Disclaimer: I didn't create anything you recognize.

Voldemort eyed Hermione maliciously,

"So, the infamous Mudblood has come to join us at last. I suppose you just had to see this useless traitor one last time before you both met your deaths.

"But, no, you will not die today, Mudblood. Though by the time I'm finished with you, there's no doubt you'll wish for death," he smiled cruelly.

"We need you alive if we want to get Harry Potter and Dumbledore here. I know that they will come. I just don't know why they prize you above those other gits."

Draco struggled to rise into a sitting position, and Hermione rushed over to help him.

"I don't suppose your going to tell me how a filthy idiot like yourself escaped the locked cell without a wand," Voldemort drawled, taking a step towards them.

Hermione's mind raced, devising a plan. With each second that ticked by, she became more dubious that she could do anything to save Draco or herself.

Maybe I could knock him out while we escape? Nah, he'd wake up… wait! His wand! No, that's just stupid, he's probably just as dangerous without his wand…

Voldemort turned on her suddenly, a manic gleam in his reptilian eyes, "Crucio!"

Pain like she had never known before shot through her entire body, she felt like she was on fire, the pain was so unbearable that she couldn't even scream… Just make it stop… she pleaded silently. Suddenly, something stirred within the deepest levels of her consciousness. This part of her mind was able to think clearly even through the excruciating pain started to take over, and began calming her body, and making the pain go away.

Hermione assumed Voldemort had lifted the curse off of her.

Voldemort once again searched her face, a look of realization dawning on his pale face, muttering something under his breath.

Hermione turned to look at Draco, who looked stunned. "What?" She hissed at him.

Voldemort's momentarily awed face cracked into an evil grin. "So that's why you're Dumbledore's little favorite. You are a luminare. All the better, then. The old fool will rescue you at all costs."

Luminare? What the hell is that? A confused jumble of thoughts rushed through Hermione's head. What had just happened?

Watching her face carefully, Voldemort chuckled softly, but the laughter did not reach his eyes.

"You don't even know what that is, do you?"

Hermione glared up at him defiantly.

"Of course I do!"

"Well, we'll see about that, shan't we?"

[*]

Later, after they both had been thrown unceremoniously back into the prison cell, but this time, they could hear the low sound of two guard's voices just outside the door. Apparently they weren't being left alone again.

"What's going on, Draco? Why did he let you go instead of killing you? What did I do?"

"One at a time, Hermione, calm down."

"Calm down? CALM DOWN? I don't even know what the bloody hell is going on, and it seems that I did it!" Hermione hated to be ignorant of anything, and probably done nearly anything for a library in which to do research at that moment.

Draco sighed, defeated. "Alright… its just as confusing for me as it is for you. First off, do you know what luminaria are?"

Hermione let out a great exhale of frustration, and plopped down on the ground beside Draco.

"No."

He nodded, "I figured you didn't."

He closed his eyes pensively, gathering his thoughts together.

"Luminaria are witches or wizards with certain... extra powers. They are also known as 'The Warriors of Light'. They are extremely rare, and it's a magnificent gift to have. Luminaria have the absolute purest magic of anyone alive. It is said that once, all witches and wizards also possessed this pure power, but after many years it was weakened by corruption and misuse. Among the things that they are capable of – they can learn and master wandless magic a lot easier than normal magic folk, and they have amazing abilities to fight dark curses without the aid of a wand. They all fight for the good side. They have powerful magic, and are smart and quick. It's just in them, you know?"

He looked deep into her eyes for a moment, and added, "Voldemort thinks you're one of them."

Her eyes widened. "What? Draco… that's not possible! I didn't even know what that meant until now!"

"Hermione, think about it! I'm guessing that you broke out of this cell using wandless magic, right? And back in there, when Voldemort put the Cruciatus Curse on you, just seconds after, before he even had the chance to take it off or enjoy your suffering, you fought it off without even meaning to! If anyone ever tried to put the Imperious Curse one you, you'd probably fight it off in seconds!"

He was excited now, and he jumped to his feet and started to pace the length of the cell.

"I can't believe that we never saw it before… you always were way ahead of the other kids in magic, you could always do all of the spells, no matter how advanced… we all just thought you were brilliant, but no one ever guessed that you were a luminare! Do you reckon Dumbledore knows?"

Hermione sat in stunned silence.

Draco came back over and sat beside her, taking her small hand in his.

"Do you think that we could get out of here somehow?" Hermione asked quietly.

"I'm not sure… its really all up to you, you know, I can't do anything without a wand."

"I can't believe that I had never even heard of luminas before! All the books I read!"

"Well, I don't think there has been another luminare for centuries… besides Dumbledore, of course."

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head "HE'S ONE OF THEM? Why doesn't anyone ever tell me anything?"

She glared accusingly at him, as though it was all somehow his fault.

Their conversation was cut short by the sudden sound of yelling voices outside of their door.

One moment, everything sounded normal and quiet, while in the next, it was complete chaos.

They stared at each other for a moment.

Had the Order come to their aid at last?