Chapter 40: The Dark Hour

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! NOTHING! NOT HARRY POTTER OR FAITH HILL! **Cries**

Thanks~ I would like to thank BlueStariNight88, glory, Rosa, blueberry girl, MagicalMe, Kylee, Sky Brooks, JoeBob1379, Raven Summerset, joe morton lover~~~, Amo il ragazzo, maltoy's girl, ?, dobbie-luvs-sweeties, Draco'sgal13, Draco's Sister, Kumiko Eharu, DiOsA4u, Draco's one and only, Kaity-Weasley, Ryleigh Malfoy, firey fairy, Rebecca, Akuma Canadian Angel, Hpfre4k, kai kai, Kaoru Himura, Butterfly, Nathalie, Cyropi, x52495, b4me, Akuma Canadian Angel, Draco-luver, and f0xyness39.

Hermione followed Harry outside the dorms and a million thoughts arose in her mind. What was going to happen to Jewel? Ever since Dumbledore was murdered, Hogwarts wasn't the same, and anywhere outside of Hogwarts was very dangerous. Who knows what could happen to an eleven-year-old girl alone at night.

Hermione looked down the hallway to see loads of Slytherins including Draco, Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent walking around the hall and searching for Jewel, but Hermione noticed Blaise wasn't among the group. Hermione glared as she felt the anger boil up inside of her. She thought to herself ~ Blaise is probably responsible for part of this. ~

Hermione saw Pansy's blonde hair over the group of Slytherins. Hermione noticed that Pansy didn't even bother to get changed, and was running around in her gypsy outfit. She was panicking as usual when things got tough.

Hermione went up to Pansy, and said nervously, "Where's Jewel?"

Pansy shook her head, and muttered, "No one knows. Nobody has seen her since the ball. She's not in the common room, she's not in the Great Hall, she's isn't in any of the hallways that we've seen, and she's not in the gardens out back like she told me she would be walking in."

Hermione remembered her dream about Jewel. This time Hermione was sure that's where Jewel would be. Hermione shook her head, and mumbled to Pansy, "I have an idea about where she may be."

Pansy's blue eyes went wide, "WHERE?"

Hermione whispered low so no one would hear her, "I think Jewel is in the Forbidden Forest."

Pansy screamed loudly, "What! Are you sure? Oh, we have to go find her NOW!!"

Pansy ran down the hallway, and Hermione ran after her. Hermione spotted Draco with Millicent; they were asking people whether or not they saw Jewel. Draco looked absolutely terrible. He was very pale, and Millicent was trying to console him, but it didn't work. Hermione never saw Draco look that worried before.

Pansy screeched loudly at Draco, "She's in the Forbidden Forest! Jewel is there!"

Draco shot Pansy a worried look, "Really? What makes you think Jewel would go there at night? She would have to be crazy! How do you know she's there?"

Hermione caught up with Pansy and muttered, "I don't know why she would go there, but I have a horrible feeling that's where she is."

"Really?" Millicent cried, "We have to tell Snape or someone."

Draco shook his head, "No! I am going to find her. I don't care if I have to walk a thousand miles through those woods, but I am bringing Jewel back.

Hermione nodded, "I am sure that the Forbidden Forest is where she went. Lets go!"

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Hermione, Harry, Draco, and Pansy all decided to go to the Forbidden Forest together to search for Jewel. At first Draco wasn't too keen on Harry coming, but Harry said he wanted to come. He said that he really felt bad that Jewel was missing and he wanted to help find her. "It's just I don't want anyone to lose a family member the same way I did." Harry said before the group left.

Now, they were all walking together in the depths of the Forbidden Forest. The sky was pitch black, and the trees were like tall dark leering shadows. Hermione was freezing. The temperature dropped drastically, and the wind was howling loudly and wickedly.

Draco put his arm around Hermione, "You okay?"

"I'm fine, but I'm cold. But who cares. We need to find Jewel."

Harry rubbed his glasses, "I'm am started to doubt that she's in here, Hermione. I mean, wouldn't we have found her all ready? We have been walking for over a half hour, and I'm sure the teachers are going to notice that we left."

Hermione shrugged, "Lets look just a little more. We'll find her. We will. We just have to!"

Pansy tugged at her blonde hair nervously, "I hope we find her soon. This place is creepy. No, this place is terrifying! If Jewel is in here, then she's really crazier then I thought."

The group suddenly reached a clearing away from the dark and evil looking trees. In the center was dark grass, which was actually glowing in the orange moonlight. It seemed as though someone cut away the trees and left this huge hole in the center of the forest. There was also a beautiful blonde girl, wearing an angel costume and holding a glowing object, on her knees praying in the center of the clearing. It was Jewel.

Everyone was silent. Draco looked at Hermione and his lip trembled. Pansy stared at Harry, Hermione and Draco, and mouthed silently, "What is she doing?"

Hermione shrugged, and croaked out, "Jewel? What are you doing out here?"

Jewel slowly looked up and just smiled peacefully at Hermione. Jewel then looked at Draco, Harry, and Pansy. She whispered softly, "You all shouldn't have come."

Draco replied in a shaky voice, "We had to come get you. Come on! Lets go back to the school. You must be freezing in that costume."

Jewel said softly and gently, "I am sorry. I can't come back."

Jewel's eyes became glassy as she looked up at Hermione, "Hermione? It looks as though I won't be going to the beach this summer with you after all. Lata."

What happened next, happened very quickly. Suddenly out of nowhere, Lucius appeared. He glared at the group with his hateful gray eyes for a brief moment, but then he took out he menacing sword. Before anyone had the chance to even react, Lucius stabbed the great sword through Jewel's heart.

Jewel cried out a cry of agony only once, but she went then was silent. She slumped to the ground. Her chest was bleeding bucket loads. She shut her eyes, and whispered during her last and final breath, "Don't cry."

Then Jewel was absolutely silent. Jewel Emerald Malfoy was dead. Her own father murdered her.

Jewel also dropped the shiny object that she was holding. It glowed for a brief moment then it disappeared into the darkness, just like her life did.

Lucius looked from Jewel's death body up at the group and glared with his hateful eyes. He looked back down at Jewel and sneered, "Stupid stupid girl."

Before anyone could say anything, Lucius vanished and laughed, "You will be next."

The group was stunned for a moment. Hermione felt her heart stop. Jewel, one of her best friends, was murdered right before her very eyes. Hermione felt the lump in her throat and then she felt the hot tears well up in her eyes.

Pansy looked over at Hermione and hugged her tightly. Hermione whispered, "I thought Slytherins didn't like hugs?"

"There is always an exception to that rule, and having your friend murdered before you is one of them." Pansy whimpered.

Meanwhile Draco knelt by Jewel's side. He gently lifted her up and her head tilted from side to side lifelessly. "Jewel? Please wake up. Don't die. Not here. You are only eleven. You have your whole life ahead of you. Please, don't leave me."

Jewel was silent, and didn't answer. Draco then began to scream and bawl, "NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! YOU CAN'T! COME BACK! PLEASE! I LOVE YOU! YOU CAN'T DIE HERE!"

Draco threw his arms around Jewel in a tight hug and tears poured rapidly down his face. Harry slowly approached Draco. He seemed very uncomfortable, "Draco? I am really really sorry about this I-"

Harry raised a hand to wipe away his own tears. Harry choked out, "Jewel. She didn't deserve this kind of death. She didn't. She seemed like a very sweet girl. I should have gotten to know her better. I will never judge anyone like that again."

Hermione let go of Pansy and knelt down beside Draco, and tried to console him, "We all loved Jewel very much. We-"

But Hermione lost it all too. She began to bawl her eyes out and she threw her arms around Draco and Jewel. Hermione sobbed and wailed, "I could h-h- have stopped this. W-why. Jewel. She'll never smile, laugh, or be her silly self again. She'll be silent forever. All because of-"

Soon the whole group was bawling, and was trying in vain to wake Jewel from her eternal sleep. Hermione stared at Jewel's lifeless white face and muttered, "Don't say 'lata'. Come back to me."

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The next morning was gray and dull. It was also very foggy. The whole school was in front of the lake for Jewel's funeral. Jewel's favorite place was the lake, so it was determined that she would be put to rest there.

There was not one dry eye in the whole audience. Pansy was weeping on Ron's shoulder. Ron was also crying and he was holding Pansy tightly. Ginny was also weeping and she was sitting really close to Harry.

Hermione walked slowly in front of the school. She felt nervous, but she had volunteered to sing at the funeral. She felt that she should do it for Jewel.

Hermione looked out across the river and remembered all the special times that she and Jewel had spent there. Now, Draco was standing in the shallow water, ready to push Jewel's coffin out into the river.

Hermione looked back out at the school and began to sing with all her heart.

When I think back on these times And the dreams we left behind I'll be glad cause I was blessed to get To have you in my life

When I look back on these days I'll look and see your face You were right there for me

In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life I'll keep a part of you with me And everywhere I am there you'll be Everywhere I am there you'll be

Well you showed me how it feels To feel the sky within my reach And I always will remember all The strength you gave to me

Your love made me make it through Ohh I owe so much to you You were right there for me

In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life I'll keep a part of you with me And everywhere I am there you'll be

Cause I always saw in you my light, my strength And I want to thank you now for all the ways You were right there for me, you were right there for me always

Ooooh... In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life I'll keep a part of you with me And everywhere I am there you'll be And everywhere I am there you'll be

There you'll be

Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes, and bowed her head in respect for Jewel. She felt the tears pour down her face. Never in her life did she feel this kind of pain.

Then, Draco put a reef of pale lilies on top of Jewel's coffin. He bent down and whispered, "I will always love you, my sweet sister."

Draco slowly pushed the coffin away from him. It went floating away into the distance. It kept floating and floating until it was gone forever.

Draco walked from the lake and then ran. He broke into a run toward the castle of Hogwarts with tears pouring down his face. He seemed very broken, and he looked like he'd never be happy again.

Hermione sighed deeply, and looked out at the dark lake, and saluted to Jewel. Hermione muttered, "Lucius may have took away your body, but he can't stop your spirit, Jewel. We will stop him. I swear. We will stop him."

Hermione knew in her heart what Lucius considered his ultimate victory, may just turn out to be his ultimate mistake.