Not All that Glitters is Gold

A/N: I listened to a range of songs by Globus. So sorry for taking forever - wasn't really sure where I wanted to go with this...still not sure but I'll figure it out sooner or later!

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Hermione slept almost painstakingly sober for the remainder of the night. Her wand was hidden under her pillow and she hadn’t let it slip from her grasp since she got it back from Harry. A small stinging pain shot through her stomach and up her spine, causing her to curl as she took a breath. Her body had been adjusting well to the various potions Snape had given her. Apparently, she was so far malnourished that it was a miracle that she survived the way she did. Malfoy was got blunt end of the stick once Ron discovered and was recovering from several black and blue bruises from Ron’s rage. If not for Harry and Snape’s interference she was sure Draco would be lying in a ditch somewhere dead. The entire Weasley clan was skeptical, as was Remus, but Harry some how convinced them to trust him, even for a little bit.

It was strange how Harry relied on Draco’s information about the Dark Lord, although Hermione had a feeling that he didn’t trust the Slytherin as much as he appeared to. He and Remus would remain in small corners of the room merely whispering to themselves while Hermione sat on the couch between Ginny and Mrs. Weasley. Draco would stare at her until her averted her eyes and even then she still felt his cold eyes on her. He hadn’t cornered her, let alone spoke to her since but she knew he was itching to. His hand would clench every time she spoke, his eyes were dart over her frail frame, and she had a feeling he went Wilky to speak to her for him – inquiring about her health and such.

It had been three weeks since her return and she was feeling twenty times better with the exception of pains that shot through her system. Results of the hours of torture she had endured she was sure. She uncurled once the pain subsided and rolled onto her back, eyes awake. Staring at the ceiling in Ginny’s room, Hermione bit back a small sob. She hadn’t cried since her return but the overwhelming feels she had hidden were surfacing and she allowed them to come. It was better in than out she had always said. Tears streamed down her cheeks, glistening in the moon light, and fell behind her ears. She inhaled the cool air in her room and pulled her sheets to her chin, shivering.

Why had it gone so cold? She sat up slowly and exhaled, her breath becoming visible as it left her lips. Eyes widening, Hermione rose from the bed and hissed when her bare toes touched the floor of the Burrow. It was like ice. She shivered and pulled a blanket around her, her hand clenching her wand tightly as she crossed the room. Standing in front of the door, Hermione’s free hand moved shaking to the knob when it began to twist.

A gust of icy wind broke through the door as a bright blue light cast shadows over Hermione’s form. She was knocked back against the wall and exhaled a breath when her head hit the wall.

“Get the girl,” a gravely voice called, blocking the blue light, “Kill the others.”

Hermione’s breath hitched as she recognized the voice and held her wand out, “Protego!” She shouted, casting a large bubble around her as stunning spell hit her. She concentrated, pushing the protective barrier outward as spell after spell hit the shield. Picking up the closest thing to her, a glass gnome, Hermione hurled it and watched as it pegged a figure in the skull – effectively cracking it.

She shoved past them and slipped down the stairs, coming to a halt at the scene that unfolded. Ice was dripping from the ceiling while bright flashes of light lit her shocked face. Remus stood at the door, firing explosive spell after spell, knocking several dark cloaked figures back. His amber eyes met her once before he was blasted back through the glass and tumbled back outside.

“Hermione!” Ginny’s voice called from the kitchen as she threw a pot of boiling water at a black robed figure, “C’mon we have to get out of here!”

She grabbed Hermione’s wrist and pulled her to her feet, pulling her wand from her pocket as she shot a stunner spell at another figure.

“What’s going on?” Hermione breathed, running barefoot outside where she came into contact with the rest of the Order and what appeared to be hundreds of Death Eaters.

“They found us,” Ginny shouted, throwing a spell at the roof which shattered and came crashing down onto a few Death Eaters. “I don’t know how they did it, but they found us!”

“Professor Lupin,” Hermione cried, grabbing onto his unconscious body, “Help me, Ginny.”

Ginny skidded to a halt and double backed, casting a protection charm over them as Hermione bent down and wrapped Remus’ arm over her shoulder. Ginny did the same and both took deep breaths before lifting the unconscious frail professor from the ground. He was tall compared to the both of them and thus his feet dragged against the grass as they rushed out through the Weasleys’ garden. Another spell exploded against Ginny’s protection charm effectively shattering it.

“Get him out of here,” Hermione yelled at Ginny as Bill rushed out and helped carry Remus.

“Hermione!” Bill called over the explosions but Hermione had already double backed with her own wand drawn.

She felt the magic surge through her entire body, concentrating it through her wand as she lifted it. Moving her hands expertly bright emerald light shot from the tip of her wand – lighting the night sky with its tone – and shot it toward the group of Death Eaters in front of her. They were bathed in the light and sent slamming back against the house. Hermione rounded on another Death Eater and waved her wand, uprooting the ground beneath him as she shot a stunning spell at another. She had never felt so powerful in her life but at the same time she was beginning to slow down – exhaustion was setting in.

Her legs gave way when she blasted another Death Eater back and fell to her knees, her hair falling like a cascading waterfall with her and covered her face. She nearly blacked out if it wasn’t for the figures that appeared beside her at that moment.

“Get her out of here, Potter,” Draco’s voice called, almost sounding as if he were at a distance despite standing beside her.

“Hermione,” Harry said lightly, bending down to gather her up in his arms.

“No,” Hermione struggled, “I can still…I can fight.”

“Don’t be stupid, Granger,” Draco snarled, flicking his wand expertly while dueling three Death Eaters at once. “Now, get her out of here Potter.”

“I can help you,” Harry said, casting a protection spell to the side of Draco as a spell collided with it.

Draco gashed his wand to the side and knocked two Death Eaters to the side. “I can handle this. You need to get her out of here. NOW!”

He shot it wand at the ground below the two remaining Death Eaters and watched as they sunk into it like quick sand. Hermione gasped for breath when she saw the look on his face – his blond locks falling over his ice blue eyes. Worry. He was worried. The wind picked up as several more dark figures Apparated around them.

“Potter!” Draco shouted, giving Harry a push to the side where Hermione jerked forward. He held his wand out and casted a large charm in front of them, bouncing the spells from them, “Move it or lose it!”

Harry moved at that moment, taking one last chance to fire a spell at a Death Eater, and ran. Hermione felt light headed and as if she was going to vomit. There was a large blast from behind them, causing Harry to lurch forward and drop Hermione. The wind picked up and sent several thousand leaves tumbling over Harry and Hermione. Harry’s eyes shot open as he reached out to his wand and grasped it, shouting a spell upward to stop the large gust.

Hermione gathered all of her strength and sat up, her hair being whipped behind her while her eyes widened. Draco stood in the center of a large horse shoe shaped gathering of Death Eaters. He fought them one by one but several fired spells at him, and as they hit his body there was an explosion – resulting in the gust of wind.

“NO!” Hermione shouted, feeling Harry pull her to her feet and grasp her by her waist, “DRACO!”

She struggled against Harry, effectively kneeing him in the groin, and fired spells at the Death Eaters. Draco was heaped on the ground and Hermione tried to reach him but was tackled to the ground by an unknown figure. She lost her breath as she hit the ground hard, uprooting soil and grass around her.

“Get away from her!” Harry’s voice echoed but Hermione’s head was spinning so fast that she couldn’t think – she couldn’t breathe or see.

Two strong arms held her up and she felt the tip of a wand at her throat, the thumping chest of the person behind her pressed against her. Trying to gain consciousness, Hermione noticed a shade of blond flowing hair and knew who her captor was. Lucius Malfoy.

“Stupid child!” He snarled, flicking his wand at Harry who was shot back into the Weasley’s large shed.

Hermione struggled and elbowed Lucius in the stomach before trying to race off. He keeled over but regained his footing by reaching out and grasped onto her hair, pulling her to the ground.

“You…” He growled, pulling her to her feet and whipping around, “Find them! Kill them!”

Death Eaters surrounded Hermione and Lucius, bowing lightly before taking off into the darkness. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the unmoving body of Draco and let out a heavy sob. Lucius’ hand shot out and clasped over her mouth to silence her, his lips moving to her ear.

“My son died in vain and lost his life for his stupidity.”

“You bastard,” Hermione screamed into his hand, biting the corner of it hard enough to draw blood, “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”

She swirled around to bring her wand to him but he was faster, his wand descended on her and she was knocked back – skidding across the ground. Hermione took a breath and felt her lungs being filled with blood, making it difficult for her to breath.

“Kill me then, girl,” Lucius snarled, his long platinum blond locks dangling in front of his face, “Murder me in cold blood. Do it!”

Hermione lifted her wand but choked when it was knocked effortlessly from her hand. She rolled onto her side and tried to crawl but felt Lucius descend on her at that moment, yanking at her long curly-brown hair. Letting out a gargled scream, Hermione’s neck was exposed as he placed his wand at her throat.

“I should kill you,” He whispered, “I should torture you until your last breath will utter my name.”

“Do it.” Hermione mouthed, trying to breath, “Kill me.”

Lucius seemed to hesitate but only for a moment – pushing his wand into her throat hard. She felt the powerful magic begin to course through her throat, crushing her throat as if she were being strangled. Blood pooled around the corners of her mouth as she let out a horrified cry, her hands grasped his own that held her hair. Tears leaked across her face as her eyes stared at the unmoving form of Draco – the wind causing his robes to billow.

Hermione began to slip into unconsciousness but felt Lucius lift her in his arms. She heard the slur of words from others who surrounded him but couldn’t make much of anything out. The next thing she knew, she was in a room with flickering orange flames casting shadows over her naked form. The opening of the door shot echoes across the room and were followed by a pair of heavy foot steps. She moved at that moment but felt her hands bound, locked in shiny silver shackles.

“You are awake,” a velvety voice drawled from beside her.

She felt a finger graze down the side of her cheek and whimpered when her vision became clear. Dark silver eyes were pinned on her, glaring into her scared eyes, and she was caught. Again.