Disclaimer: Yes, it's a new day. Yes, it is springtime, and yes, change is in the air. However, some things will not change, ever, like the fact that I still don't, and never shall, own Harry Potter.

Chapter 2: Don't Touch

Hermione clung to Ron as they flew away from the manor, sobbing quietly into his shirt. Her thoughts were jumbled and contorted; she didn't even know what she was crying for. Was it for Malfoy? She didn't know he was in trouble. Was it the memory of her torture? Was it the loss of the sword, the hopelessness of the task ahead of them? Maybe it was all three, together, mingling. It didn't really matter, she simply cried, tears disappearing into the fabric of Ron's shirt.

Harry flew in front of them, a look of grave determination plastered across his face. Hermione knew that the past months had been a strain to him, though he refused to show it. They had been a strain to all three of them. Hermione felt taxed, mentally, emotionally, and physically. She almost felt hollow now, as if she had nothing more to give to anyone. It just didn't seem fair – they were only seventeen! Their biggest worries should be who-has-a-crush-on-who, and test scores, and all that... not the rise of Lord Voldemort!

She was brought out of her thoughts by a yelp. Before she could even look up to see what was the matter, Ron had pushed their broom into a steep dive and, with a jolt, grabbed a falling Harry by the arm. The broom, which wobbled dangerously supporting the weight of all three of them, began to sink to the ground.

"What happened?" Ron grunted, trying to improve his grip on his friend's arm.

"I don't know, it was like I hit a wall or something!" They all looked down at Harry's broom, which lay mangled, handle shattered, across one of the hedges that lined the inside of the fences around the estate. The three of them passed around a look of concern. "Did Malfoy forget to tell us something?" Harry asked.

Their broom continued to sink lower, closer and closer to the earth. "Can't you steer us down quicker?" Harry asked. "We aren't exactly hidden here... they might find us."

"Sorry," grunted Ron, "My hands are tied up, and I don't think I could land safely. 'Specially with all three of us weighing the broom down." He smiled grimly. So they all waited as they drifted downward.

Finally they touched ground, close to the edge of the estate. They ran up to one of the tall hedges. "Hey, Ron, let me see that broom." Harry said. He mounted and took off, flying up above the hedge and fence, and reached out. His hand met something solid, an invisible wall between them and escape. For a moment the three were silent. Harry slammed a fist into the barrier in despair.

"What'll we do?" Hermione whispered. The front gate was probably guarded. They couldn't disapperate; they had no wands. "I don't suppose we could get under the fence?" She asked miserably.

"No... this looks like in continues underground." Harry replied darkly. "Besides, we can't exactly dig a tunnel without magic."

They all looked at each other. It was only a matter of time before they were caught.

"Oi! Over here!"

"Was that... Malfoy?" Harry asked, disbelievingly. They looked around, seeing no one. Hermione saw something pale dart behind an intricately carved statue. She ran up to it, but no one was there.

"Come on! This way!" Once again, she saw something ahead, a tall figure next to the hedges. She began running toward it, with Harry and Ron at her heels. However, when she got there, she couldn't see anyone. She looked around, confused. "Get into the hedges!" Hermione crouched, and, sure enough, she saw Malfoy's very irritated face leering at her.

Harry and Ron were already climbing into the shrubs. Hermione followed, avoiding snags and thorns. They found themselves in something of a crawl space, between the trunks of the hedges and the fence. "Hurry! This way!" Malfoy called from ahead. They began working their way toward his voice, hoping that he had a good plan to get them out.

"I thought – I thought you were a goner! What happened in there?" Ron asked quietly.

"Shh!" Malfoy hissed. "Stories later!" His voice was rough and forced.

They crawled in silence for a while, until they heard Malfoy, outside the hedge. "Stop here. The gate's just ahead." he whispered horsely. "They've got Fenrir Greyback in front. You stay here. I'll get him to leave." Then he was gone again.

None of them dared to talk. For what seemed like forever, but probably wasn't even a full minute, they crouched in the dirt, knowing that the the bloodthirsty Greyback was nearby. If Hermione closed her eyes, she could almost hear his heavy breathing. "Reckon she'll let me have a bit of the girl when she's finished with her? I'd say I'll get a bite or two, wouldn't you, ginger?" The memory made her cringe.

Finally they all heard a shout from across the estate. "They're over here! I've found Potter and the others!" Hermione knew it was Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, but he sounded eerily like his father.

After a few seconds, they heard Malfoy, much softer, say, "Draco Malfoy, leaving the estate." With a creak, the gates swung open. "Go. I'll join you in a while." He whispered through the hedges.

"But where do we go?" Harry asked. No answer.

They all crawled out of the hedges and looked around, but Malfoy was gone. "That was strange-" Ron began, but he was cut off by Harry.

"Talk later!" he whispered, grabbing Ron's arm and pulling him toward the gate, which was starting to close. The three of them sprinted, slipping through the wrought iron doors before they slammed shut. Without stopping, they ran along the fence, turned a corner, and ducked down to the ground, hidden from view by the fence and hedges. Safe for now.

Breathing heavily, Hermione looked out at the countryside. The land was a thin shade of green, spring beginning to edge in. It was empty, and a little hilly. Some farmland, some shrubs. Nowhere, really, to hide. "We have to get moving," she said softly. "We need to be far away before they realize we got off the estate."

"But what about Malfoy?" Harry asked. "He said he'd meet us out here, and he needs to clear a few things up." he hit the ground in emphasis. Glancing at Hermione's bag, he added, "And we need to talk about the sword."

"But Harry-" she stopped abruptly when she heard voices from the other side of the fence.

"Look, broomsticks!"

"That one's in pretty rough shape. Hit the shield spell, I imagine."

"Think it's Potter?"

"Of course.

"But there are only two brooms here! We've got seven missing prisoners. Or are some of them still in the manor?" Hermione listened as they debated, growing more and more anxious, even though the two Death Eaters didn't seem close to finding them.

"What are you guys doing? Why are you still here?" Malfoy hissed, rounding the corner of the fence, adjusting his light grey robe around his shoulders.

"Malfoy!" Harry called out, reaching to grab his shoulder. "How did you get out? I didn't hear the gate open."

Malfoy took a large step away from Harry, dodging the hand, brushing his robe again. "Oh. I just flew over... My broom's over there." He pointed to a place around the corner.

"How? We couldn't... there was some kind of charm up. Wasn't there?"

Malfoy looked confused. "A charm?" He asked, biting his lip.

"Yeah, some sort of shield charm."

"Well..." Malfoy started hesitantly, "I'm a Malfoy... maybe it didn't block me because of that. You know. Resident of the manor." He seemed uncertain, but left it at that.

"You're coming with us?" Hemione asked.

Malfoy nodded, looking down. "I don't want to intrude - really, I'm not just being polite, I don't -" he scowled. "But I really have no choice right now. I can't..." He trailed off, slumping. "I was planning on joining you for a while."

"You're wearing odd clothing for this sort of thing." Hermione commented, examining his robes. He was dressed in white and grey, his pale robes covering his pure white shirt and light trousers. "Aren't dark colors better?"

"I didn't give it much thought, I just needed something warmer," he rapidly explained, before continuing, "We have to get out of here. Why haven't you guys disapparated? Eavesdropping?" he scowled, pointing a thumb in the direction of the arguing Death Eaters behind the fence. "You need to get going. Those idiots don't know anything. Don't waste your time."

"Can't disapperate. We don't have wands." Ron said.

Malfoy cursed. "They don't have wands. Idiot. But what..." he mumbled to himself. "Well..." He glanced around, nervously tapping his finger on his leg. He paused, considering. "Follow me." he suddenly ordered, turning around and running, not even pausing to make he was being followed. Hermione stumbled to her feet and ran after him, behind Harry and Ron.

"We need to get to the back." Malfoy explained shortly while they panted.

They ran along the fence, which continued to stretch out ahead of them, ludicrously long. "How big is the blasted Manor?" Ron gasped. He wasn't answered.

Finally they rounded the corner. Hermione stumbled to a stop, breathing heavily.

Behind the estate, thin trees dotted the gentle hills. Malfoy waited as the others caught up, before taking off into the trees.

Hermione followed, glancing back at the manor. She could just barely see the roof over the fence. She bit her lip, turned, and ran like mad. She watched Malfoy, Ron, and Harry in front of her, paying only enough attention to her feet to avoid tripping.

The trees grew thicker and thicker around them.

Nothing was said. They were, all four of them, gravely silent, save for their labored breaths.

Finally Hermione stopped, gasping. "I – I think..." she panted, "That we're far – far enough away for now." she doubled over, trying to catch her breath.

When she looked up, Harry and Ron had stopped just ahead. They, too, were out of breath. She couldn't see Malfoy anywhere.

"Where are we?" gasped Harry. "Is it anywhere near Tinworth?"

"I don't – don't know." Hermione added quietly. "We could be in southern Cornwall, I guess. That's pretty close..." But she wasn't convinced. They could be in Cornwall. Or Shropshire, or New Forest, or France... she didn't know.

They sat in silence for a while, catching their breaths. Time passed, maybe ten minutes, maybe half an hour. Soon they were breathing normally again. Despite the strenuous run, Hermione didn't feel tired in the slightest. She couldn't help but feel thrilled at their escape. She smiled fondly at her two friends. They had made it. They were safe. But Malfoy was still missing... She bit her lip, worry crossing her mind.

"Where's Malfoy?" She finally asked.

"I don't know." Harry said slowly, looking around. "I know he stopped with us, but..." He trailed off. "I don't know." he finished, shaking his head.

Hermione jumped to her feet lightly, feeling energized by her reclaimed freedom. "I'll go look for him." She suddenly felt positively giddy. They were free! She lightly took a few steps into the trees. "Hey, Malfoy! Malfoy?"

No answer. She walked a bit further in no particular direction, listening. Nothing, just the creaking of trees and the light breathing of her two friends behind her. "Malfoy?" she called again. She stopped about fifty feet away from where Harry and Ron where resting, and began to circle them, calling out every now and then, "Malfoy? Hello?"

After she had worked her way a bit deeper into the forest, she heard a noise drifting through the air. It was a good distance away; at first she couldn't even tell what it was. She only knew that it wasn't the trees. She walked toward it, slowing her pace. "Malfoy?" She called softly.

As the noise grew, she could tell it was breathing. Heavy, rapid, wet breathing. Animal. It was the dizzying breathing of a terrified animal.

Then she heard a sob.

She quickened her pace, starting to jog.

The first thing she saw was his face. He was pale. He was always pale, she supposed, but it was nothing compared to now, his face practically white, his lips squeezed into a tight line, the only color being the washed-out red around his eyes.

He was leaning against a rock, knees pulled up to his chest, rocking forward and back with every deep, rattling breath. He stopped rocking to run his hand through his disheveled hair, over and over, gasping at the air, before pulling into himself again, rocking, lurching, back and forth, back and forth...

"Malfoy!" she cried, running up next to him, crouching down. "What's wrong – are you hurt?" She reached a hand to his shoulder. "Tell-"

"Get away!" he roared, scrambling from her, leaping to his feet. He stood for a moment, looking back at her, panic in his eyes, chest heaving. His light hair was sticking in all directions, wild. When he spoke again his voice was rough, but very quiet. "Don't – don't touch me."

Neither moved. Hermione gazed at him, afraid and confused. "Why? What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "Later," he grunted. He turned away.

"Harry and Ron and I were – were worried. Um, could you come back to-?" She looked at him pleadingly. "Please... we're all scared, and-"

"I'll be there in a while." he said, flat and dull sounding. He wasn't looking at her, concentrating on the mud beneath his feet.

"Okay." She tuned and began to walk away. After a few steps, she began to jog. Finally she broke into a run, moving back to where Harry and Ron sat, calm and welcoming.

She sat down beside them wordlessly.

"Hermione! Did you find him?" Ron asked, nudging her shoulder. She flinched at his touch.

"Yeah. He said he'd be back in a little while." she said, leaning back and sighing. Ron and Harry gave her questioning looks.

"Um, are you okay?" Harry asked. "Did anything happen?"

"Did that rat say something to you?" Ron growled, grabbing her arm and forcing her to face him. "If he did, you tell me, and I will-"

"No, no... just tired." she sighed, pulling herself away from Ron, reclining against a tree. "Just tired. I think we all are." Her friends nodded and backed off, though they did not seem convinced. Not by a long shot.

After a long silence, Malfoy walked through the trees. He looked better. He had some color to his cheeks now, and he had tried to smooth his hair.

Ron glared at him suspiciously. "There you are!" Harry called elbowing Ron in the gut. "You have some questions to answer. Now."

Malfoy sniffed. Now that he was a bit closer, Hermione could see the traces of red that still circled his eyes. He obviously wasn't fully composed yet: it bled into his voice as he snapped, "I just saved your sorry skins, and you feel the need to make demands of me?" He gave a half-hearted sneer. "I guess I won't bother in the future, seeing how appreciative you all are."

Harry frowned. "You said you'd explain, earlier. I mean, where were you after you opened the gate? What happened after we flew out of the manor? Why did you have Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder? Why on earth did you want to help us in the first place?"

"I..." he started, looking around.

"Answer, Malfoy." Ron said, crossing his arms.

He scowled. "I owe you no explanations."

Harry said, simply, "If we're going to trust one another, we'd better be able to talk to each other. We shouldn't have to keep things secret."

Malfoy chuckled. "Yeah. Right. No secrets. That's a laugh. If you want to be so open, tell me... how'd you get that sword?"

"Crucio! I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? Where?" Hermione cringed as Bellatrix's voice echoed through her mind. She felt that aching again, spreading through her body.

"See! Not so quick to be all 'open' now, are we?" sneered Malfoy, misinterpreting Hermione's reaction. "Look, you keep your secrets, I'll keep mine."

"We found the sword. It was sitting in a pool in the forest... a frozen pool." He paused, glancing at Malfoy, who gazed back, eyes narrowed, face full of doubt. Harry continued, "A deer led me to it." He ignored a rueful laugh from Malfoy. "Except it wasn't like a deer at all, really. It was silver, beautiful. A silver doe."

Malfoy didn't seem convinced.

Harry sighed in exasperation. "You don't have to believe me, but that is the truth. Now, can you explain yourself a little?"

Malfoy scowled. "No." He glared at each of the three Gryffindors in turn, meeting their expectant gazes. Nobody spoke. Finally he sighed. "Just no. I-"

Ron went livid. "What could be wrong?" he shouted. "You hiding something? I bet you're still working for You-Know-Who, aren't you?"

Malfoy paled. "No! I-"

"Then explain yourself! It can't be that serious, and we can't really trust you otherwise!"

Malfoy's gaze flew from Ron's to Harry's to Hermione's, and back again. They stayed silent. He took a step backward. Finally he broke away from their glares, looking at the ground in defeat. "Fine," he sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Fine. Here it goes."