Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just copies of the book.
Chapter 3: Redemtion
He flew through the rain as fast as he could. Usually he hated flying in the rain, but this time he welcomed it. It hid his tears as it streamed down his cheeks. Just a few moments ago, he exited a portkey, one that lead from the Burrows to the edge of Germany's Black Forest. He rode a Firebolt, the fastest broom in the wizard world, but even then did he feel that the broom was going too slow. He needed to go faster! Much faster! Hermione was in danger. She needed him. She would not be able to make it out alive without him. And he needed her. He missed her.
Earlier, he had gone into her room and noticed several key books missing. Although she had charmed up the entire room, he knew her far too well to not know what she was researching. He also knew exactly how to uncover the words and where to find her notes. The cave. It was filled with hundreds of deadly traps and puzzles and only the sharpest of minds could every have the slightest chance of disarming all of them.
He knew something was wrong immediately when he did not see her notes in the usual spot. Even the original copy of Professor Moody's notes that she had stolen was gone. No one knew it was stolen. A near perfect copy of the notes were made. He knew the secret of the notes, but he never told Hermione. He wondered if she had figured it out. Stupid me, he thought. Who am I kidding? With Hermione's mind, it would only take her minutes to figure it out.
That means she had entered the cave. Curse his stupid mouth. Why couldn't he say something without first thinking it through? It was his fault Hermione was in the cave. It was his fault they were separated. He knew it was his fault. He knew she blamed him. He knew she was there just to prove him wrong. He knew she resented him now. This was all his fault. Blame lay solely on his shoulders.
He regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. Every minute it ate at him. However, all this time he had convinced himself that this was the right thing to do. Had it been any other girl, this would have been the right thing to say and do. But this is Hermione. It wasn't. It never was. It had been wrong from the beginning. Now he flew to redeem himself. He flew to correct the mistake of his stupidity and stubbornness.
That foolish girl was just as stubborn. She really believes she could tackle that cave alone. She is wrong. There is one thing that can beat the cave. He knew what it was. Few did. Most of them are Death Eaters. In fact, he was the only one who knew that isn't a Death Eater.
He dove down the mountain side over the forest. The rain had now become snow. Although it blocked his vision, it did not matter. He knew the exact path to the cave. He had been there hundreds, no, thousands of times before. He could fly there blindfolded. Every time Hermione's notes were missing, he went. Every time Hermione wasn't at the school, he went. Every time Hermione wasn't home in the Burrow, he went. Every time he had spare time, he went. Yes. The cave is that dangerous. Even if Hermione could get past every trap and puzzle in that cave, which he had little doubt Hermione had already did, the last puzzle and trap is one no one has solved.
No one had solved it except for the creator. He just heard the solution. But he never tried it. Hundreds of times had he stood before the cave entrance doubting that he had the ability to do it. That alone convinced him he was not ready. For a Gryffindor, he was a coward. But after what happened to Professor Moody, any Gryffindor would be cautious before this cave.
He pushed the broom to fly harder, but it didn't. The Firebolt was flying at its maximum output. Apparating was not an option because of all the detectors that had been placed there since Professor Moody's attempt.
Stupid girl! He cursed at Hermione again. But he knew she is far from stupid. Stubborn girl! He corrected himself. The cave was not one that could be tackled alone, even IF you knew exactly how to pass each and every trap and puzzle.
Suddenly, he was engulfed in fire. Luckily his Quidditch reflexes, he was able to partially evade the attack. However, he was still hit. His robes were burning as he fell through the sky. As for the Firebolt, it was no more than a burnt broom now. That was a gift from Sirius, his—
He stopped that train of thought and focused more on the problems at hand. He was falling through the sky. There was no stopping him from splashing into the ground. Well, none that he could think of. No. There has to be a way! He turned so he could look down at the ground. All he saw was a snow covered forest. Then, he found his solution. He brought out his wand and quickly weaved several spells.
This is going to hurt like hell! He thought. But at least I'll put out the fire in the process! He put his wand away and shifted his body so he could catch as much wind as he can. Then, he tilted his head down and dove at his target: a giant ball of snow. He shot through one end of the ball and out the other, but at a greatly decreased velocity. He hit the ground and rolled a couple times. His body ached and some of his previous wounds opened up again. They are going to kill me for this stunt… he thought to himself.
A streaming jet of red flew past his ear before he remembered someone had attacked him. He drew his own wand and shouted, "Stupefy!" It missed. The enemy was good. Really good. He got up off the ground and ran for cover. A second spell shot past his right shoulder. He turned around and shouted, "Conjunctivitis!" Must have been really lucky that shot since a Death Eater fell out of cover and wriggled on the ground. Without hesitating, he shouted, "Crucio!" The Death Eater twisted in pain.
After a few more twists and turns, he walked over to the Death Eater, froze him, snatched the wand from his hand and placed it into a hidden wand compartment Fred and George invented. It was attached onto his back and stays completely hidden even to magical scanning devises.
He continued on foot towards the cave. He ran as fast as he could. He was not far. He could see it. But then a spell hit him. He froze where he stood. "Did you really think that there would be only one of us guarding this cave?" a familiar but despicable voice spoke out. "This is the result of the foolish Gryffindor courage, I suppose. The Mudblood's in there right now. She got through most of the traps and puzzles as expected. But now she's cringing in pain, twisting and turning frantically like the man you place under the torture spell. However, I do believe that the Mudblood is suffering far worse. To perform an "Unforgivable Curse", you must mean every bit of harm you do."
The Death Eater now stood a few feet before him. His blood boiled, but there was nothing he could do. The Death Eater smiled. "Yes, to perform an "Unforgivable Curse", one must mean every bit of pain he inflicts," a new voice entered. He couldn't recognize the voice, but from the Death Eater's calm face, he could tell it was another Death Eater. "Crucio!" He braced for pain, but someone else screamed.
It was the Death Eater that stood before him. An ally in this place? He asked himself. The only ally he had was now dead. Although he did not particularly like that ally, he did not wish for his death either. "Expelliarmus!" the new voice said. "Selincio. There. I doubt you could inflict much harm without anything, but I can't take any chances with you. Avada Kedavra." A green jet shot at the Death Eater and hit him right above the heart.
He did not know if he should be scared or relieved. Then, his savior walked into his line of vision. A DEATH EATER! He screamed in his mind. They were the last people he expected to save him from another Death Eater. Now he was scared. The Death Eater grabbed him by the collar and shoved him against a tree. He then ripped of his mask revealing the face beneath. DRACO MALFOY! He screamed in his head again.
"Yes, I am still alive. But it would be best if no one knows I still live ever again. I will free you in a moment, but you must promise me something," Draco spoke in a threatening tone. He tried his best to agree to the promise, but Draco understood. "Save her." This surprise him. "Save Hermione. Save her and take her as far as you can from this war. Save her and find a place to live peacefully. This war will be over soon. When peace comes, you can return to your family. Until then, promise me you will keep her safe. Safe from this war. Safe from harm. Safe from ever being hurt again."
He looked into Draco's teary eyes and understood how serious Draco is. Draco was practically begging him to save Hermione. What caused this, he would never know. When Draco dried his tears, Draco unfroze him and let him and released his grip. "I promise, Malfoy," he responded as he walked past the ally he thought had died. He grabbed the Nimbus 2001 and flew off towards the cave.
Draco Malfoy watched as his friend flew off with his broom. Draco knew if there was anyone who could save Hermione from the state she was in now, it would be him. They never were really friends before. They hated each other, but half a year ago, they found a common ground and reluctantly became friends. However, Draco never regretted the friendship.
Draco turned to face the Death Eater he killed while impersonating another. He kicked the body and spat at its face. Then, he pulled off the mask. "The killing curse never fails," he began as he took a seat next to the dead body. "You should have made sure I was dead before leaving my body to rot. I told you if you didn't kill me I would return and bite you back in the ass. And so I did. Why couldn't you let me save Hermione? Why couldn't I save a friend when you can save yours? Then again, I suppose the answer is simple. She's a Muggle born and an enemy. Well, at least she was saved that time by Harry and Ron. She did not like it though. I suppose that was better. She doesn't know I'm an ally. Not then. Not now."
Draco reached into the dead Death Eater's robes and removed a case of cigars. He took one out, cut the tip and lit it. "I suppose you are wondering in Hell about where I am. Or maybe you know and are told that it is I who killed you. You probably think this is for revenge, which is true. But you do not know for what. Well, I'll tell you. I hated your dreams. I hated how you believed Voldemort so blindly. I hated how you gave up your life, wife and son just for power. I hated how you placed the burden of not achieving your dreams onto me. I don't want your dreams. I don't want your ambitions. I want to live my life as I chose and spend time with a father l loved. You denied me those two simple wishes, Lucius. I will not become who you became, Lucius. This is a promise. Now that you are dead, as am I, we have cast the family of Malfoy into oblivion."
From his neck, he ripped a golden necklace with a small plate and tossed it onto the ground next to the dead Death Eater. With a wave of his wand, he cut some wood from the trees and with another wave, he stacked the wood on top of the body. He stood up and took a photo from his pocket and lit it on fire with his cigar. Then he tossed it into the pile of wood and watched it burn. He smiled and said, "The Malfoy name ends with you, Lucius. I have long since cast away the name I was given when I was born. I've given a lot of time and thought into my new name. Most people who knew me as Draco Malfoy would die in laugher of the irony of the name. Goodbye, Lucius. I hope you enjoy your afterlife."
Hermione woke again. She was exhausted. Her body ached. She wondered if she was still sane. At one point, her body had become numb from the pain. However, the numbness did not last. A few minutes later the pain returned. She tried to stand, but was too tired. She wanted to stand. She wanted to escape. She wanted Him here. But then she felt her consciousness falter. Hermione was falling again. She wanted to swim up! She just wished He would reach into the darkness and pulls her out. Her eyes closed and she her consciousness was lost.
Hermione opened her eyes again. She heard the soft cry of her son. She smiled. This is the heir of her Lord. "Hush, Adelais. We're almost there." She sat in the back of a horse carriage as it brought her and her child to a secluded area. She looked up and she could see her destination. She smiled. The Burrows. He was there. She could see Him pacing back and forth nervously on the porch. "Driver, you may stop here," she said to the driver. When the carriage stopped, she stepped out and smiled at Him.
At first, he stared wide eyed in surprise. He ran to her before he stopped a few steps before her. He shook his body a bit before looking at her and asking, "What are you—" He never finished before he was under her control. Hermione smiled. She had improved the Imperius spell. She knew He could easily break free of the original Imperius so she developed an improved version. Only two people know of its existence. Hermione and her Lord. They also knew how to break free from the curse. There will be a third person to know how to use this curse: her Lord's next right hand man. That person is who the baby in Hermione's arms will become.
Together, she walked with Him to the porch. She stayed while force Him to walk into the house alone. The house was silent at first; then it was filled with screams. Hermione was laughing with joy and decided to walk into the house. Blood painted the once beautiful house. She preferred how it looked now. She found Him standing in the middle of the living room. She could see some of them tried to run. Others tried to hide. But they were all dead now. He had stabbed them all to death. With the exception of one, but that was purposely done.
"Painful, isn't it?" Hermione asked Him. "You love them, don't you? Well, now they are all dead. All stabbed to death by your own hands. I will let you decide what to do with whatever life you have left." She turned and walked over to a hidden closet. "As for you, Ginny, you will come with me," she said with a commanding voice compelling the youngest red head to come out of hiding. "If you do as I say, you will live, understand?" she said with a sinister smile. Ginny just nodded. "Good. Now follow."
Together, they walked out of the blood painted Burrow and back to the carriage. Hermione had Ginny enter the carriage first as she watched the Burrows a bit longer. Then, the house erupted into a giant blue flame. She smiled as she looked down at her son and said, "Adelais, imprint this day into your memory. Never forget it. Well, I do suppose you're too young to remember, but no worries." She entered the carriage with the help of her servants.
"Lady Voldemort, to which destination do you desire to go?" the driver asked. The surprise and horror that showed on Ginny's face made Hermione laugh.
"To our castle at once. I have a present I wish to give to my Lord that I think will please him very much." With a crack of the whip, the carriage moved. Hermione smiled. She had her revenge and she enjoyed every bit of it!
He reached the cave entrance and dismounted the Nimbus 2001. He ran inside and looked to his left. He searched carefully as he drew his wand. Then he found it. "Wingardium Leviosa!" he said as he pointed at a rock. Then he guided the rock to press a hidden switch Draco had told him about a week before his death. Draco wished to remain dead and for good reason, but that was a thought for another time. He heard a click and a set of stairs lowered before him. He took the stairs up and found himself before two diverging paths. One led to light; the other led to darkness. Without thinking, he ran into the darkness.
One day he will have to thank Draco for saving his life. He will also have to thank Draco for giving him the confidence he needed to cast away all his doubts. This was the only way he could save Hermione. They both knew it, but there was only one of them that could possibly pull this off. It was him, not Draco. He knew exactly why as he ran down the dark corridor until he saw a feint glow of light up ahead.
When he reached the light, he could see Hermione. "Hermione!" he screamed with all his breath. She did not hear him. As he got closer, he could see she had slashes all over her body. She must have been in there for hours! He wished he could have come here earlier. He ran faster, but then he suddenly crashed into a wall. He hit the ground and rubbed his forehead. It hurt, but he was far more worried about Hermione. "Hermione!" he cried out again as he banged his fist against the wall. She still could not hear him.
He punched the invisible wall and screamed her name again and again. Then he heard her scream as she slashed herself again. He cringed and felt the pain. He took a few steps back, charged at the wall and slammed his shoulder against it. He hit the ground again, but the wall did not budge. He watched and cried as Hermione screamed in pain, agony, loneliness and despair.
He had said those things to her half a year ago to prevent her from ever entering this cave. However he knew his plan backfired the moment he saw the response in her eyes that day. It tore him to pieces that he believed he had done the right thing. He always doubted the decision, but never said a word. This is all his fault. He collapsed to his knees. She will die because of his stupidity.
No. She will not die! He raised his wand and shouted the first spell that came to mind. The wall just absorbed it. He shot a second spell. A third. Fourth. He continued to cast spells until he ran out of spells to try next. If only the wall could absorb him as it did all the other spells, he thought. He fell to his knees again. Despair swarmed him and his body became weak. But he did not give up. Hermione was still alive and needs to be saved. Draco said he was the only—
Then he remembered something Draco said that did not make sense to him before. Now it made perfect sense. He cast away his wand and drew the wand he had taken from the Death Eater he tortured. He raised it and whispered an incantation. Then he pushed the wand against the wall and it rippled like water as the wand sank through.
Hermione woke up again. This time she was not surrounded in darkness. It was quite the opposite. She was surrounded in light. Light that originated from the fire around her. She stood up, but quickly fell over and puked. She remembered what she had done just moments earlier. Wait. Had she done what she thinks she did? She looked around and saw dead bodies scattered around. Most of them were stabbed until they were unrecognizable.
Yes she had. Hadn't she? If she had, why would she be here in the fire herself. Fire? Then she looked around once more. Then, she found the person she was looking for hanging from a noose. "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. What had she done? What had she made Him do? She let out another scream. She fell to the ground. Tears fell uncontrollably and her sobbing did not stop. Pain, anger, sorrow, agony, fear, hatred and despair flowed through her body. When she opened her eyes, she found a knife on the ground. It was soaked in blood. This was the knife she had Him use to kill everyone.
What a fitting end, she thought as she grasped the knife. She lifted it above her head and smiled. This will all be over. She swung the knife downwards.
"YOU STUPID FOOL!" He shouted as loud as he could, but she didn't stop. So he did the first thing that came to his mind. He shot out his left hand and let the knife stab through his hand. He then used all his force to yank the knife free of her grasp. It hurt more than having the entire Fort fall on his back, but at least this time he was doing something stupid to save someone else. No, not just any someone else, he was saving Hermione Granger. He was willing to sacrifice just about anything for her life. The only exception was his own life because he would never hear the end of it from Draco. He had to save her life and live for her sake. He will not leave her alone in this world again. Not when she is in so much pain. Not with her in this state.
He pulled out the knife and tossed it aside. "Hermione!" he called out to her again. This time he could see a feint response. He was finally reaching her.
Hermione fell into the darkness again. The flames were gone. So were the bodies. She was falling again. She had failed to kill herself. Why couldn't this nightmare just end! She wished He was here. He would make everything go away. He would make everything right. Then she heard a feint voice cry out something she could not make out. She focused her mind onto the voice as it cried out once more. "Hermione!" it cried.
Was someone calling her? "Wake up!" there was the voice again. It was so familiar. "Hermione, don't give up!" Where had she heard the voice before? "Don't ever lose hope!" Then she saw a glimmer of light. It shined like a star in the night sky. It blinked again like a star would twinkle. "Hermione!" the voice was louder now. Strength was returning to her. She could move. "Hermione!" she could almost remember the voice, but it was still to feint. She had to get closer. So she swam. She swam towards the star that shined in the darkness around her.
As she got closer, the voice became louder. The star grew larger. The coldness of the darkness faded and she finally felt warmth. Then, she jolted forward as if someone had pulled her close. She felt the warmth of a body beside her.
"Hermione," he spoke softly, "Everything will be alright. I'm here now. I'm here beside you. From this day forth, we shall be together forever. I'm sorry for saying those things to you. This is all my fault. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for shutting you out. I'm sorry. Will you ever forgive me?" Tears now poured down his face. He waited for her to respond, but she did not. Louder, he continued, "I miss you, Hermione. I miss your touch. I miss your smile. I miss your laugh. I miss everything about you, Hermione. Wake up. Wake up and come back to me. Please! I want to hug you again. I want to kiss you on your lips once more. I want to love you like I never did before." He knew he was ranting, but he didn't care. As long as he could hear him, he didn't care. "Yes. I love you, Hermione. I always have. I always will. Come back to me. I need you in my life. You are the flame of my soul. You are the light that destroys the darkness that surrounds me. Let me be the same. Let me love you, Hermione. Let me love you once more. Let us be together again."
He was now sobbing uncontrollably. He did not even try to wipe his tears away. They fell like rain onto the ground. "You're such a crybaby," a feint voice spoke. "And your ranting never stops." Oh how wonderful he felt when he heard that voice. He felt so wonderful that nearly all his tears went away.
"Stupid woman!" he cursed at Hermione, "have you any idea how stupid coming into this cave is?"
"Do you know how stupid you are for coming all the way here to save me?"
"No," he answered as he pulled away. "But I don't care. I came her for you, Hermione. I came her because I love you."
Hermione smiled. She was right. He did make all this go away. He touch, voice and smile made all her hesitation, doubt and fear disappear. "I love you too, Ron." The darkness around them shattered and revealed a small chamber where a crystal mirror was kept. That was the real fourth Horcrux. That was the real mirror of Ravenclaw. This quest was finally over.
Hermione turned back to Ron whose eyes never left her. She lowered her head in embarrassment but Ron lifted her chin up. They were now looking into each others eyes. Ron leaned forward. Hermione did the same. Their lips met and a single tear found its way down each of their cheeks. Finally, they were together. Finally, they could love. Finally, they found happiness.