A/N: I'm looking for a temporary beta. You'll have to be relatively speedy. And, if things go nicely, then I'll prolly ask you to continue to beta along with my current beta. Please! Leave a response in a review if you're interested.

Chapter 5

"Who's there?"

"Oh … sorry." Hermione peered around the corner to see a pair of silver-gray eyes looking back at her apologetically.

"It's alright, Mal—Draco … you just scared me is all." Ron had just come and woken Hermione up, telling her that it was her turn to watch Blaise and, upon leaving her room, she had heard sounds coming from the living room. As it turned out, those sounds were from Draco settling down on the floor in front of the couch, Blaise's hand clasped tightly in his own. This was a rare sight indeed. Hermione smiled slightly as she walked over to the overstuffed armchair next to the couch and sank into it.

"Sorry … what did they say?"

It took Hermione a moment to figure out what Draco was referring to and, when she did, she almost wished she hadn't because she certainly didn't want to be the person to tell him that his best friend might not survive to see sunrise. "I … umm … well, you see---"

She was extremely surprised when Draco turned to her, glared slightly, the faraway look gone from his eyes and whispered, "Just say it, Granger … I'm not five years old."

"They don't know … there's a lot of internal damage, so they can't really say."

"That's such a load of bullshit … why can't they just tell me what's really going on?"

"They're just trying to protect you, M—Draco."

"Ha! Trying to protect me! Yeah? And where was their goddamned protection when Lucius was beating the shit out of me? Where was their goddamned protection when Derek was doing this," Draco waved his free hand towards Blaise, "to Blaise? Where was their goddamned protection when that bastard was murdering my mother? Protection my skinny white ass!" With that, Draco stood up and stormed out of the room, slamming the kitchen door behind him. Hermione watched him stalk off towards the lake for a moment before she lost sight of him in the darkness. She was completely bewildered and simply sat there, on the chair, staring out the door, until Ginny came down the stairs and woke her from her reverie.

"I heard Draco yelling …"

"Oh … yeah … he's in the back yard. But I don't know if talking to him is the greatest idea right now."

Ginny smiled faintly as Hermione's brow furrowed and she bit her lip. "It's okay … he just gets …" Ginny trailed off and look out the door to the back yard. She didn't really know what to say to Hermione; no one understood Draco, hell, she wasn't even sure that she understood Draco at times. But of the little that she did understand, she could explain even less of it. "I'm going to go talk to him … or something. If Charlie wakes up before I get back, send him out, please."

"Sure, Gin."

Ginny gave Hermione a small, forced smile before turning and following Draco out into the back yard. She found him standing by the edge of the lake, looking at the moon, hands in his pockets. "Draco?" she whispered hesitantly. Considering the quiet of 1 A.M., it wasn't likely that he'd have trouble hearing her.

"I wish I could say I was sorry for what I said in there … but I'm not. Because everything I said was true. I just … I wish this world didn't have to be so fucked up."

"I know, I know." Ginny slowly came around to stand in front of Draco. He looked down and their eyes locked, but Ginny was slightly startled. She hadn't realized, before this, just how much all of this was affecting him. Yet, as she looked into his eyes, now a strange sky-blue color, she could see all of his emotions splayed out. And she wanted nothing more than to comfort him, even though she didn't really know how.

She reached up and brushed her thumb across his cheek lightly. A ghost of a smile passed over her lips as Draco leaned into her touch, not breaking eye contact for a moment.

"I can't thank your family enough …"

"Shh."

The Burrow's Living Room

"Hermione?" Hermione's eyes fluttered open to see a worn-looking Ron Weasley leaning over her. She realized how worn Ron really did look; far too much for a 16 year old to be. "Come on, you can go back to sleep, but they want you to move to your room." Getting up, she forced a smile and expected Ron to do the same, but he just looked at her, his blue eyes blank with dark circles underneath them. Without another word, Ron took Hermione's hand and led her up the stairs.

This was not her Ronald Weasley. This was not the funny, redheaded little boy that had saved her from the mountain troll. She had figured that part out a long time ago. But person that stood in front of her was no more the young man that had swallowed his pride and grudgingly accepted Draco at the end of sixth year than he was that little boy. No, this was someone completely different … someone she didn't know.

She was brought back down to earth when they stopped in front of Ginny's room, which Hermione had been sharing with her. Ron leaned forward and kissed her forehead lightly before turning around and starting back down the stairs.

"Ron, wait." He stopped and turned around to face his girlfriend, confusion written on his face, although clearly outweighed by weariness. Hermione took a deep breath and, biting her lip, suddenly found her shoes to be rather interesting. She didn't know why she had called him back … but she desperately wanted to see the old Ron … her Ron, if only a little bit. It would give her some hope that the man in front of her hadn't fallen too far into his despair so that he'd never be able to come out again. She was already absolutely sure that Harry would never be the same after the war … she didn't want that plaguing Ron as well. She wanted him to be able to be carefree and happy-go-lucky again. "I … can we talk?"

"Of course, Hermione, but why don't you get some sleep first? We'll talk later." He turned and started to descend the stairs once more.

"No, Ron. I want to talk now. We are going to talk now, whether you like it or not. So get your arse in that room right now." If Hermione's swear wasn't enough to make Ron stop and walk back into Ginny's room, her tone of voice definitely was. She went in after him and softly shut the door behind her.

"I know what you want to talk about … Ginny asked me about it too … I told her it was nothing because she has enough to worry about right now." Ron refused to meet her eyes as he sat down on the bed and played this his hands, staring at them.

"You know then? You know how emotionless your eyes look, how old and worn your face looks, how bent your body looks, how the lighthearted nature about you that I've always loved is gone?" Ron nodded slightly and continued to look everywhere but her eyes. "What's happened to you Ron?" She stopped and swallowed hard. "I suppose I should have noticed before—"

"No … I think I've done a pretty good job of hiding it … until now that is because I don't give a flying fuck anymore."

"Ron, don't swear."

"Sorry."

"Why don't you care anymore?"

"Because everyone's like this … except you, but I think you kind of are in a way too."

"What do you mean?"

"I … you're tired, not like you want to take a nap tired … but tired like you've been stretched too thin lately." (A/N: Oh yeah, DiStefano's damn books are invading my brain!)

Hermione nodded and sighed; it was a relief to find that Ron still knew her … really knew her. "I know why I'm like this … but why are you like this?"

She was surprised to see him raise his eyes to look at her. "I'll tell you if you tell me?"

A small smile passed briefly over her lips as she said, "Always, Ron."

He paused a moment, as if to collect his thoughts, before continuing, "Because … of the war … Dumbledore told me yesterday … in no uncertain terms that the war is coming. Soon, extremely soon. As in, if it doesn't come before we graduate, he'll be truly shocked. And then, of course, there's the fact that my baby sister is in love with one of the Death Eater's main targets, now that he has pretty much declared his allegiance to Dumbledore and the Order – Dumbledore's offering him a position in the Order in a few days, by the way. Then of course there's the fact that Death Eater enemy number two is lying on our couch in a coma induced by his deranged father. Not to mention that one of my best friends contends with Draco as Death Eater enemy number 1 and my girl friend – love of my life," he smiled sweetly at her, his first real smile in days, "—is one of Voldemort's major targets. So, needless to say … my psyche isn't doing so great on the happy-meter."

Hermione smiled at him, albeit a sad smile, and, getting up, moved to sit next to him on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and she did the same, resting her head against his chest.

"Your turn," he whispered.

"Because I'm watching all of this pain around me … I'm watching Harry sink deeper and deeper into himself. I'm watching Ginny fall further and faster in love with Draco … which is good, don't get me wrong, but it does put her in a considerable amount of danger. I'm watching you and I growing apart. I'm watching the people I thought I knew become jaded and hollow. I'm watching kids growing up much too fast for their own good because of all that's happening. I'm watching our world crumble into darkness. And there's nothing I can do about any of it!" Hermione cursed herself as a strangled sob escaped from her lips. Ron hugged her tighter and started rocking her back and forth, smoothing her hair and running his hands down her back. Suddenly, she pulled back and looked Ron in the eye. "Ron, promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Promise me that no matter what happens, we'll be together, that we won't let this war tear us apart."

"I promise, Hermione … I'll love you to the day I die and even from the grave."

… … …

"They've got what!"

"I believe they have my son in their custody, my lord." Derek Zabini bent even closer to the ground. He was already on his knees and if he leaned over any further, he would be laying on the ground. He was, of course, at Lord Voldemort's feet.

"They've got Draco too, don't they, Lucius?" He spat out the eldest Malfoy's name as if it left a foul taste in his mouth and, considering Lucius last few failures, it probably did.

"Yes, my lord … it appears my son has taken a liking to the old wanker who calls himself a headmaster."

"That will be ENOUGH, Lucius. I'm tired of hearing you babble on."

"I'm sorry, my lord." Lucius was kneeling right next to Derek, both of them practically shaking with fear. Few things in the world could scare Lucius Malfoy and Derek Zabini … Lord Voldemort was definitely one of them.

"How do you expect me to carry out my grand plans if two of the key pieces are missing, gentlemen?" Lord Voldemort's voice was that of faux sweetness, which was possibly more terrifying than when his voice was filled with rage.

"I don't know, my lord," Lucius and Derek answered in unison. They heard a few of the other Death Eaters in the room snicker quietly to themselves. The worst part of all of this was that Lord Voldemort was making their shame a public spectacle.

"You don't know … oh that's just lovely. We'll see how far 'I don't know' gets us by way of defeating Dumbledore, shall we?" Lucius and Derek didn't know what to say, which enraged Lord Voldemort even more. "No narky responses Lucius! What about you Derek! No … I didn't think so." With a little, dignified scoff, Lord Voldemort turned his eyes to the three Death Eaters that were standing behind Lucius and Derek. "Two weeks in the dungeons … food every other day, only enough to keep them alive … water once a day … a good half hour of the Cretaceous at least once a day, more if you're feeling particularly generous." An evil smirk passed across his lips as Lucius and Derek were dragged away, neither being brave enough to utter a sound.

"How are you going to get them back, my lord?" Bellatrix Black eased slightly closer to his throne, dispelling some of the shadows that shrouded her.

Lord Voldemort stroked his chin for a moment before replying, "I won't need either of them until the war is over and I've won. So, if I can turn them both during the course of the war, we'll be back on track. A little torture sprinkled here and there to remind them who their true master is and everything's back to the way it's supposed to be, no harm done … well no harm done to me, anyways. I can't say as much for Malfoy and Zabini." He laughed maliciously; making some of the weaker Death Eaters tremble slightly. "Bellatrix, would you please do some … investigative work. Find out Draco's weakness, for wherever he goes, Blaise is sure to follow … as it should be."

"Excuse me, my lord," came a strong voice from the shadows. Voldemort raised his head slightly in recognition as the Death Eater stepped forward.

"Yes? What is it?"

"I have been considering the situation with Draco and Blaise. I believe I will be able to bring both of them back to you, my lord. If you allow me to, that is. In addition, that would free Bellatrix to tend to other ... more pressing matters." The Death Eater's voice was calm and controlled, as if none of what had just happened in the room had phased him in the least.

Voldemort stroked his chin as a particularly frightening smile -- if it could be called a smile -- came to his lips. "Yes, I think that is a brilliant idea. Get to work on that straight away. Oh, and failure won't be tolerated."

"Yes, my lord."

A/N: Guess who it is! Guess who it is! Hello all! I'm back in action … well, sort of. I'm really sort of depressed today because I was just informed yesterday that my wrist has reached stage two of three in Carporal Tunnel. So in addition to the fact that I am barely allowed to play my clarinet at all for the next few weeks (and not at all during the summer), I'm in almost constant pain. Hence the reason this chapter took so long (my typing speed is like half of what it used to be). Anywho, I'm not really sure about the random Ron/Hermione thing here, so let me know if you liked it or not, I may take it out. Thanks to everyone who read, please review!

Inukaino: Hello! Of course I remember you! How could I forget! LOL, that's okay. I think a lot of people forgot, but I'm slowly gaining steam once again. Thanks! Sorry I didn't resolve the Blaise issue yet … the resolution (death or life, hehe) is coming in Chapter 10. LOL, I know, not much of a consolation, but it's coming eventually!

CoolMilena: Yeah, don't worry. He's not going to go OOC of the character I've created for him. He's going to be a bit shaken, understandably … but circumstances will force him to suck it up and drive on. No telling on what those circumstances will be just yet smiles evilly

Bloody Corsets: Thanks! Nope, like I said to Milena. Circumstances are going to force him to toughen up soon!

Silverone3: Poor Blaise indeed! Wouldn't it be horrible if he died! Hehe, smiles evilly

Mz. Sammiz: LOL, I know! I'm sorry this took soooo long. But you know, the whole Carporal Tunnel thing. tear Thanks!

Beckysue2: Thanks so much! Goodness! I'm glad you're feeling better! That's horrible. But alas, the pains of being a woman, eh? LOL. I hope this finds you well. Thanks again. Hehe, Blaise … well the answer comes in Chapter 10. The … interesting answer. cackles evilly

To all: Thanks for all the reviews! I love you guys! Your reviews really make my day!

Lots of love,
Pia