A/N-Wow- I seriously didn't think my next fic would come out right after I ended my last. But, I couldn't help myself! I'm really excited to get this story rolling and I hope the people from my last fic stay with me- and I also hope I hear from new people too! Okay- so, here's the prologue- enjoy:)

Disclaimer- Everything belongs to J.K.Rowling except the plot.

Summary- Hermione Granger owes Draco Malfoy her life after the war. How does he get her to pay him back? By marrying him. Dm/Hg. Rated M for language and later scenes…

Being In Debt to Draco Malfoy

Chapter 1- The Most unexpected savior.

It was getting quiet. Too quiet.

All night there had been something.

At first, there were screams.

Then, an assortment of different colored lights.

Followed by heat. A lot of heat.

But as she laid there, and as time passed excruciatingly slowly, it got very, very, quiet.

The war was coming to an end.

In the distance, she still heard faint yells while the smell of burnt charcoal enveloped her senses. The wind was nipping at her face and began to freeze her aching body.

She opened her eyes. The fire, burning the South tower of Hogwarts School, was bright and enabled her to see a few scattered and lifeless bodies around her. Looking over at the trees she found total darkness, so she turned her head slowly to the left of her to see the lake being illuminated by the moon that rose above it.

Lifting her head, she tried to slip her left elbow beneath her so she could rise up. As soon as she moved her arm, a searing pain shot through it, burning from her shoulder to her fingertips. She jerked it from under her and quickly fell back down with a wince.

Everywhere hurt.

She couldn't even being to count how many broken bones she was now sporting, and the taste of dried blood in her mouth wasn't helping. Her eyes went in and out of focus as her head continued pounding.

She wanted to cry, but was afraid of doing that because she seriously considered that her head just might explode.

Needing a release from this pain, she reached her right arm out from her, and began skimming it along the grass in search of her wand. Just as she reached it…

Crush

She let out a strangled cry as she felt massive weight come down on her hand. She pulled her hand slowly into her chest and began rubbing it gently, feeling the tears run down the side of her face and onto the tip of her ears.

She stopped when she realized something. A shadow was cast over her. But what happened to the fire? Looking up, someone was hovering over her. Most likely the same someone who had just ran over her hand. It was wearing a long black robe with the hood pulled over, though it still had a black mask covering the face, keeping the anonymity. He bent down, inspecting her wounds silently.

Hermione was in too much pain to push this person away, and it seemed like she had lost her voice. "Help…" she tried to say in a hoarse, inaudible whisper.

The masked person reached down and grabbed her left wrist, checking her pulse. Her eyes followed his actions precisely, and when they rested on his wrist, she felt her stomach knot up the same time a lump formed in her throat.

He was a Death Eater.

Weakly, she tried to pull away from his grasp, and turned her head away from him, praying he'd leave her be. But, pain shot through her again, shaking her whole body as he roughly picked her up, cradling her in his arms. It seemed he was running, though the exact destination was unknown. All Hermione knew was that she could surely do without the constant bobbing that resulted from each hurried step he took. It was killing her head.

It felt like he was running for a good five minutes, and Hermione became light-headed. The end was coming soon, she knew it. Either she would die in his arms, or he'd kill her first. She silently prayed to God that her friends and fellow order members were okay, and hoped someday her parents understood how she died honorably.

When he stopped, she looked up at the darkened and crowded sky, and saw one star dimly shining through all the dark clouds. It was almost indistinguishable from the clutter of clouds, but it was there. She averted her eyes from the sky and looked to her right, seeing what looked like a massive tree.

"Immobulus" came from a deep but strong voice. Though, it was tired and appeared to have slight apprehension to it.

Suddenly, Hermione was sliding down a rock and landed uncomfortably on her bum. The man entered in after her, and picked her up once again. He ran through the tunnel with her in his arms through the darkness.

He slowed his pace down to a hurried walk, and Hermione heard a wooden floor creak beneath his feet as they ascended stairs. She coughed as soon as dust filled her lungs and sneezed after it tickled her nostrils.

Then man turned a sharp corner and she built up the courage to open her eyes. Hermione looked around, expecting death eaters to come out of their hiding places and encompass her. Instead, she found she was in a small, dusty room. She saw an overturned table with an old and grimy couch behind it. There was also a chair that was slashed in the front, and had cotton busting out of the seams.

"Where?" she voiced softly, her voice cracking. It hurt to even speak.

"Safe. But you're dead if a single movement or noise escapes you." He said sternly.

He walked over to a door next to the fireplace and opened it up, placing Hermione inside. The room wasn't big enough for another person, and she was sitting limply against the wall. She figured this was, once upon a time, some sort of coat closet.

The man shut the door with the flick of his wand, and left after he locked it.

Hermione closed her eyes, drifting to sleep. But, not a second later, her eyes snapped open. She started wide-eyed at the door once realization hit her. She couldn't believe her ears. She'd know that voice anywhere, recognizing it on the spot. How could she not? It had tormented her since she arrived at Hogwarts. But she was speechless…and not because of the literal sense…but …but because Draco Malfoy had just saved her life.