.

A few minutes later, she reemerged from the toilet. "Feel better?" Malfoy asked with a mocking smile.

"You twitchy ferret, you better wipe that look off your face right now or I'll-" she started to threaten, but was interrupted.

"Granger, I thought we went over last night that you have absolutely no way to over power me," he drawled. "Threaten all you like, but it's going to get rather old, rather fast."

Hermione felt tears gather behind her eyes, but there was no way she was going to let them fall in front of this prat. "Just let me go, Malfoy. I see no point with me being here," she insisted, her voice slightly pleading. "Unless you plan on handing me over to You-Know-Who, in which case you kidnapped the wrong person, seeing as Harry's the one he wants, then you might as well let me go. You're gaining nothing from me being here."

A small smile quirked at the corner of his mouth. "Don't presume to know my reasoning for keeping you here," he said quietly. "There's no need for you to know at the moment." He then strode across the room toward the little table in the corner. "Besides, I didn't come to discuss this with you."

He pulled out one of the chairs and then called, "Daisy!" A pop was heard, indicating an elf's arrival.

"Yes, sir, what can Daisy do for the young master?" the small elf asked with a bow.

"I think a bit of lunch is in order," he replied with a lazy posture.

The elf's bow deepened. "Of course, young master," the elf answered humbly. "But when Daisy brought breakfast, that girl didn't-"

"You will refer to her as Miss Granger," Malfoy insisted firmly as he straightened in his seat.

The elf squeaked in distress. "O-of course," she stuttered. "Daisy will be right back with lunch for her young master and Miss Granger." Malfoy nodded for her to go and with another pop she vanished.

Hermione crossed her arms and glared at him. "I hope you know that I'm not eating with you," she informed him. She then plopped back down onto the bed.

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Granger," he drawled. "Stop being such a stick in the mud and come have lunch with me." At that moment Daisy returned with their lunch and started spreading it out.

She felt her nostrils flare. "You are the most pompous, arrogant person I have ever had the misfortune to meet," she said with utter disbelief and anger. "Let me make this as plain as I possibly can. I do not want to be here. I do not want to be using anything that your vile money has bought. I do not want to dine, with you and most importantly I do not want to be in the same room with you."

Malfoy's countenance wasn't effected by her speech. He still had a relax, almost smug air about him. "Do you feel better now that you've gotten that off your chest?" he asked, but she didn't get the chance to respond. "Good, because I'd like to tell you exactly what I think.

"Your behavior is atrocious. You haven't gotten out of bed, which suggests laziness, and the fact that you haven't eaten or used the toilet all day points to neglect and bad hygiene," he listed as he numbered off his fingers. "Now, really, Granger, I realize you've been living in a tent with two dimwits, but I expected better from you."

Cheeks glowing red, she yelled, "I'll have you know my manners are perfectly intact, but seeing as you're the only person I'll be in contact with, I don't have any urge to impress you."

The grin hadn't left his face. "I see the wonder twins have indeed rubbed off on you." He pointed out. "Why, your face is as red as Weaslebee's hair!"

She took a deep breath to calm herself. It only helped slightly. "There's nothing wrong with having them rub off on me. In fact, I'll take it as a compliment," she informed him. "Because at least they're two people who are actually brave enough to fight for what they believe in, unlike some people." She gave him a pointed look at this.

Malfoy had a thoughtful look on his face. "I think you forget that we're both in this war, Granger," he said. "So, who's to say that I don't fight for what I believe in?"

"Oh please, Malfoy," she said with aspiration. "You're not significant in this war. Whatever efforts you think you do, will be overlooked and forgotten."

This comment definitely got to him. She could tell because of the way his eyes hardened and his mouth became a tight line. He looked sharply over at the House-elf, who had been trying to make herself as scarce as possible, and said, "Take my lunch to the manor. Granger will be eating alone, if she chooses to eat at all."

With that said, Malfoy Disapparated.

Hermione watched as Daisy took the food and disappeared too. She fell back against the bed and let the tears fall. She wondered what her boys were doing. Talking about them had affected her more than she thought it would. She hoped they weren't doing anything stupid on her behalf. She also hoped that they continued their search. This war had to end soon. It just had too.

The growl of her stomach pulled her from her thoughts. She sat up again and looked over at the food. She supposed it wouldn't hurt to eat it, now that Malfoy had left anyway.

... ...

April 23, 1998
11:57 p.m.
Day Two

Draco hadn't been to see her all day. He had gotten so angry by her last comment that he hadn't been in the mood to get into another argument with her.

He wasn't sure who he was really angrier at: himself or her? It didn't really matter to him whether anyone remembered him and his actions or not. All that really mattered to him was that she remembered she was kept safe by him.

Maybe that's why he was angry. She didn't see this as an act of kindness to her. She just saw herself as his prisoner, not that she was being kept safe and alive. However, he knew Gryffindors didn't think that way. They'd rather be out on the frontlines, trying to make a difference, than sitting safely on the sidelines.

Granted she didn't know this was for her protection, but he wasn't sure that he wanted to tell her his motives. He knew she was going to badger him about it until he did, though. Bloody Granger and her need to know everything!

Draco looked over at the clock. He hadn't seen her in over twenty-four hours. He wondered what she'd done all day and if she'd made an attempt to get out of bed... He supposed a quick check-in wouldn't hurt.

In a blink of an eye, he was in her room. It was pitch black and it threw him off a bit, but as his eyes adjusted to the blackness, he noticed that the reason the room was like this was because Granger was huddle on her bed asleep.

A sigh escaped his lips. Perhaps this was better. At the very least, there wouldn't be another argument.

Draco made his way over to her bed and sat on the edge. He studied her sleeping face. He wondered once again what she did during the day. He quickly surveyed the room. There wasn't a lot in here. No wonder she had already retired for the night. He'd have to bring her a book or something tomorrow.

Looking back down at her, Draco gently pushed aside a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She looked so peaceful and calm while asleep, so very different than when she was normally with him while awake.

After indulging himself with studying her for a few more seconds, he left her room as quickly as he came.

... ...

April 24, 1998
4:05 a.m.

The only light in the early morning darkness came from the spells and curses being cast throughout the trees. The Order had been ambushed while patrolling the forest, and for the last hour everyone had been fending off curses.

Harry panted as he ducked behind a tree. Taking a few quick breaths, he turned and blindly cast a quick succession of Expelliarmus before running forward to the next tree. An ominous green spell whizzed past him a few feet away, which had him shooting more spells in the direction it had come from.

This pattern went on for another half hour before the forest went silent. When Harry felt it safe enough to come out from behind the tree a few minutes later, he saw a group of Order members huddled together a few yards away.

As he got closer, he noticed that no one had been severely hurt. Most were just scratched up from running through the woods. It wasn't until he heard struggling that he realized why they were all huddled together.

"Let me go this instant!" the feminine voice shrieked. As the person came into view, he recognized her as Pansy Parkinson. Confusion appeared on his face. What was she doing here? Was she a new Death Eater?

She started struggling against the two men holding her. Bill had to tighten his grip, but Remus remained firm. "Stop struggling," Kingsley said as he came to stand in front of her. Pansy glared, but was smart enough to comply. "Now, if you cooperate, then you might make things easier on yourself."

"What are you going to do?" she seethed. "Torture me? I didn't know your lot was into that kind of thing. I thought that was against the goodness you preach about all the time!"

Kingsley waited for her to catch her breath before he replied, "We're not going to torture you, Miss…"

"Parkinson," Harry supplied. Pansy made eye contact with him for the first time. It wasn't for very long, but Harry was sure he saw just a little bit of anxiety in her eyes. He just wasn't sure why.

"Miss Parkinson," Kingsley amended. "As you so kindly put, my lot isn't into torture. However, it would help your situation to tell us what we want to know."

Pansy was silent as she contemplated her position. After a few moments, it was clear by her defeated expression that she had given in.

Kingsley nodded approvingly. He looked up at Remus. "Does she have the mark?" he asked.

Remus shook his head. "We checked. Her arm's clean."

This was definitely not the answer anyone was expecting. Kingsley looked back at Pansy and decided to go with a different approach. "Why were you and the Snatchers here?" he asked.

It wasn't Pansy that answered, however. "Actually, Kingsley, I'm afraid this is all dear Ronald's fault," Bill said condescendly as he sent Ron a pointed look, closely followed by everyone else. "It seems the oaf said the taboo."

Harry and the rest of the Order groaned. "I'm sorry!" Ron exclaimed. "You know I never say his name! I was just so worked up about Hermione missing for so long that it slipped out!"

"I hope you know the severity of what you've done," Kingsley said firmly.

"Ron, you're very lucky no one was seriously hurt or worse," Remus added.

Ron's face was a nice burgundy color. "I know, I know," he said ashamedly.

Kingsley calmly studied him. "One more thoughtless move like this, and you will be off this mission, " he informed him. Ron nodded solemnly. Kingsley then turned back to Pansy. She returned his gaze in a bored manner. "What news have you heard of Hermione Granger's capture?"

Pansy looked at him like he was crazy. "Granger's been captured?" she asked.

"Don't play dumb!" Ron interjected, to which Kingsley raised a hand to quiet him.

"You haven't heard anything about her? Nothing?" Kingsley asked with narrowed eyes.

She gave a huff. "Look, I'm not really privileged to all of the Death Eaters' secrets," she said as she rolled her eyes. "If they have Granger, they're not making it public knowledge."

Harry furrowed his brow in confusion. That didn't make sense. He was sure Voldemort would use Hermione as bait to lure Harry to him, but according to Pansy her capture wasn't being broadcast. So did that mean that Hermione hadn't been taken? Or was Voldemort biding his time, waiting to back Harry into a corner with her safety as bait?

"Let's get back to Andromeda's," Remus said as he passed Pansy to Bill for him to Disapparate with. "We'll give her some Veritaserum to verify her answers."

Kingsley looked over at Harry and Ron. "We'll meet you there," he answered and with the three men and Pansy disappeared from sight. Harry then turned to Ron. "What do you think?"

Ron shrugged, an angry frown on his face. "I don't know if I believe Parkinson. She never liked Hermione," he said.

"I guess we'll know if she's telling the truth soon, though," Harry replied as he took off his glasses to wipe some of the dirt off his face. "I've been thinking, if Pansy's telling the turn, then… what if Hermione wasn't captured? What if she just got separated from us?"

"That's not possible, Harry," Ron argued. "If she only got separated, then she would have gone to one to the safe houses. One of the Order members would have had her."

"Then none of this makes sense!" Harry said irritably. "At all."

Ron nodded. "I know, mate." They stared silently as they tried to figure out this puzzle. After a minute, they agreed it was time to go, and with one last look around them, they disappeared as well.

... ...

April 24, 1998
12:15 p.m.
Day Three

As soon as Draco was free, he Apparated straight into her room. His eyes instinctively went to the bed, but found it empty. Instead he found her sitting by the window, silently gazing.

"Oh, so my cowardly captor has decided to visit today?" Hermione asked in a bored tone, her eyes never leaving the outside scenery.

Draco walked over to stand beside her chair. "How do you know I didn't see you yesterday?" he replied.

She finally looked over at him. "You've resorted to spying?"

He smirked. "Of course not. That'd be way too much effort. Especially when I can come see you whenever I want," he answered. She lifted a eyebrow as if asking him to continue. "…You were already sleeping when I came over."

He could tell that she was unnerved by this, but she chose not to comment. Instead she said, "Oh, well if there was something to do in-"

Draco interrupted her by shoving a book in front of her. She looked at it warily before slowly taking it. "Don't worry. It's not filled will dark magic, " he said humorously. "I just thought with you being a bookworm and all, that you'd like a bit of light reading."

He watched her read the title. "Enchanted Encounters by Fifi LaFolle?" she asked incredulously. "Have you seriously just given me a romance novel?"

Shrugging, Draco replied, "Take it or leave it." She looked back down at the book in disdain, but didn't hand it back to him. He rolled his eyes at her ungratefulness. "Come on, Granger, a thank you can't be that much to ask for, and besides it's not like I particularly know what you like to read."

Silence followed and for a moment Draco thought she'd continue to ignore him, but then he heard her whisper, "I like academic reading."

Draco nodded. "Then I suppose I'll bring you one tomorrow," he told her. She nodded in return as she fiddled with the pages of the book in her lap. "Well, then, until tomorrow."

He started to move away from her when he heard, "Thank you." He paused and grinned. He was just about to respond when he heard noises coming from outside the door. He instantly reached for his wand as he heard Hermione stand up behind him.

The door suddenly flew open, and in strode Snape, closely followed by Narcissa. Snape, who seemed to know who he'd find in the room, glanced between Draco and Granger before his glare settled on the boy. "You fool," he insisted. "Have you any idea of what you've done?"

Draco, however, wasn't listening, but was instead glaring at his mother. "What's he doing here?" he hissed, his wand pointed at his old professor.

His mother's lips were pursed in disapproval. "Believe me, Draco, I don't want him here anymore than you do," she informed him. "However, it seems Severus has been noticing our odd behavior. He corned me and used Legilimency on me. I didn't have much of a choice in the matter."

"Draco," Snape called and Draco reluctantly looked over at him. "You will take her back before anyone else finds out."

"No."

"Then you will take her to the Dark Lord," Snape hissed.

Draco glared at his old professor. How dare he barge into his home and start making demands! "You have no right-" He started, but didn't get to finished because Snape lunged from him and grabbed him around the collar. He then proceeded to drag him out of the room.

Narcissa gave Granger a cold look before following the two men out, successfully locking the door behind her.

"You have no idea the kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into," Snape hissed as he shoved Draco against the far wall of the hallway.

Draco gripped the imprisoning hands and pushed them off of him. "I'm not in any trouble," he sneered.

Snape returned his sneer. "You got yourself in trouble the moment you brought her here," he said as he pointed toward the door. "What could have possibly convinced you that kidnapping Potter's Mudblood friend was a good idea?"

Rage boiled up inside Draco. "First off, don't call her that," he said angrily. "Secondly, my reasons for bringing her here are none of your business."

Snape studied Draco's face for a moment before he shook his head in disapproval. "You care about the girl," he stated as he turned slightly away from Draco.

"Like I said, it's none-"

Suddenly, Snape whipped back around. "What about your family? Do you care about them?" he demanded. "You'd purposely put them in harm's way for this girl!"

"No one knows she's here-"

"I'm afraid I can't let you make this mistake Draco," Snape interrupted him again. "I'm taking the girl with me."

Draco sidestepped him and blocked his entry to Granger's room. "If you intend to take her to the Dark Lord, then I suppose I can't stop you. But if she goes, I go with her. I'll turn myself in."

"To the Dark Lord?" Snape said evenly. "He'll kill you."

"Then I'll die fighting for her," Draco replied easily. "I'll walk right up to him and tell him she's mine."

A small smirk appeared on his face. "That's very heroic of you, Draco," Snape said mockingly. "However, bravery is not your strong suit. The moment you uttered those words, you would be condemning Granger and yourself to a slow and painful death. It would not be easy and it would not be glorious. You would both die for nothing."

Draco was slightly unnerved by the thought, but continued on anyway. "Doesn't matter. I will go with her," he replied. "I won't ask you to go against your master for me."

Snape gave a heated sigh. "I'm not about to hand you over to your death," he said before he began to contemplate this new twist to the war. "If she is to stay here, then this secret will need better keeping. It was too easy to access your mother's memories."

Draco glanced over at his mother, who was watching the scene calculatingly. "And how do you propose we do that?"

Snape also looked over toward Narcissa. "Since no one else has suspected either of you, I suggest you both prefect the art of Occlumeny. This secret could cost you your lives, so the better you are at disciplining your minds the safer your lives will be."

Narcissa and Draco nodded. "Thank you, Severus," Narcissa said in gratitude. "This is the second time you've aided my son. I am once again in your debt."

Snape nodded, giving them both penetrating gazes. "I will be checking in on you, Draco," he informed him and then Disapparated.

Narcissa turned to her son. "Draco, I-"

"It's all right, Mother," he assured her. "I think Snape might just prove his usefulness after all." His mother gave him a tight nod, then took his hand and took him home.

... ...

April 25, 1998
10:36 a.m.
Day Four

Hermione hadn't slept well that night. She'd been too busy pacing, wondering what was going to happen to her now that Snape knew. Thoughts kept racing through her mind. Like how Snape had told Malfoy to take her to Voldemort… Would Malfoy listen to Snape? Was her life in more danger now than it had been before?

Once in bed, she had tossed and turned all night, and what little sleep she did get was haunted by visions of being murdered by You-Know-Who.

Letting out an aggravated sigh, she plopped down into the armchair. There was no use in continuing to pace. It wasn't getting her anywhere anyway.

She spent the next few minutes fretting about this new predicament before Malfoy appeared in her room. Seeing him brought all her repressed anger to the surface. She marched over to him with a fire in her eyes and started whacking any part of him she could reach. "You. Absolute. Prat!" she yelled with each smack.

"Whoa, whoa!" Malfoy exclaimed as he tried to subdue her hands.

"How dare you. Keep me waiting. In the dark. Like that!" She continued to hit him until he finally managed to grab her hands.

"Granger! Calm the bloody hell down!" he shouted. Hermione was panting from the episode, and her cheeks where flushed. She wanted to continue to clobber him, but decided if she wanted answers, she'd have to let him speak.

Malfoy just stared at her for a moment, studying her face. This unnerved Hermione greatly, and when she realized that he was still holding her wrists, she yanked free and took a few steps back. "What's going on?" she asked a little more calmly.

Clearing this throat subtly, Malfoy said, "Nothing's going on. Everything's fine."

This response didn't help Hermione's temperament. "Don't lie to me, Malfoy! If you're going to be dragging me to You-Know-Who, then at least have the common courtesy to say it to my face!" she cried sharply.

He scrutinized her incredulously. "I'm not going to be dragging you anywhere," he informed her. "You will be staying right here. Nothing is going to change."

Hermione was quiet for a moment. "But what about Snape?" she inquired as she crossed her arms over chest. "He wanted you to take me to him."

Malfoy nodded. "Yes. He did, but I've convinced him that that's not going to happen. So, I'm afraid you're still stuck here." he explained. She was still confused and was about to voice her concerns, but he cut her off. "That's all I'm going to tell you, Granger, so just drop it."

Narrowing her eyes and sending a glare his way, Hermione promptly turned around and walked back to her armchair. She faced away from him, physically dismissing him.

She heard Malfoy shuffle behind her and then make his way over to her. "Granger," he said, but Hermione stayed resolutely quiet. "I brought you another book." In her peripheral vision she saw the corner of a heavy text being offered to her. However, instead of taking it, she turned farther away from him.

He made an annoyed sound. "This is real mature," he commented. He continued to hold the book out to her, but when she continued to make no move for it, he went and laid it on the table. The loud crack told her that he had left.

She let out a sigh as she turned to stare at the book. It was definitely a textbook this time, and Hermione's curiosity pushed her to go look at it. Making her way over to it, she picked it up. "Modern Magical History," she whispered to herself.

It had been such a long time since she had read simply for pleasure. While with Ron and Harry, she'd been reading for research and while she enjoyed research, the stress that usually accompanied it was sometimes overwhelming.

Taking the book back over to her chair, she plopped down and dove into her reading with a contented sigh.

... ...

April 26, 1998
9:11 a.m.

Harry sighed as he made his way downstairs. For the past two days the Order had come up with no leads to Hermione. They searched around the forest she disappeared in daily, casting spells to see if any thing was left behind, but each time they were unsuccessful.

It was getting harder to fight back all the horrible thoughts and ideas Harry was having about her disappearance, and he knew for a fact that Ron spent very little time sleeping at night.

He stopped at the landing and thought about today's predicament. He and Ron were on guard duty. It grated on Harry's nerves that they had to be left out of the search efforts to baby-sit Pansy Parkinson. Ron shared his sentiments, but someone had to do it and no amount of complaining was going to get them out of it.

On his way to the kitchen, Harry heard shuffling coming from the other side of the door. He figured Ron was already up and trying to find something for breakfast, but when the shuffles escalated to muffled voices only to be followed by a loud thump, Harry started to hustle.

The scene he found was troubling. Ron was standing by his tipped-over chair, fuming, and Pansy was unconscious on the floor. "Ron!" he exclaimed, and it was then that he saw his friends out stretched wand. "Did you stun her?"

Ron grimaced angrily. "She's a right pain in the arse, she is!" he said as he pocketed his wand. "She's been complaining about the house and how it's too small for days now and just now, she starting going on about Hermione. How if we haven't found her yet, we never will. I just wanted her to shut up!"

Harry was exasperated. "This is the second outburst you've had in the last few days, mate. You can't keep letting things get to you. It's only Pansy."

Ron's shoulders sagged. "I know. I'm just constantly worried. I feel like I'm not doing enough. She's out there somewhere. Hurt, maybe, and I'm stuck here. Plus, I haven't been sleeping, so I'm just cranky and tired. I'm at my limit."

"Why don't you take a breather?" Harry suggested. "I'll take care of this." Ron nodded and made his way out the back door.

Once Ron was gone, Harry made his way over to Pansy. She must have hit her head on the way down because there was a cut on her forehead, which was bleeding a bit.

Deciding it was time to wake her up, he pointed his wand and said, "Enervate."

Pansy's eyelids fluttered before she opened her unfocused eyes. "Ah, what?" she said groggily. She slowly sat up, and her hand went instinctively to her face. She grazed her cut and winced. "Ow!"

Harry knelt down beside her and summoned a towel. "Here," he said as he attempted to dab her cut. She immediately smacked his hand. "I'm only trying to help."

She glared at him and yanked the towel from his hand. "I don't need your help," she sneered. She started to nurse her cut herself. "But if you want to satisfy your Gryffindor chauvinism, then you can start by putting a leash on Weasley! His temper is a danger to society!"

Harry returned her glare. "Well, maybe, I should just get a muzzle for your mouth. That way his temper wouldn't be triggered in the first place."

Pansy looked indignant. "It's not my fault that Weasley's so touchy."

"He wouldn't be if you'd just watch your mouth," Harry informed her.

Pansy rolled her eyes. "But of course! His precious Granger's missing. Maybe if he was better looking, she would have stuck around."

Harry stood up irritably. "It's things like that, Parkinson, that will get you stunned." He then left her on the floor to tend to her wound.

Marching out the back door, Harry quickly found Ron sitting on a garden bench a few feet away. He sat down next to him and said, "Pansy's fine. Just a little cut on her head."

Ron grunted in response. For a moment they just watched the wind blow the tall grass. It was Ron who first broke the silence. "I think we should start looking for the horcruxes again."

Harry nodded. "I've been thinking the same thing."

Ron looked over at him. "Really?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I think our best chance at finding Hermione is if we end this war."

With a nod, Ron said, "That's kinda what I've been leaning towards myself. I hate that we haven't found her yet. It's been five days, Harry, and I'm sick of sitting around. At least if we start searching for the remaining Horcruxes again, we're working on killing You-Know-Who."

"The faster this war is over, the better off everyone will be." After Harry's statement, they settled into a quiet moment, both pondering their next move and the consequences that would follow. Choosing to abandon their search for Hermione could very well be her death sentence, but with no leads it didn't leave them much choice.

"We can't tell Bill and Fleur we're leaving. They wouldn't understand and they'd ask too many questions. Plus, I know they and the rest of the Order are already suspicious as it is," Harry said after a time. "We'll just have to leave tonight while everyone's sleeping."

"Right," Ron answered and was about to add a little more, but didn't get the chance.

"Then I suggest we all start packing now," Pansy announced from behind them.

Both Harry and Ron whipped around to stare at her. "Were you listening in on our private conversation?" Ron asked with aghast.

Pansy placed her hand on her hip and sent him a bored look. "Private, was it then, Weasley? Well, then, if I were you, I'd learn the concept of whispering."

Harry cut in before Ron could retort. "What did you mean when you said 'we all start packing'? Particularly the we part."

She shifted her gaze over to Harry. "I meant exactly what I said, Potter," she drawled. "That the three of us will be leaving this ridiculous hovel tonight."

Ron gapped at her. "You're mental if you think you're going anywhere with us!"

"As if you had any say in this, Weasley," Pansy sneered. "But as it stands I have leverage."

"Leverage?"

"Let's just say that if you wanted to leave me behind, then you shouldn't have said why you were going in the first place," she explained. "Now I'd hate to spill to the Order that you've gone off to search for Horcruxes. Things that, for what I've gathered, they no nothing about… Think how worried they'd be. Think of the stupid things they'd do because of it."

The triumphal smirk made Harry sick. No one could know that they were hunting Horcruxes. However, it wasn't for the reason Pansy had guessed. He wasn't worried the Order couldn't handle it. It was just that Voldemort could not get wind of it. The fewer people who knew, the better.

"So, what's it going to be, boys?"

It seemed the best course of action was to bring Pansy with them. Harry couldn't risk her blabbing to everyone about their business. They seemed to be dealing with a true Slytherin by the looks of it. Harry felt his shoulders sag as he prepared himself for what he was about to say. "It doesn't look like we have much of a choice, now does it." He acquiesced.

Pansy's smirk grew. "Lovely," she said cheekily. "I'll start packing the rags you Weasleys call clothes."

"Wait!" Ron called as he grabbed her arm. Her smug expression instantly morphed into one of antipathy. "You can't just saunter away. If you're going to be coming with us, there's going to be some ground rules."

Pansy ripped her arm away from Ron. "Is that right? Well, let's here them then."

"First, you will still be our captive," Harry said, jumping in. "Don't think that you'll just be able to try to escape. You won't be able to."

Ron chimed in next. "Wait, Harry. I want her to swear to an Unbreakable Vow. I want to make sure that she won't say the taboo."

Both Pansy and Harry stared at him. One was full of aghast and the other was of mild shock. "An Unbreakable Vow?"

"That's right," Ron replied. "I don't want you to try to have your Snatcher buddies come save you. So stick out your arm."

Pansy hesitated. "Do it, Parkinson," Harry demanded. "You want to come, then there needs to be precautions taken."

Reluctantly Pansy held out her arm and Ron grasped her hand. Harry drew out his wand and started the Vow. "Will you, Pansy Parkinson, vow to not say the taboo for any reason?"

Pansy stared at Ron with a blank expression. "I will." A thick tongue of fire wound around their hands.

"Will you promise not to jeopardize any plans that are carried out throughout our journey?" Harry added for safety. Pansy answered appropriately, and another tongue of fire joined its brother. "And will you vow to not try to escape if the chance presented itself?"

Pansy hesitated a bit longer on this one, but ultimately answered, "I will." The third and final string of fire circled around their hands. All three rings of fire glowed brighter for a second and then vanished. Pansy and Ron slowly drew apart, silently appraising each other.

"Great," Harry said, feeling a little heavy after what had happened. "We leave tonight. Be ready when I call."

TBC: This fic is complete. The next part will be up sometime tomorrow. Feed back is much appreciated! ^.^

Side Notes:

Paris/Helen Parallels

1. Paris "kidnapped" Helen: I made Draco used the Imperius curse so that it kinda coincided with both myths involving how Helen arrived at Troy. One my says that she was kidnapped against her will while the other says she fell in love with Paris and willing went with him. The Imperius curse made it so that Hermione wasn't forcibly taken, but it was still against her will.

2. Briseis: Briseis was Achilles' Trojan slave girl. In the movie Troy the two of them fall in love. In my story, I've elected Pansy to play her part.

3: Hector: I think Snape fits the part of Hector very well. Hector was the prince of Troy, older brother to Paris and one of the main characters in the Iliad. However, it was the movie in which his main scene comes from. At the beginning of Troy, Hector demands that Paris take her back and after an argument it's clear to Hector that it's too late to bring her back.

Well, I really hope you all like it so far.