A/N: Hey everyone. Well I am in a bopping music movie at the moment, listening to John Cena's Bad, Bad Man. He is just a true hottie. Anyway thankyou all for your reviews and if it has taken me a while to update that is because I have so much happening in my life, such as block exams, assessments tasks and other things, but believe me I update when I can.
DISCLAIMER: I own the plot but not the characters.
Chapter Thirteen: Death
"It's so good to see you again, Mione!" greeted Ginny as Draco stood back watching his girlfriend be hugged by her friends.
Draco spotted Blaise and waved at him to join them. They had only just arrived back at Hogwarts and already Christmas decorations were being pulled down, well it was the 27th so it did make sense considering New Years was just a mere few days away. Blaise walked over to Draco and gave him a guy friend hug.
"How was it?" asked Blaise nodding respectively to Hermione who smiled slightly before turning back to chatting with Potter.
"It was great. Her parents are really warm and welcoming. How was Christmas at Hogwarts?" asked Draco as they headed to the Slytherin common room.
"Pretty good. That Dumbledore's odd though… well I guess he always was… but you know that Trelawny woman? I think she teaches Divination or something."
"Oh her, yeah my mother went to school with her and apparently she was the Loopy Luna of her day. What about her?"
"Well she kept on sobbing whenever she looked at Potter. When she saw him, she was like, 'oh your tragedy is drawing closer by the day', and well you can imagine how Potter and the others were… you know with…" Blaise trailed off.
"Yeah I know," muttered Draco, "I'm going to change, I'll see you at dinner."
!D!
"The Year has come to an end… well not the school year. But so ends 2005 and we welcome 2006 with much anticipation. Though the year holds another journey of greatness or great loss, it is a journey we all will be making in one way or another," said Dumbledore looking down at the students who were either starring at him or at their golden feast plates with great anticipation, "But we all must realize when times are hard that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel waiting for us to realize that life is forever moving and waiting for us to notice it… but enough of my babble… enjoy the feast as the clock draws closer to the closing of one year and an opening to another!"
Draco didn't in dive into his plate as food appeared on it, sure he was hungry but the thought of what the year was holding out for him and many other people didn't making him want to welcome the New Year. In fact if he had the power he would stop time from moving and he would in fact turn back time so the doctors could catch Hermione's condition earlier and save her, but he would make it happen so he could remember his love for her… in fact that sounded like a BRILLIANT idea!
Draco stood and ran from the Great Hall, ignoring Blaise's yells of where was he going too and Pansy's questioning looks.
Why hadn't he thought of it earlier? There it was, standing before him the whole time! Actually why hadn't Hermione thought of it? Draco ran up the corridor, up staircases, through more corridors and into the empty library, everyone was at the Great Hall enjoying the delicious food the elves had spent hours preparing.
Draco looked at signs on the end of rows searching for the certain section… Time… Time…
"Time," murmured Draco finding the row and walking up it reading the book labels.
A Time Of History, The Danger's Of Time Travel, The Future, Turning Back Time.
Draco grabbed the book Turning Back Time he sat down at a table and opened the contents page and found the section he was searching for and began reading.
Time Travel has always been a mystery to both muggle's and magic folk. While we know it is possible, muggle's ponder about whether it is even possible. But what many magic folk don't realize is time travel isn't as simple as saying the levitating charm. ("I'm not even sure that is even simple for Longbottom let alone Crabbe and Goyle," muttered Draco) Time Travel of great amount requires a lot of power and many believe only people of great Dark Magic are capable of it. Yes, people can apply for a time turner from the Ministry of Magic under special circumstances but only if they are turning time back a maximum of one day. To turn time back just a mere six months requires dark power as great as He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named.
Draco slammed the book shut and sighed, slumping down in his chair and ran his hands through his hair. Just when he'd thought he'd found an answer it was stripped from him like he was in a dirty shirt. But… if he went to Voldemort and pledged his life to serving him would Voldemort give him his one request? Draco stood up and left the Library, not unnoticed by two brown eyes, which were soon reading the same paragraph he was seconds ago.
!D!
Dear Father,
I am aware that Blaise Zabini has been acting as your spy recently and that he wrote to you about me getting close to Potter's friend. Well they were no rumours. In fact she is my girlfriend and I am in love with her. Deeply. But do not think things are simple as I am making them out to be. Father, Hermione has cancer and she is dying. Nothing the muggle or magic doctors can do will help her, it is too far advanced and she has only three months to live. I am writing to you for your help and I hope you can help me before it is too late. They say to turn back time a great length requires great Dark Magic and it is obvious who in this world holds that power. I am willing to pledge my life long service to him if he will turn back time so Hermione's condition is caught early enough for her live and that her and I remember our love.
Father I have never asked anything of you before, until now. I beg of you to help me before it is too late because life without her being alive would be unbearable.
Please help me father,
Your son.
Draco read over the letter and sighed as he folded it and sealed it close with the Malfoy wax seal. He left his room and ran down the stairs and out of the common room into the cold corridors. Patrol was in a few minutes and he didn't have much time to send the letter.
Hurriedly he made his way to the owlery and opened the door to walk inside, only to be stopped by a voice.
"Don't do it Draco. It would be pointless any way."
Draco turned around to see Hermione looking at him solemnly.
"How did you know?" he asked confused.
"I followed you to the library. I was worried, I know your dreading midnight."
"And I guess you read the book?"
Hermione nodded at him, "I know what you are going to do and I'm telling you it would be pointless to pledge yourself to him."
"Why? Because Potter is going to kill him and minaciously you will be all better?"
"I wish it were that simple, but no," she held out her hand, "Come with me."
Draco took her warm hand and followed her up the nearby spiralling staircase into the Astronomy Tower. She let go of his hand and lit a single candle and walked out to the balcony, silently Draco followed and listened as she spoke softly.
"When I found out I was going to die I thought of every possible way for it not to happen. I even contemplated trading myself to You-Know-Who… I'd read that book before, Turning Back Time. But then Dumbledore told me something. He said everyone has their life laid out for them… and everyone dies at a chosen time, only they don't chose when it happens or how it happens. But no matter what you do, no matter how much you try to avoid it, you die one way or another. Had you had time turned back and I'd been saved from the cancer, sometime in March something would've happened to me and I would of died anyway."
"You mean, nothing anyone does will save you?"
"Precisely. It is my chosen time to go. My destiny."
Draco shook his head, "I don't believe you."
"I knew you would say that. So did Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore?"
"He saw you leave as well and he told me… I am going to show you what would happen in March had I been saved from cancer."
Draco frowned at her as she handed him a vial of pale blue liquid uncorked. Draco took hold of it and breathed in a sweet smell, a mix of vanilla and pinewood.
!D!
Draco laughed as they walked out of the Three Broomsticks, arms around each other. Her cheeks were pink from the cool wind, her eyes glowing with happiness. He leaned down and swiftly kissed her on the lips making her giggle.
"Where too now?" he asked ignoring the burning on his arm, though she looked at him worriedly as he winced from the pain.
"Are you okay?" she asked touching his arm softly, "He's calling you isn't he?"
Draco nodded, "I'm not going. This is our day."
"Draco, he'll kill you if you don't go. I'll be fine. Harry and Ron are around here somewhere. As soon as you done, find me and we'll do something then."
Draco sighed. He couldn't ignore that agonizing pain any longer. With a quick kiss he was gone in the blink of the eye.
When he opened the, again he was in a dark room, alone. Well he was until he saw red eyes glowing in the dim light.
"That is twice you have ignored my calling Draco," hissed Voldemort, "Wasn't the deal, you are to work for me if I saved your Mudbloods life from a disease?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Have you gone by that contract at all times?"
"No, my Lord. I am sorry. I will not do it again."
"Sorry isn't going to change your betrayal Draco. Bring her in!"
Draco looked around wildly and was suddenly being held back by two Death Eaters as his own father and Peter Pettigrew dragged in a gagged and bound Hermione.
"NO!" yelled Draco struggling with all his might, "LET HER GO!"
"You failed to go by the contract and now you shall pay, with watching the death of the one who means so much to you!"
Draco yelled and struggled as Voldemort tortured Hermione with curses, kicking her in the ribs, stomach and head until she was laying still on the ground bleeding, but breathing barely.
Voldemort looked up at Draco evilly, his thin lips curling into an evil grin. Draco looked at his own father helplessly, but Lucius was looking away from his son and a barely alive Hermione.
"Say goodbye Draco," smirked Voldemort.
"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Draco breaking free just as the green bolt of light hit Hermione, allowing her to scream once more before she fell to the ground, no life in her at all.
Draco fell to the ground crawling to her body, tears falling down his cheeks, sobbing loudly as he pulled her still body into his arms clutching her too his body tightly, rocking back and forth, looking down at her bloody face and her lifeless brown eyes, wide with terror and her partly opened mouth with dry lips.
"I'm sorry, Hermione… I'm sorry," he whispered over and over again.
!D!
"NO!" yelled Draco falling to the ground suddenly. Tears were drying on his face as Hermione knelt beside him placing a hand on her cheek. He reached his hand up and placed it on hers closing his eyes, "Is that what would happen? He would kill you because of me?"
"It's my fault he kills me. I'm the one who was sick," replied Hermione suddenly look weary.
"I don't want that… I don't want you to die at all," whispered Draco pulling her onto his lap as the castle clock tower bell began chiming.
One
"I know… I wish life would be different," whispered Hermione back to him fighting tears.
Both fell silent looking at the clear sky and listening to the bell ring.
Two… Three… Four… Five… Six… Seven… Eight… Nine… Ten… Eleven… Twelve… And so began the New Year.
"Happy New Year, Draco."
"Happy New Year, Hermione."
!D!
January passed… and February began. Hermione was much weaker and grew tired easily. Sometimes she would fall asleep in class but none of the teachers bugged her. Her weight had dropped from a healthy 48 kilos to a shocking 39 kilos, but her robes hid that easily and no one really noticed. Though many were saying it was only a short amount of time before Draco would run for the hills and leave Hermione broken hearted, he rarely left her side, telling everyone he loved her more then they would ever understand.
But it was a Monday afternoon and Hermione was seeing Pompfrey and Draco wasn't allowed with her (Ginny went with her for support) that Draco received a surprise. He was sitting on the stands doing some school work in peace when a letter dropped in front of him from a scruffy black owl.
Draco,
I guess you are surprised to hear from me. But your Mother came and saw me the other day and informed me, finally of your long term relationship with a type of witch I normally wouldn't approve of. But under the circumstances, I do. No doubt you are wondering whether Azkaban has driven me mental and my answer is a prompt no. Let me tell you something nobody knows until now. Only you will know this and you may tell Hermione if you wish.
Before I met your mother I was in love with the most wonderful woman I had ever met. She was everything I'd ever wanted. Caring, funny and smart. She was nothing like your mother who has the classic looks of high cheekbones, blue eyes blonde hair… no she had black hair, hazel eyes… and natural pink lips… I was in love… but my heart was ruined when she was killed in a freak accident at the Ministry… some fool had spilt something in the floor powder causing the flames to explode into a deadly gas… since then my heart was guarded. I know my loss isn't like yours but I do know what it is like to loose someone you love at such a young age and I want you to know I approve as Melissa was a muggleborn herself.
Your father.
Draco folded the letter up and let out a deep breath and starring at the sky. He did feel happy his father approved, but never in his life had he thought his father would of dated a muggleborn witch. But maybe that was why his father always displayed such hatred towards Hermione whenever he saw her, because she was caring, funny and smart. Draco stood up and left the Quidditch pitch with his bag of books, heading back to the castle.
!D!
"How are you feeling?" asked Draco as they sat in the Library together reading a book in lounge area.
"Okay. You?" replied Hermione before yawning a little and lacing her fingers with Draco's.
"Fine. I got a letter from my father today."
Hermione sat up slowly, her arms shaking as she lifted herself, Draco knew it would only be time before she would be bedridden. Dumbledore had already began arrangements to have the back room in the hospital wing transformed to look like her bedroom at home and to also have her parents brought here.
"What did the letter say?"
"Here," said Draco pulling it out of his jeans pocket and handing it to her to read, "Its too hard for me to explain."
Hermione took it and laid back down, resting her head on Draco's stomach as she read. Softly, Draco ran his hand through her long brown hair as he read Quidditch Through The Ages.
A few minutes later Hermione lowered the letter, "Wow… I mean just to know… I can understand why he was so cold now."
"Same. Amazing though isn't it?" replied Draco lowering his book in deep thought, "That may explain the letter he sent to Blaise, all that crap about my weird emotions."
"Yeah."
"Want to go and get some dinner?" asked Draco only to receive no reply, "Hermione?"
Draco looked down at her to see her eyes closed. At first he thought she was asleep, but no movement was coming from her chest, no rising or falling. Then it struck. Carefully he slid out from under her and knelt beside him, his heart pounding a mile a minute.
"Hermione? Hermione!" he yelled shaking her gently.
He pulled out his wand and muttered the revival spell to no avail. Again he shook her, tears falling down her cheeks. Behind him a student screamed for Madam Pince As Draco continued shaking Hermione screaming her name over and over.
"NO! HERMIONE! IT ISN'T MARCH!" he yelled before he fell against her, his head beside her facing, one hand stroking her cheek, "Hermione angel… wake up… come on… this isn't funny… Hermione wake up… come on… open your eyes for me sweetie."
"Go get Madam Pompfrey and the Head master," whispered Madam Pince behind him, "Mr Malfoy-"
"GO AWAY!" yelled Draco turning to face her, tears falling down his cheeks, "She is going to wake up okay? This is just a spell she's going through."
He turned back to her still pale figure and lifted her up into his arms and brought her to the ground with him, cradling her in his arms. He rocked her with his body back and forth, kissing her forehead and lips, tears falling down his cheeks.
"We have some much to do yet. We have to watch Slytherin win the cup, spend Valentines Day together… its only two days away. So you can't go on me yet, can you Hermione?" whispered Draco as a breathless Pompfrey, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Blaise and Pansy arrived, followed by Hagrid.
"No!" screamed Ginny falling into Harry's arms, "Oh Merlin no!"
Draco looked up at them, "She's having one of those spells okay?"
Pompfrey slowly knelt beside Draco and muttered the revival spell, again to no avail. She looked up at Dumbledore tearfully.
"S-she's gone," whispered Pompfrey, "For about ten minutes now."
Draco shook his head, ignoring the fact Hermione's body was now going cold, "No… no, you are LYING! IT IS FEBRUARY! NOT MARCH!"
"I'm sorry Mr Malfoy."
Behind Draco, Harry was crying as he held onto his girlfriend while Ron looked lost with tears falling down his cheeks. Blaise didn't know what to do, while Pansy kept blinking. McGonagall was muttering about informing Mr and Mrs Granger and Hagrid was bawling into a red spotted handkerchief. While Snape was ushering students out of the library in a quavering voice.
"No," whispered Draco fresh tears falling down his cheeks as he looked at Hermione, "You can't be gone… I can't live without you. You are meant to be HERE! With me! Not with him… please Mione… please return to me… please."
Dumbledore placed a gentle hand on Draco's shoulder, "Mr Malfoy… I need to allow Madam Pompfrey to cover her body… I know you don't want to… but it must be done."
Draco nodded and leant down softly kissing her cold lips on last time before laying her on the lounge and standing up on wobbling legs. With one last look at her body, her beautiful face Draco turned and ran to the back on the library and into an empty room locking the door behind him before pounding on the wall in great anger as he screamed out in pain, salty tears falling down his cheeks.
A/N: And there it is… the hardest chapter I have ever written. Here I am in tears… and I'm the writer… believe me… more to come so keep the tissues handy.
Love yas…
Love Coz…