Prompt:

I've got nothing left to live for Got no reason yet to die

Cause I don't need this life I just need… Somebody to die for

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.

Raised voices in the kitchen pulled her from the book she was reading. Aside from her, only Lupin, Sirius, Molly and Arthur were in the house. Harry and Ron were out on a mission with Tonks, Moody, Luna and Neville. She had stayed behind to work on the translation of the text that had been passed to them by an unknown informant. It was hard going so she had taken a break at Molly's insistence, reading a muggle novel while sipping tea.

Frowning, she set down her book and the china cup and made her way down to the kitchen quietly. Pausing on the stairs, she craned her neck to hear what was being said, but the voices had quietened to mere murmurs. Her footfalls light, she made her way to the kitchen door, her palm against the worn out wood.

The door opened suddenly, startling her and she gasped, stepping back as Sirius stormed past her, his face darkened. Braced against the wall, for a moment she was rooted to the spot.

"Come in Hermione" Lupin called with a sigh, watching her carefully as she crossed the threshold. Her eyes widened as she saw him, sat at the kitchen table, the instantly recognisable young man by his side, looking as though he had frequent flyer miles for Hell and though he hadn't seen a bath in months. Stood in the corner of the room was her old potions master, his arms folded, his features stoic.

"I must return, Lupin." Snape told him, gliding over to the floo. With a flash of green flames, the floo roared to life, returning him to Malfoy Manor. As the roar died down, the silence of the kitchen engulfed her until it was all too much for her to bare.

"What is going on?" she asked, searching the faces of Lupin, Molly and Arthur for answers. No one spoke, each darting their eyes to the others. "Well?" she demanded, her voice threatening to break.

Lupin motioned for her to sit down "Snape has asked us to protect Draco."

She looked at him with sheer incredulity "Are you serious? And you agreed to this?"

"He made the Unbreakable Vow, Hermione. Dumbledore trusts Snape, so we must likewise trust him. He has his reasons for the request and we have ours for granting it" he told her.

She stared at him, disbelieving.

"He is going to be staying with the Order, in the room next to yours. Can you show him up to the room please?" Lupin asked her, his eyes conveying that the matter was now closed.

She turned to Molly, hoping for someone, anyone to understand her feelings. "Dinner will be ready in about half an hour, I will bring it up to you both." she told her, turning her attention to the stove.

Her eyes met Draco's and she shivered involuntarily. Gone was the malice, the sneer, the hatred and utter contempt that previously they held for her, replaced with fear and pleading. She tried to hold his gaze but he looked away, shammed by her piercing stare. She felt her something twist in her heart and a little of her resolve melted. Standing, she turned to him, rolling her eyes as if to convey her acquiescence "Come on then."

Pushing open the door, she stepped into the room and waited for him to follow her in. His movements slow, he seemed beaten down and it was hard for her not to have a little compassion for him. Gone was the Slytherin Prince who had mocked her, tormented her and insulted her very birth. In his stead was this broken boyish man who looked as though even she terrified him. It was unnerving.

"Would it be Ok to have a bath, Granger" he quietly asked, sitting himself down on the edge of the bed. Hermione thought for a moment "I can't see why not, it's just across the hall" she told him, going to the closet. Opening the door, she pulled out a towel.

"Thank you" he murmured, not meeting her eyes.

Walking past the bathroom door as she made her way along the corridor, she heard the muffled sobs. Pausing, she softly knocked on the door before pushing it gently open just enough to ask if he was alright. Her gaze caught his reflection in the mirror and her eyes widened at the sight. She pushed the door wide open, stepping into the bathroom before closing the door behind her. Stunned, Draco gave no reaction as she tentatively reached out with her hand to help him remove his clothes, his discarded robe showing a shirt blackened with dirt and crimson with blood.

Peeling the shirt away gently, she traced wounds that were old and new, scars long healed and fresh, the mortification of his flesh causing her heart to clench in her chest. Helping him into the bath, she averted her eyes, attempting to preserve what remained of his dignity. She took a washcloth and gently palmed water over dried blood, soothing his skin with her delicate touch. He hissed through gritted teeth at the worst of it, her gentle voice cooing and relaxing him. Closing his eyes, he allowed her touch and the water to heal him, washing him anew.

"Why are you helping me?" he whispered, his hand stilling hers as her fingertips traced the Sectumsempra scar that marred the flesh just above his collar bone. His eyes boring into hers, searching her very soul, she felt compassion for the vulnerable boyish man before her.

"I don't know" she murmured, unable to look away from his piercing gaze. "Why did you turn yourself in to the Order? She whispered.

"I have nothing left to live for, got no reason left to die" he told her, looking away.

.