Hermione rushed from her place of hiding; begging, pleading with herself that her fears were irrational. Harry rushed around a corner, and she followed, trying to catch some air to ease the anxiety.
Low voices rumbled, catching Hermione's ears. She listened, hoping to learn the goal of their intrusion. Her heartbeat began to feel louder than the whispers, and she feared they would be found out. But the voices continued; the owners' not realizing their presence. Hermione's ears caught another voice, and she felt her chest flutter in dismay. It can't be! Her body instantly lurched forward, earning Harry's arm to be wrapped around her waist. "You must let me see!" She whispered through gnashed teeth.
"They will find us!" His response didn't touch a single fragment of her mind. She had to see; she had to know the truth.
In one swift motion, she released herself from his grip, throwing her body to the Tower. The stairs seemed endless, and they echoed throughout the large, open room, a place she had come to know as safe.
Hermione's golden eyes met a silver pair, sending her into a panic worthy enough to kill. It can not be! Her eyes circled the rest of the room, seeing the many figures of fear right before her, all with wands at the ready; Ready to kill. When a small whimper caught her ears, she turned to the owner. Dumbledore was practically hanging off of the Tower railing, facing his death. Hermione gasped, the realization of fear filling her mind.
"You!" She turned to the stony eyes again, "Draco! How could you!" Her words were practically whispers, her body barely hanging on to reality. Not only was the boy she had trusted, the boy she had seen break, the boy she had fallen in love with, shattering her trust and hope, but the entire entourage of the enemy was standing right in front her eyes.
"'Mione!" His voice sputtered. He looked awful; hair tousled in a heap, clothes rustled and twisted. The infamous Draco Malfoy was distressed and Hermione knew exactly why. He had gone over to the dark side, he was one of them. A Death Eater. Hermione was shaking with panic, dying underneath the cold gazes. "Why are you here?" He sobbed, shaking simultaneously with her. "You have to leave this place." His voice was less than a whisper, a dark murmur between them, and them only. But everyone could see them, their exposed affections put on display before the enemy's eyes.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Hermione cried out, "Why didn't you tell me?" Her cries for explanations were ablaze with soul-awakening sobs. She couldn't think, she couldn't process the situation. This can not be. Her mind was still in denial. "Why?" She screamed out, forcing the entire room to quake.
This through the Death Eaters into a furry, and one of Voldemort's most adamant followers, Bellatrix, glided over to Draco's shoulder, whispering something Hermione could only assume, and pray wasn't the truth.
With a raised wand, Bellatrix turned to her opponent, Hermione's anxiety was at it's height. Her mind flashing memories; of hope, love, family and friends. She closed her eyes and began to cry, silently, waiting for her fate. But a murmur was heard, "I'll do it." And Hermione opened her lids, seeing a different raised arm. "What?"
Draco's silver eyes looked at her with guilt, sorrow and apology. She wanted to reach out, she wanted to touch him, she wanted to hold him, but that could not be. "Why?" She whispered into the darkness between them.
Draco shifted, wand at the ready, praying to God that he'd be forgiven, "I was only trying to protect you." And then, with a tortured voice, he spoke the Unforgivable Curse sending Hermione tumbling to the ground, landing lifelessly before them.
