Sorry for the wait, I've been travelling. I'll upload two chapters today to make up for it :)

Chapter 21: Reunited once more

Draco was in the lounge playing the piano. He was playing the tune he had taught Hermione that one evening in their sixth year. Memories of their time together flashed in his mind. He stopped and looked at the sofa where the Daily Prophet lay. Looking up at him was Hermione's photo. He fought back the tears that threatened to spill.

"Draco?" He heard Narcissa call out from the Hall. "Draco, are you in there?"

"Yes, mother?" He called back as he walked to the door of the lounge. Narcissa Malfoy walked into the room. She looked worried.

"Draco, I have a task for you." Draco sighed, and nodded. He looked back at the photo of Hermione. I miss you, he thought.

As he walked through the doors of the drawing room he saw Bellatrix leaning over someone. Captors. Why had they brought prisoners here? He pondered on the thought for less than a minute. Bellatrix had moved aside and he now saw her. She was tied up with her hands behind her back, her hair was a mess and she was covered in dust, but it was definitely her. She was here. Hermione. They had caught her. His heart fell. At least I know she's alive, he thought. But for how much longer?

"Come, come here, Draco." Lucius Malfoy said excitedly. "Tell us, this is Potter, is it not?" Draco got dragged to where a boy was standing awkwardly in the drawing room. He looked at him. It was definitely Potter, he would recognise him anywhere, even with that distorted face.

"Well, boy?" rasped Greyback.

I have to lie. Draco thought, I have to lie to protect her.

"No, I don't know." Draco was trying his hardest to keep his face blank. His heart was racing. He had not been this close to Hermione for nearly a year. She looked like she was crying, and he yearned to wipe the tears away, to hold her once more. But he knew he couldn't, and so he kept his eyes focused on Potter.

"What about this one? She's the mudblood he hangs out with, is it not?" Bellatrix prodded Hermione.

"Yes," said Lucius, "yes, that does look like her..." Draco was dragged around to face Hermione. She looked up at him, and their eyes met for the first time since their sixth year. Brown to grey, grey to brown. She was silently pleading with him, begging him to lie. He wanted to let her know that he was going to protect her, to save her as best he could.

"No, that isn't Granger." He drawled it out in his usual voice, to show that he was completely sure of it, while his heart was beating so hard in his chest.

"Are you sure?" Lucius whispered.

"Yes. This isn't her, though it is an uncanny resemblance. The height is all wrong; Granger's shorter than this." He could see Hermione's eyes shine with relief.

"Well, in any case, it doesn't matter who she is. This is Potter, I'm sure of it!" Draco's heart plummeted.

"What do you mean?" He asked, trying to keep his voice from giving him away.

"The Dark Lord only wants Potter. The others are just spares."

"No!" Draco croaked, but no one was listening, Lucius was already reaching for his mark. Draco turned back to Hermione. "I'm sorry, I tried." He whispered to her. Her eyes brimmed with tears.

"Stop!" Shrieked Bellatrix. "If you summon him, we are all dead!" She had grabbed the sword of Gryffindor from Greyback. "Where did you get this!"

"Found it in their tent." He snarled. During the fight that broke out, Draco looked back at Hermione.

"I'm so sorry. I wish I could save you," he whispered to her. She nodded.

"Give me the girl. Put the rest in the basement with the others. Now!" The snatchers were either tied up or unconscious on the floor. Draco was pushed aside by Wormtail, who had been standing in the corner. Draco watched helplessly as Hermione was dragged away towards Bellatrix.

"Where did you get this!" Bellatrix shrieked at Hermione.

"We found it!" Hermione shrieked back, absolutely terrified.

"Come, Draco," his mother dragged him out of the room. As the doors closed to the drawing room, tears began to fall from his eyes. His mother's arms wrapped around him. "Shh," she said softly, "I know."

"You know nothing." He growled, pushing her away from him.

"I know that you lied about Granger." Draco had his back to her and was shaking.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I won't tell, but I know. A mother knows these things." A shriek of pain was heard from the drawing room. The sound pierced Draco like a knife. He moved towards the door. "No." Narcissa held him back.

"I can't just stand here!"

"You have to!" They glared at each other. Draco's eyes were still wet with tears, and Narcissa's looked at him with pain. "I know how much it hurts you, Draco." He pulled his arm out of her grasp, and stalked back into the lounge. Hermione was lying on the ground, writhing in pain, yelling at the top of her voice, as Bellatrix tortured her.

"Ah, Draco," Bellatrix cooed, releasing Hermione from her spell, leaving her to writhe on the floor, whimpering. "Go and fetch Wormtail, tell him to fetch the Goblin." He did as his Aunt instructed. He was at a loss at what to do. The girl he loved was currently upstairs being tortured, and he was helpless. Wormtail returned with Griphook, and that left Hermione on the floor. She looked so much thinner than when he had last seen her.

"Is this the real sword?" Bellatrix barked at the Goblin.

Draco saw his chance. He approached Hermione and bent down. He stroked her cheek.

"Draco." She whispered. He smiled at her.

"I'm here."

"I'm so happy to see you again." She whispered as tears slid down both of their faces.

"You're sure this is a fake?" Bellatrix yelled at Griphook.

"Yes. This is wizard made."

"Good. Greyback, you can have the mudblood."

"No!" Yelled Draco, along with Harry and Ron who had appeared behind him. Draco was thrown to the side by Bellatrix who had just grabbed Hermione.

"Now now, boys, put the wands down. You wouldn't want to hurt this little one, would you?" She cooed menacingly. Both of the boys dropped their wands. "Pick them up, Draco." He obliged. A creaking sound was heard above Bellatrix's head as the chandelier dropped down. She yelled and threw Hermione to the side to save herself. Draco managed to catch her and carried her to where Ron was standing.

"Take her!" Draco yelled to him.

"Draco…" Hermione reached a weak hand towards him, but Harry was upon him, grabbing the wands he was holding. He made no resistance; they needed them more than he did.

"Take care of her!" He yelled to Ron, who nodded, and disapparated.

"What were you doing, Draco!" Bellatrix shrieked at him. His heart was pounding in his chest. "Why didn't you stop them!"

"They tackled me to the ground before I could do anything!" He yelled back.

"The Dark Lord is going to punish us!" Lucius was sobbing in the corner. At that precise moment, a cold voice came from the corner.

"You let him escape, didn't you." The statement fell into the silence. Draco's heart froze.

"My Lord," Bellatrix started, "we had them, but then the house elf, the brat, it tried to kill us!" Voldemort raised a hand to silence her. His eyes settled on Draco.

"Draco, how did they manage to escape?" He knew what was coming. He was ready for it. He was trained in Occlumency, he couldn't let Voldemort see he had helped them escape, he could not know. Draco looked Voldemort square in the face and prepared to counter his mental attacks.