Disclaimer: Harry Potter and other associated adaptations used in this story line are not mine, they belong to brilliant authors who lent me the idea. :)

Author's Notes: Hello everyone! This took a while but I managed to finish it. This will turn the tides and a lot of your unanswered questions will be answered soon. Hope you enjoy this one and the next chapter will come on December 25, a little present for all of you. Let me know what you guys think! :D

Chapter 13: Faith

Life is more than just survival
Love will be the thing that sets me free
Just a little faith is all I need

- Trading Yesterday

At first, he didn't think she needed saving – after the way she casually talked with the men. They seemed to be comrades of some sorts when they picked her up by the coast in the wee hours of the morning. He thought that they were the Aurors who would come for her, yet… knowing that Hermione Granger was one-half of the pair he had under his surveillance, he could not help but feel that something wasn't right, especially when he realized that Harry Potter was nowhere to be seen. She seemed calm enough when she went with them – seemed to be too meek even that he guessed that maybe she was under the Imperius Curse. And that was precisely why he followed them.

Spying was something the ex-Auror wasn't really fond of, but it had been part of the life he knew. It was part of the livelihood that kept him well-fed. But it was different when his subjects were famous… when he knew their names and what they did for magical Britain – and he realized how human they truly were, vulnerable – not the heroes he knew to be invincible. They seemed like an ordinary couple, one that easily deceived others who did not know who they were and what they looked like. A bit awkward at times, but nevertheless they never looked like they were pretending – they were very good at it, as if it were true… or maybe it was true, and they didn't even realize it.

Thinking about these things preoccupied him for a while. It calmed his nerves as he waited for the right time to strike. He was starting to feel like a coward when he realized he had been hiding for almost an hour now, disillusioned under a tree. But to his relief, they finally went inside the cave – vanished, more likely.

It was his cue to move. There was no room for errors now, not when he had a subject – no, a friend's life in his hands.

He listened carefully at first, checking if the coast was clear. Oddly enough, he heard nothing, but at the same time, he heard an odd form of noise around him. He first checked if there were spells that protected the area before he opened the door. And when he was satisfied that there were none, he decided not to wait further and walked inside, wand at the ready.

Darkness was the only sight to behold inside. It was dark, but he couldn't say that it was pitch black either. He didn't want to risk and blow his cover with a Lumos, so he continued moving forward carefully. As he got further inside, he realized that there was water – a lake, inside the cave. It surprised him at first as he descended down the knee deep water, because he didn't hear the sound of it moving. He knew the sound all too well, he lived with it all his life. Yet as he moved towards what seemed to be a source of light, he squinted from the brightness and realized that the lake was unmoving. But before he could figure out where he was, being the curious person he was, he remembered why he was there in the first place.

He cursed silently when he realized that he waited too long to come out of his cover. Now, no one was in sight. He didn't even know where Hermione was taken. There was no trail, no clue… and it was too risky to even think about performing a spell.

Normally, he wouldn't be inclined to go deeper into such a place alone, even if he was once an Auror. Yet, oddly enough, he remembered something at the back of his mind – it wasn't one of his most pleasant memories. In fact, it was something quite frightening that he almost wanted to forget it.

"… protect her and I'll make sure you two are safe."

Protect her… protect her, these words kept on repeating themselves in his mind. He wasn't even sure if he was capable of coming out of this place with her alive. He could feel his blood burning as he exhaled, bracing himself for what was about to happen. It invigorated him, giving him the courage to move forward.

The heroes were probably on their way, he just had to buy them some time.

Harry was weak and he knew it. No matter how much he tried to be strong for the people he loved, he always failed to protect them… at the end of the day, he was still powerless. He was robbed of almost everything he longed for – parents, family, friends, his godfather… his childhood. But somehow, knowing that there were still people who needed him, and people he still had to protect – people like her, somehow, it made the burden easier and he managed to break free of his sadness and see things in a different light. She was there for him, yet at the time when she needed him the most, all he could do was watch and wait.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" he heard Ginny speak beside him as he addressed her brother, Ron. She glanced at his way a bit hesitantly and the worried look on her face told him that he might have scowling too much.

"Yeah, Ron, are you sure this is the only way? It's a bit creepy in here." It was Neville who spoke this time, eyeing the place suspiciously as he held his wands with shaking hands. Releasing a heavy sigh, he moved forward and watched as Ron muttered another spell, checking if there were traps needed to be undone.

When he finished the spell, Ron frowned at them. "I know what I am doing, all right?" he lowered his wand once more and proceeded on doing another intricate movement, "How come you don't believe me when I say it? I am a very capable Auror, thank you very much!"

They have been standing idly inside a cave at the edge of another forest in London for several minutes now, and Ron had just finished tracking the magical signature that they obtained a few minutes after Callum disappeared. It had been faint that when they discovered the cave, it already vanished. Harry felt Ginny's hands on his shoulders, as if she was trying to stop him from taking a step forward. She shot him another worried look and focused her gaze back at the door when she realized he knew.

With a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes for a while, tightening his grip on his wand as he waited for Ron's signal. He remembered a time when all he could do was listen as Hermione's cream filled his ears – instantly he was reminded how it had been several years ago, that particular memory when he was locked in the Malfoy's dungeon, barely alive. He breathed yet he could do nothing to save her, even though she tried her best to save him by hiding his identity. Even after the war, he realized that he had been incompetent… his loved ones still died, even if he tried his best. Yet all his sentiments had been unnecessary, for she grew stronger and more capable. It was she who always lifted him up, so that he could continue to move forward.

It was then when he realized that he needed her, even after all this time.

Just when he thought he finally had an opportunity to protect her, just when she was vulnerable and needed all the care he could give – that was when he fell apart and succumbed to his weakness.

Now, where did that careless sentiment of his put them? Where was she now? She was in the hand of another power-hungry bloke, toyed with to accomplish another grand, pointless scheme of revenge and destruction of everything they helped to rebuild.

Hermione's captor was a madman. He knew his kind. The man lost everything, just as he had as a child. He lost his name, his family – and he was willing to throw everything away. He felt betrayed, alone – emotions Harry had been familiar with. The man just wanted anything and everything to suffer… just as his heart did.

All of this was because the man thought he did not have anything to live for, and that was probably what set them apart. Which was why… which was why…

Ginny did not even have time to react when she saw a jet of light pass her by… it had been too close, too close in fact that she realized it only missed her by mere inches. Ron was in no better position, as she saw him in the ground looking as surprised as she was.

"What did you do that for?" he finally spoke out loud seconds later, and she was glad to hear that he had recovered already.

Harry just could not wait anymore. He needed to find her now.

Neville, who had been too shocked from the exchange, moved closer and helped Ron to stand back up to his feet, whispering, "He did not aim for you. He was just becoming too impatient."

"Bloody Hell, Harry! You do know why loggers yell timber when they cut trees, don't you?" Ron remarked, yet he could only shot him a warning glance. They all moved back when he cast another spell, blowing the door into smithereens.

He walked passed Ron without even pausing to apologize. He could not even think about those things anymore. He just had one thought in mind – he had to reach her.

With each step, he somehow prayed it was another step closer to her.

"Harry, there's someone at the junction!" Ron shouted frantically behind him, as Ginny and Neville continued to mumble spells. "For the love of Merlin, Harry, don't be a fool! They might kill us with the Killing Curse!"

No… No.. he could not die. Not yet. He started to feel the fire in his veins as he released spell after spell upon the enemies, ignoring the shouts of protests from his friends and the wounds that were caused by his foolish actions. He would purge whatever would stand in his way. Nothing can stop him now.

He knew he was weak, yet he would continue to fight with all that he's got.

If there was something that Callum wanted do right now, it was to return to the coast. Thinking about how the sun shined brightly made him long for the light of the day. What business do the bastards have in this hell hole, of all places? He felt as if he were walking closer and closer to the pit of darkness, although ironically, artificial lights were now scattered- getting brighter and more abundant in the path of dirt. He noticed some changes in the place as well, because the surroundings were becoming noisier. He could hear sounds of a higher pitch, which was more comforting than that hollow and unmoving part of the cave.

He narrowed his eyes to look around and plan his route. At first he wanted to move forward, hoping he might arrive somewhere after crossing another well-lit path. Yet after going through more than three of these passages without arriving anywhere, his instincts told him to try another path. He looked around and saw that to his left was another area. It was hard to notice it at first glance because it did not seem to belong to the well-lit path. The area was dark and the ground looked untouched. He then moved towards it and was surprised when the area still seemed as bright as the dirt path he took. The ringing sounded to get louder and was starting to become unpleasant. He walked around some more, carefully moving against the rocks.

He reached what seemed to be a peak and he managed to look around. After seeing that the area was empty and not even an enemy was in sight, he decided to turn back and explore his other options. Yet before he could even step down from where he stood, he saw something as he scanned the area one last time. He saw it… or rather, her, lying in the ground, not too far away.

Without even thinking, he rushed down to be by her side, a bit panicked as she was so still and unmoving. He knelt down beside her, shaking her hesitantly at first, not knowing if she were hurt or not, or if his actions might hurt her more.

"Lily…" he hissed, and still she did not move. She was not used in calling her Hermione, even if it was her real name. When she did not stir, he held both of her shoulders and shook her harder.

Her head stooped down to one side and he felt the blood drain away from his face. She can't possibly be dea–

She groaned slightly, almost inaudibly, and Callum quickly let out the breath he didn't know he was holding in.

"Lily! Are you all right? Come on, let's get out of here," he whispered to her as he placed one arm under her knees. But to his utter surprise, she suddenly pushed him away so hard that he actually fell on the ground. To think she looked half dead mere seconds ago!

"Lily! It's me, it's Callum!" he quickly scrambled to his feet when he saw her get up, clutching her head as if she were in pain, "Lily!"

"Stop calling me that!" she snapped back at him, her voice filled with anger. She hugged herself as she grimaced, looking like she wanted to cry yet her eyes burned with fire.

"What's wrong with you? We haven't got much time. We have to go…"

"No!"

"Lily!"

"Stop it. Stop it," she exclaimed, pushing him away once more.

"Come on, let's go."

"No!" she resisted his grasp and managed to break away. As he continued to look at her, she still had that agitated expression. It was the same expression he saw a month ago, as Harry lay wounded in Rippleshack. Inside, she was in pain, so much pain.

"Just let me help you." He stretched out his arm to her once more.

"No…" she then touched her head with shaking hands, "No… I can't…"

"Lily…"

"That's right. She cannot come with you." He was surprised to hear another voice behind him. He turned around quickly to see a man not older than he was, holding what seemed to be a potion in his hands. He had a wicked smile on his face and his eyes… he had the same eyes as the Inferi.

Callum impulsively grabbed on to Hermione's arm and forcefully pulled her behind him, as he drew out his wand. He knew something was wrong… so very wrong. He looked around, trying to form an escape route yet…

"How pleasant for you to be here," the man raised his other hand and a dark ball of energy formed with his wand. Fearing the worst, Callum grabbed on to Hermione, hoping to tackle her to the ground, yet before he could even move his feet, he suddenly felt the ground shaking beneath him and before he knew it he was falling…

"Callum!" he heard her shrill scream… just before everything around him turned black.

"What have you done?" Hermione fell down to her knees, desperately searching the place where Callum fell.

"Oh, I have been doing some random things," the man said almost nonchalantly, "like ushering more guests to our little show. Unfortunately, we would have to do this sooner than I hoped to."

She noticed the potion in his hands and she instinctively moved back. "Why are you doing this?"

"Hermione, dear Hermione," he muttered as grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her feet. "You ask too many questions. Just do as you are told."

"No!" she closed her eyes, hoping to summon her strength yet more images and voices plagued her mind and she was unable to concentrate. "Stop… make it stop…"

"Confusion can amount to nothing but chaos, so just listen to me. If you want to end it all, then do it." He held her hand tightly, pressing into her palm until her skin cracked and started to bleed. Then he placed the potion in her hands, "All you have to do is succumb to the spell. Then, it will stop."

She hoped to throw the potion away yet she felt that it would be no use. He already used the antidote… all he had to do now was to wait for her to mutter the words to make the spell complete – then she would no longer be Hermione, but a pawn of someone who wished for the Ministry's destruction, someone who wished for another war.

"What are you waiting for Hermione…" he said to her, almost tauntingly. He then took a step back and laughed loudly, "Only you could stop it. Stop it now. Utter the words and I may spare your friends, there will be no deaths on your part. My men are already on the move, so chose now."

She shook slightly, feeling her strength fading away. Everything started to fade away. She could not even feel the boulders shaking or the previously unmoving waters rippling. Suddenly she just wanted everything to stop. She wished she could stop the beating of her heart. Each pump, each second caused her pain, caused her heartbreak. How could her feelings cause her so much turmoil?

Feelings… so insignificant yet seemingly so pure.

"No!" She then heard a familiar voice in the middle of all the chaos. She opened her eyes ever so slightly and saw him… making his way towards her – just when she stopped calling for him, just when she wished never to see him again.

"Harry," she gasped, was this a dream? Yet as he got closer, she could almost feel herself wanting to run to him.

She failed to notice everything else – all the shouts, screams, ground shaking, explosions, and kept her eyes on him as he dueled with the enemy. It was a graceful dance as the two clashed. Spells fired on the walls of the cave, explosions rang on her ears. Then, in a blink of an eye, he was there beside her, all bloody and bruised up.

He was just suddenly there, holding her. "Hermione."

"It would be no use, you're too late, Potter. Soon, the spell I invented will take over her and she will only listen to me," the voice said as it continued to duel their friends.

She would have slapped him if she could, yet it still it did not seem enough for everything that he had done to her. For all the fear, the joy, the sadness… "You… everything that has happened… I – Harry," she stopped speaking as she felt her knees buckling and pain suddenly shooting through her whole body.

The combination of curses that were done to her were now taking their toll. And all she could see before her was the man who plagued her mind the most, filling it with convoluted emotions that shook her to the core. He knew her since she was a child, and taught her the meaning of friendship. He was there in her every adventure, the insufferable git who thought that he could bear all the guilt in the world. He accepted her 'hatred' willingly when she told him she had enough of him not noticing her efforts to bring him out of his desolation, though he seemed to reject her affection. He left her, when all she wanted was for him to know she loved him, and he did not look like he wanted to stay…

He made her feel so weak; he made her feel so incomplete.

"How could you do this to me?" she managed to speak out once more, as she finally let the tears fall from her eyes. "You make me feel too much – hurt, confusion, happiness, sadness…"

"Hermione," he held her closer to himself, as he tried to keep her awake. He couldn't feel his body now, which was all bruised up and wounded.

"No, I don't want you to suffer," she curled up, avoiding him, "if I wake up again, I might attack you, I might even kill you." Yet she felt his arms continuing to tighten around her, "I don't want him to win, Harry, but you need to let go."

"Hermione!"

"…it never was mine, was it?" she said in a half-choked sob, almost in a whisper.

"Please, don't do this. The potion he gave was to make the spell stronger, but you can overcome it. You have my life, let me have your pain. Please…"

"I – I don't know," she finally looked up to face him, her eyes fully focused on his, even though the pain and all the voices inside her head were screaming at her. "I can't."

She had an urge to hurt him, yet at the same time she could not bear it. For once she had a clear thought in her mind. She would not want to see him hurt even more. She knew that this pain she had was almost as much as he had endured.

"If you succumb to the spell, Hermione, you'll die! Once you give yourself up, your body will just be a puppet, a shell," he shouted at her, and for once, she saw tears in his own eyes. "Do you hear me? I will not let that happen. If you wish to die, I will have to die first."

"No," she stopped struggling, as she was finally torn between holding on to him and running away. She did not want him to die. Because… because… "Why are you so stubborn? Stop this! If I give up, at least I can be rest assured that you'll be able stop them, but if you remain here, Harry, all our work… everything. Please,don't do this. I don't know until when I can still fight it."

"No!" He shook her then, as he felt his own vulnerability with the pain in his heart suddenly exploding, shaking him to the core. "I love you… and I blame myself for my own weaknesses. Please, you can slap me and hex me later, you can even forget about me, but please, hold on. Ron has the antidote, you'll be okay."

"Harry…"

"My life… those memories, that's all I have… that's all I can give you." He managed to hold her wrists, yet she heard the way he groaned under his breath and saw the blood splattered on his clothes… he's not going to make it if this went on. Still, he continued to hold on, sheer will forcing him to stay awake. He cupped her face, willing her to look into his eyes as he smiled. "Don't let go, all right?"

Why?

Why must things be this way? Why must everything be a mess in her head, in her heart? Everything was just clashing, and nothing seemed to be in place. Joy, pain, sadness, anger, why was everything just gushing all together? And the voices…

He heard someone shouting somewhere, and a vial fell down beside him in a clunk. He quickly grabbed into it and fell down as his body failed him, but never once did he let her hand go. She felt her knees buckling once more and she was powerless as Harry fell on the ground, in pain.

"I can't… I don't think I can hold on much longer…"

"No!" he managed to squeeze her hand as he continued to fight the pain he was feeling. He slowly crawled towards her, in a slow, agonizing moment, as he held on to the antidote. He uncapped the vial with all the strength he could muster… only a little more… just a little more…

The light started to blind her. Her head fell back and she closed her eyes, starting to feel calmness creep in to her once more as Harry managed to let her drink the vial's contents. Was she going to make it? Was she going to die? The noise faded, her feelings numbed. Suddenly there was nothing once more. She wasn't able to do it after all. She let go, unable to hold on.

And suddenly, she felt an odd sense of peace.

Author's Notes: Questions? Suggestions? What do you guys think about the chapter? Please review. :)