Chapter 27
Hermione sat in her bedroom a red glow emanating throughout the room. She could see the village on fire below her, and the troops fighting in the distance. No emotions came to her; she was completely numb. Sitting very still, Hermione could tell that His influence was gone. Cautiously she took a deep breath before testing this.
"I hate Lord Voldemort," she whispered, bracing herself for immense pain. A slight tremor went down her spine, giving her the chills and nothing more. Despite the seriousness of the situation, a smile broke out on her face. Crossing the room to the balcony, Hermione walked out of the darkness and into the light. The village was burnt to the ground and the people were walking through the ash. Babies were crying and women were screaming. A light blanket of snow was covering the ground.
"Your Grace, Lord Draco has been injured," a runner gasped, bursting onto the balcony. Hermione turned slowly to look at the boy who was standing behind her. His words didnt register with her at first, but then all at once she realized what he had said.
She ran down the stairs to the foyer where they were carrying Draco in the doors. He was doubled over in pain, a dark stain spreading rapidly across his chest. Hermione gasped and began to sink to the floor.
"Gotcha," a voice said, sounding very far away from her.
* * *
Prisoner 38983437, "the Boy who Lived," opened his eyes for the first time in months. Looking around it took him only a few minutes for the memories to come flooding back to him. He stood up and brushed himself off and walked out of his cell, which had been left open once he'd been pronounced dead. The prison was unguarded and completely empty. His body was stiff and sore, but he could walk again. The prisoner stepped out of the dungeon into the snow.
"What happened here?" he asked himself.
"One of your classmates was a little overzealous," a familliar voice replied. Harry turned to see Albus Dumbledore's twinkling eyes shining at him.
"Professor!" Harry smiled, his face sore from the effort.
"Harry Potter, you do not know what a joy it is to see you again," Dumbledore said. Harry shrugged. "Follow me and I will tell you what has transpired, and how you can fix it.
* * *
Draco was floating in a sea of glycerine. His limbs were light and his breathing was slow. He felt very calm. Far away the sound of voices travelled slowly to his ears, but they weren't saying anything he could understand.
He tried to speak, but the sound came out as a moan to those around him. His eyes refused to open, and soon Draco gave up. The effort was just too great.
Hermione sat by Draco's side, holding his hand to her chest. Her head was bowed over him and she was crying softly. She was surprised by the overwhelming emotion that she felt for him at that moment. Never had she loved him more than in that moment when each minute was capable of being her last with him.
The door shut softly behind her and Severus came into the room.
"Your Excellence, I must speak to you," he said. Hermione lifted her head, but didn't let go of Draco. "Our Army has successfully captured all of the enemy troops and bound them to us. The war is over, you must tell your people."
"Not right now," she said, bending her head again.
"Go," Draco spoke, startling Hermione. She turned to look at him and his eyes were open, watching her with love and admiration. "I'll just wait here."
Hermione smiled at his feeble joke, and kissed him gently before following Severus to the balcony. She stepped out onto the marble and felt her stomach start to churn. With each step she took closer to the rail, she felt more ill and increasingly weak. When she finally got to the rail she braced herself against it, clutching it for dear life.
She looked out over the faces of the people below her, watching her expectantly, waiting to hear the dreaded words telling them they were still captives. Hermione took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She could hear the blood pounding in her ears and feel her body start to shake slightly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Hermione began, her voice quavering slightly. "I stand here on this evening to bring you news," she paused, not sure of what to say next. She looked around at all the people again, and then glanced at the people on the balcony with her. They were all death eaters, and they were wondering what was taking her so long.
"As you all know there was a battle fought tonight that ended in triumph for the Dark side. All of those in opposition were captured and bound like all of you have been for the past months," Hermione stopped, watching the faces for a reaction. The crowd started to disperse, so she quickly moved ahead before she could change her mind. "I have made a decision tonight," she continued, taking a deep breath for strength. Lucius shot her a look, but Hermione ignored it. "I have decided to end the reign of Darkness, and restore the Light to power," she proclaimed. The air exploded with cheering. Hermione felt a smile cross her face, but it faded when Lucius grabbed her by the arms and shook her.
"You stupid girl! What have you done?" he asked, shaking her.
"She has done the right thing, Lucius," A harsh voice sounded. Hermione turned her head to see Dumbledore emerging from the palace. "Just like I knew she would all along."
"Dumbledore, you have no right-" Lucius began. Dumbledore held up a hand. Behind him, the Light Soldiers emerged taking all the Death Eaters captive.
"Your Royal Highness," he began, turning to Hermione and giving the traditional head bow of recognition. "If I may, I can help you to clean this mess up."
"Please," Hermione bowed her head, her cheeks pink from what she felt was undeserved praise.
"If I could have your attention please," Dumbledore stepped up to the railing and addressed the crowd. "Before the celebration begins, there is something that must be done. For this task, I will need assistance from a good friend of mine," Dumbledore gestured to a waif- looking boy behind him.
"It's Harry Potter!" a voice called from the ground. A cheer went up from the crowd. Harry stepped forward and turned to Hermione.
"It's good to see you, Hermione," Harry said. Hermione smiled and threw her arms around him.
"Harry," Dumbledore gestured for the boy to step closer. He turned and addressed the crowd. "Harry Potter is the only one who can protect us from the Dark Side forever. He has agreed to do this for us, and for that we all should be eternally grateful," Dumbledore said. Hermione noticed at this point that the elderly man had tears in his eyes. Harry's face was drawn and somber. "Harry, it is time," Dumbledore said.
Harry nodded and stepped forward. Dumbledore stepped back, and pulled Hermione back also. Harry pulled out his wand, and with a shaky hand whispered the words Dumbledore had taught him. He moved his up and then down, and as he did so, a bright light shot into the air encircling the area. The snow around them began to melt, and the trees started to bloom as though it were springtime. Hermione looked around at the death eaters and watched their eyes flash from red to white before returning to their normal state. The palace behind the burnt village disintegrated, and the ashes of the village vanished. The light returned to Harry's wand and he collapsed onto the marble.
Hermione gasped and was at his side immediately. She cradled his body in her arms and tried desperately to revive him.
"It is no use, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, kneeling next to her. Hermione turned her head to look at him. "He knew that it would take all of his strength to rid the work of the Dark threat forever, and he made the choice to give his life up for all of you."
"No," Hermione whispered. She realized that he had done it for his friends, so that they could carry on without the Dark side ever coming back, but that didn't make it any easier. "Oh, Harry, I wish that I were back in school with all my friends without the memories of all of this weighing on my shoulders," she whispered, her tears falling on his chest. She set his body down on the marble for someone to take care of and turned to go into the palace. She went immediately to see Draco, but when she got to his office, he had vanished. Her body started to shake. "He left me," she said out loud.
"Never," Draco said behind her. She turned around to see him standing in the doorway. He crossed the room and took her in his arms. "Come here," he said, kissing her forehead. Tears started to fall from her eyes, and Draco wiped them all away. "Don't cry," he told her. "This is the beginning of a new era, and it wouldn't have been possible without you."
"I don't care," she said, honestly. "Harry is gone."
"For a Gryffindor, you're awfully selfish," he teased. Hermione managed a weak laugh. "I know it hurts, baby, but you know he did the right thing, and someday you'll be able to see that and be thankful for it."
"I know already, and I am," she said. "But I wish I'd known that's what was going to happen, I would have-"
"You would have what?" Draco interjected. "Stopped him? Apologized for something? Told him something? Hermione, Harry knows how much you cared about him because you set him free and gave him the chance to save everyone. Nothing you would have done before he died could have changed the way you feel now. It still would have hurt just as bad, and he would still be dead. You have to move on now. Time heals all wounds," he finished. Hermione nodded and buried her face in his shoulder. "It's been a long day, you should get some rest," he told her. With one swift maneuver he lifted her into his arms, then carried her down the hall to their bedroom.
As he tucked her in, she whispered, "Draco, I love you."
"I love you too, Hermione Granger," he replied. He kissed her forehead and turned out the light.
* * *
Hermione awoke with a start. She looked around the room to see what it was that had awoken her so suddenly. Outside it was raining hard, and after a few moments, she saw lightening flash.
"It was just thunder," she reassured herself. She could feel her heart still racing and wondered if she had awoken from a nightmare. Unable to sleep, she got out of her bed and put on some slippers before descending to the common room.
Ginny was sitting in front of the fire, her eyes staring off into the distance. She jumped when Hermione sat down next to her on the couch.
"Couldn't sleep either, huh?" Hermione asked. Ginny shook her head no.
"I've been having strange dreams lately," Ginny admitted. Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"About what?" she asked. Ginny shook her head.
"Oh, its nothing. Did the storm wake you?" Ginny asked, changing the subject. Hermione nodded.
"It's so strange. I woke up like I had just had a nightmare, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was," Hermione said. "I just feel really happy to be here," she added and wondered why. She felt very safe at Hogwart's, and she supposed that was a good thing, although she wasn't sure what reason she would have to feel unsafe.
"You know what's strange?" Ginny asked. Hermione turned to look at the girl. "I know we've only been gone the summer, but it really feels like we haven't been here in ages."
"I have that feeling too. It's very odd," Hermione agreed.
"Did you have a good summer?" Ginny asked. "I went to visit Seamus for a few weeks, we're dating now."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed. It didn't seem to fit inside her head somehow, as if Ginny should be dating someone else, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Who else would Ginny date? Certainly not Neville, or Colin Creevy. "My summer was nice. Pansy and I went to visit my aunt in California and then went to Italy for a few weeks."
"How is Pansy?" Ginny asked. Hermione had a feeling in her stomach that Ginny had only asked to be polite.
"Oh, she's fine. We had a lovely time in Europe," Hermione said. "What did Ron do all summer?"
"He went to visit Sorcha," Ginny told her, making a face. "And I'm so glad. He would have been just unbearable if he hadn't. They did nothing but owl eachother the entire time they were apart until Mum threatened to take Pig away from him."
"How silly," Hermione laughed.
"So, Hermione, tell me who you have your sights set on this year," Ginny teased. Hermione smiled.
"There still isn't anyone," she admitted. Ginny sighed.
"Hermione, you really ought to get out more," she scolded. Hermione shrugged.
"I'm fine, Ginny. I'll meet someone eventually."
"Eventually? Hermione, you have to be pro-active. You can't just sit there and wait for them to come to you, you have to go and get them!" Ginny informed her.
"But what if there isn't anyone you're interested in?" Hermione asked. "Or anyone you're interested in who's available?" she thought.
"There has to be someone," Ginny implored. Hermione shook her head no. "Well, alright then. I guess you're right. Someone will come along eventually."
"Yeah, eventually," Hermione repeated softly. She and Ginny sat in silence for a little while. "You know, I think that storm is over. I'm going to go back to bed," Hermione decided after a while. Ginny nodded.
"Good idea," she agreed. The two girls headed up the stairs to their bedrooms.
* * *
The next morning, Hermione awoke to the sun shining in on her face. She got out of bed and hurried down the stairs to the prefect's bathroom. A nice hot bath would start her day off right. She murmured the password and hurried into the bathroom.
The room was still steamy from the person who had used it before. Without paying much attention, Hermione undressed and slid into the bathtub, already filled with warm lavender-scented water. She just rested, enjoying the feeling of the warm water on her muscles. Swimming around a bit, panic set in when Hermione realized she wasn't alone in the bathtub. The steam cleared a bit and she quickly recognized the silhouette leaning against the edge of the tub.
"Well, Miss Granger," Draco's voice was distinct as it echoed in the marble-filled room. "I had no idea you were so forward," he teased, realized she'd had no intention of sharing a bath with him. "Guys really go for that sort of thing. You know, I'm not single, but it's really hard for me to see a woman disappointed so we'll just keep this between the three of us," he said confidently, crossing the tub towards her. Hermione started to back away from him.
"Th-three?" she asked, looking around worriedly. Draco nodded and gestured towards the mermaid painting on the wall.
"We have an audience," he whispered to her. Just then, Hermione hit the wall of the tub, and Draco swept in to kiss her. Hermione struggled at first, but soon found herself growing weak. She was pinned up against the wall, with no way to escape Malfoy, even if she had the strength. His fingers danced lightly on her shoulders as he ran them down her arms to grasp her around the waist. He kissed her insistently, with growing ferocity. Hermione was getting short of breath, and feeling slightly dizzy. With a mind of their own, her arms wrapped around Draco's neck, her breasts pushing into his chest.
After a few minutes, Hermione began to wonder where this side of her had come from. She'd never done anything like this in her life, and yet here she was making out with Malfoy in the Prefect's bathroom. Knowing herself as well as she did, Hermione knew that she should feel compelled to smack him, not because of his presumptuousness, but because she should have been scared out of her mind to be kissing anyone without any clothes on, especially on school grounds. Yet here she was, and she was enjoying herself. Immensely.
Draco's hands moved to massage her breasts, and then he bent to take one in his mouth. Hermione arched her back as his tongue teased the nipple and then his mouth moved to the other one. He kissed her mouth again, his hands sliding down her sides as his fingers traced the small of her back. One hand traveled down her thigh to cross in between her legs. As if he'd done it before, he found the right spot immediately and began to massage it slowly. Hermione let out a soft moan as Draco's fingers moved faster and his lips sucked at the base of her neck.
"Someone's coming," the mermaid giggled just then. Draco instantly separated himself from Hermione and got out of the water. Hermione collapsed against the side of the tub.
Draco ran the towel across his head and tossed on his school uniform. Stepping outside, he saw another prefect heading for the portrait.
"Sorry, Hermione just got here," he lied, shutting the door behind himself. "Try back later," he instructed.
Inside, Hermione shook herself off. A feeling of disappointment washed over her. She was still stimulated to the point that every nerve of her body was standing on edge. There was nothing she could do about it either. Not wasting any time she washed her hair and got out of the bath.
"Keep your mouth shut," she threatened the mermaid. "I know where they keep turpentine."
* * *
Sitting in transfiguration later that day, Hermione struggled to keep her focus. She scribbled notes furiously, but they were almost worthless. Thankfully, the class ended quickly and it was time for lunch before double potions.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Sorcha asked as they headed to the Great Hall. Hermione flushed a bright red.
"Yes," she lied. Sorcha's face lit up.
"Who is he?" she asked. Hermione shook her head furiously, trying to regain her self-control.
"No one, it's nothing," she said. Sorcha raised her eyebrows, but didn't push the matter any further.
"Well, you can always talk to me," she offered kindly. Hermione nodded.
"Really, Hermione, you used to tell us everything," Ron added.
"It's nothing!" She said firmly. A lot more firmly than she felt. "I should re-copy my notes during lunch," she decided. "I'll see you all in potions," she promised before heading to the library. There wasn't any way she could tolerate their questions through lunch, and she still wasn't sure how to act around Draco during potions. For the millionth time since they'd been assigned, Hermione cursed Snape for sticking her with Draco, even if they'd gotten top marks together on every project.
Lunch was over all too soon for Hermione and she left the library not remembering anything about what they'd studied in transfiguration at all. She headed for the dungeon hoping she wouldn't be late for class. Arriving out of breath, and pink in the cheeks, Hermione was dismayed to see Breena and Draco making out in front of the classroom for the entire world to see. To her dismay, Professor Snape glided into the room without a word to the couple. Hermione slid past them into the room and took her seat quietly, taking out a fresh parchment for her notes.
Class started and Draco joined Hermione at their desk. He was a little out of breath and still a bit untidy which was uncharacteristic of Draco.
"I didn't see you at lunch, everything alright?" he asked. Hermione nodded, her eyes focused on Snape. "Are you not speaking to me for a reason? You're not upset about this morning are you? Because we were in a public place and I'm not sure what you expected," he continued. Hermione sighed, wishing he would just be quiet.
"No, it's alright," she said shortly. Draco sighed. Snape released them to work on a lab, and Hermione felt a knot growing in her stomach. She had hoped he would make them take notes all of class so she wouldn't have to talk to Draco.
"So what's on your mind, Hermione?" he asked, cheerily. Hermione shook her head.
"Nothing. I'm going to go get ingredients now," she said, walking away. Draco watched her go and raised an eyebrow. She was clearly flustered, and he assumed that the morning events were still weighing heavily on her mind. They were pretty focused on his mind as well, for some reason. Looking across the room, he caught Breena's eye, and blew her a kiss. He wasn't in love with her, but he was crazy enough about her that it didn't matter. She smiled and turned back to her work. Hermione returned with the ingredients and dropped them all on the table.
"Careful," he warned, grabbing a vial before it rolled off the table. Hermione fell into her chair and started writing. Draco sighed and started to mix ingredients.
"Be careful with that," Hermione warned, not even looking up at him. Draco turned to stare at her. He'd been adding some ground boar's tooth to the mixture, which he knew was a very sensitive ingredient and thus had been being careful.
"Do you want to do this yourself?" he asked. Hermione slapped her quill on the table and stood up. She began to add the potions quickly without much thought at all. As she dumped the last one in, Draco remembered Snape's warning about the properly completed potion. "Look out!" he exclaimed, pulling Hermione away from the cauldron. A small mushroom cloud emerged just then, and the potion made a loud bang.
"Thank you," Hermione said gratefully. Draco nodded and let her go almost reluctantly. He enjoyed the feeling of her against his chest like that.
"Well done, Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy. 5 points for both your houses for the proper and expedient completion of your potion," Snape said, looking up from a stack of papers he was grading. Draco and Hermione smiled at each other, their eyes meeting. Hermione blushed and forced herself to look away quickly. Draco put his hand on her shoulder.
"Will you meet me by the library later?" he asked. Hermione nodded. They worked together on the write-up and then cleaned up their materials until class ended. Hermione hurried out the door, thankful that she didn't have to sit awkwardly next to Draco anymore. She hurried to Arithmancy only to find that the class had been cancelled for the day. Finding that she had a lot of time on her hands until dinner, Hermione decided to head back to the common room.
Sorcha and Ginny were sitting by the fire when Hermione came in. They nudged each other when they noticed her, and Hermione braced herself for what she knew was about to come.
"So, Hermione," Sorcha began. "It's Draco, isn't it?"