Brightness of a Beloved Eye
Chapter 9: Arrival of the End

…

The war had arrived, mid-November, and classes were still in session. Most of the parents of Hogwarts children deemed Hogwarts to be the safest place during wartimes; however, there were others who were fearful and took their children home. Most of the Gryffindors stayed. To help Harry. Loyalty and courage at its greatest during times of suffering and death.

Draco convinced the Dark Lord to allow him and his followers to stay in school, if only to "keep an eye on" Dumbledore and his foolish muggle-loving partners. And so, Draco's double identity was made all the easier as he stayed in school when there was no battle and "snuck out" when the Dark Lord planned to attack.

Draco and Hermione's outlines and strategies greatly decreased the number of casualties. Every plan was made with a planned outcome. It was like chess. Sometimes the other player took your pieces and sometimes you took theirs. This war was an elaborate chess game with several hundred game pieces and the world as the game board. And Dumbledore, with Hermione and Draco, and Lord Voldemort were the players.

It started with the taking of Azkaban and the forced relinquish when Aurors fought for it and succeeded, mainly due to the help of Draco's schematics. It soon moved on to other wizard hotspots, like Diagon Alley in London and the similar in France and Bulgaria.

Everything played into Hermione's plans perfectly with some minor difficulties and some casualties. Unfortunately, the casualties were severe, although less in number. Remus and Percy were among the first to fall, and soon after, at different battles, Fred and George, and Hermione's parents.

All the known Order members were targeted, and help arrived a split second too late for them. Hermione seemed to attend meetings and plan with a renewed and more intense vigor, but Draco knew. Hermione was devastated, the only way she could pretend she wasn't hurting was to help out more fervently then before, concentrating on nothing but the war, even deciding to forgo classes altogether.

The war dragged on for many months, continuing through Thanksgiving and Christmas without rest. It became harder for Draco to stay in school when Voldemort called him nearly every other day. And soon, Voldemort suggested the young recruits stay at Malfoy Manor, where he was headquartered during the war. And how could Draco refuse his Lord?

Dumbledore instructed Draco to contact him whenever possible and to absolutely sure of his own safety before sending off any letters.

Well, of course. Draco wasn't stupid, and he knew how much he risked his life working for the Order amidst Voldemort. But he only endured for so long because of Hermione.

She is what kept him sane among the chaos in the manor. She is what he yearned to hold every night when he went to bed, bruised from the battles. She is what he looked forward to the end of the war for. He knew he would survive, just for her.

And alas, preparations for the final battle, Voldemort's last stand, were underway.

Lucius and Voldemort trusted Draco, almost blindly, and conferred with him about the final battle's operatives. Draco was forever cautious when dealing with the Dark Lord and his father. They were both deeply deceiving and forever untrusting of other people. It's a wonder Voldemort had Lucius as his right hand man at all.

Lucius seemed to accept all that Draco had done while being a death eater that he held Draco in some type of respect as opposed to before. All the evil deeds and horrible doings Draco had done in order of being "faithful" to the Dark Lord pleased Lucius. And that is what gave Draco the entrance into the secret pair of Lucius and Voldemort.

Draco learned of the entire plan for the final battle and crept away in the early morning before sunrise to send a note to Dumbledore, informing him of Voldemort's plans. There was an immediate response with a portkey to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Draco quickly took hold, and it jerked him there, landing him all none too gently onto a body. A soft, pliable, sweet body. Hermione.

Draco lingered a few seconds more than he should have and stood up and offered a hand.

"Sorry. Stupid portkeys."

"Sure, it's alright. I'll just take it as a sign that I should go to sleep since I've been working too much."

Hermione turned to leave, but Draco called back to her.

"Hermione, wait."

She stopped and turned to look at him.

"How are you?"

"Fine, never better."

"…Really, Hermione, you never could lie to me."

She hesitated before walking back into the kitchen and settling down in one of the old wooden chairs.

"I've been… terrible. There's so much work to be done, and the final battle draws ever nearer and we haven't gotten a clue as to where or when or what it's going to be. I'm sick of this war, Draco. I just want it to end…"

So I can be with you. She wanted to add, but she hadn't the courage for this. Proclamations of love, uncertain of whether they would be returned, scared Hermione out of her wits. So she decided it was better for her to keep her mouth shut for the time being.

"Hermione, I want it to end too. So badly, so I can…" Draco started to confess his feelings, but he stopped, fearful of how she might respond.

"So you can what, Draco?"

Hermione got up from her chair and walked around to the other side of the table, where Draco was standing, glad of the distance. Although, now, she was closing that distance with every step.

"What is it that you want with your life, Draco?"

"Please stop."

She was startled when I whispered the words suddenly.

"Stop what?"

"Stop saying my name like that."

"Like what, Draco?"

"…like you care."

Her eyes widened slightly at my comment, but then she smiled gently at me.

"I DO care."

My mouth dropped open in shock, but then I thought of something.

"Then you won't mind if I do this…"

Her eyebrows knit together slightly in her confusion. But I ignored all that and pulled her to me. Before she could protest, I covered her mouth with mine in a hot, searing kiss. She didn't resist and only pulled me tighter to her, molding our bodies together, seemingly fusing us together. She readily opened to me and I explored every last hidden nook and crevice of her sweet, delicious mouth.

It seemed as though I couldn't get enough of her. And I couldn't. She gave and I took greedily as if I'd never had the chance to breathe before. We finally managed to separate ourselves after I remembered I had originally come for a meeting with Dumbledore.

She spoke to me before I could tell her anything else.

"I'll be in my room. If you don't come, I'll understand."

She walked away then, out of the kitchen and, what I assumed, to her room to wait. For me.

I couldn't believe this girl. I'd only known her for about two years and only gotten on speaking terms for the past four months. And yet, she trusted me enough to invite me to her room.

Oh Merlin, I loved this woman so much!

I rushed to Dumbledore's room in haste, realizing that I had wasted much time already. I didn't see the figure in the other doorway from which Hermione had just exited from.

…

The figure sighed to himself as he watched Draco and Hermione kissing like there was no tomorrow. And according to Dumbledore… well, let's just hope Draco was wrong. Although, somewhere deep down in his heart, he knew the truth. He just hoped Draco wouldn't hurt Hermione anymore than he used to.

If he hurt her one bit… his hands curled into tight fists.

Someone came from behind him and put a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

"They'll be alright. I've seen how he looks at her now. Draco's changed after Hermione spelled him. It's a wonder what a modified memory charm can do."

"I know, I know. I mean, I know. But, Harry, do you really think he's being serious? He IS Draco Malfoy, after all. Even if he IS in the Order, he could still betray us."

"No, Ron, I'm going to trust my instinct on this. It's telling me… that they're perfect for each other. In every possible way."

Just then, Hermione walked out of the kitchen to run into them.

"Harry, Ron. I thought you were asleep already."

"Yeah, we were. We came to check on you when we found you missing."

Ron seemed at a loss as to how to express his feelings after his statement, so Harry took over for him.

"Hermione, if he ever hurts you, you know what'll happen to him. We'd be more than glad to do it. I don't care if he's helping us win the war. You are our first priority."

Hermione smiled at them and hugged them both tightly.

"I know. I love you both so much. I don't know what I'd do if I lost either one of you. So don't you go into the battle recklessly."

"We won't. I don't know what we'd do if we lost YOU. You're the brains of all of us, Hermione. Promise us that you'll be careful too."

Hermione pulled back from the hug and smiled at Ron for finally being able to say something to her.

"Of course I'll be careful. I'll always protect my boys in any way I can."

"Is Draco one of your boys too?" Ron asked hesitantly.

Hermione seemed at a loss to respond. She opened and closed her mouth, thinking of the right words to say.

"I suppose he became one to be looked after when that memory charm left my wand and hit him square on the chest. I did that to him, and I suppose I've always felt an obligation to take care of him in some way, although that's changed now."

Ron didn't push any more, he was satisfied with her answer.

"Come on, let's go up and play some chess. Just one round."

Hermione smiled and followed their lead up the stairs.

…

Draco knocked on Dumbledore's door twice and entered.

"Ah… Nikephoros. Please, have a seat, and tell me of these plans…"

Draco sat down on one of the comfy chairs of Dumbledore's war office at Grimmauld Place and began to relay the details of the plan he couldn't put into his hurried note.

After about an hour, Draco finally finished talking and he sank into the chair, waiting for Dumbledore to make a move.

Finally, after what seemed like an hour, but was in actuality only a few minutes, Dumbledore motioned for Draco to listen.

"We shall prepare in the morning. It should be sufficient time since you explained that Voldemort will be attacking late afternoon, after the sun has begun its descent."

Draco nodded to Dumbledore and quickly agreed to other plans, only half listening. Dumbledore sensed Draco's urgency and relieved him from the office.

"I know you have someone waiting for you. You may leave now. I'll see you in the afternoon."

Draco started in shock at his comment about having Hermione wait for him. But he knew he shouldn't have been surprised, the old coot knew everything.

"Thank you, Professor."

Draco headed out the door, but before he shut it completely, he spoke once more.

"It's been a surprisingly pleasurable experience working with you and the Order. I've learned a lot and I wanted to thank you."

"Ah, but Mr. Malfoy, it is I who should be thanking you. Without you, we could never have gone this far so successfully. Thank you, Nikephoros, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco genuinely smiled at the old man and fled from the office.

"Ah… young love."

Dumbledore reminisced as he sat in his chair, contemplating the next move, and waiting for the day to come.

Draco nearly sprinted the way up to Hermione's room. By the time he reached her room, he was panting slightly and taking short breaths with every heave. He wondered whether he should knock on the door or just open it and step in. But he didn't have to wonder long as Hermione opened the door just as he raised his hand to knock.

Hermione smiled at him and held the door open so he could go in.

"I heard you running up the stairs."

Draco looked at her and scowled slightly.

"I did not run."

Hermione looked at him with a raised eyebrow and disbelief on her face.

"Ok, maybe I jogged. A little."

Hermione scoffed at him and nodded her head, although her countenance showed her disbelief.

"Alright, enough of this."

Draco saw a flash of surprise on Hermione's face before he pulled her against him and mashed their lips together once more. One of Draco's hands rooted themselves in Hermione's hair and the other attached itself to her lower back. Draco's tongue took in everything Hermione's sweet hot mouth had to offer and he took it with pleasure.

Draco pulled apart a fraction of an inch, resting his forehead on Hermione's. He closed his eyes as he told her of what was to come.

"The final battle is tomorrow."

He heard her gasp aloud and try to pull away from him.

"No! Draco, w-we've got to prepare! We have to go remind Harry of his spells. And Ron. And we have to tell everyone. We have to make sure everyone's going to be alright! We must go!"

"No, Hermione. I've already told Dumbledore, he knows. He'll make all the preparations we need for tomorrow."

"B-but Draco!"

Hermione was silenced with Draco's finger to her lips and he asked what had been on his mind all throughout the meeting.

"Can I have this night with you?"

Draco asked it so softly, so sweetly, tenderly, that Hermione didn't know what to make of it. She looked at him and saw a frightened young man, afraid to lose everything. And yet, he could gain everything from that single question. So she said the only answer possible.

"I couldn't dream of being anywhere else."

…

Authoress's Notes:
Well, that was a rather change of pace. A long chapter. It's a little over 6 pages. Yay!

Sorry… I kind of just switched point of views there. I didn't even realize until I did the re-read. But it's not that hard to figure out, so I didn't leave a space among the dialogue. It would've been weird to see that space anyway, it doesn't fit.

Awh… some "sibling" action here. Harry, Ron and Hermione are the greatest friends. And that's all I will ever see them being. I don't like Hermione/Harry or Hermione/Ron ships… ::shrug:: oh well.

And yes! Cass is right! The small minute, nearly indiscernible reference to A Knight's Tale IS to the pointy stick comment made by Draco when he was talking about being afraid of Hermione. Good job!

Well, that's it for now.

Until next time, remember to REVIEW.

…

Kristina Chang