A/N--Happy New Year!!! :) Okay, another chapter for another year...this one is the longest so far, but easily the most disappointing--I'm sorry if people seem OOC, especially Hermione. The Emerald version will be up very soon....it's kinda rough too so I'm trying to fix it up as much as I can. Anyways, enjoy!! :)


The Unbreakable Vow

***Crimson Edition***

Disclaimer: I own nothing. It's quite sad.

Chapter Four

I have to trust him, she realized, aware that she was still wandless and surrounded by Death Eaters. She wouldn't allow herself to believe that she had judged Malfoy incorrectly; although he had been the one to save her from death, he was now torturing her with one of the darkest curses known in the wizarding world. No, it would be a long time, if ever, before she believed Malfoy was anything but a murderous Death Eater, but for now, she would trust him for her own self-preservation.

Hermione blinked slowly, the exhaustion finally overwhelming the numbing pain. She spared one last look at her captor and savior before closing her eyes and allowing the black abyss of unconsciousness to consume her.


Hermione woke to the hissing whispers of distant Death Eaters, her mind too hazy and the voices too soft for her to understand their words. The pain of the cruciatous curse was fresh in her head, and as her mind wrapped around the tightness of her body, she realized that the curse had some unfortunate lasting effects. She drew a sharp intake of breath, her chest tightening in response as she forced her eyes open, realizing even a movement as minimal as that caused her pain.

Disoriented and utterly confused, she realized she was moving, towering trees passing by her field of vision slowly. Stranger yet, she felt herself being carried by a pair of strong arms, the hold firm but undeniably gentle. She forced her head back, looking up at the handsome face of Draco Malfoy, who was staring straight ahead, seemingly unbothered by the young woman he was cradling against his chest. A spark of anger flared in her chest but it was soon extinguished as she succumbed to a fit of violent coughing, her muscles tightening painfully in response.

Eventually the coughs subsided and she allowed herself to look up at Malfoy again; though, she was unable to recompose her distaste. She was surprised to find that his eyes were studying her closely, and even more surprised to realize that they had stopped moving. She stared at him a long moment before her eyes narrowed darkly. He had tortured her beyond anything she had thought possible and now had the audacity to assume that she would trust him to protect her?

"You can put me down," she growled, her voice sounded pitifully weak, even to her own ears. "I can walk myself."

Malfoy's expression didn't change, and Hermione felt him gently lower her to her feet.

Instantly, her knees buckled and she fell forward only to be caught by Malfoy again. She shot him a threatening look and shoved herself away from his arms and to the ground. She landed hard on the dirt path, hissing in pain when her hand dug into something sharp. She turned her hand, not surprised to see that a rock had sliced her hand open, blood dripping to the dirt. Groaning, her unharmed hand reached for her wand absently-mindedly, basic healing spells running through her head.

"It's not there," Malfoy drawled in a cold tone.

Hermione froze, sensing that he had moved closer again before glaring up at him. His broad silhouette standing over her made her shudder uneasily, but she forced herself to her feet, trembling slightly. She looked up and met his eyes for a brief moment before looking around. Further along the dirt path stood another Death Eater, Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin she recognized from school. He stared back at them patiently, wand held readily in his hand. Past him the throng of Death Eaters had moved on a good distance ahead of them.

Hermione felt a flash of hope pass through her thoughts. If all of the Death Eaters were ahead of them she could backtrack and potentially escape. Her eyes wandered back to Malfoy who was still staring at her carefully. Could she really get away from him? He had already proven himself to be a physically capable man while she herself was in terrible condition.

I have to try, she thought adamantly.

Her eyes flashed backwards. A split second of scanning affirmed that there were no Death Eaters following them.

She ran.

The pain coursed through her body, radiating even to her toes which cramped unpleasantly as she stumbled along. She pushed her feet beneath her, unwilling to look back and see if Malfoy was pursuing afraid of what she might see. Hermione staggered off the path, hoping to lose herself in the tangle of roots and small plants that littered the forest floor. She listened intently for following footsteps but could hear nothing over her own sporadic breathing.

Continuing forward, her anxiety grew more intense until she was forced to look over her shoulder. Though relieved to realize that she was alone, her momentary glance cost her greatly; her foot slid under a thick root and she was violently thrown to the ground, the forward momentum of the rest of her body strong enough to snap her ankle with a decisive 'crack'.

She stifled an anguished cry as she released her foot and pushed herself against the tree. With trembling hands she gently lifted the bottom of her jeans, a sob rising in the back of her throat when she saw how quickly it was swelling; it was obviously broken.

Hermione let her head fall back against the tree, her hands falling to her sides as the silent sobs racked her body. Her lungs burned as she tried to get oxygen into her body and her head was pounding agonizingly. The pain that clouded her thoughts was making it difficult to focus on anything else.

Please, she thought desperately, not particularly sure what she was even pleading for.

"Lumos."

Malfoy's voice echoed off the trees, before the area was suddenly lit with a brilliant luminosity. Hermione felt her breath get caught in her throat, tears sliding silently from her watery eyes. The panic building in her chest ignited her adrenaline and she pushed herself to her feet, allowing the tree to take most of her weight. She moved to take a step forward but collapsed instantly, her ankle completely useless.

Hermione closed her eyes, tears sliding down her face as she pulled her knees into her body. A brief consideration of trying to crawl away crossed her mind but was quickly dismissed; she would make too much noise. The terror was intensifying in her mind and she bit back a frustrated scream that was building in the back of her throat.

What should I do? she wondered, her mind so troubled she could hardly focus on a solution. It frightened her to admit how helpless she was.

Her ears caught the faint sound of footsteps and she shuddered involuntarily.

Focus, Hermione, she demanded urgently, fighting the delirious state that had begun to settle in her mind. The pain was all she could focus on however, and she felt herself losing the battle. Opening her eyes she realized that the light was getting brighter, and her surroundings were coming into clearer view. Malfoy was getting closer and she didn't have much time to think.

He is going to find me, the young witch conceded vaguely, the haze in her mind creeping more steadily now.

A short moment after the thought entered her head, he was there, standing over her menacingly. The brilliance emanating from his wand threw eerie shadows across this pale face, his grey eyes appearing almost silver. He stared down at her darkly, a disapproving frown written in his handsome features.

"You're going to get yourself killed," he said, his unusually gentle tone suggesting he was scolding a child.

Hermione met his eyes blithely a dazed smile forming on her lips subconsciously, before she looked away.

"That would certainly make things easier for you," she whispered lightly, the response sounding like a cruel joke.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed before he stepped towards her. Hermione looked up at him again. The events from earlier were suddenly reflected in his cold features, and they crashed into her so heavily that her faux smile cracked. Her face crumpled and suddenly she was sobbing uncontrollably, her entire body trembling. It was all just too much.

Was she strong enough to face the horrors that she would certainly face? How could she survive the cruciatious curse again? Would she be brave enough to face their torments and remain loyal to the Order?

And in one split moment, the doubts of her own character besieged her.

"Please," she wailed, her eyes meeting Malfoy's blearily. "Please, just kill me."

It was an honest request. She would be killed after they were finished with her anyway so it only made sense to offer her life now before she could potentially betray the Order and lead to their ultimate demise. She knew she was a coward for being unable to face the hell that awaited her, but Hermione questioned her strength and she refused to put her friends in danger over her own pride.

She continued to plead pitifully, ashamed of herself as Malfoy knelt beside her, his face solemn.

"I'm sorry," he said with a sigh. "I can't do that."

Hermione shook her head as he took her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. Her mind was completely lost; she was aware that she was still whispering words to him, but she couldn't make any sense out of them. She struggled against him awkwardly, her body thrashing in his grasp helplessly. His firm hold prevented any real chance of escape and eventually she slumped limply in his arms.

Her head rested against his chest in defeat, and she let out one final whimper before growing silent.

It was then that the rain began to fall.

The small droplets of water hit the leaves all around them, drumming in a lulling orchestration. A distant roll of thunder was a clear warning of the coming storm and Hermione felt herself involuntarily relax deeper into Malfoy's arms. The exhaustion suddenly engulfed her, all previous adrenaline evaporating into the night and she felt her eyes threaten to close once again.

How pathetic, she thought bitterly, crying in front of Draco Malfoy.

The moment of weakness cut into her pride excruciatingly and she felt disgusted with herself for allowing Malfoy, of all people, to see it. The whole situation made her feel sick to her stomach, but she managed to calm herself, leaving only the occasional sniffle as evidence of her earlier breakdown.

"Where will you take her?"

The voice obviously belonged to Zabini; though, Hermione had been unaware she and Malfoy must have caught up to him.

"Malfoy Manor. It will be easier to keep an eye on her if she is closer."

Malfoy's response was quiet but she could hear the protective edge in his voice followed by an awkward silence.

"What about your father?"

Hermione's pulse quickened simultaneously with Malfoy's grimace.

She had heard the stories about Lucius Malfoy; a man with a character evil enough to rival Voldemort himself. He had killed more people than Hermione even knew, tortured some of her closest friends into insanity and was one of the most dangerous wizards in the world.

Hermione glanced up at Malfoy, who had yet to respond.

He had hated her, threatened her, saved her and then tortured her. He was the son of one of the cruelest man in the wizarding world, and despite Malfoy's vague promises of protection, Hermione couldn't help but wonder how much she could actually trust him; Lucius Malfoy's blood ran through his veins.

"I'm not exactly sure."

Hermione cringed uncomfortably in his arms; his lack of an explanation frightened her. She stared up at him, trying to decide if she should trust him or not; it seemed he was worried about his father as much as she was, and if that was the case, there was a good chance it was on her behalf.

At least, that's what she wanted to believe.

He chose that moment to look down at her, his eyes narrowed in concern. She scanned his face desperately, searching for any signs of deceit. His expression was impassive, neither confirming her fears nor assuring her hopes and Hermione tore her eyes away from him back to her hands which were curled against her stomach tightly.

I will trust him, she finally relented. But only until I find a way to escape.

"Close your eyes, Granger."

The quiet demand from Malfoy seemed like a test to her, but she closed her eyes and allowed herself to be engulfed in darkness. A short moment passed and she almost opened her eyes out of irritation; it bothered her that she had listened to him so readily. However, the quiet voices of what was probably a group of Death Eaters immediately changed her mind.

"The Inner Serpents shall retire to Malfoy Manor," a loud voice called out over the soft mumblings. "The rest of you may return to your respective checkpoints. Enjoy the night; now with Harry Potter defeated, the Dark Lord will finally take his rightful place in the wizarding world as the Grand Master."

Hermione barely registered the familiar sound of popping of apparition and the quiet cheers; her mind was caught on the words that seemed to linger in the air.

Inner Serpents? Grand Master?

Her mind struggled against the fatigue, trying to make sense of what the Death Eater had said. It was unnerving to be kept in the dark, and Hermione felt the irritation building rapidly, but she quickly tamed it. She couldn't afford to let her emotions get out of control; she didn't have the stamina.

"Ah, the mudblood."

Hermione heard the voice, but couldn't recognize it. The tone in his voice was slightly disturbing and she could feel his eyes on her.

"She will be of great use to us," Malfoy spoke in return. She could hear the smirk in his cold voice and for a moment, things felt right; this was the Draco Malfoy she knew. As disappointing as it was, it was a relief to know the old Malfoy still existed.

"And once we have what we need, I will enjoy ending her pathetic life."

And suddenly her relief melted to fury. How dare he speak so crudely about her life after he instructed her to trust him? How could she have been so naïve to believe there was a chance he had actually changed? Hermione shifted in his arms irritably and was reprimanded with a gentle squeeze on her shoulder.

"Well, good luck to you, Master Draco," the other Death Eater said. There was another 'pop' and Hermione assumed he had apparated away.

There was another short sequence of 'pop's and then silence.

Hermione waited a long moment before she was certain they were alone. Opening her eyes, she readjusted herself with a small huff before growling, "If you think I'm going to tell you and your precious Voldemort anything, you're more daft than I ever thought."

Zabini grimaced at the sound of Voldemort's name but Malfoy did not offer an initial reaction. She waited, biting back the words that threatened to slide from her mouth.

"I would expect nothing less from an insufferable little know-it-all," he finally returned. His voice was dark, but held something else that she couldn't quite place.

"Stupid coward," she snapped, the words slipping away from her almost mindlessly, her fatigue beginning to overcome her frustration. "You're a foul sniveling prat."

"Shut your filthy mouth."

Hermione trembled slightly at the tone of his voice; it was deadly. Between the threat that was underlying his demand and the tiredness that was creeping into her mind again, the young witch decided to remain quiet.

Zabini cleared his throat, and Hermione felt Draco pull out his wand.

'Pop'

Apparition, she thought sickly.

Hermione felt a wave a nausea wash over her, the pounding in her head only amplified by her exhaustion. She could barely keep her eyes open, but she managed a quick glance around: a tall gate and a magnificent stone building.

Malfoy Manor, she thought dimly.

"I swear, apparition will never get easier," Zabini said with an exaggerated moan.

Hermione felt the pounding in her head intensify, and her hand groped blindly for something to hold onto. The nausea was beginning to subside as she tried desperately to keep her eyes open; it was getting unbearably difficult.

"Are you ready for this?"

Zabini's question had not been directed at her, but Hermione felt her entire body instinctively yearn to answer. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure what her answer was. Half of her was ready to face whatever horrors awaited her, but the other half was afraid she would fail the Order. The two conclusions contradicted each other so completely it was terrifying.

For once in her life, Hermione Granger did not have an answer.

She managed one last glance at Malfoy before her eyes closed of their own will. Could she trust him? Would she be able to survive this experience? Questions continued to filter through her head, unanswered. Hermione felt a sense of dread settling in her mind; she didn't know, couldn't know, what the future would bring.

Her head fell against Malfoy's chest softly, the sound of his heartbeat was slow and steady, not a trace of uncertainty or fear. Though she refused to trust him, she allowed herself to believe in his confidence. The gentle thudding lulled her onto the brink of unconsciousness before she heard his voice ringing through the peace.

"I'm ready."

The conviction in his voice was clear and undeniably comforting. A small fraction of Hermione rebelled against the peace that his words had instilled; it was Malfoy who had spoken, and it seemed that a part of her would never be able to forgive him for the sins he had committed. However, the fatigue had already settled deep into her body and for the time being, it was enough to pacify her internal fears. The young witch gave a soft sigh before finally surrendering herself to sleep.


Your New Year's Resolution should be to read and review! :) I'd really appreciate any feedback!

-Mysticgirl1713