Part VI
This Love
They snuck up to the Astronomy Tower every morning, returning to the common room only when day was about to break. So far they had been lucky in no one being awake to catch them coming back in, and Draco hoped their good fortune would continue.
He could have made love to her every moment for the rest of his life, if it were practical.
-4 April 1999, Sunday-
It was early Easter morning, and they lay spooned together on a blanket, the heat coming off of Hermione's bare back keeping Draco warm. They still had a little less than an hour before they would have to return to their rooms.
"What are you going to do after Hogwarts?" She asked him as she played absentmindedly with his fingers.
What was he going to do? Draco hadn't given it much thought, if any at all. He'd been raised with the assumption that he'd run the Malfoy Estate, but as of late he'd toyed with the idea of doing something besides that, he just hadn't decided on what.
"Maybe I'll go to a school to become a Potion's Master," he said. "I'll still have to oversee Malfoy Manor, but I think I can manage having a separate career, too. What, you think it's a bad idea?"
He had felt Hermione tense against him, followed by her sitting up.
"No, it sounds great, Draco," she said as she searched around for her clothes. "So you're going to live in Malfoy Manor?"
Oh.
"I, er, hadn't really planned on living anywhere else, but obviously if you're uncomfortable with it-"
"I'm not going to dictate where you make your home, Draco," she snorted through the shirt she had pulled over her head.
"Granger, I'll move out of the manor. We can move in to a flat in Diagon Alley or something,"
"We?"
"Well, yeah," Draco said, as if it was obvious. He hurriedly put his pants on as she was already heading towards the stairway. "We're effectively married Granger, I think it's expected that we live together. I also don't want to spend most of our time just staring at you through a mirror."
"I don't know if you've noticed, but ever since the ritual we haven't had to see each other as often."
"What do you mean?"
"We're not getting sick anymore if we're apart too long. Usually the closer we got to the six hour mark, the more nauseous I'd start to feel, but that hasn't been happening at all. It's as if the universe knows we've done the ritual, and now that we're bound to each other it doesn't need to tell us that we belong together."
Now that she said it, Draco realized she was right. He hadn't felt ill at all since that Sunday, even the few times they had cut it close.
"So... do you not want to live with me?"
"I do, I just don't want you to have to change your whole life because of me."
"Granger, my life has already completely changed because of you," Draco laughed, pulling her to him for a hug. They were now back in the common room, and the sky outside was getting softly lighter.
"We'd have to tell people," she mumbled.
"Well, we knew we couldn't keep up the facade for much longer. We'll just have to come clean to those closest to us and deal with possible fallout. I'll tell my mother, and you can tell your parents, and your friends, and then we can just spring it on everybody, else."
"We might make the middle pages of the prophet," Hermione chuckled.
"Better than page one," Draco groused, as they kissed each other goodbye.
It was decided that the inter-house activity would be held Easter Sunday instead of later in the month to allow for a holiday theme, in this case, an Easter egg hunt.
At first impression it wasn't too bad of an activity; Draco surmised he could probably get away with separating from his group (which included Harry, Susan, and Lisa Turpin) and searching for the eggs all by his lonesome. No need to engage in the forced interactions which were the point of the monthly meet ups. His hopes were soon shattered though.
"Why are there only two collection sacks per group?" Anthony Goldstein asked, already holding a bag in his hands.
"Ah ha," Seamus clapped mischievously. "There's one extra component!"
At the moment some invisible force pushed Draco and Harry closer together, lifted their hands, and handcuffed them with magical rope. There was only about a foot of slack between them.
"Lovely," Draco grimaced.
"I was thinking the same thing," Harry returned the sentiment.
Draco looked over to Hermione's group and scowled when he saw that she was cuffed to Seamus Finnegan, who was grinning too widely for Draco's comfort.
"Let's go!" Hannah shouted.
Some of the handcuffed pairs had opted to hurry out as fast as possible, while others, including Draco and Harry, had decided to just walk at a slightly quickened pace. It wasn't long before they had found about ten eggs each.
They had been working in silence, when Harry decided to speak. "Did your wand make it back to you at Christmas?"
"Yes," Draco replied. "Er, thank you. You didn't have to do that."
"I didn't see any point in holding on to it myself."
They each came across another four eggs down the Gryffindor corridor, and placed them in their sack.
"Are you ready for the Quidditch Cup?" Harry posed another question, clearly not wanting to continue in quietude.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Draco said truthfully. They'd been practicing nearly everyday and he wasn't sure what more he could do to improve when he didn't have an opponent.
"Just because you beat me once, doesn't mean it's going to happen again," Harry chaffed.
"Scared, Potter?"
They turned a corner and saw Hermione and Seamus down at the end. Hermione was bent over trying to reach an egg behind one of the knights that lined the wall, while Seamus tried to keep himself from falling over. Hermione stood back up, egg in hand, but she had done it too quickly and knocked heads with her sandy haired partner.
"Ow, sorry," she said, rubbing her head, as Seamus did the same to his own.
"Oy, Seamus," Harry shouted at the Irishman. "Quit leering and trying to kiss her again, you're making us uncomfortable."
Draco's fist instantly clenched, and he hoped the growl that was in his head wouldn't sound in reality.
"Of course not Harry," Seamus grinned and chuckled. "Don't want me eye to be blackened again."
"Glad you learned your lesson Seamus," Hermione said while looking anywhere but at Draco.
"How many do you guys have?" Harry asked.
"Forty-five so far," Seamus answered. "How 'bout you?"
"Forty-two," Harry said, checking the number on the sack. "Hey, why don't we just go around together? As much as I'd like no homework, I don't think we're going to win."
Before either Draco or Hermione could share their thoughts, Seamus agreed to Harry's suggestion and started a conversation with him as they walked on.
"It appears we are now searching together," Draco said, trying to hide his smile at the situation. "Sorry if this keeps you from being the winner."
"It's not ideal," Hermione said with a fake huff, "But this isn't the worst thing to happen."
They didn't say much else as they continued along, but they did manage to brush their hands against each others for a majority of the time. Draco hoped no one noticed.
-5 April 1999, Monday-
Draco was paired up with Seamus for their assignment in Charms; he may have given the Gryffindor a little more of the explosive agent than needed.
-15 April 1999, Thursday-
It was the final quidditch match between Slytherin and Hufflepuff, determining who would move forward to face Gryffindor for the cup. They had playing for nearly an hour now, and both Draco and the Hufflepuff seeker Wayne Hopkins had each seen the golden snitch at least once, but weren't successful in catching it. Slytherin was only twenty points ahead, with Hufflepuff managing to keep up every time they scored a goal.
Draco looked down below him and spotted the snitch, whizzing just passed the bludger headed for Zacharias Smith. He urged his broom towards it, swerving around the players that were unfortunately in his way, and then grasped it in is hand victoriously.
BAM!
Draco lurched forward and fell off his broom onto the field, taken out once again by a bludger.
-16 April 1999, Friday-
"Ow!" He snarled as Hermione applied an ointment to the large bruise that had taken over his left shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "But if you want it completely gone by next Sunday then you're just going to have to deal with me touching it. Draco huffed indignantly, but he relaxed as his shoulder cooled, taking the ache along with it. He rotated to give her a kiss in thanks, when she suddenly pushed on his uninjured shoulder and turned his back to her again.
He was only perturbed for a moment, when she said "How have I not noticed this before?" He knew what she must've been looking at: a mark he'd had possibly since birth. It had started off faint and then darkened in contrast to his fair skin over the years.
"Is my birthmark really that interesting?" He chuckled.
"Well, it's just that it's shaped like a lyre," Hermione mused.
"What?" Draco looked around for a mirror so he could see for himself, but there wasn't one.
"Come on," Hermione said, quickly gathering her garments and dressing herself, and Draco did the same.
"That looks nothing like a lyre," Draco said once they were back in the common room and were in front of one of the mirrors on the wall. "I mean, it does have lines that could possibly be strings, but it's all swirly at the top, and lyre's look like the foot of a duck."
Hermione laughed. "Maybe the one Ernie played did, but lyre's do come in different shapes, and the first ones made in ancient Greece don't look much different than this mark on your shoulder."
"That's... a strange coincidence," Draco said, thinking of his affinity for the instrument.
"I don't think its a coincidence Draco, I think..." She trailed off as her mind went somewhere else, and he noticed her eyes slightly widen. As if something had clicked in her brain, Hermione gave an excited clap and then almost skipped to the few bookshelves they had in the room.
"Are you going to share whatever it is you've discovered?" Draco asked.
"I'm not sure if I'm right yet, but if you follow me as I search then you'll know straight away instead of having to wait."
He watched as she sifted through the bookshelves, obviously looking for a specific title, but having no luck. With dawn quickly approaching, she decided instead that they should meet in the library when it opened at seven.
He found her in the shelves regarding mythology, a book already opened in her hand.
"Granger," he whispered, alerting her to his presence.
"Have you ever read the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice?" She asked him, not even bothering with morning greetings.
"No, I can't say that I have."
"Well in short, the tale goes that the man Orpheus' newly made bride Eurydice is being chased through the woods by the god Aristaeus, when she gets bitten by a snake and dies. Orpheus then plays a song so sad that the gods convince him to journey to the underworld to retrieve Eurydice and bring her back to life. Hades and Persephone, king and queen of the underworld, allow him to take her, but he isn't allowed to look back at her until they've crossed to the mortal realm. Just as he steps through, he turns to look at her, but she unfortunately is still on the other side and is then taken back."
"Alright... but what has this got to do with us?"
"All of my predecessor's said that in their final dream they were dancing- that's what Eurydice was doing when Aristaeus saw her. And... Orpheus is famous for being talented at one particular instrument."
"The lyre," Draco breathed, as it dawned on him.
"Draco, I think Orpheus and Eurydice were our first iterations, our originals."
Draco rubbed his temples at the information. "You don't think it goes further than that?"
Hermione shook her head. "This is a common tale throughout the world, and it always ends with Eurydice being thrust back to the underworld and Orpheus living life alone until he's later torn to shreds by maenads-"
"-Lovely."
"-But if you read in this version that Hogwarts has, there's a little more to the story. It says that the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone provided a caveat to their deal: If Orpheus didn't succeed in saving Eurydice, then as a price for bothering them in the underworld, he and Eurydice would be cursed to live, love, and die again every century, never truly getting to be together."
"Just like everyone we've been dreaming about," Draco said as he slouched down to the floor, fully grasping their discovery. Hermione joined him, taking his hand in hers.
"And just like us."
-25 April 1999, Sunday-
For a week, Draco found himself immersed in an urgent new mission to figure out how to break a centuries old curse. Unfortunately, just like with their research on the dreams, there wasn't much to be found in the Hogwarts Library regarding their situation. All of the books pertaining to ancient Greek gods and goddesses were merely histories, and not instructions of what to do if you crossed them.
Hermione for some reason, had decided not to help him; but as his frustration at the hopelessness grew, she also seemed to become more anxious.
"Draco," she finally said, closing the book he had in front of him and prying his hands out of his hair. "You need to stop, you're not going to find anything."
There was a slight tremble in her voice, and he could see that a couple of tears had fallen down her cheeks.
He wiped them away with his fingertips. "But I have to at least try. I can't just sit here waiting for you to-" He didn't want to say it.
"You can't just change the will of the gods. It's going to happen. And since we don't know when, I want- no I need- you to just be here with me instead of figuring out how to save me."
Draco buried his head in her shoulder, and held her to him. "We shouldn't have to go through this again."
"No, we shouldn't. But at least we know that we will see each other again."
"We won't remember though, we'll be starting over."
"And we'll get to fall in love all over again, just like this time and every time before. My death may be inevitable, but so is our love."
Draco kissed her, his mouth desperate. There was still an hour and a half before sunrise, so he reluctantly parted from her for the moment to lead her to the Astronomy Tower, not wanting to waste any more time.
It was the match he'd been waiting for, the final between Slytherin and Gryffindor for the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup. They'd had one final practice that afternoon, and based on the team's performance there, Draco was confident the game would fall in their favor. Draco couldn't deny that even with other things to be concerned over, and other things to be happy about, beating Harry Potter would bring him much joy.
He had done it once before, therefore there was a great possibility he could do it again, especially when it mattered most.
"We should head down to the lockers now," Blaise motioned to Draco and the rest of the team as they finished the last bits of their dinner.
"Good luck!" Pansy said to them, and both her and Daphne placed kisses on Blaise's cheeks.
Draco also suddenly felt a pair of lips press against his face, and turned to see a blushing Astoria. "You deserve some luck, too," she said bashfully.
"Er, thanks," Draco said, and he looked over to the Gryffindor table to see if Hermione had noticed, but she was busy giving a nervous looking Ron some encouragement.
Hermione had already wished Draco well for the match that morning, and she had no shame in admitting that she wanted Harry to catch the snitch so the cup would go to Gryffindor. Draco had retaliated to her allegiance by leaving her a love bite on her neck she'd have to cover up.
The Slytherin team got dressed in their uniforms, and after a short pep-talk from Blaise, made their way onto the pitch. There was a small round of cheers as they entered, though naturally not as loud as when the Gryffindors emerged.
The teams lined up across from each other, and instead of merely nodding at him as usual, Harry gave Draco a small smile. Before Draco could react to the change in acknowledgement, Madame Hooch blew the whistle, and all fourteen players soared into the air.
"And Ginny Weasley has possession of the quaffle, she dodges Dolby and passes it to Hewitt..."
Draco focused himself, relegating the commentary to background noise as he searched for the snitch. There was an eruption of applause as Gryffindor scored the first goal, which Slytherin thankfully evened out in the next two minutes. The back and forth continued for the next forty minutes of play, and Draco knew he needed to find the snitch as quickly as possible before the pattern changed.
"And I believe Harry has spotted the snitch!" He heard Luna Lovegood announce, and he swerved to get over to the side of the pitch near the Hufflepuff stands where Harry was already in pursuit of the winged ball. Draco got close enough that he too could see the snitch continuously a meter out of Harry's reach, and he soon managed to be neck and neck with his opponent.
In his peripheral vision he noticed a bludger headed his way, and quickly moved out of its aim, not wanting a repeat injury. Harry was a bit too late, however, and though he had veered out of its path, it struck the back of his Firebolt, sending him into a tailspin. Not wasting a moment to see Harry's fate, Draco frantically searched for the snitch, hoping it didn't get too far, and saw it hanging around the center of the field.
As he sped toward it, Harry appeared next to him.
Come on, come on, Draco willed himself faster, and with the snitch now an equal distance from their faces, they both reached out to snatch it.
"THE QUIDDITCH CUP IS OURS!" Blaise yelled, holding up the trophy, and the crowd around him erupted.
They were celebrating their win in the Slytherin common room with noisemakers, poppers, music, and of course, food and drink.
Draco was seated in what they deemed to be the chair of honor, surrounded by some of the house's younger girls. It was apparently enough just to be near him, because he wasn't speaking to any of them. He wanted nothing more than to be back in his own common room, but Blaise wanted him to bask in his glory with all the Slytherins, and not those of other houses. It was their win after all.
"Congratulations, Draco," Astoria said, taking a seat next to him, and he saw a couple of sixth year girls scowl at the fact that she was able to approach him.
"Thanks," he smiled.
"That was a close one, I thought Harry had it for a second."
Draco had thought so too. In truth, he had reached out and fully expected to just grasp air, but when his fingers wrapped around something solid, he knew he had done it. He had bested Potter yet again.
"Shouldn't you be more happy?" She asked, wondering at his lack of enthusiasm.
"I am happy," he retorted, and he was, he just...
"We're not the ones you'd rather be celebrating with though," Astoria said, finishing his thought.
Does she know something? Draco thought, scrutinizing her expression for any signs she knew the truth.
"We may not know who it is, but it's obvious there's someone in your life," Astoria spat out, as if she had been holding on to the information for a while.
"We?" Draco stammered.
"Me, Pansy, Daphne. We think Blaise knows who it is, but of course he's staying mum about it."
"As he should," Draco glowered.
"Aha! So there is somebody!"
Shit.
Uncomfortable at being at caught, Draco stood to leave, and he had nearly made it to the door when Blaise stopped him.
"Where do you think you're going?" He slurred, tipsy on the firewhiskey he had snuck in.
"Home."
"No, we're all still partying and you're the reason we're here, so you need to relax and have a drink." Blaise then shoved a goblet into Draco's hand. "Come on," he whispered to him. "We need this, and Granger will still be there in the morning for your little tryst."
Draco sighed, knowing his friend was right, and lifted the goblet in the air. "Cheers."
-26 April 1999, Monday-
It was dark, not even the light of the moon easing his hurried rush through the trees. He was sure he'd be scratched up by the time he found her. He could hear him laughing at his pursuit, and he became more frantic. He hoped he was close to her, but he couldn't be sure since she was being as quiet as possible trying to put distance between her and her pursuer.
He wasn't prepared for her scream to pierce the air, making the birds in the trees take flight, and taking his heart with them.
"Granger!"
Draco sat up, colliding with something in front of him. As his vision focused in the dark he realized it was Astoria, who was rubbing her hand across her forehead, no doubt the spot his own head had struck.
"Just me," she said in response to his outburst. "Er, does Hermione usually wake you up from bad dreams?"
Draco stood up, glad that the dark of the Slytherin common room was masking the embarrassment on his face. He had apparently fallen asleep and not made it back to his own quarters, and from looking around the room he could see that the rest of his eighth year companions hadn't either. He had kept accepting the refills of firewhiskey Blaise had offered him, and stuck by his friend for the rest of the night in an effort to keep Astoria from questioning him further, and consequently passed out.
"I should get back to my common room," he said, ignoring her query.
He left Astoria and entered the cold dungeon corridor, an unsettling feeling in his bones.
It was a new dream he'd just had, and he was sure that before all of the running had ensued, Hermione- or whoever she was this time- had been dancing.
Draco went to their common room first, and when he didn't find her there he made his way up to the Astronomy Tower. The blanket was already lain on the floor, and Hermione was gazing through one of the telescopes at the stars. She looked up when she heard him stepping toward her.
"Hermi-"
She quickly went up to him and placed her fingers to his lips, shushing him.
"Let's not worry about that right now," she whispered softly, her voice calm. "I haven't gotten to congratulate you yet."
She led him over to the blanket, and instead of lying herself on it first like they usually did, she pushed him down so that she was the one above him.
She slid the dress she was wearing over her head, revealing she had nothing on underneath, not even her necklace.
"Where's-" Draco couldn't even finish his question before she held up her hand, showing she had placed her rings on the appropriate finger.
"I wanted to have them on tonight," she explained as she undid his trousers, slipping them off along with his boxer briefs.
He was already mostly aroused, and his eyes rolled back as she took hold of him to get him all the way there. When she was satisfied with how hard he'd become, she positioned herself, and then lowered onto him, both of them letting out a moan at the feeling.
They tried to remain quiet as she rocked back forth atop him, but she still let out hushed moans that spurred him on. He ran his hands up and down her back, before bringing them to her breasts, pinching her nipples, and eliciting the most beautiful sound from her he'd yet to hear. He kept at it, watching as her eyes fluttered, and her movements became stronger.
"Fuck, Granger,"
"Draco, I'm-" Her words escaped her as her whole body shuddered. A moment later she slumped forward into his chest with a laugh, and he brought her face up to him to kiss her.
"I wanted you to be first this time," she said as she lifted herself off of him.
"Nothing wrong with coming second," Draco grinned devilishly as he switched their positions. He kissed her feverishly as he slid into her once again and wrapped her legs around him. "My turn."
Draco had tried bringing up the dream and its possible implications to Hermione before they returned to the common room that morning, but she had rebuffed him and escaped down the Gryffindor Hall to her quarters without further discussion. He thus had no choice but to let it go until the next morning.
The transfiguration lesson of the day was proving to be a chore to get through, and Draco had nearly fallen asleep twice. He kept staring at the clock, willing the time to go faster, but there was still a good forty-five minutes before they'd be let go.
Suddenly, an owl swooped in through an open window and flew to Professor McGonagall, a piece of parchment hanging from its ankle. She took the disruptive note from around its foot, and opened it quickly. Her usually stern face turned pale, and she wavered back on her feet, catching herself on the chair behind her so she wouldn't fall. Draco saw her gulp before announcing shakily that class was dismissed and all others cancelled, and hurrying out the door.
A mix of confusion and happiness swept the room as students packed up their things and began to exit, joining the commotion in the halls. All of the students were whispering excitedly, wondering what could have occurred to have the rest of their day free of studies. As Draco walked closer to the Great Hall however, the whispers began to change, from voices of confusion, to voices of knowing. Stranger still was that the whispers would stop as soon as he walked by, and the eyes of those talking would follow him. He perked his ears up, trying to hear what they were saying and wondering if it had something to do with him. He heard a name drop off the lips of a boy whispering too loudly, who hadn't noticed him passing by, and he froze.
"What did you say?" Draco asked sharply, turning towards him.
"Oh, Mr. Malfoy" the boy panicked. "I didn't see you there, Si-."
"Who's name did you just utter?" Draco said, growing impatient.
"Harry Potter's friend- Hermione Granger,"
"What about her?"
"They're saying she had a coughing fit in the History classroom,"
"Is that all?" Draco continued to interrogate frantically.
"N-no Sir. They're er- they're saying - er- "
"Spit it out already!"
"They're- they're- they're saying she's dead."
Draco's blood went cold as what the boy said registered. No, he thought, his head swimming. NO.
He turned on his heel and began sprinting towards Professor Binn's room, ignoring the stares and murmurs around him. Adrenaline kept him running far longer than he was used to, and he was gasping for breath when he made it to the classroom.
Harry, Ron, Neville, and Ginny were sitting together, ashen and sullen. Neville was patting Ron's back, and tears were streaming down Ginny's face, which was resting on Harry's shoulder. As Draco stepped into the room, Harry looked up at him, and Draco could see that his robes and hands were covered in blood. Her blood.
"We don't know what happened," Harry said, his voice weak and unsteady. "She was fine, and then... blood, so much blood, so much blood..." He buried his head into Ginny's chest and began to sob, still repeating himself. Draco drew his eyes to the floor; puddles of red littered around the table they were at, and a large one was right at their feet.
His heart beating erratically, Draco turned his attention to Professor Binn's desk, which was surrounded by Headmistress McGonagall, Professors Slughorn and Flitwick, and Madame Pomfrey. He pushed his way past them, and his heart stopped as he viewed Hermione's prone body, sending him to his knees.
Her eyes were closed, but long streaks of blood were streamed from them, not quite dry and still dripping onto the table. Her face was completely pale and translucent, all of her veins visible and spread like a glass that had been cracked; there was blood leading all the way down her chin to the front of her drenched sweater; her hands and knees were also covered in dark red, as if she had tried to catch what was falling from her mouth, only to fall to the floor.
Draco took her hand nearest him into his, and cupped her face with his other, feeling how cold they were. He let out a shuddery breath as he leaned forward to place his forehead against hers.
The professors were whispering to each other, as if he wasn't there.
"...since March of last year," McGonagall said.
"We'll of course need some samples to know what it was," Slughorn said, gently peeling back the sleeve of Hermione's left arm. The sleeve was saturated with blood and had been slit open, revealing the scar Hermione had received at Malfoy Manor over a year ago. The letters were clearly visible, each an ugly violet color, mimicked in the large veins stemming out from each of them. It occurred to him that he'd never asked about the mark his aunt had left on her, or searched for it all those times she had been bare in front of him.
"Clearly an advanced charm and potion combination," Flitwick remarked sadly, also scrutnizing the changes to Hermione's body.
"I'll owl Mungo's for an autopsy," Madame Pomfrey sniffed, heading to her office.
At that moment, four house elves appeared in the room with a stretcher, and Professors Flitwick and Slughorn moved to the side so they could set it down. Draco felt a hand land gently on his shoulder.
"We need to take her now Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall said soberly.
Draco did nothing as the house elves released his hands from Hermione's face and lifted her off the table and onto the stretcher, proceeding solemnly and silently out the door.
He was the last one to leave the room. No one had questioned why he was there, not even Ron.
Draco locked himself in his dorm, not bothering to eat or sleep. He just felt numb and like a stranger in his own body.
How had he not noticed there was something wrong with her?
But you did, he reminded himself.
He'd known since the beginning of the year she was having problems with her magic, but she assured him it was being handled by the potions she was taking. Potions being prescribed by Madame Pomfrey after consulting with Headmistress McGonagall.
McGonagall.
Draco got up from his bed, not caring that it was already ten o'clock in the evening, and that she was probably already retired for the night. He needed answers, and she was going to give them to him.
Most of the eighth years were still in the common room, mourning the loss of their friend; even his fellow Slytherins were hanging around. Noticing him enter, Blaise stood up to intercept him.
"Draco," he said, a concerned look on his face. "You need to eat. And have you slept at all? You look-"
Frazzled. He was frazzled and he didn't give two shits who saw. "Not now Blaise," Draco bristled, shoving passed his friend and out the common room door.
He marched to the third floor and the Gargoyle corridor, not stopping until he'd reached the correct statue. The only problem was he didn't know the password, and his mind at the moment wasn't even capable of postulating one. He ground his teeth together, not sure what to do next besides kick the gargoyle in indignation.
To his surprise, the gargoyle suddenly stepped to the side, revealing the spiral staircase leading to the Headmistress' Office.
When he reached the top, he could see McGonagall was already waiting for him at her desk. She looked tired and sallow, no doubt the event of the day also taking its toll on her.
"I've been expecting you," she said, giving him a sad smile and motioning for him to take the chair across from her. He silently obliged. "Miss Granger has come to visit with me a few times since she returned Christmas Break, and imagine my astonishment when one of the things she wanted to discuss involved you."
She looked at Draco pointedly, as if expecting him to have a response, but he just sat there, his chest heaving, dumbfounded at her revelation that she knew about his and Hermione's relationship. When he said nothing, McGonagall began to pace the room as she continued on. "Hermione had a feeling this day would come sooner rather than later. When she first saw me she already knew she had been poisoned and cursed by the carving Bellatrix had left on her arm last year; it had already covered half of her body, and she'd been concealing it with a strong glamour charm everyday. It was also seeping away her magic, and I had Madame Pomfrey give her a potion to try and keep it at bay, but I had no other solutions for her, and she'd asked me not to consult with anyone about it. It wasn't until our last meeting when she explained her relationship with you that I understood why." McGonagall sighed heavily. "Fate cannot be escaped Mr. Malfoy, no matter how hard one may try to outrun it."
Her words left Draco feeling hollow. He wanted to stand up and shout at her that she had failed Hermione; that she had failed him. Instead he held his face in his hands and breathed in deeply.
McGonagall placed her hand on his shoulder, just as she'd done earlier. "You'll meet each other again," she said with hope, then she stepped off into her adjoining quarters and shut the door behind her, leaving Draco alone as his grief finally manifested itself in agonizing sobs.
-27 April 1999, Tuesday-
For the first time in ten months, Draco didn't dream.
-28 April 1999, Wednesday-
The funeral was being held out on the Hogwarts grounds. A sea of white chairs decorated the grass, and up at the front they had her lain in an oak casket with a glass top. On either side of it were wreaths of roses, and a portrait of her that thankfully wasn't moving.
The whole school had come to pay their respects, along with some members Draco assumed belonged to the Order of the Phoenix, and even Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt. Though McGonagall had told Draco he could sit up front next to Harry and the other Gryffindors, he'd chosen to stand against a tree in the back where no one would notice him. Harry was currently standing at a podium to the side, the only speaker of the ceremony.
"Hermione was more than just the brightest witch of her age," he began gruffly. "She was the most loyal and supportive friend anyone could ask for. When things were too much for some to handle, she never left my side, not once. I wish I could say the same of myself, but I wasn't always there for her. And now that she's gone the only thing I'll be able to do is make sure that nobody forgets her. I may be the boy who lived twice, but that second time would not have been possible without her. She saved the wizarding world as much as I did, and remember, you can't spell Hermione without heroine. To Hermione Granger, I will always love you, I will always miss you, and you will forever be in my heart."
It was short and sweet, a very Potter speech. Finished, Harry went and placed a white rose atop her casket. He was followed by Ron and Ginny, McGonagall, Shacklebolt, and then the rest of the guests who had come. They all filtered back into the school once they did this, and when Draco was sure he was the only one left, he slowly approached her casket.
He added his single rose to the pile before bringing his gaze to her face. She had been glamoured again, so that she looked as she had always, except asleep. He had to keep himself from lifting the glass cover to touch her one last time, or even climb in with her.
"She didn't die on that table."
Draco jumped as Harry stood next to him and laid his hand on the glass. "She died in my arms," he continued solemnly. "I caught her as she fell, and I held her on my lap, and... and I knew that I couldn't save her. But I held her to me, and I wanted her to know that she wasn't alone; that a stone cold floor wouldn't be where she spent her final moments. I told her I loved her. I... I told her you loved her."
Draco looked up at Harry at his last words, but he was already walking away. Draco took in a sharp breath as he looked back at Hermione.
"It seems Potter was more perceptive than we gave him credit for," he said to her. He then noticed two rings laying where Harry's hand had been, the ones he had given to her only a couple months before. He gingerly picked them up and squeezed them in his palm before placing them in his jacket pocket.
He let out a shuddered breath as he pressed his head against the glass and closed his eyes. He suddenly began to hum, and he recognized the melody as the one he'd played that night on the lyre; the one he had played the first time she was taken from him. Tears silently fell from his face as he softly sung on, his heart aching within him as not only Draco Malfoy, but as Orpheus and everyone else he had once been. Their grief echoed within him for every loss they bore.
"I see you're still using music to convey your emotions," a voice said from behind him. Draco turned to see a fair-skinned, auburn-haired woman sitting in one of the chairs behind him. He knew immediately who she was.
"Persephone," he whispered her name as she stood and made her way to him. "Come to witness your handiwork?"
"Oh Orpheus, still blaming me?" She laughed, not missing the contempt in his voice. "You're the one who thought you could come to us, the Lords of the Underworld, and be allowed to take Eurydice back. The only reason you made it down there safely is because of your father, and my husband and I so graciously made you a deal. It isn't our fault you failed- that is on you."
"Why are you here then?" Draco asked through gritted teeth. "Or do you come every time she is taken from me?"
"No. This was your twentieth life, and the first time you two truly understood who you are. I actually made some changes this time around, if you noticed. I gave you more time to be together in your youth- though you ultimately squandered that away with your silly prejudices. I even made you wizards!" Persephone said with mirth. "I decided to be courteous this time and extend an invitation for you to try again at what you failed to succeed before."
Draco straightened up at her offer. "Journey to the underworld?"
"Yes, and should you succeed this time, you and your love will get to live the long life together you've been denied for nearly two thousand years."
Draco couldn't believe it. Did he really Have the chance to get Hermione back?
"You have till dawn to make your decision. Instinct will lead you the right direction, and I'll know once you've passed through. The king and I will be waiting with her."
She was gone with the blink of an eye, before Draco could tell her that yes, he wanted the chance she'd given. For a moment Draco wasn't sure if he'd imagined the last few minutes, but then he felt his heart begin to thump frantically within him, and his feet began to move.
They led him further out onto the castle grounds, and to the bank of the Black Lake. Without even removing his clothes or shoes, he plunged into its cold depths.
The temperature hit him like a ton of bricks, but he swam downward, the light streaming in from above fading behind him. He tried not to think about what might be swimming around nearby, namely the Giant Squid, and focused ahead. It was soon pitch black, with nothing in his sight, but he pressed forward in what he was sure was the correct direction.
It felt as if he'd been swimming for hours with nothing around him but black water, but it soon steadily brightened around him, and he could see the surface above. He broke through it, taking in a deep breath of air.
He was in a large cavern, lit just enough to see his way around, though he couldn't find the source. Draco knew that he was now in the underworld, and by some magical power he had swam through the Black Lake and emerged from the River Styx. He made his way to the edge and climbed up onto the stone floor, resting his drenched body.
When he looked back up it was to the face of an old man, clad in dingy, grimy robes; he had a long rod in his hand and a small boat behind him.
"Charon," Draco acknowledged him.
"Back again Orpheus," he stated with a slow, deep, haunting voice, undoubtedly knowing full well why Draco was there. "I've been bidden to give you passage through without paying the toll."
Charon motioned for Draco to enter the boat, and he stepped in quietly. They rowed through the river in silence, and Draco worked to keep his eyes on his hands, not wanting to look at any of the horrors they might've been passing. It seemed an eternity before they reached the path to the main gate, and as soon as they docked Draco hurried off.
"You forgot this," he heard Charon say, and he turned to see the man holding out his lyre. He took it from the man's grasp, though he couldn't recall bringing it with him or seeing it in the boat before.
"How...?"
"Don't focus on the how, Orpheus. Focus on remembering why you'd need it in the first place."
Draco watched as Charon pushed his boat off the embankment and back into the center of the river. Remember why you need it in the first place, he thought as he started down the path. He knew he'd been here before, but the memories of his time down here were murky and only seemed to sharpen once he was at certain points. He hoped he'd be able to realize the use of his lyre before it was too late.
It was quiet while he walked through the pass, but the moment he rounded the corner to the looming gate, loud, harsh, growling filled his ears.
A shiver snaked down his spine, and he was left breathless by the sight of the three-headed hound Cerberus. He backed himself up against a wall as he contemplated his options.
Think, what did you do the last time? As he searched his mind, the head closest to him lunged forward, and he dashed out of its way. A large bone or steak would be great right now.
The middle head then charged at him and he fell forward, his elbow crashing into the ground as he lifted his hand to keep his lyre from breaking.
Wait a minute, he thought as the image of him strumming its chords and ambling around three sleeping dog heads entered his mind. He quickly stood himself up, and, placing his fingers carefully on the lyre's strings, began to play a jovial tune.
Cerberus muted himself immediately, entranced by the music. His three heads and massive body began to sway, and it wasn't long until he dropped to the ground with a thud.
With a sigh of relief, Draco continued to play as he stepped to the front of the gate. As if knowing that he was there, it unlocked itself and opened just enough to let him through. The second he passed through, it closed with a screech.
A long grand staircase was before him, and at the very top he could see Hades and Persephone, King and Queen of the Underworld, sitting on their dark, onyx thrones; Hermione stood between them. He set down his lyre and then ran up the steps as fast he could, keeping his eyes on her, hoping she would really be there when he reached the summit, and wasn't just some apparition they had conjured to taunt him.
As soon as he was close enough to touch her ,he grabbed her hand and pulled her into him, holding her tightly. "I'm here," he whispered to her softly.
She didn't respond. Her arms remained at her sides, and her face was expressionless.
"She won't truly awaken until you leave this plane," Persephone explained to Draco, seeing his confusion. "I'm glad to see you made it here once again, Orpheus. We've been waiting patiently. Take care to remember our terms: Once you turn away from her and begin the journey you cannot glance back until you are in the mortal world. Only then will she be yours again. If you fail, she will remain with us and the cycle will continue just as it was before, and maybe in another two millennia I'll let you try again." She waited for Draco to nod in understanding before continuing. "To leave, you shall go this way instead of the way you entered, it's shorter and won't require any swimming." Persephone smiled as she pointed toward a path to their left which led to an upward incline. "You may go."
"Thank you," Draco said, bowing his head in respect, and with Hermione's hand firmly in his grasp and their fingers linked, he turned away from her and proceeded to the trail.
It brought them to a short cavern, the ceiling just a head's length above him. There was minimal light to guide his way, but from what he could see the path was straight, and luckily, the ground was smooth and flat, so he didn't have to worry about either of them tripping. They walked on in silence, the only noise coming from Draco as he breathed. He held firmly to Hermione's hand, taking comfort in the feel of it in his grasp, even if it was colder than it should have been.
It may have been a few minutes that they walked, it could've been a few hours; Draco wasn't sure; but when the first sliver of natural light reached his eyes, it felt like no time had passed at all. He quickened his pace, his heart rate rising with every step. He could see that the tunnel was leading them to a group of trees, and he could hear birds chirping. We must be entering the Forbidden Forest, he thought.
At the tunnel's end he paused, carefully stepping out as the ground was no longer level, but he didn't dare look back. However, his second step found his foot coming in contact with a hidden tree root, and Draco's eyes widened with panic as he fell forward onto his knees, the hand that had held Hermione's so solidly before now, slipping out and into the dirt.
He sat there, not wanting to get up, not wanting to turn around. He was sure he had pulled her out with him, but what if he was wrong? What if she was still standing at the edge of the border between the under and mortal worlds, just like the last time? The instant he looked back she would be gone again and he wouldn't be reunited with her until they were different people with no memory of what they shared.
His legs felt weak as he began to stand back up and face what he'd done, when a hand settled itself lightly on his shoulder, and his breath hitched.
"Draco?"
He placed his own hand on top of it, and slowly turned around. Hermione's eyes met his, brown and beautiful; her cheeks were rosy again, and as he cupped her face he could feel their warmth. He swept his thumb over her bottom lip before bring her mouth to his, kissing her hard and longingly. She returned it in earnest, wrapping her arms around him to bring him closer than he already was.
They parted, and Draco saw the befuddled look that had taken over her face.
"Why are we in the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the day?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowed. "Shouldn't we be in class?"
"You don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
"You died Hermione," Draco told her. "Two days ago."
"I- What? Then how am I alive?"
"I went down and got you," he said breaking into a grin. "Persephone appeared and offered me a second chance, and I succeeded- I got you back."
"You... oh, Draco." The pride radiating from her face in that moment could've filled the sun a thousand times. "What was it like?"
"Of course that's what you'd want to know," Draco laughed. "It was ominously dark, and freezing cold."
She frowned at his lack of detail, but moved on.
"Does this mean we're free? No more reincarnation?"
"Yes, it's over," Draco kissed her fingers. "We get to spend the rest of our lives together and we can get married and have children and grandchildren and just grow old."
Overcome with emotion, Hermione threw her arms around him again and let out a sob.
They embraced for a while longer, neither wanting to let go. When the sun began to show signs of setting, Hermione decided they should get back to the castle.
"How are we going to explain that I'm no longer dead?" She wondered aloud.
"It's Hogwarts, stranger things have happened," Draco shrugged, not caring about what explanations they'd have to give.
They made their way carefully through the trees, and didn't have to venture far before finding a break in the branches.
"I wonder what Har-"
Hermione was swiftly cut off as she made her first step out of the forest and swiftly disappeared.
"Hermione?!" Draco yelled as he thrust his arms out into nothing but air and then stepped out into the spot where she had vanished.
Draco was suddenly sitting in the transfiguration classroom, Professor McGonagall casually lecturing at the front as if one of her students hadn't just appeared out of nowhere.
What just happened? Draco thought. As he caught what McGonagall was saying, he realized with a beat that it was what they had been learning the day that fateful note had been delivered.
He had gone back in time.
Without asking permission to leave, he stood up and sprinted out the door, with McGonagall calling after him in surprise. He ran without pause to the history classroom and barged in, causing everyone to turn and look at him.
Hermione was already out of her seat waiting for him, and without wasting another moment or caring about who was there, Draco went to her and kissed her solidly on the mouth.
Audible gasps filled the room, and when their lips finally broke Draco could see that all eyes were on them. He noticed that Harry had a firm hand on Ron's shoulder, keeping the red faced Weasley from getting up.
"I think everyone knows now," Hermione laughed, leaning into his shoulder.
Draco didn't go back to Transfiguration, instead choosing to spend the remaining twenty minutes of the period in the library. They'd agreed to meet in the Great Hall for lunch and answer any questions their friends had for them, and the closer the clock ticked to the hour the more anxious he became.
He was about to start heading over there when the chair across from him became occupied by none other than Harry Potter.
"How long have you known?" Draco asked him, starting the questions before he could.
"I had my suspicions back in September," he answered smugly. "I didn't understand why you two were spending so much time together, even for an assignment. Then there was the Halloween Dance debacle. I think I mostly tried to ignore the possibility, until Christmas, when I caught her talking into a mirror and heard your voice on the other end."
"What about in Hogsmeade?" Draco said, recalling their run in at the jewelry shop.
"I knew the rings were for her. I even knew your little mug explosion was because of Ron," Harry chuckled.
"So, why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I trusted her to tell me when she felt it was right. I think once she realized she wasn't going to make it to the end of the year she didn't want to add any other complications. Apparently that's all been fixed though?"
Draco nodded. "The curse on us is broken."
"That's good," Harry sighed. "I... just want you to know that we're not going to make Hermione choose between you and us. We want to make this work- well, at least Ginny and I do, Ron might need more time."
"You're a really good friend Potter, though it pains me to compliment you," Draco smirked.
"You're not so bad yourself, Malfoy," Harry returned, before standing up and telling Draco that they should join the others in the Great Hall.
Ron was scowling, and Ginny was beaming. Draco had been invited by Harry to sit at the Gryffindor table so they could continue their conversation with the rest of the group. Hermione smiled as he took the seat next to her and grabbed her hand. He felt something on her fingers and looked down, noticing that she had put her rings on.
"So you two are...bound?" Ron made a face, also catching sight of her newly placed jewelry.
"Yes, Ron, and you don't have to look so disgusted," Hermione chastised.
"It was quite magical, maybe you and I should do it, too, Gin," Harry said casually, and everyone stopped to stare at him.
"You were there?" Hermione accused, and Harry's face went tomato red.
"Er, I woke up and saw you two sneaking out, so I grabbed my invisibility cloak and followed you," he explained sheepishly.
"I told you I heard something," Hermione elbowed Draco in the side. "Small animals my ass."
"How long did you stay, Potter?" Draco asked the important question.
"Just for the ceremony," he assured them. "Then I left, so nothing after that."
"Why? What happened after?" Ron scowled.
Ginny let out a loud snort, and Harry quickly changed the subject.
"I heard you and Hermione were snogging in the middle of Binns' classroom," Blaise leered as he took his broom out of his locker. Draco had asked him to spend the afternoon flying around the Quidditch pitch, since Hermione was still busy explaining everything to her friends. Ron still thought it was one colossal joke that was twent-seven days too late.
"I wouldn't call it snogging," Draco remarked with a sly grin, "But yes I did kiss her in the middle of Binns' classroom."
He began to account to his friend the events he'd had to endure the past few days, and when he was done Blaise simply shook his head at the absurdity of it all.
"Good luck explaining to everyone how you two ended up together," he quipped.
"I'm sure Hermione is already thinking of ways to tell our families that don't include being cursed for the past two millennia."
"Pans looked like her head was going to explode when she heard, but I think she and Daph are open to some sort of friendship. After all, we'll probably be spending a lot of time together the five of us."
Draco laughed. "I can't believe that my relationship with Hermione is considered more out there than your polyamory."
"It's the nineties," Blaise shrugged. "And I'm glad this all worked out for you," he clapped a hand on Draco's shoulder. A moment later they were both in the air, enjoying the freedom of flight.
-29 April 1999, Thursday-
They were meeting in the astronomy tower at midnight, a change from their tradition. Draco had told Hermione that they probably weren't going to experience the dreams anymore, and she almost looked sad.
"They weren't all that bad," she said as she laid out the blanket and sat on it. Draco moved into the space behind her so that she was between his legs, and she let her head fall back into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
"But now we'll actually get to sleep," he pointed out to her. "No more waking up in the middle of the morning because we're hyped up on emotions."
"I suppose you're right," she sighed, and she started running her fingers across his arms. "My scar's faded."
"It has?"
"Mmmhmm," she moved the sleeve of her shirt back to show him her inner arm, and whereas before it had just been smooth, clear skin, he could now see the faint hint of letters. "Madame Pomfrey says that I'm completely cured now, too, amazingly."
"Must be another one of Persephone's doings," Draco said as he nipped the area. "I wish you'd have told me."
Hermione shook her head. "It was for the best. We both know you would have been consumed with finding a cure; you spent hours awake just trying to find a way to break the curse. No good would have come of it."
"I suppose I can't contest that," he conceded, before breathing into her ear, "But no more secrets from now on." She turned on her knees to look at him, pushing his hair back and out of his eyes.
"No more secrets," she smiled, leaning forward to quickly place a kiss on his lips. "So how do you propose we start the rest of our life together Draco Malfoy...Orpheus...Henry... whatever your name is these days."
"The same way I plan on spending every night," Draco smirked before bringing her face to him to meet his mouth to hers. Hermione managed to mumble something about 'lofty goals', and then succumbed to his idea.
"Are you ready for forever, Granger?"
"I've been ready for two thousand years," Hermione laughed softly. "We'll finally have our time together, Draco. It's you and I, till kingdom come."
Draco felt light and unburdened for the first time in years. Be it because of fate, or destiny, he now had something to live for, instead of merely living, and the prospect of going out into the world no longer worried him. No matter what he did she'd be right there next to him, easing the uncertainties and celebrating the victories. They would always have each other.
Till kingdom come.
AN: And that's the end! Well not really, there's an epilogue, and then it's the end. Hope you enjoyed it!
*The chapter was named after the song "This Love" by Taylor Swift. I encourage you to listen to it.