Author's note

warning sad bit coming up.

Chapter 24- 'til Death

They were the only 2 left standing who could last more than 5 seconds in a duel against one another. Draco knew he was going to die; hers was one life he refused to take. She was his Helen, his Penelope, his Juliet. He couldn't kill her even though his own life depended upon it.

Their eyes locked, he raised a brow at her as if to say come on then do your worst. He watched as she narrowed her gaze but it was not in determination it was to hold back the slivers of tears that lined her eyes. He watched her closely and saw her almost imperceptibly shake her head, she couldn't do it. But she had to!

"Come on Granger" he beckoned attempting to goad her into action. He had always known she would break his heart one day, he had never expected it to be literally.

A sense of panic arose in him that he would have to kill her, he couldn't stall any longer, he began to raise his wand and then he saw her steal herself.

"Avada Kerdavra"

Draco watched the green light fly- towards his heart.

Hermione knew that no other spell would reach him. He could defend against anything else she might throw at him. Only the most unforgivable curse was powerful enough to stop him but she couldn't do it.

She looked into those grey eyes and a sense of betrayal overwhelmed her even though she knew this was what she had to do. Tears flooded her eyes she watched him lift a blond brow. He could have killed her by now she realised.

She couldn't stall any longer, other lives depended on her.

"Come on Granger" she knew what he was doing he was goading her into action.

She watched him begin to raise his wand.

"Avada Kerdavra" she hadn't meant to say it, she didn't want to say it but it couldn't be unsaid.

He crumpled and fell towards her his blond hair brushed her arm as he fell.

She looked as he lay at her feet; the light had gone out of his eyes. All that she saw now was the reflection of the clouds passing overhead in the night sky, mirrored in his glassy stare.

He was gone.

Hermione collapsed to her knees at his side and gently took his head into her lap. Nestling it in the now blood splatter wedding gown.

"Draco, come back to me" she whispered.

Nothing, he remained blank and unmoving.

"Come back" she howled.

She looked wildly about her now, distraught looking blankly from face to face at those who had stopped their fight to stare in shock at what had unfolded.

"Bring him back" she demanded of them.

"Bring him back" she sobbed.

She dropped her head to kiss his lips, for a fleeting moment she thought she felt a breath but she realised it was a dead man's sigh.

She felt a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Come away Hermione, let us take him"

"No" she clung closer to him. She would not be parted from his side.

Harry peeled her away as she continued to scream "No, No!"

Harry peeled her away as she continued to struggle.

" No!" She screamed the sound ricocheted like gunshot across the night sky.

Narcissa had wanted to rush towards her son but something about her daughter-in–laws behaviour held her back. She grabbed the girls elbow as she was being dragged away her eyes seeking confirmation.

Hermione read the question in Narcissa's eyes.

"Sometimes you must take a life to save a life" she said in a way only a mother might understand. Narcissa did understand she knew what it was that Harry Potter had sought in the Forbidden Forrest that day- she had given it to him willingly-she only prayed it worked.

Lucius played and replayed the death of his son over and over in his mind. There was something odd, something he couldn't understand. It was almost as if Draco had wanted to die. He had made no real effort to defend himself and the Mud-blood's reaction belied her actions. She had clearly not wanted to kill him. She had grieved for him like he had been the moon pulled down from the sky and shattered across the face of the earth. Her grief was such she must have loved him more than life itself.

"So why?" Lucius asked himself, it didn't make any sense. Draco was the last of his bloodline that he should just lay down his life, unless…he was not the last. Lucius did not have time to consider this further.

"Lucius Malfoy, surrender your wand you are under arrest." Harry said his wand pointed steadily at Lucius throat.

Lucius scoffed not knowing that his own son had framed him though it cost Draco his life.

Author's note

ok so...trust me it is a happy ending. Some of you may have worked out what's happening already?