A/N: Short chapter, I apologize. A certain girlfriend is relentless at attaining her update, so here it is. Happy New Year, everyone, and thanks so much for the reviews! TC

Lucius glowered down at his son, who promptly rose, relieving Hermione of his weight, and sank to one knee in front of his patron. Hearing Hermione whimpering, he turned and his lips curled in a smile as he saw the blood pooling under the hand held carefully over her wound, seeping through her fingers and running down her arm.

Noticing, Lucius chuckled.

"You'll be fine." He said amusedly, "Draco…quite the softhearted boy. Pity, really." Hermione continued staring at the blood streaming out of her cut, and began to shake as her breathing quickened.

"Oh, do stop that. It's pathetic." Lucius crossed to the quivering girl, his cloak whipping ominously through the air as he swooped down to her level. Grabbing her arm in one ivory hand, he smiled as she cried out in pain.

"I reiterate. You'll live. Get up." Standing, Lucius glowered down at Hermione, waiting for her compliance.

"I said 'Get up.'." He restated, his tone tinged with annoyance.

Hermione attempted to rise to her feet, but found herself on the ground once again.

"How long can this possibly last?" Draco asked, now annoyed by her incapacitation.

A glare from Lucius silenced him. Draco had disobeyed, and the lack of remorse was obvious. Ah, well. Lucius would fix that.

Picking up the trembling girl, Draco turned to his father, expecting him to lead the way. Lucius instead stood still, looking lost in thought.

"No, this won't do. Not at all."

"What won't?"

"The whimpering. I refuse to walk anywhere with that incessant whinging."

Draco fished for his wand with a free hand.
"No, no no. Not that way, you twat." Lucius pulled a length of cloth from a pocket within his robes and forced it into Hermione's mouth.

"Ah…that's better."

Her eyes widened in fear.

"Get used to it." Draco muttered, eyeing his father's back as he turned and started walking through the woods, white hair and ebony cloak billowing out behind him. He raised his wand once again and muttered;

"Obscuro."

A moonlit walk through a forest could be almost alluring, thought Draco as the trio traipsed silently on their path. It's really a pity, he finished, shifting Hermione's weight across his arms as he saw the tree layers begin to thin out. The scene made a swell of nostalgia wash over him, as he recalled the days before the War, his days of school. In those days (and nights), one could hear the hooves of centaurs, the clicking pinschers of Aragog's clan, and the capers of various forest inhabitants. Now, though, the night brought an eerie din, the residents of the Forbidden Forest having been collateral damage in various battles.

Aw, is widdle Dwaco missing his fwends? A voice taunted in his head.

Fuck you. Get out of my head. Draco retorted, almost instantly regretting the riposte.

Behave, boy. Your account is already overdrawn. I shall collect the debt...and soon.

Is that a threat?

Draco's mind was silent for a moment as he concentrated on clearing his mind, to block out the invasion.

It's a promise.

He felt the presence leave his consciousness and was again alone, for all intents and purposes. A very good Occlumens, Draco had one weakness. His stomach filled with dread as he thought of it, and observed the scene of their arrival.

A carriage drawn by two thestrals halted in front of them, and as they boarded, Draco could see their destination not far into the distance.

Hogwarts Castle loomed ahead, turrets illuminated in eerie halos by the shining gibbous moonlight.