Heyy, sorry it's been ages, but I had exams all of January, yeah you know the feeling :) Anyway, I'm back! Hope you enjoy it x
Hermione met him halfway, as he strode across the room towards her. For a few seconds she forgot about all of their problems, about what he had just done, as his lips fiercely met hers. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer, as she pressed herself against him. She felt it all in that kiss. Fire, passion...love. She never wanted to be apart from him again, but all too soon he let go, as they heard footsteps crossing the room.
"Hermione? Are you alright?" Harry asked, concerned, as he looked warily from her to Draco's father, lying on the floor.
Hermione felt relieved, seeing him and Ron. It meant they hadn't been caught yet. She nodded, in reply to his question. "He's been Obliviated." She explained, looking at Lucius.
Ron's look of horror almost made Hermione laugh. She was just starting to understand the situation they were in, and she was beginning to feel the ridiculousness of it.
"It's a long story." Draco said, cutting in. "You better get out of here, my mother will be along soon. I'll take care of my father, he's just a little disorientated, but he'll come to his senses soon. Leave." He instructed, his natural leadership instincts showing.
"No!" Hermione protested. "I'm not leaving you. I promised myself I wouldn't leave you again, especially after what he did to you." She said, looking at Lucius in disgust.
Draco took her hand, his expression softening. "He won't remember anything now. If I leave with you now, it'll only confirm our relationship. And you know how that will turn out."
Hermione shook her head fiercely. "I'm not leaving you!"
Draco looked at her for a few seconds, and for the first time, she saw a strange vulnerability in his eyes. He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, but wasn't sure if he should.
Hermione's heart thudded, as she knew what was about to come. She turned away from him, brushing away a tear.
"Let's go." She murmured to Harry and Ron, and strode towards the door. She was halfway out the entrance, when he caught her hand, pulling her back.
Frowning, he looked at her questioningly.
"Are you angry with me? For what I did?" He asked, and the sadness in his eyes made her heart ached.
"Of course not!" She replied. She gently ran her finger across his cheek. "I just don't think I can take another goodbye." She whispered.
He rested his forehead against hers, sighing softly. "Well then I guess I'll see you soon."
"I really hope so." She said softly, before running to catch up with Harry and Ron. She didn't look back.
(*)
They spent the next few weeks in Shell Cottage, sculpting a plan to break into Gringotts. They knew there was a Horcrux there, in Bellatrix's vault; they just had no idea how to get to it. Hermione heard nothing from Draco, and she tried not to let herself worry too much. They had averted the danger, right? Lucius was the only one who knew about them, and he now knew nothing.
She tried to put Draco out of her mind; she knew the best thing for him was for her to focus on the plan. If they could defeat Voldemort, they could finally be together.
On 1 May, they finally felt they were ready. Using Polyjuice Potion, Hermione disguised herself as Bellatrix, and they entered Gringotts. A few falling chandeliers and flying dragons later, they were sitting on the edge of the lake, triumphantly holding Helga Hufflepuff's Cup.
Hermione looked at the cup, glittering in the sunlight, and sighed with relief. They were finally getting somewhere. She now knew that defeating Voldemort was a very real possibility, and the thought made her smile. Once he was gone, she and Draco could finally be together.
She wondered if he was still at Malfoy Manor with his father? Now that she'd seen the way Lucius had treated his son, she despised him. She just hoped that nobody ever found out about what had happened, how Draco has Obliviated his father.
"I know! I know where the Horcrux is!" Harry shouted, grinning madly.
Ron gripped his shoulders, forcing him to look at him. "Where is it, mate?"
"It's in Hogwarts! I think it's something to do with Rowena Ravenclaw, maybe an old relic? But it's definitely in the school." Harry said, clearly ecstatic.
"But how do you know?" Hermione finally joined in their conversation. She was glad he knew though, that meant if they found this one, they would only have one more left.
"He was listing all the locations of his Horcruxes in his head, now he knows we're going after them. And I saw Hogwarts. There's definitely one there." Harry replied, his expression thoughtful.
"Now we just have to find it. Which means going back to Hogwarts, where there will be a lot of Deatheaters waiting for us. Fun times." Ron said sarcastically.
"But what could there be at Hogwarts, that Voldemort wanted to make a Horcrux of?" Hermione puzzled out loud, thinking.
They were quiet for a few seconds, before Ron looked up in horror.
"Hermione!" He shouted. Harry looked up at the sudden raised voice in confusion, as realization dawned on Hermione.
"I…I said his name." She whispered, horrified at what she had done.
Harry's eyes widened as he grabbed their hands, and attempted to Disapparate, but it was no use. The barriers had been put up.
"Run!" Ron screamed, as they took off at a sprint, into the woods. Hermione's heart thudded in terror, as she ran as fast as she could. They couldn't be caught now, not when they were so close.
"We have to split up! We'll be easier to find as a group." Harry said, as they paused to gasp for breath.
"No!" Hermione protested, but Ron nodded in agreement.
"If we can just hide until they leave and the barriers go, we can then Disapparate and meet back in Hogsmeade. They'll also have to split up to find us, and we can take them on, one on one." He said, and Harry nodded.
"Stay safe." He whispered and then he was gone.
Ron looked at Hermione, concern in his eyes. "Will you be alright?"
"I'll see you in Hogsmeade." She whispered, before taking off in the opposite direction to Harry. As she ran, she heard shouts coming from the lakeshore. The Deatheaters had arrived.
The leaves crackled under her footsteps, and she winced at the noise. Soon enough, she heard footsteps from behind her. She had a pursuer.
She hid behind a tree, holding her breath. She gently withdrew her wand, her heart thudding loudly. Slowly peering around the tree, she saw the back of a Deatheater, holding his wand out. He started to turn, and she whipped her head back, her heart pounding.
"I know you're here, sweetheart." The unfamiliar man purred, and Hermione froze. She didn't dare move a muscle. "I saw you running. Come out. I don't want to have to damage a pretty face like yours." The man snarled, menacingly.
Hermione closed her eyes, wishing the man would go away. As she made the wish, she heard the crackling of leaves. The man was leaving! The crackling got quieter, until she could hear nothing. Silence. Silence. Silence.
Gradually, she stepped out from behind the tree. Face to face with the Deatheater. She jumped back in shock, but he grabbed her top, pulling her forwards.
He had raggedy brown hair, dark, flashing eyes and a long jagged scar down his cheek.
"Expe-" Hermione started to say, but the man casually batted her wand out of the way, taking her by surprise.
He slowly traced a finger down her cheek, smirking.
"I really should hand you in as a prisoner, but you're so pretty, I might just keep you for myself." He leered at her.
Hermione trembled. She hated the thought of what this man might do to her, but she knew it was over. Harry and Ron were somewhere else, they may have already been caught, but it didn't matter. This man was going to take her away, now they would never defeat Voldemort.
Suddenly, the man croaked, and lurched forwards. Hermione screamed and jumped out the way, but the man didn't follow her. Instead he pitched straight forwards, and landed face first in the leaves.
Hermione looked up in shock, to see Draco holding up his wand, his hand shaking. His piercing grey eyes met hers, as he ran a hand through his hair. She ran towards him, and he opened his arms automatically, hugging her tightly as she flung her arms around him. Neither of them spoke, not needing to, and he stroked her hair, the gesture soothing her. They broke apart after a few minutes, and they walked back towards the Death Eater. Draco knelt down beside the man, turning him over.
"Is he…?" Hermione asked.
"Dead? Yes." Draco said, completing her sentence. "He's the first person I ever killed." He added as an afterthought.
Hermione knelt down beside him. "You saved my life." She murmured.
"Wouldn't be the first time." Draco said drily, and Hermione almost smiled.
They could go through anything, and Draco would always have his witty comebacks ready.
He stood up, and offered her his hand, helping her to her feet.
"There will be more coming soon, where's Potter and Weasley?" He asked, frowning.
"We split up. They thought we'd be harder to find that way." She replied.
"That worked out well." Draco said sarcastically, looking at the dead Death Eater on the ground. "Have you thought of a plan to meet up?"
"We're going to wait until the other Death Eaters leave, and then Disapparate to Hogsmeade and meet up there." She replied, and he frowned.
"Why Hogsmeade? The place is overrun with Death Eaters!"
"There's a Horcrux in Hogwarts. We have to get it." She said, and he sighed.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, before he had the chance to protest.
He raised an eyebrow at her topic change, but let it go. "I saw my father order those men to come here because someone used the Taboo, I guess it was you, and followed them."
"Now let's go." He started walking forwards, and Hermione had to run to catch up with him.
"What's our plan?" She asked.
Draco looked at her, as he walked. "Do you have to know everything?"
He said, but Hermione saw a twinkle in his eyes, so she knew he wasn't serious.
"Can't you trust me?" He added.
"Of course I trust you! I would just like to know if you have a plan." She replied, primly.
"Yes." He said, and Hermione looked at him, confused.
"Yes, I have a plan." He expanded.
"Which is…?" Hermione trailed off.
"For you to trust me."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She liked this, having a light-hearted moment with Draco was something she'd never thought would be possible.
"This way." He said, pulling her through a narrow gap in the plants into a small clearing. "There's only one entrance, it should be easy to incapacitate anyone who walks through." He explained. He sat down, leaning against the wide base of a tree, which faced the entrance into the clearing. He patted the space next to him. "I've got it all covered, Granger." He grinned at her, and she smiled at his use of her surname. Just like their days in Hogwarts. They seemed so long ago.
As she sank down next to him, he took her hand in his, entwining their fingers.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked softly, as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Hogwarts. Remember when we were there? You hated me." Hermione said, and Draco smiled slightly.
"I really did. I thought you were a bossy, little know-it-all." He said.
"Wow, I'm flattered." Hermione said, but she was grinning. "But to be fair, I thought you were an arrogant prick."
"I know. You told me as much." Draco chuckled.
"Remember when I hit you?" She asked him.
"I wouldn't say hit. I'd say it was a small slap." Draco amended, and she laughed.
"Then why did you groan in pain?"
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Did not."
"You're such a child."
"So's your face."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"So's your face."
Hermione laughed, and Draco grinned. They were quiet for a few minutes.
"What if I hadn't walked into the bathroom that day?" She asked. "Where would we be today, if you hadn't attempted to kill me? If I hadn't overheard you talking to Myrtle?"
"I don't know, but I don't regret anything." Draco murmured, kissing her head gently. "Why did you even come in there? It was the boy's bathroom. Unless there's something you want to tell me…?" He added.
Hermione giggled. "I was looking for you. I can't remember why now. It was after I'd helped you with that Potions essay."
"Ah yes, that blasted Potions essay. I remember you wouldn't leave me alone until I did it. I really did think you were obsessed with Potions. Or essays. I remember I wasn't sure which one." Draco smirked.
"I can't remember why I wanted you to do it now, but I'm glad I made you do it. Do you remember Slughorn's party? The one you gate crashed?"
"Vividly. It was the first time we…" This time Draco trailed off.
"If I recall correctly, you kissed me." Hermione grinned. "I remember being totally shocked."
"Hmm…true. I must have been really drunk." He said, and Hermione playfully hit him. "You started dating Weasley after that, right?"
"Only because you poisoned him."
"Right, right. But you ended up cheating on him, didn't you? In the Astronomy Tower? Remind me, who was that with again?" Draco asked, cocking an eyebrow cheekily.
"You don't need to be so smug about it. He got his revenge anyway, right? Didn't he put you in the Hospital Wing?" Hermione asked, smiling.
"Only because I wasn't concentrating. If he came through here now, I could take him easily." Draco said, sounding slightly hurt.
"Sure sure." Hermione said. "And then on that day on top of the tower, when you were supposed to kill Dumbledore. Remind me, who got us out of that situation?" She mocked playfully.
"Yeah, ok, you saved me then, but if we're doing the saving lives count, I'm definitely winning that. I saved your life that day in the bathroom. 1-0 to me." He said, smirking.
"But I saved you when I jumped in front of you, when Harry did that spell. And that day on the Astronomy Tower. So 2-1 to me." Hermione countered.
"But that day when you and Harry were camping somewhere. You accidentally used You-Know-Who's name, I saved you there. And when you came to the Manor, and Bellatrix almost killed you, I saved you there. I guess that makes it 3-2?"
"But when your father found out about us, and he was torturing you, I came back to help. If I hadn't, you wouldn't have Obliviated him. So 3-3?"
"And if you count just now, I guess it makes the finally tally 4-3?" Draco said smirking. "I win."
"Oh shut up." Hermione replied, pouting.
"Hey." Draco said. He put a finger under her chin, and turned her head to face him. "You saved me by falling in love with me. I didn't deserve you, and I never will. So that gives you about 20 points. So it's actually 23-4 to you. You'll always be in the lead, because nothing I ever do will repay what you did for me." He whispered, leaning down and kissing her softly. His words brought tears to her eyes, as she heard the conviction behind them. He truly believed she had saved him by loving him.
"I love you." She murmured.
"I know." He replied, winking at her and she smiled with happiness.
They both froze as they heard a rustling from nearby. Draco put a finger to his lips, gesturing for her to be silent, and she nodded, listening out. Some more rustling, from near the entrance to their clearing. They both stood up, withdrawing their wands wordlessly, and holding them out.
Someone stumbled through, and Hermione opened her mouth to stun him, before she recognised Ron.
"Wait!" She said to Draco, who had also raised his wand.
Recognising who had come in, he lowered his wand.
"Ron! Are you alright?" Hermione asked, worriedly, running over to him.
Nodding, he hugged her tightly. "I had to stun a Death Eater who came after me, but I haven't seen any others. Have you seen Harry?" He asked
She shook her head, sadly. She hoped he was okay.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Ron asked, shocked, as he finally noticed Draco.
Hermione looked up, concerned. She didn't need them fighting again.
"Saving her life." Draco said, nodding at Hermione.
Ron paused for a few seconds before nodding. "Well it's good to see you, mate." He finally replied, and Hermione's mouth almost dropped open. Did Ron just call Draco mate?
He offered Draco his hand, and Draco shook it, firmly. Hermione was stunned. They were actually being civil to each other! Ron, who had hated Draco since their first year at Hogwarts, had actually just said he was glad to see him. Draco didn't look too surprised, but Hermione knew he was good at hiding his emotions.
"Barrier is still up." Ron said, breaking into Hermione's thoughts. "We better stay here until morning, and then try again."
Draco nodded, and Hermione's eyes widened. Now they were actually agreeing on things! What was going on?
"I'll take first watch." Ron said, and sat down. "You two get some sleep."
Draco took her hand and led her to another tree. They sat down, leaning against it, and she rested her head on his shoulder, as he put an arm around her.
"Try not to get killed in your dreams. I don't think I could help in there." He murmured into her ear, and she hid a smile. Her eyes drooped, and soon she was asleep, exhausted from the day's events.
(*)
Hermione slowly opened her eyes, the sun blinding her. She was curled up, on the forest floor and she slowly got up, pulling a leaf out of her hair. She was reminded of the night she'd spent sleeping on top of the astronomy tower, sleeping on the floor. When she'd woken up, Draco was gone, and now as she looked around, her heart sank, as she saw no sight of sparkling, grey eyes. The clearing was empty, as the sun shone down on her. She stood up slowly, running a hand through her tangled hair, attempting to smooth it out.
There was a scuffling noise, and Hermione jumped back, but it was only Ron.
"Barrier is down." He said, entering the clearing. "We can go. Harry may already be there."
"Where's Draco?" Hermione asked, shakily. Had he just left?
Ron nodded, confirming her thoughts. "He said he didn't want to do another goodbye either." Ron replied quietly.
Hermione pushed away the sadness. "Let's go."
(*)
Draco
Draco entered the living room of the Manor. His parents were in the dining room, along with the Dark Lord, and the other Deatheaters. Eventually his mother came in.
"Oh, Draco. I'm glad you're back." She said, smiling at him.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Potter and his friends have been spotted in Hogwarts. They're assembling an army to launch an attack on the school." She replied, her smile vanishing.
"No!" Draco whispered. "It's too soon!"
His mother looked at him sadly. "I know you loved that school. But this has to be done. The Dark Lord will kill him, and then it'll be over. We can live like a normal family. You can grow up properly, Draco." She murmured, cupping his face gently. "This battle has to happen."
Draco shook his head adamantly and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?!" His mother called out behind him, but Draco had already walked out of the door. He ran down the drive of their house and attempted to Disapparate, but he was unable to. He heard his mother run out behind him.
"What are you doing? They've put the shields up!" She shouted, running towards him.
He turned to face her, and she stopped, looking at him, her eyes showing concern.
"It's too soon!" He shouted. "I'm not ready to lose her!"
His mother's eyes widened in horror as she finally understood why he had helped them escape that day. Ignoring her, he sank to his knees, putting his head between his hands. They weren't going to let him leave now. It was too late. He heard the sound of his mother's footsteps coming nearer. She knelt down beside him, pulling him into her chest.
"Oh no, Draco." She murmured, stroking his hair.
"I'm not ready to lose her." He whispered.
(*)
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