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Hermione's POV

Lucius Malfoy's hot breath ghosts over my face. His wand is digging into my neck. And he himself is barely 5 inches away from me. I was lying on the floor, bloody and messy and cornered, with my wand in Lucius Malfoy's hand. An expelliarmas spell.

I began to count now. Count how many minutes, how many seconds I have left. I begin count moments, moments ever since Harry's death. And those moments were life changing, unforgettable, even. We've reached this far just in the course of a few weeks. All because of Draco Malfoy. I owe him. Big.

But right now his father was in front of me, and only Merlin knows how he and I ended up in a room together. Of all the rooms burning in this god-forsaken building, this broom cupboard had been safest. Safe for Irene.

When I apparated to this building, I can only stare at it in shock, the fire– it was eating the building as if it was made of paper, nothing was going to be left, the basement was already destroyed. The exits were blocked. There was no way out. And that meant no way in. The only option I had was to cast bambarda spell to create a big enough hole to let myself in.

Inside there was chaos, sirens blaring, water spraying from here and there but it couldn't put out the fire. Everything was a mess. People getting burned, people rolling on the ground, some crying for their loved ones, some jumping from the roof, some from window. Nothing was clear; everything was foggy, ashy, and bloody. I swear I saw clumps of flesh here and there.

I had to get people out. I guided some people to the hole, but the hole wasn't big enough. I was frustrated; I had a deep urge to just cast more bombarda spells, which I did. In every nook and cranny. I had to get as many people out, and if muggles found out I was a witch, then so be it. But that didn't happen.

The muggles were so panicked. So many had been crumpled and crushed beneath the stony walls that had been eaten by fire. So many were in despair. So many had given up and jumped. So many just sat there and cried.

I grabbed one muggle man's hand and shoved him through the hole. Then another and another.

So few had made it to see the light of the day. They cried for help, but to no avail.

I tried casting a patronus but it didn't work. My mind was so fuzzy from all the smoke and heat.

That's why I ran. Why I ran I never knew, I just knew I had to, this fire was making me do crazy things. Crazy thoughts, crazy urges.

But then I heard someone weeping, sobbing to be exact, my ears guided me to a room where usually laundry took place, there in middle of melted machines and a closet of dirty clothes I saw a woman.

She was not much older than 21 or 22. She had red hair and blue eyes, and she was sobbing frantically.

I stared at her; through the mess she seemed the only one to hold me to my place.

I touched her face and she jerked back. I hadn't noticed she had burn marks on her face. She was pregnant, probably in her 4 or 5 month.

She touched her stomach gently and with another sob made a plea to me to help her.

"Please help us, please!"

At her voice I snapped, whatever I was thinking was gone now, I nodded and extended my hand to her.

"Do you have anyone out there?" I asked while eyeing her stomach.

She nodded, "My husband Charles is out there, I know he is looking for me– for us, and if not for the police establishing the barrier he would be here by now."

This Charles is just like harry. He loved to jump into dangers to protecting others. I wondered if he looked like him.

I took her hand and made for exit but we must be in wrong end, for all the holes I created were melted away.

I made a frustrated noise and ran for windows, or rooftop. I can create a cushioning charm for us if it needed to jump but then no rooms provided windows and rooftop seems a long way.

Now I was panicking. We were trapped.

In every corner the fire roared like a dragon in rage.

I had to find a place quick.

I closed my eyes and turn to the woman, "What is your name?" I ask while still checking for exits.

The woman sobbed again "Irene."

"Irene I will get you to Charles, I promise, but promise you will be strong for this will you?" I ask while I stared at her intensely.

She seemed to take her time, but then after a frantic nod, we ran again.

This time just as we turned a corner, I saw a closet. No– a broom cupboard.

I jerked back the supplies and made Irene sit in the corner away from fire. I stood up while checking for fire exits.

Surprisingly the fire hadn't touched this place. It was broken, yes, but not scratches of burn in here.

I will have to apparate with Irene now, so I was getting ready when I heard a shriek.

Irene was floating in the air upside down, while Lucius Malfoy grinned menacingly at her.

White hot rage rushed through me.

"What do you think you are doing Malfoy? Leave her alone!" I yelled while drawing my wand.

He suddenly yelled expelliarmus and my wand was in hand. I reached for his neck now but now he crashed me into a closet where all the supplies fell in my head and blood begin to tickle down.

"Malfoy leave her alone, you don't want her. You want me! Take me, and let her go. She is innocent! Let her go!"

Lucius Malfoy smirked in my direction. And said one syllable—

"No."

"What?"

"I said no, Miss Granger, or are you too deaf to hear?"

I stare at him, shocked. Lucius Malfoy was acting like stubborn child.

"Tell me, Miss Granger, where is Draco?"

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Draco, my son, where is he?" he asked irritatingly.

"How should I know Malfoy? I have no idea where he is."

"Oh you know all right, I know for a fact you know where he is."

I had to laugh at that.

Pretend Granger, pretend!

"Look Malfoy, as much I would love to tell you that your son is with me, he isn't. He hates me, so why would he be with me."

Lucius snarled at this, this time he dragged me and pushed me against the wall. My head slammed against it, and I could fell a bump growing on my head.

"Miss Granger, I ask this nicely:Tell me where Draco is! And don't even think about lying."

"Where is your Dark Lord?"

At this he let let out an animal growl, and he attempts to push me again but this time I was ready and I kick him with my leg. He jerks back.

"Miss Granger, tell me where Draco is and I shall spare this muggle's life. My sources tell me he is with you, saw you and him go into Olivander's shack while you broke in Gringotts that day."

Something in Lucius Malloy's manner of speaking is desperate. Is this a father asking for his son? Could it be?

"He is not with me," I lied again.

"Mudblood you are testing my patience here. I am a very impatient man , if I came to know he is with you I will kill you and your precious order and then I will kill Draco myself!" He snarled and nearly spat on my face.

Now he's acting like the bastard he is. I was wrong to think this man was a father. He was, in fact, a monster, waiting for his prey, and that prey was Malfoy.

I was protecting sodding Draco Malfoy for multiple reasons: I needed him for the order, for Ginny, for information, for victory, and for my death.

He was providing me with a way out and I will take it.

I will not let Lucius Malfoy know where his son really is.

By this time the cruciatus curse hit me.

I lay on ground, whimpering, softly apologizing to Irene. For I was the one to break my promise.

Curse after curse I lay on the ground. If there was one curse I can't stand, it was this one. I didn't hold this when Bellatrix casted it on me in Malfoy manor, and I couldn't hold this today with Lucius Malfoy's wand.

" Now I ask you for one final time. Where is Draco ?" He asks, looking down at me where I lay on the ground.

I begin singing nursery rhymes now in my head, at this moment this was only thing to do, keep on delaying, keep on counting.

" Very well then," Lucius Malfoy raised his wand . "Avada—"

Just then a burst of fire shot through the room, but the fire didn't touch me or Irene who was now unconscious, but Lucius Malfoy. It broke windows, melted the supplies. It was an incendio spell– I'd know that spell anywhere.

Hands grab me from the back and I tug Irene with me. Whatever happens, I am not leaving her behind, if I get out, she comes with me.

Whether this fire is good or bad I don't know, but I could smell the minty and ashy smell. In my state of haziness I could see brown eyes look at me furiously.

Who's eyes they are I do not know.

I see Lucius Malfoy yelling and thrashing and finally disaparating.

It was his work after all. He was the one to cast this fiendfyre to punish me and Draco.

I hear shouts. People running here and there. I can only sign to take Irene to Charles. My fuzzy mind could only function for her at the moment.

Someone's arms wrap around me, and I felt a tingling feeling in my back. The person who helped me out the cupboard winces, too.

Just then the whole building exploded. Showering us with rain of stone, bricks, glass, and , of course, fire. I take cover so does the other person.

"We are apparatting, Granger, hold tight."

My savior spoke and apparatted me. The wetness touched my back and I cry out in pain.

I want to those eyes again. I am angry at him now, why did he bring me here? In wetness?

What I see, I didn't expect.

I wanted to see brown eyes. But I saw a different color. It's funny, when you truly want to see something yourself, your hopes are shattered by reality.

Draco's grey eyes stare back at me, and I collapse under his gaze.

A/N: A very intense chapter. I hope I did justice.

To my awesome beta AlwaysSlytherin— thank you so much for inspiring me to write this, this chapter is dedicated to you. Thank you for reviewing, I really appreciate it.

Everyone else—Please do review and let your opionion come forward. Advice, opinions, whatever.
JUST BE NICE ABOUT IT!

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