I would like to start by saying how grateful I am for all the follows and favorites and most of the reviews. Sorry for the long wait for this update. Crazy end of the week. Math test, band concert, labs in science, all that fun stuff. This is a painful chapter in a lot of ways and I had to write it in small chunks at a time because it was wreaking havoc on my emotions. I also got one review that I was incredibly pissed about and I needed some time to calm down. If you read the reviews you'll see which one I mean.

Just please leave constructive reviews. I honestly don't mind constructive criticism but leaving a review like that one is not constructive in the least.

But enjoy guys.

I followed Draco through different back hallways, waiting for him to say something. When he didn't I tried to. He covered my mouth with one hand and shook his head so I just continued to follow him until we were back in his room.

I sat at the edge of his bed, waiting for whatever came next.

"You stay up here Hermione! Don't make any noise. I'll... I don't know. I 'll figure something out," he ordered, keeping his eyes fixed on the door.

When he turned to look at me I saw a faint mist in his eyes.

'Stay safe' was the last thing he said to me before he left.

After a few seconds I could hear him greeting his parents.

"Mother, father welcome back. I wasn't expecting you so soon or I would have had the house elves prepare something," Draco sounded so different when he talked to them. Everything was more forced and polite with them but around me... he was himself. "Where's Aunt Bella?"

"She decided to go home. The week was rather taxing," Narcissa said.

"Indeed," Lucius answered, a slight bite to his tone.

The next words were muffled and I couldn't make them out. A pair of feet came up the stairs and I ducked behind Draco's bed. Heels clacked past the door and luckily it didn't open. I breathed a sigh of relief and climbed back onto the bed.

A little more time passed and I could hear muted conversation from the dining room below me.

"I am on a rather short fuse young man, so you would do well to watch your mouth!"

"My apologies father. I didn't realize how impolite of me that was to say," even from up here I could here the question in Draco's voice telling me hadn't said anything that could come off even remotely rude.

"Are you really!?" Lucius snarled. "Because it sounds like you don't know what you did wrong. Remember how I used to remind you as a boy?"

My eyes widened in surprise. I had my suspicions about what was about to go down. Was this really how this household operated? I suppose that after Draco's memory I shouldn't have been surprised, but I still was.

Something fell to the floor and it took me several seconds to realize it wasn't a something, but a someone.

"You're pathetic Draco, you know that right? A pathetic son! You can't even kill people properly! Crucio!" his father yelled.

It's okay I told myself. He's had a few crucios go his way before.

A scream, similar to mine in volume, echoed through the whole house. It was a little deeper but not much. I but into my lip to stop the whimper that was trying to escape. In a lot of ways this hurt more than actually being tortured, simply because I couldn't do anything. I had no wand, no way to help. A lot of good I was.

"Stop, please stop!" Draco screamed.

And he did. I wrapped my arms around my legs and sobbed into my knees with relief.

Then there was another heart wrenching scream that didn't stop for a long time. This time my sobs weren't silent. I buried my face into Draco's pillow trying to keep my cries of distress muffled and put another pillow on my head to drown out the screams. It wasn't working. I stayed like that for a long time trying to think happy thoughts.

I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling as tears streamed down my face.

Draco screamed again and I picked up a pillow and threw hard it against the door. Something fell out of the pillowcase and I got up to see what it was, right as something shattered downstairs. I flinched and picked up the slender piece of wood from the floor. His wand.

I'd spent a lot of time missing my wand, and even though this wasn't mine I still felt a surge of magic running through me when I picked it up. Another scream split the air and I formulated a plan. Well it wasn't exactly a plan, at least not to my standards. It was a Harry and Ron plan. Go in and do whatever the first thing you think of.

I'm going to save you Draco I thought, as I stepped out of the door right into Narcissa Malfoy.

"Miss Granger," she said.

I didn't say anything, simply pointed Draco's wand at her. She put her hands in the air.

"I'm unarmed. Just hear me out,' she begged.

I beckoned her inside and shut the door.

"Ever since the snatchers brought you here he's walked around with his head down, more depressed than normal. Something was wrong tonight. He was actually happy and I think I have you to thank for that," she cried.

"I just want to help him, he probably saved my life and now..." I trailed off. She knew what I meant.

I felt a connection with her almost immediately. We both cared deeply about the same broken boy. There I admitted it. I care about him a lot more than I should. A lot.

"For years this has gone on but I am to afraid to do anything," she explained quietly. "Go Miss Granger and get him somewhere safe."

I nodded and left the room, sneaking silently down the stairs. I peeked around the wall into the living room. Draco was writhing in pain, and bleeding while his father stood over him.

"Stupify!" I screamed.

Lucius flew back against the brick fireplace and collapsed in a heap on the floor.

Glass from a vase was laying all over the ground and Draco sobbed on the carpet.

"Oh god! Draco can you hear me," I yelled running up to him and kneeling at his side.

"Hermione what are you doing?" he said, his voice raw from screaming.

Blood sprayed across my face as he coughed.

"Okay, okay," I was panicking but I needed to stay calm. "Um. How many times."

"Eleven, twelve," he moaned.

I rolled him onto his back and he reached a hand to my face. It was sticky with blood.

"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you look?"

"I don't think you're thinking straight," I smiled weakly and pulled his hand away to see what was wrong.

Several pieces of glass were stuck in his palm.

"I'm going to pull these out now," I told him and grasped the edge of a piece and pulled.

He flinched a little and I extracted the two other pieces gently. He gave me his other hand and I pulled one giant piece out of that one too.

"What are you doing? I told you to stay put!"

"Shut up Draco," I snapped.

"Is that my wand?"

I didn't even answer him. Honestly whose wand would I have besides his.

"I didn't do anything this time. It just hurts so much," he sobbed.

I pulled him into my arms and ran my fingers through his hair softly.

"Here."

I looked up and Narcissa handed me a potion. It was a pain killer. Draco drank it all and a shudder ran through him as it took effect.

"Mom?" He asked weakly.

"Miss Granger's going to take care of you Draco. Take this, you'll need it. And I want you to erase my memories of tonight, then stun me," Narcissa answered and handed me a beaded bag.

My beaded bag.

I helped Draco stand. His legs were shaking and he leaned heavily against me.

I pointed his wand at his mother. "Obliviate," I said and her eyes clouded over. "Stupify."

She collapsed to the floor.

"Hermione we need to go," Draco told me urgently.

"This is your home. Are you sure-," I started.

"Positive. Besides this can hardly be called a home."

I rooted through my bag and found a few more potions for him to take. One to stop internal bleeding, just in case, and another to strengthen him. He took them both without arguing and after another few minutes he was back to almost full strength. It would wear off soon but it was working for now.

I tried to hand him his wand but he told me to keep it. We left out of the back and he led us through the woods. A jet of green light flew past us and we dropped to the ground.

"Hermione go!" Draco yelled.

"I am not leaving you!" I pulled him off the ground and started running.

"We have to get outside the property line, then we can apparate away! We're close," he called and I fired stunning curses behind us.

When I turned he had fallen behind. Another green light flew by, so close it ruffled his hair.

"Duck!" I shouted, and fired a stunning curse over his head.

He used his last bit of energy to hurl himself at me. I fell back and he grabbed my hand.

"Apparate! Apparate!" he screamed as curses flew at us.

We were outside the property line now. The Burrow was the first place that came to mind and I felt a tug as we disapparated. My aim was off so we landed far from the Weasley's house but it was in sight.

I was free.

We were free.

Yeah sad chapter but necessary. Sorry. The next one will be happier... I think and hopefully up soon.

In case you didn't pick up on it I really hate Lucius Malfoy but I like Narcissa and in my opinion she will do whatever it takes to protect her family. I hope I characterized them okay.

Keep reviewing, following, and favoriting. Over 100 follows and almost 100 reviews! I love you guys! Enjoy your day!