Hermione stiffened. She had forgotten they were going. Now, shame flooded her whole being. She got up from the chair but couldn't look at him.

"Yes, I still want to go."

Draco smirked at her. "Good, I thought so. Now, shall we discuss the price."

"Price?"

"That's right. There's a price for risking my neck and my family by taking you out of this comfy little hide away." She paled at that thought. "What's wrong? Don't you think Potter and Weasley are worth it now? You seemed desperate to see them before. You won't get another chance. They decided tonight to… you know, finish it tomorrow morning. We thought he would crucio Severus for asking, but he acted like he didn't even know who Potter was. Father will be relieved to get those two out of the house."

Hermione couldn't be more disgusted with this conversation. Her brothers were being treated like refuse and he wanted payment for taking her to say goodbye for five minutes. "What do you want Draco? What more can you take from me?"

"I want to know what you three have been up to all this time. What was it that Dumbledor wanted you to do?"

Her eyes grew big and her lips slammed shut into a line. Waves of anger rolling off her, blocking her thoughts. "I'm not going to tell you anything you death eater's bastard."

Draco should have known the smartest witch of her age couldn't be bought so cheaply. He wandered over to his drinks cabinet and filled a glass. "What's the big deal? With the two of them gone, you're on your own. Whatever he wanted you to do is beyond your reach now." He came up to her and rubbed his cold glass along her jawline and down her cleavage. "But perhaps it's not beyond mine. Malfoy manor has a library bigger than Hogwarts, and nothing is restricted. I can… well I'm not sure what I can do. Until I know what it's about anyway."

Hermione looked at him like he had three heads. "And just why would you help me do anything against your master?"

Draco scowled. "Let's just say it's a back-up plan and leave it at that. Besides, you gave me your word that you would willingly do anything I say."

She folded her arms across her chest. "I didn't say I would ever betray Harry." He began to object but never got the chance. "You are asking for my trust Draco. It's time you give me a reason to trust you."

Draco's eyes became like fire, and he pushed her up against the wall, his hand on her throat. "How about your still being alive!" He released her and walked away. "Trust me? That's rich coming from you princess. I know you're up here plotting all day to get me killed." Her eyes widened in surprise and objection. Draco downed his drink and put the glass on the table. "No matter, I could just as easily imperious you. Is that what you need? Deniability? You need a guilt free reason to tell me what I want to know?" Refilling his glass, he sighed and made a decision. "Okay princess, how's this for trust. I already know what a horcrux is."

Hermione looked like a deer in the headlights. She grew pale and it was a good thing she was still leaning against the wall.

"So, I'm right. You've been hunting horcrux." Draco plopped down on the couch, and she followed him.

"How? How do you know that?"

"Did you think you're the only ones who suspected it. The bastard won't die! There's not very many ways to do that, even in our world." He took a sip and winked at her. "I'm a very low priority for him, so I can watch from the sidelines. Every time you killed one, old Voldy would stagger like a drunken whore and disappear. The next day there was an article in The Prophet about you causing havoc at the ministry or destroying Gringotts. It fit. So, what do you know Hermione? How many are there? How many did you get and what were they? Are there any more still out there?"

Hermione put her face in her hands, trying to think. Did she dare give him the information he wanted? If she did, would he help her? He was right that there was no point in her secrecy any longer. She knew she had to continue the hunt and couldn't do it alone. "Take me to Harry, and I promise I will give you the answers when we return."

Draco nodded and opened his mouth but never got to speak.

"Wait! This dress isn't very practical for where we're going. Can you transform it into something more appropriate please?"

His face hardened and he rolled his eyes. "Yes, I suppose, as you asked so nicely princess. What color ballgown would you like?" A flick and muttered charm and she was dressed in black slacks and a black jumper. "How's that? Not exactly posh, but it will help to hide you."

"Ahem, shoes?"

He looked at her feet and found her toes to be particularly cute suddenly. The Gryffindor red polish on her toenails, a gift from Insea no doubt. Draco found himself smiling and cleared his throat. "Right." She now wore a pair of sexy hot pink flats with straps up over her ankles.

Hermione looked down and admired them, raising an eyebrow. Possible list addition, foot fetish?

Draco looked up to see her smirk. "Let's get going. Insea!?"

The little elf appeared and bowed low. "Yes master?"

"Insea we need to get to the cell down below where the dead prisoners are, undetected. I want to get there as quickly and quietly as possible. Do you think you can take us?" He asked, knowing the little elf could get them past the wards without raising an alarm.

The elf smiled and nodded his head. "Of course master, I'm an elf."

Draco smiled and patted the creature on the head. "Now Insea."

Insea stood between them and took their hands. In an instant they were in the cell. Draco dropped its hand. "You will stay here Insea, until we need to return." He looked up to see her staring as if petrified. "Hurry up Granger, the clock's ticking." He waved his wand for a quick Muffliato charm.

Hermione's eyes were just getting used to the darkness. When they adjusted she could see two bodies on slabs with a cloth over them. Something in her wanted to run away and not accept this as reality. The other half already knew the truth. She approached them with shaking hands stretched out. Pulling the cloth aside, she saw their faces in the dim light. The candle flame cast strange shadows across their faces.

Whoever placed them there had done so with reverence. They lay peacefully with their eyes closed and hands folded at their waist. Hermione could no longer see the fear and worry and exhaustion each one wore every day on their face. They were at peace. It gave her a small sense of comfort to know that all the terrors they had faced in life, didn't follow them in death.

Her job to keep them hopeful and on task was done. Now she had only to be afraid for herself. The burden fell off her shoulders and she seemed lighter in a way. "Goodbye Harry." "Goodbye Ron." She whispered as she kissed their cold cheeks. "I love you both so much. I miss you every minute. Forgive me for what I must do to survive. I must see our mission through. Wait for me. I will be with you soon."

Hermione's eyes were full of tears that she couldn't stop, but they fell silently. "Goodbye. Goodbye."

Draco had been watching the hallway, careful to listen for the slightest sound. He saw a flicker of light growing brighter and knew they had to go. He went to her side trying to pull her away. "Hermione! They're coming. We have to go!" But she would not move from the sight of her fallen friends. "Hermione, now!" Still, she would not move. In desperation he grabbed hers and the hand of the elf. "Insea, get us out of here!"

They landed easily in his room. Hermione looked as if she were in a trance.

Draco was very angry. That's what he got for doing something nice for someone. He took her by her upper arms and shook her. "What is wrong with you?! You could have been seen!" Still, she didn't wake from the near catatonic state. "Granger? Can you hear me?"

He grabbed her chin to look at him. Her face the image of defeat and desolation. She stood still, like a statue made of marble. Her eyes were vacant and hollow despite the tears falling down her cheeks.

"Hermione?"