Disclaimers: Any one you recognize is the intellectual property of J.K.R. I make no money from torturing her characters...more's the pity.
Again, thanks to the original betas Kathy and Amy, and to a reviewer who pointed out my biggest technical boo-boo.
Mercy
by Elizabeth
He knew: this is what she would want.
His certainty carried him through his exhaustive preparations. It drove him in his quest to find her. And now it kept his steps sure and steady down the dim hallways of St. Mungos.
She waited for him in the common room.
He stopped in the doorway. For a moment, he allowed himself the indulgence of watching her. Sitting by an open window, her face upturned to the sun, she seemed the young woman he remembered.
He dismissed the sentimental thought; illusion had no place
here.
"Miss Granger." He tried formality first, hoping to irritate her into response. She didn't respond, but her companion rose to her feet babbling. He cast a full body bind on her would- be protector.
He stepped over the fallen woman and took her chair across from Granger.
"I was detained," he told her. Not by way of apology, but as an explanation owed. "I thought other matters better attended to first; otherwise, I would be in no position to help you." Even though she couldn't see it, he smiled in open pleasure at the next thought. "Lucius Malfoy is dead - and my only regret is that he died too quickly."
At Malfoy's name she started, but didn't open her eyes.
He tried another tactic. "As for the dementor acting on his orders?" He let the anger out in one long hiss of his voice. "I tracked it to the last and took immense gratification in destroying it. One piece at a time."
His fury was of no use.
A despair close to anger threatened to overwhelm him. His hand went out, catching her chin and turning her face to his. She gasped and opened her eyes. Her face was inches from his, solid and impassive; her brown eyes were empty, with no soul behind them.
"No," he lowered his voice to a rough rumble, running his fingers over her eyelids, closing them again. "Close them Granger. I've seen enough."
Through the cracked door he heard voices coming down the hall - the mediwitches making their rounds.
The time was at hand.
"Miss Granger," he told her quietly. "I cannot accept that such a brilliant mind has come to such a pass. And I think," he paused, then finished with certainty. "I *know* that neither can you." Only two more issues lay between him and her. Both too private to be spoken openly in a world that wouldn't understand or even attempt to understand.
He leaned over, pressing his lips to her ear. "I love you, Hermione." Then -uncaring of possible magical backlash - he pressed his wand against her chest.
"Avada Kedavra."
The screams of the broken monitor wards brought three mediwitches running into the room. Strong arms pulled him away from Hermione's still form; strident voices yelled questions and accusations in his face.
He barely noticed.
For once in his life he had shown selfless mercy. He was prepared to suffer for it, and suffer for it gladly.
fin
Again, thanks to the original betas Kathy and Amy, and to a reviewer who pointed out my biggest technical boo-boo.
Mercy
by Elizabeth
He knew: this is what she would want.
His certainty carried him through his exhaustive preparations. It drove him in his quest to find her. And now it kept his steps sure and steady down the dim hallways of St. Mungos.
She waited for him in the common room.
He stopped in the doorway. For a moment, he allowed himself the indulgence of watching her. Sitting by an open window, her face upturned to the sun, she seemed the young woman he remembered.
He dismissed the sentimental thought; illusion had no place
here.
"Miss Granger." He tried formality first, hoping to irritate her into response. She didn't respond, but her companion rose to her feet babbling. He cast a full body bind on her would- be protector.
He stepped over the fallen woman and took her chair across from Granger.
"I was detained," he told her. Not by way of apology, but as an explanation owed. "I thought other matters better attended to first; otherwise, I would be in no position to help you." Even though she couldn't see it, he smiled in open pleasure at the next thought. "Lucius Malfoy is dead - and my only regret is that he died too quickly."
At Malfoy's name she started, but didn't open her eyes.
He tried another tactic. "As for the dementor acting on his orders?" He let the anger out in one long hiss of his voice. "I tracked it to the last and took immense gratification in destroying it. One piece at a time."
His fury was of no use.
A despair close to anger threatened to overwhelm him. His hand went out, catching her chin and turning her face to his. She gasped and opened her eyes. Her face was inches from his, solid and impassive; her brown eyes were empty, with no soul behind them.
"No," he lowered his voice to a rough rumble, running his fingers over her eyelids, closing them again. "Close them Granger. I've seen enough."
Through the cracked door he heard voices coming down the hall - the mediwitches making their rounds.
The time was at hand.
"Miss Granger," he told her quietly. "I cannot accept that such a brilliant mind has come to such a pass. And I think," he paused, then finished with certainty. "I *know* that neither can you." Only two more issues lay between him and her. Both too private to be spoken openly in a world that wouldn't understand or even attempt to understand.
He leaned over, pressing his lips to her ear. "I love you, Hermione." Then -uncaring of possible magical backlash - he pressed his wand against her chest.
"Avada Kedavra."
The screams of the broken monitor wards brought three mediwitches running into the room. Strong arms pulled him away from Hermione's still form; strident voices yelled questions and accusations in his face.
He barely noticed.
For once in his life he had shown selfless mercy. He was prepared to suffer for it, and suffer for it gladly.
fin
