A/N: One hundred percent AU. Harry and Ron left Hermione behind to look for Horcruxes and then Hermione's mandatory presence at Hogwart's is requested.

Pairing is Hermione/Draco, rated M for themes of profanity, perhaps smut, torture, and death.

Let me know what you think :)? X

MEMOIRS OF AN UNTOLD STORY

CHAPTER TWO:

THE TRUTH... KILLS

oOo

Hermione knocked twice on Professor McGonagall's office door and waited. Seconds later, it opened itself to reveal Professor McGonagall sitting up at her desk, smiling at Hermione. "Come in Hermione" she said warmly as Hermione walked inside and the door closed itself over. Hermione stepped over to the chair opposite Professor McGonagall and took a seat, trying to repress that horrible incident from Muggle Studies.

"Tea?" Professor McGonagall asked as the warm teapot suddenly levitated up into the air beside her.

"Yes, thank you" Hermione nodded politely and accepted the cup of tea from Professor McGonagall, "Professor, I really don't understand… any of it actually, being called back here, why I was made Head Girl, and truthfully, why I'm still even alive".

"Hermione I was not the one who requested your mandatory attendance" Professor McGonagall looked uneasy "If they had it my way, you would be in Mexico, under the protection of a dear friend of mine, she's such a talented witch, much like yourself but I digress. Snape requested your presence here at Hogwarts because - and you may not understand this right now - but it really is the safest place for you to be".

Hermione's eyes widened, looking around before she whispered this "Professor, I am surrounded by Death Eaters, my friends have deserted me, I have to share quarters with Draco Malfoy; The Prince of Darkness, and every single second of every single moment I live in fear of being tortured or killed so please, tell me how this is the safest place for me to be?".

"Hermione, under my watch, I promise you, you will come to no harm" Professor McGonagall looked most torn "While I understand you may never trust Severus again, he is on our side-".

"That man killed Dumbledore!" Hermione jumped up, not being able to control her temper, "He's playing both sides, except he's really on Voldermort's side! Why can't you see that?".

Professor McGonagall also stood up, taking a deep breath "One day you will understand everything Hermione. Until then, I need you to keep your head down and if anything should happen, I need you to report to me immediately and if I am unavailable, Draco Malfoy will be happy to help".

Hermione gaped even wider. Now she was truly confused. "Draco Malfoy? I'm sorry, Draco Malfoy? If ever I should need help or my life saving, I should turn to Draco Malfoy?".

"Like I said, Hermione" Professor McGonagall looked at her sympathetically "There are some things right now that you will not be able to understand but, I need you to trust me, please".

Hermione took a deep breath and slowly nodded. "Thank you" she turned to leave but swung back around "I'm sorry, for… shouting" she added meekly, feeling even sadder than before. Dumbledore's death had effected everyone, even if they didn't realise it.

"Not to worry, Hermione" Professor McGonagall "I have dealt with worse and I'm sure, worse to come. Run along now, wouldn't want you to miss anymore classes".

Hermione gave her a smile and walked out of her office, closing the door behind her. She let out a deep breath and began down the corridor, heading back towards the Head's quarters. She muttered the password at the portrait door and it swung open. Walking inside and closing the portrait door behind her, Hermione's breath caught when she saw Draco, sitting on the couch, fiddling with a rubber band in his fingers. She frowned at this, confused. Draco Malfoy was never bored, never lounging about. He always walked with purpose and spoke with power. Lately though, she wondered if anything about Draco was familiar for this tired pale boy in front of her just seemed sad. Maybe he was always sad and she just never noticed.

"What did McGonagall say?" Draco asked hastily, as soon as he saw her. Hermione frowned but sighed and walked into the kitchen, deciding to pour herself something to drink. She felt Draco's graceful air enter the kitchen with impeccable speed and tried to contain her fast beating heart.

"Professor McGonagall" Hermione corrected him again with an air of annoyance and frustration "And what business is it of yours to know our conversation?".

"I just hope she told you to keep your mouth shut up" Draco replied "And don't draw so much attention to yourself".

"Yes because today in class was all my fault!" Hermione snapped hotly.

"Pansy's a spoilt bitch but you gotta learn to let it slide off you" Draco replied, just as angry "How do expect to survive if you let every single thing bother you?".

"What?" Hermione spun around "Why the hell do you even care? You should be loving this! A mudblood, trapped and isolated from help, with a…" she trailed off, feeling sick. She couldn't even say it.

"You don't know what you're talking about" Draco turned and strode back into the living room.

Hermione's angry eyes widened as she hotly followed after him. "I don't know what I'm talking about? Harry was convinced you were evil and I stuck up for you! And then you let that evil-" she broke up "-You let them in here to kill and destroy and keep killing and destroying and then you fled, like the cowards you were! So what exactly am I wrong about?".

"Just shut up!" Draco screamed "You have no idea what it's like! He was threatening my mother, he was going to kill me if I didn't-".

"I have no idea?" Hermione screamed back, walking over to him "I'm a Muggle-born, everyday for the past 6 years I have had to endure insults about my blood status and lack of worth and now I'm the only Mudblood in a castle full of Death Eaters! Don't tell me I don't know what it's like to fear for my life!".

There was an awkward sudden silence and Hermione's stomach rolled over with butterflies when Draco's pained eyes met hers and her breath caught in her throat. Those were no eyes of a killer or a Death Eater, those were the eyes of a tortured soul, desperately trying to seek a way to survive while also worrying about the safety of his mother.

"Yeah you're right" Draco began slowly "I'm evil and you're right" he turned around and made his way towards his room.

"Wait" Hermione followed after him, frowning "Now you're just saying that to get me to shut up… What happened to you?".

Draco avoided her gaze and focused on the wall behind her, sighing deeply. Before he knew what she was doing, Hermione had managed to shove his sleeve up his arm, revealing the horrible mark of death etched with dark ink into his pale and now tainted skin.

Draco pulled away from her like he'd been burned, staring at her with a bit of shock and disgust. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he covered his mark over with his shirt, grimacing.

"Malfoy you're not one of them and you know it" Hermione cried "That mark makes you a killer, you're not a killer!".

"And how would you know what I am?" Draco barked "It's just the way things have to be!".

"That's pathetic" Hermione shook her head.

"Stay out of my life" Draco hissed harshly before going into his room and slamming the door behind him. Hermione let out a deep breath and held her mouth with her hand as a few stray tears fell from her eyes. How had this gotten so messed up?

She turned around and grabbed what books she needed off the table and stormed out of the portrait door, flying down the corridor as more tears fell from her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore and she'd only been there one freaking night. She knew where she wanted to go. The only place that might seem familiar. Hermione leapt round the corner and opened the big double mahogany doors, entering slowly.

She couldn't help but smile sadly to herself. This was the one place in the castle the Death Eaters clearly had no interest in. The smell of wood and old book pages of must filled the air and the sun shone in slightly from the curtains. The place had not changed in the slightest, apart from the fact when the librarian was nowhere to be seen. The restricted section was, like always, at the back, the rest of the shelves and alphabetically ordered books in their usual shelves. The tables hadn't even changed either, still in their same place in the middle of the room, the afternoon sunlight highlighting how dusty they actually were.

In the midst of all this chaos and danger, being in the library made her really feel at home and for once, not in constant peril. She walked towards the middle of the room and put down the books currently in her arms on one of the tables. Hermione smelled the air deeply, smiling as she walked over to the book shelves, feeling the spines of the book with her fingertips. She was finally home in a sea of danger. When Hermione had decided on a classic favourite, she pulled it out and walked back to the table, setting it down. She sat down and opened it up to start reading.

Just when she'd started reading a few lines, footsteps could be heard and Hermione's head snapped up to the chilling noise of Alecto Carrow's long thin heels that echoed when she walked. Were they headed into the library? Hermione jumped up, grabbed all the books from the table, shoved the chair back in and ran to the restricted section, hiding by the very back shelf. Just then, Hermione's eyes through the gaps of the shelf could see a very angry Snape pushing a pissed off Alecto into the library, both obviously looking for somewhere private to talk.

Hermione's heart started beating so fast she feared it might burst out of her chest. What if she were found? There'd kill her on the spot, wouldn't they? Or torture her? She focused on the two Death Eaters in front of her again and tried to listen to what they were hissing angrily at each other.

"Those disgusting kids need to be punished!" Alecto slammed her fist against the table in anger.

"We do not know who the perpetrator is" Snape said smoothly back "When I do find out, they will be punished, by me".

"We should just torture all of them into confessing" Alecto's eyes evils lit up "Or maybe even kill one of them…".

"Enough!" Snape barked "There will be no killing unless it is ordered from the Dark Lord. Don't waste your time on stupid insolent children, you should be focusing on the coming battle. Potter may be on the run but not for long. He'll come running if he thinks all his precious friends are being tortured under his name".

"I'd love to torture that filthy mudblood" Alecto barked evilly, smiling as though she was imagining it. Hermione winced when she heard this and tried to keep her uncontrollable breathing silent.

"Oh, how you do know how to charm someone, Alecto" Snape drawled boredly. "We both have better things to be getting on with, don't you agree?" he added slowly, gesturing towards the library door.

Alecto glared but finally walked out of the library, followed by Snape. As soon as they were gone, Hermione collapsed against the bookcase, letting out a deep breath. She had to find out who was going to be punished for what so she jumped up, shoved her favourite book back into place and grabbed her own books she'd brought for later classes before rushing to the library door. She peeked outside, making sure no one was there before she walked speedily towards the Great Hall, intending to search for Neville, Ginny or Luna to find out what the hell was going on.

But, she didn't need to. For before the wall before the Great Hall, was clear red writing scribbled on the wall. It read; 'Dumbledore's Army: Still Recruiting'. Hermione's stomach plummeted into her gut and her books slipped out of her hands and fell the ground. She stumbled down to pick up the books she'd dropped, looking back up to wall.

Oh my god, was all she could think, Who'd be so stupid as to do that? Did they want to get themselves killed? She walked into the Great Hall and checked to see if Neville, Ginny or Luna were there but they weren't so she decided to head back to the weird safety of the Head's quarters before she got attacked by Alecto Carrow and her twisted beliefs.

oOo

Draco was sitting in one of the chairs in the Head's common room, with a newspaper in his hands when Hermione burst in. She slammed the portrait door behind her and dropped her books on the chair, breathing deeply. Draco folded the newspaper over and sat up properly, looking over to Hermione. "What is it?" he stood quickly and walked over to her.

"Someone vandalized the walls with the slogan 'Dumbledore's Army: Still Recruiting'" Hermione said, breathless, "Oh my god, I bet she's going to come after me…" Hermione gripped her stomach in pain and walked into the kitchen.

"Let me guess, it was your little freedom fighters wasn't it?" Draco rubbed his face tiredly "As if this is all I need right now!".

"All you need?" Hermione hissed angrily "Hello! Are you the mudblood here? Didn't think so! Oh god, I may as well be wearing a sign that says 'Mudblood here! Kill now!' I have to go warn…" she trailed off as she headed for the door again, but Draco suddenly stepped in front of it.

"I don't think that's a good idea" Draco said quietly "If Alecto can find you alone, she'll take whatever opportunity she can get. You're safest here. I'll alert McGonagall".

"Why?" Hermione frowned "Why the hell would you do that?".

"Do you really think another massacre is what everybody needs right now?" Draco asked seriously "Whether I'm on your side or not, I am in no mood to be washing blood off my hands, again".

"Finally feeling guilty you let a noble innocent man die?" Hermione snapped, her blue eyes turning dark.

"I didn't have a choice" Draco grated out "He was threatening my mother, what was I supposed to do?".

"Stand up and fight!" Hermione screamed "That's what you do in the face of adversary! You stand up and fight!".

"I'm tired of fighting" Draco whispered, his angry demeanour falling "…I'm so tired of fighting, Hermione".

Hermione seemed a taken back, looking up at Draco with a different kind of apprehension. He called her Hermione? He actually let her win a fight? Wow, maybe he really was tired of everything. Hermione walked over to the couch and slumped down on it, sighing.

"Which side will win?" Hermione asked suddenly, looking over to him. "Truthfully, which side do you think will win?".

And as soon as Hermione had seen a tiny shred of humanity in Draco's eyes, it was suddenly gone, glazed over with arrogance and self-respect. "Whichever side has me, of course" he spun around and opened the door, slamming it behind him as he left.

"Yeah?" Hermione whispered, "And what side is that?" she let out another deep sigh and moved so that she was lying down on the couch, with her head in her hands. This was going to be a long day.

oOo

Hermione was too busy pacing the kitchen, frowning. She'd let it brush past her but now she had remembered something that was slightly confusing if not revolting… Professor McGonagall had told her to rely on Draco Malfoy if she needed it… Was that a hint? Was she going to need help sometime soon?

There was a sudden knock on the portrait door and Hermione moved towards it. As she opened it she hoped to see the red hair of Ginny Weasley but instead, her stomach achingly pained when she saw Alecto Carrow, looking even more sinister than usual.

"Mudblood, you have an appointment with Death" Alecto sneered. She reached out and grabbed Hermione's wrist, yanking her out of the safety of the Head's Dorm.

"What?" Hermione gasped, trying to keep up with Alecto's tight grasp on her, "What are you talking about?".

"I know you and your little stupid friends wrote that filth on the wall!" Alecto screeched "And you're going to pay for it!".

"I swear I didn't do it!" Hermione struggled as Alecto dragged her down into the dungeons, past the potion classes and into the small basement.

"Liar!" Alecto screamed as she shoved Hermione onto the basement floor, next to Ginny, Luna and Neville.

"I'm so sorry Hermione" Neville muttered to her.

"Silence!" Alecto slammed the door over "You stupid filthy idiots!" she shrieked with a new madness born in her eye "You don't deserve the importance of magic! None of you!" she looked over to Hermione "Especially you, you twisted bitch!" she leaned forwards and slapped Hermione across the face.

Hermione gasped and grabbed her cheek in agony, seeing her lip begin to bleed.

"I swear she didn't do anything!" Neville cried desperately "She didn't do anything! It was all me-".

As Alecto began another round of loud insults, Hermione secretly glanced over to Neville and winced at his bent and bloody nose; it must be broken. Luna was huddled over, trembling on the floor, clutching her hand to her chest in pain and Ginny looked relatively unharmed with just a cut on her cheek.

"I know you're lying you snivelling twit of a wizard!" Alecto hissed at Neville "Now we will not be leaving until all of you admit you're involvement!" she walked towards Luna and grabbed her hair, yanking her upwards.

Hermione winced as Luna groaned in pain, finding it difficult to hold her hand and clasp her head at the same time.

"Admit it!" Alecto screamed in Luna's ear. She yanked Luna's head and smashed it against the wall, effectively knocking her out as Luna's body slumped to the floor.

"Luna!" Hermione instinctively jumped up and rushed to Luna but Alecto caught her first and held her wand to Hermione's neck, laughing slightly.

"I'll never breath a word to you" Hermione hissed out with hatred "So you might as well just kill me!".

"Oh Mudblood" Alecto licked her lips "Do you really think death is the worst I can do to you? Foolish girl" she aimed her wand at Hermione and suddenly Hermione's body flew across the room and slammed into the wall, full-force. Hermione struggled to sit up, clutching her shoulder, pain soaring up and down her body. Her tears already coming out before she could stop them.

"I'm going to show you can't ever escape your doomed fate, Mudblood" Alecto stepped towards her. She started towards Hermione and point her wand at her again "Crucio" Alecto hissed and without warning Hermione screamed so soul-crushingly high that Ginny began to sob when she saw her best friend begin to struggle on the floor, caught in the height of the unbearable pain.

"Stop it!" Neville cried, "Stop it! Stop it!".

"Don't you dare tell me what to do you-" Alecto turned around, advancing on Neville. At this precise moment, the door swung open and Snape strolled in, looking from left to right.

"Carrow, what is the meaning of this?" Snape barked, looking over to Hermione, who was struggling to sit up.

"I was demonstrating what happens when students break the rules" Alecto replied.

"Well no matter" Snape replied "I've already dealt the with culprit" he looked to Neville "Take Lovegood to Madam Pomfrey immediately".

Neville got up slowly and walked over to Luna. He bent down and picked her up, cautiously walking past Alecto and Carrow out of the basement. Ginny got up and slowly walked over to Hermione, helping her up.

"Does the Dark Lord know of this?" Alecto narrowed her eyes, "What's wrong, Snape? Going soft?".

"Hardly" Snape raised his eyebrow "But the mudblood is part of our plan and you killing her would have upset the Dark Lord very much. News of the torture will surely spread to Potter but he will not come here if knows Granger is dead. Her death will unfortunately empower him to go above our heads to find and destroy the Dark Lord himself. Anything else you'd like to enquire about?".

"No" Alecto looked with disgust over to Hermione and Ginny and turned and stormed out of the basement past Snape.

As soon as Alecto was gone, Snape took a step forwards "I advise a trip to Madam Pomfrey".

"You murdering son of a bitch" Hermione hissed out, struggling to hold herself up.

"Hermione!" Ginny whispered weakly "Don't!".

"Granger" Snape began slowly, almost unsure of how to word it "When all of this is over I can assure you it will all make sense".

"When all of this is over" Hermione struggled forwards "I'm going to spit on your grave" she glared at him and walked past him, limping out of the basement.

Ginny looked up at Snape with fear and rushed past him, going to join Hermione. Snape watched them walk away, taking a deep breath. It was this hard already, and it hadn't even begun.