Disclaimer: The characters used in this piece belong to J.K. Rowling. I really wouldn't want to wish, dream, nor fantasize that the characters she brought to life are mine mainly because I am not a totally big fan of Harry Potter and friends (Sorry Harry Potter fans.) I enjoy borrowing them from Ms. Rowling and hanging out with them, through this little modern technology called www.fanfiction.net, which has been our meeting place for quite some time now. Hopefully, you can hang with us, and as proof of your stay, please click the long button below with the words: SUBMIT REVIEW

A/N: Well, this is the first fic I would ever post for the public eye to see. To tell you the truth, I haven't finished all the books yet. If you are wondering how I came up with fics even if I know little about the books, all the facts I use for my HP fics are: a) from the movie (which I know has it's own differences from the book), b) my devoted HP-fans friends who always urge me to read ahem h/d fics: YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, c) and lastly I try to capture their personality form other fics, (although I am sort of a picky reader but I do not copy other people's work, I just capture their persona.) I am not an avid fanfic reader either, I just buzz around and if a summary interests me, I read it. That's why you shouldn't keep your pairings or plot secret because if I don't know what it's about, you lost a review from me, bud. Of course, cliffhangers in summaries are better than having no summary at all. Well, anyway, there might be a few good or bad ideas down there in that fic of mine, but either way, let me know. Please Review, oh, and no plagiarizing. I haven't seen anyone have this plot yet (but then again I don't read fanfics that much so…) Anyways, enough about my exposure to fanfiction. Net, on with what you're here for!! Have fun, and please review!!!!

Chapter 1: Renewal of Trust

In the Death Eater's lair, where the Dark Lord anticipates,

The appearance of a boy who will come to this place,

With the fire ablaze, he awaits the doomed fall,

And his followers come with him as he begins to rule all…

"Hermione!' Harry sprinted along the fire-lighted hallways. Alone, tired and worried, he had finally found his reason of going there in that dark, cold place: to save… and to protect. Panting, he slowly walked toward the seemingly unconscious girl, still careful towards the danger enveloping him. She was clamped on the wall with thick iron chains, her hands white from the slow, painful flow of her blood. Her beige dress was in tatters, torn and worn out from her torment with the Death Eaters. He started to stroke her auburn hair as she closed her eyes tighter in pain and fear. She awoke, rather fatigued and aching all over. For days, she had stayed in that horrid position, swollen, hungry and miserable. Finally, someone was with her, caressing her hair, holding her arm, whispering in her ear, listening to her heart that was aching with hopes, the hope for freedom and gentleness, or love. She began to cry, as the young man ever so gently lifted her chin up and lovingly wiped her tears away, because she, as helpless as she is, was unable to do so. Her tears won't stop from trickling down her dirty face, but somehow, as each hot tear fell, her heart grew lighter, and her spirit more free and full of hope. Harry continued to shush her softly, looking around to see if anyone was there and then took his wand as slowly as he can, so as not to startle Hermione, and whispered a spell. The chains grew lighter and her hands moved at the change, her hands were beginning to tingle when the chains released themselves. As the numbness subsided, she wearily fell into Harry's hands, which caught her at the exact moment. Harry held her with love in his eyes, love for a friend that was gone for some time and he felt regret. He regretted that he didn't come to her aid as soon as he was able. But it's all over now. He was going to get her out of there safely. He carried her like a mother would carry her baby, softly, gently and soothingly. He understood that Hermione was quite comfortable with the situation when her breathing slowed down a bit and became more normal. She already stopped crying. She was silent, like a sleeping baby, probably exhausted from her perils, her hands lightly around Harry's neck, and her feet, one gracefully on top of the other.

Hermione felt safe and secure in the arms of this strong, considerate friend of hers. She was sure nothing could go wrong now and that in a few moments time she would be out in the open. But even so, there was still a part of her that thought of pessimistic things. What if suddenly, she was carried back again to the wall and the iron chains were flung on her hands once more, clenching on her flesh and all that Harry could do was just stand there; with him knowing that no matter how he pulled he won't be able to take her out? What if they fell into some other trap and won't be able to escape? What if the person carrying her now was not the real Harry, yet someone taking her to a more horrible place and she was just too weak and sleepy to notice? What if he did look like Harry but it was just because of a spell? These thoughts formed doubts in her heart, and her chances of getting out. Unsure, she just felt she had to know.

"Harry?" She managed to call out weakly.

"Are you alright now? Just sleep, don't worry. I'll get you out." Harry answered back. He stopped for a while to look at her. It was then that Hermione knew it was really him. His concern, his thoughtfulness, his reassuring smile, the sincerity of his voice, all were enough to erase all the doubts she had in her mind and heart. Harry continued to carry her through the large hallways. Hermione let out a contented sigh and slowly nodded her head a few times. Then, because of exhaustion, she slowly drifted to sleep….

Harry felt Hermione's body rest on him a little bit more. Her breathing went back to regular intervals and Harry felt her breath in his neck, and he moved Hermione's position as carefully as possible. His arms were already aching from the weight he carried, not that Hermione was heavy, but because of the fact that he had been carrying her for hours now. He had stopped once or twice before, but each time Hermione would wake up. Harry felt awful when this happens, because it was Hermione' s time to rest, she needed it badly. Now, Hermione was just asleep, and he just can't wake her up again, but he really needed the rest as desperately as Hermione needed her sleep. Harry, how can you save her if you are too tired to continue? You have to rest. What if Voldemort suddenly appears? You won't have the strength. These were the reasons why he needed the rest. Another part of him though opposed these thoughts. Harry, you should also think of your safety. The thing is to get both people in one piece, remember? You should go on. We need speed; we're running out of time. We are in the enemy 's warren; if you relax, enemies might suddenly attack you.  More questions were raced in the confused boy's head. But he had to decide, he would waste time either way anyway, because even if he didn't lay Hermione down, he would still stop to fix Hermione's torn dress or reposition her. He decided they both needed rest and that he needed to place the sleeping beauty on a flat surface and not threaten to hurt her fragile body, with her back arching too much when it slips little by little from Harry's grasp.  He again shifted Hermione's position, so that he can lay her down in the most effortless way. Hermione leaned on the stonewall, and Harry slumped beside her, fixing his dark glasses and brushing some thin, black wisps of hair that have escaped off from his forehead. Her deep breaths were slightly heard and Harry just continued to gaze at her pretty features. He delicately touched Hermione's still tainted face, rubbing the grime off. Hermione felt the contact, and resisted his touch and frowned faintly as if telling Harry not to disturb her while she is in the middle of her peaceful slumber. Harry just smiled, understanding what she was trying to show and kept his hand away. He leaned on the wall again and glanced at Hermione occasionally, to see if she was okay. After resting for a few more moments, Harry tried to carry Hermione again, but he almost stumbled. Luckily, Harry regained his balance, but he knew that he was not yet strong enough. He shambled on the wall and breathed deeply. He looked at Hermione again, sleeping quietly as before, her hair gently nestled on her shoulders, wearing a surreal smile on her face, showing that she was having the sweetest dream yet. Harry sat next to her and Hermione moved her head so it would touch his shoulder. Harry's eyes were fluttering, battling his sleepiness, knowing that he had to look out for enemies passing by. He reminded himself that he was just going to rest, not sleep. He rubbed his eyes open, but he was too tired to keep them that way and, as if Hermione wasn't asleep, she enfolded her pale, weak hand around Harry's body, and they cuddled as close as possible to get some warmth and rest.

Harry had gotten enough rest that he needed and he hoped Hermione did too because now he thought it was time to try to carry Hermione again. He drowsily opened his eyes, and found himself in a room, fire-lit like the hallways he has ran into. It was dim in there despite of the light. He felt the room's large space, and he can feel the heat coming from his left side, where a redbrick fireplace was. Near that fireplace, there was a mahogany table and a chair, old because of the lines and scratches on its surface. They rest on a red and gold carpet, imprinted with legendary creatures, snakes, dragons and such. He then realized that he was in a high plane, for him to see the furniture that was lit by the faint light. He felt like he was hanging up in the air because he can't feel his feet touch the floor, yet a wall was pressed on his back. Groaning, he tried to move but wasn't able to feel his hands. They were numb. He blinked, becoming more awake, yet much too his surprise, Draco Malfoy was staring in his eyes, in the most devilish way he could imagine. A big smirk emerged from his face when he realized that the "boy who lived" awakened already. Harry then became conscious that he was trapped. He was moving every muscle he can to be released from such clamps. 'These! Hermione suffered a lot.' He thought as he pictured how Hermione reacted when she was placed in such a location. He tried to break free from the realization that struck him. He was not able to save….

"Hermione!!" He screamed. He was in such panic and fear, more so than before. All his efforts were gone. Only then did he realize that Hermione was lying in the corner, looking dead.

Harry continued to scream her name, pleading that she wake up, praying that she was all right. He didn't care about his situation now; he only cared about his promise to Hermione, to Ron, to Dumbledore. He turned his head to look at Malfoy, who was smiling victoriously as ever.

"What did you do to her, Malfoy?" Harry shouted, as fierce fully as ever, his tone filled with anger and hate. He regretted resting beside Hermione, knowing that seeing her alive for years and years would be far better than those couple of minutes they were huddled together. He regretted sleeping and not keeping awake to protect the both of them.  Why was he so dense?  Breaking from what he was supposed to do, letting his emotions take over too much. He clenched his fists in anger and hatred. Striving to break free, he tried to pull the iron devices that were clinging on his hands, off the wall. He looked at Hermione again, who was still lying down, although he could see, when he squinted, that she was breathing… and alive. He looked at the table near the fireplace where Draco was headed, to see that his wand, all that he brought, precious items, charms, everything, and all that could bring Hermione and himself to safety were swiftly positioned there, far from his reach.

"What did you do to her?"  Harry screamed again, pushing his voice as hard as he could to release the fury that was forming in his heart. No matter what he did, though, he knew no one would fear him in his situation. He was the victim, the captured, and the hopeless target. Draco just smiled, his hands gently pressed, so that each of his fingertips would touch the other. He crossed his legs and looked at Harry in the eye.

"You know, Potter" he began, "It is I who should ask you what you did to your filthy friend, that Mudblood. I did not leave her unsafe, in exchange for sleep or rest unlike someone here, but rather, I was the one who found you in the middle of those tricky hallways. They were thorny, weren't they? Or were you just to tired? Poor, poor little Harry Potter, the wonder boy, the boy who lived…" He smiled deviously which made Harry more enraged, and guilty. He couldn't say no. He did leave her and failed to protect her. He deserved this punishment, but she didn't. So, they got me, why don't they let her go? This question continued to go over in his head. He just gritted his teeth and kept quiet, knowing that he could never beat Draco, or anyone for that matter, in his condition.

"Now I ask you, what are you going to do now, after what you did? You are just as rotten as that so-called friend of yours, and now you are going to suffer like she did, and maybe even more." Draco cackled at the thought, and uncrossed his legs.

"Why don't you let her go now? You've got me!! Why don't you let her go?" Harry then found the urge, to ask the question that bugged his mind for the past few minutes. Draco stopped smiling and frowned.

"I'm afraid I can't answer that for now," Draco stood up and walked away. "But I'm sure you know why…" His grin was seen in his face again, this time more evil than ever.

"No!! If you do that to her!! You have me! What else do you want? Let her go!!" Harry can't organize his thoughts. He just shouted and screamed in rage, repeating his questions over. Draco turned his head back, glared at him and said, "Should I tremble, Potter? Please, spare me your yells. I wouldn't heed." He then looked away from Harry, raised his hand and waved it a little, expressing a sarcastic goodbye and laughed silently, devilishly. Then he continued to walk away until Harry could not see even his slightest silhouette. Harry knocked his head a few times against the wall he was pinned on, his eyes shut tight, tears still escaping from his closed eyes. He couldn't do anything, he failed in his mission, broke his promises, did nothing. It was now his turn to cry, all the efforts he made, his whole heart and soul was poured to saving Hermione, and now because of just a little mistake, it all went down the drain. He turned his head to the other side, only to see Hermione already locked up in a cell, holding on to it's rusty bars, looking at him frightfully, knowing that all her fears have come true. Harry could do nothing now.

A/N: Well, that was the first part. The poem is a bit goofy so, sorry for that. (I am not a poet, you know!!) There might be misspellings and grammatical errors, so I'm sorry for that. The spell and its effects all the things in the summary, you won't know much about till the third or fourth chapter, but it would be clear by then, (I hope.) Please Wait, I hope you do. It would take a long time for me to make chapters so don't expect me to update regularly. Please just wait because, the reasons that I might take a long time to update is because: a) I can't stay that long in the computer, b) I work on other stuff like homework and chores, and c) I keep revising and improving so that it would be more dramatic (?) or easier to understand (I think) so it will be better understood by you. I would want it to be as detailed as possible and I am sort of a perfectionist so… Trust me I've got more coming so I hope you review from time to time, ok? .  Please. please click that button; it will be greatly appreciated, if you wrote something in it of course. Constructive criticisms would be very much appreciated rather than flames. Ask me how to do that. I'm good at those..: ) hehe…

 See ya!!