Serpentine Romeo
By Black Rapture
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, places, and objects belong to Warner Brothers and her majesty J.K. Rowling, Queen of All Literature. (King, of course, being J.R.R. Tolkien! Oh yeah, Legolas is a hottie!)
Chapter Ten - To Capture A Dragon
When Hermione awoke the next morning, Draco was eating eggs from a tray on his lap. Upon seeing that she was up, Draco offered her a piece of toast, which she accepted and took a bite of.
"You okay?" Draco asked. Hermione snorted.
"You're asking me if I'm okay?" She responded in disbelief.
"Well I'm used to this sort of thing." He laughed, "You're not."
"You're laughing?!" Hermione choked, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Calm down, love. It's not that bad." Draco kissed her forehead and hugged her to him.
"I thought he would kill you." Hermione sniffed.
"Lucius Malfoy kill his only heir? Not likely, love." Draco responded bitterly.
"I'm just so glad you're okay." She replied, pulling him into a deep kiss.
"And I thought you might have the decency not to shag in my quarters." Snape stood in the doorway, "How idiotic of me."
"Don't worry about giving us any privacy, Severus, it's fine." Draco smirked. Snape rolled his eyes, but smiled anyway.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Fine." Draco answered.
"Then why are you still here?
"No idea."
"I'll be seeing you then." Snape exited the room. Hermione had watched the whole display and saw a new side of her Potions Professor. A kind of paternal bond was there that Draco probably didn't get from his father. She was snapped out of her thoughts by Draco.
"Coming, pet?" He asked, standing by the door expectantly.
"Mm-hmm." She responded, getting up and taking his arm. He winced slightly.
"I'm not completely healed, baby."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Hermione apologised, "I'll kiss it better when we get back."
"Don't know if I can." Draco admitted. Hermione licked his neck. "But somehow I'll manage."
[-]
Now that everyone knew, Hermione and Draco walked through the halls together, his arm around her waist. Every now and then he would whisper something in her hear and she would giggle coquettishly. Not a care in the world until they were almost to their room.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore called from behind them, "A word." He motioned for them to follow him. When they reached his office, they sat down in two purple armchairs in front of his desk.
"Is something wrong, Headmaster?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"No, Miss Granger." Dumbledore assured her, "Just thought I'd speak to you about the nature of your relationship with Mr. Malfoy."
"Sir?"
"Professor Snape has reason to worry, Draco, about what will happen when Lord Voldemort discovers the nature of your relationship. No doubt your Mr. Malfoy's father has already informed him." Dumbledore explained.
"I don't think Lucius is going to tell him. He told me I'd better have an explanation when Voldemort asks - he's ashamed that I besmirched the family name, he's certainly not going to advertise it." Draco countered.
"Then we may be able to get over this little hump quite easily." Dumbledore smiled, "You may simply tell Voldemort that you are trying to get close to Harry Potter, and gain information that may be useful to him. His arrogance will take it at face value for now."
"What do you mean, for now?" Hermione inquired.
"I think Voldemort might finally be planning to execute an attack of some sort." Dumbledore informed her, "On Hogwarts."
"Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to launch a full-scale attack on one of the most heavily guarded places in the whole of the Wizarding World!" Draco replied incredulously.
"Don't underestimate Voldemort's pride." Dumbledore cautioned, "He loves to make a scene."
"When, sir?"
"That I do not know yet, Miss Granger." He admitted, "But hopefully Professor Snape and Mr. Malfoy will have information for us soon, as the next call is probably not far off. You are dismissed for now."
[-]
Despite a few scathing looks from classmates and the silent treatment from most of Slytherin, Hermione and Draco's relationship was relatively ignored. Most people didn't care or would rather not acknowledge it at all.
The month went by without incident and December began with a thick layer of snow coating the castle. Draco had been called late in November, and the Death Eaters were informed of the attack on Hogwarts in only a few short weeks. Draco didn't have the heart to tell Hermione. Voldemort had indeed inquired as to his connection with her and Draco fed him the prepared explanation. He bought it, as was expected.
In the week before Christmas Vacation, the castle was alight with laughter and the students were as carefree as ever. Dumbledore summoned the two up to his office after dinner one evening. The door opened on it's own before they had a chance to knock. Dumbledore, Professors McGonagall and Snape, as well as Harry, Ron, and Ginny were already there.
"I have called you all here this evening to inform you that Voldemort is planning to attack Hogwarts tomorrow night after the farewell feast." Dumbledore said as soon as Draco had shut the door. Silence.
"Oh my god." Hermione whispered.
"Indeed, Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall nodded in agreement.
"You will need to be prepared for it. Contact your parents or loved one's if you wish. You may very well not see them again." He said resolutely. They all stared at him with wide eyes, not expecting such a blatant statement.
"Are you going to tell the students?" Harry asked.
"And ruin the feast? It may very well be the last thing they do." Dumbledore spoke softly, "I want them to be happy and carefree. It could be the last time they are."
"You can't have them completely unprepared." Professor Snape argued.
"Of course not, Severus." Dumbledore agreed, "I will end the feast early and tell them then. Those in third year or below are to return to their common rooms - fourth years and above who wish to fight may. Those who don't are free to go with the younger students. Staff are also free to return to their quarters if they do not wish to be involved. Aurors and members of the Order will be arriving in small groups throughout the day tomorrow. If this castle is to fall, it will not do so without a fight."
"Honestly, Albus, there isn't a one on the staff who wouldn't gladly do anything for you." Professor McGonagall responded quietly.
"That is all." Dumbledore steepled his hands under his chin and sighed. Slowly, the group exited his office.
When Draco and Hermione had reached their common room, she finally broke down and sobbed into his arms. They fell asleep together on Draco's bed; dreams plagued by images of blood red eyes and forked tongues slithering in the darkness.
[-]
The next there were no classes, as it was the day before everyone left or stayed for the holidays.
Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore spent the day in his office, sipping tea while reminiscing of times long past.
Severus Snape could be found making potions in his private laboratory, skilled hands moving nimbly among rare herbs and luminescent liquids. Draco spent the morning with him.
Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny spent the first few hours of the day having a picnic by the lake, laughing and talking about their many adventures throughout the years.
The afternoon found Harry flying on the Quidditch Pitch, releasing and capturing the snitch so many times that he lost count. Ron and Ginny played chess in the Gryffindor common room. (Aww!)
Hermione and Draco made love for hours; sweat mixed with tears at the thought that they might not get another chance.
[-]
That night at the feast, Dumbledore stood twenty minutes before he normally would, tapping his knife on the side of this goblet. The hall fell silent, wondering what could be so important that the Headmaster would cut dinner short.
"Students, teachers, ghosts, I ask please that you do not panic." Dumbledore began, "In a little less than half an hour, Lord Voldemort and his followers are planning to execute an attack on the castle." The reaction was a mixture of shock from the majority, muffled sobs from the younger students, and most of Slytherin was trying to hide their glee.
"First, Second, and Third years please return to your common rooms. Fourth years and up who do not wish to be involved may also go. Staff and students who wish to fight, please remain seated."
Dumbledore sat. As the younger students were ushered out by the prefects, no one else moved. Aurors and members of the Order including all of the Weasley's, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Mundungus Fletcher entered in their wake.
The Great Hall sat in apprehensive silence and waited. Whether they were waiting for death or for victory, they didn't know. And then they heard it. The crack of wood as the doors of Hogwarts were breached.
Every inhabitant of the hall stood and faced their only barrier from the Death Eaters, wands raised and bodies poised for battle.
As the doors were blown from their hinges, everything seeming to move slow motion. A grotesque but beautiful scene unfolded. The Death Eaters had clearly not been expecting this. And then a large portion of the Slytherin table stood and moved towards the doors, joining the black-robed figures.
The followers of Lord Voldemort flooded into the Great Hall, throwing curses and hexes left and right. As they got closer and closer, Draco kissed Hermione softly.
"I love you." He whispered, "Forever and always." A single tear escaped and trailed down her cheek as Hermione smiled weakly and nodded.
"What's this?" A cold voice that Hermione recognised as Lucius Malfoy sounded from behind her, "Filthy mudblood. You're going to pay for this, Draco. Both of you." Hermione turned around, wand raised, to see a blue light leave Lucius' wand. Moving to dodge it, Hermione caught sight of Lord Voldemort and Dumbledore having an epic battle on the far side of the Ravenclaw table. And the precious seconds were lost. The curse hit her in the shoulder and Hermione saw Draco knocking his father to the ground before she blacked out completely.