Draco heard the stampede of footsteps approaching and he did the first thing that came to his mind.

He scooped the unconscious witch in his arms and took long steps toward the common room.

He just managed to escape before the students filled the corridors. He kept his eyes in front of him, not daring to look down at Hermione Granger's pale face and closed eyes.

The rational part of him knew the uneasiness was due to the bad memories the blood and the near-dead bodies brought back but there was something else too.

Something that had snapped on seeing her bleeding and injured.

Draco wasn't sure what it was and he was also sure he didn't want to find out.

So, he slammed his Occlumency walls in place and got to work.

Godric Gryffindor gave him a smirk that made Draco feel like he knew something he didn't. He rolled his eyes before placing Hermione on the ground beside the painting, casting a disillusionment charm on her.

It seemed important to her that no one knew about her injury and Draco made sure to respect her entirely stupid wish.

He gave the founders the password and slipped inside. Ernie sat on the sofa, his books and quills scattered on the table in front of him.

"MacMillan, Slughorn is asking for you," he said. Ernie's gaze snapped towards him and he frowned.

"Why? Is everything okay?"

"Dunno," he shrugged. Ernie nodded, closing his notebook before he left.

Draco stepped back outside, removing the disillusionment charm and pulling her in his arms once again.

He hesitated for the breath of a moment before he walked towards the boy's dormitory and pushed the door of his room open.

He laid her on the bed and drew out his healing kit.

He knew she had told him to wake her up so that she could heal herself but Draco was sure she wouldn't be able to.

And anyways, he didn't want her bleeding all over his sheets.

He poured two drops of Dittany on the puckered flesh of her arm before swiping his wand over the wound.

The skin stretched and came closer, the two sides of it closing together. He cleaned the excess blood and with another swish of his wand, clean white bandages appeared, twisting themselves around her forearm in a neat circular way.

Draco pulled open his bedside drawer and took out vials of potions.

Blood replenishing, healing potion, strengthening solution. He leaned forward and snaked his arm under her neck, lifting the head up.

He uncorked the vials and emptied them down her throat one by one. He pulled his arm away and cast a quick diagnostic charm over her.

Everything was okay.

He inhaled sharply, allowing himself to relax. He recalled the panic he had felt when he had seen her bleeding. The fear.

It had just been the thought of danger within Hogwarts that had caused the panic, he told himself.

But of course, she hadn't been at Hogwarts. She had somehow left the school. Somehow wandered far enough to be captured by Death Eaters? Her damage wasn't extensive. It didn't look like the work of a Death Eater.

He allowed himself to finally look at her. The color was returning to her face. The ashen look faded to give way to a pinkish tint. Her chest heaved with each breath. He noticed a scar running from the side of her neck and disappearing under her shirt.

There were sticks and leaves sticking out from between her brown curls and they were back to how he remembered them. Unruly, wild, bushy.

He did a quick spell to rid her hair of the mess.

She looked at peace and Draco found himself wondering if they would have been anything more than enemies in another lifetime, under different circumstances.

He wondered what they might have been if he hadn't spent his life bullying her, if he could have somehow saved her from his psychotic aunt.

Maybe then, she wouldn't have looked at him with disgust and loathing.

He wondered why it mattered. Everyone looked at him that way. Like he had no right to live, like he was a scourge on their earth.

Why the hell would just another girl's hate matter?

He pulled out his wand and pointed it over her chest.

"Rennervate."

She stirred, a low groan emitting from her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light. She blinked twice before her gaze found him. She tilted her head to a side as if amused by his presence.

He held her gaze, letting her try to read him. He didn't understand her infatuation with deciphering him. She had already made it clear that they had no reasons to be in each other's company so why bother?

"Where are we?" she asked, her voice cracking and she cleared her throat.

"In my room."

"What did you do?"

It wasn't accusatory, just a soft plea to let her know if she was okay.

"Missed an amazing opportunity to poison you," Draco said instead.

Her muddled mind took a long minute to make sense of his words and then to his surprise, her lips quirked upwards in a smile.

Draco got up from the edge of the bed and pulled out the study table's chair, settling down on it.

"How did you leave?" he asked. He knew she would never answer but he needed to know.

Maybe he could use the information for himself.

She blew a breath and closed her eyes, pressing the heel of her palms against her lids.

"Did you use Dittany?"

"Yes, Granger, I did. Now, answer the question."

"No one saw me?"

"No."

"You can't tell McGonagall or anyone else about this."

If I had wanted to, I would have by now. He wanted to say but swallowed the words at the last moment. He needed to know her secret escape route.

"I won't tell anyone if you tell me how you got out," he said and watched his words take effect.

Her eyes widened and a flash of something crossed her face. Betrayal? Draco wasn't sure.

He pushed the unwelcome bout of guilt back and stared at her.

"I can't believe you," she scoffed, trying to slide off the bed.

"Did you really think healing you was some sort of noble act?" he demanded, keeping his voice hard.

She paused, meeting his gaze. "I certainly hoped so."

The words caused an unexpected stutter in his heart but Draco kept his face blank.

She tried to slip past him and Draco stood up abruptly, grabbing her wrist to stop her.

"Granger, I am serious."

"Let me go, Malfoy," she warned and he watched her free arm twitch towards the wand holster on her thigh.

"Tell me your secret and I'll let you go."

She finally had enough of him as she pulled out her wand and pointed it at his chest.

"Going to hex me, love?" He sneered.

Her eyes widened slightly at the term of endearment before she composed herself.

"Don't tempt me, Malfoy," she said, somewhat successfully copying his sneer.

"Why do you want to know about the way out so badly?" she demanded.

"I have meetings to hold with my Death Eater friends."

She rolled her eyes and gave her hand another tug.

"I can hex you, Malfoy."

"I have no doubt about that."

"Tell me why you want to know about the route and I'll tell you."

Draco inhaled sharply, dropping her hand. He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up.

"Bloody fucking Gryffindors," he cursed loudly, glaring at her. She just shrugged as if amused.

"You know what, I'll figure it out myself," he said finally.

She smiled triumphantly and Draco had the overwhelming urge to wipe that smile off her face. Violently.

"Good luck, sweetheart," she whispered, smiling sweetly at him.

The words caught him off guard so badly, his Occlumency walls shattered and he stared at her with a dumbfounded look on his face. She thankfully didn't notice as she walked out of the room.

Fucking hell, Granger.

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