Authors Note: Thank you so much for all of the wonderful reviews! I know that I said I would update sooner than this, but things were pretty busy with the holiday...:) Here are two chapters, enjoy!

Chapter 6: Revealed

Scabior looked at the wand in his hand, but the decision had already been made. There was no getting around the fact that it was his fault that she was injured. He started to give her the wand, and then stopped.

"I have a favor to ask of you, love. If you had any thoughts of playing the hero and bringing me back to the ministry, I ask you to kill me first." He held up his hands as Hermione's eyes widened. "I would rather be dead than back in Azkaban."

"You saved my life." Hermione answered softly, grimacing in pain. "You're not what I thought...there's something else there...please." Scabior handed her the wand without another word. Hermione accepted it gratefully and pointed it at her injured leg. She spoke the spell softly, but nothing happened. Her leg felt a trifle better for a quick moment, and then lapsed back into its pained state. "I don't understand..." she murmured. "It won't work properly for me." Scabior gave her a half smile, apologetic.

"I think it's given its loyalty to me." Hermione remembered a conversation with the wand maker, Ollivander, long ago in a cottage by the sea. The wand chooses the wizard...Scabior put his hand over her own, and together they spoke the healing spell. She felt a warmth, and the rush of their combined magic spreading through her. The pain stopped instantly, and she knew her leg was healed.

"I don't even know your name!" She smiled up at him. "And yet you know who I am..?" Scabior laughed.

"I heard your boyfriend call out your name back in the Ministry. And I'm Scabior. Colin Scabior." Hermione frowned.

"Scabior...? You were there...yes...you were part of the group that brought us to Malfoy Manor! You were ready to hand us to Voldemort! You watched me being tortured!" She was on her feet now, facing him angrily. Colin held up his hands.

"I was trying to protect you from Greyback. If you only knew what he was capable of...and what he wanted to do when we found you in that tent...I was trying to buy some time by going to Malfoy Manor. I was trying desperately to think of a plan...find some way to save you all. But then Bellatrix disarmed me, and I don't know what happened next. When I woke up again, I was on the front lawn of the Manor. The Malfoy boy removed the curse she had put on me, and told me to leave, quickly, and never come back." He looked at Hermione imploringly. "As soon as Greyback found me again, I was sick with worry. Fortunately, he just thought I was angry at our prey escaping us, and let me know what had happened. I was relieved that you had all made it out of there alive. Believe me Hermione...if I had been awake and armed, I would have died before I let her touch you." His eyes were fierce as he looked at her. Against her better judgment, Hermione believed him. But there were still unanswered questions...

"Why were you in Azkaban? Why did you get involved with Greyback in the first place?" He looked down, and the familiar haunted, closed look came across his features.

"I...I can't speak of it. I have removed those memories, but they still stalk me. Even with the memories out of here (he touched his head), they leave an echo of the emotions with them." Colin got up and walked to cabinet across the room. Hermione watched in amazement as he took a large bowl out of the cabinet. There was a swirling mass inside of it, and ancient runes decorated its outside. "Do you know what this is?"

"A pensieve." Hermione whispered. "You carry a pensieve with you?"

"Yes...these memories tortured me for too many years. They are safe in here, because I will not allow myself to destroy them entirely. That is my penance." He took a deep breath. "I want you to know, want to tell you." He started to put the wand into the bowl, and Hermione knew what he was going to do. She got up and put a hand on his arm.

"No...don't. I can see them for myself..." Colin shook his head.

"Hermione, you don't know how horrible..." She smiled wryly.

"Colin, I was on the run with Harry Potter for almost a year. I saw many terrible things during that time. I'm a Gryffindor...we are known for our bravery. It will be easier for me to see the memories than for you to put them back." He studied her for a moment, and then handed her the wand. She took it, feeling the same sense of loss at the diminished power that emanated from it. She gave Colin a nod, boldly stuck the wand into the bowl, and leaned forward.