Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead

Yesterday is a promise that you've broken

Don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes

This is your life and today is all you've got now

Yeah, and today is all you'll ever have

Chapter 1

Draco was running as fast as he could into the dark night towards the entrance gate of Hogwarts. In the distance he heard his Aunt Bella's deranged shrieks and his godfather scream in anger, "Don't call me a coward!" Draco paused and looked behind him; Hagrid's hut was aflame, red and green streaks of light were flying through the air and the Dark Mark was still high above the castle Draco had called home for the last six years…the home he had helped Death Eaters enter…a pang of guilt coursed through his abdomen. He shook his head and continued to run; now was not the time for regrets, now was the time to get the hell out and hope to Merlin he wouldn't be tortured or killed for his epic failure. He finally saw the entrance gate and began to run faster…relief coursed through his body as he passed through it. Where the bloody hell was Snape…Severus had ordered him to wait for him before apparating to the Malfoy Manor to face their Master. He stopped, bent over breathing heavily and tried to ignore the raw fear coursing through his veins. Snape had done it…he had really done it…he killed Dumbledore. Draco shook his head and tried to forget the look of fear on Dumbledore's face and the tremble in his voice as he pleaded with Snape, "Severus…please." Draco tried to forget the momentary hope that had overcome him when Dumbledore promised him safety…offered him, Draco Malfoy, safety and protection…sanctuary for the person responsible for all of the terrible events that had occurred that night. Of course, this was a moot point now…Snape had ensured that option was gone when he murdered Dumbledore.

Draco heard soft footsteps approaching him from behind and he whirled around with his wand pointed…and his jaw dropped open. Hermione Granger, one-third of the Golden Trio was slowly walking toward him. "Stop right there mudblood…I…I…I'll kill you…I swear it…don't come any closer." To his horror, she stared into his eyes and smiled kindly at him, "Draco…you are not a murderer…but I don't have much time…this is very important and you need to listen to me." Draco stared back…it was Granger…there was no doubt about that…but she looked different somehow. She seemed taller than he remembered and her bushy hair was longer than he had ever seen it. She also looked much thinner and…older somehow…she also had the strangest look upon her face as she studied him. Speaking of differences, since when did she ever call him Draco…it was always Malfoy…or even worse, Ferret.

His hand started to shake as he continued to aim his wand at her heart, "I don't know how the hell you got out here so fast Granger but I'm not kidding you…if you come near me, I will kill you…now get the hell out of here before the rest of them find you here." Hermione continued to stare at him and her smile broadened, "You won't kill me Draco…I know you better than that…I know you better than you know yourself…you are not a murderer…I know what you are and murderer is not on that list …now you really need to listen to me…we don't have much time left…" "What do you mean I'm not a murderer…I almost killed Katie…I almost killed Weasley…and I was going to…"

"But you didn't kill them Draco…and you wouldn't have killed Dumbledore…you were going to take him up on his offer…now please…come with me …I'll explain everything, I promise…we just don't have time right now…but I promise you this….if you come with me, everything will change…everything…none of this will ever have happened…I can give you a new life Draco…a good life…one without torture, one without killing, one without him threatening you and your family…but you have to trust me…you have nothing to lose and everything to gain…now please, take my hand. Don't you want to see what could be…what you could do if you were on the right side…if you could take it all back?" Draco could hear shouts and running footsteps getting closer and closer to where he was standing…he stared at the outstretched hand.

The first note of impatience entered her voice, "Come on Draco, this is the choice you need to make…it's one you've already made…I've seen what you are…I've seen you happy…I've seen you hopeful…I can take this entire night away…but dammit, you have to take my hand and you have to do it now!" As if it were moving on its own accord, his hand grabbed Granger's…the last thing he saw as he was jerked from the spot was the look of shock (and was that happiness?) on his godfather's face as Draco and Hermione disappeared from sight. Draco closed his eyes and felt himself being pulled through darkness.