Not Ready to Back Down

Standing on the hill she looked down on her city. She looked down on the city of black, of mourning. The wind whipped her hair as though a golden ribbon in the wind.

Yes, her Uncle was dead, and yes the last goodbye had been said, but it did not release the pain, the guilt, nor the duty.

She felt the tension rise and knew the time would not be long.

Draco was now king, ordained quickly; he moved on to speak to those families being blackmailed by Voldemort. They would soon be free from his reign. For now, she was left for to reign over the country until Draco's return and this was a request she had rather not have accepted.

"Princess?" She had seen him walking up the hill; she had been expecting him. "The council awaits you."

"Rashidi, how long will it take for Draco to reach them all?"

"A least a week, Princess. It is a long list?"

"How does he find them?"

"That is magic only for the King to know, Princess. I can divulge it to none but him." She nodded in understanding.

"He is protected?"

"By our best." Answered Rashidi now looking to the city also. She smiled a bit knowingly. "He will remain safe. Do not worry."

"Did you gain the gift of foresight from your ancestor?" She asked crossing her arms as the wind became a cooling breeze.

"No, I am afraid that gift is not to be bestowed again." She looked to him to find him still facing the city.

"Then I shall always worry." She said. At this she made her way down from the golden hills, picking up her formal robes as she did so.

The council thought her weak and easy to control, of this she was certain. Now was the time to show them differently.

The doors were opened for her and she entered, head held high. All bowed to their knees though she waited to nod until she was about to sit.

"Sit and speak for I have little time."

"Princess." Spoke a man to her right smiling at her as though she were a child. "We ask of the whereabouts of our new King."

"If he has not told you then I cannot." She held a firm, emotionless face awaiting their next words.

"My Princess, we have seen there are woman in the fields and wielding swords. Along with them are female centaurs. What have you to say of this?"

"This was the order of my brother, and you have no say at the moment." The council seemed to tense in irritation at her words.

"And why is that?" Asked a man standing.

"The order was given and not all matters need to be voted on by you."

"We wish to know what is going on in this war. Why are more soldiers being called to train, why are we risking our women?" Asked another.

"I can tell you no more than this, so hear it well for I will not repeat it. The tides have turned they are headed harsh and fast for the shores of Kruphios. Trust me when I say we will need all we can get at the moment." A silence settled on the council as they seemed to determine her words.

Hermione looked out on them, looking each in the eye. Many would die before this was over and many have died already.

Draco had finally told her the outcome of the last battle. It brought more aching to her heart than the death of her Uncle. Mrs. Weasley, Moody and three others of the Order had died. Twenty soldiers had fallen, and those left all seemed to be badly injured.

She leaned forward in the large chair. The council had their eyes set on her, doubt in them. "Many will die at his hand and many already have. Take care and listen. When the time comes we will need to have the citizens of Medora evacuated inland."

"Princess Katherine, you are very discrete in your words. Do you plan to tell us more?" Asked one of the two women in the room. Hermione moved her eyes to gaze on her. The woman was old and knowing. She looked to have lived through much and yet knew there was more left. Hermione looked into the woman's blue eyes. She stood, still holding the gaze of the woman. All bowed to their knees, but the woman still stood.

Hermione walked over to her and stood face to face. The woman seemed to now question whether it had been right not to kneel.

Hermione sighed and placed her hand on the older woman's shoulder. "You have done enough in your time. It is now my time, Draco's time. These are our burdens to bear; I will not place them on you." With that Hermione made way to the doors.

A figure caught her eye. It was the only one in the room not bowing. She gave a small not to him. "Severus?"

"Katherine." He spoke with a small smirk and followed her out.

"Did you stand there long?" She asked as they walked through the halls.

"Long enough." His words held sorrow and pity. She merely nodded.

"Is there something you wish to speak to me about?"

At this he handed her a letter. Looking down at it she allowed a small smile to fluttered to her lips before it quickly disappeared.

She ripped it open quickly and read it as she walked beside Severus.

Friend,

We really did not wish to bother you knowing you have enough to worry about, but it seems we have come to a standstill in our research. If we do not find the last, we cannot succeed and he will live forever.

We await your reply and hopefully your help.

Your Friends

She stopped at the letter. Yes she knew who it was from, she had hoped they had already found the last one, but no they would have written to tell her.

"Katherine?" She looked up to Severus.

"If they do not find the last, they cannot succeed and he will live forever." She spoke their words.

"Katherine, you aren't making since." Severus had a look of worry on his face. But Hermione's mind was far from here.

She could not go, yet she could not stay. Kruphios needed a ruler, but her best friends needed her also. There couldn't be two of her.

"Katherine!" Severus spoke shaking her. She blinked quickly and looked at him. Severus. Severus knew of the dark arts, of Voldemort.

"Severus." She whispered. "Yes, yes, they will need you not me." She turned and hurried down the hall. Severus hurried after her.

"Katherine? What are you speaking of?"

"They will need you." She spoke a bit louder. At this she broke out into a run with Severus at her heels.

She reached her rooms and threw open the doors surprising some of the house elves. Though she didn't notice and simply went straight for her desk.

"Katherine…?" Severus breathed not being the young man he used to be. He caught his breath quickly as she pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. She spoke to him as she wrote.

"You will go to them. You are the only one who knows enough." She finished the letter quickly and handed it to him.

"Katherine, please explain." She looked at him for a moment before nodding.

"Harry and Ron, they are the only ones fighting from another end. If they fail we too will fail." She whispered the last bit.

"I can't say I know what you mean."

She shook her head. "But you do. How many times have you heard Voldemort speak of his immortality? How many times has he spoken that he will live forever?"

"Many, but he is insane. No one takes these proclamations seriously."

"Then you have been fools. He found a way, years ago, to ensure he would live forever. There were seven and now there is one. Though they do not know what it is. You will help them."

"One what?"

"It will be explained once you reach them. Take a portkey to Hogwarts, Harry will meet you there."

He looked at her for a moment. "Katherine…"

"Do not worry, we will see each other again. The end cannot come without Harry, you know this well by now. Go." He nodded and left her rooms.

She sat down in her chair and placed her head in hands. "Our last hope." She whispered.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!

He trudged through the trees as he came up to cottage. Only half way through the list and a week already gone by. He shook his head and looked to Adofo and then Abbas.

"We have reached the home of our informant, Michael." Draco nodded.

All had agreed to his proposal and all were given a portkey and to be taken care of by Rashidi once they arrived in Kruphios.

Not having much sleep he walked slowly to the run down cottage. An obvious hide out for the family.

He knocked on the door swiftly. At first there was no reply. He knocked again. The door opened slightly though no one was there. Adofo and Abbas went in first opening the door in front of him.

Stepping into the rundown cottage behind him he saw the shotty room to be empty. "Hello?" He called.

Suddenly a bright spell rushed past his head.

A man stood there in worn clothes with a determined expression on his face. Yes, Draco had met many of them already.

"Sir, I have news of your son." The man did not drop his wand. "He is alive and well for the moment. He as done a great deed for me, for us, that causes me and my sister to be in the debt of your family."

"You are not welcome here. No follower of him is welcome here."

"I assure you, I do not follow the one who calls himself the dark lord. I am from the island of Kruphios."

"I have heard of no such island." Draco smirked at the man.

"No, you wouldn't have. It is a place of safety; a place where your family can live free of him."

"And my son?" Asked the man lowering his wand a bit.

"Will join us there as soon as possible."

"John please, listen to him. Perhaps he is telling the truth." A woman stepped out from behind the wall. "You know of my son?" She asked with tears in her eyes.

"Yes, your son saved my sister's life. As I told your husband we are in your debt for that."

"And what is this island of which you speak?" Asked John. With this they sat down hesitantly to speak with Draco.

"Then you are King?" Asked John.

"I am."

"And you risk your life to come and tell people like us of this haven?" Asked Micheal's mother.

"Yes. Will you come?" The two looked at each other for a moment before returning their gaze to Draco.

"How…how…many can come with us?" Asked John.

"Your entire family is welcome." A smile spread onto Michael's mum's face. "How many will that be?"

"Twelve?" She asked in hope. Draco nodded.

"Good, Adofo two portkeys." Draco ordered. Adofo pulled out two medallions from a satchel he carried. "Take little with you. Only those things which you do not think you can part with or which cannot be replaced. Clothing and such you can buy in Kruphios." Draco stood and they stood also.

"You do not know how grateful we are." John spoke shaking Draco's hand.

"This is only but a small repayment, of mine and my sister gratitude." They nodded before taking the portkeys and hurrying from the room to pack. "Abbas go with them. We will not leave until we are sure they are gone." Abbas nodded and followed Micheal's parents.

Draco sighed and looked to the window of the small place. "The horrible hand of this dark lord has reached far." Spoke Adofo.

"Yes, and we must finish this quickly before it reaches too far." Adofo nodded in agreement.

In an hour Micheal's family of twelve was assembled before them. Draco retold them all of Kruphios before the twelve touched a portkeys and where pulled away to safety.

"Well, another name to cross off the list." He said. Abbas opened the door for him only to dodge a spell. Adofo covered Draco making sure he was out of harm, though Draco did not take kindly to this. He pulled out his sword and wand along with Adofo and Abbas awaiting a fight.

Three dark figures emerged from the forest around the cottage. "They were being watched." Draco whispered.

All huddled behind the wall looking out through the doorway. "More will come." Spoke Adofo. Draco nodded.

"If we give them a conscious person to relay the message, but we won't." He spoke casting his own curse to a death eater.

He watched as he fell. More curses flew at them after this. All three rolled out of the way as the wall exploded.

Blocking a spell with his sword Draco sent another before ducking behind another wall. He watched as Adofo and Abbas sent two of their own knocking down the third.

"We must leave now before more come, but be on guard wherever we land next could be dangerous. They have become suspicious." Draco warned before all three apperated to their next spot on the map.

!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!O!

"You are angry today." He said as their swords clashed and struck in the spar.

"I have every reason to be." She countered not only with words, but with the edge of her sword as well.

"He will be back soon."

"That may be so…" She turned and struck her sword against his before turning around and doing the same. "…but he has not sent word of how all is going." She pulled her blade to his left shoulder calling dead in a soft voice. He relented. Sweat pouring down his features.

He nodded and they clasped wrists and bowed. "I believe the amount of people coming into the arrival room speaks for him." He reasoned wiping the sweat from his brow.

She nodded. "Yes, but I would like word of him. I have not heard from him since he had left a week and a half ago."

"The people who come in say he seems tired, but well."

"Yes, the last they knew. Now he could be hurt or even killed." She rubbed her tired eyes. The had walked inside the castle when Blaise grabbed her arm causing her to face him.

"He will be fine and he will return." She looked into his blue eyes. He truly believed his own words which allowed her to also.

"Alright, I will allow your words to stay with me for now, but if too much time passes-"

Blaise interrupted her pulling her, by the arm, closer to him. "Then I will go looking for him." Blaise's tone was serious and sure.

She looked up at him finding that bit of light, that bit of hope that she seemed to lack at the moment. "Thank you." She whispered before turning away from him and walking down the halls and to her rooms once more.

A/N: So sorry for the wait. Been having trouble with the direction of this story an have changed my mind many times before settling on this approach. Don't worry you'll still like it i'm sure!! Now, I'm really down on reviews and count on them for how often i update my story so PLEASE REVIEW! It helps alot!...Thanks and i hope you enjoyed this one!