A.n. Hello! Sorry if this chapter is small. I didn't really want to write the whole Godrics Hollow scene again, you know theres' the book for that. Anyway i hope it's okay, and im sorry it took so long. This chapter was pain in the butt to get through, i lost it a few times and had to start again but oh well, here it is.

kelly-Ann Little: Thank you so much! I am so so glad that you like the story and am super thankful that you took the time to review. I really do like your suggestion about Hermione having a flashback and Harry's comment and i will definetly try and get it in the next chapter! I love getting idea's from people and would never be offended so thank you loaaaads! xxxx

emm74: Thank you emma! I am honored to be your first review hahaha and im so so so happy that you like the story and i hope you like all the chapters to come!

Shezaweza: Dude, i feel like you review all my chapters and they always make me so happy! You are the best! Im so glad you are liking it so far. xxxoxox

DaggerStar: Thank you! I'm so happy you like it. :)))) xx

Erin xx

All the air was sucked from Draco's lungs and his world was a swirling ecstasy of darkness and flares of bright light. Everything was black and then he was thrown forward, the ground sending an exquisite jarring sensation through his knees.

Draco pressed a hand to his ribs. There was a burning feeling that seared every time his ribs expanded with breath. Pushing his coat back, there was a strip of blood running along the side of his chest. He had almost been splinched. Peeling his shirt up, he pressed a shaky finger to the wound, hissing as the stinging intensified. He would need to get it healed once he- Where was he?

Around him he was surrounded by hedges upon hedges. He was in the front yard of the Manor. Of course. The wards were up. Ever since the Dark Lord had begun… occupying their home, wards had been put up to keep away unwanted visitors. This meant no apparating in or out. He must have bounced off the wards, leaving him with the charming injury at his side. It pulsed with every step towards the gates ahead of him. He could see the Manor up further past the gate.

The gardens were lined with row upon row of hedges and shrubs. Dotted along them were tiny, delicate flowers that were the colour of silver. He had never seen anything like them, though; he suspected that was the exact purpose.

Draco almost jumped from his skin as he placed his hand on the gate, wavering beneath his touch, when he heard a sharp piercing scream. Whipping his head around, he felt like a fool as he found the culprit. Sitting contentedly upon the top of the hedge to his right was one of the many albino peacocks that roamed the manor. The creature had an unearthly beauty. Its eyes were dark like obsidian and watched him with a superior amusement. Its whole body was pure white like it had been dusted with snow. The peacock let out another shrill caw and Draco scowled, flipping it a rude gesture as he passed through the shimmering bars and strode on towards the castle.

'If I ever have to see another damn bird...' He glowered.

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Hermione wondered why Bathilda didn't use magic while the old womans hands shook as she tried to light the stubby candles that sat around the room. She had led them into her house without a word.

'Here.' Harry moved towards the old woman. 'Let me light those for you.' She stood hunched and silent as Harry took the matched from her hands tentatively. He lit each candle, giving the room more light. The room was filled with the stench of stale air, as if the woman hadn't opened a window in years. Setting down the matches, Hermione watched Harry as his fingers grazed a small photograph laying upon the table. He picked it up, turning to Bathilda.

'Erm, Miss Bagshot… Who is this?' He showed her the image. Her face remained in the same vague expression. Not even showing that she had recognised his question. 'Do you know who this is?'

Bathilda stayed impassive, her eyes distant and glazed.

He asked her louder now. 'Who's this man?'

'Harry, what on earth?' Hermione interrupted, walking towards him. Harry handed her the photograph. It was a picture of a young man, his hair was golden and his smile wicked.

'It's the thief!' He said. 'The thief who stole from Gregorovitch! Please!' He turned frantically to Bathilda. 'Who is he?'

She only stood blankly.

'Mam- Miss Bagshot- Why did you bring us here?' Hermione asked the old woman carefully.

Bathilda turned to Harry, appearing to not have heard Hermione at all. The woman jerked her head and glanced back to the hall, beckoning him.

'You- Do you want us to follow you?' Hermione questioned. Bathilda once again showed no sign of hearing her question and only jerked her head towards the hall again. Harry cocked his head.

'I think she wants me to come with her.' Harry said to Hermione. Bathilda still stood idly.

'Alone?' She started forward, reluctant to have him be alone with the old woman.

Harry waved a hand. 'I'll be fine. Stay here.' He gave her a look as he followed the tottering Bathilda out of the room towards the stair way that said, Check around.

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After making it into the Manor he shuffled quietly through the halls, trying to quiet his footsteps. Pushing through his bedroom door he made his way into the bathroom. Draco's reflection only deepened his scowl. His face was flushed from the cold and his hair wind beaten. He winced, peeling off layers of clothing. Cloak. Sweater. Shirt. The wound had bled through his shirt leaving a crimson stain on the fabric. His mother would disown him.

Twisting his stance in the mirror he examined the injury, reaching for his wand.

'Draco!'

His eyes darted to the mirror and he found his mother with her hands clasped over her mouth. Draco didn't bother hiding his previous grimace. She looked behind her before stepping through the threshold, shutting the door behind her. 'I didn't know you were here!' She said.

'It's lovely to see you too.'

'What happened? I thought you would be back a half hour ago, I was worried out of my wits. No one told me what was happening. I knew it would be too dangerous to send you there.' She was rambling. Her eyes locked onto the wound on his torso again. 'Oh my, the blood. Here, let me heal that, it will be much faster.'

Narcissa swiped his wand from his hand sitting it next to the sink before pulling hers from her robes. 'Sit.' She nodded to the counter next to the basin. He did. 'How did it happen?'

Draco braced his arm on the edge of the counter as he felt the healing start to take place. 'It wasn't anything, really. Just courtesy of our dear protective enchantments.'

'You were splinched?' She asked.

'Truly.' He confirmed. Narcissa was very still. He felt the injury healing; it had stared out as a small tingle which had now escalated to a steady warmth. Like the heat you made when you rub your hands together quickly to create friction. It was awfully uncomfortable. He watched his mother thinking as she twisted her wand and the heat intensified again. She pursed her lips in a frown, and shook her head minutely.

'Did you know about the mission?' Draco asked her. She rose her gaze to his.

'No. No one told me a thing.' She admitted, lowering her lashes and concentrating back on the injury. Her voice was softer when she spoke again. 'Lucius knew.'

Draco nodded. He sensed a sad bitterness to her tone, one that he hadn't expected. She had been left out of the loop just as much as him. Even more so. 'You know who the attack was for?' She glanced at him briefly before shaking her head. 'Potter. Potter and Granger.'

'I'm not that surprised. He was bound to find them eventually.' Narcissa muttered. 'Did you see them?'

Draco paused; Long enough for the images he had been repressing to engulf him.

Hermione throwing her arms around him.

Her breath on his collarbone as she whispered. 'Is this real?'

The stiffening of her spine as he had muttered. 'I am so sorry.'

Hermione's hand raking along his cheek. 'Leave!'

Draco didn't realise his hand was at his cheek until he felt the sting and the wetness of the blood. He lowered his hand. 'Yes, I saw them.'

Narcissa, done with the wound at his side, stirred to remove his hand from his cheek. There was a glint of knowing in her eyes and he could tell the question was on the tip of her tongue. How did you get that? She studied the marks on his face silently before reaching for her wand again. 'I can heal that.'

Draco took her wand from her hand, sitting it next to his on the basin. 'It's fine.'

'Draco, it's going to scar-.'

'Good. I deserved it.' He stated. Narcissa moved to object again, her brow twisted with confusion. Before she could speak, the door flew open. Lucius stood in the door way, taking in the scene before him.

'I wasn't aware you were back.' Lucius simply stated, eyeing the marks along his cheekbone.

'Surprise!' Draco threw his hand in the air with mock enthusiasm. Lucius's scowl grew.

'What took you so long? You were due to return far earlier.' He questioned.

'Careful father, One might mistake your tone for concern.' Draco chided. His father shook his head in disappointment.

'Did you at least do what the Dark Lord asked of you?' Lucius asked dully.

'Yes.' Draco looked down. 'Is He here?' Narcissa snatched her wand from the bench, listening tentatively.

'He has left.' Lucius said, moving to leave the room.

'Left?'

'For the attack. He wants to be the one to do it.' Lucius said. Draco's breath hitched, he should have expected it. Of course He would be there. Lucius turned before exiting his bedroom, waving a hand with a look of distaste. 'And do something about those ugly scratches on your face.'

He didn't.

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She chewed on her lip fiercely, aware that if she continued she would probably draw blood. She'd been trying to fit the jagged pieces together. The edges were sharp and clear, like memories, except that wasn't possible. If they were memories, why couldn't she remember them? She had come to the conclusion that it was impossible that the handsome snowy haired boy in them, was Draco Malfoy. Insanely impossible.

Right?

Hermione jumped when above her the roof shook with a crash, biting her lip and feeling the blood trickle into her mouth. She wiped her hand hastily across her mouth and set the photograph in her hands down, drawing her wand.

'Harry?' She called.

She waited a moment for a response but when there was none she was bounding up the stairs, three at a time. Hermione tripped on a pile of clothing. They were the same ones Bathilda had been wearing before. Stumbling forward she pushed forward into the room where she could hear banging and thumping.

She was frozen for a heartbeat as she took in the room. There was broken splinter of wood and smashed floorboards. On the ground was a massive snake- Nagini. Nagini's body was wrapped tightly around Harry's torso and Harry's face was slowing turning purple from lack of oxygen.

Hermione whipped her hand out shouting, 'Confringo!' The spell hit the snake, making the snake to fly into the air, thrashing around. Harry scrambled to his feet, as the spell rebounded off the snake and hit the window, smashing the glass.

Hermione grabbed Harry, who stumbled along with her as she pulled him towards the window.

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Blaise's post outside the house was freezing cold and he cursed whatever it was inside of him that was keeping him here. Well, not here here. He was here for Malfoy. Although, why he was here in the first place, was a completely different question.

His dark mark on his forearm still wasn't completely healed. It was red and scabbed around the edges. He had stopped scratching it after Malfoy had told him to, but it was a hard habit to kick.

Blaise rose from a crouch when the window on the top floor was smashed in a shower of glass. He drew his wand and crept towards the house. He heard a feminine shout, Hermione he'd guess, and then he watched as two figures leapt from the window.

Pressing himself up against a dark shadowy wall, his wand aimed at the figures as they fell. He noticed Grangers bushy hair and bet that it was Potter that she was dragging behind her. Straightening his arm, he was ready to shoot a spell to soften their fall but before he could mutter the words, he blinked in disbelief as they became a tangle of limbs and blurs. With a final crack he watched them disapparate out of mid-air so he was left looking at the empty space in front of him.

Blaise let out a breathy laugh. 'Damn Gryffindors.'

At least she was out of here.

Blaise felt his mark shift and he knew that the Dark Lord was here. And he wouldn't be happy. He set out towards the main street, aiming for the outskirts where Draco would have apparated from. He needed to get to the manor to tell Draco about Granger. That she was safe.

Well as safe as she could be.

It still baffled Blaise that Draco could have done that spell on Granger. God knew he would never be able to do a spell like that on someone he loved. To do it, you'd need to be weak and pathetic or: strong, so incredibly strong.

Blaise had heard Draco get defensive of her. Seen him sit next to her at the Slytherin table. Watched them walk out of the Great Hall, their hands mingling like they just couldn't keep them to themselves.

Blaise had watched Draco when he thought no one was watching. He had seen the smiles that shaped his lips when, Blaise guessed, he was thinking about her; when had been together.

He had seen his face earlier that night, watched Draco's expression as Granger had stood in the snow with her eyes glued shut. Blaise knew that Draco had realised his mistake and regretted it like nothing else.

Blaise knew that Draco was in the latter. Draco was strong.

That was his last thought before he made it to the outskirts of the town, the apparition took hold of his body and he was gone.

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a.n. Thanks for reading! next chapter i think we will see Ron come back and Blaise visit Draco! And not long after that we have the Malfoy Manor scene which im super excited about!

Feel absolutely free to review and tell me what you think and if there's anything you would like to see in the future!

x