Chapter 18

As soon as Draco disapparated away, Theo turned, opening Hermione's door and darting quickly into the house. It was eerily silent. He knew Greyback wasn't here yet but he was coming. It would only be a matter of time before he tracked Theo's scent. His heart sank as he walked up the stairs, knowing this was going to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

In a totally selfish way, he thought he'd have more time with her as well. Knowing that, after he told her of his deception, she would never be able to trust him again, was a fact that sunk in him like lead.

He crouched down next to her, shaking her gently by her shoulder, "Hermione." She jumped, a scream on the tip of her tongue, and then seeing him, she stopped. He choked back a sob as he knew his next words were going to shatter her whole world. "I'm sorry, Granger."

She blinked hazily in the moonlight, "About Malfoy? I know you are sorry," She sat up and brushed a soft touch of her fingers against his cheek, "It's not your fault."

Theo felt like he was going to be sick, "It's not that."

Suddenly, worry started to tinge her beautiful features, "What is it?" She began ringing her hands in the way he'd noticed she did every time she was stressed or worried.

"Hermione, we don't have a lot of time, but please promise me you'll let me explain." He captured her fingers in his own, pressing his lips to them as they shook gently in his grasp.

"Theo, you're scaring me." She whispered, watching him.

"I'm an Auror." She didn't move, eyes wide, "I was tasked to find you by Potter. Greyback escaped from Azkaban, he's hunting you." The violent shaking started at her shoulders, "But you aren't alone, you are going to be safe. I'll make sure you are safe,"

"You... you'll make sure I'm safe?" She whispered to herself, confused as tears wet her cheeks. She stared at him, eyes wide and unseeing. "An... An Auror?"

He gripped her hands harder, trying to hold her together, "I promise-"

"You'll make sure I'm safe?" This time it was a strangled, manic scream, she ripped her hands away from him, raking her hands through her hair, whipping around in search of her wand and finding it discarded on her nightstand. She lunged for it, feeling the magic sing as it connected with her palm.

He backed away slightly as she turned her anger on him, "Hermione, please." He could tell he sounded desperate as he begged her to listen, the darkness surrounding them and pressing in close. Greyback was coming, he was coming here, for her. Seeing Draco Malfoy suddenly seemed like a walk in the park. It was never going to be over. She was always going to be fighting. Greyback was coming. She heaved, clawing at the scar of her wrist. She could already taste the stink of his sweat, the feel of his torn, dirty nails against her skin, the memories pressing in around her as she turned, the familiar walls of her safe haven suddenly feeling like a prison. She felt dizzy, her tears blurring her vision.

She tried to apparate, imagining the bookshop, the forest anywhere, but the heavy weight of imposed apparition controls forced her to stay grounded. She let out a strangled, desperate cry, "You've trapped me here," she turned clawing at her hair as she threw up on the floor, clutching at her throat and heaving.

"It wasn't me," the fucking Aurors outside must have done so. They were probably worried he would take her and run. "Hermione, I'm here. It's still me. You're safe."

He took a step forward towards her and the weight of her anger surged her magic, shooting him back against the wall. For the second time that night he felt winded, the walls of the room shaking in the aftermath of her spell. He put his hands on his knees and forced himself back to standing, as she backed against the wall. "I started to trust you. I let you live in my house. I let you touch me...I f-fucked you. You're a fucking liar." She clawed at her hair again.

"Hermione..." he wheezed. Forcing himself up, blood trickling from a cut on his face. He staggered in the darkness of the room, his foot catching on something but he righted himself quickly and stood, holding his hands out before himself in an attempt to calm her anger. Suddenly, there was the tell-tale pop of apparition on the street outside. He had to try once more. He had to. Before it all came crumbling down, before the facade of their happiness shattered forever. "Please, Hermione. I love you."

"You love me?" She screamed manically, a hollow look flashing in her eyes. "You're a fucking liar." She spat finally, the fear pressing into her as her front door flew open downstairs.

"Hermione?" She knew that voice anywhere, but still she shrunk back into the shadows. She wasn't ready to see him, she wasn't ready for any of this.

Footsteps drew up the corridor, heavy boots slapping against the carpet.

Greyback was coming.

Harry was here.

Greyback was coming.

It would never be over.

Greyback was coming.

Her light headedness took over, she didn't even see Harry before she collapsed, knees buckling as she hit the floor.