Hey!!! I'm sorry for not updating earlier, but I've had a busy day. Thanks for giving me my five reviews that I asked for. I'm already out of school, so I'll try to get these chapters going, but I'm not promising anything. Well, I sincerely hope you aren't disappointed by this chapter.

Disclaimer: If there were actually a Mirror of Erised, it would show me as having all rights to Harry Potter and Aida. Unfortunately, there isn't one and the rights belong to J.K. Rowling, Disney, and Verdi.

Useless Information: I just got the book The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares and it's full of these great little quotes, so I'll be having them more often. By the way, her book is amazing, so read it. Or don't, it's up to you. Here's today's: 'Not all who wander are lost' - J.R.R. Tolkien

Chapter 20 - Human

Not now. Why did it not work? Draco knew from his father's late night, brandy-soaked ramblings that most of Voldemort's followers were witless. Draco knew that some of them were of course: he didn't know the older death-eaters as well as his father, but he knew people like Crabbe and Goyle and they would definitely not know how to pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel.

And yet, while trying to remember if they had come up with a B-plan, Draco stopped. If this was supposed to be Voldemort's glorious torturing time, then, most likely, none of the death-eaters had brought their wands with them. He didn't exactly know what degree of stunning spell Hermione had used on Voldemort, but he figured at least one that was longer than usual, for Voldemort was still standing there, like a petrified wildebeest.

He ran through the doors. "Get away from her!" he shouted. The others turned to look at the speaker and then recoiled into the shadows when they saw his wand.

Draco rushed over to Hermione. She'd been knocked out and her left limb hung at a funny angle. They'd broken her arm. Her mouth was scarlet with blood and there was a gash near her right eye. "What did she do to deserve this?" Draco shouted angrily. "Any of you, speak up!"

A small squat man came out of his corner. "She attacked our master." He squeaked.

"She was defending herself and her rights as a living human being!" He spat; he couldn't believe he had followed this for a year. "You let Voldemort take away your lives and use them to his benefit and his benefit alone. It may seem like you've got it all, but what happens when Voldemort can't use you anymore?" No one spoke up, for no one could answer. They sat there, looking scared.

Draco ran his hands through his hair impatiently. "He'll kill you, you fools. I can't believe not a single one of you thought about the future. None of you come after me or her," he held his wand up threateningly. "Or else."

"Oh, I don't think that will be necessary." Said a cold voice. Voldemort had come out of his trance and was not exactly happy. "What drove one of my best death-eaters away from me?" He paused and looked over at the sprawled body of Hermione Granger, it was moving and coughing. "Surely not a puny mudblood," he said in mock sympathy.

"You of all people have absolutely no right to call her mudblood." Draco said, forcing himself to speak. "She's presented a case that can turn anyone away from you and your pointless and evil ways."

"I won't doubt that but it is how she convinced you. You are one of my most intelligent death-eaters and yet she thwarted you." He walked slowly over to Hermione and painfully forced her to stand. She had forced all the blood out of her mouth and was doing all she could to hold herself up. Voldemort, who had forgotten his wand, conjured up a dagger out of thin air. He held it at her neck. "She's not going to leave here with her life, so why don't you save your own?" Voldemort asked simply.

Draco stayed still. There was no way out. He just stood there, as still and silent as a statue. "If you won't answer me, then you will see what you came to see. Her torture and death!" and with that he plunged the dagger into her side. She screamed in immense pain and tried to grasp on to the last bit of strength in her. Voldemort twisted the dagger 180 degrees inside of her, only making it easier just to faint. He finally took out the dagger and laughed cruelly, Hermione dangling onto the thread of strength. "What do you have to say now, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco looked into to Voldemort's mirthless red eyes and then he focused on Hermione. Her brown eyes were drowning in pain, but he saw them glimmer with a tiny ray of hope. He stared at her, and then he got it. "Go ahead," Voldemort teased. "Speak if you're brave enough."

Draco knew what he had to do he raised his wand, ready to speak, and pointed it directly at Voldemort. "The tables have turned. Accio wand!" Voldemort's wand came whizzing to Draco. "A full 360 degrees I do believe," and for the first time, Draco saw Voldemort scared, but he then came back to his smuggy smirk.

"Yes, you've got me there," he said, still clutching Hermione hurtfully by her now severely broken arm. "But I've got what you want most," he snickered a he tightened his clutch on her arm, she whimpered, trying to hold on. "And I've got a way to kill her. I'm surrounded by my followers and you've no way out sufficiently. So I guess that puts the table back where it was."

Draco turned it all over in his mind. There was no way he could get out with Hermione and himself both alive, except. "Crucio," he shouted at Voldemort. Voldemort immediately dropped Hermione to the ground and writhed in immense pain as Hermione had done.

"Come on," Draco said, helping her to her feet. "Let's go!" and before the death-eaters could react, they were on their way out. But at they doorway stood the most unwelcome person, as Hermione's life slipped away and as Draco's good ideas died. It was none other than Pansy Parkinson.

A/N: I'm sorry I didn't update earlier and for all the gore and bad things that had to happen to Hermione. I want to ask for five more reviews and if you think that's too many, then tell me so. Love, unsweetened tea, and today's Blondie comic strip to my reviewers. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a really good book so I sincerely hope you pick it up and read it. I hope y'all had a very happy December 16!! Please review and, as always, thanks for reading, Epequa ;)