Chapter 3

I do not own Harry Potter.

A little bit of context since I wrote this story a long time ago on paper and lost all the pages so I am writing it all over again. This story takes place on what's supposed to be the trio's summer after sixth year, and onto their seventh year.

Draco paled when he recognised who just apparated in front of them and fired a stupefy right at Hermione who unintentionally moved right on time to dodge it.

Intending to grab her hand to disapparate to the cottage where only both of them could access through the blood oath, he felt a sectumsempra invade every spot of that respective arm but he went through it anyway, holding a scream.

At that precise instant, Hermione's abashed face mixed with the increasing pain in his veins and the long-haired dark figure rushing towards them in a failed attempt to grab Draco, the force of the spells cast on them from every direction and the bloodlust Draco felt were enough to propulse them five feet away from the battlefield and for Hermione's shoulder to land directly in Draco's reach.

They vanished with a crack, leaving the death eaters still casting dark spells in every direction.

The foul stench of blood and leather transformed into a soft sea breeze that Draco couldn't enjoy more than a few seconds before howling in anguish.

Quickly scanning the surroundings for Hermione, he felt losing consciousness anytime soon. If she did not help him, he would die on the shore, leaving the world as a traitor to everyone, cursed beyond eternal slumber to an eternity of blasphemous thoughts of his memory.

Hermione's brain was having a hard time processing the rapidity of the occurring events. She barely had any time to take a breath and realise she was in a different place in a different time zone when she noticed Draco's figure bleeding at an alarming rate.

"Grang..." he pointed at something in front of them, but when Hermione looked, there was nothing.

"What's the incantation?" she pleaded helplessly, on the verge of tears.

It looked like he was using all the remaining energy in him to left his finger once more towards something invisible.

Hermione bend over him and took his face between her hands, her flushed teary face panicked.

"Tell me what I should do, please... Find the strength!"

She took his hand and tried to make him gesture her an antidote, a note, anything.

At that very moment, Hermione began to perceive an increasing change in the atmosphere, a sensation of warmth and joy.

A transparent figure was standing in front of them, warming their spot, and that's when Hermione fully comprehended what Draco was referring to. A transparent otter moving around them was healing him.

Hermione was wondering why she didn't see it at the same time as Draco, but only after absorbing the remnants of its healing powers. Could her memories be fogged? Or did she suffer from amnesia of some sorts.

Draco let out a sigh of relief and she returned her attention to him.

"How are you doing?" She blurted emotionally, unconsciously touching his face and looking closer.

He pushed her feebly.

"Get off me, Granger. The last thing I need is your filthy fingers all over my agonizing face." He gave her a repulsed glare, and even still recovering from the pain, was satisfied with the pinch of anger she was showing.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I'm trying to help and you're acting unexplainably hostile..."

"I don't NEED your help. We are here because of you and your selfish tendencies to throw others in the flames when you're equally responsible..."

Hermione was extremely sceptical. There was nothing she knew about him and she was certain they had no relation whatsoever.

She was adamant on uncovering what this was all about.

"Where are we? Why does it appear to be noon here?" She was baffled enough to forget how furious she was with Draco.

"Do you really not recall anything?" He asked venomously, not believing her in the slightest.

Hermione was sick of it, she simply wanted answers.

"Just tell me everything without any preliminaries. We don't have much time, they could reappear at any moment."

Draco frowned.

"No one can come here except for us." Hermione shook.

"Why is that?" Draco stood up and walked towards the entrance, and she followed him.