1Thanks for waiting with me so long!

Chapter 17: Running

Hermione was running so hard it felt as though her legs would give out on her. Red, green, and many color lights were shooting over her shoulder, missing her by inches each time. Ahead of her was Harry.

'How could he possibly be here?'

"Harry? Harry! HARRY?" She chased after him all the more, narrowly avoiding curses over her shoulders, aiming curses right back. Suddenly, she shuddered, and her vision of Harry blurred. She tried to hold onto him harder, and reached out. Suddenly, she heard her name being called faintly, as if from a distance.

"Hermione?" The voice was music to her ears, and she strained to hear more of it.

"Hermione?" Slowly, she let the vision of Harry slip away, and the rest of the night was slipping away with it.

"Hermione?" There were no more curses. Hermione was floating in a bright light, suspended in air.

Then, she opened her eyes. An angelic vision of white blond hair engulfed her, and she found herself lost in silver eyes. Then she looked around and remembered where she was. They had camped out for the night in front of what used to be Hogwarts. They figured (well, Draco figured and Hermione let him lead cause she thought it would be of track) that if there were any Order members left, they would be here. Hermione doubted this, but anything that lead them off track was good.

They walked in the doors of what they used to be able to call a second home. But Hermione couldn't walk in without memories flooding. That was long before Voldemort captured Hogwarts and ruined it. That was long before the deaths of her loved ones. That was long before Hermione's life was ruined.

"Are you coming?" Draco asked, seeming impatient.

"Yea.." Hermione said, breathless. Walking in here would be so hard. But walking out would be even harder. Hermione swallowed and took a deep breath before walking in. When she walked in, she saw the ruin that was once the Great Hall. The once beautiful place was covered in moss now that nobody was there to care for it. Everything had fallen apart. The way the Hall looked resembled the way that Hermione felt. Arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

"I know this is hard for you. It's hard for me too, believe it or not. Do you think I felt no attachment to this place? Seeing it this way is like seeing an old friend stuck on the side of the road covered in rubbish. But I can't do anything to alter this place, and neither can you. We came here for only one thing." Draco stated as Hermione sighed.

"I know, Draco. DO you think I'm stupid? I have to come here to kill the man who used to be like a father to me. Fine! Can we please just try to look for him?" Hermione was in no mood for Draco to tell her to be tougher.

'Draco just has no idea how hard it is for me. He's had it so easy his whole life, with daddy who can always buy him anything he wants. Anything he wanted he got, and nothing was ever really that hard for him. Sometimes I wonder what I see in him. He ruined my life for years, made me hate myself. And then my family was lost, my friends killed, and I was shipped off as a slave where I was made into a Death Eater and Voldemort's daughter. Stepping into a place that used to be my second home is supposed to feel awful, and I'm supposed to hate it. But I don't and can't because I'm not that way, and nobody can know it because then I would be killed. Or tortured. My whole life is hell, it's all a lie. And the only person who knows is me...oh crap. And now Draco knows, too, because you're a Leglimens, aren't you?" Hermione suddenly felt awful.

"You heard all my thoughts, didn't you?" Hermione asked, feeling ashamed as a flush rose to her cheeks.

"Yes." Draco's voice was a whisper. His face was paler than normal. "You think I have it so damned easy? You think you're the only one who has it hard? My father, for every penny he gave me, expected something in return. Respect, obedience, and my inevitable enrollment as a Death Eater. Everything he wanted from me he got. And I'm sorry if I fell in love with you! The only thing I ever wanted was a girl like you, someone in my life who wouldn't tell me what I wanted to hear most of the time. And you think it's easy for me to come here against my will to kill someone who obviously meant so much to you? I hate seeing you hurt, Hermione! But if we don't do this, we'll both be killed, can't you see that? You'll be killed because you won't be obedient, and I'll be killed for not making you do it. I'm doing this to help you, and you don't even care. Well, fine, Hermione. Let's just go back and get killed!"

Suddenly, they heard a noise. They both gasped and looked to the side. There was a gigantic dog slowly advancing, it's teeth bared. Draco was the first to run, and he instinctively grabbed Hermione's hand. As soon as they tore out of the Great Hall, the dog came after them, growling fiercely. Hermione pulled her wand out of the sleeve and aimed it at the Whomping Willow. She grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him towards the now frozen tree.

"There's a tunnel! Get in before the tree unfreezes!" Draco didn't hesitate to ask. Just as Hermione came in after him, the tree unfroze. A great yelping was heard through the air as the great dog was hit.

Running down the cramped tunnel, Hermione felt her legs start to seize up. She wasn't sure if she could run much longer. Her breath was short, it was dark in there, she couldn't last to the end, she just knew it.

That was when her world went black. One Ennervate charm later, however, she was up and running again against her will. As soon as she reached the end, she collapsed and gasped for breath. She was greeted, however, by a familiar voice.

"Hello, Hermione."

Arthur Weasley, in the flesh, was sitting in a clawed up easy chair.

Ok, Kahla, so I know it was still short, but I'm tired...look for more tomorrow! Lol.