BEG: FT

Disclaimer: See chapt 1!

A/n: Thank you so much to everyone who loved this story and reviewed. I love you all, and this will be the final chapter.

Chapter 4

Harry was nudged awake by what he thought was Lycaeus. Then he suddenly remembered that Lycaeus had taken Ron to Madam Pomfrey. He bolted up… and into the smiling face of Henry. "Up at last, Master Harry!"

            "Henry!" Harry cried. He observed his surroundings. A smiling Timms and Dubbs stood behind him. A union of guards stood behind them. They were trapped. Surrounded. He poked Hermione who was sleeping next to him. She opened her eyes slowly and gave a small scream. She wrapped her arm around Harry's.

            "You shouldn't have run," Henry said. "Gave yourselves completely away. Wasn't it a bit odd that the prince and the dungeon prisoner disappeared on the same night?"

            "Al right, so you finally found us," Harry snapped.

            "You must come back to the palace," Henry said. "And she will return to the dungeon to await her execution."

Hermione drew in a sharp gasp.

            "I drop all charges," Harry said.

            "Sir, you are not yet king," Henry said.  "And the law is the law. Get the girl."

They were swarmed upon. Hermione was ripped from Harry's grasp. "Harry!"

            "It'll be alright," he shouted. He turned angrily to Henry. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

            "Following orders," Henry stated.

            "This is bullshit!" Harry cried. "In less than twenty-four hours, I will be king! I demand that you let her go… NOW."

            "You do not have the power to change the law, Sir. We'll just have to have her execution today, won't we?" Henry smirked.

Hermione was thrown into a carriage and it shot into the sky. Harry watched it until it was out of site. His heart was breaking. "You can't do this," He said. "It's wrong!"

            "What she did was wrong, what you did was wrong! What I'm doing is fair and just and it is the law, Master Harry. It is the law."

            "SHE is to be my bride!" Harry yelled. "And I will not let her die, do you hear me, Henry? Not by the hands of you or any other! I swear on my mother's grave, Henry!"

            "Have I taught you nothing, Sir?" Henry asked causally. "It is not right to swear when you're saying things that are untrue."

            "So help you…" Harry growled.

            "Funny how the prince will marry a muggle-born just like his father, eh sir?" Dubbs asked Henry.

            "Shut up, you moronic idiot!" Henry spat.

Harry froze. "What did you just say? He asked Dubbs.

            "Uh, nothing."

            "My mother was muggle born!?" Harry cried. "All of my life! You've lied to me all of my life?"

            "It was only to protect you," Henry stuttered.

            "Protect me?!" Harry shouted. "By lying to me?"

            "Your mother's background was unhealthy to you! To think that she dated those… those MUGGLES before marrying your father, it was disgusting and I would not let you follow her path. I made a promise to myself the day they died."

            "My mother was a witch," Harry said.

            "But she might not have been! It was fate that brought her letter to Hogwarts! What if you marry this… this muggle-born and she decides not to teach your heir the magical arts? What then?"

            "She'd never do that! She's a witch."

            "Really, Master Harry?" Henry circled him slowly.

            "You don't know her," Harry spat. "I love her and that's that."

            "I daresay, Sir. If you indeed believe that you love this Muggle-born,"

            "WITCH." Harry narrowed his eyes.

            "Do not marry her, but keep her on the side as a little something extra," he said. "Marry a pure-blood, I guarentee she'll never find out."

            "Why do you want to destroy my happiness? Why can't you leave us alone?" Harry asked. "I want to marry Hermione. She's the one that I love. Now, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you, tomorrow, on my seventeenth birthday, she will become queen."

Henry checked his watch. "I'm afraid she won't live to see your birthday, sir. Her execution should just now be getting underway."

Hermione paced back and forth in her cell. Where was Harry? Oh God, she was going to die today! She was going to die without seeing him again.

            "Calm down there, miss." The guard squawked at her. "You should use this time to pray. It'll all be over soon." He laughed. "One spell, sure you won't feel a thing."

            "I'm so glad you can laugh at the suffering of others," Hermione spat. "I swear I will come back and haunt you!"

The guard laughed. "Fifteen minutes, miss."

Should she pray? She paced even faster.

            "Hermione," someone whispered her name.

            "Great, now I'm hearing things," she said miserably.

            "Up here!!!" the voice sounded more urgent.

Hermione looked up and nearly fainted. Ron was sitting on Harry's Firebolt, the Invisibility Cloak covering him. He was hovering a few feet above the guard. His head was poking out of the cloak.

            "Ron!" she whispered, hope filling inside of her. Maybe she would make it out of here alive!

            "Get him to open your cell," he mouthed.

            "SIR!" Hermione cried, calling to the guard.

            "What!?" he growled.

            "I uhmm… have a girl issue and uhm… well, I'd rather get it taken care of before you know, my fifteen minutes are up." She said in a rush. "So may I use the bathroom?"

The guard got up, fumbling for his wand. He opened the cell and--- it all happened quickly. He was hit from behind by Ron and dropped to the ground. Ron reappeared behind him. "Get on!"

Hermione slid on behind him and Ron pulled the Invisibility Cloak over the two of them. They shot out of the dungeon like a rocket.

            "Where's Harry?" she asked.

            "I don't know," Ron moaned, narrowly missing an owl as they sped up into the sky. "I was just leaving Madam Pomfrey's when I saw them bringing you in. You gave one hell of a struggle."

            "Thanks," she whispered. "How are you feeling?"

            "Much better, Madam Pomfrey's a genius."

Hermione gave a small laugh. "Where are we going?"

            "Harry's room. The window's always open… you can hide there with the Cloak. You should be safe there… until tomorrow."

Hermione didn't know what to say. For once in her life, she was truly speechless.

Without Lycaeus, Harry was forced to ride back to the palace in the royal chariot; Henry, Dubbs and Timms sitting inches away from him to keep a watchful eye. Harry closed his eyes and rested his head back against the seat. They were going to be too late, he knew it. She would be taken from him forever.

            "Sir?" Henry asked gently.

            "If you hurt her, Henry I will make you the sorriest piece of filth on this planet," Harry barked.

            "You have your father's bravery," he said. "And I'm sure deep down you have his sense of reasoning. She broke the law, and must be punished."

            "I broke the law too! I got her out of the dungeon- why isn't anyone punishing me?" He didn't want to bring up Ron's name. He didn't even know if Ron was okay.

            "You are the prince," Henry said. "Surely we cannot punish those who punish."

As soon as the chariot touched ground, Harry jumped out of it and raced toward the dungeons, among the hollers and shouts from those behind him.

            "Sir Harry!" The dungeon receptionist bowed as he raced down the steps. He flew past her, checking every cell. Hermione wasn't there. A guard, hidden from the receptionists view, was sitting up, rubbing his head. A lump caught in Harry's throat.

            "Where is the girl?" Harry asked.

            "Name?" she said, sitting down and opening a big book.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Hermione Granger."

            "Granger, Granger…" her finger ran along the pages. "Ah, here we go! She was executed today, about half an hour ago."

Harry slumped against the wall. "And… there wasn't any problems?"

            "No," the receptionist said, checking the book again. "I didn't get any reports from the guards."

Harry sank down to the dungeon floor. This couldn't be happening. "How did they do it?"

            "The A-K curse,"

That curse. Harry felt like he couldn't breathe. He clutched his chest.

            "Sir?" The receptionist asked. "Are you al right?"

            "Where's her body?" Harry answered. Harry had to see her, even though she was dead. He had to say he was sorry… sorry for dragging her through all of this, and now, because of him, she was dead.

            "Sir!!" Dubbs, and Timms came down the dungeon steps. "You must return to the palace, sir." Dubbs said.

            "Mister Henry needs you immediately." Timms added.

            "I'm going to see Hermione," he stated coldly.

            "Do to your frugulent behavior, Mister Henry has said that we may use force if necessary." Said Dubbs.

Harry pulled out his wand, but then quickly put it back in his robes, getting an idea. "Yes, let's go see Henry," he said through gritted teeth.

Harry walked the stairs up to his room, Dubbs and Timms following behind him. He pulled open the door and--- "Cho!"

Cho Chang was in his bed, naked, covered only by a thin sheet. "Oh, Harry, I was so worried about you!" she cried. "Come here!!"

            "What are you doing here?" he asked.

Dubbs and Timms chuckled and left the room.

            "Is that any way to talk to your bride to be?" she asked.

            "What?"

Cho held up her hand. On her ring finger sat a glorious diamond. "Henry arranged it with my family. Tomorrow we're getting married!"

            "No, no, no…" Harry raked both hands through his hair. "This can't be happening."

She grinned. "I'm here for… a pre-wedding night,"

The clock in his room struck five o' clock. He'd have to come up with a plan, fast. "I can't marry you," he said.

            "Don't you want me here, Harry?"

            "To tell you the truth, n—"

Cho stood up, the thin sheet gently sliding off of her. Harry forced himself to keep his eyes on her face. "I know why you ran," she said, walking over to him.

He took a step back. "Why's that?"

            "Cold feet!" she giggled. "Everyone gets it." She advanced on him, he took another step back.

            "But I… can make all of your troubles disapear,"

Harry felt solid wall behind him. She had cornered him, and pressed her lips firmly against his. She tasted bitter to Harry, nothing like Hermione. Hermione was soft and sweet, Cho was bitter and urgent. He held up his hands, and pulled away from her. "I'm sorry, you have to leave." He grabbed the sheet off of the bed and threw it to her. "You can get dressed in the bathroom down the hall."

            "Harry, you don't know what you're saying," she said.

            "Yes, I do." Harry said.

            "Men would give their right arm to be with me!" she spat.

            "Good, go find one that will," he replied.

She wrapped the sheet around her and turned to the door. "When Henry hears…"

            "Tell him, yeah, you do that," Harry barked. "He had someone I love executed today!"

            "It's her! Always about Hermione!" Cho screamed. "I'm off to marry the prince of Arabia!" she took off the ring and threw it at him. It bounced off of his forehead and onto the floor. "Remember, you're the one who gave ME up!" and she stormed out of the room.

Harry opened his balcony doors and stepped out onto it, the cool night air greeting him. What he would give to see Hermione once more. To hold her again, feel her again. But that was impossible. She was dead. He hated feeling this way, so helpless. When he was little, he used to turn to the stars and speak to his parents. Somehow, things always worked out then. "Mum, dad…" he started. "what am I going to do? Hermione's the only one I'll ever love and she's gone!" he stopped when he heard a short squeak sound. It had sounded like someone crying. "Whose there?"

Hermione slowly appeared before him, pulling the Invisibility Cloak off of her.

            "HERMIONE!" Harry yelled, racing over to her. "You're alive!"

She had her eyes locked to the floor.

            "Hermione?"

Her voice came out small and squeaky. "Do you want to be with her? Do you want Cho?"

            "Hey," Harry lifted her chin to him. "You're the one I want. You're the only one I want."

Tears sprang from her eyes as she threw her arms around his neck.

            "How… How did…?"

            "Ron!" she said, with a grin. "Ron broke me out. He left me here, and went home. He said he'll return your Firebolt in time for the wedding tomorrow… our wedding."

            "I owe him one… God, I thought I'd never see you again."

            "I love you, Harry!" she gushed.

            "I love you too." He picked up the ring that Cho threw at him. "Your ring," he said and slipped it on her finger.

Hermione glowed. "It's beautiful,"

            "You're beautiful," he said and kissed her.

Hermione stayed curled up in Harry's arms until eleven o'clock that night. They had both fallen asleep, and were rudely awakened by Henry, closely followed by Dubbs and Timms.

Henry marched into the room. "You!" he shrieked at Hermione.

            "Just leave us alone," Harry cried, jumping up from the bed, his hand circling around Hermione's. They moved silently back toward the balcony. "Lycaeus!" he shouted. The Pegasus flew down onto the balcony.

            "Seize the girl," Henry ordered Dubbs.

Harry quickly reached into his robes and pulled out his wand. "Give me a reason, and I swear I will kill you." He helped Hermione onto Lycaeus's back, wand still aimed at the three. He climbed on. "Stay away! I mean it, stay away! Up, Lycaeus!" And they flew off into the sky.

            "Where are we going?" Hermione asked.

            "Not far." He replied. "Just somewhere safe until midnight."

Ron yawned loudly and rubbed his eyes. He had just fallen into a peaceful sleep when there was a tapping at his window. He got up and walked groggily over to it. His eyes popped open when he saw it was Hermione and Harry. "Whoa…"

            "Ron!"

            "Get in!" Ron pushed the window open, and Hermione and Harry climbed off of Lycaeus and into Ron's room.

            "Stay away from the palace until sunrise," Harry told his four-legged companion.

Lycaeus whinnied and took off into the night.

            "Fifteen minutes and counting until you're king," Ron said to him with a grin. "What happened?"

            "Henry and his goons happened… again." Harry said.

            "And they had Cho naked in Harry's bed," Hermione chimed in.

Ron's pupils dialated. "Are you serious? Those scoundrels…" but he grinned when he said it.

            "She's free," Harry said. "Said something about marrying the prince of Arabia, but I bet my Firebolt that it's just talk."

            "I've got my eye on Lavender," Ron replied.

            "Lavender? Lavender Brown?" Hermione giggled.

            "Ah, quiet you…" Ron said.

Harry and Hermione laughed.

Just then, the watch on Harry's wrist beeped. It was finally midnight.

            "It's midnight," Harry whispered.

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "Happy Birthday,"

            "We're safe," Harry said, taking her in his arms. "We're finally safe."

            "So, a celebration's in order!" Ron cried, popping the top of a bottle of Champagne.

Harry's ceremony that would declare him King of wizard London, and also have his wedding was scheduled for six o'clock. Harry and Hermione left Ron's early that morning, getting ready for the big event. Finally, it was time, and as Harry and Hermione arrived at the palace, the wedding was soon to begin. Henry greeted them. "Back so soon?"

            "You're fired," Harry said, knocking him aside and showing Hermione the bathroom where she could put on her wedding dress.

            "You're not the king yet,"

            "Maybe not, but in about an hour I will be. Like it or not, today's my seventeenth birthday. I'm no longer a child and may do what I please. Now get out of my sight before I make you so very sorry."

Henry scowled. "I'll have you know…"

            "Your word has no power anymore," Harry said. He turned to Dubbs and Timms. "Get him out of here."

Dubbs and Timms advanced on Henry and drug him away, kicking and screaming.

            "With the powers vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife, further more King and Queen. You may kiss the bride." The Priest declared it official as a crown was placed on both of their heads. Harry kissed Hermione, and all of wizard London rose to applause.

Ron cheered the loudest.

            "This is all ours," Harry whispered to her, waving to all of the people.

            "It's unbelievable," she whispered back.

Ron strolled over to them. "Well… what can I say?"

            "How about congratulations?" Harry asked, giving him a hug. "Huh, Best Man?"

Ron blushed. "Yeah, congratulations," he said. "Wait till you hear my speech."

Hermione gave Ron a hug too. "Thank you for everything,"

            "Hermione, if there was someone I'd want to eat poisonous berries with, it's you." Ron grinned.

            "Ronn! You owe me a dance!" Lavender appeared and pulled Ron away from the newly weds.

            "What now?" Hermione asked.

            "Now, we start our new life… together," he said, kissing her. "C'mon, how about we take our first dance as husband and wife?"

Hermione laughed as Harry pulled her onto the dance floor. The festivities continued all day and through the night, securing Harry and Hermione's story with a happy ending.

The End!!!