"The courses of true love never did run smooth."
-William Shakespeare
Draco looked up from the dead snake and into Voldemort's scarlet eyes.
And strangely enough, something else caught his attention.
Beyond Voldemort's murderous face stood Hermione - clearly shaken, but frozen on the spot. A deer caught in headlights, she was so obviously taken off guard by Draco's rash decision that the action itself had shocked her into silence.
And in what he knew to be his final moments, Draco drank her in.
Her hands.
They were so much smaller than his own, but not dainty, no, certainly not dainty. Those hands had brewed far too many potions and participated in far too many herbology classes to be considered dainty. Draco remembered seeing a few small callouses on her palms at the base of each finger. And even with those callouses, her hands were surprisingly soft. The feeling of those hands on his bare back after the mishap of her first flying lesson was a sensation unlike any other. The very memory of it had caused his breath to catch.
Her hair.
So unruly - and yet nothing like that of their Hogwarts years. It had been greatly tamed, that much was obvious, but there were still an undisciplined wildness to it made Draco wish that he had had the chance to run his fingers through it once.
Only once.
And her eyes.
Sorrel, bright, and penetrating. There were individual strands that reflected gold in just the right lighting. So expressive, they were, that they hid nothing. Every doubt, disappointment, fear, joy, eagerness, surprise - every emotion - was clearly written in her eyes if one only took the time to search for it.
Oh yes, he would miss her eyes the most.
To lose you now, only when I have just found you, oh , the cruel ironies of life.
And so, when Voldemort flicked his wand with a movement that was almost too quick for Draco's optic nerve to transmit, a jet of green light erupting and heading straight for his heart, Draco was mildly unsurprised.
But out of the corner of his eye - he saw it.
In what could only be termed as slow motion, Hermione's eyes flashed over to Voldemort and then she deliberately hurled herself into the dark wizard's side - knocking them both off balance.
The killing curse missed Draco by inches.
And once again, Voldemort screamed a terrible, inhuman scream of rage and fury as he roughly untangled himself from beneath Hermione.
"Disgusting filth!" He shouted as he rose and trained his wand on Hermione's throat. Hermione fumbled with the Death Eater's wand to defend herself, but curses immediately soared from both sides of the room.
Draco was on his feet with a fury etched on his face that was unlike anything Hermione had ever seen, and Harry, his emerald eyes flashing dangerously, crossed the distance of the room in one fluid motion to where Voldemort stood.
Voldemort deflected both curses with ease and wordlessly cast a powerful curse in Harry's direction.
Harry dodged the deadly light, but the force of the curse hit the far back wall - causing a massive explosion that blew entirely through to the outside of the manor - revealing a blood red sky as the light from the pre-dawn sun prepared to rise for a new day.
"It's over, Tom." Harry said with surprising calm - his wand trained on Voldemort, "Your Horcruxes are destroyed."
His green eyes flashed with finality.
"It's just you and me."
Voldemort hissed inwardly as he looked around the library - the light from the rising sun resting on his scarlet eyes made them more frightening and distorted than ever.
"You are wrong, Potter. It is you and I and the Mudblood and the traitor," he said in a high-pitched voice as his crimson eyes darted from Harry to Hermione to Draco.
Harry nearly laughed, "What? Not a fair fight for you, Tom?" He scoffed, "And since when have you ever fought fair? Your Horcruxes are tangible evidence of your cowardice - they made you virtually untouchable," Harry continued, taking another careful step toward Voldemort, "Of course - the exception being when a mere baby nearly destroyed you - "
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screamed.
Harry dodged the curse and hurled one right back - their wands colliding with a resounding crack as they created an unsurpassed display of light and magic.
Still on the floor from her physical attack with Voldemort, Hermione raised her borrowed wand and pointed it directly at Voldemort - taking advantage of his current distraction with Harry.
"Stuepfy!"
The spell was frighteningly weak.
Voldemort threw off Harry's curse with a great effort and then easily deflected Hermione's stunner.
And suddenly, without warning, Hermione's knees began to tremble beneath her as her strength began to give way.
Oh Merlin, please, no. Not here - not now.
Draco must have sensed her distress, because without blinking, he bolted toward Hermione's side of the room.
"Not so fast, traitor," Voldemort spat at Draco.
With frightening speed and precision, Voldemort disarmed Draco. And with a wand in each hand, he roughly grabbed Hermione by the nape of her hair and pointed one wand at her neck and the other out at Draco and Harry.
Draco stopped mid-stride as his gray eyes widened.
"No," he whispered.
"Let her go, Tom," Harry said forcefully between clenched teeth. "Leave her out of this."
Voldemort's lip curled back like a rabid dog, "I do not think so, Potter," he growled, "For you see, we are at a stalemate."
"She's got nothing to do with it!" Draco pleaded as his eyes widened even further with desperation.
Voldemort gave a chilling laugh, "Ah, my young traitor, you are so unwise," he hissed, "Because you see - she has everything to do with it."
And beneath Voldemort's grasp, Hermione's knees buckled.
With a sharp intake of breath, Hermione realized that Snape had been right. The contents of the vial only lasted briefly - just long enough to give her the strength it would have taken to run and get out of the manor.
But Hermione had stayed, damned Gryffindor courage and all.
And now the slight trembling was gradually returning to her body. Her hands - the very hands that had steadily flourished the Death Eater's wand now shook visibly as she struggled to free herself from Voldemort's grasp.
Just kill me , you slimy bastard. And then Harry and Draco will make you wish that you never did. But you'll be gone forever - of that I am certain.
"Let her go, Tom," Harry said again - his voice cutting sharply into the tangible silence, "Let her go and you have my word that we'll finish this as the Prophecy stated - with just you and me."
"Sorry, Potter," Voldemort hissed, "But your word means absolutely nothing to me." And he jabbed his wand further into Hermione's throat, eliciting a sharp gasp.
Draco appeared to be physically restraining himself from launching himself at the dark wizard as his eyes darted rapidly back and forth between Voldemort and Hermione.
"I swear it," Harry said darkly, slightly lowering his wand.
"No deal, Potter," Voldemort replied. And then he drew Hermione closer to him and whispered menacingly into her ear as his snake-like eyes remained trained on Harry.
"Disgusting Mudblood," he whispered, "You could have been great, you know. You could have had everything. But you will still serve some purpose for me - oh yes, there is still a use for you," he continued, as Hermione's heart began to pound frantically in her chest, "You see, Mudblood, I will use you to break them - and then Potter will be mine - and your traitorous lover - dead."
"No," Hermione whispered - her strength nearly gone.
Voldemort's lip curled back disgustingly as he whispered - this time his eyes locked on Draco, "Crucio."
"NO!" Draco screamed as he threw himself at Voldemort - his voice nearly hysterical, "Hermione!"
As Draco bolted across the room towards Hermione, Voldemort smiled a revolting, distorted smile - clearly pleased that he had achieved the desired effect. And all too quickly, the torture curse was released on Hermione and a bolt of green was heading directly at Draco's running form.
"No!"
This time the voice was Harry's, and Harry hurtled from out of nowhere to shove Draco away from his second encounter with the killing curse in a single night. They both landed in a heap on the ground, Harry's wand clattering loudly as it fell free of his hand.
Voldemort drew himself up to his full height as he unceremoniously dropped Hermione's shaking body to the floor. In what seemed to be the blink of an eye, he hovered over Draco and Harry's prone forms and raised his wand.
"The Boy-Who-Lived," he mocked, as Harry's green eyes darted between Voldemort's sinister face to where his wand lay on the ground - only a few feet away.
"Farewell, Potter. My regards to your parents."
And then it happened.
Harry was somehow thrown to his feet as a huge creature materialized beside him and blocked his line of sight with Voldemort.
The creature was a dragon.
And that dragon was Draco Malfoy.
The shear mass of the beast was incredible and Harry felt certain that if Draco were to spread his wings fully that the entire library would cave in on itself. As it was, a great burst of flames erupted from Draco's throat and Voldemort - clearly surprised by the sudden change of events, dove to the side to avoid the burning fury of the fire.
Harry darted to his right to retrieve his wand and suddenly the room was too hot. Glancing over at the fallen form of Hermione, Harry made to rush to her side when Draco abruptly flung Voldemort from the opening in the sidewall and toward the barren field below.
It was a several story drop.
"Come on, Potter!" Draco's deep voice roared, "Get on my back! I'll fly you down there!"
Harry didn't need to be told twice and swiftly mounted Draco's back. Draco forced his massive body through the opening and dove the distance to the field below. The moment his claws dug into the cool earth, he turned his great head toward Harry.
"It's you now, Potter. It's always been you. I have to go make sure she's okay. I don't know - "
"Go," Harry cut in as he brandished his wand, "Go take care of Hermione. My destiny was prophesied long before I was born. It's supposed to be just him and me. Go help Hermione."
And without a backward glance, Draco took off - the rush of his beating winds ruffling Harry's unruly hair as Harry turned into the sunrise.
"Tom!" Harry shouted - the sun finally pushing itself over the horizon, "I know you're out here. It is time, Tom. The Prophecy will be fulfilled today. Show yourself!"
Silence.
The tall grass rolled slightly in the morning breeze as a symphony of crickets quieted themselves.
"You're a coward, Tom," Harry continued as he made his way through the long reeds - his green eyes searching for any sign of movement, "Come finish this like a man."
Again, silence.
"Your soul, Tom," Harry pressed, as he sifted his wand over a tall blade of grass, "...if you can even call it a soul, is a black withered thing without pity. One-seventh of its true self - has that little fraction of life left within you caused you to act so cowardly? Or maybe," Harry continued as he maneuvered around a large boulder, "...maybe it comes from your father's side of the family. Yes, Tom, you preach to the choir but you're quite the hypocrite, aren't you? All of those Purebloods worshiping you like some false idol when your own father was just a Muggle. Might be a bit disappointed when they find that bit out, don't you think?"
A few birds chirped in the distance.
"Are you afraid of me, Tom?" Harry goaded as his silently cast Homenum Revelio. The moment Harry cast the spell, he felt a presence to his near left - just beside the manor walls.
And then Harry found him.
Tom Riddle, the once feared Lord Voldemort, lay crumpled pathetically on the ground with a leg broken beneath him. His breathing was labored and his body nearly broken, but his scarlet eyes flashed dangerously at Harry as he searched pointlessly for his wand.
"Goodbye, Tom," Harry said darkly, stepping forward and casting a shadow over Voldemort.
And without a second glance, Harry raised his wand.
"Avada Kedavra," Harry whispered.
And Lord Voldemort's crimson eyes flashed angrily for the last time.
Draco transformed the moment he returned to the library, and with panic assaulting every portion of his being - he ran to Hermione's fallen form. Her eyes were closed - her body still.
"Hermione?" Draco whispered, taking her cold hands as he bent low and brought his lips to her ear, "Can you hear me?"
After several prolonged seconds and with a great shuddering breath, Hermione opened her eyes.
"Draco?" She croaked - her voice strained.
"Hermione," Draco murmured as he brought her hands to his mouth and kissed them both softly, "I...I..." he trailed off as his voice caught in his throat. Steadying himself for a moment, he closed his eyes and brought his forehead down so that it rested upon hers.
"What...what happened?" He dared to whisper.
Beneath him, Hermione slightly shook her head, "It doesn't matter. I gave as good as I received...I'll be okay."
Swallowing heavily as his bangs fell onto her dirty face, Draco whispered, "The Cruciatus?"
He felt her sharp intake of breath beneath him.
"Yes."
Draco winced as he methodically began to rub the area behind her ears, "Hermione..., I should have...," he breathed as he nearly lost control of himself, "I'm so sorry...I tried - I really did, I..."
"Don't," Hermione said with as much force as her body could muster, "Don't do that to yourself. I'd be dead if it wasn't for you."
"And I, if it wasn't for you."
When Draco finally opened his eyes, he saw a small smile on Hermione's face.
Merlin, even now, after all you've been through - you're stunning.
Remembering himself, Draco's cheeks reddened slightly, and he quickly looked over her body to scan for any additional injuries.
His brow furrowed when he noticed her eyes had closed again, "Anything else, Hermione?" He asked, gently, "Other injuries besides the Cruciatus?"
It took a moment for her eyes to open again.
"My side hurts a little - a cut, perhaps."
Draco nodded with worry as her eyes closed once more, "I'm just going to have a look at it, okay?"
Hermione nodded slightly, but did nothing more to acknowledge him.
Steeling himself, Draco brought his hands to Hermione's left side and with as much ease as he could - ripped a tear in her robes. Pulling the fabric apart, his fingers grazed, for the first time, her bare stomach.
She flinched at the touch.
"Sorry," Draco amended as he removed his hand, "I just need to see where the cut is."
"No," Hermione replied - as she opened her eyes, "Its just that you're hands are cold."
Something incomprehensible flashed over Draco's eyes in that moment, and he brought his hands to his mouth, cupped them, and exhaled his warm breath.
Hermione watched as Draco - his hands careful and precise, pulled back a portion of her robe where the tear was and gently place his fingers on her stomach. This time she was ready for the contact and his hands were warmer. His fingers traced down an inch from where he had started his inspection - causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. After a moment, they reached an area of the skin that dented in slightly.
Immediately his hand drew back with blood on his fingers.
"Merlin, Hermione," He breathed with panic, "We need to get you to St. Mungo's straight away."
"No," Hermione said as she lifted her head up. Immediately, she regretted that decision as a dizzying spell hit her with the force of a Bludger and she slumped back down to the cold floor.
Ok, bad idea.
"Harry...," she began as she attempted to open her eyes again - the room spinning in small circles as a slight buzzing seemed to come out of nowhere.
"He's fine," Draco replied automatically - stooping to hoist Hermione into his arms.
"I'm going to pick you up now, okay? I'll try to do it as slowly and with as little movement as possible. Now if for some reason - "
"For Hell's sake, Draco. I'm not five," Hermione said with exasperation as a faint smile crossed her lips.
Her retort lifted his spirits considerably, and he bent down - placing one arm behind her back and the other, under her knees. In one swift motion, she was in his arms and he was looking down at her angelic face.
The spinning, Hermione realized with a sudden clarity, was much worse with her body off the level surface of the ground. A spotty blackness began to creep into the corners of her peripheral vision.
"Voldemort?" She asked as she fought the impending darkness.
"Shh...," Draco soothed as he began to walk - making the room spin even more quickly, "Just relax. Everything is going to be fine. I'm going to take care of you."
"Draco," Hermione whispered as she felt herself slipping into nothingness, "There's something you need to know."
Draco stopped walking at the caved in entrance to the private library. A level below, there was still muffled shouting and the occasional erratic explosion.
"What?"
"I love you."
Hermione's eyes rolled back in her head and her body slumped down before she had the chance to hear Draco whisper with more feeling and emotion than an Ex-Death Eater would ever be credited for, "Oh, Hermione, I have loved you to the point of madness."
A/N: Hey all! So, so, so, so sorry for the delay on the update. The Holidays were insanely busy...and I had zero time to write. I don't anticipate a delay that long again. So, thank you for sticking with me! On another note, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Karmabur, my lovely new beta-reader, who is extremely talented at editing! THANK YOU, a thousand times over.
Also, on a fun note, I was up at the Sundance Film Festival over the weekend and ran into the lovely Alan Rickman (AKA Professor Snape). And I tell you what - if it wasn't him, then it was his long lost twin. I think the freezing Utah weather was effecting him a bit because he wore the same expression as he often does as Professor Snape in the films. Can't really blame the guy, though - don't think it gets that chilly in England, and I'm positive I looked about the same way.
Please leave a review!!