I have just gone through the stages of re-editing this story and I hope that all the people that were reading this story before will continue to read and review, even if the story line has slightly changed. I know that I didn't update for a long time, but my life turned around and I thought I didn't have it in me to continue writing, but I now know that I will never give up on this story.
This is a story of destructive, passionate, hapless love between two opposites. And, I would like to dedicate it to Tyler Christopher Evans, my boyfriend of five years and almost fiancé, who tragically died in a car accident on his way to propose to me.
This story has some pretty wild themes; love, sex, abuse, drug use and self-harm. Almost all of the encounters in this story are based on real life experience that I have shared with Tyler, so if you can't stomach it, don't read on.
CHAPTER 1: AN ENDING AND A BEGINNING
Falling debris cascaded down from the formerly glorious Hogwarts. What once was a majestic castle was now a rubble riddled battle field that was playing host to what would be the most historic battle of all time. Lifeless bodies and wreckage scattered the grounds while screams and cries of terror pierced the foreboding atmosphere. Hexes and curses flew haphazardly, their different colours barely noticeable underneath the thick clouds of ash that hung in the dusk sky.
Hermione darted in-between the crowd, throwing and dodging hexes every step of the way. Harry was searching for Rowena Ravenclaw's lost Diadem, and she and Ron were separated on the way to the Chamber of Secrets while fighting a group of Death Eaters.
She was making her way to the girls bathroom where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was. It was the only place that she found logical to go. Surely Ron would think the same seeing as going there had been his idea in the first place. Maybe when they were alone, she would get a chance to finally tell him how she felt about him.
Before the battle, Dumbledore himself had taken some of the 7th years aside. Hermione could honestly say that she had never thought Dumbledore would ever encourage using Unforgivable's.
Granted, he didn't thrust us out of the door yelling "Avada Kedavra the bitches!" thought Hermione. But he did say 'using an unforgivable is not tolerated in this modern society but desperate times call for desperate measures. Using an unforgivable will not go on your records. However, only cast the curse if you are certain you can deal with having it on your conscious and it is unquestionably necessary.'
Most of the others had walked absolutely flabbergasted that Dumbledore had even suggested it but for some odd reason, Hermione felt stronger than she was before. Of course, she felt guilty after she cast the killing curse on Igor Karkaroff but he had Ginny and George beaten. They had looked somewhat shocked when the bolt of green escaped from the tip of Hermione's wand, and so did Hermione. But, when she saw her two siblings in everything but blood at that Death Eaters mercy, she would do anything to protect them.
"Hermione!" yelled one of the Patil twins; she was too overwhelmed to make the distinction. The twin was duelling with a Death Eater, but he was too quick and agile for her to hit. Hermione knew that if she didn't do something, her friend would die.
She was took advantage of her position, throwing a hex at his back. He fell to the floor and was bound instantly. Then, before Hermione could turn around, a curse hit her in the leg.
She fell to the floor, writhing in agony. It felt like one thousand knives were stabbing her all at once. Her insides became hot as the pain ripped through her and her bones felt as if they were twisting and bending . The pain tore through her, intensifying every second, it seemed to go on forever, and soon her throat was raw from screaming.
Instantaneously, the pain ceased. She turned to she Bellatrix lying on the floor in a full body bind with her attacker standing over her. Neville.
She raced through Hogwarts her face saddening when she ran past the corridors she knew would never return to their former glory. She saw the faces of students, friends, their inert eyes staring at the ceiling, they were just children, some of them as young as eleven, but they had risked their lives for the greater good. They were the real hero's.
Absentmindedly, she fought off curses and it wasn't until she found herself in a corridor with Lucius Malfoy at one entrance and Theodore Nott at the other had she realised she was trapped, they had shepherded her there.
She swivelled her head her glance darting between the pair. They closed in on her, step by step and she could feel the dread and fear coursing through her veins.
"Hermione!" screamed Ron, and her guard was only down for a moment, but that was enough.
"Secptumsempra!"
"Magica Vincendo"
Hermione let out a strangled sob as she fell to the floor with a hard thud, in a pool of her own blood. Her wand was in her hand but when she tried to cast a spell, it didn't work. The previous curse must have been one that temporarily disabled her magical abilities.
"Ron, run!" She screamed, but he didn't leave her, shooting hexes at the two assailants. But, he was unable to fend them both off, and was soon at their mercy, just like Hermione.
"Where is Harry Potter?" Nott asked both of them.
"I'll fucking die before I tell you anything!" spat Ron, fighting furiously at the binds holding him to the statue on the wall. The elder Malfoy's eyes darted to Ron, and then back to Hermione.
"I think that we would have some fun here," Lucius clicked his tongue and then slapped Hermione hard across the face continuously, only stopping when a horrid blue bruises formed on her cheeks. Ron was screaming and struggling wildly against the ties that made him incapable of protecting Hermione.
"If you don't tell me where Harry Potter is, I will kill her, right in front of you." Nott's shrill laughter echoed loudly at Lucius' words.
"Ron, you can't! He will kill me either way! You can't. Ron, please," Hermione begged from her spot on the floor. Ron looked at her, a battle raging in his eyes.
"I love you, Hermione."
"I love you, too."
"I hope you left something for me to do!" A familiar voice called out, and when Bellatrix's eyes saw Hermione's body on the floor, and Ron's tied to the wall, a high-pitched laugh followed.
Bellatrix bent over Hermione's arm and took her dagger out from her belt. She moved the dagger over Hermione's soft creamy skin easily, cutting her like butter. Hermione sobbed, Ron screamed, Bellatrix laughed.
Bellatrix cast several spells, breaking and twisting Hermione's body while Ron was writhing on the wall under the Cruciatus curse.
"Stupid fucking pureblood prat! Leave her the fuck alone!" screamed Ron in between heavy gasps. Bellatrix stopped dancing around Hermione's body and looked at him darkly. Bellatrix stalked towards him, clicking her tongue.
"Where is the boy?" she yelled stridently.
"We will never tell. We will never. You are going to lose this war, you bitch!"
'"Avada Kedavra!"
"Ron!"
The green bolt of light hit Ron's chest and he instantly became still and the light left his eyes.
Unhurried, she walked over Hermione, toying with her wand. Before she cast a spell, she kicked Hermione in the gut, earning a splutter and cough from her victim. A small amount of blood frothed at the corner of mouth. Bella cast several spells, breaking and twisting Hermione's body, and Bellatrix L'Estrange danced evilly around the witch that she had bought so close to death
Severus Snape darted around fallen boulders and dead bodies, a pang of guilt shot through his heart every time he ran over a student's body. Death Eaters didn't care. 1st year, 7th year, it didn't matter to them. And as he ran, he saw the faces of students he once taught. He couldn't help but wonder; was he, in some small, insignificant way, responsible for their deaths? He shook the thought from his head, focusing on why he was running around the corridors.
Granger and Weasley.
They hadn't been seen for over half an hour and everyone was getting distressed. He flung pitiful jinxes at the scampering teenagers, but when he was hidden he shot harmful curses at Death Eaters, never missing.
He was almost in the transfiguration hallway when he heard a madden cackle. He raced in the opposite direction, following the sound of the screech, and soon enough he found himself staring at Hermione Granger and her love, Ronald Weasley. She was a sobbing heap on the floor, whimpering and calling for Ron.
It took all he had to restrain himself from reaching for his wand. His mind raced desperately, what could he do to save her? He could only think of one thing. And it was dangerous, so very dangerous. But he had to try. He could not let this happen before his very eyes, what would Dumbledore think? He hid behind the stony wall, preparing himself, thinking of the consequences. This was a spell of his own making. He had never tested it, let alone made a reversing spell but it had to work. He would work on the reversing spell once Hermione was safe.
"Ad Praeterita Revertamur!"
A sapphire bolt erupted from the end of Snape's wand and hit Hermione on the forehead. He watched the Granger girl disappear before his very eyes before moving hastily from the livid Death Eaters. He strode back to the main battle field with robes billowing; trying to convince himself that what he had just done was for the best.
"Oi!" yelped James Potter. "I swear Padfoot, you tread on my foot again and it will be the last thing you ever do!"
Sirius just laughed relentlessly at his dear friend, and eventually he joined in, the drugs they had just done already taking their toll. They were heading back from the Quidditch Pitch. With the upcoming game against Slytherin, they had to get a much practice in a possible, and flying whilst out of it was on of James' and Sirius' favourite pass times. They were ambling back to the castle when they heard a loud quake that sounded like thunder.
"What the he-" Prongs began to mutter.
He was cut short when a glowing sapphire beam appeared out of nowhere. The wizards exchanged confused glances and then continued to observe the odd scene taking place in front of them. Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the beam, about 2 metres above the ground. The light released on last thundering quake and then vanquished, leaving the girl to fall like a rag doll. Sirius and James instantaneously pulled out their wands and walked cautiously towards the character
"Lumos," they both chanted.
As the tips of their wands brighten, the thing on the floor became more apparent. The walked closer, deciding whatever it was, was not an immediate threat. Slowly, they were able to distinguish that the person was a girl. They walked closer and both gasped in horror and disgust.
What they saw was the most beautiful and devastating thing they had ever laid eyes on. A few steps in front of them laid a beautiful brunette with blood soaked clothes.
"James…" Sirius said in a weak voice.
The high they were just about to go on stopped abruptly and James felt the prickle of unshed tears as they saw her. Blue and black bruises covered every inch of her; broken bone pierced her skin and stuck out at odd angles; deep lacerations on her chest and legs splattered blood with every dying breath she took. And on her arm, barely visible under her soaked clothing, the word mudblood was carved into her skin. James heard Sirius let out a strangled cry and then knew that he had seen it to.
A lone tear fell down James cheek and many thoughts rushed through his head. But one was most evident. She was dying. He turned to Sirius who had a few tears running down his cheeks.
"I am going to find Poppy and Dumbledore. Stay here, don't touch. I will be back." said James frantically. He clapped Padfoot on the back and then sprinted towards the castle, faster than he had ever gone before.
Sirius fell to his knees, James said not to touch, but he couldn't help himself. If this mysterious young women was going to, Merlin forbid, die, he did not want her to die alone. He reached out to stroke her hair, her big bushy stack of hair.
He continued to whisper words of comfort into her ear until Poppy, Dumbledore and James arrived. When the small group arrived he heard a gasp from everyone. Even James, since he had left, her condition had worsened, blood covering every inch of her clothing, even occasionally spurting like a fountain out of her chest. He turned to lock eyes with Dumbledore. He had never seen him look so grave, and he swore he saw a single tear.
Luckily, no one wasted anytime. Poppy lifted the limp girl with a flick of her wand, letting out a strangled sob when her dislodged bones cracked. Dumbledore calmed her with a pat on the back and then they both hurried towards the castle. James and Sirius followed intently, wanting to know the fate of the girl.
When they arrived at the hospital wing, Poppy took the girl into a private room and began to heal her. Sirius, James and Professor Dumbledore sat down and waiting patiently for a progress report. The sat in an eerie silence for what seemed to be hours before Poppy appeared. She opened her mouth to talk, but shut it again. This continued for a few more times before she finally stutter the words out.
"Would you like to know the extent of her injuries?"
Dumbledore just nodded gravely.
"Um, ok then, yes. Well, every single bone in her body was broken, dislocated or fractured. Some so badly they will take a few days to heal. Her arms and legs were snapped in half and have broken through her skin. Her hand was shattered as well as her collar bone. I did not come across a single inch of skin that was not bruised," tears had escaped from Poppy's eyes and her voice shook. "She is suffering from the aftershock of the Cruciatus curse. If I am correct, it appears she was under for quite some time and –"
"How long?" whispered James. Poppy looked at Dumbledore and he shook his head slightly.
"A long time," Poppy said with a said whisper, "She is a very powerful witch, that's why she was able to withstand the pain."
"And, there is one other thing. I do believe that this is the most distressing. While I was able to heal her other injuries and they will have little or no impact on her life, this, most unfortunately, will never leave her. On her left arm, someone has carved the word," Dumbledore seemed shocked, he obviously didn't notice it on the way up to the hospital. Sirius and James' breathing hitched in their chests, Poppy continued looking solemn, "mudblood."
"Why is it the most distressing?" Sirius questioned slowly.
"The mark repels all of the spells that I have cast on it and when I checked, it's because of–"
"Dark Magic," James offered, receiving a grave nod from Dumbledore.
"It will always be there, nothing we can do with reverse that."
The eerie silence was interrupted by Professor Dumbledore's strong voice. He allowed the boys to miss the following day's lessons and did not question how they stumbled upon he when they were meant to be in bed.
He still had no idea of how she got here, but he could tell something was wrong.
ᴥ ᴥ ᴥ ᴥ
After taking the girl to the hospital wing, she hadn't left Sirius' mind. The other Marauders and Lily had been to visit her every day for hours and was often in their thoughts and discussions. They wanted to know more about the cryptic girl who had arrived battered and bruised directly in the path of Padfoot and Prongs.