Summary: In 6th year when Hermione discovers that Harry's baseless accusations about Malfoy are more true than she had anticipated, she goes to Dumbledore who stages Draco's death and sends him into hiding. But that's not where her part ends. Dumbledore expects her to tutor him on the 6th year material. Left with more time together alone then ever before, they begin to see things differently, in this, the prelude to their end.
Prologue
Hermione Granger by no means believed in divination. All that fumbling with the "inner eye", crystal balls, and tea leaves was a crock, in her humble opinion. Professor Trelawney in her mystical glory; that had been a laugh. Right before she'd been deeply insulted and promptly turned her back on the sheer ridiculousness of it.
But there was no denying, even to her, that every now and again something extraordinary happens. For good or ill, to be determined at the time of its occurrence, but something extraordinary nonetheless. Some would call it 'fate', others 'destiny'.
Hermione hated those terms, for it left no measure of control over her own life. Those terms, as far as she knew, had been invented by those with weak minds as a means to give up their own control, or to justify their lack of it.
But then things happen that make even her question these notions. Like dominoes, each action, each motive, each word falls, one after the other to form something beautiful and extraordinary.
Beautiful and extraordinary, and more precious than her own life.
Wand pointed ahead of her, she reflected on the actions, motives and words that took her here, standing on the brink of almost certain death. But whether or not she died, she knew that she would be safe, and that stripped her of her fear. It meant that her death would not be meaningless, should it come to that.
She looked beside her at the tall blonde man beside her. He gazed back at her, brown meeting grey.
"For Aurora." he whispered to her.
And they rushed haphazardly into the fray, with something worth fighting for.