Hermione stared in panic from the unconscious Charlie to Draco, unsure what to do. Draco dragged Charlie into the cottage and pointed his wand at the kitchen light "nox maxima." Slowly, so as not to draw attention to the cottage, the lights went out room by room. The only light they had to go on now was the moon streaming in through the kitchen window. Draco was now leaning over Charlie and muttering several healing spells before reviving the man. Charlie immediately tried to sit up and speak but Draco silenced him. "They'll have tried to follow you. Shut up and think of a way to get Hermione away safely."
He had just finished speaking when they heard a loud voice call out "Malfoy, there's more cottages over here!"
"Burn them"
Lucius Malfoy was close, he had barely raised his voice and yet it sounded as if he was outside their cottage. Noticing that Hermione could easily be seen through the window Draco grabbed her hand and pulled her down to the floor where he was still sat with Charlie. She intertwined her fingers with his and hid her face against his chest, seeking some kind of reassurance.
"Incendio!"
A small yelp emitted from Hermione when the cottage next to them burst into flames, the light from the fire spreading out across the dark night. Draco gripped Hermione tighter and manoeuvred her so that regardless of the angle they were attacked, she would be protected by him, or rather his body. She pulled back from him, a puzzled expression on her face. "What are you doing?" She whispered to him.
"Keeping my vow" Was his only response as he looked around the room, trying to find some means of escape for Hermione. He truly no longer cared about himself but he wanted her safe. "Charlie," he hissed at the silent man, "surely there's a secret escape route?"
"Draco Malfoy I am not running away!" He felt a light punch on his arm and knew that unless he stunned her and carried her out himself, there was no way he could persuade Hermione to leave. She was, after all, a true Gryffindor and used to fighting the death eaters by now. Heck, she'd probably seen more of them than he had in his lifetime. He sighed in defeat and kissed her forehead, letting her know he was resigned to accepting her decision.
Behind them Charlie was muttering a spell. "What are you doing?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Charming the cottage, if they set fire to it flames will appear but nothing inside will be harmed. They're getting people by quite literally smoking them out. They nearly got Mundungus that way."
Draco managed a small smile towards him. "Thank you, for protecting her." Was all he said before a loud voice sounded outside the front door:
"Hello? Is anybody home? I'm looking for my son and his mudblood slut," silence, "no? Well then, Incendio."
The cottage lit up in flames, but nothing else happened.
"Oh honestly, did they think we wouldn't notice?" The flames were extinguished and the door burst open. Standing there, silhouetted by the other fires around them and looking every inch the mad man they knew him to be, was Lucius Malfoy. "Hello Draco" he drawled, "come to daddy dearest."