Hermione awoke that morning to a tapping on her window. She clambered out from under her covers, bedraggled, eyes barely open, brain barely functioning. Stumbling on her way to the window, she cursed at the tiny owl under her breath. Grabbing the Daily Prophet gruffly from the small bird, she slammed the window shut to the hooting protest of the taken aback owl.

Placing the Daily Prophet under her arm, she sauntered sleepily into her kitchen to brew herself some coffee. She grabbed her mug of coffee and sat down at her kitchen table, threw open the daily prophet and took a small sip of her coffee. Hermione spluttered as she choked on the dark, searing liquid that burned its way down her throat.

"DANGEROUS FUGITIVE ESCAPED" read the headline of the Daily Prophet with a snarling picture of Malfoy right on the front page. The further Hermione continued to read, the more she blanched and wished for the earth to swallow her right up. Away from her current situation. Wait, what situation was that? More importantly, how could he have escaped? Where those guards imbeciles? Or is Malfoy just very eager to see me? Who was she kidding, why would Malfoy come see her? Because of that seemingly passionate kiss they had shared. Hermione snorted. No, that would be too ridiculous - wouldn't it? She looked back down at the newspaper and reread the last two sentences.

Authorities suspect Mr.Malfoy is heading toward London. Local residents are asked to keep a lookout for any suspicious and immediately report if anything is seen or heard about the whereabouts of Malfoy

London. Hadn't she told him that's her she resided? But who knew if he even remembered. And let's get practical, London wasn't exactly an Eastern European village. It was a big, big, big city. Large and populated. He would never find her here. She was safe. Hermione chuckled nervously to herself. So then why was she trembling?

"Hey mister, is that a costume? Are you in a movie?" asked a young boy tugging at Malfoy's uniform. Malfoy scowled at the muggle child who just kept staring at him with large curious eyes before his mother dragged him away. "Come on Tommy; let's get away from the big bad man." She said to the boy. Hey! Did she think he was deaf? Malfoy wrinkled his noise and threw the woman a nasty look.

He looked around exasperatedly at the buildings that surrounded him. Where was her damn flat? He had hoped that there would be a flashing neon sign that would point to it and read, "Hermione's Home". He was still hoping for that unlikely happening to occur. Fat chance. He strolled aimlessly down the street, ignoring the many looks bystanders were giving him. He was calling too much attention to himself. The ministry would find him in no time if he kept this up. He made his way into what looked 

like a deserted alley. He'd have to hide for the time being so that he could get his act together. Granger would have to be put on hold. As he mused on ways he would find Granger, a gruff voice behind him called out, "What are you doing here queer?"

Malfoy twirled around startled by the voice. Facing him stood three leering muggles. He took a step back and put a hand in the air to signal a truce, "Listen, I don't want any trouble."

A tall built looking muggle who had addressed him the first time spoke again, "Maybe you shoulda taught about that before you came in here."

"Yeah, yeah." Added a small statured looking goon from the side, agreeing with his friend as if he had said something particularly brilliant. The third muggle just continued sneering at Malfoy in silence. Apparently he was here to enjoy the show.

Malfoy stepped back once again as the bigger thug made his way toward him. Malfoy whipped out his wand.

"I don't want it to come to this, but I will use this if I have too." Malfoy said forcefully. The smaller, rat faced one hopped in that air and deftly stole the wand out of Malfoy's hands.

"What is this, huh? Your ass rape equipment? Huh? Look at this Tommy! Look at it! " He guffawed holding up the wand for everyone to see.

The silent muggle who had been watching amusedly finally spoke. His voice sent a slight shiver down Draco's spine. It was smooth, yet venomous at the same time. He grabbed the wand from the other muggle and snapped it in half. He threw it carelessly aside near a towering garbage heap. Malfoy's eyes widened in shock. They just… what the… fuck.

"We don't like faggots around, in, or even near our neighborhood," Tommy stated silkily, pulling a switchblade out from his pocket. He snapped it open and ordered the troll muggle to grab him. Malfoy was not a weak man. But he was tired. He was hungry. And he was hopeless. He could barely fight back as the huge muggle grasped him by shoulder and twist his hand behind his back. Malfoy yelled out in pain.

"Ya gonna cut him Tommy?" Asked the small muggle excitedly. Malfoy stopped struggling, paralyzed by fear and just stared at the leering thug dreading what was to come.

Malfoy resorted to pleading, "Please, listen…" He never managed to finish his sentence as the muggle thug punched him in the gut. Malfoy thought he was gonna puke his stomach up. He had never been punched like that in his life before. It was quick and powerful, and completely threw him off balance. 

Malfoy was lucky the buffoon behind him was holding him up, otherwise he would've been slumped on the ground now.He hadn't even had time to recover from the blow before another one came his way again, this one aimed at his face. He felt blood trickle down his chin. He was pathetic. He couldn't even hold his own against three muggle hoodlums. The muggle named Tommy kept throwing punches at him, never saying a word, while the two other monkeys brayed with laughter. Malfoy wondered how long it would take him to pass out. Perhaps soon.

Hermione couldn't help but overhear a bustle coming from outside her window. Stupid thugs. What where they doing now? Playing with the garbage cans? She strode over to her window with intention to close it and put an end to the racket.

"Ya gonna cut him Tommy?"

Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly glanced out her window. Her heart skipped another beat. She stood there in a trance, unable to move or utter a word. She stared, unwavering as a thug pummeled him. Draco Malfoy. You have got to be kidding me. Hermione suddenly found it very hard to breath. So, he had come for her then. Her small fist tightly curled around her wand. She had an internal struggle within herself about whether she should do anything. Maybe they'd leave him in peace after a couple of punches. She heard a quick snap and her eyes snapped back to the scene down below. Oh God. The sneering thug had taken out a switchblade. What do I do? The thug launched the knife into Malfoy's abdomen and drew it out in a quick stroke, evoking a cry from Malfoy. Hermione gasped and finally snapped out of her temporary paralysis.

"Stop!"

The three muggles turned to stare at her in surprise. Finally, the one that had stabbed Malfoy smirked and motioned for his friends to leave. Without any support, Malfoy's slumped down and lay sprawled on the dirty cement ground. Grabbing Malfoy by the hair, he pulled his face up and raised the knife to Malfoy's pale face.

"You were lucky this time." And with that he sliced the knife across Malfoy's check in a quick stroke, leaving his mark.

After the thugs had ran off, Hermione apparated down to the alley way quickly. She rushed over to Malfoy, who had fainted and had blood oozing out from under him. Grasping him in a vise like grip, she apparated the both of them back to her flat. She was glad he fainted. At least, she wouldn't have to deal with him for the time being. She wondered how long he would be unconscious for.