DISCLAIMER: Well, I have not updated for weeks, but do you really think that I have had enough time to earn so much money with my poorly paid teaching job that I could afford to buy any copy rights?

Author's note: I'm so sorry that I didn't update earlier, but first of all I didn't know how to end this part of the story and then it took me some time to decide on which character to kill and then there was the release of the Order of the Phoenix and after that there were finals and I literally went crazy correcting  thousands of papers in only two weeks. Then I caught a horrible cold and actually thought about letting this story go on (and on and on), but fortunately I came back to my senses.

This story ends with this chapter. I apologize for the tiny flaw that is in this chapter (for all those of you who spotted it, tell me about it in your review), but let's say we had an unreliable narrator in one of the previous chapters to smooth that one over, all right?

BUT if you're not tired of my writing than you can prepare for the ultimate sequel to this story. I'm also sorry that there wasn't that much Romance in this story as I actually thought at the beginning, but well, that's the way the cookies crumble…the sequel will be full of Romance and Humour, so be prepared for that one, I don't know yet how to name it, but I'm sure you'll find it if you want to read it and the first chapters will be posted by Friday or Saturday.

So far, so good. I also want to thank my loyal beta-reader Exlibris for reading my chapters in advance and for correcting spelling mistakes and errors…btw. this chapter is not beta read and as my new notebook doesn't have the software for the British English spell check there might be thousands of mistakes in this one. Please be kind and ignore them. Thank you.

Oh, and a big big THANK YOU note goes out to all those who reviewed this wonderful story of mine and who even put me on their favourites lists…that is sooo cute and I love you all (Quote belongs to M. Jackson. Please don't sue me, I won't have any money left anyway after Mrs. Rowling's lawyers are done with me). Please never stop reviewing, I truly am addicted to your reviews and can't live without them anymore.

And I actually admire all those of you who never quit standing by my side whatever spelling mistakes, flaws, errors and wrong grammar might have crossed our ways. Thank you. *bows humbly and ducks in case someone decides to throw tomatoes*

Okay, I have to admit that this chapter is more like a draft, you see, there are some loose ends and I don't know whether you'll like it or not, but if you are satisfied with it, then I'm happy and I'm going to post it straight away, because I do not want to keep you waiting any longer. (But if it really sucks I'm going to rewrite it to get rid of all the flaws in it….you know).

I guess a lot of people won't like the following chapter due to some things happening in it and Ron being all evil…but, well. As I said, there will be a sequel, although I don't tell you who is going to be still alive in this sequel and I'll also work out a companion fic in which we will get Harry's story and then there will be a wizarding-war fiction, in which you will be told about some minor details…but I'll only write those if you are interested in reading them.

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And Then We Were Defeated

Chapter 22

And then they were defeated II

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Nobody seemed to notice the tall figure standing hidden by the shadows in one corner of the room. Lucius Malfoy kept a watchful eye on what was going on his study between his only son, the mudblood, and all the others assembled before Voldemort. Apparently things would start to get more interesting now that Arthur Weasley's youngest son had entered the stage. Lucius had to suppress a snort at the sight of the young boy who was not older than Draco and surely not good enough to be in the same room as him or the Dark Lord.  The mudblood was rather shocked to see her beloved little pureblood friend standing there in the doorway and although she kept her face a stony mask, her eyes betrayed her and showed how taken aback she really was.

***

There in the doorway stood none other than Ron Weasley. Hermione thought she would die that instant. Ron Weasley. There was no mistaken him. The fiery red hair, his eyes, his smile. The thought that someone might have used Polyjuice Potion to copy his outer appearance didn't even cross Hermione's mind. This was the one and only Ron Weasley.

For second Hermione closed her eyes, remembering how it used to be when they still had been friends. Or, well, when she still had believed he was their friend. She had trusted him, felt secure with him and he had betrayed them all the time. He and Dumbledore. She swallowed hard, but didn't look away. Whatever was to come she would face it and she would give neither Voldemort nor Ron the satisfaction of seeing her back down.

Draco could feel that Hermione's body went rigid next to his, but he didn't dare look at her. Realization dawned on him as soon as the Weasley had opened the door. They had planned it all along. How could he have been so stupid? They had wanted him to rebel against his father and the Dark Lord and predictable as he was he had done exactly what they had expected him to do. That was why they hadn't killed the mudblood the instant they got hold of her, that was the reason why they hadn't told him everything, they wanted to get rid of them all at once and obviously the little Weasley had wanted to have his fun before finishing them off. Draco's hands were clutching his robes tightly, his knuckles shining white.

Ron's smirk broadened as his gaze fell onto Malfoy's crouched figure, who could barely contain the rage building up inside him.

"Well, well, isn't that a sight? Who would have thought that muggle-hating, pureblood scum Draco Malfoy would be engaged to Hermione Granger one day? Did you really fall for her by now or do you still uncomfortable when filth like her touches your precious robes?" Ron began and gave them an once-over.

Hermione didn't even flinch at his words, she listened to them numbly, her mind was blank.  Draco on the other hand frowned and his usually calm face which never displayed emotions showed disgust. Disgust because of Hermione or because he associated with a mudblood or did he frown at Ron's words and his own stupidity? Not even he himself was sure about that.

"Oh, did ickle-Dracokins lose his ability to retort with witty remarks? Or did I hit home with what I said? The second you came to her rescue out in the woods I knew you believed every single word of what we let you hear and you and your father would only be to glad as to live up to our standards." He stated this calmly, without any emotion leaking through, Voldemort, Dumbledore and Snape listening to his words without getting involved in the conversation. 

"Ron…what about Harry?" Finally, it was Hermione's voice cutting in weakly and drawing all the attention to her.  All the colour had drowned of her face and her chocolate eyes seemed even larger and darker contrasting the pale skin. Ron looked at her silently, hate filling his eyes.   

"Yeah, Harry. It's always him, isn't it? The boy who lives…or better, who accidentally survived his parent's murder. The whole world seems to be interested in his well being, no matter how many other persons die around him. If only he is alive and well off everything else isn't of any importance." His voice was bitter and sad as he said this. "What about me, Hermione? I had to achieve everything I am and have today and nobody gives a damn about me. Who cared that MY parents were slaughtered protecting Harry? I'd rather have them alive then this poor excuse for a wizard. He wouldn't come to rescue you, Hermione. It was me who read your note. ME who let you stay alive so long and how send you a note that would lead you out of the Manor. I came to your rescue and wanted you to be with me, to love and hold me, but you had to kiss Malfoy."

"Ron." Hermione whispered, her eyes locked at the boy she had thought she knew for years and yet she didn't understand a single thing about him right now. "You planned everything?"

"Did you think he would fall for you, Hermione? Do you really think someone besides me could have feelings for you?" He paused. "You are not worth any feelings, mudblood. Malfoy acted like a little puppy, we only had to put some hints and clues for him to find and he would go after them straight away. Only Dobby was as weak as you are. I actually had to threaten him to lead you out of the Manor." 

Draco watched Ron intently, he felt furious with rage, not because Ron insulted the girl standing right beside him, but because he felt humiliated and degraded himself. Slowly he let his hand slip into his pocket to take out his wand. However, before his hand came into contact with the smooth surface of his wooden wand, the touched something cool and solid. The ring.

Ron must have seen Draco's movement, because suddenly he turned to him. "You won't need a wand, Malfoy. You're as good as dead and doing some poor magic tricks won't help you out."

Draco was about to explode, he couldn't take it any longer, but just as he was about to let go of the ring and really hex Ron Weasly straight into the next century, a small hand was placed on his arm. He turned and faced Hermione looking up at him, a pleading look on her face. "Don't." her eyes seemed to say.

With a sigh he pulled out his hand, still clutching the silver ring. He didn't think about it, but with a swift movement he grabbed Hermione's hand and gently slipped the ring on her finger. "I think this one still belongs to you, Granger." He stated it as a simple fact, but squeezed her hand slightly reassuring her that he meant what he had done. Hermione smiled a little. She was perfectly aware of the situation they were in and she was grateful that for once she had found someone she could rely on. Funny, she thought, the person I trusted for years turned out to hate me and the one I despised for so long is now my one and only ally.

Ron said nothing, he simply stared at the two young people standing in front of the fireplace. Then he slowly pulled out his own wand, pointing it at Hermione and Draco.

"That's enough, Mr. Weasley." It was Dumbledore's voice cutting into the dangerous silence and interrupting the red head. Ron didn't even bother to look at him.

"I don't take orders from a muggle-loving old fool, Dumbledore."

Snape, who had so far been standing at the door slightly next to Ron, moved away fearfully. Without another word  Dumbledore stood up.

"Let him." The Dark Lord himself stopped both wizards whose gazes were locked with each other. "I think, it is time to end our little game, I'm getting tired of it. Weasley, take care of our two young guest."

With a triumphant glint in his eyes, Ron raised his wand. Hermione's eyes widened and she took a step back. Ron wouldn't kill her, he'd never do that. No, the Ron she knew back at Hogwarts wouldn't have done something like that…she grabbed Draco's robes and clung to them, but she wouldn't give Ron the satisfaction of begging for her life. As things were now, she was better off dead anyways. When the flash of green light illuminated the room Hermione closed her eyes. Something hit her hard in the chest and she stumbled back, still holding on to Draco when the world around her went black.

***

Two bodies fell to the ground next to each other and lay there motionless. Who would have thought that those two, who had been arch-enemies since they knew the other one existed, would now be lying so peacefully next to each other, united by the same tragic fate.