Mr. Malfoy,

It has been brought to us that there may be a break in our contract with you through the research department. Per our contract signed at your initial visit, you were made aware of our alcohol policy at St. Mungos and while the instances listed below are investigated, we must pause our contract with you at this time…

He balled the paper up and threw it into the fireplace, he felt the rage fill him, his vision nearly blacked out the red flames that sprouted higher as the paper burned. He needed that lab, needed those people. It was one of the few places left he could go without being run out. His hands shook as he unstopped the whiskey bottle and drank from the spout. Growling he threw the bottle into the fire watching the flames turn blue before dying out.

He grabbed his cloak and threw it over his shoulders before marching out onto the manor grounds. He needed to find Blaise. Find something that he could use against someone to stay out of this mess, out of Hermione Grangers' life. To save Her life he needed that lab. He felt the pull in his stomach as he apparated to where he had heard the Wizard lived. No sooner than his feet hit the stone walkway he pounded on the door in front of him. Listening as the laughing inside ceased. He ground his teeth together wishing the door would open. There was swearing as the door swung open and Blaise filled the doorway.

"I have a problem" he pushed his way into the flat and paused staring at the witch in front of him halfway into a glass of wine, her lips stained slightly red and her eyes widening at the sight of him. "You got me fired" He yelled pointing a finger in her direction. Blaise swore again behind him and shut the door.

"Granger I told you to just leave him alone," Blaise said pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Oh don't think I'm not equally pissed at you, two years you had me meet you other places and this" he waved his hands in Granger's general direction, aware that her mouth was open staring at the two boys' exchange "was living here as well".He could feel his blood boiling.

"It's not like any of our conversations over the last two years has involved anything but your…"

"Don't" He practically snarled at Blaise; Blaise threw his hands up in surrender and went to sit on an armchair in the room.

"Why are you even here Malfoy?" She broke the silence that filled the room.

"You got him fired remember" Blaise answered filling his own glass with fire whiskey. "Something about drinking, or the pot calling the kettle." He raised his glass in a toast to the two of them clinking it to her wine glass on the table"Tough crowd"

"I need that place, Granger." He snarled at her, clenching his fist.

"It was impacting your work" She looked him in the eyes, deciding to fight like a child then, fine.

"My work was impeccable, you are just too weak to see it." He paced then, controlling the shake that was starting to work its way down his arms. "What was it? I embarrassed you calling your mistake? Couldn't handle being the dumbest one in the room with a brain-dead asshole next to us?" He watched as her eyes narrowed and she bit her tongue.

"You were getting sloppy, coming up with hypothesis instead of facts. When asked about your work I was honest. You have a drinking problem and don't need to be working with patients. It's impacting your work."

He felt his skin crawl, his hands urged to reach out and strangle the girl in front of him. "They need me there Granger, your pride will cost lives."

"My pride won't do anything that your weak legimens wouldn't do, besides whos to tell which side you are really on, which memories you are destroying." She yelled back at him rising.

That was it, he felt his body lunge forward and hands grab the sides of her face, her hands scratched at his own but it didn't matter he looked into her eyes and sunk in, she would see just how weak of a legimens he really was.

He felt as he was pulled into her mind sorting back through the years, two years back the day he left.

She ran through the castle, her lungs burning as she screamed Harry's name, it echoed back to her as it bounced off the stones and she stopped as they ran onto the grounds. She watched as Draco and Snape ran into the forest, watched as Snape knocked Harry down and continued running to his side. Bellatrix sent a line of fire blocking them, as she followed, dancing into the forest.

"Hermione, what happened? What happened?!" Harry screamed at her as she fell to her knees next to him. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

She shouldn't have been there. Shouldn't have seen any of it. She was a fool.

She shook her head and sobbed as his fingers dug into her shoulders. "Why were you there? Why was Snape there?" She met his eyes and forced words out.

"Snape. Snape told me something was wrong. That the students needed to be safe, I didn't know anything else. I heard the bells and came running. He found me in the tower and then you fell. Harry how did this happen? How did I let this happen?" She sobbed as he wrapped his arms around her, and they sat still watching as the fire burned in front of them and the screaming of the castle intensified.

Oh god, I betrayed them all. She couldn't shut it off, her mind screamed it over and over again as the grounds burned and the screaming seemed to echo off her soul. Dumbledore was dead and she had helped, had practically handed the purposed murderer a get-free card. She felt the tears stream down her face and Harry's fingers dig into her arms.