Cold.

That was the first thought that came to Hermione's mind as she stumbled into the darkness after her recent apparation with Malfoy. His hand was still around her forearm as her eyes struggled to adjust to the blackness of the night and the biting wind that was throwing her hair into an absolute fury. She could smell salt water.

Where the hell are we?

She was just about to ask Malfoy that very question when he roughly pulled her forward.

"Hurry. We have to get inside," he yelled against the wind.

"Inside where, exactly?" Hermione shouted back. As far as she could tell, there were no buildings nearby. In fact, it seemed as though they where in the middle of nowhere. Distantly, she could hear waves crashing against the shore.

"Malfoy! Where the hell are we?" She screamed.

"Come on! I'll explain once we're inside, or would you rather be blown off the cliff and into the night?" He added, snidely as he continued to pull Hermione to some place which she could not see.

She struggled against him momentarily, until a strong gush of wind made her nearly topple over. She felt his other hand tighten around her waist. "Graceful as ever, Granger," Malfoy hollered as they continued to walk uphill.

Hermione began to retort when Malfoy came to a sudden halt, pulling her slightly back against him.

"What are hell are you doing, Malfoy?" Hermione demanded as she nearly tripped once more. She was swinging around to face him when her eyes caught the outline of a structure not one hundred yards before them. As she struggled to make out the outline of the building, lightning struck and lit up the entire night sky.

Startled by the sudden light, she flinched against Malfoy and simultaneously realized that they were standing before what appeared to be a miniature version of Hogwarts. Hermione's eyes darted back and forth taking in the sight before her.

The building was indeed a castle; albeit quite smaller than any castle she had ever been in. However, like Hogwarts, there were several great spires that seemed to puncture the chaotic night sky.

"What is this place?" Hermione asked aloud, though too quietly for Malfoy to hear in the raging storm.

At that same moment, thunder cracked loudly around them and the sky burst open as the rain angrily began to fall.

"Come on!" Malfoy yelled as he tugged Hermione towards the castle entrance.

This time, she obliged without much resistance. She was already drenched in the few seconds that it had been raining. Her cloak immediately began to hug her skin and her hair was dripping large drops of water into her stinging eyes.

After what seemed to Hermione like an eternity, she and Malfoy came to what appeared to be the main entrance of the castle. Still keeping one hand firmly around her arm, he fumbled through his robes with his free hand in search of his wand.

"You know," Hermione hollered over the cracking thunder, "I'm not going to run away, so you can release the death grip on my arm any time you feel like it."

Malfoy finally withdrew his wand and turned to her, "I'm just trying to keep you from killing yourself. If you trip and die you won't be very useful in helping me find the Horcruxes, now will you?"

If looks could kill, Hermione's dagger like stare would have dropped Malfoy to the ground in that very instant. Malfoy merely smirked down at her, and flicked his wand toward the great doors without breaking from her icy stare.

The creaking of the heavy doors could be heard even over the tumultuous weather, and Hermione broke eye contact first.

"Come on, Granger. You're soaking wet," Malfoy observed and he pulled her through the doors after him.

"As if you care, Malfoy."

Malfoy was ready with an angry retort when Hermione's form suddenly went rigid and her eyes caught something directly behind him. He turned around quickly to find himself in front of the black, swirling robes of Severus Snape.

For one long moment, no one said anything.

Then, Snape moved his hand to Malfoy's shoulder. A recognition. It was almost a fatherly gesture.

"Draco, it seems that your predictions regarding Miss Granger's actions proved correct. There were no problems? You were not followed?" Snape's silky voice questioned.

What surprised Hermione even more than the mere presence of Snape standing in front of her, was the obvious concern that laced his voice over Malfoy's well-being.

Malfoy stepped away from Hermione and reciprocated the gesture, placing his left arm on Snape's shoulder. He bowed his head slightly and closed his eyes tight as though he was struggling how best to articulate himself.

"There were Death Eaters at the manor," Malfoy finally responded. "They didn't see either one of us, but they knew that someone was there."

After a few seconds of tangible silence, Snape was the first to withdraw his hand.

"Draco! Did I not tell you to implore extreme caution? How could you have alerted them to your presence? I specifically instructed you to remain only in the library until the appointed time! How could they have known that you were there? Do you have any idea that you could have compromised the entire mission?" Snape yelled, as he paced in front of Malfoy like a caged lion.

So much for concern.

And yet there was concern in Snape's tirade. Snape was angry, like a father would be angry at a child for crossing the street without looking both ways. For Hermione, that was the strangest thing that had happened to her all evening.

"I'm sorry, Sir, it couldn't be helped," Malfoy replied, lamely as he glanced in Hermione's direction.

Sir? One minute Snape and Malfoy were practically embracing, and the next, Malfoy is addressing him as 'sir'

It was that moment that Snape appeared to first notice Hermione.

His gaze held hers for several moments, but Hermione refused to look away.

For six years, Hermione and Harry had thought about what they would say to Snape should they ever meet him again. It had become a sort of game between the two of them as they would banter with the most "creative" language they could come up with in in describing their former potions professor. Harry was actually becoming quite good with synonyms. "The greasy git of the dungeons" would have almost been a compliment to their former professor compared to what they had recently come up with.

Ron would have been proud.

Ron.

And that nagging question pulled deep down in her stomach that she had so longed to ask; to know. And now that the opportunity had presented itself, she was too afraid to do anything about it.

But as Snape looked Hermione over with a penetrating gaze that she had long since forgotten, she found that she could not come up with a single insult or ask the question that she had been dying to know since Ron had been murdered. In light of the recent information that she had received from Malfoy, this was an entirely different situation- no, not only was it a different situation, but this was an entirely different man from the one that haunted her dreams.

She couldn't say anything at all.

Snape took a step towards her, and Hermione was vaguely embarrassed that her hands were shaking.

Way to show your Gryffindor courage, Granger.

Snape's ebony eyes locked on her light brown ones. His hair still appeared as if the last time he had washed it was the last time she saw him some six years earlier. But for how the years had changed Hermione, she was surprised that time had not done much to Snape's appearance. The only change seemed to be something that she couldn't quite place.

Fatigue? Certainly that. But something...far deeper.

Have you really been searching for Horcruxes all this time?

And then there was something else in his eyes…it was almost tangible; she was surprised she didn't notice it in the instant their eyes met.

Remorse?

Hermione's brow crinkled in confusion. And in the very moment that she thought she saw it, it was gone.

"Miss Granger," he finally spoke.

Silence.

Ok, so what was the one with Snape and the pregnant Hippogriff, Harry? I sort of forgot how it went. Oh yes, that's right. I'm too terrified to say anything, let alone throw insults at the man.

Hermione continued to stare shakily up at her former professor.

"Really, Miss Granger, if all it took to silence you was simply to kill someone, I would have made you aware of my actions long ago," He said as he folded his arms across his chest. "There would have been infinitely less migraines after teaching one of your lessons."

"It killed Snape to do it. Dumbledore was the only one who ever really cared for Snape."

It really was a bad joke, and Snape had to have known that. But despite everything, Hermione almost felt the corner of her lips turning upwards.

Point to you, Snape.

Finally, she found her voice, "I'm not really sure what you want me to say. I'm still trying to make sense of everything." Her voice never wavered, and for that, she was grateful.

Snape regarded her for a moment longer before turning back to Malfoy.

"I'll ask you again, Draco, how did the Death Eaters know you were there?"

Malfoy was about to speak when Hermione regained her courage, "It was my fault," she interrupted.

Snape raised an eyebrow at her; a slight gesture for her to continue.

"I…I needed proof. I needed something concrete, something to believe in... some type of information before I just let Malfoy cart me away," Hermione defended as Snape's inquisitive expression turned to a deep scowl.

"Ah, of course, Miss Granger. Leave it to you to be the cynical one and ask infuriating questions just when time is pressing. I imagine that death could be knocking on the front door and you would pause for a question or two," Snape replied, snidely.

Bastard.

"How dare you!" Hermione took a step closer to Snape, and raised her finger to his face. Water droplets fell from her cloak with the sudden moment.

"How dare you insinuate that this is my fault! Oh, do forgive me for being a little skeptical when Malfoy shows up, throws me against a wall, and asks if I'll help the both of you search for Horcruxes!

"That was terrible silly of me, wasn't it? I mean after all, the last I had heard of Malfoy was that he was letting Death Eaters into Hogwarts and threatening to murder Dumbledore! And you! The last I heard of you, Snape, was that Harry watched the green light from your wand throw Dumbledore from the roof! And you expected me to just…"

"SILENCE!"

Hermione was abruptly cut off by Snape's booming voice. It seemed as though the storm outside the castle was silenced by it as well. She was surprised by his swift movement that pushed her up against the wall, but more astonishing than the terror that she felt and her heart pounding in her chest was the unguarded look of agony in Snape's eyes.

"That's enough," he said, much more quietly. Painfully.

He backed away from her slowly, eyes closed, head down. After a moment, he looked towards Malfoy.

"Set her up in one of the rooms on the east tower. She looks exhausted," he said simply, and then turned and walked out of the main hallway which they were in.

It was only then that Hermione realized that she was still shaking. Whether from fear or from the rain, she wasn't sure.

Probably both.

"Why do you always have to push it, Granger?" Malfoy asked, as he stepped toward Hermione.

"Push what? He was insulting me! I was defending…"

"Just once, could you please let something go? You don't get it, do you? It literally kills him that he did it," Malfoy interrupted, grabbing her arm once more and leading her forward.

"Well, then he shouldn't make light jokes about it. And do you really have to haul me around like luggage?" Hermione added bitterly as she looked at his hand on her arm.

Malfoy sighed, but said nothing more as they walked to the east side of the castle. As they neared a massive staircase, Hermione couldn't take it much longer.

"Malfoy, why the hell do you still call Snape, 'sir'? He hasn't been your professor for years."

"Bad habit, actually," he replied. "He's asked me repeatedly to call him 'Severus'. I've tried to call him by his name but it's just awkward. Snape's been more like a father to me than my actual father, but I'd drop dead before I called him 'dad'. It's actually quite embarrassing," he added as an afterthought.

"Malfoy, do you realize that we almost just had a civilized conversation? Of all the things that have frightened me tonight, I think that's number one on the list," Hermione pointed out as they climbed the stairs.

Malfoy chuckled softly. "Just don't tell anyone. I'd be mortified,"

Is he flirting? No. Absolutely not.

Hermione suddenly stopped on the stair above Malfoy, forcing him to knock right into her. "Granger! What.."

But he was cut off, "Oh Malfoy, I completely forgot! Harry! I've got to get news to him that I'm alright! He must be worried sick...I need an owl now," she said frantically as she waved her hands in the air, as if to better illustrate her point.

"Granger! Can you calm down for about five seconds? Good hell! Just the thought of you taking your N.E.W.T.'s makes me wonder how you didn't kill yourself by hyperventilation," Malfoy said as he tried to grab her waving arms.

"Malfoy this is hardly the time to be discussing..."

"Relax, would you? It was just a joke. Blimey Granger, are you 100 serious all the time?" He asked, "Wait, actually don't answer that," he back peddled.

Hermione merely glared at Malfoy instead of saying anything.

"Snape has taken care of everything. Don't worry about it," Malfoy informed her as he started up the stairs once again, dragging her behind him.

"Oh yes, that certainly puts my nerves at ease."

"Granger..." Malfoy warned.

"So what exactly is this place, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, changing the subject, but mentally filing away that she would bring it up later and owl Harry as soon as she saw anything that remotely resembled a bird.

Taken care of everything, indeed.

"Muron Castle," he replied as he led her up the staircase, "It's an old muggle castle that was used as a fortress during the Middle Ages. Snape told me that it's actually a tourist attraction for muggles but he placed an anti-muggle charm on it, as well as some signs that say it's closed for renovation."

"Muron Castle? That name rings a bell, but I can't quite place it," Hermione mused as they continued up the stairs, completely forgetting the scene that occurred in the main hallway, just moments before.

"Why does that not surprise me, Granger?"

"Are we still in England?" Hermione asked, ignoring the jab.

"No. Scotland."

They continued on in silence, the only sounds coming from their feet as they made their way up the concrete steps.

"So, what do you know about Horcruxes?" Hermione asked as they approached the top.

"Not tonight, Granger. Tomorrow," Malfoy replied as he passed a room on the left side of the hallway.

"Tomorrow? Why not now? I think I deserve to know what's going on. Malfoy, if you think for one minute that I'll just…"

"Granger! Would you just hold on for about one second?" Malfoy yelled as he spun around to look down at her.

"Look. First off, you're about ready to fall over dead on your feet. You're still shaking from the rain, and I suspect that your muscles are in near spasm from all the wandless magic you did today. Second, Snape was the one that suggested that we get you to help on this in the first place, got it? We're going to discuss everything together."

"Oh that's rich. So between hearing about what you know about Horcurxes, I'll be insulted every other sentence," Hermione interrupted.

Malfoy rounded on her once more, "Of course Snape's going to insult you because he had to admit he needs your help. I thought even you would have figured that one out, Granger. It's embarrassing to him! Hell! It's embarrassing to me! But he knows that you're intelligent-not that he'd ever admit it out loud. Why else do you think he bothered with the risk of bringing you here?"

Hermione was about to respond when Malfoy cut her off again.

"Look, Granger," he said more softly, "Just get some rest and we'll go over everything in the morning,"

"I don't need to rest, I'm fine," Hermione countered.

"Granger," Malfoy started with an exasperated look on his face, "You're soaking wet, you're shaking, and what's more, you're a horrible liar. We'll talk in the morning."

It was an ultimatum.

Why is he acting like he cares?

"Fine," Hermione shot back, suddenly realizing that she was too tired to think about anything else tonight. Earlier that day she had been at Malfoy Manor with the Order. She couldn't even begin to comprehend everything that had happened since then.

Was that really today? It feels like it was a week ago.

I really am exhausted.

"Can I have my wand so that I can dry my clothes? Or would you prefer that I get hypothermia?" Hermione asked, as she stretched out her right hand.

"We both know that you don't need a wand, Granger," Malfoy stated, though he was reaching through his robes to find her wand.

"And you know that I'm too exhausted to do wandless magic," Hermione countered.

Malfoy pulled her wand out of his cloak and fingered it lightly. He slowly looked up from it and met Hermione's eyes.

Your eyes were always so full of hate. What is it now? Desperation? Hope?

He did not immediately give her wand back, but pointed it at her chest.

Hermione's breath hitched against her throat. What is he doing?

Malfoy looked for a moment as if he was hurt, "Honestly Granger, I'm not going to harm you. I would have thought you figured that out by now."

And with that, he silently waved her wand across her chest and Hermione instantly felt dry and warm. Malfoy then handed Hermione her wand, which she gratefully took.

"Err...thanks," Hermione said quietly.

Did I just say 'thanks' to Malfoy? And next I'll be playing exploding snap with Voldemort.

"You can use this room," Malfoy said as he gestured to the right. "There are some witch's robes in there you can use, and if you need anything else, we'll figure it out in the morning." He added as he started to turn away.

"Oh, and Granger?" He asked as he looked back at Hermione, "I'm um..., that is to say...err, I'm sorry about earlier." He finished.

At Hermione's confused expression he continued, "About your neck." He said as he gestured toward her throat.

"Oh," Hermione said, somewhat surprised. In light of everything that had happened that evening, the incident with her neck was literally the last thing on her mind.

What are you supposed to say to that? 'Oh, don't worry about it. Anytime you feel like strangling me, just go right ahead.'

But what Hermione couldn't shake was that she was strangely touched by that gesture. Since when did Malfoy ever apologize to anyone for anything? Let alone me? The mudblood?

"Malfoy," Hermione began, with a much kinder note in her voice than had been there all night, "I gave you my word. I said that I'll help you. I meant what I said."

Malfoy stood there in silence for a moment.

"I know, Granger. I…I trust you."

And with that he walked away.

What's scarier is that I think I trust you too.