"Hermione! Run!"
The lights in the Burrow flickered. She saw shadowy forms running back and forth. She saw Harry throw open the front door and step defiantly out into the open.
"Voldemort!" he bellowed, the door swinging shot behind him.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled running towards her and pulling her down. The air sizzled and crackled, the windows smashing in.
"Harry!" Hermione screamed, trying to get up and go out after him.
Ron pulled her back down. "Don't be stupid. Your death isn't going to help anything." But she could see tears in his eyes too. "Come on. We have to get away."
"But your mom, you dad… Percy?"
"Dead," he replied flatly.
"Oh, Ron, I'm sorry."
"Let's go." He grabbed her hand and they ran towards the back of the house.
"Weasley!"
"Oh, no…" Hermione gasped.
"They turned around and saw a tall dark form framed in the doorway. It was a wizard in black robes with a Death Eater Mask.
"You," Ron growled.
The man removed the mask, throwing it to the side. "Me," Draco replied, smirking. His eyes travelled over Hermione. "You I might let live." Ron moved protectively in front of her and Draco's eyes hardened. "You, I will kill. Slowly and very painfully."
Ron set his jaw. "You killed my family, my friends, and ruined my life!" he yelled, running towards the Death Eater. "I'll kill you!"
Draco raised his wand, still smiling. "Crucio."
Ron jerked and fell to the ground, writhing in pain.
"Stop it!" Hermione screamed. She raised her wand but Draco flicked his want at her.
"Expelliarmus!" As he caught her wand he said, pointing his wand at her. "Stupefy!" And she flew across the room, hitting her head on a bookshelf and everything went dark, Ron's screams echoing in her mind.
She woke up, gasping. It had felt so real. The explosions, the smoke, the screaming… She blinked. It was real. She could hear explosions and screaming. She could smell smoke. And there was someone at the door. She could hear voices.
"Stand back," someone called, then yelled, "Diffendo!" and the door blasted open.
"You two move on. I'll check here. Quick now. They'll be sending the dementors over soon and I don't want anyone caught."
"Yes sir." Two sets of footsteps left and the third person entered cautiously. "Anyone here?"
She got out of the bed and stood in the middle of the room, her mind abuzz. That voice…
"Hel- oh, there you are." He appeared in front of her from the smoke, looking almost the same as when she'd last seen him at the Quidditch World Cup. His eyes were slightly more shadowed and hard, he'd gained more muscle and in the dark, close-fitting clothing he looked like someone you did not want to meet in a dark alley. "Oliver…"
He looked at her, confused. Moving closer, he put a hand under her chin and lifted her face. His eyebrows came together as he studied her. After a few minutes, his face relaxed into a soft smile. "Hermione Granger. I haven't seen you since the Quidditch World Cup. People think you're dead, you know."
She bit her lip to keep from crying. Memories from that day a long time ago flooded through her and she wanted to cry. Ron… Harry…
"Hey, hey… what's wrong?" he asked, moving towards her. "Hermione…"
"I'm fine," she sniffed. "I'm fine. Let's go."
He slid his arms around her and pulled her against his chest, hugging her tightly. "Shh… shh… let it out. It's okay."
She clung to him and tears leaked out of her eyes.
After a few minutes, he pulled back and looked her in the face. "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here. Then we'll get back at Voldemort for killing them. Come on. Grab your stuff. We have to leave quickly."
"I don't have anything left…"
"Even better. Come on." He took her hand and they started down the hall.
When they got to the blown out wall, meeting up with the other members of the resistance fighters, Oliver pulled out a wand from one of their packs. "Here," he said, handing to her. "Just in case. I know it's not yours but it'll work fine."
Another man ran towards him as the group of freed slaves and resistance members started out into the side field to allow room to take hold of the portkeys. "Sir, Malfoy got away. He disapparated before we could get to him. And the dementors are coming. We have to get out of here."
"Alright, get going. You know the drill," he called to the rest. "Everyone have a portkey? Get a group and get out of here!" He started across the lawn, making sure there was no one left behind.
Hermione looked around and an idea came to her. "Oliver! What if I stayed?"
He whirled around. "What? I'm not leaving you here."
She shook her head. "No, if I stay and watch and listen for you. Malfoy's well-placed with Voldemorts networks and he likes me. It would really help you, and the resistance. I want to help."
He opened his mouth to object but shut it again as he spotted the Dementors coming across the grounds. He clenched his jaw in frustration. He didn't want to leave her here for that bastard to have but it would help the resistance. His eyes flickered from her to the Dementors and back again. She could handle herself. She was courageous and smart… He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Fine. I'm coming back for you personally though. Send me an owl when you find things." He ran towards her, wrapped an arm around her, pulling her tightly against him. He gave her a short, hard kiss then moved back a few paces. "For luck," he said with a quick grin. "Now get back inside." He disapparated.
She turned and ran. Only when she got back into her room (saying reparo to repair her door to its original state), did she stop, leaning against the door and press her fingers against her tingling lips. The memory of Oliver's breath on her face, his hand on the small of her back, his dark eyes boring into her own, was permanently etched into her mind. She heard booted feet coming down the hall and threw herself on the bed, tucking the wand into her sock. Just in time, it seemed, because a servant turned the corner and opened her door.
"Sir!" he called. We've found another." He grabbed her roughly by the arm and threw her into the hallway. "They didn't get Granger."
Malfoy's eyes brightened when they came to rest on her. "Excellent. We're moving tonight. To my father's summer house in Dover. Get packed."