Holding Back Tears
Ch.6
By: Tiffiany Hargis
A/N: Ok everyone, if I still even have readers anymore because it has taken me forever to update, the 6th chapter is finally here. I know I'm terrible, but I hope this chapter makes up for it. I think it is the deepest chapter yet, or at least the saddest. I want you all to know that I really enjoy writing this fic. But my schedule and imagination doesn't allow me to update as often as I like. This semester I am taking 15 hours and I actually will hopefully have a job too. So, I will update as much and as fast as possible. I still don't know what is going to happen between now and the ending so when I start writing again after the next chap I get as excited and thankful as you guys. So hope you enjoy this chap.
A/N #2: I want to thank Mione Weasley for beta reading my last couple of chapters. She's a lifesaver, and to Icebreaker20037 and ReBelleRose for always reviewing my chapters. It's always great to know what you think about the story, and to know that you both care enough about it to continue to write to me about it. Thanks again. And thanks to the countless others that have reviewed and read my story. The only reason I'm continuing this story is because of all of you. Even though I'm having a lot of fun myself writing them.
Disclaim: Hey everyone, Rowling called and informed me that the trio and plus a few of our other fav. characters from Hogwarts (Ginny, Luna, and Neville) had a great Christmas and New Year. On Christmas the kids all got together in the Great Hall (B/c Luna can't go into the Gryffindor common room) and opened their presents together. They were joined by Dobby and Winky shortly but they had to leave for the kitchens, but not before Dobby passed out an assortment of socks, scarves, and hats to everyone (he had gotten the idea from Hermione last year). They had a great time. They had feasts prepared for them and later on in the afternoon they all went out for a snowball fight (Boys VS Girls) Lets just say do to some out smarting by the girls and good arms from the boys all six of the students went back to their dorms soaking wet. That night the Gryffindors left in the tower sat by the fire and talked about anything and everything until one by one all went to bed except Ron and Hermione who were left alone in front of the fire. They talked for a few more hours until they decided to go to bed, but when they reached the stair well they saw a small piece of mistletoe floating strangely above their heads. They turned to see Dobby magically summoning the plant and hastly turned back to each other. Nervously they smiled at one another, and Ron bent down and place a small sweet kiss on Herm's lips and said, "Goodnight Hermione." Before going up the stairs and leaving a baffled Hermione in his wake with a silly smile on her face and she gave a thankful look to Dobby said goodnight to him and went to her Dorm to relieve this kiss in her dreams. (Aww. Wasn't that cute?! Ok now if anyone actually read that I'd be really surprised that was extremely long. Well, Rowling still owns the castle and the rights to HP)
;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;
"Earlier today the Dark Lord effortlessly convinced the Dementors to come back to his side. They released all of us from that dreadful prison, and the Dark Lord's followers were returned to his service yet again. Which leads us back to where we are now, his followers are helping our master for one of the greatest days in history, the death of Harry Potter and the Dark Lord's rightful reign over this world " Lucius Malfoy told the two teenagers firmly with a slight smirk on his face.
Ron slowly inched his way to stand in front of Hermione to offer any kind of protection he could, unfortunately the movement didn't go unnoticed by Malfoy.
His smile grew, and he addressed Ron, "I see your father's love for filthy muggles infested itself into his children." His stare went from Ron's threatening gaze to hers with a disgusted look on his face. She tried to stare back at him with just as much distaste.
"At least it is better to love her than compared to you who his only emotions in life are hate, greed, and a hunger for a power that your "master," who you only follow out of fear, will never share with you, because his promises are as hollow as his evil soul." Ron spat at Malfoy with a repulsed look on his face. A sense of admiration rose in her heart, but she feared the backlash from Malfoy he was not going to like Ron's speech. Lucius was still armed, they were completely defenseless, and she had no more shoes for a distraction.
An outline of anger shadowed Lucius' face, "You silly arrogant boy, do really believe you can protect her. Although it is quite touching to see you try, neither one of you are any match for me." Malfoy then directed his wand to Ron's chest and yelled something uncomprehendable because at the same time she shouted in fear as the wand moved with deadly precision. The wand emitted a red light, and sent Ron flying off to the side leaving Hermoine exposed. She watched as he flew off to the right and hit the ground, but her gaze immediately returned to Lucius' eyes determined not to show him any fear. She wasn't going to offer him the satisfaction.
"She is a brave one; I will give you that." Lucius spoke to Ron who was winded and still on the ground. His wand was now pointed straight at Hermione as he looked her up and down, appraising her. "She always did have a strong will and an undeserved sense of pride that should have never belong to someone like her." He spoke the words as if they were pure poison and were far from a complement.
Hermione mustered all her contempt for the man in front of her and displayed it in her gaze as she stared him in the eyes. After a few seconds passed, he yelled the words "Cruico" and she watched as a jet of light flew towards her to fast to react. Hermione's mind went blank. The only thing she could think of was the immense amount of pain that was coursing through her body. It was beyond any pain she had ever felt in her life, and it took her breath away.
After about fifteen seconds, that felt like a lifetime, were over the curse was lifted, and Hermione struggled to get breath into her burning lungs. There were tears in her eyes but she fought them back; she would never allow him to see her cry. While she gasped in air, she saw that she was laying face down in the grass and it was cool against her burning skin. After she caught her breath, she flexed her strained legs, and struggled to stand. Her legs gave out on her the first time she tried, but her second attempt was successful.
When she was standing, she lifted her gaze to Lucius' to show she was not going to go down without a fight. She heard Ron faintly say her name with awe and sorrow in his voice. She turned her gaze to him, and saw he looked beaten and disheartened. She saw a pain in his eyes that tormented her more than Lucius could ever afflict upon her. She tried to comfort him with her tender and warm look, but most of her energy was focused on standing and she was unable to offer any solace.
She turned her eyes back to Malfoy and saw there was a smile playing on his lips. This time she was ready, but never would she be prepared, for the pain that came to her as the evil Death Eater shouted "Crucio" with his wand pointed at her again.
Ron watched as the second jet of red light emitted from Lucius' wand. This time he ran to her, but was stopped by his piercing voice.
"If you so much as take another step towards her I won't think twice before I kill her." The vicious wizard looked at Ron daring him to move with a sadistic smirk on his face.
Instead of watching the haunting smile, Ron looked back to Hermione. Her beautiful features were disfigured with anguish, and her limbs were moving in odd jerking motions. It broke his heart to watch Hermione in this much pain. If he ever thought he felt useless or defenseless before he now felt the feeling of utter and complete worthlessness.
He watched as the spell was lifted from the tortured body for the second time and how she remained motionless. He willed her to make some sort of movement to tell him she was alright. He let out a sigh of relief and distress as she shakily got to her feet again after a couple of straining tries.
This time she just stared at Malfoy with a determined and fearless look, and his smile was starting to fade at Hermione's display of "strong will" and it was turning into a grimace of annoyance. Ron never felt more proud of Hermione or been in such despair over her. A tear slowly slid down his cheek as he watched, as if in slow motion, her get hit again by the unforgivable curse. She fell to the ground again without any form of resistance.
Her body looked so exhausted that it didn't even convulse as the pain coursed through her veins. Ron's eyes were freely shedding the tears that Hermione's weren't able to as the curse was lifted from her form. This time she struggled several times to get off the ground, but each time she could not find enough strength to stand. So, instead she just raised her head and gave a look of pure hatred toward Lucius but her eyelids kept drifting closed as if they were heavy, and Ron knew her vision was not focused.
"Shout out for mercy despicable girl, and I will finish you off quick. If you don't the pain will slowly drive you as mad as the Longbottoms." Lucius demanded of Hermione.
In reply, Hermione tried to get to her feet again, but only managed a kneeling position before a wave of dizziness caused her to fall to her face again. She let out short painful breaths; her lungs were burdened with the labor of breathing.
"So be it." cried Lucius, "Say goodbye to your precious mudblood!" And with that, Hermione's body was in complete misery again.
"HERMIONE!!!" Ron shouted over Lucius, but it didn't have any effect on the potency of the spell that was cast. He tried to run to her again, but he was again stopped by the heinous man. "If you go near her I'll kill both of you right now." Ron was thinking that death was probably better than watching Hermione getting progressively driven mad by the Cruciatus Curse.
Ron looked him in the eyes and it brought pleasure to Malfoy's face when he saw the effect he was having on Ron. More tears were falling down his face now, and with each one his hope left with them. All his hope completely faded as he watched the curse lifted from Hermione for the fourth time. Her body was completely tense and it shook slightly. Ron heard her gasping for air in a very strained manner, and then her whole body went limp. He could not hear sounds of labored breathing or any other sign of life. He strained his eyes and ears for any signs of life, but it was useless; he couldn't even see her rib cage moving to show she was breathing. Ron prayed for her to move just a little, but his prayers were unanswered and he feared the worst.
'She's dead' he thought. Suddenly he felt an overwhelming sense of remorse and hate. Flashbacks of Hermione came to him, of past times together that were both good and bad. He hardly registered the images, and if anything made his hate grow even more present at the loss of Hermoine. Every thing else began to fade. In his world Voldemort didn't exist, Harry was just a figment of his imagination, and he was only on Earth for one purpose: To kill Lucius Malfoy.
He turned to Malfoy and spoke low and emotionless voice. "There is nothing more dangerous than a man without a reason to live," He paused and the silence was deafening, "You've just killed what I've ever lived for."
Lucius smile faded from his face, and a flicker of fear crossed his features as he looked into the hollow spiritless eyes of the broken but determined man before him.
{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*{*}*
Ok, another cliff, but this time I did it on purpose, 'cause I know I'll be updating soon. I know this b/c I've already written the 7th chapter I just need to get it typed so never fear!!!
I've had some inquiries about this fic, and to tell the truth I don't know how many chapters there are going to be. I have an outline, but it doesn't go by chaps it goes by events. Like for example there was going to be more to this chapter, but this scene lasted longer and was more impassioned than I ever imagined it to be. But this scene was one of the first scenes I had planned out, even before I knew they were going to graduate that day. So, I have left the next part for the next chapter.
I know this is a little shorter than the past ones, but I hope it has no less impact if not more. I hope you all enjoyed it. It was painful to write. I tried to write it as detailed as I could but my heart was breaking at some parts.