After dinner, Hermione took a shower then changed into sweatpants and a
tank top. She joined everyone in the common room. Harry and Ron were
playing wizard chess, and Harry was actually winning. Ron refused to
look at Hermione or even speak to her. Fred just told her to give him
time. She hated feeling like the enemy. She couldn't figure out why
they'd accepted her seeing Malfoy easier than her seeing Fred.
"So did you guys find out any more information after you got back to the castle?" Hermione asked, timidly. Harry looked at her and sighed.
"No, we didn't go back to the library." he replied.
"Oh." was all she managed to return.
The silence made her uncomfortable, yet she really wasn't quite sure what she should say. She looked over at Fred and George who were discussing a new invention with Ginny. She was alone. Tired of being treated like an outcast, she stood up and walked out of the Common Room. She began wandering the castle corridors, emerced in her thoughts. She wanted to read more of Malfoy's journal, but her and Fred agreed not until everyone else had gone to bed. If they found anything of importance, they would inform the others later. For now it was a secret just between the two of them. Hermione was going through the list of things she had to remember for the apparating exam. She was to take it the next afternoon, along with Malfoy. She was going over the basic routine through her mind, when she heard voices. She quickly ducked into an empty classroom and listened tentavly. It was Malfoy.
"Shh... I hear someone coming, in here." he whispered loudly to someone.
Hermione began to panick and looked around the classroom for somewhere to hide. She saw a cupboard and rushed towards it. She slipped in just as Malfoy and Fleur entered the room. She peaked through the door. Her face burned as she watch them begin to make out. It pulled at her heart. She cursed under her breath, but apparently not quiet enough. Malfoy looked over in the direction of the cabinet. Hermione stepped back to hide further.
As she did she felt herself pulled backwards, she started to fall into the blackness. She began reaching for something, anything to grab onto but it was as if she was falling into some sort of abyss. She closed her eyes tight and felt herself hit the ground hard. She opened her eyes and found herself surrounded by a bright light. She was in some sort of bed that was covered in bright white sheets. It reminded her of a muggle hospital, but not quite. Everything in the room was white. She looked down and realized she was naked. She quickly pulled the lenins up over her and continued to take in the room around her. Above her shon fluerecent lights hanging from oddly shaped brass chandeliers. The door leading into the room opened, and a young woman entered. She had short stylish black hair, and was wearing an all white skirt and blouse. She had a white chenille dot veil pulled over her face connected to a white cocktail hat. Hermione looked at her closer. It was Pansy.
"Where am I?" Hermione demanded.
"Shhhh." Pansy put her finger up to Hermione's lip.
"Why are you here? You're dead." Hermione ignored her.
"I'm here because you want me to be here." a smile outlined itself behind the veil.
"Why would I want you to be here?"
"Because there are things in your head that you just haven't quite figured out, now isn't there?" Pansy sat on the edge of the bed next to Hermione. She crossed her arm over the lenins and Hermione's waist and leaned in closer.
"You want to know who to choose. I'm here to serve as your Life Guide." Pansy whispered seductivly into Hermione's ear. Hermione moved away from her and clutched the sheet tighter.
"What do you mean, my Life Guide?"
"I'm here to show you what your life would be like if you chose Draco over Fred, and vice versa. Consider it a gift from your ancestorial aunt, Cassandra." Pansy's smile showed mischief. Hermione was confused, where the hell was she?
"So get off that bed and step into your new life." Pansy stood up and moved out of the way. Hermione timidly stood up as well, grasping the sheet around her body. Instantly the sheet was transformed into a green gown. It was a style of dress she'd seen on witches of high society. She gave a stiff gasp as she found it hard to breath. She reached behind the dress and found it laced up tight. She was wearing a corset. Pansy walked over to her with a smile, and held up a mirror.
"Pure beauty, Draco wouldn't have you dress in anything less. He has an image to maintain you know."
"An image... of what exactly."
"Why don't you have a look for yourself." Pansy extended her hand out to Hermione, who took it cautiously.
The room spun so fast she was forced to close her eyes. When the spinning stopped she opened her eyes and found herself in a bed room of some sort of house. The luxurious bed was covered in blankets of crushed velvet and silk sheets. Hermione ran her hand along one of the red sheets. She quickly turned around and saw that Pansy was gone. She walked over to the window and looked out onto a courtyard of gardens. The sun was shining brightly as it was going down. The door opened and Hermione spun around. There stood a slightly older Draco, dressed lavishly in black robes.
"There you are. Are you coming?" he asked and held out his hand to her.
"Where am I?" Hermione asked. She found herself back in the white room.
"Malfoy Manor of course. You and Draco got married straight out of Hogwarts. You live with him and his mother at the Manor. He's just biding his time before her slow death before inheriting everything." Pansy smiled.
"Her slow death? What's wrong with her?"
"You're poisoning her, under his command. You see, after you broke up with Fred, the others turned on you because you went back to Draco. The Dark Lord eventually offered him something that he couldn't refuse and he accepted it. You felt you had no choice but to go along with it, and also became a part of the Dark Lord's plan. You really shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you Miss Granger. I always thought you were smarter than that. Any way, tonight's a very special night... you wouldn't want to miss this." Pansy smirked.
"Are you coming?" Malfoy asked again.
"Yes, sorry." Hermione took his hand and followed him down the stairs. There seemed to be some sort of ball going on. Hermione made her way through the crowd of people she didn't recognize. Malfoy handed her a drink and smiled.
"You look lovely tonight, my dear." he leaned in and kissed her softly. She felt herself blushing and she smiled back at him.
"Are we almost ready then?" a man asked, walking up to her and Malfoy.
"Yes, I believe everyone has arrived. Hermione, would you please go down and prepare the ceremony." Draco asked, smiling at her.
"With pleasure." she told him. They kissed again and she departed.
Hermione went down to the basement. She lit a torch and placed it on the wall. She walked over to a large stone slab in front of her. She reached under it and pulled out a box decorated with designs of snakes carved into the cherry stained wood. She ran her hand across the top of it and opened it. She picked up the dagger that laid inside and delecatly turned it through her fingers. The tip pricked her skin and a drop of blood rolled down her index finger. She placed the knife back into the box then walked over to a door. She lit another torch and placed it on the wall. She walked over to a man laying in sitting postion on the floor, chained to the wall. She lifted his head and kissed his lips softly. Harry looked up at her.
"No! I've seen this! I know what's going to happen!" Hermione screamed out. Pansy laughed. Hermione unchained Harry and dragged him out of the room. She forced him onto the stone slab and put a binding curse over him. The room began to fill as people filed in. Hermione took her place in the crowd as Malfoy approached Harry. He picked up the dagger.
"Thank you for coming my friends. We are here to bring an end to the one who's done our Lord wrong. The one who nearly defeated him again." Malfoy said with a smile across his face.
He looked into the crowd to one in particular. Hermione looked next to her and saw the red merciless eyes of Voldemort himself. She smiled at him, then turned her attention back to Draco.
"With the blood of the enemy shed, a new government rises."
Malfoy raised the dagger above him and brought it back down into Harry chest. In a single motion it ripped through him. Hermione was blinded by a bright light. She was back in the white room. She sat back down on the white bed, and clutched the sheets tightly. She broke out into tears, unable to speak. She felt a hand on your shoulder and looked over at Pansy.
"Aw, it isn't that bad really Hermione. He's the man your heart wants, remember?" she remarked, with a pout on her lips.
Hermione closed the door behind her and turned her attention towards Malfoy. She wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed passionatly. She laid down on the couch and looked up at him. She smiled. He went over to the bar and poured himself a glass of Firewhiskey. He offered her a glass, which she took.
"So, how do you feel tonight went?" she asked, smirking.
"Wonderful, I never would've thought Hermione Granger would be the one to supply the tool used to kill the infamous Harry Potter. I do have to say over the past few years, you've never ceased to amaze me."
He sat down next to her and took her chin in his hand. He kissed her lips, biting into her bottom lip and drawing blood. He ran his finger across her lip, smearing the blood. They heard a noise from downstairs. Malfoy pushed her aside and ran out of the room. Hermione threw her glass aside. She was pissed off. She hadn't had a moment alone with her husband in months, and she didn't want to be inturrupted now.
"Well look what the cat dragged in." She heard Malfoy sneer. She caught up with him at the top of the landing. She looked past him down the stairs to see Ron, the twins, and Neville.
"We're here for Harry." snarled Ron.
"You're a little late, Weasley. How like you. Always the one to finish last. Never on time for anything." Malfoy smiled and looked at Hermione. She wasn't paying attention to him, she was looking straight past him at Fred and George. She caught Fred's eye and looked away.
"Where is he?" asked Fred.
"Oh you can have him back now, we're done with him. He's in the basement. You might have to push a few rats... and spiders, off him though. They haven't had fresh food in an age, and it's just a feast to them. Please close the door behind you when you leave will you? I'm going to be making love to my wife, and I'd prefer it if the door wasn't left wide open for anyone to intrude on us. Hermione you can show them where the body is, but hurry back up will you?" Malfoy turned away and went back to the study.
Hermione walked down the stairs and motioned for them to follow her. She led them into the basement and over to Harry's body. She wouldn't look at any of them. She was ashamed. Fred grabbed her arm on the way out and pulled her aside.
"How could you?" he sneered and let go of her arm.
"You wouldn't understand. I had no choice." she snapped back at him.
"You had a choice, Hermione." he walked away from her.
"Aw, looks like all your friends hate you. But at least you're rich, popular, and have a high place in the new government." Pansy said in a sing-song voice then smiled.
"So that's how my life will be if I end up with Draco... Harry ends up dying..." Hermione replied quietly to herself. Pansy removed the white glove off one of her hands and ran her down Hermione's cheek.
"Harry may end up dying, but Draco can give you a life no one else can. He loves you and he'll give you anything you want. You were the one who turned against your friends Hermione. You did it because you love Draco too and you knew what would be best for him. You can get whatever you want out of life with Draco, you can buy anything you wish and get people to do things for you that no one else could. The only thing you had to give up was your hope in Harry." Pansy said softly.
"Show me what life would be like with Fred." Hermione demanded. She looked through the veil into Pansy eyes. Pansy paused for a moment then titled her head back and sighed.
"As you wish." she smiled.
Hermione found herself in a room filled with boxes. A single light hung from the ceiling. She coughed at the amount of dust in the air. She looked down at her clothes. She was wearing a simple pair corderoy pants and a sweatshirt. She turned around and noticed a staircase leading up to a door. She walked up the steps and opened the door which lead into a shop. She looked around and noticed the different items that were on the shelves. She saw an order form sitting on the counter where the register was that read Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She was in the twin's shop. The door at the front of the shop opened, and Fred walked in, shaking snow off of him. He smiled at her.
"We just got another order from Hogwarts for the fireworks."
"They banned them there, remember?" Hermione reminded him.
"Hear no, see no, speak no evil, love." he replied putting a finger to his lips.
She gave him a disconcerning look and walked into the office. She began going through the bills and their bank account. They were spending more money then they were making. She looked up at a picture of her with Fred and a baby. It was their child. She had a baby right after leaving Hogwarts? There was a knock on the door. She looked over to see Fred leaning against the door frame.
"You all right?" he asked.
"We're out of money again. If you and George don't stop gambling it away we're not going to have anything to live off of."
"You know it's slow around this time of year, things will pick up when it gets closer to Christmas." he replied and handed her a bottle of butterbeer. When she wrapped her hand around the bottle, he pulled her close and kissed her. The bell on the shop door rang inturrupting their embrace. They walked out of the office. It was Ron and Neville.
"What can I do you two for?" Fred asked with a smile.
"It's Harry. He's in trouble." Ron informed. Hermione froze. She exchanged glances with Fred, then he took off up the stairs to get George. The two came back downstairs and they closed shop. They apparated to the Malfoy Mansion.
"What happened?" Hermione urged.
"It was a trap. He rang me the other day at my place. Said that he had reason to believe Malfoy was planning on kidnapping Ginny. Apparently someone sent him an owl stating the fact, but it was signed anonymous. I told him to wait until we get more information, but I think he went after her. When I called his office at the Ministry this morning to make sure he went to work they said he wasn't there. I called Ron immediatly, that's when we came to get you." explained Neville.
"He came to our house as well... I threw him out." Hermione muttered.
"What? Why?"
"I told him he'd become too jumpy after Voldemort's defeat. He worried too much. I told him there was no reason Malfoy would want to kidnap Ginny, as Malfoy has been secluded and watched by the Ministry. We got into an arguement about it and I told him to leave and that if he was so worried about it then go to the mansion himself and see." she replied.
"Listen, we have to get him out of there. Come on." Ron started to run towards the front of the house. The rest followed.
A sinking feeling burrowed itself deep into Hermione's chest. It was too late, she knew that. They were too late. There was nothing they could do. The front door was unlocked and the door swung open. There was no one in sight. Hermione had a feeling she'd been there before. She knew exactly what was going on. They ran through the rooms searching, but ended up fruitless.
"The basement." she announced and headed towards a staircase leading below the mansion. They ran down the stairs together and opened the door.
"With the blood of the enemy shed, honor is withheld amongst us the Dark Lord's most faithful. We will not give up on his dream. The Ministry of Magic will be ours!" Malfoy announced as he brought the blade of a knife down upon Harry. Hermione screamed out and looked up at Pansy.
"No, that's not true. You're not showing me the truth!" she yelled. Pansy just laughed.
"Either way Harry Potter dies. And either way the guilt will be put on you. With Draco you can have a life of luxery, anything you ever wanted as long as if you give up Harry. With Fred, you can stop the Dark Lord from taking over the Wizarding World, but you can't stop his followers from continuing on with his plans. You will also end up poor with nothing to show, and a life full of regret. You will be the reason that Harry Potter dies."
"No, that's not going to happen." Hermione cried harder.
"I can take that pain away. I can prevent it." Pansy whispered in her ear. Hermione looked up at her, the bright lights stinging her eyes.
"What can you do to prevent the inevitable?"
"You see... I'm not really your Life Guide Hermione. I merely showed you exactly how it's going to be one decision or the other... but I'm also the one who can take that pain away. You can be free of it all." Pansy said.
"Who are you? Pansy Parkinson is dead." Hermione sneered.
"There are those who like to refer to me as the Angel of Death... but I like to consider myself the bearer of the most precious gift of all. The one with a power to take away all pain. Just one kiss and everything you've been feeling will be gone. The path of your friend can be changed if you are not there. One kiss, and destiny takes a different course." Pansy lifted up her veil and leaned in close to Hermione. She felt the kiss against her lips and her entire body went numb, a cold sensation swept through her.
"No!" she screamed out.
The white room disappeared, once again Hermione felt like she was falling into a black abyss. She hit her head hard on something and tumbled out into lightness. She looked up to see Fred, George, and Harry looming over her.
"What were you doing in the closet?" asked George.
"Where am I?"
"The Gryffindor Common Room... you know I think maybe she's bumped her head." stated Harry.
"No, I'm okay. I... I hid from Malfoy, I heard him and Fleur in the hallway and I ducked into one of the classrooms. They followed me in there so I hid in a cupboard... it must've been the Vanishing Cabinet." Hermione replied and rubbed her head.
"You sure you don't want to go to the infirmary? You shouldn't be hiding in Vanishing Cabinets, you know. They're not meant for people." asked Fred.
"Montague was a mess after we put him in there. Surprisingly, you seemed to come out just fine though." commented George.
"And within the same hour. I think it's a new record." Fred smiled. He helped her up.
"What was Malfoy doing with Fleur any way?" asked George.
"Snogging." Hermione replied, irritably. She noticed Ron glowering in the corner by himself. Se walked over and sat in the chair next to him.
"Are you going to be okay with this?" she asked, softly.
"I have to be, don't I?" he snapped.
"Just so you know, I wouldn't have said yes if you asked. I don't mean that harshly Ron. You're more than any boyfriend could ever be to me. You're my best friend and I love you like family. I hope nothing can come between us. Okay, Ron?"
"I just don't understand why it had to be Fred."
"We like each other. It just happened when we least expected it. We didn't do it to hurt you. We didn't know how to tell you, and that certainly wasn't the way we wanted you to find out. We both care about you."
"I know... just give me some time, okay Hermione?"
"Okay." she responded. She stood up and kissed his forehead.
"So did you guys find out any more information after you got back to the castle?" Hermione asked, timidly. Harry looked at her and sighed.
"No, we didn't go back to the library." he replied.
"Oh." was all she managed to return.
The silence made her uncomfortable, yet she really wasn't quite sure what she should say. She looked over at Fred and George who were discussing a new invention with Ginny. She was alone. Tired of being treated like an outcast, she stood up and walked out of the Common Room. She began wandering the castle corridors, emerced in her thoughts. She wanted to read more of Malfoy's journal, but her and Fred agreed not until everyone else had gone to bed. If they found anything of importance, they would inform the others later. For now it was a secret just between the two of them. Hermione was going through the list of things she had to remember for the apparating exam. She was to take it the next afternoon, along with Malfoy. She was going over the basic routine through her mind, when she heard voices. She quickly ducked into an empty classroom and listened tentavly. It was Malfoy.
"Shh... I hear someone coming, in here." he whispered loudly to someone.
Hermione began to panick and looked around the classroom for somewhere to hide. She saw a cupboard and rushed towards it. She slipped in just as Malfoy and Fleur entered the room. She peaked through the door. Her face burned as she watch them begin to make out. It pulled at her heart. She cursed under her breath, but apparently not quiet enough. Malfoy looked over in the direction of the cabinet. Hermione stepped back to hide further.
As she did she felt herself pulled backwards, she started to fall into the blackness. She began reaching for something, anything to grab onto but it was as if she was falling into some sort of abyss. She closed her eyes tight and felt herself hit the ground hard. She opened her eyes and found herself surrounded by a bright light. She was in some sort of bed that was covered in bright white sheets. It reminded her of a muggle hospital, but not quite. Everything in the room was white. She looked down and realized she was naked. She quickly pulled the lenins up over her and continued to take in the room around her. Above her shon fluerecent lights hanging from oddly shaped brass chandeliers. The door leading into the room opened, and a young woman entered. She had short stylish black hair, and was wearing an all white skirt and blouse. She had a white chenille dot veil pulled over her face connected to a white cocktail hat. Hermione looked at her closer. It was Pansy.
"Where am I?" Hermione demanded.
"Shhhh." Pansy put her finger up to Hermione's lip.
"Why are you here? You're dead." Hermione ignored her.
"I'm here because you want me to be here." a smile outlined itself behind the veil.
"Why would I want you to be here?"
"Because there are things in your head that you just haven't quite figured out, now isn't there?" Pansy sat on the edge of the bed next to Hermione. She crossed her arm over the lenins and Hermione's waist and leaned in closer.
"You want to know who to choose. I'm here to serve as your Life Guide." Pansy whispered seductivly into Hermione's ear. Hermione moved away from her and clutched the sheet tighter.
"What do you mean, my Life Guide?"
"I'm here to show you what your life would be like if you chose Draco over Fred, and vice versa. Consider it a gift from your ancestorial aunt, Cassandra." Pansy's smile showed mischief. Hermione was confused, where the hell was she?
"So get off that bed and step into your new life." Pansy stood up and moved out of the way. Hermione timidly stood up as well, grasping the sheet around her body. Instantly the sheet was transformed into a green gown. It was a style of dress she'd seen on witches of high society. She gave a stiff gasp as she found it hard to breath. She reached behind the dress and found it laced up tight. She was wearing a corset. Pansy walked over to her with a smile, and held up a mirror.
"Pure beauty, Draco wouldn't have you dress in anything less. He has an image to maintain you know."
"An image... of what exactly."
"Why don't you have a look for yourself." Pansy extended her hand out to Hermione, who took it cautiously.
The room spun so fast she was forced to close her eyes. When the spinning stopped she opened her eyes and found herself in a bed room of some sort of house. The luxurious bed was covered in blankets of crushed velvet and silk sheets. Hermione ran her hand along one of the red sheets. She quickly turned around and saw that Pansy was gone. She walked over to the window and looked out onto a courtyard of gardens. The sun was shining brightly as it was going down. The door opened and Hermione spun around. There stood a slightly older Draco, dressed lavishly in black robes.
"There you are. Are you coming?" he asked and held out his hand to her.
"Where am I?" Hermione asked. She found herself back in the white room.
"Malfoy Manor of course. You and Draco got married straight out of Hogwarts. You live with him and his mother at the Manor. He's just biding his time before her slow death before inheriting everything." Pansy smiled.
"Her slow death? What's wrong with her?"
"You're poisoning her, under his command. You see, after you broke up with Fred, the others turned on you because you went back to Draco. The Dark Lord eventually offered him something that he couldn't refuse and he accepted it. You felt you had no choice but to go along with it, and also became a part of the Dark Lord's plan. You really shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you Miss Granger. I always thought you were smarter than that. Any way, tonight's a very special night... you wouldn't want to miss this." Pansy smirked.
"Are you coming?" Malfoy asked again.
"Yes, sorry." Hermione took his hand and followed him down the stairs. There seemed to be some sort of ball going on. Hermione made her way through the crowd of people she didn't recognize. Malfoy handed her a drink and smiled.
"You look lovely tonight, my dear." he leaned in and kissed her softly. She felt herself blushing and she smiled back at him.
"Are we almost ready then?" a man asked, walking up to her and Malfoy.
"Yes, I believe everyone has arrived. Hermione, would you please go down and prepare the ceremony." Draco asked, smiling at her.
"With pleasure." she told him. They kissed again and she departed.
Hermione went down to the basement. She lit a torch and placed it on the wall. She walked over to a large stone slab in front of her. She reached under it and pulled out a box decorated with designs of snakes carved into the cherry stained wood. She ran her hand across the top of it and opened it. She picked up the dagger that laid inside and delecatly turned it through her fingers. The tip pricked her skin and a drop of blood rolled down her index finger. She placed the knife back into the box then walked over to a door. She lit another torch and placed it on the wall. She walked over to a man laying in sitting postion on the floor, chained to the wall. She lifted his head and kissed his lips softly. Harry looked up at her.
"No! I've seen this! I know what's going to happen!" Hermione screamed out. Pansy laughed. Hermione unchained Harry and dragged him out of the room. She forced him onto the stone slab and put a binding curse over him. The room began to fill as people filed in. Hermione took her place in the crowd as Malfoy approached Harry. He picked up the dagger.
"Thank you for coming my friends. We are here to bring an end to the one who's done our Lord wrong. The one who nearly defeated him again." Malfoy said with a smile across his face.
He looked into the crowd to one in particular. Hermione looked next to her and saw the red merciless eyes of Voldemort himself. She smiled at him, then turned her attention back to Draco.
"With the blood of the enemy shed, a new government rises."
Malfoy raised the dagger above him and brought it back down into Harry chest. In a single motion it ripped through him. Hermione was blinded by a bright light. She was back in the white room. She sat back down on the white bed, and clutched the sheets tightly. She broke out into tears, unable to speak. She felt a hand on your shoulder and looked over at Pansy.
"Aw, it isn't that bad really Hermione. He's the man your heart wants, remember?" she remarked, with a pout on her lips.
Hermione closed the door behind her and turned her attention towards Malfoy. She wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed passionatly. She laid down on the couch and looked up at him. She smiled. He went over to the bar and poured himself a glass of Firewhiskey. He offered her a glass, which she took.
"So, how do you feel tonight went?" she asked, smirking.
"Wonderful, I never would've thought Hermione Granger would be the one to supply the tool used to kill the infamous Harry Potter. I do have to say over the past few years, you've never ceased to amaze me."
He sat down next to her and took her chin in his hand. He kissed her lips, biting into her bottom lip and drawing blood. He ran his finger across her lip, smearing the blood. They heard a noise from downstairs. Malfoy pushed her aside and ran out of the room. Hermione threw her glass aside. She was pissed off. She hadn't had a moment alone with her husband in months, and she didn't want to be inturrupted now.
"Well look what the cat dragged in." She heard Malfoy sneer. She caught up with him at the top of the landing. She looked past him down the stairs to see Ron, the twins, and Neville.
"We're here for Harry." snarled Ron.
"You're a little late, Weasley. How like you. Always the one to finish last. Never on time for anything." Malfoy smiled and looked at Hermione. She wasn't paying attention to him, she was looking straight past him at Fred and George. She caught Fred's eye and looked away.
"Where is he?" asked Fred.
"Oh you can have him back now, we're done with him. He's in the basement. You might have to push a few rats... and spiders, off him though. They haven't had fresh food in an age, and it's just a feast to them. Please close the door behind you when you leave will you? I'm going to be making love to my wife, and I'd prefer it if the door wasn't left wide open for anyone to intrude on us. Hermione you can show them where the body is, but hurry back up will you?" Malfoy turned away and went back to the study.
Hermione walked down the stairs and motioned for them to follow her. She led them into the basement and over to Harry's body. She wouldn't look at any of them. She was ashamed. Fred grabbed her arm on the way out and pulled her aside.
"How could you?" he sneered and let go of her arm.
"You wouldn't understand. I had no choice." she snapped back at him.
"You had a choice, Hermione." he walked away from her.
"Aw, looks like all your friends hate you. But at least you're rich, popular, and have a high place in the new government." Pansy said in a sing-song voice then smiled.
"So that's how my life will be if I end up with Draco... Harry ends up dying..." Hermione replied quietly to herself. Pansy removed the white glove off one of her hands and ran her down Hermione's cheek.
"Harry may end up dying, but Draco can give you a life no one else can. He loves you and he'll give you anything you want. You were the one who turned against your friends Hermione. You did it because you love Draco too and you knew what would be best for him. You can get whatever you want out of life with Draco, you can buy anything you wish and get people to do things for you that no one else could. The only thing you had to give up was your hope in Harry." Pansy said softly.
"Show me what life would be like with Fred." Hermione demanded. She looked through the veil into Pansy eyes. Pansy paused for a moment then titled her head back and sighed.
"As you wish." she smiled.
Hermione found herself in a room filled with boxes. A single light hung from the ceiling. She coughed at the amount of dust in the air. She looked down at her clothes. She was wearing a simple pair corderoy pants and a sweatshirt. She turned around and noticed a staircase leading up to a door. She walked up the steps and opened the door which lead into a shop. She looked around and noticed the different items that were on the shelves. She saw an order form sitting on the counter where the register was that read Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She was in the twin's shop. The door at the front of the shop opened, and Fred walked in, shaking snow off of him. He smiled at her.
"We just got another order from Hogwarts for the fireworks."
"They banned them there, remember?" Hermione reminded him.
"Hear no, see no, speak no evil, love." he replied putting a finger to his lips.
She gave him a disconcerning look and walked into the office. She began going through the bills and their bank account. They were spending more money then they were making. She looked up at a picture of her with Fred and a baby. It was their child. She had a baby right after leaving Hogwarts? There was a knock on the door. She looked over to see Fred leaning against the door frame.
"You all right?" he asked.
"We're out of money again. If you and George don't stop gambling it away we're not going to have anything to live off of."
"You know it's slow around this time of year, things will pick up when it gets closer to Christmas." he replied and handed her a bottle of butterbeer. When she wrapped her hand around the bottle, he pulled her close and kissed her. The bell on the shop door rang inturrupting their embrace. They walked out of the office. It was Ron and Neville.
"What can I do you two for?" Fred asked with a smile.
"It's Harry. He's in trouble." Ron informed. Hermione froze. She exchanged glances with Fred, then he took off up the stairs to get George. The two came back downstairs and they closed shop. They apparated to the Malfoy Mansion.
"What happened?" Hermione urged.
"It was a trap. He rang me the other day at my place. Said that he had reason to believe Malfoy was planning on kidnapping Ginny. Apparently someone sent him an owl stating the fact, but it was signed anonymous. I told him to wait until we get more information, but I think he went after her. When I called his office at the Ministry this morning to make sure he went to work they said he wasn't there. I called Ron immediatly, that's when we came to get you." explained Neville.
"He came to our house as well... I threw him out." Hermione muttered.
"What? Why?"
"I told him he'd become too jumpy after Voldemort's defeat. He worried too much. I told him there was no reason Malfoy would want to kidnap Ginny, as Malfoy has been secluded and watched by the Ministry. We got into an arguement about it and I told him to leave and that if he was so worried about it then go to the mansion himself and see." she replied.
"Listen, we have to get him out of there. Come on." Ron started to run towards the front of the house. The rest followed.
A sinking feeling burrowed itself deep into Hermione's chest. It was too late, she knew that. They were too late. There was nothing they could do. The front door was unlocked and the door swung open. There was no one in sight. Hermione had a feeling she'd been there before. She knew exactly what was going on. They ran through the rooms searching, but ended up fruitless.
"The basement." she announced and headed towards a staircase leading below the mansion. They ran down the stairs together and opened the door.
"With the blood of the enemy shed, honor is withheld amongst us the Dark Lord's most faithful. We will not give up on his dream. The Ministry of Magic will be ours!" Malfoy announced as he brought the blade of a knife down upon Harry. Hermione screamed out and looked up at Pansy.
"No, that's not true. You're not showing me the truth!" she yelled. Pansy just laughed.
"Either way Harry Potter dies. And either way the guilt will be put on you. With Draco you can have a life of luxery, anything you ever wanted as long as if you give up Harry. With Fred, you can stop the Dark Lord from taking over the Wizarding World, but you can't stop his followers from continuing on with his plans. You will also end up poor with nothing to show, and a life full of regret. You will be the reason that Harry Potter dies."
"No, that's not going to happen." Hermione cried harder.
"I can take that pain away. I can prevent it." Pansy whispered in her ear. Hermione looked up at her, the bright lights stinging her eyes.
"What can you do to prevent the inevitable?"
"You see... I'm not really your Life Guide Hermione. I merely showed you exactly how it's going to be one decision or the other... but I'm also the one who can take that pain away. You can be free of it all." Pansy said.
"Who are you? Pansy Parkinson is dead." Hermione sneered.
"There are those who like to refer to me as the Angel of Death... but I like to consider myself the bearer of the most precious gift of all. The one with a power to take away all pain. Just one kiss and everything you've been feeling will be gone. The path of your friend can be changed if you are not there. One kiss, and destiny takes a different course." Pansy lifted up her veil and leaned in close to Hermione. She felt the kiss against her lips and her entire body went numb, a cold sensation swept through her.
"No!" she screamed out.
The white room disappeared, once again Hermione felt like she was falling into a black abyss. She hit her head hard on something and tumbled out into lightness. She looked up to see Fred, George, and Harry looming over her.
"What were you doing in the closet?" asked George.
"Where am I?"
"The Gryffindor Common Room... you know I think maybe she's bumped her head." stated Harry.
"No, I'm okay. I... I hid from Malfoy, I heard him and Fleur in the hallway and I ducked into one of the classrooms. They followed me in there so I hid in a cupboard... it must've been the Vanishing Cabinet." Hermione replied and rubbed her head.
"You sure you don't want to go to the infirmary? You shouldn't be hiding in Vanishing Cabinets, you know. They're not meant for people." asked Fred.
"Montague was a mess after we put him in there. Surprisingly, you seemed to come out just fine though." commented George.
"And within the same hour. I think it's a new record." Fred smiled. He helped her up.
"What was Malfoy doing with Fleur any way?" asked George.
"Snogging." Hermione replied, irritably. She noticed Ron glowering in the corner by himself. Se walked over and sat in the chair next to him.
"Are you going to be okay with this?" she asked, softly.
"I have to be, don't I?" he snapped.
"Just so you know, I wouldn't have said yes if you asked. I don't mean that harshly Ron. You're more than any boyfriend could ever be to me. You're my best friend and I love you like family. I hope nothing can come between us. Okay, Ron?"
"I just don't understand why it had to be Fred."
"We like each other. It just happened when we least expected it. We didn't do it to hurt you. We didn't know how to tell you, and that certainly wasn't the way we wanted you to find out. We both care about you."
"I know... just give me some time, okay Hermione?"
"Okay." she responded. She stood up and kissed his forehead.