All characters belong to JKR
Part XXXVIII:
Discoveries:
Hermione knew what she had to do. She just had to convince everyone to let her do it on her own. She ran up the stone stairs, and when she reached the moonlit night, and the chill of the evening air hit her face, she realized immediately something was amiss. Where was everyone? She didn't know how much time had passed, or how long she had been down in the stone chamber, but she knew everyone was above ground waiting for her, for she heard them yelling for her earlier. Where were they now? She held out her lit wand and called out, "Harry? Ron?"
There was no answer.
She was afraid, yet she was still determined. She had to find the stone table and finish deciphering the ruins.
She ran around to the backside of the excavation site, and there, brightly lit by the moon, was the stone table, over a thousand years old, and ominous as ever. She approached the table and put the stone box down beside it. She went over to the Slytherin side, and tried to read the runes written upon the surface. She and Draco had been concentrating on the Ravenclaw side. Hermione wrongly thought her visions were from Ravenclaw, and because in the vision that Hermione had where she saw Ravenclaw's ancestral home, she saw many of the same runes on the walls of the home, as she did on the table, and she thought at the time that was significant.
She was afraid to touch the table; so instead, she stood above it and looked at the runes closely. She had one of those light bulb moments of discovery, and she almost laughed in delight. The truth hit her suddenly, as if she was a young child who suddenly figured out a riddle, all on its own. Why didn't she see this before? She knew exactly where the wand was and the clue was there all along.
The cave. One simple rune, a rune in which she had always known what it meant. A symbol meaning the word, cave. The cave where the Darian took Helga, the cave where Slytherin made his Horcrux, and the cave where Draco had gone that day they were lost in the woods, and he saw his first vision. It was almost so effortless, that she laughed at the simplicity of it all. Slytherin must have known she would figure it out quickly. The wand never left the cave. This simple symbol would not mean anything to anyone, if the person didn't know the significance of the cave.
She ran around to the other side of the excavation site. She simply had to find her friends. She had to have them help her locate the cave and then they had to help her find the wand. She pointed her wand in the air, sending off red sparks. Perhaps if they had left the site, to wander the woods looking for her, they would see the sparks and know that she needed them.
She waited what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a few minutes. When no one came, she decided to look for the cave herself.
Harry Potter was worried. They had been looking all around the excavation site for Hermione. They heard her scream, "Please help me" and then they heard nothing else. They tried to enter the underground anti-chamber, but each time they approached, they were thrown away. They were ready to blast a hole in the ground, when the most unexpected thing happened. Hermione appeared behind them.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione asked.
Harry ran up to her and hugged her tight. "Where were you? We looked everywhere for you. We heard you scream for help."
"I'm so sorry, Harry. I know what we have to do. It was so easy and simple; I can't believe I didn't think of it before. I know where she is holding Draco and my parents. Come on," and Hermione started running.
Harry yelled, "Hermione! Stop! Tell us where we are going first."
"There's no time," Hermione pleaded.
"Don and Nick went back up to the castle with Lucius, to wait for the Aurors. We should at least wait for them," Ron said.
"I can't wait any longer! Please, we have to go now, my parents and Draco needs me!" Hermione shouted.
Harry came up and grabbed her hand. She snatched it away. He immediately knew this was not Hermione. He wasn't sure how he knew, but he did. It was something about her eyes and the fact that when he touched her hand, he felt nothing recognizable about her at all. He said, "Fine, Hermione, take us wherever you want." He gave Ron a knowing look and Ron seemed to understand. 'Hermione' began to run up the hill, back toward the school and Harry and Ron followed.
When they had almost reached the school, Harry took out his wand and stunned Hermione as she ran in front of him. Don Boot was running toward them, and he withdrew his wand and pointed it toward Harry.
"What did you do, Harry?" Don asked, shocked.
"This isn't Hermione." Harry walked up to the imposter and added, "I know it isn't. She is still down in that chamber. We have to get back to her. Where are Nick and Lucius?"
"They are waiting for my father and members of the Brotherhood of the Raven, as well as for the Aurors," Don said. He looked at 'Hermione' as she lay unconscious on the ground. He knew that Harry must be convinced, for he would never hurt his best friend.
"Ron, you take this imposter up to the castle. Bind her so she cannot leave. Call the Aurors, and then tell Nick what's going on here. Don, come with me." Harry and Don ran back toward the excavation site. When they were still far away, they saw red sparks fill up the dark night sky. They followed the sparks, hoping to find Hermione. Instead, when they reached the excavation site, they saw nothing.
"Where could she be?" Don asked. Harry sent up his own sparks, waiting to see if she would respond.
Hermione tried to remember the way to the cave. She found the path she and Draco had taken the day of their walk. The thing was she had never been to the cave. She had no idea where to continue from there. She felt like crying and screaming in frustration. Then she saw it, red sparks. Someone saw her distress signal. She put her wand up high in the air, and sent off more sparks. Please, someone see them! Next, she said, "If only Draco was here! He would know where the cave is! Salazar, you stupid fool! Just tell me how to find the cave!"
She heard a laugh behind her and turned around. There, behind her, standing on the path in the forest, was Helena Boot. Helena drew Hermione's lit wand to her free hand, and put it in her robe. She said, "The cave? Is that where the old fool hid the wand of my ancestors? How simple. I should have known. I knew about the cave, and the Horcrux. I knew that was where he killed the eldest brother, but never in my wildest dreams did I think he would be stupid enough to hide the wand there, or perhaps, it was not stupidity, perhaps it was ingenious after all, for I know I would never have thought to look there. Well, Miss Granger, let's go to the cave."
Hermione glared at Helen and said, "I don't think we will go there. For one thing, I don't even know where the cave is, and for another, you can't make me, for you can't hurt me, not here on the grounds of Hogwarts."
"Yes, yes," Helen said, with a frown, "Another one of Slytherin's little safeguards. I cannot hurt you on the grounds of Hogwarts; however, I can hurt someone you love. Mr. Malfoy, would you mind coming out from your hiding place, and showing us how to get to the cave?"
The Return of Draco Malfoy:
Draco came walking up the path from behind a tree. His hands were bound and he had a gag over his mouth. He looked battered. He was bruised, and bleeding. He took one-step, and then stopped. Hermione started to rush toward him, but stopped as well. Helen looked angry and said, "Must you force me to continue to use the Crucio on you, Mr. Malfoy. I will, I will hurt you again, if you do not come to me, and show me how to get the cave!" With her wand, she removed his shackles and gag.
Hermione shouted, "Draco, please, do as she says!"
He said, "No, Hermione. I won't do as she says."
Helena pointed her wand at Draco and he dropped to the ground, withering in pain. He cried out. Hermione screamed, "Stop it! Don't hurt him! Draco, take us to that cave!"
Helena stopped the curse, walked up to Draco on the ground, and put her foot on his face. She looked down and said, "You heard your little Mudblood whore, take us to the cave."
"Kill me, for I shall not show you the way to the cave," Draco said, in a ragged voice.
Hermione was close to tears. Draco looked up at her and said, "Be brave, Hermione."
Helena sighed and said, "Mr. Malfoy, do you really think you will take all the pain for her. Even though I cannot personally hurt her that does not mean I cannot get others to hurt her. I may not be able to use my sons, since their Darian blood keeps them from inflicting pain on her at Hogwarts, but I can use others. I have used my stepson all these months to inflict pain on her and neither was the wiser. He is here now, on the grounds, and I can easily manipulate him to hurt her. I have used others as well. Davina McWhorter, the stupid woman, she was easy to use. Even your father. I could use him to kill her. Is that what you want? Just show us the way to the cave, or you both die." She raised her wand and cursed him again. This time, he cried out in pain for many long minutes. Hermione screamed as well.
Harry Potter and Don Boot heard the screaming, and ran toward the screams. Harry recognized the screams of Hermione, and he only hoped it wasn't too late to save her.
"PLEASE! Stop it! Don't hurt him any longer!" Hermione shouted. Helena released the curse, and Hermione ran up to Draco. He was close to unconsciousness, and he was barely breathing. Hermione put her hand to his face and wiped his tears. She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "Please, Draco, tell me how to get to the cave." She leaned down once more and whispered in his ear, "I will kill her once I get to the cave, just tell me how to get there." Hermione sat back up and her tears were gracefully falling down her cheeks. Draco looked up in her eyes.
"Hermione, she will kill you. Let me die for you," Draco said.
"I can't!" Hermione cried. Helen used her wand and hexed Draco once more. Hermione threw her body over his, as he moaned and screamed in pain.
"STOP IT! STOP IT! We can find the cave without him!" she yelled at the older woman.
"I don't think I will stop it," Helena said, walking in circles around the two. Hermione had her body over Draco, as he lay on the ground, now crying with pain. Helen said, "Isn't true love sweet? My husband's first wife loved her son and husband so much that she too gave her life for them. I will never understand that sacrifice, but then again, I do not really love anyone, so I guess I will never have to make that type of choice. I will never know that burden. I do not even love my sons. I was hoping Ravenclaw's old aunt's prophecy would come to fusion, and that Miss Granger would kill Paul and Nick, the way she killed Terry. Now, I will have to kill them myself. As for poor Terry, I am tired of pretending to mourn for a son a never even loved. I am tired of acting as if I want revenge for his death. Once I am alone, I will be the only Ravenclaw heir left, and with the power of my real forefather's wand, I could be more powerful the Lord Voldemort himself."
Hermione looked up at the witch as she circled them. She said, "You always knew you weren't the Slytherin/Hufflepuff heir. You knew you belonged to the Ravenclaw/Darian line." It was not a question; it was a statement of fact.
"Yes, of course I knew! I haven't always known, but I've known for a while. My son's second sight is nothing to mine, although he thinks his power is greater! Ravenclaw did indeed lie all those years to her heirs, and she told them that my line was from her and Gryffindor. However, years ago, I had a vision, which told me the truth. It was confirmed two years ago when my sons started protecting you, and then later Nick had his first vision, the one about the prophecy of the heir. He found out the true story, of how the founders found this land, how they fought the evil Darians, and how Ravenclaw came to dispose of Helga's child, and do you know how he found out all of this? You revealed all of this to him, Miss Granger, unknowingly of course, after Helga revealed it to you, when you released her spirit from the Horcrux. That was when I knew that no one yet knew about my real parentage. Helga never knew, so that was not revealed to you. It was only revealed to me in my vision, by Ravenclaw herself."
"I thought if I could get the wand, the wand from the eldest brother, then I could have the power that I rightly deserved. I could seek vengeance against the Hufflepuff/Slyerthin heir, and I could destroy this person, who was prophesied to be the greatest, most powerful witch of our time. I have worked too hard all my life to maintain my status, for a Mudblood to come along and take it away from me. I have killed greater people than you to keep my position secure."
Draco lay on the ground, breathing hard. Hermione remained at his side, during Helena's admission. Hermione was stroking Draco's hair. Helena smiled. She said, "Mr. Malfoy, would you really die for your one true love?"
"Don't answer," Hermione said.
"I'll answer. Yes, I will," Draco said, struggling to sit.
"Thank you. I know what I must do," Helena said. She took two steps back and pointed her wand at Draco. Hermione put her body in front of his. Helena moved Hermione aside with a flick of her wand. She said, "How noble, Hermione, you are willing to die for him as well, and I think that is what I will let you do."
Hermione stood slowly, looking at the smiling face of Helena Boot. If she had just met the woman, she would have looked at her serene smile, and beautiful features, and felt warmly toward her. As it was, this only led to Hermione's weariness of her. Helena said, "You see, Draco, it was so easy to make you hurt Hermione before, all those months ago, that I think I will do it again. You say you are willing to die for her, but are you willing to kill her?"
Helena pointed her wand at Draco and shouted, "Imperio!"
Draco stood from his spot on the ground and rushed toward Hermione. He took her narrow neck in his hands and squeezed. Her eyes watered, as her hands went to his. She was soon on her knees before him, eyes watering, coughing, and unable to breath. Helena released the spell long enough for Draco to be aware of what he was doing. He tried to run away, to no longer hurt her, but Helena cursed him again, and as Hermione lay on the ground, clutching her neck, Draco stepped up to her, lifted her, and threw her against a tree. He then went up to her, and slapped her face, not once, not twice, but three times.
"STOP!" Hermione screamed. "Please, Draco, fight this!" Hermione was crying on the ground. She reached for his face.
"Are you going to persuade your lover not to kill you? Is your love strong enough to make the Imperio curse impermeable?" Helena asked. With a small motion of her wand, she made Draco grab Hermione by the hair, and stand her up. He gripped her shoulders and shook her hard, and then he threw her once more to the ground. He kicked her hard in the ribs. Helena released the spell.
Draco, realizing what he had done, yelled, "Stop it you stupid bitch! I will take you to the cave!" He tried to bend down to Hermione, but she was afraid, and she cowered behind a tree. "Hermione!" Draco yelled. Helena smiled.
"Very well, Mr. Malfoy, let's go to the cave. Pick up your little Mudblood fiancée, for we might need her when we get there," Helena said.
Draco bent down, and picked up Hermione's crying, battered, form. He cradled her in his arms, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She whispered, "Are you okay?"
"Hermione," Draco cried, "I beat the hell out of you, and you want to know if I'm okay?"
"Enough talking, young lovers," Helena said from behind. Draco led Helena down the path, toward the hill that would lead to the cave.
Harry Potter knew in his heart those red sparks were from Hermione. He and Don Boot ran as fast as they could. Please, he thought, send us another warning! Harry knew if he found them, it would take every bit of resolve for him not to kill Helena, for he knew she had Hermione. However, Don knew that they had to be careful, for Helena was very powerful, and there was no telling what might happen to Hermione's parents and his brother Paul if they were too hasty. He wanted to be sure that when they overpowered her, it would be the end of her for all time.
In the Cave:
Hermione was silently weeping, her tears staining Draco's shirt. He hated himself. He had never wanted to hurt her again. He hated Helena Boot even more. He was sure that the hate he felt for this woman rivaled the hate that Salazar Slytherin felt for the oldest Darian ten centuries ago. As they climbed the rocky terrain, Draco almost slipped twice. He tried to be as gentle and careful with Hermione as he could. He wished he could talk to her, tell her everything was going to be all right, but he truly didn't think they would.
Helena walked behind them, holding the ancient box under her arm. Draco and Hermione reached the mouth of the cave, when Helena said, "Stop walking, Mr. Malfoy."
He stopped, with Hermione still in his arm.
"We won't need you any longer, so you can put Miss Granger down now, and she and I will go alone into the cave," Helena said.
"No," Draco said plainly.
Helena smiled and said, "Must I force you to hurt her again? Do you secretly wish to kill her? Perhaps you regret your decision to marry her. Don't fear, she will be dead soon, and you will be free to find another. Now put her down."
She talked so calmly, it was as if she was saying, 'It's such a nice day today'.
Draco slid Hermione out of his arms and she winced in pain. She could hardly stand on her own. Helena pointed her wand at Draco, and rope came out of nowhere, binding his hands to a nearby, low-lying, pine tree. Helena said, "When this is all over, and if you feel your mourning is too much for you, I will be merciful and kill you if you wish. Then, perhaps, your spirits will be mourning each other for all time, just like Helga and Salazar. What a sad little story they had. Perhaps your story will end better. Perhaps you will forget about her and move on."
"You will die, you stupid bitch," Draco said.
Helena smiled, and patted Draco's cheek. "I'm the one with second sight, and believe me, I don't see that happening at all." As Hermione fell to the ground, Helena pushed her slightly with her foot. "Miss Granger, I trust you will be good for a few moments. I need to prepare some things in the cave, before we search for the wand. I trust you won't try anything rash, like running away, but since you are so hurt, that might not be a problem. Just in case, let me secure you as well. Perhaps you would like to be tied next to Mr. Malfoy, so you may say your goodbyes. That way, you will know that I am a benevolent woman. I can have a heart. I will see that you have a last moment together, before you die."
With yet another simple flick of her wand, Hermione was thrown next to Draco. Try as he might, as he struggled to reach her, his hands were still bound tight around the tree. She used her wand to tie Hermione's arms behind her, and around the same tree. Hermione cried out, as one of her arms was surely already broken.
Helena smiled at the pair and said, "You know what, maybe I'm not as charitable as I thought, for I just thought of something quite wicked. I think I will let Mr. Malfoy here kill you after all. Why should I soil my hands? Knowing your great-great- great- (how many greats?) Grandfather Salazar, he probably had some safeguard against that as well. Yes, Mr. Malfoy shall kill you. That's a wonderful plan." She leaned down, patted Hermione's face, and stroked Draco's hair, then left the pair, to enter the cave.
Hermione was crying, and breathing hard. As soon as the evil woman left them, Draco turned to his left and said, "I am so sorry, Hermione. I never wanted to hurt you." He wanted to reach out and hold her, kiss her, tell her everything was okay.
"I know, please, don't blame yourself. It's entirely my fault. If I had not left your father's house, none of this would have happened," Hermione said, looking over her shoulder to Draco.
"This would have happened anyway," Draco said. He knew that in his heart.
"Did you see my parents? Are they alive?" Hermione asked hoarsely.
"I don't know. She brought me here the minute we left your house. She said she knew you would come here," Draco said.
"Oh, Draco, what are we to do?" Hermione continued to cry, and he wanted nothing more than to comfort her.
"Keep your head in the cave. You are smarter than that woman," Draco said. "You have stronger magical abilities. I've seen it before and I know it's true."
"She's a very powerful witch," Hermione said.
"So are you," he said back.
"No matter what happens, if I do die, please, carry on," Hermione said.
"For goodness sakes, Hermione, this isn't a muggle soap opera. Don't talk of such things. No one is dying today, except for that witch," Draco seethed with anger. He was angrier than he had ever been in his life, and he wanted to direct every bit of anger right at that witch who had turned this past year into hell for them.
"Draco, I'm serious. I know you. If she forces you to kill me, you will kill yourself. I don't want you to die. Please, tell me you still carry on!" Hermione was close to hysterics.
Draco turned to look at her. She was bleeding, and bruised, and it all came from his hands. He knew she was right. If he was the one who killed her, he could never live with himself. He wasn't about to lie to her now, so he said, "Hermione, the only thing I can promise you is that before I die I will kill that woman."
"We were supposed to get married soon. I really wanted to be your wife," Hermione said sadly, her tears abated.
"I want that as well," Draco said. "It's unspeakable to think that we won't be together. I don't even want to think of such things. I didn't even know what love was until I sat in that compartment of that train almost three years ago, and bumped your foot with mine."
"I thought I knew what love was, because I have felt love from so many wonderful people all my life, but I never knew what 'being in love' was until you," Hermione said sadly. She looked at Draco. "To touch you once more, that's all I want." She couldn't stop the tears this time. They freely flowed down her face.
Draco looked at the ground. He screamed and fought against the ropes binding his arms behind his back. The bark of the tree was cutting into his skin. He looked back over at her, and he too began to cry. He wanted to be strong for her, but his resolve was broken. "Please, stop crying, Hermione." She looked at him, and tried to stop, but could not.
"Tell me you love me," Hermione said, "So when I die, I will know that one truth."
"You aren't dying today, and of course, I love you," Draco said. He again fought against the ropes, but to no advantage.
Helena came walking out of the cave, and said, "Oh, look, how the mighty have fallen. You poor little girl. If I didn't know it was true, I would never know that the crying little thing in front of me is supposed to be the most powerful witch of a generation." She walked over to Hermione, unbound her hands, and pulled her up by her hair. "Let's go find that wand, Miss Granger. The faster I find the wand, the sooner you will be out of your misery." She had her wand in Hermione's back. She turned to Draco and said, "After we find the wand, I will return for you, and you will have the pleasure of killing your lover. Won't that be very special for you, Draco dear?" Helena actually smiled, and Draco watched as Hermione and Helena left to enter the cave. When he was sure they were out of range, he screamed. He screamed out of pain, frustration and anger. He screamed in mourning of what had happened and what was about to be. He screamed because he was powerless to do anything else.
Down in the forest, Harry Potter and Don Boot heard his screams.
In the ruins of the original castle, another heard his screams. He knew that scream. He had screamed a familiar scream, many centuries before. It was the scream of a man who felt he had lost everything, a scream of a man who felt he had lost the woman he loved. Well, not again. This would not happen again.