Draco woke up to a spitting headache. It felt as if his head was on fire, as he lifted it off the wooden table, before looking around and wondering where he was. It was then, he realized, he had passed out at the Leaky Cauldron. He vaguely remembers the previous night, except that he found Granger and had a few drinks with her. If his head didn't feel so miserable, he would have wondered where she went, but his head felt as if it were splitting, resulting in him not caring of her whereabouts. In fact, he didn't care about anything, except getting home and taking a long rest in his bed, hoping to nurse his hangover.

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Hermione woke up in her room. It felt as if it had been forever since she slept in her own bed, that she was discombobulated for a few moments. Not only that, but she found herself groaning at the pain erupting inside of her skull. Not only that, but she also felt ashamed. The memories of last night were rather vague, but she knew she shouldn't have drank with Draco. She knew more people will talk, Ron will most likely hear more rumors, and her hole that was dug will most likely become larger. "This is what I get for helping someone, when I can't even help myself," she sighs, as she sits up slowly. Her head hurt tremendously, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the many hangovers she used to get.

Her body was clean, for she had gotten a shower just before crawling into bed the previous night. Actually, it was more like stumbling into bed, for she was still rather drunk, despite the cold from walking home and the water from the shower. However, her skin smelled of coconut, and it was rather refreshing. It was nice to be home again, even though it barely felt like home. The last time she was here, was when Draco wiped Ginny's memory clean, and just the reminder of that causes Hermione's head to hurt even more. All these memories and flashbacks and reminders, were just too much. She needed to get away from all of this, to heal herself, to make everything okay with her best friends, and that was what she was going to do. She wasn't going to sell Draco out — for everything inside of her told her it was wrong. After all, he would most likely be sent to Azkaban, especially for having an illegal possession and condoning Theo's collection. Instinctively, Hermione glances over on her dresser, the gold Time Turner sitting there as a reminder of what she knows and what she's gone through these past few days.

She wasn't going to tell Harry about Draco wanting to murder him, but she needed to tell him that she wasn't in love with Draco, either. Skeeter's rumors, were just rumors. But then again, if she told Harry it was all fake, it would leave Draco taking the blame of erasing Ginny's memories, and it'd become an even bigger mess. One that would make it harder to hide Draco's secret.

Sighing, Hermione realizes she can't go and visit Harry. It would be too risky, and she wouldn't do that to Draco. After all, if Draco spared Hermione, she knew he could spare Harry. She loved Harry, and didn't want anything to happen to him, but there was something inside of her that reminded her that Draco wasn't hopeless. He was still the young Slytherin boy on the inside, he just needed some healing, just like she did.

Deciding on what to do, she gets dressed and goes in search of her wand. She was going to visit Draco, for a promise is a promise, and she was going to end this once for all. After all, she was Hermione Jean Granger, she could handle anything.

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Despite claiming to handle anything, that wasn't the actual case.

The Malfoy Manor sat in front of Hermione, and her stomach was already starting to turn at the thought of walking back inside. Not only that, but her head was still aching from the alcohol she consumed the previous night, and it wasn't a good mixture.

Why am I here? Why does it matter if he gets sent to Azkaban? After all, what do I owe him? She wonders to herself, before letting out a sigh. It wasn't as if she owed him anything, it was because she knew she should help if it were possible that she could help. It wasn't even so much for Draco, it was for his mother that loved him dearly. This still didn't make any of this easier, however, but she caught a hold of any bravery she could, and lifted her hand to knock on the door.

She stood there for a few minutes waiting, and instead of giving up, she began to knock more and rather loudly. After a moment, she could hear loud footsteps in the distance.

"Bloody hell, I'm coming!" Someone growls, and she immediately recognizes the voice. The voice that arouses too many memories. "What do you — " however, he stops mid-sentence, as he looks down and sees it is Granger who knocked. "Granger? What are you doing here?" It wasn't as if he were relieved to see her, but then again, he was. If she was here, it meant she wasn't out spewing his secrets to the world, despite him already knowing she wouldn't do that.

Taking a deep breath and letting it all out, Hermione tells Draco why she returned. "I made a promise, I don't break promises if I can help it." She wasn't happy to be back at the Malfoy Manor. She wasn't happy to be back in Draco's presence. She just wasn't happy. However, she couldn't give up. He spared her life many times now, and if he spared her — after all, she was a muggle born, a witch who knew how much he despised of her — there was an inkling of hope that he would spare Harry. Especially since at one time, he offered to be Harry's friend. Draco never wanted to be Hermione's friend, he insulted her from the beginning.

Draco stood there in the doorway, his arms crossed against his chest, his eyebrows furrowed together as he looked down on her. He looked unamused, irritated even, and he reminded her of the young boy that would cause her so much trouble at Hogwarts.

"I told you to leave," he says after a moment. A long moment, leaving Hermione feeling slightly uncomfortable. It wasn't as if she wanted to even be here, for there were many other things she needed to fix. She had only returned, to keep her promise to Narcissa, and try to change Draco's mind about killing one of her best friends. "I let you go, Granger. Stupid promises don't even matter. Go back to Weasley and Potter before I get to them first." His voice was harsh, and she could tell he wasn't in the mood. She knew he most likely was suffering from a hangover as well, but that didn't give him the excuse to be so ignorant. Then again, when wasn't he ever ignorant?

Draco goes to shut the door in Hermione's face, only for her to put her foot in the way, resulting in it only shutting partly.

"I have kept your secrets, Malfoy," Hermione begins, her voice slightly shaking from the sudden rise of anger inside of her. "I have went along with your appearances, I have not told the entire wizarding world about your possession of the Elder Wand, I have not told Harry it was all you who caused Ginny to forget, I have not told Ron the affair was fake, I have not told them about your threats. I have not told the truth to anyone, and you want to know why?" Her voice was getting louder with every word that escaped her lips, resulting in Draco remaining quiet, letting her finish what she's saying. "They'll come after you. You'll have a war on your hands, you'll get sent to Azkaban, for you and your group of friends won't survive against Harry and his army. Consider us equal, Malfoy. You spared my life, I'm saving yours."

Draco just stood there, taking in all that Hermione had just told him, for he doesn't know how to reply. He doesn't know what to say after hearing all of what he's just been told. The only thing he is able to do, is open the door the whole way and let her in.

"We hate each other, Granger, but you love Potter and Weasley. You have a right to tell them, so why save my life — the life of an enemy, the life that you owe absolutely nothing to — when you could spare the lives of your friends? Why does it matter if an army comes after me? Why does it matter if I'm sent to Azkaban? Why does it matter?" It's not as if Draco cared to know why Hermione was saving him from the fate he deserved, but then again, he did. Perhaps, they were more alike in other ways than just pain and drunkenness. Perhaps, they were similar with everything.

"You were just a boy, a boy that didn't get to choose his own fate. Threaten me with the unforgivable curses, hold the Elder Wand at my throat, even call me a mudblood, but I made a promise to bring a mother's child back to her, and I can't find it in myself to break that promise. I don't want to be here, I don't want to help you, but I don't want to live through another war, caught between the middle. People wouldn't trust me, they wouldn't let me fight next to them. After all, how trustworthy are cheaters? My life is practically destroyed — you've succeeded — for it would take a miracle and a lot of explaining to get my reputation back. I would have to tell the truth about you, which could result in a war. No matter what I do, would most likely result in another war and another couple years of healing. No matter what I do, except help you."

Hermione's brown eyes seemed much larger than usual, as she stood in front of Draco, and he wondered what he had done to deserve such mercy. After all, he was nothing but a coward. A coward that wanted to grow an audience like the Dark Lord; a coward that wanted to murder an innocent girl, just to get revenge; a coward that couldn't even make his own choices; a coward that wouldn't even admit to being broken; a coward with so much pride, that he wouldn't even let an old enemy heal him; a coward that didn't even care about tearing down people, just to get what he wanted. He was vile and cruel, sealing the hatred he has for himself even more.

"You don't know me, Granger," he begins, his voice slightly shaky from the sudden emotion from realizing how terrible of a person he truly is. Only, his dark heart wouldn't let himself find regret or a change in mind, for his heart still wanted power and recognition. He had power, he just needed the recognition, and the few headings from the Daily Prophet about Granger and his affair, wasn't enough for him. "You don't know the things I've done, the things I've seen, the things I've taken part in. I don't deserve your mercy, I don't deserve your pity," he spits, anger taking the place of shame. "I don't want your dirty pity, Granger, and if that's the only reason you're not sharing the truth with the whole wizarding world, I had better not see you again. They're two unforgivable curses that won't cause death, but they'll sure as hell cause a lot of pain," he threatens her, before walking off, his steps ringing against the walls of the manor.

Despite his threats and her sudden feeling of emotion, Hermione couldn't find it in herself to feel afraid. She was just sad. Sad for having spent so much time trying to heal Draco. Sad for having so much hope that he would change, especially after showing her mercy. Sad for having showed up at his manor, thinking things would be different, only to be threatened instead. She did have pity on Draco, but that wasn't the reason she kept his secrets, or came back to help him. If he couldn't see she was doing this for Narcissa and doing this to save the entire wizarding world from the possibility of another war, than perhaps, she couldn't do anything to help him. After all, if he's that selfish to have his judgement clouded over, he was far too selfish to ever care about bringing his old self back, the one his mother loved.

Gripping her wand tightly in her hand, Hermione turns around and walks out of the manor, her mind settling on the fact that this is a promise she will most likely not be able to keep.

***
sorry i took forever to update, but i hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

also, some of you are asking where the dramione is, but this story isn't even halfway over yet. the dramione is coming, just because it's not here yet, doesn't mean it's not coming. i'm not going to have them fall in love quickly, considering they never even got along.

i'm going to try and update whenever i can. i know i take forever to update, but life is insane. i'm currently getting ready for college (which is literally 7 states away), i'm planning my grad party, i'm trying to get my license. life is super busy and i know taking ten years to update sucks, but please be patient. life is stressful right now, and i don't need to be stressed out even more with the idea of having to update. i'll update when i can and when i get inspired to write. just please be patient with me<3