My sympathies and heart goes out to the six Asian countries that have been affected by the tsunami a few days ago.

Chapter 17.

As soon as Flint hit the ground with a sickening thud, his eyes still open and staring unseeing at the ceiling, Draco rushed to Hermione, whose eyes were closed.

"Hermione?" He yelled, wiping the tears of anguish from his eyes, shaking her body furiously. "Fuck, Hermione wake up!"

Despite his demands, Hermione did not stir, and Draco sat back on his heels, taking her hand. He wiped again at his eyes, ignoring Flint on the floor behind him. "What do I do, Hermione?" He asked, desperately, placing his head on her chest. "Tell me what to do."

He wasn't quite sure how long he sat there for, his hand desperately clutching hers, quietly listening to the sound of her heart thumping underneath her breast. It was the only comfort he had, that she was breathing. He thanked Merlin for giving Hermione life.

--------------

Hermione was not quite sure how long she had been unconscious, but when she woke up, she saw that the sky outside was black, stars twinkling brightly in the velvet.

Something heavy was lying on top of her, and Hermione gasped in fright, thinking that Flint was still on top of her, still abusing her. She closed her eyes firmly, her pulse racing, and the weight on top of her disappeared.

"Hermione?" A strangled sob penetrated her ears, and her eyes flew open. She had never been so happy to see Draco before, and she managed a small smile, trying to ignore the tremors that were starting up again. Draco squeezed her hand, and deftly ducked down and kissed her dry mouth, whispering words of apologies that did not quite reach her ears.

"Sna…" Hermione whispered against his mouth, and Draco pulled back from her. "Snape…"

"What about him?" Draco's eyebrows furrowed.

"Get him." She said through convulses. Draco's eyes widened. "Do it." Hermione instructed, biting her lip, trying to fight back the shakes that wracked her body. Every inch of her body hurt; the lower part of her torso especially. Tears of pain and confusion rolled down her face and dampened her already wet hair. "Please."

Draco nodded, giving her another kiss. Her mouth shook under his lips, and he left quickly, taking his wand with him.

Hermione drew her knees up to her chest and rolled onto her right side. She gasped. Flint's limp, dead body faced her, gray empty eyes boring into hers. "Bastard." She whispered through her shakes, each of them getting worse and worse. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the face of her abuser any more.

She wasn't quite sure how long she lay there, but eventually she heard two pairs of footsteps pound across the floor, and then someone lift her up. Her mouth was parted open by someone, and hot liquid split onto her tongue, and slid down her throat.

"It should help the shaking stop." A voice she recognized said, and Hermione's eyes fluttered open.

"Hermione…" Draco's voice said desperately from behind her. "It's Snape. I did what you said, I got Snape." He said, his voice shaking. It amazed Hermione that Draco could sound so young and terrified, what with everything that he had seen.

"Snape," Hermione said, relieved. "James."

Above her, Snape nodded, and he stood up, pocketing the vial of potion.

"Who's James?" Draco asked, his fingers distractedly stroking her cheek.

"It does not matter." Snape said dismissively. "Come."

Draco carefully picked her up and cradled her in his arms.

"You will carry her?" Snape asked, frowning.

"I'm not letting her out of my sight." Was Draco's firm answer.

"It's a long way."

"I'll manage." He said firmly and Snape nodded, giving in.

Draco and Snape made their way silently through the corridors, towards the statue of Gregory, thankfully not bothered by anybody. Hermione's trembling stopped as they walked into the passage under the statue. Blood and other fluids sticky on the insides of her thighs and clothes.

Hermione's arms draped around Draco's neck, her face buried in his chest, trying to match her breathing with him. She knew that he was getting tired, and that he could not carry her all the way. Unfortunately, due to her dry mouth and the exhaustion, she did not say anything. Snape however, asked Draco repeatedly to stop carrying Hermione, but Draco always said no, and would carry on with renewed energy.

Trees surrounded them as they walked to the hidden house where James, Sirius and Remus were staying for the meantime. Hermione started to shiver because of the cold or because of something else, Draco could not tell, but he stopped and took of his robe and put it on top of her, not missing the sight of blood and other fluids on the bottom of her skirt. Draco gritted his teeth, he wasn't sorry for what he had done to Flint, and Snape had not said anything about it. In fact, Snape had not said much at all, he had been so shocked when Draco first told him, and even more so when he saw her. Draco had many unanswered questions about Snape, about this James person, and about where they were going, but all he cared about for the moment, was getting Hermione somewhere safe and warm.

Soon, the trees parted and in the middle of a clearing was a small cottage. Snape strode up to the door, but before knocking, turned to Draco.

"What I am about to reveal to you is very important." He said seriously. "You must promise me that you will not tell anyone else what you are about to see, and hear. From this moment on, you have been confirmed as wizard against Voldemort. Can you agree to these terms?"

"Yes." Draco said firmly, without a moment's hesitation. Snape nodded satisfied, and knocked three times, the first knock longer than the other two.

Almost at once, the door swung open, revealing James, his wand pointed at the newcomers. Fire light leaked out from behind him.

"Severus?" James asked, squinting his eyes, getting used to the dark. "What are you doing here?"

"She needs help!" Draco said desperately, stepping in front of Snape, Hermione still in his arms.

"Who are you?" James asked angrily, to both Draco and Snape, not seeing Hermione.

"Please help her." Draco pleaded again, removing the cloak that was on top of Hermione, revealing her pale sweaty face.

James' expression, previously angry, changed dramatically. His eyes widened and the colour drained from his face, leaving it white.

"C-come in." He stuttered, his eyes fixed on Hermione's unseeing ones. "Let me take her." He said, stepping towards Draco.

Draco glared at the older man, but hung on to Hermione. "I've got her."

"But-"James said almost desperately.

"I've got her." Draco repeated coldly.

James stared at Draco for a moment, sizing the younger man up. He nodded helplessly and gestured to the stairs.

Draco bounded up it, going into the first bedroom he saw and placing her carefully on it. James followed a moment later, then Snape, Remus and Sirius, who were called for their assistance. When the two men saw Hermione twitching and shivering on the bed, their expressions were almost as similar to James'.

The three left and started to bring Hermione things to make her calmer, potions, food-allsorts of things. Draco knelt next to Hermione's hand, her limp, sweaty hand placed in his larger one, his free hand gently stroking back her curls from her sweat drenched forehead.

James stood at the foot of the bed, his fists clenching angrily at every involuntary twitch that Hermione made. Draco glanced up at him; his eyebrow's furrowed, unaware that this was the man that killed his father.

James saw him looking, and looked at him, his face expressionless except for the utter devastation and anger evident in his eyes.

"Who are you?" Draco whispered, gently stroking Hermione's hand comfortably.

"James." He said gruffly, ignoring his friends as they worked around him. "You are Draco Malfoy, correct?"

"Yes."

"Did you have anything to do with this?" James' voice shook with anger as he noticed the fluids on Hermione's clothes.

Around him, Remus, Sirius and Snape stopped working.

"No." Draco said firmly, a lump rising in his throat. "I had nothing to do with this." He looked back at Hermione, "I couldn't even help her." He whispered, feeling even more guilt and regret that he had not been able to do anything.

"Who did it?" Sirius asked.

"Marcus Flint." Draco said, his voice shaking with so much anger that Snape raised an eyebrow.

"The bastard." James whispered. "Where is he?"

"Dead." Draco said blankly. "I killed him."

The four men exchanged glances with each other, as Draco continued to stare blankly at Hermione, oblivious to the men's displeasure.

"Why?" Remus asked quietly.

"Why do you think?" Draco spat back. "He was gonna kill her. Was doing things as bad as. Couldn't let that bastard live."

The older men were dumbstruck, but Remus found his voice to give reason. "You are not the one to dish out punishments."

"Well its too late now, isn't it!" Draco said angrily, his voice rising. "We can't get him back, and frankly I want him dead. And I know you all do to. You would if you cared about her."

"He's right." James said quietly. "The kid's right. If I had a chance to kill Peter, you know I would. It doesn't matter that I'm not the person to dish out punishments. I would kill the bast-"

"James?" Hermione feeble voice interrupted him, quiet and weak compared to his strong and angry one, but James stopped anyway, and hurried to stand next to her bed, much to Draco's annoyance.

"Hermione, are you alright?" James asked worriedly.

"Drink this; it will help you talk easier." Snape said, brandishing a clear flask with a mucky brown liquid swirling inside. James helped Hermione sit up, and Snape gave her the potion.

"Better." Hermione said softly, grimacing at the taste. "Draco?"

"I'm here, Hermione." Draco said, standing up so she could see her.

Hermione smiled. "Good." She said weakly. "What happened?"

Draco swallowed nervously, aware of the older men's stares on him. "I sorted it out. Flint won't bother you again."

Hermione nodded peacefully, not bothering to stop and think about what he might mean.

"Hermione, from what Malfoy has told me, you have been subject to a large dose of the Cruciatus curse. I think it would be best for you if you sleep for awhile." Snape said, taking from Remus another bottle.

"But-"Hermione protested.

"Please, Miss Granger. It is for the best." Snape said, unscrewing the cap.

"I'll be here when you wake up." Draco said. Hermione thought for a moment, then nodded, and Snape handed the bottle to Draco, who gave her the potion. He kissed her lightly on the lips, but as soon as his eyes opened and he parted from her, she fell asleep.

------------------------------------------------

Sorry its been such a long time, I've been really busy and I will try to get the next chapter up sooner! Thank you all for your fantastic reviews!

Michele Malfoy: I don't think I'll alternate endings, but the next chapter is an entire flashback chapter hopefully. I never realized the thing about the dates! That's really cool, thanks for pointing that out!

I hope (if you celebrate) you had a good Christmas, and because I don't think I'll be updating before, happy New Year!

Please review!