Draco smiled as he turned the corner, leaving the invisible Hermione to tell the others to prepare to evacuate the Room of Requirement. If the diadem was really in there and they could destroy it then all they had to do was destroy the snake and Voldemort himself. Then his Hermione would be safe. His Hermione. The veela beast within roared with satisfaction. Just last night she had finally told him she loved him. Draco had felt on top of the world since.

"There you are!" Zabini called from his leaning place against the wall. The corridors were nearly empty at this point.

"Here I am." Draco said smugly easily gaining back his Slytherin swagger.

"I was waiting for you. Come on were going to be late to potions."

They walked a few feet before Blaise started up another conversation.

"You coming to the party tonight?"

"No." Draco said in disgust.

Zabini looked up surprised. Draco cursed himself. He was not being in character lately. The other Slytherins were getting suspicious. He only just covered up the Daphne Greengrass incident in time. He had confunded her into believing Hermione's green cloak was hers. He only hoped Amycus bought it. The professor/death eater was already regarding him with suspicions since Potter had 'escaped'.

"I'm just sick of Pansy. I mean really, how many times do I have to say no?" Draco said trying to sound annoyed.

"I hear you there. Hey, did you hear that Snape is coming in today as headmaster. He should be making an announcement at dinner tonight."

"I can't wait." Draco lied as they began descending the stairs.

"Yeah it will be so nice to not have to – whoa are you okay?" Zabini caught Draco just in time as he nearly fell down the stairs. A sudden flash of panic overcame him. His veela senses kicking in.

Hermione was in trouble.

"I…I have to go. I'm suddenly not feeling well." Draco turned and started running up the stairs away from Zabini.

"You want me to cover for you?"

Draco ignored the other boy, racing as fast as he could to the last place he saw Hermione. He nearly slipped on something and to his horror picked up the discarded invisibility cloak. He pocketed it, pulling out his wand and dropping his school bag in a panic. As he ran, another pain grasped at him. His dark mark was burning. Someone had summoned Voldemort. The panic in him flared. The two things must be connected. He needed to get to Hermione.

…..

….

….

"Harry what's wrong? Are you alright?" Ron stood up frantically at Harry's sharp inhalation of breath.

His friend was suddenly on the floor, hands grasping the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Ron could only put his hand on Harry's back as he was catapulted into what he assumed were visions. Minutes later Harry stopped thrashing.

"What did you see?" Ron asked, his face pale.

"He's coming."

"Who?"

The door suddenly flew open, and the boys looked up expecting to see Hermione. But Draco Malfoy was standing there instead. He threw his robe off shutting the door behind him.

"He's coming." Draco repeated Harry's words, somehow making it seem more ominous.

The three stood in shock for a moment before Harry spoke.

"I saw more. He knows we're hunting horcruxes. I saw it in his mind. He went through them all, the diadem showed in his mind, as well as Nagini. He will be keeping her close when he does come. It will be hard to kill her, but we can do it."

"We need to get out of this room." Ron said suddenly. "Take only what we need. The map, the sword, basilisk fangs, and wands."

"Hermione should be back any moment. Grab her things Draco."

"No she won't." Draco said panicking once more. "I just met with her to confirm the diadem in the room of requirement. I was on my way to potions when I felt her panic. She's been taken. Mostly likely by Amycus. He summoned Voldemort. They know you're here, and they're using Hermione as bait.

"Oh God." Ron said running a hand through his hair.

"Amycus has suspicious about me. They'll be confirmed when I go after her. But he's the only one. I have to go to her. You two need to get into the Room of Hidden Things and find the diadem and destroy it. I'm going after Hermione."

"Okay." Harry said taking a deep breath. "You know they'll mark you as a traitor once you save her, right?"

"Does it matter? I can't live without Hermione. I need to save her. You two destroy the diadem and whenever Voldemort shows up we'll have to try to get to that snake before we can get to him." Draco headed toward the door and threw it open. "Be careful…oh and Snape should be here any moment. He's the new headmaster."

"Not for long." Harry said determined, grabbing the sword of Gryffindor in one hand, his wand in the other.

"Damn straight." Draco said nodding to each boy once.

"Go save our Hermione." Ron spoke to Draco in a fierce voice.

"I will, and I'll kill that bastard if he's laid a single finger on her." And with that Draco slammed the door.

….

…..

…..

Hermione was fighting to stay conscious. She had watched only moments before as Amycus summoned Voldemort to Hogwarts. She was caught, and he had made sure she paid for escaping his last lesson. After Amycus seized her wand, Hermione had been mercilessly dragged up two flights of stairs by her hair and into the DADA classroom. On the way there Amycus didn't mind laying a few blows to her head while she was choked by the silencing spell on her. Her mind screamed for Draco.

As Amycus slammed the door behind them locking it with magic, he threw her into a desk releasing her silencing spell. She screamed in agony. From the ground she heard him put a silencing spell on the room. No one would hear her scream. Surely Draco would sense her panic, her pain. A shadow came over her and she whimpered. Amycus wasn't finished.

He bent down beside her, tucking a lock of her blood matted hair behind her ear.

"You made me look like a fool in front of my lord." Amycus looked murderous. "I told him the Potter boy was still inside of Hogwarts. He didn't believe me. Accused me of lies. I was punished for this."

Amycus lifted his shirt showing a deep dark scar running along his muscled front. His sharp blue eyes turned a deeper shade, and his dark hair hung in loosely around him.

"Do you see what pain you've caused me mudblood?" He snarled down at her, and hit her once again across the face. Hermione saw black for a moment before reality came back to her once more. She must have only been out for a few seconds because Amycus was still in the same position. He grabbed her hand roughly.

"I don't think you understand the pain I've been through!" He roared at her, forcing her hand to run itself along the long deep scar. She tried to pull back, repulsed at touching him there. She had never felt another man's flesh there besides Draco's last night. His skin had been hot and smooth for her. Not like this. This felt gross and wrong. She didn't want her good memories of touching Draco in this spot tainted by Amycus.

"Please, stop." Hermione managed to mumble as dark spots over took her.

"As much as I'd love to continue beating on you little mudblood I fear you may lose consciousness. And that wouldn't be much fun for me with what I have in mind." He said darkly, moving her hand from the scar across his abdomen to feel the flesh below. "I'm going to mentally destroy you." Hermione gasped in shock and horror.

"No. Please don't. I'm a mudblood. You wouldn't want me like that." She tried pleading her last resource.

"I've taken plenty of mudblood's against their will. But, I think you will be the most fun. This is personal. And you're so young…I bet you're still a virgin too." Amycus grinned evilly as he released her hand. "I'll give you a chance to run little mudblood. After all what's the fun in doing this without a chase? I want to hear your heart beat with adrenaline and panic."

She stared at him dumbstruck until he began loosening his belt buckle. Hermione scrambled backwards still on the ground. She quickly lifted herself off then and took off for the door. She tried to open it but it was stuck with some sort of charm. Amycus had her wand. She felt herself panic. Where was Draco?

Hermione let out a few choked cries of panic as she tried a few of the windows, they wouldn't budge. Tears began streaming down her face, as she limped from potential exit to potential exit. She was trapped. Amycus was on his feet now, striding toward her.

"I hope you scream and thrash when I take you mudblood." He said, and she stood frozen in fear. "I want to hear you beg me to stop."

Hermione tried to run once more but he caught her and backed her up against a wall.

"You won't enjoy this a bit."

Amycus forced his mouth on her and she screamed in dread. His kiss was firm and hard, and she could feel other parts of him begin to feel the same. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she heard him rip off part of her shirt sleeve. He shoved a hand up her shirt and she thrashed against him desperately.

Suddenly a loud boom echoed in their ears. Amycus froze reflexively and turned to find a giant piece of the wall across the way missing. Draco Malfoy stood in the rubble looking murderous. His tall muscled frame shook in anger as his eyes took in the scene before him: Her tear stained face, Amycus' hands touching her in places that were not his to touch, and Hermione's torn sweater.

He didn't hesitate.

"Avada Kedavra!" Draco screamed, as he strode toward the two.

Amycus died immediately, his hands still stuck in Hermione's shirt, and one in her hair. She was shaking uncontrollably. Draco quickly closed the distance between her and the body. He threw it from Hermione quickly. Then turned to its crippled form, pointing his wand at it.

"Crucio!" He screamed at the lifeless body.

"CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO!" Draco cried over and over again as the body moved itself further way with each spell.

When Draco uttered his last crucio he was shaking in anger. He turned back to his mate. She was still standing against the wall. Bruises forming on her face, blood in her hair, clothes torn, and tears still falling. Her body in full tremors, she was staring down at the floor fixated on nothing.

"Hermione." Draco said passionately. Quickly he came to her side covering his body with hers. His warmth over came her and she slowly lifted her arms to encircle his. His arms wrapped protectively around her.

"Baby, Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I got here as soon as I could. I wasn't quick enough dammit!" Draco said whispering furiously in her ear. "It's okay baby. He can't get you ever again. Do you hear me? He will never touch you again."

Hermione buried her head in Draco's chest, her body convulsing in sobs.

"My Hermione. My sweet girl. I'm so sorry I was late. I love you. I love you. I love you." Draco's reassuring breath fell in her hair and her body relaxed with his words. "No one will ever, ever touch you like that again. You have my word. You are mine. I will always protect you. You are safe with me."

Hermione slowly pulled back from him, wiping her eyes.

"You killed someone." She said hollowly.

"I'd do it again in an instant." He said defensively.

"Thank you." She whispered.

He nodded looking pained. He put both of his hands gently on her shoulders and she looked up at him.

"I know you've been through so much, but it's not over yet sweetheart. I'm so sorry. But there's still so much to do." Draco said softly to her. "I love you. You are the strongest, bravest woman I've ever known Hermione Granger. I just need you to be strong for a little bit longer. Let me heal these wounds. I have a replenishing potion with me."

Hermione nodded and Draco ran his wand over her body, watching as her bruises healed and wounds sealed. He'd have to deal with the emotional wounds later. He wished he could do it now, but there would be no rest until this was over and Voldemort was finished.

"Hermione baby. I love you."

"I love you." She whispered back.

"When this is over I'm taking you to a vacation wonderland. We'll go anywhere you want. Hawaii, Italy, Australia. We'll find a beach front villa. I'll hold you all day and all night. We'll talk, laugh, rest, and I'll love you. I'll love you so good Hermione. I'll make sure all your pain is gone. But right now we have to save the wizarding world."

Hermione nodded determined. The spark of life and fury coming back into her eyes.

"Okay….okay. I can do this."

"Of course you can. You're the strongest person I know."

"Yeah….I can do this. But I want to go to Greece instead, and when you say beach front I really mean beach front. Private beach front."

"Done." He smiled sweetly down at her, fixing her sleeve with a swish of his wand. Kissing the spot where her exposed flesh used to be. "My brave, brave Hermione."

He kissed her forehead and he heard her breathe deeply in and out. Draco accioed her wand to his hand and gave it to her.

"Okay, let me fill you in on what's happening." Draco said, shielding her eyes from the body, he slowly led her from the room talking all the way.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews!