Disclaimer: In this story there is no money being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.


HE WHO FINALLY DIED

Written by B.N.R.


A/N: THIS CHAPTER HASN'T BEEN REVISED YET; I apologize for any errors. However I will appreciate very much If you relate to me any mistake you find or any content you can't understand.


Chapter 2

'Hello Hermione'

She got so used to pack during the war that it had only taken half one hour to get everything she needed, at least everything she had at home. Dressing up only took a few minutes with magic.

'Hello George. How is everything going?' She asked with a smile, which thankfully was not forced, as she was really pleased to see some of the people in the drawing room.

Everybody was there. The Weasleys, the Lupins, Mrs. Tonks and some other people, some she knew some she didn't, who probably were escorts. Everybody had dressed up as if for a ball and was chatting seated forming groups in the huge and classy room, nipping some drinks and food.

'As busy as always. Work is very rewarding.' George answered happily embracing her in a hug. He was seating with Bill and Fleur, they happily stood up to greet her too. 'I'm now researching a few things you might find interesting, perhaps you will want to see… And rethink about the position I offered to you.' He said jokingly but he quickly left to the dinning room, so she couldn't deny his offer again. She then turned to the woman, who was quite pregnant.

'Congratulations' She appraised lovingly and embraced both of them. 'Are you going to stay here until after the birth?'

'Oh no.' Said Bill 'We came for a vacation, I've been sent to Tokyo, so we want the child to be born there'

'I hope you will come to see us, you know you will have a place there whenever you want' Invited Fleur sweetly.

'Thank you very much. I've always wanted to go to Japan. I understand it is a completely different culture and even their magic works some other way than ours. Maybe I can get some holidays when all madness at the ministry ends, whatever it is.' It was then that she spotted Harry, with Ron and Lavender. She didn't like seeing her there one bit. 'If you excuse me, I'll see you later.

'Harry!' She said when she reached the group and hugged him and felt him stiff.

'Hey Mione.' He greeted unsure.

'Do you know what is going on in the Ministry? There is such overload of work… Why all that fuss?'

'I believe we are changing building.' responded Harry easily and elaborated when saw her frowning 'Apparently there are a few problems with the interference of muggle territory and the ministry's area expansion.'

Hermione tried not to show her reluctance, she believed him, Harry was still her friend after all, but she now knew… Or suspected… That he might be hiding information.

'Really? Where will be the new location?'

'It's being moved to the countryside. Perhaps in the future they will also move other public buildings. It's all part of a rebuilt of the administration program.'

'Hermione' Ron's voice called politely behind her 'I thought you must have missed my note.'

'I'm sorry Ron.' She responded hurt after kissing him lightly she would just disregard the girl too closed at his side 'It was a busy day at work.'

'I'm sure it was. We should get going to the dinning room now, everybody is already here.'

And so they did, but not before she had properly greeted everybody else. Hell would freeze the day she fell for Ron's antics, which were making her sicker of him every day.

The seats arrangements were a bit funny, for lack of a better word. They had been carefully ordered by association, importance and even lovers. Apparently Ron had gone back with Lavender. She wouldn't have cared the least before, but not now, knowing what was going to happen to her, he should have proposed or protected her somehow. Did he cared so little about her? He always kicked her aside when things turned nasty and difficult, it seemed he never matured. It hurt to realise he might have never loved her.

The dinning room was beautiful and elegant, the lightning low and flickering with the candles. The table was also nicely held, with a beautiful mantle and porcelains. The cups were made of extremely thin and shining glass and the cabinetries were probably silver.

'Mister Malfoy.' She addressed Draco after some minutes on the entries. 'Is your father alright?' It was very strange to see him and not his father at the head of the table.

The murmurs at the table stopped and everybody looked at her, although it was difficult she tried not to squirm under their gaze.

'Miss Granger.' He said spitefully 'If you must know, my father has moved to Italy, both for the creation of new enterprises at the continent and permanent vacation at the seashore.'

'Harry' Ginny interrupted to change topic. 'Tell us again how you capture those criminals yesterday!'

The meal went on quickly for her, the food was extremely good even though the conversation was very forced and scarce. She didn't took part more than a couple of times, as they would shut down and looked oddly at her; however she could get some information, of course nothing was directly said. It was unsettling that she had to analyze her friends in order to know which ones she could trust. She was disheartened. But as the meal went by she understood that there really was something wrong going on, even if what Draco had told her was a farce; nevertheless everything pointed out towards his truthfulness.

The worst was Harry, she couldn't recognise him; how hadn't she known before? He kept the conversation light, but she didn't miss his commentaries about muggles and some other supremacist points of view. Hermione regretted not having met with him more regularly this last years, she probably wouldn't have lost her friend then, because she was sure she had lost him now. Could he be imperiosed? Could it be just an imposer as in fourth year? She preferred that to a brain wash.

Ginny was also changed from the innocent girl she had once met. However she had to concede that it didn't surprise her much, she hadn't wanted to know, but she had suspected she was growing into this w… woman since school. Ron wasn't a surprise either, it was rather sad to realise that she couldn't expect much from him though. She had adapted to giving him opportunities again and again to the point that she had lost the reality of the situation. However now she watched with opened eyes once again, realising all was very very wrong.

Molly, Arthur and even Charly had always been good to her. Charly had even wooed her until his brother stopped him. Molly and Arthur had behaved as second parents to her, especially since her parents' deaths, it was tragic to lose them too, but she couldn't hope much from Molly, she was so much like Ron, only there when everything was nice and easy; Arthur was more honest, but his understanding of muggles was a bit patronizing and humiliating, he thought of them as inferior creatures, even if he didn't realise it himself.

Thankfully she could count on Bill, Fleur and George… And Malfoy, it seemed; although she had yet to grasp that knowledge. It had been unexpected, she hadn't given many thoughts to his behaviour, until now, other than his façade; she felt a bit wretched for her naivety, she usually read people well enough. How could she have dismissed him so easily? Or was he just setting a trap? She hoped not. She did believe him.

It was at Draco where her eyes settle continuously, trying to read him, analyzing their past interactions. He had groomed very well and become a smart and handsome man; the war had matured him very much, which was shown in her eyes and posture. Draco glanced back at her and his expression turned concerned for an instant before it settled back to stone like, joining the conversation again.

Hermione was absolutely unconcern about the rest of the guests as they were just people out of her live. She would rather know what the rest of the DA would think about the new situation, she would miss Luna and Neville very much; Hermione hoped they would fight somehow this rising dictatorship. And Minerva… She wouldn't yield, would she? She should try to elude as much as she could the new ideals, keeping the school safe from them, she hoped; but any kind of frontal opposition was out of perspective, she didn't have any power.

She was lost in her own thoughts again when she heard her named being called. She realised that, again, an overwhelming silence had settled on the room while she was in la-la-land.

'Sorry, could you repeat that?' She asked trying to catch Ron's gaze.

He looked uncomfortable and some red tinted his cheeks. 'I just said that I'm moving out'.

She tried to maintain eye contact but he quickly looked ahead, paying her no heed. Hermione couldn't avoid seeing how he clasped hands with Lavender. 'OK,' She just said in her most unaffected manner, as if she had just being informed about the weather 'are you staying for the night or will you come back to pack tomorrow? It doesn't really matter to me if you come home or go to Lavender's tonight… Or any other day for that matter.' At this the girl became red as a tomato 'But I can still spare the sofa for you if you rather come to my home.' She would leave with her head held high. It didn't matter to have mistresses, although it wasn't typical to have them if you weren't married as it shouldn't be needed; it was condemned, though, to publicly it.

'No, I think I'll go back in the morning, so we can talk over it.'

'There is nothing to discuss, Ronald. Besides, this was not the moment or the place to announce your infidelity. You already said too much.'

His jaw was tight and his face showed rage, she was sure he would explode… She hoped he wouldn't come home, he had never manhandled her, but with his temper and refrain there could be a first.

'However I must say that this news doesn't come as a surprise, although it's a pity you didn't leave before.' She continued in the same easy manner, looking around and sipping her wine, as if they all were holding a trivial conversation. Many of the guests were looking away from them, studying their drinks or food, while keeping attention with their ears. 'Your company has been rather distressing lately and your behaviour, offensive; but of course I know you well enough to understand that, had I said a word before, you could have being even dangerous to me.' He was red in rage now, his eyes almost sparkling with fire and Hermione realised that she didn't care for him either; she almost hated him, but not quite. She should leave now, before he retaliated.

She looked at the host and stood up. 'If you excuse me, I had a rather tiring day at work; I should take my leave. Thank you very much for the dinner, Mr. Malfoy, the food was fantastic.'

'You are welcome' He just said with a cold voice.

Then she turned Fleur and Bill, who sat at one end of the table, she didn't want them to believe that she was mad at them. 'I hope to see you soon; I'll owl you and hope Tokyo is to your liking.'

Fleur smiled lightly and Bill nodded to her. 'We will be preparing a room for you.'

Then George stood up too and approached her. 'I'll escort you to the door.' They walked out of the room in steadied steps.

'I'm very sorry about tonight,' He said apologetically 'they are a bunch of idiots.'

'It's ok, really… I was actually expecting it… I found something today… I…' she bit her lip hesitantly.

'What is it?' He said concerned.

'I will try to owl you as soon as possible. You will understand tomorrow, but… I need a favour.'

'Tell me.'

'I don't want to put you in danger, so please, don't ask me why.' He nodded 'There might be people, not only Ron… And perhaps Harry, but others too, that might try to find me tomorrow. Could you distract people from my home and my person the longest you can?'

'Distraction is one of my best abilities.'

She hugged him. 'Thank you very much, you are a good friend.'

He smirked. 'Na, I'm being selfish.' He joked 'It will be fun.' Then he just turned and left to a surely gossiping crowd.

'Missy,' A soft voice said at her back 'your things.' The elf explained handing her her coat and a bag, which she didn't recognise.

'Thank you very much, and thank your master in my behalf, you have done well.' The elf brightened in pride and left, then she floed home.

Indeed the bag hold much more than the couple of books she had requested. She was especially thankful for the beaded bag in which everything was kept, as her last one became rags during the war. She changed everything from one to the other and shrinked the old one to hide it in her coat pocket, just in case as they were not easy to make, and took quite some time.

Hermione would have wanted to leave that night, as no one would suspect anything yet. However she needed to go to Gringotts. Since she had left completely the muggle world she had also dropped her parents' habit of keeping enough cash at home for any kind of emergencies; furthermore, there were a few things which she had hidden there which would get in handy… Although not even the ministry could put its hands into the goblins' vaults. She could only hope that the announcement arrived late enough so she had time for her little trip to Diagon Alley. This felt as uneasy as the time when they entered Bellatrix vault, the same as before the real problems would arise when she tried to exit… By then the news would surely have reached everyone.

She was nervous but not afraid… Instead it was excitement she felt. Had she been so bored of her life that she was now looking towards and action that might lead her to the dementor's kiss? She snorted at the idea… She really was.


A/N: All reviews are very much appreciated.


Dear readers,

I want to thank you all who are reading this story, but specially to all those who have reviewed, faved or alerted this story... Knowing that you like it helps me to want keep on writing and encourages my muse to come to me. However I would appreciate to have more reviews, as it's with these that I can learn to do it better; knowing also that there is so many people interested in the future of the story encourages me to update sooner and better, as I may work more on the story... I had began to think that the readers hadn't liked the story (as I only got one review for every fifty readers while I got much more in my other story "Surrounded by Death") until I began, at least, to have more faves than in the other.

Here I also want to respond to the review sent anymously by Elisa T as it's probable that many others have the same concerns. I don't know if you will come back to read this new chapter or not but still your inquiries are important. You said that it was too typical both "good Draco" and "evil Ron", I'm sorry, but I've always enjoyed Draco while I disliked Ron since the moment he insulted Hermione on the Howgarts Express (or anybody towards he had any prejudge); however he is not so much evil as he is thick... I would be more worried about evil Harry, which is more OOC than Ron... But I didn't like it a lot either as I saw him also prejuiced and very tractable. Of course they are not evil in cannon and they have very good qualities too, but this is a FANFICTION and so, I use what helps me to create my own story. However it has to be realistic, yes; of course I want that... So remember that not everything is what it seems.

B.N.R.