Kudos to JessieRose85; This is her plot bunny and beta! Woot! Woot!
Never the Twain Shall Meet
Fifth Year, Hall of Mysteries.
"Oh you don't know Potter as I do, Bellatrix. He has a great weakness for heroics; the Dark Lord understands this about him." Lucius said maintaining eye contact with Harry.
Harry was momentarily confused, Lucius Malfoy was saying all the right things, but his face, something in his eyes told Harry a different story. Even the grip on his wand was out of sorts – the senior Malfoy seemed both nervous and excited and neither emotion registered hate or malice…
"I know Sirius is here. I know you've got him!" Harry responded shrugging off the confusion.
On Harry's signal, the six D.A. members all used the Reductor Curse to smash the shelves of prophecies, distracting the Death Eaters so that they could flee. As they ran, Nott grabbed Harry's arm, but was stunned by Hermione and subsequently injured by the collapsing shelves.
The group ran, but they were quickly cornered by several Death Eaters, including Bellatrix Le'Strange. She briefly used the Cruciatus Curse on Neville to try to coerce Harry into handing over the prophecy, "Let's see how long Longbottom lasts before he cracks like his parents…unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy." She cackled in her signature shrill voice.
Lucius Malfoy sauntered into the circle giving his sister-in-law the signal to end the torture, "It's time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter." He said.
Just as Harry was about to hand the prophecy to Lucius Malfoy, Sirius Black, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alistair Moody of the Order of the Phoenix arrived, and the battle resumed.
Harry and Neville escaped the circle, but Harry was then grabbed from behind by Walden Macnair.
Harry was suddenly thrust forward landing on the floor; he looked back just in time to scurry out of the way of Walden MacNair's now lifeless body falling on top of him.
His eyes met Lucius Malfoy's for a split second before Bella's screeches of laughter broke their eye contact.
After stunning Death Eater Nott, Hermione also stunned another, unknown Death Eater and silenced Antonin Dolohov before he could alert the other Death Eaters to the group's location.
It seemed that after the arrival of the Order members the fighting tapered off with the exception of Bellatrix Le'Strange and Sirius Black; they were still dueling.
Curses thrown back and forth with precision and hatred, but the next series of events surprised everyone witnessing; everything happened so fast, Sirius tripped over the broken bits of the prophecy and as he started to fall his wand slipped from his grasp giving Bella the opportunity she needed.
What she didn't expect was her brother-in-law raising his wand to her in defense of the Order, "Avada Kedavra!" Lucius Malfoy called before she could cast the same unforgivable on Sirius Black.
She fell to the floor with a thud and the room echoed with the anguished screams of Rudolpho Le'Strange held back by Remus Lupin.
Harry's scar started to burn.
He looked around, suddenly feeling the urge to run. He ran out of the hall, through a tunnel and into the atrium to find Lord Voldemort standing there waiting for him.
The Dark Lord was enraged by the failures of his Death Eaters and for the second time, he attempted to fatally curse Harry.
Hermione ran in just in time to watch Voldemort raise his wand to her best friend. Harry seemed too transfixed by his presence that he didn't attempt to defend himself when Voldemort pointed his wand at him.
She quickly cast a strong Protego spell, protecting Harry from the initial wave of magic. It was enough to jar Harry out of his reverie and get him moving.
Unbeknownst to her, Dolohov was hiding in the shadows; he struck her with an unknown curse critically injuring her. She fell unconscious to the floor.
After a short duel with his young nemesis, Voldemort, realizing he was running out of time, resorted to possession and entered the mind and heart of the boy-who-lived, "You are so weak, Harry Potter..."
"You're the weak one! You've never known love, or friendship. And I feel sorry for you." Harry said in a strained voice fighting for control.
The dark wizard was forced to leave Harry's body, right as Albus Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy cast the killing curse on the fragile body of Voldemort. The small piece of his soul that was in transit, suddenly had no home to rest; with its body lifeless, it screamed and evaporated.
Cornelius Fudge and other Ministry officials started flooing in just as the killing curse left the mouths of Lucius and Albus.
Harry sat up in a daze, closing his eyes against the onslaught of flashing bulbs and loud questions.
His Godfather, Remus Lupin and Albus attempted to shield him from the press, but it was difficult with all the people hedging closer.
Harry's eyes bounced around, he was looking for the something, "What is it Harry?" Sirius asked noticing the boys growing tension, "Where's Hermione?" he asked panicked.
Remus and Sirius shared a look over the boys head, "We'll find her." Remus said and broke away from his fellow Marauder.
Lucius was standing off to the side, his eyes scanning the crowd, when the unmistakable coppery odor of blood filled his nostrils. He knew he wasn't injured and looked to the corner a few feet from where he stood, there lie Hermione Granger, motionless and in a growing pool of her own blood.
He ran to her and checked her over, it looked like a modified version of the Sectum Semptra spell had hit her, but he couldn't be sure.
As Lucius was kneeling next to her Remus jogged up, "Oh no." he said and knelt down, "Is she…?" he asked the blonde.
Lucius shook his head, "not yet." He said
Suddenly Harry screamed, "NOOO! Hermione!"
He struggled away from Sirius and Albus to come skidding to a halt at her feet, "she saved my life twice… and that was just today, we can't let her die, pleeeeasse." He sobbed, "She and Sirius are the only family I have." he said the last part quietly.
Lucius looked up at the boy and nodded, "We need to get her to St. Mungo's" he said, "I've healed some of her wounds, but not all."
*** three days later…
She groaned in pain; every muscle in her body hurt. She tried to open her eyes, but she realized, with a start, that someone had glued them shut. She panicked making her body jerk when a familiar voice shushed her, "Hey, shhhh, it's ok. I'm here. You gave us a scare." He said.
"I gave you a scare? My eyes are glued shut." She croaked sarcastically.
She heard Harry chuckle as well as other snickering nearby.
He could see her eyes moving under her eye lids; "Are you ok?" she asked and reached out for him.
He gave her a tender smile (of course, she would ask him if he were ok even though she was the one lying in the hospital bed) and held her hand as she squinted one eye open to look him over, "Yes, I'm fine." he said.
She had both eyes open now and saw Sirius, Remus, the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall and Lucius Malfoy.
Her eyes met Harry's again, "I must look a fright. How long have I been here?"
Remus answered, "three days."
Albus chose this time to speak to the group, "We still have work to do." He said looking at Harry and Hermione.
"Horcruxes." Hermione said knowing it would be the two of them searching for and destroying them while others worked on rounding up death eaters.
She looked at the blonde and gave him a curious look, "Thank you Mr. Malfoy." She said.
He returned her curious expression with a quirk of an eye and a silent how-did-you-know? Question, "I don't know." She responded.
When everyone left and it was only Harry and Hermione he told her the news, "Don't expect Ron … or Ginny for that matter to come with us." He said.
Her brows furrowed, "Why not? I mean I didn't expect Ginny, but Ron?" she asked.
"The battle, it scared Ron. He said he doesn't want to fear for his life or the lives of his family. He said he just wants to be a regular kid." Harry informed her with a shrug.
After a moment she nodded, "I guess I can understand that." Harry sighed and her heart went out to him, "It doesn't mean you aren't friends Harry… and for what it's worth, I won't leave you." she said hoping it eased his mind, if only a little.
He looked at her, his green eyes intense, "You're my family, Hermione, let's make it official." He said.
She looked at him like he was daft, "first we're 16 years old and second, and I love you, but not like that."
He laughed, "No, not marriage silly woman, I mean blood brothers." He said.
"I'm a girl." She said flatly.
"Yes, I know, but blood brothers rolls off the tongue so much smoother than blood siblings or blood brother and sister. Don't you think?" He said smiling.
She giggled and nodded, "Am I doing the research or do you have a spell in mind?" she asked.
He looked sheepish, "I thought you would already know one… maybe?"
She snorted and then gave him a 'duh' look, "You're in luck… I need my bag do you have it?" she asked.
He nodded and pulled it from under the bed. She pulled out a silver Athame that Dumbledore had given her when they found out Fenrir Greyback was interested in her.
She conjured a golden goblet and sent Harry off to find (read that as steal) some crushed pearl and shaved vanilla.
It took over an hour to find the spell she was looking for in her trove of books stuffed into her magically expanded purse.
He waited patiently and watched her work, Brilliant. He thought in awe of her.
"Ready Harry?" she asked patting the bed in front of her while coming to sit on her knees in front of him.
He nodded.
She took his hand slicing his palm with the Athame and reciting the spell.
"Ring of fire
Staff of ice
With this, our powers, unto us, unite.
We are truly of the elements; magical beings.
Siblings for life- friends for ever; seen and unseen.
Ice & fire - earth & sky.
You are bound to me through your love for me
I am bound to you through my love for you.
My brother - My Friend"
"Now you recite it, but first you must cut me with the Athame." She said, "… and then we have to drink it."
His face wrinkled, "eww." He said, but even as he said it, he took her hand making the same mark on her palm as she did on his.
"…My sister - My Friend"
He finished.
She took the cup and drank first.
He watched the blue ribbons of magic glow brightly and swirl around her. When she handed the cup to him, he drank and watched the same ribbons encircle him.
"Now we join hands." She said
As they did a blinding light surrounded them brightening the dark room momentarily.
Their eyes remained closed only to open when they heard pounding footsteps in the hallway.
Hermione quickly vanished the evidence and healed their wounds.
"What did you do?" Albus asked his eyes twinkling even in the dark.
"Nothing." They said in unison.
They met Severus' eyes levelly and Hermione thought she saw his lips twitch, but couldn't be sure.
***The Hunt
They (Harry and Hermione) used that summer and most of their sixth year to hunt for and destroy Horcruxes. It was both physically dangerous and emotionally taxing. In between everything else, they kept up with their studies so they wouldn't be behind.
It was her logic and knowledge that got them access to well guarded pieces and his instinct for dark arts that allowed them to foresee the traps set to protect them. Together they made a good team.
Harry missed Ron sometimes, but all in all, Hermione didn't whine like Ron did, nor did she fly off the handle impulsively like … well like both Ron and Harry.
They accomplished what they set out to do, completing their task in the soonest amount of time possible. They didn't want to give the dark lord anytime to rise to power again.
No one knew of their mission, only Albus, Sirius and Remus. The latter two strongly disagreeing with sending two teenagers out on the dangerous mission, but eventually were overruled by Hermione and Harry as well as Albus Dumbledore.
Hermione's parents thought she was staying back at school and the Dursley's didn't inquire as to Harry's whereabouts.
Ron and Ginny wondered, but quickly gave up after not receiving any acknowledgment to their questions. This further distanced the friends; the Weasley siblings felt useless as well as left out causing resentment and jealously to form in the place of a once warm heart.
Malfoy Manor became the unofficial Horcrux destruction location. After a fluke, they discovered that the horcruxes negative effect on the two Gryffindor eased a bit being inside the House of a Slytherin.
So Harry and Hermione would find a horcrux, appartate to Malfoy Manor and destroy it. This allowed them a small reprieve during their missions and gave them time to get to know the Malfoys.
Draco was always present and they both realized that he had quite a sense of humor as well as being almost as smart as Hermione. He also did a lot of research while they were gone, in order to help them find the next one; since he was already at school he accompanied them on their search for the Ravenclaw Diadem.
***The week before seventh year…
The Order called a meeting held at Grimmauld Place to introduce and commend those involved in the 'final' battle for their bravery during the battle of Mysteries.
Draco and his mother were there as well.
"Hey …Granger. Potter." Draco said as he entered the kitchen to get away from all the boring 'adult' talk in the living room.
Harry looked up and motioned to a chair, "Hey Malfoy." She said.
Then giggled to herself, "What?" Harry and Draco asked together and then gave each other a weird look.
She looked at the two of them, "Us. Sitting here… together. No name calling, no sneers… it's just… you know, nice." She said with a shrug.
They both nodded and then Draco leaned in and spoke quietly, "I wouldn't mind something a little stronger than butter beer, you know?" he whispered.
Hermione and Harry looked at each other. She smiled, quirked an eyebrow and tilted her head as if to say, 'let's-get-shitfaced'.
Harry nodded and moved to stand.
Draco was so shocked he just stared at Hermione, "Get the fuck out, Granger, you naughty girl!" he said laughing causing all three of them to laugh.
As they started to walk out of the kitchen they met Sirius, Lucius and Severus in the hallway, "Where are you three off to?" Sirius asked looking at them suspiciously.
The three students looked at each other uncertainly at first and then, "Quidditch." Hermione blurted.
All eyes on her, "Quidditch? …in the dark?" Severus asked knowingly.
Draco picked up the slack, "It's the best time Uncle Severus. It takes skill and Potter here thinks he's a better flyer."
Again… all eyes on Hermione (they all knew she didn't fly), "Oh, I'm just …ah... going along to …cheer them on… woo hoo, go Draco and Harry!" she added for effect, but it came out slightly awkward.
Harry was trying really hard to not laugh and Sirius was in tears and turning red.
Lucius ended their pain, "Just don't drink and fly." He said.
They nodded and headed for the door, but before they got there, "Hermione, make sure you don't drink and apparate!" Sirius called out.
She huffed, "ONE TIME!" she said exasperatedly after being reminded of her one time splinch after apparating drunk.
And they shut the door behind them.
"She has her license already?" Lucius asked.
Severus nodded, "She tested early."
Sirius was still chuckling, "Honestly, Quidditch in the dark? They couldn't come up with anything better than that?"
Severus and Lucius laughed as well shook their heads; they grabbed a few bottles of Ogden's finest out of the cabinet for themselves and headed to the library.
***Head Girl and Head Boy
"I can't believe we're back!" Draco said looking around the shared heads common room.
"I know." Hermione said opening the window for the owl.
"We have a meeting with the prefects in an hour. I'm going to take a shower." He said.
She smirked, "awww cleaning up just for me?" she teased
He gave her a half smile and shook his head, they both knew who he was cleaning up for and it wasn't his co-head.
Hermione,
How are you dear? We miss you. We have great news, we found an intern for the oral surgery position. He's a nice boy. Very smart and we can't wait for you to meet him.
Talk soon,
Mum