Hermione came to with a gentle breeze and the sun on her face. A chorus of bird calls surrounded her and a sweet scent wafted in the air. She was on a soft bed covered in a warm downy blanket and exceedingly comfortable.

She was having trouble recalling where she was exactly, her head felt stuffed with cobwebs and she couldn't quite place the events of the last days.

"Well good morning sunshine." A voice spoke from her side.

Hermione blinked a few times and tried to focus her vision, which she was happy to discover had returned. The realization caused her to start at the memory of just where exactly she was. She turned over as quickly as her wounded body would allow. Seated at the foot of the bed was Blaise Zabini eating a mango with a grin. "Zabini! What happened to me?"

The boy tilted his head in mock concentration and pretended to be lost in though, "Hmm….let me think. Let's see…explosion in potions, stranded on a deserted island, and…oh yes, you almost died saving Parkinson and Turpin last night."

Hermione tried to remember the evening before. It was pretty blurry, mostly just a mixture of pain and screams, she could vaguely recall working on the girls. "I didn't." Her voice came out in a hush.

Blaise chuckled low in his throat, "Well you did succeed in causing quite the scene." She held her hands up to cover her face, "Oh Merlin, how?"

Zabini reclined a bit, resting on a single elbow while watching her. "Once you healed Pansy you started to scream and writhe on the ground. Malfoy started shouting at everyone to help you, Potter and Weasley were screaming from their clearing that they would kill whoever hurt you, and then of course Boot and Corner were prostrating themselves over your body refusing to let anyone help, which only made matters worse."

"So?" Hermione prodded him on in interest; she couldn't remember anything about this series of events. "So Nott and I transfigured a bed, took you off the ground, gave you some water and put you to bed while the rest of them fought." Her eyes shot up in surprise, "The Slytherins took care of me?"

Blaise shrugged and tossed away the core of his fruit, "I find that Houses only matter Granger when it isn't a life or death situation. As far as I can tell we are stuck here and I would rather make it through this than not."

She looked at him seriously, "I'm a mudblood Zabini."

"I am aware Granger." He looked back at her with no hint of expression on his face.

"I am the only mudblood here."

"Are you?" He made an expression of faux-shock. "As it so happens you are also the brightest of all of us. We snakes know what side our bread is buttered on and for reasons of pure self-preservation we have a keen interest in keeping you around."

At his statement there was a noise from the bushes. With a shaking of branches Malfoy and Theo Nott came into view.

"Zabini?" Malfoy called still struggling with some vines.

"Oi Malfoy, over here."

"How's Granger?" He managed to free himself and emerged in the clearing.

Blaise shrugged, "Ask her yourself."

Malfoy adjusted his robes before sitting heavily on the edge of the bed, "Well shit Granger, you gave us quite the start last night."

Hermione looked to her hands, "How are Pansy and Lisa?" He smirked at her, "Doing well in a large part due to you. Granger, do you know Theo Nott?" He indicated to the boy with his head.

Theodore Nott stood off to the side in the shadow of the trees. He was around 2 meters tall, or a slightly muscular built with shaggy hair that was dirty-blonde and affected an arrogant stance. His face was almost cute with narrow eyes, a strong nose and full lips. When he unexpectedly smiled at her his eyes crinkled into adorable slits of mirth and she wondered that she had never noticed him before.

He walked forward and extended a hand, "Only in passing, Hermione Granger, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Thank you for Pansy."

Hermione struggled to sit up in bed, she hadn't remembered her ribs and chest hurting like this yesterday, "It was nothing Nott, she obviously needed help, I gave it." She looked curiously between he and Malfoy. They were calm and seemed quite pleased with her. She had never been around happy Slytherins before, it was decidedly eerie.

Blaise leaned over, "Nott is seeing Pansy." Hermione looked dumbfounded, "I thought Malfoy…"

The blonde shook his head, "That ended last year Granger, don't you keep up on your gossip?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Oh how could I ever forget about such a devastatingly important event."

Draco smirked, "Well you obviously don't have your priorities set straight." He turned his head sharply as a sound came from the brush, he then relaxed his posture as a shock of red hair peeked through the leaves.

Ron burst through and lunged at her on the bed, sending the Slytherins scattering. "Mione! Oh thank Merlin! I could hear your screams all last night, I was so sure…"

She looked about as Harry emerged and sat next to her, "What screams? I thought you said I calmed once you put me in bed Zabini." Malfoy gave Blaise a perplexed look with a hint of warning, "You started screaming when you healed Pansy, do you not recall?"

Hermione shook her head no, "I just remember tremendous pain." Malfoy snarled and spoke curtly, "Yes well you took on most of the pain of Parkinson and Turpin before succumbing to it yourself. It wasn't a pretty sight." She looked about, "How so?"

Ron and Harry paled and looked to the Slytherins, "Yes lads, how so?" Theo shuddered and sighed, "She started bleeding from the mouth and eyes and ears."

Hermione felt like she had been sucker punched, "I what?! Why didn't you say anything Zabini?"

He scowled, "Malfoy healed it quickly enough. It was horrifying for a few fucking terrifying moments, but he was able to stop the bleeding and calm you before we put you to bed."

She shook her head, "Why didn't you just say so before?" He shrugged, "Malfoy you wanna field that one?"

Draco scowled at him fiercely, "I would rather you not feel indebted to me Granger, besides it was gruesome at best. You shouldn't have cast that pain reducing spell; you don't even know what you are toying with."

Hermione's eyes went wide, "Do you? I have questions…" He shook his head, "This is not the time Granger, perhaps later. We have questions of survival for right now. We need to address food, housing and devising a way to be saved."

"Who made you in charge Malfoy?" Ron growled at him. Draco turned to him with narrowed eyes, "No one Weasley, I just happened to have the good fortune of being the most lucid yesterday. Therefore I would surmise I know the most. Please go ahead if you have information to share."

Ron said nothing and deepened his scowl at him before Malfoy continued, quite ignoring the Gryffindor. "We aren't really in the shape to do anything today. Theo and Corner brought back enough food to last us until tomorrow, and then we will need to focus on shelter and a constant food source. They are apt to be looking for us, Dumbledore may be a fool but he is bound to want Golden Boy here back."

"What and your father won't be threatening all likes of officials to get you back faster?" Malfoy clenched his teeth and looked at him with bloodlust, "My father isn't exactly in the position to be threatening jack-shit right now Potter, is he? You made bloody sure of that." Harry turned away, "I forgot Malfoy, I apologize."

Draco looked at him sharply before nodding, "Yes, well we have other things to attend to now; we can't have this juvenal squabbling cause us to starve. Perhaps take a page from Granger's book on that subject."

"Malfoy?" Hermione's voice broke the thick tension enclosing the six of them. He softened his features and turned to her, "Yes Granger?"

She was blinking her eyes rapidly and fidgeting with the edge of the blanket covering her lap. "Where is Padma's body?" As she finished a tear slid out of one eye which she hastily brushed to the side.

"You were friends." Malfoy commented. She shook her head in acknowledgement, "She was always in our dorm to visit Parvati, and we were prefects together. I need to see her one last time."

Malfoy shook his head, "It would be better if you didn't Granger. The body doesn't look like Padma any longer; she was hit with the brunt of the explosion." Hermione looked him straight in the face, "I must bury her Malfoy. She is my friend and she deserves to be honored in death." He looked for help to Ron and Harry who were starring at Hermione with concern.

Harry took her arm gently, "Mione I hate to agree with Malfoy, but I think he is right, you don't need to see Padma like that." She looked around desperately at the group, "Please don't deny me this. We have been through so much already; the least we can do is properly honor our dead."

Blaise spoke up softly, "I will help you bury her Granger, we can make a grave marker and say some words over her. She won't be so easily discarded. Would that make it better?" Hermione nodded and looked at him with thanks, "That would mean the world to me Zabini."

Malfoy scowled at everyone in disgust, "Fine you want to traumatize her, be my guest. But before we fucking destroy the fragile hold we still retain on sanity here shouldn't she eat something?"

Hermione nodded in agreement, "I really am famished, and I need to check on Pansy and Lisa." Ron shook his head vigorously, "Mione you don't have anything left to give, you can't help them any more than you already have. Michael, Terry and Ernie are looking over them right now."

"Ron, they have no idea how to help them, or even check if anything is wrong, I need to look them over and assess the wounds."

Ron shrugged, "Then get yourself there, I am not going to help you in this."

"Ron!" Harry scowled at him, "You can be a right git you know that?" Malfoy moved closer and pulled the girl into his arms, "I prefer the description fucking wanker, but I suppose yours works just as well Potter. C'mon Granger I will take you there."

The four remaining men looked on in confusion as Malfoy made his way into the foliage with the Gryffindor in arms. There was a scramble and they followed the two towards the next clearing. So far the group was utilizing three main areas; a sort of infirmary where the girls slept, a meeting area where Ron and Harry had rest the day before and a sleeping are where they had set up a row of small mattresses off the ground. It worked for the temporary but needed immediate modifications if they were to remain, a variable which they seemed to have no control over.

Malfoy stopped short as they entered the clearing the two girls resided in. Terry was dozing on a thin mattress in the sand; Michael and Ernie were playing a game of cross hexes in the sand with their wands. They looked up in surprise as the six entered the clearing. Malfoy looked at Granger, "Which one would you like to see first?" She looked to the two beds and nodded to the left, "Pansy I think." He moved quickly and sat her down at the edge of the mattress.

Hermione leaned over and studied the face of the girl. Her normally rosy skin was pale and wan; the grimace her jaw held made the skin taunt. She rest her hand gently on the girl's shoulder, "Pansy can you hear me?"

Pansy groaned and opened an eye, "You still here? I'm fine without your help Granger." Hermione smiled a bit, "Pansy, it is a day later, you are healing up well. Are you still bleeding at all?"

Pansy scowled at her and took a labored breath, "No, I suppose I haven't coughed up any blood since the last time I saw you. I'm just tired…Theo here?"

"Hey love." Theo approached her and stooped down to be in her vision, "Glad you are feeling better." She nodded weakly, "Yeah, bloody hurts Theo. Stay with me?" He nodded, "Sure, the rest are going to go take care of Patil." Pansy tried to look about, "What happened to her?" No one said anything and another voice spoke up weakly, "What happened to Padma?"

They all looked over to Lisa who faced the sky in an improvised neck brace but spoke clearly. Michael and Terry exchanged nervous glances before Hermione lamely limped over to the bed.

"Lisa?" She spoke softly, "You doing alright?" Lisa's light blue eyes met hers with fear, "Hermione, what happened to Padma?" Hermione took a deep breath, "Lisa, Padma is dead, she was dead when she arrived."

Lisa closed her eyes tightly and attempted to turn her face away. Her jaw clenched tightly and tears started to spill out of her clenched eyes. "We are going to bury her today Lisa, I will make sure we do it properly. Is there anything you want me to say?"

Lisa opened her eyes and looked to her, "She was a good friend Hermione and she was loyal. I can't believe she is gone." Hermione nodded and looked up to see Terry behind her. He helped Hermione up and took her place with Lisa, "I will stay with the girls while you bury Padma, alright?" Hermione quietly agreed and stood shakily to gather Padma.

Ron came to aid Hermione in her walking. They made it a few meters before Hermione's body began to give out under her and Ron looked about to the others in desperation, "Can anyone besides Malfoy carry her?" Harry grimaced and shook his head, his legs still too weak from his injuries.

Ernie shrugged and walked forward, "I am doing alright, she looks pretty light." Hermione frowned and shook her head, "Listen, I don't want to be carried by anyone, period. But since Malfoy has been carrying me about and has yet to hurt me is it alright, Ron, if I just let him continue?" Ron frowned at her, "Sometimes I wonder about you Mione." She smiled at him weakly, "Thanks Ron"

Malfoy picked her up again and she sighed in relief, it would be really too much to have Ernie Macmillan holding her. For being such a pudgy runt when they had arrived he had developed into Hermione's ideal man. He was well over two meters tall, broad shouldered and strong with wavy dark brown hair and rather large features that reminded her of a classic Hollywood movie star. She supposed others probably didn't see him that way, but there was something about the studious boy that struck her fancy. Thankfully Malfoy was a decidedly safe option, not a hint of attraction there. She relaxed into him as he carried her a ways from their hideaways and towards the beach.

When the eight finally reached a jut of trees on the beach Malfoy set Hermione down and held up a hand to stop them. He turned, "Corner, Macmillan, you wan t to help me bring out the body?"

The two boys nodded and followed him into the ferns. A few minutes later they emerged with a body between them. Hermione moved slowly to them to see Padma, her form a mess of blood. The clothing that hung off her was singed and torn, exposing her midsection which was charred from the corrosive explosion. Her face was a mass of cuts tinged in black from the potion.

Hermione looked sharply at the face of her friend and set her jaw, "Bring her to the water; I want to wash her body." All seven boys looked at her sharply. Harry took her hand, "Hermione, let's just lay her to rest, alright?"

She shook her head and bit her lip fiercely, "No, not alright. Padma deserves to be buried properly. I am going to wash her and if you really want to help me you can transfigure some muslin to wrap her in before we bury her."

Harry looked to the boys who carried the body to the water in compliance. The two remaining Slytherins gathered ferns and transfigured them into a tremendous length of rough muslin.

Hermione made her way to the waters edge and held Padma's head gently. It was hard to feel disgust at the nature of her wounds when she knew the simple and sweet girl she held in her arms. The salt water lapped about them and rushed over their thighs as Hermione held the body tightly to her and washed all traces of dirt and blood off Padma's face and arms.

When she had finished she looked up to find all seven boys watching her intently. Hermione held her arms out and Theo and Blaise came and gathered Padma between them. Michael helped her out of the water and took her to Harry and Ron. The Slytherins wrapped the body carefully and placed it into a hole Ernie had spelled at the edge of the trees.

When the body rest firmly in the grave the eight look on in grief. Hermione spoke timidly, "Padma you were a brilliant woman, a loving sister, a faithful friend and a shining example of a witch. May you rest in peace in whatever lies beyond." She nodded and looked about to see what the others had to offer. There were mixed looks of grief and gratitude at her simple words. Michael nodded and threw a handful of sand onto the wrapped body.

Each person followed with a handful before Ernie lifted the remainder of the sand with his wand and covered the body, then lay the stone Harry and Ron had prepared on top. It simply stated her name and date of birth and death, which thankfully they had remembered from their date with the twins to the Yule Ball.

Hermione touched the stone lovingly and looked to the rest of them, "Thank you for allowing this, I feel so much better about putting her to rest."

Malfoy took her hand and pulled her up, "Come on Granger, let's get you back to the camp, you need to get some rest." Harry nodded at them, "Thanks for helping her Malfoy."

Draco said nothing back to him but nodded curtly as he picked up the girl.