So This Is How It Ends
By inxanity


Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Pairings: Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley/Tom Riddle

Characters: Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Tom Riddle/Voldemort, Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Anthony Goldstein

Summary: Some call them the blessed, they were gifted with extraordinary grace. They were born to be set apart, yet some may call them the cursed. They were born to save us, to die young so we could continue to live. See their final year through their eyes and discover to what fate they were born.

Rating: R


Chapter Four – The Insomniac - Hermione


Hermione sat up in her bed, gasping for air. She had felt like something was sitting on her chest and trying to choke her. She subconsciously moved her hands up to her neck as if to check that her head and neck were all in proper order. Once assured of this fact she glanced around her room, eyes lingering on the sleeping from of Harry in gentle slumber atop a very soft and very comfortable conjured bed. She had felt so bad about taking away the comfort of his own bed that she had really outdone herself. Harry rolled over in his sleep, muttering something about thanking the hamster but he already had enough butter. Hermione smiled softly until her eyes caught the clock. 2.45 AM it read. Damn she thought. From the way her mind was racing, she could tell that she wasn't going to get any more sleep tonight. Sighing, she got up and pulled her robe over her pajamas. Great she thought just add insomnia to my long list of worries. I really should tear that list up, it's probably the cause of all this she thought as she scribbled insomnia at the bottom of a long list. She stuffed the parchment back into her bedside table and grabbed her wand before quietly slipping out of the room so as not to wake Harry.

Hermione descended the stairs from her room to the head's common room. She had to admit, the school had really outdone itself on the tower. In the common room a large plush couch sat in front of a large plasma screen TV. Yes, a TV. Hermione had no idea why of course but hey, she most definitely wasn't complaining. A door to the left led off to a small private library/study and on the opposite side of the room a small kitchen was set up, complete with mini-bar. Her room, and she suspected Anthony's to be the same, was enormous to say the least. A king size four poster bed stood in the middle of the room, flanked on one side by a walk in closet, and desk on the other. There was a window seat looking out onto the front lawn of the castle and underneath, a bookshelf, which was obviously enchanted because Hermione was able to fit all her books in with ease. To her amazement, when she walked in her room for the first time, an Apple iPod (with speakers) and an iBook sat on the desk as congratulation presents from the teachers on becoming head girl. She didn't have enough time to explore her bathroom properly before sleep beckoned to her last night but she promised herself further inspection time in the morning. Back in the common room, Hermione clicked on the TV and her favourite movie, Finding Neverland, came on automatically. She grabbed a can of soda and bag of popcorn from the kitchen and plunked herself down on the couch.


A few hours later as the movie ended and the credits rolled, Hermione slept peacefully curled up on the couch. So much for insomnia. However, others were awake at this time and they were very transfixed with our 'heroine' here. Once one of the creatures saw that the coast was clear, it made to dart out towards the sleeping girl but was caught around the neck and dragged back into the shadows by its companion.

"Not tonight" it hissed, "she isn't ready."

"But the master will be most displeased." The first whined.

"Yes, but of course, it will be you who will receive his punishment." Said the second, and before the first could react he was banished back to wherever he came from, leaving the second to slink back into the shadows, becoming nothing but a pair of glittering red eyes before they vanished completely.


Hermione was awoken with a burst of sunlight streaming through the tower window. Before she had the time to register where she was, she sensed that someone was standing over her. She immediately grabbed her wand and rolled over, pointing it straight into Harry's face.

"Uhh… boo?" He said, going cross eyed looking at the wand now threatening his nose.

"Harry! I'm sorry, it's just a reflex I've developed you know… I think from spending too much time around Moody." Hermione said, slipping her wand back into her pocket and sitting up. "I guess I slept fine then." She mused.

"Apparently" Harry said, pulling her up and pushing her in the direction of her room. "Come on, it's almost time for breakfast and you need to get ready or else we'll be late and I'll starve." He said with one final push. Hermione snorted in disbelief but went anyway.


When Harry and Hermione arrived at breakfast, they caused quite a stir. Everyone who noticed them whispered amongst their friends, wondering where the third member of their posse was. The two sat down at the Gryffindor table and accepted their schedules as Professor McGonogall walked by. Harry grabbed Hermione's schedule and began comparing his to her's. "Ugh Hermione. How do you do it? I mean… Advanced everything?" He said making a face.

Hermione took the piece of parchment from Harry's hands. "Really Harry, don't you think you should let me see my own schedule before you do? Besides, it's not that bad. I'm sure if you actually tried-"

"Hermione. We've been through this before. I do try. I'm really just not all that good. Hey look! We have Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts together and Advanced Potions. I still can't believe I got into that class you know?"

"At least it's not only with the Slytherins this year, hopefully Snape will pick on some of the other houses." Hermione said hopefully. The bell rang, and the tables were cleared of all food. Across the hall Goyle yelled in pain because he had just bitten into his hand instead of the blueberry muffin he was holding moments before. Harry and Hermione grabbed their bags and walked out of the hall. Hermione was looking at her schedule and she didn't see the group of Slytherins walking out of the hall in front of them. This also explains why she ran into Draco Malfoy.

"Fuck off Mudblood, even if you are that desperate, I wouldn't dream of fucking you." Malfoy sneered as Harry helped her off the ground.

Hermione didn't miss a beat, "30 points from Slytherin and a detention for rudeness and such language Malfoy. I'll owl you with the details later, and from now on I'd watch your mouth."

"And if I don't? What are you gunna do? Smother me with your hair?"

"No…" Hermione leaned forward and whispered something in Malfoy's ear. Only someone watching very closely would have seen the fleeting look of horror in his eyes, but Hermione was watching closely. When she pulled away, he was back to his façade.

"You wouldn't dare, Mudblood."

"Wouldn't I? Come on Harry, we're going to be late." She turned on her heel and Harry followed her in a state of shock.

Draco Malfoy watched her walk away, as the other Slytherins asked him what she had said to him. He ignored them as he regarded her shrinking form walk across the sloping front lawn of Hogwarts. He had never experienced such insolence. The Mudblood would have to learn her place, and he would most certainly be the one to teach her.


Author's Notes:Ok, wow. I'm so sorry I took such a long time in updating my life has just been crazy lately. Also, my apologies on the length of this chapter, I'll try to make them longer in the future but I'm not making any promises.

I am aware of the fact that electronics don't work in Hogwarts, but you see these are special electronics and hey, if digital watches can work, why can't other stuff. Besides... it's my story, I can give them all the stuff I want. -smiles-

Review because they make me happy, you can even flame me if you want, cause they make me laugh.

bitterly yours