Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: I'm so happy so many of you are enjoying my story! The reviews you guys leave me really encourage me to keep writing and continuing this story.

Chapter 22

Draco laid on his bed that night after downing a few potions to help with the side effects of his punishment from the Dark Lord following the Golden Trio's escape. Voldemort had been furious with the Malfoy's, adding this situation to their long list of failures. He gritted his teeth, tossing the empty potion bottle to the side and watching as it shattered on the marble floor.

He wondered where Dobby had taken Hermione to. Was she safe? Did she have access to healers and potions which could help with her recovery? Was she going to be okay?

Several questions ran through his mind and he did not hear his bedroom open and close, his mother walking in. Narcissa Malfoy looked around the terribly conditioned bedroom, her nose crinkling slightly in distaste.

"Draco, I beg you to allow Mippy to clean this room." she said, walking gracefully over to him before taking a seat on the edge of his bed, next to where he laid.

"Not now, mother." he muttered, throwing his forearm over his eyes.

Narcissa sat in silence, her cool finger stroking her son's cheek. "Are you alright, Draco?" she asked, concern evident on her face.

Draco slowly dropped his arm so he could look at his mother. He knew they'd have to talk about what had happened.

"I'm fine." he muttered.

"This Granger girl…" she began. "She said your name when I called for you. I do not think she meant for anyone to hear her but I did. She called you Draco." Her blue eyes searched his silver one's for some sort of answer.

"I will always support you, my darling. But I must know, what is she to you? You said you love her… you risked everything to save her. How did this happen, Draco?" she continued.

Draco broke eye contact with his mother, ashamed of what he had done to the girl he loved. "Nothing, mother." All he wanted right then was to get Mippy to fetch him a bottle of Firewhiskey which he could drown himself in throughout the night.

"Draco…" she pressed, reaching up to cup his face. "If I am to protect you for what is to come in this war I must know everything."

He sighed, choosing not to reply for a few minutes as he gathered his thoughts. "We were together. In sixth year…" he said shortly, not wanting to discuss his love life with his mother. "Until I orchestrated Dumbledore's assination and she found out I was a Death Eater. She hates me now, but I owed it to her to get her out of here yesterday."

Narcissa pursed her lips at the mention of what he had done. "Draco…" she said, her head lowered so she was staring at her hands in her lap. "I am very sorry for putting you in this position. Your father… he got involved before-"

"I know." he cut off his mother, not wanting to have this conversation.

He had been fucked over before he was even born. Being a part of the dark side during this war was just part of his destiny, it was inevitable. He understood all of that already, in fact he had understood that for a long time now. He didn't need his mother to say all of this.

"We will make it through this war, Draco." said Narcissa, placing her hand over his and patting it gently before she stood, heading for the door.

She stopped when she reached the door, her hand on the door knob. "She seems to be a very lovely girl, my love. I'm extremely proud of you."

Without another word she slipped through the door and Draco sighed, watching her go. He certainly didn't feel like someone to be proud of.


"I'm so sorry, Mione. When I was in the cellar and all I could hear were your screams…" Ron took in a shuddering breath. "It made me realize how easily I could've lost you. It's been rocky between us these last few months and I've been a horrible friend because I was jealous. After what happened at Malfoy Manor…"

Hermione stirred into consciousness, brows furrowed as she vaguely heard Ron speak. She let out a soft groan, rubbing her eyes before opening them to see Ron next to her. She gasped, immediately sitting up and ignoring the pounding headache she had as well as her extremely sore muscles.

"R-Ron," she croaked. "W-what happened? Where are we?"

"Hermione! You're awake!" Ron exclaimed, clumsily filling up a glass of water next to her before handing it to her. She drank it gratefully. "We're at Bill and Fleur's. Dobby… Dobby brought us back here before he…"

Hermione sighed, putting down her glass. Dobby had risked his own life to save them… another innocent, brave soul which was unfairly lost to the war.

"How's Harry?" she asked softly.

"He'll be alright." Ron said, taking a seat on the edge of her bed. "How are you, Mione? We weren't sure how long you'd be out…"

Hermione frowned, glancing over at the calendar next to her. March 16, 1998. She had been out for nearly an entire day!

"I'm fine!" she said, throwing her legs over the bed and moving to get to her feet. They didn't have time for this.

"Hermione!" Ron scolded, standing and slipping an arm around her waist to support her just in time for her knees to buckle under her.

She gasped, tears welling in her eyes as pain shot through her wobbly legs. "I need some healing potions. Does Bill keep a supply?" she asked after a minute. She focused on keeping herself up before she took a step forward, Ron's arm dropping from her waist.

She gritted her teeth, fighting the urge to collapse and forcing herself to take another step.

"Woah! Take it slow, Hermione." Harry was suddenly in the doorway, moving to stand next to ehr and guiding her back to the bed.

She huffed in slight irritation at Ron and Harry's cautiousness. "We have to move on, guys. There's still a lot to do and-"

"We know. It's only been a day, Hermione. You need to recover fully." Harry said, taking a seat next to her.

She hesitantly nodded in agreement. She wouldn't be much use to the cause in her condition. The trio sat in silence for a few minutes and Hermione looked down at her covered left forearm as memories of her torture slowly returned to her groggy mind.

"A parting gift is what she called it." she said softly, a tear slipping from her eye as she pulled back her sleeve to reveal the cruel, deep cuts of the word 'Mudblood' etched into her skin.

Ron's face grew red in anger as she exposed the mark and Harry ran a shaky hand over his face, sighing.

She knew the type of knife Bellatrix had used. She had recognized it right away. It was a dark magical weapon, meaning any harm done with the knife was pretty much irreversible.

"We're going to win this war, Hermione." said Harry, watching as she ran a shaky finger over the fresh wound.

"She'll get what's coming to her." promised Ron.

She slowly pulled her sleeve back down, no longer wanting to look at the hideous scar. "So, how did you two get out of the cellar?"

Harry and Ron looked nervously between each other and Hermione frowned, staring at them in question. "Well er.." Ron began, scratching the back of his head.

"Malfoy got us out." Harry said shortly, and Hermione's head shot up to stare at him, causing spots to dance before her eyes.

"W-what?" she asked in shock. It couldn't be.

"We don't really know why… I mean maybe we do, but he helped us get out. He wanted us to get you out of there." Harry continued, glancing at Ron.

"It's the least that slimy git could do after-" Ron started, though stopped at the warning look Harry was sending him.

Hermione ignored them, her thoughts racing frantically. Draco had wanted to get her out of there? He had helped Harry and Ron out of the cellars? But why? He had betrayed her. All of their relationship had been a lie, one big rouse to get her to help him fix the cabinet. So why would he help them?

He probably thought he owed you. For letting him run that night. She thought to herself, dismissing the idea that he might care.

No. There was no way Draco cared for her. If he did, he wouldn't have done what he had done. He wouldn't have left her without a word for all these months.

Harry and Ron exchanged knowing looks before they made to leave the room. Hermione watched as the door shut behind them before she gritted her teeth, slowly forcing her weak legs to take her to a nearby mirror. She gasped as she observed herself in the reflection.

Her skin was alarmingly pale and held little colour. Her eyes were bloodshot red and her lips chapped. She raised a shaky hand, brushing her tangled curls back so she could observe the small cut on her throat where Bellatrix had dug her knife.

She glanced at the door to make sure no one was planning on coming back in before she reached under the collar of her shirt, pulling out the thin gold chain holding a small dragon pendant. Her breath hitched as she thought back to the day Draco had given her the gift.

"As long as you're wearing that necklace, I'll know you're still mine." he explained and she felt her heart skip at his words.

"I won't take it off." she promised.

He eyed her with a serious expression at that. "Never?" he asked and she frowned in confusion. "You'll never take it off? You'll always be mine?" he pressed, reaching out to grip her upper arms.

She was relieved that neither Bellatrix or the Snatchers had not gotten a hold on the necklace, especially since she knew it was worth an arm and a leg. But that wasn't why she was relieved. She had never taken off the necklace, even after Draco's betrayal... she had promised she wouldn't and he had told her that as long as she wore it she would be his. And she was his. Always and forever.

So she had kept the necklace hidden under all of her clothes, ensuring that it was her own little secret. No one else knew about it; no one but her and Draco. And she hoped to keep it that way. She knew she could never open her heart up to Draco again, and after the war was over that wouldn't even be an option, however she couldn't let go of the gift. It had been the only gift Draco had given her and the sentiment behind it made her broken heart ache.

She thought back to when she had seen him in the Manor and the way her knees had ached at just the sight of him. She had promised herself that if she ever had to face him during this war she would take him down as she would any other Death Eater. But her body's reaction to just the mere sight of him said otherwise. He still had her wrapped around his finger, and she now knew she could never raise her wand to him. Not if she still loved him.

He helped you escape. A small voice in her head told her.

She shook her head. No. He had simply repaid her for helping him escape. He didn't care for her. He didn't love her. If he did he wouldn't have planned Dumbledore's death and used her to do it.

She swallowed hard, raising a hand to lift the dragon pendant off her chest. She eyed it through the mirror before taking a deep breath. She reached up, unclasping the chain at the back of her neck and slowly taking it off. Her neck felt bare without it. She stared down at the beautiful necklace in her palm, fighting back tears.

You're not his, Hermione. Not anymore. She told herself, before tucking the chain into the pocket of her jeans.

She looked around the room, her eyes catching a small potion vial next to the bed. She picked it up, downing the contents which he recognized as a healing potion. She felt the potion work it's magic, her legs feeling more sturdy under her.

She still felt horrible and the pounding in her head did not cease from the simple potion. She shuddered as she thought back to her torture at Bellatrix's hands. She had thought she was going to die, in fact she had wanted to die while under the Cruciatus curse. The pain had been like nothing she had ever experienced.

"You want to know how the Cruciatus curse feels?" Draco hissed. "It feels like your skin is being peeled from your body with a knife. It feels like every bone in your body is being broken at once. It feels like you're burning up from the inside out. It hurts so bad that as soon as you're under the curse, you're wishing to die. Because death would be better than that sort of pain."

She thought back to Draco's words at one of their first Room of Requirement meetings. He had been right. It had felt exactly like he had explained, maybe even worse. She had felt like she had been on the brink of madness each time the curse was lifted from her. In the moment of her torture she had hoped Bellatrix would grant her mercy and simply kill her because she was sure she would not be able to stand a second longer. But no… Bellatrix had lifted the curse, leaving her twitching and sobbing only to cast it again and again.

She felt her heartbeat quicken as she thought back to Malfoy Manor. She felt trapped just thinking about the place. She felt claustrophobic in her own body. She raised a hand, pressing it to her chest as her breath began to come out in short pants. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to focus on her breathing.

You're okay now. She tried to tell herself. You're safe.

"How did you steal my sword, mudblood?" Bellatrix's voice echoed in her ears and she whimpered, raising her hands to press against her ears.

"And when I'm done with you, I'll let Scabior have you. And Greyback. They seemed to have taken a fancy to you, mudblood. I suppose they want a bite!"

Her knees gave out under her and she fell to the floor, the potion vial she had been holding shattering next to her. Her breath came out in gasps and tears began to escape her eyes as she drew her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth on the floor as she tried to block out the memories of her torture.

"P-please," she muttered to the empty room. "I didn't steal it!"

The bedroom door flew open and she vaguely heard Harry's voice through her gasps. "Hermione!" Harry cried, falling to his knees next to her, his hands trying to pry her hands away from her ears.

"N-no!" she cried, instantly lashing out.

She struck Harry in the face, his glasses falling off his nose and onto the floor. Ron bursted into the room, blue eyes wide as he took in the sight before him. He dashed forward, handing Harry's glasses back to him.

"Hermione, what's wrong?!" Ron cried, moving to wrap his arms around her.

"Don't touch her!" Harry pushed Ron's arms back as the two boys stared hopelessly at Hermione, who was still clutching desperately at her ears.

"Make it stop." she whimpered quietly, squeezing her eyes shut. "P-please." she begged, Bellatrix's threats replaying over and over in her head.

Ron and Harry looked helplessly between each other before Luna walked into the room. She smiled sadly as she observed Hermione's panicked state.

"May I have some time with her? I don't think she'd like us all crowding around her." Luna's soft voice spoke as she stood before the trio.

Harry and Ron nodded, worried expressions on their faces. "We'll be right outside." Harry said, and the two boys left, gently shutting the door behind them.

"Hermione?" Luna asked gently, lowering herself to her knees across Hermione's rocking form. "It's me, Luna." she said softly.

"I'm going to touch you, okay?" Luna warned, before she raised her hands to Hermione's.

Hermione froze at the contact, though something about Luna's calm demeanour made her feel safe. "You're okay, Hermione. You're having a panic attack." Luna continued, gently lowering Hermione's hands.

Hermione slowly opened her eyes, her breath coming out in shuddering gasps as she locked eyes with Luna. "L-Luna…" Hermione whispered.

Luna smiled kindly, squeezing Hermione's hands in reassurance. "You're safe now, Hermione. I'm here. Bill and Fleur are downstairs. Harry and Ron are just outside the room. No one will hurt you here." Luna's soothing voice spoke. "Can you try and focus your breathing? Take a few deep breaths?"

Hermione gave the slightest nod before she sucked in air, holding it for a few seconds before she exhaled. She repeated this three more times, her heart beat finally beginning to slow to a normal rate in her chest. The girls sat together, Luna's hands comfortingly stroking the back of Hermione's as they repeated their breathing exercises together.

"Thank you…" Hermione whispered when she felt herself calm down. "I… I don't know what happened." she tried to explain herself, averting her gaze from Luna's in embarrassment. She felt like a child.

"It's alright, Hermione." Luna smiled brightly at her friend. "Sometimes you just need a friend to help you get through these things."

Hermione nodded appreciatively. She had no idea why she had broken down like that. Thinking about Bellatrix and the torture she had endured had triggered soemthing within her.

"Am I going mad?" Hermione asked, her voice cracking at the end of her question.

"No, you're not going mad." Luna shook her head. "You're dealing with what happened. You're very strong, Hermione."

Hermione looked down at their joined hands. She certainly didn't feel strong.

A/N: I really wanted to write this chapter following the Malfoy Manor scene! The books did not really focus on Hermione's recovery and I wanted to show how the torture affected her afterwards. I hope you all enjoyed. Please read and review! Reviews help me write faster!