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Chapter 6

The pain came unexpectedly. Hermione had withdrawn so effectively within herself that she did not even realize that the Pain-free potion was no longer being given to her after the prescribed first week. The pain was…exactly like when Voldemort had first cursed her. It coursed through her body, throbbing in sync with the beating of her heart, sending wave after wave of torture through her. She felt as though she were being burned from the inside. She felt the pain all the way down to her marrow. To her bones. She had to keep from crying out, to keep from screaming like a maniac. She had to hold herself in to prevent her body, now an alien object, from shaking uncontrollably.

For a single moment, she would have given anything to make it stop. She would have groveled at the feet of Voldemort. She would have done murderous deeds, terrible deeds.

That moment passed and Hermione, horrified at her thoughts sought to endure the agony, to ride it out. Gasping, she tried to muffle her sobs by pressing her face into the pillow. She could not keep from letting out a tortured whimper, however, as a particularly excruciating ache twisted through her. She hurt so badly she almost wanted to wrench her bones out from her body, to tear them out so she need not feel this pain.

A shadow fell over her bed. Turning around, she looked up to see Malfoy's shining fearful grey eyes staring at her. Slowly, he reached out to hold her hand. She shot out hers and gripped his as hard as she could.

"Don't let go Draco. Don't let go of me." whispered Hermione.

"Never." He knelt by her side the entire night.

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Author's Note:

This is a really short chapter. I just wanted to get it out quickly because now that school has started again, I won't be able to post as often.

Till then…