Disclaimer: Nope, not Rowling

It had been almost a year since Draco had seen her. Seen her cream colored skin, her soft curly hair, and her eyes. He missed seeing those beautiful brown eyes that said so much. He missed seeing those eyes, but he didn't like what he saw in them last time, the pain and betrayal. He never wanted to see that in her eyes again, he wanted to see happiness in those eyes, not pain. He had been barely getting any sleep since that night, the night she left him. His mother could see the dark circles under his eyes, the way he slouched over from fatigue when he walked. She also knew that he was listening to Potterwatch. She could hear the voices coming from his bedroom, knowing that he had been up again, and all for that girl.

He knew that they were hunting for horcruxes. Voldemort was becoming antsy, lashing out at his followers even more so than usual, mumbling to himself, his mind was constantly in another place, and he would lose sense of time. Draco knew he was worried about the horcruxes and couldn't help but cheer for Potter, Weasley, and especially Hermione. The house was in constant darkness, no light ever shined through. He felt so dirty whenever he was around his father and aunt. The Malfoy Manor had become a headquarters of sorts and it seemed like he would never escape the darkness.

Hermione knew that she was worrying the boys, she was restless, ready to move on. But they only had one horcrux. Months of running, of feeling like they were going to be attacked at any moment, and they only had one bloody horcrux. Actually, they don't have a horcrux anymore, since Ron destroyed it. That's an upside to things, she guesses. She couldn't help but feel lost. The way she just walked out on him. She was relieved to hear that he hadn't killed Dumbledore, but she missed him so bloody much. She missed his smile, his laugh, and his eyes. She missed the way they seemed to read her like a book, and she never had that electric feeling she got with anyone else. She hated having cotton mouth also, she wished she had some sort of cup or something.

She began to think about the artifacts of the house founders. The diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw, ring of Salazar Slytherin, the sword of Godric Gryffindor, and the cup of Helga Hufflepuff, and that's when it hit her.

"You-Know-Who was obsessed with the founders right," Hermione asked Harry who had been talking to Ron about something. Harry looked at her slightly confused, but answered.

"I believe so. Why," he asked, not understanding where she was going with this.

"Well if he's obsessed with them, who's to say that he wouldn't make horcruxes out of them," Hermione said, Harry and Ron seemed to understand her reasoning by then.

"Brilliant Hermione. Now we just need to figure out where he would hide them," Harry said with a huge, relieved smile on his face, which instantly turned serious when her heard steps outside, "What's that?" He motioned for them to be quiet and stepped outside. Suddenly spells were being thrown. The trio began to run as fast as they could, trying to get away from the snatchers that Ron had warned them about. But soon the Snatchers caught up and as a last resort Hermione casted a swelling spell on Harry so that they couldn't tell you he was.

"We betta take them to Mista Malfoy. Get a nice bounty fo' 'im. What's yo' name," one Snatcher asked Harry who couldn't see the scare because of his swollen face.

"Vernon Dudley," Harry said, not missing a beat. The Snatchers laughed and looked at Hermione with lustful eyes; Ron glared at them, but knew he couldn't do much. Hermione couldn't help but feel dirty after they looked at her body so intensely. Both Ron and Hermione gave them fake names and they were dragged to Malfoy Manor.

Draco was surprised when his parents asked him to verify if it was Harry or not. He looked at the swollen face and saw the scar, but decided to lie.

"It's not him," Draco said after staring into Harry's green eyes. He knew it was Harry, but he couldn't bring himself to tell the truth. He didn't want Voldemort to win, he wanted him to lose, and he wanted the light to win. Draco was torn away from his thoughts when he saw Hermione's brown orbs looking at him. They stared at each other for the longest time, not caring who saw. He felt fear creep into his heart when his aunt sent away Ron and Harry into the dungeons and kept Hermione. Before he knew it his aunt was casting the Crucio curse. The screams that came out of her curdled his blood to see the girl he loved writhing in pain.

"What are you doing! Stop! Don't hurt her," Draco called out to his Aunt. His father grabbed him by the arm.

"What do you think you're doing Draco? She's just a mudblood," Lucius hissed in his son's ear. Draco sneered at his father.

"I'm doing the right thing Father. Something you should have done a long time ago," Draco pulled his arm out of his father's grasp and ran to Hermione who was breathing heavily from the pain. His aunt looked at him with shocked and hurt expression.

"But Draco. How could you betray the Dark Lord? All he has ever done was be good to us," Bellatrix said in her baby voice that used to move Draco to be nice to her, but not this time.

"Be good to us? He scared my father into submission and made you crazy! All he has done is caused darkness and pain. I'm sorry Aunt Bellatrix, but I'm not going to be your lackey any longer," Draco said as a small elf dropped a chandelier. Draco lifted up Hermione bridal style and carried her over to the group of people that was standing across from them.

"You stupid elf! You almost killed me! I am your master," Bellatrix yelled in a shrill voice.

"Dobby never meant to kill. Just seriously maim or injure. And Dobby is a free elf," the small elf puffed up his chest, "And is Harry Potter's best friend." The elf began to apparate the group away, but Bellatrix through her dagger that made it through.

Draco collapsed with Hermione in his arms on the watery, sandy beach. She was looking up at him with a small smile.

"Thank you," Hermione whispered as she placed her hand to his cheek. Draco just nodded as he kissed her palm. Ron was watching them when they heard Harry yelling.

"Help me," he called, the small elf in his arms, tears streaming down his face. The elf had a small smile on his face.

"I'm glad to be Harry Potter's best friend," the elf said, his voice sounding weak as the dagger protruded from his body. Hermione began to cry and held on to Draco, who just watched the scene, not knowing what to do. Harry nodded as he pulled the knife out of the small body, the tears continued to fall. When the elf finally slipped away Harry let out an anguished cry as he held on to the elf's body. Everyone stood there silently, then Luna crouched down beside him, putting her arm around his shoulders.

Harry just continued to let the tears fall, after a few more minutes he looked up, a fire burning in his eyes, "He will pay for all of the deaths he's caused." Ron looked at his friend with sad eyes as he wrapped Hermione in a hug. One tear fell from Draco's eyes, his hands clenched into fists.

"I'll be by your side every step of the way Potter. This war has affected me as well. I'm tired of the dark," Draco said to him, his voice strong with determination. Harry nodded as he clasped Draco's hand and stood up. Carrying Dobby in his arms the group followed him to Shell Cottage.

A/N: I know this wasn't the best chapter, I'm sorry. But I hope you liked it. Sadly there is only about three chapters left, perhaps an epilogue! Wow, my first story is almost complete! I'm kind of sad now… Well, please review! Till next time!