Disclaimers: I do not own Harry Potter, blah blah blah...

Note: Sorry I didn't update sooner but I had writer's block. COUGH COUGH and Charlotte nagged me to update not only this story but my Newsies one as well. Oh well...here's the next chapter!

Remember to review...reivew...reivew!

"Oh—shit." Was the only thing that ran through their minds, as they sprung apart. Gulping, Draco faced the doorway, only to see a livid and angry Dudley. Behind him were his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. Of all the idiots he had to choose, he chose the strong ones who always obeyed his commands.

Draco lowered his eyes and headed towards the door and Dudley's direction.

"Where do you think you're going? You pathetic servant." Dudley sneered as he pushed Draco to the ground, "Who do you think you are to even be touching such a wondrous creature?" Dudley looked towards the horrified Hermione and leered at her.

"Get away from him!" Hermione shouted, snapping out of her shock. "Who the hell do you think you are to even be taunting someone who is more of a man than you will ever be, you—you disgusting freak." Hermione had to play her cards safe, or Dudley's mother, the Headmistress could throw her out…that wouldn't be a pleasant experience.

Dudley glared menacingly at her before waving a hand at Crabbe and Goyle and dismissing them. Before he disappeared down the Hallway he said, "Don't think you're getting away that easy, Granger." And he laughed, not a happy one, but someone who was deranged and obsessed.

"I better go…" Draco said somberly, "I wouldn't want to get you in trouble." With that Draco walked off, towards the direction of the rickety stairway up to the freezing attic.

Hermione didn't stop him.

"Draco." Was the only word she said throughout the whole day. She couldn't concentrate in the lessons, though she did most of the work, but the most unnerving part of it was that Dudley kept staring at her, leering at her with such a feeling of—lust. She shuddered at the thought. No, she must've been imagining it.

She walked up the main staircase towards her room when she was stopped with the sight of—

Of—

Draco…

He was—being caned with such force, it was a wonder he was still conscious. She screamed, right there and then she screamed…till the sight before her turned black, and she hit the ground with a 'thud.'

The scene then turned chaotic. Draco as well hit the ground and blacked out, the blood on his back still dripping, his face pale and white, but the last thing that was on his mind was, "Is Hermione alright?"

The Headmistress rushed over to Hermione and called Ginny and Parvati to take Hermione to the Hospital Wing. She then called her 'Duddikins' to help the servant to the Hospital Wing with his friends. Dudley smirked, "I'll help him alright, help him till he can't walk." He called over Crabbe and Goyle and summoned them to bring the cane his mother was using.

Thwack.

Thwack.

Thwack.

Thwack.

Every time the cane hit Draco's back. Dudley laughed. Momentarily Draco regained consciousness but as soon as it was regained he blacked out.

When Dudley finally thought Draco had enough, his minions dragged him across the floor towards the Hospital Wing.

Madame Pomfrey took in this sight and her eyes widened, "What happened to this poor boy?"

Dudley couldn't help but smirk at his doings, "Looks like he was caned…"

"Oh, the poor boy…" She muttered under her breath. Dudley left satisfied, thinking he had done what he promised to do.

Madame Pomfrey healed Draco's wounds, but he was suffering from blood loss as well. Since he was beaten so much, the blood couldn't stop flowing and due to that, massive amounts of blood loss.

Draco oblivious to all the attention he was getting from the Hospital Wing didn't notice that Hermione was in the cubicle next to him.

Hermione groaned as she suddenly woke up from her slumber. "Where's Draco?" She mumbled incoherently.

Madame Pomfrey parted the blanched white curtains and tittered at Hermione, "You need your rest, now go to sleep," then she added in a softer tone, "He's in the cubicle right beside you." Hermione nodded at her in thanks and closed her eyes feigning sleep, but when she heard Madame Pomfrey leave, she quietly tiptoed to the next cubicle.

Her heart stopped quickly when she saw Draco lying unconsciously in the bed, by his bedside there were wet cloths drenched in his diluted blood.

"Oh Draco." She whimpered, clutching his sheets. "What have they done to you?"

As if answering her, he coughed lightly. She held on to him tightly, wondering how bad it was for him to endure, and it was all because of her.

Madame Pomfrey burst in and shooed Hermione back to her bed, where Lily was awaiting.

"Hermione, I have something to tell you…" She said sadly, lowering her eyes from Hermione.

"What is it?" Hermione asked worriedly, getting in bed.

"Well, you see…the Headmistress doesn't think it fit for Draco to be here, and has signed him up for the war, as a soldier."

For the second time that day, she fainted.

When she finally awoke, just the time Draco was packed and ready to leave. Hermione leapt out of bed and ran downstairs to find Draco already suited up in his army gear.

She embraced his and wouldn't let go, with tears in her eyes she said in an urgent whisper, "Draco—please—don't leave me."

Draco hugged her back, but he had to let her go, "I'm so—so sorry Hermione."

She wrenched off her locket and placed it in his hand, "Take care of yourself, and whenever you look at my locket, think of me…"

He smiled and accepted it gratefully, "Hermione I want you to have this…" He took a man's ring out of his pocket and slipped on her finger. "Keep this, and remember me."

She smiled, tears still in her eyes, "I will Draco, I will never ever forget you. Come back soon, unscathed please!"

He turned to her before leaving, with sad eyes, "I'll try Hermione, I'll try. For now, keep yourself together…"