"Tell me what you know!" Bellatrix shouted

I wouldn't budge, even with her cursed blade at my neck, "I know nothing."

"Crucio!"

It was after the incident with Katie Bell, the necklace…

Malfoy caught eyes with her in the dining hall, seeming to look right past Harry in doing so, then he turned, meeting my eyes if only for a second, before darting off down the long hallways. Harry followed him, despite my plea for him to stop.

By the time Ron and I reached the doors of the dining hall, Harry and Malfoy were nowhere in sight. Ron and I returned to the Gryffindor common room, hoping to see Harry and ask him what happened before the next classes started. With no luck, we went on about our day and waited feverishly to hear from our friend after the last lesson of the day was over.

When we returned to our common rooms after dinner, Harry was still nowhere to be found. Seamus Finnigan was the first to approach Ron and I as we sat around the fireplace, scratching our heads.

"I bet you guys 'ave heard about Harry?"

Ron and I both spun around, meeting his eyes with questioning glances.

"No?" He chuckled and sat down in a chair to the left of us, "word is he almost killed Malfoy in the lavatory after he followed him out of the dining hall. Everyone saw Snape rushing him to the hospital wing."

I stood up quicker than my brain could process what was happening, "where's Harry then?"

Seamus opened a book and began reading, "Nobody knows."

I ran up and grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak, then slipped out of the common room quietly, and made my way towards Dumbledore's office. It was my best chance at finding Harry. I had to be careful not to run into anyone on my way, as it was too close to curfew and I couldn't afford to be backtracked.

I was determined to find Harry, but as I passed the turn off to the hospital wing, curiosity got the best of me. I slowed, stopped, and turned down the long, marble hallway. Careful to make my strides long, but quiet, I made my way to the hospital wing and slid in the door, past the night nurse as she left the room.

It didn't take me long to find Malfoy, the wing was mostly empty. He was whimpering and twisting all about in his bed, like he was being tortured, but he was fast asleep. I don't know what it was that was drawing me to him, all I know is that I was there. I was standing next to Draco Malfoy, injured, twitching and twirling in his sleep, the look of pain on his face unbelievable.

Just as I was beginning to come to my senses and leave, I heard the door swing open and loud, hammering footsteps began to come my direction. I was temporarily hidden behind the partition, but I hid myself under the cloak, sure whoever was coming was intent on stopping right where I was. I slipped out past Malfoy's bed and on the other side of the room before Snape made it to Malfoy's bedside.

I watched from a distance as Snape jarred Malfoy awake. He sprung straight upright, I couldn't tell if he was surprised or afraid.

"What were you thinking, going at it with Potter in a bathroom? You could've gotten yourself killed! Do you know what kind of danger you imposed on your entire family tonight?"

Malfoy stuttered, unsure what to say.

Snape tore back the sleeve on Malfoy's right arm, revealing a dark mark tattoo. I put my hand over my mouth to cover my very audible gasp.

"You have a duty to perform, Draco."

Snapes last, harsh words hanging in the air, he swept his robes to the side and took long, heavy strides out of the room, the same way he had come.

Malfoy cried, placing his left hand over his mark, for a while, repeating "I don't want to do this. I don't want to kill him. I can't, I can't," over and over.

Then he screamed, and threw the glass of water on his bedside table. It almost hit me, I must've made a noise as I jumped out of the way, because suddenly Malfoy was straight upright again with fear.

"Who's there?" He demanded, his chin high, tears staining his too-thin face.

I stood, frozen with fear. He pulled his wand out of his pillow case and pointed it in my direction. I held my breath, and slowly tried moving myself forward and out of the way of his wand.

Just as I was sure he was going to hex me, the nurse came waltzing back in the room and he returned his wand to its hiding place. The nurse didn't seem to notice the broken glass, she only checked Malfoy's temperature and then departed the room again. I used the opportunity to get away, and retreated to the common room.

I found Harry sitting next to Ron in front of the fire, angry and confused I lashed out at him, "Where on earth have you been?! No one has seen you since this afternoon!"

He looked at me, startled.

"Oh, never mind! I need a private word with you two, now!"

The memories rushed back to me, like an angry tide, under the Cruciatus curse. I remembered parts of our sixth year like they were yesterday, on the tip of my memory even through the torment of Bellatrix.

"So, Malfoy's a bloody Death Eater?" Ron almost shouted in anguish, like it was some sort of shock.

"Yes, Ronald, but that's not the point of it all. The point is he's been given a task, something that's undoubtedly already very hard for him. He's been ordered to kill someone, and he doesn't want to do it. He cried, Ronald, he cried and said he couldn't do it, that he didn't want to. He clawed at that bloody mark like it would come off if he only tried hard enough."

Harry broke his silence, "what if it's Dumbledore?"

I felt a stinging in my chest, "Harry that's absurd!"

"No, Hermione, It's not." Harry broke between Ron and I, deep in thought, "the cursed necklace was supposed to be delivered to Dumbledore, so was the poisoned bottle of mead. It makes sense that it would be Dumbledore."

He was right, I couldn't find the words to speak, he was absolutely right.

Ron shouted, "We have to do something!"

I scoffed, "What are we going to do? March into Dumbledore's office and tell him Malfoy is trying to kill him? With no proof? You saw how well that worked with the necklace!"

Harry interjected, "He's asked me to do something for him- to go with him- soon, to find something. I'll talk to him then."

I tried, "Harry, what if it's too late?"

Harry shook his head and left our conversation, going up the winding stairs to the boys' bedroom.

Bellatrix seemed angry, but she was laughing at my pain, she demanded to know how we got the sword from her vault. She wanted to know where Draco was. She was cruel, unforgiving, and barred no resistance with the curse she so carelessly let slip from the end of her wand.

Harry buried Dobby in the sand near the beach while I sat near the fireplace, tracing my fingers over the word etched into my skin by the cursed blade. 'Mudblood.' Bellatrix had tortured me relentlessly, and no magic could heal the scar that would leave. She had branded me a mudblood, forever.

During our sixth year at Hogwarts, after Dumbledore's death, an unlikely ally formed between us and Draco Malfoy. He was hesitant at first to ask for our help, and we were hesitant to believe him, but over time a trust grew between us.

He had been assigned to kill Dumbledore by none other than Voldemort himself, and he could not see himself carrying out the mission. It's what he was so distraught over the entire year. In the end, it was Snape who killed Dumbledore, keeping his promise made under the unbreakable vow and freeing Malfoy from his duties.

Not long after the funeral, Malfoy came to us in secret, apparating with his old house-elf, Dobby. Harry was furious both with Malfoy and Dobby, at first. Dobby explained how Malfoy begged him for his help and offered him anything he wished in return. Dobby made Malfoy swear on his life he would not hurt any of us, and when Malfoy agreed to his conditions, freely giving up his wand to Dobby in the process, he brought him to Molly Weasley's home where we were all sheltered at the time.

He came, pleading, head in hand, for protection from Voldemort, his father, and other Death Eaters. He was sick, tired, weak, and filthy. He had been running on his own for weeks when he stumbled upon Godric's Hollow. There he found Dobby, living amongst the ruins and begged him for solace.

He was locked in the cellar for a while, only being allowed out once a week under very close supervision. Remus and Tonks returned one evening with Veritaserum and came to the conclusion that he was no longer loyal to the dark forces and was no harm to any of us.

It was soon after that we began moving again, trying to find Horcruxes. Harry didn't trust Malfoy alone in the Weasley home, rightfully, so he came with us on many occasions. We were stalled now again only because of snatchers, who took us to Malfoy Manor where the last few torturous hours had occured. Malfoy was away from us when we were spotted, and did the right thing by apparating to our safe place (where Fleur and Bill Weasley had welcomed us into their home) when he saw that we had been captured. Harry and Ron were pissed he didn't try to save us, but we all know if he had been spotted he would've been killed immediately, and his intel on Voldemort was more than helpful at times.

I heard soft footsteps behind me, "How is everyone?" Malfoy stepped in front of me with hot tea.

I took it, warm in my cold hands, "Upset, to say the least." He sat down next to me, facing me.

"I can imagine. I'm sorry I couldn't send Dobby sooner. It took me a while to get back here without arising suspicion and neither of us were entirely sure where you would be."

I looked at him, sorrow filled his brow and his eyes sunk into his skull, "Nobody blames you. You saved us, that's all that matters."

I felt tears well up in my eyes, they began to fall but I had no energy to catch them. Draco brushed one off my cheek and curled my hair behind my ear. In a strange sense, I admired him now, after all this time and change he had made for himself. The Dark Mark tattoo was still on his arm, no matter how many times the poor git tried to cast it off with magic, but I didn't feel it was part of his soul anymore. He was different now, he was friendly, with all of us. He even got along with Ron and Harry at times.

I looked into his eyes, grey but warm, he spoke softly "I'm sorry about Dobby, truly I am. It should've been me."

I set my mug down and took both his hands in mine, nothing more than a comforting gesture, "We need you, Draco Malfoy. Dobby died a free elf, that's all he ever wanted to be." The tears fell down again, and Draco was blurry through my watery vision. He pulled me into his chest and I felt his soft, warm lips on my head. He didn't budge, so I cried until I heard the front door creek open. We parted with a jump, almost as if it was rehearsed.

We separated, Draco covered the wet tear marks on his shirt with his arms as Harry walked into the common area and sat down in between us, now on opposite sides of the couch.

After a moment, Harry spoke, "That's it, then."

His eyes were swollen and red, a clear indication he had been crying. I rubbed his back comfortingly, looking to Draco for comfort myself. He halfway smiled at me, then hopped up and exclaimed he was going to help Fleur with dinner.

The rest of the lot followed Harry inside shortly after his arrival, and Bill Weasley went upstairs to check on Mr. Ollivander. The rest of us sat, quietly and motionless in the common area. We were sitting near the fireplace but our hearts were cold, stinging with the loss of our dear friend, Dobby.

It wasn't long before Ginny spoke, "Erm, Hermione…" I looked to her, she was looking down at my arm. I joined her gaze and noticed that blood had soaked through the dressing and the sleeve of my jumper.

I hopped up, "Thank you Ginny," she stood to follow me, but I motioned her to stay, "I'll be alright."

I figured they all felt I was embarrassed by the markings. I was, admittedly, but that's not why I didn't want her to come with me. I went through the kitchen, asking Fleur where she kept the spare bandages, as the ones in my bedroom kit were all out. She asked Draco to assist me in finding them, and he followed me upstairs.

I pulled open the top drawer of my dresser and revealed a small first aid kit, fully stocked with bandages and the like.

Draco smiled, "You slimey buggard," I smiled and patted beside me on my bed, inviting him to sit.

He did, and he winced as I pulled away the saturated bandages and revealed what lie underneath. I wanted him to see what had been done to me, as it was his aunt Bellatrix's hand that caused it. I thought maybe he would understand if there ever came a time when I needed a shoulder to cry on. I was still in a state of shock, not quite ready to analyze what had happened to all of us at the Manor.

He had a look of shock and dread on his face, "Wh-what did she do to you?"

Nobody had told him anything, there hadn't been any time, so how did he know? Before I could open my mouth to speak, he just hugged me. He pulled my body close to his and buried his face into my collar.

When I felt like he couldn't squeeze me any tighter, he let go, cupped my face in his hands, and said, shakily, "I'm so sorry, Hermione. I'm so, so sorry."

He was on the verge of tears, which made me cry and shake, "H-how did y-you know?"

Tears fell slowly from his eyes, he let go of my face and unbuttoned the top three buttons on his shirt, revealing his chest and a small, faint white scar. I could barely make it out, 'coward.' I sat back, covering my mouth with my hand.

He mopped his tears with the back of his hand and buttoned his shirt up, "She likes her blades, Bellatrix," he changed the subject as quickly as it had come up, "let's get you fixed up."

He bandaged my arm, slowly and gently, and then returned everything back to the place it had been inside the kit. I asked him to stay with me a bit longer, before we had to go back downstairs and separate again, which he did.

Backs against the wall, I laid my head on his chest, his arms wrapped around me. It was strange, lying here in the comfort of Draco Malfoy's arms. I don't think either of us realized how close we had become. The more he was freely roaming about the house, being helpful and cheery, the more I felt like he was just another one of us. We had pleasant conversations over butterbeer in the middle of the night, we laughed and played muggle games with one another, and occasionally we would have an awkward run-in on the stairs.

Slowly our friendship become closer than I could have ever imagined. So close, in fact, that I was cuddling with him on my bed. I didn't particularly have any romantic feelings towards him, but his arms felt like home. He was a comforting friend, more than that of Harry or Ronald.

When Fleur called out that dinner was ready, we decided it would be best to go downstairs separately. I went to the washroom to tidy myself in a half attempt to make it look like I hadn't been crying as Draco made his way down to the kitchen.

After a minute or so, I went down and joined everyone for dinner. Conversation was mostly short-lived, nobody wanting to speak much of what had taken place earlier in the day. When it was mentioned that we all needed to get a move on to find the next Horcrux, everyone audibly agreed with Harry that we needed to rest for a while before throwing ourselves back out there. Without mentioning that we had all just narrowly escaped with our lives, we needed to formulate some kind of plan, and none of us knew where to begin looking for the next Horcrux.