A/N: So, longer chapter than usual. I got a sudden inspiration and decided to finish this story in three more chapters. Here's the line up: 

43: Eriel

44: Hanna 

45: Draco 

Epilogue: Draco & Hanna 

Well, I'll let you enjoy the chapter! Vote please. (: 

Eriel

After Hanna was taken away, I didn’t have much hope that I would ever get out of that dungeon. I mean, I had been down there for almost a whole year with people coming and going and none of them were me. Being alone, my mind couldn’t help but wonder to what Hanna had told me. She had been dating Draco, my Draco. What happened to us? What did I do to have Draco just drop me? I thought he had loved me. Apparently, I was wrong.

We had gotten together only the year before, but I was completely sure that Draco was the one for me. I was fifteen, yes, but I had known Draco my whole life. The Pebblebrooks and Malfoys had always been great friends, but apparently, certain people came before real friendship.

I closed my eyes and thought about the first time we kissed…

My hands ran along the hedges that ran the perimeter of the muggle park just down the street from my house. Walking over to the swings, I didn’t look at any of the other kids. I just wanted to be left alone, and they left me alone. I sat on the nearest swing and just looked down at the ground. Tears threatened to fall, but I tried not to let them.

“Want me to push you?”

I turned to see the platinum blonde boy smile at me. “Sure,” I smiled back, but not like usual.

He grabbed the chains and pulled back slowly before letting me swing forward. This went on in silence for a few moments before either of us said anything. I just wanted to forget the day that I had and just live in the moment with Draco, but he didn’t let anything slip from his sight.

“So, what’s bothering you?” he somewhat yelled.

I shrugged. “Parents.”

“What about your parents?”

I sighed. “They’re getting a divorce.”

I felt myself abruptly stop swinging. Draco’s hands were right above mine on the chain links that were suspending me in the air. I turned my head just a little to see that he was so close to me. I could feel his breath on my cheek, which made my heart skip a beat.

“Why would that make you unhappy?” he asked.

I sighed. “I’ve always believed in true love because of them. Now that they’re not together anymore, it kind of disproves that love can last forever.”

“Just because you’re parents split up, doesn’t mean that, E. It just means that they weren’t meant to be together,” he smiled, “but their love wasn’t for nothing. Without it, they wouldn’t have you.”

I shrugged again. “You’re right, but they really seemed to be the epitome of true love.”

He nodded. “I know that Amy and Ben seemed too good to be true to me. Their relationship was too perfect that it seemed like it would collapse.”

I swallowed hard as I tried to digest what he had just said.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Foot in mouth disease over here,” he said, and I actually laughed.

“Don’t worry about it,” I shook my head. “So, why didn’t you just jog on like the rest of the world? I’m just one little girl.”

“No,” he said. “You’re not just a little girl.”

“Oh, piss off,” I joked. I didn’t really want him to leave.

 “Do you really believe that true love doesn’t exist?” he asked, looking as if he was actually considering leaving my side.

I shrugged though. “Do you?”

“I think it’s right in front of me,” he said, leaning in and brushing his lips on mine. “Do you want me to kiss you, E?”

I swallowed hard and nodded.

“Are you sure?” he asked, pulling slightly away.

I nodded once more. “Yes,” I whispered with my dry mouth.

He leaned in some more. “E, are you-“

“Just kiss me, you sodding idiot,” I cried and pulled him into me.

I smiled briefly at how he had told me he loved me that day. It was something that I had thought would never happen, especially with him, but dreams really do come true. They just don’t last too long, do they now? I jumped as I heard a slam from the top of the steps. Most likely there was another prisoner that they were bringing down. I mean, they hadn’t removed me from that room, so why would they?

“Eriel,” a woman cackled in the dark. “Long time, no sun.”

I guess I had been wrong. Bellatrix Lestrange had brought me down there the first time, so why wouldn’t she take me out of the dark as well? I was sitting outside the dining room, not sure what was going on inside. I’m sure it was a meeting of sorts, but about what I couldn’t fathom. I jumped once more as the doors flung open and Bellatrix smiled at me.

“Come on in, deary,” she said, pulling me up and dragging me inside.

My eyes automatically found the blonde boy, the love of my life. He looked peaked as if he had been losing sleep and not eating enough. My heart went out to him, but then I thought of Hanna. What had I done? And I’m pretty sure that my eyes read that when his locked onto mine. Tears had started to escape from beneath my lashes, and I didn’t care.

“Eriel Pebblebrook,” a voice slithered into the room.

I broke eye contact with Draco to look over at a site that I wasn’t prepared to see. Voldemort was sitting at the head of the table where Draco’s dad usually sat. Instead, Lucius was sitting to the right hand side of the man and had a worried expression on his face. Who would’ve known that the Malfoy’s were so far up in the command rank or would even get there? I took in a deep breath and tried to hide my fear and stop my tears, but neither happened.

“Draco,” said the Dark Lord. “I was telling you that we did have another to suit our needs since you no longer have a bride. Well, I’m sure you’re more than well acquainted with Eriel. Aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” Draco squeaked. Even his voice sounded tired and worn.

“You two will be married tomorrow, just to make sure that she doesn’t run off this time before the deed is  done,” he smirked. “In the meantime, Bellatrix, would you lead our new bride up to the room she’ll be staying in for the night?”

“Yes, my Lord,” Bellatrix bowed and pulled me forcefully from the room.

I looked behind me as she tugged. I caught Draco’s eyes, which seemed to be filled with questions as well. He was probably asking himself why he had to marry me in the first place. I mean, he did stand me up that day, the day I was kidnapped by his own aunt.

I was pacing outside Draco’s bedroom door for what seemed like hours. We had been engaged so quickly and without a single word between us that I needed some questions answered. I needed to know why he didn’t love me anymore. I need to know why he stood me up. I needed to know if he really did love Hanna.

As soon as I lifted my hand to knock on the door, it swung open to reveal Draco in only his sweatpants. My breath caught in my throat before I pushed the feelings of longing aside and shoved him aside as well walking into his room.

“Eriel,” he said, but I shook my head.

“I need to know,” I said.

He nodded. “I need to know as well.”

I raised an eyebrow up at him. “And what is it that you need to know?”

“Why did you leave?” he asked, anger seeping into his voice.

The question caught me off guard. What was he talking about? He stood me up! I was the one that was supposed to be angry here, not him. I was the one that was kidnapped and kept in his own house for almost a year. I was the one who had a right to be angry, so what was with his tone of voice?

“What are you talking about?” I asked, letting venom slather my words as well.

“You left me,” he continued. “You left and didn’t tell anyone, not even your own parents. I know that things have been hard for you, but I thought that what we had was special.”

“Ha,” I laughed. “You were the one who stood me up.”

“What are you talking about? I never stood you up.”

“Oh, yea. Why did you write me last June asking me to meet you at our usual spot?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I never wrote you,” he looked down at the floor, “but I did happen to walk to your house. You’re parents told me that you were gone for the day.”

“Yeah, to meet you,” my voice cracked as I continued. “I was then kidnapped by your aunt. Bellatrix just came out of nowhere and snatched me up and hid me in your cellar.”

His head snapped back up at me. “You’re telling me that you didn’t leave? That you’ve been in my house this whole entire fucking time? That it’s all my aunt’s fault?”

I nodded. “That’s what I fucking said, dullard.”

“Then it wasn’t me who sent that letter,” he said, taking a few steps toward  me and then backing back to the spot where he had been. “Bellatrix sent that letter. She meant to kidnap you.”

“But why?”

He shook his head. “I have no idea.”

Tears welled up in my eyes again. “Oh, piss off,” I said and started to run to the door but he caught me by my harm. “Let me go.”

“Do you still believe in true love?” he asked.

My breath caught in my throat as I looked into his grey eyes. I had missed those eyes. Once lively and full of love, now dull and lifeless. I was silent for a moment before looking down at my feet and biting my lip. Did I still believe in true love? I so wanted to just take him and hold him and love him and kiss him, but I couldn’t do any of those things. He was with Hanna, or so she made it seem like that was the case. Perhaps she knew of the plan of us to marry and she wanted to throw me off track. But did I still believe in true love? The answer is yes.

“Do you still believe in true love?” he asked me again. “I missed you, E. I missed your smile, your laugh, your cute little bum. I missed the way that you bit your lip when you’re nervous. I missed the way you smile lopsidedly when you look at me. I missed they way you loved me. So, E, do you still believe in true love?”

I looked back up into his eyes. “Do you?”

“Always.”

“Do you still believe that you’re true love is me?” I asked, feeling brave.

He licked his lips and looked at his feet. “I’m a little confused at the moment.”

I nodded. “Hanna, right?”

He nodded.

“Well, I’ve spent some time with her downstairs, and trust me, she’s just as confused as you are, if not more. This guy, Simon, he seems to have won her over more that you think he has,” I informed him, but he still hadn’t let me go. “I should get back to my room.”

“Stay with me tonight,” he said, pulling me towards the bed. “I just want to hold you.”

I knew that I shouldn’t say yes. If I wanted to stand my ground because he was the confused one, then I needed to go back. I needed to be alone, but something was telling me that that wasn’t what I needed. I needed his arms wrapped around me. I needed to feel the warmth of his body. I needed to feel safe again. So, I climbed into bed with him. He pulled me so close to him that we could’ve been one person. I laid my head on his chest and head his heart beat for the first time in over a year.

“Draco,” I whispered.

“Yes, E?”

I bit my lip before telling him, “I’m still in love with you.”