March 1998
"Granger, Let's go!" He yelled, grasping desperately for her wrist. She let out an inhuman that he wasn't sure if she was laughing or scared. Draco's fingers found skin, in the darkness, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he yanked her to him. Spells and curses flew past them, miraculously missing, as he tried to get her to run. Hermione stumbled to put one foot in front of the other. "We need to move." He hissed.
"We can't just leave them, they-" She bit her bottom lip and threw a wayward glance behind them. He gave her a rough jolt as he yanked her along, ignoring her protests. Death Eaters were closing in slowly. Ron and Harry were nowhere to be seen. Draco knew he had to get them out of the manor. They could apparate, no. That would have been too easy. They had to get beyond the wards protecting the house before they could do anything. Their feet hit the ground, in a rhythmic pattern that would lead one to believe they planned it.
"Oh, Draco!" Bellatrix Lestrange's voice, sweetened Draco's ears and made him cringe. A killing curse flew past his head, close enough that it ruffled his hair. His fingers tightened painfully around Hermione's wrist and she winced. "My dear, nephew, I suggest you stop running." The black haired woman landed in front of them, Draco stopped dead. Hermione bumped into him, momentum still propelling her forward. Bellatrix raised her wand at the two, grinning devilishly.
"Avada Ked-!"
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione regained her composure, wand drawn, counteracting the other witch. "STUPEFY!"
The spell was waved away by Bellatrix, who laughed and threw a stunning spell at the girl, who blocked it just as easily.
"Well Draco, I'd never have thought you to pick a Mudblood over your family." Bellatrix cooed. Draco's eyes narrowed at her.
"Well, Auntie, " He mimicked her tone. "You taught me to always take what I want." The woman made a disgusted face, and then smiled again.
"You're going to regret this," she said, "Turning your back on your family is never forgivable."
"I don't give a shit about you lot. What are you worth? A family that brainwashes its children, and teaches them hate? Seriously, I have no need for that bloody idealistic concept anymore." Hermione rotated her hand into his, and laced her fingers through his own, giving a light squeeze. "No, Auntie, fuck you. I'm fucking sick of this. "
"We do what we have to, Draco." Bellatrix snapped "Avada Kedavra!" The jet of grew flew past them, and made contact with its mark. Ron had come out of nowhere, absent of Harry. And now he fell to the ground, lifeless. Hermione screamed, gripping her companion, who instantaneously wrapped himself around her to prevent her from running to the boy.
"Let me go, Malfoy! Let go." She struggled as Bellatrix laughed. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Hermione's wand flicked, green light finding home in the square of Bellatrix's chest. The smile hadn't made its way off of her face before she hit the ground. Hermione let out another scream, pushing at Draco, so she could make it to Ron.
"WE HAVE TO GO HERMIONE!" Draco yelled. He could make out the other death eaters coming towards them, and he began to panic. He shook his head in disbelief, frightened of everything around them.
"We have to go." He murmured to her. "Let's go." It was only then that he noticed that they were several yards outside of the wards. Swearing to himself, and holding Hermione tighter as she sobbed, he apparated them away, back to the Order and back to someplace they were safe.