Hermione awoke the next morning feeling groggy and disoriented.
Was it all just a dream?
When she placed her arms down at her sides and hoisted herself into a sitting position; her muscles protested.
Definitely not a dream.
And then the events of the previous day came flooding back in violent succession.
The compass.
The skeleton.
Couldn't breath...
Draco.
Lucius...being pulled beneath the surface.
Suppressing a groan, Hermione rubbed her eyes and lowered herself back on the sofa.
It was the moment her head hit the armrest that she remembered what had happened right before she fell asleep.
Draco had stayed with her.
She - Hermione Granger, had asked him - Draco Malfoy, to stay the night with her.
Granted, that was all that happened - he stayed with her. But something about the whole encounter seemed infinitely more intimate than even her most passionate snogs with Ron.
Hermione's eyes became fully focused as she recalled those moments just before her eyes had closed the previous night.
Draco lowering himself on the couch.
Their eye contact - never wavering.
The strength and warmth of his arms as they wrapped securely around her.
And Hermione realized that that was the first time since before Ron - perhaps even since she was a child - small, innocent, and completely unaware of a building war, that she had truly felt safe.
In that moment of realization, she heard Draco entering from the kitchen.
"Good morning," he said brightly as he sat a plate of waffles down on her lap. "How are you feeling?"
Hermione gazed down at the burnt waffles and looked up with a smile, "Fine, thanks. Just a little stiff. I'll be right as rain before you know it."
Draco returned the smile, "Good. Sorry about those," he gestured toward the waffles, "I'm complete rubbish when it comes to cooking."
Hermione attempted to stab at the blackened anomaly with her fork as she suppressed a chuckle. "I'm surprised. Cooking isn't all that different from potions...and really, I could deny it until I was blue in the face - but you really are rather capable at that."
Draco raised his eyebrows and laughed softly, "Well, I'm sure it about killed you to admit it."
Hermione grinned, "Very nearly."
Draco was just about to comment when there was a loud banging on the massive front doors to Muron Castle. Draco shot instantly to his feet, pulling out his wand and running to the entrance while Hermione simultaneously stumbled off the couch, looked frantically around for her wand, but when she couldn't see anything of the sort, ran quickly through the atrium after Draco.
Just as she rounded the corner, she saw the great doors implode.
"Get back!" Draco screamed at her as he covered his head.
Debris, wood, and dust filled the air as Hermione coughed into her arm. Squinting, she tried to see through the dust.
"Lumos!" she commanded as she stretched her hand forward.
A bright light emanated from her palm and she immediately saw Draco - crouching with his arms covering his head.
"Draco!" Hermione screamed as she sprinted forward to grab him.
Squinting and coughing, she finally grabbed the back of his robe to pull him up when she noticed a third figure in the entryway with them.
Draco, upon seeing the figure, stood completely in front of Hermione and shouted, "Show yourself! Hands where I can see them!"
But the figure did not oblige.
Instead of raising his arms in the air, he collapsed in a heap on the former castle doors.
Still keeping one arm firmly in front of Hermione as though she were a passenger in a car and he was pounding the break rather fiercely, Draco slowly stepped through the dust until he hovered over the unmoving figure.
Just behind him, Hermione gasped.
"Oh...my..."
And when Draco returned to the fallen figure, he saw, for the first time, a curtain of black hair obscuring the figure's face.
Instantly Hermione was on her knees.
The man was Severus Snape.
"Snape?" Hermione called as she gently lifted Snape's head off the ground and into her lap.
Not a moment later, Draco was by her side searching frantically over Snape's still body for any signs of physical harm.
"Snape?" Draco shouted as he fumbled through the endless folds of robes. "Severus? Answer me if you can hear me!"
"Oh...Draco..." Hermione gasped as she uncovered Snape's left arm.
Blood was everywhere.
"What could have happened?" she asked, shakily, "The Order? Or..."
"No," said Draco as he stooped to pick up his former potion's master, "Look," he nodded in the direction of Snape's left arm, "The Dark Mark has all but been cut out - this is definitely the work of the Dark Lord."
As Draco rose with Snape in his arms, Hermione's hand flew over her mouth, "But that would mean..." she trailed off as she ran after Draco through the archway, "Voldemort knows that someone was at the cove last night."
Draco paused in mid stride as his eyes found hers.
"He knows we have the Horcrux."
Draco's eyes widened as he regarded Hermione with fear, "We can't think about that right now. First, I have to look after Snape. Quickly! Go down to the dungeon and bring a blood replenishing potion, a calming draught, Essence of Dittany, and anything else that you think could be useful."
Hermione nodded as she sprinted toward the spiral stairs that descended into the bowels of the castle. Flying down the stairs two at a time, she nearly tripped over her own feet when she finally landed on level ground. Scrambling to the opposite side of the dark room, Hermione cursed loudly to herself that she had not found her wand.
"Accio Hermione's wand!" she yelled as she stretched her hand in the direction of the stairs.
Not three seconds later, her wand came soaring down the stairwell and into Hermione's waiting hand.
"Lumos!"
Hermione's normally deft fingertips traced shakily over the various bottles and vials on each shelf. Grabbing every item Draco requested, Hermione also snatched a small bottle of Essence of Murtlap and anything else that was in the near vicinity that she could still manage to carry. Moving as quickly as she could with her new load, Hermione scaled the spiral stairs, crossed the length of the atrium, and returned to the very couch she had awoken on that morning to find Draco and Snape.
Snape was laying on the couch, his shirt removed by Draco, breathing heavily.
"Here," Hermione said as she discarded the bottles and flasks on the floor next to Draco.
At the sound of her voice, Snape's eyes fluttered open as he winced in pain.
His chest was completely covered in blood, but where Hermione's concern was - and were the majority of the bleeding was coming from was his left arm, in the place where the Dark Mark normally resided.
"Ah, Miss Granger," he said taking in a large breath, "How reassuring."
Damn him.
Only he could be this close to death and still make smart ass remarks.
But then again, hadn't she made one to Draco only the previous night?
"Sir," Hermione began as she knelt next to Draco, "What happened? I need to know before we can treat you with anything."
Auror training, as Hermione was now completely grateful for, required a prolonged session of shadowing healers and learning various healing techniques. In the Auror's line of work, strange injuries and curses were commonplace, and each Auror was expected to ascertain and treat a wide variety of injuries.
Snape winced as he struggled to lift his left arm, "A version of Sectumsempra, I'm afraid. Much more intense than anything I ever created..." he hissed with pain as he lowered his arm back to the couch, "The Dark Mark can never be removed...due to the dark properties of that particular spell...but they certainly tried to work it out..."
Hermione nodded as she observed Snape's bloodied arm. A deep gash ran along the length of the inner forearm. Gently, she wrapped her fingers just high of where the gash began. It only took a second before they too, were stained crimson. "Sir, I'm going to use a healing spell first..." she trailed off as she reluctantly met his eyes, "But I've been told...that it is...painful..."
Snape rolled his eyes as he scowled at Hermione, "I'm familiar with the spell. Just get on with it," he hissed, "Or would you rather I sit and bleed to death."
Well, at least his personality is in tact.
Raising her wand above the gash, Hermione sought Draco's eyes and nodded at him. Understanding the implications behind the gesture, Draco steadied himself on his knees as he firmly grasped Snape's shoulders, limiting his range of motion to thrash out.
Snape's wary eyes met hers before they closed tightly.
"Do it."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione made a complicated wand movement over Snape's arm as she muttered quietly to herself. The effect was instantaneous. Snape immediately hissed and clenched in pain as the gash began to sew itself back together over the Dark Mark. He struggled and writhed against Draco's grip as Hermione fought to keep his arm in place while she continued with the incantation.
Finally, the skin sewed itself shut and Snape momentarily relaxed.
"Severus, are you okay?" Draco asked as he slowly relinquished his grip on the elder man's shoulders.
Snape's eyes were still closed and he appeared to be composing himself. After a moment, he nodded.
"Yes. I'm fine."
Slowly, his eyes opened and found Hermione.
"Thank you."
Hermione nodded, "Of course. But your chest...please, let me take a look at the rest of you..."
Snape nodded his consent as he turned toward Draco while Hermione set to work on the abrasions on his chest.
"Severus, what happened?" Draco asked.
Snape was silent for a moment before he began, "The Dark Lord found out the Horcrux was gone," he said simply.
"When Lucius did not return from France, the Dark Lord himself went to the cove and discovered Lucius' body hovering several meters below the surface attached to a skeleton."
He paused as he looked to Hermione, who had momentarily stopped healing his wounds.
"You can imagine his surprise, of course. He was not aware anyone else knew of their existence. In his panic, he used the connection with Potter..." Snape trailed off as he flinched slightly, "He knows the other Horcruxes are destroyed."
Draco looked between Snape and Hermione before he interjected, "But if he looked into Potter's mind then - "
"Yes," Snape interrupted, "He knows that it wasn't Potter who found the last Horcrux."
And then his eyes rested on Hermione.
"I did not know of the location of the Horcrux, nor that one had to use wandless magic to retrieve it. But as all this was unfolding, the Dark Lord came to the conclusion that it was you that retrieved it," he said as he nodded at Hermione.
Hermione regarded him silently before Draco broke her reverie.
"It doesn't matter if he invaded Potter's mind - he still doesn't know where she is," he said defensively.
"No, he doesn't," agreed Snape, "But he does know one of a few places where she will be."
An understanding dawned on Draco as he looked fiercely at Hermione.
"The Goblet of Fire...the Basalisk fangs..." he trailed off, "He expects you to go the Ministry or to Hogwarts to get the objects to destroy the Horcrux," he concluded with a dawning horror.
Snape nodded weakly, "Yes. He's already sent Death Eaters to both locations...I tried my best to stop them..." he trailed off as he shut his eyes tightly, "I'm afraid my position was compromised in my attempt to shield you, Miss Granger. They know of my true allegiance...the Dark Lord...as you can see...," he winced, "...was quite displeased."
That was the understatement of the year.
Hermione looked down at Snape with fear in her eyes.
She took in a shaky breath, "This..." she began, "This is it, then. It'll be all but open rebellion. With Voldemort stationing Death Eaters at the Ministry and Hogwarts..."
"Yes," Snape confirmed, "It is his attempt to gain absolute power. Although...," he continued as he propped himself into a sitting position, "His decisions are rather rash. It is the fear of losing his Horcruxes that is guiding his actions. He will go to any lengths to protect Nagini and to stop you from destroying the Horcrux you found in the cove."
Hermione nodded as she regarded Draco silently.
"I'm afraid," Snape began quietly as he looked at Hermione, "that you are of just as much interest to the Dark Lord now as Potter is - if not more so. Even he acknowledges your intelligence and power with your ability to use wandless magic. I had hoped...that that information would not have reached him."
Draco abruptly stood on the spot and angrily brandished his wand, "I'll kill him before he lays a finger on her," he said, darkly.
And there was such fury and power in his voice - something like that of a wrathful king, that for one slight moment; Hermione believed him.
"Is there anyway...," Hermione began hesitantly as she looked at Snape, "That you could...perform the killing curse on the compass?"
Snape regarded her silently before he spoke, "I do not think so."
Immediately, Hermione's features sank with despair.
"My wand," he continued, "...has been used to..." he hesitated slightly, "...kill many a muggle. Though I myself no longer desire to indulge in those dark practices, the wand does. Unfortunately, I have no idea as to where my wand is at the present moment. The Dark Lord, of course, immediately confiscated it...and I doubt I would be able to perform the curse without a wand that has completed such an Unforgivable in the past."
Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest. But it was Draco, who spoke.
"Could you try?"
Draco extended his proffered wand to Snape.
Snape nodded, "I can try, but I do not think your wand combined with my weakened state will attribute to much."
Hermione moved to scramble through Draco's pack that was discarded nearby. It was in the same spot as the previous night.
Last night.
It seemed like an eternity ago, but here she was - still wearing the muggle tank top that she had worn to the cove, digging through a pack that was in the same spot - as everything that had happened to her within the last forty-eight hours all slammed together in one terrifying revelation.
Voldemort is after me.
Shaking her head to clear herself from that thought, Hermione emerged from Draco's pack with Rowena Ravenclaw's compass. She gingerly set it down on the floor in front of Snape.
Snape eyed the object momentarily before propping himself up to his full height, stretching Draco's wand before him, and commanding in a louder voice than Hermione thought he was capable, "Avada Kedavra!"
A brilliant green light shot from Draco's wand and ricocheted off the compass, causing Draco and Hermione to immediately drop to the floor. As Hermione looked up from her prone position, she saw the compass - sitting in the same place; perfectly in tact.
"Dammit!" Draco cursed as he stood and punched the nearby stone wall.
Hermione rubbed her brow with the back of her hand, "Well, I guess we've ruled that out," she said, exasperatedly.
"Let me try," Draco said with determination as he took his wand from Snape.
Steadying himself, Draco stood in position to curse the object.
"Wait, Draco - " Hermione began.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A green light shot from the wand, ricocheting off the compass, and once more - Hermione dropped to the floor.
"Bloody hell!" screamed Hermione from her position on the floor, "What are you trying to do? Kill someone? We've already established that it's not going to work!"
Draco looked at her apologetically as he nervously fingered his wand, "Sorry," he muttered, "I just wanted to make sure."
Hermione sighed deeply as she picked herself up from off the floor. "It looks as though we'll either need to get into the Ministry or Hogwarts - although I'd say we'd fare better with - "
"We?" Draco asked as he interrupted Hermione, "You're not going anywhere. Did you not just hear Snape? The Dark Lord is after you! There's no way in hell I'm letting you go near either one of those places!" He said as he came around the sofa and gently grabbed Hermione's upper arms, as if his action alone would keep her firmly rooted to the spot.
"Draco," Snape said from his prone position on the couch, "Hermione is the one that has to do it."
"What!?" Draco demanded as he spun around, "Are you insane? He'll kill her the first chance he gets!"
Hermione was not nearly as surprised by Snape's revelation of her breaking into the Ministry or Hogwarts as she was by his use of her given name.
"I'll do it," she said before Snape and Draco could argue any further.
"No," Draco said seriously as his eyes pleaded with hers, "I can't let you - he's after you specifically."
"Draco," Snape interrupted quietly, "It has to be Hermione. You and I are being hunted on both sides. There is precious little time that we can waste. We must act now and destroy the Horcrux so that the Order can retaliate and prepare for battle. I can't imagine anyone being too pleased if you or I showed up at Hogwarts or the Ministry. Hermione must go. No one will question her allegiance. And..." he added, as he met Hermione's eyes, "I know that she is capable of performing this task."
Hermione silently beamed at her former professor.
Finally, a compliment.
Never mind the fact that I could be killed - it was a compliment, and I'll take it from the man anyway I can get it.
Draco looked as though he were going to be sick.
"But Polyjuice Potion..."
"You know very well that Hogwarts and Ministry have installed the "Anti Theft Charms" that were previously used at Gringotts. The Polyjuice Potion would dematerialize the moment you walked through the door," Snape interrupted, calmly.
Draco appeared to be fighting some sort of inner battle. He paced back and forth in front of the fireplace as his hands clutched his hair violently.
"But...he'll kill her," he said quietly - helplessly.
Snape looked up from the sofa, "I think not."
"The Dark Lord," Snape continued, "...Is as curious about Hermione's abilities as the rest of the wizarding world would be if they knew she possessed them. And...as much as I don't want to admit it...Hermione is a powerful bargaining tool that could be used to manipulate Potter - the Dark Lord, I am certain, would keep her alive."
"But at what cost?!" Draco demanded as he stormed in front of Snape, "Who knows what he would do - "
"HEY!" Hermione shouted loudly - causing both Draco and Snape to look up.
"Would you stop talking about me as if I'm not sitting right here in the room?!"
Slowly, she walked from the fireplace and stood in front of Draco.
His eyes showed a desperation and loss that were nearly tangible.
Could a person's eyes betray so much?
It was as if for one fleeting moment, the world had slowed down and it was just she and Draco - staring into one another's eyes as the flames from the fire licked up near their feet.
"If this is what needs to be done to destroy Voldemort," Hermione said quietly as her eyes locked on Draco's, "I'll do it."
"But - " Draco interrupted.
"No, Draco. There is no 'but'," Hermione said as she took Draco's hand. Looking down at their entwined fingers she continued, "We are so close to ending this. This is the last piece to be completed before the Order can move into action."
Draco put his other hand on top of Hermione's and held it firmly.
"If anything happened to you - "
"Draco," Hermione interrupted, sounding slightly exasperated, "Have a little faith in me, would you? I can do this. Please...trust me."
Draco looked at her steadily for a long moment before he slowly nodded his consent.
Hermione smiled softly in return as she tightened the grip on their hands.
"Well," Snape said from the couch, "Now that we have that out of the way..." he trailed off, clearly irritated at the intimate exchange.
"Sir," Hermione began as she turned to her former professor, "I believe Hogwarts is our best shot."
Snape raised an inquisitive brow, "Is that so?" he questioned, obviously intrigued with her suggestion, "Please - do enlighten me."
Hermione swallowed as she finally released her hold on Draco's hand, "Well... it's just that I'm infinitely more familiar with the blueprints of Hogwarts than I am at the Ministry. Plus, Professor McGonagall is there - she won't ask any questions or give me any grief, " Hermione continued as she began to count off her list of reasons on her fingers.
"I know exactly where the Chamber of Secrets is located in order to get to the basalisk fangs - whereas I don't have a clue as to where they keep the Goblet of Fire within the Ministry...I just think it is the best course of action," she concluded as she looked to Snape.
"And pray tell, Hermione," Snape began as he emphasized her name, "Along with your other apparently 'limitless' abilities, am I to understand that speaking Parseltongue is among them?"
Draco looked to Hermione in question.
"Well, actually...I do know how to open the Chamber of Secrets."
At Snape's doubtful expression, Hermione went on, "When Harry destroyed the first Horcrux - the locket, he had to speak in Parseltongue to get it to open. I remember how Harry said the words...or rather hissed them...I'm confident that is all I would need to open the Chamber."
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes, "An answer for everything - as always, Miss Granger."
Hermione smiled slightly as she looked down at Snape.
"What do you think, sir?" she asked.
"I think..." Snape began slowly, "...that it is probably our best chance. The Ministry itself would be a complicated disaster. I do not know where the Goblet of Fire lies within the atrium, and I'm quite certain that only designated ministry officials would be able to gain access to it. Furthermore, the Ministry has already been infiltrated with Death Eaters to insure the Dark Lord's influence...I agree that Hogwarts is a better option."
Hermione smiled at Snape's approval, but he continued, "That is not to say that it is the safer option, however. I have no doubt that Death Eaters are scouring the Forbidden Forest as we speak...you will need to use caution, Hermione."
Hermione nodded, as she looked up at Draco, "Of course, sir."
Draco, who had been fairly quiet up to that point, finally spoke, "Severus, you need to rest. I'll help Hermione get ready with everything that she might need."
Snape nodded and then reached for Hermione's hand, "You can do this," he said softly as he gently pulled her down to his eye level, "...of that I have no doubt."
Hermione smiled warmly, "Thank you, sir," and she turned to leave before a thought stuck her, "Sir? If Voldemort took your wand...how did you break down the castle doors?"
It was the first real smile that Hermione had even seen on the lips of Severus Snape.
"Come now, Miss Granger, a wizard can't give away all his secrets," he replied mysteriously.
Hermione looked at Snape, slightly flabbergasted.
Did Snape just joke with me?
Merlin, I really am going to die.
Draco loudly cleared his throat causing Hermione to look up. He gave her a knowing look as Hermione left Snape's side by the couch and followed him through the archway to the main atrium.
At the foot of the east stair case, Draco paused in front of her and hung his head. Slowly, he turned toward her - his face stricken with grief.
"Hermione - "
Hermione couldn't take it any longer. In one shift motion, she closed the distance between them, stood on her tip toes, and threw her arms around his neck. Draco responded immediately by firmly tightening his arms around her waist. They stood there below the staircase, desperately embracing and clinging onto one another for several prolonged moments.
"Hey," Hermione said, as she lowered herself to the ground, breaking away slightly so that she could look Draco in the eye, "It'll be okay. I'm going to be fine - I mean, how many reckless adventures have I embarked on already in my life? And most of them before I was seventeen!" She said as she made a miserable attempt to laugh.
Draco did not look encouraged, "Yeah, but you always had Potter there...or Ron..."
Hermione smiled slightly, "Yes, and usually it was me that was saving their hides. It will be infinitely easier with just myself to look after," she assured him as she brushed one of his stray bangs back to it's rightful place.
Draco took her hands in his own as he looked down at them - unable to meet her gaze.
"Hermione..." he began quietly, as he gently stroked her hand with his thumb, "It's just that..."
And then he did meet her gaze.
"I care about you. If anything happened to you...I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself. I...I can't lose you now that I have just found you."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "Just found me?"
Draco nodded, "We've known each other since we were what? Eleven? But we never really and truly knew each other. That, and I was a different person back then. I've only just begun to see the person that you really are. Before that, all I knew was that you were a know-it-all, bushy haired muggle-born."
Despite herself, Hermione laughed.
"And your opinion has changed, then, I take it?" She asked, playfully.
Draco gave a small smile, "Somewhat, yes. Your hair isn't as bushy as it once was."
Hermione looked down at their linked hands and gripped them tighter, "Draco, whether or not I want to do this is irrelevant. I'm the only one here who can. What kind of Gryffindor would I be if I walked away now?"
Draco met her eyes, "A Slytherin."
Hermione laughed loudly as she saw his eyes twinkle. And then she grew somber again.
"Draco, trust me, I don't want anything to happen to me either...I certainly don't leap at the thought of danger when something like this comes up. It's just that...in these past few months, I have learned and grown in more ways than I could have ever imagined. And whatever we have - " she gestured between herself and him, "...between us...I don't really know what it is - or certainly how to explain it. But I do know that...more than anything...I want to find out what it is."
Draco looked at her quizzically, "So you don't deny that there is something between us?"
"Of course there is something, Draco," she replied, exasperatedly, "And I plan on getting those basilisk fangs, stabbing that compass, and coming back here in one piece to find out whatever that something is."
Draco smiled genuinely at Hermione as he pulled her gently forward, "I was worried you were in denial."
Hermione chuckled softly, "Never."
And suddenly, all Hermione could focus on were Draco's lips. Thin - but so soft in appearance. Her eyes flicked back and forth between his mouth and eyes. Slowly, she felt herself unknowingly moving forward. Raising herself on her tip toes once more, she placed her right hand on Draco's neck, gently pulling his head down to hers. His eyes appeared momentarily startled, but after a faint flicker, there was a hunger and desire in them that was nearly palpable.
Just as Hermione's lips were a whisper's breath away from Draco's, Harry's stag Patronus came bursting through the atrium - bright and brilliant, as Hermione and Draco jumped apart - startled.
"Hermione!" Harry's frightened voice came from the stag, "It's happened...Voldemort used the connect between us to see into my mind...he knows that we know about the Horcruxes! Death Eaters are being stationed all over the Ministry - it's an open attack! Please...I need to know you're okay...the cove...do I need to go? The Order is ready to retaliate and they aren't taking Lupin's and my restraint well in the slightest. I need to know what to do."
And then, the great stag materialized into a vaporous mist and vanished.
Hermione and Draco stared blankly where Harry's Patronus had just been.
Hermione's heart was pounding - although she was quite certain that it wasn't do to the presence of Harry's stag, but rather due to her near intimate encounter with Draco, only moments before.
Snape, too, stood in the atrium - leaning precariously against a stone wall, having heard the commotion.
Without saying a word to either of them, Hermione skillfully brandished her wand, produced her otter Patronus and spoke with authority, "Harry. There's no need to go to the cove. There is only one thing left that needs to be taken care of. I'll send word as soon as it's safe for the Order to set up their defenses and go on a counter attack. Please don't do anything until then - it would be a fruitless attempt."
She paused as she looked up at Draco and then to Snape, "Be careful, Harry. I'll join you as soon as I can."
And with a deft flick of her wand, the otter playfully encircled her once before soaring quickly out of the castle.
Snape nodded at Hermione before he turned to head back to the couch, "There isn't much time."
Without looking at Draco, Hermione scaled the stairs that led to her quarters. Once inside her room, she immediately dressed in her emerald green robe and threw her black cloak around her shoulders. Fastening the clasp with shaking hands, she summoned her pack, threw a few miscellaneous items in it, and then quickly shrunk it to fit in the pocket of her robe.
As she turned to leave the room and rejoin Draco, she caught her refection in the mirror above the dresser. The woman staring back at Hermione appeared cool, composed, confident - the very epitome of what an Auror was supposed to be. On the inside, however, Hermione's heart was pounding rapidly, her breaths seemed erratic and deep, and by accounts - she was frightened.
I can do this.
And without a second glance, Hermione strode from her room with her cloak flowing gracefully behind her.
When she returned to the main atrium and to the room where Snape sat quietly on the sofa, Draco was nowhere to be seen.
Stooping slowly, Hermione bent to the floor to pick up Ravenclaw's compass and made to put it into her shrunken pack.
"What are you doing with that?" Snape's silky voice asked from the couch.
Hermione looked up from the floor as she stuffed the compass into her robes, "Just in case..."
"Just in case what?" He demanded with authority.
Hermione swallowed as she stood, "Just in case...something happens...and I have to get destroy it while I'm there..."
Snape regarded Hermione in silence for several moments before speaking, "It's a good thing Draco isn't here to hear you speak in that manner."
"What manner?" Hermione demanded, suddenly angry, "I would be stupid to not prepare for the worst case scenario! If something happened - and I didn't have the actual object with me to destroy - it would be all for naught! The Order would go into a massive battle that they would not be able to win!"
A small smile played on Snape's lips before he spoke, "I'm not disagreeing with you, Hermione, I'm just glad Draco didn't hear it."
Hermione raised her eyebrow in confusion, "Why?"
Snape rolled his eyes, "Oh, don't play stupid, Hermione. It's the one thing that you are certainly not good at."
Hermione regarded him momentarily before nodding. And then, she turned on the spot and walked out to the main atrium.
From behind her - quietly, she heard a soft, "Good luck."
As Hermione stood in front of the massive doors - which Draco had obviously repaired, she hesitated.
Where was Draco?
Was he not going to come to say goodbye?
Did he not even care?
Here, when I am about to embark on perhaps the most dangerous mission of my life?
Sighing loudly, Hermione waved her wand before the doors. Slowly, they creaked open to reveal dark clouds, wind, and very nearly - a torrential rainstorm.
Walking slowly through the entryway, she pulled her hood over her head and stepped into the storm.
It's probably better this way.
And she made her way slowly towards the apparation point by the large black boulder, oblivious to the rain that was pounding fiercely upon her.
She was nearly soaked when she heard a frantic call from behind her.
"Hermione!!"
"Wait!"
"Hermione!!"
Hermione turned around to see the figure of Draco Malfoy running frantically towards her.
Her brow furrowed as he drew nearer, nearly tripping over an obscured rock.
"Draco - " Hermione began as soon as he was within earshot.
But Draco kept running. He ran until he literally collided with Hermione - wrapping his arms around her as his lips came crashing down upon her own.
Genuinely shocked, Hermione's eyes widened before she threw her arms around his neck as he lifted her off the ground - deepening the kiss. The kiss was demanding, desperate, pleading, but above all things - it was sincere. After what could have very well been several minutes, hours, or days, Draco lowered Hermione to the ground and broke slowly apart. He was completely soaked - his blond hair plastered to his head as it shed drops of water onto his shoulders. Catching his breath, his eyes bore into Hermione's for several moments as the lightening flashed and lit up their sorrel depths.
"You're coming back. And I'll be waiting."
Hermione, who was still slightly spinning from Draco's passionate kiss, looked him in the eye as she put her hand on his cheek. And suddenly, the pain of Ron was lifted completely off her shoulders and she felt free in a way that she never could have never imagined. All she could see was the man before her. Her past was irrelevant - her sufferings - all but forgotten. The only thing Hermione saw was her future, and all she could feel were Draco's lips on her own. And that was all the mattered.
"I will be back," Hermione said with conviction, as she pulled Draco's head down to her own, and then whispered as her full lips brushed against his, "I promise."
And she was in his arms again, kissing him passionately as the rain pounded from above. After several moments, Draco finally released her.
Giving him a significant look, Hermione turned and walked to the nearby boulder. Without a second glance, Hermione turned on the spot and disappeared into nothingness.
The thunder crackled loudly, and Draco stood unmoving in the rain as the storm raged around him. As the rain stung his face without mercy, a silent tear slid down his cheek.
A/N: Finally, A kiss - I know! You should all be pretty happy with that one - I've been dragging it out forever! PLEASE REVIEW!!