Disclaimer: I have merely borrowed the concepts from Ms Rowling to spin my own fairytale of ... Dramione!
A/N: While this fic is primarily Dramione, the later parts of it need the rest to tag along to make the adventure more believable. After all, you can't really possibly tackle Voldemort without Harry Potter, can you! There will still be scenes with Dramione alone, but not as much as previously - hope you guys understand! Everything will tie in, trust me! ;)
Meanwhile, I should shut up and let you enjoy this one! Action galore again! Though the ending is not very enjoyable... I felt sad :( oh dear, what happened? Read on to find out!
"NO, DRACO, NO!" Hermione summoned all her strength to scream, and struggled to move.
"Hermione, get down!" Draco clung onto the cell bars in wild horror.
Rookwood was slightly taken aback by her sudden screams; the curse flew out of his wand – but at a sharp angle that narrowly missed Draco's head as he dodged and knocked into Pansy, who squealed.
Seeing that his spell had missed Draco, Rookwood gave a roar of fury and raised his wand again. However, Luna took advantage of that split second hesitation, and with all the strength she could muster, leapt at him, knocking him over.
"Wand!" Pansy gasped, pointing frantically at the spot beside Hermione.
Hermione's hand grappled around wildly; her fingers connected with the familiar length of her wand.
WHAM! Luna had suddenly been blasted all the way to the end of the corridor, where a small table was. There was a sickening crack, a gasp from Luna, and the sound of something clattering to the ground.
"STUPEFY!" Hermione screamed, catching Rookwood off-guard again. In his bid to dodge the spell, he rammed against the cell gate, and in a flash, Draco was up to grab his collar.
"LET ME GO!" Rookwood bared his teeth, trying his best to rip Draco's hands off him. But surprisingly, a very furious and agitated Draco was very difficult to fight against. Draco yanked at Rookwood's collar so hard that the Death Eater's skull connected with the metal cell bars with a loud CLANK. Rookwood roared in agony and was about to wield his wand once again, when Hermione took the opportunity to cast "Expelliarmus!" – knocking the wand out of his hand before he could respond. Rookwood's eyes widened with rage, and instead, reached out towards Draco to attempt to push him away.
"Luna!" Hermione whipped her head around when she heard another groan. Luna was lying in a heap, her blonde hair fanned out around her. Hermione found Luna's wand at the side of the wall where Rookwood had aimlessly kicked it away, and quickly made a grab for it. She felt an agonising pain shoot through her body when she tried to move, but she gritted her teeth and managed to stagger towards the end as Draco slammed Rookwood's head into the cells once again, forcing a trail of blood from his head.
"Luna..." Hermione whispered, and felt relief course through her when Luna lifted her head, looking terribly weak. Quickly, she thrust the wand back into Luna's hands, and then tried to help her up. Another sickening CLANG and a few angry words from Draco could be heard.
Then something glittering caught her eye.
Luna's slender fingers reached out for the shiny object, and held it out weakly to Hermione. "What is this?"
Hermione couldn't stop gaping as she took it.
She had never seen it before – but... this, this had to be it...
"HERMIONE, WHERE ARE YOU?"
"Malfoy, you'll pay for this –" CLANG! "OWW!"
Hermione swung back, and caught sight of Rookwood in a bloodied mess. Just as she took in the image of his head being slammed into the cell again, Draco must have leaned over too much, for Rookwood had managed to give Draco a huge shove, causing the Slytherin to lose balance and let go of Rookwood. Quickly, Rookwood shunned to the wall, away from Draco, and then his gaze fell on Hermione.
"GIVE ME THAT!" Rookwood bellowed, his eyes darting wildly from the object in Hermione's hand to his surroundings in hope to locate his wand.
In that instant, any doubts Hermione had about the object she was holding onto were dispelled.
"IMPEDIMENTA!" Luna hurled over the spell with as much strength as she could manage. Hermione found herself running towards Rookwood, and even as he doubled over, his eyes glinted as he saw the shiny object approach him at an accelerated pace.
"Give me that!" His arms were outstretched; his eyes were now glazed over with an insane ferocity.
"Draco, take it!" Hermione flung the object into the cell through the bars.
It rolled right to the centre of the cell, wobbled and lay still.
Rookwood's horrified gaze followed it.
Pansy gasped.
Draco lunged for it.
"NOOOOO!" Rookwood screamed.
Draco gripped the diadem as he raised it up, a million sparkles reflecting off the beautiful bejewelled Horcrux in his hand. Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem. The fifth Horcrux. Finally...
Hermione's eyes tore away from the glittering object in Draco's hand, and instead, shot another curse out at Rookwood, forcing the Death Eater back into the wall. Another powerful hex came from behind her to send him slamming into the wall again, the blood flowing all over his face and arms, and she saw Luna clambering up, her wand outstretched.
Draco's hands reached into the pouch within his robes, and pulled out the curved basilisk fang. Pansy stared in a mixture of mesmerisation and confusion as he raised the fang above the diadem. His lips curled as he gazed towards Rookwood with all the hatred in him. He wanted to make sure that Rookwood was seeing this very clearly.
This beast must be destroyed... and I won't let anyone become just like him to ruin other people's lives!
Indeed, Rookwood's face was a complete mess – apart from the dark red streaks all over his pudgy cheeks, his face was a total picture of utmost horror and devastation.
"NOOOOOOO..." He screamed with all his might, just as Hermione and Luna both shot curses at him, and Draco brought the fang down onto the diadem in a brutally swift manner.
A huge ball of light burst out, blinding everyone present. Rookwood's screams were cut abruptly, and Hermione could feel the light rays and heat waves engulfing her entire body, as if attempting to penetrate her and destroy her. There was nothing like this the previous times they destroyed Horcruxes. She almost thought she heard a wail, a tremendous roar, a heartrending shriek, a piercing scream... one after another... but most of all, she thought she heard –
Draco knew who was screaming. His eyes were firmly shut, but the agonising scream that was reverberating in his head was accompanied by an electrifying pain in his arm – the exact spot where he had been branded the Dark Mark. It was followed by another excruciating shock of pain through the arm where his fist was clenching the basilisk fang.
Finally, the ball of light seemed to recede, slowly, and then in an instant, it zipped back to allow Draco to open his eyes. A small speck of light was hovering over the diadem, where silver liquid was oozing out of where the fang had plunged into it. Then it disappeared.
Pansy let out her breath, and then Draco snapped his head up just to see Hermione and Luna collapse onto the ground, completely exhausted. Immediately, he yanked the fang out of the diadem. With both in hand, he darted towards the cell gate.
"Hermione...?"
She winced, and tried to right herself up again, but she was glancing in another direction altogether with a furtive look.
His gaze followed hers to the right, and he saw Rookwood in an unconscious state, slumped against the wall with a pool of blood behind him.
"Open the cell!" Pansy found her voice. "He must have the key!"
Hermione still sat on the ground in a daze, staring at Rookwood. Slowly, her eyes turned to meet Draco's, and they looked at each other for what seemed to have been a long time.
Words were completely failing her; she had just essentially accused him of betraying her earlier on, and now there was guilt, pain, misery, all eating at what should have been relief, happiness and – she just sat there, breathing heavily and searching his eyes for a hint of forgiveness. Why am I even hoping for forgiveness? He had abandoned everything he had been taught, everything he had been socialised to hate, to believe in you, and to trust you. He even tried to take the blow for you just now. And what did you give him in return? As she thought that, his face seemed to look stonier than ever, and she felt a chill run down her spine.
There was similar emotional turmoil within Draco, only of a different sort. His was more bitter, laced with anger and frustration. But his frustration was not just about the fact that she had not trusted him – it was the fact that despite that, he was feeling desperate relief to see that she was alive, considering that she had been Cruciated, and was quite close to getting completely obliviated. He swallowed hard. His frustration was making him lock his features stiff, and he knew he looked cold and furious with her. But he couldn't help it – whatever it was, she had risked her life just to save him by coming here!
He wasn't worth it!
"Can the two of you stop staring at each other like that?" Pansy jumped up and banged the cell gate, startling Hermione and Draco both out of their tension-laden moment. "I don't know what the bloody hell is going on, but if that idiot's not dead, then we're going to be! Now will you move it and GET THE FREAKING KEY?"
Draco didn't stop Pansy from screaming; he closed his eyes and let her rant. Hermione could hardly move, so Luna got up and rummaged around Rookwood's robes. Finally, she picked out a bunch of keys and stepped towards the door. She looked at the different keys with innocent curiosity.
"You're really loony! Give me that!" Pansy's impatience was not quelled one bit.
"Here." Hermione stood up gingerly with the help of gripping onto the cell bars. She eyed the lock for a bit, then she scrutinised the keys, before pointing to a rather large, awkward-looking key. "I think this is the one."
Luna obliged, and the key turned.
Pansy shoved open the door, and Hermione almost fell since she was still holding onto the cell gate. But when Draco came out, she was rather glad she was still holding onto the gate. Her knees felt like they were about to give way any moment.
She didn't have to worry about giving way for long. A second after their eyes met once again, Draco had just stepped forward to embrace her. She let go of the cell bars and reached out to touch his back as he buried his face within her grimy, frizzy curls. Her right hand traced the back of his slender neck, and then his well-defined shoulder muscles... suddenly, she just couldn't think straight anymore. There was nothing more to think about than the fact that Draco Malfoy was holding her in his arms, he was alive, and with her once more.
"One Horcrux down..." he murmured into her ear, sending tingles running through her. She nodded dazedly, feeling that nothing at the moment would feel more triumphant than him being here, rather than anything related to the Horcruxes.
At the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Luna smile - a very dreamy-looking smile.
But there was another face to her right.
A very horrified and disgusted expression.
Hermione was suddenly dragged back to reality, and she tried to push Draco away. She only succeeded in lifting him off her shoulder, but he pressed her against the cell gate, his forehead touching hers. She found herself losing it just staring back into those deep grey pools that his eyes were. A tuft of blond hair fell in between them, and Hermione couldn't help reaching out to push it out of his eyes. The electricity that tingled between them seemed to crackle even more.
"Draco Malfoy, what – are – you – doing?" Pansy's strangled voice cut through the heavy emotions.
Draco released Hermione, but kept one hand at the small of her back, startling her a little. "There's time for that later." He quickly eyed the limp figure of Rookwood, and reached forward to pull out the two wands that were sticking out from behind him. As he handed Pansy's wand to her, he pointed his own at Rookwood.
"Oh so you're suddenly all clear-headed and authoritative-like again?" Pansy stared at him incredulously, and then gave the same look to Hermione. "I mean, you just went up to her and – "
Draco did not speak. Instead, he carefully aimed his wand.
"Draco." Hermione broke into his concentration. "Don't."
"He tried to kill you!" Draco stared at her in amazement, still seething from the image of Rookwood torturing Hermione. "And all of us!" He added for good measure, seeing Pansy's bewildered expression.
"Hogwarts is under siege." said Hermione, her face transforming into that of fear. "The Death Eaters have come."
Draco was stunned. "What?"
"They're here to find you, I would think," said Luna, simply. "But we're not very sure. We have to regroup with the rest. It was Harry who told us about it."
"Potter!" hissed Pansy, angrily.
Draco let out a swear word, and then glowered at the ground.
"We've got to go deal with them," insisted Hermione. "Don't kill him – it's not worth it. Don't – don't be like him."
Him. The Dark Lord.
Voldemort.
Draco felt the familiar lightheadedness overtake him for an instant. Please... His father's weak voice rang out in his head. Then he looked back at Hermione, who was giving him a very determined look. She didn't even beg me to save her. He found himself lowering his wand unconsciously.
"How do we get back then?" he whispered, all the rage seeping out of him, and weariness overcoming him once again. Hermione winced, realising she had no idea.
Luna turned expectantly to Pansy, who was sulking very heavily.
"Pansy..." warned Draco, as he followed Luna's line of gaze.
Pansy scowled, then proceeded to stalk off.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Blaise, Astoria and Harry hurried along the corridor as quietly as they could possibly be. There were faint sounds of what sounded like spellwork, and Harry made Astoria keep behind him, since she did not have a wand. Blaise was growing more uncomfortable with each step, and Astoria stole quick glances at him as she moved along briskly. He didn't really mean to do this... he's just completely misguided...
Astoria's thoughts were halted abruptly when Harry came to a stop by a corner. There were advancing footsteps, pitter-patter – clearly someone was running towards them.
"Zabini!" hissed Harry. "Get your wand ready!"
Blaise looked reluctant as he drew his wand.
Whoever it was came at such a hurtling speed that Harry hardly had enough time to react; there was a sudden "AAHHH!", followed by "Ron!", and then "STUPE – "
"Whoa, hold it, hold it!" gasped Harry, gripping Ron's arm in time. "Hey, it's me!"
Ron blinked. Then he dropped his arm and grabbed Harry's shoulders. "Harry, you're finally here! Did you get Dumbledore?"
"Harry!" Ginny's breathless voice was filled with relief.
"Into the shadows!" Harry quickly moved them, Corrinne and Neville round the corner. "First things first, who's after you?"
"Haven't the faintest idea," moaned Ron, panting heavily. "There were about four of them, and then one got blasted by Moody, the other still battling him – and there were these two crazed people after us!"
"Lupin joined us after a while," Neville chipped in, grimacing as he took a deep breath.
Harry let out a sigh of relief. "Then he's alright! I heard that he was being cornered!"
Corrinne was trying to catch her breath. "But then he and Tonks had to stop to deal with those two. I think I heard Tonks call one of them... Alec – Alecto or something?"
"The Carrows!" Blaise muttered.
"Who?" Harry spun around.
"Zabini?" Corrinne realised who she was standing beside, and then shot him an incredulous look. "You – you..." Then she noticed Astoria. "Greengrass!"
"Well yes, I'm safe and sound, my kidnapper's also my saviour, let's leave that out first, shall we?" Astoria snapped.
"But he's with them!" Corrinne uttered the last word with complete disgust and contempt.
"Shut up, Whitemayer!" growled Blaise.
"For now, we can only trust him, since apparently I heard he blasted Greyback into unconsciousness to save Greengrass." Harry shot Corrinne a warning look. "Okay now what? Who's left to tackle? The Order's all here already?"
"Crafty lot, these Slytherins..." muttered Corrinne, glowering.
"Yes the Order's here – Tonks, Lupin, Moody... not sure about the rest..." Ron trailed off, staring at Harry. "Hey, I asked you, where's Dumbledore?"
Before Harry could respond, there was another set of running footsteps. Ron immediately clammed up, and everyone stopped shuffling about and got their wands ready.
"Back down a little," whispered Harry, and they followed suit.
"...can hear spellwork going on..." "Upstairs, I should think? Do you think..." "I thought you had that stupid coin or something? Can't you find out where blasted Potter and his sidekick are?" "Well clearly not when they're in the middle of fighting..."
Harry's eyes widened. Then without thinking further, he stepped into the corridor, oblivious to a muffled squeal by Ginny.
"Hermione?"
Ron let out a gasp; Ginny stopped silencing herself and gasped even louder. Quickly, they rushed out behind Harry.
There, in the middle of the corridor, was Hermione – Hermione with her shining brown eyes and a completely overwhelmed expression.
Harry didn't think twice; he ran forward, and so did Ron. The three friends met in the middle and immediately fell into a huge, tight embrace. Hermione could feel the tears welling up in her eyes again, and Harry was torn in between a huge ball of guilt and complete relief. Ron – well, Ron was just glad that they were altogether.
"Hermione, we thought you were kidnapped too or something!" And then Ron gave a sniff. "Merlin's beard, I'm turning into a sop!"
Hermione pulled back, her eyes still shining. "I'm so sorry I made you guys worry! But – but I went to ..." She cast a look backwards, and Harry adjusted his spectacles. He then realised that there were other people apart from Hermione. Luna Lovegood, who looked oddly fragile and bruised, but smiling in her usual dreamy manner like nothing had happened to her.
Harry's eyes narrowed at seeing the other two.
Ron was quicker, however; he strode up towards Draco Malfoy and gave him a huge punch in the face before Pansy or Hermione could react. Draco hit the floor, the diadem and fang clattering out of his hand.
"Bloody hell...!"
"You son of a – "
"Ron!" Hermione tried to hold him back, completely horrified as she stared at Draco wincing as he tried to get up, a very furious expression on his face. "What's gotten into you?"
"He kidnapped you!"
"Err mate..." Harry hesitated as he helped to pull Ron back. "I don't think that looks like the case."
"What do you mean..."
"Hey, Weasley, stop your pathetic outbursts declaring your noble friendship to Granger," said Draco, sneering as he clambered up with Pansy's help, collecting back the diadem and fang at the same time. "Or have you lost all your wit that you can't even hold a decent verbal battle?"
Hermione threw him an annoyed look. Draco caught that, but refused to back down, glaring at Ron while he flexed his jaw.
"Ron." Hermione turned back to her best friend, in her I-want-you-to-listen-good-and-you-had-better-listened-good tone. "If he had kidnapped me, I wouldn't be here now, helping you in this battle. Now details can wait till later, because I think we have a fight going on."
Ron was about to protest in confusion, since this completely contradicted what the Death Eaters had said earlier on, when there was an audible whisper coming from behind them.
"You're alive!"
The trio turned around to see Astoria Greengrass step forward, her eyes swimming with disbelief and thankfulness at the same time. "Draco Malfoy, I thought they would kill you!"
The blonde Slytherin dropped the sneering look – it was replaced with a stunned expression.
"Astoria? You – but – how – I..."
"This is crazy!" Ron was bewildered. "First, Parkinson is supposed to have kidnapped him, then he's supposed to have abducted Hermione...hey, what's going on?"
"First things first, about Astoria, she was kidnapped and then rescued." Corrinne didn't hide her disgust upon seeing Draco appear once again. "By the same person."
"Looks like his girlfriend pulled the same bizarre act." Ginny cast a suspicious look on Pansy, who turned pale upon hearing that.
"What did you say?"
Draco blinked. "Are you – wait a minute, are you saying Blaise kidnapped Astoria?"
"You haven't told me why Parkinson's out here with you now, acting like nothing has happened." Hermione spun back, glaring at Draco pointedly, who gave her a sharp look indicating that this was far from the best time to be discussing the issue.
Pansy did not seize the chance to demand an explanation from Draco about Hermione, however. She was staring at Ginny bewilderedly. "Blaise kidnapped Astoria?"
"Yes he did!" Astoria cut in, coldly. "He was made a Death Eater!"
Pansy almost collapsed; Draco's hand flew out to grip her elbow. Hermione's eyes narrowed.
"But I think a token one." Astoria rolled her eyes. "He seems to have been relieved of his duties, right, Blaise?" There was no response. "Hey, wait a minute..." She paused, puzzled. "Why are you all talking as if he's not..." She turned around and stared at nothingness. "Blaise?"
"Disappeared!" Ron snorted. "What a coward!"
"Shut up!" Pansy flared up.
"Excuse me, you're not much better..."
"Erm, people, we have a battle raging on upstairs..." Neville boldly interjected, but at the same time his voice was shaking. "Maybe that should be our primary concern."
"But we have two possible traitors in the midst!" Corrinne shot Pansy a poisonous look.
"I want to go look for Blaise..." Pansy tried to pull out of Draco's grip, but he was too strong for her.
"Don't be stupid," Draco hissed. "If he could become a Death Eater against your wishes, then he can do anything!"
"But..."
"Pansy Parkinson, maybe you should think about how to get rid of these people who have turned your boyfriend into a traitor!"
"Pot calling the kettle black!" Ron stared in amazement, finding their conversation a little too surreal for his liking. "You're talking as if you're on our side!"
"He is," Hermione said, suddenly, feeling a hot flush overtake her. "He is on our side."
She could feel Draco turn to look at her, but she resolutely refused to meet his gaze.
"You've been saying that all this while, Hermione, that's not going to convince me very much!" Ron glared at her, although he privately acknowledged that he was rather stupid to have believed in the Death Eaters' conversation earlier on, which was mostly likely said out of provocation. But he refused to admit that, and shifted his glare to Draco.
Draco reciprocated with a venomous look, but before they could argue any further, there were more footsteps advancing, this time down the spiral staircase at the end. Draco pulled out his wand, but before the others could scurry back into the corner, the Order members emerged from the dark shadow of the staircase, grim-faced and weary.
"Tonks! Lupin! Moody! Kingsley!" Ginny couldn't help calling out.
"A bit too crowded here, don't you think?" growled Moody as he walked briskly towards them. Then he stopped short when he saw Draco and Pansy in front of him. He glowered at them. "And what in Merlin's name are these two doing here!"
Draco was about to issue a scathing reply, but Hermione beat him to it. "They're – " Hermione faltered a little, casting a wary glance at Pansy, who was still looking chalk white. "They're ok – for now."
"He's a Death Eater!" Kingsley stared in surprise at Hermione.
"He's okay," said Harry, quietly. Hermione spun around to look at him in amazement, but he gave her nothing. Instead he continued to stare ahead at the Order members. Draco, on the other hand, chose to file away his utter surprise and shock regarding that reply for later, and turned back to regard the Order members with suspicion.
"What's that in your hand, Malfoy!" barked Moody, in his most intimidating tone.
"Later, please!" Hermione begged, casting a hesitant look at Draco's dark face.
Moody was about to vehemently object, but Tonks put a hand on his arm. Then she turned her kindly but tired gaze to Hermione. "You okay? We heard you went missing."
Hermione sighed. "Yes Tonks, I'm alright now. What about the Death Eaters, have they been...?"
"We came to check on all of you," said Lupin, grimly. "Moody got rid of Selwyn and Yaxley, and Tonks and I battled the Carrows till their ends, with help of Kingsley here. Mighty triumph that was, the Carrows are a bunch of insane siblings who have gotten quite powerful. Dolohov's been dealt with, that just leaves Bellatrix. Have you all seen her?" He frowned deeply when everyone shook their head.
Tonks fretted. "We've got to get to her before she starts doing anything... was battling her with Kingsley just now before she disappeared! Just allowed us time to get to save Remus from that cruel Dolohov," she winced when she remembered how strong Dolohov was and what he had done to Lupin, and Lupin placed an awkward arm around her.
"Don't know what that witch will do now, let's just split up and look for her – Harry?" He stared at Harry, whose mouth was slightly open, and gazing at him with a shocked expression. "Harry?"
"Oy!" Ron gave Harry a huge shove, and the bespectacled boy nearly lost his balance, such that Ron had to steady him with a hand. "Harry?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange..." Harry was having a hard time digesting it all. Astoria's voice saying, "She's rising in the ranks...", and McGonagall's urgent voice, "Tonks said Remus was cornered in the Tower by Dolohov! She's met with Bellatrix along with Kingsley, she can't save him!", and then the image of Bellatrix throwing a jet of red light at Sirius, pushing him backwards into the flowy curtains that engulfed him – took him to the other side...
"Harry!" Hermione ran forward to grip his shoulder. "What's wrong? Is your scar hurting you again?"
"Dumbledore..." Harry whispered. "He came to rescue you, Remus..." and Lupin's eyes widened with horror. "And Bellatrix must have lured you away by allowing Tonks and Kingsley to – to – "
Remus Lupin did not hesitate any second longer; he spun around and ran towards the staircase. Tonks wordlessly followed. Harry then broke away from Ron and Hermione's hands and ran with all his might.
Following which, Draco Malfoy found himself running alongside everyone else up the staircase. His mind was in a complete whirl, what with the whole Horcrux issue that was still swirling around. The diadem was still in his hand. He had just made another step towards destroying the Dark Lord by ridding the world of another Horcrux. And then there was Hermione Granger, although it was best not to think of her for now... then of course, Blaise and Pansy's complicated plans of kidnapping that had ended up with him and Astoria both free, and now nothing could be more important than the fact that Albus Dumbledore was face-to-face with his ruthlessly conniving and insane aunt. Draco had definitely noticed the waning strength of the Headmaster over the last few days since they came back from the dreaded cave, and this was definitely not a good sign.
No, not good at all.
He ran ahead of the pack, just trailing Ron and Hermione, who were calling after Harry.
Before he even reached the peak of the staircase, he could hear intertwining screams.
"NOO!" Remus Lupin's roar of fury. "EXPELLIAR – "
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Bellatrix's voice seemed to be strengthened by a thousand elixirs.
"NOOOOOO!" Harry's cry of horror.
Draco flew up to the doorway, squeezing beside a shocked Hermione and Ron – only to see the Headmaster of Hogwarts fall backwards, almost theatrically, like a puppet with its strings cut... he couldn't even see Albus Dumbledore's face, just the body tipping off the parapet.
In less than half a second.
Gone.