A/N: I'm sorry it's taken me so long…again. I procrastinate. I'm very excited though, I've gotten 70 reviews! 30 short of 100! Keep reviewing, and in the meantime thanks to the people that reviewed my last chapter. Gina: Thanks for the review, it brightened my day! Roswell4ever: Don't think that way! Think positively and put them up, I'm sure they're better then you think! Destiny: I know, I hate cliffhangers too, but it keeps people coming back for more! Sorry it took so long for me to update! Celeste: Thanks for the review, I appreciate it. Malfoyschic: Mwahaha, I love making you hate me, hehehehe. Sorry it took so long, I'll seriously try to update sooner!

Please review this chapter after you're done! The fifth book is coming out in 2 days…Please, in your reviews do NOT spoil it for me if you're ahead. I don't want any surprises given away!

Chapter 16

"No! Please! What do you want? We'll give you all our money!" screamed a woman as three intruders entered her home. They were cloaked in black, and black masked covered their faces. The man with her tried to shield her from the men, as they pointed three wands at them. Within seconds both the man and woman were bound with rope. The three men disappeared, seeming to evaporate into thin air, taking the man and woman with them.

~*~*~*~

Hermione heard the screams and pleas of the woman in her head. Hermione was on her knees on the floor, clutching her shoulder, trying desperately not to black out. Draco had his arms around her, trying to soothe her with words and at the same time calling for help.

"Oh…Draco…" Hermione managed to gasp out before blacking out and falling limply into Draco's arms.

~*~*~*~

"Harry! Harry, what's wrong?" Ron asked, trying to keep his friend from falling down the stairs.

"My scar…" Harry managed to say, rubbing his head vigorously, as if that would help the pain go away.

"Where are all the teachers?" Ron asked in frustration to no one in particular. As if on cue, Professor Snape came strolling down the stairs, looking his usual greasy self.

"Potter! Weasley!" he barked, "Do NOT stand in the middle of the stairs and block everyone's way…10 points from…" he cut himself off as he saw Harry trying to stay standing, gripping the banister tightly.

"Professor! Harry…his scar…you've got to help him!" Ron shouted.

"Go find Professor Dumbledore," Snape ordered. Ron hesitated. "Hurry!" Snape shouted, and off dashed Ron.

"Potter?" Snape asked, as Harry blacked out completely.

~*~*~*~

Draco still held Hermione desperately in his arms. He was close to tears, cursing under his breath. Not really thinking, Draco stood up and cradled Hermione in his arms. He had to get her to the Hospital Wing. He thought he could float her to the wing, but he couldn't think of the spell. So instead, he began running as fast as he could under the weight of Hermione.

It seemed that the Hospital Wing was farther then he thought, but in reality he arrived in a couple of minutes. Snape had already arrived with Harry, and Madam Pomfrey was examining him. Snape turned just as Draco arrived.

"Professor! Hermione, her mark, it began to burn or something and she fainted, and I don't know what's wrong, it came so suddenly---" he was cut off by Snape.

"Mr. Malfoy, calm down..."

"Set her on this bed, Malfoy," Madam Pomfrey said, and Draco set Hermione down. Her eyebrows were scrunched together in pain. Draco glanced where Harry lay for the first time.

"What happened to Harry?" he asked, looking to Professor Snape.

"Apparently the same thing as Miss Granger…" Snape whispered, looking at Harry. "His scar, it caused him to black out. The Dark Mark upon Hermione caused her to black out. This must mean the He is doing something right now…" Snape said the last sentence more to himself than to Draco. The Potions Master rubbed his own shoulder as he spoke.

"You are most correct, Professor Snape, and I'm afraid Madam Pomfrey will not be able to do much for these students," said an aged voice behind them. Draco turned to see Dumbledore speaking, Ron, looking out of breath, at his side.

"I came as soon as Ron found me. Severus, do you feel it too?" Dumbledore asked, no sign of a twinkle in his eye. Snape nodded gravely.

"Will they be all right?" Ron asked, more to Dumbledore than to the nurse.

"Yes, as soon as it passes. They will be able to tell us what they are seeing as soon as they wake up," Dumbledore responded.

"What they are seeing? What do you mean by that, Professor?" Draco asked.

"Harry's scar is burning because it usual does so when Voldemort," Ron, Draco, Snape, and Madam Pomfrey all flinched, "is either feeling particularly murderous or is being murderous. Hermione's mark burns…" he paused, unsure if he should continue. "Hermione's mark burns when some form of pain is being inflicted upon her or someone…someone she deeply cares about." Dumbledore said slowly, gravely and he bowed his head. The room went silent. Madam Pomfrey made the sign of the cross on herself.

"No!" Everyone jumped, and looked in the direction of the shout. It was Hermione, moving from side to side, her eyes still closed and clutching her shoulder.

"No, No please!" she kept repeating. Draco went to her side and took her hand in is.

"Shush…'Mione…" he whispered, gentling caressing her hand. It seemed to work, and Hermione calmed again. Harry though, awoke.

"What…what's going on…?" he asked, moving his hand up to his forehead and rubbing it. Dumbledore walked to Harry's bedside, as he had done several times in years past.

"Harry, are you feeling okay?" he asked gently, and signaled for Madam Pomfrey to get a calming potion ready.

"Yeah, I'm okay…but…" as if a sudden memory played in his head, he sat up. "Professor! There was this man and this woman, and they were screaming and these people...these Death Eaters, I think...were...I think they were going to kill them," Harry said. Dumbledore nodded slowly.

"Did you know this people?" he asked. Harry shook his head.

"They looked vaguely familiar, as if I have seen them in one place, but have forgotten…they weren't wearing robes, they were dressed in Muggle clothing," Harry said, squinting his eyes, trying to remember the details. Snape seemed to turn paler than usual. Dumbledore seemed older than usual.

"Severus…" Dumbledore said and stood up, going to talk in the corner quietly with Snape. Draco was looking confuses, as was Ron. Harry looked for the first time to the bed next to him.

"Hermione!" he said, "What happened? Is she going to be okay?" before Draco could answer, Madam Pomfrey moved to Harry and forced a potion down his throat. Taken in surprise, Harry choked and managed to swallow it. It tasted old and sour, but it already seem to relax him. Draco looked down at Hermione, who had seemed to relax and seem to be asleep…even though it was still a troubled sleep. Ron sat at the end of Harry's bed.

"This has been a weird night," he said, running a hand through his bright red hair. As Ron was speaking, Draco rolled up the sleeve of her robe, to view the Dark Mark. It was burning brightly, as if it was on fire. The Dark Mark wasn't as big as he remembered it being on his father's arm. It seemed smaller on Hermione's. He felt his eyes begin to mist.

"Out of everyone in the world, Hermione doesn't deserve this…" he said to himself, but Harry and Ron heard. Any doubts that Ron had about Draco's feeling for Hermione faded. Draco really loved her. It made Ron smile a bit.

"It'll be fine, Draco…it'll pass...she'll be safe. No one will ever let anything happen to her. We'll always protect her," Harry said. Draco smiled lightly and nodded.

"You're right," he said, "everything will be all right." Dumbledore and Snape returned from their conversation, Snape looking paler than usual. Just as Dumbledore opened his mouth, Hermione opened her eyes.

~*~*~*~

A/N: Another cliffhanger! I can't seem to stop doing them! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, next chapter it will be a bit sadder. What did Hermione see within her head as she blacked out? Review and I will update soon for you to find out! Thanks for reading!