Draco.

Draco was thoroughly amused by Potter's expression when he, Hermione, Weasley and a very insistent Astoria showed up at his door. Weasley had begged her not to come along as what they were doing would be risky, but Astoria had simply refused to be left behind. Draco had always admired her stubborn nature.

"Um… Hello?" Potter said, gaping at the peculiar sight, but once the shock had sunk in his attention directed to Hermione.

"Mione!" He grinned, pulling her into a friendly hug,

"Hi Harry… I'm sorry I haven't visited in so long… I've been err… busy" She affirmed.

Potter gave Draco a strange look,

"So I've heard…" he replied awkwardly, letting of his friend. Hermione blushed slightly, causing him to smirk to himself.

"So, why are you all here?" Potter wondered, glancing round at the group.

"We need your help." Hermione blurted out bluntly, knowing that they were quickly running out of time.

Potter frowned, "Okay… What with?"

Draco sighed loudly, he was becoming very bored of hearing the same story over and over and chose to block out all noise while Hermione briefly explained.

He watched as Potter's face turned from a frown to a look of complete horror. And before he knew it, he was being shouted at furiously.

"MALFOY! I TOLD YOU SHE WASN'T SAFE!" He bellowed; rage flaring in his green eyes, "I SAID YOU COULDN'T BE TRUSTED AND I WAS RIGHT!"

Draco would not let Potter talk to him like that and wanted nothing more than to send a rather cruel spell in his direction, but Hermione was there so he decided against and spoke with a calm voice.

"Potter… it's hardly my fault that my father has gone completely insane…" Draco replied impatiently. Why was everyone arguing with him today? Astoria and now Harry bloody Potter?

Thankfully, Hermione was there to calm her best friend down.

"Harry, stop please… Don't be mad at Draco. It was my idea to go to the Manor in the first place…"

Potter went to speak but snapped his jaw shut quickly and huffed in defeat. No one could win an argument if Hermione was involved.

"So will you help?" She asked eagerly. He didn't hesitate to answer; it was obvious he held no kind of grudge towards her.

"Of course, I won't let that evil bastard touch you" He smiled, before glancing up at Draco who was solemn.

"Yes offence." He added.

Draco almost chuckled at his light-heartedness if it wasn't for the fact that he was a complete git.

"Alright, let me just grab some things that might come in handy" Potter said before rushing inside his home. For some reason Hermione and Weasley followed like lost sheep. He supposed they were so used to doing it; it was like a second nature to them.

But that meant that he was left outside with Astoria, which he did not like very much.

"So…" She mumbled, swivelling round in his direction, her soft blue eyes meeting his grey ones. There was no anger in them anymore, just sorrow.

"Look… I'm willing to put the past behind us, but just answer me one question" Astoria confirmed, not removing her deep gaze.

Draco was extremely wary whether to agree to this. He didn't know what the question may be or if he even had an answer. He groaned gently, but nodded.

"Alright, what is it?"

She began to twiddle the ends of her blonde hair uncomfortably.

"Why did you run?"

Draco took a sharp intake of breath. He was then vividly reminded of how he had physically run from their wedding, which seemed the right thing to do at the time, but looking back. It was cowardly and he very much regretted it. He didn't however; regret not going through with the wedding.

"Because I couldn't marry you… I'm sorry" He voiced, coming out as almost a whisper.

"You could have just talked to me…" She sighed, staring down at the ground.

"I know. And I am truly sorry…" Draco hushed. It was true, he was. But he was also glad that he had run from the wedding otherwise Hermione would have never entered his life. And then he would definitely be sorry.

Hermione.

"Wand… Invisibility cloak… Emergency Portkey…" Harry mumbled frantically to himself, making sure he had everything he needed.

"Harry mate, is all this necessary?" Ron moaned, "We just got to take down stinkin' Lucius Malfoy… This ain't some big mission" He shook his head at Harry's over thinking.

"I know… it's just in case!" he explained, raising both eyebrows.

Hermione giggled quietly at her two friends bickering. It was good to be in their company again, just like old times.

"Guys… thanks so much for helping" She said, stopping herself from laughing, "But we need to get a bloody move on!" She was rapidly becoming impatient at her best friends lack of urgency.

"Ok Mione, let's go!" Harry beamed racing downstairs, "Let me just go and tell Ginny… I can't just go racing off!"

Hermione and Ron rushed behind him, but made their way to the front garden to find Draco and Astoria acting surprisingly happy around each other.

She was suddenly overcome with jealously, something she had never really felt before, apart from that time with Ron and Lavender.

Draco was smirking and almost laughing at Astoria and she was giggling merrily at something funny he must have said. The scene sent a bubble of anger through her stomach. She had to do something.

So Hermione strolled over to Draco and without warning, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. She felt him sink into her embrace, placing his hands gently on her waist and returning the kiss. It almost made her forget their mission and that everyone was now staring at them.

Astoria seemed very taken aback and gave them an amused look.

"Ahem!" Harry chirped, strolling out of his front door and trying not to seem too grossed out by Hermione's sudden display of affection. She could tell Harry wasn't too pleased with her dating Draco without her snogging his face off right in front of him.

They pulled apart and she blushed fiercely. Draco was smirking wildly at her and bit his lip as if to say 'We'll finish this later' which only made her cheeks redden more.

"Hermione! You're the one who said we had to hurry" Harry said bewildered, "What are you playing at?"

"Sorry, right… let's go" She replied, still flustered by what had just occurred. It was totally out of character and somehow Hermione felt oddly thrilled by the experience.

"Are we heading straight to Malfoy Manor then?" Ron wondered.

This was a good point. They hadn't actually figured out a plan of action from this time. This was weird as Hermione was usually the one to plan ahead, but this time she was clueless.

"Let's just head straight there and get this done" Draco pitched in causally, gazing up to the sky, "Besides… it's getting dark."

They all agreed with this notion and so each of them clutched onto Draco's arm as he would be the one to apparate them. It was better that way as he knew the exact location of the wards and would make sure they didn't end up within them. The last thing that needed was for Lucius to be immediately alerted and come rushing out before they could even prepare themselves.

Hermione thoroughly hated the sensation of a side-along apparation and as they lifted off the ground, she felt strangely nauseous. But landing with Malfoy Manor coming into view made her feel much worse.

A/N: So, what will happen now? Dun dun dun! Thanks so much for all your reviews, it means a lot!