Chapter Forty-Two:
(A/N. Once again a short chapter! Sorry! I REALLY am! I've been WAY too busy! I will update soon though! And thanks to the only boy who fessed up! Okay if anyone has any questions (about anything) or would like to talk to me about my story feel free to email me or IM me!)
Hermione winced at the _expression on Draco's face. She had seen it so many times before but she had thought it lost, now he grinned up at his father's master and she quailed. She had no idea what the ceremony entailed, perhaps Voldemort's evil would corrupt Draco into some unrecognizable beast, and then she would die at his hands. A bright flash of light illuminated the room briefly and Hermione glanced away, as the chanting stopped around her. When the light faded she saw Voldemort had collapsed on the dais. Draco's head was bent, his beautiful hair hiding his face. Voldemort shakily got to his feet using a long staff as his support.
"The ceremony is complete. Now Draco shall perform the sacrifice and use the girl's blood to draw his mark." Voldemort rasped, his voice even more hoarse than usually. Hermione trembled in fear.
"No." Draco's voice was thundering compared to Voldemort's. He looked up and Hermione trembled again, his eyes were as black as night. Voldemort looked down at his protégée and it seemed for the first time he knew fear.
"What do you mean no, Boy, you dare defy me?" Voldemort said and there was a sliver of fear in his sibilant voice. Draco laughed and it was a cold, bitter sound.
"Old Man, I am a boy no longer. You have given me enough of your power to make me the most powerful wizard in the world." Draco smirked. "Fear me old man for now you shall know real death at my hands." He stood, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a sword that steadily increased in size as he held it out before him. A loud, demanding hum filled the air and Voldemort scrambled backwards.
"Avada Kedavra!" He cried as he pointed his wand at Draco. Draco swung the word and the spell was deflected into one of the Death Eaters who collapsed. The other Death Eaters slowly backed away from Draco. Hermione stared at her love in wonder and fear.
"Mors ultima linea rerum est." Draco said and then with one arching move he cut off Voldemort's head. He stared down at the corpse. Hermione shook her head, he had said, Death is everything's final limit. The Death Eaters fled away from Draco and their master's dead body, but she took no notice of them. Suddenly one Death Eater parted from the crowd.
"What have you done?" Lucius growled as he forced his son to turn around and face him. Draco looked up at his father, deep sorrow written across his aristocratic features.
"The right thing." He whispered and the darkness faded from his eyes as a single tear fell from the corner. Lucius snarled and slapped his son across the face.
"How dare you? You have ruined us, you filthy boy!" He cried. Then Lucius's eyes fell upon Hermione. He strode away from his son. "It's this girl! She made you do it!" Lucius said as he pulled Hemrione to her feet. Draco's eyes narrowed.
"Let her go." He snapped. Lucius laughed. Hermione eyes flickered between the two blonds.
"Don't tell me you're different my son. Qualis pater talis filius." Lucius laughed, it was a maniacal laugh filled with desperation. Draco walked toward them.
"I am different, Father." He said and Hermione shuddered as she saw the black creeping back into his eyes.
"No, Draco, don't." Hermione whispered. Draco stopped, and seemed to consider her softly spoken words. Lucius threw her away, and in one fluid motion pulled out his wand and threw the deadliest spell at his son. Draco had no time to bring up the word and Hermione screamed as a bright green flash filled the room.
