A/N: Review! Review! Review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Quote from Dante's Divine Comedy.

Hermione strained every once and awhile to look back at Draco. He'd led the way when they'd first descended into this maze of a tunnel, more than likely fueled by distress and awkwardness from his goodbye with Lucius.

She's wanted to give them both privacy no matter how much she worried that Draco was in danger of toppling over at any given moment. She'd clung close to Theo, staring down her birth father and his inquisitive dark eyes.

The green had come from her mother, she'd idly thought as he examined her before letting out a breath.

Afterwards it had been quiet inquiries to her well being, if her family had cared for her.

He hadn't apologized though, and Hermione found that even if he had, she couldn't have accepted it.

Not when it was too fresh in her mind.

Yet all of that had fled her mind when she'd seen Lucius draw Draco into his arms. He was stiff and Draco even more so, but at the same time she couldn't tell if her heart felt more full or more broken at the sight.

Draco had broken away still somewhat shocked before schooling his features and calling for them to follow as they delved into one of the many tunnels that stretched from the dungeons of Nott Manor.

Her ancestral home.

That was such a strange thing to think.

Draco had slowed quickly once they'd walked the first two miles. To begin with he hadn't been fully healed, now with the new injuries he'd sustained, she was worried about his draining energy.

And he'd been tortured.

Suddenly, she knew exactly what he must have felt when it had been her under Bellatrix's wand.

Helpless. She'd been completely helpless, and unlike Draco, mind arts had never been her strength. She had no way of even attempting to shield him. It had been like all her knowledge, all her research, had failed her...because she'd failed him.

She sighed, knowing there was no way to truly approach Draco about her concerns. She turned to Theo, who had been similarly quiet throughout their trek.

"How much longer do you think?"

Theo blinked, startled by her sudden speech. He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure, but it must be soon. The pull of the wards is less. We have to be nearing the end."

They slowed to stop. The thought of what they were going to do when they broke surface suddenly at the forefront of their minds.

"We have to apparate." Draco said coming up behind them.

She didn't miss the way he moved with visibly stiffness in his limbs.

"A couple of places before we head toward the Resistance."

She quieted, meeting Theo's gaze before she turned back to Draco unable to hide the concern from her eyes.

He'd surely splinch himself if he attempted to apparate in this state.

"We'll have to side along with you Hermione." Draco continued lowly.

Her eyes widened and already she could feel her pulse quickening.

The last time she'd apparated, she and Ron had…

She felt a warm hand cover hers.

Draco looked at her with a measure of concern.

"Ok Hermione love?"

She focused all her attention on simply letting one breath in and then out, all the while lost within his eyes.

She nodded after a moment. He was right. She knew roughly where they had to go. Theo didn't, and there was no way she would let Draco apparate them when she was concerned for him even walking the remaining distance to the end. It made sense the more she analyzed it, and realizing it filled her with warmth that she'd been lacking.

She could do this.

She had to.

She squeezed his hand before quietly murmuring, "Ok."

He gave her a thin smile, dropping her hand.

She caught a glimpse then at the slight tremor in his own before he quickly shoved it into his pocket. His eyes grew unfocused, and the struggle he seemed to have to re-focus was incredibly obvious.

He winced before moving to step forward.

"Let's go."

"Draco." Theo spoke then, watching the other closely.

He didn't turn, but she could see the telltale signs in his wavering balance. She came up to him and threaded her hand back through his. He shook in her grasp, letting out an even shakier breath.

He seemed to be mouthing something that she struggled at first to piece together.

It's bound not wild. It's bound not wild.

"Come back Draco." she whispered, pulling at his hand. In a moment his eyes blearily fluttered open, clear and focused on hers.

He shuddered unconsciously leaning into her.

"Let's take a break for a while. We'll be moving non-stop after this. We could use the rest" Hermione murmured feigning exhaustion by leaning against one of the walls of the tunnel.

If he knew that she was saving him from the wound to his own pride, he didn't show it. He merely nodded and tiredly went down to sit, pulling her along with him.

Theo looked grim meeting her gaze before he to joined them on the floor.

Draco lent his head back to rest against the rough wall of the tunnel.

Part of him was surprised at how easy Hermione had let his episode pass. He'd thought she'd cave and ask at least one question about it.

He was thankful she hadn't.

She'd probably sensed how weary he was. It was hard to hide with his movements sluggish and his breath shallow.

He hurt.

Much more than he was showing.

His limbs would still twitch, his chest felt twisted into knots, and his vision was fading and sharpening to images conjured by his mind and the sight of the tunnel before them.

He blinked, unsettled by the dark spots that were popping in and out of either sight.

The vision had been brief, but not strong enough to have so easily overridden his shields. It had been confusing, more so in how odd it seemed; like something more out of the past than the possible future. Yet, something about it. The feel of it was so painfully familiar. It was unsettling and had his head not been throbbing, his lungs not lacing each breath with the taste of blood, and his sense of balance perfect, he would have tried to make sense of it. But he couldn't.

That thought alone had led to this quick concession for a rest.

Frankly, he eyed both Hermione and Theo, they all needed it.

He'd been hesitant to force the weight of their apparation destination on Hermione considering the last time she'd apparated months before. It would be hard, he knew, but he was in no state to attempt it. He doubted Theo could manage to apparate them to a place he'd never been.

He let out a shaky breath, letting his eyes close.

No matter what thoughts he was using to distract himself the one that seemed to be so obnoxiously louder than the rest was that last goodbye.

He tugged at the strands of hair at his neck.

As if Lucius hadn't been a bastard before, he just had to continue to confuse him with these conflicting actions.

'What on earth are you doing?' he'd hissed in frustration, when what he'd really wanted to ask was why. Why now? Why act like a father, like a remotely decent human being now?

'You're my son, and I have seen you nearly die far too many times for comfort.' He'd responded quietly.

Then that...that embrace. Where in Salazar's name had that come from?

He didn't know what to think about that; what to feel.

Lucius had never been an involved or attentive parent. He'd never expressed explicit pride...he'd never told him he'd cared about him. Sure, there were certain actions that pointed to that fact, but it had never been stated.

Often, especially when he'd been young and even more so when he'd fallen ill, he'd questioned it all the more. The man had barely visited him at the hospital. Though his mother had said he spent the nights there with them, he would always be gone by morning feeding him doubts at whether it all had actually occurred.

What had changed?

Was it because this new world order was not all it had promised him to be? or was it because his position at the top was no longer secured?

No. The way his father's face had momentarily shown anguish over his state….that wasn't how one looked at a person they merely considered their heir and a means to an end.

The whole jumble of thoughts and emotions was not helping his already raging migraine.

He stood, mindful of his rather precarious balance and the increasing churning in his stomach.

He'd had enough running his mind in circles over speculations.

"Let's keep moving." He murmured not waiting for an answer before he began making his way deeper into the tunnel.

They broke to the surface after half an hour more of walking. Hermione was never so relieved to see a glimmer of sunshine.

She'd rubbed her eyes and it had been like rubbing away the remnants of a bad dream that had lasted much too long before she'd woken.

The tunnel had been a different world, dark with only their wands for light, and a place that left her mind too free to contemplate her worries and foster more as her thoughts turned to what exactly would happen when she walked back into the Order with two known marked men.

Although that first sign of the fading sun, which was giving way to a night that had a clear sky had seemed to quiet that restlessness in her.

From there we came outside and saw the stars.

Yes, the endings of a beautiful sunset and the beginning of a long but peaceful interlude with the bright constellations.

She'd apparated them all with a faint smile tugging at her lips.

She did three jumps before she felt safe enough to risk apparating so close to the Order headquarters.

They made camp on the western edge of the forbidden forest near a small muggle village that Blaise had told her about. This is where everything became trickier.

She didn't know the exact location, but Blaise had said that it was marked by solitary and abandoned looking cottage. She was debating how she might be able to track the magical activity when Draco had dragged her off to bed.

"Stop thinking. Stop worrying." He nipped at her ear.

She laughed turning her head as he began ghosting his lips lower and lower. She pulled at his shirt eager to feel him.

"I'm not." she lied.

"You are." he countered, throwing off his shirt and quickly doing the same for her.

His fingers moved over her ribs before reaching to unclasp her bra.

"Maybe." She conceded not moving her mouth from his to speak.

He shook with silent laughter as he examined her healed body.

The wards at Nott Manor had done a number on her, many if not most of her scars were gone. She traced her fingers over his scars, relishing in the slight shiver that went through him at the motion.

She wondered how he felt about his. He didn't seem self-conscious, but with Draco it was hard to tell.

Even if the sight of them brought tears to her eyes, she did love them. Every last one of them, because they were him. All and completely him.

"I love you." she whispered as she opened her eyes to look up at where he was towering over her. "No matter what."

He gave her an amused look, though beneath it she could see that familiar bit of insecurity he still clung to.

Or maybe it was worry.

"Always." she continued pulling him down and when they kissed next, she wasn't sure why, but it tasted like pure melancholy.

He pulled away, letting his hands cup her hips ,and his thumbs run soothingly over the bone.

"Always?" He asked burying his face into her hair and softly running his nose against her neck

She pulled him up to face her, cupping her hands around his face.

"Yes."

He smiled brighter, fuller, so that even that dimple she so adored made an appearance.

When they kissed next, she was pleased that it was considerably more passionate and tinged in bitter happiness than before. They spent the night tangled in the feel of it.

Draco slept fitfully and when he finally did wake the next morning, the cramping of his gut forced him out of the warmth of the bed and immediately to the one loo within the tent. When the clenching of his stomach and churning in his gut settled, he grimaced at the staining red in the cool white ceramic.

Fuck.

You've been through worse. You've been through worse. You can handle it.

Shakily, he stood, momentarily worried that his legs wouldn't take his weight. He pulled himself up, leaning heavily on the edge of the nearby sink.

Internal bleeding? Possibly, it would make sense. He rubbed at his chest, above his still bruised ribs.

Hesitantly, he reached up to feel the skin between his upper lip and nose, sagging with relief when he met no wetness dripping down.

At least he had that.

He washed quickly before quietly making his way into the makeshift common area of the tent to rummage around for the various medical supplies he'd managed to grab when they'd quickly fled.

He finally settled for and Advanced Wound healing potion and a blood replenishing potion.

Not an ideal combination, but he hardly dared to try healing it completely himself.

He slumped onto a nearby chair after taking the potions, vanishing away he vials. He lent forward covering his face with his hands.

This was not good.

He felt another presence join him, and without looking he knew it was Theo.

"What's going on Draco?"

He sighed, dropping his hands to look at Theo.

He wanted to lie, but that was just prolonging the inevitable. Theo wouldn't believe him. He wouldn't believe him. The scent of blood seemed to be clinging to him, so potent that it was filling his airways to the point he wanted to choke.

"Those last few crucio's really did me in." He murmured, letting his eyes drop to examine the cracks in the floor.

"You need to tell Hermione."

He looked up quickly.

"No. I'll be fine until we reach the Resistance. They'll have supplies, actual healers. It'll be fine."

Theo gave him a look of doubt.

Did Theo suspect that something worse was afoot? Pansy had, but Pansy was different, a true stickler for details. Theo was attentive, but he was more big picture and long term.

Yet, Theo knew him about as well Pansy.

"She can help, at least until we get there." Theo sighed, "She has a right to know."

Draco scowled.

"Don't go playing the righteous and protective brother now Theo, she's only been your sister for 2 days."

Theo grimaced, and Draco was sure that that bit of hurt had sparked anger in the other. It was quite a surprise when Theo seemed to ignore that flame and instead slump forward in a sigh.

"Maybe so, but I'm not just being a protective brother Draco. I'm being a protective friend." He gave him a weak smirk. "Besides if I was being the brother than I should really be dueling you for going behind my back and presenting a token to my sister."

"At least you know my intentions are honorable." Draco snorted before growing solemn, "You don't...even though it's me…"

Theo took pity on him and cut off his rambling. "Better you than someone else. At least I know you love her."

Theo would have done better had he actually dueled him. Saying something like that knocked the air right out of his lungs.

Gods it hurt.

The truth of it hurt and ached and healed…

It was because of that love that he didn't want to tell her, not yet. She had enough to worry about with their abrupt gatecrashing into the Order headquarters.

"Salazar's rod I do." he muttered.

Theo looked like he wanted to say more, but it was just then that Hermione came in, freshly showered but still sleepily rubbing at her eyes.

She came up to him and draped one arm over his shoulders and leaned in to kiss his temple.

"You weren't in bed." she whispered near his ear.

"I got tired of waiting for you to wake." He teased lowly.

She snorted, kissing the tender flesh near his lobe before pulling away to examine his face. Her fingers brushed at the gray beneath his eyes, as she dropped closer and kissed his cheek. He gave her a thin smile, which she returned briefly before she bit her lip. Sh wanted to speak. He could tell, but she seemed to be still debating what to say before Theo spoke.

"Alright. Alright enough." he said, "Enough touchy feely shit. I do not need to be see my sister and my best mate exchanging spit before breakfast."

Hermione blinked in confusion before she broke out in laughter.

"Sorry to have offended your delicate sensibilities Nott." he snorted.

Theo rolled his eyes and turned to look through the food supplies Hermione had brought.

"I don't know about you two, but I like to meet my enemies on a full stomach."

Hermione chided him in between her lingering laughter as she turned to help her brother sort through her array of supplies.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair watching the scene.

Today, they would be meeting the Order.

He couldn't help it, but the thought filled him with a sense of dread.

Draco was hiding something from her, and she had a feeling she knew what. It wasn't hard to see that fading bit of color on his face or hear the effort he took in taking each one of his breaths.

She wanted to push him to speak, but she also wanted him to tell her of his own accord.

For now, she left it.

They had to get to the Order quickly.

She had a feeling he needed a level of care greater than what she could realistically provide.

She forced on a lighthearted air as they quickly packed up the tent and trekked deeper into the forest following the magical traces she was tracking.

"I don't like this." Theo muttered as they stopped a few hundred feet from the looming abandoned cottage before them.

She glanced at Draco, who grimly nodded.

"It should be fine." She insisted, "They'll see me and I can explain…"

"Granger." Draco interrupted, "They're going to see you with two known Death Eaters. I don't think they'll wait for explanations."

"They won't attack unless provoked." She insisted, though wearily noting Draco was probably right.

She wanted to believe the best of her fellow Order members, but this war had been hard and trying. In more than one situation it had been better to fire a spell first rather than wait for later.

"Then let me go first."

She didn't give them time to protest before she began walking closer to the cottage. She heard them scramble behind her, but they didn't reach her until she'd just about crossed, what she guessed, was the 100 foot radius.

They each had grabbed hold of one of her arms.

"Hermione we should wait -" Draco began before he stiffened and threw them all to the ground.

Her protest died on her tongue as she felt the heat of a spell nearly singe the top of her hair as it soared above them.

Shit.

She heard a cracking from beside her, and briefly she thought it might be Draco's ribs re-breaking before she jumped into action.

She cast a shield and began calling out for them to stop attacking them as she dodged stray spells.

She could see Theo sending out spells in retaliation out of the corner of her eye.

"Don't. Don't fire back. It won't help." She said.

Reluctantly, Theo stopped and stepped closer to her, reinforcing her shield.

"Fucking idiots." Draco muttered from behind her as he pushed them both roughly to the side. He stepped in front and pocketed his wand before stepping out of her shield.

"We're on your side." He shouted throwing his hands up in surrender. "Get your fucking senior members out here and we can talk."

She walked toward him.

"Draco get back into the shield." She said tugging at his arm.

"I'm not hiding behind a shield." he snapped, "I'm not cowering before them even if we still have to look non-threatening."

They were the definition of threatening. Both Theo and Draco were battle trained and worn and it showed in their stances. And her…well, her shield was holding strong.

They made for a threatening picture to be sure.

She was so lost in her musings that she didn't see the spell shot at them until Draco had pushed her once more to the ground, shielding her with his back as the spell hit him squarely.

"No." She shouted, rolling them over so she could examine him.

He couldn't breathe. It was like all his airways had shriveled up, burned by this incredibly heat that came over him.

He choked, coughing and wincing at the rustic taste that was filling his mouth and spilling over his lips.

"Shit. Shit. It's blood."

He blinked at his clouding vision, hearing a multitude of voices around him blending together.

"You were supposed to capture not kill." he heard some other voice speak.

"We need a Healer you incompetent prats." He heard Theo exclaim.

He shook with laughter as his vision continued to fade. He could feel himself slipping deeper...deeper...deeper.

Someone grasped his hands.

"Draco. Draco." they shook him.

Hermione?

"Please hold on. Please love." She whispered.

He wanted to. Truly he did. He parted his lips to say it before he found himself choking and coughing once more.

"Draco!" she screamed as everything around him went black.