Hermione and Harry were spinning non stop through various fireplaces. Hermione could think of nothing else at the moment but keeping her hold on Harry as firm as possible. He seemed to have lost a lot of blood and her main goal now, was to get them away from Voldemort and to keep Harry alive.

The world was spinning frantically in front of the two teenagers when suddenly Hermione and Harry fell onto a carpeted floor, which was now covered in ash. The first thing Hermione did was to set an enchantment on the grate which forbade anyone to floo through it. She also put up some simple wards and charms around the house, which would alert her if anyone came within thirty feet of the premises. If they were lucky they'd have ten minutes before Draco could redeem himself by telling everyone he'd heard which grate she had shouted as she left the manor. He promised to hold them off as long as possible, but he couldn't guarantee her a time limit. It all depended on how instense Voldemort's rage would be and who he would blame.

Hermione quickly dragged Harry a few feet from the fireplace and onto the living room couch, placing his head under pillows. He seemed only half conscious as to what she was doing. Harry could only groan and mumble every once in awhile in pain. She quickly pulled off his shirt and examined his wounds. Large gashes split over his chest and blood was oozing out in heaping amounts. She checked his forehead for a temperature but couldn't gauge anything accurate as his body temperature was already high due to the torture he had just been through. She'd just have to hope nothing serious had occurred internally.

"Harry? Harry, can you hear me?" Hermione said frantically from the floor next to him, as she took both her hands and grabbed his face slightly.

Harry's eyes fluttered open and he groaned once more. He gave a slight nod of his head to affirm he was still conscious and could hear her.

"Oh, thank Merlin. Okay, I'm going to do some simple healing spells on you, okay? I need you to lay completely still." Hermione threw her cloak off and dug around inside of it, pulling out three small vials. She quickly shoved two different colored ones aside and settled with the dark purple one in her hand.

"This one is a blood replenishing potion, Harry. I need you to lift your head up so I can give you some." She said, pulling the stopper off the bottle, and mentally thanking herself for carrying the extra healing vials with her that she had taken from Slughorn's office earlier in the month, just in case something like this happened.

Hermione tipped the liquid into Harry's mouth and he swallowed it easily, which was a good sign. She then grabbed her wand and steadied herself. She wasn't an expert at healing; in fact she only knew a few spells, mostly the basic stuff like healing a cut and mending small bones. Thanks to Draco, she also knew how to hide bruises, which could prove to be helpful since they needed to sneak back into Hogwarts undetected as if they'd been there the entire time.

Hermione closed Harry's cuts, and managed a sloppy, but effective job on his larger gashes. She cleaned up his face, and hid any bruises that his clothing did not expose. She expected there would be no permanent damage.

"Okay Harry. I need to you sit still again for another five minutes and let those seal up. Then we really need to get out of here. I'm going to get you some water." She said, as she quickly shoved his shirt back on.

Harry nodded meekly in response and Hermione left him to go across the hall, into her kitchen. It was then that she came to the full realization that she was back in her muggle home. At the manor, when Draco asked her where she should floo to once she got to the fireplace, the first logical thing that popped into her mind was to go home. It was rather ingenious actually. The house hadn't been touched since her parent's murders, and she never closed the connection to the floo network. It was still in her name and she hadn't been able to take the time to decide if she was going to sell or keep it.

She reached over the counter to grab a glass from the cupboard and noticed that the kitchenware had a light film of dust over it. Everything was as the Granger's had left it. Hermione keenly felt the loss of her parents for the first time since school had started. She had been too busy with planning the break in and collecting and destroying horcruxes that she hardly thought about it. However, now that she was standing in the middle of the sorrow that filled her all summer it was hard to ignore the mental agony. The house was empty of life. But her and Harry were still here. They were both alive, and that gave Hermione hope.

Her parents would have been proud of her tonight, proud of her bravery and courage. Hermione smiled at the thought, determined to make her parent's deaths not be for nothing. She swallowed the last of her tears and put on a determined face. It was her job now to get her and Harry out of here safely, and she would do just that.

Hermione filled the glass with water and left the kitchen, finding Harry in the same position she had left him in on the couch.

"You didn't move, that's good." She stated, smiling down at him. She lifted his head up and poured the water into his mouth. Harry took it easily which was a good sign for his recovery process. With the liquid down his throat, he finally managed to speak.

"Where are we?"

"My house. My parent's house."

"How long are we safe here?"

"I would venture to say we've got about three more minutes. Shall we?"

Harry slowly pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Take it slow, okay? Do you need to lean on me?"

"I think so."

"Okay." Hermione steadied herself, as she helped Harry to stand and he threw his arm around her.

Hermione led them out the back door and into the moonlight.

"Is this where it happened, Hermione?" Harry asked suddenly.

"Yes. It was right here. I was reading earlier in the day and I had fallen asleep on a blanket in the back. It was much warmer then, not like it is now. There were flashing lights and shouts. I heard my father scream first, then my mother, and finally nothing."

"Hermione, I'm so sorry."

"It was horrible, Harry. It was just…horrible. Then…." She trailed off, lost in her own thoughts.

Harry gave her a few seconds before he spoke again.

"Then the silver eyed savior came?" Harry said, managing a smile toward her.

"Yes. Then Draco Malfoy came, and he saved my life." Hermione said boldly.

"Hermione, what are you talking ab-" Harry began to ask, but before he could several pops of apparition sounded around them. Hermione held onto Harry tighter as she turned on the spot thinking only of the Honeydukes cellar.

…..

…

….

"There! They were right there! I saw them master!" Bellatrix Lestrange said through the darkness of the muggle neighborhood.

Voldemort, Bellatrix, Rookwood, and Draco were standing in the backyard of Hermione Granger's home just as they had four months prior.

"Yes, I saw them too Bella. It seems as if young Draco here is telling the truth," Voldemort hissed in the darkness.

"I would never lie to you Master." Draco said as sincerely as he could using legilimency as Snape had taught him years prior. "As I said before, I found the mudblood upstairs and confiscated what I thought was her wand. The stupid piece of filth must have had a fake spare with her, or she transfigured some object into a replica. I was certain I had disposed of her wand. I heard her shout the name of a household into the fireplace before they flooed away but I couldn't remember what it was until Bella here thankfully remembered the stupid girls muggle last name so I suggested we try here. I am terribly sorry that I lost them both Master. Please, please forgive me. None of this was intentional."

Silence filled the small backyard as Voldemort paced back and forth in front of the three death eaters. He finally stopped after a few minutes and stood facing Draco, who was only a few feet away.

"You are forgiven Draco, and I will spare your life. It is a shame to waste a perfectly bred pureblood servant after all, not to mention you are a valuable asset inside of Hogwarts. However, I almost had Harry Potter tonight, and now he is miles away most likely back at Hogwarts. I am very very angry Draco. Although it is possible that none of this is directly your fault…I need to make an example of someone, and seeing as you seem to be the only person apologizing to me tonight, it seems only fair you take the burden of everyone's punishment," Voldemort said, smiling evilly as he fumed with anger.

Draco had been afraid of this, but as long as Hermione was safe and his own life seemed to be spared for now, he could live with torture.

"Yes, master," Draco said, bowing his head and placing his knees to the ground to accept his punishment.

Cool air whipped his sweat filled brow and the night was suddenly peaceful. It reminded him of the previous July, just before the attack on this very ground, watching Hermione Granger looking up at the stars in the night as he waited to destroy her and her family. He remembered the sudden feeling of longing in that one moment, a feeling that attacked him so suddenly he felt he could nearly die from it. In that moment, Draco Malfoy knew it was her. He knew she was the one, and from then on he needed to protect her from all harm. His mother said it might happen like that. He had acted quickly that night, apparating her to Weasley's house. He hoped he had acted quickly enough tonight to get her back to the castle safe. The wind flowed around what flesh of his was exposed and he felt at peace.

A few crickets sounded in the distance before a menacing 'CRUCIO' was bellowed through the night. It was shouted once, then again, and again, and again, and again…

…..

….

…..

"Okay, let me see how you look," Hermione said, breathing heavily. She had just practically carried Harry through the passageway from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts, and down four flights of stairs. They were now standing outside the great hall where music was still playing from inside. She estimated that they had only been gone for an hour and a half or so.

She examined Harry closely. His glasses were still intact and any dirt and grime had been wiped from his visible skin. When standing still he looked perfectly fine, although bits of his costume were obviously torn, but he could hide that easily.

"What about your limp?"

"I can hold it together for a few more minutes. Let's just get in and out of there. Make sure McGonagall sees us and a few others, and then head back up to the dorms. I have more potions there for healing so I should be okay for tonight. You did an amazing job Hermione, I owe you my life."

Hermione blushed slightly. "I'd always come back for you Harry. You're my best friend; I could never leave you there, no matter what silly promise I made to you before."

"I know, and I'm eternally grateful."

"How do I look?" Hermione asked.

Harry examined her carefully.

"You're tank top is soaking through with blood still. Hermione, are you okay? Did you take any of the blood potions?"

"You needed it more than I did. Besides I only gained a few injuries, mostly just small bruises. This blood is mostly dried anyway from before the incident with the stairs and all. I used an invisible shield charm on myself just before I was dragged down by Malfoy so none of the injuries actually hurt, I just had to make them look like they did."

"Pull your cloak tighter so you're not going in there with blood all over you. Other than that you look fine. I'm surprised though; I thought Malfoy got you pretty good?" Harry said, some sort of realization dawning on him. "How did we get out of there anyway, Hermione? Didn't Malfoy break your wand? And didn't you just say something about him just before we left your place tonight?"

Hermione could not have this conversation right now; she was too exhausted and hurt. But she knew she couldn't hide it from Harry forever. It was too obvious now, and he'd put the pieces together soon enough.

"Harry, I promise I will tell you everything tomorrow after we take care of this and get a good night's rest. I promise."

"Okay, Hermione. I believe you."

They smiled at each other once more and shared a quick hug, glad to be alive. Hermione pushed open the doors and they were welcomed back into an entirely different world than the one they just left. There were dancing teenagers in every direction. Someone had magicked the ceiling to act as a strobe light and some type of techno beat was blaring over head. Harry scanned the crowed for McGonagall but didn't have to look far. She was standing on the right side of the hall telling off two younger students for dancing too closely. The Headmistresses seemed outnumbered as far as the student to professor ratio, and eventually threw up her hands in defeat when she saw Harry and Hermione walking toward her.

"Where have you two been?" She shouted hoarsely over the music.

"We've been here the whole time." Hermione tried the first excuse she could think of.

"You must certainly have not! Miss Weasley has been worried sick wondering where you two have been off to!"

"We were...upstairs Professor," Harry said suddenly, thinking of the first thing that he could.

McGonagall seemed taken aback at first, unsure of how to deal with the bluntness of the information given.

"Oh. Very well then you two…have…fun…" She trailed off awkwardly, leaving them standing alone once more.

Hermione hit Harry lightly on the arm.

"Harry! Seriously? That's what you came up with! She's going to think we're together now or something!"

Harry managed a laugh, followed by a few wheezy coughs.

"Well? It worked didn't it?"

Hermione smiled at him, but the motion quickly faded as Ron came up to face them. He didn't have a scratch on him. He looked as if he'd never even left the hall.

"I'm glad you both made it back okay. I was so worried," Ron said uncomfortably, but still looking sincere.

Hermione was unsure of what to say. Ron had been unbelievable this year. First he refused to listen to her. He tried to take her as his own again and again, unwilling to care for what she wanted. More shockingly he abandoned his friends, almost leaving them to their deaths. Draco Malfoy was the real hero for them tonight. Not Ron Weasley.

Harry seemed unsure of what to say too, until Ginny came running up to them and quickly hugged Harry tightly. This caused Harry to moan in pain and push her back slightly.

"Harry? Where have you been? Are you in pain? Is everything okay?" She looked frantic, but also in a determined healer mode examining Harry quickly. Hermione knew Ginny was skilled in a few healing spells as well and she was the person Harry needed right now.

"Ginny. Go take Harry up to the dormitories. He's hurt. You need to take care of him. I'm sure he'll explain to you what you need to know."

"Hermione, I don't understand."

"Ginny. GO!" Hermione commanded pointing at the door which they had just come in.

Ginny nodded at Hermione affirming in her eyes that she would take care of Harry first and ask questions later.

"Thanks again Hermione." Harry said quietly as he allowed Ginny to help him back to the dorms.

Hermione was left alone with Ron in the chaos now. People were jumping all around them and Ron's hair flashed a vivid orange in the strobe light. She'd never hated that hair more than at that very moment.

"Hermione what happened?" Ron asked suddenly, grabbing her hands in his. His eyes were desperate for forgiveness and explanations.

What had happened tonight? The three of them broke into the Malfoy manor, looking for a horcrux. They were attacked. Harry was tortured, and Ron abandoned them. Draco Malfoy saved their lives, possibly at the risk of his own, and they made it out just barely alive.

"Let go of my hands Ron," Hermione said quietly.

"Hermione, tell me what's wrong! What happened?" Ron asked desperately.

"RON!" She shouted ripping herself away from him. "You are never, ever to touch me again. You left us alone tonight, and we almost died. You're just a selfish coward, only concerned with your own needs. I never want to talk to you again. Ever."

Hermione swiftly turned and left the great hall and the deafening sounds it was pulsating throughout the castle. Her face was wet with tears, but not from having talked to Ron. Her heart was racing a mile a minute, as she tore up the flights of moving staircases finally reaching her floor. She sprinted down her corridor until she came to her portrait, speaking the password out of breath. She got inside and searched frantically everywhere. She checked the common room, his room which was unlocked, and her room, but she was alone.

Hermione could only wonder desperately where he was at that very moment, as she allowed herself to sink down into the couch and burst into tears.

A/N: Please review. Appreciate it!