AN: The name of the game is procrastination. That's what I've been doing. I wrote this all today, after posting ten days ago. This is what procrastination gets you kids, a back ache, and poor vision squints at the computer screen

Disclaimer: Once upon a time there lived a girl. This girl was a prodigy. She was an amazingly talented writer. She wrote a series called Harry Potter. She has been on the best selling list, in the top three spots, since releasing the first book in 1997. She got a movie deal, and is now the richest woman in England. Richer then the queen. This girl was me. Then I woke up.

Reviewers: You're reviews mean so much to me! I read them and they make me soooo Happy! You guys really make my day!

Oni Tenchie: Okay! tackelhugs

Geekofyerdreams: Luv ya to! And I am not your slave! is aghast I'm only Tom's slave…sex slave that is…or is he MY sex slave? Hm…doesn't matter…either way I get what I want

Mintytoothpick: Thanks luv

Soul-Dead-Dragon: It's the style maaaaan Jive with it

Haystack8190: Your wish is my command. Here it is oh master

Allayne: Oh I will most definitely think up some new torture-er…story…yes that's it…story. Thanks sweetie. But death threats are surprisingly inspirational. Although I'm happy you didn't decide to threaten me! I get enough of that from Draco-in-the-closet

The-sexy-flower: Oh come! Just admit it! You know you read the story just for the conversations at the end! (That's okay though! That's my favorite part to write)

Dershana: You'll be happy to know that I have received enough death threats…er…reviews to make me write an epilogue.

Malleana: No…Voldemort is a lot of things…but he's not a pedophile…although I do enjoy a Tom/Hermione, Tom/Ginny story…but that's different isn't it?

Sailor PPearl: Arise good knight PPearl! And read! And review of course!

Asiangrl91: here ya go!

Dracos-DAMNsexy27: I don't' know but cliffies are horrible to read but addictive to write

Kelsey Malfoy xox: giggles Why thank you! I feel so appreciated. Some one who gets my warped sense of humor! tackelhugs

Sk8erpunkGCpnay: Everyone loves my disclaimers. Oh good so everything did come together nicely? That's wonderful! You better update you Harry Potter fics or I'll KEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL you!!!

DarkAngelB: Jesus Sally! I reviewed your goddamn story now stop threatening to with hold reviews! I'd never forgive you…well maybe I would but you'd have to GIVE me something…hehe. I know Voldemort is so…evil! Although I suppose that's why he's the villain eh?

Awwww: This time it was ten days! Although I'm writing this at eleven forty at night so if I don't update with in the next twenty minuets it'll be eleven days. Alright! Party in hell it is! I'll bring the cola.

Teralyn: Well I most certainly not want anyone to have to see THAT….just kidding…kind of…no really I'm kidding….or am I? I am honestly…yah…okay well here it is!

Ecentpatrick: haha I love your name! Yes I do want reviews. I'm a desperate woman! A woman on the edge! If I don't get my reviews I'll SNAP…just kidding…heh…Well here's the next chapter and I to think that D/Hr PAIRINGS ROCK!!!!!

Chapter Thirteen: Endings

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.

Louis L'Amour

Draco turned slowly towards the voice

Still supporting Hermione's weight, he looked straight into Voldemort's cold crimson eyes

Draco felt Hermione go rigid and squeezed her hip reassuringly

This may be the end

But he was going to face it with his chin held high and the woman he loved at his side

No fear

He tightened his grip on his wand

XOXOXOXOX

Hermione was on the verge of a full blown panic attack…and death

Not now

It couldn't happen now

The final battle couldn't be NOW

With no back up

And her without her wand

She winced as she squared her stance, trying to take most of her weight off Draco

Her body screamed in agony, thousands of knives slicing, stabbing

Pins being stabbed viciously into every available piece of skin

She relented and allowed herself to lean on Draco

And even if she had her wand she wouldn't be able to do much

The after effects of the Crucatius curse were just as potent and formidable as the Crucatius it's self

Breathing was agony

She couldn't even stand on her own

It took all of her will and Draco to keep her upright

She groaned

How were they going to fight Voldemort like this?

Draco couldn't beat Voldemort on his own

Definitely not while holding her up

And she was completely useless

A burden

Oh why NOW of all times?

Why not in seventh year when Harry and Ron and Dumbledore had all been alive?

Why not before Neville, Ginny, and Seamus had been captured?

Before Snape had been discovered, and they had lost all their inside information

Before the Order had been found out and the members picked off, one by one

Why now?

When it was only her and Draco

An invalid and a Death Eater

Going up against Voldemort himself

And then Hermione did something completely un-Hermione like

She stopped thinking

And accepted

Yes the final battle was now

Yes Harry, Ron, and Dumbledore were dead

Yes it was only her and Draco

Yes they were fighting Voldemort

But it all boiled down to one thing; him, or them

Hermione stuck her chin out and prepared herself for the battle to end all battles

The only battle that really mattered

XOXOXOXO

"Draco" Voldemort hissed "you have betrayed me and your brothers."

Draco stayed silent, his icy eyes glimmering with defiance

Voldemort's eyes flashed malovently

He did not take well to having his servants disobey

"You do know what happens to traitors don't you Draco?" Voldemort said

Draco did not acknowledge the statement but tightened his grip on his wand

The smooth wood somehow comforting in this dire situation

"You will recall Severus Snape" Voldemort's words cracked like a whip (AN: Whip it! Whip it good! Eep! I'm sorry I couldn't resist ::cowers:: )

Draco shivered involuntarily

Yes he could remember with vivid clarity his potion professor's end

How could he forget when he himself, when the beast still had control, had participated in Snape's demise?

How could he forget when the screams echoed through his dreams along with flashes?

Glimmers of the atrocities committed

He could most definitely recall

But he would not back down

"Yes I remember Severus. He was a good man. He did the right thing. I only hope that I can be half the man he was tonight. "Draco said quietly (AN: ACK!!!! CORNY!!!! FOEGIVE ME!!!...I blame sleep deprivation)

Voldemort's lip curled in disgust "That's a disgustingly Gryffindor like sentiment if I ever heard one"

Hermione's spine went ram rod strait

That bastard

He said it like it was a bad thing

But before Hermione could voice her opinions Voldemort spoke again

"Your father would be ashamed of you"

Draco's eyes flashed

"Lucius was never a father to me. No father would force a son to live a life exactly the same as his, knowing that it would be miserable, excruciating, pointless. No father would force a son to serve a hypocritical bastard like you!" (AN: Them are fighting words Draco m'boy…battle scene, take one and….ACTION)

Voldemort's eyes hardened and his lip curled up into a pronounced snarl

"You would do well to watch your words boy. I do not deal with impudence kindly" And with that Voldemort raised his wand, pointing it directly at Draco's heart

"You should be cowering in fear, praying for my forgiveness. Groveling" Voldemort sibilated "Perhaps if you do so now, I may forgive you"

But by the inflection of Voldemort's voice Draco knew that even if he handed Hermione over on a silver platter, groveled, prayed for mercy, danced the rumba naked(AN: I would kill SO many people to see that), whatever

Voldemort would never forgive him

And would kill him with out blinking

There was no backing out

Not now

This was it

And Draco answered Voldemort's challenge with a sneer "Never" he enunciated clearly

And with that Draco raised his wand, so that it was pointing directly at Voldemort

Voldemort smiled nastily and before Draco could do anything Voldemort hissed " Impedimenta" Draco prepared himself for the impact but it never came, hearing a scream, he turned his head sharply in time to see Hermione fly backwards into the wall, and as he turned to go to her, the cold voice of Voldemort said "Imperio"

And Draco felt, once again, the sensation that left his mind wonderfully blank, wiped of all thoughts, it was as if he were floating, dreaming…beg…beg for forgiveness…get down on your knees and kiss my robes…

But Draco was used to the Imperio, as most Death Eaters were and a voice in the back of his voice said, clearly, distinctly "I will not" it said "I will never bow or cower before you again…"

Just get down on your knee…

I won't do it, never again…

Just get down on your knees…

"NO!" and as these words left Draco's mouth the dream like state was lifted from him suddenly, but with out hesitating, Draco raised his wand and pointed it at Voldemort

"Stupefy!" Draco bellowed, at the same time that Voldemort whispered "Protego"

The jet of red light that shot out of the end of Draco's wand bounced off Voldemort's shield spell and hit the wall of the entry hall with a crackling hiss

"Stupefy Draco?" Voldemort said in a cold sibilant voice "I expected more from a Malfoy. You're not trying to kill me. You really have become soft. And that will be your end. "

Draco didn't answer and instead made a slashing motion with his wand, sending a wave of purple flame at Voldemort

Voldemort couldn't dodge in time, so instead he turned to the side to keep the flames from hitting him in the stomach, and the flames sliced across his side

Voldemort inhaled sharply and stared down at the rip in his black robes side, and the blood, the same color as his eyes, that dripped from the laceration to the floor

He couldn't comprehend how a mere mortal, and a follower at that, could cause him pain

Voldemort looked up and met Draco's cold eyes

And Draco shuddered despite himself

Those crimson eyes were glowing with a hate ten times stronger than ever he had ever seen

Although Draco would never know that the hate that filled those eyes when they regarded Hermione were hundreds of times more potent

When Draco had hurt Voldemort, that's when Voldemort had begun to consider him a threat.

It was no longer a game for Voldemort

Which put Draco in a considerably larger amount of danger

XOXOXOXO

Hermione's eyes fluttered open

She immediately shut them again

It felt as if someone was hammering an iron spike through her temples

She opened her eyes and feeling her back pressed hard against the wall behind her, she walked her hands up it, to regain her feet

She stood there leaning heavily against the wall of the entry hall and watched as Draco fought for his life

XOXOXO

"Avada Kedavra" Draco had been expecting the killing curse

Ever since he saw that look in Voldemort's eyes

And with reflexes born of Quiddittch training, Draco threw himself sideways, dodging the blast of green light, although just barely

Hermione stifled a scream as she watched the eerie green light stream past Draco

But she couldn't do anything to help him

She could only stand here and wring her hands nervously

Be okay Draco…oh god please be okay

She sighed with relief as she saw Draco roll to his feet

"DELETRIUS!" Draco screamed

The disintegrating spell shot past Voldemort's head, missing narrowly and hitting the wall behind him

Voldemort shot streams of silver light, closely resembling arrows that whizzed so close to Draco's head that he was forced to duck. The silver light left smoldering craters in the wall behind him

"Impedimenta!" cried Voldemort

Draco went sprawling across the hall, and his wand went skidding across the hall to rest against the wall behind Hermione's foot, but her eyes were glued to the scene in front of her, and she didn't notice the slim piece of wood that was their salvation.

Then, before Draco could regain his feet Voldemort hit him with the incarcerous curse.

The ropes snaked up around Draco, binding his arms tightly to his sides, snapping his legs together and immobilizing him as effectively as petrificus totalus

Draco could only watch as Voldemort approached him, his wand raised, and a twisted smile gracing his gaunt face

"I'll teach you what it means to disobey the Dark Lord" Voldemort hissed "Crucio!"

Draco writhed in agony

He had experienced this curse many hundreds of times

But you never got used to it

It always felt just like the first time

You couldn't prepare yourself for it

Couldn't brace yourself

You could only accept

His bones were on fire

It felt as if his head were about to burst

He screamed, a long agonizing note that chilled Hermione to the bone

But she could only watch in horror

She couldn't move from where she was braced against the wall

She couldn't do anything

But then Draco's screams died as he slipped into unconsciousness, still bound, and twitching in pain

Voldemort raised his wand and "Avada-" Hermione cut him off

"NO!" she screamed

Voldemort looked at her in disgust and then turned away, back towards Draco, Not seeing the red glow that began to seep from her pores, surrounding her with an eerie glow

Once again he raised his wand, ignoring Hermione's cries "Avada Kedavra" Voldemort cried triumphantly

The end of his wand erupted in a green blast that shot towards Draco

"I said NO!" Hermione screamed, anguished

A pulse of red shot from her heart towards Draco

Forming a wall in front of his prone body

The killing curse struck the crimson shield, and a gong like noise reverberated through the hall, the red and green energies crackled and hissed as they fought for dominance.

Slowly the crimson grew, overwhelming the acid green of Voldemort's spell

The killing curse evaporated with a snap

Voldemort turned on Hermione angrily his wand raised

Hermione collapsed onto the floor, slumping ungracefully as her legs gave way

She was dimly aware of Voldemort approaching, but her attention was focused on something resting near her hand

Why…it looked like a wand!

But that couldn't be Hermione assured herself

She must be hallucinating

Why would a wand be laying here in the middle of the entry hall?

Hermione struggled to think through the pain induced fog enshrouding her brain

Unless…

Her eyes snapped past Voldemort towards Draco who was lying unconscious in the middle of the hall

He had no wand

By now Voldemort was mere feet from her

Hermione's hand inched towards the wand and she grasped it, the smooth wood of the wand unfamiliar, foreign

She hadn't held a wand since she had been captured

And it wasn't hers

It was Draco's

She could only pray that the wand would recognize her as a friend, as someone who loved its owner, and wanted to help

Her eyes flew frantically around the barren hall, trying to find something, anything that could help her

Her eyes found the ceiling and that something she had been searching for

Her lips curled up into a catlike smile

Perfect

She waited until Voldemort was upon her, his wand raised, his lip curled

And then she struck

Moving with an agility that shocked even her she rolled to the side, and came up on her feet

Pointing the wand she held grasped in her hand she mirrored the slashing motion Draco had made earlier

Recalling vividly the first time she had seen it

The first time she had felt its effects

That day in the Department of mysteries

Purple flames shot out of the end of Draco's wand and sliced Voldemort across the stomach

Not pausing she cried "Impedimenta" Sending him flying several feet up into the air, he landed in the middle of the hall with a sickening crunch

Hermione's eyes glinted with a predatory light

Moving as quickly as she was able she pointed her wand towards the ceiling and shouted "REDUCTO" The blast of light left her wand and hit the ceiling above the hanging chandelier

Perfect

Her aim always had been good

The plaster surrounding the chandelier cracked, and then exploded, showering her with bits of drywall

The golden monstrosity that had hung in Hogwarts for centuries came plummeting down, landing with a deafening crash

Right on top of Voldemort

Not sparing the pile of rubble a second glance Hermione limped over towards Draco

Kneeling by his side she muttered "Enervate"

Draco's eyes opened immediately

The crucatius having apparently no after affects

You could never lessen the pain of the Crucatius

But some things you got used to

Such as the after effects

Piercing blue eyes met Hermione's own, and then looked over her shoulder towards where the garganteuous chandelier was lying

"Good job" he muttered "Quick untie me"

Hermione tossed her ginger hair over her shoulder and pointed his wand at his bindings

But before she could say anything the chandelier was blown sky high, flying at least fifty feet up into the air and landing with a crash at the foot of the stairs, the arms of the chandelier twisting, and breaking off as the abused limbs hit solid marble once again

Voldemort stood in the middle of the hall, his sides bleeding and his dark robes billowing around his legs from the wind, caused by the spell he had just cast, still whipping through the hall way.

"You foolish little girl! Did you really think THAT could stop me" Voldemort raged, his crimson eyes flashing with fury

Hermione scrambled to her feet, her arms and legs leaden with exhaustion

Voldemort raised his wand and screamed "Avada Kedavra"

Hermione threw herself sideways, avoiding the blast of green light that raised the hair on her arms as it rushed past, swallowing a cry as her right arm smashed into the cold marble of the floor with an audible crunch

Trying to pick herself up off the floor, Hermione braced bother her hands on the floor and tried to rise up, her right arms buckled and collapsed

Voldemort once again raised his wand "Avada Kedavra" He screamed, enraged

Hermione rolled to the left, once again just narrowly avoiding the spell, this time it rushed past her, brushing along the ends of her hair, singing them

Cradling her useless right arm to her chest Hermione regained her feet

XOXOXOXOX

Draco watched helplessly from where he was bound on the floor

He nearly cried out as Hermione avoided the first killing curse

And whimpered as the blast of green brushed past her the second time, hitting her hair

He watched as she regained her feet, as careful as a drunk

Her right arm was hugged in close to her chest

He could see from here that it was broken

She had only her left hand, and his wand to fight

With the after effects of the Crucatius still humming through her

…he was surprised she could still stand

He couldn't help the rage

That should be him out their fighting Voldemort

Not her

She was going to get hurt

And he had vowed to never let that happen

But he watched Hermione's movements closely

And new exactly what she was going to do as clearly as if he had planned it himself

No…they weren't out of the running quite yet

Voldemort you stupid bastard, he thought, she's going to kick your ass

XOXOXOXOXOX

Hermione thanked Merlin that she had practiced all the wand movements she learned with both her right, and her left hand

She had practiced so if a situation like the she was in now ever arose,

She'd be ready

Raising her left arm, so that it was level with her chest and pointed at a spot directly behind Voldemort she shouted "WADDIWASI!"

The grotesquely oversized chandelier hovered a few feet off the ground and then shot towards Voldemort's unprotected back

Mentally preparing herself for what she was about to do,

She watched as the chandelier knocked Voldemort off his feet

Raising her wand and pointing it at Voldemort's figure as he struggled to rise she said calmly, enunciating each syllable clearly "Avada Kedavra"

The blast of green light erupted from the wand tip and hit Voldemort square in the chest

Not turning to see how he fell Hermione turned and limped towards Draco, her right arm still cradled against her chest

She skidded to a halt and fell to her knees next to Draco "Finite Incantum" she said quietly

The bonds around Draco loosened and fell away

Rising up on his knees, he ripped the cords that were still hanging limply around him off and enveloped Hermione in a hug

Wrapping her good arm around his neck and her bad arm resting delicately on his back, she rested her head into the curve of his shoulder

And she began to cry

Her small, frail body shook with the force of her sobs

Draco rocked her slowly, back and forth, rubbing her back in small circular motions as he would a child

Over her should her studied the spread eagle form of Voldemort

His crimson eyes were open, and blissfully empty

He was dead

Hermione had done what hundreds of wizards had tried to do, and never even come close to

She had destroyed the dark lord

Draco shut his eyes and held Hermione closer

It was over

They had finished it

And now…

"Lets go home Hermione" he whispered quietly after her sobs dwindled and died

Rising up from his kneeling position, he hoisted Hermione to her feet

Turning their back on their past they headed towards the immense doors of the Great Hall, and their future

AN: Well…by popular request there will be an epilogue…soooo…I don't' know whether or not this counts as the last chapter or not. I was going to end it here but then I was threatened and I want a nice happily ever after with a happy couple and a couple of kids as much as you guys do. So I figured why the hell not?

I have a nice ending speech written but I'll save it till the next chapter…try and contain your excitement

Draco: I thought you said it was OVER

OA: Well…they threatened me

Hermione: I'll threaten you, you no good B-

OA: Now now children play nice…it's just one more chapter…and you get you're happily ever after

Draco: snorts the only happily ever after I'll ever get is when you DIE

Hermione: I agree with him for once

OA: See you DO love each other

Hermione/Draco: advance slowly on cowering author and then force feed her MacDonald's until she promises she'll never do anything involving them ever again. They then let OA go

OA: I LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIED runs away screaming

Draco: AVADA KEDAVRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OA dies

OA: Damn it! I wish you'd stop doing that! It really does hurt quite a bit cracks neck Anyways. Please review. I want to know what you thought of the battle scene.