This is real long, and I combined elements from the movie, the book, and my own imagination. The story has surpassed 10,500 views! I'm pretty pumped about it and I wanted to thank you all. Now, there's five final chapters, and then our story continues with a sequel!
*.*.*.*
Sixteen — Battle Cry
just one more time before I go,
I'll let you know
that all this time I've been afraid,
wouldn't let it show
nobody can save me now, no
nobody can save me now
it's do or die
When Hermione returned to the common room that morning, she kept the note from Draco folded meticulously in her pocket as she quietly shut the door behind her. She was not, however, prepared to see Harry waiting for her by the fireplace.
"Harry!" She gasped, quickly taking a step back as a reflex.
He stood from his spot on the couch and walked over to her. "I don't need to know where you've been or what you've been doing, but I need you to take this —" he placed a rolled handkerchief in one hand — "and this." He placed the Marauder's Map in the other. "You're going to need it for tonight."
"Harry, what on earth ..." Hermione began as she looked down and unrolled the cloth. "Your Felix Felicis? And your map? What is going on?"
"I'm going to be with Dumbledore this afternoon and probably most of the evening too. He's found where the next Horcrux is hidden and he wants me to go with him."
"But Harry, you should be the one to take this then."
"No, I don't need luck, I'll be with Dumbledore. I have a feeling something is going to go down tonight."
"Is this just one of your crazy superstitions or is this evidence-based?"
"No Hermione, I know that something bad will happen tonight. So share the potion with Ron, Neville, Luna, and Ginny and keep the castle safe. Tell McGonagall at the first sign of trouble."
Hermione's stomach clenched with worry. "But Harry —"
"Keep everyone safe. Call the Order if you need to."
She sighed and nodded her agreement. He moved toward the portrait hole to leave but she called after him. "Harry!" He turned around and she opened her mouth with the intent to tell him, confirm his deep-set belief, but she couldn't say it.
"I know." He said softly and nodded his head reassuringly.
She looked down at the vial and whispered, "Do you really think it's him?"
He hesitated, but he still answered. "The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement is fixed. Its mate is in Borgin and Burke's, and they just broke out a bunch of Death Eaters from Azkaban." Hermione swallowed uncomfortably but nodded. "It was only a matter of time, Hermione."
She sniffed and looked up at him, continuously nodding. "Okay."
After that, footsteps on the stairs signaled that the first of the Gryffindors were awake and heading to breakfast. She quickly wiped her face and placed the vial and the map in the same pocket as the folded note.
Hermione tried to keep herself busy with research in the library about Horcruxes. She was unable to find any substantial information of them using the basic books and had to resort to the restricted section. She utilized a shrinking spell to fit all of them in her bag and packed them in her trunk for the summer.
While finishing her packing, Hermione stumbled across the neatly wrapped parcel she had intended to give to Draco before they left Hogwarts. She had forgotten about it last night due to the overwhelming desire to just be with him and wondered if she should still give it to him. His note begged her not to leave her dorm, but was that just his way of making sure their goodbye would be remembered only as a wonderful night of passion instead of a night full of tears? She didn't think he was going to let the Death Eaters in tonight, she knew that she could easily find him and give it to him and maybe he'll make up his mind, for good.
It was almost nine and the sun was just now setting behind the trees of the Forbidden Forest. Ron said something about flying with the boys and hadn't been seen since dinner. Ginny was moping, but diligently completing the crossword puzzle in the newest edition of the Quibbler. Hermione was reading, trying to take her mind off of the impending doom she felt in her stomach, but was nowhere near succeeding.
"When do you think Harry's going to come back?" Ginny asked, her voice tired.
"I'm not sure, Gin," Hermione replied, noting her best friend's sad demeanor. Both Harry and Ginny told her that he had broken it off, after only a few short but glamorous weeks, and only because he thought it wouldn't be safe for her to be with him. She understood, she fought with him at first, but she understood and was still upset.
"Have you heard from him since the note?" Ginny asked quietly. Hermione shook her head somberly. "Well then, I think you should go find him."
"He asked me not to leave the dorm."
"Do you think that means he's going to go through with … whatever it is?"
Hermione sighed, "I don't know … I'm not sure of anything anymore."
Ginny was silent for a bit before asking, "When do you think will we be able to be with the people we want?"
"After the war."
Ginny threw the magazine on the floor and shoved her face in a pillow. Although she was muffled, Hermione could hear her say, "That's not the answer I was looking for."
The boys came bursting in the common room at that point, face and clothing covered in mud. They were laughing and pushing each other around and drew Hermione and Ginny into the animated conversation.
Dark clouds rolled in quickly, causing Hogwarts and its surrounding areas to be cloaked in darkness. Thunder boomed directly above the castle. Everyone stopped their chatter to move to the windows and watch as lightning struck across the sky.
"I don't think I've ever seen a storm move in this fast," Seamus commented.
"I don't think it's a storm," Hermione whispered. She glanced at Ron, who's face was as sullen as hers. The Felix Felicis was still in her pockets, and her fingers were itching to grab it and drink it.
McGonagall entered the common room with her lips pressed together in a tight line. Everyone immediately turned to her. "I need everyone to stay in for the rest of the evening. I'm afraid we are experiencing some … inclement weather."
"Sure, that's what it is," Ron muttered as he, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny moved towards McGonagall.
"Professor, what's going on?" Hermione asked.
McGonagall, who knew that Harry was with Dumbledore and Hermione and Ron were always going to be involved in anything that ever happens at this school, looked over their heads to see everyone else slowly making their way up the stairs, hoping to hear some information. She waited until every last student retreated upstairs. "We need all our students to remain in the safety of their dormitories. Unfortunately, there are quite a few Death Eaters in the castle, and we aren't sure how."
"Malfoy." Ron muttered under his breath.
"Harry said this would happen," Hermione said before she could stop herself, "he left with Dumbledore and the school isn't safe without the headmaster."
"We'll just have to see about that." McGonagall said with some sass. "I've got to call the Ministry." She turned to leave, presumably alone, but they all followed her.
"The Ministry?" Ron shook his head. "No, no get the Order, they will help us more."
"Mr. Weasley, the Order is only so many people. They do not have the manpower to help us."
"But they are the people who have fought before."
"This isn't about fighting, it's about making them go away!" McGonagall exclaimed.
"And what makes you think they're going to go away without a fight, Minerva?" Remus Lupin and the rest of the Order were waiting for them at the bottom of the magical staircases in front of the Great Hall. McGonagall looked slightly perturbed at their unannounced entrance, but she also looked relieved that she had backup that knew Hogwarts and knew the gravity of the situation.
Arthur explained how he, Molly, Bill, and Fleur had been visiting Fred and George in Diagon Alley, preparing for everyone's return, when they saw a large group of Death Eaters head towards Knockturn Alley. Then, he remembered the conversation he had had with Harry regarding the Vanishing Cabinet in Borgin and Burkes and grew very concerned.
"I knew the Malfoy boy had been very intrigued by it. I wondered if it had a pair, and what if the other cabinet happened to be somewhere in Hogwarts."
"It's a foolproof plan, really." Mad-Eye Moody nodded his head. "Only if the cabinets both worked."
"Which clearly they do, because the same Death Eaters we saw walking into Borgin and Burkes are upstairs right now."
"Oh God," Hermione let out in a breath only loud enough for Ginny to hear.
"Alright everyone, we need to stick together and focus on the spells we know how to cast. We are not aiming to kill, only stun and disarm." Remus explained.
Hermione quietly pulled Ron, Neville, Luna, and Ginny into a corner before they all separated with the others. "Everyone drink some of this now." She opened her fist to reveal the Felix Felicis vial.
"Mione, what about everyone else?" Neville asked.
"Before he left, Harry said the five of us should share the potion if something bad happens. Well, something bad is happenin' and we're gonna drink it." Hermione looked at all of them and saw the fear and determination swirling in their eyes.
Ginny didn't question it, and grabbed the vial from her hand and approximately a fifth. She looked at Hermione, her eyes saying please don't let anyone die but didn't actually speak, and hugged her before darting to be with Fred and George.
Neville looked unsure about the whole concept, but drank his fifth anyway quickly before handing it to Luna. They went off with Seamus and Dean (who had followed them out of the dorm because, well, Hermione) to fight with Remus and Tonks.
"You should have the rest, I'll be fine." Ron said, pushing the vial towards her.
Hermione shook her head. "No, we both need it. I can't have you die on us." Ron grinned a bit at that statement and drank his fifth. "Go with Bill and Fleur and Moody. I'll be along shortly." She watched him jog away to catch up with his brother and placed the cork back on the vial. She was going to save the remaining amount for Draco so he would be safe in their retreat.
"Hermione, dear, are you ready?"
They heard a loud boom and saw that the sky had turned green for a brief moment. Hermione's stomach sank and she hurried into the courtyard with Molly and McGonagall to see the Dark Mark forming above the castle.
Battle had begun.
"I hafta … I hafta go do somethin'. I promise, I'll be right back. I just … I have to go."
Hermione knew she had to find Draco before people started getting hurt. The Room of Requirement was, according to McGonagall, the way the Death Eaters entered. She quickly glanced at the map and saw his black dot located at the top of the Astronomy Tower. She hurried back to the Gryffindor Tower and into her room to grab the parcel she intended to give to Draco. Many people stopped her and asked her what was going on. She told them blatantly: Death Eaters are in the castle and if you want to help, go help, but know that your life could be on the line. They are ruthless and will kill anyone who gets in the way.
Many people did not follow her out of the dormitory and into the battle.
As she climbed the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, the sounds of the shouts from students and staff below dwindled in volume with every step. She clutched the parcel in her hands closer to her chest and let out a breath of relief when she saw the blond standing with his hands clasped on the railing.
"Oh thank God you're here, I've been so worried!" Draco was startled at the sound of her voice and silently cursed her abrasive ability to not follow given directions, not that he could ever actually direct her. "The note you left really bent me out of shape. Look, Draco, I don't care if you don't tell your parents, because it's okay if you don't, it won't stop me from loving you. We knew this, this, was inevitable, but now there's Death Eaters all over the castle, let's go, oh and take this —" Hermione fished for the vial of Felix Felicis to hand it to him, "we'll be safe —"
Draco cut her off, his voice stern. "We'll never be safe, I'll never be safe unless I'm on the side that has branded me —"
"So what, you finally did what you were sent here to do?"
"Okay, yes, maybe He —"
"Asked you open the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement —"
"How did you —"
"— and have thirty Death Eaters walk out and distract the school's professors —"
"All He said was to —"
"— so that you can kill Albus Dumbledore?" Hermione finished with her voice loud but shaky.
"Hermione, listen —"
She slapped him real hard across his face. "Did you think I was stupid?" She asked slowly and sniffed. "Did you think I didn't know what you were doing!"
"Please, know that I never wanted to hurt you —"
"Then I should have never kept your Dark Mark a secret and I should have told Dumbledore about it right away."
"And had me expelled? Then He would have killed me."
"Would've saved me the trouble."
"Listen, I can't be a traitor, He's going to kill my parents if I don't do this!"
Tears were already clouding her vision. "No, no, He wouldn't have because we could've protected all of you!"
"You can't protect someone from Him, He's ruthless!"
"They've been protecting Harry for years!"
"Yeah, with uncalled for death and near-death experiences along the way!"
She stared at him, shook her head, and said, "You're a liar, and a bastard, and you are a Death Eater! You're despicable and I … never want to see you again." Her voice broke as she threw the parcel against the wall and left the Astronomy Tower.
"Hermione!" Draco called after her, but she was already gone. He sighed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. She had run from him, downed the remainder of the luck potion, and took her wand out for anyone who got in her way.
She knew, she had known, she couldn't deny it anymore — he was doing Voldemort's dirty work — and it didn't take Harry's comment from this morning to jolt her into believing the worst about her boyfriend. She had known, but the school year was done in two days, there was no more time for him to do this task.
(Maybe she did underestimate him.)
"Hermione?" She heard her name and whirled around to see Tonks coming towards her now, curious as to what was wrong.
"It was Draco." Hermione was seething with anger. "It was him all along."
*.*.*.*
While Tonks consoled Hermione at the bottom of the stairs, Draco was starting to unwrap the parcel when he heard slow footsteps on the stairs. Thinking it was a fellow Death Eater, he stashed the partially open parcel behind a telescope.
"Good evening Draco," Dumbledore said quietly when he reached the landing, "Alone again, are we?" Draco's face hardened at memory of the sting from Hermione's slap, the tears in her eyes, the hurt in her face. "It's a … pity … it had to end that way."
"Expelliarmus!" Draco shouted as Dumbledore started to walk towards him. His wand flew to the other side of the Tower and landed with a clatter. Dumbledore leaned against the wall of the Tower and smiled, knowing that he hit a nerve. "That's nothing you need to worry your precious little head about." Draco spat coldly, even though Dumbledore was spot-on accurate.
"Hermione was right, of course, we would have protected you from Him." Draco didn't say anything as the old wizard tried to guilt him into asking for help. "I had hoped she would influence you to turn to the light." Dumbledore paused, taking a step closer to him. "You are not an assassin, Draco."
"You don't know what I am. You would be amazed at the things I've done!"
"Like cursing Katie Bell into delivering a cursed necklace to me, or switching a bottle of mead for one that was poisoned? Forgive me, Draco, but these seem like pathetic assassination attempts. So pathetic, to be frank, that I wonder whether your heart has really been in it. Draco, you knew this request of Tom's was wrong before your time with Miss Granger began." Draco's mouth fell open as he tried to form a complete sentence that would prove the headmaster wrong.
"Yes Draco, I knew you were plotting to kill me, but I figured expelling you would only do more harm as Tom would, in fact, kill you instead."
"Why didn't you? Tell Him?"
"Because you needed to see the good inside of you, and Miss Granger helped with that." Dumbledore paused, "And … you are not a killer."
Somewhere in the depths of the castle below, muffled yells and shouts could be heard. "Somebody is putting up a good fight down there, aren't they?" His eyes twinkled. There were scuffling sounds on the stairs again, getting louder and louder, and Dumbledore's eyes darted from left to right. "I take it we're not alone, are we?" When Draco didn't answer, he pressed on, "Great job at repairing the Vanishing Cabinet."
Four people in black robes clambered their way on the landing at the top of the Tower.
"Dumbledore … cornered!" Amycus cheered with his sister Alecto. "Dumbledore wandless, Dumbledore alone! Well done Draco, well done."
"Good evening, Amycus," Dumbledore spoke calmly, like he was welcoming the man to a tea party. "And you brought Alecto as well, wonderful."
"Think your little jokes will help you on your deathbed then?"
"Jokes?" Dumbledore almost sounded offended. "No, no, these are my manners. Sorry, they must be a foreign concept to you."
"Do it," Greyback walked out of the shadows. Draco faltered only momentarily. He did not realize that Fenrir Greyback would be joining the Hogwarts invasion.
"I am a little shocked that Draco invited you, of all people, into the school where his friends live …"
"I didn't — I didn't know he was going to come —" Draco stumbled over his words, fear seeping into his bones. There was blood trickling down Fenrir's chin and he was licking his lips. Who did he hurt? Did he kill anyone?
"Draco, do it, or stand aside so one of —" Alecto's screeching was stopped with a bang as Severus Snape appeared in the archway. He clutched his wand and his black eyes surveyed the room, from Draco's disheveled appearance, the four Death Eaters (including the werewolf), and Dumbledore's poor stance against the wall.
"We've got a big problem, Snape," Amycus groaned. "The boy doesn't seem to be able —"
"Severus …" It was Dumbledore, whispering, coughing, pleading. Snape walked to the man, pushing Draco aside and forcing the other Death Eaters to step back. "Severus … please."
"Avada Kedavra."
Snape kept his promise. He completed Voldemort's request when Draco couldn't. Draco didn't know what to do.
"Come, Draco. You shouldn't be here." Snape said, brushing past the blond. Once he was gone, Draco let out a shuddery breath and reached for the broken parcel.
Carefully unwrapping it, he saw a picture frame with the glass broken into shards resting on the moving picture. He remembered it, the Creevy kid with the camera had found him and Hermione in the library and taken a photo. Hermione demanded he hand it over, but Draco didn't realize she had kept it. He lifted the picture out of the frame and turned it over to see Hermione's neat handwriting.
So you don't forget your lionheart.
— H.
*.*.*.*
Ginny brought Harry to the Hospital Wing even though he refused to leave Dumbledore's side. Ginny explained that no one had died, but Bill … Bill had been attacked by Greyback.
Hermione hugged Harry at first sight, grateful that he was alive and in one piece and not bleeding for once. She heard him ask about Bill's condition and Ron suggested that perhaps Dumbledore would know of something to help heal the scars.
"No, Ron, he can't … Dumbledore's dead."
After that, Hermione couldn't seem to comprehend anything that was said around her. Remus collapsed in a chair, Tonks sunk to the floor, Arthur grasped Molly's shoulder. Everyone started blaming themselves, from McGonagall to Ron and Ginny. Little things that went wrong even though they could never have had control over them … it was those split-second decisions that made each person blame themselves.
But no one blamed themselves more than Hermione.
All the things she could have done from the minute Draco revealed his Dark Mark to her, all the things she should have done … and now Dumbledore was dead.
She should have said something immediately. She should have gone to Dumbledore and been honest. She should have told Harry. She should have distanced herself instead of letting her guard down. She should have never let him in. She should have ignored him when he resumed his prick-like behavior in January. She should have …
She should never have fallen in love with him.
Molly was whispering to herself as she stroked Bill's hair. "… but he was a very handsome little boy … always so handsome … and he was g — going to be married!"
"And what do you mean by zat?" Fleur asked suddenly and loudly. "What do you mean by ''e was going to be married?'"
Molly looked startled. "Well, only that —"
"You theenk Bill will not wish to marry me anymore?" Fleur's questions were demanding and unrelenting. "You theenk, that because of these bites, he will no longer love me?"
"No, of course that's not what I —"
"Because 'e will!" The Veela drew herself up to her full height and threw her long hair over her shoulder. "It will take more zen a werewolf to stop Bill from loving me!"
"Well, yes, this is true," Molly agreed, "But I thought, perhaps, with how — given how now he —"
"You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps, you hoped?" Molly looked at Fleur, shock taking over her facial features. "What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for the both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave!" Fleur states, gripping Bill's hand in her own.
Tonks immediately turned to Remus and pointed at Bill and Fleur. "You see! She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!"
"It's different, Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely —"
"But I don't care either, I don't care," Tonks cried, "I've told you a million times …"
"And I've told you a million times that I am too old, too poor … too dangerous …"
"I've said all along that you're taking a ridiculous line on this, Remus," Molly quipped.
"I am not being ridiculous!" Remus protested. "Tonks deserves to be with someone young and whole!"
"But she wants you." Arthur said earnestly. "And after all, Remus, young and whole men do not necessarily remain so."
"This — this is … not the time nor the place to discuss it! Dumbledore is, is dead …"
"Dumbledore," McGonagall startled everyone with her resonant voice and removed her glasses to look at the two of them, "would have been happier than anyone to think that there was a little more love in the world."
Hermione swallowed roughly at McGonagall's statement and felt a hand wrap around her arm. Ginny looked at her best friend with a careful expression — are you okay?
Hermione felt herself shake her head ever so slightly to say no I'm not okay, I'll never be okay ever again.
She should never have fallen in love with him.
Otherwise … Dumbledore would still be alive.
*.*.*.*
Dumbledore's funeral was the next morning, and there was not a dry eye in the Great Hall as McGonagall bid her best friend goodbye and led the students in a solemn version of the school song. Many other witches and wizards were in attendance as well, like Madame Maxine from Beauxbatons and several Ministry officials, including Percy Weasley.
After the ceremony and as Ron talked with his parents, Hermione stood by the edge of the Black Lake, clutching her sweater closer to her body. Harry approached her carefully.
"Hermione?"
She sniffed and used her sleeve to wipe away the tears from under her eyes. "I can't believe he's gone." Harry just put his arm around her shoulders and let her lean against him. "And I really didn't think he would go through with it."
"He didn't." She tensed under his arm, her breath catching in her throat. "He didn't kill Dumbledore, he couldn't. Snape did it."
"How do you know …"
"I was there. Dumbledore and I had returned and we flew from Hogsmeade to the Astronomy Tower. We were standing on the floor below and as Dumbledore was heading up to confront him … you arrived instead." A new batch of tears fell while she listened to Harry speak, and she exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "He stunned me with a full-body bind so I couldn't move or talk. And then I saw Dumbledore try to reason with him, and then others showed up, like Snape."
"You were right Harry, I guess they're both the enemy."
"Great, Harry: one, Hermione Granger: a million," he smiled down at her, trying to get some sort of reaction. "Listen, this is the only thing I've ever wanted to wrong about. I didn't want you to get hurt."
She pulled away from his hold and shook her head. "I … I thought I had stalled him. I thought I made it clear that he could have been protected by the Order — his mother —could have been protected by the Order."
"I think even Dumbledore thought you had changed him. He kept saying these cryptic things in all our meetings about how it was almost his time. He knew he was ill, but he … he begged Snape not to kill him." Harry sighed and pushed up his glasses.
Hermione nodded slowly. "So … what's next?"
"I need to talk to you and Ron, privately. It's about next year."
She eyebrows rose of their own accord. "Next year?"
"I'm going to finish what Dumbledore started."
"Ah, destroy all the Horcruxes." He nodded affirmatively. "I'll go with you then — when are we leaving?"
"Hermione, you are destined to be Head Girl! You can't throw all of this away to go on the run with me."
"Hogwarts will be here when Voldemort is gone. I'll do my last year then."
"You can't hide from Draco."
"I'm not going to hide," she scoffed, "I'm going to be with you, doing what is important."
*.*.*.*
Dear Hermione,
I heard about the oldest Weasley, and I'm sorry. I didn't know Greyback would be there.
Dear Hermione,
I could never forget you.
Hermione,
I'm sorry
