"Right now?" asked James.

"Yes. Right now!" Draco said impatiently, what was so hard to understand?!

He shoved some clothes into the bag for James and some jeans and shirts for Hermione. He shoved money that he had been saving into a wallet and into the bag.

"But-"

"Listen to me!" said Draco, glaring at him, "You said you would keep her safe. It's too late to back out now. You're in. We're leaving. That's that."

"How the hell are we going to get her out?!" James said, he wasn't one for plans. That was Draco's job.

"I have no idea. Just pack essentials, alright?" he chucked the bag over and James packed his books in, "Why books?"

"She likes to read, right?" he asked.

Draco thought back to Hogwarts. Always seeing Hermione in the library. It's like it was her second home. He would go there to read and do homework too. Her hair would fall into her eyes and she would brush it away with impatience.

"Yeah, she loves to read," muttered Draco.

"Where's her wand?" asked James.

Draco sighed. How was he going to find her wand?! He glared at James before walking out of the room casually, not wanting to give himself away. He stopped for a moment and then decided to ask Coal in the most casual way he could.

He knocked on their door and waited outside, his stomach churning. He had only ate an apple and had puked that out. He walked into the room as they said 'enter'.

"Hey," he said, watching them play cards, "Um... do you know where Herm- the... mudblood's wand is?"

"Sure do, Malfoy, why?" asked Amadeus suspiciously.

"Uncle Robert wants to see it," said Draco, the lie rolling out of his mouth.

"Well, I'll come right down and give it to him," Coal got up and went to his drawer, taking Hermione's wand out.

"No... Erm, I'll give it to him," said Draco, snatching the wand, "thanks!"

He closed their door behind him and ran back into his room. James had packed the essentials and was waiting for him.

"Cool, you got her wand," James grinned, "what now, boss?"

"Now we get out of here," smiled Draco, as though it was the easiest thing to do.

James put the bag on his back and Draco sighed. What were they going to do now?

"Might as well wing it," muttered Draco, "Come on, follow me."

"She better not get hurt if you're planning on winging it," growled James, stopping Draco from opening the door.

"If anyone tries to hurt her, I'll take the blow. Trust me," said Draco.

He shoved James' hand away and let out a deep breath before opening the door. No one was in the corridor. They carefully made their way down the stairs and Draco could hear James' brain ticking away with doubt.

Draco checked the living room. Narcissa, Lucius, Robert and Liz were in there drinking tea and conversing. Narcissa stared at the floor and Draco knew she hadn't told. Not yet anyway.

Draco getsured to James to keep low and follow him. James nodded and Draco lead the way to the kitchen, hoping it was empty... it was.

"Grab some food. I'll get her," ordered Draco.

He was about to go downstairs but James caught his arm and growled, "how about I get her and you grab the food?"

"Let me go and do as your told," Draco once again shoved his arm away and went downstairs.

He saw Hermione sitting on her mattress. Draco opened the door and let himself away.

"Hermione, we need to go right now. Get up," said Draco, offering his hand.

"Draco," she whispered, ignoring his hands and looking him straight into the eyes, "let them kill me."

Draco frowned. Let them kill her? Was she out of her mind? He leant and shook his head, about to say something but she got in before him.

"I'm a bad person, Draco. I killed him... I just... I just killed him. Just like that and now... I deserve what I get," she muttered.

Draco had no idea who she was talking about. He leaned closer and took her face in his hands. She leaned towards him and whispered.

"I killed Greyback. He killed Ron and I... just... killed him," tears sprouted in her eyes and fell one by one down her cheek.

Draco gently wiped them away and didn't know what else to do. What was he supposed to do? He sighed and stood up, getting her up too. He took her face in his hands and she waited for him to speak.

"People killed a lot of people in that war. Greyback was bad and you were just avenging Ron. It's not your fault!" said Draco.

"But-"

"No, Hermione. I will not let you die for no reason. You're innocent and I'll get you out of here. Please come with me?" he asked, letting her face go, he held out a hand.

After looking at the hand for a few seconds, she gave in and took it. Draco nodded and smiled, leading her up the stairs. He entered the kitchen hoping to find that James was ready to leave.

"Draco," snarled his father.

Lucius, Narcissa, Robert and Liz were all standing at the entrance of the kitchen. Liz took her baby upstairs as Draco drew his wand. Lucius, who was pointing his wand at James, pointed it instead at Hermione. Narcissa widened her eyes and Robert didn't even have a wand in hand.

"I'll kill you and that stupid mudblood," snarled Lucius, his wand kept steady and pointing straight at Hermione.

Draco grabbed Hermione's hand tighter and James moved over next to Draco.

"So much for love, huh, mother?" said Draco, staring at Narcissa with hatred flowing from every cell in his body.

"I said so before Draco, I can't lose you!" Narcissa screamed at him and started crying as the full force hit her, "I'm sorry!"

"Sorry? When you were crucioed by him," Draco waved his wand at Lucius, "I helped you and now..."

He let the words hang in the air and Narcissa looking down, ashamed. Draco grabbed Hermione's hand tighter, knowing it was coming. The quiet before the storm. That's all this was.

"Kill her already," Robert said lazily as though she were an insect.

James nudged Draco but Draco knew when to take action. Lucius had a twisted smile on his face.

"Might as well torture her first, right, Draco?" he asked.

He yelled "CRUCIO!" but Draco, at the mention of his name, had already pulled Hermione to James and took her place. The spell hit him in his chest and he fell down, the electric coursing and running through his body.

---

Hermione's POV

Hermione was pulled as she heard the spell go off. She bashed into James but quickly looked up when Narcissa gasped and burst into tears once more.

Her eyes found Draco's body on the floor and her mouth fell open in a silent protest. No sound cane out of her mouth. She watched him twitch. She finally looked up to Lucius, remembering she was in danger too. But Lucius' eyes were only on Draco. Narcissa had covered her face and even Robert was looking shocked as Lucius shot more spells at his son.

"CRUCIO! CRUCIO! YOU STUPID BOY!" he shouted and the spell hit Draco's twitching body.

"Let's go," muttered James, finding his voice.

Hermione turned to him and saw that he had closed his eyes and was muttering something. It finally clicked in her that he was disapparating. Hermione gasped and bent down to hold Draco's hand just as they apparated.

Before they were sucked into oblivion, Hermione caught the last glance of Lucius. His nostrils flared and his eyes shone with hate. Hermione had thought Draco was terrifying when he was angry. Now she knew where he got it from.

They were sucked into nothingness and Hermione kept her hold on Draco as tight as she could. She felt James' hand on her's. In a second, it was over. James let her hand go and collapsed onto the ground and Hermione collapsed next to Draco.

"You okay?" asked James.

Hermione thought there were so many ways to answer that but she just made a confirmative sound. James got up and went over to Draco's side. Hermione sat up too and stared at the handsome boy. He was in so much pain, she could sense his discomfort.

James opened Draco's eyes and then checked for a pulse. Hermione could have done that too but she was in shock. James took out Hermione's wand and gave it to her. He then took out his wand and started healing Draco.

"Is he going to be alright?" asked Hermione, nervously.

"I don't know," said James.

He had been hit with so many Crucio curses... Hermione looked around her, realising it was dark. They were at the beach. The sea stretched out in front if her and the cool breeze hit her face. Her feet could feel the sand underneath them.

"There's a boat along there. We could take it. You know, to keep moving?" James gestured behind her.

Hermione nodded and James went back to healing Draco. A few minutes later he stood up and hesitated.

"I'll be fine. Just get the boat," said Hermione as bravely as she could, although she was scared of the dark.

"I'll be right back," muttered James, he leant down to kiss her and then he left.

Hermione watched him go and then switched her gaze to Draco. Very slowly, she ran her fingers through his hair and some sand fell out of them. His breathing was not even but she would keep hope.

She looked behind her to check if James was there. He wasn't. Hermione took Draco's hand and whispered to him.

"I... I don't know if you can hear me or not but... thank you for saving me... and..." Hermione hesitated, knowing he was in too much pain to hear her.

She then leaned down to his ear and stopped. Her breath probably tickled his ear but he didn't move. The water swishing in the sea, calmed her down.

She whispered something into his ear and leaned back, knowing he wouldn't remember what she had said if... when he woke up.