A/N: Hey guys! Thanks again for all of the awesome and positive reviews I really loved them! - Sorry I haven't updated in a few days I had a wedding to go to. . . it was amazing my friends are so happy and it was great to see, even though it was 15 hours long and my feet are killing me from wearing heels all day. . . but it was worth it.

I am planning on updating this and then taking a nap, and then maybe updating one of my other fics. This one seems to be getting the most praise so I'm putting this one on my priority list.

This chapter contains some things that may people find inappropriate, I am giving my warning now. I want you to know that I think there is never a scenario when some one should end there life, and I believe that no matter what happens we should continue to fight because just when you aren't expecting it something amazing will happen, and you will realize that hanging on was the best decision you ever made.

Enjoy!

Chapter Nine

From the Banister

Hermione sat back up in Draco's bed that evening, the piece of parchment held tightly in her clammy fingers. She felt excited at the idea of having Harry back. She had been so long without him that she almost couldn't remember what he looked like anymore. The sound of his voice seemed so distant to her, and she wasn't sure that she could remember how to brew a perfect potion, especially not one of this complexity.

The sounds of Ron's screams echoed in her mind, making her wince. She wondered when he had died. Her time in the prison seemed to amalgamate into one large blur, making her memory cloudy. She found herself beginning to understand the idea of him being dead, and it was finally starting to hit her. She found herself staring blankly at the fire, missing him terribly, a single tear rolling down her elegant cheek.

She rolled back her sleeve and stared at the dark mark burned into her skin, and felt an angry hatred. She wondered what would become of her if she had not mastered occulmacy before the great battle. That was how Voldemort summoned his followers, through mind control and dark magic, and without being able to enter into her mind, he couldn't summon her. She felt comforted at this thought, and even though the marking tingled softly, she did not fall victim to its spell.

Three years ago she never would have guessed that it would be Draco Malfoy who saved her life. But then, who could have broken in and out of the prison so easily if not the third in command? He had been gone some time now and she was beginning to wonder if maybe Pansy had ratted on him. The thought of Draco Malfoy being killed did not faze her to say the least, but the idea of being left alone with three Death Eaters in Malfoy Manor however, did. She found herself wondering where she would go if he didn't come back, and didn't have any thoughts. Maybe she would go try to find the rebel camp in the Dark Forest.

Suddenly, there was a loud crashing sound as Draco came barging into the room. This made her jump slightly, and snapped her violently out of her thoughts. She watched him as he pulled his black hood off from over his head, many rings on his fingers. He stumbled towards the door to his bathroom. He entered it without a word, and slammed the door shut behind him. Hermione saw a bloody handprint where his fingers had grasped the wooden frame, and a moment later a loud coughing sound could be heard coming from the other side of its oak surface. She wondered what had happened, if he had been found out.

It sounded as though he was vomiting and gasping for air on the other side, and it made her feel sick to her stomach as well. She took a deep breath, not believing what she was doing. She dragged herself from beneath the cotton sheets and walked weakly over to the bathroom door, pausing with her hand ready to knock. She could hear him gasping for breath and running the water.

She knocked softly.

There was no answer.

She knocked once more, this time a little harder.

"Malfoy?" She asked softly, pressing her ear to the door. It sounded as though he was spitting in the sink. She wondered just what it was that he had been asked to do.

There was silence for what seemed like a long time, and then the door opened softly. Draco stood there staring at her, his cold grey eyes piercing into hers making her knees feel weak. His skin was paler then she had ever seen before, and his hands were shaking slightly. He seemed to be trying to hide the fact, because he was looking at her in both a questioning and a menacing stare. She took a deep breath, feeling slightly frightened.

He didn't say anything, he just looked at her.

Hermione swallowed profusely, trying her best not to just retaliate back to the comforts of his bed. He continued staring at her.

"Are you alright?"

She found herself wondering why she would ask him that, and felt as though the appropriate action to take would be to bang her head against the door frame violently. He looked away from her, caressing his hair with his slender fingertips and supporting himself against the wall. Then he looked at her once more.

"Cho is dead."

Hermione stared back at him for a moment, confused. She could not bring herself to remember exactly who this person was, and was racking her brains trying to remember. Then she saw the image of a girls face in her head, and remembered her.

"I killed her." He said quietly, looking away once again. Hermione thought for a moment she saw the glitter in his eyes from tears, but chose to ignore this. She found herself feeling incredibly sorry for him, when really she should have been feeling angry. She couldn't believe she was even speaking to him in a civilized manner at all. He sniffed softly, his eyes looking as though they were staring right through the world, and his mind was in another place.

She stepped out of his way and he walked slowly over to the bed, collapsing onto it in a wave of black robes, and burying his face in his hands. She watched him as he sniffed softly, rubbing his hair and his eyes, which were red and raw. She didn't ask him why he had killed her, that was obvious. She did not ask what Cho had been doing there, she knew the answer to that too. She hated to admit, the word of Cho being killed made her slightly comforted, just for the fact that if Cho had been alive, maybe some of her other friends were alive too.

"I haven't had a chance to go look for that book yet." Draco hissed, face still buried in his white hands. "I think that we should go to bed, it's late. I'm sure you're exhausted, I know that I am. I will sleep in one of the guest bedrooms down the hall if you like. If you need anything to eat or drink, just call one of the house elves, they will come to you."

Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but he was already standing and leaving the room. As he reached the doorway he turned back to her momentarily, his silver eyes fixied on hers and making her shiver. He looked gentle at the moment, his eyes filled with a blank sort of compassion and pity. She wondered exactly what he must be feeling right now.

"My father has a collection of wands down in his study." Said Draco quietly, once again supporting himself against the wall and grunting slightly in pain as he did. "I am going to have a look tomorrow and see if I can find yours."

"My wand was a-"

"I know what your wand was Granger." He said coolly, still looking at her. "You had it pointed in my face enough times."

She forced a slight smile at this comment, as he turned and left the room without another word. She found herself standing there for a moment, hand clutching her wrist where it burned lightly. She found herself almost wishing that he had stayed with her, to protect her. For reasons unknown, she felt much more vulnerable here then she had in the prison. She took a deep breath, wiping away a tear from her cold cheek, and made her way back over to the bed. She ached all over, but it was a comforting sort of ache. She felt that the only thing keeping her going was the thought of bringing Harry back, of seeing his smile again. She missed him more then anything, and she missed Ron. The fire crackled softly beside her as she laid her head against the pillow, and tried to close her eyes.

She was just drifting off into a sleep, when a loud crashing sound filled the room. She sat up drowsily, rubbing her eyes and looking around the room for the source of the noise. She couldn't see anything. Then another bang sounded once more, making her jump. It sounded as though it was coming from the room next door. She stood from the bed and made her way over to her door, opening it and sneaking out into the hallway. It was dark, but the torches still burned dimly, illuminating her path. She walked towards the door just down the hall, it was pulled open very slightly.

She stopped and listened.

"Pansy! I told you before, she is here because I god damn need her!"

"Tell me what she is here for Draco, because I know that she isn't supposed to be!"

"I told you already, that is none of your god damn business! Just leave me alone alright, I've had a long night and the last thing I need is you hounding me right now!'"

"Is it true? Did the Dark Lord really find rebels in the Dark Forest?"

"Yes, a lot of them. I could see fear in his eyes when he spoke of it."

"Do you think there is a chance of anything happening?"

"I doubt it, he has become much to strong for that. They would have to have an entire army together, and who knows what else."

"And what does Granger have to do with all of this?"

"Pansy, that is none of your concern! Now, get out before I make you!"

Hermione heard a whimpering sound, and footsteps towards the door she was standing at. She stepped back and jumped behind a sculpture of a dragon, just as the door swung open violently and a very flustered Pansy made her way out into the corridor.

"You aren't even going to ask me to join you in your bed?" She asked cheekily, as Draco took the door to close it behind her.

He sighed.

"I'm tired, I'm sore, and I'm bloody flustered." He said, as though forcing himself to be collected and calm. "I am in no mood for your company. Goodnight Pansy."

Then the door slammed closed. Hermione heard Pansy let out a soft whimper, and watched the girl's dark figure press her forehead against the door softly where Draco had himself quarantined. Hermione thought she looked extremely hurt and frustrated. Pansy continued to rest her head against the door, letting her eyes fall closed and taking a deep breath. Then she raised her hand to knock once more, hesitating at the last second. Then she turned away from the door and left down the hallway.

Hermione found herself almost pitying the girl. She wondered how someone could be so in love with someone who obviously didn't return the favor. She thought that it must be a difficult thing, being in love with someone who didn't love you back. She had never had that problem, Ron had always cared for her, even though he had an odd way of showing it.

She waited until Pansy was for sure gone, and then approached Draco's door. She was not sure what had inspired her to do so, but she did it all the same. She lifted her hand and knocked very softly.

A muffled voice came from inside, as though his face was buried in a pillow.

"I told you Pansy, not tonight."

Hermione cleared her throat, letting him know that it wasn't Pansy. She took the door knob in her hand and turned it quietly, entering the room where he was now sleeping. It was almost identical to Draco's room, but the furniture was reversed and the bathroom was on the other side. Draco was laying face first on the bed, clothing still on. He raised his head to look at her when she entered.

"Granger?" He asked her, more confused then cold. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep." She said softly, making her way over and standing over his bed, hands grasped to her arms as she shivered uncontrollably. "Then I heard yelling, I wanted to see what was going on."

Draco buried his face back into his pillow, letting out a low sigh.

"Pansy and I are always like that." He droned. "I am forced to have her as yet another burden, as my father insists that she stay here."

Hermione watched the back of his head quietly, wondering what was going through his head.

"Well, sorry to bother you then." She said quietly, turning to leave the room. She heard the sounds of him getting up from where he was, and turning to her.

"Granger." He said softly, clearing his throat as though he was uncomfortable. "You can. . . you know, I wouldn't if you stayed for awhile."

She found herself smirking at these words, as she turned to look at him. He forced her a slight smile, patting the bed beside him and motioning her over. He seemed to sense that she was lonely. She walked over without hesitation and sat down next to him, watching him carefully.

"Tomorrow I will find that book." He said to her, still looking at her with those icy silver pools he had for eyes. "And I will find your wand. It must be down there somewhere, the Dark Lord never throws them away."

Hermione watched him for a moment, wondering what had happened to make him become so brave. Was it the fact that his mother was gone and now he had nothing stopping him from fighting back?

"So," Draco said, staring at his hands nervously. "Are you going to tell me about that?"

Hermione followed his gaze as he nodded towards her wrist. She gasped softly, her eyes falling on the skull marking of the Death Eater. She looked away, feeling her face beginning to burn.

She opened her mouth to respond.

"I-"

"MASTER! MASTER MALFOY!"

Draco snapped his gaze away from hers, standing quickly and running towards the door exiting the bed room. Hermione stood also, following him outside and into the corridor. The yells had sounded as though they were coming from a house elf.

Draco looked around for the source of the sound, though neither of them could see anything.

"MASTER MALFOY COME QUICKLY!"

Hermione knew it must be important for a house elf to be shouting at this hour of the night. Draco turned and began towards the entrance hall, Hermione close at tow. She found herself struggling to keep up slightly, being sore all over. There was a loud commotion coming from the hall downstairs, as she looked over the banister. Dozens of house elves were all whispering quietly among one another, staring and pointing at one spot in particular. She followed their gaze and felt her heart stop.

A long tangled rope had been tied around the very tallest of banister railings, falling tightly towards the hard marble floor. Underneath it, feet dangling just inches from the security of solid ground, Pansy hung dead, the rope tied securely around her throat. Hermione gasped, eyes wandering over the girl as she hung there lifeless, eyes rolled back in her head, arms limp at her sides. She was swaying slightly, her long black hair cascaded over her face from the struggle.

A/N: As I said already, a little bit out there. Any how, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and reviews would just be awesome!