Disclaimer: I own nothing but Flitter, and some spare bits of plot and I am paid nothing for this writing but in my own satisfaction gleaned from a fun piece to write. Everything is owned by the fabulous JK Rowling (all hail the queen).

That said, enjoy!

The sky was turning pink when Draco managed to stumble back into Hogwarts, ignoring Mrs. Norris' smug calls as she raced after Filch with nothing but the passing thought that he ought to try and introduce her to Hermione's Crookshanks as those two would be a great pair and might keep each other out of his hair. One hand rubbed at the space on his arm where his mark used to be, as it hung limp at his side, pain still shooting up through it at odd intervals though without the mind numbing pain that had been there initially and even that was beginning to fade. Soon all of this would be nothing but a bad memory of a bad choice he once made and he could move on to bigger and better things. He was free. He could join the order without having them watching his arm and despising him for his mark the way they still did Snape despite years of proving himself a worthy ally.

Ignoring all thoughts of just heading down to the dungeons and crashing in his own bed he headed straight for the Gryffindor Tower, straight to Hermione. There was no way he was going to sleep that night without seeing her. Without letting her know he was okay and that he hadn't left her.

He stumbled up the stairs, his limbs trying to give way with every step as he cursed under his breath the tower for being so far away. Haggard he dropped to his knees before the portrait of the Fat Lady with a groan, remembering how much it had taken just to get into the tower earlier, and not having the energy to bicker with her like he had to before. Slumped down in the hall he waited for Filch or someone to come and drag him back to his own as he leaned against the false gold frame, eyes growing heavy as they refused to stay open. Struggling to wait for his Hermione. But ultimately failing, as pain and exhaustion drove him past the brink and into sweeter slumbers again.

….

Ginny double checked her bag as she slung it over her shoulders while trying to miss the bright strands of red hair that seemed to always get caught under its unforgiving strap while she opened the picture frame to trip over none other than Draco Malfoy, holding his arm in one hand, his thumb moving back and forth across the perfect unblemished white skin as though unused to the feeling. Like something was missing. Torn she looked at his innocent, but pain wracked face, the stubborn crease in his brow as she fought between her own prejudices she held toward the Ferret Boy and the new confidence that both Hermione and Dumbledore seemed to have in him. Giving into their impressions she knelt beside him.

"Wakey, wakey." Poking him with her wand, half expecting him to not wake with how pale and still he was.

Grumbling he tried to shoo her away, the flagstones under his face hardly comfortable but his body was too stiff to allow him to move more than necessary. A night of sleeping in the halls will do that to you.

"Come on, Malfoy, Hermione was worried sick you abandoned her or something, better get your butt in there and prove her wrong."

That certainly woke him up as he bolted upright, grimacing as his back cracked from skull to tail bone from the unwelcome motion. "Hermione!"

"Yes, Hermione, glad we are on the same page, now get in there before she wakes and finds herself alone."

But he was already gone, scrabbling to his feet as he darted up the stairs. Taking them two at a time despite his body's protests before slowing up outside Hermione's door and much more quietly slipping in, moving over to rest on the side of the bed her still sleeping form did not occupy. She looked like some innocent miracle, one he had half expected to never see again. With her brown hair splayed across the pillow with her arms wrapped around it, hugging it close to her body until he wished he could be in its place. Wide brown eyes closed as she sighed in her sleep, frown creasing her brow the only sign that her dreams were far from pleasant. He planned on fixing that though. He snuggled close, relishing in her warmth after a night in the cold halls, his body heat leeching some of hers as he slipped under her covers to rest by her side. One arm wrapping around her waist to pull her close as the other Brushed away a few stubborn locks form her face, smoothing away the creases in her brow in the same tender movement. "Draco" she murmured as she rolled over to find herself face to face with the warmth of another body, eyes shooting open to see him. "Draco!" Thrilled she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him in closer as he laughed the first real laugh he could remember having in a long time.

"I'm right here, and I have something to show you." Sighing as he peeled himself away from her form he rolled back the sleeve of his shirt to reveal nothing but bare skin. Skin unmarked by evil, new flesh. She just sat there, jaw slack before her slender fingers reached out to just barely ghost over the skin where his mark had been. Draco bit back a groan at the sensation and distracted himself by moving on, "Hermione, I have no more ties to the dark lord. He released me, thinking it was punishment for wasting time on his little project, I'm free now." He waited as the realization slowly dawned on her face, as her fingers continued to run across the surface of his skin. Until finally she just reacted, pulling him back into her embrace, and until his lips met hers. Smiling Draco sighed, now everything was right with the world.

…..

"So, Severus," Dumbledore said as he dug through a small bowl of Bertie Bott's every flavor beans, discarding first one and then another never quite satisfied that he had found one safe enough to try. "How did last night go? That seems to have taken much longer than most meetings the Dark Lord usually calls. And a decent bit longer than his private ones with you."

"Well Albus, there ended up being two meetings. I managed to release Draco from the Dark Lord's hold entirely, he is as unmarked as the day he was born though his mind and his soul will never be able to forget what he has done and the mistakes he has made. He is free, untrackable as any innocent in our world and well… the lord wanted to make a bit of a spectacle out of it thinking to damage the pride of the family and make the death eaters see a well… more cuddly version of the lord, that he is merciful."

"Your plan I take it, Severus?"

"Yes, Draco is only a boy, and I know you believe that both he and Potter are destined for great things but… Albus, in the end they are children and should not have to be. I might not be able to save Potter from the fate ahead of him but I am doing my best. And I will not make Draco continue to suffer at the Dark Lord's hands. One spy in the ranks is enough, and Draco will still take part in the final battle as decided, but until then I want him safe. He has been through enough. Even his emotions have been toyed with for all of this. I know the boy, I am his godfather after all and I know the childhood he had to prepare him to become the monster he was destined to be. Much as I hate to say it Miss Granger is good for them. Have the Order protect them. You can do that, you have done it before, have her hide him, guard him and nurture the heart that was never allowed to thrive under his father's reign. It will do more good than the double role you wanted him to play."

"Severus, when did you become so soft?"

"When I began to see men little more than boys go off to war, when I had to see battlefields strewn with the pieces of their mangled corpses and their young brides weeping. When I gave up everything including my pride to save a woman and her family who had no intention of returning my love. When I had to find her corpse and protect her boy who you manipulated me into caring and protecting only to learn of your plans to sacrifice him, to have him slaughtered at the exact right moment. I will not allow you to spill the blood of another needlessly."

"You certainly are emotional, Severus. Well, so be it. What's done is done, the Order will extend its protection to young Master Malfoy and Miss Granger shall be his guard. I will have the orders carried out immediately."

"Thank you, sir."

Author's Note: Sorry I have been gone so long. It has been quite a trip the past lil' bit here. I had to move, again, I have been sick and the computer this was saved on crashed and I had no access to this file until now. Things are just crazy but once school gets going in a couple weeks my posts will be more frequent and regular (odd I know but I have more time then to get stuff done). Thank you for all of your messages. Glad you like my lil' story!

~a-stranger-angel