Hey guys…its me again…but before I write the next chapter,

Meheehee- Well, I guess your theory about it not being a Killing Curse makes sense. My logic behind saying that was one it was a jet of green light that hit him, and green light can only mean Avada Kedavra. Secondly, JK Rowling (the one and only) made it very clear before OOTP was published that she had killed an important character in the book- which could only be Sirius, because no one else died.

One more thing…I noticed that you email id was Is preeta your real name?

Anyway, I'm not gonna respond to the rest fo you, but you know who you are…special mention to Lilly, my official "one and only."

CHAPTER 36

The world was slowly spinning into focus. Hermione began to see a dark musty ceiling right above her. Her brain was trying to process the situation.

Where am I?'

A strong, pungent smell was in the room, which Hermione quite couldn't place…it was the acrid smell of-

Burning flesh? What the fuck-?

Suddenly, she felt wide awake. She struggled to get up, propping herself up on her elbows. They almost collapsed, but she managed to get herself into a sitting position. She was feeling weak, and tired, like she hadn't slept in a week. Her blurry eyes began to focus.

Suddenly, a wall of remembrance hit her. She glanced wildly around the shack. The walls were encrusted with a layer of soot, and the floor seemed to be smoking. It was smoldering in there, reeking with a horrible stench.

The room finally stopped spinning, and she caught sight of two bodies on the floor.

'Oh my god!' she leapt to her feet, and shakily ran across the room to Draco. He was looking pale, and his lips were slightly blue. She grasped his hand, feeling the cold clamminess as a wave of sickness rendered her.

'Draco,' she whispered, 'Draco, get up.'

To her relief, she saw his eyes begin to flutter open.

'H-Hermione?' he voice was coarse, and raspy.

'Thank god!' she leaned down, and hugged him tightly. 'I thought I'd lost you!'

'Nah, I plan to stick around a while,' he said, weakly. She smiled at him. Suddenly, she felt something hard under her hand.

'What's this?'

She moved her hand, and so the necklace that had been in Draco's pocket earlier fell out…with only half the pendant. Draco pulled the other half from under him and showed it to her.

'A will stronger than hers,' he whispered, hoarsely, 'it's called love. She's gone. She has no more power over me.'

Hermione just smiled happily and hugged him tighter. She knew that he was talking about his mother. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open.

'Lisa!'

she leapt up, and ran over to the second body. her hand flew to her mouth.

Lisa was lying on her stomach. Her shirt had been ripped up, and there were smoky burns on her stomach. Her hand and legs were splayed on the floor. Her head was twisted to a side. Hermione could tell that her neck was broken.

'No..' she whispered. She leaned down, and gently twisted her head up. Her mouth was open, her cheeks scarred, and her eyes open and lifeless, staring into blank eternity.

'No…' she echoed, tears slipping down her face. 'Lisa…'

Draco had gotten up and made his way over to her. he sank to his knees, and wrapped an arm around her.

'She's gone…' Hermione half-whispered, half-cried, staring at the lifeless body in front of her.

Draco did not deny it. He had seen her body. he just held Hermione a little tighter.

'Perhaps she's happier now,' he said, softly.

'No!' Hermione choked. 'No, it isn't, it's not like that! Lisa wasn't like that! She enjoyed every minute of her life!'

Draco pulled her face to his chest. 'Sh!' he said, 'It's ok!'

'No it-its not!' Hermione stammered. 'she was with me for so- so long…she helped me after Chris, she was always there for me- oh god, why did she die?'

Draco pulled her a little curse. 'The Will was too strong.' He whispered.

'So why didn't you die?' she asked, petulantly. Draco forgave her for that one, because of the trauma she was facing.

'A will stronger,' he said, gently, 'Remember?'

'What about me? Why didn't I die? I could have been spared this much!'

Draco wiped a tear from her cheek. 'I would miss you too much,' he said, quietly. He fiddled with her fingers, and averted her attention to the Death Repel on one of them, by gently stroking it.

Realization dawned on her face.

She said, 'Oh,' and then lapsed into a sorrowful silence, remembering all the times she had shared with Lisa.