The first few days after her time exploring the grounds with Malfoy drug on so slowly, and Hermione was sure any minute the death eaters would come knocking at their door. She kept her galleon in her hand most of the day, only putting it away when she was tending to the potion or in Malfoy's company. A mixture of heat or buzzing would go off consistently throughout the day, never more than an hour between them.

In addition to contributing to her paranoia, Malfoy's recent ad hoc visits made it impossible for her to leave the room during the day like she used to. Her only option was to go in the evening right before dinner time. The caveat in the change would be Voldemort's presence at the evening meetings. He still terrified her, and she had not found the courage to go yet, but she couldn't avoid it forever if she meant to pass more information onto the Order.

She was reading out on the balcony, enjoying the smell of the rain when she heard Malfoy storm into the bedroom, frantically. She set her book down and rushed back inside.

"What is it?"

Malfoy jumped and turned at the sound of her voice. This was it, they found out she was here.

"Merlin," he let out with a sigh and then leaned back on the frame of the closet door, instantly relaxed.

"What happened?" She asked again.

"Thought you had gone," he replied. "I didn't see you in the rooms. Didn't even think to look out there. You know it's storming out?" He stood straight up and took a few steps towards her.

"The roof keeps the balcony dry enough. I like the rain." She said with a shrug. He was just worried she had left, then?

Malfoy kept walking past her until he was standing in front of the window.

"You can see the pitch from here. There," he pointed out the window to the tops of the hoops. "I hate flying in the rain. It's such a tease to look out in the morning and see the hoops when the weather is like this. And past the trees to the left-"

"The barns. I always wondered what that building was before we went there."

He was dressed in his death eater robes, the formal ones they wore when they went out on missions. He had strikes of red surrounded his neck, like they had recently been healed but are still tender. His hair was damp, and cheeks look bitten from the cold, his hood not able to keep him dry with the amount of rain outside. He must have just returned from a task. She looked closer at his robes and confirmed they were soaked. Debris and dirt making mud on the bottom that skirted the floor.

"Do you want to join me?" She asked after a few moments. "You might enjoy it, once you get past the restrictions for flying."

"Always trying to change me, Granger." He looked at the clock on the wall. "I can spare a few minutes, just need to clean up. Have Neddy make us a cup?"

Hermione nodded and called Neddy to ask for tea. She seemed on edge when she arrived, mirroring her master. Malfoy came back out in a clean set of robes, but his neck still had evidence of his injury the dittany couldn't heal. He continued pointing out things he showed her on their tour, along with some areas they didn't get to. The grounds were massive, and it would take several days to properly see everything.

The conversation faded and they sat for a few minutes in silence, listening to the sound of the rain pouring down around them.

"You're hurt." She said quietly. He sighed and glanced at her for a moment before looking down at his cup.

"I'll be alright."

She nodded. He wouldn't tell her anymore if she asked. He was starting to look unsettled again. Looking out at his home like he was trying to memorize everything about it.

"Something went wrong, didn't it?" She couldn't help herself. Malfoy was usually so unbothered when he returned from his duties. The fact that he couldn't conceal his worries was affecting her.

"I don't know when I'll be back after tonight. You might be on your own for a few days. Neddy will be around if you need someone to talk to or if you get your cabin illness again." His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Draco…" There was a lump forming in her throat now. "What happened? Are you going to be alright?"

"It wasn't my mistake," he revealed, and relief flooded her. "Not that this whole fucking thing wasn't a mistake to begin with."

She couldn't speak, both excitement and terror paralyzing her. Malfoy was confiding in her like he has never done before. Like she has never heard or seen him do with anyone else.

"Keeping you safe is the only thing I know I'm doing right. And I'm not even doing a good job at it." He looked at her for just a moment before he had to turn away again. "I just left you up here. Felt that if I didn't physically lock you in that you wouldn't feel like a prisoner. I didn't even think about what the isolation would do to you.

I envied you. That you don't have to get near those low-life bastards that are taking over my home. My world." Hermione turned to face him, while he looked straight ahead.

"But it's not like that for you. There are people out there you want to be around. That don't make you want to die every time they speak. When this all first started, I just wanted to hide up here all day, but it wasn't an option for me. It still isn't. This is the only place I feel safe, but it's no place to live your entire life."

He looked right at her with his last statement. "I will get you out of here, Granger. I have to ask you to keep waiting but I promise you, I will."

She swallowed, trying to come up with the words to respond with but could only manage a slight bob of her head. Malfoy took her tea and refilled it while the tension between them started to release.

"I'm sorry you're stuck with me for your only company, in the meantime," he said, handing her back her cup.

"You're not that bad." She admitted, biting her lip. He gave her a sarcastic look.

"Anymore," she added.

There it is. That made him smile a little.

"Cheers," he replied.

"I suppose I should be honored. First girl Draco Malfoy fancies to be friends with." They had reached a point to call each other friends, hadn't they?

His smile grew a little bigger. "Granger, I don't know if you mean to offend me, or you flatter yourself, but I happen to have several female friends."

"Not likely," she quipped back.

He leaned in closer to her, licking his bottom lip before smugly replying. "You're hardly even my first muggle-born, girl friend."

"Now I know you're lying."

"On my honor," he said, putting his hand to his chest before standing up to leave the balcony.

"What- who?!"

"Oh look at the time, I've got to go."

"Malfoy, what are you playing at? Are you being serious-"

"Now darling don't be upset, she meant nothing to me I swear it."

"Draco!" She yelled and he merely glanced back, with a smile so devastating it stopped her dead in her tracks, before leaving the room.

Hermione had no choice but to attend tonight's meeting. She needed to know what had Malfoy and Neddy so worried. As much as Malfoy shared with her, he still refused to clue her into the details of any task. Besides, any information that couldn't be linked to him could be passed along to the Order.

There were more death eaters in attendance than there had even been during the day. Most looked in poor condition like Malfoy was when he first arrived. There was no food or drink going around the room. The silence was so consuming that Hermione had to keep her steps extra slow and light to not make a sound. Whatever went wrong today, it was bad. Very bad.

She made it to the corner of the drawing room by the fireplace, the crackling helping to mask any sound she might make. All the death eaters were either seated or standing around the table, with Voldemort at the center. She forgot how severe his dark magic felt. It was like a dementor was in the room, looming over all of them.

Lucius and Malfoy had yet to take their seats, and all eyes turned to them as they walked in the room with a few other inner circle death eaters.

"Are the interrogations complete?"

"Yes, My Lord." Lucius responded.

Behind him, a body was levitating. Dolohov. His unconscious body moves to float over the table like a corpse at the flick of Lucius' wand. The death eaters, including Malfoy, took their seats at the table.

"And?"

"We found no trace of treason, My Lord. Just carelessness. A few members were discussing the logistics at The White Wyvern only a few days ago."

"Fools," Voldemort snapped, "and where are these members?"

"The dungeons. They won't be regaining consciousness for some time."

"They won't be regaining consciousness ever. Bring them to me now." Voldemort hissed.

"Yes, My Lord." Lucius raised his chin to his son and Malfoy got up from the table and left the room.

"What did you make of Dolohov?" Voldemort queried, looking at the man hovering over the table.

"His allegiance is sound. He let me search his mind without occluding. The procedure was flawless. The only mistake was the lack of digression from the lower members of the unit."

Voldemort glared at Dolohov, fuming. It was one of his missions that went wron. She hated him even more now for putting Malfoy's life in danger. Even so, she couldn't help pitying the wizard in his undignified position.

"How far did we get?"

"The security at St. Mungo's was prepared for our attack, My Lord. It took all our efforts just to get through the wards. Draco led the team in the air and was able to find a weakness."

St. Mungo's. It worked. The Order was able to stop the attack.

"Once we were inside, we were ambushed."

Malfoy reentered the room with two more unconscious wizards floating behind him. He dropped them on the floor, hard, to the side of the table and then retook his seat.

"All of the medical staff and patients were gone. They cleared the hospital out before we even arrived." Lucius finished.

Voldemort sat back in his chair. The elves were bringing water to the table, Neddy setting a glass in front of Malfoy as Voldemort turned to address him directly.

"Lestrange tells me you got hit with an incarcarous and were able to wandlessly release it's hold?" His tone was so conversational, as if his fury before never happened.

"Yes, My Lord. I was the first to breach the wards and was ambushed on entrance." Malfoy confirmed.

"Wordlessly too?"

"Yes, sir."

"Impressive, young Malfoy. A wizard should never rely on anything but his magic. I had mastered unsupported flight at your age. I had nearly taught Severus before his untimely death. Perhaps you will carry on your godfather's legacy." Voldemort prodded with a wave of his hand.

"I will work on it faithfully, My Lord."

Voldemort nodded in approval before turning his attention back to Dolohov. "Lucius, get Antonin a room to recover in. He's paid enough for his failures this evening."

Lucius snapped at one of the elves and the next second Dolohov was gone. All attention now back to the unconscious death eaters on the floor.

"Well young Malfoy, since you were the one most affected by their carelessness, I'll grant you the honor of disposing of them how you see fit."

Draco stood at his seat by the table, his face schooled in his bored, aristocratic expression as he gracefully pulled out his wand.

"Avada Kadavra."

The green light hit the death eater on the left and Hermione covered her mouth as she gasped. She didn't know Malfoy could cast an unforgivable. She stared at him. His face free of charm, worry, as he pointed his wand at the other man.

Voldemort laughed. "You lack creativity, Draco. Though efficient, I will grant you that. Must get it from your father." He waved at Malfoy to sit down. "Rodolphus, please help our other friend on the floor demonstrate how I feel about carelessness in my ranks."

"With pleasure, My Lord."

Hermione left the room as the sounds of cracking and screaming filled the halls. Once she was out of earshot, she ran the rest of the way to Malfoy's rooms. She tore the cloak off as soon as she was inside and started gasping for breath.

Malfoy murdered someone. Someone who was defenseless, without even batting an eye. Had this gone on at every late-night meeting, or was this a special case because of the failed mission? They looked like they were snatchers, but they could not have been much older than she was.

It was her fault they were dead. No. She wouldn't let herself think that way.

The Order was able to defend the attack on the hospital and even if it cost two lives, that was what was important. Thousands would have died if the death eaters were successful in their siege of St Mungo's. She would have given her life to defend it if she had the chance.

Why would Malfoy go along with it, knowing what it would cost? He could have died today. She never would have seen him again.

The way they all sat around the table, like it was any other night, made her panic escalate. How could they just sit there as that maniac instructed two of their fellow members, possibly even their friends, to die.

She hated Voldemort for the fear and the death that he was bringing into the world. For risking Malfoy's life, and then taking a bit of his soul by forcing him to take another.

She hated Lucius. That idiot. He had all his pureblood money, and mansion, and perfect life and he ruined it all by following that mad man. By exposing Draco to him. Draco who was clever, and intelligent, and lovely, and addicted to sugar, and now he was a murderer.

She paced the study, her mind racing and jumping from one thought to the other. In the end, she was more motivated than ever before. She hoped Voldemort liked being angry, because she was going to spoil every mission they talked about in their meetings. Every. Single. One. He was not going to get away doing this to Draco.

Several more hours passed, and she was staring at the flames when Malfoy returned to the study. She shot up, not expecting him to be back. He smiled reflexively when he saw her.

"A bit jumpy, are we?" He teased.

"I wasn't expecting you. I thought you would be gone for a few days," she said in her defense.

"I'm just packing a few things before I go," he explained lightly as he walked to the drink car. "Tonight went better than I expected. I should be back late tomorrow."

Better? Hermione tried to hide her horror as he walked to his usual chair and took a seat.

"I suppose I overreacted a bit earlier," he said over the rim of his glass. "It won't happen again."

"No, it's fine! You should feel comfortable sharing stuff with me," she tried to say casually. "And I always assume you are being a bit dramatic anyways."

He ran his tongue over his teeth but grinned as he finished his drink. "I better get going, I was expecting you to be asleep when I got in." He got up and left the room and she followed him.

"I couldn't sleep."

"There's draught in the cupboard, I know how much you like it." He walked out of the closet with his bag. "Neddy is staying if you need anything."

"I have spent the night alone, Malfoy. I'm a big girl."

"You're puny. Try to stay out of trouble until I get back, yeah?"

Now it was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes and it earned her a smile. She couldn't imagine what happened in the few hours since she got back what had gotten him in such a good mood.

"Never."

"Miss you, already." He said jokingly and gave her a wink before apparating out.

She was left standing in the middle of the room. Less angry, but more confused than ever before.

Knowing Dolohov was recovering somewhere in the Manor made Hermione choose to stay within the safety of the rooms. She was surprised to see that his desk had been replaced with a mini grand piano. She recognized it as the one she admired in the piano room several weeks ago when Neddy arrived with her breakfast.

"Morning, mistress."

"Good morning, Neddy. Did you bring this here?" Hermione asked, turning back to the instrument.

"Yes miss. Sir asked Neddy to bring the piano from downstairs."

Interesting. "Do you know why?"

"Sir doesn't do much work at his desk, miss. Said it was a waste of space. Likes to do his work in main study downstairs," she answered simply. That wasn't quite what Hermione was asking but she decided to let it go.

"Does Malfoy play often?"

"Master Malfoy took lessons when he was a young wizard. Mistress made him practice with Miss Parkinson twice a week."

"And does he still?"

"Well…" the elf looked nervous, not wanting to speak ill of Malfoy. "Master Malfoy really preferred flying. Or reading, or homework."

"So, he whined and moaned until his mother cancelled the lessons?" Hermione said comically. The elf just smiled back and gave a small shrug. "Why did he want it brought in here, then?"

"Neddy's not sure, miss. It is pretty."

Not wanting to pressure Neddy, Hermione changed the conversation and asked her for parchment and quills, since she had been using the ones on Malfoy's desk. Determined to finish the Polyjuice potion, she focused on the last phase of brewing for the majority of the day.

She completed the potion and found her mind racing as she was cleaning up. She tried to think of whose likeness she would steal if the need should arise. It displeased her to know that the most likely candidate would be someone like Goyle or Theo, who Malfoy could ask to lay low or lie for him if necessary.

A worst thought crossed her mind while she was folding up the last of the leftover ingredients and putting it back on the storage shelf. What if Malfoy wants her to turn into Astoria? She wasn't there often, but no one would question if she came to visit Malfoy one day. As far as she knew they were still courting. Maybe even in a relationship with one another. Malfoy would have mentioned that though, wouldn't he?

He appeared with a crack and stopped her from spiraling too out of control. It took him a moment to notice her in the corner and his face relaxed when their eyes met, and she got another smile from him.

"Hi. I finished the potion today," she chirped like a child showing their parents a drawing they made. She wanted to bang her head against the wall.

He took a few steps towards her and didn't break their eye contact until he was standing next to her at the table.

"Yes, I can tell," he said tugging a curl that had popped out of the bun on top of her head.

The humidity and elements in brewing always made it especially untamed. She wished she would have had a moment to right herself before he got back.

"Is it supposed to look like that?" He was looking at the potion with a hint of disgust in his eyes.

"Unfortunately, yes. Tastes even worse."

"Lovely. Should I give it a go first?" He grabbed the same curl again and began to twirl it teasingly.

"Absolutely not." She replied, breathier than she meant to.

"Aww come on Granger. It'll be a controlled experiment." She narrowed her eyes as he continued to tease her. "I promise I won't look down."

"This potion is for emergencies. Not to satisfy your perverted curiosity." She hated that her voice shook a little bit. Why was he still standing so close to her?

"You're no fun," he looked down at her for another moment before clearing his throat and taking a step back. "I uh, I got you something," he said, turning and walking away.

"Oh, is that for me?"

He looked back at her and saw she's pointing to the piano. He was caught off guard and took a moment to respond, running his hand through his hair.

"Ah, no not that. I just wanted to get in a bit of playing. It's been a while since I can't really use the piano room downstairs." He stumbled through his explanation.

"Do you like playing?"

"Love it! Yeah. Been playing since I was a boy really."

"Hm." Either him or Neddy was a liar, and she highly doubted it was the elf.

"You don't mind, do you? The rooms are silenced from the inside, so I won't have to worry about disturbing any business." He sounded unsure.

"Not at all, I look forward to hearing it." She walked to the couch and sat down. "My gift?" she reminded him, and his normal grin returned.

"Patience, greedy girl." He grabbed his bag and sat next to her on the couch, "I wouldn't call it a gift exactly, but you might find it useful." He pulled out a book that looked so old, it must be held together by magic.

"Divina Puritas:," she looked up at him before continuing. "The Art and Standards of Wandless Magic."

"We have a similar copy in the library but it's incomplete. This one is much better," he explained. "Until we can find you a wand, it may be a good idea to learn. I can do a few simple things myself that I can teach you."

"Of course, yes. I- that's brilliant Malfoy, thank you," she brushed her hand over the book, wanting to get started right away. "This is totally a gift," she said, nudging him with her shoulder. She didn't think she could look at him again. Not when she didn't know exactly what it was she was feeling.

"That's just the first part, I got you this too." He held up a dagger, pulling the case off the blade. "It's goblin made of course. But it also has a powerful severing charm, you should be able to cut through just about anything with little effort." He shielded the case back on and handed it to her.

"Malfoy, this is too much. I can't accept this." She shook her head trying to hand it back. "I'm already indebted to you more than I could ever repay. It doesn't feel right taking anything else."

"I'm rich Granger, remember? And like I said they're not really gifts. The better you can defend yourself, the better for the both of us." He grabbed his bag and headed into his room.

"I want to help you," she said, or yelled at him more like while she followed him into the room. "You do all of this for me, and I feel so useless just sitting around here." He met her eyes for a moment before turning back around.

"I have years' worth of sitting around and not doing anything, Granger. At this rate you'll never catch up."

"That's not true. You-"

"It is true. And worse, when I stopped doing nothing, I started doing bad things." His back was still to her as he placed the contents of his bag out on his bed. "I am still doing them. You wouldn't feel that way if you knew what I was doing before I got those. Or what I did to get that."

She clutched the dagger a little tighter in her hands. She imagined its previous owner didn't just hand it over.

"Don't feel that you owe me anything. Thanks to you, I have a cauldron of a potion that even the dealers in Knockturn alley can't get in stock." He took off his outer robes and hung it by the door.

"Okay," she said as he walked by her again. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I've got to clean up. Have you eaten?"

It was late, and she didn't realize she had worked through dinner. She gave a tight smile and shook her head.

"I'll be quick so you can get dressed for dinner. I'll have Neddy set us up in the study."

"I'm fine, I'll just eat like this," she said, holding out her arms a bit and then shooting him her most innocent smile. He paused, giving her a thorough look over.

"That cheek is going to get you in trouble one day, Granger," he scolded her playfully before walking into the bathroom and closing the door.