A/N: ok, this chapter is kinda dumb, so I'm still revising it.

Chapter seven: Hermione's Loss

Hermione quickly let go of the phone. He had chopped the cord in half.

"I thought I told you not to call anyone!" he yelled.

"Please," she pleaded. She was sitting on the hard stone floor of her kitchen, slowly sliding away from him, "Leave me alone. Why did you even come here?"

"I've already told you once, mudblood, I need to hide," he said, looking out her patio door and turning away from her.

She relaxed. Hopefully Harry would arrive soon.

"Who are you hiding from, anyway?" she curiously asked, slowly standing up.

"None of your business," he curtly replied, his black robe billowing around him as he searched every cupboard in the kitchen.

"Is anyone watching your house while your muggle parents are gone?" he asked, looking at her.

She shrunk back into a corner, immediately noticing her mistake when he advanced on her, "N…no," she answered, watching helplessly as he cornered her.

"Nobody is going to come over and see me here?" he asked, studying her.

"No, I'm the only one watching…" she began, suddenly remembering she had hidden her wand in her back pocket.

She slowly and discretely reached behind herself and wrapped her trembling fingers around her wand.

"What?" he asked, startled at her abrupt stop mid-sentence.

"Nothing, I just don't understand…" she let her sentence trail off.

"There's nothing for you to understand here, Granger," he spit, causing her to flinch.

"Yeah? Well, maybe I should understand a few things since you're in my house," she said, pointing her wand into his face.

He went cross-eyed trying to focus on it and took a step back. She took a step forward, "Tell me or I'll jinx you," she said.

He leaned backward over the table and she was nose-to-nose with him; he was whimpering like a forgotten puppy.

"I…you-know-who…me…father…"

"Speak full sentences, I can't understand you," she told him.

He suddenly gave her an angered look, startling her, and grabbed her wrist.

"Stop," she said, "That hurts!"

"Good, I want it to hurt. If you must know, I have to hide here because this is a muggle house. You-Know-Who is after me because…my father…did something unspeakable…" he finished, muttering and looking down to the floor.

Hermione felt a wave of pity for him until he pulled out his own wand and pointed it in her face. Just as suddenly she had her own in his face again.

"Don't…even…think…about it," she muttered.

He grinned, "Care for a duel?" he asked.

"No, I don't, as I have never dueled before," she said as they circled each other.

The front door suddenly burst open, making them both look at Harry as he ran in.

He stopped between the front door and the kitchen, wide eyed, "M…Malfoy?" he asked, his glasses slipping off of his face from all the sweat.

"That's right, Draco Malfoy, if you please," he said, looking back at Hermione.

"Harry, I'm sorry I ever called you," she said, glaring at Malfoy, "Please, go back…" she started.

Malfoy interrupted her, "Oh no, he can't go back! He already knows too much! He has to stay here."

Hermione gasped, "I am not letting Harry stay here!" she yelled, "Voldemort…"

Malfoy winced so badly that his wand slipped out of his grasp.

Now's your chance, she told herself as he bent to pick it up.

She aimed her wand carefully, "Petrificus Totallus!" she yelled, causing Malfoy to suddenly straighten, wand in hand, and fall to the ground like stone through water.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Harry.

He looked back at her, then suddenly advanced on her, hugging her.

"I'm so sorry, Harry. I didn't know why he was here until just before you came…" she started.

He pulled back from their hug, "Hermione, I don't care if I'm in danger as long as you aren't," he told her.

Her heart melted, "Harry, I…I don't know what to say…" she said, looking away.

She could feel him smile, "You don't have to say anything."

She suddenly looked at Malfoy, "He's not going to be like that for long," she commented.

"So, petrify him when he wakes up," he simply said.

"Harry, that's too dangerous; it could stop his heart."

He shrugged, "I guess we'd better not."

"We could tie him, though," she thoughtfully said.

Harry brought out his own wand and muttered a curse, sending thick, rope-like vines around Malfoy's wrists, ankles and mouth.

Later, Harry and Hermione were sitting on her sofa, ignoring the angry, muffled sounds from Malfoy, talking.

"Where are your parents, Hermione?" Harry asked, picking up Malfoy's wand and examining it.

"They went on a business trip," she answered, staring at the coffee table, suddenly very tired.

"I thought they were dentists?" he asked.

"Yes, but they have a conference to go to," she answered.

"Oh," he muttered.

"Harry, you don't have to stay here if you don't want to," she said, earning more angered, muffled sounds from Malfoy, "Don't take Malfoy seriously. You're safer at the Dursleys right now than you are here," she said.

He looked at her, "I don't want to leave you alone with him," he said.

"Harry, please, if Voldemort finds you here while he's also looking for Malfoy…I'd never be able to forgive myself," she said.

She caught him gazing at her, then he quickly looked away.

"I'm not going to leave you here…" he began.

"I know, it's no use arguing with you," she said, hoping beyond all hope that Voldemort really wouldn't try to find Malfoy.

An owl suddenly flew in through an open window. It was an owl Hermione had never seen before; it was brown, very proud looking and looked very pampered.

She quickly took the note from it and leaned over so Harry could read it as well, "Hermione," it started, "I will be arriving at your house shortly. I will explain the situation when I get there, if any one else comes to your house, do not answer the door. I will apparate into your living room. With greatest regards, Albus Dumbledore."

Hermione looked at Harry, "What's going on?" she asked, "First Malfoy is at my house, then Dumbledore…" her voice trailed off as Harry inspected the letter again.

"It looks like Dumbledore's handwriting, so it must be him."

"Yes, I suppose so," she said, picking up several dirty cups her parents had used earlier and heading toward the kitchen. As she passed Malfoy he tried to scoot with her to the kitchen, but Harry stopped him.

"If you so much as touch a hair on her head, even with a curse, you'll regret it," Harry threatened him.

Hermione found herself grinning. Ron had always been that way as well, but Harry…well…if he ever had been that way he never showed it; at least until now.

"Hermione!" Harry loudly said, walking into the kitchen, "Dumbledore's here," he said a bit quieter.

"Oh," she said, as Dumbledore hurried into the kitchen. He looked flustered and worried.

"Miss Granger there's been an accident," he hurriedly said as Malfoy became silent, obviously trying to hear.

"An accident," she said, trying not to panic.

"I'm not sure whether it was Death-Eaters or whether it was just simply…that…an accident. Either way the best place for you at the present moment is…" he let his sentence trail and Hermione knew he didn't want Malfoy to hear him say "Grimauld Place".

She nodded, "Yes sir. Can Harry…" she began.

"Yes, both Harry and Mr. Malfoy will go with you…"

"Malfoy?" Harry incredulously asked.

Dumbledore looked at him but said nothing.

"No need to worry, Harry, I have it under control."

Harry looked down, "Yes sir."

"What's the accident?" Hermione fearfully asked, hoping it had nothing to do with her parents.

"Miss Granger…" Dumbledore began as a sirens sounded. Dumbledore looked toward the door as a knock sounded on it.

"Umm…" she began, not knowing what to do. Dumbledore levitated Malfoy so he was hidden behind the wall.

"Answer the door," Dumbledore whispered.

Hermione walked into the living room, "Who is it?" she loudly asked.

"It's the London Bobbies, please open up," said a male voice. He sounded weary.

She opened the door and found that the man who had spoken had a sad expression on his face. Hermione felt her heart beat quicken.

"Are you Hermione Granger?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied, searching his eyes.

"I'm afraid your parents have been in a terrible accident. They've been pronounced D.O.A. to the hospital, I'm sorry."