Chapter 4

Draco apparated back to the study and found Hermione had fallen asleep on the couch. He moved towards her and knelt in front of her gently passing his elegant fingers through her golden locks. Tears began spilling uncontrollably from his eyes, dropping onto her cheeks.

Hermione stirred as she felt Draco's tears hit her face. Opening her eyes slowly, a concerned look overtook her eyes and face. "Draco, " she said slightly confused.

"I'm sorry to wake you, love. I couldn't help it. "

Sitting up Hermione placed her hands on either side of Draco's face, "Draco, what happened? Tell me what he said. "

"I…" Draco was unable to continue, his voice seemed to have gone and tears continued to flow from his grey eyes. He looked up at Hermione and embraced her in a deep emotional hug. "I love you so much. You know that, right? "

Hermione pulled away from the embrace and placed her hands on Draco's shoulders. "Draco, you are frightening me. Yes I know you love me; I would never doubt that. Tell me, love, tell me what he said. "

Taking a deep breath Draco leaned his forehead on Hermione's. "Hermione, he ordered me to kill you. " Hermione closed her eyes as tears started to spill from them. "Let me just hold you tonight, Hermione. Let's pretend like I'm not under the service of the bastard, that we are not fighting a war, that it is just you and I in this world. We will deal with his assignment tomorrow, all right. Let me just hold you," he said to her through tearful pleading eyes.

"Alright, " Hermione replied and stood up. Taking Draco's hand she led them out of the study towards the Manor's master suite.

0

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco and Snape sat in the study of the Black Manor the next morning discussing a way to end and save Hermione's life. They were too close to finishing the love potion, which would enable Voldemort to be destroyed. The assignment had taken Harry, Ron and even Snape by surprise. They had concluded that Voldemort wanted Hermione dead because she was indeed getting more powerful and also because Harry would be devastated by her loss. Voldemort had explained to Draco that with Hermione dead, Potter would be in no position to continue fighting him for at least a couple of years, which would allow Voldemort to rebuild and continue to straighten his forces.

"The only way we can both end and save Ms. Granger's life would be by using the Draught of Living Death, " Snape said matter-of-factly.

"It cannot be that simple, " Hermione responded as she stood up and started pacing while listening to Snape reply to her statement.

"But it can. We will need to double the amount of sopohorous we add to the potion. This will enable Ms. Granger's heart to stop for an hour at the most. We will need to brew the Draught of Living and administer it to Ms. Granger no later than an hour after the Draught of Living Death is administered in order for her to survive. "

"I still need to be able to bring Hermione to Voldemort, and kill her in front of him! " Draco said starting to get exasperated. In his wildest dreams he never imagined he would have to kill the most important person in his life.

"Draco, " Hermione said as she walked towards him. "A simple stunning spell will do. All I would have to do is drink the Draught of Living Death right before you take me to Voldemort. Doesn't it take almost ten minutes to activate, Professor? "

"You are correct as always, Ms. Granger, " Snape replied with somewhat of a smile gracing his lips.

"You can stun me in front of him, Draco. But we are going to have to come up with a way of having you cast the killing curse while willing it just to stun me. "

"Why not have us there under Harry's invisibility cloak, " Ron said "We could cast a protection spell on her as soon as you send the killing curse. I have been practicing with non-verbal spells and have become quite good if I do say so myself. "

"Wow, Ron! That's brilliant, " Hermione said as she looked towards Ron, smiling proudly at her best friend.

"You know, " Harry interjected, "I think this might be what we all have been waiting for."

"How so? " Draco asked

"Well, Voldemort will want to celebrate after you kill Hermione so it is the perfect opportunity for you to add the love potion to his drink and give it to him in celebration. Once he drinks the potion, I can cast the killing curse at him from under the invisibility cloak. He will be taken off guard. "

"Mr. Potter, I think that might just work. I am off. I will begin on the potions. Contact me when you need them; they will be ready. " Snape said and exited the study.

"Hermione, are you sure you are good with all this? " Harry asked worriedly towards his friend.

"Yes, I know that all three of you will be there. Just don't forget to wake me up before you celebrate the destruction of Voldemort, " she said as tears fell from her eyes.

"Love, we would not forget you. I promise, " Draco said as he embraced Hermione in his arms and held her as she cried. Harry and Ron exited the study silently and began to put the plan in motion.

0

"Hermione, it's time, " Draco said and he stepped into the study.

"Alright, " Hermione said as she closed the book she was reading and stood up.

Draco walked towards her and handed her a small vial containing a clear liquid.

"I love you, Draco, always remember that, no matter what happens today, " Hermione said as she uncorked the vial and moved it towards her lips and swallowed.

Harry and Ron had followed Draco into the study, invisibility cloak in hand.

"Where do you want us, Draco? " Ron asked.

"In front of her. I want to make sure she is protected. Let's get this over with. " Draco looked over towards Hermione and noticed that the potion was starting to affect Hermione. Grabbing her wrist gently behind her back to appear as if she was a prisoner, Draco leaned over and whispered, "Always and forever Hermione. " Placing a kiss on her neck he disapparated putting their plan into motion.

They appeared instantly in the ballroom of Malfoy manor. Voldemort had taken over the manor after Lucius' death as headquarters.

"Well, well, what do we have here! " he said as he stood from his throne-like chair and moved towards him. He stood in front of Hermione and traced a pale, long, disfigured finger across her cheek. "Ms. Granger, you have blossomed. To bad you are a Mudblood."

"Draco, wonderful job. You will be rewarded handsomely. "

"Thank you, master, " Draco said, his face void of any emotion, his hands gently stoking Hermione's wrists.

"Now, Miss Granger, tell me…will the famous Harry Potter miss you terribly? Will he continue to elude me when he finds out you're dead or will he come face me like a man to defend your honor. Though I think I may just have just a little fun with you before I let you answer that. " Voldemort's finger started tracing a line from Hermione's face down her neck and approaching her breasts. His disfigured face leaned in towards her. "Draco you may leave now, I would like to enjoy the mudblood before you kill her. Better yet you can have her after me and then kill her. "

"Master, why not kill her now? Don't contaminate yourself by using her for pleasure; she is like you said, a Mudblood after all! " Draco said calmly yet his insides were furious. He needed to get Hermione out as soon as possible. Their plan was not working.

"You see, Draco, " Voldemort said amused. "You thought you had figured me out. That you were my most trusted advisor. That is where you were wrong. A good friend of yours has betrayed you and right under your nose. I became aware that you had changed sides; that you were planning my demise. So I decided to take matter into my own hands. You betrayed me; therefore I will take what is most precious from you. The potion you gave Ms. Granger this evening after I summoned you was not the Draught of Living Death as you had suspected. It actually was a poison that slowly kills the person who ingests it. "

"Snape! " Draco said alarmed.

"Yes, and no. I became aware that Severus was not truly on my side shortly after you killed your father. I let Snape live in order to be certain that you both had betrayed me. When I was, I confronted Snape in my own special way. " A smile graced Voldemort's lips. "I found out everything; especially that you were in love with this thing, " he said, once again trailing Hermione's face with his hand making Hermione flinch. "I left him with enough life to supply McNair with hair for the Polyjuice potion. He confirmed that you indeed were in love with this. "

Suddenly Voldemort was hit with a silent spell that pushed him back to the opposite wall away from Hermione and Draco. Hermione's body fell back against Draco's and began to shake. Harry and Ron had decided enough was enough. They removed the invisibility cloak and ran towards Voldemort launching spells as they went. Ron's wand tip started emitting a thin red liquid and hit Voldermort's skin. Voldemort's decomposing skin started to burn, and then Draco heard Harry say, "Adava Kadavra".

Hermione began to convulse and Draco held her tightly. "Hermione, you can make it love, just hang on, we will get you out of here. Harry and Ron just killed him. Hermione, love, hang on, " he begged embracing her with his whole being as her body continued to convulse.

Ron and Harry ran over towards Draco. Hermione's body settled and Draco placed her head on his lap and began running his hands through her hair.

"Draco? " Hermione said raggedly.

"I'm here, love, I'm here. Harry and Ron are here to, " Draco replied as he looked down at her and made space for Harry on the floor, while Ron sent his patronus for help.

"Hermione, you did it. The love potion worked, we killed him. You are going to get better we will find an antidote, " Harry said between tears.

"No antidote, Snape…"she struggled to take a breath, "dead. "

"Yes, " Draco said. "Don't speak, love, Ron sent for help. They will be here soon. "

"Draco, " She said softly looking up at him and smiled. Closing her eyes she took her last breath.

Fin