A/N: Ok, so I just wrote and wrote, the first part is from another chapter of another story. Its like 2 in the morning and I just had to make sure to update all my stories. So here is this. Hope you like it. It's quite a bit darker than my normal brand of writing. Just beware. It's kinda upsetting.

Just so you guys aren't worrying, nothing that happens in this one shot has happened to me. I'm just warning you so that you don't think somethings wrong. I don't know if any of you know this, but I generally take from real life when i write these one shots. This is just where my mind took me.

Tell Me, Answer Me

It was morning. Dew was sprinkled lightly over the ground, and a soft yellowish glow emanated from the horizon. With the morning came a new day. To some it brought new hope, a new light to the dark world they had lived in for months. To others it was just another dark morning, with hope fading fast. It all depended what side you were on. As the sun rose slowly beyond a meadow, three dark figures darted across the field, their dark black cloaks barely touching the ground as they skillfully ran.

The first one held out their arm, stopping the other two in their tracks. They had come to the edge of what seemed like a grove. They slipped silently into the shadows of the trees, one by one fading away from the sight of any who had seen them. The first one looked over the way they had came, making sure no one had followed them. They turned, their cloak billowing behind them as they ran to catch up with the others.

The leader of the Cloaked Ones led the other two deep into the trees, only stopping when they found themselves surrounded by Douglas Firs instead of Pine trees. They looked around, making sure that nothing watched them. The leader dipped down, and opened a hidden compartment among the trees roots and grabbed what appeared to be weapons. She handed a long sword to one of the Cloaked Ones, and two dierks to the other. She took a bow and arrow for herself, and covered up the secret compartment. They stowed the weapons away in their cloaks, and continued on.

They ran fast and silent. As they ran, battle plans skittered through the leaders mind. They knew what was going to happen, and they understood all that was coming their way. They knew that by night fall, war would be upon them. They had to get a message to the Rebel Force and make sure that they did not remain in their current headquarters for very long. The leader didn't have many resources at their disposal, but they had an idea of how to communicate with offices. The leader was sure that nothing would have happened over night.

The leader heard a rustle a head of the running companions, and stopped the other two before they got much closer to the offending object. The leader carefully drew a small stick from their belt and cast a wordless charm towards a small bush.

A person jumped out from behind the bush and brandished their own wand towards the trio. The Cloaked Ones drew their weapons, the leaders arrow trained straight towards the new comers chest.

"Surrender." The new comer said quietly, laying his wand on the ground. The leader walked forward trying to find out which side this person was on. They recognized a few features and walked towards him. The leader gripped him round the forearm and whispered quietly in his ear. He nodded and took off in another direction, leaving the Cloaked Ones alone in the tree grove once again.

The leader glanced once at each of the companions and then started off in the direction they had been going previously. Silently making their way towards the city they kept to the shadows once they reached the outskirts of a populated town. The leader at one point paused. This was as far as they would go. The Cloaked Ones sat at the edge of a grove of trees, just watching.

Then came what they had been waiting for. A young man in long robes. This was their target. This is who they had to protect.

They were supposed to make their presence known so that they could take him to the safe house and keep him away from danger. However the leader held still, as did the companions. The leader watched the young man, curious as to why they were supposed to protect him.

Ideas and thoughts rolled through the mind of the leader, but they remained focused on the target. Finally, the leader left their position at the edge of the grove and walked forward.

"Draco Malfoy." The leader addressed the young man without question. The leader had no doubt that this was their target.

"Y-yes?" Draco stuttered, startled by the sudden appearance of the Cloaked Ones.

"Take my arm." The leader said, holding out their elbow. Draco took the arm, and felt himself going through Side-Along Apparition. He found himself in a small but comfy house. Suddenly there was the sound of feet thudding across the floor.

Suddenly a loud voice could be heard. "Are you finally back? Can someone please tell-" Though she never got to finish her sentence. Draco turned around and saw the one person he hadn't expected to see again. After all that had happened, he thought she would be long gone by now.

"Hello, Hermione." Draco said quietly, a small smile on his face.

"Draco." Hermione said curtly before turning to the Cloaked Ones."Where on earth have you taken me? And why is he here?" She screamed outraged at having to share her living space with him. She had had enough of him already.

"It is for your own protection. We are the Cloaked Ones, we protect from afar, and do as the Order bid us to do. You will not see or hear us again. We promise you that. However we will always be watching." And in the blink of an eye, they were gone. Hermione rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air out of exasperation.

"So... any clue as to why we're here?" Draco asked cautiously. He knew that Hermione was mad, but he wanted to hear what she thought.

"No, Malfoy. I have no bloody clue as to why we're stuck in this tiny little apartment together. However I do know that the couch is right there and that's what you'll be sleeping on. And don't you dare come anywhere near my room. Do we understand each other Malfoy?" She said, her eyes shooting daggers at him. He nodded and looked at the floor as she stomped out of the kitchen.

Draco barely saw Hermione over the next few days, but when he did, she wouldn't talk to him without glaring or some snide remark.

After two weeks of silence, there was someone at the door. Draco opened it up, and found Albus Dumbledore standing on the doorstep.

"Draco, m'boy! Good to see you again. Now where is Mrs. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling as always.

After Hogwarts, Draco had been appointed as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and had worked quite closely with Dumbledore, achieving a much better relationship with the older man. Draco smiled at Albus, happy to see someone who was glaring at him or giving him the cold shoulder.

"My mother's at her cottage in France." Draco said, giving the only answer he knew to give. Dumbledore laughed at his answer. It wasn't the weak chuckle that Draco had heard many times before, it was the full wholesome laughter that Draco had heard only a few times before.

"I meant Mrs. Draco Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked happily.

"Oh... she uh... asked for a divorce a year ago. But I'll go get her for you." Draco said, his eyes showing his hurt. Dumbledore saw that hurt, and the sorrow that followed.

Dumbledore had seen even before they had been married how much Draco loved her. When the Law had been put in place, Draco hadn't picked her just to annoy her. He had asked for her hand, because Draco truly and deeply loved her. However she had been unable to see that. Even after they spent five years with one another. Even after all that had happened...

"Professor!" Hermione cried happily as she walked through the living room. She gave the elderly gentleman a big hug, happy to see him again.

"Hermione. You look well." Albus asked looking her over. "Almost as if there's a special glow about you..." He said narrowing his eyes a bit to try to figure out what glow she was emanating. She blushed.

"I'm just the same as I was when I left Hogwarts. Just a bit more grown up. What brings you here? Do you have any idea why I'm stuck in this house with Malfoy?" Hermione asked, not even bothering lowering her voice. Draco fought hard to keep back the tears.

He had sincerely loved Hermione. And five years ago he had been blessed with a way to prove to her just how much he loved her. A Marriage Law decreed by the Ministry. Draco and a few others had been given the chance to pick their brides. It was barbaric, but Draco thought it a perfect way for him to earn Hermione's love.

But she had thought it all part of some cruel joke and had never let him get too close. They had been given 1 year to reproduce. And reproduce they had. Their daughter had been born beautiful and perfect. They had named her Charisma Elizabeth Malfoy. And for almost a year they were perfectly happy.

But just when Draco thought that she might get to see how much he loved her, and how much he wanted to be with her for eternity, fortune had turned its back on him and spited him. While Hermione and Draco had gone out for the first quiet dinner alone since Charisma was born, the baby sitter they had hired for Charisma was less than what they thought.

Instead of watching Charisma, she had been partying with a few friends she had invited over. And while she partied, Charisma had managed to find her way into the bath tub, that was still full from her bath earlier. Hermione and Draco came home to 10 drunk teenagers, and a drowned baby. The teenagers had been arrested, but Hermione never forgave Draco. For it had been he that had talked her into going out for a quiet dinner that night. Draco never forgave himself.

Hermione removed herself from his bedroom, and slept on the opposite side of the House completely. She made sure to never cross paths with him. For 3 years they never saw each other. Draco had asked for a hiatus from work. An indefinite hiatus. Dumbledore had allowed it due to the circumstances. Draco never knew if Hermione had taken off work. He never saw her, and therefore had no idea whether she was at home or at work.

The Ministry had told all those affected by the Marriage Law, that if within five years, they did not wish to remain together, they could then get a divorce. So shortly before the 5 year mark, Hermione made an appearance to Malfoy again. She told him that they had 1 month before the 5 year mark, and she would be filing for divorce at that point. Draco had invited her to go for some dinner and drinks, just to say goodbye to what little marriage they had.

Hermione agreed, and they went off to dinner. However, once they started drinking, Draco's memories grew fainter and fainter. After he ordered his fifth drink, the next thing he knew he was in bed, naked, with his wife, also naked, beside him. Draco quickly moved her to her bed, and put clothes on. He didn't want her making a huge fuss out of what was probably nothing.

Now here they were. A year later, and they were living together again.

"Draco." Hermione's voice brought him out of his reverie. She and Dumbledore were standing on the opposite side of the room, both of them looking at him.

"Yes?" Draco asked, his eyes weary and sad.

"According to Dumbledore, your father is out of prison, along with a few of his Death Eater friends. He brought us here to protect us. Your father is furious that we were married, as pathetic a marriage as it was, and has decided to kill the two of us if it's the last thing he does." Hermione said completely annoyed.

Draco's eyes bugged and his heart rate sped up. But as he looked at Hermione, she seemed completely unperturbed by this news.

"How are you so calm?" He asked feeling his breath escalate.

"Because, we didn't work out, there is no heir to the Malfoy line and money, and I have nothing to do with you." Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest. Suddenly there was a soft noise from the direction of Hermione's room, but before Draco could ask about it, Hermione was in her room and shutting her door behind her.

"Draco, don't worry. She'll understand in time. She will see that you truly do love her. Just give it some time." Albus said before letting himself out of the apartment. Draco sat down at the dinner table that was never used, and put his head in his hands. How had this happened? Why had things gotten so out of control.

"Well, well. If it isn't the little blood traitor himself. Tell me, Draco, why did you choose the mudblood? Even the young Weasley bitch would have been better. But yet you chose the mudblood. Why Draco?" A voice said from the doorway. Draco stood up and grabbed for his wand.

"Put your wand down boy. We aren't playing games here." A voice said from beside Draco. He put his wand down as he became surrounded by Death Eaters.

"Tell me, son. Why her?" Lucius asked stepping towards his son.

"Because I love her." Draco said glaring at his father. Lucius scoffed at his son's words.

"Then maybe you do belong with her. Breeding illegitimate babies and spreading mud and dirt through the Wizarding world. I should have known how worthless you were when you were younger. You were never strong as a boy. Mentally or emotionally... I should have killed you before you had a chance to be corrupted. I saw it early on, but I thought I could squash it. I guess I was wrong."

"You need to leave." Draco said, keeping his eyes on as many Death Eaters as was possible at one time.

"Really Draco? I think I'd rather stay. We all would. And maybe while we're here, we can play a little game. It's called Pain or Pleasure. Here's how you play: We blind fold you, and you get to listen as we make the mudblood scream. However you have to decide whether she's screaming out of pain... or pleasure. If it's pain, we'll know just how weak she is, if it's pleasure, we'll know just how much a little whore she is. McNair, the girl." Lucius said.

A few moments later Draco heard Hermione screaming. He tried to get up to fight, but was forced down into his chair. His father smiled viciously as he blindfolded Draco. Draco struggled, trying to release himself from these bonds. He tried to get to Hermione, but her screaming seemed so loud and... multiplied? Draco shook his head and tried to get out of the chair. But to no avail, he was shortly punched in the groin, leaving him breathless and gasping in pain. Somehow the screaming seemed less all of a sudden...

"Alright Draco. We'll start out easy just so you can get a handle on the game." Suddenly there was an ear splitting scream. It stopped suddenly.

"Now Draco. Pain? Or pleasure?" Draco didn't answer, but gritted his teeth from spitting out nasty words at his father.

"Answer me, Draco. Pain or pleasure?" Again, Draco didn't answer. After a few moments he felt as if his body was on fire, he was being Crucioed.

"Pain or pleasure, Draco?" Lucius asked.

"Pain." Draco said through gritted teeth.

"Good!" That was followed by more screaming. Draco knew that they weren't using the Cruciatus curse on her. They were seriously torturing her, they could hear it in her voice. In the way she screamed. This was terrifying, excruciating pain that wouldn't go away as easily as the Cruciatus curse would.

"Pain or pleasure?" Lucius asked again. But before Draco could answer, Hermione started screaming. This time it was swear words.

"MCNAIR! Wait until he has answered. And you mudblood, will be quiet while I am talking. Now just do as McNair instructs." Lucius said his voice dripping with malice.

"Draco, answer me."

"Pain." Draco said.

"Good. Now, now isn't that a good mudblood? Already doing as she's told. Draco, you may have found us the perfect slave..." Lucius exclaimed, and Draco could practically see the cruel smile playing on Lucius' lips.

There was a second of silence before Hermione started screaming again. This time it wasn't pain, or fear that was in her scream. Draco could how terrified she was, afraid, and he could hear how much pain this was causing her. All his muscles tensed as he heard a secondary noise that filled him with anger, and hatred. They were raping her now.

"Pain!" Draco screamed, hoping that if he answered early they would stop.

"Unfortunately Draco, McNair isn't finished. So you'll have to wait. Answering early won't stop what we're doing to her." Draco clenched his fists and growled low in his chest. He couldn't stand to hear this. He couldn't stand to hear the woman he loved being raped and tortured like this. This was beyond cruel.

After awhile, the screaming subsided and it changed to whimpering. But soon, she was screaming again. And like always, it stopped abruptly. The whimpering continued, but at a slower pace than before.

"Pain or pleasure, Draco?"

"Pain." Draco said, his voice weak.

For hours it went on like this, Hermione's screams tearing his heart up. But the worst part was, after awhile, the screams turned from pain to pleasure. Instead of being terrified, she sounded like she was enjoying this. Lucius kept asking Draco until he finally got it wrong, and then he stopped asking. Draco's heart was broken by the time they were through. Finally Lucius, took off the blind fold from Draco and removed the binds holding him to the chair.

He rushed over to the motionless body that was Hermione, and started stroking her hair and whispering every contraceptive spell he knew. He couldn't bear to let her have any child of these bastards. He refused to let it happen.

"Draco, move out of the way." Lucius said quietly after putting his black cloak on again. The Death Eaters were done redressing and were now ready to leave.

"No." Draco answered, his back still to them.

"No?" Lucius asked, his voice disbelieving.

"No." Draco confirmed, still stroking Hermione's hair. He had taken the blanket that was on the couch and draped it over her, so that she wasn't cold, or exposed.

"Stand aside, son."

Draco stood up and faced his father. A look of pure hatred graced his fair features, and his eyes flashed dangerously.

"I am no son of yours. You are vile, pathetic, worthless creature. I am disgusted to have once called you father. But no more. No more." Draco said, staring his father down. With each sentence, Draco took one small step towards his father. Lucius aimed his wand at Hermione and started to whisper a spell. Draco dodged in front of the spell, blocking Hermione from what he knew was something terrible.

He was one of two people who had done this very thing. And like the other case of this, as the caster turned his wand on his original target and fired the spell, it backfired, not even harming the person it had been meant for. As in the other case, the caster was destroyed. However, unlike the first time, the caster was completely destroyed, leaving behind no remnants of himself.

And off in another room, a small soft cry was heard by no one.