Thank you to all those who have read my story so far and have reviwed or added me to favourites. I feel so special! Here's the latest update, I do apologise for being slow but I am up to my eyes in coursework. Year 11 sucks really really badly. Any spelling or grammatical errors please let me know as my fabulous beta readers (Olivia and Sam, love you!) have been just as busy and could only sort out chapters 1-3. Right, I shall let you read. Oh, and this is all J.K's, all her characters, settings and everything, I just sorted out her pairings hehe xxx

Chapter 6

Hermione leapt up as soon as the door was opened. "Draco! Oh thank Merlin you are ok! You idiot! I bet they made you pay for your little spectacle. Not that I minded, oh it was just so lovely and who would have ever guessed you were that good a singer!"

Draco closed his eyes and tried to tune out her babble of relieved chatter. He knew the death of either boy would tear her to shreds, so why not make it that little bit easier for her to choose his death?

She put a tentative hand on his chest. He pulled away, forcing himself to be repulsed by the touch he craved so much.

"Draco?" She sounded so concerned. No-one had ever shown genuine concern for him before. "Did they hurt you, Draco?"

In ways you cannot imagine, he thought grimly. "Stay away from me," he muttered, barely audible.

"Draco what's wrong?"

"I told you to stay away from me." It was slightly louder this time. But still she stood here, looking at him with those perfect brown eyes. "Get away from me you filthy Mudblood!" He was screaming at himself more than her. He could not keep this up.

Hermione said nothing. Instead, she slapped him, knocking him to the floor. Anger, this was good. "You bastard," she whispered. "What about last night? This morning? You proclaimed your love for me down the corridor!"

Draco sat up, allowing his old persona to flow through him. "Well, I had to get my kicks somewhere. I might as well get laid before I die. And that demonstration of love this morning was simply to hurt my family and so I could go out with a bang."

Hermione could not comprehend the sudden change in him. She could not and would not cry. Hate coursed through her broken body, the body that was broken because she had defended him. Pain streamed through her tattered heart that she had thought Draco might have been able to fix. He couldn't have made up the story of his imprisonment. She shook her head. She was so gullible; he had probably fabricated most of it. The boy must have promised him riches or even the little sister he was so keen to save.

Draco sat down, his head in his hands. He had done what he had wanted. He let his mind crawl back to that morning and the passion that had moved between them. He would die with that thought.

The pair slept fitfully. Draco dreamt of his impending doom. Hermione just replayed all the moments with Draco over and over in her mind, her hate tarnishing the beauty of their whirlwind romance. He had used her. She was so stupid.

When the Death Eaters came to collect her the next morning, she left wordlessly, without even glancing at Draco.

_____________________________________________________________________

The light of the hall was blinding. She was dazed by the light and confused by the violent flow of insults that were thrown at her by hordes of Voldemort's closest followers.

The Dark Lord waved his arm and the hall went deathly silent. "Miss Granger! Welcome to our home. I hope your stay has been enjoyable?" Hermione stayed silent. The Dark Lord waved his wand, almost lazily, and she shrieked with pain. "You will answer my question Mudblood! Have you enjoyed your stay with us?"

There were murmurs of laughter throughout the hall. Hermione gritted her teeth and locked eyes with the vilest man in wizarding history. "Oh yes, despite your best efforts, I have had a lovely stay."

"Impertinence will get you no where, Mudblood." Another scream of pain, followed by louder laughter. "I have a proposition for you. You are a mere Mudblood, yet I offer you the chance to change history. I hope you change it for the best." He smiled the cold hungry smile of a top predator. "I believe you are acquainted with Draco Malfoy? Well, I offer you the chance to kill him. He is an undesirable here and you will save us a job. After all, he was the bane of your quiet little life in Hogwarts and he has recently used you in the foulest of ways. You should give in to your inner Slytherin and enjoy the chance of revenge." There were more laughs as the colour drained from Hermione's face. "However, if you choose to be a gallant Gryffindor and save his miserable hide it will cost you. I want the location of Harry Potter and all of his future plans."

Hermione felt her heart stop beating. He wanted her to betray Harry! And with him Ron. She could never do that. But Draco. Perhaps the Dark Lord was right – he deserved to die for what he had done to her. Suddenly, she realised why Draco was being so cruel to her. He knew she would have to make this decision. He had been told the previous day, to see whether he would grovel and beg her to save him, but instead he had tried to make her hate him so she would save her friends. He did love her! "I refuse to choose! I give myself instead! You want blood? Take mine. I can't live without either of them." Her throat was thick, but she would not allow tears to fall. She could not show weakness. To her horror, the hall erupted in wild, taunting laughter.

"Miss Granger," said the Dark Lord, his cruel smile showing his amusement at her plight, "your sacrifice, though touching, is not an option. I plan to kill you straight away, regardless of you choice. I am sorry if that has put the dampers on your heroics." The laughter was piercing her ears, it was so raucous and vicious. She needed time, she needed to be able to think. For the first time she felt utterly defeated.

Hermione drew herself up, summoning the dregs of dignity and self-confidence. "Forgive me, Dark Lord, but I do not trust you. How do I know you will not just kill Draco anyway or torture the information out of me after you murder him?" Voldemort looked at Hermione. She looked every inch a strong Gryffindor, even with her tattered clothes and tear stained face.

"I give you my word Mudblood. I will even sully my wand and make an Unbreakable Oath with you, if that will ease your mind. I have no respect for you or your wishes but I wish to show my followers that we must occasionally take into account the concerns of lower classes of animals in our day to day lives."

Hermione nodded. She only had one choice. Harry would rescue the rest of the world from this monster. Draco wanted her to choose his death. He would have begged and pleaded her if his life meant anything to him. At least they would die together. It was strange how that calmed her. Six months ago she would have shuddered at the thought of spending her last moments with him. Well, most of her would. She had always appreciated his intelligence, wit and good looks on some hidden level.

Hermione looked up at the Dark Lord. "I have made up my mind." She turned to face the hordes of Death Eaters. "I choose the freedom of the world! I choose peace and equality! I choose the life of Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived! May he be your downfall!" Hexes and curses fell down like rain. Hermione no longer cared. The pain became a dull ache in the back of her mind as she kissed her family and friends goodbye, one by one, before slipping into unconsciousness.