Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling and therefore, I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: WOW! So many reviews! I am so glad to hear that you all liked the last chapter so much, and I'm glad everyone seems to be happy again!!
shadow-n-the-dark – She did charge out of the library, but she did not bring the potion with her.
Stella, me, midnite-azn, blackdragonofdeath13, elektra30, Benji Girl, my1-and-only, Chamei, fan35412, LlywelynWilloughby, Jessica Weasley, NeVeRmInD2, roundrockrules, twistedtwin, HarryPotterFan670 - Thanks! Glad you like it!
Kacie – yeah, Hermione is a bit blinded by love, and I am sorry for making it so short, but it just didn't seem right to put these two chapters together, it seemed more fitting to end it at a cliffhanger.
Bad kitty – sorry to confuse you, but the way the journal works is that whatever he writes in it stays visible until the New Year, then it disappears into the pages so he can start writing more in the same book. Since the thing with Pansy happened after the New Year, it was still visible to anyone who read the book. However, the events that happened before the New Year, are hidden. Thanks for the review!
Kara Black – I'm glad you liked and, and were able to put the pieces together on your own, very cool J
citcat299 – you are absolutely right we are beginning to near the end, there are only a few more chapters left, and yes, she will be able to read a bit more of the journal.
crazee – Yes, wouldn't it be horrible if Lucius saw her?! evil laugh
zuvalupa – Thank you very much! I'm so glad to see you so happy about everything! J
midnite-goddess – I know! Those people who stop writing halfway through annoy me too! But don't worry I would never do that to all of you!
Phoebe Telumetar – I didn't even realize that I stopped writing from Draco's pov, thanks for pointing it out. However, the story from here on out will basically be from Hermione's pov, I believe you'll understand why after this chapter.
FalconWing – Thank you! I'm happy to hear that I set it up well for everything to happen, I would hate for something to sound too unrealistic!
Trish – wow, thank you so much! And you're right, I did sort of neglect Draco's feelings a bit (oops, sorry Draco!) lol
theloudone – Now what kind of story would it be if nothing happenens to the in Hogsmeade? Lol Thanks for the review!
ydole3343 – I would tell you what happens with Lucius, but it all happens in this chapter anyway, so I figure there's no point. Hope the update came quick enough!
angelchic4ver – Glad to hear that you are figuring it out, I believe a few other people are as well, which makes me happy cause it means I set it up well. Thanks for the review!
I really hope you all enjoy this chapter. The main scene in this chapter is the scene I had pictured in my head before I even began writing this story, before I developed the plot or any other part that you have read thus far. So I have been dying to write this chapter since before I had even decided to write a fan fic! So I hope you all like it since this chapter is basically the reason why I'm writing the entire story!
Chapter 22: Til the Day I Die
Rather than go the usual way to Hogsmeade, Hermione elected to take the shortcut through the one-eyed witch statue. Luckily, everyone was still at dinner so her progress wasn't slowed. When she reached the one-eyed witch she muttered Dissendium and climbed through the hump. Once she was in the passage, she ran all the way. It was nearly 7 already, and there was no telling what Lucius was doing to Draco by now.
Hermione threw open the trap door, making much more noise than she knew was wise, but she didn't care. It wasn't until she was standing outside the Hogs Head that she realized she had no clue what she was going to do. If Draco couldn't stop Lucius, she certainly couldn't, but she had to try, it was too late to turn back now. She looked into the window, and did not see anyone, so she took a deep breath, and entered the pub. She could feel the eyes of the old bartender watching her as she moved slowly across the floor. She did her best not to look nervous or guilty, and she took another deep breath as the bartender put down the glass he was cleaning and retreated to the backroom.
Hermione listened carefully for any sound of Draco or Lucius, but she heard nothing. She wandered over to a door that was opened a crack, and found that it led to a long hallway. She tiptoed down the hallway, her ears pricked for the slightest sound. Eventually she heard something, a voice at the very end of the hall. She quickened her pace while remaining as silent as possible, and positioned herself just outside the door.
". . . .come now Draco, you did not seem to enjoy your dinner very much," drawled Lucius. When Draco didn't respond Lucius continued. "You will be pleased to know that the Dark Lord has scheduled your initiation for the day after school ends. He is looking forward to you joining us, what do you say to that?"
Draco did not answer; he refused to look Lucius in the eye.
"Answer me!" commanded Lucius. But Draco remained completely silent. "CRUCIO!" shouted Lucius. Hermione covered her mouth in horror as she heard what could only have been Draco's body slam hard against the floor, she could only imagine the pain he must be feeling. "You will not disobey me!" Lucius bellowed as he lifted the curse, "what do you say now?"
"No," spoke Draco forcefully.
"Why the sudden change of mind Draco?" asked Lucius more to himself than to Draco, "perhaps you have been lying to me. Tell me Draco; are you under the illusion that you love the mudblood?"
"Don't call her that!"
"Ah, so it's true, I warned you about her Draco, now because of your disobedience she will die a most painful death, and I believe you shall be the one to kill her." Lucius threatened evilly.
"No! You promised if I got rid of her she wouldn't get hurt. I did everything you said! She hates the very thought of me now! You've already destroyed my life enough, do not destroy hers," Draco pleaded furiously.
"Alright then Draco, I'll play your little game, if you join the Dark Lord's followers, then your little mudblood girlfriend will not be harmed."
Hermione could hear the deep resolved breaths issuing from Draco's tired lungs, he was going to do it, he was going to do the one thing he promised himself he would never do in order to protect her. She couldn't, she wouldn't let him, just as he opened his mouth to speak; she burst through the door with her wand held out toward Lucius, "No! Draco don't!"
Draco was sitting open mouthed on the floor staring at Hermione with a mixture of fear and disbelief. "Hermione! Get out of here now!"
"No! I won't let you ruin your life like this!"
"Well, well, well," drawled Lucius tauntingly, an evil glint shining in his eyes, "if it isn't Draco's little mudblood slut. How much have you heard?"
As she stared Lucius in the face, her Gryffindor courage welled up inside of her, "I heard enough."
Draco stood, and stared in the eyes, "Hermione," breathed Draco firmly, "get out now!" The anger that flashed through his scared her more than Lucius ever could.
"No Draco," whispered Lucius, "your mudblood whore thinks she is going to save you. She has the mistaken impression that love will triumph over all, as if her life is some bloody fairy tale."
"She's not a whore!!" shouted Draco finally finding the strength to stand up now that he had Hermione to protect as well as himself.
"Well, now she shall learn that power is what really triumphs in this world," drawled Lucius. Just as Hermione realized what was about to happen, Lucius shouted his spell, "crucio!"
Needles of white hot pain seared through her body and her screams drowned out all other sound. The pain only stopped when Draco rammed into Lucius, thereby breaking the spell. Draco then ran to Hermione's side, looked her in the eyes, and opened his mouth to speak, but whatever he was going to say Hermione never knew. . .
Lucius turned his wand on Draco and shouted "Crucio!" As Draco was writhing in pain, Lucius spoke to him, evil glistening in his eyes, "That was very, very stupid Draco, now rather than just torturing your little mudblood, she is going to die. And it will not be quick and easy; it will be a very painful death. You'll be happy to know, my little frozen death spell is now powerful enough to do what it was meant to do."
Lucius only lifted the curse when Draco was no longer able to speak, move, or barely even breathe. "Allow me to demonstrate," smiled Lucius madly, redirecting his wand to Hermione.
Hermione braced herself for the worst her heart racing with the realization that she was about to die. She searched for her wand, but she had lost it while being tortured. She cringed as Lucius stalked towards her, praying for a miracle, and wishing to be holding Draco and for him to hold her back. But he was lying on the floor, gasping desperately for breath.
In the next moment, so much happened that Hermione didn't know what to think. She closed her eyes and curled up into a ball as Lucius shouted "GLACIO EXANIMUS!"
She felt an icy blast and something hit her hard. At the same instant there was a loud explosion behind her. She kept her eyes closed awaiting the pain she had seen Draco suffer through every time he has been hit with the curse. But she felt nothing, 'am I dead?' she thought, 'that wasn't so bad, I didn't even feel too cold, am I a ghost?' As she was silently pondering these thoughts she heard voices shouting, suddenly hands were pulling her upward, "Hermione! Hermione, it's okay he's not going to hurt you," assured the voice of Harry.
Hearing Harry's voice, Hermione's eyes shot open, surprised to be alive. "Oh Merlin! Harry!" she cried with relief as she threw her arms around him. "What are you all doing here?" she asked in disbelief staring at Harry, Ron, Ginny, and professor Dumbledore, who was bent over something on the ground.
"Long story," answered Ron, "but the important thing is you're okay" he stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"You have no idea how glad I am to see you all, you won't believe what I saw and what I heard." Hermione looked around the room, she saw Lucius unconscious and magically bound to the wall, she saw Dumbledore in front of her, and she looked into the frightened eyes of her three friends as she entered into a rant about what Lucius had done. She got up to the part where Lucius was torturing Draco for the second time when she noticed that she didn't see Draco. She immediately stopped her story, "wait a minute, where is Draco?"
Dumbledore stood up from what he had been examining. He took a deep sorrowful breath, "I am very sorry to say, Miss Granger, that it seems we did not arrive soon enough." He then stepped aside from what he had been examining, and to Hermione's horror there lying on the ground was Draco. His skin was a sickly blue, icicles clung to his hair, held his eyelids shut, and tiny beads of ice lined his skin and robes.
"NO!" shouted Hermione desperately, "please no!" she knelt down at his side; she could feel the cold emanating from him. She was too stunned and too afraid to even cry.
The other Gryffindors looked upon the scene in shock, "Professor, is he . . . . " Ginny began in a choked voice, she didn't have the heart to finish the sentence, but she didn't need to.
"He is not breathing," answered Dumbledore. He then turned to address Hermione, "I think this may be the perfect time to see if the potion you and Mr. Malfoy created truly works. Granted, it may not, we may be too late, but I believe it may be the only chance he has."
Hermione nodded in response. Dumbledore continued, "we need to act with utmost urgency. Once we get back to the school, I need you Miss Granger to fetch the potion and bring it to the hospital wing where I will bring Mr. Malfoy. Everyone grab hold of this mug," ordered Dumbledore. Once everyone was holding on and Dumbledore had grabbed Draco, Dumbledore turned the mug into a portkey which brought them to the entrance hall of Hogwarts. "Hurry Miss Granger!"
Hermione tore through the halls to the library praying with all her heart that the potion would work and they were not too late. Meanwhile, Dumbledore conjured a stretcher and levitated Draco to the hospital wing followed by a very shaken Ginny, Ron, and Harry.
Once they arrived, and Madam Pomfrey was looking over Draco, Ginny spoke, "professor, will he be alright?"
Dumbledore sat on the edge of one of the hospital beds; they had never seen him look older or wearier than he did right then, "I honestly cannot say Miss Weasley. I have never seen a spell that has these effects, so I do not know how to cure him. We can only hope that the revival drought which, ironically he helped brew, works. However, there is no guarantee that it will, and even if it would, there is a possibility that we are too late. If his soul has already left his body, then there is nothing we can do."
Madam Pomfrey, who was covering Draco in the warmest blankets she had in an effort to unthaw him, looked over to the group and addressed them sadly, "I will of course do everything in my power to cure him Albus, however I do not have high hopes, he still is not breathing, and I have never dealt with anything this serious before."
At that moment the doors of the hospital wing slammed open and Hermione came speeding in carrying a glass bottle filled with a beautiful blue liquid. "Here it is professor" she panted.
Professor Dumbledore took the bottle and handed it over to Madam Pomfrey. "Poppy, I would recommend giving him two spoonfuls every hour. If he returns to his normal color, you can change the dosage to one spoonful every two hours or as you see fit."
Hermione was still breathing hard from running across the castle, "What do you mean if professor? The potion will cure him right?"
"We cannot know what will happen Miss Granger," replied Dumbledore solemnly. "Now, please allow Madam Pomfrey to tend to your wounds, then I have some questions for you."
Hermione made no response; she stared at the ground and allowed Madam Pomfrey to look her over. "Well," announced Madam Pomfrey, "You have no lasting damage; however, I think a small dose of Pepper-up Potion would do you well."
Hermione drank the potion obligingly, then turned her gaze to Dumbledore and the others, all of whom where eying her with different expressions. Dumbledore began, "Miss Granger, what possessed you to follow Mr. Malfoy to Hogsmeade in the first place? And why would you go alone without telling anyone?"
At his words, Hermione felt her throat constrict, and it became difficult to speak. "I'm sorry professor, I wasn't thinking straight! I was only thinking about saving Draco!"
"Calm down Miss Granger, you are not in trouble, I just want to know the full story," interrupted Dumbledore. "Now, how did you know Lucius was going to harm Draco?"
Hermione bit her lip, unsure whether or not she should tell Dumbledore everything. One look into his twinkling blue eyes broke her resistance and she began speaking again, "because, every time Lucius has met with Draco, Draco has come back hurt. That spell that he hit Draco with . . ." Hermione paused, for the first time she became fully aware that the spell was meant to hit her; she should be the one lying lifeless and frozen on the hospital bed, if Draco died it would be entirely her fault.
"Yes Miss Ganger," encouraged Dumbledore.
"I'll be right back," muttered Hermione, and before anyone could object, she left the room. After a few minutes, she returned carrying a black leather bound book engraved with a silver dragon. She sat on one of the beds, and began turning through the pages apparently looking for something. She turned to the very first page, the date was January 1 of this year. She realized that there must be a spell on the book to hide entries that were written before the new year because she was sure this was the same book she had always seen Draco writing in. She took out her wand and muttered a revealer spell. Sure enough, the entries from the previous year cam forth from the depths of the journal onto the pages.
As she searched, she continued speaking, "That spell, it's not the first time Lucius had used it. He's been perfecting it all year. At first it just made Draco really cold, he said that it felt as though his insides were frozen. Then every time he met with Lucius, he would come back looking worse than the time before. Tonight Lucius said that he had perfected the spell, because it was meant to kill." She paused as she read something in the journal, "Here it is! This is the first time Lucius used the curse." She turned the journal to Dumbledore who read the entry aloud;
I met with Lucius today. I've grown used to the torture, but this new spell makes me wish I were dead, even more so than Cruciatus. He calls is the Frozen Death spell, or Glacio Exanimus. He hasn't completely mastered it yet, eventually it will cause death. It was absolutely horrible, I felt as if I was freezing from the inside out. I don't know how I made it back to school; I think my brain was beginning to freeze. I went to the library room because it was closest, Granger was there, but I don't really remember what happened next.
There was more written, but a quick skim informed Dumbledore that they didn't need to hear it. Once Dumbledore was finished, Hermione spoke again, "The next time he looked more like this, his body was covered with beads of ice, and he was deathly blue."
"Mmm," Dumbledore mused. After a moment looking at Draco he continued, "But why would Lucius use the spell on Draco?" It was meant to be a rhetorical question, but Hermione answered anyway.
"He has been pushing Draco to join the Death Eaters at the end of the school year, Draco always refused, and every time he refused, Lucius would torture him until he said yes, but he never really meant it. That's why he broke up with me."
"Ugh," sighed Ron. When everyone's attention turned to him, he continued, "look Hermione, I'm really sorry about what happened to him tonight, but wake up! You knew he was a future Death Eater, and you went out with him anyway, then the lying bastard cheated on you, and now here you are protecting him, you could have been the one hit by that spell!"
"DON'T YOU GET IT RON!" screamed Hermione in an angry desperation. "I was supposed to be hit with that spell! Lucius was aiming his wand at me and Draco shoved me out of the way so that the spell would hit him instead! He sacrificed himself to save me because he loved me!" Hermione's voice quavered and tears were streaking down her cheeks. "He knew he would die, he knew what a horrible spell it was, but he did it anyway, for me."
"I'd have to agree with Ron on this one Hermione, it's horrible what happened to him, but how can you still believe that he loved you after all he did to you?" asked Harry.
With an angry glare towards Harry and Ron, Hermione tore the journal out of Dumbledore's hands and turned to the entry she had read earlier. "This" she said holding up the book, "is how I know he loved me!" She read the beginning of the entry to the group.
When she was finished, Ginny was first to speak. "So you mean the affair with Pansy, his attitude to you, was all a part of a plan to protect you from his father?"
"Yeah," answered Hermione weakly, "I'm guessing that the earlier entries tell exactly what happened between them that led up to everything that's happened today.
Dumbledore viewed the journal pensively for a moment, "May I have the book?" he asked. Hermione held the journal close to her, "I'm sorry professor, but it's not mine to give up, I wasn't even going to read it in the first place because of what I thought Draco would do if he caught me, but then curiosity got the best of me I guess."
"I understand," agreed professor Dumbledore. There was a long pause in which the entire room stared at Draco's lifeless form. "Well," continued Dumbledore sadly, "there is no more we can do tonight; I suggest that we all try to get some sleep."
OH NO! Is Draco alive?! Is he dead?! Will their potion work?? Isuppose everyone will just have to read on and find out . . .
Please send me a review and let me know what you thought of this chapter!!