Hermione's POV
[The next morning]
"Draco?" Hermione knocked on his door.
"Draco, it's Hermione, can I come in?" When she didn't hear an answer, she stepped into his room. She looked around and found his bed perfectly made. There was no sign that anyone had been in the room before.
Hermione figured he had already gone down to breakfast and decided to catch him before he left for classes. She quickly dressed and pulled on her robe. Grabbing her bag full of books, she ran out of the common room. Hermione ran blindly through the hallways, almost knocking over Professor Dumbledore.
"I am so sorry Professor." Hermione apologized.
"No worries Ms. Granger, but I do have some grave news." Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "Let us head back to your common room, you may want to sit down."
Hermione's face scrunched up with worry. *I wonder what could be wrong. Did I loose my Head girl position? * They walked back to the Heads common room, and Dumbledore situated himself in an armchair. Hermione sat in the sofa opposite him.
"Ms. Granger, I am afraid Mr. Malfoy has gone missing."
"What? He was just here yesterday."
"Yes, and I think his father may have something to do with his disappearance. As you know, most Death Eaters get their Dark Marks when they are 17, and for a while now, we have been worried that Lucius would force Draco to get his. Our worst fears have come true."
"Do you know where he may be?"
"The other professors and I assume that he is imprisoned somewhere in the Castle de Vuelta, the hideaway for the Death Eaters, also known as Lord Voldemort's hiding place."
"Is there any way you can save him?"
"Even with the help of many Aurors and the Ministry, I am afraid there is nothing we can do.."
Hermione broke into tears.
"..But there is one person that is powerful enough."
Hermione looked up, a thought dawned on her. "Harry.."
"Yes, Harry Potter. Although he may be strong enough to save Draco, only with their combined power may they defeat Voldemort once and for all."
"But Professor, Harry is only 17, he probably doesn't have half the skills of an Auror."
"Ah..but Ms. Granger, how you underestimate him. He is ready. This is his battle."
Though she had been mad at Harry the night before, Hermione didn't want Harry to be put in a life threatening position. *Dumbledore said he would be fine. I believe him. Harry will return safely. *
"When does he leave?" Hermione asked.
"In two hours."
Harry's POV
Harry was in his dorm, packing his things. *I can't believe I have to go save Malfoy. If it wasn't my duty, I would never agree to it. I can't defeat Voldemort without him though. I need to rescue him because I need his help. *
Harry looked up at the door when he heard a knock. "Come in."
Hermione's slim figure slid into his room. "I heard you were leaving."
"Yea, in a while."
"Harry," Hermione walked up and grabbed his hands, "I beg you, please return with Draco, safely. I need both of you."
Harry sighed.
"Harry, I care about you. A lot. I don't want you to get hurt." *Yea right, all she cares about is Malfoy. *
"All you care about is Malfoy."
"Harry, I care about both of you, just in different ways. Just promise you will come back safely?"
"I can take care of myself." Harry pushed passed Hermione and walked out of the dorm with a small bag in his hands and his wand sticking out of a pocket.
Hermione's POV
Hermione watched as Harry pushed off the quidditch ground on his broom, surrounded by ranks of Aurors, sent to battle the Death Eaters and to watch over Harry. Half the school had gathered to watch the fantastic group lift off, and everyone clapped and hooted as they flew further and further out of sight.
Classes had been canceled because of the events, and Hermione went to her dorm to drown her sorrows in homework, without anyone to comfort her. *I wish I had talked to Draco before. Now I may never be able to say how sorry I am for not trusting him. *
Harry's POV
Somewhere in the middle of a group of Aurors, Harry flew for many hours before they reached the Castle de Vuelta. It was a dark gloomy looking castle, surrounded with a moat of burning hot lava. The ancient layer of magic protecting the castle shimmered slightly under all the new layers of magic.
"Holy.." Harry whispered.
"What was that?" A near-by Auror questioned.
"I wonder if we will come out of that place alive. It's been charmed so many times, you can't even tell the different layers of magic apart."
"Too late to turn back now. Hurry, we are landing in the open space in the middle of the forest."
The huge group swerved to the right and settled slowly into an opening in the dense forest.
"Listen now," said the lead Auror, "We are just going to attack the castle head on, no back doors or tricks. Understood?"
All the Aurors nodded.
"Harry, a group of us will follow you down to the dungeons where Draco Malfoy is most likely to be kept. From then on, it will be up to the two of you to battle it out with the Dark Lord. Let's go."
The group of Aurors marched up to the moat, and everyone whispering a spell, created a strong sturdy bridge across the deadly moat. Once across the moat, the next obstacle was the layers of magic protecting the castle.
"Exempable!!" The group of Aurors yelled, loud enough to wake anyone inside the castle. Suddenly the layers of magic around the castle lifted off layer-by-layer and floated away. The Aurors and Harry barged in through the doors, only to be met by an equally large group of Death Eaters. Two Aurors ushered Harry into the shadows and slid away in the direction of the dungeons. The gruesome painful screams of Death Eaters and Aurors echoed off the bare castle walls.
Deeper and deeper into the dungeons, the Aurors and Harry walked. Thankfully, there were no Death Eaters guarding the narrow stairways, but to their distaste, they found three Death Eaters guarding a metal door.
"Malfoy is probably behind that door." Harry whispered to the Aurors. "We can each take on one of the Death Eaters."
A minute later, there were two dead and one stunned Death Eaters sprawled across the cold dungeon floor.
Draco's POV
Draco surveyed his surroundings. There was no way he could get out of this prison without his wand. He sighed and decided that all he could do now was wait until someone came and rescued him. Draco slumped into the corner of the cell. *I never even got to talk to Hermione before I left, and I may never be able to talk to her again. *
"Pss..Malfoy. That you?" A voice whispered.
"It's me, when are you going to get me out of here?" Draco questioned impatiently.
"You better be patient or I'm going to leave you here to rot."
"Potter?!" *I can't believe they sent him, as if I'm not degraded enough, now I have to be rescued by the infamous Harry Potter. * Draco thought sarcastically.
"Slevhaka." Potter whispered, the spell ate through the strong metal and the door was soon melted down.
"Come on, we have to go find Voldemort."
"To do what? Commit a heroic deed? To make yourself even more famous?" Draco mocked.
"No, to make the wizarding world a safe place for all of us. At least do it for Hermione. "
"Fine, but I don't even have a wand." Draco scoffed.
"Right, you can use this." Potter pulled out a tattered old stick.
"What?! That piece of garbage? No way!"
"That piece of garbage belonged to my godfather." Potter retorted. "Take it or keep it."
"Ugh, fine." Draco rolled his eyes.
The Aurors left to help their friends fight the Death Eaters, and Draco and Potter were left on their own.
"Let's go." Potter whispered.
"I bet you don't even know where Voldemort's main chamber is." Draco smirked.
"Well if you know, why don't you lead?" Potter shot back.
"My pleasure." Draco stepped in front of Potter and headed down a dark hallway. At the end of the hallway was a bright light that seemed to glow a different color every 30 seconds.
Harry's POV
Harry followed behind Malfoy cautiously, just in case Malfoy was leading him into a trap. But sure enough, at the end of the hallway, he could see the shadow of a tall bony man hunched over a huge spellbook. Malfoy suddenly dipped away into the shadows.
"Potter." Malfoy hissed annoyingly. "You weren't thinking of just barging in there were you?"
"There is no one around guarding him." Harry reasoned.
"That's because he is powerful enough to kill 100 wizards with one spell. Of course they are not worried. Anyways, you follow my lead. We sneak in around the sides, and hide behind one of the bookcases that you find."
"No way, I'm going to face him head on. He tried killing me 5 times already didn't he? He never succeeded once. He won't succeed this time."
"Do what you want to do, I'm going my way."
"I don't need you."
"I don't need you either." Malfoy shoved Harry.
Harry walked out of the shadows and into the blinding light protruding from the chamber. "Voldemort!"
"Ah, Harry Potter, I've been expecting you, just not so soon. Sit down." Voldemort magicked a chair out of thin air and waved his hand over it.
"No thanks. I only have one assignment, to kill you."
"Oh, I am so scared!" Voldemort mimicked whipping out his wand. "I will kill you first, just like I killed your parents."
"SACIO!" Harry screamed pulling out his wand.
Draco's POV
From his hiding spot, Draco saw Voldemort take out his wand.
"SACIO!" Draco screamed.
A silver thread shot out from the wand he was using and entwined with the gold thread coming out of Potter's wand. The two threads shot out and wrapped around Voldemort tightly, causing him unable to raise his wand.
"I will avenge my parents death, now!" Potter spat into the face of a furious Voldemort. "ALMADOR!" Voldemort started shaking uncontrollably. "How do you like that?" Potter spat again. "SHLIVAKA!" Potter yelled, causing Voldemort to fly back and rebound off the cold chamber wall. "HAVING FUN?" Potter retorted. "PA..!!"
The castle ground started rumbling. Voldemort glared into Potter's eyes, his lip cut and bleeding. "Ha, now you will die here, and underneath these castles your bones will lie until your great-great-grandchildren find them."
Crumbled rocks started dropping from the ceiling, and the ground lurched right and left, causing the two of them to lose their balance. Draco and Potter scrambled upright and bolted out the chamber without bothering to finish off Voldemort. They met with the remaining Aurors in the hallway and started to run towards the giant double doors where they had come through. Straining, everyone used their last bits of power to pull open the heavy doors. To their surprise, the castle had already sunk five yards into the ground, and many huge boulders had broken the bridge. The castle was still sinking, and fast, they had to get everyone out safely. All the Aurors started a mad rush out the door, and Draco could only wait until the last Auror had left until he could get out.
"Potter!" Draco yelled when he turned around and saw Potter limping towards him. He had a wounded Auror leaning on him. Draco ran over and helped Potter with the Auror.
"Hurry! We don't have much time, the door is only about 2 ft above ground now." Draco carried the Auror over to the opening and pushed him through. The Aurors at the other side quickly surrounded their wounded buddy and carried him away.
There was only a foot left between the ground and the top of the opening.
"Harry, you go first."
"No Malfoy! Go on, leave me!"
"There is no time to argue, you go first, maybe there will be time for me."
"It's to late Malfoy. Go, and tell Hermione I will always love her. Please tell her I am sorry that I will never be able to do all those things I promised I would. Now there is only one thing left to do, face my death proudly and kill Voldemort first. I envy you, Draco Malfoy, you have the only thing that I would die for."
"Be careful Potter, I will tell Hermione your biddings." Draco slid himself through the vanishing opening, and turned around to see the castle door disappearing underground, taking Potter with it. Draco looked up at the winking stars, realizing it was already late. He ran as fast as he could, away from the castle and back to the camp that the Aurors had set up. *What will I tell Hermione? Potter sacrificed his life for mine. How will she take it? Her best friend is never coming back. *
Arriving at the clearing, Draco noticed that only about one-third of the original group of Aurors had returned. Looking around, he could see the bright twinkle of tears in everyone's eyes.
"Where is Harry?" An old wizard asked him worriedly.
"He's gone, he went back to fight Voldemort." Draco felt himself choking up with tears. Sure, Potter had been his nemesis since the first day of Hogwarts, but now he would never return, because of Draco.
Draco dreaded going back to Hogwarts and facing the entire school, having to tell them that their champion had sacrificed his life for his. Draco curled up under a tree and fell asleep, not wanting to think anymore.
[The next morning]
"Draco?" Hermione knocked on his door.
"Draco, it's Hermione, can I come in?" When she didn't hear an answer, she stepped into his room. She looked around and found his bed perfectly made. There was no sign that anyone had been in the room before.
Hermione figured he had already gone down to breakfast and decided to catch him before he left for classes. She quickly dressed and pulled on her robe. Grabbing her bag full of books, she ran out of the common room. Hermione ran blindly through the hallways, almost knocking over Professor Dumbledore.
"I am so sorry Professor." Hermione apologized.
"No worries Ms. Granger, but I do have some grave news." Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "Let us head back to your common room, you may want to sit down."
Hermione's face scrunched up with worry. *I wonder what could be wrong. Did I loose my Head girl position? * They walked back to the Heads common room, and Dumbledore situated himself in an armchair. Hermione sat in the sofa opposite him.
"Ms. Granger, I am afraid Mr. Malfoy has gone missing."
"What? He was just here yesterday."
"Yes, and I think his father may have something to do with his disappearance. As you know, most Death Eaters get their Dark Marks when they are 17, and for a while now, we have been worried that Lucius would force Draco to get his. Our worst fears have come true."
"Do you know where he may be?"
"The other professors and I assume that he is imprisoned somewhere in the Castle de Vuelta, the hideaway for the Death Eaters, also known as Lord Voldemort's hiding place."
"Is there any way you can save him?"
"Even with the help of many Aurors and the Ministry, I am afraid there is nothing we can do.."
Hermione broke into tears.
"..But there is one person that is powerful enough."
Hermione looked up, a thought dawned on her. "Harry.."
"Yes, Harry Potter. Although he may be strong enough to save Draco, only with their combined power may they defeat Voldemort once and for all."
"But Professor, Harry is only 17, he probably doesn't have half the skills of an Auror."
"Ah..but Ms. Granger, how you underestimate him. He is ready. This is his battle."
Though she had been mad at Harry the night before, Hermione didn't want Harry to be put in a life threatening position. *Dumbledore said he would be fine. I believe him. Harry will return safely. *
"When does he leave?" Hermione asked.
"In two hours."
Harry's POV
Harry was in his dorm, packing his things. *I can't believe I have to go save Malfoy. If it wasn't my duty, I would never agree to it. I can't defeat Voldemort without him though. I need to rescue him because I need his help. *
Harry looked up at the door when he heard a knock. "Come in."
Hermione's slim figure slid into his room. "I heard you were leaving."
"Yea, in a while."
"Harry," Hermione walked up and grabbed his hands, "I beg you, please return with Draco, safely. I need both of you."
Harry sighed.
"Harry, I care about you. A lot. I don't want you to get hurt." *Yea right, all she cares about is Malfoy. *
"All you care about is Malfoy."
"Harry, I care about both of you, just in different ways. Just promise you will come back safely?"
"I can take care of myself." Harry pushed passed Hermione and walked out of the dorm with a small bag in his hands and his wand sticking out of a pocket.
Hermione's POV
Hermione watched as Harry pushed off the quidditch ground on his broom, surrounded by ranks of Aurors, sent to battle the Death Eaters and to watch over Harry. Half the school had gathered to watch the fantastic group lift off, and everyone clapped and hooted as they flew further and further out of sight.
Classes had been canceled because of the events, and Hermione went to her dorm to drown her sorrows in homework, without anyone to comfort her. *I wish I had talked to Draco before. Now I may never be able to say how sorry I am for not trusting him. *
Harry's POV
Somewhere in the middle of a group of Aurors, Harry flew for many hours before they reached the Castle de Vuelta. It was a dark gloomy looking castle, surrounded with a moat of burning hot lava. The ancient layer of magic protecting the castle shimmered slightly under all the new layers of magic.
"Holy.." Harry whispered.
"What was that?" A near-by Auror questioned.
"I wonder if we will come out of that place alive. It's been charmed so many times, you can't even tell the different layers of magic apart."
"Too late to turn back now. Hurry, we are landing in the open space in the middle of the forest."
The huge group swerved to the right and settled slowly into an opening in the dense forest.
"Listen now," said the lead Auror, "We are just going to attack the castle head on, no back doors or tricks. Understood?"
All the Aurors nodded.
"Harry, a group of us will follow you down to the dungeons where Draco Malfoy is most likely to be kept. From then on, it will be up to the two of you to battle it out with the Dark Lord. Let's go."
The group of Aurors marched up to the moat, and everyone whispering a spell, created a strong sturdy bridge across the deadly moat. Once across the moat, the next obstacle was the layers of magic protecting the castle.
"Exempable!!" The group of Aurors yelled, loud enough to wake anyone inside the castle. Suddenly the layers of magic around the castle lifted off layer-by-layer and floated away. The Aurors and Harry barged in through the doors, only to be met by an equally large group of Death Eaters. Two Aurors ushered Harry into the shadows and slid away in the direction of the dungeons. The gruesome painful screams of Death Eaters and Aurors echoed off the bare castle walls.
Deeper and deeper into the dungeons, the Aurors and Harry walked. Thankfully, there were no Death Eaters guarding the narrow stairways, but to their distaste, they found three Death Eaters guarding a metal door.
"Malfoy is probably behind that door." Harry whispered to the Aurors. "We can each take on one of the Death Eaters."
A minute later, there were two dead and one stunned Death Eaters sprawled across the cold dungeon floor.
Draco's POV
Draco surveyed his surroundings. There was no way he could get out of this prison without his wand. He sighed and decided that all he could do now was wait until someone came and rescued him. Draco slumped into the corner of the cell. *I never even got to talk to Hermione before I left, and I may never be able to talk to her again. *
"Pss..Malfoy. That you?" A voice whispered.
"It's me, when are you going to get me out of here?" Draco questioned impatiently.
"You better be patient or I'm going to leave you here to rot."
"Potter?!" *I can't believe they sent him, as if I'm not degraded enough, now I have to be rescued by the infamous Harry Potter. * Draco thought sarcastically.
"Slevhaka." Potter whispered, the spell ate through the strong metal and the door was soon melted down.
"Come on, we have to go find Voldemort."
"To do what? Commit a heroic deed? To make yourself even more famous?" Draco mocked.
"No, to make the wizarding world a safe place for all of us. At least do it for Hermione. "
"Fine, but I don't even have a wand." Draco scoffed.
"Right, you can use this." Potter pulled out a tattered old stick.
"What?! That piece of garbage? No way!"
"That piece of garbage belonged to my godfather." Potter retorted. "Take it or keep it."
"Ugh, fine." Draco rolled his eyes.
The Aurors left to help their friends fight the Death Eaters, and Draco and Potter were left on their own.
"Let's go." Potter whispered.
"I bet you don't even know where Voldemort's main chamber is." Draco smirked.
"Well if you know, why don't you lead?" Potter shot back.
"My pleasure." Draco stepped in front of Potter and headed down a dark hallway. At the end of the hallway was a bright light that seemed to glow a different color every 30 seconds.
Harry's POV
Harry followed behind Malfoy cautiously, just in case Malfoy was leading him into a trap. But sure enough, at the end of the hallway, he could see the shadow of a tall bony man hunched over a huge spellbook. Malfoy suddenly dipped away into the shadows.
"Potter." Malfoy hissed annoyingly. "You weren't thinking of just barging in there were you?"
"There is no one around guarding him." Harry reasoned.
"That's because he is powerful enough to kill 100 wizards with one spell. Of course they are not worried. Anyways, you follow my lead. We sneak in around the sides, and hide behind one of the bookcases that you find."
"No way, I'm going to face him head on. He tried killing me 5 times already didn't he? He never succeeded once. He won't succeed this time."
"Do what you want to do, I'm going my way."
"I don't need you."
"I don't need you either." Malfoy shoved Harry.
Harry walked out of the shadows and into the blinding light protruding from the chamber. "Voldemort!"
"Ah, Harry Potter, I've been expecting you, just not so soon. Sit down." Voldemort magicked a chair out of thin air and waved his hand over it.
"No thanks. I only have one assignment, to kill you."
"Oh, I am so scared!" Voldemort mimicked whipping out his wand. "I will kill you first, just like I killed your parents."
"SACIO!" Harry screamed pulling out his wand.
Draco's POV
From his hiding spot, Draco saw Voldemort take out his wand.
"SACIO!" Draco screamed.
A silver thread shot out from the wand he was using and entwined with the gold thread coming out of Potter's wand. The two threads shot out and wrapped around Voldemort tightly, causing him unable to raise his wand.
"I will avenge my parents death, now!" Potter spat into the face of a furious Voldemort. "ALMADOR!" Voldemort started shaking uncontrollably. "How do you like that?" Potter spat again. "SHLIVAKA!" Potter yelled, causing Voldemort to fly back and rebound off the cold chamber wall. "HAVING FUN?" Potter retorted. "PA..!!"
The castle ground started rumbling. Voldemort glared into Potter's eyes, his lip cut and bleeding. "Ha, now you will die here, and underneath these castles your bones will lie until your great-great-grandchildren find them."
Crumbled rocks started dropping from the ceiling, and the ground lurched right and left, causing the two of them to lose their balance. Draco and Potter scrambled upright and bolted out the chamber without bothering to finish off Voldemort. They met with the remaining Aurors in the hallway and started to run towards the giant double doors where they had come through. Straining, everyone used their last bits of power to pull open the heavy doors. To their surprise, the castle had already sunk five yards into the ground, and many huge boulders had broken the bridge. The castle was still sinking, and fast, they had to get everyone out safely. All the Aurors started a mad rush out the door, and Draco could only wait until the last Auror had left until he could get out.
"Potter!" Draco yelled when he turned around and saw Potter limping towards him. He had a wounded Auror leaning on him. Draco ran over and helped Potter with the Auror.
"Hurry! We don't have much time, the door is only about 2 ft above ground now." Draco carried the Auror over to the opening and pushed him through. The Aurors at the other side quickly surrounded their wounded buddy and carried him away.
There was only a foot left between the ground and the top of the opening.
"Harry, you go first."
"No Malfoy! Go on, leave me!"
"There is no time to argue, you go first, maybe there will be time for me."
"It's to late Malfoy. Go, and tell Hermione I will always love her. Please tell her I am sorry that I will never be able to do all those things I promised I would. Now there is only one thing left to do, face my death proudly and kill Voldemort first. I envy you, Draco Malfoy, you have the only thing that I would die for."
"Be careful Potter, I will tell Hermione your biddings." Draco slid himself through the vanishing opening, and turned around to see the castle door disappearing underground, taking Potter with it. Draco looked up at the winking stars, realizing it was already late. He ran as fast as he could, away from the castle and back to the camp that the Aurors had set up. *What will I tell Hermione? Potter sacrificed his life for mine. How will she take it? Her best friend is never coming back. *
Arriving at the clearing, Draco noticed that only about one-third of the original group of Aurors had returned. Looking around, he could see the bright twinkle of tears in everyone's eyes.
"Where is Harry?" An old wizard asked him worriedly.
"He's gone, he went back to fight Voldemort." Draco felt himself choking up with tears. Sure, Potter had been his nemesis since the first day of Hogwarts, but now he would never return, because of Draco.
Draco dreaded going back to Hogwarts and facing the entire school, having to tell them that their champion had sacrificed his life for his. Draco curled up under a tree and fell asleep, not wanting to think anymore.