Disclaimer: I own nothing!

A/N: I am warning you that I am changing the ending of what happened in the sixth book – because quite frankly, it made me unhappy! So in this world, Draco and Snape never planned to or actually killed Dumbledore!

Thank you to those who have left reviews!

Chapter II

Eight years earlier

Malfoy Manor

Draco Malfoy had woken up early that morning, as he had for the past few weeks. He had been unable to sleep, his mind tormented. It had been only weeks since his father had escaped from Azkaban, a mere few weeks since Amycus Carrow had passed Dumbledore in Hogsmeade and attempted to take the old man's life. He had been amongst those surprised when Dumbledore had appeared a few days later in front of the distraught, mourning staff of Hogwarts. His body was as still as solid as before; he was, it seemed, reincarnated. As delighted as everyone had been, all of those present had been incredibly confused.

The Headmaster had been given a strong glass of Veritaserum and asked about all that had passed in the prior few days. He simply smiled that all-knowing smile and declared that the Greek gods, most importantly Zeus, had decided that it was not his time to leave earth and that he was needed for much more important things. A vicious argument between Zeus and Hades had ensued, and eventually it had been decided that he could return to earth.

Naturally, he had added, Hades was incredibly enraged by the decision. And yet Persephone, despite her usually cold demeanour, had had an odd sparkle in her eyes. It was, he believe, quite like she had eaten a Lemon Drop. With this statement, it was clear to those present that Dumbledore was truly back, including the newly-reinstated Minister Fudge.

In the previous year, a whole barrage of Death Eaters had descended on the manor, using it as headquarters and a prison. Day in and out, Draco could hear the screams of those who had made the blunder of crossing the Dark Lord. The once glorious manor that had been in his family for generations had been turned into a house of horrors. Personally, he was reviled by it all.

Voldemort had been enraged with Lucius' failure in retrieving the prophecy, and if the whispers around the manor were true, he was intending to exact revenge against the Malfoy name; he had something horrible in store for both of the Malfoy men.

Draco, as much as he hated to admit it, was petrified. He had recently become witness to what happened to those who incurred Voldemort's wrath. His mother had begun to lock herself away in her personal den, away from the horrible deeds that were occurring in their basement. She had been cooing over Draco, aware of the danger he was in. She had always been fiercely protective of her son, and now that the impending war was coming closer, this had only increased.

During the rare times that he had alone with his mother, she urged him to take care of himself – to leave the world that his father had devoted his life to. She reminded him of the danger that he was in because of his father's transgressions. Draco had promised her that he would do his best to make a better life for himself, and he truly meant it.

Draco felt his heart sink as he heard a commotion coming from downstairs. He slowly crept out of his room and peered over the bannister. A group of Death Eaters had attacked a Muggle family in London and from the sounds of it, it had been a brutal assault.

He couldn't help but grimace as he noticed the spatters of blood on their dark robes, the liquid reflecting the hallway lights. He was turning back to his room, when the foyer doors flew open with a sickening crack. His maternal aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, strolled proudly through the doors, a limp body floating behind her. Curious, he hid behind a small alcove along the staircase, praying that the darkness would conceal his location.

As his aunt sauntered by with a malicious grin on her face, he tried to get a good look at the Death Eaters' captive. There was something familiar about her but he was only able to see a sliver of her face. Her brown curls lay in a mess across her face, matted with blood. Her feet were bare and her clothes in tattered, stained with smears of blood and dirt. Bellatrix jostled her in the air, laughing in amusement. The girl's hair fell away from her face, which was marred with cuts and blood. But Draco knew exactly who she was.

It was Hermione Granger.

Granger Household

Hermione made her way up to her room after helping her mother with the dishes. As much as she loved the Wizarding World, she loved the weeks that she spent with her family during the school holidays. Though her parents didn't quite understand her world, they were intrigued by it and would happily listen as she prattled on about the adventures she had experienced.

She frowned slightly as she entered her room. It was a complete mess. She had gone to Hogsmeade earlier in the day to buy the required textbooks and buy a few more robes. Her mother had been fascinated by everything she saw, as usual, and together they had spent a wonderful day wondering through the town.

She pulled out her suitcase and began to fold her purchases when she heard a loud crack come from downstairs. "Mum?" She called out, her eyebrow slightly crinkled. When she received no answer, she made her way to the staircase. "Mum? Dad? Is everything okay?" She listened closely; again, there was no reply but she could faintly hear movement coming from their family room.

Running to her room, she rummaged through her book-bag until she found her wand and made her way down the stairs. She was sure she was overreacting but after everything she had experienced in the Wizarding World, she knew that she could never be too cautious. Rounding the corner, she froze as she saw parents bound and gagged on the couch.

"Incarcerous!" In her peripheral vision, she saw a flash of light thundering towards her. Hermione felt struggled to inhale as ropes wound tightly around her body. She closed her eyes in defeat as her wand clattered to the ground. She was utterly helpless. It was only as she was moved to the armchair beside her parents that she realised the full extent of what was going on; there were six hooded figures in the room standing beside none other than Bellatrix Lestrange.

Hermione felt her heart sank; she knew exactly what these people were capable of. "What do you want?" She whispered, struggling to speak beneath the crushing force she could feel.

Lestrange meerly laughed menacingly, nodding towards the other Death Eaters. They slowly dropped their hoods causing her parents to gasp in horror. Hermione closed her eyes; the men that stood before her were known to be particularly brutal. Antonin Dolohov sneered at her. "So we meet again, Mudblood. You didn't think I'd forget you after our têtê-à-têtê last year."

Hermione glared at him. "Pathetic! Are you really proud about attacking a schoolgirl and her unarmed parents? It's rather sad, if you ask me." Hermione winced as Bellatrix's hand flew across her cheek. Her parents whimpered helplessly beside her.

"There is nothing shameful about what we do. You are a pathetic Mudblood, less than the filth under my shoes. What is shameful is that you are allowed to call yourself a witch! We have come to take you to the Dark Lord, but I don't see why we cannot have a little fun first." Her eyes were filled with pure bloodlust as she spat at the Grangers.

Hermione struggled against her bindings. "Don't touch them!" She hissed, her eyes revealing her desperation. "Please just take me; I won't fight it…please." She felt her tears burning a path down her face. But she knew her pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Crucio!"

She felt her body stiffen as pain coursed through her. She could hear herself whimpering, trying with all her might to not cry out. She gasped as Lestrange lifted the curse, evidently disappointed at her silence.

"Have it your way, Mudblood. Crucio!"

She tried in vain to shut out the sound of her parents' screams – as much as she wished it would draw help, she knew they would have cast a silencing charm on the house. Her tears now freely spilling down her face, as her parents whimpered in agony with each curse that was thrown their way. The torment dragged on and yet she could do nothing but whisper "I'm sorry" and "I love you" over and over again. Hermione heard her parents gasp for air as there was temporary relief from the barrage of spells.

The Death Eaters snickered, sneering at the Muggles in front of them. "Say goodbye, Mudblood. You don't have much longer."

Hermione struggled to speak, her voice choking with sobs as she professed her love to her parents. Her heart heaved with pain as they whispered back their love through their pain. And with that, she would never speak to them again.

She shut her eyes and clenched her jaw as she heard numerous curses being yelled. "Sectumsempra!" She felt a spray of blood as her father screamed in pain and her mother shrieked in horror. She cracked her eyes open, glancing over to her parents. "Expulso viscera!" She felt her stomach lurch as her parents were both hit with Entrail-Expelling curses, her body shaking with anguish. Rocking forwards, she couldn't stop herself from retching.

She felt empty and numb, unable to react as her body was lifted in the air. Her life would never be the same.

Malfoy Manor

Her screams seemed to reverberate through the mansion, unrelentingly. Draco closed his eyes, willing the noise to go away. He was trying to distract himself by reading, but he simply could not get engrossed in the book. This wasn't the first time he had heard someone being tortured since the holidays had started but this time, it was different. This was someone he knew; someone he respected, if he had to admit it. Despite the fact that she could be incredibly irritating, she was unbelievably intelligent, hardworking and loyal to a fault. If it hadn't been for their contrasting bloodlines, they would most likely have been friends, he thought.

He grimaced as he heard another wave of screams. She was getting weaker and weaker, her cries reflecting her frailty. Draco slammed his book shut; he couldn't just sit around any longer. He had to get Granger out of here – he just had to figure out how to keep the men who had so rudely invaded his home preoccupied.

He marched towards his mother's den, startling her as he threw the doors open. "Mother, I cannot take this!" He declared, his frustration turning into anger.

"Hush, Draco!" She hissed, scurrying to close the doors. "They will hear you!" His mother was right – one wrong move and he would have the full force of the Death Eaters on him. He had to be careful.

"Mother, I cannot just sit by and listen as they torture my own classmate. That girl in there is one of Potter's trio – they will spare her no mercy. I have to help her."

Narcissa slowly lowered herself into the armchair behind her, her face etched with worry. "Draco, please think. Do you not understand how dangerous this will be? You know that if you do this, you will never be allowed back. I-I don't think I could lose you." She ended in a whisper, her eyes glistening with tears.

His shoulders slumped at the thought of never being able to return home; but he knew there was no other choice. Reaching over to grasp his mother's hand, he whispered "I know."

The next day, there had been a large uproar in the manor. The Order of the Phoenix had discovered the ravaged bodies at the Granger household and had publically declared that they would stop at nothing to find Hermione. This was exactly what the Dark Lord had hoped for. He had called for all a meeting with all of his followers in the manor's expansive ballroom, which, luckily for Draco, was at the opposing end to the basement entrance.

Draco was impatiently pacing in his room, his heart pounding in his anxiety. He nearly jumped as his door opened. Narcissa looked at him, nodding once before loudly declaring for the others to hear, "Draco, darling! We were supposed leave for Hogsmeade twenty minutes ago! Let's go!" She turned to leave, before racing back to her son. She held him close, placing a loving kiss on his cheek before turned on her heel and leaving the room.

She left the manor in a hurry, her robes catching in the wind. Draco watched through the window as she left, his heart aching – this would be the last time he saw his mother for quite a while. Closing his eyes for a moment, he steels himself for the task ahead. He had already gathered all of his belongings into a few suitcases, shrinking them to fit into his pocket. Placing a dark robe over himself, he brought his hood up, hoping that he would not draw any attention to himself on his way to the dungeons.

Racing down the basement stairs as quietly as possible, he began searching the vast chambers. The pungent stench of death rose to meet him, a remnant of the horrors that had been perpetrated within. He made his way towards the doors that led into what his father had macabrely coined the 'Red Room' – a testament to the destruction of life that had been caused within its walls.

Cracking the door open, he saw a petite silhouette in her corner. Her legs were painfully curled underneath her, her body trembling with weakness. Draco couldn't help but feel his stomach lurch at the site. Her near-naked body was covered in both dried and fresh blood, swollen lashed marring her skin. Her body quivered as she struggled to take slow painful breaths. She barely moved as he approached her, willing herself to withdraw away from his footsteps.

Moving so that she could see him, he knelt beside her and gently moved her matted hair out of her face. She flinched at the touch, her body trembling with fear. As her eyes fell upon him, they widened with recognition and panic. "P-please" She croaked, her voice cracking in her feeble state.

Reviled by the damage he saw, he hushed her. "Shh…don't speak. I am going to get you out of here." After placing a strong concealment charm over her, he picked her up in his arms, grimacing as she whimpered in pain with the contact. Carefully making his way into the main foyer, he gently pushed the doors open with his back and snuck through them. To anyone who saw him, it appeared as though he was carrying a pile of old clothes in his arms to discard. Moving as fast as he could, he made his way through the gates, instantly Apparating to St. Mungos' Hospital.

A/N: Please review! It helps me write!