"Divinius Fawley? You're saying-"

"She's the daughter of the Dark Lord and Victorius Fawley," Gil cut him off. "She's been staying with Latif's family in Cairo since the first war,"

"Is that why he suddenly began popping up everywhere? They moved here from Egypt?"

"More like moved back," Gil said. "Latif lived here with his parents until Divinius was born when he was twelve. His parents were Victorius' husband's niece and nephew in law. The nephew was a half-blood, which was a perfect way for Pearlman to distance herself since she's notorious for not consorting with anyone less than pure,"

"So they just shipped Voldemort's heir off with her dead husband's family? Allowed her to live with half-bloods? It doesn't seem plausible."

"It does if you take into account that Pearlman changed her name and separated herself from her husband's family after he died; from the pain of it all, she said. When, in reality, it was a cover so that she wouldn't be associated with them anymore to keep Divinius a secret. I found records that she'd been taking a trip to Egypt once a year, every year since the Dark Lord was destroyed the first time." Gil took a step back and lit a cigarette. After he took a long drag, his breath came out in ragged wisps. "I'm only telling you all this to give you you're best shot at survival, Draco,"

"Oh really?" Draco spat. "And how's a history lesson supposed to help me?"

"I'm not a hundred percent sure what they need you for, exactly, only that Pearlman insists you're vital to her cause. Whatever information I can give to prepare you for it, I will. Again, I'm really sorry, Draco, I never meant for any of this to happen. But Cass-"

"I know, I know. I get it. Your family comes first. I'm not questioning your loyalty. I just don't see how I could be of use to any of that crowd anymore... I've been reformed for years..."

"I'm sure they'll let you in on more than what I was made privy to," Gil said and dropped the remainder of his cigarette, stamping it out with his shoe. "just be careful, yeah?"

Draco shook his head, still not sure if he believed a word of it.

"When do they expect me to turn up? And where?"

"Tonight. Malfoy Manor."

Of course. Draco thought. She'd want to rub the house in my face as much as possible.

Draco nodded but couldn't find any words. Gil regarded him curiously.

"What'll you say to Granger?" He asks quietly, empathy coloring his question.

"Honestly? I have no clue. If I tell her the truth..."

"She'll try to stop you and figure out another way," Gil offered. Draco nodded again.

"But we just came to the decision to move in together. Well, officially. Not even an hour ago. How am I supposed to tell her I can't?" Draco looked at Gil imploringly. "What would you say?"

Gil looked taken aback and thought about it a moment, staring down at his feet.

"I'd say something close to the truth; something that might hurt to hear. Then I'd probably tear her heart apart,"

"You could do that to her? To Cass?"

"What wouldn't I do for that woman?"

"What if you couldn't make it right again when the smoke cleared?"

"You can't think like that," Gil finally looked up into Draco's eyes and sighed. "I'd be trying to save her life. You have to do the same thing,"

"I have to hurt Hermione? That's my only option?"

"Yes. Hurt her to save her. From these people. From herself. There doesn't seem to be any other way. You know she'd never let you go otherwise,"

Draco looked away from the man's piercing stare and furiously wiped at the moisture that had started to trickle down his face.

"I can't," he choked out. "I promised. I promised her no more running; I promised I'd stay by her side-"

"You staying will only get her killed. Sometimes the hardest choices are the ones that are best for everyone but not ourselves. Hopefully, with time, you can make it right again."

Draco wiped at his face again and turned to go back inside.

"Did you hear me?"

"Trust me, I heard you. I just never thought I'd be in the position ever again. Not after my mother-"

"Your mother would tell you to do the same thing," Gil called softly as Draco reached the front door.

"And that's supposed to make it easier?" Draco turned to glare at the man who was slowly backing away down the road.

"Nothing will make it easier. But that information alone should tell you it's the right choice."

Draco didn't know what to say.

"Goodbye, Draco. I'll pass the information along that you've accepted Pearlman's proposition so she'll know to call her assassins off the girl. I doubt she'll be so lenient with the rest of the Weasley Clan, though, what with the dragon specialist still digging around," Gil waved and turned away. A moment and a crack of apparation later and he was gone.

When Draco stepped back inside, he was aware something was very wrong. Well, more so than the conversation he'd just had. The air held chaos and something smelled foul.

"Hermione?" He called out, seeing the bedroom door ajar. No answer. He took a few steps forward and noticed something reflecting on the ground by the glow of the floo. He leaned down and viewed the small, red droplets on the floor with speculation. Touching them, he noticed they came away from the hardwood as a ruby-red smear. His head flicked up quickly, panic setting in. He flew to the bedroom and his face fell in horror. There was blood and what appeared to be bile all down Hermione's side of the bed. Gil mentioned assassins earlier which made Draco jump to the worst of conclusions.

Maybe Gil was too late in talking to him. Maybe they'd already struck her down...

"Hermione?! Ginny!" Draco called through the house but got no answer. He looked for both women but they were gone. He wracked his brain, searching around for clues. What had happened? He was outside for maybe ten or fifteen minutes. He'd noticed someone entering the house, wouldn't he?

Probably not. Gil's news had been shocking and upsetting enough to distract him fully.

Draco went over the day, trying to think of something he missed. The visit to Hogwarts, going to dinner with Potter and Ginny...

His face felt devoid of color as it turned clammy in an instant; realization struck him hard in the gut, leaving him breathless.

Of course, how could he be so completely, utterly stupid?

She wasn't assassinated... she was sick. Really sick. And it was entirely his fault for not remembering she was supposed to be restricted from apparation...

Draco didn't even think. He changed out of his robe, threw on clothes, grabbed both his and Hermione's wands from where they'd abandoned them on the floor earlier, and made quick work of rushing to St. Mungo's.

Ginny was in the main waiting room in her pajamas, a distressed look on her face.

"Draco! I don't know what happened-" she stood, her cheeks blotchy and red.

"I'm an idiot, that's what," he flew past her, knowing he had to get to whoever was in charge of Hermione.

"What do you mean?" Ginny trailed after him as he stormed through the hospital.

"How could I have been such a bloody fool?!" He roared out.

"Draco!" Ginny tried to get his attention but she was interrupted by him flagging down an employee behind a work station.

"Can I help you, sir?" the older woman asked.

"The woman just brought in, Hermione Granger, I need to speak with her Healer immediately,"

"Sorry sir, she was taken to surgery," the woman said as she looked down and read off a patient information script that magically changed depending on a patients' status.

"It's dire to her care, please! I know what's wrong!" He practically yelled at her. He must have looked believable and desperate enough because she wrote something down and got a quick reply.

"Mediwitch Pinkerton will be right down,"

Draco nodded once and Ginny spun him around.

"What the hell is happening to her?" She shouted at him. Draco shook his head, lost for words at his own guilt. "Draco..." Ginny's tone softened at his agonized expression. Ruby Pinkerton arrived a moment later. She wasn't in her typical lime green coat today; she was in a darker green medical surgery gown that was covered in brownish blood.

"Tell me quick, Mr. Malfoy, I'm trying to save her life," she said brusquely.

"I forgot... for just one evening... I failed her," Draco said, shaking his head.

"You forgot what?" Ruby asked harshly. "Speak!"

"We apparated tonight. Twice," he said. Ruby blanched. Ginny's head swirled a moment before she covered her mouth in a small gasp.

"I told you... no apparating for a month. She's bleeding profusely and we couldn't figure out why..." Ruby shook her head, appearing frustrated. "we might need to go to extreme measures to fix this. Do I have your consent to do whatever is necessary to save her?"

"Of course!" Draco said.

"I'm asking Miss Weasley. She's her family, not you." Ruby said harshly. Draco felt like arguing but knew this wasn't the time.

"Oh um," Ginny looked panicked. "like what, for instance?"

"Sometimes things get dicey when we try to stop bleeding. Magic doesn't cure everything. The body is complex. A lot of her wounds from her initial attack were in some of her organs... including a kidney and her cervix," Ruby explained as efficiently and delicately as she could. Time was of the essence.

Ginny seemed to understand something Draco didn't because her features darkened minimally then looked completely downtrodden. When she replied her tone was melancholic but resigned. "You have my permission but please... do what you can to prevent any serious damage."

"I will," Ruby said solemnly then left without another word.

"What's going on?" Draco asked.

"We were all stupid, Draco. You, me, Harry... we were all there when Ruby said not to let her apparate. We all got swept up in her doing better and forgot... don't blame yourself for what could be happening..." Ginny said slowly and sat down on the nearest chair. She held herself around her middle and closed her eyes.

Draco crouched down and took one of Ginny's hands.

"What do you mean, Gin? What's worse than her potentially dying from this?"

Ginny hesitated, then opened her eyes a fraction. "There's no use worrying about it unless it happens so let's just pray she'll pull through this,"

"Ginny-" Draco started.

"Just leave it, okay? As far as we know, she'll be fine."

Draco glared at her for a moment before standing back up and beginning to pace.

Ginny made a few calls to Harry and her family but told them all she'd call with more news once she knew something. She cautioned people not to show up due to everything that was happening. Draco told her there could be assassins following her family; every one of them could be leveraged by Pearlman's associates to get to Hermione or Charlie. They all understood but were obviously anxious. This was twice in one week that Hermione was in the hospital. Harry was still working and couldn't come right away, either. It was up to Ginny and Draco to be there for Hermione the best they could.

As soon as she got off the phone, she looked up at Draco lost in thought and interrupted his pacing.

"Where were you?" She asked, her brows pinched in confused frustration. "Hermione began vomiting blood, sent out a patronus for help because she could barely move... she had no clue where you were, Draco,"

He stopped short and cut her a fatigued expression.

"I had to step out for a moment," he said vaguely, not sure if he should share his conversation with Gil.

"You stepped out?" It was obvious this answer wasn't good enough.

Draco was torn between telling the truth and lying his ass off. The lies came easier but he needed at least one person to know what he had to do... and why. He couldn't tell Hermione he was leaving her for her own good... she'd never accept that. But Ginny might. He needed her as an ally or this wouldn't work.

"Gil waited around for me outside the house. He had a message for me... from Pearlman,"

Ginny's eyebrows flew up.

Draco launched into everything Gil had said. He casted a muffliato charm to not be overheard and kept her from interrupting when it looked like she had something to say. As he revealed Voldemort had a daughter with Pearlman and that he was expected to drop Hermione completely to go to them, she shook her head, obviously disbelieving.

"Do you know how crazy you sound right now? I thought you were done with this life, Draco," Ginny scolded.

"If I don't go tonight, they'll kill Gil's wife... and Hermione."

"How do we know Gil isn't lying?"

"We don't for sure but... the look on his face and the way he spoke... I'm inclined to believe him. And I won't risk Hermione's life any more than I already have."

"She loves you more than anything. This will completely destroy her!" Ginny stood now, crossing her arms over her chest as she argued.

"I'd rather she be destroyed than dead, Gin. Besides, it's obvious I'm no good for her. I can't even remember simple medical instructions, for Merlin's sake!"

"Draco we all let it slip our minds! Even Hermione!"

"She's also in this predicament with Pearlman because of me!"

"No, she's in it because she was doing her job-"

"Maybe at first but Pearlman made it clear that me being with her and parading her around for all the purebloods to see was a no-no. If I don't leave her now Hermione will only suffer. I won't be responsible for that. Not anymore. Not ever again."

Ginny's cheeks were flushed in anger.

"I'm disappointed in you," she said quietly. "you have all these new friends and resources and instead of reaching out for help you're just giving up."

"Friends and resources? You mean Potter? Who practically threatened me if anything bad ever happened to her because of me? Oh yeah, your little boyfriend wasn't keen at all on the prospect of me looking out for her. He as well as predicted something like this might happen and that it'd be my fault. I can't go to him, Gin. I just can't. I have to do this the only way I know how,"

"Oh really? And what way is that? You're not a Death Eater anymore, Draco!"

"This says otherwise!" He pointed to his left forearm where the Dark Mark resided, faded with time since Voldemort's demise. Ginny glanced at it only a second, letting her anger ebb away a little as she took a step towards him so they were eye to eye.

"A tattoo doesn't make a person who they are, Draco, their actions do. If you don't try to do this the right way then you're not who I thought you were,"

"And who's that?"

"An honorable man capable of true friendship and love,"

"No one would ever call me honorable-"

"Hermione would. She loves you so much, even after everything you put her through growing up. She's told me about all you've done for her. From lying for Harry at the manor back in the day, to making amends with her after all these years, to defending her honor from Latif... all these things are honorable. The things you had to do for your Mother when she became ill, even after all hope was lost... you still searched and continue to search for answers. If that's not honor, I don't know what is." Ginny shrugged. "All I know is that you had no choice when you were younger how to react to being recruited by the bad guys... but now you do. Choose love, Draco. Choose the right side."

"How, Gin? Pearlman holds all the cards." Draco asked sardonically.

"You'll think of something. You're a clever person."

Draco scoffed but said nothing. What could he say? Gil laid out the path Pearlman expected him to take. She had Cass in her grip and hired assassin's on the lookout for Hermione and her family... If he didn't submit, people were going to get hurt... or worse.

He had to think of something and fast if he even considered trying to pull one over on these people. But the concept was hard to grasp when he didn't have all of the variables. He had no clue what Pearlman and her apparent daughter really wanted from him. Maybe they'd realize how deluded they'd been in thinking he could really be any sort of asset to whatever plans they had cooked up. He was a fallen Malfoy, after all; considered a disgrace by everyone. The purebloods thought he was weak for his viewpoint on muggleborn tolerance and everyone else still viewed him as a lying, conniving Death Eater. He didn't belong to any real circle of people and no one was a hundred percent in his corner.

Except Hermione.

And his small group of friends.

Hadn't they proved as much at the ball?

"See? Those wheels are turning already. Whatever you come up with, I'm with you. Just tell me what to do," Ginny said quietly. "and do it fast because once Hermione is out of the woods you'll have to leave."

"Why's that?" He asked as he sat close to her.

"Because whoever is watching Hermione will report everything to Pearlman. She probably expects you'll stay until you receive word Hermione will be alright. But then she'll also expect you to go to her right away afterward,"

"You're right," he agreed. "let me see if there's anything I can come up with,"

"Mister Malfoy? Miss Weasley?" A familiar voice called to them from a set of double doors. Ruby was peeking her head out. Draco and Ginny looked up and she beckoned them over. "Come with me,"

Ruby led them to a back hallway lined with patient recovery rooms.

"Is she okay?" Ginny asked, unable to wait.

"Let's just pop in here really quick," Ruby motioned them into an open door that had a small desk and several chairs lining the walls.

"Where are we?" Ginny asked.

"This is a private meeting room we use when we have sensitive information about a patient to communicate with their loved ones," Ruby said, not giving anything away by her demeanor, and closed the door behind them, shuttering the blinds.

The two friends took a seat and Ruby pulled up a chair right in front of them. She donned her lime green jacket again and her bright pink hair was tied back in a braid. It should have made her look young but the fatigue that pinched around her eyes aged her. She sat there, took a minute to articulate herself, driving the other two mad, and blew out a breath to start speaking.

"Let me first say that the information you provided about the apparation as well as her taking all the doses of medication I instructed you to make probably saved her life,"

"Thank Merlin," Ginny held a hand over her heart, the other resting on top of Draco's entwined fingers. He closed his eyes for a beat, thanking whatever higher power out there that she was alive.

"There's more," Ruby strained out. Ginny's hand squeezed Draco's in a vice.

"Tell us," he insisted.

"We were able to repair the damage to a majority of her organs because there wasn't too much tearing left, due to the meds,"

"A majority?" Draco inquired.

"The profuse amount of bleeding came from one organ in particular because it was the most damaged in her attack last weekend and hadn't had proper time to finish healing yet," Ruby alluded, her eyes flicking to Ginny's and holding steady. The hand the redhead had over her heart flew to her mouth. Ruby shook her head slightly and her eyes landed back on Draco. "Hermione's cervix was completely destroyed from the apparation,"

Draco's mind went blank. The room turned uncomfortably silent as the women waited for him to say something. Anything. He felt the color drain from his face and his stomach turned with the implication. There was a faint buzzing from the light fixtures that slowly began annoying Draco enough to make him talk, just to shut it out.

"What you're trying to say is that... she won't... she can't... have children?" He asked, needing complete clarification. His voice wavered a bit but he covered it by clearing his throat.

"That's exactly what I'm telling you, yes." Ruby nodded, her face devoid of the emotion her voice betrayed. It was obvious this was difficult for her to reveal. "I'm very sorry, there wasn't anything more we could do but repair the damage the best we could to stop the bleeding and-"

Draco stood abruptly.

"Thank you for letting me know," he cut her off, schooling his face in a hard mask and allowing his voice to become robotic. He couldn't let the emotions in. Not yet. He needed to be strong right now.

"There's more," Ruby motioned for him to sit down.

"What more could possibly have happened?" Ginny asked, sounding broken. Draco took his seat again as Ruby wrestled with the last bit of information.

"She was supposed to be taken to a private, highly secured, recovery room. We didn't want to chance any more mistakes after last time, but-"

"Where is she?" Draco grit out, his tone lethal as he stood again. Ruby stood, too, and blanched at how quickly his demeanor shifted.

"Gone," she whispered nervously. "she disappeared while in transport to her room,"

"And where were you when this happened?" He demanded.

"Washing up and changing my clothes," she replied, her voice shaking. "I'd just gotten out of her surgery..."

"Ginny," Draco addressed his friend quietly. She stood up next to him, looking horrified at the turn of events.

"Yes?"

"Call the Auror's. We have to report this right away," he said calmly.

"We know who took her, Draco,"

"But Potter suspects a mole, does he not? We can't let on that we're aware, they're more likely to slip up if they don't know that we know,"

"Right," she agreed and bustled out of the room.

"As for you," Draco pinned the Mediwitch with a withering glare. "If I find out you had anything to do with this, I swear-"

"I didn't, you have my word." She said solemnly.

"And why should I believe anything you say?" He whipped his wand out and Ruby took an involuntary step back, raising her hands up in surrender.

"I made an oath to protect people. It's a magically binding oath, as you're well aware,"

"There are ways around any contract, Pinkerton,"

"None that I would ever willingly try, I assure you."

Draco could see her unwavering conviction but no one could be trusted right now. Not even a seemingly-kind Mediwitch like her. She may have saved Hermione's life but as far as he was concerned, the only people who could truly be trusted right now were his inner circle.

He lowered his wand just as Ginny came back into the room with Potter and a few other Auror's on her heels. Before anyone could say a word, Potter sucker-punched him right in the jaw, causing pain to explode across his face.

"Harry!" Ginny cried out, pulling back another of his punches. "This isn't his fault!"

"It's okay, Gin, I deserve it," Draco said as he wiped the blood from his lips.

"I told you, Malfoy! I told you what would happen if you were responsible for anything else happening to Hermione! This is on you!" Potter pointed viciously at him as Ginny held him back.

Draco couldn't look him in the eye as the dark-haired man berated him for his best friends' woes. The man was right. It was all Draco's fault. And now he had to fix it and do what was best for her.

"I swear I will make you regret this, Malfoy!" Potter threatened.

"You can't make me regret this more than I already do, Potter. But you're right, it's my fault. I'll fix this, I will,"

"You've done enough!"

"Harry, please! Can't you see he's in pain! This is killing him as much as it is us!" Ginny pleaded with him.

"I'm done giving him the benefit of the doubt, Gin," Harry fumed. "Hermione's life has been in danger multiple times since taking up with him!"

"It's not his fault, though!"

"This time was," Draco said angrily. Ginny shook her head.

"It was an accident, we all were to blame," she tried to say again but he didn't listen.

"I have to go," he shoved past Ginny and the Auror's. The redhead tried calling after him but Potter made some snarky remark about him running away when things got tough and he really didn't have time to get into a fistfight with the git right now.

Pearlman had Hermione. She had to. Whether it was punishment for him not going to the Manor right away or just insurance that he would, he wasn't sure. All he knew was he had to get there as soon as possible. Hermione needed to be in recovery in a hospital where she could heal properly. Who knew what Pearlman or her people would do to his witch...

Here's another chapter for all you lovely people! As always, thank you for the reviews! xoxox