Chapter 9 - Persuasion

"Coming!" Ginny yelled at the door, at the person on the other side who was knocking insistently. I hope it's Draco, she thought, as a thrill passed through her. I mean, Harry. I can't believe I said that.

However, it was neither of them.

"H-Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

The brunette shielded herself from the sunlight outside. "Can I come in?"

"Of course, of course," Ginny said, flustered, and moved to let Hermione enter. The brunette plopped onto the couch, sighing exhaustedly. "A-are you okay?"

Hermione shook her head and wisps of brown hair fell in front of her face. She buried her tear-streaked face into her hands. "My mother's been kidnapped."

Ginny recalled hearing Hermione's words when the redhead was eavesdropping on her conversation with Draco. She pretended to raise her eyebrows in surprise. "Really?"

Hermione nodded. "I'm so worried," she mumbled. "I hate not being able to do anything."

"Didn't Harry and Draco went to rescue her?" Ginny interjected.

The brunette stopped in half-nod. "Did you say Draco?" Hermione asked, looking up. "As in Draco Malfoy?"

Oops. Caught calling his first name. Ginny winced inwardly. "I, uh, I mean Malfoy."

"Why would he save my mother?" she asked in disbelief, seemingly to have not taken notice that Ginny had spoken Draco's first name.

Why wouldn't he? Ginny thought bitterly. Instead she glanced back at the bewildered brunette and said, "Why not?"

Hermione gaped. "Well, for starters, we are enemies! Why would he save an enemy's parent?" she asked confusedly, as if trying to convince Ginny and herself. Her voice got louder as she spoke. "And I hate him! I never loved him for as long as I can remember!"

"Is that Hermione's mother?" Harry asked, pointing to a shadow in one of the dungeons. They had finally cleared the maze part and reached their destination. It was time to put their plan into action.

Draco nodded. They took a step forward - and was stopped. By the Dark Lord, no less. "Draco."

He had no choice but to go down on his knees. "Master," he said quietly.

Voldemort was pleased by the action. "I'm glad you decided to come back and serve me," he said smoothly. "Being a deatheater is your destiny after all."

Harry glanced angrily at Draco. What are you playing at, Malfoy? he asked.

"I have not," Draco said, ignoring Harry. "I knelt down because of respect, Master."

The Dark Lord snarled at his answer. "She doesn't even love you," he spat. "You have no reason not to serve me."

"She does," Draco said forcefully, trying to block out the nagging feeling in his stomach.

The Dark Lord laughed shortly, a terrible rasping sound. He conjured up a puddle of water on the floor. "See for yourself, child."

An image of Hermione appeared on the puddle. She seemed to be talking to somebody, which both Harry and Draco guessed as Ginny. She was saying something about her mother... Hang on. Did she just say what he thought she did?

"And I hate him! I never even loved him...!"

Draco could hardly believe his eyes - and ears. Heartache seemed to take over him... slowly...

I'm sure she meant something else, Harry told him unconvincingly. Draco shut out the voices - both Harry's and Hermione's. He pointed his wand shakily at Voldemort. "Avada Kedavra!"

Voldemort stumbled, but other than that, nothing happened. He laughed. "I am too strong for silly little spells like those, my boy."

Draco was not surprised. There must be something to defeat him... He searched his mind. There was a spell my father taught me before... Draco racked his brains. What was it again?

You better remember it now, Harry said. Because he's going to do something to us.

Voldemort raised his hand.

"Spiritus ab spiritus," Draco interrupted him, his wand still pointing at the Dark Lord. "Is has haud narro. Addo him ad abyssus, take suus animus absentis!"

They watched as Voldemort fall back. Pain seemed to sear through him. A shining light burst from his chest.

Harry turned to Hermione's mother. "Come on, Mal-"

"He's not dead!" Draco shouted. "You have to do the spell with me!"

Harry's jaw dropped. "B-but I don't, I never, do dark spells-"

Come on, Potter! Draco yelled at him. Don't drop out of this now! It was so loud that it pierced through Harry's mind, temporarily dulling his senses.

"I-I..."

Draco grabbed Harry's palm and nudged him to point his wand in the same direction he's pointing at. Say it with me, Potter!

"Spiritus ab spiritus, is has haud narro. Addo him ad abyssus, take suus animus absentis!" they chanted as loudly as they could.

A piercing scream rang in the air as Voldemort turned to dust and was scattered all over the place by a sudden breeze. Both men quickly went to save Pulcheria.

"Alohomora!"

The older woman was shook up after her encounters with Voldemort. She needed to be held by each side.

Let's go to Ginny's, Harry said to Draco, shooting him a look. Perhaps Hermione there can explain those words.

"Hermione. Hermione, wake up," Ginny's voice seemed faraway and distant. "Are you okay?" She felt herself being shook and forced opened her eyes.

"Wha-"

"You passed out."

Hermione sat up. What was she doing in Ginny's apartment?

"Is Draco and Harry back yet?" she questioned, ignoring the ever-increasing pain at the side of her head. "I'm dead worried for my mother."

Ginny widened her eyes. "I thought you said Malfoy didn't go."

"Did I?" Hermione asked. Confusion was shown in every part of her face.

"You said he would never help you out," Ginny repeated her words. "You said you never loved him."

"I didn't-" Hermione stopped abruptly. Of course.

She should have seen it coming. It as in Ginny falling in love with Draco. Of course the redhead would be making up things so that Hermione, uncertain, would break off with Draco.

"Why don't you just admit you like him?" Hermione snapped, getting to her feet. She heard a shout of protest behind her and ignored it. I can't believe she could be so evil, she thought bitterly as she slammed the front door of Ginny's apartment.

][ A u t h o r 's N o t e ][

In the next chapter... Draco and Harry returns to Ginny's apartment. When Ginny didn't answer the door, they broke in and find her... struggling for her life. Draco recalls that Hermione had been in Ginny's apartment and accuses her of being jealous. What will Hermione say? What will she do?

* When Voldermort was banished, the memory charm lifted itself off Hermione.

** Spiritus ab spiritus, is has haud narro. Addo him ad abyssus, take suus animus absentis translates to become Breath by breath, he has no say. Bring him to hell, take him away.

*** Won't be long till the end now. =) To be updated on Monday.