Malfoy Manor
Survive at all costs. Take what was before you, even if it wasn't yours to take.
That was the way of things.
Lucius breathed in deeply.
He looked at the manor appraisingly.
The tables were polished, the marble floors were pristine, the chandeliers glistened in the sunlight.
Not a thing was out of place…
But it was in stark contrast to the world outside. Only an hour away in London, riots and executions were taking place.
Muggles were killing wizards.
It won't be long until the mob arrives here, Lucius thought grimly.
The Dark Lord failed to listen to reason.
"Why should we live in the shadows?" he had said. "We are the superior race. Let the muggles have their frail rebellion."
But the rebellion was far from frail. Countless wizards were dying. Muggle weapons were more advanced than the Dark Lord conceded.
The Magical Alliance was also gaining ground, slowly pushing their way out of Wales and back into Scotland.
How much time until they made it south, to London?
Voldemort's obsession with finding Potter consumed him. He believed that if killed Potter, everything else would fall into place.
But the tide was turning…it could pull them under.
Dolohov interrupted Malfoy's thoughts.
"The rumors say they're bringing Potter back on the Bulgarian ship, the one the Granger girl fled on."
Lucius turned to him.
"There are more than thirty thousand freshwater lochs in Scotland…and when that blasted ship returns, as it inevitably will, it will emerge from one of them." Lucius paused, a satisfied expression on his face. "And now, thanks to Draco, we know which one."
Dolohov smirked.
Lucius looked down at his son's letter again, reading through the last few lines.
…I want the Dark Lord's assurance that Mother will go free. I want to see her free of Edevane's grasp, and yours. I want to make it clear that I did none of this for you, I did it all for her. When the war is over, I'm taking her with me. We will do our best to forget you.
D.M.
Lucius turned to Dolohov once more, his jaw tightening.
"Go to Greymoor Castle. Fetch the youngest Weasley boy. It's time."
600 Kilometers Away
The Magical Alliance watched as a massive ship emerged from the water.
The masts of the Dragomir appeared, then the quarterdeck and the forecastle. Cascades of water dripped down the galleon's sides as it broke through the surface.
Hermione and Draco peered over the railing of the ship. They hung on tightly as the Dragomir fought to steady itself, making large ripples in the water.
The majestic mountains of home greeted their eyes. It looked like it had rained for days on end.
There were tents as far as the eye could see.
There had to be over three thousand soldiers in the camp. It looked like many of them were wounded…
A wretched smell filled the air, and Hermione saw smoke rising in the distance. She was filled with dread as she realized the soldiers were burning the bodies of the dead.
Nikola stood beside her on the deck. "The latest reports say Voldemort is pushing further and further south, leaving destruction in his wake. It's as if he vants to crush the country completely then rebuild it to his own liking."
Malfoy said nothing.
The obscurement charm Voldemort had placed over the country, had weakened slightly, allowing light to filter in.
Nikola looked disdainfully behind her, to the door that led to the Arevalo's sleeping quarters.
"They vill not emerge until after sunset," she said. "Hopefully they vill keep their promise and listen to Agarby's orders."
The Arevalos had cleared the ship of rats. They were temperamental, eyeing the crew with hungry eyes in the last leg of the journey…
And now with the smell of blood in the air, they grew more restless.
The temperature was ice cold, and the warm air of Spain was a distant memory.
Malfoy offered Hermione his coat. "Put this on. I'll get us something warm to drink."
He left for the dining hall, and returned a moment later with a goblet of hot cider.
"For the cold," he said. "I'm going to pack my things. Meet you back out here?"
Hermione nodded, tipping back the cider and letting the warm liquid run down her throat.
"I must speak with the crew," Nikola said, leaning away from the railing.
Hermione was about to head for her own cabin, when Konstantin crashed into her, barking madly.
She jumped and dropped the goblet. It shattered all over the deck.
"Forgive him," Nikola called. "He's eager to set foot on land."
Some time later, darkness fell. Nikola and the crew disembarked first, closely followed by Hermione and Draco.
Nikola met with Aksel Agarby. There was a retinue of soldiers standing behind him.
"Captain Rostov!" exclaimed Aksel. "You must meet the commander of the army.…"
A man rode towards them on an eight legged stallion. The horse had large silver wings and its enormous body was covered in armor.
Nikola inclined her head. "Commander Braaten, an honor to meet you at last."
The man wore a metal helmet on his head, and there were tattoos covering one side of his face.
The soldiers behind him had runes carved on their tongues—symbols for protection and victory. They wore their long hair in braids down their backs.
Intricate patterns were carved into their wands, and they held painted shields that glimmered with magic.
Braaten's army also possessed a large number of winged horses, and at the far end of the camp they'd brought two of their native dragons, a pair of Norwegian Ridgebacks.
The creatures were chained to the ground, watched closely by their keepers.
The soldiers looked like they'd just returned from battle.
The soles of many of their boots were torn, and they were repairing them with their wands. Their faces were smeared with mud and their cloaks were shredded.
A distance away, healers were tending to the injured on makeshift cots. They had ghastly wounds and missing limbs…
A healer helped one of the wounded men sit up. "We have to do it now," he said, raising his wand. "Brace yourself."
The soldier bit the edge of his shield as the healer cursed his leg off.
His screams rent the air, and Hermione and Draco looked away.
It was not home as they remembered it, nothing was as they remembered it…
Silence fell over the army as the Arévalos disembarked from the ship, led by Sebastián.
The soldiers gripped their wands tightly, looking at the vampires with suspicion.
"How many are dead?" Sebastián asked, looking at the smoke rising in the distance.
"Over a hundred men," Braaten answered.
"We will do things differently, from now on," Sebastián informed him. Too many mistakes have been made under your command. Where was your last battle and how long ago?"
Braaten's eyes narrowed. "What does it matter to you, bloodsucker?"
Hermione could see Sebastián resist the urge to rip the commander's head from his body. He gestured to the vampires standing behind him.
"They must feed. They must hunt. Or would you like to offer up your wounded soldiers? The smell of blood is in the air, they won't stand idle for long." Sebastián threw a leering look at the injured men. "But it would be unwise to weaken our own army, don't you agree?"
Braaten scoffed. "This is not your army."
"I will not ask again. Where and when was your last battle?"
"Eighty kilometers north of here. Shortly before you arrived."
Sebastián turned to his coven. "Hunt in the woods, and if you are not satisfied, take the bodies of Voldemort's injured soldiers. Feast on those he has left on the battlefield. We must not spare them. They must not live to fight another battle."
The vampires darted past him and disappeared into the trees.
Nikola turned to Aksel Agarby. "What happened to the soldiers that Voldemort drained of magic? It was reported that a quarter of the army was debilitated."
Agarby nodded. "They tend to the sick, some still fight—with swords and other muggle weapons."
Sebastián looked at Agarby disdainfully. "There will no longer be a need for that."
"And the Order of the Phoenix?" Nikola asked.
"Alastor Moody is at the head now," said Agarby. "He's scheduled to arrive tomorrow with several others from London."
Aksel Agarby gestured to his tent. "We should speak inside, but first, we must let Ms. Granger rest," he said, looking over at Hermione.
She bristled. She had no intention of being left out of the conversation.
"I don't wish to retire. I had more than enough rest on the ship."
Agarby raised an eyebrow at her. "Thank you, Ms. Granger for bringing the Arévalos to us. But you must go now." He gestured to one of his guards, "Morten, will you show Ms. Granger the way?"
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but Sebastián stared at her intently, warning her to keep quiet.
She reminded herself that Sebastián was the only one who knew about the old prophecy. Everyone else was still under the impression that Harry was meant to kill Voldemort. In Agarby's eyes, she was nothing more than a teenage girl who needed to stay out of the way.
She and Draco made to follow the guard.
"One moment, Ms. Granger."
"Yes?" she said, turning to look at Agarby again.
"Mr. Malfoy will not be joining you."
He raised his wand. "Incarcerous."
Thick ropes circled around Draco's body.
Hermione stared at him in shock.
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Granger, but we have all agreed…"
Hermione turned to Nikola, but the Bulgarian looked away from her, averting her eyes.
"We will trade him for one of ours," said Agarby in a smooth voice. "As you know, Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange have the Weasley family captive—"
Hermione shook her head. "There must be some other way—"
"We will trade him," Agarby insisted. "For one of the Weasleys. Alastor Moody and the Order have agreed."
Hermione turned to Nikola, enraged. "You planned this with them behind my back!"
"Would you rather your friends die, Ms. Granger?" Sebastián cut in coldly. "A cowardly decision don't you think?"
Hermione struggled to form words.
"Take Ms. Granger to her tent, and make sure she stays there," Agarby told the guard.
Sebastián whispered into Hermione's ear. "You didn't think they would let you keep him, did you?
He turned to Malfoy and lifted his arm, showing Hermione the Dark Mark.
"Once a traitor, always a traitor."
Hermione was seething. "You would know all about traitors."
Sebastián's eyes darkened, but he said nothing.
"Take Ms. Granger now," Agarby ordered.
The guard dragged her away, kicking and screaming.
"As for you, Mr. Malfoy," Agarby said with narrowed eyes. "Will you come quietly or must we endure a scene from you as well?"
Draco said nothing. He felt numb.
He nodded his assent.
Two soldiers seized him.
It didn't matter what happened to him, his plan was already set in motion.
His father would have his letter by now, and there was no turning back.
He could save Hermione, but he could not save Potter.
It was completely dark. Hermione opened her eyes and lay still for several moments, trying to piece together what had happened. She was lying in a tent. It felt like she had slept for hours. She realized the guard must have stunned her. She looked up and saw a bluish light dance across the top of the canvas. It was glowing brighter and brighter, lighting up everything around her.
She was freezing. She pulled the coat Draco had given her tightly around herself and stumbled outside, trying to find the source of the light.
There, at the edge of the woods, was a dazzling, silver stag.
The creature's large, silver eyes bored into hers as she took a cautious step forward.
Hermione held her breath as the stag tipped its head to one side, beckoning her to follow it.
She gasped when the animal dashed past her and galloped into the woods.
Branches caught in Hermione's hair as she chased after it. She tossed them aside.
Soon, she was out of breath.
For a moment she feared she was lost. The stag's hooves made no marks in the ground, and she had no way of tracking it.
Then she heard movement to her left. She tore through the trees and stopped in the middle of a clearing.
The stag had cantered to a halt in front of a boy.
She could only see his outline. He was like a specter. Then the light faded, and the stag vanished.
Hermione hadn't seen him in so long, he'd become something like a ghost in her memory…the legendary boy everyone whispered about. But he was only a skinny, gangly boy of fifteen. His glasses hung haphazardly on his nose. His breath came out in cold puffs. His green eyes darted back and forth, scanning her face.
It was Harry, a little older and taller than she remembered him…but still Harry.
Hermione walked forward, and her legs shook slightly.
He closed the distance between them in one quick stride, flinging his arms around her.
"I thought I'd never see you again," he whispered.
Hermione shed tears she'd been holding back for months. Harry held on to her tightly. For a few moments she just trembled in his arms...
Then it all poured out of her, the attack on Hogwarts, the dreams she had of him dying…everything.
Harry tried to soothe her, but it was no use.
"I was able to get Ginny out," Hermione said, "but there were so many others—like Cho and Seamus, they—"
Her voice cracked. She couldn't finish the sentence.
Harry spoke. "It's alright, Hermione. It's not your fault…"
"I'm so glad you're here," she said. She hugged him so tightly she was on the verge of crushing him.
"Hermione…I can't breathe."
"Right, sorry," she said, wiping away her tears.
"I wanted to go back to Hogwarts," Harry said. "But after the Magical Alliance agreed to help us, I had to look for Voldemort's horcruxes abroad."
Hermione nodded.
"After that, I made it to Spain and Sebastián told me everything—I know about his past, about the old prophecy…"
"Why didn't you find me on the ship?" Hermione asked. "I knew you were there, but I never saw you."
"You already had company," said Harry in a tight voice.
Draco, she thought.
Hermione swallowed her fear and decided to plunge headfirst into the most difficult thing she had to say to him.
"You have to listen to me. I need to explain—about Malfoy. He saved me at the battle, more than once. He—"
Harry's face darkened. "Malfoy is where he needs to be, under close watch. If he really betrayed his family, then Lucius won't take him back, will he? We'll just have to wait and see."
Lucius might not take him back, Hermione thought, but Voldemort would…
He would torture him for deserting. He would torture him then kill him.
"He's changed—" she began.
Harry sighed.
"Hermione, I don't understand any of it—why you chose him, why you defend him…but the truth is—I don't know what you went through all these months. Ron and I were gone. We left you behind. You were on your own. You had to make difficult choices. And maybe you needed him to survive, I don't know…"
"It's more than that, Harry. He and I—"
Harry shook his head, shutting his eyes. "I don't need to know—that's between you and him."
"Help me speak with Agarby," Hermione pleaded. "He can't deliver Malfoy to the Death Eaters. He hasn't done anything wrong."
Harry shook his head. "I can't do that."
His words incited her anger. "Can't or won't?"
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Half the people we know are missing or dead. There's no one left to protect us. We have to be careful."
"Yes, but—"
We have more important things to worry about than Malfoy," Harry said through gritted teeth, losing his patience.
He looked exhausted. There were rings around his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept properly in days.
He ignored Hermione's look of concern and went on. "Tell me what you know about Tom Riddle's past."
Hermione took a steadying breath.
She told him about the Founder's book, about Catherine…everything she'd learned.
"I thought the book would help me find Catherine's daughter," Hermione said bitterly. "But it's gone now."
Harry nodded. "What do you think became of her?"
Hermione breathed in deeply. "I think Catherine sent her to the only place she knew…even if it hurt her to do it."
She took a step closer to Harry. "I have to go to London, to Bellefaire Orphanage. There must be some record of her daughter there. I have to find out who she is. It's the one thing Sebastián doesn't know. And I can't take anyone from the Order or the Alliance with me. This secret is too important. Voldemort can't know she exists."
Hermione reached for Harry's arm.
"Harry, I need one day—one day to go to London and figure this out. Can you make sure they keep Malfoy here until then?"
Harry breathed in deeply. "I can't promise you that. If they can exchange him for Ron or any of the others, I won't stop them."
Hermione realized he would not concede, and she couldn't blame him. Not after everything he'd been through.
"Then I'll have to hurry," she said.
She'd spent so many months wondering if Harry was alive, and now that she'd finally found him, all they had done was argue.
She walked away from him, her heart heavy.
She needed to pack her things...
Harry called after her. "The prophecy said she's supposed to find you, remember?"
Hermione turned to face him. "I can't wait for Voldemort's daughter to find me. I need to end this before things get worse."
Harry stepped closer to her. "London is too dangerous. It's not how you remember it—"
"It doesn't matter."
"How will you get there?" Harry asked. "Apparition is blocked. Only Death Eaters can apparate freely between cities now. And you can't fly, not with the dementors patrolling the skies."
"I'll take muggle transport if I have to, a car—anything."
"You won't go alone," Harry said. "I'll go with you."
Hermione looked at him, confused. "But you have a horcrux to destroy. Sebastián said there's still one left. Isn't that more important?"
Something in Harry's face changed.
"It can wait," he said. He took a deep breath and looked at Hermione carefully. "What if you're wrong? What if the answers you're searching for aren't in London?"
Hermione shook her head. "I'm almost certain—"
Harry smiled weakly at her. "You don't have to be so sure about everything, Hermione."
Her voice broke. "Maybe we're both pretending to be more daring and clever than we are. But what choice do we have?"
Harry stepped closer to her. "Maybe prophecies are fulfilled only if we choose them—if we believe in them. Voldemort believed in his, and he made it real. He dragged me into this…I never had a choice. But maybe you don't have to do this."
Hermione looked at him with a very weary expression. "Who would I be if I didn't see this through? I can't run away anymore than you can. I don't want to. I want Voldemort gone." She breathed in deeply, swallowing back tears. "This is my responsibility now. I have to find Catherine's daughter—just like you have to destroy Voldemort's horcrux."
Hermione stepped closer to him.
"What is the final horcrux, Harry?"
Something in his eyes shifted. He shook his head at her. "I—"
She was about to speak again, when Harry's legs gave out from under him. He screamed and clutched his scar in agony.
"HARRY, HARRY WHAT IS IT?!"
His screams intensified, and the way he cradled his head, it was like someone was driving a sledgehammer into his skull.
"They're looking for something…at the ruins of the old abbey." Harry gasped.
Hermione looked at him with a terrified expression. "What do you mean?"
"Voldemort ordered them to go. They think he knows…"
"Knows what? What are you talking about?"
"They have Ron. The Death Eaters have Ron at Renwick Abbey."
Harry took slow, shuddering breaths, waiting for the pain to subside. "It's only a few kilometres east of here…"
He screamed into the darkness. "Accio Firebolt!"
For several minutes there was silence, then they heard something crashing through the branches of the trees.
Harry's Firebolt zoomed into his outstretched hand.
Hermione watched him mount the broom with a horrified expression on her face.
"Harry we need to get help. You can't go alone."
"There isn't time. They'll kill him. I saw it—"
"Harry, how do you know this is real? What if Voldemort is using his connection to—"
"Only Ron knew where it was. He would never tell them where it was, unless they took him in person."
"Where what was? The horcrux?"
"No," said Harry. "I can't explain now."
"Harry this is stupid, you can't—"
"I have to take the risk. I can't let Ron die."
"What if—"
"I haven't given up on him, Hermione!"
She reached for his arm. "I haven't given up on him either."
Harry looked at her coldly. "No…but you've been busy, begging for Malfoy's life."
Hermione was stunned into silence. He wasn't being fair. She didn't know what to say to make him stay.
"Harry, please. You're not thinking this through—"
"I have to face Voldemort eventually."
"Yes, but with all of us at your side!" Hermione screamed, gesturing to the camp behind them. "Not like this—you can't go alone!"
Harry looked at her as if she was standing very far away. "I'm meant to go alone…I was always meant to go alone. I've left you an army, Hermione…use it well. Make sure you kill him."
Hermione felt something lodge in her throat. It was like he was saying goodbye. "I can't lose you," she said in a choked voice. "Not both of you—"
"Ron isn't gone yet. I can feel it."
He walked away.
"Harry, let me go with you!"
"No!"
"I don't understand—"
"It's not for you to understand, Hermione!"
He aimed his wand at her. "Expelliarmus!"
Hermione's wand flew out of her hand.
"Don't follow me," he warned.
"Harry, please…"
She took a step closer to him.
"Impedimenta!"
Hermione's feet remained rooted to the ground.
Harry aimed his wand at her again and everything went black.
Hermione felt disoriented and confused, trying to remember how she had ended up in the middle of the woods.
Then it came back to her, like a bad dream.
She stretched her hand out, searching for her wand in the darkness.
She was lying on her side, and she felt a sharp stab of pain that made her grimace.
Something was digging into her ribs, something sewn into the coat Malfoy had given her.
She winced as a pointed edge collided with her side again.
She found her wand and sat up. She muttered an incantation. A rip appeared in the seam of the coat.
She reached inside, feeling something square and heavy.
"Lumos," she said, as she pulled the object out.
For several moments Hermione's mind failed to accept what she was seeing.
The golden cover of the Founder's Book glimmered in the light.
Cold dread filled her.
Malfoy had stolen the book, not Calatrava. He had let her search for hours, and all along he had known where it was…
Hermione struggled to breathe.
Then she thought back to the beginning.
The lashings on Draco's back…Romena Wright had tortured him at Hogwarts because she was certain he held important information. And she hadn't let him go, which meant she'd learned enough to know the story he'd given Dumbledore was a lie. And if that was true, Malfoy had never stopped working for Voldemort.
Hermione swallowed.
He had used her, lied to her…
Everyone had warned her. Nikola, Ginny and now Harry…but she hadn't listened.
More than anything, she'd wanted to believe Draco had changed.
A cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and her rapid, shallow breaths increased in intensity as she realized Agarby's guard hadn't stunned her.
Draco had drugged her long before that…she recalled the moments they'd spent together on the ship…he'd disappeared into the dining hall and brought her something to drink.
"For the cold," he had said, handing her a goblet of hot cider. Then he had disappeared into his cabin.
She hadn't finished it. It was the only reason she was awake now.
Oh god, she thought. Harry. She had led him straight to Harry.
Draco wanted to make sure she was out of the way, fast asleep while Harry walked into a trap.
Hermione didn't know how much time had passed, but she knew she had to hurry. She ran back to the camp, screaming for help.
She lifted her wand high into the air, and three loud blasts erupted from the end of it.
They sounded like gunshots.
Lights went on, illuminating the camp.
She had to get to Agarby…
From a distance she could see Nikola rush onto the deck of the Dragomir.
"Vat is it, Granger?!" she shouted.
Hermione ignored her and kept running, her legs were burning…her muscles screamed in protest.
She ran into a soldier.
"Where can I find Agarby?!"
He pointed to a tent at the far end of the camp.
Hermione ran faster. People were shouting at her, asking questions, but she didn't stop.
When she finally skidded to a halt in front of Agarby's sleeping quarters, two guards blocked her way.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" she screamed, trying to shove past them."THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!"
"What is it?!" Agarby shouted, stumbling outside, his robes askew.
"THEY HAVE HARRY! THEY HAVE—"
"WHO? WHAT?!"
"THE DEATH EATERS—AT THE RUINS OF RENWICK ABBEY!"
She rushed past the guards and into the tent, desperate to find a broom.
"Ms. Granger, what are you doing?"
"Harry left to help Ronald Weasley!"
She searched a half open trunk, and found a broomstick with a cedar handle.
"We'll gather the forces—"
"I can't waste time," said Hermione. "This is all my fault…I have to find him."
She rushed outside and ignored Agarby's cries of protest.
More soldiers were leaving their tents, hurrying outside to see what all the commotion was about.
She mounted the broom and zoomed forward.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sebastián walk onto the deck of the Dragomir. His golden eyes watched her, almost like he knew something she didn't…but he made no move to stop her.
Hermione looked away from him and shot past the perimeter of the camp.
"THEY'VE GOT POTTER!"
Draco stirred.
The two men guarding him were speaking in loud, anxious voices.
So it had happened. The Death Eaters had used Ron as bait, and Harry had gone after him…
Draco felt his stomach lurch.
By tomorrow Hermione would know the truth…
"The Granger girl is gone too."
Draco's head snapped up.
"…stole Agarby's broom and went after Potter."
One of the soldiers left the tent, rushing outside to see what the orders were.
He left the flap open.
Panic consumed Draco as he watched the camp come alive. Soldiers were throwing on their armor. The winged horses were prepared. People were running in opposite directions, gathering weapons and shields.
His heart seized. Hermione was supposed to be asleep until morning.
In the distance he could see the Dragomir.
Nikola was waking the crew, urging them to join her on the deck, and the Arévalos were disembarking, making their way to land.
They shot past everyone at blinding speed, tearing through the woods, Magdalena and Enrique in the lead.
The abbey was kilometers away, but they'd probably reach it before anyone else.
Draco fought against his bindings. He had to leave. He had to reach Hermione before the Death Eaters did.
He remembered she'd stolen a broomstick, which meant she was flying…what if the dementors—no, he refused to think it.
Draco was bound to a post in the middle of the tent. His wand was gone. But there was only one soldier left guarding him now…
Draco screamed like a madman, writhing as though he were in excruciating pain.
The guard approached him. "QUIET!"
There was an explosion outside.
One of the dragons had gotten away from its keeper.
The beast set a whole row of tents on fire.
The guard was momentarily distracted as the disaster unfolded, and Draco saw his opportunity.
He kicked the man in the face.
The guard stumbled back.
Malfoy struck him again, this time breaking his nose.
"Accio wand!" Maloy screamed.
The wand flew out of the man's hand.
Draco muttered a spell and undid the ropes that bound him.
"STUPEFY!" he shouted.
The guard landed on his back with a tremendous crash.
Draco fled the tent.
Everyone was distracted. They didn't notice him weaving through the crowd.
He stole the first broom he could find and shot up into the air. The Dementors surrounded him at once, but he showed them the Dark Mark.
They let him pass.
He had to find her.
Hermione flew low to the ground.
Even though she couldn't see them, she could feel the presence of the Dementors above her. They wanted to poison her with fear, they wanted to make her feel like she had already lost, like there was no point in going on…
But she couldn't stop…she kept Harry's face at the forefront of her mind. If she thought of Harry, her hope would remain intact.
She wove in and out of trees, afraid she'd hit something in the darkness.
She didn't know where she was going, Harry had said the abbey was a few kilometres east of the camp, but what if she'd already passed it?
The only way to know for sure, was to fly higher.
Hermione's hands slid slightly on the handle of her broomstick.
She knew she'd have to face the dementors if she left the ground, but she saw no other way.
She jerked the handle up, rising a few inches higher.
The wind pushed her hair into her face, and she narrowly avoided slamming into a tree.
When she regained her balance, she looked up. Black figures darted past the treetops.
She wrenched the handle back down. It was too risky. If the dementors saw her, they would attack. She didn't know how many there were. And if she fought them, she would waste precious time in the struggle.
Hermione felt sick with guilt. This was all her fault.
Hot tears of rage streamed down her face.
Draco wanted Harry dead all along.
Every memory of Draco was tainted, ever kiss he gave her was like a dose of poison that made her stomach twist and unravel.
He knew too much, he could ruin everything, he could—
She saw something through a gap in the trees.
It was the abbey.
She slowed the broom, seeing where she should land.
The night air was still and quiet.
Hermione hit the ground with a thud.
There was no one here. Or so it appeared.
Then she heard a scream.
She froze, terrified.
Two Death Eaters were dragging Ron away from the ruins.
She barely recognized him. His face was caked with blood and dirt.
"Where is it?!" Dolohov shouted.
"I don't know!"
Avery slammed Ron against the stone wall, making him scream in agony.
At the far end of the woods she saw something move in the darkness. Harry appeared out of thin air. He had been watching the abbey from under the invisibility cloak.
Hermione's pulse skyrocketed. She looked furtively around her. More Death Eaters would arrive soon, she was sure of it.
Harry pulled the cloak back over himself, intent on subduing Ron's captors.
No, she thought. Stay in the woods, stay in the woods until help comes…
Moments later there was a flash of red light and Avery was stricken down. Ron yelled. Dolohov turned on the spot, dragging Ron close to him, looking for the assailant.
The Death Eater began blasting curses left and right, sensing someone was hiding in the darkness.
Hermione raised her wand, prepared to stun him. She was several yards away. If she missed, she had no cloak to hide her.
Hermione breathed in deeply. Dolohov wouldn't stop moving. He was relentless, casting curses blindly in every direction. She couldn't get a clear shot of him…
Suddenly, there was a loud thud, and a large imprint was made on the grass next to Dolohov's feet.
Hermione held her breath.
No, please no…
Dolohov crouched down and reached out.
The invisibility cloak slid off of Harry's face. Hermione's heart thundered to a stop.
Ron was screaming, Dolohov was shouting….
Harry stood. He and Dolohov raised their wands at the same time.
There was a blast.
Ron fell sideways, and Dolohov and Harry went flying in opposite directions.
Hermione threw caution to the wind, and rushed out of her hiding place.
The allies knew where they were. Maybe if she held the Death Eaters off for long enough, they would arrive in time to help them.
Ron's eyes widened in shock when he caught sight of her. She saw Avery stir behind him. She raised her wand and cursed him. He slumped and lost consciousness again.
She was about to curse Dolohov next when people started materializing out of thin air. Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, Yaxley…Snape.
Her wand was snatched away.
Snape took hold of Ron, and Dolohov dragged Harry back.
"Why did you come?!" Harry shouted at Hermione. "You were supposed to stay away—"
Dolohov punched him in the gut, and the wind was knocked out of him.
Bellatrix seized Hermione and looked up, pointing at the night sky. The other Death Eaters followed her gaze.
There was someone circling over them.
Hermione caught a flash of blonde hair, and her heart seemed to stop beating as she watched Draco land on the ground in front of them.
Their eyes met and she felt her body go cold.
Bellatrix laughed shrilly into her ear, pushing her forward. "Greet your lover, mudblood."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears.
"No?" Bellatrix said softly. "Pity."
Hermione shut her eyes. She willed herself not to shed another tear. She wanted to hold on to her fury…it was the only way to make it through this. She would not crumble. Not in front of him.
Bellatrix pressed her cheek to hers. "Men serve to fulfill whims, fancies, pleasure…trust them and they will use you. Love them and they will ruin you. As he has done to you."
She turned to Draco. "I knew you would break her."
Draco forced a nod, but his hands were shaking.
Lucius stepped forward.
He took Draco's arm and raised it high, facing the other Death Eaters.
"My son has led us to Potter. Let all of you bear witness. May the Dark Lord reward him beyond compare…"
Hermione felt her chest constrict as she stared into Malfoy's face. She had been so foolish…so blind…
Draco heard his father speak, but couldn't make out anything of what he said. He was struggling to remain standing. Hermione was looking at him like she wished he were dead…
Lucius spoke again but Draco wasn't listening. He gripped his wand. He was going to blast Bellatrix away from Hermione's side—he didn't care if they killed him afterwards—
"THEY'VE CAUGHT UP TO US!" Dolohov shouted, pointing at the woods.
Everyone turned.
Sebastián's coven was breaking through the trees.
Adrenaline rushed through Draco's veins.
"You don't need Granger or Weasley," he said quickly to his father. "Leave them—let's take Potter and go."
Hermione looked over at Dolohov. His hold had loosened on Harry slightly. There was an odd look on the Death Eater's face…almost like he'd been confunded.
No one else seemed to notice. They were too busy looking at the Arévalos.
Beside her, Draco was panicking. His father wasn't listening to him. He had to take matters into his own hands. It was now or never…
He turned to Bellatrix and raised his wand slightly. She was distracted, staring intently at the approaching vampires…
He opened his mouth to curse her, but his father seized his arm. "Are you mad?!"
Draco tried to twist away from him. "LET GO OF ME!"
Behind them there was a loud BANG.
Harry had stolen Dolohov's wand. He aimed it at Snape.
"Everte statum!"
Snape flipped backwards and Ron slipped out of his grasp.
"RUN!" Harry shouted.
Yaxley knocked the wand out of Harry's hand. He tackled him to the ground.
For a few seconds, Ron stood stunned, staring down at Snape.
The other Death Eaters were screaming instructions, horrified that the vampires were drawing closer.
"Run you stupid boy," said Snape, in a voice barely above a whisper. "Run now…"
Ron looked at him in shock.
"GET OUT OF HERE!" Hermione shouted.
Ron looked up at her, then his eyes traveled to Harry's face.
Harry nodded at him, still pinned down by Yaxley.
"YOU CAN'T HELP US!" Hermione shouted. "GO!"
Ron backed away from Snape.
He half-limped, half-ran towards the Arévalos.
Dolohov stepped forward, raising his wand high.
"Leave the Weasley boy!" Lucius shouted. "We must leave now!"
Dolohov pulled Snape to his feet and they disapparated together.
Hermione felt everything shift around her as Bellatrix grabbed her arm.
Next to her, Harry and Yaxley disappeared. Then Lucius and Draco.
Everything was fading, she was vanishing too…
The Arévalos were only feet away now.
Hermione saw Enrique dash towards her. She lunged forward, and he reached for her hand. The tips of his fingers touched hers. But it was too late…
Hermione was sucked into the vortex that Bellatrix had created.
She disappeared into the night sky, leaving Ron and the Arévalos behind.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Reviews highly appreciated! Thank you for patiently waiting for this new chapter! I'm aiming to continue my bi-weekly updates. Sometimes work delays me a bit, but the good news is I've outlined the remaining chapters (there's about seven left). I promise I will see this story through to the end. As always, thank you for reading :)
