Chapter One Shopping Incident

Hermione Granger-
"CRUCIO!"
I could not scream any louder, but then I didn't need to. I couldn't. I didn't know if I was screaming, or if I was silent. I was thinking, though I couldn't think, but I didn't know if I was. Who I was. What I was. Nothing mattered. I was being tortured, tortured to madness,
just like Frank and Alice Longbottom. ...
Draco Malfoy-
"CRUCIO!"
I felt like I was being ripped apart, watching the girl being tortured. It was more than torture. I didn't know who she was but I felt sick as I watched her body writhing on the floor, hardly concious, yet being able to feel. I wanted to scream at them, kill them and rip them apart for what they were doing to this girl, for the plain reason that she was muggle-born.

Hermione Granger-
Suddenly the pain stopped. I was free, but I knew it was not over. Before I could find the strength to open my eyes I could feel hands handling me, my clothes being ripped off.

Draco Malfoy-
I watched as Aunt Bella stopped cursing her. Then she gave a small nod to Dolohov and Selwynn and the charged forwards cackling. The ripped off her clothes, scratching and shoving her body. Then the Dark Lord spoke, making them all stop.
"No, our youngest Death Eater can do the honours."
My heart stopped. I didn't want to hurt her. I'd seen this done every day, but never before had I been asked to do it. I comforted myself with the thought that I would be gentler in the act then the others. However, I had to MAKE it look like torture. I slowly stepped forwards, knelt down and unzipped. I tried not to look at her bloody, bruised and tear stricken face as I went inside her. I knew I had to keep at it untill I was ordered to stop. I hated this. I hated these people. I hated my father. I knew mudbloods were dirty, but as moved there,
I felt this was more than unfair. I whispered in the girls ear,
"I'm so sorry. Try to look like it hurts more" She obeyed and screamed louder. "LEAVE..ME," she screamed, trying to catch her breath. "Enough."
I was relieved when the Dark Lord finally spoke. "Draco, you may take this filthy mudblood and do whatever you please. But after you have finished, set her free alive so she can live to tell and warn."
"Yes, my Lord," I said.
I then dragged her as gently as I could to my room, and let her free. She fled through Floo.

Draco Malfoy woke with a start. He shuddered as he remembered his nightmare. He had the same shaking nightmare every so often. It was a memory, a terrible memory, of one of the frightening of many nights during the war. He'd never forget what he had to do to that girl, mudblood or not. He'd never seen her face, but he didn't want to. He'd then have to live his life knowing to whom he'd caused all the pain. Although he knew that he'd had no choice, he still regretted agreeing so easily. He rubbed his eyes, checked the time, and decided to make his way out of bed.

Hermione Granger opened her eyes, gasping and shuddering. She sat up and hugged her knees whimpering, as she reflected on her dream.
She was incredibly grateful for Draco Malfoy for sparing her, even though they had been enemies during their six years at Hogwarts. To be honest, she wasn't actually sure Malfoy recognised her. The light had been very dim and her face had been horrificly jinxed, and did not look the same.
That was one of the worst nights of her life, and she felt lucky to be alive. The pain was the worst feeling she'd ever experienced and it had taken place that fateful day she'd become pregnant. However, it turned out that being pregnant was the best thing that'd ever happened to her, as she looked down beside her and watched the most beautiful little girl soundly sleeping. She bent down and gave Isabella a kiss on her tiny button nose, then stretched and went to make breakfast.

Draco got out of bed, yawning. He went to change and freshen up. Then summoned his house elf.
"Pippy!"
Crack!
An greenish-brown coloured elf apparated in front of him. She wiggled her bat-like ears and stared up at Draco intently, with her huge eyes wide open willingly.
"Yes, young master?"
"I want some poached eggs and a hot cup of coffee."
"Of course Master! Pippy will get going right away Sir!"
With another loud crack she disapparated into the Malfoy Kitchens. Draco sat down and wondered what the day would bring. His life was very boring now that the war was over. As soon as it ended, both his parents had been carted off to Azkaban, and Draco, fresh out of Hogwarts was left with the huge mansion, at the mere age of eighteen. He liked the feeling of being independant, though it could often be quite lonely. Now, two years on, Draco was still living a single man, with an incredibly boring job at the Ministry in The Department of Magical Transportation. He was Floo and Portkey Manager and spend most of each day making sure these means of transportation were working, and growing strong. However, today was his first day of Christmas leave, which was four weeks long. Draco absent mindedly drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair and thought about where to go. He had been delaying a trip to Diagon Alley for a few weeks now, he was in desperate need of owl food, and a new broom. His old Slytherin friend Adrian Pucey had been asking about joining his Quiddich Team, and Draco's broomstick was beginning to become slightky outdated. After his rather large breakfast, Draco set out in the freezing cold and apparated to The Leaky Cauldron.

Hermionie got out two slices of bread and with a flick of her wand; she toasted it. She made herself a strong mug of tea and sat down,
gazing out of her apartment window. She could see the tops of buildings and factories as she lived in a quiet area of Leicester. The city was full of Muggles and she had lived there for two years. After the war, she'd retrieved her parents memories and explained everything to them. They helped her get through the birth of her daughter, and she soon after moved out. Having a child kept Hermione very busy, so she did not have time for work. As a baby, Isabella did not like to be left without her mother, so Hermione never spend much time away from her. However, now that she was almost three years old, she had grown to be extremely intelligent for her age, and understood that soon, her mum would have to get away to work otherwise they would have to move out of their flat. Hermione was first planning on leaving her daughter with Harry's family untill Ginny fell pregnant. Soon, she would have her own child to look after, and she and Harry would have no time to babysit Isabella. So Hermione had decided that in four weeks time, after Christmas, Isabella would be left with the Weasleys' mother; she was extremely fond of Hermione's loving daughter.
After Hermione finished her breakfast, she then poured her daughter some cereal and took it to their room. "Wakey wakey, my little baby!" she said softly. Isabella smiled widely and jumped out of bed. After they were both fresh, fed and watered; Hermione went to pick out her toddlers clothes. She groaned when she saw only a few frequently worn dresses. She pulled out an old looking dress and got her dressed. "Darling, we need to buy you a whole new wardrobe!"
"Ooh Momma, I want pwetty skirts and dwesses and new shoes and a tiawa so I can dress like a pwincess!" said Isabella excitedly.
Hermione smiled at her daughters happiness at the thought of going shopping.
"We also need to buy Crookshanks some cat treats, and I've got some things to sort out in Gringotts," she said to herself as Isabella had already ran to get her coat. After they were both wrapped up warm, they stepped out into the icy weather, ready for their shopping trip.

Draco was inside Magical Menagerie, purchasing some owl food when he bumped into Pansy Parkinson. "Oh DRACO! How lovely to see you!" she cried.
Draco sighed and smiled back. He'd always found Pansy rather annoying, for she was forever trying to get on it with him, but to be honest,
he wasn't too interested. He'd liked the attention, but it was very irritating. "How about joining me for lunch later, and then you can come and see my new place!" Then she winked.
"Um, actually Pansy- I'm quite busy right now, we'll have to catch up some other time."
"Oh, OK" she said, looking slightly crestfallen.
Draco hurried off to Knockturn Alley, deciding he'd pay a visit to old Borgin.

Hermione was content. After a visit to Gringotts bank, she had spend a lot of her money on many clothes for her little baby girl. "Momma, can I wear some on now? Please?"
"Of course, darling."
Hermione helped her daughter change into soft, baby pink, velvet skirt. She then put on cream tights and a matching frilly shirt. On top she wore a fluffy light pink hooded cloak and boots to match. She looked adorable as she twirled around to show everyone in the shop.
There was a rather loud chorus of "Awwww's"
They then set out, hand in hand, to browse through more stores. Several times, Hermione had caught her daughter looking at famillies shopping together, and was filled with a great sadness. She knew that Isabella loved her dearly, but she also knew she longed for a father. She had asked about her 'Daddy' almost as soon as she could talk and Hermione felt bad for her. She didn't know what to tell her so she said-
"You will have a Daddy one day"
As it was winter, the sky became dark very quick but Hermione decided they would then visit Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to see George.
It was never the same without Fred, because they were no longer 'the twins.' There was just George, who had a gaping whole in the side of his head where dark magic had caused his ear to be removed and never replaced. However, the shop was still great, and still growing strong! It was very famous in the Wizarding World.
They had almost reached their destination when Isabella said-
"Momma, that man is vewy big!"
Hermione turned to where she was pointing. It was Hagrid, her half giant friend whom she had not seen in months. "Hagrid!" she called.
He did not hear her, and his huge steps caused his to go much faster then Hermione and Isabella. They began to jog, to catch up with him,
shouting along the way, but it was no use he had gotten to far to hear. Hermione didn't want to give up, so she scooped up her daughter and ran. But then she lost him, he was gone from sight and as they looked around at their surroundings, the realised they were quite alone. They had run, a lot further than they had realised, and Hermione realised they were in Knockturn Alley. She knew this was a rather dodgy place and she did not want to risk the safety of her daughter. The fact that the sky was now pretty dark, made the situation worse. Hermione wanted to get out as soon as possible. But as she turned she saw someone standing in a dark corner, whip their wand,
and something that felt like a knife sliced through Hermione's leg. She fell on the floor and screamed in pain. Then it happened again, but this time it was her arm.
"STOP!" she roared, trying to run, but magic was keeping her on the spot. "Run!" she gasped to her daughter.
"Isabella...that way!" she shrieked pointing. She watched her tiny daughter run as fast as her little legs could carry her as more pains shot through her. Hermione's vision was fading as more magical blades sliced open her body. She felt the magic that was holding her still lift. The attacker ran away. Hermione tried to move. But it was no use. It was too late. Everything went black.

Draco pulled up his hood, it was getting cold and dark. He was fast approaching Borgin&Burkes when he heard a distant scream. He shuddered, looked around but did not see anything. Someone screamed again and Draco decided to see what was happening.
"Lumos!" he muttered.
He shone his wand around and he saw a little figure running and panting. She collided with his knees. "Hey! Little girl, what's going on?"
"MUMMY!" she cried. "PLEASE HELP MY MUMMY!"
Draco was instantly worried when he heard another scream. He picked up the child and said-
"Take me to her!"
Isabella pointed the way and then began to whimper.
"Momma, Momma!"
Draco followed her eyes to the figure lying on the floor. His heart sank as he saw she was lying in a growing pool of blood.