Author's Note: Thanks for the response to this story, everyone! I know not many people reviewed the first chapter (only one as of this post) but I don't blame you, there wasn't much to review, was there? Lots of people put it on their alert list, though, so thanks! Btw, this will not be a full-length fic, I think there will be five chapters, the way I have it split up...anyway, here is the second one, a little earlier than I planned on posting it, but the first chapter was so short, I felt the need to add more. Expect the next chapter up tomorrow!

"What should we do with the mudblood? The Dark Lord will be here any minute, and the other brats got away…"

Hermione's head was spinning. Was that Lucius Malfoy speaking?

"Throw her in the cellar. We will speak to the Dark Lord and offer her up at the most opportune moment."

Bellatrix. Hermione felt her heart seize up in fear at the sound, and the events of the past half hour came rushing back to her. She was in Malfoy Manor. Harry, Ron, and the others had just escaped. Ron had been trying to Apparate with her, but something had gone wrong…something to do with Lucius Malfoy…

"Draco, take her down to the cellar."

She felt herself being levitated off the ground and drift out of the room. Then strong but trembling arms around her, carrying her down a set of dark stairs.

Voldemort was on his way. There was no time for her to be saved. She was about to die.

That…bothered her less than she thought it would. As she was placed onto her unsteady feet, she wondered if it was only because she was still out of it from being tortured by Bellatrix. Suddenly, she felt a flask being pushed against her lips.

"Granger, drink this."

Without hesitation she opened her mouth and drank the potion down. She found herself thinking that was a rather stupid thing to do, accept a drink from a known enemy, but she supposed she was about to die anyway so it didn't really matter…

As the potion coursed through her, she felt it warming her up, and also sharpening her senses. Her vision came back into focus. So did her thoughts.

Shit. She was about to die. OhMerlinwhatdoIdo.

She turned to look at Malfoy and was surprised to find that he was crying. She was surprised to find that she was apparently crying as well.

"Granger," he croaked out. "You've got to go. The Dark Lord will be here soon. He will kill you. Take this."

She felt a wand being forced into her hand and she gripped it tightly, more out of reflex than anything else. She looked at him blankly, stunned.

"He'll kill you."

Malfoy shrugged, although he looked terrified.

"I'll relax the wards for only a moment so you can Apparate out."

Her mind raced. "If you were with me, could we Apparate out without disturbing the wards?"

He looked at her confusedly, but nodded.

"Come with me," she said, without even thinking.

"I can't," he whispered.

They heard people stirring above them and both glanced up at the ceiling. She looked into his eyes and saw only fear. Knowing they had mere seconds left, she grabbed his wrist and turned on the spot.

The familiar sensation of being squeezed through a tiny tube was all she felt, and then air.

"Where-where are we?" she heard Malfoy stutter beside her.

"Forest of Dean. It's where me, Harry, and Ron were when we got captured," she replied absent-mindedly as she dug through her little beaded bag, searching for the Deluminator. It was her only hope of finding Harry and Ron again…

"Got it," she whispered triumphantly, pulling out the strange little instrument and staring at it intently.

Malfoy was white-faced and trembling beside her. "He's going to kill my parents."

Hermione felt pity wash over her, but there was little time for it. "Maybe," she said, trying not to sound indifferent. But she honestly couldn't garner much sympathy for them, at the moment. Then she heard it. The sound of her name coming out of the Deluminator. It sounded like Harry's voice. Relief washed over her and she clicked it, a ball of blue light rising out of it. Malfoy stared at it in wonder, and watched it with wide eyes as it traveled into Hermione's chest.

She turned to Malfoy.

"Do you want to come with me?"

He seemed surprised by her question.

"Do I have a choice?"

She smiled at him, a little sadly. "Of course. You could go back, make something up. Say I was faking my injuries and that I overpowered you, you were caught off-guard and I forced you to Apparate me away."

He stared at her for a few seconds, apparently thinking hard. She waited with bated breath, willing him to make a decision quickly. She wanted to get to Harry and Ron and make sure they were okay.

Malfoy grabbed her hand. "I'm coming with you."

She squeezed his hand reassuringly, letting him know she thought he was making the right choice, then turned on her heel, pulling him along with her.

Hermione was so tired. All she wanted to do was sleep. Harry and Ron had tackled her in a fierce hug on her appearance at Shell Cottage, both of them weeping freely out of relief and overwhelming exhaustion at the ordeal they had all just experienced. Then almost immediately they had turned their wands on Malfoy, demanding to know what he was doing there. Hermione had explained how he had saved her, and she had taken him with her during her escape. They had been shocked, dumbfounded, and utterly grateful. But still wary, always wary, always cautious. So they had tied him up, and Harry had dug a grave for Dobby.

She had been horrified to learn of the brave elf's death, and watched Harry dig the grave manually from the window, filled with sorrow and regret. Fleur had fretted over her, tending to her injuries, but all Hermione had wanted was to be alone. They held a funeral for Dobby, then she and Ron accompanied Harry as he questioned both Griphook and Mr. Ollivander. He explained to them about the Hallows, how Dumbledore had the Elder Wand. Then the three of them went into another room to talk to Malfoy.

Malfoy had wearily but willingly explained how he had been confined to the Manor and not been allowed to return to school. The dynamic between the trio and him had changed, although none of them were quite sure to what extent. Harry had been civil and Ron subdued during the interview. Malfoy gave them answers to every question they asked bluntly and without preamble. He said he just wanted the war to be over and for his family to be safe. He was scared that you-know-who was going to kill his parents, but he was grateful that Hermione had taken him with her. He did not know about any Death Eater plans; he was kept out of the loop because he was seen as incompetent since he was unable to kill Dumbledore the year before. He did not want to join a side. He would leave if they wanted him to.

He didn't say it, but Hermione knew, as Harry and Ron knew, that if he left, he would have nowhere to go.

They let him stay.