Disclaimer: I own nothing that has already appeared in the five (or in the future, seven) Harry Potter books. That privilege goes to a woman by the name of Joanne Rowling. So now you know there's no reason to sue a child like me! Okay, now you angry lawyers can either go somewhere else to sue some random person, OR, stay and read the rest of the chapter!
Chapter sixteen
THANK YOU TO: (I apologise in advance for missing anyone out. No hard feelings, eh? And by the way, PLEASE DO READ THE THANKS, I spend time writing them!)
- Some12 - Lol, okay, I was just wondering why you were asking about Yuki! Yuki isn't that bad, but it's my bloody AOL that's annoying me now . . . repeating things in the same PARAGRAPH isn't good though, right? And no, I'm still not dead, lol, and I agree, Ollivander getting ambushed would be a very interesting twist in the story . . . somehow, I wish I'd thought of that! Thanks for the review!
- Sunflower18 - Here's the update, thank you so much for reviewing! I hope you like this one.
- Crystallized Snow - Heya, thanks for the review. I know it was a bit short but I didn't really want it to become too long-winded or something, plus, it felt like a good place to stop! Here's the next chapter, please tell me if it was okay or not!
- Alexian-goddess - Ah well, Draco is going to be back soon (alive or not, I'm not going to tell you!) but, it will be a fairly happy ending, although with a sad sort of atmosphere. That's all I'm willing to tell I'm afraid, bye! And thanks for the review!
- Monikka DaLuver - First, thank you so much for reviewing and second, there was actually a point to that chapter - about three or four people were wondering about the questions that Ginny and Ron were asking Hermione, and I just thought I needed a chapter there to clear things up (I couldn't really slot it into this chapter), so there was a point (although a little one). And I agree, people were OOC (Harry being the worst - heh), that's my fault, but I tried to edit some of it - with help from my friend Lyth - and Harry seems to be slightly more in character. If you have any suggestions on how to make the others a bit more in character, feel free to tell me!
- ShortStuff10 - Hooray! You are indeed one of the few select people who have helped with my Death List, and for that I will be forever grateful ::bows:: and thank you for your 'fun in school comment', just for you, I will have fun! Lol, thanks for the review.
- Nitengale - Ah, do not worry my friend, Harry will most definitely not die (I spent the entire story saving him from death, it'll be pointless for him to die) and neither will Hermione or Draco (even my most gruesome of friends have forbidden me from killing them!), but, alas, Ginny hasn't got this lovely 'get out of jail free' card, so, whether she dies or not . . . I do not know! Thank you for reviewing!
- LythTaeraneth - I don't think I'm ever going to run out of reasons to thank you! You not only review, you help me edit as well, and for that I will be thankful forever . . . anyhow, I hope you think this chapter is okay. It was kind of hard to write, and you know I'm not too good at editing things out (and by things I mean, OOC, grammar, you know what I mean)! Plus, writer's block isn't a pleasant thing either . . . as I'm sure you know . . . thank you again!
- Smileyface1314 - Thank you so much for the review! And taking time to read this! Hope we chat again on AOL soon, although AOL's been bugging me so badly lately . . .
- Spaced Out Space Cadet - I'd just like to thank you for reviewing so much - after all, you've been reviewing since the beginning right? Well, even if you haven't you've been reviewing for a while and that's just so nice of you! Lol. And yes, Ginny was a bit . . . whatever that word was, but I guess I never was good at writing about Ginny!
- Stellafiore - Sorry about you and your friend not being able to go to volleyball. I don't do any fun stuff like that, mainly because I either can't really be bothered, or no one will come with me, and I don't really want to go to any clubs or anything by myself! But yeah . . . by the way, the last chapter wasn't actually about the war. THIS chapter is about the war, but thanks for reviewing it anyway. Hope you enjoy this chapter, please read and review!
- Foxer - Thank you for reviewing so many times! Hope you get a chance to read the rest . . .
- FunnyCatGirl - Thanks!
The sky was dark. Stars seemed to hide behind the clouds, as did the moon. Darkness surrounded the castle that was once full of laughter, and Hermione could see that this was no longer a place that would provide safety and happiness. As they entered the grounds, she knew that Voldemort was expecting them. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been as easy to get inside.
She looked up at Harry, leading the army that was to fight against the deatheaters. He looked determined, brave, and strong – almost immortal and completely different to the normal Harry that she knew and loved. She could see that he was breathing heavily, trying to control the fear inside him. He was trying so hard to be brave, to be strong for everyone, and Hermione knew that she had to try and do her best, if not for everyone, for Harry. Suddenly, he stopped, as did the rest of the people behind him.
Hermione peered over Harry's shoulder at the hill before them. It looked as though a black wave was rushing over it, coming closer and closer towards them. It stopped as suddenly as they had stopped, and Hermione could see that it was the deatheaters. Voldemort, who was standing at the front of his army, pulled his hood down and smiled coldly.
Harry returned his cold smile, although his eyes were filled with pure anger, "Let the war begin."
Both sides charged forward and began to fight, the way that they had planned to. Trying her hardest to ignore the screams already filling the air, Hermione began to shoot spells at the nearest deatheaters, especially the ones who were trying to secretly help one of the other deatheaters defeat her friends. It was typical of them to try and cheat their way to victory.
"Why, Miss Granger, it is nice to see you again."
She spun around and came face to face with none other than Lucius Malfoy. She resisted the urge to spit in his face. Clutching her wand tightly in her hand, she made sure that she could attack him at any time – just in case he tried something funny.
"Now isn't it noisy out here," Lucius said calmly, never taking his eyes off Hermione as a piercing scream echoed from behind him, "I can hardly hear myself think. Why don't we go somewhere . . . quieter, to discuss more important matters . . ."
Lucius began to move away from Hermione. She didn't move from her position, instead, deciding to stare at the man who was steadily moving further and further away. He abruptly stopped, and looked over his shoulder at her, a smirk on his face as he shouted, ". . . Unless, you don't want to find out where Draco is."
Hermione frowned and immediately began to follow Lucius into the forest, much like how she had done before – except Draco had been there with her. They soon stopped by one of the largest trees in the forest – not far from where the main battlefield was (as Hermione could still hear the cries of agony and pain).
"Where is he?" She asked, making sure that she would show no sign of weakness in front of Lucius.
"Oh, he's alive," Lucius said, the smirk never fading, "I would never kill my own son, you can be sure of that, Miss Granger."
"Then where is he?"
She could feel herself shaking with emotions, her feelings too mixed up for words to describe. Lucius merely smirked back at her, leaning forward so that Hermione could smell his breath – the smell almost identical to that of Draco's.
"He . . . is right behind me, in the centre of this deep, dark, forest," Lucius smirked, waving his hand behind him as though he couldn't care less, "And to get to him, I'm afraid you'll not only have to duel me, Miss Granger, but also win the duel. A fight until death, as you may call it if you wish."
Hermione nodded, making sure that the grip on her wand would not loosen. She knew that there was no way Lucius would let her get past him unless she could defeat him – or perhaps even kill him.
Smirking even more, Lucius raised his wand, as did Hermione.
"One," She began to count, "Two –
"Expelliarmus!"
Hermione's wand shot out of her hand and landed on the ground in front of Lucius. She frowned and scowled. She was much too desperate to get to Draco to even think that Lucius would cheat to win – he was an ex-Slytherin and a deatheater, and she should have known better than to think that he would have duelled fairly.
Letting out a maniac-like laugh, he shook his head in disappointment. He picked up Hermione's wand, and pocketed it.
"Tut-tut, Miss Granger," He drawled, "I would have thought better of the girl who beat my own son in every test and exam, or, are you just too desperate to get to him to think properly?"
Her scowl deepened as Lucius stepped slightly closer, his wand pointing directly at her heart.
"There's no-one here to help you now, mudblood," He spat, "Avada Ked –
"Expelliarmus!"
Lucius Malfoy's wand flew from his hand and landed with a 'thud' on the floor of the forest. All eyes turned to the person who had shouted the spell that had saved Hermione's life. Lucius' shocked expression soon disappeared, only to be replaced by his cold, and cruel smirk once again.
"Severus, and I thought you'd never even dare to show your face again."
Snape sneered, before stepping out from behind a large tree, "This is the final battle, Malfoy. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"How . . . convenient." He said, raising an eyebrow, "I'll deal with you after I deal with Miss Granger over here –
"You'll deal with me now, Malfoy."
Hermione blinked in surprise as Snape stood in front of her, as though he was a barrier and she was something desperately worth protecting.
"Run and get Draco." He muttered, so that only she could hear him. She gulped. Once again, someone was telling her to run and escape, while they stood and fought for her. She shook her head, she didn't want anyone to fight for her, and she didn't NEED anyone to fight for her.
"What are you waiting for?" Snape growled over his shoulder, "Move."
Hermione frowned as her mind began to whirl. She wanted to fight her own fights, stand up for herself, instead of hiding behind someone else. But if she didn't go, then her last chance of finding Draco would be gone. She swallowed hard but soon began to run deeper into the forest, leaving Snape to fight the duel that had been hers. This time would be the last – she would make sure of it.
It seemed to Hermione as though she had been running forever, but still she could not find him. There was no trace of anything alive nearby, and she was beginning to think that Lucius had lied to her when he had told her Draco's location.
"Draco!" She shouted, as she felt her eyes fill with unshed tears. She took a step forward, before noticing that something was different about the ground beneath her. She frowned and took a step back. The ground was softer and seemed to be more fertile than the other soil surrounding it.
As quickly as she could, Hermione began to use her hands to dig into the soil. Something was underground. She could feel it, and sense this 'something'. She could not use a quick spell, as Lucius still held her wand, and she felt more useless by the second as her hands dug into the cold ground, reaching for anything that could help her.
Suddenly, she felt something cold against her hand. She dug faster and faster, focusing on getting to that one thing she had felt mere seconds ago.
Finally, she saw the tip of something dark, and wooden. Hermione tugged at it, desperately trying to get it out. It felt familiar to her, and as she tugged, the soil moved apart slightly to reveal something else, hidden in the soil. She shrieked and sprung back as she found that it was a hand – a hand that had no body.
Breathing heavily, she ripped a part of her robe and cautiously picked the hand up. It was clinging onto a wand, and the wand . . . was hers. Trying her hardest to stay calm, Hermione shook the hand from her wand and pocketed it, gulping as she did so.
She knew that it was Draco's hand. She just knew that it was his, for it was he who had held her wand while he fought. Standing, she let the tears fall freely at last.
She had succeeded in finding Draco's hand, and yet she still could not see Draco. She wanted to hold him in her arms, hear his voice and feel his warmth. Whimpering as she staggered deeper into the forest, she began to feel as though nothing would ever bring Draco to her and she couldn't care less who died, or who won the war, as long as she could have him in her arms forever.
Hermione stopped walking and laughed as the tears continued to fall down her face. No, she would not sink as low as to think like that. She leant against a large tree, only to jump back in surprise.
Instead of leaning back onto a cold, hard, wood surface, she had felt something soft and . . . wet. Spinning around, she saw nothing. She pointed her wand at the tree and muttered a spell. Slowly, the very person she had longed to see began to appear in front of her own eyes.
Draco had been tied to the tree, his black robes soaked with crimson blood. His hair hung messily over his eyelids, and he looked deathly pale, as though he had not been fed for weeks.
Hermione immediately used her wand to untie him and she caught him as he fell to the floor – unconscious.
"Draco!" She shouted, shaking him gently to try and see if he would open his eyes. But no, he lay on her lap, unmoving. She placed her fingers on his neck, trying to feel if he had a pulse. He was still breathing - but barely.
She held him close to her as she sobbed, relieved that she had finally found him. Gathering herself together, she got up quickly and slung his arm over her shoulder. He was much bigger than her, but she knew that she had to get him out of the forest and to someplace safe as soon as she could.
"Everything's going to be okay, Draco," She muttered, trying to reassure herself more than anyone else. She could only hope that everything would be okay eventually, and even if nothing were to be fine, she could still try. Walking as quickly as she could with Draco on her back, she tried desperately to make her way out of the forest.
Hermione didn't know what to do. All she wanted was to get out of the forest and try to get to someone who could see to Draco. She knew that he needed medical attention – the sooner the better. But, what could she do? As she tried to break into a run, she tripped and fell onto the ground, sobbing.
She felt useless as she lay beside Draco. Her energy was drained from her, and she felt as though she would like no more than to lay there forever, beside the person she loved.
It was as though she was broken into a thousand pieces, and no one was there to help pick herself back up again. She was exhausted and she could feel her eyelids get heavier by the second. She knew that she had to get up, and that she had to get Draco to a safer place . . . but she didn't know where this 'safe place' was. No matter how hard she tried, her body didn't seem to obey her mind.
All around her was silence, and for the first time in a long while, it felt peaceful. Hermione looked one more time at the man beside her, before welcoming the overwhelming darkness.
Well, how was it? Was it okay? Did it all make sense? I hope it was better than the last chapter anyway, and hooray! I mentioned Draco! See? Oh and I think the next chapter might be the last chapter, just to round things off and stuff, so yeah, REVIEW! :-D
- Obsessed with everything O.O
PS. I actually think that I could do better, and before I posted this, I knew that. But alas, I can't seem to figure out HOW to make it better . . . so, any friendly advice would be nice (key word being friendly – I don't like being shouted at . . .)
PPS. Some of you may have noticed that I've edited chapter fifteen (the chapter before this one). However, the change was minor and didn't really affect the plot or the storyline in any way whatsoever (and to those picky people out there, plot and storyline may have round about the same meaning, but to me, they are different). A special thanks to LythTaeraneth for helping me with my editing!