"Again."

"Crucio."

Theo's screams fill the drawing room as his body convulsed . It was the fourth time Dolohov has hit him with the curse, and Hermione didn't think she could be in the room for another minute.

Their mission to take over the Glasgow City Chambers had been disrupted by the Order. One of the new recruits disapparated on arrival, likely the traitor. Hermione was ecstatic when the news was first broken. However, she did not expect the Dark Lord to arrive during the afternoon meeting and punish the two young Slytherin's leading the mission for their failure. Theo was giving the debrief when Voldemort arrived, so he was receiving the bulk of his anger.

"Enough," Voldemort barked, and Dolohov relieved his spell. Theo remained on the ground, twitching and gasping with pain. Blaise looked like he was either going to be ill or kill someone himself. Malfoy was staring past his friend to an empty corner of the room, trying to remain neutral, Neddy not able to distract him with food and drink this time.

"Now Lucius," Voldemort continued. "How long will it take to gain back our position in Scotland?"

"Difficult to say, My Lord. The reinforcements in the muggle cities make it unviable for us to go in again with such small forces again," Lucius' voice shook as he spoke. He was not responsible for this failure, but Voldemort was raging; having lost a position of power so close to Hogwarts.

Voldemort directed his wand to Theo and lifted him so he was levitating off the floor, facing the table. Malfoy has to look away, but Blaise's gaze was locked on Theo as he fought for consciousness. Theo subtly shook his head, but the movement was so small she could be mistaken.

"Nott, Zabini, I am disappointed in you. Your sons have neglected to understand the importance of their mission. I hope their carelessness is not a result of your lack of dedication?"

"No, my Lord. I am as disgusted with them as you are," Nott spat. Zabini nodded in agreement, and Blaise was unphased by his fathers dismissal.

Voldemort stared at Blaise until he got his attention, "As it so happens, we cannot afford to have two of our leads down," he shifted his gaze back to Theo. "So you, Young Nott, will just have to make sure your comrades here don't forget."

"Again."

When Dolohov's curse hit him, Theo's head flung back and his scream was coarse as it bounced off the wall. She looked at the table, silently begging one of the death eaters in attendance to make it stop. Blaise's eyes are glossed over, a second from breaking. Dolohov was donning a sadistic smile as Theo thrashed, still levitated in mid air. He wouldn't be able to take much more. He was barely conscious before the last curse hit him and it had already been going on for nearly a minute. Someone had to stop him.. Theo's screams, mixed with her memory of being tortured herself, start to make her panic and she was breathing hard under the cloak. The word kept repeating in her mind as her eyes shifted from Theo to Dolohov. Stop, stop, stop.

STOP

Dolovov's wand flies out of his hand. Theo whimpered softly, his head hanging, no longer in control of his body. Eyes scroll around the table, trying to identify who disarmed him. Hermione was so relieved that the torturing was over, she has no time to celebrate her success with intuitive magic.

Theo drops lifeless to the ground with a thud. The Dark Lord looked from him to Dolohov with disinterest.

"Such curses should not be done with laziness Antonin, you are lucky the rebound was so minimal. Just as well, Nott, I don't think your son was going to last much longer." Theo's father gives an amused chuckle, not even sparing a glance for his son. "However, I fear the seriousness of the matter has not yet been conveyed. Draco! Let's see if you are better equipped to keep possession of your wand."

Voldemort set his bloodshot eyes on Blaise. Blaise's eyes were ice cold, and he rose from his seat and walked around until his body stood between Theo and the table. Hermione saw Theo try to stretch his fingers, but he didn't have the strength to move them an inch.

Draco rose from his seat and Hermione felt she was going to be ill. Blaise was still standing after the first curse, and Voldemort clapped in approval. Hermione couldn't take it, she was back in the room well before Blaise's punishment was over, not wanting to know how far Voldemort's rage would take it.

It had been five days since Blaise and Theo took off on their mission. Hermione knew something must have gone wrong when Lucius directed several more death eaters and recruits to join them. The muggle city had reinforcements in place before the death eaters departed the Manor.

Malfoy was getting more worried by the day. He has always had a habit of nervous touch, whether it be fiddling with his ring or breaking items into small pieces. On the more stressful days during the last week, he took to touching her. He would brush against her, even when there was plenty of room to avoid contact. He would sit as close to her on the couch as possible, throwing his arm over the back and fiddling with her hair between his fingers. One evening when she was brushing her teeth, he came up behind her and leaned his head on her shoulder. The act mirrored what he did the first time he kissed her, and she hated how much she was begging in her mind for him to do it again.

He never did though. He never touched her in a way that would have to be acknowledged. A squeeze to her shoulders as he walked by, pushing her hair off her shoulder to reveal her collar bone. He knew she wanted him to do more, but the little touches seemed to fill an emptiness in each of them that they couldn't bring themselves to voice out loud.

Tonight, it was like his fears became a reality. It wasn't Theo and Blaise's fault that the Order caught wind of their mission, they had no say in which recruits attended. But it made no difference to Voldemort. Whoever was leading the mission that failed would have to be punished in the end. Malfoy led a lot of missions, yet he had never been punished. Hermione doesn't know if she should be happy or devastated for him.

Her success at wandless magic was the only thing that kept her from spiraling. Disarming spells are simple, yet effective. Being able to perform one without a wand was a huge accomplishment. The book Draco gave her was proving to be as valuable as she suspected.

When the clock reached one in the morning, she was frantically pacing in the study. She was just about to grab the cloak and head out again when the door bangbed open and Malfoy stumbled inside. She was so relieved that she forgott herself and all but jumped in his arms. Luckily, he responded immediately, coiling his arms tightly around her as he buried his face in her neck.

He mumbled something but she couldn't make out the words. Hands pushed into her hair, holding her tightly to him for a moment before tugging back. She gasped at the slight pain but then he was kissing her, and she forgot everything around them except for the feeling of his lips on hers. It was never supposed to happen again. She remembered there was a reason it shouldn't, but it could hardly matter when something so small made her feel so alive.

She was meeting his fevered pace, not able to get close enough to him. He kept one hand tangled in her hair and reached down with the other to hitch her legs around his middle. He was walking them back to the couch when he stumbled, and she had to react quickly to catch them both before they fell over. She could taste it then, the whiskey. He still had her strongly in his grasp when they regained their balance, and he leaned in to kiss her again.

"Wait," she whined, not wanting to stop but knowing he was in no condition to continue.

"I just need a little bit," he said with hooded eyes. Lips parted and shiny from their kiss. His face chased hers as she tried to pull back further. "Just a little more."

His words sounded so dark and desperate, they shot an unfamiliar feeling through her body to the spots that craved the most attention. He took her bottom lip between his, sucking gently before pulling it between his teeth. She couldn't help the sound that escaped her and must put her hand between them before Malfoy started devouring her again and she lost all restraint.

"I don't think we should-" she moaned as he started kissing and sucking on her neck, and she tried to remember what she was going to say.

"No one will know," he said between kisses. "No one will ever find out."

That snaps her out of it. She shoved him away and he held his hands up slightly in surrender, like it was his touch that upset her.

"What is it you don't want them to know, Malfoy? That you're harboring a mudblood in your room, or that you have been snogging one?" She tried to scold him, but her voice broke over the words.

"Don't say that," he snapped at her.

"Say what, snogging?" she challenged him.

"Don't call yourself that word." He was pointing at her now. "That doesn't apply to you. Not anymore." He said as if he was not the one who donned her with the slur in the first place.

"Doesn't apply to me? Why? Because you know me too well now to convince yourself that I am vile and worthless? I hate to break it to you Malfoy, but I am not the one that has changed in this equation."

"You are nothing like them!"

"I AM them!" She yelled back.

"Don't say that. Don't you fucking say that, Hermione. You have just as much magical potential as any member of the sacred twenty-eight I have ever seen. More in some cases." His face is a mixture of anger and terror. "You are exceptional. I may not have noticed it when we were in school, but I have now, okay? The muggles, they- they-"

He was losing it now, desperate to find truth in his own statement. "They are the problem. They are the ones we need to get rid of. That's where we got this wrong. It's us against them, Granger. We just need the Dark Lord to see that you are one of us."

"And if I didn't have magic?" Tears were flowing down her face. "If I woke up tomorrow and my magic was gone, would it be easy for you to rid of me then?"

He had no reply as he watched the tears run down her cheeks. He tried to reach up and touch them, but she slapped his arm away.

"What about my parents? They haven't any magic. Never have. Shall we go hunt them down and get rid of them together?" He reached for her again, seeing that she was pulling away from him, but she stepped back. For the first time since she's been there, his touch made her hurt in a way she didn't want to feel.

"You are sick if you think that my muggle parents are the problem. Especially since my father has never killed anyone." Her voice didn't waiver. He kept lifting and lowering his arms, having gotten used to being able to touch her to center himself this week. He eventually just ran them through his hair and looked down.

"Go to bed. Sober up. We shouldn't discuss any more of this tonight," her tone was authoritative, having scolded Ron and Harry enough times to have it well-rehearsed. Malfoy only delayed for a few more moments before conceding into his bedroom.

After a couple hours of restlessness, she peaked into Malfoy's bedroom and saw he was passed out on his bed fully clothed, Neddy having draped a throw blanket over him to cover as much as it could. They kept getting this wrong. Doing everything in the worst way. If things kept getting worse, she feared he may not even try and help her anymore.

There was commotion in the hallway that was rare in Malfoy's nearly private floor. She looked out the spy hole and saw Blaise and Goyle, shouldering a half-conscious Theo between them. They walk him into the guest bedroom a few doors down the hall and close the door behind them.

She grabbed her cloak and exited the room quickly. She waited outside the guestroom door, hoping to get a peek at Theo when the others exited the room. After about twenty minutes, the door opened and Goyle started to walk out and Hermione was able to sneak inside.

"I'm sure the room across the hall is available, if you want to stay," Goyle whispered to Blaise who was sitting in a chair to the side of Theo's bed. Hermione could see that Goyle was quite under the influence as well.

"I'm not leaving him," Blaise said without looking up.

Goyle continued. "I've got to go back to mine, I head out for patrols in the morning. I can cover your London trip if needed, hardly had anything planned this weekend anyways." Blaise nodded in thanks before Goyle exited the room. Though still a bit slow, Goyle has proven to be less revolting than she had always assumed. The revelation becoming a theme for most of the Slytherin students she had gotten to know better.

Once Goyle was out of the room, Hermione realized her mistake when Blaise locked the door with his wand. She silently prayed that he would need to leave before Malfoy woke. Her worries faded as she looked between Blaise and Theo, both appearing an inch to death. Theo has several physical wounds from the mission that look magically healed, but his body was so tired from Dolohov's curses that they were still apparent on his dull skin.

Blaise had clearly got the better end of the punishment, but watching the way he looked at his friend made it seem like his torture was far from over. He tentatively grabbed Theo's hand and took it in both of his, running his thumb over his fingers. Theo moaned softly, furrowing his brow and Blaise sat up, looking at him and pushing his hair off his face.

"Antonin's a royal cunt," he croaked out.

"I'm going to kill him." There was no humor in Blaise's voice.

"Oh, none of that. I'll be fine."

"The next mission we're both on. He's fucking dead. It won't be quick. I'll make him watch as I gut him and shove the mess down his throat." Blaise's voice seemed eerily calm as he described his plan.

"Mm, not the kind dirty things I want to hear at this hour, mate." Theo jested, getting a bit of his voice back.

"Mate?" Blaise responded. Theo's comments successfully disarming him.

"Are we alone?" he whispered and Blaise nodded..

"Hmm. No talking then." He lifted his chin slightly and Blaise wasted no time reaching down to meet him. He barely brushed his lips for a moment before pulling back and Theo groaned.

"I'm fine. Give us a real snog, Zabini," he said trying to lean forward, the motion too much for his injured body and he winced and retraced back.

"You're not fine, Theodore. Do you know how many curses you took?" Blaise's anger was back in full force. "I thought you were going to die. And then I was going to die taking down as many as those fuckers as possible."

"Well, we made it. Wouldn't be us if we didn't flirt with death a bit." Theo forfeited trying to sit up and settled with his head turned to Blaise. "How bad was it?"

"It was horrible. I couldn't do anything without getting us killed for certain. I just had to wait and see if you'd live." Blaise's voice was so helpless, like he couldn't help but relive those moments that happened just hours ago.

"So little faith in me. You look like Dolohov got to you too."

"Nah Draco. Bloody genius, though. I was just about to end it all when he disarmed Dolohov."

"He never." Theo said, astonished.

Blaise nodded and laughed under his breath. "Wandlessly too, so no one would know it was him. Dolohov had to play it off like he lost focus and the spell rebounded. The Dark Lord made Draco punish me after that, but I could have kissed the bastard between curses." Blaise said while stroking Theo's hand.

"Of course he did, the bloody prince. Always trying to take my spotlight," Theo laced their fingers together. "He is either ruthless, or a hero. I don't even know who's side he's on anymore."

"The Malfoy's have their own side. It supersedes all others."

"Maybe he can help with Pans? Get her out of going to Glasgow with us? I don't think she'll hold up well now that we're to hit the cathedral," Theo said tentatively.

Blaise brushed his hand through Theo's hair again and waited a few moments to reply. "We've just gotten back, love. Draco took Pansy to Hogwarts with him, remember?"

"Ah well, you can fill me in later. Hopefully it's just that last bit that's fallen out." Theo said with a slight tremble to his voice. "I'm more concerned about the physical condition of my body to be honest. Better give it a tug, just to make sure everything's still working."

Hermione takes a subconscious step back, really detecting she was not where she should be. She lightly bumped the wall behind her by mistake and Blaise's head shot in her direction.

"Did you hear that? Lumos." Blaise aimed his wand right where Hermione was hidden, and she held her breath.

"I didn't hear anything," Theo stated.

Blaise, relentless, walked towards Hermione and she was about to gasp right before he turned to the door at the last second. He rushed into the hallway, leaving the door open and Hermione was able to slip out behind him. She stood to the side in the hall until he returned to the room, locking the door behind him.

Malfoy was still asleep when she entered the study, and she was feeling more restless than before. Theo and Blaise spoke like they weren't interested in the Dark Lords reign, only about staying alive. How many other death eaters were only involved for fear of their safety or for those they loved?

Hermione saw Malfoy enter the bathroom in the mirror. She had barely gotten any sleep during the night and hoped to be out and ready before he awoke.

"Hey," he mumbled as he walked up behind her, stopping right before his chest pressed against her back like he had done for the past week. He reached around her to grab his toothbrush and she wiggled away before he could accidentally make contact.

"Wait… don't-"

He tried to catch her around her waist, but she pushed his hand away. The game they have been playing was not fun. He walked out of his room, looking beautifully put together except for the death eater robes draped over his arm. Opting not to put them on before he left like he usually did. He took the chair opposite of her and waited for her to speak first.

"I apologize for last night. I should not have been so… insistent." He laced his fingers together in front of himself, resting his elbows on his knees. "Things have been so- we have been getting on so well lately."

She shook her head in disbelief. "Things go well as long as both ignore everything that is important. So long as you can pretend I'm not a mudblood."

"Stop it. You know that's not how I think of you." He said, firmly.

"Just everyone that is like me," she countered with just as much impatience. "You can't care for me and still have the same beliefs Malfoy. Those feelings can't coexist with each other."

"Can't I?" he snapped. "How much more do you want me to sacrifice for you, Granger? Is my life not enough."

"It's not about sacrifice, Malfoy. It is about good versus evil. I will always be grateful to you for all that you have done- but- if I were found and killed tomorrow, would you just continue on with your duties?"

He jumped up from his seat. "That will never happen." He said and it sounded almost like a threat.

"It would happen. Or worse. That is what people like you want to do to people like me."

He laughed at this, running his hand down his face and looking up at the ceiling. "You have no idea what I want to do to you."

A particular type of nervousness started fluttering in her stomach, but she ignored it. Not willing to give in anymore. When she didn't say anything in response, he looked at her, eyes defeated and pleading.

"I don't want you to get hurt." He spoke like it was a confession.

"I don't want you to, either." She whispered back. It was easy to say. She knew they cared about one another enough to admit it. It was just the rest of the world that remained in question.

"I don't think your parents are the problem." She inhaled sharply, not expecting him to address any more of their conversation from the previous night. "I knew that last night when you first asked me about it. But I don't know what that means for the rest of the world, Granger. There are a lot of evil muggles. I've seen them with my own eyes. Heard the stories about how they would torture and murder magical people if they ever found out our abilities."

She fought off tears, devastated that he still couldn't understand. "And you haven't seen magical people do the same?" It was just last night he watched two of his best friends being punished until they were on the brink of death. Muggles didn't do that.

He looked at the clock. He was due for breakfast with his father and resident death eaters in just a few minutes. Hermione crossed her arms when he looked back at her, knowing he was running out of time.

"Who would hurt you if you decided to stay here with me instead of reporting downstairs. The muggles?" He could only glance her way for a moment before looking down at his robes. "Go ahead, don't neglect to wear them on my account."

She has to leave the room, her tears not staying back any longer. He stepped towards her, but she hurried her pace and closed the bedroom door. She walked a few feet into the room, half expecting him to follow her. He respected her wishes though, and eventually left the study to report downstairs. Hermione let herself cry freely once she heard the door close. For the first time in the past few weeks, she got out her galleon and held it in her hand. It only takes a few moments before its heat soothed her palm.