Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

On December 21st, the day of the winter solstice, a bomb went off in King's Cross. At least that's what the muggle newspapers had reported. The Prophet had said that the smoke from the spells and fire had spread outside and nearly blackened out the sun for blocks.

Winter greets us in smoke.

More than a dozen injured both muggle and wizard, and two deaths.

Her stomach had churned as she'd folded the newspaper and immediately flooed the Burrow. Neither Harry or Ron or the rest of Weasleys seemed to know anything more than what had been reported. The mark had appeared though, before the chaos. There were no questions about who was responsible.

Her mother had finally approached her, afraid that she'd fallen too deep into her chaotic mind and suggested that she join her friends at the Burrow. Though, she'd warned, there would be severe consequences if she was not home by Christmas.

She'd taken what she could and with haste run to her fireplace and thrown in the powder. Harry had greeted her with unspeakable understanding in his green eyes. Another piece shifted, and it was like Voldemort had waved his flag with the clear letters stamped out, Your Move.

"Why King's Cross?" Harry said, clutching a drink in his hand that smelled suspiciously of firewhiskey.

"Does it matter?" Ron retorted, stretching out on the couch so that his arm brushed her shoulder.

"Because." She said biting her lower lip, "Because King's Cross has always been hope."

She felt their eyes settle on her.

"It's always been the hope in beginnings. Hope at Hogwarts." She clenched her fist. "He won't take it from us. I refuse." She fixed her eyes on Harry, willing for him to catch bits of the anger that she was feeling. "We won't let him." Harry nodded after a moment.

"No." He whispered in agreement, "No we will not."

She nodded swiftly and ignored the pang in her chest. Silver flashed before her eyes. She wondered if he was receiving similar comfort now.

No. No, probably not.

It was at that moment she noticed the uncomfortable heat spreading along her neck. She clasped her necklace on instinct, before hastily dropping it. "Hermione." Harry said, his sharp eyes on the familiar pendant.

"I think I need to use the loo." She said quickly before rushing up to the room she was sharing with Ginny.

She quickly turned the locket over in her hands, biting back the uncomfortable burning at her fingertips. She murmured the incantation and waited. No voices. She glanced down and noticed words scrawling up along the metal.

I'm sorry.

They were quickly replaced.

I'm sorry I couldn't understand it in time to warn…

The words cut off, as though his thoughts had been abruptly interrupted. The need to reassure him was overpowering, but really what to say? How do you comfort someone who had probably been dreaming of this kind of terror for months, but was unable to understand what it meant?

She twisted the pendant in her hand, muttering her response.

Don't blame yourself. You know it wasn't your fault.

"Hermione?"

She heard Ginny knock on the door as she slowly entered. She dropped her pendant swiftly and turned. "Hi Ginny."

The girl looked at her quizzically. "What are you doing up here?"

She was about to answer, when she felt her pendant heat up again. She reached to touch it, and was shocked when she heard his voice sound in her mind.

Can I see you?

She bit her lip. The easiest choice was at the tip of her tongue, but her heart was pounding a very different answer to the question. Ginny was still eyeing her, though now with more interest than confusion.

She cleared her throat.

"I think I may have left some things back at my parents. I'm just going to pop over and grab them and I'll be back."

Ginny nodded slowly. "Ok, well, you know where the Floo powder is…"

"Actually." She grabbed her wand and jacket, "I think I'll just apparate."

She pushed passed the other girl quickly, clutching her pendant and murmuring her response.

Diagon Alley

She landed near the Leaky Cauldron, and slowly walked around. Her necklace flared with heat.

Go inside and I'll find you.

She nearly bristled at the message. She was never one to follow anyone's orders and having to follow them without control over the situation was too much. Though, when it came to Draco, she wasn't sure she was anywhere even near the realm of in control anyway.

She settled at a table near the back with a Butterbeer in hand, sipping and waiting. She kept her gaze trained ahead when she felt the hairs on her neck stand. A figure slipped into the table behind her. Slowly, she let her eyes drift back to him.

He was glamoured, signature light hair hidden in brown tresses. He'd even charmed his skin a few shades warmer. Yet, she recognized him, a testament to how well she'd gotten to know him. A napkin fell into her lap as he got up and left quickly.

She stared at it for a moment before an incantation popped into her head. Barely whispering, she murmured the words.

Upstairs. Third room on the left from the staircase.

After a breath, she crumpled the napkin and stuffed it in her pocket before following him up. When the door swung open, she was relieved to be greeted by his familiar light and pale features. He flashed the barest of smiles. She stepped in cautious of her surroundings. He'd already drawn the curtain around the window closed.

She fell into a seat and inspected him. He was worse for wear. The circles beneath his eyes were darker, and he'd dropped so much weight that his clothes seemed almost ill fitting. Almost.

He was still so beautiful that it hurt.

Him and his wreckage and his turmoil.

He mumbled something, moving to sit beside her. She shocked them both when she reached out to clasp his hand.

"It's not your fault." She said firmly. He trembled beneath her touch before withdrawing his hand and cradling it close to his body.

"Is it terrible that I'm relieved that it finally happened." He bit the inside of his cheek, "The visions always calm after the event happens." The last part was nearly a mutter, more to himself than her. She tore her eyes from his withdrawn face and glanced down to the forearm he was clutching to as if his life depended on it. That's when she realized which forearm he was clutching.

"Draco."

He shied away from her. "He did it, didn't he?" She whispered. When he didn't react, she grabbed his arm and pushed the sleeve up his arm. She barely had time to bite her tongue to keep in her shout. It was mangled. His pale flesh torn and cut. Some slashes, whenever he flexed his hand, were still bleeding. The mark was there, beneath all of it, irritated skin surrounding it's edges. Slowly, she brought her fingers over the scars and, after a moment of hesitation, the mark. He hissed as her fingertips met his flesh.

"Why does it look like this?"

"Because I resisted, and…"

"And what? You tried to claw it off you." She said, flinching as she realized how high her voice had risen. She chewed her lip before sighing. Her fingertips went back to the scars. "It looks infected Draco." He let out a small noise as her hands continued to message his skin.

They leant closer to each other.

"What does he want you to do?"

He pulled away, lowering his sleeve. His back turned slightly to her, and she hated the hurt she felt at the gesture. "What makes you think he wants me to do anything?" he finally asked.

"I know everything."

He chuckled, mirthlessly. "I know." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not today Hermione." She shivered at her name. Their faces were so close now. He took a breath, and realizing the proximity, he pulled away and stood.

"Thank you for coming." He said softly, turning toward the curtains.

This was her cue. He wasn't going to say any more, and she should leave. She folded her arms across her chest. "Draco."

He turned his head, allowing her a glimpse of his profile.

"You need to get something for your arm, a healing balm or something." She chewed her lip, "and you need to get some rest."

He nodded, "I try, but I think I slept better in our dorm." He dug his hands into his pockets. When he spoke next, his voice barely carried through the air. "I think it had something to do with you."

She bit her lip, not daring to breathe, lest she break this peace between them.

"I'll see you at school." She finally said, pausing at the door, "And Happy Christmas."

She didn't wait for his answer, instead rushing out of the room and out of the pub. When she finally got back to the Burrow, she barely made it to the loo before she burst into tears. A soft knock at her door, and Ginny joined her, holding her until the tears abated.

"Oh Gin." She sobbed, "It's all wrong."

Ginny nodded, and it was almost like she understood. Like she knew.

"Just believe that it will be alright 'Mione." She murmured as Hermione buried her head into the other girl's shoulder.

"I'm trying." She whispered. Silver eyes flashed in her mind.

"I'm trying." She whispered.