A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! You have no idea how much it means to me that so many of you not only gave this story a chance, but that you are enjoying it too! I know it's super dark! I can't believe there is only one chapter left after this. Since so many of you are dying to know what's going on with the Order, I've decided to add a little bit to this chapter and the next one to give you a hint of their perspective. I hope you enjoy it. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post story updates, sneak peeks and answer questions.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter nine and be on the lookout for chapter ten soon!
They left her house through the front door, walking down the muggle street. Hermione wondered what the muggle police would think when they showed back up and found a dead man in a destroyed house. Perhaps a robbery gone wrong? Would the aurors have to be called in to help with it? How devastated would Harry be when he realized that he'd lost Sirius too?
It was odd, that she wasn't even a bit bothered by the fact that she'd just taken the closest thing that Harry had to family from him. How could she be bothered when she was only trying to make things right, to make herself whole? It was just that she still didn't feel whole, even though she'd accomplished what she wanted.
She couldn't deny that she felt powerful and joy at having accomplished what she set out to do, but it still hadn't eased the hurt and pain that she felt at having her parents murdered, at being doubted by the Order, when she'd given her whole life to them. Now, she didn't know what to do.
Antonin wrapped his arm around her, keeping a quick pace down the road, before leaning over, his voice whispering in her ear. "Do you know a secluded place we can apparate away?" He asked.
Hermione thought briefly, before nodding, leading the way to a quiet park that was always deserted this time of the year. It didn't take her long to realize that they couldn't leave via magical means from her house in case the aurors looked for magical traces. Even though she was pretty sure that Voldemort's ministry knew what she was doing, she didn't want anything to trace back to her.
After confirming that there were no muggles waiting for them in the park, Antonin apparated them away, only to return back to his flat. Once she was safely sitting on his couch, her mind started whirling with the what's next possibilities.
She'd done what she'd set out to accomplish. Antonin had done what he'd promised as well, teaching her to cast the Killing Curse, and he'd helped her get vengence on the two people directly responsible for her parents' death. She wished she could do something about Dumbledore, too, but she knew that it just wasn't going to possible. Still, the fact remained. They were no longer beholden to each other. There was no reason for them to keep together any longer, even after the night they'd spent together before.
Would Antonin try to make her leave? He'd never suggested that he wanted anything more with her. Hell, he'd never suggested he wanted anything more with life, judging by the sad state of his flat and how upset he'd been when she'd spruced it up a bit. She knew that he'd promised that he wouldn't hand her over to Voldemort, but...he had no reason to keep that promise.
Now, if he did make her leave, what would she do? She had no muggle relatives that could help her or take her in, and she had no other allies in the wizarding world now that she'd burned the bridge with the Order of the Phoenix. She'd have to leave England, that was certain, but where would she go? Perhaps America or Australia, like she was going to send her parents to. She had enough gold to last her awhile, at least long enough to get on her feet, but she'd have to be careful. She wondered how long she would feel so alone in the world.
She wasn't sure how long she'd sat there, her mind running a mile a minute, trying to work out her place in the world and her future in it. She was startled from her thinking by Antonin coming to sit next to her on the small couch. She almost immediately felt a sense of comfort wash over her, with his presence. Merlin, she hoped he didn't send her away. Hermione felt closer to him than practically anyone else she could remember.
He gave her a soft smile, before running his hand over his face. "I am proud of you, kitten. You didn't even hesitate." He hesitated for a moment, before lifting his hand to push some of her wild hair behind her ear, exposing her to his dark eyes.
Hermione smiled back, feeling that she hadn't handled herself nearly as well as she should have. She'd been distracted, and then caught unawares by Sirius. If Antonin wasn't such a good dueler, it was likely that they both could have been killed. "I'm so sorry, Antonin." She whispered, her eyes dropping to her hands in her lap. "I was not paying attention...and then I let him get my wand. He would have killed you." She could feel the tears forming in her eyes already.
This time, Antonin did not hesitate to pull Hermione into his arms, her head pressed against his chest, and his fingers running through her hair. She breathed in deeply, his spicy scent filling her nostrils, his warmth rolling off him, making her feel like...home. She closed her eyes and promised herself that she would never forget him.
"It's happened to everyone, Hermione." He said, his voice gruff and rumbling in his chest. "You did brilliantly. You've got control of it now." He praised her. It was the truth, though, he thought to himself. It took some people years to master the Killing Curse with any kind of skill. He was sure that she'd be able to produce it at will now, should she desire. If he had anything to say about it, she would never be put in that kind of situation again.
Before she could say anything else, a pounding at the door startled them both out of their comfortable place on the couch. Antonin pressed a finger to his lips, indicating that Hermione should keep quiet. He stood and crossed the room with the grace of a big cat, before looking through the peep hole to see just who could be bothering him at this time.
He was unimpressed to see Malfoy, Greyback and Rosier waiting for him on the otherside of the door. He watched as Greyback pounded on the door a second time, before snarling. "Come out Dolohov, we've come to collect your mudblood!" He said, glee in his voice.
Malfoy cleared his throat. "Yes, the aurors have just announced the deaths of a William Weasley and Sirius Black." Antonin wondered if Malfoy was glad to have another blood traitor removed from his son's family tree. "The Dark Lord gave you time, but now you must hand the girl over."
He turned to look at Hermione. She was balled up on the couch, with wild eyes, clearly distraught over the turn of events. He promised her that he was going to protect her from falling into Voldemort's clutches, but how could he do that if this trio of goons took her away from him? He cocked his head, trying to indicate her to get into the bedroom. She was frozen in place, but sprang into action once Greyback pounded on the door a third time.
"Come on, Dolohov. I can smell you. I know that you are in there." The brute called through the door, clearly eager to get inside. Antonin wondered what kind of reward that Greyback would be getting if he delivered Hermione to the Dark Lord.
Rosier, the quiet one, finally got irritated. "For fuck's sake, lets just blast the door open and be done with it." He pulled out a wand, and Antonin barely had a minute to get out of the way of the door before it was sent flying across the room, smashing into the couch.
Antonin raised his wand, sending stunners and nastier curses at the trio, who didn't expect their Death Eater brother to be an adversary. All the while, he worked his way backwards towards the bedroom that Hermione was waiting in. He needed to get her out of her, so that he could keep the promise that he'd made.
He couldn't stop the grin when he hit Rosier with that cutting spell that Hermione had used on Greyback and the werewolf paled to see the spell come shooting past him, nearly hitting him as well. Rosier crumbled to the ground, and Antonin assumed that he'd be dead unless he got medical attention as quickly as possible.
The other two were distracted by their fallen comrade, giving him just enough time to get back into the bedroom. He slammed the door shut, before he started rapidly throwing up wards. He could feel Hermione's frantic hands on his back, probably tring to figure out what the hell was going on, but he couldn't stop his rapid wand movement until he got themselves completely barricaded in the room.
He knew that all of his wards wouldn't keep the other wizards out of the room forever, but it should allow him to take enough time to get Hermione safe - what he should have been planning for this whole time. Finally, when he thought that he should have at least a good ten minutes, he allowed himself to turn around and face the small witch in the room with him.
He immediately wrapped her in his arms again, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, before pulling back so that he could look in her face. Oh, he knew that she was going to be upset, but there was nothing else he could do. He'd lived his life, but her's was just beginning. It was the right thing to do. Another flick of his wand had all of her belongings collected in a neat pile, and then he asked her for her small beaded bag.
Hermione handed the bag over, confused. "What's going on Antonin?" Her voice was tight with emotion and he knew that she was just moments away from hysteria.
"You need to leave here." He said, feeling his own voice waiver. It was what was right for Hermione, he tried to remind himself again and again, unless he faltered. "They aren't going to stop unless they bring you to the Dark Lord. Even know they are peeling back my wards. It isn't safe for your here kitten."
She looked at him still not grasping what he was getting at. But then, he shoved the beaded bag, full of all her things, and his own wand into her hands, and she began to understand what was happening. Tears began in earnest and she shook her head back and forth, unable to speak.
"Please, kitten, it's the only way." He said, cursing her for making this even harder than it already was. He didn't want to send her away, to leave her to fend for herself, but he had to. He owed it to her, to do right by her now.
"No." She said, forcefully. "I won't leave you here."
"I have my mark, Hermione." Antonin said, knowing that it was his anchor. "If I go with you, we will be easily tracked. You would never have any peace or you would fall into the Dark Lord's clutches. Please, you need to go now." He felt two more of his wards go and he knew that time was running out.
"Then I'll stay here with you, and fight." She was whining now and she wrapped her arms around his trim waist, unwilling to let him go. It wasn't fair. "Please Antonin, I love you, and I'm not going to leave you here to die to protect me. Just let me side along you." She begged, willing to agree to anything so long as she could stay with him.
Her declaration of love surprised even her, but she couldn't say that it was anything but the truth. She did love him, more than anything in that moment, and she couldn't bare the thought of being parted from him.
His arms came to wrap around her again, holding her against him so tightly. He could feel her sobs as she shook in his arms, and feel her tears where they wet his shirt. "Oh, kitten, I love you too. So much. I never had a home before I found you, and now I want more than just a sad, little flat."
Antonin privately wondered when he'd fallen for the stubborn witch, but he couldn't pin point an exact time. It didn't matter, though, because their love wouldn't keep them alive. Because he loved Hermione, he knew that only one thing would keep her safe. "If you leave, I will come find you, when everything has settled down, and we can be together, I promise. I will give you whatever you want."
Hermione ripped herself away from him, shaking her head again. He could barely understand her because she was sobbing so hard. "No, you are lying to me. You are only saying that so that I will leave right now."
The tall man could admit that that was at least partially true. But, if he could, he really would leave and find her. "No, I am much more valuable to the Dark Lord alive than dead. I will be punished, yes, but he will allow me to live, and as soon as I am able, I will come find you." His words were a rush as he felt only a few of the wards that were left beginning to slip.
She was wary, but eventually she did nod her head, yes. Yes, she would go, but only with the promise of his lips on hers once again. "Okay." She finally said softly.
"Listen to me very carefully kitten." He said, his voice low, lest the others hear what he was saying. "Apparate some place safe. Then go to Bottle & Glass - use a glamour if you have to. Wait there for Thorfinn Rowle, as long as it takes. Tell him that Antonin Dolohov wants to collect his favor and that he should take you to Omsk. He will bring you to my grandmother." He placed a hand on either cheek, pulling her in for one last passionate kiss. She was crying again when he pulled away. "Okay, where are you supposed to go?"
"Bottle & Glass." Hermione said, clearly breaking inside. "And then Omsk. In Russia."
Antonin nodded, clearly pleased that she was going to do as she was instructed. He took a deep breath. "Good, now go! The wards won't last much longer."
She nodded, crying freely, and gripped the wand, closing her eyes tightly and leaving behind the man who had changed her life, wondering if he'd be able to keep his promise.
Dumbledore surveyed the ruin that was the Grangers' modest home and he wondered how it had all gone so wrong. Walls and glass were smashed, with no signs of the culprits, and there was Sirius Black laying broken and dead in the middle of it. His plan had failed, and now, Hermione Granger was lost to them for good. The girl had been so focused on the well being of her parents all year, asking about them constantly, that he thought if they really were perceived to be killed by Death Eaters, she would put her all into bringing down Tom and his followers.
He thought that Bill and Sirius would have had enough sense to handle the Granger girl's parents discretely, certainly not allowing their only daughter to witness such an act, but he'd been wrong. They both were always a bit too self confident. Sirius didn't tell him that they'd been caught until Bill Weasley was found dead the day before, murdered in his own office. Then the Black heir had spilled everything to him, including that they'd let Hermione, sweet impressionable Hermione, to fall into the hands of notorious Death Eater, Antonin Dolohov.
Sirius promised that he would handle it, that he would get Hermione back and modify her memories, take away any hint that the Order had done something wrong, but he'd failed a second time. Clearly, Dumbledore had put his faith into the wrong people.
He sighed, his many years and many crimes weighing on him heavily. This would take a delicate hand to fix. It was time that he came clean to Harry and Ron about where their friend had gone off to. Sirius had suggested that she had a secret relationship with Dolohov, and as much as it would hurt the two boys, it might make Hermione's betrayal of the Order easier to swallow. The Weasleys would want justice for their son, and Harry would fight even fiercer to get his friend back. Antonin Dolohov was a reasonable scapegoat.
Waving his wand, he conjured his patronus. It was time for the Order of the Phoenix to meet.
Hermione had apparated not far from Diagon Alley, ducking down a hidden alleyway, before perfoming her glamour that she'd used when she was in Gringott's. She pulled out a tiny hand mirror from her bag and checked, making sure that her identity would be hidden enough.
Wrapping a cloak tightly around her body, despite it still being summer, Hermione walked purposefully towards Knockturn Alley, wiping her face of tears, trying to get a handle on her emotions. She felt truly awful to have left Antonin alone in that situation, her heart clenching at the realization that he had sacrificed himself for her. He had been a true friend to her and she'd repaid him by abandoning him without a wand.
His reasons for staying behind seemed a bit hollow now that she was away from the fighting. Still, she couldn't just go back now, and instead sought refuge in Bottle & Glass. The pub was just as dingy as she remembered. Ordering one drink, she slunk over to the corner booth that would best allow her to watch the room for Thorfinn Rowle. All the while, she thought about how Antonin found her here all those weeks ago.
She wasn't really sure how long it took for Rowle to show up. It could have been minutes, or hours, or even days, really, but she knew it was him the moment he strode in, calling for his usual from the bar keep. Downing the rest of her drink, she walked over towards the boisterous man. "Thorfinn Rowle?" She questioned, hating the tremble in her usually confident voice.
The blond turned and looked at her, an appreciate glance at her body that had Hermione's skin crawling. He bit his lower lip in a way that she was sure many witches swooned over. His arms came to rest on her hips, pulling her into his embrace. "Whose asking?"
Hermione tried to get away, but found that he was a bit too strong for her. "Um...Dolohov sent me. He wants to collect a favor." She said, watching in a bit of amusement as he was in a rush to let her go once he heard Antonin's name. "Perhaps we could talk someplace more private."
The brawny man nodded, before slamming the drink that the bar tender provided him. He offered her an arm that Hermione hesitated to take. Thinking that she didn't really have anyone else to trust but him, she took it, allowing him to side along apparate her to his ancestral home...or at least, what appeared to be his ancestral home.
When they arrived, she canceled the glamour, watching as recognition fell over his face. "Fuck, Granger?" He asked, perhaps unbelieving that it was her standing in his study. "What happened with Dolohov.
Unbidden, the whole story came tumbling out of her mouth, about how Antonin had told her to leave him behind and his insistence that Thorfinn would help her get out of the country. He was surprisingly kind to her, throughout the story, and agreed to help her, after sorting a few things out first. He left her alone in his library.
When he returned, it was well after midnight, but he came carrying an old hammer, which Hermione gathered was a portkey. "Come on, we don't have much time until this activates. Do you have everything you need?"
Hermione nodded solemnly before standing and grabbing the other end of the portkey. "Where will this take us?" She asked, wondering how she'd come to trust Thorfinn Rowle of all people. If Antonin said she could trust him, though, she knew that she could.
"To the Russian Ministry in Moscow." He said, rubbing a hand over his face as though he was tired. "And then we will floo along to Omsk and I will take you to Antonin's grandmother."
"Thank you." She said quietly, knowing that she really owed a lot of people for agreeing to help her flee the country. She was sure this would be seen as treason in Voldemort's eyes.
"I owe Antonin, so it's fine." He told her with seriousness. She wondered just what it was that he'd been owed for, as he was really putting themself on the line here.
"I can obliviate you at the end if you'd like." Hermione said, thinking about all the practice that she'd done for her parents. He shook his head though, and before she could press for more, the portkey activated.
International portkey travel was one of the more unpleasant things she'd experienced, but she was so glad to be safe that she couldn't find it in herself to complain. She followed Thorfinn's purposeful strides through the lobby to the floos, before following him through the green flame to Omsk.
She was glad that she had him with her, as she was certain she never would have found her way to Antonin's grandmother on her own. She lived in a large house on the outskirts of town, and Hermione wondered how it came to be. Was this their ancestral estate? Still she couldn't deny that she was shaking in her shoes when Thorfinn knocked on the door.
There was some movement inside, but before long it was opened by an old woman, who was definitely nearing 100. Thorfinn greeted her with a kiss on each cheek and some brief words of greeting in Russian, making Hermione irritated that she didn't understand. But then the woman was ushering her inside. "Hermione this is Anya, Antonin's grandmother. She is going to take care you while Antonin is...busy. You will be safe here." Rowle's deep voice promised her sternly, before he bid her goodbye, the door closing behind him.
