The Truth

Summary: The truth of Draco and Hermione is finally revealed. The proof of their 5 year secret is shown through their own eyes. Follow Draco and Hermione through their school years thus far, and accompany them into their seventh year. Post HBP.

Rated: T for language and violence.

A/N: I know, I know, author's notes are a pain. No one hates them more than I do. I'm sorry to say that, though I have been reading fan fiction religiously for several months now, this is my first story. It was in my mind, and I had to do something about it. I hate saying review, but please try to, and be kind. I'll take any suggestions or help I can, but try to be somewhat nice about it. Thanks for giving my story a chance, and I'll try to update as much as possible!

Chapter One: Safety

He rushed through the underbrush of the forest. He knew where she was undoubtedly staying now. She had told him once how to get there. In other words, in case something like this happened. With those wretched people she called friends. The Boy Who Lived To Make His Life Hell and his sidekick, the Weasel.

How she could stand them, he wasn't completely sure, but he knew she cared for them and that's all that mattered. He had to reach her tonight, if he didn't, he didn't know if he'd ever make it. They were trailing him, determined to find him. Especially after the catastrophe he had caused when finally apparating from Hogwarts.

He had arrived with Snape, closely followed by several other Death Eaters that had managed to escape. The Dark Lord was waiting, immediately being informed of the occurrences. Draco hung his head, not out of shame, but out of fear. He had succeeded in letting the Death Eaters into the school, but his major objective was thwarted by the man currently whispering into the Dark Lord's ear.

Severus Snape. He was supposed to be helping him. His mother had told him. He had no idea there was any way of surviving a breach of the Unbreakable Vow.

He was suddenly and harshly thrust forward onto his knees by the many disgusted faces around him. He had failed in their eyes. Regardless of the fact that it was accomplished, he hadn't been the one to do it. He was glad he had not yet been branded. If he succeeded in this task, he was going to become one of them, a sure death eventually.

When he was first informed of his job, he was not entirely thrilled. First, he had no idea how to do it. Second, he didn't fancy being killed alongside his mother and father. No matter how much he despised his father at times, there was no way he could sentence him to death. That was why he agreed, he had to try. Not that he had a choice, he knew he'd be killed either way, but he had to put up a fight.

Telling her was another story. She didn't understand at first, she wouldn't allow him. She was angry beyond belief, telling him to go to Dumbledore. He flat out refused to go that far. After a long while of discussing, she had agreed to help him. She, of course, didn't want him dead either. He knew she was reluctant, it meant basically betraying her friends, her family... But he had assured her, that as soon as it was done, he would help her get rid of them. He allowed her to inform the Order of the Death Eaters arrival, so they would be prepared.

But he hadn't told her the entire truth. He hadn't told her about Dumbledore. And, as he stood there, over a weakened Dumbledore, he couldn't help but think of her. On one side, he heard Death Eaters coming to escape. On the other side was freedom, was the girl he loved. He heard her calling to him. He saw her saddened face when she heard what he had done. He vaguely heard Dumbledore offer him and his family safety. His wand unconsciously slipped lower from its target.

The doors to the school banged open, the Death Eaters swarmed around him, waiting for him to do it. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Snape arrived. Dumbledore's eyes focused on himself for one second. He was telling him not to save him. He knew he couldn't anyway, it would be foolish, and he would surely be killed right after. Then it happened. The flash of green light.

Snape told him to run. He knew he had to, he'd been there, they wouldn't show him mercy, not after what he had done; this was all his fault. He heard a yell, Potter had been there the whole time? And Snape turned to battle with his least favorite student. He couldn't imagine being in Potter's shoes, being betrayed by someone Dumbledore trusted so much. It was then that he made it over the border, and he apparated away, closely followed by the others.

After what seemed like years but was actually only a short time afterwards, found him on his knees in front of the Dark Lord, with his mother bound at his side. They turned to his mother first. It wasn't your normal Aveda Kedavra. It was brutal. Harsh.

He tried to move, but after the Hogwarts plan failed, he had been put into a cell for many days. He was more weakened than he had ever been. He had to get away, for her. He created an explosion, and he apparated as far away as he could think, no one would guess where he was going.

That's what found him here, running, to safety, he hoped. He should have been there already. She had better be there. It was a few days after the funeral, he knew.

Finally, a small house loomed in the distance. A trickle of light fell onto the yard from a window, where he could see her and her friends. The light of his dark world. He was saved. He made it to the door, blood dripping off of his pale skin. He knocked. The door opened and he suddenly felt very weak.

Mr. Weasley looked down on him. He was now on his knees. All he could manage to say were two very feeble words.

"Please... help..." and everything went blank.