Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot which I thought up my very own and if I find out that someone has duplicated this and claimed it as their own, I will hunt you down and kill you. :)

I would like to thank xoKaSsIeox, teterstator, pinkstar146, WannaBArtist, sexyslytherin2, krzychic14, SerafinaFaye, soccerrocker94, TheUsedObsession, Slytherin-Princess, Dunk-Dunk, rootbeerfloat1324, Da manta ray, and darkpixie for reviewing.

XoKaSsIeox- No, the baby was a boy. You'll see…

SoccerRocker- Don't worry, you'll understand it in time.

WannaBArtist- I'm sorry that you no longer like my story as much. What you call drama is what I call twists. I'm sorry that I put too many twists for your liking but I hope you continue to read my other fanfictions that I may or nay not write in the future. Your reviews were, are, and will always be appreciated.

Chapter Twenty-One Till Death Do Us Part

"Albus?" a voice called from the doorway, tone tinted with worry.

"How may I help you Minerva?" I asked, swiveling around in my chair.

She stepped forward and took a seat on the plush, maroon seat in front of me.

"What's the matter Minerva? All the exams are over!"

"Yes, I know. But, I've received a concern from certain students."

"Oh? About what?"

"Hermione Granger, headmaster."

I furrowed my eyebrows in emotion, not sure of which one I should actually say I felt…worry, sadness, confusion…

"What happened? Are they still complaining about her, Minerva? Because you know as well I do that the rumors aren't true."

"No, that's not it. They say she's missing. Can't be found any where around the grounds."

My muscles relaxed as I leaned back against my chair.

"There's no need to worry Minerva, she's just taking an early break."

"To Hogsmeade, am I correct?"

"How do you know?" I asked, standing up.

"I never showed anyone that note."

"I know, but Mister Malfoy has come to me, concerned with her. He claims that he saw her the day she left. He also claims that it was three days ago."

"Well, what else does he claim?" I asked, walking around my desk to face the large glass window, overlooking the grounds into the Forbidden Forest.

"That she said she would come back in the morning but she never came. He's very concerned about her."

"So he knows that she's taking a vacation?"

"He said that she never said anything about needing time alone. He also says that they so called, 'made up' and that they're giving love another shot."

"And what abut mister Potter and Weasley? Have they came to you with their concerns?"

"No, the last I heard, Hermione Granger and those two boys are no longer friends, nor Miss Ginny Weasley. Albus, I'm deeply concerned."

"About what?"

"Hermione. I know that something is wrong."

"Minerva, she's been through so much. I think she deserves this little time away, don't you think?"

"I know she's been through a lot Albus, but, if you could, maybe owl her and ask her to respond. Just to put my mind at ease." She said pleadingly.

I sighed in defeat as I nodded my head and waved her off.

"I will owl her and ask her to return."

"And if no response from her?"

"Then we form a search party and find her. Will that make you feel better?" I said, a tad annoyed.

Taking the hint from my tone of voice, she nodded and left without another word. I sighed as I called down a barn owl and scribbled down a quick note:

Hermione:

People are concerned because you have failed to return. Malfoy said that you have stated that you would return in the morning. If you would please help me put all these minds at ease and please come back to the school. Just for safety precautions.

Headmaster

-HGDM-

I marched through the halls with a fierce determination. Something was wrong. I knew it was. Could feel it within the depths of my gut…kind of like instinct. Her voice was ringing in my ears, seared into my brain.

How do you know you'll hurt me? I've grown up Draco. I know what I want, and I want you. I know what I said before. But I was hurting then. I lost Kate and you cheated on me...the lies and rumors that were circling around…I just couldn't deal with that and patching up our relationship. I'm not as strong as you Draco. I'm not.

I reared the corner as I continued my trek through the halls. My exact destination I did not know, but I did know who I was looking for and if I had to search the entire castle for them, then I would.

"Potter!" I roared from down the hall after spotting him with Weasley.

He lay against the wall, chatting with Weasley and his little sister when I finally found him. He pushed against the wall and stared me down dangerously as I made a beeline straight for him. I grabbed hold of his robes as pulled him closer, our faces mere centimeters apart. His eyes shone with defiance.

"Where is she?" I whispered angrily.

He pushed me away and pulled out his wand along with Weasley and his sister.

"What are you talking about?" he hissed, wand poised for attack, his loyal friends by his side.

I took out my own wand slowly as the crowd circled around us. Even though I was indeed outnumbered, that didn't mean I couldn't beat them in a duel. After all, I am the son of a deatheater.

"Hermione. Where is she? I know you know where she is, now tell me!"

"Hermione? The Hermione I know died long ago when she fell in love with you. We don't know of this Hermione you speak of." Weasley hissed, stepping forward bravely.

I scoffed as I held my wand higher.

"Sure you don't. She's missing. She's been missing for a few days now."

"Or maybe she's avoiding seeing your snooty face. Hell I would. I would bloody kill myself." Weasley responded sarcastically.

"Then why don't you. You won't be missed. Your mother has enough children to go around. Besides, I'm not even talking to you. I'm talking to Potter."

"I don't know where she is nor do I care."

I nodded as I pursed my lips and put my wand away. I continued to shake my head and I ran a hand through my hair.

"I'll be sure to tell her that you don't care whether she came back or not." I said smugly.

Their expressions softened a little as they looked at one another. I shrugged my shoulders as I walked through the parting crowd.

"That is, if she's alive." I spoke over my shoulder.

"Wait." Ginny said, standing in my path.

"You don't know if she's alive?" she asked, her face smeared with worry.

I shrugged my shoulders and pushed past her.

"Why should you care? You just said that you didn't. Don't worry, I'm sure she's fine, maybe in a cave tied up somewhere."

"I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to ruin anything with her." She said apologetically.

"Ginny! Get over here!"

"No Ron! I made a mistake all right! Unlike you, I can accept the fact that I was the reason our friendship is over. I went and told Paravati and Lavender! Me! The least I can do is help find her. What if something happened to her Ron? Can you live yourself if she died knowing that she have no one by her side? That you had the chance to help her and you didn't? Because I can't live with that kind of guilt on my shoulder's for the rest of my life."

I raised my eyebrows surprised. He looked down solemnly as Potter joined her side.

"Ginny's right Ron. We have to help her. We have no right to be angry with her. She-"

"She lied to us! She didn't tell us that she was having a baby. We had to find out from everyone else!" he interrupted.

"Like you tell us everything! I don't expect her to tell us everything Ron! She shouldn't have to come to us and tell her everything! That was her choice!" Harry argued.

"NO! SHE SHOULD HAVE TOLD US!" Ron screamed.

"SHUT UP RON! IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE LIKE AN IDIOT AND NOT FORGIVE HER EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING THEN FINE! I DON'T CARE. WE CAN FIND HER WITHOUT YOU!" Harry fired back, grabbing Ginny's arm and pulling her away from Ron.

He turned to me ad started me straight in the eyes, a fierce fire shining in his emerald pools.

"We have to find her. We'll work together. Truce, for now?"

He held out his hand. I looked at it apprehensively before shaking it.

This is for Hermione.

We began to walk away but were stopped.

"Wait. I'm sorry. I'm overreacting. Let me come with you. Please?" Ron asked, standing in front of us.

I sighed and nodded as he trailed behind us.

"What do we do first?" Ginny asked.

"Find Hagrid." Harry replied to her.

"Why?"

"Because he has Fang."

-HGDM-

"Minerva?" I called out through the darkness.

"Albus? Is that you? Merlin, what time is it?" she asked from her bedroom.

"Late. I've gotten no response from her." I said in front of her door.

I heard her gasp and fumble around before opening the door, wearing her cap and a pink robe.

"No word? Albus…now we have to-"

"That's why I'm here. I need your help." I interrupted, walking away in a hurry.

"Wait, what?"

She grabbed my arm and spun me around. She stared into my eyes firmly as I looked out the window.

We're wasting time.

"Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Draco have already formed their own search party. Severus and Hagrid are rounding about the teachers now. We can't find her Minerva."

Her face overcame with worry as she went back into her room.

"Minerva! We have no time! We cannot find her!"

"I know. But may I ask at why such a late hour must we look for her? It's just past curfew!"

"Because I do not want to alert the students like I did before. It caused panic. What are you doing?"

She emerged in her regular teachers robes along with a lit lantern and her wand.

"I need to be prepared. Now let's go. What's our progress?"

"The students have already tracked down were she was last seen."

"Which was?"

I was hesitant. It wasn't like Hermione and that's what scared me. Hermione unlike herself was a Hermione that no one knew.

"At a pub in Hogsmeade." I said rather quietly.

"A pub! As in an alcoholic pub!" she asked surprised.

"Yes. She was chased out into the alleys. Draco said that he saw her at a waterfall and supposedly spoke to her. But something's not right."

"You don't think that was her do you?"

"No. I've spoken to Hermione. She loves him. I know this, but she wouldn't just jump back to a relationship with him. She wouldn't do that."

"She wouldn't go to a pub either but she did. We can't rule anything out here, Albus."

"She was torn, Minerva. That's why she left. She wanted to get away. They should be there by now. We're supposed to meet them there."

She nodded as I added more speed to my stride. We joined the other professors as we all apparated to the waterfall.

"Draco?" I called out.

"Over her Headmaster."

I followed his voice to the water's edge.

"Anything?"

"No. I'm scared for her. She said she would come back."

"What if that wasn't her?" I asked.

"Why would it not? She explained everything."

"Have you not learned about the Polyjuice potion?"

"Yes, but-"

"Do you know how easy it is to lie?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Do you know how public your relationship was, making it easy for anyone to make up a story based on what they heard."

"But-"

"But what Draco? What more can you say to refute that? It could be anyone!" I snapped, pacing in front of the group.

"Wait! Look over there!" Ginny yelled, rushing around the edge to a bush by the side of waterfall.

"Ginny! Get away from there!" Harry yelled.

She gasped as she rummaged through the bushes and looked up at us. She held up her hand and dangling from it was a little silver whistle. I could see her rims of her eyes dot with tears as she clenched it tighter and fell to her knees.

"That's Hermione's…" Draco whispered, rushing over to her.

"There's a small tunnel here, leading under the waterfall! She had to have gone this way!" Harry yelled over Ginny.

"Or someone could've kidnapped her and took her down there!" Ron spat angrily, holding his little sister, trying to get her to stand.

"Ron! What if she's dead? What if we she never knows that we're sorry?" she sobbed.

"Miss Weasley!"

She jumped at Severus's sudden voice.

"Pull yourself together woman! Don't you dare think those thoughts! She is alive. We just need to find her."

She nodded as she wiped her tears and clenched Ron's hand.

"Let's go everyone. Wands out. Prepare for the worst." I announced, leading them all into the narrow tunnel, light fading from behind us.

-HGDM-

"Where is he? Where my baby?" I whispered, voice firm.

Dressed in mere robes, hair matted with sweat and blood, I sat on the floor of the dungeon. My body was weak from giving birth, but my mind remained alert and sharp, refusing to let me rest.

"I'm surprised you're still awake. All you need to know ids that he's in good hands. You should rest. You won't remember this anyways. You'll be with Draco as we raise him as our own."

I scoffed as I lifted myself off the floor. She pointed her wand at me as she hopped off her chair as pressed me against the wall.

"Sit down."

"How low can you go Lenora? I just gave birth for Merlin's sake. You think I can duel you wandless? You're not only sleazy, but you're dumb as hell."

"Let's see you try mudblood. Here."

She threw my wand at my feet. I stooped and picked it up, never taking my eyes off her. I placed my back to hers as we began walking away from each other.

"This is to the death mudblood. We have him now, so there's no use for you."

"Then so be it." I hissed, taking my final step and whipping around, wand outstretched, aiming for her heart.

Before I could even open my mouth, Lenora's Cruciatus curse hit me square in the chest, flinging me back against the wall with bone crushing force. My muscles contracted in pain but I forced myself to stand. The pain rocketed through my body, but I ignored the pain. I've been hit by that curse enough to know the feeling well enough. I chuckled at the surprised look on her face.

"That all you got whore?" I whispered hoarsely.

She scowled as she hit my wrist with a Cruciatus curse, stronger than the last, causing me to drop my wand. She cackled loudly as I lay on the floor, gasping for air. My body shook in pain as I looked at my wand, a good four feet away from me.

"Merlin, mudblood. I would've thought that you'd put up a better fight than that. I guess it doesn't say much about the smartest witch of our age now does it?" she snickered.

I used this opportunity to roll to my wand. I snatched it up just as she opened her eyes. She aimed another curse, a shade of deep red, but I dodged behind a large crate. It blew up in front of me as I hid myself behind a large pillar. I peered from behind it to find Lenora staring straight at me.

"I thought this was a duel Granger!" she screamed as I ran past.

"Crucio!" we both screamed.

We both collided into the walls. I moaned in pain as I fell to the floor. The hairs on the back of my neck stood as I lifted my head to find Lenora stumbling to get up. I hoisted myself up as the pain lingered on my limbs. We both stood and faced each other as I tried my hardest to lift my wand as quickly as I could to yell my final attempt at life, as did she. Wands poised at each other, we both make a dash as we screamed our curses.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" We both screamed.

A blinding green light engulfed the room as I ran. I just kept running, hoping that I would dodge her curse. I heard his voice in the back of my head, my life flashing before my eyes. I could feel myself fall to the floor on impact as the room fell silent, not even a mouse dared to move. Then, blackness enshrouded me.

-HGDM-

The curses and spells whirled around us as Harry, Ron, Ginny, and I was caught in the middle of the crossfire between the deatheaters and the teachers.

"Go! Find her! NOW!" Snape screamed over the zooming spells.

I nodded as I led the group, room to room, cursing each deatheater to emerge from them.

"Where is she!" I screamed at a fallen young man we found in a room.

He glared at me before dieing in front of me. I yelled in frustration as I led them inside as a swarm of deatheaters ran past us, headed for the teachers at the front.

"We have to help them!" Ginny yelled as she dashed to the door.

I slammed it shut as I stared her down.

"If you want to go out there and try to use whatever you know, then go ahead. But give me your last words so I may pass them on to Hermione. Those deatheaters are trained to kill. They know every trick in the books you know and the books that you've never even heard of. They can kill you easily and if you want to go and risk it, don't let me stop you."

I opened the door and checked out side before stepping away from the door. I held it open for her. She scoffed as she walked out and went the opposite direction.

"We have no time for this! Let's go!" she screamed, frustrated with my comment.

I smirked as I cocked my head for the guys to follow. We sped down the halls at amazing speed, looking side to side for any sign of her. I skidded in front of a rusting iron door bolted shut. My heart stopped as my breath hitched.

"Malfoy! What are you doing? Let's go!" Harry shouted, but all I could do was stand there.

I felt the tears stream down my cheeks as I began screaming.

"NO! NO! THIS CAN'T BE!" I screeched.

My heart was shattering inside of my body as I began kicking down the door. I wiped my tears, but a fresh batch just came falling down. They joined my side and also fell silent.

"Hermione…"

I continued to kick the door until I felt my muscles give way and I fell to my knees, limp with grief. Harry solemnly took out his wand and unlocked the door as Ron helped me to my feet. We all walked inside in silence. There she lay, sprawled on the floor, face down. I heard Ginny stifle her cries as we all hovered above her body. She was wrapped in dirty robes with a few splotches of blood.

"Oh Merlin…we failed her. Ginny, go and get Dumbledore?" Harry asked quietly.

She nodded as she walked out. I squatted next to her and wiped my tears.

Hermione…I said I'd never leave you, but that didn't mean you could leave me…I need you. What can I do without you? What will I do without you? How could you leave me? Why?

I picked her up and held her close to me as Ron and Harry stood behind me. I sobbed into her neck. Her skin was cold.

"I'm sorry Malfoy. It's a loss to us all." Harry said remorsefully.

I picked her up in my arms and led her out where the teachers stood waiting for us. I closed my eyes as I gave her dead body to Hagrid. Dumbledore put a gentle hand on my shoulder as I stared at the floor as if it had all the answers. Like to why she left me, who did this, what I'm going to do now that I'm alone.

"I'm so sorry Draco. She was a special girl."

I shook my head as I covered my ears.

"Draco, it's going to be okay." McGonagall said, attempting to soothe my pain and anger.

"NO! SHE'S ALIVE. SHE CAN'T LEAVE ME!"

"Draco! Calm down!" Snape ordered.

"NO! I know she's alive. She planned this! Because she knew I loved her! Why would she do this!"

"Do what?"

"FAKE HER OWN DEATH!" I screamed.

I was panicking. I couldn't handle her death and I knew I had no idea what I was talking about. But I needed some excuse. She can't leave me like this!"

"Draco, let's go. Calm down." Hagrid said, grabbing my arm.

I yanked my arm away and glared at them all angrily.

"No, I will not calm down! Have you ever lost anyone you loved Hagrid!"

"I have." Harry spoke.

"We all loved Hermione, alright! You're not the only one who's feeling pain. We're all going to miss her, but there is no need to go in a state of denial! There she is! Her body is right in front of you! Hermione was my sister. Her death was a loss to us all. You cannot feel more pain than the rest of us. Now calm down and give Hermione a funeral fit for the greatest witch of our time."

That shut me up good. Harry was right. I was just being a baby and overreacting. I held my head low as we began filing out. Soon, the crowded hideout was crawling with Minstry officials, rounding up the remaining deatheaters for questioning. I stood in the middle, looking for someone I recognized. I passed by Angeline's body being hauled away on a stretcher. I shook my head as I explored more. The more the officials asked the less anything made sense. Hermione was kidnapped and forced to have a baby. Whose baby is it? Mine? Not possible. Katelyn died long ago. Not only was Hermione dead, she missed her graduation. Nearing the last days of school, I volunteered to help with the investigation. The questioning of the deatheaters was a slump. None of them knew anything of the plan. All of our leads were dead, including Angeline. Lenora and Krum have yet to be found.

"HEADMASTER! WE GOT SOMEONE!" an official screamed.

He dragged out a disheveled old man that I immediately recognized. I dashed over to him and put a spell around his wrists.

"What are we going to do with him?"

"We're going to bring him in for questioning."

"Draco, who is this man?" Snape asked, joining my side as we made our trek outside.

"This man that sold trinkets to Hermione and I."

"So what. He sold some stuff."

"He's a clairvoyant." Harry confirmed behind me.

"What?" Snap and I said in unison.

"There were numerous amounts of items the room he was found in."

I glared furiously at the old man who stared at the floor. Something I used to do.

"You're a clairvoyant?" I asked through gritted teeth as we arrived at Ministry headquarters.

No response.

"That's fine. A simple vial of Veritaserum will do." Snape said threateningly.

Still no response. Snape took out a bluish vial and held it in front of the man's face. I saw apprehension and hesitation flash through the man's eyes. Snape uncorked it and brought out his wand. Aimed at the man's face, he muttered a simple spell that caused his mouth to open. He fought it. I saw him strain under the spell. Snape carefully leaked the fluid into his mouth and undid the spell. He looked up and said nothing.

"Now. Let's start from the beginning." I said, taking a seat in front of him.

"How did she die?"

A/N: And that is the final chapter. This story is officially done. Hoorah! Yes everyone, that is it. But I would never leave you hanging like that, no no. An epilogue is coming up soon. Hopefully, for those that are confused, the epilogue will explain everything. If you could, please state your main questions in a review. I will answer them…if I can. R & R.