Ok, so I started this fic a long time ago…so long ago, in fact, that I can't even remember a lot of the reasons I put stuff in there, and answers to questions, and so on. I got fed up with it because I have so many different ideas for stories that I want to write, but I didn't want to leave this hanging. So I wrote this chapter, trying to tie everything together, but I don't think it's done very well at all. I'm sorry to anyone disappointed by this, but by reading fanfiction on the Internet people should realize that they aren't reading edited books.
So…I've already started writing a new HG/DM story, and it seems to be coming along a lot better then this one. It will have a lot more fluff and a lot less dark stuff. It's definitely better written because I'm a year older then when I wrote To Die For. I hope to have it out soon!
To Die For
Chapter Seven-We Can make it Through Together
"Up, up!" Madam Pomfrey shrilled, her voice echoing throughout the hospital wing, "Dumbledore wishes you two to help the Gryffindor and Slytherin students down to the Great Hall. Although, I think you would be better off if you stayed here today."
Hermione groaned and sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes. The clock on the wall opposite her said eight; it was the weekend, why did she have to get up so early? This was definitely her least favorite part of being Head Girl.
Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey stood in front of Hermione and Draco's beds. Madam Pomfrey looked slightly annoyed at having the hospital wing disturbed, even though there was only one other patient then the two. Dumbledore looked somber, but as always he looked ready to take on anything. His eyes were full of their normal twinkle.
M'dear, calm down, calm down. Just leave us here to chat for a little, if you please." Dumbledore said.
Madam Pomfrey nodded her head, turned on her heel, then entered her office.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore looked slowly at the two of them, "are you well?"
"Yes, sir" Draco said.
"Professor, is the school going to close?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"That will be up to the ministry. I've already notified them. I know for a fact that all over the country the ministry is in the process of setting up much more efficient security precautions. They've sent members up to the school who are going to help watch out for Voldemort. I'm pretty sure that he won't be coming to the school again anytime soon. He knows how much safety we will have, or already do. We'll try not to have too many students off by themselves, but it won't be that dangerous after all the work we've done."
Hermione nodded. She was definitely glad that they had Dumbledore as a headmaster, as without him things would probably not go half as well as they did. Dumbledore always knew what to do.
"Now, are you two up to leading your houses down to the great hall? Otherwise, I'll have prefects or teachers walk the down, as I'm having them do for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."
"I'm fine with it," Draco responded looking sideways at Hermione.
"Me too," Hermione said.
"All the students have been informed about Voldemort's coming, as I feel that is for the better. There will be no classes for today because everything has to get sorted out. The next day is Saturday, but after the weekend we hope to still be here and back to schedule, going to classes and so on. I hope we will be able to go about normally, and not have to worry constantly about Voldemort, although we should have our guard up.
"I'll see you both in half an hour at the Great Hall, at breakfast," Dumbledore bid them goodbye and hurried out of the hospital wing.
Hermione swung her legs over the edge of the metal hospital bed, and yawned.
Draco jumped out of bed, full of energy as usual.
"C'mon, we better get going."
Hermione stifled a second yawn, and stood up. She hoped she didn't look to bad, having not gotten ready properly the night before, because of the activities. Her mascara was probably smudged and her hair a mess.
She really didn't need to worry, though, as Draco took one look at her and thought she looked beautiful. He told her that and she smiled.
They walked out of the hospital wing together, and up the nearest staircase toward their quarters. They could sense a difference in the atmosphere of the castle, and even the pictures seemed to be acting differently. Anyone would know something was up, even if they didn't know what had happened.
"Draco?"
"Yea?"
Hermione didn't know how to word this; usually she was so good with words. Would Draco take this well?
" Are you going to be seen with me in public? Or do we have to keep it secret, because of the whole Voldemort business and everything? Because I don't think I could do that."
Draco faltered. He stopped and took hold of Hermione's arm, looking into her eyes.
"Voldemort has just gone too far this time. I don't care what he, or anybody thinks. Yea, he'll come after me, but with you and Dumbledore I think I'll be able to make it through alive. I mean, look at Snape, he hasn't been killed yet, and he betrayed Voldemort worse the I am."
He started walking again abruptly. Hermione hurried to catch up with him. They continued the rest of the walk, pretty much in silence, although Hermione seemed a bit happier.
Hermione once again thought about the day before as they made the way up to their rooms. She had never thought she would ever come face to face with Voldemort, even with Harry as a friend. Especially in a case where he wanted to kill her, and not Harry. And she never thought that Draco Malfoy would ever save her. Hermione hoped to never get close to Voldemort ever again. He was crueler then she could ever have imagined; he didn't even care about his servants. Thank the gods Dumbledore had shown up and miraculously saved them from the fate of death. Voldemort had always been afraid of Dumbledore, and had only slightly let down on that fear upon entering Hogwarts. He had disappeared as soon as the old headmaster had entered the room. Hermione had no doubt that Voldemort would not be letting go of that fear anytime soon.
The day before was a day she would never forget.
* * *
Hermione finished getting ready as soon as it was possible for a girl. She had spent way too much time in the shower, not to mention doing her hair and everything else girls do to get ready in the morning. You would think that when something as terrible as what had happened, occurred, that all those things wouldn't need to be done. But, that just wasn't possible. Hermione didn't even clean up the mess in the bathroom as she usually did, to make less work for the house elves.
Hermione came hustling out of the bathroom, her hair tousled, looking around frantically for her bag. She hurried around the room, cursing because she was so late.
"Shit! I am never this disorganized!" Hermione groaned, "I'm gonna be last to the hall with my house."
"Bet you will be." Draco said with a cheerful smirk. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed on his chest; his bag sitting carefully placed by his feet. His gray eyes followed Hermione about the room as he waited for her to finish getting ready.
Hermione glared at him for a second then turned to her desk where her bag was where she had left it. She hurried to get it, grabbed some papers from her desk, and carried it all over to the door. Draco took the papers out of her hands, arranging them neatly and placed them in her bag.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Finally ready to go, Hermione exited the common room with Draco and down a staircase. At the bottom where they had to part, Draco kissed Hermione lightly on the lips and said goodbye. Hermione glanced after him, then hurried toward Gryffindor house.
* * *
The Gryffindor Common was full of nervous titters about the night before. Hermione was bombarded with questions even before she had had a chance to step into the room.
"Is it true?"
"How did Voldemort-"
"Are we going to have to leave?"
"Did someone die?"
Hermione felt like screaming.
"I'm bringing you all down to breakfast!" She shouted over the noise, ignoring all the questions.
"Hermione, are you all right?"
"Did Draco really save you?"
Harry and Ron asked Hermione at the same time.
"Did Dumbledore tell everyone everything?!" Hermione asked horrified.
"Of course not," Ginny said," He pulled us over separately, "He knew that we would want to know if you were all right, so he told us a little. Calm down, you look like you're in a turmoil."
"Oh, Thank God. Yea, he did really save me…"
"Really?" Ginny asked, "Ooh! Did something happen between you two?"
Hermione blushed, not about to tell everyone about what had happened between them.
Harry looked at Hermione, surprised, then grinned.
"Malfoy!?" Ron said in disgust, "Hermione, you have seriously got to be joking!"
"You've said that before, Ron. And could we please stop talking about this, people are noticing!" Hermione said through gritted teeth.
Hermione looked behind her at the bustle of hungry people, most of them talking about what had happened. She noticed that people seemed to change the story as they talked about it. Oh well, Dumbledore would hopefully clear it up.
Hermione was relived when they finally reached the Great Hall. Yea, there were more people there then in the hall, but she would actually be able to sit down without being suffocated by the people surrounding her. The corridors had been hell with everyone trying to get information and people making up stories about what they thought had happened.
At one point in the hall, Peeves had come along taunting about Voldemort and scaring the younger kids. Hermione smiled slightly when she had heard Peeves call Voldemort "Voldie." She didn't even bother to tell him off, though, as she was so tired.
Through the doors of the Great Hall Hermione could see Dumbledore. His face, as well as the other teachers, was strained. She hoped that he would be able to clear things up, because all that the students seemed to have heard was that Voldemort had made an appearance.
The ceiling of the Hall was cloudy, but rays of sunlight shone through. As Hermione lowered herself into her seat, Dumbledore quieted the hall. The hall was dead silent.
"As we all know, Voldemort attacked Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, last night," Dumbledore started, "He showed up in their common room along with Lucius Malfoy." Many eyes turned toward Draco." They attempted to kill both Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy. But with their courage they were able to make it through alive. Yes, as many of you had been wondering, Draco Malfoy did save Hermione last night, and he showed a rare quality that we see in a Slytherin.
If it weren't for him, Hermione would probably not be with us here today."
Draco caught Hermione's gaze from across the hall. His pale face shone out from between everyone else's. And for once, he wasn't covering up his identity. He smiled at Hermione, and she could sense no kind of cruelty left that he used to hold.
Ginny jostled Hermione's elbow. Drinks had appeared on the table.
"Now, let us drink together for Draco and Hermione and their bravery in facing Voldemort." Dumbledore raised his drink to his lips.
Hermione blushed as everyone drank to the two of them. Harry smiled at her from across the table as he drank from his goblet.
Slowly the chatter in the hall became normal as everyone began his or her meal. Although the hall seemed normal enough, Hermione couldn't help but think that it seemed to be larger then usual. Everyone kept looking over at her and there was sort of tension in the air that wasn't normally there. She shrunk in her seat and tried to ignore it as she ate.
Hermione decided that she finally had enough of it.
"I'm going for a walk, guys."
"But-" Ron was cut off as Hermione waked over to Dumbledore.
"Do you think it would be all right if I went for a walk outside, around the lake? Or would that be too dangerous?"
Dumbledore smiled.
"I've put enough protection around this school since last night that it could withhold from anything. I don't think it would be right to keep everyone kept locked up. You'll be absolutely fine on the castle grounds."
"Thanks, " Hermione sighed in relief.
She walked quickly and quietly out of the hall, avoiding eye contact with anyone on her way out. As she walked onto the grounds she breathed deeply at the feel of fresh air. It felt like forever since she had last been out here.
The sun shone brightly through a break in the clouds and the trees swayed slightly in the breeze. The lake rippled where one of the giant squid's tentacles poked out. It was a great day.
Hermione jumped at a sound behind her. She turned around quickly.
"Hey, it's only me," Draco said softly.
"I know," Hermione said, glad he had followed her out.
They stood silently at the edge of the lake, the sun reflecting of the surface. Hermione couldn't wish for more at the moment, and she wished things could forever be this peaceful.
"Hermione?"
"Yea?"
"Thanks," Draco took her hand in his.
"For what? You're the one who saved my life…" Hermione said, partially confused.
"For making me realize who I really am."
Hermione turned toward Draco and squeezed his hand.
Draco smiled and continued,
"We can make it through this together, and in the end we'll come out on top."
Hermione placed her head on Draco's chest and smiled in hope as the sun rose farther into the sky. She was Draco's and Draco was her's. There was nothing more meaningful then that.
Mwahaha! It's done! Now all you annoying people out there can't bother me about finishing this anymore! And I'll be able to work on my new story! And then you'll all be back again with more complaints about adding the next chapter that will take me forever to type up. *sigh* I can never win…
Note to Sir Mordred(Hades): ha! I finished! (see above, I don't feel like ranting much more, lol!) Now you shall not marry my love, lady Guenevere, (eww, don't get the wrong picture, I am a girl), since I have done your bidding. And you'll never get your cheese. And you will still die at the sword of Katie, oops I mean King Arthur. And do I really still have to die in front of the whole class??? You do realize that my current (lol, please forget about the last one) crush is in that class…*cough, sits next to me in English, cough* …
Anyone other then Mordred please ignore this little bit of nonesense…