Well I'm back and ready to start posting regularly again! I'm sorry I've taken this long! I hope you all enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I wish I did but I DON'T own Harry Potter!
The Fine Line Between Love and Hate
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CHAPTER 8: UNSOLVED
Ella opened her front door forcibly and slammed it behind her unintentionally. As soon as she heard the bang echo around the house she winced and listened intently for Beth to start crying. When she heard nothing she sighed irritably and walked angrily into the kitchen to get herself a drink so she could calm down.
"Damn him, damn him, damn him." Ella muttered, pouring herself some juice. Hermione walked into the kitchen gingerly and observed Ella sadly.
"You didn't find out anything then?" She asked. Ella sighed and put her drink down before turning around to face her friend.
"I'm sorry. But I went to the Ministry and they still haven't heard anything and no-one has owled in with information for the Daily Prophet." Ella told her. Hermione nodded and held up the new Daily Prophet paper in her hand.
"I figured. They're still printing stories about the disappearance though," She shook her head, "I just don't understand. How can four people just go missing and not be found? It's not logical."
"Nothing ever is with the Ministry," Ella frowned, "I really don't trust them. They seem so sneaky."
Hermione pulled a face, "But it's the Ministry Ella. I doubt they're hiding something."
Ella shrugged and went back to her drink. She disagreed.
"You going to unpack?" Ella wondered, changing the subject. Hermione nodded.
"Yeah...in a little while."
"You've been saying that for two days now. You're here for three weeks Hermione. You might as well get it out of the way," Ella paused, "Was Beth okay?"
"Yeah," Hermione smiled fondly, "She's beautiful you know. She's got Harry's eyes."
"I know," Ella smiled to herself before pouring Hermione a drink, "Here."
"Thanks." Hermione was quiet for a moment before she put her drink down and looked at Ella seriously.
"What?" Ella frowned.
"How do you do this?" Hermione exclaimed, "I'm so upset sometimes that I wish I didn't love Ron. That way, him being missing wouldn't hurt so much."
"You love, you learn you know. And I get upset too. It's just I have Beth to concentrate on." Ella told her.
"I don't have anything to concentrate on," Hermione said sourly, "My study only distracts me to a certain degree and then I go back to thinking about Ron and Harry. I'm always thinking that I'm never going to see them again. I just don't think I can live without them you know?"
Ella smiled comfortingly, "You live, you learn Hermione. You always learn. Don't worry. We'll get through this. It's Ron and Harry we're talking about remember? Tell me a time that they haven't gotten through together."
"Point," Hermione grinned, "Since when did you become so grown up?"
"Oh that just sickens me," Ella grinned too, "Comes with age. I feel like I'm fifty."
"You haven't been sleeping either?" Hermione wondered placing her cup in the sink. Ella shook her head.
"I've been oversleeping. I never knew that too much sleep could be bad for you. But it is."
Hermione nodded and went to leave the kitchen before Ella's voice caused her to turn around.
"I mean it Hermione. We will get through this. And when they come back from wherever it is they've been missing, I am going to strangle them to death." Ella said seriously.
Hermione laughed. Having a friend nearby really did help. But Merlin help her, if they came back, she was going to strangle them to death too.
* * * *
Draco stepped out of Ella's fireplace excitedly. He had some news that he knew would interest Hermione and Ella. Granted they were home for him to tell them.
Ella had moved back into her place when she had gotten out of hospital and Draco had been fine with it. He missed her sometimes but it had been better in most ways. He didn't think of her as anything more that a friend anymore and he enjoyed coming to visit her and Beth. Beth was such a lovable baby. He got to see her in all her glory without having to wake up in the middle of the night to her wailing.
Ella walked into the lounge room and past the fireplace, not seeing him.
"Ella." He greeted her sharply. She jumped and turned to glower at him.
"You prat," She snapped, "You scared me half to death."
"Where's Beth?" Draco wondered. Ella rolled her eyes.
"Merlin. Don't you come to see me anymore?"
"Sure I do. But she's two months old today." Draco said defensively. Ella stared at him for a moment before breaking into a grin.
"So she is. You're really going to make a good Godfather you know." She told him, making her way over to the lounge and sitting on it. Draco gaped at her for several seconds before he walked over to her.
"Are you serious?" He demanded, "Because if this is a joke Egon..."
"Oh don't talk me out of it by being rude. Of course I'm serious." Ella reprimanded him.
"What about Potter's opinion? Wouldn't he want Weasley to be the Godfather?" Draco asked. Not that he minded the alternative. Ella shrugged.
"He probably would but he isn't here to tell me otherwise and Ron isn't here to ask. So what do you say?" She observed his expression; "I'll take that stupid smile as a yes. So what are you here for?"
Draco stopped smiling, "Oh. I have some information."
"On what?" Hermione asked upon entering the room. She wasn't Granger anymore. Just Hermione. Draco smiled at her.
"On Potter and Weasley. Turns out remaining connected to some of my Father's evil acquaintances isn't such a burden."
Hermione and Ella looked at each other briefly before pushing Draco over to the sit on the lounge. They then started ranting softly about what information he had without giving him a chance to say anything.
"Don't get so worked up," He warned, interrupting them, "It's something but it's not much."
"I don't care," Ella sighed, "Anything would make me happy."
"Me too." Hermione agreed.
"Okay," Draco pulled a face, "I think that perhaps I might have built this up too much..."
Hermione glared at him and he rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I went into the Ministry and found out that they know something about Potter and Weasley going missing." Draco said slowly, standing up.
"What?" Ella shook her head, "No. I've been going there every day and they always tell me that they know nothing and that-"
"Please Egon," Draco sighed, "You think they'd tell you anything? You mean nothing to them. My father's connections are still present and they run deep. And mostly everyone still sees me as the next Lucius Malfoy."
"Of course," Hermione nodded her head, "It's completely logical. So is that all you have then? That they know something?"
"They're behind it," Draco continued, "It's a mission. I don't know what it's about or anything else. Just that they're gone because of a mission."
"Merlin," Ella groaned, "A mission. A stupid mission."
"Why wouldn't they tell us about it?" Hermione wondered in disbelief, "Don't they trust us?"
"I'm sure that's not the case," Draco frowned thoughtfully, "I suspect, now this is just an assumption, that this 'mission' they're on has to be entirely secret. It's probably a very important one. The people I talked to at the Ministry were very selective about what they told me and what they told me was limited."
"Do you think it might be dangerous then? Whatever Harry and Ron are doing?" Ella worried. Draco shrugged; he didn't have a clue. Hermione let out an exasperated breath and began pacing slightly between her two friends.
"It would be logical that they couldn't disclose anything if it is so important. Perhaps we weren't supposed to know because it might be a danger to us somehow," She sighed, "Although I don't see how."
"I don't care. Just knowing they're alive is wonderful. Well, I mean I knew they were alive but the confirmation just makes me feel better." Ella said earnestly.
Hermione nodded, "Yes, me too but really I wish I knew more. Is that all you know Malfoy? That they're on a mission and alive?"
"That's it." Draco was put out. When he'd found out about the reason behind Potter and Weasley's disappearance he had thought it was great news. Now it didn't seem like such a big thing.
"Well," Ella stood up, "I suppose I should owl the Daily Prophet and get them to take out Harry and Ron from the 'Missing People' section then."
"No," Draco said slowly, stopping her, "Keep them in. I think that for some reason we're supposed to think they're missing. Like Hermione said, we're not supposed to know they're alive and if we change anything that gives away we know otherwise we'll screw up whatever it is the Ministry has planned."
"I don't care about the Ministry," Ella scowled, "But I don't want to put anyone in danger. What about their funerals? Should we stop them though?"
"Funerals?" Draco wondered in shock, "I thought you knew they were alive? Why would you be holding funerals for Potter and Weasley if-"
"Because," Hermione said sharply, "Ella and I may believe that they're still alive but no one else does. They're aren't used to Ron and Harry's lifestyle and the disappearance shocked others more than us."
"Mrs Weasley and Mr Weasley want to have one for Ron. Ginny believes they're still alive but the rest of Ron's family...well. They don't," Ella shrugged, "And Mrs Dursley wants one for Harry. I owled her about a month ago to tell her about Beth and Harry and she wrote back saying she wanted to hold a funeral if he wasn't found in a few weeks."
"Right," Draco nodded, "Hold the funerals then. And remember that you know nothing."
Ella and Hermione nodded mutely and were clearly involved in their own thoughts.
"Anything else?" Asked Hermione after a moment. Draco shook his head.
"I just wanted to let you two know that as soon as possible and," He paused, "I'm also engaged.
Hermione gaped at him while Ella started laughing, the mood of the room suddenly changed.
"You get married? Oh Please. You're just trying to lighten the mood because of the news about Ron and Harry." Ella told him.
"No I'm not. I'm really engaged."
"Yeah sure. To Geraldine then?" She was still laughing.
"Yes. Why is that so funny?" He demanded. Ella stopped laughing and glanced over at Hermione.
"Are you serious?" She wondered uneasily.
"Yes." He frowned at her as she bit her bottom lip.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't...Geraldine huh...well then," She reached over and clapped him on the back, "Good luck with that one."
"And what is that supposed to-" He began defensively.
"So are you coming back here in a week?" Hermione wondered, interrupting him. Draco frowned.
"Why would I?"
Ella shook her head and smiled to herself as she walked out of the room, most likely to check on Beth. Hermione put her hands on her hips.
"Don't tell me you forgot about Ginny finishing seventh year. And Luna," Hermione looked stern, "It's their Graduation."
Draco groaned, "Bloody hell. I did forget. I can't go. I'm too busy."
"You have to," She still looked stern, "Ginny would never forgive you. Well she would because she's just like that. But she'd be very mad and you know what that's like...where are you going?"
Draco had made his way back to the fireplace and was standing in it with a handful of Floo powder. He sighed.
"Merlin Hermione. I have to go. Business to attend to," He told her, "Tell Ginny I'm sorry and say bye to Ella and Beth for me."
He threw the Floo powder down and disappeared from sight as he was engulfed in green flames. Hermione shook her head. It was all about work for him.
* * * *
"Bloody hell!" Ginny fumed, "It's all about work for him."
Hermione looked sympathetic and remained quiet. She'd just told Ginny that Malfoy wasn't able to come to the Graduation and Ginny was definitely not happy about it. She still hadn't mentioned his engagement yet and she wasn't certain on how Ginny would handle it.
But she had to tell her.
"Gin," Hermione said softly, "There's something else about Malfoy."
"He promised you know! He promised he'd come," Ginny frowned, "What else?"
"Well you know that girl he's been seeing...er..." Hermione coughed.
Ginny nodded and her face darkened, "That annoying one Harry went out with in school? Yes. What about her?"
"We'll they've become slightly more serious," Hermione paused, "They're engaged Gin."
Ginny's eyes widened and she stiffened visibly. She remained silent for about a minute before tears brimmed in her eyes and slowly ran down her cheeks. Hermione knew now that Ginny loved Malfoy. Before she had just had suspicions but now she knew for sure.
"He...he can't be," Ginny sniffed, "She's awful. There are much better people out there you know."
"I know Gin." Hermione placed her arms around her friend and Ginny lent into her crying quietly.
"It's not that I mind...well I do...I do...but he just can't," Ginny suddenly stopped and frowned, "Merlin I hate him."
Hermione smiled and put her arm around her friend again as she led Ginny back to the group. She herself had said to Ron that she hated him. She knew Ginny didn't mean it, just as she hadn't when she had said it. Hate and love. They really were so similar, so close together in terms of true underlying feelings.
Mrs Weasley smiled at them when they returned but her gaze paused a little on Ginny's evident tear-stained face. Ginny's entire family had come. Well, with the exception of Percy and Ron.
Hermione could only remember seeing so many redheaded figures before, she hardly knew any of them.
The ones she did know however were not in the mood for celebrating. The disappearance of Ron left an evident strain amongst the immediate family and Hermione was worried that any moment Mrs Weasley might burst into tears, perhaps for the millionth time that day.
Ginny seemed to be the most downhearted of the Weasley's. Hermione knew Ron had been her favorite brother and even though Ginny thought he was still alive, her doubts about his existence saddened her immensely. And now with the news that Malfoy was engaged her Graduation had officially become depressing.
Hermione left Ginny with her consoling mother and walked over to Ella who was sitting down at the table alone, holding a sleeping Beth.
"What is it with you and sitting at tables alone?" A voice asked Ella. Hermione and Ella looked over and smiled at Malfoy. So he had come! Stupid deceiving bastard.
"I'd go to Ginny," Hermione told him, "I told her about you and Geraldine. And she's not happy about it."
Something flashed across Malfoy's face as he looked over at the young Weasley girl. Hermione didn't understand it and sat down next to Ella frowning thoughtfully.
"He loves her." Ella said quietly. Hermione laughed bitterly.
"I know. But she's in love with him."
"Oh," Ella shook her head, "I mean he's in love with her."
Hermione smiled broadly, "That's wonderful. They can get together...no they cant. Why is he engaged is he loves Ginny?"
Ella looked like she was trying not to smile.
"Sometimes when two stubborn people love each other they don't get around to confessing their feelings for a long time." She explained. Hermione frowned.
"Are you talking about Ginny and Malfoy or me and Ron?" Hermione wondered.
Ella rolled her eyes, "Both Hermione."
"I am not stubborn," Hermione argued defensively, "Ron's the stubborn one. He never said anything..."
Hermione trailed off; knowing what she was saying wasn't true. Ron had said things. He'd told her he loved her and she'd heard him talking about her at the Ministry and then there had been the night at the hospital when Ella had given birth.
She frowned to herself and realised something that was very plain, and had probably been noticed by everyone else around her. She was the one not doing anything. She was the one who never said anything. Not Ron. Ron had tried but she...she had just gone about life normally pretending that his words didn't really affect her.
"Hermione?"
She glanced up at Ella who was looking at her with concern.
"I just...I just realised that I've been stupid." Hermione shook her head in disbelief. She wasn't stupid. There was nothing about her that had ever been stupid. She was always a student that exemplified qualities in complete contrast of stupid. Hermione was always the person people turned to for answers when they couldn't find some because she usually had them, etched away somewhere in her extremely resourceful brain.
But with Ron she was stupid. She was stupid to let him get away. What had ever stopped her? She loved him. Had she been too full of pride or afraid of rejection or scornful of the fact that she loved Ron Weasley (of all people) to do anything?
No. She had just been too stupid to do anything. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Hermione heard Ella speak and bought up her face to meet her friends gaze.
"You are not," Ella said firmly yet for some reason her voice was shaky, "Don't think that you've missed your chance because they're missing. We know they're alive. Ron will be back. He will be. And then you can both work out everything and get married and have children and it will all be good."
Hermione smiled, "I know you think it's that simple but its not. Every day that passes decreases the possibility of us seeing them again. And it's the same thing with Ron. He and I couldn't work it out in school and now we've grown up and we still can't get it right. I don't know if giving it a chance would be best...what?"
Ella was shaking her head.
"Hermione, don't pull it apart to little bits. It can be that simple." Ella adjusted Beth in her arms and frowned at her friend. Hermione sighed.
"Okay fine. When he comes back we'll sort it out."
That's if Ron will still have me, Hermione considered as her thoughts went back to the night when Ella had given birth to Beth.
She'd known something was wrong as soon as Harry and Ron as walked in the room. It wasn't Harry who gave it away. He walked over to Ella as composed as he usually was but Ron on the other hand had looked decidedly uneasy. He'd walked over to her straight away before stopping in front of her and suddenly blushing furiously, just like he used to at times when they were alone together at school.
"H...Herm...Hermione." Ron had smiled foolishly at her.
"Yes?" She'd smiled back.
"I...well...you," He cleared his throat, "What has been with you lately? With all those parties Ella had you've avoided me like I'm Voldemort himself."
She'd frowned immediately and her face had turned slightly pink with anger.
"What?" She demanded. Ron's eyes widened and he cleared his throat again.
"No. Ignore that. I can't help it," His blush returned, "With you I can't help what I say. It's just like that. I mean, well with you I always seem to argue about nothing. And we fight all the time, more than I do with anyone else. I like that but. Do you understand?"
Hermione shook her head, her confusion evident on her face.
"Okay," Ron's face became scarlet, "I'll try and explain. You...you heard Harry and me at the Ministry didn't you? You heard what I said about you?"
She had blushed at that, embarrassed that he knew what she knew and embarrassed with the knowledge that she had eavesdropped on her friends' conversation. She didn't even both to correct his 'Harry and me' to a 'Harry and I'. Instead she nodded a little bit.
Ron glanced over at Harry saying a final goodbye to Ella and started. He leant towards her so that his lips were inches from her ear.
"I meant every word Hermione. Everything I said. I don't care that when I'm around you things just come out if I let them. I really love you. I always have and I always will." He quickly hugged her before turning away.
"Get real Ron." She told him sharply. Her eyes widened in surprise as soon as the sentence left her mouth. She didn't know why she'd said it but Ron's words had made her feel insecure. He had just told her he loved her again after the first time when she had shut him down. His unusual outburst of feeling had made her not feel at ease and for some reason she had wanted to defend herself.
Hurt crossed Ron's features momentarily before he nodded and turned away from her again. Hermione wished she'd gone after him and told him she felt that same. But no matter what Ella said, things really weren't that simple, and she had just stood back and watched him leave the room. Granted though, she might have acted on her feelings if she had known he was going on a dangerous mission from which he wouldn't return...
"...so I just wanted to tell you that," Ella said solemnly, taking a deep breath and letting it out, "I don't think I'll be able to bring it up again but I wanted to say it just this once."
Hermione frowned in confusion as Ella leant forward and patted her arm.
"You have no idea what it means for me to tell you that Hermione. It's been weighing on my mind for years now," Ella continued, "You really are a great friend."
Hermione sat up straight, alarmed that she had missed some vitally important thing. Ella noted her friend's expression and grinned.
"I knew you weren't listening. Don't worry. I didn't really say anything."
"That wasn't funny." Hermione scolded, smiling a little. Ella shrugged.
"What were you thinking about?" She asked.
"Just things." Hermione looked down at Beth who was now awake. Even at this young age Hermione knew the baby was going to be beautiful. She had the finest features and Harry's green eyes. Beth looked up at her with them and Hermione's heart ached fleetingly for her friend. She missed Harry too.
"I miss Harry." Hermione said suddenly. Ella looked down and Hermione sighed. She could handle talking about Ron but very recently Ella had been sensitive about Harry being mentioned.
"Me too. I know I said that they'll be back," Ella lowered her voice, "But there's always this thought at the back of my mind telling me otherwise."
Hermione nodded, "Harry just...oh wow!"
"What?" Ella jerked slightly as Hermione's exclamation. Hermione ignored her and instead leant forward and ran her fingers lightly across the baby's chubby stomach.
"Did you see that?" Hermione wondered. Ella was beaming now.
"Yes. She smiled. That's her first smile," Ella hugged her smiling daughter gently to her, "Oh bub. Your first smile. I've been trying everything to get you too...oh Beth."
Hermione grinned and went to tickle her Goddaughter again when McGonagall interrupted them with a stricken look on her face.
"Professor?" Hermione frowned up at the flighty teacher. Even now, with them long past graduating, Hermione and her friends still referred to the Hogwarts teachers as 'Professor'.
"I think it would be best if you gave the child to a house elf Miss Egon," McGonagall said strictly, "The Floo Network has been closed off and no one can get through and I don't feel there is much protection to offer out here in the open."
Ella's arms wrapped around Beth protectively but her face remained calm.
"What's the danger?" Ella asked. Hermione swallowed, immediately feeling afraid. McGonagall held her head up and regained her composure yet her aged hands still shook.
"The danger Miss Egon," She replied, "Is that there is an army of Dementors and Deatheaters outside ready to attack the castle and everyone in it."
* * * *
It seemed to be a fairly obvious that everyone present at Hogwarts was going to die. It was just impossible to consider that the Hogwarts army, which consisted of all present in the Great Hall, would be able to win against the Dark Army for the Dark Army held over twice as many recruits.
Luna glanced over to her right at her Headmistress mumbling to herself.
"It's ridiculous," McGonagall muttered, "They're proposing a challenge when we're exceedingly lacking in students. It's going to be hopeless, completely ridiculous..."
Luna agreed. If the Dark Army had attacked last week then all five hundred students at Hogwarts would have been considered a very large threat. The sixth years and below had returned home the previous morning, as was the new school regime. Luna didn't understand it entirely, she considered McGonagall thought it was best to get the young and inexperienced students returned home as early as possible. The Headmistress would not change the date of the seventh year Graduation however, something about tradition, and seventh years were forced to remain until the Graduation date passed.
It seemed stupid now. For the seventh years, their families and the Professors didn't quite total to a staggering number where as the Dark Army did.
Luna wasn't really sure if anyone else would call them the Dark Army but she definitely was. All the supporters of Voldemort were wearing black and nothing but black. They were dark. Dark and scary. Kind of like the Manpiou; it was said to be extinct but her father had recently printed an article stating otherwise. They were dark and scary creatures that could be found in the depths of any regular rainforest...
"Luna!" Ginny called out her name and distracted her from her thoughts. Luna made her way over to her redheaded friend who was standing with Hermione and Ellen. Ellanora. Ella.
"When are we going to start?" Luna wondered, "We've just been standing here looking at each other for forty-five seconds now."
"You want to get started?" Hermione frowned at her. Luna held the older girls scrutinizing gaze. Hermione had never really liked her, most probably because she knew of Luna's big crush on Ronald from school. It seemed like a silly reason to not like someone, especially since Ronald didn't like her back.
"Such a silly thing." Luna shook her head to herself. Hermione cleared her throat.
"I mean," She said sharply, "You want the war to start?"
"It already has." Ginny pointed out; "It's been going on for months."
"Longer than that," Ella added, "The war between good and evil has never really stopped. It can be some little battle that goes on unnoticed or some big fight to the death like we're about to do. It's the same thing; we should have been prepared. But we aren't and now we need help."
"I suppose," Ginny agreed before looking over Luna's shoulder, "But it doesn't look like we're going to get that much help. I think McGonagall has lost her mind."
All four girls turned around to observe the Headmistress who was still muttering to herself under her breath.
"It's a pity," Luna said seriously, "She was such a good teacher."
"Where's Draco?" Ginny asked suddenly. Ella frowned.
"He's gone to take Beth to the house elves," She scowled, "He said it'd be safer for him to do it in case there were attackers. I can handle looking after my own child thank you very much!"
Luna smiled, "She's a very beautiful little girl. I wish you could buy them. I'd definitely want one."
"Well that's not exactly how you get them Luna." Ginny grinned cheekily and Luna blushed for a moment. Ella laughed and rolled her eyes while Hermione glared at them all.
"You have got to be kidding me?" Hermione said in disbelief before shaking her head, "We're about to go into battle and most likely die and you are all giggling like children!"
"Hermione," Ginny pulled a face, "What's brought this on?"
"I don't know. Maybe the large army over at the Quidditch pitch." Hermione said sourly. Ella patted her arm.
"Sorry. We're just trying to keep the mood light until it starts. We'll get serious as soon as it starts..." Ella trailed off and pulled out her wand, "Okay. It's starting."
Luna watched as her three companions ran towards the Dark Army with their wands raised. Luna gulped and closed her eyes to focus before she ran after them in the same manner.
* * * *
Draco was taking longer to reach the fight because he was strictly ensuring Beth's safety. As soon as he'd reached the kitchen he'd summoned a house elf that was familiar to him. He was positive house elves could still leave the castle.
"Master...Master Malfoy." Dobby, who hadn't seen his master in a few years stood in front of the young man anxiously. Draco shook his head at the shaking elf. He used to immensely enjoy putting fear in Dobby but now he really couldn't find a reason why anyone would want to.
"I need you to do something for me," Draco told him, before adding after a moments thought, "Please."
Dobby scrunched up his face in confusion, "What is it that sir wishes Dobby to do?"
"I want you to go to my house and get a house elf called Pooty. If you can't find him-" Draco began.
"Oh Dobby remembers Pooty sir. Pooty and Dobby are friends, good friends' sir. Dobby would be able to find him." Dobby told him happily.
Draco nodded and pulled Beth away from him. Dobby's eyes widened at the sight of the baby.
"I need you to take this baby to Pooty for him to guard and protect until I come back and get her. I want you to give him strict orders to be very watchful and not to let anything happen to her." Draco commanded before frowning, "What is so funny?"
Dobby, who had been chuckling, stopped immediately at the harsh tone.
"Dobby is sorry, sir," Dobby apologized, "You just told Dobby to give orders to a house elf..."
"Well ask him nicely then. Take her please. I really need to hurry." Draco handed Beth over a little reluctantly and turned to leave.
Dobby stopped him in his tracks though, "Wouldn't it be better for Master Malfoy to take care of his...daughter himself?"
Draco couldn't help but smile at Dobby's slyness. He was insinuating that the baby belonged to Draco to induce the origin of the child. Definitely something a Slytherin would do.
"No Dobby," Draco told him, "It's Harry's daughter."
Dobby's mouth fell open and he jumped a little, Beth remaining secure in his arms.
"Harry Potter. Oh Dobby is most aggrieved at not having seen Harry Potter for a while," His eyes traveled down to Beth, "A baby. Harry Potter has a baby. It seems impossible sir!"
"Yes. He has one. Saint Potter, hero of the world," Draco mused, "He and Ellanora Egon."
"Miss Egon," Dobby squeaked happily, "Oh Dobby is very happy. He always hoped some day Harry Potter would marry Miss Egon..."
"They aren't married. It's just..." Draco shook his head, realizing he was having a conversation when there was a war going on right outside the castle, "Dobby. Take her quickly and then seal up the entrances into here there's..."
"A war. Yes, Dobby knows sir," Dobby sighed, "It is much unfortunate. Dobby will go sir and deliver Harry Potter's daughter to Pooty. Good luck sir!"
Dobby clicked his fingers and disappeared from sight as Draco mentally hoped that Beth would be safe. He turned and ran out towards the Quidditch Pitch, where he could now hear screams and yells coming from what had now become dark outside. He suspected it was a spell to hide daylight. The caster would have discharged the spell to limit the abilities of his opponent. He hoped it was Hogwarts doing, and not the others.
"Lumos Galea." Draco's body lit up as he touched his glowing wand to it. He shone for a moment before the light left his body and traveled around the field from him, lighting it up as it went. It looked like a circular explosion of light but it faded quickly. Draco was able to gather most of what was happening with the fight. The Deatheater total was under control and there seemed to a large number of students compared to the number of Deatheaters. The students had been forcing them into a corner, he had seen as the light passed over the Quidditch Pitch, but the students fighting the Dementors seemed to have been having trouble.
Draco said the spell and light cascaded around the pitch again. Yes, there was an equal amount of Dementors and students but the Hogwarts army was struggling.
Draco hurried over to them with his wand raised as he concentrated on something that made him happy. There were plenty of things. His father being sent to Azkaban, befriending Ginny, being accepted for once, Beth...
"Expecto Patronum!" Draco exclaimed as he reached the small group. He was trying to ignore how cold his stomach had become, like his soul was freezing. A long white and wispy snake shot out of his wand and sprang towards two Dementors, hissing at them. The Dementors surged forward for a moment before retreating into the forest away from the snake, but the snake followed them.
"Draco!" Ella and Luna popped up at his side, startling him. Luna looked fine but Ella had a long gash near her collarbone that was bleeding profusely and staining her robes.
"I'm sorry I'm late-" He began apologetically but Luna cut him off.
"We only just started. We haven't even done the spell to keep them away yet." Luna told him.
"We don't know it." Ella admitted, looking pale.
"Ex-pect-o Pat-ro-num," Draco said slowly, displaying the wand movement, "You just swish your wand like that and then say it and think of something that makes you happy."
"Got it." Ella turned around and took a few steps forward; she raised her wand at two Deatheaters, "Expecto Patronum!"
Slowly a large cloud of white curled out of the end of her wand and began to swirl around. It was only a few seconds until it took the form of a large bear and began loping after some Dementors.
"Wow. That's a big one." Draco told her, saying the spell again at a few Dementors. Ella had become even paler but nodded, registering what he had said.
"I'm going to go and get Ginny and Hermione! I can't do the spell!" Luna yelled over to them. She sounded a little disappointed but Draco didn't have time to sympathize as the Dementors kept coming back. It seemed that no matter what happened they didn't retreat of give up. He cast a few glances over at Ella every second time she cast her Patronus. Each time she seemed to pale a little from shock before focusing again and saying the spell once more.
"Expecto Patronum!" A redheaded figure appeared beside him and thrust her wand out in front of her. A moment later a Basilisk was chasing away several Dementors.
"Oh..." Ginny seemed alarmed but she shook her head and started again.
Hermione appeared too and from her wand emerged a small yet vigorous Welsh Terrier that bounded after a Dementor barking fiercely.
Slowly the Dementors began to fall back until there was only a small huddled group. More Hogwarts students made their way over shortly, signifying the defeat of the Deatheaters. Draco smiled and turned around to grin at Ginny about their near victory before he frowned at her absence. He quickly scanned the crowd but couldn't spot her anywhere. Ignoring the battle he began to search for her.
He found her on the outskirts of the battle. She was lying on the ground and a Dementor was getting off of her, obviously having given her the Kiss of Death. Her soul had now been sucked out and she was dead.
"Merlin!" Draco cried, "Ginny!"
He ran over to her with a face full of anger. He raised his wand to the Dementor gliding away and muttered a spell that he had heard Ella use once. She had warned him not to use it, telling him that she hadn't known of the force of the spell or the kind of impact it would have when she used it and in the end it was horrible. He only wished there were a spell that could more deeply hurt the Dementor, but there wasn't.
"Brutiatus!" Draco yelled. It had a different effect from the time Ella had used it. The Dementor stopped frozen in its tracks before it let out a series of squeals as it literally exploded into thousands of pieces. The screams of pain echoed around his head bringing with them an immediate throbbing headache, but Draco didn't care.
He knelt down beside Ginny and lifted her up gently, hugging her to him
"Oh Gin. I love you. Don't die…" He whispered. It was a shock to himself to even say it.
It was more of a shock when he recognised the slow up and down movement of her chest. She was still breathing.
But that was impossible. After the Kiss of Death your soul was removed and you were dead. Draco put his wand to her chest and said a spell that he hoped would revive her. Ginny's eyes flickered open and she smiled weakly at him.
"Hey," She sat up and shook her head, "Are you okay?"
"Me?" He exclaimed, "Am I okay? I thought you were dead Gin! Dead!"
"Oh no," Ginny shook her head again and smiled, "The protection provided for me was to high for the Dementor to do anything. I had this..."
Ginny opened her robes and pulled out a small glowing light from her pocket. It was a fairy, Draco realised but he didn't have any idea about how it related to Ginny still being alive.
"So?" He continued to hold her in his arms, still upset about how he had found her. Ginny smiled.
"It's Ella's friend. It's the Queen or something," Ginny looked down at the fairy fondly, "She flew out here and over to Ella and for some reason told Ella I'd need the most protection so the fairy came over and flew into my pocket. It saved me. Fairies must be psychic."
"I didn't know they could do that..." Draco frowned. Fairies were a mystery to even the Wizarding world so it wouldn't be a surprise if no one could know that.
"Me either," Ginny smiled down at the fairy fondly again, "Ella used to tell me about fairies. She told me about stuff I never believed because it all seemed so impossible. She told tell me she was friends with the fairies. And that she was an especially good friend of the Queen. I used to think she was off with the fairies."
Draco couldn't help but smile. The fairy Queen didn't seem to appreciate being talked about. She gave a reprimanding tinkle before she rose into the air and flew away into the forest.
"Merlin Ginny," Draco hugged her too him again, "You were just lying there and I thought you were dead."
"I fainted," Ginny said softly, shifting under his embrace, "It felt like my insides were freezing and...and well I'm okay now."
Draco stood up and pulled her to her feet grinning.
"That was a brilliant Patronus." He told her. Ginny shook her head and they began walking back to the group.
"A basilisk. Really. Who would have figured?" She smiled at Hermione, "But I'm curious about where that little dog came from Hermione?"
Hermione coughed and Draco could have sworn she blushed, although he didn't know why she would be embarrassed. He looked at Ella who was frowning down at her wand.
"What's the matter?" Draco asked. His eyes flickered down to her cut, which was still bleeding.
"Well it was a bear," She lowered her voice, "My Patronus was a bear."
"Yeah I know. What about it?"
"That's my Animagus form." She said even more quietly. Draco's eyes widened and he immediately went to ask her about it. He had no idea she was an Animagi and wanted to know why she hadn't told him. But McGonagall had made her way over to them so he decided to question her about it later. The Headmistress was still in tact physically but mentally was another thing it seemed.
"They...everywhere. Like mice. Everywhere like mice. I don't like mice. Being a cat I suppose one might think I would like mice but I don't. Oh children! I'm glad to see you are all pieced together properly. It was horrible, everywhere like mice. I hope someone gets rid of that damned Dark Lord soon before there is a battle that we don't win." She mumbled. Despite the comments on mice, Draco could only agree.