A/N: I'm home sick today... So you guys get a chapter update!

Short chapter alert (or interlude as it is properly named) because it is not a real chapter but it is needed to move the story along.

Tallyho!

Chapter 13 (Interlude): Hermione

I'm pinned to the floor in Malfoy Manor, Bellatrix Lestrange is standing above me cackling, and there's the sound of uncontrollable sobbing. It takes me a moment before I realize that the sobbing is coming from me. I try to control the sound but before I can even take a breath, I feel excruciating pain in my arm. I'm screaming at the top of my lungs, begging the gods to make it stop but all I hear is maniacal laughter and a searing pain in my arm.

When the pain finally stops, I look at my arm and see the word Mudblood carved into my arm and I recoil from it. When I look back to Bellatrix, she's gone and is now replaced with Morrison. He's giving me a wicked smile that sends chills down my spine. I stand up and he begins to circle me. "Poor little Granger," he taunts. "Couldn't save her parents and couldn't save herself. You can't even save the man you love; what makes you think you can save the world from me?" I try to respond but my voice is gone. I can't say anything and Morrison knows this. He smirks at me before vanishing.

A chill runs down my spine moments after he disappears and I can tell something is behind me. Slowly, I turn around and feel my heart stop. Draco's standing in front of me but he's not alone. There's a hooded figure standing behind him, holding a dagger to his neck. It's now, that I realize I don't have my wand and I silently curse myself for losing it. I have to save Draco, though, so cautiously, I take a step towards them but the figure chuckles, freezing me in place and sending another chill down my spine.

"One more step and he dies," the figure says; his voice is deep, suggesting it's a man. It's almost familiar but I can't place from where.

"Why should I believe you?" I say, relieved that my voice seems to have returned. Stupid, I know, but my gut instinct is to keep him talking while I find a way to save Draco.

I don't have to see the figure's face to know he's smirking. "Because even if you do manage to find a way to kill me, I'll still manage to slit pretty boy's throat here and no matter what you do, you won't be able to save him. Want to know why? Because this dagger, here, is poisoned with a poison from a tropical plant that has no cure. You might kill me, but your lover will still die."

I'm shaking but I try to keep my breathing steady as I look at Draco and tell him with my eyes that it will be okay. That I'll save him. I look back to the figure. "What do you want?"

"Many things," he chuckles.

"Name one," I say, my voice far steadier than I'm feeling.

"Stop trying to figure out who I am," he says darkly. "I can assure you that it will only end badly."

I furrow my brows. "Trying to figure out who you are… who- you're the accomplice. You're the one working with Morrison."

He chuckles. "Very good, Miss Granger."

I'm in shock for a moment until my anger returns and I feel like punching something. The accomplice to a maniac is holding the man I love at knifepoint and taunting me! Unwise, really, as I've had enough torment for one lifetime. I begin to strategize and try to find a way to get Draco free when I spot a dagger on the floor. The dagger Bellatrix used when she tortured me. I almost recoil from it but one glance at Draco and my resolve strengthens. Using some impressive wandless magic, I manage to get the dagger into my hand and hide it behind my back without the figure noticing.

I'm ready to pounce when he chuckles. "Be careful, Miss Granger. Those impulses of yours have gotten you in trouble before. Wouldn't want to risk it now. Or does he not mean enough to you?"

Draco's eyes are pleading with me. I look back at him and silently promise that I'll save him. "Who are you?" I ask, keeping the figure distracted.

He chuckles. "You don't really think I'd tell you, do you?"

I don't say anything for a moment. "I recognize your voice, though. As if from a distant dream or something."

He's silent and I know I've got him. "So you're someone I know?"

"Everyone is someone you know in some shape or form."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means watch out for those closest to you, Miss Granger. Not everyone is as honest as they seem."

"You expect me to take advice from you?" I spit out.

He shakes his head. "I expect you to use your head, Miss Granger. You're no fool. Turn around and go back home while you can. Before you go down a road you can't return from."

"Never," I say, fuming now. How dare he. How dare all of them.

He pauses for a moment and then shrugs. "Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Furious, I throw the knife at him but he disapparates before it can reach him but not before slicing Draco's throat with the dagger.

"DRACO!" I scream as I sit up in bed, sweat covering my forehead and my heart pounding. There's a split second where I fear that my dream is real but it's gone as soon as I feel Draco's strong arms wrap around me and pull me close to him. As soon as I'm in his embrace, I break down into tears. Briefly, my hand goes to his throat and when I find it's unmarked, I start to cry harder.

"Shh," he says, soothingly. "It's okay. I'm right here; I'm not going anywhere." His words are comforting but it doesn't stop me from sobbing uncontrollably. His hold on me tightens and he rocks me back and forth as I continue to cry and asks no questions.

I don't know how long it is until I finally calm down. Briefly, I glance at my arm and see the faint Mudblood scar and pull Draco closer to me and he kisses my forehead before laying us back down. He tucks me in and then wraps his arms around me, keeping me close. "Are you alright?" he asks, quietly.

I close my eyes and shake my head as a few more tears slip through. He wipes them away with his thumb and gives me a soft kiss. "It's okay; you don't have to talk about it right now. Just know that I'm here. I'm safe, you're safe. It's okay."

I nod and pull him as close to me as possible before falling back into an uneasy sleep.

I wake up a few hours later to find the space next to me empty. I briefly panic before I hear the shower running in the bathroom and I calm down. It was just a dream, I tell myself. A very, very bad dream.

I roll onto my back and run my hands through my hair when I hear the shower turn off. A few minutes later, Draco walks out, already dressed and leans on the doorframe when he sees I'm awake. "Hey," he says.

I sit up and give him a small smile. "Hey."

He walks over and sits next to me on the bed and brushes a curl behind my ear. I lean into his touch and take his hand in mine and begin to kiss his fingertips. That nightmare last night scared the shit out of me. Bellatrix, I lived through her and Morrison just infuriates me but the idea of losing Draco… I don't even want to think about it.

The fear of last night's dream must show on my face because Draco suddenly looks worried. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head and look down at our entwined hands in my lap. "Nothing," I lie.

"Hermione," he says, softly and I can't help but look up at him. His eyes bore into mine and before he can say anything, I'm telling him about my nightmare last night and how scared it made me and that I'm scared in general because we're getting nowhere with this case and next thing I know, I'm hyperventilating. I don't tell him about recognizing the figure's voice, though, because I'm too freaked out as it is. If I voice that as well, I can't guarantee that I won't freak out more. So I let Draco pull me into his arms and rub my back soothingly as I try to calm my breathing. It's another few minutes before I finally calm down enough to have a full conversation.

He squeezes my hand. "It's okay," he reassures me. "I'm okay, you're okay, Bellatrix is dead and Morrison's locked up. We may not know where or who the accomplice is but I promise, he's not going to get me or you. We're going to figure out who he is, we're going to stop the next attack, and we're going to close this case quickly and easily. No one is going to hurt either of us, I promise." He pauses for a moment. "Do you want me to set up some extra wards just to be safe?"

I shake my head. "No, it was just a bad dream. I'll be fine."

He gives me a small smile and kisses my forehead. "If you're sure." He pauses before getting up. "Go get ready, I'll make you some coffee."

I raise an eyebrow. "You're going to make coffee?"

He shrugs. "What can I say? You and Blaise have influenced my taste buds," he says before walking downstairs.

I chuckle and get out of bed and grab a fresh pair of clothes before turning on the shower. I walk back into the room and close the bedroom door but not before I hear Draco casting some extra protective charms around the flat. I smile to myself and briefly think of how I'll have to thank him later before jumping in the shower.

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