A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters/locations related to the franchise. That all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling. I hope you enjoy the only thing I do own...the plot. Also M rating for language and possible sexually explicit scenes (really just wanted to be safe with the rating).

-TNHGTNHGTN-

Hermione's breath came in quick shallow succession as she fell onto the floor in the Headmistress' office. Hot tears streamed down her face as she tried to gain her bearings, muffled cries working their way out of her throat before she could stop them. She felt like she was drowning, as she tried to pull herself from the panic that had started to build since the first memory of the Cruciatus Curse began to drag her deep into her mind where she was no longer safe. Where Dobby had never saved her, and she still had Bellatrix above her with a cursed knife. It took her a moment to realize that strong arms were wrapping around her, and another moment to acknowledge the warm feeling of a hard body pressed behind her, as she was dragged in between someones long legs on the floor.

Still she cried.

She cried for the man who was too afraid of rejection to talk to her. She cried for the boy who was tortured by his own father for failing to outperform her. But more than anything she cried for the child who had watched his mother die, and according to his own answers in truth or dare all those months ago, still blamed himself for something he had no way to stop.

As her mind worked to process everything she heard the soft murmurs of a voice behind her. A familiar drawl was lowered to barely a whisper as large hands worked through her hair. He didn't comment on how her tears were staining his shirt as she dug her face harder into his chest, or that she looked a mess as tear streaks and snot ran down her face. Somewhere she briefly registered that this was Draco, and she almost never allowed him to cradle her like this during one of her panics, but at that moment there was nothing she wanted than for him to hold her tight. As she sat there wrapped in his strong arms she listened to his soft tones as he repeatedly told her that it was going to be ok.

Then, he said the words that finally pulled her from her broken state. Amongst the murmurs she heard a single name. Theo. Hearing his name her breathing started to slow, with hiccups every once in a while fighting to break her again. She looked up into cool grey eyes and took one last stabilizing breath. He was telling her how Theo was ok. How he was fine and how it didn't matter what had happened to him then because he was alright now. She gave him an incredulous look and finally spoke.

"But he's not..is he? Not really," She asked in a quiet weak voice. Draco was quiet for several moments as if weighing his next words. Finally, he took a breath through his nose before tightening the hold he had around her shoulders.

"What did you see?" Draco's eyes flicked between hers carefully as he awaited her answer.

"Enough." They both stared at each other. Both knew they were privy to secrets Theo had allowed them to see or know and neither wanted to be the one to break his trust. Finally, Hermione decided that she needed to speak to someone...anyone about what she had just seen. Draco seemed like the safest bet for now.

"I saw his mother, before and after. I saw him watch me through school. I saw his fa-" She choked on the word father. Deciding that the man was unworthy of the title she began again, hatred flaring in her eyes, "I saw William Nott draw his wand on his own son. How could he do that?" Hermione almost broke once more, and Draco sensing her discomfort pulled her against his chest again.

"William Nott is a right bastard. I was never allowed to stay at Theo's because of his particular interest in frequency and degree of punishment." Draco stated as he started stroking down her back, "Theo is alright. I can't say that he is completely fine with how young he actually started to Occlumens. I don't even think he was aware that he was practicing Occlumency until he got a little older. But, he is better now then he was. Especially since you survived." Draco kissed her lightly on her head, his lips lingering there for a small moment before pulling back.

"Granger, I know what Pansy told you and its not fucking true." He forced the words out through clenched teeth, his breath hot on the top of her head as he still held her.

"How did you find out about it?" She was too tired and emotionally drained to fight her curiosity. She just stared at the opposite wall as his hands continued their easy pattern up and down her back.

"Theo might have nicked the Weasley truth serum you had left over from game night. I flirted with Pansy long enough for him to sneak it into her drink. She told us what she did..what she said." He finished. That explained why Malfoy was all over Pansy all those days ago, Hermione's stomach did a somersault as she remembered Malfoy and Nott wrapped up with the other Slytherins. She buried that memory deep within her mind, in the same dark place she kept memories of her parents.

"We would never use you for your fucking name Golden Girl." He pulled back to look at her, "I can live perfectly happy in a villa in France without ever returning to Britain. The Malfoy name is still well respected there. If whatever is going on between you two doesn't work out, I will take Theo with me." He shrugged as he said that last part before grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. "But, I would much prefer if you gave my best mate a chance. Salazar knows how long he has waited, and he's a right pain in the arse when it comes to pinning after you."

"Is that way you didn't give us away at the Manor? That promise you made to him?" She asked, her eyes searching his. She had always assumed it was because he was a scared teenager. That finally seeing his classmates bound and dragged before him finally made him see that the war was real. What if she was wrong? What if the only reason that he hadn't given them away was because of a promise made to his best friend?

Hermione didn't want to think about what implications that would mean. It would mean that he had never wanted her to survive the war. The thought that he had cared about her and Harry even a smidge is what allowed her to become his friend in the first place. It was what allowed her to look past the years of torment and hate to see the man underneath. She hoped there was more to his decision than a promise made to a desperate boy.

"I made a promise to him, yes. But I wouldn't have given you away even if I hadn't. I never wanted this." He wiggled his left arm for emphasis, indicating the Dark Mark which was still plastered on his alabaster skin. "My promise to Nott would have reared its ugly head if my Aunt would have tried to actually...well if things had progressed further." He seemed to be struggling for his words, and Hermione noticed a wetness creeping into his eyes as he tried to blink it away.

"Does Theo know about what happened at Easter?"

Malfoy barked out an uncomfortable laugh, "Yeah, he does. He was present during my trial when I had to regale the Wizengamot with all the gory details. I was really lucky they take wands before you are allowed in the room." He shook his head as if finished. "I am glad you were already done with your testimony. I really didn't want to have to talk about it with you in the room too."

They stayed like that for a few more minutes. Neither saying anything just relishing in the company they had. Hermione had missed this. The weird bond that she shared with her Slytherins was finally forming again. She took a couple more breaths before moving to stand. Malfoy held her for a second before releasing her. "Are you sure you're ok?" He followed up behind her, his hand lightly clasped around her upper arm. "We could sit here for a few more minutes. I won't mind, though you will have to buy me a new shirt, you've ruined this one."

"No," She whispered, ignoring his comment. She had learned through the few months they had been friends that his snarky attitude was his way of showing he cared. "I need to find him." She wiped her eyes on her jumper sleeves before summoning his memories out of the pensive. She then gave the basin a small push and sent it back to its cabinet. "Any ideas on where to start looking?"

Draco pursed his lips in thought, before casting a quick spell. "It's nearly eight. He won't be in the forest this late. He's not that stupid. If I had to put my galleons on anything, I would say he is either in your common room or in Rowena's Study." Draco stood for a moment before shifting on his feet and running a hand through his blond hair, "He is probably in the study...but Granger I think you should wait for at least another hour or so...he-" Malfoy hesitated. She waited knowing that he was gathering his thoughts. "He doesn't regret giving you his memories, but he has never let anyone in. He was a right mess at dinner when he realized you were actually going to watch them." Draco chuckled darkly, "I told him you were a Gryffindor through and through. Reckless, hard headed, and above all too brave for your own good." She smiled as he finished.

"Thank you for coming even when I was too stupid to admit I would need you." She paused for only a moment before rushing back to his side and throwing her arms around his stomach. It didn't take long for him to wrap his arms around her back. He sighed and she felt his whole body relax against hers.

"Does this mean you are not going to hex me?" He asked.

"Uh-I don't hex filthy little purebloods" She smiled as his laughs vibrated his chest. Draco was strong and his hugs were like a nice glass of warm milk. Something that you didn't need all the time, but when you did they relaxed you in a way nothing else could. She would never understand how she had survived nineteen years without them.

"You go on and relax in your common room for a little bit. I'll let McGonnagall know we are done in here." She nodded, leaving him behind as he summoned his Patronus to deliver a message to their Head Mistress.

The walk back to her common room was quiet. Most students were either in the library studying or back in their common rooms so she didn't run into anyone. When she got back to the shared living space her eyes were drawn to the gifts that were laid out by her door. She picked the pile up and sat them on the table next to her choosing to open the ones from Draco first. Wrapped in a beautiful emerald green with pretty silver ribbons. The first one from him was a picture of her, Theo, and him during one of the weekly game nights they had participated in before Christmas break. They were all cuddled on a couch with glasses of firewhiskey. As she watched, her and Draco laughed at something Theo said while his cheeks flushed in a pretty pink color. She smiled at the picture even though she could not remember what was said. The last box was full of sugar quills. There was enough there to last her through the end of the year with a note attached that read: For someone with dentists for parents you really enjoy rotting your teeth. Because I know you are going to run out of them...there is a 75 Galleon certificate at the bottom of the box for Honeydukes when you do manage to eat them all. Don't you feel lucky to have rich friends. -Draco

She smiled and tucked them back before digging into Nott's gifts. The first present was a quidditch jumper in Slytherin colors. It was big...too big. Taking a guess she tucked her nose next to the fabric and breathed in deeply...it was his. She felt her lower body tighten as she relished in the familiar scent. Rubbing her thighs together a little bit to help ease the distraction she pulled off her own jumper and pulled Theo's on. She rubbed her hands up and down the soft fabric, it was clearly well made of expensive material, before she continued.

The next was a small snow globe with a note attached that read: Think of your favorite place...then shake me. Hermione thought for a moment. Her favorite place was the library, so she thought about it and shook the globe. As the small snow particles swirled around the glass a small replica library formed inside. She bent close and looked and saw a mini version of herself sitting at a desk reading while a mini Theodore crumpled parchment and threw it at her head. She watched in awe as her mini self rolled her eyes and continued reading. The scene replayed itself over again until the snow stopped falling and eventually the scene vanished before her leaving the snow globe empty.

The third present she opened was a beautifully crafted silver locket. She gently pulled the piece of jewelry from the velvet that surrounded it to get a closer inspection. It was oval and it was covered in intricate carvings of a raven. She opened it up and a small folded piece of paper fell out. In Notts slightly messy scrawl there was another message: I noticed you didn't have one...at least not one you wear. Every witch deserves a locket when she comes of age. The raven is for a couple of reasons...the first is that without Ravenclaw we would have never had such a wonderful year. I will always be thankful you were the Gryffindor that could access her study. The second reason you will just have to ask me about.

She slid the locket over her head, as the chain was long enough to allow that. Then, she turned to the final gift. It was a familiar package. The same one he had shoved in his trunk in the memories she had witnessed. Slowly her fingers pulled the worn paper to reveal a plain brown medium sized box. When she opened it up her breath caught in her throat. Inside the box, tucked safely between layers of tissue paper, was a well worn copy of The Fellowship of The Ring By: J.R.R. Tolkien. Her suspicions that this was his mother's copy were confirmed when she opened the cover and saw written in unfamiliar scratchy penmanship:

Ally,

Forever will my heart be bound to yours and so I will wait for you as long as you wish. I know you are scared, and I know that there is nothing we can do to stop the storm that is coming, but I would face a thousand dark wizards for only one night with you. You mean more to me than the air I breathe and the magic that binds me to this world.

With all my love,

Caiden

Hermione was on her feet the second she finished reading the insert. Book still in hand she ran to the library, pushing past sleepy second years who had just finished studying before she was standing just outside the wall that led to Rowena's Study. She waited for several minutes breathing heavily and had almost given up hope when the large wooden door appeared. Taking a few steadying breaths she walked to the door and allowed it to open giving her access to the room beyond.

-TNHGTNHGTN-

A/N 2: I do not own The lord of the Rings or the Fellowship of the Ring! That belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien!