After all that happened, it was finished.
Immediately after his fall, the Chosen One stumbled on himself. The remaining Death Eaters took a step back; a wave in its own.
Their Dark Lord has fallen. To a child, no less.
Harry was exhausted; dust and dirt covered his sweaty face, on his clothes and his hair. He settled his eyes on the people with dark robes and masks. While most hid behind their masks, everyone could feel the fear washing over them.
They were done.
As soon as Harry regained his breathing, he pointed his wand to the Death Eaters. In a blink of an eye, there were flashes of light flying across the Great Hall as Dark Wizards ran to escape. The Order followed in Harry's steed and the hunt began.
The Higher ranking wizards and the older people were quick to apparate, while the younger, inexperienced and newly recruited Death Eaters were used as shields. As they all ran out to the grounds, the numbers of Death Eaters were decreasing. The only ones who were left behind were the apprehended or surrendered.
Voldemort may have lost, yet it was far from over.
Harry was all set to chase them down, one by one, until his legs gave way. He braced himself with his hands, ignoring the way they scratched his palms. Blood mixed in with the ground before him, and a thought passed his mind. How much blood was shed that day? What's a little more?
It was at that that Harry began to shake with laughter. It was over, yet it was not. It was done, not finished. The day was two things that greatly opposed each other, still it made sense. And as Harry laughed, hot angry tears formed in his eyes.
As people ran towards the ends of Hogwarts, chasing down whoever, Harry was kneeling on the entrance of Hogwarts. It was a dark day, as it always was in Europe. But, it was different. And all those years of suffering caused by Voldemort, Harry screamed.
At his sudden outburst, Death Eaters, the Order and students alike faltered in their steps. The people close to where Harry kneeled deflated, stopping in the middle of the grounds. As everyone turned to stare at Harry, realization crept up to their arms like a spider would. Slowly, the whole castle could be heard sobbing and screaming. It was a day of mourning.
Victory, but not victorious.
Those who were far off into the Dark Forest, far into the paths of Hogwarts and even those on the lakes were not able to witness the revelations of Hogwarts. They continued to track down the remaining Death Eaters.
The Malfoys were not far when they realized the Dark Lord had lost. No, the moment Harry and Voldemort went head on towards one another, Draco had run straight to the arms of his mother and his father immediately pulled Draco by his sleeve.
"Hurry, hurry." Lucius muttered vigorously. Lucius held his wife by the waist, assisting her while constantly pushing Draco to move. As their feet moved, all Lucius could think about was how his world came to a halt when Voldemort held his son. Years of watching Voldemort torture his son, traumatize his wife and abuse his name came crashing down when Harry Potter sprang to life.
In the end, what really mattered to him was not his name, his ties, his riches or his blood. It was his family. And damn him if he ever disregards it again.
The small family ran, daring not to use their wands. Lucius's wand broke at the hands of Voldemort, Draco had no wand in his possession and Narcissa was too scared to even touch hers. No, they would do it on foot. Board one of the small boats of Hogwarts and sail to wherever. Perhaps France; yes they have a home there. It would be safe.
Lucius knew he had betrayed his loyalties. He prayed to whoever god or deity was listening that Harry Potter would win. And they would be able to escape. And never again would their paths cross.
At the sight of the nearing lake, Lucius shoved Draco over a log. As Draco fell over with a yelp, Narcissa reached for her son, pulling Lucius along. All three of them were toppled over one another. It was a sight to behold.
Once the great family of Malfoy, elegant, cold and sophisticated were now crazed and helpless. Oh, how the rug underneath them was pulled so harshly. Their perfect hairs were all over the place. Narcissa's beautiful half bun was falling at the seams, her lush robes were ripped so she could run faster, and a splotch of mud was on her cheek. As for Lucius, his long silver hair was disheveled, he had removed his outer coat and no longer did his eyes carry cool anger.
Draco was the worst of them all; having a few cuts on his lips and one on his neck, his robes were long gone leaving him in his trousers and button up, folded to his elbows, were ripped and bloodied too.
The family tried to untangle themselves, to no success. Narcissa then pushed Lucius off of her, rolling onto her side to let Draco sit up. When they were free, they all stared at each other. A moment of silence passed between the Malfoys. There were no thoughts in their minds. Just a blank slate.
What now?
A minute passed, and then Lucius got to his feet and yanked Draco up. "We mustn't waste much time." He went to help Narcissa to stand, albeit harshly at that. As they stood, they heard the crack of apparation on their right.
And there stood Hermione Granger.
And she was just as bedraggled as them, even more so. Her muggle clothing was made of weaker quality than theirs, with rips and holes on her thin jumper and jeans. Her trousers were uneven in length, as if she had cut it for reasons they will never know. Where her skin showed, she had more scars and wounds than all of them.
And they didn't have to see the scar on her right arm that was made by Narcissa's sister.
Silence was deafening. Lucius made the faintest movement to hide Narcissa behind his back, and to grab Draco's arm. He does not know if the Dark Lord won and the muggle-born had simply escaped, or that Harry Potter prevailed and the ones on the Light side had won.
Hermione pointed her wand at them, her eyes level and deadly. Months on the run had hardened the witch, Lucius noted. Her stance was firm, her feet were planted and her aim was perfect. However, he noticed the small tremble of her lips and her shaky breath.
No one spoke as they faced each other.
Lucius could not take it anymore. He did what he knew he was good at, perhaps the only thing he was good at. Talk.
"...Miss Granger..." he spoke evenly. He was surprised at the sound of his voice, calm and steady as if he had not run downhill with his wife leaning onto him.
"Voldemort's lost." She spat. Her eyes narrowed at them, thrusting her wand to their direction once more.
At this discovery, Lucius felt Narcissa gasp and Draco stiffened. Was the Dark Lord no more? Lucius wanted to ask, but it seems Granger was in no mood to talk. So he settled to reply.
"I see." was all he could muster. Lucius cursed himself at his poor response. It would seem Granger was not impressed. Lucius cleared his throat. Best be done with it.
"And you're here...to arrest us, is that correct?" Lucius waited in bated breath.
Granger's glare darkened. Her trembling lips soothed to a straight line.
That was the answer Lucius needed. Before he could come up with a negotiation, to set them free and that the Malfoys will never show their faces again, Narcissa side-stepped to reveal herself to Granger.
The Muggle-born's eyes shifted to Narcissa, but her wand was still pointed at Lucius. Granger said nothing; all of them waited for Narcissa to speak.
"If we...surrender ourselves...miss Granger, would I still be with my husband and son?" Lucius was shocked to see his wife so timid and scared. Her eyes were downcast and she was shaking in fear. Draco had also snapped his attention to his mother, eyes bulging out of his skull.
"M-mother..." It was the first Draco spoke since they made their escape from Hogwarts. His voice was croaky, probably from all that shouting. It was at Draco's voice that Narcissa remembered who she was.
She matched her gaze to Granger, who has shown a bit of confusion over the question of Narcissa. But the moment Narcissa's eyes became serious, however not cold nor haughty, Granger's glare morphed into a stoic mask.
"I...I cannot guarantee anything, Mrs. Malfoy." Granger spoke quietly. Lucius, from all the times he's met the girl, searched for her proud and haughty voice full of disgust and hatred when she said the name Malfoy.
It was not there.
Granger closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, her hold on her wand laxed. "I cannot guarantee what the Order, and what Kingsley will do to you, Mrs. Malfoy." Granger said in a clear voice. "But, I can promise you that if you hand yourself in, there will be lesser consequences"
At this, all Malfoys released a breath of relief. Although Lucius was hellbent on escaping, he wanted to know what would happen if they were to simply hand themselves in.
Animosity flashed into her eyes once again. "That does not apply to you, Mr. Malfoy." her words were full of venom, Lucius took a step back. Granger's eyes flickered to his son, and she pursed her lips. "Neither to you, Draco Malfoy."
Draco, who was trembling in fear, stiffened at her words. If memory serves correct, Draco had never, not even once, used Granger's first name. And perhaps, this was the first time he heard the Muggle-born say this.
The resentment in her eyes dimmed. This girl, this Muggle-born, was so transparent with her emotions. No wonder she was never considered in Slytherin.
"But...for what you did...to Harry...t-to me...at the...at the..." the Granger girl shifted on her feet. "Your innocence can be proven, however." was all she said.
Lucius's mind travelled back to a few months ago, where blood as red as his was spilled on his expensive rugs. Where a girl was screaming in agony, and his wife had hugged their son in a corner of the room.
As Lucius was about to bring up his deal, Narcissa placed a hand on her husband's arm. Her focus was on the Muggle-born.
"We surrender." Narcissa's voice held its confidence once more.
The Granger girl did not hesitate to arrest them.
Hermione had linked the hands of Malfoy's together and conjured shackles to attach onto their ankles that would connect them. As she finished locking them into place, her eyes met those of silver.
It took her a moment to realize she was looking straight into Draco Malfoy's. His eyes, that once held disgust and hatred, were now contemplating. As if the cogs and wheels in his mind were turning.
Malfoy was the last one Hermione had to shackle. As she got to her feet, Malfoy's eyes never left her. Hermione would usually fumble under scrutiny, this time she would hold her ground. Malfoy's eyes were clouded over and he seemed to be stuck in a daze.
Hermione carried on. Taking a deep breath, she took Malfoy's wrist. That pulled him out of his thoughts, snapping his eyes to where her skin touched his. Hermione ignored the feeling of his eyes on her skin, and waved her want to apparate them.
As she felt the tug in her navel, Hermione did not notice how her grip on Malfoy had tightened.
They landed at the empty grounds of Hogwarts. Just earlier, there had been a wild chase on Death Eaters escaping and now it was eerily quiet.
Hermione shivered and tugged Malfoy to follow. As soon as she remembered whose wrist she was holding, she dropped it as if his skin was ice.
It was far from, though.
She let Malfoy take the lead, noting how his expression darkened at every step he took. Narcissa, who was behind him, closed her eyes as she followed her son. It was Lucius Malfoy who was eyeing her.
Hermione set her gaze on the man, probing him to do anything. Lucius blinked and looked straight ahead. As they walked, Hermione settled at the back, her wand ready if ever any of them make a run for it.