Ch 18 First Confrontation
I walked to the headmasters office in a daze. I tried to remember what my friends looked like. It was all starting to come back after seeing McGonagall. I tear slipped down my face I wanted to go back and be with Tom. I felt like I no longer belonged. I told the statue the password and as I was about to make my way up the stairs someone called out to me. I turned around and saw Harry and Ron. Every feeling of doubt that had gone through me vanished and all the memories of when we were younger returned. All the good and the bad. Then they engulfed me in a sandwiched hug and I cried. I cried harder then I ever had in my entire life. I cried for Tom for my friends and family for myself and for the future I may never have, I also cried for what had happened tonight. When me and Tom made love I felt our bodies come together and create a new life. And I now felt that new life just starting to develop. When I had no tears left we went up to Dumbledore's office. The sight of him some how brought a fresh wave of tears I didn't think were possible. I went and hugged him. My tears disappeared and I was okay. They sat me down Harry and Ron on either side of me clinging to my hand as if I might disappear again.
"Its good to have you back Hermione" the headmaster said at twinkle in his soft blue eyes. I nodded as a response I didn't trust my voice then.
"why are you dressed up Hermione?" Ron asked I smiled at him.
"We were in the middle of a Christmas ball when I was thrown back" I said.
"Hermione can I ask you something that you will respond to I perfect honesty?" I was Harry who asked and I could see a hurt deep in his green eyes. I felt bad for causing it. Ron groaned and said "Not now" but Harry ignored him and pulled a book out of his pocket. I read a flash of the title Hogwarts Quidditch diary before he opened it to a marked page/
"Professor Dumbledore said what time you landed in but he wouldn't elaborate on this." he handed me the book and I looked down the pictures moving on the page. It was of me and Tom kissing after Gryffindor won the cup. We broke apart and smiled at one another. I couldn't deny it was me because of the caption. 'Gryffindor chaser Hermione Dumbledore and Slytherin Keeper Tom Riddle Harbor no bad feelings for each other after Gryffindor wins the Quidditch cup. Now that's Sportsmanship!' I looked up at Harry who had no hate in his eyes only a defeated sadness.
"Oh Harry. There was nothing I could do. When I met him he was charming and handsome and I didn't know who he was. Then after we began to fight. Real fights fist and wand, but then it changed. I can't remember how but it did and we began to like each other. We had so much in common we brought out the best in each other. I… I don't know what to say to you Harry. I don't think sorry would be the right thing." I said looking back down at the picture.
"Did you love him?" Harry asked suddenly.
"My mother once told me you can choose who you hate but not who you love. The funny thing is I did hate him. But I love him now with my very being." I said to him just staring at the picture. There really was a Thin line between Love and Hate.
"How could you Hermione you know after all the things he was capable of yet you still love him. Why?" he said his voice cracking with emotion.
"because I got to know Tom Riddle as a person not as a monster and in some twisted way we are perfect for each other. We are two halves of a whole and together we make one whole person. We were made f-" "Headmaster!" I was interrupted my Snape who burst in suddenly.
"Yes Severus what is the matter?" Dumbledore asked getting up from his chair.
" He is coming with his army the final confrontation is now Albus! It will end by Dawn!" Snape said. No one moved not daring to believe what Snape said. Then Get the Students out use the flew send them all to… to the leaky Cauldron I will send out the alert. How much time do we have Severus?"
"Mere minutes" he said before he fled the room McGonagall on his heels.
" Get on you three get somewhere safe." he said
" I am staying Professor I will fight until its over." I said pulling out my wand.
"very well go help the teachers clear out the school of anyone unwilling to fight." a piercing alarm suddenly filled the air.
"Its to late." he said and he pushed two buttons on the bottom of his desk and he led us out of the office. "You three go help get all the children out of the school!" we obeyed and ran up to Gryffindor Tower. McGonagall was being helped by all the sixth and seventh years.
" Anyone who is going to stay and help in the final battle needs to be sure its what they want there is no room for doubt. If your coming lets go we need to get more students." Harry said leading the way to the portrait. All the sixth and seventh years followed leaving McGonagall with only a few more fifth years to send out.
"We'll be at the Ravenclaw common room what's the password?" I asked her quickly.
"Flabbergast. Be careful!" she said. And I turned and ran after Harry. I told him were we should go to pick up more students and he agreed. We continued to Ravenclaw then to Hufflepuff. We didn't bother with Slytherin because we knew that the older kids in there would probably be fighting for the other side. We made it to the entrance hall. The battle had begun and the Deatheaters had begun to make their way into the castle. Harry lead us into a classroom and I put silencing charms on the room.
"Okay this is what we are going to do. We split up and go separate ways. We stick to shadows and pick the death eaters off one by one. When you capture them lock them in a closet or classroom or any were and take their wands. So what you want with the wand break it hide it on second thought smash the damn thing to pieces and make sure they don't have extras in a pocket or shoe or anything. If you find younger students who have been out of their common rooms and are lost lead them to safety. And take care of yourselves. Okay split into groups don't make the groups to big we don't want to be discovered, but at least three people." Harry said taking charge. Our group was me Harry Ron, Ginny Luna and Neville. We all quietly left the room in our separate groups and went on our hunt to rid the castle of Deatheaters. We met to Deatheaters going to a higher floor. We hit them both with quiet stunners and dragged them into an empty classroom. We took their wands and snapped them in pieces. As an extra idea and precaution we took their clothes and their shoes and left them tied together on the floor gags securely in their mouths. We kept on like this until we came across two frightened third years who sat crying behind a statue. We hushed them and made a plan.
"Okay Ravenclaw common room is closest. Ginny Neville and Luna you three take them there and get them out of here safely. If you meet trouble get out of here with them. Okay head out we'll back you until you disappear." Harry said and they went along the two young Ravenclaws in between them. We walked along for a long time without meeting anyone and I began to be aware of how cold I was. I was still in my dress from the ball but I wasn't wearing shoes. I hadn't had the chance to put them on before I vanished back into this time. I stopped for a second so I could transfigure myself some shoes. I looked around for something to transfigure. There seemed to be nothing. Ron and Harry stopped when they realized I wasn't behind them anymore.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Ron asked as him and Harry made their way back to me. I was about to answer when a hand wrapped around my mouth the other around my waist. I seen Harry and Ron running to close the space between us.
"let her go!" Harry said.
"Not a chance Potter I think I'll ask the Dark Lord if I can keep her for my own personal use." came the unmistakable voice of Draco Malfoy. I squirmed and managed to face him he had both hands around my waist now. I tore off his mask and looked him dead in the eye.
" I somehow don't think Tom will ever grant you that wish Malfoy." then I put my hands on either side of his neck and I began to drain the life out of him. I breathed in deeply I almost had his whole life when someone pulled me roughly away from him I gasped at the sudden loss of contact. Malfoy fell to the floor apparently dead. I new he wasn't though. I was held with my arms behind my back by another death eater.
"He isn't dead is he." my captor asked the other death eater who was on the floor examining Malfoy.
"No but he is close to it. Consider your life over you dirty Mudblood whore. We shall take them to the Dark Lord I know for a fact that after this tale we tell it will be Lucius who gets to rid of her." the Deatheater said. To my horror there was five death eaters and they had a hold of Harry and Ron. They lead us to the great hall. And I seen the bodies of my fallen peers, teachers and other fighters of this war. As we entered the great hall we took in the dozens of Deatheaters. And sitting at the high table in Dumbledore's seat was Lord Voldemort himself.
/ sorry I had to cut it short here but my hands are cramping and I have to do laundry. Only a few more chapters and this story is done and I'm getting more excited by the day. I hope you guys are too. Next chap Hermione and Voldemort face each other for the first time I wonder what will happen? I know you guys despise me for this but I had too you shall love me in the end though. I hope. laughs nervously
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