It was a wonder that Hermione managed to get any sleep at all that night, but somehow she must have dozed off at some point, as she awoke to find Tom no longer in bed with her, but once more dressed in his robes and heading for the door.

"Are you leaving again?" she asked, her voice a bit groggy from sleep.

At the sound of her voice, he stopped in his tracks and turned back towards her, leaning over her to press a gentle kiss to her lips. "Yes, you tore me away from my business before I could complete it."

"I didn't tear you away from anything." She rolled her eyes. "You came flocking back to me all on your own."

"How could I not, knowing that my beautiful wife was waiting for me?"

"Keep flattering me and I might decide to tear you from your business even longer."

He shook his head. "As tempting as that sounds, I'm afraid I must decline," he said, reaching out a hand to caress her cheek before rising back to his full height. "I should be back by dinner, but I hope you'll consider what we spoke of last night in the meantime."

Hermione felt her heart skip a beat at the reminder. "I'll… think about it."

"Good."

Without further delay, Tom flipped his hood up over his head and then he was gone.

"Mistress must calm down and eat her breakfast," Dooly insisted, her big watery eyes following after Hermione as she paced back and forth across the floor of her bedroom.

Hermione shook her head as she passed the house elf for the dozenth time. She couldn't deny the fact that she was hungry, the grumbling of her stomach a sure sign of that. Nor could she deny that the tray of food that the elf had come to deliver did in fact look and smell good. And it didn't have anything to do with the fact that Bellatrix had helped prepare it, as Dooly had assured her that they watched her like a hawk and didn't actually let her cook any of it. Still, she couldn't bring herself to eat even a bite of it.

Not after what Tom had asked of her last night.

"Is there something Dooly can do to help Mistress calm down?" Dooly asked.

She doubted anything would be able to calm her down, short of having someone cast a stunning spell on her to knock her out. At least then she would get a temporary reprieve from the war currently waging in her head. What she needed was to talk to someone, someone who would understand what she was struggling with. As much as she liked Dooly, she didn't know if she would be able to give her the necessary advice.

However, she did know someone who might.

"Can you bring Draco here?" Hermione asked.

Dooly nodded her head, a smile tugging at her pink lips. "Dooly will bring him right away, Mistress."

The house elf was gone in a blink.

Hermione did not stop her pacing for even a second as she waited, unable to bring her limbs to stop moving for even a second, as it seemed they were equally as wound up as her brain. Time seemed to stretch on for an eternity, and yet she knew by the occasional glances at the clock that barely minutes had passed.

And then a familiar pop resounded, and Dooly appeared with Draco in tow. Only then did her legs finally come to a halt, though her brain did not.

"Thank you, Dooly," she thanked the house elf. "You may leave now."

With a nod, the house elf was gone again.

"What's wrong, Granger?" Draco asked, crossing over to her without hesitance.. "Are you alright?"

She let out a deep breath, as she motioned for him to sit down on one of the green velvet armchairs that stood in front of the fireplace, which he did, and she lowered herself into the other, turning so that she sat facing him.

"I need your advice," she began. "The Dark Lord has asked me to do something… something to gain his full trust."

A look of dawning realization flashed across Draco's expression. "Can you tell me what it is?"

She shook her head.

She wished she could, but not only had Tom forbid her from mentioning it to anyone, but it wasn't something she was comfortable even discussing herself.

"I take it you don't want to do it?"

That was part of the problem.

"You asked me whether I still fancied him, even knowing who he is, and at the time I didn't know the answer, or perhaps I just didn't want to admit it," she admitted. "I can't lie to myself any longer. I'm in love with him. I want him to trust me. Even though he's a monster who has done unspeakable things."

Draco didn't say a word at first, as he simply sat there staring at her, his face completely blank and unreadable. And for a moment there, she feared that he would think she was crazy. She wouldn't blame him if he did. Merlin knew she felt that way herself.

"And that's why you're so conflicted."

She nodded. "A part of me wants to be with him, but a part of me knows that if I do, it means completely turning my back on Harry… and Ron."

"Do you still have feelings for Weasley?"

"No." She didn't even have to consider it.

Her and Ron hadn't always seen eye to eye. Throughout their years together at Hogwarts, they had often fought as had he and Harry, some of those fights resulting in neither of them talking to the other for weeks at a time. And then they'd make up and things would more or less return to normal, with her finding ways to keep them alive and out of trouble, with them pestering her to help them with their homework.

She might have had a bit of a crush on Ron back in their fourth year, and might have even taken advantage of Viktor Krum's interest in her to make him jealous, but any feelings she might have felt for him were overshadowed when she met Tom.

Ron was safe.

Tom was dangerous.

Ron was full of light.

Tom was filled with darkness.

Her choice should have been obvious, and yet there was something about Tom's darkness that drew her in, something about the danger he radiated that excited her.

"I can't make the decision for you," Draco stated, "But you need to make sure you can live with the consequences of whatever that decision is."

She raised a brow. "When did you become so wise?"

Draco snorted. "I have my moments too."

None-the-less, he did have a point.

Hermione liked to think that she was strong and brave. Anyone who wasn't probably would have crumbled under everything she had been through. However, was she really strong enough to live with the idea of betraying her friends? Could she live with the idea of Tom killing Harry? Could she live with the idea of Harry killing Tom?

No sooner had Draco left, then Hermione decided to act, taking advantage of Tom's absence to sit down at her desk and write out a letter, one in which she had been wanting to write for a while, but had held off on.

'Dear Harry,

I'm sorry for not responding until now, as I deemed it too risky to do so before. And I am so incredibly sorry for what I did to you. I don't blame Ron, or anyone else for that matter, for being upset with me. The fact that you still believe in me is nothing short of astonishing. However, you are correct in thinking that it was an act. I could not let the Dark Lord or the Malfoys know that I was behind your appearance. And while I do appreciate you coming to rescue me, it was not a good time to do so. What with the Dark Lord's sudden return.

Surprisingly enough, it did not come as a surprise to hear that you had broken into Gringotts, and escaped on the back of a dragon, no less. Only you, Harry James Potter, would be so reckless. I won't ask how you did it, but I can only imagine Griphook had something to do with it.

I'm not sure if you've heard, but Greyback and his snatchers caught another group of runaways. Tonks' father was one of the ones that died resisting. Dean Thomas was one of the only ones who made it here alive. Though, I'm not certain that's a good thing, as he will no doubt be tortured for information.

Things are changing, Harry. I don't know how much longer I can survive being here. And yet, I fear there is no way out for me. There might be a chance for me to escape soon, as the Dark Lord has been gone frequently, searching for something, I believe. If he catches me… I dare not think of what he would do to me. He makes me do horrible things, Harry, things that make me feel like a monster. I don't want to be a monster.

P. S. The Malfoy's have severed Dobby's connection to the manor, meaning that he can't just poof in and out as he wishes.

Your friend,

Hermione'

Giving it a final glance over, she rolled it up, fastening it with a Slytherin green ribbon and rose from her desk, crossing over to where the house elf sat waiting at the end of her bed, nibbling on the piece of toast that Hermione had given her from her own breakfast. It seemed a shame for good food to go to waste.

"Mistress has a letter for Dooly to deliver?"

She nodded, handing her the rolled up parchment. "I need you to deliver it to Dobby and instruct him to give it to Harry," she instructed. "And you have my permission to stay and spend time with Dobby afterwards if you so wish to."

Dooly grinned happily, taking the note from her. "Thank you, Mistress."

Hermione smiled back at the house elf as she watched her go.

I'm not a monster, she reassured herself.

There was still good inside of her, even if she could feel it growing smaller and smaller with every new atrocity that took place. The fact that she wasn't as affected by the fact that one of her fellow classmates was currently locked up in the dungeons as she should have been was proof. Although, she supposed she had never been all that close to Dean, so perhaps that also had a part to play in it. Either way, she didn't think she was beyond redemption yet, but she may very well be if she chose to do as Tom had asked.

Hermione returned from her lesson with Mr. Malfoy hours later to find her room all tidied up and Dooly standing there waiting for her with a big toothy grin. It was clear that she had enjoyed her time with Dobby. However, her attention was soon drawn by the piece of parchment clutched in the house elf's hands, different from the one she had sent with her as it was simply folded in half.

"Dobby's Master asked Dooly to give Mistress this," Dooly said, handing her the note.

Hermione took the folded parchment from her with a nod of thanks, dismissing her from her service for the rest of the day.

She spent several moments just staring at the note, wondering what it might contain. It was strange, but she was nervous to open it, partially afraid that he might have changed his mind about her, that he had decided to give up on her now that she was officially married. There was no doubt in her mind that he had read about it and seen the pictures in the Daily Prophet. She had considered mentioning it in the letter as well, but had been at a loss for what to say. She couldn't truthfully say that she had been an unwilling participant in the marriage, at least not entirely.

Taking a deep breath, she flipped the parchment open and began to read.

'Hermione

You don't know how relieved I am to hear from you again. When you didn't respond right away, I thought you-know-who had done something to you. And then I read about the wedding at Malfoy Manor, and I realized that was likely the reason. I still have trouble wrapping my head around it. You're married to him! Ron told me about the bargain you struck, but I thought he was exaggerating.

Of course I believe in you. I've never met a witch as brilliant and brave as you. I don't know many who would have the strength to do what you have done. You're like one of those undercover spies in the muggle movies. Which is why I don't believe that you're a monster. You could never be a monster, not in my eyes. He is the real monster for making you think that.

Don't give up hope, Hermione. You don't have to stay there if you don't want to. I'll talk to Ron and make him see sense. Let us know when and where to meet you, and we'll come to rescue you. I promise, I won't let him get you, not again. We'll find a way to sever any connection he may have to you. We'll free you and bring you home safely.

Harry'

Hermione struggled to swallow, a tight knot having formed in her throat, as she fought to keep the tears from welling up in her eyes. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, she re-read the letter over and over again, memorizing each and every word and stashing them away in her brain for safe keeping.

Harry believed in her and was willing to help her, despite everything. It seemed hard to believe, and yet the proof of it was right in front of her.

Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to dwell on it, as she was startled by a knock at the door just then.

She stiffened momentarily in place, wondering if it was him. A quick glance at the clock showed that it was already six in the evening, and she remembered that he had promised to be back by dinner. That only left an hour.

Quickly stashing the note into the drawer of her nightstand, she ran to check herself over in the mirror, to make sure she didn't look like she had been crying, before going to open the door.

Draco was standing on the other side, his face paler than usual with a slightly haunted look in his eyes. "The Dark Lord has returned and wishes to see you downstairs."

She didn't like the sound of that, not for one second.

Without delay, she hurried down the hall and downstairs, stopping only briefly to let Draco lead the rest of the way. Eventually they came to a halt in the drawing room, where they found both Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy standing just outside the closed door leading to Mr. Malfoy's personal study. They too looked rather haunted.

And then she saw why…

Leading up to the door was a trail of thick, bright red liquid, with similar streaks on the solid gold, serpentine door handles.

It was blood.

And the sight of it helped her to make her decision.