Collide

You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all the memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
--Avril Lavigne

Hermione had no idea where she was. One minute, an old lady was asking her for directions and the next she was here--wherever here was--with a dank hood over her head. Gingerly moving her arms, she discovered that her wrists were bound tightly behind her back.

She heard footsteps echoing off the cold stone floor and knew that several people were heading in her direction. Abruptly, she was yanked to her feet and the hood pulled over her head. Blinking at the sudden light, she waited for her eyes to adjust and quickly scanned the room, trying to find any way to escape.

She was surrounded by several hooded Death Eaters. One stepped in front of her and removed his hood and Hermione found herself staring up into the cold, expressionless face of Lucius Malfoy.

"Hello, Miss Granger," he sneered.

"You should know that they'll be looking for me. Blaise is expecting..."

Malfoy chuckled, a low evil-sounding laugh with no mirth behind it. "How do you think we knew where you were?"

"I don't believe you."

"Believe what you wish, silly girl." He paused and a sly grin passed across his face. "Don't tell me you fell for that ridiculous story about his sister and her muggle husband?" At one look at Hermione's countenance, he chuckled again. "You did, didn't you?"

****************************************

Lavender and Susan headed back to the castle to inform Dumbledore that Hermione had gone missing while Ron, Harry, and Blaise frantically searched Hogsmeade. Twenty minutes, the three of them were standing in front of the Three Broomsticks again.

"Any sign of her?" Harry asked the others. Ron and Blaise both shook their heads. "I didn't even know that Hermione was coming to Hogsmeade."

Ron turned to face Blaise. "In fact, I'd say that you were the only one who knew."

"You think I had something to do with this?" Blaise asked incredulously.

"You are a Slytherin," Ron pointed out.

"Slytherin, yes. Death Eater, no," Blaise replied.

"But you're the only one who knew..."

"That's not true," Ginny said, exiting the Three Broomsticks. She'd seen the five of them hurry out and now that they'd returned she wanted to know what was happening. "Hermione told me that she was going with Blaise."

"Well, who else knew?" Harry asked.

"I only told Millie and Theo. In the common room last night. There was..." His voice trailed off as a look of fury crossed his face. "Quella scopata!" he said in a low voice.

Harry, Ginny, and Ron looked at each other, shrugging. Blaise caught sight of someone down the street and tore off, leaving the others to follow. Grabbing Draco Malfoy by the collar, Blaise shoved him roughly into the alley. "Where is she?" he demanded.

"Kindly take your hands off of me," Draco said nonchalantly.

"Where is Hermione?"

"How would I know where the Mud--where Granger is?" Draco asked.

"I know you're behind this, Malfoy," Blaise said as he pushed Draco against the wall. Holding him with one hand, he reached into his front pocket with the other. He heard Ginny gasp as he pulled out a knife. "If anything happens..."

"I've told you. I have no idea what you're talking about."

Tapping the closed blade against Malfoy's neck, Blaise shouted, "Se un capelli riccio sulla sua testa è danneggiato, li fenderò gradisco un maiale!" While not understanding the exact words, Draco seemed to get the gist as he went even paler than usual. "Capisca?" Blaise pulled Draco off the wall and pushed him hard enough to send him sprawling. "Go on then," he said, in a threatening tone.

"I think we should get back to the castle," Ginny urged as Malfoy sprinted out of sight.

**************************************

"I assure you, Miss Granger," Lucius Malfoy drawled out in very posh tones. "Blaise Zabini's family is as pureblood as mine. In fact, his sister is married to a distant cousin of mine."

She shook her head. "His sister is married to Frank. He's a muggle."

Malfoy chuckled again. "Lovely story, isn't it? Especially good for fooling unsuspecting mudbloods such as yourself."

"You're lying," she replied angrily.

He spread his hands out. "Whatever you wish to believe." Letting his eyes wander up and down her body, he smiled coldly. "The Dark Lord has...special...plans for you." Nodding once, he dismissed the other Death Eaters. Before he left, he whispered in Hermione's ear, "But that doesn't mean the others can't enjoy you as well."

****************************************

Dumbledore assured the six of them that everything possible was being done to find Hermione. Harry and Ron looked reassured while Blaise looked anything but. Handing them each a Chocolate Frog, he dismissed them.

"Does he really think that candy will placate us?" Blaise shouted, throwing his Chocolate Frog on the ground.

"They're doing all they can," Harry murmured.

"Who's they? The Aurors? Because from what I've heard, they haven't done a damn thing in the last six years."

"The Order will..." Ginny blurted out.

Blaise honed in on her. "What Order?"

Harry shook his head. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. Do you have any idea what they'll do to her?" Blaise said. When the others winced, he continued. "They'll torture her. They'll violate her."

"Sounds like you know quite a bit about what the Death Eaters will do," Ron said angrily.

"Don't tell me you still think I had anything to do with this?" Blaise spat out. "I don't know where she is."

"So you say," Ron said, stepping closer. He had several inches on the Slytherin.

"I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS! SHE'S IMPORTANT TO ME, TOO!" he shouted. Realizing what he'd said, he felt his face flush. "I mean, we're partners, you know," he said, attempting to cover.

"The Order is dedicated to fighting Voldemort," Ginny said. "And that's all we can tell you."

Blaise nodded. "And they're trying to find her?" he asked, desperation evident in his voice.

"Yes."

**********************************

Hermione was alone in the darkness again. She struggled briefly against the bonds on her wrist, but soon gave up, conserving her energy. She felt nauseated at the memory of Malfoy's breath on her ear, his eyes looking her up and down. Pushing that thought out of her mind, she attempted to remember every detail of the room. The door was to her left. Scooting to her left, her back bumped up against solid wood. From there, she inched her way along the wall, fingers stretching to touch the cold stone. Finally, she was back at the door.

"Who do you think told us where to find you?" Malfoy's voice echoed in her head. She shook her head. 'Blaise did not do this,' she told herself. 'He almost kissed you. And he invited you to Hogsmeade. He held your hand for Merlin's sake.' Another voice, darker, posher, answered, 'But he didn't kiss you. And who else knew you were coming to Hogsmeade?'

"Blaise did not do this," she said aloud, trying to convince herself.

'Once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin,' the other voice said.

"Blaise did...not...do this," she repeated, faltering over the word 'not.'

**********************************

"Do you believe him?" Ron asked quietly, casting a glance at the Slytherin table.

Harry shrugged. "He certainly put on a good show."

Ginny shook her head. "I don't think it was a show. I think he really cares about Hermione."

Ron snorted and pushed his food around aimlessly on his plate. "Slytherins don't care about anyone but themselves."

"Look at him. He looks miserable," Lavender said. Blaise stared at his plate morosely, ignoring the chatter on either side of him. The only time he looked alive was when Draco Malfoy stepped into the Great Hall. As Blaise stared him down, Draco turned and quickly fled.

"I still don't trust him" Ron added in an undertone.

***************************************

"What's going on?" Millicent asked, concern evident in her voice.

"N-nothing," Blaise replied, not looking up from the fire in the Slytherin common room.

Sitting next to him, she rolled her eyes. "I've known you far too long, Blaise. Stop lying to me."

Tearing his gaze from the fire, he fixed it on Millicent. "She's missing, Millie."

"Who?"

"Hermione," he said, voice breaking.

"What happened?" she asked in a low tone.

Blaise recapped the events of the day, leaving out the part where he'd held Hermione's hand. Thinking back on it now, it was hard for him to believe that he'd been so happy only hours before. "I know that Malfoy had something to do with it." Millicent sat back, stunned into momentary silence.

"So let's find out," Millicent said once she'd found her voice again.

"Pardon?"

"Let's go through Draco's things. Maybe they'll be a clue," she suggested.

Blaise shrugged; it wasn't as if he had a better idea. Together they rose from the couch and made their way to the 7^th Year Boys' Dormitory. As they climbed the stairs, Millicent said softly, "You really care about her, don't you?"

He blinked back the tears forming in his eyes. "Yes," he rasped out.

Millicent nodded once. "Then let's find her, shall we?"

*******************************

"I assure you I can't let you in," the Fat Lady huffed at Blaise and Millicent.

"This is an emergency!" he shouted. "We need to see Potter and both Weasleys."

"Without the password, you'll just have to wait until morning," she said firmly.

Blaise nodded and seemed to turn back. Suddenly, he lunged at the Fat Lady and banged on her portrait with both fists. "Let me in, you cow!" Rather than answer, she fled into the neighboring picture. However, someone inside must have heard his outburst. The portrait hole opened and Blaise dove in. Falling into the middle of the common room, he spotted Ron and Harry huddled in the corner. "I've got it," he said, waving a piece of parchment wildly.

**************************************

They came for her again, rousing her from a light slumber. She was jerked to her feet with no warning and the hood was again ripped from her head. Someone had their wand pointed directly at her, effectively blinding her. Voices shouted at her from all directions and hands snaked out to touch her, squeeze her. Her blouse was ripped open and hands touched places that no one's had ever touched before. She tried to shout, scream for them to stop, but a well-timed 'Silencio' rendered her protests mute. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, trying to send her mind somewhere else.

"That's enough," Malfoy's voice commanded. The light in her eyes was extinguished. Lucius Malfoy stepped closer to her. Reaching out a hand, he squeezed her breast until her mouth opened in pain. He took off the silencing spell. "I want to hear every painful breath you take." Just as suddenly, he stepped back. "Mr. Zabini will be well compensated for this. Perhaps he'll take a turn." Chuckling, he and the others left her alone again.

In the darkness, an image of Blaise leaning close to kiss her rose in her mind and she sobbed.

***************************************

Blaise clutched his wand tightly in one hand and his knife in the other.

"I do wish you'd put that away," Millicent grumbled. "Before you get hurt."

"I know how to use the knife, Millie," he replied. They were walking with Harry and Ginny at the fore and Ron in the rear. Harry stopped abruptly, holding up a hand for silence. A second later, he held up three fingers and pointed in the direction of each Death Eater.

Ginny, Harry, and Blaise stepped forward and stunned the three. They dragged the bodies into a deserted corridor. They quickly stripped the robes off of the Death Eaters and pulled them on. With the hoods on, no one could tell who they were. Ron and Millicent stayed behind to guard the exit while the other three glided onward.

Harry quickly opened the first door, poking his wand in. He shook his head to indicate that it was empty.

"I think we should split up," Blaise said, gazing down the long corridor. There were at least ten doors on either side. Harry and Ginny quickly agreed and the three split up. Harry took the doors on the right, Ginny those on the left, and Blaise headed to the other end of the hallway.

The first room Blaise checked was empty as was the second. He slowly opened the third door, wand and knife at the ready. In the middle of the room, he could barely make out a small bundle. "Lumos," he whispered. "Madre santa!" The bundle had a head of curly hair. Tucking the knife into his belt, he knelt next to her and turned her slowly to him. Her blouse was torn open. Blaise quickly stripped off his Death Eater robes and wrapped it as best he could around her. Putting his wand between his teeth, he gently picked her up. As he thrust his head out the door, Ginny caught sight of him. One hand flew to her mouth while she urged him toward her with the other.

Just as he reached Ginny, a Death Eater stepped out of one of the other rooms. He got as far as 'Imped--' before Harry stunned him. The three of them ran back to where Ron and Millicent were waiting. They covered Blaise as he carried Hermione out.

************************************

Hermione groaned and opened her eyes. The light was too much and she quickly shut them. Opening them more slowly, she found herself in a clean, white, well-lit place. "Where am I?" she said, voice sounding rusty to her.

"You're safe now," a soothing male voice said. It sounded very familiar to her. "I'm so happy you're all right."

She sat up abruptly. "GET OUT! GET OUT!" she screamed. Medi-witches came rushing in. "Get him out!"

Bewildered, Blaise found himself bodily lifted from his chair and removed from Hermione's room.