Enchantress of the Day and Night
Kneazle
Disclaimer: All characters/ideas belong to JK Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastics, etc, K.A. Applegate's EverWorld, Fern Gully: the Last Rainforest, Mist of Avalon (the movie), Aladdin, Ever After, Chocolat, The Count of Monte Cristo, Enchantress of the Stars by Sylvia Louise Engdahl, Cirque De Soliel, Princess Mononoke, The Vision of Escaflowne, Rayearth: the OVA, Record of Lodoss War, Tekken: The Motion Picture, Macross Plus, Blue Submarine No. 6, Pretty Solider Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z-GT, Babylon Tokyo, X-Men: Evolution, The Princess Bride, "Disney's Atlantis", Sweep by Cate Tiernan, Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce, The Dragon's Tapestry, The Prism Moon and The Taker's Key by Martine Bates, Circle of Three by Isobel Bird, Young Wizards Series by Diane Duane, Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones, Daughters of the Moon by Lynne Ewing, Bibliomania.com, Wiccan.com, Feri.com, Exodus by Julie Bertagna, the movie (2001) Brotherhood of the Wolf, Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers), Mel Gibson's Braveheart, X-Men + X-Men 2: X-Men United
PS: If you've got the Evanescence CD, listen to it while reading this chapter. It wrote it all while listening to Evanescence, so there's a big influence as the music changes from track to track.
Or not! :)
**~**
Chapter Fourteen
It took the group of teenagers to reach Dumbledore and his army less than half a day. None of them wanted to be caught by Death Eaters so soon after being released. Ginny was despondent, and didn't speak much as they slowly climbed the hill that overlooked the wind-blown field that would serve as the battlefield.
"Something wrong?" Hermione asked lightly as she glanced at her friend out of the corner of her eye. She placed her hands on her hips to keep them from shaking. Within the next twenty-four hours, they would be at war with Voldemort in a battle that concerned the whole world. She wondered if this would be the last time she would ever speak to Ginny.
"Not really," replied the younger girl. "Just thinking."
"May I inquire about whom you're thinking of?" a twitch of Hermione's lips gave away who she was thinking of.
Ginny sighed solemnly. "I don't want to leave him."
"I know you don't; I don't want to leave Harry either, but…" She trailed off, watching as Harry glanced questioningly back at her and Ginny, but continued down the hill with Ron, Lavender and Oliver as they had reached the top of the knoll. "We have our places in this world, Gin. My place is as Enchantress, which means I'm going to have to be there in the front lines. I can't be with Harry. I have to settle with worrying about him."
"What would you do if he died?" Ginny finally asked, quietly.
Hermione closed her eyes, trying to ignore the feeling in her stomach as she thought about never seeing Harry again. "A part of me would die, and I would never be able to continue on," she answered truthfully.
"That's how I feel about Draco," agreed Ginny. She turned to her lifelong friend. Awkwardly, she stepped forward and hugged Hermione. "Be careful out there."
Hermione hugged her friend back tightly, blinking away tears. "You too, Gin."
**-**
Ginny and Hermione arrived at the campground just as the sun was reaching its highest position in the sky, lighting the battlefield up in cheerful colours of gold, lush green, and sky blue.
Too beautiful a place to be tainted with blood, Hermione sighed, before turning to the large bonfire that had been created to ward of bugs and give off heat. Around it sat groups of people; from young to old; scraggly to fancy-dressed, women to men. None were alike but here together for one purpose: to defeat Voldemort.
"Hermione, may I have a word?" came a wizened voice beside Hermione's head. Turning slightly, Hermione nodded at Dumbledore, who stood in blue robes that matched his serious eyes.
Hermione and Albus walked away from the bonfire for a bit, saying nothing. Albus's hands were held together behind his back as they walked, taking in the last few peaceful moments before chaos ensured.
"This will be the final battle, Hermione," he said suddenly. Hermione glanced up at him and nearly stumbled in her gait.
"I understand sir."
Albus glanced at the young Enchantress. "I know you do, my dear. I must stress this though… if we are to lose…"
"I understand the gravity of this battle, Albus. I know what will happen if we lose. Voldemort will steal my powers and use them wrongly, unleashing them on Gaea. They won't know what hit them and soon will bow under his powers. I can't let that happen, and I swear to you I won't," Hermione said, feeling older than her seventeen years.
Albus smiled at Hermione. "I knew I could count on you Hermione. However… there is something I do wish to speak to you of."
"What is it?" Hermione asked, brushing a stray piece of her brown hair away from her eyes. She tilted her head slightly and heard the whistle of the breeze as it passed by her; the wind was picking up, a storm was brewing.
"I do not think that I will make it out of this battle alive, Hermione," Albus said bluntly. At Hermione's startled look he gave a dry chuckle. "Don't look so surprised, Hermione. This is the final battle, and Tom and I have been at it for years and years. He'll want to personally attack me, but I know that you and Harry can continue on when I'm gone."
"You shouldn't speak like that," Hermione chastised, feeling oddly calm. "You don't know if that will happen or not… and what's this about Harry?"
"Harry didn't tell you?" Albus questioned, ignoring the first part of her sentence. "Ah… well, Harry is destined, quite like yourself, to be the next Priest. He will take over my duties once I die, Hermione. And as for knowing I will die… well, I have quite a few loyal and accurate Seers at my disposal."
Hermione snorted. "And you believe that rubbish?" She clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. However, Albus just laughed.
"You will understand one day, Hermione."
Hermione nodded and they continued to make a circuit of the campgrounds before they reached the bonfire again. By this time, more people had arrived and the sky was slowly darkening. Hermione could see other bonfires in the distance that she guessed were Death Eaters.
"Be careful out there, Albus," Hermione said quietly as they approached Sirius, Remus, Harry, Ron, and Oliver.
Albus took Hermione's hand and patted it as a Grandfather would. "I will try, Hermione. I will try."
Hermione bit back tears. Trying sometimes isn't good enough.
**-**
The embers of the fire had died down a long time ago, and the chill of the spring night had settled into the bones of the Order of the Phoenix, the name that Dumbledore's army had given themselves. After all, no matter the outcome, they would rise again to fight Voldemort until they won.
Hermione sat next to Harry in the last few moments before they would move into position. They were holding hands, squeezing none-too-gently, seeing that this could be the last moments they would ever have.
"I love you," Hermione whispered, her lips quivering and her face pale. She glanced at Harry and saw his emerald eyes glitter more than they had ever done so. He smiled at her, calmly and reassuringly.
"I love you too," he answered, leaning forward to give her one lingering kiss. They broke apart when Sirius bustled by, clapping his hands.
"This is it, lads. Let's go!"
Harry and Hermione stood, glancing at Ron in time to see him give Ginny a goodbye hug. She wouldn't be joining them on the frontlines, but gather opted to stay at the camp and defend it if any Death Eaters tried to come around. She also wanted to help those injured.
Lavender had slinked off somewhere in the night, leaving Ron a bit crushed. Hermione had tried to cheer him up. Who knew what that flaky girl thought, anyways?
"All right, Enchantress?" a Knight asked Hermione as they walked by, two by two. Hermione nodded slowly, expressing the same question to the young man.
He gave a roguish wink and answered, "I've been waiting for this for years. I'm more than ready."
Oliver came last in the line, watching as his friend Cedric led his quadrant into battle. He stood beside Hermione, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be right there with you, okay?"
Hermione nodded, hugging him. "I'm glad. But don't forget yourself, Ollie."
"I won't," the young man smiled, before stepping aside to let her lead him towards the field. Hermione nodded, and set her mind into battle mode. It wasn't time for reassurances or worries. It was time for fighting.
Hermione, as the Enchantress, was not to be part of the first wave, where Harry, Ron, Seamus and Dean were with Sirius and Remus. She was to stay more off to the side and work her magick where she could be undisturbed. Being stopped in the middle of the spell could be disastrous, for both her and the unlucky person bothering her.
She had left her Enchantress dress and put on her old Wycliffe coven outfit; she was once again dressed in pants and crop top, meant for easier fighting. She placed her pentacle on, tucking it under her shirt and patting it for luck.
She heard Oliver behind her, his footsteps echoing on the grass as it crunched beneath his boots. His staff was out and ready for use; Hermione could hear the wood hum and throb in time with Oliver's heartbeat, and reek of magick. She smiled to herself. They were more than ready.
Hermione watched silently as she saw the four lines that formed one after another. She looked anxiously for Harry, but couldn't find him. Everyone was either wearing red and gold for the Order of the Phoenix, brown for clan member, or the royal blues that Harry and Ron choose for the battle.
Hermione, though, could easily see Dumbledore. He stood slightly in front of everyone, staring ahead. Looking forward, Hermione spotted the Death Eaters. She nearly gasped in fright. While the Order had a colony of dragons, thanks to Charlie Weasley, and a series of goblins that Bill had somehow managed to persuade to join the battle, Voldemort had gotten nearly every dark creature he could find.
Hermione labeled them as she spotted the creatures: giants, trolls, Demetors, werewolves, quintapedes, manticores, and what Hermione thought was a basilisk. She bit her lip in frustration. This certainly made things more difficult, she realized. It would take several skilled people to attack one of these creature and subdue it – and only for a while as well.
"We're going to be in for one hell of a fight," muttered Oliver. Apparently, he had been thinking the same thing.
"You're saying it," Hermione muttered back. "Although, with several dragons on our side, Charlie should be able to keep most of those creatures away from the battle. It'll be a challenge though."
"Yes, it will," agreed Oliver, his brown eyes darting from side and side as he mentally calculated.
Hermione sighed. This wasn't what she had been thinking for a battle. How could she contribute?
She would have continued with her thoughts, when a cry broke out from one of the sides. Immediately, she glanced around, trying to find where it originated.
"Our side," answered Oliver grimly. "It's started."
Hermione looked and saw what he meant; a group of clansmen had been attacked with a burning spell of some sort, and were dropping on the ground and rolling.
Dumbledore raised his arms in the air and then let them drop. The first two lines rushed forward, just as the first two Death Eaters lines moved. Hermione stiffened her spine, and swallowed.
"Time to get busy," she chuckled, pushing her emotions away. She smirked as she remembered the way she lifted Draco so long ago in the air and settled him in the water. Well, this was war, and there was a cliff on the far right. Surely the Death Eaters wouldn't mind a swim?
She closed her eyes and focused on the growing wind. She sensed a storm approaching and figured she could use that to her advantage. Trees in the distance – weeping willows she thought distantly – bent and swayed under the wind she was calling. She opened her eyes and focused on a large group of Death Eaters who were centering on Dumbledore.
She balled her fists together and then raised one. Hermione then opened it, and a gust of wind raced across the field, knocking people to the ground as it hit the Death Eaters. They shouted in surprise; it reached Hermione's ears as they were lifted up off the ground. She then gave a quick jerk of her hand to the right and the Death Eaters flew overhead others fighting, soaring as they disappeared off the ledge.
Feeling slightly sick, Hermione glanced at Oliver. His staff was off the floor and his eyes were focused on the group she had helped. "It was for the best. Time to think of yourself, Hermione."
Hermione nodded and then began moving down the hill. It was time to join in the fray.
**-**
Harry wasn't entirely sure of what happened to the Death Eater's he was fighting. One second they were surrounding him and Albus, and the next they were flying in the air over the cliff. He suspected Hermione had something to do with it, but pushed her to the back of his mind. If he thought of her now, he was doomed.
Another Death Eater moved close to him. "Young Potter. Are you going to beg for death like your father did?"
"My father didn't beg," snarled Harry, rolling his shoulders. "But perhaps you will."
"Big words for a small boy," hissed the Death Eater in return, before lifting his small piece of wood. Harry had only seen Draco use something like this, and surmised that it was like a staff, only smaller.
He raised his own staff, and was preparing to shout a hex, but the Death Eater beat him. Harry's staff landed near the Death Eater's feet, and was effectively crushed under his boot as he stepped on it.
Harry felt a spark of anger. His hand was instantly at his left side, where he yanked out a sword he had thought to add to his armor. He then charged forward, letting a small grunt escape him as he and the Death Eater connected.
They fell to the ground in a heap, the Death Eater's eyes wide underneath his mask. Harry stood slowly and pulled his sword from the man's body, bringing more blood onto the grass.
"Sorry," he said, before taking the man's small staff – wand, he heard Malfoy say once before – and pocketing it. He then turned away and moved towards Ron.
He met his friend, and helped him ward off a couple Death Eaters they hit with stunning spells and unfortunately for one, a slit throat. They stood back-to-back, rotating in a circle to achieve maximum coverage.
As they fought, Harry found it oddly quiet. Sure, there were shouts of surprise, and anger and the cries of people who were hurt or charging, but other than that, there wasn't anything that overpowered Harry's sense of hearing.
His eyes were also slowly adjusting to the light. It seemed to be getting darker, and risking a glance upwards, he saw dark black clouds roll across the sky and blot out the sun.
Wind whistled by him, and he heard the distance roar of thunder as it rumbled overtop of the battle.
People's faces were growing dark and hard to read now; he had abandoned the wand in favour of his sword, which he was using against his latest attacker's dagger. He hissed in pain as the dagger cut against his left arm, but didn't stop.
He swung the heavy metal over his head and down in an arc, effecting lodging his sword in a diagonal cut across the man's chest and where his neck and shoulder connected.
The Death Eater fell wordlessly to the ground. Wiping the sweat of his face, Harry turned towards the hill where Hermione was supposed to be. His heart rate doubled and skipped when he saw it empty.
Oh shit, he thought, panicking. Looking around the battlefield, he couldn't find her, and began to search through the throng of people.
When he couldn't find her, he reminded himself that Oliver was with her. Oliver would die before anything happened to Hermione, he told himself. She's in good hands.
He hoped to hell that was true.
**-**
Hermione licked her lips and squatted low in the waist-high wheat. She had been hiding there for a while now with Oliver, concentrating on the outburst of power she would need. This time, she would be hitting a group of Death Eaters searching the wheat field for hidden Phoenix members, like her.
"Get ready," she murmured. Oliver nodded, and Hermione placed her hands on the ground, looking up at the rolling clouds. Truthfully, the storm shouldn't have arrived that quickly, but Hermione had called it in her need for lightning.
Her long brown hair flowed down her back and tickled her bare skin, but she ignored it. She pushed herself mentally to the clouds and urged them to let their energy go free – she was willing it use it for her purposes.
The elemental magick agreed, and soon Oliver was away from Hermione with a shielding charm around him – she was sparkling with energy and cackling as little bolts of lightning bounced off her.
Hermione stood and raised her hands to the sky, where the energy she collected went back into the clouds and then bounced off of them; they were directed at the group of Death Eaters that Hermione had targeted… only…
"FUCK!" she shouted, and Oliver jumped up.
"What??"
"Harry's there!" Hermione cried, watching in horror as the lightning bolt struck the group, sending Death Eaters in all directions. They were scorched and hissing, but Hermione wasn't looking at them.
"Hermione, no!" Oliver shouted, but Hermione had dashed forward to check on her soul mate. As she neared the area, she gagged at the smell of burning flesh and burnt grass. She didn't really wish that on anyone, but these Death Eaters weren't leaving much choice.
"Harry!" she called, looking for him. Finally pushing wheat stalks away, she found him on his back, burned black in some areas, but nonetheless, breathing. She collapsed on the ground beside him and cradled his head.
His eyes cracked open and he coughed. "Well, I supposed I can safely say that I know lightning never strikes the same place twice."
Hermione gave a choked sob as she gave him a light kiss on the lips. "You fool! You could have died and you're cracking a joke!"
Harry forced a grin that turned into a grimace of pain. "Well, I wasn't expecting my love frying me, Hermione." He closed his eyes and let out a small sigh. "It's not that bad, anyways." He then opened them, focusing on her face before moving them behind her. They widened slowly, and Hermione sensed the growing power as it approached.
Voldemort, she thought, feeling anger bubble in her. There was no need to hide her powers anymore; he would know what she did with the lightning. She gently placed Harry's head back on the ground and stood, her back still to him.
"Be careful and stay here with Oliver," she instructed, seeing Oliver creep up out of the corner of her eye. Harry gave a submissive nod, before closing his eyes again and succumbing to unconsciousness.
Hermione turned and glared at Voldemort.
"Ready?"
He nodded. "More than ever," he smirked, rolling his robe sleeves up as he spoke. "Are you?"
"Ditto," she snarled, clenching her hand. They began to move away from the wheat field, and the tall grass where Death Eaters and Dumbledore's army were still fighting, but in smaller numbers now. In fact, Hermione realized, he was directing them towards the cliff.
As they squared off against each other, Voldemort surprised Hermione by bowing slightly. Hermione smirked and returned the gesture, arching her back but keeping eye contact.
She had picked up Harry's sword where he was dropped it once he landed, and now was clutching it tightly in her right hand.
"Are you going to fight me with that, or your powers?" Voldemort sneered, glancing down at the sword.
"Why don't you move and we'll find out?" parried Hermione, arching an eyebrow. Then, without warning, Voldemort whipped his wand out and shouted, "Avada Kedavra!"
Hermione reacted quickly and ducked; the curse went sailing over her head. She felt a red haze make its way into her vision, and she blinked it away. Now was no time to lose control. Instead, she urged the earth to mold itself to her liking, and watched in amusement as the ground heaved underneath Voldemort's feet and rolled in a large hump that knocked him off balance. Hermione was there in an instant, shouting spells.
"Conjunctiva!" Hermione shouted, before placing her hands on the ground and manipulating the greenery around her to wind itself around Voldemort. He struggled and used fire curses to stop the flow of roots and weeds growing over him.
He let out a cry of anger, and finally cut through the plants. "Think you're smart, do you?"
"Yes," nodded Hermione, feeling confident.
"You're nothing," sneered the Dark Lord. "Nothing, you hear me? Nothing like the weakling Dumbledore, who I dealt with; nothing like that fool Diggory who was leading his Knights into battle… you're nothing like them! And you will die like them!"
Hermione rolled her shoulders back. "You're right, I am nothing. But here's one difference: I won't die!"
Voldemort hissed and then as one, they raced towards each other. They hit with a resounding smack! and began to physically punch and kick and hit. Voldemort tried to reach his side to grasp his dagger, but Hermione rolled off and when he did reach and extract it, Hermione kicked it out of his hand.
He howled in pain, but stood on his knees and glanced at the woman in front of him. "You will die! I will see it done!" he vowed.
"You're going to have a long wait then," said Hermione calmly, before backing a few steps away. She began to gather the rest of the electricity in her body's magical reserve from the lightning, and watched Voldemort.
He was standing on his feet now, his face murderous. Hermione thought she was seeing something, but in reality, she realized that Voldemort's features were changing. His eyes were glowing a vibrant red, and his face had darkened. Around him seemed to form a black cloak of negative energy that he seemed to draw upon, the energy that slowly devoured him.
His features shifted into a black mass of cloud and vapor that hung in the air. Hermione's fear showed through her face. She had never been prepared for that.
The thing chuckled, a nasty sound that made the hair on the back of Hermione's neck stand up.
"Ready to play, Enchantress?" it graveled.
"Not really," she squeaked, only to watch in horror as the cloud raced towards her in superhuman speed… and envelope her in its inky blackness.
**-**
Ginny had her reasons for staying at the camp with a few others. Draco had once told her that Death Eaters, no matter how the battle was going, would attack the camp because that's what they did. So she patiently sat waiting for them to appear and attack.
Which, after a couple minutes of the battle starting, happened. But she and the others had been prepared.
The warlocks had uttered, "stupefy" and the witches had used their magick to create confusion in their targets which led to the stupefy's hitting their victims easily. Ginny knew that one of these Death Eaters was Draco, so she methodically went through each one and removed their mask. These had many of the warlocks and witches with her gasp in surprise or shake their head in realization.
Finally, she found Draco and revived him. His stormy ice eyes blinked open, finally resting on her face.
"Are you okay?" she asked, running a hand down his cheek. He slowly smiled.
"I am now."
Ginny smiled back, glancing up to see Tonks, a young woman who had the ability to change her appearance at will, looking at her strangely. "Who is he, Ginny?" she finally asked as she approached.
"This is Draco Malfoy," Ginny said softly. "He's a spy."
Tonks raised an eyebrow. She looked down at Draco, and the way Ginny was looking at him and realized there was a lot more to what she was saying. Addressing Draco, she asked, "Are you willing to take Veritaserum to confirm that?"
Draco closed his eyes in surrender, and said, "Only if Ginny will be there with me."
Tonks raised her eyebrow again, but nodded. "Then let's get you off the ground and towards the medical tent."
She and a few other warlocks that had been nearby helped Draco to his feet and with Ginny helped him into the medical tent. Already, there were a few cases, all of which had been tended to.
"It's going to get a lot worse," Draco said grimly. He looked at Tonks. "There's another Death Eater spy out there. His name is Severus Snape. Do you think when it begins to die down; someone can go down there and look for him? He took care of me when I was in the Death Eater camps."
Tonks glanced behind her, and a young man Ginny knew as Kingsley nodded back. "We'll take care of it," she finally said, and pushed Draco onto an empty bed. He sat there, with Ginny next to him, holding his hand in comfort.
Tonks came forward with the crystal bottle. Draco opened his mouth and she placed three drops on his tongue. His eyes immediately gazed over and his body went slack against the headboard of the bed.
"What's your name?" Tonks asked.
"Draco Kiran Malfoy," Draco replied, in a monotonous voice.
"Are you a Death Eater?"
"Yes."
"Are you a spy against Voldemort?"
"Yes."
Tonks smiled. She glanced at Ginny who sagged in obvious relief and leaned her head against Draco's shoulder, hoping he'd feel it. "Do you love Ginny Weasley?" Tonks finally asked, a devious smile on her lips.
Ginny's head shot up and her heart skipped a couple beats.
There was s pregnant pause, until Draco opened his mouth. "Yes," he whispered, and the Veritaserum's effect disappeared.
Tonks smiled at looked at the two young adults in front of her. "You'll do fine, Draco," she said as he looked up at her, his eyes now a stormy silver. Rolling her eyes, she shouted over her shoulder as she left the tent, "Just watch that arrogance of yours. It's deadly."
Ginny squeezed Draco's hand affectionately, and brought his attention back to her. "Do you remember everything Tonks asked you?"
"Yes," Draco said warily. "Why?"
Ginny smiled. "Because I love you too." And with that, she leaned forward and smartly kissed Draco Malfoy on the lips, content to stay with him forever, because now there was nothing to worry about.
**-**
Harry and Oliver had been watching Voldemort and Hermione fight up until the point where Volde-thingy had devoured Hermione.
Harry had cried out, and Oliver had jumped to his feet, unsure of what to do. Disobey a direct order from Hermione or go to help her? Both he had sworn to do…
Harry struggled to sit up, hissing in pain from his burns, and watched in horror as the black cloak surrounded itself and turned inside out so nothing could be seen from the inside of what was going on.
"I can't stand this!" He cried out, glancing at Oliver to see the same pained expression on his face. "What are we going to do?"
Oliver looked at Harry. "You can't do anything," he whispered in a choked voice. "Hermione needs to get herself out there alone."
Harry closed his eyes in defeat and nodded, gritting his teeth to stop the tears from leaking out. He couldn't lose the one thing in his life he loved more than anything. He just couldn't.
There was a terrible moaning that started low in the air, and moved in a shrill scream. Harry's eyes opened to watch as the black figure thinned out and Voldemort's vapor face appeared.
Distorted, his mouth was open wide in moaning pain, and his eyes clenched tightly closed.
It was then that he saw the tiny start of green creeping out from underneath the black creature's base, and knew that Hermione was still okay. Slowly, more green appeared and began to take the shape of flowers and roots and branches, surrounded Voldemort's inky figure and binding it tightly in the cage it was creating – but Hermione was still in it.
"Hermione!" shouted Oliver. "Get out of there!"
"Hermione!" yelled Harry as loud as he could, but still there was no change. They watched as Voldemort was slowly covered from head to toe in greenery, and his moans slowly stopped.
The storm clouds above them slowly thinned out and small beams of light hit the ground. The wind died down until it disappeared completely, and suddenly, a cheer erupted from the Phoenix members.
They had won, but at a price.
Harry bit back a shaky sigh and slowly, with Oliver's help, began to stand. They walked over to the tall tree that now held both Hermione and Voldemort, and looked up at it in awe and horror.
Harry bowed his head and let his grief wash over him as he relived the last moments of seeing his love before Voldemort got to her.
"Oh my God…" Oliver's voice breathed out, and Harry lifted his head. There, at the base of the tree, was a small opening.
And crawling out of it with dirt stains all over her face and scratches that ran from face to arm was Hermione.
"Hermione!" shouted Harry as he raced forward, ignoring his pain. He collapsed on the ground near her, and gathered Hermione into his arms. He wrapped her tightly in his embrace and fell back onto his haunches and then butt as he cradled his love near him.
"I thought I lost you!" he choked out.
"You almost did," replied the shaken woman, before his placed kisses along his jaw.
"Don't ever do that again!" he whispered, shaking in fear and relief. His hands ran up and down her back, before he pulled away long enough to look at her.
He rubbed at a small spot of dirt and smiled tenderly. He placed his hand against her cheek and pulled her close to him.
And then they kissed.
**~**
AN: Well. That was an interesting "ending" to EDN, wasn't it? The end was totally Fern Gully right there, but hey! I didn't exactly know how to write the final battle scene and having it not told was rather different. Anyways. Never fear, there is still the epilogue to go, which should be up rather soon. It's not that long.
Bookworm111: My ideas? Really, I get them from the books I read and movies. And sometimes my dad, who comes up with these really stupid, stupid ideas that I warp into something dark and angst-y from listening to gothic rock. :)
MaRiAn the LiBrArIaN: Dear God, I made Voldie more frightening than in OotP? Really. I am surprised. I actually found Voldie in OotP to be pretty plain and boring, and well… not evil at all. I think I believe him to be a Jafar (Aladdin) type guy. Or the stereotypical, "Oh, I am going to kill you but first I am going to tell you my plans and then you can beat me and escape" villain. Or an "Mwahaha" villain.
Miya Tomo: I'm glad you like the story! And no, as you can see, Hermione and Harry do not die. Pretty much, if a character died in the actual cannon, I kill them off. But I love Sirius too much to do that, so he lives. After all, he's sexilicious; it would be a scandal to kill him!
Stoneheart: The one who never fails to leave a review! And a nice lengthy one at that – one which I enjoyed reading when I was in Paris and made me laugh out loud (just because I love how you write your reviews… the Parisians were looking at me strangely). Yeah… well… a nice bunch of plot twists. I guess you'll have to see what happens in the epilogue to see what Draco says to Hermione, or what Hermione says to Oliver – and if Lavender returns to Ron, and if Ginny will be miffed that she isn't everything Draco wants… but maybe is? :-D Thanks for the review as usual!
SilverDagger: Trust me… the history of any world is confusing. :-D But you're right, mine is pretty confusing and crazy and doesn't make sense. Any questions, just feel free to leave them in a review with your email or send me one and I'll do my best to clear it up for you. Er… hopefully.
Keeper of the Truth: Thank you! I hope you're impressed later on too!
Silver Spell: If you like AUs, you'll pretty much like most of my stories (and if you like my writing style). That's all I usually write and read, because it's just so much more fun than the usual love triangles, same Voldemort-is-taking-over-the-world stories, or Hermione's got a new power, or Harry's got a twin. I like being different!
Elyse: Thanks. I know, a good number of mistakes. Here's the secret: I ain't got a beta. **Blushes shamefully** I think that once the story is done I'm going to revamp it and reedit it to make it better. Thanks for your kind words, though! And yes, "Ever After" was pretty good – even if I don't like Drew Barrymoore that much. PS: LOVE your name.
Anonymous: Thank you!
Paige Woods: Reread? And yes, Hermione is very powerful. Too powerful, actually. I think I made her a God. Pooey… I was hoping from something less flashy. Can't have her stealing all of the HP glory, now, can she? :-)
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR REVIEWING… THE EPILOGUE IS ALL THAT REMAINS… ARE YOU READY FOR "EDN" TO END?
