Its been a long update and…well who am I kidding, I don't have an excuse, unless you count laziness…sorry

Chapter 6: What has she done?

Ginny went back to Hogwarts while the rest of the gang waited at Grimmauld place until it was some for them to become part of the Order.

Hermione was relieved that their relationship was out in the open. Ron was avoiding her, which suited her fine because she flinched every time she saw him. Everyone else however were fun to be around and she was delighted to come across Harry and Draco sitting in the kitchen deep in conversation about who in the Ministry was trustworthy these days. The even laughed together a couple of times; and from there on Harry accepted Draco and made Hermione's life so much easier.

Hermione also took to sleeping in Draco's bed most nights. He often woke shaking and panting from a nightmare, and she liked to be there to calm him down.

There was a dungeon, stone walls, hard stone floor, and a meager light coming from a torch flickering outside the heavy dungeon door.

Draco Malfoy lay huddled in a corner. His skin was thick with grime, his robes even more tattered. Deep cuts spread across his body. Yesterdays punishment. What would happen to him today? Perhaps if he was lucky he would die today, He was bound to soon anyway.

Shadows could be seen in the dungeon hall. He readied himself, ready to inflict as much pain on whoever was sent to get him today.

"Draco Malfoy?" that was no death eater. There was someone whispering through the bars set at the top of the door

"Mm" he groaned. It was the loudest sound he could muster.

"Eh Kingsley I think I found him!" more footsteps came over to his cell.

"Ok listen Draco. We're going to silently blast this door open and come and get you, don't make any noise, we don't want to give away that we're here" ha. As if he could make that much noise anyway.

The door did indeed blast silently away. In came a tall black man and a young woman with bubblegum pink hair. Now he understood. They were coming to save him. The first buzz of hope he had felt in weeks filled him. He tried to stand up, but for some reason could not.

"Hang on; don't try to push yourself up, it looks like most of your fingers are broken. Here." The lady bent down with the man and carefully lifted him up, draping his arms over their shoulders. He could see them exchange shocked looks, obviously surprised at his condition.

"Ooh that looks like a dislocated shoulder, dear me dear me. Kingsley, what's the plan?"

"We just need to get out of the dungeons, and then we can apparate back. Now Draco apparating is going to be uncomfortable for you, but we have to get out quickly, d'you see?" Draco managed a nod

"Ok here we are in the clear...let's go!" The turned and the sensation of being squeezed through a tube intensified the pain. He opened his eyes to see a grimy street that could have been anywhere, before he blacked out.

Draco opened his eyes. He wasn't panicked as he usually was in the morning, instead feeling tired and lonely. The second emotion faded greatly when he turned to see Hermione lying in bed next to him, wide awake and grinning.

He flopped back down onto the pillows, lying on his stomach with his head turned towards Hermione.

"What did you dream about?" she sat up and shuffled toward him. She gently traced a long scar on his bare back.

"I'm not telling" he couldn't help but smile. It had become a habit of Hermione to trace his scars, and it didn't bother him at all. It felt nice. "Where is everyone?"

"They went out but I said I would stay and wait to you woke up. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, and you know you really shouldn't let me get in the way of you living your life" He had often wondered if this was the case, but this was the first time he had said anything to her. She needn't become a hermit just to take care of him.

"I know you aren't fine. Don't lie to me please" She said it only quietly. Lines of worry crept onto her face as they sat in silence.

"You're wrong. I'm fine" he turned away.

Hermione sighed miserably "I just wish you would tell me. Why do your fingers sometimes hurt? Where did you get that mark on your jaw? Why are there scars that won't heal all over your body? Why do you flinch whenever I mention you father" Draco cringed "and what on earth hurt you so much on the inside?" Hermione plucked the bed sheets pathetically, feeling tears come on.

"Listen" Draco put two slender fingers underneath her chin and made her look at him "don't cry, you really don't want to know those answers anyway. Really! And it hurts me so much more seeing you cry. Remember that time I accidentally hurt you? That way you looked at me then, with tears of panic and terror in you eyes? It made me want to die, you know"

She gave him a watery smile "I know you didn't mean to"

"Yes but I cant stand to see you hurting, inside or out"

"Well I can't stand to see you hurting either Draco" fair enough he thought

"Listen, I might go for a walk"

"But aren't you being hunted down?"

"A few minutes outside wont hurt. If I'm not back in an hour, come looking for me ok?

"I don't know"

He kissed her tenderly on the lips, then on the forehead "don't worry about me" he whispered in here ear "and when I get back, I'll make it up to you" he brushed his cheek against hers for a moment, then strode from the room, pulling clothes on as he went.

Now there's a deal I hope he keeps Hermione smiled wickedly to herself, and went off to have a shower.

An hour came and went. It turned into 2, 3 then 4 hours. Hermione considered going out to look, but convinced herself that he was fine, and needed some time to think.

Finally she heard the door open. She ran to the banister to peer down at Draco's white blond crown, but instead saw Ron, Harry and Tonks

"Oh hi Hermione" said Tonks. Something in her voice was unnatural, as if she was deliberately keeping it even "Is Draco around?"

"Oh, er, why?"

"Well… we had an unconfirmed report that one of the Order saw him carried off by death eaters, but that cant be right, because he's here with you…" Tonks' face fell when she saw Hermione's expression of dismay

"No he left a while back to go for a walk" she said shrilly realizing the problem

"How long ago Hermione?" Tonks looked dead serious.

"Oh just. Just… a little over four hours ago…" she mumbled

Tonks immediately disapparated. Hermione couldn't believe she had let him run outside. She raced up to his bedroom and sunk into his bed. What had she done?

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