I didn't want to do it, but I had to. It was her or death and I didn't want to choose the later. I could feel the blood seeping through the sleeve of my shirt. "Stupid Deatheaters" I mumbled to myself. I barely escaped with my life and now this. No wand, no money, no family, and no friends. How did I get into this mess I rubbed my arm where the blood was showing. Instantly a searing pain coursed through my body. Why me? I didn't dare pull back the cloth covering my arm, I was too afraid of what lay underneath. Shaking my head I started limping toward the small muggle café I just saw the girl disappear into. Inside the lighting was very dim and I could hear a soft jazz tune playing. I saw the boy behind the counter frown at my appearance. I turned away from him quickly, covering my nose in an attempt to block out the smell of coffee. I scanned the room trying to find the rather unkempt bushy hair that belonged to the girl I needed to find. In the back corner of the shop is where I found her, buried with her nose in a book, how typical. The corner she sat in was dark and if it wasn't for the small light illuminating the picture on the wall behind her, her table wouldn't have caught my eye at all. I straightened my collar and tried to hide the blood on my shirt as well as I could. I ran my hand through my hair and looked down at my pants, they were torn but there was no hiding that. Pulling myself together I tried not to limp as I walked to her table but my attempt was pathetic. Thank Merlin she wasn't paying attention. I cleared my throat.

"Malfoy." She said before I could even speak. Her eyes never left the page as she acknowledged by presence.

"Granger." I sighed and plopped into the seat next to her. Neither of us spoke for several seconds which seemed to last for hours. I started nervously drumming my fingers on the table. Why did I even think she would help me? Have I really fallen this far to ask for this mudbloods help? A million questions crawled through my mind. Her eyes continued to scan the page of her novel, and for several seconds I could swear she seemed to forget I even sat down. Then she spoke.

"What do you want? I'm actually very busy." Slowly her eyes lifted I saw them scan over the blood, the bruises, and the cuts. Her face twisted, going from annoyed to worried, then confused. I was weak and tired and I know she could tell. The bags under my eyes had to be thick and I was covered in dirt from spending the last three nights in the dungeon of my house. Then I caught her eyes lingering on my arm for a moment too long.

"I'm not one of your books Granger do you mind?" I snapped before I could stop myself. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes shot back to her novel.

"What…happened?" she asked hesitantly, as if questioning if she should ask at all. She closed her book and placed it on the table. I could tell she already knew the answer. She stared at her hands purposely avoiding eye contact.

"Death Eaters, my…my father" I couldn't say anymore it felt like I had swallowed a whole pumpkin pasty. Her eyes shot up and mine met them; I had never noticed they were brown before. They we're filled with understanding and pity, I scowled and we sat for a moment just looking at one another. Pity? I could feel my scowl growing. That's the last thing I wanted was for Granger to pity me. "Stop it!" I shouted and she hushed me instantly turning away.

"Don't shout. We are in a public place. Now tell me what you want or be on your way." She waved her hand toward the door and picked up the novel and started searching for her page.

"We have to get out of here," I turned my head and looked at the floor, when I saw her glance back to my face ",they might know I'm here."

"What?" she said still looking at me. She unconsciously started packing her things. "We? What makes us a we, and why did you lead them to me anyway?" She finally broke her gaze from my face and picked up the speed of her packing.

"Granger," I sighed "I need your help." I knew this was a personal victory for her, she couldn't stop smiling.

"The Prince of Slytherin needs my help? A lowly little mudblood? Surly Malfoy you do need help, but not the kind I can give you." She slowly stood and slung her bag over her shoulder.

"They took my wand, beat me, and used the cruciatus" I whispered just loud enough so she could hear. "My own father did this to me, and all because I refused…refused" I choked up again and started shaking my head. The memories were too fresh, days ago my life was fine and then he snapped. Then she spoke, bringing me back to the present.

"Refused what?" She asked cautiously but again I knew she already knew the answer. I lifted my sleeve.

"They held me down and gave it to me anyway." I couldn't meet her eyes, I just kept starring down at the permanent scar burnt into my skin, and I knew she was doing the same.

It was the first time I ever really looked at it. It was intricate and could have been considered a work of art if it didn't hold such a terrible meaning. The mark burned as it moved and I just wanted to scratch it out of my skin. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I thought about all the events that had happened earlier that day. That's when she reached over, pulled my sleeve down and sat back in her chair.

"They were following you?" I nodded. "How did you get away?"

"One of our house elves helped me escape; She just dropped me off here and went back to the manor"

"She brought you to me?" She questioned.

"I don't know if she intended to. I just told her to bring me some where safe. I half expected to end up in China, Africa, or the Americas, but when I looked around the first thing I saw was you." I still couldn't look up at her but I would bet my life that her expression was a mixture of pity and confusion.

"Well that makes perfect sense." She said after a long awkward pause.

"It does?" I finally looked up at her.

"Yeah, I thought you were supposed to be smart Malfoy." I tried to suppress the scowl working its way onto my lips but Granger saw it anyway. "Look all I'm trying to say is that where is the last place your father would expect you to go? To a mudblood's house," She smirked a little. ", To a member of the golden trio." I smirked as well, she was right no one would believe that I would go to Granger. She is the last one anyone would think I would go to for help. She sat back down and for a minute she seemed to be working through this all in her head. "I don't know if I can trust you." She put her hand into her bag and rested it there. I looked at her curiously and she opened her bag just enough to show me she had a firm grip on her wand.

"Fine don't believe me" I shouted at her and crossed my arms across my cheast. I kept my eyes on her as she stood again, turned, and took a few steps toward the door. "I don't deserve your help anyway." I said and let my face fall as soon as I thought she was out of earshot. That's when she turned around and sighed.

"I can't just leave you here, not like that." Neither of us moved. "You may be the biggest arse I know but I don't think you're lying, not about this anyway." She dropped her bag back on the table and looked me straight in my eyes. "If you hurt my family though I swear on everything magical that I will have my vengeance." Her voice was cold and demanding. For a moment I was scared, memories from our third year flashed in my mind and I instinctively grabbed my nose.

"Granger, I didn't know you could sound so dominating." I smirked, and lowered my hand. However the look she gave me quickly wiped it off my face. "I'm not going to do anything to your family. Frisk me if you must, I'm wandless, You don't have to worry." I met her gaze and her honey eyes pierced into mine with such a hatred. All I could think about was that I was accepting help from one of the five people I hated the most in this world. She even out ranked Potter landing herself in the number two spot; She always had to be better then everyone at everything. Dumb mudblood I taunted in my head, you're such a goody goody, brown nosier. You'd even help your worst enemy. My lips were twitching and I was afraid this hatred I had for her was going to come spilling out of my mouth. I shook my head and looked at the floor. I could accept her help, right? It was only for a night or two, and after all I did want to be on her side of this war from the beginning. I rolled my eyes when she finally turned away from me, satisfied that I wouldn't hurt her family.

"We better get going, its pretty late as it is." I stood and let her lead the way. She picked up her bag and walked out the door. I saw her slyly slip her wand into her pocket her hand hovering close to it. We walked a few blocks in silence before we turned into a small alley. "Granger, where are we going?" She just pointed to one of the houses lining the alley. I stopped in my tracks as she walked through one of the gates.

"Malfoy are you coming?" She turned around and looked at me.

"Where are we?" I responded without taking a step.

"My house Malfoy, where did you think we were going?" She walked up to the door and searched around in her bag until she pulled out a key. The house was decent from what I could see in the dark. It was small, a lot smaller then what I was used to, but it seemed cozy in a way. Dark brick with white trimmings. Its just the kind of house Granger would live in boring, and plain.

"So this is where the brightest witch of our age sleeps?" I said maybe a little bit too sarcastically. She turned on the spot and glared at me. "I didn't mean anything by it." I stammered out quickly as she gripped her wand.

"I'm doing you a favor Malfoy. I'm saving your life. Do not test me." She rose her wand. I lowered my eyes to the ground instantly and made a mental note not to make snarky comments about Granger's home anymore.