i'm putting this only one time but it applies to all chapters of this story. i do not own any of the characters or settings that you may recognize from the books or movies. they are the sole property of J.K. Rowling. i just use them for entertainment.

CHAPTER ONE

The darkness faded as their surroundings came into focus. They were in an open clearing, surrounded by trees. Hermione dropped Ron and Harry's hands. Her hands went to the strap around her neck. "Put up the charms and spells I've showed you." She instructed as she pulled the small bag from her neck.

Harry and Ron set about the charms. Hermione opened her bag and began searching through it. She pulled out the tent they had used at the Quidditch World Cup. "Here Ron." she said, handing it to him. "Put this up. You know how, I'm sure. I'll help Harry finish the spells."

They finished the spells and charms and sat around the table twenty minutes later. Hermione looked at her two best friends.

"Well, this is It guys." Harry said.

"Yeah," Ron agreed. He turned to Hermione. "Mione, how did you know to have the tent with you tonight?"

She looked at him and sighed. "I didn't know Ron. I've had this bag with me everywhere I went for the last three months. And it's not just the tent. I have everything I thought we might need." She held up the small bag for them to see.

"That's brilliant Hermione!" Harry told her.

"Yeah," She smiled, "Actually, it wasn't my idea at all. It was…" Her voice trailed away as she remembered who's idea it had been.

"What's wrong Hermione?" Harry stared at her. She stared at the bag in her hands. Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them away.

"It's nothing Harry." She forced a smile. "We can't stay in one place for too long." She said then looked to Harry. "I'm sorry Harry, but I can't tell you where we are. I don't think it would be very safe since your mind is still connected to his."

He nodded. "I understand. So what do we do now?"

"Now we settle in. we should be safe here for a few days. We'll make plans about what we need to do." She opened the bag again. From it, she pulled out two cans of stew, followed by a change of clothes and a pair of shoes for each of them. "Here, change your clothes. After we change, I'll start cooking and we can make plans while we eat."

Ron held up the clothes he was given. "How did you get these?"

Hermione didn't speak or look at them at first. "They were Draco's clothes." she said in a quiet voice. "Just go change."

Neither boy made an attempt to move. "Hermione," Harry said. "What the hell has been going on between you and Malfoy?"

She looked up helplessly, her gaze shifting from one boy to the other. "Guys, there's something I've been keeping a secret from you." She took a deep breath. "I was dating Draco."

"What?" Ron shouted as he jumped to his feet. "Since when?"

"Since the first week of school… but we broke up on Christmas." she added quickly.

"Is that why he helped us escape? Is that why he saved you? And threatened Ron and I?" Harry asked. She nodded.

"Why would he risk his own life though?" Ron asked skeptically.

Hermione looked at Harry pleadingly. "Ron, just drop it." Harry told him, adding when he looked ready to object, "Not now."

Ron was taken aback. But only for a moment. "Harry, how can you be okay with this? This is Malfoy. He's a Slytherin. He's a Death Eater!"

"No he isn't Ronald!" Hermione shouted, jumping to stand in front of him.

"Yeah right. Probably shows off his Dark Mark to anyone who will look!"

"He doesn't have the Mark! I've seen his arms plenty enough to know that it isn't there!" Ron watched in shock as Hermione grabbed her bag and stormed off.