I know it has been a while, but at least it hasn't been six months. I am almost caught up now with my typing and my writing, so hopefully chapters won't take me as long to get up. That said, this is unbeta-ed and typed myself. Please forgive the typos.
Disclaimer - I don't own it, thought I wouldn't mind renting a few of the Slytherins for a few nights. It all belongs to JKR (Congrats btw on expecting her third child! I am thrilled for her as long as it doesn't delay book 6) and to anybody else who has their hands in the Potter world.
Chapter 25 "You Don't Own Me"
Albus sat back down in his seat, clearly composing himself. "That doesn't leave us much time. We will make it mandatory for all students below sixth year to go home for the winter holidays. The 6th and 7th years will be informed of what is going on, and be given the choice to stay. Any of the younger students unable to go home will be sent to my estate in Greece under the care of my staff and any older students who decide not to stay and fight. There are many Aurors still loyal to me. I will quietly inform them of this so that we will have some professional assistance. The Order will, of course, be necessary."
His troubled gaze met Hermione's, then Draco's. "I think we will also be reactivating Dumbledore's Army, from those who are still willing. I believe that we shall need to have a meeting next weekend - we can easily meet beneath the Shrieking Shack - Draco, Hermione, tell only those that you completely trust about the true nature of this meeting. We will have one shot at bringing him down. If we fail, our world will be forever changed." "We won't fail, Headmaster. I promise you this." "Thank you Draco. All of you should go now. We have much to do and less time then I feared." All present took the dismissal and left the office, with more troubles on their shoulders than what they had come in with.
Back in Severus' chambers, Hermione leaned her head against the chest of her lover, breathing a deep sigh. "Severus, this is all happening so fast. Do you really think we can win?" "We have no choice. Failure is not an option we have in this misadventure. We win or we die trying to take him down." "A very Gryffindor statement. I shall start working on my potions projects immediately." "What projects?" "I have an idea for a potion that will act as an internal shield, allowing the drinker to actively fight instead of being forced to maintain a defence. It will block all but the Killing Curse. I know that it won't help much, since the Deatheathers have no reservations about using that on children, let alone adults, but we want to be as prepared as possible." "I hope be 'we' you are referring to the side of the Light as a whole. Because I am not letting you anywhere near that battlefield. You are going to Dumbledore's estate in Greece." Hermione broke the embrace, her anger burning red and gold in her eyes. "You, sir, will NOT presume to tell me what I will do and where I will go. I am glad you are concerned for me, but no more so than I am for you. Are you telling me that you would go to Greece with me if I asked you to, for your safety?" "Of course not. That is a different situation entirely." "Why? Because I am a woman or because I am sick? Or perhaps after all those years in their circle, you believe them, that as a Muggleborn I am less than a purebloood, unable to take care of myself in battle?" "Hermione, it isn't that. You are my life now. I can't lose you." "Severus, you are going to lose me anyway. I know you don't like to talk about it, but one way or another this will be the last New Year's I will live to see. That is just the hand that Fate has delt. I love you, but I will not hide like a child. This is as much my fight as anybody's, if not more. I am what they are trying to exterminate. I will not sit by while those I love fight and die for me. I am going to be there." "Damn it, Woman! Why can't you just do as you are told?!" With those words, Hermione looked at him with anger and pain shining through her eyes. Before he even knew what had happened, her had had left a stinging slap on his cheek adn she had run from the dungeons and from the castle. Her tears grew cold on her face as she ran into the cold November air, the clouds overhead threatening to cry with her.
In the dungeons, Severus had resorted to throwing things. Draco heard the commotion and dared to decend into the Serpent's Lair to see what was troubling his friend so. He dodged a vase as he walked in, before Severus realized it was him. "Go away, Draco." "I will not. What happened? Where is Hermione?" "We had a fight. I am just trying to protect her. She ran out on me." "What exactly did you say to her?" "I forbade her to participate in the coming battle. Then she slapped me and ran out." "You Forbade her?! No wonder she ran out on you." "You are not helping, Draco. I am just trying to protect the woman I love. Is that so wrong?" "No, it isn't, but you don't own her. You cannot protect her from her destiny. Potter is the Savior of the World, we all know that...but who will save Potter? That is her role, and has been since the day they met, perhaps even longer." "Even though her role may get her killed?" "Has that ever stopped you?" "No, but I had nothing to live for until recently." "Thanks, Uncle." "You know what I meant, boy." "Yes I did, but let's face it, as much as she loves you, she doesn't have much to live for anyway. If the potion I know you are working on doesn't work, she will be gone come summer anyway. She doesn't know about it, nor should she so that it does not give her false hope. I do not doubt your skill, but some things simply are not meant to be. She needs to know that her life had some meaning, and if that means keeping Potter alive, then so be it. You need to apologize, I will see if I can find her."
Draco searched the entire castle, which took several hours. The rain had been pouring down outside for most of that time, but Draco now feared that Hermione may have fled into it. He knew she had left her wand and claok in the dungeons, and would be helpless against the torential storm. Draco ran out onto the grounds, hoping he had been wrong and that she had thought to take shelter at Hagrid's Hut, He began to run down the now slippery path when a sudden thought struck him and he detoured to the lake. He found her there, huttled under a tree, still in her dress from last night's ball. She was drenched, and her skin had a sickly blue hue to it. "Hermione, by the gods what are you doing out here in this?" " I didn't want to see him." "Dear, it is freezing out here and your clothes are soaked through. You are going to get sick." "Too late." "You know what I meant. The Flu is the last thing you need right now." "I am fine." However, Hermione's body chose to betray her at that moment and a hard cough racked her small body. " You have had no sleep the past couple of nights, and now you have been sitting outside in the rain for hours. Let's get you inside." Draco tried to help Hermione up, but her legs wouldn't hold her and she sanl back to the wet earth. Draco picked her tiny frame up and carried her to the castle.
As Draco ran with Hermione, who even with a heavy wet gown was still very light, she began to cough much harder, to the point her lips became stained red. He increased his pace and soon was bursting through the main doors into the entrance hall of Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny happened to be there, and both took fright at seeing Hermione so ill and looked to Draco for the answers. "Draco, what happened?" "Questions later! Go get Severus and meet us in the Hospital Wing!" Harry and Ginny took off running while Draco carried Hermione up to Madame Pomfrey.
"Oh Gods, What happened to her?" "I found her outside. She has been out there at least three hours with no cloak or wand." "Put her down on the bed there. Go to my cupboard and start grabbing potions. Warming Draught, a mild sleeping potion, cough suppresent and a fever reducer too. Hurry Boy!" Draco laid Hermione down gently before making his way to the cupboard. He grabbed potions at a furious rate before returning to Hermione's side. "Here, I think I got everything." "Good job. Draco. Now I am going to need you help again. She is shaking badly. Can you hold her still while I give her these? It would also be best to get her into a semi-seated position." "Of course. What way should I hold her, to allow you to give her the potions?" "Get behind her and hold her arms down." Draco lifted Hermione up and slid in behind her. His legs cradled her body and her head rested against his broad chest. "Alright, I've got her." She shook violently with cough and cold until draco wrapped his arms around her tightly, stilling her while the Mediwitch gave her all the necessary potions. Hermione briefly woke up, likely due to the horrific taste of most of the potions, but Draco hushed her and rocked her gently, stroking her hair until she was lulled back to sleep. Draco was just about to lay her back down and see if Poppy needed anything when Severus stormed into the Hospital Wing. He went green with envy at the sight of the touching scene, but his concern for his beloved quickly tamed his male instinct to tear Draco apart. "What happened, Draco?" "She was outside by the lake in the rain, with no cloak or wand. Poppy is running a few tests now." "This is my fault. I shouldn't have let her go. I should have went after her right away. I should..." "You can lament on what you should have done until Doomsday, but the fact is you didn't! Deal with it and move on. Poppy needs more potions, I gave her the last of the fever reducer and there is only one dose left of the cough supressent and the milder sleeping potion. Quit fretting and be useful." Severus was surprised at the tone with which Draco was speaking to him, and that his was so fiercely protecting the Gryffindor witch that he had once called enemy. However, Severus let reason prevail at last and decided to use Poppy's small potions lab to restock the necessary remedies that Poppy required.
Many of the potions required simmer time, so Severus left them to brew and returned to Hermione's side. She was still sleeping, and Draco had likewise dozed of while still holding her. He took Hermione's hand and held it, rubbing little circles on the palm with his thumb. "Oh my dearest. I swore I would never hurt you and that I would never treat you like an invalid. And now, at the first test of my vow, I have failed you. I don't deserve you, in fact I never did. I will never forgive myself for the anguish I have caused you." At those words, the proud head of Slytherin hung his head and wept.
A/N Okay, I know it has been a while, but there it is. That is a pretty long chapter for me, and will hopefully be enought to tide all of you over. If not, then allow me to shamelessly plug my new story, Life Has a Funny Way. It starts out as a Hermione/Draco, but evolves into a Hermione/Severus with time. I promise that it will have a happy ending. Not everything I write is doom and gloom. I will also take the time to promote my new site, the Harry Potter Songfic Challenges. If you are interested, check it out at this
I will actually have something up there by the end of Wednesday.
Disclaimer - I don't own it, thought I wouldn't mind renting a few of the Slytherins for a few nights. It all belongs to JKR (Congrats btw on expecting her third child! I am thrilled for her as long as it doesn't delay book 6) and to anybody else who has their hands in the Potter world.
Chapter 25 "You Don't Own Me"
Albus sat back down in his seat, clearly composing himself. "That doesn't leave us much time. We will make it mandatory for all students below sixth year to go home for the winter holidays. The 6th and 7th years will be informed of what is going on, and be given the choice to stay. Any of the younger students unable to go home will be sent to my estate in Greece under the care of my staff and any older students who decide not to stay and fight. There are many Aurors still loyal to me. I will quietly inform them of this so that we will have some professional assistance. The Order will, of course, be necessary."
His troubled gaze met Hermione's, then Draco's. "I think we will also be reactivating Dumbledore's Army, from those who are still willing. I believe that we shall need to have a meeting next weekend - we can easily meet beneath the Shrieking Shack - Draco, Hermione, tell only those that you completely trust about the true nature of this meeting. We will have one shot at bringing him down. If we fail, our world will be forever changed." "We won't fail, Headmaster. I promise you this." "Thank you Draco. All of you should go now. We have much to do and less time then I feared." All present took the dismissal and left the office, with more troubles on their shoulders than what they had come in with.
Back in Severus' chambers, Hermione leaned her head against the chest of her lover, breathing a deep sigh. "Severus, this is all happening so fast. Do you really think we can win?" "We have no choice. Failure is not an option we have in this misadventure. We win or we die trying to take him down." "A very Gryffindor statement. I shall start working on my potions projects immediately." "What projects?" "I have an idea for a potion that will act as an internal shield, allowing the drinker to actively fight instead of being forced to maintain a defence. It will block all but the Killing Curse. I know that it won't help much, since the Deatheathers have no reservations about using that on children, let alone adults, but we want to be as prepared as possible." "I hope be 'we' you are referring to the side of the Light as a whole. Because I am not letting you anywhere near that battlefield. You are going to Dumbledore's estate in Greece." Hermione broke the embrace, her anger burning red and gold in her eyes. "You, sir, will NOT presume to tell me what I will do and where I will go. I am glad you are concerned for me, but no more so than I am for you. Are you telling me that you would go to Greece with me if I asked you to, for your safety?" "Of course not. That is a different situation entirely." "Why? Because I am a woman or because I am sick? Or perhaps after all those years in their circle, you believe them, that as a Muggleborn I am less than a purebloood, unable to take care of myself in battle?" "Hermione, it isn't that. You are my life now. I can't lose you." "Severus, you are going to lose me anyway. I know you don't like to talk about it, but one way or another this will be the last New Year's I will live to see. That is just the hand that Fate has delt. I love you, but I will not hide like a child. This is as much my fight as anybody's, if not more. I am what they are trying to exterminate. I will not sit by while those I love fight and die for me. I am going to be there." "Damn it, Woman! Why can't you just do as you are told?!" With those words, Hermione looked at him with anger and pain shining through her eyes. Before he even knew what had happened, her had had left a stinging slap on his cheek adn she had run from the dungeons and from the castle. Her tears grew cold on her face as she ran into the cold November air, the clouds overhead threatening to cry with her.
In the dungeons, Severus had resorted to throwing things. Draco heard the commotion and dared to decend into the Serpent's Lair to see what was troubling his friend so. He dodged a vase as he walked in, before Severus realized it was him. "Go away, Draco." "I will not. What happened? Where is Hermione?" "We had a fight. I am just trying to protect her. She ran out on me." "What exactly did you say to her?" "I forbade her to participate in the coming battle. Then she slapped me and ran out." "You Forbade her?! No wonder she ran out on you." "You are not helping, Draco. I am just trying to protect the woman I love. Is that so wrong?" "No, it isn't, but you don't own her. You cannot protect her from her destiny. Potter is the Savior of the World, we all know that...but who will save Potter? That is her role, and has been since the day they met, perhaps even longer." "Even though her role may get her killed?" "Has that ever stopped you?" "No, but I had nothing to live for until recently." "Thanks, Uncle." "You know what I meant, boy." "Yes I did, but let's face it, as much as she loves you, she doesn't have much to live for anyway. If the potion I know you are working on doesn't work, she will be gone come summer anyway. She doesn't know about it, nor should she so that it does not give her false hope. I do not doubt your skill, but some things simply are not meant to be. She needs to know that her life had some meaning, and if that means keeping Potter alive, then so be it. You need to apologize, I will see if I can find her."
Draco searched the entire castle, which took several hours. The rain had been pouring down outside for most of that time, but Draco now feared that Hermione may have fled into it. He knew she had left her wand and claok in the dungeons, and would be helpless against the torential storm. Draco ran out onto the grounds, hoping he had been wrong and that she had thought to take shelter at Hagrid's Hut, He began to run down the now slippery path when a sudden thought struck him and he detoured to the lake. He found her there, huttled under a tree, still in her dress from last night's ball. She was drenched, and her skin had a sickly blue hue to it. "Hermione, by the gods what are you doing out here in this?" " I didn't want to see him." "Dear, it is freezing out here and your clothes are soaked through. You are going to get sick." "Too late." "You know what I meant. The Flu is the last thing you need right now." "I am fine." However, Hermione's body chose to betray her at that moment and a hard cough racked her small body. " You have had no sleep the past couple of nights, and now you have been sitting outside in the rain for hours. Let's get you inside." Draco tried to help Hermione up, but her legs wouldn't hold her and she sanl back to the wet earth. Draco picked her tiny frame up and carried her to the castle.
As Draco ran with Hermione, who even with a heavy wet gown was still very light, she began to cough much harder, to the point her lips became stained red. He increased his pace and soon was bursting through the main doors into the entrance hall of Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny happened to be there, and both took fright at seeing Hermione so ill and looked to Draco for the answers. "Draco, what happened?" "Questions later! Go get Severus and meet us in the Hospital Wing!" Harry and Ginny took off running while Draco carried Hermione up to Madame Pomfrey.
"Oh Gods, What happened to her?" "I found her outside. She has been out there at least three hours with no cloak or wand." "Put her down on the bed there. Go to my cupboard and start grabbing potions. Warming Draught, a mild sleeping potion, cough suppresent and a fever reducer too. Hurry Boy!" Draco laid Hermione down gently before making his way to the cupboard. He grabbed potions at a furious rate before returning to Hermione's side. "Here, I think I got everything." "Good job. Draco. Now I am going to need you help again. She is shaking badly. Can you hold her still while I give her these? It would also be best to get her into a semi-seated position." "Of course. What way should I hold her, to allow you to give her the potions?" "Get behind her and hold her arms down." Draco lifted Hermione up and slid in behind her. His legs cradled her body and her head rested against his broad chest. "Alright, I've got her." She shook violently with cough and cold until draco wrapped his arms around her tightly, stilling her while the Mediwitch gave her all the necessary potions. Hermione briefly woke up, likely due to the horrific taste of most of the potions, but Draco hushed her and rocked her gently, stroking her hair until she was lulled back to sleep. Draco was just about to lay her back down and see if Poppy needed anything when Severus stormed into the Hospital Wing. He went green with envy at the sight of the touching scene, but his concern for his beloved quickly tamed his male instinct to tear Draco apart. "What happened, Draco?" "She was outside by the lake in the rain, with no cloak or wand. Poppy is running a few tests now." "This is my fault. I shouldn't have let her go. I should have went after her right away. I should..." "You can lament on what you should have done until Doomsday, but the fact is you didn't! Deal with it and move on. Poppy needs more potions, I gave her the last of the fever reducer and there is only one dose left of the cough supressent and the milder sleeping potion. Quit fretting and be useful." Severus was surprised at the tone with which Draco was speaking to him, and that his was so fiercely protecting the Gryffindor witch that he had once called enemy. However, Severus let reason prevail at last and decided to use Poppy's small potions lab to restock the necessary remedies that Poppy required.
Many of the potions required simmer time, so Severus left them to brew and returned to Hermione's side. She was still sleeping, and Draco had likewise dozed of while still holding her. He took Hermione's hand and held it, rubbing little circles on the palm with his thumb. "Oh my dearest. I swore I would never hurt you and that I would never treat you like an invalid. And now, at the first test of my vow, I have failed you. I don't deserve you, in fact I never did. I will never forgive myself for the anguish I have caused you." At those words, the proud head of Slytherin hung his head and wept.
A/N Okay, I know it has been a while, but there it is. That is a pretty long chapter for me, and will hopefully be enought to tide all of you over. If not, then allow me to shamelessly plug my new story, Life Has a Funny Way. It starts out as a Hermione/Draco, but evolves into a Hermione/Severus with time. I promise that it will have a happy ending. Not everything I write is doom and gloom. I will also take the time to promote my new site, the Harry Potter Songfic Challenges. If you are interested, check it out at this
I will actually have something up there by the end of Wednesday.