Hi everyone, I'm so sorry it has been a while since I updated. I had several family emergencies and with everything going on, I just didn't have any time to write. I'm currently still going through an emergency, with a member of my family hospitalized, so I will definitely be on and off with updating for a while.

I did want to do a shout out for some of my readers though! I really appreciate your favorites, follows, and reviews – every chapter, you guys are the BEST for always leaving comments and letting me know what you think. Thank you!

(In alphabetical order) Thanks and shout out to:

Ashley Jackson

Beatraoz

Christica2

Faefae99

And… as always…Guest!

If I missed you and you want a shout out, leave a comment & let me know you'd like one!

"Draco! Run! Run!"

Draco whirled toward the voice. He recognized the Manor, the front room where they used to entertain guests. It looked beautiful, elegant – cold, and unwelcoming. Draco barely managed to think, 'Didn't Mother redecorate?', when he caught sight of her.

Narcissa Malfoy stumbled toward the center of the room. Her eyes were wide and she was screaming at him – "Run, Draco, run! Get out of here!"

And then she was bathed in a red light. Her words turned into anguished screams, and she collapsed onto the floor.

"No!" Draco screamed. "Mother!"

He raced toward her, but it felt as though he weren't moving at all. He looked down and his feet were moving, but the hall he was sprinting down seemed to be getting longer and longer. "Mother!"

His mother stopped screaming for a moment. She seemed to reorient herself, and her eyes landed on him. "No! Draco, run! Get out of here! Don't come for me!"

"I can't leave you!" Draco screamed. "I'm coming!"

"Run!" His mother begged him. "Go from here! Save yourself! Draco, please! Get away from him!"

"What's happening?" Draco demanded. "Why can't I reach you? Get away from who? Who's doing this to us?"

A low voice chuckled from the shadows, and Draco's blood turned to ice.

"You really don't know?" The voice whispered, almost like the hiss of a snake. It was a voice that far, far too familiar.

"No." Draco stumbled backward. "No, this can't be real. You're dead! You're gone! You can't hurt anyone anymore!"

"Let's just see about that." A pale extended from the shadows, a wand pointed directly at Narcissa. "Crucio!"

"No!" Draco screamed. "Don't hurt her! Please!"

"Draco!"

Draco shot up in bed. His head very nearly collided with Blaise, who only backed up at the last moment.

"What is it?" Draco snapped, rubbing his eyes. "I was sleeping."

"I can see that." Blaise replied. "Weasley wants to talk to you."

Draco scowled.

When he'd brought Hermione Granger back in, Madame Pomfrey had ushered them straight into the infirmary. He laid Hermione down on a bed and she'd instantly been mobbed by a crowd of Gryffindors. Ron Weasley had been the loudest, ordering everyone else out.

And just like that, Draco had become a part of the crowd. Professor McGonagall had stopped him by the door to hurriedly heal his wounds, and without even checking to make sure he was alright, she reminded everyone that curfew was to be in effect by the end of the hour.

Draco had decided it wasn't worth the effort to fight against the crowd and get back to Hermione's side. After all, what did she even need him for? She had her two buffoons, as always, right by her feet.

Potter hadn't even looked up to say goodbye as the throng of students emptied into the halls. Draco had pursed his lips, taken all his thoughts, and shoved them into the back of his mind. Instead, he just focused on getting back to bed. And now, Blaise had woken him up thanks to a Weasley.

"What does he want with me?" Draco snapped. "Tell him I've died."

"I'm not telling him that." Blaise crossed his arms over his chest. "Just trust me. It'll be worth it to hear him out."

"Blaise, I am so not in the mood."

"Mate, just trust me."

Draco glared at him, but Blaise didn't back off. After a long moment, Draco sighed and got up from his bed. He didn't pause to look at himself in the mirror before stepping out – he knew he looked bedraggled and worn out. He could feel it.

The common room party was still in full swing. Daphne and Astoria were dancing with one another in the center, surrounded by several fifth and sixth years. Theo and Pansy looked to be in deep conversation with Millicent and Terrence.

Draco ignored it all to step out the portrait into the cold, damp Hogwarts hall.

Ronald Weasley, the Weasel in the flesh, was standing outside. He was alone, hugging himself to keep out the cold.

"What?" Draco snapped. In hindsight, he probably should have started out a little more diplomatic.

Weasley scowled, and Draco could literally see the debate going on in his head. He couldn't help but poke a little.

"Don't you know what time it is? I was in bed! I'm trying to recuperate, after saving your friend."

Weasley flushed red. "Well, she wouldn't have needed saving if she hadn't been in your company! It's your family that has always caused her nothing but pain!"

"Well, we're not all just like our families, now are we? Or do you expect to have thirteen children and continue the family tradition of being dirt poor?" Draco taunted. "Besides, it's not exactly my fault that this all happened. If you hadn't screwed up that charm months ago, Granger and I would probably have never spoken to each other again."

"Sod off, Malfoy!" Weasley shouted. "Forget it! I don't need this!"

"Don't need what?" Draco snapped. "Why are you here in the middle of the night anyway?"

Weasley had half-turned away. He looked back at Draco, his expression fierce. "What do you care? Clearly you haven't changed one bit from before the war. Once a Malfoy, always a Malfoy. I bet your father's really proud."

Draco felt something in him freeze. He didn't spare too many thoughts on his father, but once in a while he wondered what he would have said if he could only see his son now. A disgrace…blood traitor…weak…

For so long, all Draco had ever wanted was the pride and approval of Lucius Malfoy. Nothing else mattered. He would have done anything – and he almost did do something.

And then the Dark Lord entered his home. The Death Eaters filled every corner of the Manor with darkness and fury. His mother was a prisoner in her own home. His father was a servant to a body with no soul.

And Draco?

Draco hoped that Potter would win.

When Lucius Malfoy died, Draco Malfoy was finally set free.

"Weasley, wait." Draco bit out, stepping into the hallway.

Weasley stopped and turned back to him, his glare intensifying.

Draco opened his mouth and then shut it again. What was he doing? Was he really going to do this?

"That comment I made about your family…it was out of line." He finally said.

Weasley waited. When it was clear that no other words were forthcoming, he dropped his gaze. "Whatever, Malfoy, I don't care anymore. Hermione is in the infirmary and she's not falling asleep. Harry thinks that it'll be best if you would come and sit with her for a while."

Draco felt his stomach plunge. He felt himself take a step back, like an invisible force shoved him backward. "She's – she's awake?"

Weasley frowned. He squinted at Draco for a moment before replying. "Yeah, she woke up an hour ago. She told us everything that happened, and Harry's trying to get her to rest. Otherwise Madame Pomfrey might kick us out."

"She told you everything?" Draco demanded. "What did she say?"

"Just go talk to her, Malfoy, I'm not your messenger owl."

Draco pressed his lips together. "I don't…I don't know if she's going to want to see me right now. Not if she remembers everything."

Weasley straightened in alarm. "What? What did you do to her?"

"Nothing!" Draco raised his hands defensively. "Absolutely nothing! But that world that her mind took her to, it wasn't…I was in it, and I don't know if she's going to want to see me right now."

"Oh, she already told us about that. She said you were still stuck together, like before Vincent undid the spell. Why would that be a problem?" Weasley shrugged. He made a face. "And it doesn't matter anyway. She won't sleep because she's afraid of losing her memories. She said the you were the only person who remembered her real memories during the day and night. Harry thinks if you're by her, she'll feel comforted."

A small part of Draco felt touched that Potter had put that much thought into his relationship with Hermione. He quickly shook that thought out of his head. Before he could lose his nerve, he said, "Alright, fine. I'm coming."

Weasley didn't look thrilled at that development, but he turned toward the corridor that led to the infirmary.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, Draco trailing behind.

He didn't have time to ponder the knot in his stomach or the sudden fast beating in his chest, because Weasley snorted. "By the way, you look terrible."