Author's note:

Thanks so much for all your feedback. Following a little pleading for quick updates-the next chapter is up. The chapter contains some of JKR's original dialogue which like the characters I don't own.

Chapter 25-Granger

Narcissa pulled her son into her arms, although he was almost a grown man now he was still her little boy and she couldn't bear to see him suffer. She had begun to feel a creeping resentment towards her husband for all he had put the boy through. It was the greatest regret of her life that she had not been able to protect her son from the forces that had engulfed him.

She didn't need him to say it, Narcissa knew her son was in love with the muggle-born girl. She suspected she had known before her boy had even acknowledged his feelings to himself. all the signs of his pent up frustration had been there. That was what had led the boy to complain so vociferously about 'Granger'. Narcissa hadn't known the girl's given name was Hermione until it was almost too late. She only hoped the girl would recover from Bella's 'tender' ministrations.

"I tried to protect her," Draco finally managed to get out in a broken whisper, "she doesn't even know about us, she thinks I hate her, I wiped her memory."

Narcissa bit her lip to force the tears back, Merlin what her son must have suffered.

"I'm sorry Draco I did what I could,"

"The elf?"

Narcissa nodded hardly daring to own up to her treachery.

"Thank you,"

She said nothing more to console him. She just held him to her for a moment.

"Now go, calm yourself, it would not do for anyone to question your anxiety." She ordered.

He nodded giving her a wane smile as he left.

Narcissa determined there and then that she would do all that she could to reunite Draco with his lost love. She would defy her husband; she would betray her sister and even Voldemort himself if she could. She did not delude herself, she knew Draco would face the consequences of his actions in this war if the Order won but there was no future for him otherwise. Voldemort would kill her son in the end. Draco was too tender hearted to survive in the vicious world that Voldemort was carving out for them.

Narcissa retired to her room that night and gave herself a new titles to add to those she had legitimately earned; 'betrayer, back-stabber, turncoat, snake in the grass.'

It was weeks before Draco knew for certain she was still alive, weeks of agony as he scoured the 'Prophet' for any news of her at all. Then finally the news he had hoped for came. Not only was she still alive but she was still fighting to end this war.

Bellatrix was apoplectic with rage; someone had broken into her vault in Gringott's. Draco did not hear the whole of what Bellatrix had to say but he heard enough.

Granger and he guessed Potter and Weasley, had broken into Gringott's and stolen something that Voldemort prized highly. Whatever it was it appeared it posed some risk to the Dark Lord and Draco gleaned there were other such items some of them at Hogwarts.

As he heard mention of Hogwarts Draco's blood chilled. Bellatrix could not get into Hogwarts but he still could-technically he was still enrolled there. He knew what was coming before it was asked of him.

"Draco," his aunt cornered him the next day. He had made the mistake of coming down to the kitchen rather than having his elf bring him breakfast, "Aunt," he replied coldly, Bellatrix did not even notice his tone, she was too wound up by whatever dilemma they now faced.

"I need you to go to Hogwarts and retrieve an artifact for me."

He forced his words back down catching the, "are you insane?" that he had been about to snap back. Of course she's insane, he reminded himself. unfortunately the problem was that Bellatrix, at least on some level, knew that she was crazy and it didn't do to remind her of the fact. She would, if the words; 'mad, insane or crazy' were spoken around her, 'curio' first and maybe, if she remembered in her bloodlust, ask questions later.

"Yes, Aunt Bella," he agreed as meekly as he could, "what is it I am to collect?"

"A very rare artifact, "she began to explain. Bellatrix told her nephew to find a sapphire diadem in the room of hidden things.

"It may take some time," Draco cautioned knowing that this at last might be an opportunity for him and his mother to escape.

"Are you a wizard or not," she snapped, do you not know any summoning spells?"

Draco stayed calm, "of course Aunt Bella, but they do not always work to summon powerful artefacts."

"Hmm," was her only response.

"I will go and tell mother where I am going," he said breaking the silence when it seemed apparent that Bellatrix would say no more.

"You will leave now!" she demanded ushering him towards the floo network, "go to Hogsmead and make your way into the castle from there," she instructed.

Oh, just like that, Draco silently intoned, just walk up to the gates of Hogwarts Draco and let yourself in!

What Bellatrix had not told Draco was that they had intended to attack the castle that night and that she had sent him on a fool's errand knowing that if she did not Narcissa would make every effort to ensure he stayed out of harm's way.

"Have you seen Draco?" Narcissa asked her sister some hours later.

"He has gone on a mission," Bellatrix replied.

For a fleeting moment Narcissa wondered if her sister had sent the last scion of the Black line to safety, but she hardly dared hope.

"Where have you sent him Bella?"

"Hogwarts." She stated as if it was obvious.

Hogwarts, Narcissa blanched her own sister had sent her only son and heir into the heart of what she knew would become a battlefield.

The castles wards had fallen it was only then that Draco was able to make it inside. In truth he had only one precious thing that he needed to find and it was not some ancient diadem.

He enlisted the help of his onetime sidekicks Crabbe and Goyle.

"We need to find Potter," he told them, knowing that Hermione would be with the Boy Wonder if she was anywhere.

"Why?" Goyle demanded, well bugger me, Draco thought, when did Goyle think to ask questions.

"He has something that I need." Draco explained quite truthfully.

Draco cast a disillusionment charm on himself and ordered Crabbe and Goyle to do likewise. Thus he was able to follow the Golden Trio into the Room of Requirements. Draco hoped he might get Hermione to safety through the vanishing cabinet if it still worked.

As he made his way through the widening piles of junk Draco became conscious that his fellow Slytherins might be more of a problem than he had at first thought. They shadowed Potter through the room but the Trio had split up and he had no idea now where Hermione had gone.

Draco tried to control the goons but before he could prevent it though he ordered them to 'STOP!' Crabbe started a duel with Potter. Crabbe was out matched but he didn't seem to realise it. Then the real danger arrived. Weasley and Hermione's voices could be heard calling to the Chosen One across the Room of Requirements. Crabbe had brought down a towering stack of furniture, blocking Weasley from reaching Potter.

Then Hermione came barreling around the corner firing a stunning spell at Crabbe, Draco had to duck to avoid it he could do nothing to protect her as he was falling as he heard Crabbe holler,;

"It's that Mublood! Avada Kedavra"

Draco was sure he stopped breathing as the green light flew towards her but she dived out of the way. Using the distraction for cover Potter fired a stunner at Crabbe. Crabbe fell into Draco knocking his wand from his hand. SHIT! Draco cursed he could now neither defend her nor himself. He needed to calm things down before someone got hurt.

"Don't kill him! DON'T KILL HIM!" Draco demanded with all the authority he could muster, trying to take control of the situation.

He was too late. Curses flew; Goyle was disarmed and stunned by Hermione. Draco now wandless took shelter behind a cabinet. Then everything went to hell.

"Like it hot Scum?" he heard Vince roar.

Hermione screamed, "Harry!" she pleaded as vicious preternatural flames sprang to life around them.

He didn't need to be told he ran, dragging Goyle's stunned body behind him. He was a weight and he slowed Draco down. The others had outpaced him he rounded the corner and found his way blocked. I'm going to die. Draco realised there was no escape now his only option was to go up and all he was doing was buying a few moments. He prayed Hermione had made it out.

The furniture swayed precariously as he dragged his unconscious friend upwards. He had reached the top but the flames were already licking at his heels.

"Hermione," he keened her name, but she would never hear his plea over the roaring of the flames. He closed his eyes preparing himself, as best he could, for the inevitable. Perhaps it was a fitting end, he thought as he looked at his unconscious friend at least he had been selfless in the end.

"Malfoy!" he heard his name, perhaps the God's did not despise him after all. Potter had come back for him. His hand shot out and he grasped Potter's he almost wrenched his shoulder from the socket. The weight was too much Potter couldn't take them both. But flying behind him, like a Valkyrie into battle, came Hermione. She and Weasley grabbed Goyle and they were gone. Potter came round for a second pass and Draco hoisted himself onto the broom.

"The door, get to the door, the door," he screamed above the roar.

Draco sat coughing in a blackened heap on the floor. By some miracle they had made it out. Draco was bruised, bloodied and wandless. He could not defend himself but Potter paid him no heed, beyond a curt acknowledgement before he was on his way to do Merlin knows what.

If they survived the night, Draco determined, he would swallow his pride and thank Potter. He owed him a life debt, he wouldn't forget it.

author's note:

I tried to give some more context to some of the events that ultimately 'save' the Malfoys here. I hope you enjoyed it please review.

I intend to update again over the weekend starting the post-war phase of the story where Hermione and Draco will have some more interactions.