A/N: I would like to appologize for how late this chapter is in coming, its actually been finished for over a month now, but complications with my life, and the life of my beta forced us both to forget about the fic for a while. Now I have work and school to deal with, so chapters will be few and far inbetween. BUT this one is done (though I had to forego editing, to get it out) and since I can't sleep tonight, I'm going to finish chapter 8. I appologise once again for the lateness, please forgive me (or yell at me if it makes you feel better) by sending me lots of reviews.

-Sises

Draco lapsed in and out of consciousness for what felt like hours. Every time he briefly opened his eyes he was in another place, another hallway, another floor, somewhere different within Hogwarts.

Hermione had to stop for what seemed to be the hundredth time. They were currently on the seventh floor, Hermione had knowingly bypassed any teachers, and Madam Pomfrey knowing that their would be too many questions to ask. Too much of a chance for Draco to get in trouble before Hermione had what she wanted from him. She then decided to take him to the room of requirement, where she knew she would be able to get him the same healthy atmosphere as the hospital wing, with the comforts of not having a stuffy medi-witch on your case all day. Hermione though only knew basic medi-magic and was only able to treat some of Draco's most superficial wounds, she knew that once they got to their destination, she would have to do a bit more then just cure his small cuts and scrapes.

She did though, know just enough about magic and dangerous life threatening wounds, that casting any unnecessary magic on the person was more then just dangerous, it was just plain stupid. Because of this levitating Malfoy's unconscious body would be a bad idea, both because it might complicate his condition in a way Hermione would not know, but the chance that she would bump his head, or broken limps against the walls, or drop him down a flight of stairs, it was too much of a risk. So Hermione had only one option left, she had to carry him or get someone to help her.

It was hard work, and Hermione several times through the night had to stop a rest. Draco Malfoy may not be as tall as Ron, or as broad as Harry, but he was still a guy, and Hermione being a few inches shorter then him, and much less muscular was finding it an almost impossible task to carry the blonde herself. But she carried on, many times having to force her already tired legs and arms to life him up past the stairs, where exhausted she would gentle rest his body on the ground, while she took a moment to catch her breath.

Finally though they had reached the seventh floor, and Hermione was now briefly thinking over how exactly she planned on taking care of the young Malfoy until he was well enough to answer her questions. Looking over at what appeared to be a sleeping blonde, Hermione winced at his wounds. She had at first sight of him of course seen the damage that had been done to him, but had thought little of it. Occasionally she had saw and or felt small droplets of blood falling onto herself, or the floor. But now the damage was much more noticeable.

His face, usually so pale, and pointed, was covered in numerous cuts and abrasions, more then one large angry bruise was visible as well. His torn robes did little to mask his battered body, with dried blood on his hands, wrist, and forearm, one visible part of his upper torso was burnt, while most of his left arm was completely uncovered from his robe's, no doubt destroyed in whatever hell he had gone through just hours ago. Hermione had realized early on that his wrist was broken, and possible one of his legs, she wasn't sure if he had any broken ribs, or internal injuries. She figured that his weak, though solid breathing was a good sign towards the negative though.

"What have you gotten yourself into Malfoy? Surely you know that all this is too much for even your arrogant self to handle?" she whispered, it was late and the castle deathly quiet, her voice echoed ever so slightly through the halls. Hermione gave herself one more moment to catch her breath before she moved over to Draco once more.

"I hope you know that you owe me so much right now Malfoy, your going to be slapping yourself for all those comments you made to me over the years, all that dirty blood bullshit is going to come back biting you in the ass tonight." Malfoy was obviously unresponsive, but Hermione felt it strange to be so silent around him, even when in this form. It felt more soothing to herself, for her to talk to him, while she carried him. It distracted her from the fact that she was carrying/half dragging a comatose boy around, a Death Eater, and the one person who hated her above all in Hogwarts. "You're going to owe me so much Draco."

Hermione had finally managed to once again hoist the blond onto her shoulders, his uninjured arm half wrapped around her neck, she herself took hold of both legs and tried her best to move forward, though it was painful for herself to carry him like this, their wasn't anything else she could do for either of them.

What was only minutes felt like hours, but Hermione had finally gotten the two of them outside the room of requirement, trudging along she pasted the room three times with Malfoy on her back.

I need a place where I can help heal Malfoy, I need a place where I can help heal Malfoy…

As usual once she had reached the third turn, a door magically appeared in the middle of the wall. Positioning herself so she could turn the door knob, while still holding on to Malfoy, Hermione all but toppled into the room, as her balanced gave out.

All but crashing to the ground, Hermione tried not to let Malfoy fall as she looked around the room in awe.

It was very much like a private study, the walls were lined with bookshelves, expensive oak tables, with comfortable looking padded chairs were around one wall, a fireplace with a fur rug against the other. On the opposite side of the room were two beds, one was a queen size with four poster wall hangings, even bigger then those in the dormitories. It had a large quilt over it, with the Hogwarts emblem upon it, some feet away near a corner, was a smaller bed with four poster hangings, this one had the emblem of Medi-Wizardry upon it, two crossed wands with sparks at both ends, in the shape of a cross.

Some time later Draco opened his eyes to find himself in a very unfamiliar room. His body was still very sore, and weak, and he knew that he was quickly going to fade once more into unconsciousness. Not knowing where he was, Draco feared no one else did as well, he struggled to move, but could only twitch slightly, his mouth though sore could make some rudimentary sounds.

"H-Hel…Help."

It sounded weak and pathetic to even Draco's damaged ears, but apparently was not for naught. As seconds later a concerned looking Hermione Granger was peering down at him.

"Try not to talk Malfoy, your still really hurt…can you even understand me? Malfoy, try to focus on my eyes."

Draco's vision was fading in and out rapidly, Hermione's voice sounding like it was coming from a long distant, like an echo. His eyes were just half closed when he felt her place her hand on his forehead.

"Oh you have a fever…but there are so many books here, so many curses…what happened to you Malfoy?"

Malfoy was only able to distinguish the words fever, and what happened to you, before his mind seemed to leave him once more.

"Crucio…" his voice garbled out, just before his eyes closed and he fell back into an uncomfortable sleep.

That was what Hermione had feared, she knew that he had been suspected to a large number of curses, both great and small, and that many of them were just physical effects. But it was this strange weakness and fever that Hermione was unable to understand.

She had spent the last two hours pouring over all the books in the room, it seemed the room had almost every single book on curses and counter curses, medi-wizardry and potions that would ever be needed to aid an injured person.

Before Draco's head was even back on his pillow, Hermione was back at the table, now covered in numerous books, and pieces of parchment, all covered in minute handwriting, lists of curses with effects on them, aliments for all kinds of things.

Brushing a large pile of things to the ground, Hermione grabbed a rather detailed book of Medi-wizardry on the Unforgivables, and quickly moved to the section on the Cruciatus Curse.

The Cruciatus Curse, known as the second of the most unforgivable curses, is more commonly referred to as the torture curse. Use of such a curse against another Witch, Wizard, or Muggle earns them a life sentence to Azkaban prison…

Hermione skipped a bit ahead, past the discover of the curse, down to the part on effects and cures.

…The victim will usually start to twitch most violently, as all their muscles tighten and loosen at various times, the pain is very much magical in origin, as no physical signs are left as to the cause of the pain, only after effects. Extended use of the curse on a person, causes the curse to move on past the more major muscles, onto minor ones, such as the fingers, and feet, eventually onto joints and the jaw. If the curse is sustained long enough, it moves onto the blood vessels, causing the blood to flow both forward and backwards in some places, causing great pain and eventual damage to the heart, lungs and kidneys, as well as severe brain damage.

Death in extended cases is almost a certainty. As once the curse starts to effect the blood vessels in the brain, hemorrhaging takes effect, and eventually the brain itself starts to rupture. Only immediate and skilled Medi-wizardry can begin to save a victim at this point, though possible it always leaves the victim less of a person, usually with 90 loss of all higher brain functions, complete memory loss, and loss of the ability to understand or respond to much of anything.

Hermione shivered at the image that some of these things gave her, she tried her best not to picture Malfoy under the effects of such a curse, or the Longbottom's, who she knew must of experienced the worst of the curse, as they were even now still in a semi vegetable state at Saint Mungo's.

Hermione flipped a few more pages, until she came to the section labeled treatment.

Depending on the duration of the curse, treatment outside of licensed medi-wizardry is possible. Most of the minor effects of Cruciatus are extended feelings of pain hours after the curse was used, inexplicable twitches and possible loss of conscious mobility for small periods of time. High fever, and extensive pain in the joints. All of these minor after symptoms can be treated by rubbing the effected area in Oswood Jelly, most notably over the chest, arms, and legs, and most importantly, to any area that is experiencing pain.

The more serious symptoms, those of seizures, bleeding from the mouth, nose, ears and possibly eyes, foaming at the mouth etc.. Are much more serious and require those skills of a trained medi-wizard or witch, though using the before mentioned Oswood jelly, as well as several pain reliving, blood loss, and calming potions can help the situation until profession help is available. Some recovering patients noted that a calming atmosphere while recovering also seemed to help, though this is more of a psychological recovery, see Memphis Dragoon's works on the Psychological effects of Cruciatus circa 1948 for more details…

Hermione wasted little time searching through potions books for the Oswood jelly, she had heard of it vaguely before in her research, and she knew that it wasn't a complicated creation.

Oh where is it…

Flipping through numerous books she finally found it in Non Liquid Potions for the Household Witch.

Oswood jelly was a very common pain reliever, used to help relieve the pain of broken bones, the swelling of bruises and other likewise things. It was commonly used by parents for minor to serious accidents, before the child was taken to Saint Mungo's. Hermione quickly scanned the list of ingredients, and was happy to note that she had such things in her potions bad.

She didn't waste a thought about how panicky she had become after reading the book on Cruciatus, and quickly summoned her potions bag, and because she knew she was going to be here for several more hours, well into her class after breakfast (which couldn't be more then a few hours from now she realized) she also summoned a few articles of clothing for herself, as well as her now magical CD player, and a few other things.

Hermione worked for what felt like her to be hours, her body finally starting to admit just how tired she was. She quickly took every last scrap of ingredient she needed, and proceeded to make a very large batch of the jelly.

Hermione for the first time that night took note of the time on her watch, she was surprised, to see that it was nearly six in the morning, and she knew that she was going to be missed at breakfast, not to mention her classes. But so is Malfoy, and no matter what I can't just leave him here…but I can't tell anyone either…

Hermione decided to let the matter go for later, thinking she would cross that bridge when it was before her. Looking over her creation, she actually smiled at it. Oswood jelly was named for the smell it had, it was a clear color, with a bit of honey look to it. And it smelled very strongly of something resembling cinnamon and red oak wood, a smell Hermione had to admit was both sharp but pleasing at the same time.

She quickly moved her now full cauldron over to the large bed Malfoy occupied, and stopped for a second to think about what she now had to do. Malfoy was still very much unconscious, and Hermione was not about to even try and wake him, for fear of causing him anymore pain. But then how do I know where to apply the jelly? If he can't tell me where to put it, what should I do? Hermione realized that she had little choice left for her. Moving the blankets down past his feet, Hermione removed what was left of his clothing, for modesty's sake she left his boxers on him, but the rest had to go. Looking over her patients body, Hermione had to admit, that had he not been encased in cuts, dried blood, and bruises, that he would be quite the handsome fellow. No time to think about that Hermione…get to work.

Hermione quickly dipped her hands in the cauldron and took out a handful of the jelly, which surprisingly felt very similar to Vaseline, but had a warm touch to it, making her hands tingle pleasantly. very gently she then started to rub it into Malfoy's chest, she worked quickly but calmly, wanting to make sure that since she didn't know exactly where he was hurting, that she covered everything. She while she worked, then took the time to look over the tattoo that had started all the strangeness that had been happening these last few days. It was just as it had been the first night, intricate and though she hated to admit it, beautiful, as its perfect detail, clashed perfectly with Malfoy's pale chest. Like a mark of honor, it seemed to be the very connection between the two of them. Hermione wasn't quite sure why she didn't seem as bothered by it anymore. Maybe she was getting used to it.

She quickly worked her way over his chest, up his arms and shoulders. She rubbed just a bit of it on his face, and neck, before moving to his wrists and hands. Hermione looked down at her cauldron and noticed that she had more then she would ever of needed of the ointment, but reassured herself, that she wasn't sure how many times she would be needing to apply it, and it was better to be safe then sorry.

Moving on, Hermione quickly covered his stomach, before started then at his feet, calmly though quickly rubbing the warmth into his feet, and up his legs.

Though she would never admit it for her entire life to come, Hermione's cheeks started to burn as her hands rose higher and higher on Malfoy's legs. She knew that this was wrong, that she was in the place of a doctor, and him, her patient. But Hermione couldn't deny that had this been any other situation, it would have been high erotic. Never in her life had she ever imagined herself rubbing anything into Malfoy's half naked body, especially one that left a warm tingling in her hands. She hated to admit it, but she was enjoying this particular task much more then she knew she should, while feeling his body underneath her hands

She quickly finished rubbing it into his thighs, and moved away before her mind became even more perverted. This is sick Hermione, he's really hurt, and here you are panting over his body like some kind of slut! All you need is for him to wake up, and find out he's naked, while your all but ready to jump him….

She glanced over at her patient, guilt on her face, though a blush still visible. But he is beautiful…soft skin, yet hard muscles at the same time, wonderful hair…Stop it! This sick…obsession is over! Shaking her head Hermione moved the blankets up to cover up Malfoy's body, so that he would at least be comfortable while he slept, she wasn't completely sure if her administrations had even worked, but she knew that as tired as she was, and as unfocused as her mind apparently was at the moment, what she needed was a good nights sleep before she did anything more with him.

Putting a strong locking charm on the door, and a silent alarm to wake herself up in no more then eight hours, Hermione moved over to the smaller bed and settled herself in, it was barley seconds after her head hit the pillow that she fell into a deep sleep.

Hermione awoke at the sounds of a buzzing in her ear, one that reminded her so much of her hated alarm clock back home. Opening her eyes she vaguely tried to remember what day it was, and what classes she had today, when she all but jumped out of bed.

Looking around her Hermione noticed that all the events of last night, had not just been a strange dream, and that everything from finding Malfoy covered in blood and Death Eaters robes, to carrying him up seven floors, to rubbing magical jelly into his skin was all too real, and not a product of her overly annoying imagination.

Looking around her, Hermione tried to get her bearings straight again. She looked over all her notes and work from the other night while she dressed in some fresh clothing. She hadn't been scared that her patient was watching her, as the first thing she had done was check to see if he had woken, and he was still in a deep sleep, though some of his bruising and pain seemed to have lifted.

Checking her potions cauldron, she saw that she still have about half a cauldron full of the ointment, and that it was still as fresh as it had been the night before, the tingling sensation still effected her when she reached her hand in to test it. Taking a better look at Malfoy, she saw that he seemed pleasantly comfortable, though still in a bit of pain, as he winced once or twice when he attempted to roll over.

Hermione was just contemplating giving him another dose of Oswood jelly, when she remembered.

Today's Thursday! We both have classes today! Checking her watch, Hermione noticed that she didn't have classes today, but that she had classes now. It was just after lunch, both her and Draco had missed all their morning classes, breakfast and lunch. And Draco's not even awake yet! How long am I going to have to take care of him, how am I going to explain any of this? Hermione was very near to a panic attack at the looks she knew she was going to get when she told people she was busy playing nurse to Draco Malfoy, after she found him half dead in a Death Eaters attire. What am I going to do now! Looking around the room as if asking it for answers, Hermione was surprised to see a large envelope in violent purple on the middle of the table, walking up to it, she noticed that it was written in a very flowing script.

Miss Granger, and Mr. Malfoy

Opening it Hermione was quick to find that it was from Dumbledore.

Miss Granger, as I'm sure Mr. Malfoy is still very much asleep right now, I want to let you know that what you did last night was a very brave and kind thing to do. Not many people in your situation would of done half of what you did, and I commend you (as well as reward you 50 points to Gryffindor).

Professor Snape told me of Mr. Malfoy's recruitment into Lord Voldemort's ranks, and that this ordeal would be particularly dangerous for him. He had not revealed, nor should you, that he is a member of the Order. Mr. Malfoy is to firmly believe that Snape is a willing Death Eater loyal to his lord.

But as you are the only one who has access to him at the moment ( I did not want to break your locking charm, as it is horrible rude to do so without permission.) I am giving the two of you complete freedom to return to classes when you are both ready, I have told the staff and students, with Professor Snape's approval, that the two of you are completing a project for him, and will be otherwise absent from the school for an unknown amount of time. You may of course ask myself, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, or Madam Pomfrey for help at anytime, though only Snape and myself are aware of the situation. Or you may take care of it yourself as you have so planned. Though I would normally suggest seeking professional help, Madam Pomfrey's hospital wing, is a bit too public a place to intelligently take care of Mr. Malfoy as any sighting of his mark would prove dangerous to himself and the school. Rumors of any possible connection to Lord Voldemort would no doubt spread regardless of the mark seen or not, and with your connection to him, I would not want either of your reputations to be tarnished. Please write back if you need anything, I shall have Dobby monitor your room if you need any assistance.

Sincerely,

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

P.S. That is an excellent concoction of Oswood jelly, just be sure to apply it until Mr. Malfoy is able to comfortably move all his limbs, and all should be well.

Hermione placed the letter back on the table, and allowed herself a sigh of relief. At least now I don't have to worry about people wondering where I am, missing classes….

Turning back to the matter at hand Hermione wasn't quite sure what she should do though. Though it would be a relief to hand him over to Madam Pomfrey, she for some unknown reason, did not want him to be found out as a Death Eater, and though she hadn't thought about it in several hours. She still did plan on putting all the prophecy nonsense behind the two of them once and for all. As soon as I can get a coherent word out of his mouth, until then I…guess I'll just have to take care of him…bastard will owe me so much when I'm done with him, and I'll make sure he knows it too.

Moving back to her patients side, Hermione once again removed his covers, and took note of his beaten body. Some of the lesser bruises and cuts had faded away, though his more pronounced ones were still their, his wrist and leg were still heavily hurt, and Hermione was sure they were hurting him. Taking note of what seemed to be the most painful area's, she once again moved her cauldron over to her side, and dipped her hands into the ointment, its warmth quickly spread through out both her hands, her fingers feeling like they had just awaken from a deep sleep. Moving her handful of goop onto Malfoy's chest, she began to rub it into his skin once more. This time though Hermione was startled out of her work, when suddenly Malfoy began to move around a bit, his eyes flickered once, twice, and then opened.

He started at her for a moment, as he began to focus his eyes on her.

"Granger, what exactly do you think your doing?" his voice was hoarse from lack of use, and probably a spell or two, but there was no mistaking Draco Malfoy and his drawl.

Hermione felt her mouth open a close a few times, but she couldn't think of anything to say. Somewhere she noticed that her hands were still on his chest, somewhat still rubbing the jelly into his skin, but she was just focused on his face, and his gray eyes looking just at her.

Malfoy seemed to noticed that he was being touched, and looked down to see her rubbing a strange smelling gel into his naked chest, he briefly wondered how he got to where he was and why he happened to be naked when Hermione found her voice.

"I found you outside the school entrance, you were…half dead, and in your Death Eater robes…"

Hermione watched as Draco's gaze came back to her, for once she saw an unmistakable look of fear in them, before they disappeared and his usual mask was up, showing nothing at all.

"W-what are you talking about G-Granger?" Removing one hand from his chest she reached over and slightly grazed his left arm, where this whole time the Dark Mark was out for all the world to see, she pressed her thumb into it, her eyes looking at Draco in confusion…and disbelief.

"Granger… Listen you c-can't tell anyone about this!" Hermione's eyes hadn't changed, though now they held a strange glint to them Draco didn't recognize.

"Mal-Draco…how-"

"I mean it Granger, if you tell a single soul, I'll curse you so bad-"

"How could you be so stupid!"

"I-What?"

Draco felt Hermione's hand grip his arm even harder, her whole hand now covering his mark, looking back at her face, he was shocked to see that the strange glint in her eye were tears, one of them had fallen out of the corner of her eye, making its way down her cheek. She's…crying…for me?

"How could you be so stupid! Do you know what you've done to yourself!"

"Done to myself?" Draco was confused…he didn't know where he was, how he'd gotten their. All he knew was that he had been found by Harry Potter's best friend, shouldn't he already have himself a one way ticket to Azkaban by now?

"How could you be stupid enough to join Voldemort!"

Draco almost laughed out loud but he ended up coughing instead, Hermione calmly waiting for him to finish before she continued. Draco found it eerily odd how she seemed to be treating him.

"What do you mean stupid? Granger, I didn't make a mistake, I meant to join the Dark Lord." Draco felt that it was useless to deny anything, if he was going to be sent to prison, he was going alone. He didn't want any sappy hearted mudblood's, with the delusion that he was forced into something against his will.

"I wanted to join him Granger, I'm happy about it!" Draco briefly thought to himself how much he sounded like Lucius, he dismissed the thought, not wanting to dwell on it.

"How could you like what happened to you! What impossible mission did your master have you do? Only to curse you half to death when you couldn't come up with his delusional results!" Draco was now glaring outright at the girl, just as she was glaring at him. Their faces were only inches apart, Hermione bending over him a bit to see him better.

"This wasn't a failed job Granger, this was my initiation! It was a test of strength and devotion!"

"Y-your initiation? You've only been a Death Eater for a day?"

Draco tried his best to smirk but the pain made it come out somewhat lopsided.

"Well I have my whole life to change that…"

"You won't last another meeting if that happens again!" Hermione was now outright yelling at the bedridden boy, who wasn't about to admit how much her shouting hurt his ears.

"Please Granger, I'm not some bland Hufflepuff. Don't go worrying your pretty little head over little ol' me. I can handle-

"You can't handle anything Malfoy! Last night was just a taste of what Voldemort is going to do to you in the years to come. If you couldn't walk after what happened last night, you'll never survive another day as one of his slaves!"

"Granger-"

"How could you be so stupid, and bull headed! Do you have a death wish? Do you honestly think Muggleborn's are so low that they warrant death on sight! Are you so evil?"

Draco actually looked away before meeting her eyes, his insides quaked at the words evil, said with such a strong sense of certainty. As if Hermione Granger truthfully did see Voldemort and his Death Eaters as the very paragon of evil, and not just another side of the war.

"Mudbloods aren't worry to study magic Granger, its only because of Dumbledore that you're-"

" If I'm not worry to study magic. Then how come I'm the smartest witch in the school! While your only second best! How come Neville, the son of two of the most famous auror's on history couldn't make a potion to save his life. While Harry a half blood, is more then a match for you at Quidditch, and the best defense against the dark arts student in the school!"

Draco couldn't form a sentence before she continued to scream at him more, her eyes never blinking, staring directly into his. Still gleaming with tears.

"How come your Lord is so obsessed with pureblood superiority, when he himself is a halfblood! His own father was a muggle!"

"Granger-

" How come all you Slytherin's are so obsessed with being pureblood, when its obvious that more then half of you could only be half blood or less! Their aren't enough purebloods left in the world Malfoy for all the Death Eaters, and for sure all the Slytherin's in the world to be anywhere close to pureblood!"

"Stop shouting at me Granger! Shut up for just a damn-

"Why do you think your better then me on principal Malfoy! What makes you better then me, just because of who your parents are!"

"BECAUSE!"

Draco's eyes were glaring at her so intently that she actually stop for a second. He tried to sit up, he tried to lift his arms to hit her, to grab her and shake her, to do something. But his body couldn't move, his joints and muscles screamed at him in pain whenever he tried to move them.

"Because Granger, that's all there is to it. We are better then you, just because we are, we need no explanation." We don't have one…

"We don't need one, because there is no need, we are just, and always will be better then you!"

Draco tried to put as much hate in the words as he could, but what Ganger had said had hit home too many times. The same thoughts he had been thinking the last few years, had apparently been going through Grangers head as well.

"That's bull shit Malfoy…"

I know…he thought, no longer able to look her in the eye.

I know its bull shit…but what else do I have…its all I know. All I know is shit…