Chapter 4

Harry's POV

Ron and I Floo Powdered to the Malfoy Manor. Once we "flamed in" the first thing I saw made me want to barf. Bellatrix Lastrange leaning over an unconscious Hermione who had bruises and cuts all over her body. Hermione's left arm was in a shallow pool of blood, with what looked like: M-U-D-B-L-and the rest was covered with blood, but I knew what word it was and it made my blood boil with anger. Oh Hermione, how could I let this happen to you?

Ron and I had our wands at the ready, but we were a bit distracted by what Bellatrix did to Hermione.

"Oh, so wee Potty decided to come and rescue his precious Mudblood?"

That just put me over the edge, so I casted a Stupify at a random death eater, as did Ron. The other Death Eaters shot curses toward us, so we had to dive behind furniture, trying to get towards Hermione.

"STOP!" Bellatrix shrieked over the battle. "Or the girl dies!" I stopped dead in my tracks. My heart felt like ice. "Stand up, and drop your wands and kick them here!" Slowly, Ron and I stood up from behind the couch we had hid. I saw a slightly conscious Hermione held by her hair with Bellatrix's knife digging into her neck. We dropped our wands and kicked them towards Bellatrix. Bellatrix smirked and looked at the conscious Death Eaters left, which were Greyback, Draco Malfoy and his mom, Narrissa. "Draco, escort our 2 prisoners to cellar while I call the Dark Lord."

Greyback then piped in "Excuse me Miss, but what about the girl?"

Bellatrix pondered for a moment, and finally decided on saying "Well, she's useless now, so you can have her Greyback" She then pushed Hermione towards the werewolf where he licked his lips. I couldn't take it anymore.

"NO!" I screamed as he jabbed his elbow in Draco's stomach which made Draco gasp for air. I grabbed Draco's wand and stunned Greyback, and Bellatrix. Narrissa was shocked but made no movement to stop me. I picked up Hermione bridal style then Ron and I ran to the fireplace, Ron grabbed the Floo Powder.

Ron then yelled "HOGWARTS!" And we burst in a series of green flames.

..ooOoo..

The world swirled around us until we stopped at the Headmasters office. Ron and I stumbled out of the fireplace (with Hermione still in my arms) and we nearly ran into Dumbledore.

"May I ask why you just came out of my fireplace with an unconscious person in your arms? Or is that too much to ask?" Dumbledore asked.

"Please Sir," I started, not wanting to wait any longer as Hermione bled to death…in my arms. "We need to get Hermione to the Hospital Wing, after that, I'll try my best to answer any question you have." Dumbledore nodded, so Ron and I ran to the Hospital Wing as fast as my legs could take me. We finally got there and I set Hermione on an empty bed as Ron ran to get Madame Pomfrey.

Hermione's face was as white as January snow, her entire body was covered with both cuts and bruises. My breath got caught in my throat as I studied her left arm. You could tell that Bellatrix carved the word MUDBLOOD in her arm deep and slowly. Just thinking of that made me feel even guiltier.

"Oh Hermione," I whispered to myself "If only you knew how much it kills me to see you this way. I've realized that you mean a lot to me. More than Ron. I think I'm falling in love with you 'Mione." I chuckled to myself "The way your soft curls frame your beautifully tanned and shaped face. With those deep brown eyes that always seem to capture my gaze. Your facial expressions that make it look like you're thinking 10 different things at once. I love the way you loose yourself in a book, and you're trapped in it until you finish it. I love the way you get frustrated and your eyebrows scrunch together when you don't know something. You're not perfect Hermione, but you are perfect to me. I love you Hermione, and I wont let anything else hurt you. I promise."

That's when Ron and Madame Pomfrey came rushing in with worried expressions on their faces. Madame Pomfrey did what she did best and fixed some of Hermione's minor injuries.

"She's in bad shape" She informed them which made Harry's heart feel like it just froze and jumped into the Grand Canyon. "But she will live" That made Harry's heart fly back up into his body and melted back to normal. "She just needs to rest. I suggest you go and talk this over with Professor Dumbledore. He told me to give you permission to go to his office instead of your dormitories." She left with a curt nod and then left in her office to find a potion for Hermione.

Before Ron and I left, I stole one last glance at Hermione, and I could have sworn I saw a small smile on her cracked lips.