"You said you would protect me…you promised me. But when you told me that…did you mean from yourself as well?"

Chapter One

A Nightmare

My head was numb from a dull aching pain; the taste of iron flooded my parched mouth. Despite my countless attempts to pry my eyes open, they wouldn't. Almost as if the weight of a hundred year sleep lay across them. A slow trickle of liquid traced the inner curving of my nose and eye, running down my cheek; slowly I went to raise my hand to wipe it off, but my body was immobile. My mind raced as the thick liquid continued down into the crevice of my neck.

"Keep calm Hermione…just think…"

I tried; my clouded mind could not differ between what had happened and the possibility of it being a dream. Surely it was…a dream, no…a nightmare. Trying to relax my mind I though back to the last thing that had happened, anything to tell me where I was or where I was going.

Slowly I ran the brush through my tangle of hair, smoothing out the tangles. Regardless of the trouble the bloody brush was giving me I would not give Ron the satisfaction of my having to use magic on my hair, especially after I told him what a ridiculous notion it was. Luckily I had reduced the frizz to a minimum, now having tamed my once bushy do, I slid the smooth black headband Ron had given me for my seventeenth birthday along my hair and tucked it behind my ears. Giving my red knee length dress one last smoothing I slid my shoes on, grabbed my black formal robes and walked out the door.

The smell of Molly Weaslys cooking filled every inch of the Burrow. Despite Fluers never ending pleas to Molly about not overdoing the wedding décor, given the events that had occurred the night of Harrys' move. Quickly I pushed the wedding thoughts out of my mind; however excited I was for Bill and Fleur, I had to focus on the task that Harry and I were to be in charge of in thirty minutes. Narcissa Malfoy had been intercepted by one of the Order members just outside of Hogwarts. Dressed in her husband's Death Eater robes she was apparently going to see Draco, she came quietly; having been promised her sons safety and her own from the Dark Lord. Harry and I were given the task of defending her, having nothing personal against the woman; I personally saw no reason not to defend her. In spite of her marriage to that monster of a husband, she had done nothing particularly wrong; her actions never ventured from insuring the safety of her son. My mouth twitched fighting a small smile, in response to the irony of the situation. While I really had never been formally addressed to the simply flawless woman, only seen her from a distance, I knew of her beliefs. The thought of needing the help of a mudblood must be almost too much for her to bear. But she had been promised safety and a sure avoidance of Azkaban…

It hit me…"Oh God"….my heart raced as my breath caught in my chest….

"She's dead…"

I had headed downstairs preparing to leave through the flue; Harry stood looking elegant in his long black robes. A small smile pulled at his lips, just as we both walked toward the flue, suddenly Remus's thin form exploded through the door. His normally calm and clear golden brown eyes were wild and cluttered with confusion and fear. Tonks, Molly and Arthur scurried in from the seating room at the sound of the commotion, her face pale at the sight of her husband. As Remus began to fall Arthur and Tonks steadied him and carefully walked him to the seating room. As the trio shuffled to the next room, a trail of crimson blood flowed behind them.

"What's all the commotion?" Harry and I turned to see Ginney and Ron at the bottom of the steps. Their question was met by Remus shaky and weak voice.

"We had just arrived…in the ally…the entrance about two feet in front…." The sharp sound of air being sucked in echoed from his lungs as Molly and Tonks removed his blood soaked overcoat to revel an even more bloodied shirt, once white, now shimmering red. Harry breathed in deep, "Sectumsempra…" The mere sound of the spell made my skin crawl. Remuss continued;

"Before we could even move or blink, the sound deafened my ears. Fred saw them first, and he tried to get Narcissa into the door…but it was too late. The flash of green was mixed in with the red and blue from Fred and my wand. I didn't even know until I saw her slumped on the ground, black hooded cloak covering her. I tried to fight them off…" He stopped once more to take a painful breath in, Molly walked in front of him, stooping to eye level.

"Remus… where's Fred?" He stared blankly at the ground; she grabbed his hand and shook it slightly."Where is my son?" She was answered by sobs from a broken man. My hand flew up to mouth as tears stung my eyes; Molly sunk down to the ground, hand to her chest. Mr. Weasley shook as he reached for his sobbing wife. Harrys warm hands gently pulled me to him, we stood in the embrace until Ginneys quiet sniffles broke through her mother's wails. Pulling away from Harry who rushed to her side, I approached Ron, His glimmering blue eyes, stood out against his swollen red lids as tears streamed down his face. I leaned into his strong heaving chest, softly stroking his hair. We stayed like that for several minutes, the painful wailing of his mother coursing through his and my own body. Gently I pulled away, motioning for him to go to his parents; he smiled weakly and wiped the tears on my cheeks away with a warm finger. Ginney slowly followed behind him.

Shakily walking toward the kitchen window I stared out blankly. The wind blew softly through the tall golden grass; I no longer tried to wipe away the still falling tears. The soft tickling of the salty drops lingered as they fell to the counter. Behind me I could hear Molly's cries subsiding to whimpers, and Arthurs wavering voice over top.

"Ron, Harry..." Harry turned to face Mr. Weasley, not moving from my side as I turned as well. Lupins redden eyes stared dead at Harry and me, fear behind every blink. The sheer terror as he looked at us…not for himself but… Mr. Weasleys voice interrupted my thoughts. "I want you two to take the port key along with Ginney and Hermione. Tonks will send an Owl to Bill, Fleur and George and tell them to meet you." Ron stood up now, wiping the tears from his eyes "I'll take them but I am coming back." As Arthur left Molly in Tonks arms he stood and faced his son. "No you will not…" His face drooped with exhaustion. "But dad…" Ron walked toward him, "I SAID NO! I WILL NOT LOSE ANOTHER SON!" Beside him Remus cringed with utter guilt and Molly shuddered harder into Tonks arms. Ron and Ginney silently walked out of the room and toward the stairs. Stood silently beside me, something caught my eye through the window. No, it couldn't be. My stomachs undeniable lurch as I tried to ignore what I saw forced me to speak. "Harry…" He turned to face me, but before I could continue…

Sheer pain rocketed through my body. Ginneys and Molly's blood chilling screams pierced through my ears as debris flew through the air. Groping at my robes I searched for my wand, but was unable to move correctly to reach for it. Craning my neck slightly I could see Harrys robe draped body covering my own. Through shut eyelids I could see the explosions of reds, blues, and purples flying around us. Ginney and Tonks headed toward the flue, even if they were being monitored, Tonks would keep them safe. Harry roughly pulled me up and shoved me toward the port key as the Weasleys and Remus shouted curses as they followed us, Ron taking hold of my free arm. Turning my head slightly my stomach lurched as I my eyes rested on five hooded figures, appearing to be cloaked with the midnight sky itself. One however watched us with an odd coldness, immediately I knew who it was. There was a forceful drop in front of me as I was pulled down with Harry whose path had been blocked by Mollys broken rocker. The taste of blood filled my mouth as my lip hit the arm of what used to be a chair. While Harry struggled to get up Ron shouted some curses, a few hexes. But I stood gaping at the tallest man, the chillingly familiar cane resting at his side as his strong build advanced forward with a stride of arrogance and rage.

Harry pulled me up once more, Ron behind me as we ran to the port key. The adults had reached us as all of our hands were atop the port key; Remus glanced away for just a second.

"Avada…" An unknown voice shouted, seeing a wand a foot away I lunged at it; Standing between my friends and the enemy I shouted, "Protego!" The flash of green bounced away.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron both shouted, my head spun around to see their wide and fearful eyes one last time. "Expelliarmus!" The horrible and familiar voice said with a flick of his wand, my hand felt as empty as my soul. "Hermi…" were the last words I heard before I was alone.

"Stupefy."

Waking once more from the throbbing of my head, I fought the urge to fall back out of consciousness. A soft breeze washed over me, the chill of wind against my now exposed arms sending shivers through my body. A piece of hair fell onto my forehead; instinctively I reached my hand up to brush it aside. I could move, turning my head slightly I was met by a warm cloth and a solid figure. The swaying of my legs told me I was obviously being carried; but by whom and to were. My heavy lids would not budge still, a hushed murmuring rose about me as I heard a door open. The heavy footsteps of my carrier rung through my ears as my heart beat pounded to match the rhythm. The sudden drop onto the floor stunned me, snickers buzzed around me. I shudder as a gruff voice hissed, "pathetic." More snickers followed by the shuffling of feet, and then the click and lock of a door. Struggling to set upright, blindly I could feel the warm and soft brush of a carpet below me, the silence of the room was broken by jagged breathing, my breath caught in my chest. Suddenly the bind on my sight was raised, looking down at the floor, my sight adjusting to the dimly candle lit room; I was met by two shimmering black shoes atop a burgundy rug. Unexpectedly my head began to lift upward; slowly my sight took in the familiar strong and tall build of the man in front of me. Before I made it to his face, I shut my eyes, biting my lip trying to control my shallow quick breaths. The stinging of my cut lip made me jump. "Open your eyes, Mudblood." Reluctantly I opened them; scanning the face before me. The perfect smooth marble face, jaw set with undeniable rage, two icy gray eyes stood out against the bleach white, below the shoulder blade cropped hair, the eyes which bore down at me. The eyes of Lucius Malfoy.

Okay sorry that it seemed to drag on, I hope that you enjoyed it. I have the whole thing planed, but your insight is always welcome. This is my first Lucius/Hermione story, so as I said critics are welcome, I want to make sure that everything adds up correctly.