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Chapter 12
Voldemort's voice drifted off. He lifted a hand, and pointed a bony finger at them.
"Avada Kedavra."
At that moment, time seemed to stand still for Hermione and Draco. All they could think about was protecting the other. They watched everything happen in slow motion. A flash of green light seemed to spring from Voldemort's hand, aimed for them. Draco and Hermione couldn't move, they seemed to be frozen. Fear and adrenaline raced through Hermione. She knew what she had to do. She moved herself quickly in front of Draco, just before the curse hit them.
"No!" Draco screamed as he stared in shock, sinking to the ground next to her.
"Well, well, well, that does present a problem now doesn't it? I'll have to find a new bitch for you now. Pity, she was rather intelligent. She would have made a good match. Oh well, there's a million more like that mudblood. And all who are more beautiful. Maybe Pansy Parkinson would do. Would you like that?" Said Voldemort, laughing along with all the death eaters except for A.J. and Professor Snape.
"No one could equal Granger in anything, beauty included! And I wouldn't screw Pansy Parkinson except over my dead body!" he said in a low menacing voice.
"I think that could be arranged, my young death eater."
But before Draco could say or do anything in reply, Voldemort and the death eaters disappeared, leaving A.J., Severus and Draco in the clearing. But before they could move or do anything, a noise made them all jump. They could see something shimmering come out from the shadows of the forest. It looked like a person, but yet it wasn't. It had human-like hands and legs, yet you couldn't really distinguish its facial features.
"Do not be afraid," the thing said in a melodious voice. "I have seen inside your heart and how much you care. I also know that this was a self-less act of friendship on her behalf. My name is Merleana, and I am the Angel of Death. But I have decided that now is not her time to come. But heed this warning; if she is killed again she must claim her place in heaven."
During this speech, Severus, A.J. and Draco all stood in awe of her. They watched as she placed glowing fingertips on Hermione's forehead, said something the language of the angels, and watched as a symbol in the form of a scar appeared on her forehead.
"This is the Japanese kanji for faith. As long as you have faith in your friends and each other, you will never be parted eternally." The angel paused, walked over to Draco, and doing the same thing she did to Hermione, placed glowing fingertips on his forehead. "You now have the Japanese kanji of hope on your forehead. As long as you have hope, you will be able to overcome anything together."
Merleana walked over to Hermione and spoke in Angelic again, telling Hermione to come back. Hermione's eyes started to flutter, and everyone gathered around close. It was with this last view of everyone that Merleana disappeared to where she had come from.
"What happened? Malfoy?! Where is he? Is he okay?!" she sat up looking around frantically.
"Granger, look, I'm fine!" he said as he did something he never would have even wanted to do before. He hugged her to him, and feeling safe in his arms, Hermione started to cry as the shock of all that had happened wore off, leaving her to face the cruel reality.
Snape looked at Draco and nodded at him.
"Don't be long." He said, and taking A.J.'s hand, she smiled and waved, along with Snape at the two teenagers before both apparated back to the castle.
"Gosh Granger, don't ever do that again, all right? I'm too young for another heart attack." He said, pulling out his handkerchief and handing it to her.
"I- I'm sorry, but I didn't want you to get hurt."
"Yeah, well what about you? There's too many people that would be upset if you kicked the bucket just yet. Besides, you're too smart to die this young."
Hermione laughed lightly. "Thanks Draco, I needed that. Ouch!" she said rubbing her forehead.
"Oh, that pain in your forehead may be because we have both been given scars. Yours is the Japanese kanji for faith and mine is the Japanese kanji for hope. We sort of got them from Merleana."
"Oh yes, faith and hope, to keep us together and to have faith in friends. Merleana is an angel, right?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, how'd you kno- wait, never mind, you're smart, that's why." Draco replied, smiling at her.
"That's not why, but it's true." Hermione smiled back at him. She started to reach out to brush aside his hair to better see his scar, but stopped. "May I?" she said gesturing to his scar.
He nodded, and Hermione once again reached out to move the hair. Her fingers made contact with silky smooth blond hair that was so light it was almost silvery looking in the sunlight. Her fingers lightly traced over the scar in such a delicate way that it caused Draco to get a shiver down his back. She lowered her eyes from his forehead to look him in his eyes.
"It's beautiful," she said, looking back up at it.
"Yeah, but I see something even more gorgeous right now." He replied, looking straight at her.
"Really, what?" she said, looking to see where he was staring before she realized it was herself he was talking about.
"That's sweet, but you're just saying that. I'm not pretty like Parvarti or Lavender."
"No, you're not the same, that's for sure."
Hermione looked crestfallen at that.
"You're more so than they are, inside and out side, and I mean that Hermione. You're beautiful. And, I…." he stopped short, looking nervous.
"What is it?" she asked, looking worried at the look on his face.
"I- I'm falling for you, and I'm falling faster and harder than I ever have before."
"Really? Good, because I'm falling, too. But what's wrong with that," she asked upon seeing the worried look remain on his face.
"No one is going to understand. I'm Slytherin, you're Gryffindor. Our houses would never leave us alone. We're like Romeo and Juliet, it's never going to work between us." He said looking distraught.
"Draco, snap-dragon, I don't care about everyone else. I only care about you. If we have to keep it a secret, than so be it. I'm willing to keep it a secret."
Draco just stared at her, as if contemplating something.
"Draco?" she asked.
"Aw, screw them all," he said softly.
And with that, he took his hand and cupping her cheek, tilted her head till he was looking into her eyes, and slowly started to lean in. He watched her close her brown eyes right before he did. He moved in, so close that they're lips were almost touching and he could smell her watermelon lip gloss. But just before his lips captured hers…
"Ahem." Came the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Draco and Hermione both pulled back regretfully to see Professor Dumbledore watching them with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Hello Professor," the two students said in unison, albeit a little disappointed at not being able to continue.
"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy. I'm glad to see that you are both okay. I was a little apprehensive when you did not soon reappear after Miss Edwards and Severus did. Now, I think it is time to be heading back, so if you will join me over here, I will transport all of us back to the school."
"Yes Professor," they both said again in unison.
Draco got to his feet and then bent down to scoop up Hermione in his arms, since she was still feeling weak from the curse. Holding her gently, Draco made his way over to Professor Dumbledore, who in a few moments had transported them back to Hogwarts.
"Mister Malfoy, I recommend that you take Miss Granger to the infirmary for medical attention." Said Professor Dumbledore.
"That's just where I was headed." Said Draco as he turned to go.
"Oh, one more thing Mister Malfoy."
"Yes, sir?"
"You're secret is safe with me." He said smiling.
"Thank you, sir." He said before turning once again and heading up the stairs to the infirmary for the second time that week, Hermione still cuddled in his arms, now asleep after the days previous events.
Draco looked down at the beautiful girl he was carrying in his arms. He bent down and kissed her softly on the forehead.
"Sweet dreams, sweet pea."
Dumbledore watched this display from the entrance to the great hall.
"Ah, young love. I only hope that it's enough to keep them alive." He said, somewhat sadly.
For everyone knows that love, above all else, is the strongest, most powerful magic, in all the world, with nothing that can defeat it.
A/N: So, what'd ya think? No cliffie this time. And this chapter is 1,570 words. Yea! In the next two chapters I think I'll get the Halloween ball out. Any guesses as to who the couples will be, or any suggestions or specific people you guys want me to match up? I'm not making promises, but I'll see what I can do. And to all my wonderful reviewers. THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH! You all get a huge plate of brownies each! Thanks again!
