Draco Malfoy watched in shock and horror as the green light of the killing curse flashed from his professor's wand and struck the Headmaster in the chest. Professor Dumbledore's wrinkled eyes faded to nothing and he fell backwards over the rail of the astronomy tower. It felt like a lifetime as he watched the man he had once despised disappear put of sight. He felt his heart clench in a moment of regret or sorrow or maybe even grief, he couldn't quite tell, before he felt Professor Snape's hand on the scruff of his neck, forcing him away from the scene before them.

They raced down the spiral staircase of the astronomy tower. Draco could just hear the sound of the death eaters following closely behind them over the sound of his rapidly beating heart. Bellatrix's manic laughter filled the hallways like an alarm warding people away. Draco could hear the mumbles of a group of students. As they rounded a corner he saw them, peering up at the sky where an ominous green glow formed the dark mark.

The students turned to watch the group as they passed by. Snape continued on as if he couldn't see them there, Bellatrix skipped by them menacingly as Draco averted his eyes. A part of him wanted desperately to stop and throw up the small amount of food he had managed to eat that day. He shoved that feeling down and tried his best to hide his utter horror and self-loathing from his face. Draco slipped back to the tail end of the group of death eaters.

He tried his best to compose himself, terrified that someone in his group would report his sickened, regretful feelings to the dark lord. Bellatrix flung a stunned Auror to the side and was a mere moment away from stepping through the towering doors of the great hall when Draco felt a hand close around his arm. Before he could fathom what was happening, the hand pulled him into a darkened classroom and shoved him harshly against a wall. He felt the pressure of a wand pressed to his throat, just below his chin.

Panic flooded his veins before his eyes adjusted to the dim light and he saw her. Her face was distorted into a disgusted scowl and she glared daggers straight into his silver eyes. She spoke in a hoarse, emotional hiss, "What did you do?"

He felt himself relax under her wand, what could Hermione Granger possibly do to hurt him in that moment.

Hermione and Ron had been sitting in the Gryffindor common room together, anxiously awaiting Harry's return when they saw it. It lit up the night sky like an explosion. Hermione felt her breath hitch at the sight of the dark mark in the once clear sky. To witness something so frightful in the one place she thought was safe broke Hermione's spirit for just a split second. Something awful had happened but she knew how to change it.

Ron was still still staring out the common room window in shock when she took off up to the girls dormitories. She found what she had been searching for within 30 seconds of reaching the room. It had been locked in a jewellery box for 3 years, waiting for a day like this, when she would need it most. The gold chain was cool around her neck, a shiver shot up her spine and she tucked the item safely under her robes.

Ron had stood by the time she had reached the red and gold common room. His hair was messy as he violently shoved his fingers through it and stressed creases had appeared above his eyebrows. He opened his mouth to speak once he noticed her enter the room but she beat him to it, "Go find Harry," She told him.

His eyebrows furrowed, "What about you?"

She hesitated, not sure what to tell him, "I have something I have to do."

"Hermione..." He started, apprehension hard in his tone.

She interrupted him, "Trust me, Ron."

He shook his head, blue eyes frantic with panic, "There's death eaters..."

"I know."

"I can't let you..."

"Ronald Weasley!" She exclaimed exasperatedly, his eyes widened at her, "Now is not the time to argue with me now go and find Harry!"

He looked like he wanted to say more but with one last glance out the window at the mark in the sky he let out a defeated sigh, gave her a bone crushing hug and whispered, "Be safe," in her ear before he rushed out of the entrance, her not far behind.

She saw him round a corner at the end of the corridor when she exited the common room. Hermione glanced around, not quite sure where it was she had to go for her plan to work but alas she was going to get no where standing in an empty corridor. As she hurried down the many staircases and corridors towards the courtyard, she noticed she wasn't the only one headed that way. Hoards of professors and students alike rushed in their night robes to see what had caused such commotion.

Hermione made a turn away from the crowd and found herself in the corridor facing the Great Hall. An Auror stood just a few meters away from her. Just as she was about to ask him what had happened she heard rushed footsteps round the corner at the other end of the corridor. She spun around, a cold panic set in when she laid eyes on the group heading towards her.

Death Eaters, led by Snape. luckily none of them had noticed her and she managed to slip into a dark classroom unseen. She risked peering out through a small crack in the door to watch them make their way down the corridor. Then she noticed him, Draco Malfoy. He looked stressed, his face was hard and his fists were clenched. He was lingering at the back of the group.

Hermione's blood boiled and she knew what she had to do. When the others had passed and Draco was the only one left behind, distracted by the Auror that Bellatrix's spell had just flung across the room, Hermione opened the door and reached out. Her hand firmly gripped his forearm and she pulled him into the room, shoving him hard against the wall and pressing her wand to his throat.

He looked shocked and frightened but she couldn't find it in herself to give a damn. He seemed to see her properly, his silvery eyes found her face in the dark just in time for her to hiss out a harsh, "What did you do?"