Chapter 9 – Revelations Part 2
"Hermione!"
She gasped and turned to look dazedly at Harry and Ron. Tonks and the other Aurors followed in their wake.
"Hermione, we were worried about you," said Harry.
"Yeah, we thought the Death-eaters took you away," Ron added.
"I'm fine," she lied. "I was chasing a Death-eater but he got away."
"Let's get out of the rain before we catch a cold. I think there's enough adventure for tonight," Tonks announced as they went back to the Ministry.
That night Hermione tossed and turned in her bed as frustration roiled her stomach. Hagrid's ominous words came back to her -- "When a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to em anymore."
She could've turned him over to the Ministry but she didn't…
Her heart was torn but she felt no pain or sadness. She felt numb -- she wanted to hate him but all she felt was only gaping emptiness. Closing her eyes, she remembered their short-lived happiness. They were never meant to be--their relationship had all the telltale signs of a doomed love. Draco couldn't shake his destiny as much as she wanted to believe he could. She had been too stubborn to see it coming. Now the only thing that mattered was her unborn child.
ooooo
In the dark of the night, Draco had secretly visited Hermione, watching her. She had been crying alone again. Many a time, he had wanted to turn away but his heart refused to let go.
One day, he had come by and noticed something had changed. He moved in for a closer look – hanging precariously on the window's edge, trying to see what she was doing. It was the first time he had dared venture so close to her. The room light was on and the curtains fluttered softly in the wind. He was surprised to see her packing her things into boxes. No, it can't be…she's leaving!
"Mione, are you in there?"
Draco became tense when he recognized Scarhead's voice. He saw Hermione jump up and opened the door. "Harry," she said with a big smile as she hugged him. "Come in. I'll make some tea."
"Thanks…um, I just heard from Ginny that you're leaving England," he said with a note of agitation.
"I've always wanted to visit the United States – see what's it like out there," she replied nonchalantly as she continued her packing.
"What about Hogwarts, your parents, your friends?" he asked and reached out to stop her. "Mione, something must've happened for you to leave so suddenly. I'm your best friend – you can talk to me."
Hermione sighed and sat down on the bed. "I wish I could but none of it matters now. I need to sort this out by myself…"
Draco became increasingly uncomfortable especially when Harry held her hand yet he couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Mione, it's okay. I may have overstepped my boundaries this time," he said and gave her a reassuring look. "You know you don't have to go through this alone."
She looked up at him and gave a hint of a smile. "Thanks."
Harry stared at Hermione and touched her cheek. Sighing wistfully, she clasped his hand and buried her face in his palm. Draco held his breath when he saw Harry pulling her into his arms. "I could stay if you want."
Jealousy and anger stirred in his heart. He should be the one with Hermione, not Scarhead!
His shoulder injury started to throb from the strain and he let go, tumbling into the bushes below.
"What was that?" he heard Hermione say.
Harry pushed aside the curtains and stared out the window. "It's probably a cat."
"Harry," she said. "I'll be all right, really. Besides I have so many things to do tonight…"
"Well, you should get some rest too. Ron and I will be there to see you off at the airport."
"Good night, Harry."
"Good night, Mione."
A sigh escaped his lips as he saw Harry leave Hermione's flat. He stared up at the light from her room as it dimmed and whispered, "Good night, my angel."
In the solitude of his room, Draco lay on his bed staring at the ceiling.
It's time to let go, his mind told him.
Growling in frustration, Draco punched his pillow and wept bitterly.
The next day a brown owl flew through his study and landed on a golden perch. There was a message for him. It read – "Meet me at the Raven's Circle 8.00PM tonight. HG"
As much as he wanted to ignore the message, he couldn't help thinking about it. Draco became more and more restless as the shadows grew longer and the sun began its descent into the horizon.
If I don't go, I'll never see her again…
That thought was enough to galvanize Draco into action as he grabbed his cloak. "Crane, get the car!" he shouted to his assistant. "I'm late!"
As he was about to leave, the study door burst open and Narcissa barged in, her expression severe. In her trembling hands was the message written to him by Hermione. Draco started -- she had seen it!
"Draco, what's the meaning of this?" she demanded, throwing the crumpled note on the floor.
"Mother, I don't have time," he said rather impatiently.
"Petrificus!" her shrill voice reverberated through the house. Draco froze in his tracks unable to move.
Narcissa said evenly, "You're not going anywhere until you tell me the truth!"
ooooo
"Are
you sure this is what you want Hermione?" Minerva McGonagall asked, disappointment clearly on her face.
"Yes," she replied resolutely. Hermione knew the professor regarded
her abilities highly even though she was muggleborn.
It was impossible to stay here any more. She had to catch herself from drowning
in despair if she remained here. It would take a while to heal from the pain
but she knew she would have to get by on her own. Once her mind was made up, no
one, not even Harry or Ron could persuade her otherwise.
Harry and Ron were waiting anxiously outside McGonagall's office when she came
out. They rushed to her side. "Mione!"
"Hi,
don't you two have classes now?" she scolded them with a mocking tone but
secretly glad they were here.
"You are more important," Ron insisted.
"That's very kind of you, Ron."
Harry remained silent as she hugged Ron and wished him good luck. When it came
to Harry's turn, he said to her, "We'll miss you."
Hermione gave him a hug and kiss on his cheek. "Oh, don't you worry about
me. You can go to Durmstrang now and study under the
best Aurors."
At last he could achieve his dream and I won't hold him back.
"No. I'm staying here and complete my tenure with Dumbledore. Hogwarts is
as good as any training ground for Aurors."
"I
thought you stayed because of me." She recalled him receiving the offer
from Durmstrang and tearing it to shreds. He had a
frustrated look on his face when he did it. The esteemed magical institute
didn't accept muggleborns and he knew it.
Harry laughed and pinched her nose. "Not everything is about you, Mione. Believe me. Come on, let us
walk you to your car."
After all her luggage and books have been packed into the car, Hermione looked around the flat once more as the memory of happy times flashed in front of her.
"Mione, is there something you need?" Harry's voice interrupted her.
She shook her head and gave him a wistful smile. "No, there's nothing here left for me."
As she was about to shut the door, she saw a letter on her table -- an expensive paper and the Malfoy family coat of arms emblazoned on the cover.
The message read, "Meet me at the Raven's Circle 8.00PM tonight. DM"
Draco had replied to her owl and wanted to meet her. Suddenly, hope sprang in her heart. If she told him she was with child, she could persuade him to leave with her -- they could run away together and be safe from the Death-eaters.
"Harry, there's something I must do first," she said as she ran down the stairs.
"Mione, wait up. Where are you going?" he called after her.
She smiled as her eyes darted towards the gate. "I…I'm going to London."
Bidding him a hasty goodbye Hermione ran off towards the train station.
ooooo
"Mother, release me…please."
Narcissa decided to banish the spell on hindsight and sat down in despair. Feeling guilty, Draco decided to tell her the truth. "I won't lie to you anymore…I'm in love with Hermione Granger."
"The mudblood witch?" she was confused. "Is that why you didn't want to marry Pansy?"
"Yes."
Narcissa covered her face with her hand and lamented, "Oh, Draco…Draco. What will your father say?"
Draco remained silent. He had never seen his mother so distraught before.
Suddenly, she looked straight at him and said, "You have to stop seeing her. Your wedding with Pansy Parkinson will go ahead as planned."
He shook his head. "I cannot do that, Mother. Hermione and I are…married."
"What?" All colour drained from Narcissa's face as she gasped.
"We were handfasted as husband and wife last year. We've kept it a secret until now…"
"What were you thinking when you married that mudblood woman?" Narcissa screeched hysterically. "The consequences will be fatal for the both of you. Voldemort will never let her live…"
"Voldemort will never find her!" Draco's voice was sharp. Closing his eyes, he searched for patience as the clock ticked away.
Suddenly, he felt his mother's hand on his shoulder. "Draco, you don't mean…"
"Yes, mother. I'm taking her away…far away from here where no one will ever find us," he answered resolutely. "I've made up my mind."
Narcissa gazed into her son's eyes for a long moment as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Then go and be happy," she whispered, giving her blessings.
"Thank you and goodbye." Draco planted a kiss on his mother's cheek and rushed out the door.
ooooo
Evening came and lights dotted the Canary Wharf as she reached the Tower of London, an old and magical place. It was almost closing time when she climbed the stone steps to the top of the tower. Hermione clutched her coat closer -- it was chilly when the winds blew, the cold caressing her skin. There she waited…and waited. A black raven acknowledged her presence and flapped its wings.
Then she heard a crack behind her and whirled around to see who it was but there was no one there. "Draco, is that you?" she whispered.
The silence was broken by hurried footsteps echoing through the walls. Hermione was determined to follow them until she came to a dead end. Some of the stones had given way and the area was undergoing some construction.
"He won't come..." a disembodied voice crackled.
She turned around and saw a tall hooded figure appearing from behind the shadows. "Who are you?" she asked.
"Don't be afraid. I'm an old friend," he said as he removed the hood revealing a semi-transparent, non-corporeal body.
Hermione was too shocked to move. Despite his ghostly appearance, it was none other than Voldemort!
"But...but you're dead!"
"Au contraire, Ms. Granger. Ben Nevis was only a setback," he sneered. "The war is far from over."
She cringed and took a cautious step back as Voldemort floated nearer.
"You tricked me into coming here," she said and drew out her wand. "What do you want from me?"
"If I wanted to I would have killed you that night in London if not for Draco Malfoy's meddling but you're more useful to me alive. You see… you have something I want," he said as his eyes traveled to her abdomen.
Instantly, she covered her stomach from his offensive gaze. How did he know?
Voldemort suddenly laughed and his face became horribly twisted. "Long have I been trapped in another universe neither dead nor alive. Malfoy offered me a chance to return to this world."
She gasped in terror, remembering Draco's treachery by joining the Death-eaters.
As if reading her thoughts, he said, "I struck a deal with Lucius… Draco is only a pawn in my scheme."
"Why me?"
"You are a powerful witch…although you are born a muggle but your magic is strong. This child of a pureblood and a muggle will be a vessel for my return."
"Stay away from me," she cried, looking franticly for a way to escape.
"There's nowhere you can run. I WILL have your child."
"No!" She turned towards the edge of the precipice and wanted to jump. She would rather die than to give up her child to Voldemort.
Hermione screamed as he grabbed her hair and pulled her back from the ledge – his ghost-like hands wrapped around her neck as mists swirled around her. She stared at his glowing eyes, so hypnotized that she could not look away.
"No one will hear you…no one will help you," he hissed, leaning close to her. "…surrender to me."
She could feel his cold lips touching hers and immediately squeezed her eyes shut. She kicked and struggled with all her might to prevent his violation of her. Her throat was gagging as his slithery tongue wormed its way into her throat and down her stomach. Hermione felt as if her whole body was on fire as Voldemort's body vaporized and emptied into her mouth.
Hermione's cries shattered the silence as she felt her body thrust up into the air. Sparks of light almost blinded her as the convulsions stopped and she fell to the ground once more.
Must not…let him…take…my baby…
She forced herself to crawl to the precipice, her body getting weaker. It won't be long before Voldemort fully possessed her…
He must not win.
With her last breath, she pushed off and plunged into the darkness below.
ooooo
Draco arrived at the Raven's Circle and looked franticly around for Hermione. He glanced at his watch and the time showed 8.30PM.
Had she gone? He thought in despair. Running a hand through his hair, he sighed.
It was too late.
"Draco," said a familiar voice as a figure stepped out from the shadows.
"Hermione," he exclaimed and ran to her, hugging and kissing her. "I thought I lost you. I shouldn't have left you. You are all I have now. Let's go away together. We'll start over again."
She pulled back and looked lovingly at him. "I want so much to be with you. Take me home to a place where there's no more pain and sorrow."
"I love you," he said, pulling her into his arms again.
Hermione smiled as she hugged him back and slowly, her eyes started to change into glowing red orbs.
"I love you too."
The EndA/N: Thank you all for your encouraging reviews. I am working on a sequel for this story which I hope to post soon.