"You what?" I asked. I felt my knees shaking as I sat there.

Harry winced. "I left his body and when we went back it wasn't there. It's possible that the other Death Eaters moved his body before I got back, but I just don't know."

I squeezed Draco's hand and he rubbed his thumb back and forth across mine. "Okay."

"We'll just have to deal with things as they come I suppose."

Ginny smiled weakly. "Yeah, no reason to get all worked up over nothing right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, you're right." But in that moment I and everyone else knew I didn't mean it.

Two days later we were still attempting to clean everything up from the battle. Dozens from our side had died and many were still in the makeshift hospital we'd set up. Draco was up on his feet within hours of the news about his father, and with the all clear from Madame Pomfrey he was helping Harry and Ron clean things up. It broke my heart to see Ginny and Harry so happy while Ron was so devastated at the loss of Padma, but he was coping.

As we tried to recover I couldn't shake the feeling that something horrible was coming. Though I tried to push it as far off as I could the knowledge that Lucius Malfoy could be out there somewhere was making me crazy. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that Lucius Malfoy was still out there and I was certain that he would kill Draco for what he'd done if he had the chance. It scared me how attached I'd become to Draco in the little time we'd been with each other. I was falling hard and fast at the feet of a blonde haired, blue eyed former enemy turned warrior, and I was terrified of going on without him if anything should happen.

On the third day after the battle I was working in the hospital wing. One of the most tedious tasks of the aftermath was inventorying supplies to figure out what we needed more of in the hospital, naturally that task had fallen to me. I was undertaking the daunting task when Draco came in.

"I've had a letter."

The defeat in his voice immediately let me know what had happened. I sat down and wrapped my arms tight around my body. "And?"

"My father was sighted near Hogsmeade the day after the battle. It was very brief and he hasn't been seen since. Dumbledore assures me that there's little chance he can get in the castle, but with everything so torn up by the battle…" He trailed off.

I ran my hands through my hair shakily. "If there's any chance he could get in here you should get to safety," I said.

"I'm not going anywhere; I want to make sure nothing happens to you."

I shook my head. "Don't worry about me. Keep yourself safe. We haven't been together long enough for me to come before your own well being."

He reached out and brushed a hand against my cheek. "We both know that sometimes time doesn't matter. I feel like we've had this connection for months and you matter more than a lot of things in my life. You're in more danger than you know. I've gone against everything I was ever been taught and you're a big part of that because you're you, and you're with me."

I nodded. "Okay."

"I want you to stay safe, promise me that you'll be careful."

I nodded, shaken by both our strong feelings and by the realization that I was in so much danger. "I'll be careful, I promise. Madame Pomfrey shouldn't ever be too far away. You be careful too."

"I will. I have to go speak to Dumbledore but I'll be back later. Be safe." He kissed me softly before leaving. I got back to my inventory and tried not to worry, but only a few minutes after Draco's departure all of my worst fears were to be realized.

I smiled bemusedly as I counted tongue depressors, wondering why we even had them. I dropped one more in the pile then froze when an all too familiar voice chilled me to the bone and I dropped the rest of the depressors.

"Well, if it isn't the little Mudblood whore in league with my traitorous offspring. Are you afraid of me Mudblood? Of course you are I can smell the fear rolling off you in waves. You're a wise little Halfling, you should be afraid. Right now I'm your worst nightmare.

Torturously slowly, I reached for my wand on the table in front of me. Lucius was too busy monologing to notice me pick it up. I held it carefully and spun quickly. "Bombarda!"

The window behind Malfoy's head exploded, shattering glass and making a huge amount of noise. I tried to cast another spell but Lucius was too quick.

"Expelliarmus!" My wand flew out of my hand and suddenly I found myself completely and horrifyingly defenseless. "Nice try girl, but what purpose did that serve you?"

Honestly I had been hoping that the noise would attract someone's attention. He must have caught me looking towards the door.

"If you're looking for your precious mediwitch I've already taken care of her. She'll offer you no help."

I gasped and looked around frantically for some kind of weapon. When I couldn't see anything I did the only thing I could think of. I screamed at the top of my lungs, praying that Draco or someone else would hear me. "Help! Draco!"

Lucius was on me within a second. He backhanded me hard enough to send me sprawling. "You shouldn't have done that girl. Let's see how you handle this. Crucio!"

I fell to the floor as pain took over. I've never felt anything like it before in my life. The pain was like white hot fire coursing through my veins. Tears pouring down my face, I tried my best to stay strong, but it was too much. The pain overtook me and I screamed as Lucius laughed. Suddenly the pain stopped and I turned my head to vomit violently, fighting the urge to succumb to darkness.

"Still holding on are we?" He yanked me up by one arm and I kicked violently as he tossed me onto a nearby bed. "Very well, there are other ways to hurt someone. Ways that are more fun for me. Let's see if you're worth all my son's trouble, and see how he feels about me turning his precious little Mudblood into the whore she was meant to be."

He was suddenly practically on top of me and I realized his intentions. Fear overtook me and my survival instincts kicked in full force. He was bigger and stronger than me and it felt like my struggling was futile, but I kept it up. Then I screamed as long as I could. He slapped me hard across the face, cutting me off. I bucked violently and kicked hard. I whimpered as he ripped my tank top off and tossed it across the room. I tried to cover my bra clad chest with my arms but he wouldn't let me. His hands moved roughly over my breasts and down my body and I began to sob. I kicked out fiercely, connecting with anything I could. He didn't stop.

Feeling panicked, I screamed through the tears. "Draco, Harry, please!!!"

I kicked and screamed and fought, doing all that I could as I screamed for help. Lucius' hand came down on my neck, cutting off my cries and half strangling. I looked towards the door as I fought, praying someone would walk through. His hands held my hips in a vice like grip and he unsnapped my jeans and pulled them roughly off and tossed them away. I gave my all to another kick that connected with his chest, he hardly seemed to feel it. He hooked a finger into the side of my panties and I squeezed my eyes shut as I struggled against him with all my might, sobbing.

"Hermione!"

I looked over to see Draco. His wand was pointed at his father but his eyes were focused on me. I saw a tear trace a path down his cheek. "Get off of her, now. "His voice was as low and dangerous as I had ever heard it in the seven years I'd known him.

"Now now Draco, run along and let Daddy alone until he's done with the little Mudblood whore."

"That's not going to happen. Get off her, now."

Lucius shook his head and grinned sadistically. " I don't think so Draco. This is your punishment. You turned your back on me and your heritage, you betrayed me. Now you can watch while I destroy something you cherish."

He had turned slightly to point his wand at his son with the threat. I took advantage and head butted him as hard as I could. He grabbed his nose and Draco shouted at curse. His father flew off of the bed and into the wall as Harry and Dumbledore ran into the room.

"Hermione!" Harry yelled. I scrambled off the bed and ran to his arms as Draco pointed his wand firmly at his father.

"Give me permission professor, tell me I can do what has to be done," Draco demanded desperately.

Dumbledore nodded. "Do what you must Draco."

"Avada Kedavra!"

It was over that quickly. Lucius Malfoy was dead in the corner of the hospital wing. My body was wracked with sobs and I shook in Harry's arms at the thought of what could have happened. Draco went to check that his father was really gone and then he was immediately by my side. Harry reluctantly handed me over to Draco.

"Hermione, he didn't…?"

I shook my head. "No. He didn't. I fought him Draco, I tried but he…" I broke into sobs again and he wrapped me tighter in his arms.

He whispered in my ear as he rubbed my back. "I know you tried, you fought him off. You did good. God."

I felt his tears fall in my hair and it made me cry even harder. His hands moved up and down my back and through my hair and he held me tighter. He told me later that he was afraid I might somehow float away. He pulled away slightly to look at me and there were tears shining bright in his blue eyes. "I'm so sorry Hermione, I never should have left you alone. I should have known he'd come after you. If we hadn't heard the explosion and come running…" He choked up and couldn't continue.

I shook my head. "It's not your fault Draco, it's no one's fault."

He shook his head and scooped me up. He laid me down gently on a bed across the room and collected my jeans. I slipped them on and he pulled his shirt over his head and handed it to me. I pulled it on gratefully and hugged the excess of material close to my body.

"How bad did he hurt you?"

"Mostly scrapes and bruises. He used the Cruciatus curse and Madame Promfrey will… Madame Pomfrey!"

"She's fine. Harry found her. She was tied up and unconscious but she's fine. She'll be able to check up on you later. I can't believe my father, the bastard died too quickly."

I touched his arm gently. "Don't think that way Draco, you're better than that. He's gone and that's the best thing. Wishing for anything else would make you like him, and you're not that man. Besides, I'm okay, or I will be." I took a shuddering breath and suddenly I couldn't be brave any longer. I began to weep. "Draco I was so afraid, I was so terrified."

He pulled me into his arms and rocked me as I sobbed. I remember him kissing my forehead and whispering to me before everything went black.

I woke up in a bed in the hospital wing hours later. Draco was sitting next to my bed, holding tight to my hand. The minute I woke he called over Madame Pomfrey, who seemed okay other than a bump on the head.

"Hermione dear, I'm so sorry. If I hadn't left…"

I silenced her with a gesture of my hand. "This isn't you're fault, it's actually no one's fault," I said with a pointed look at Draco. She nodded and went to fix me a dreamless sleep potion.

"How are you feeling?" Draco asked.

"Okay, given the circumstances. Why did I pass out?"

"Stress, you've been through a lot and your body needed rest."

I nodded. "Draco, will you make sure that she lets me out in time for the funerals? I have to go."

"I'll do my best."

"Out Mr. Malofy, Ms. Granger needs her rest!"

"Draco," I said softly as he rose to leave.

He looked at me with wide questioning eyes. "Yeah?"

I pulled him down and kissed him softly. "Thank you for saving me."

"Anytime," he replied. He smiled, a rare genuine smile that made my heart stop. Though I knew that I wouldn't be okay for a long time, when he left I felt a little bit better.