"What did you do to her?"

Malfoy stared into Voldermort's cold eyes, trying to act strong.

"Nothing. Yet," Voldermort replied.

"Don't hurt her. This is between you and me, Voldermort," Draco said coldly.

"What if I want to, just for a little fun?" Voldermort teased.

It was easy for Draco to find Lord Voldermort. He had waited outside Hermione's aunt's house till dawn, when Voldermort and a few of his followers appeared before him.

"Where is she, you mindless idiot?" Draco spat.

"I would've killed you a long time ago for being rude, but that would've killed the fun.,' Voldermort grinned. "Hmm.. let me think.. where IS she?"

"I have no time for games," Draco snapped.

"Well I do."

Voldermort sighed. "Do you want to see her, boy?"

"Yes," Draco answered firmly. He was surprised at how Voldermort seemed like he was giving in.

"You must really love her…"

"Yes, with all my heart. Please… just bring her to me."

Voldermort gazed at the cold night sky in thought. "Hmm… well, no."

The death eaters laughed at Draco, whispering about his stupidity.

"As if I'll give in to you," Voldemort grinned widely.

Draco stomped his foot in rage and marched up to Voldermort, pulling his wand out. "Let me see her now." The death eaters snickered.

Voldermort grinned. "Look at your pitiful face. Alright, alright. Here you go."

All of a sudden, a big black opened at Hermione flew out, falling on her face hard.

"Hermione!" Draco rushed to her aid and hugged her tightly. Hermione was in a terrible shape – her hair was messed up, her lips were bleeding, one of her eyes was circled in a black ring and she had several knife cuts on her wrists.

"Draco?" Hermione replied weakly.

"You sick bastards! What have you done to her!" Draco yelled.

"Respect me, boy. I could finish off the both of you if you don't learn your manners. Gosh, what did Lucius teach you?" Voldermort said.

"I'm not afraid of you. I'll fight you!" Draco challenged.

"Oho!" Voldermort said. "Hear hear! This boy wants to fight me!" Voldermort's followers grinned, some shaking their heads. "Well, Draco, I take that challenge."

"Right here.. right now?" Draco said, unsure. "There are muggles around here.

"What's your point?" Voldermort said, taking out his wand in style. He smoothly cleaned it on his robes and gracefully lifted it in the air. "Positions."

Draco nervously walked a few feet in front of Voldermort and aimed his wand at him.

"Another boring match. It's too predictable," a death eater said.

"I'm already falling asleep," another replied. Draco tried to ignore them, resisting the urge to give them a good hex.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Voldermort confirmed.

"Never been so sure in my life," Draco replied confidently.

"Fool," Voldermort muttered under his breath. And the next thing Draco knew, he was on the ground, spitting out blood.

"That wasn't fair! I wasn't ready!" Draco yelled.

"Who said we were going to play fair?" Voldermort pointed his wand at Draco and grinned. "This is way too easy."

Draco grabbed his wand and pointed it at Voldermort. " Imp-.."

Before Draco could finish chanting his spell, Voldemort hexed him again. Draco fell to the ground, choking. He could feel his insides burning.

"Get up, boy. You're embarrassing yourself," Voldermort said.

Draco tried his best, but he couldn't. He laid on the ground helplessly, hoping for a miracle. He could hear Voldermort's followers snickering in the distance.

"Nobody's coming to save you, Draco."

Voldermort raised his wand one final time, his eyes wild like a madman. "Avada-"

"Expelliarmus!" Hermione screamed. Voldermort's wand flew out of his hand and hit the ground yards away.

"The clever girl has awoken. Take care of her Ruggen," Voldermort ordered. One of the death eaters hurried over to Hermione and pinned her down.

"Teenagers these days are so stubborn. Avada Kedavra."

Before Hermione could blink, Draco was gone.

"No," she said shortly. She refused to accept the fact that Draco was… was… gone.

Forever.

NO.

Hermione struggled out of Ruggen's grip and ran to Draco.

"No, Draco.."

"Aww, you didn't even get to tell him you loved him," Voldermort mocked.

"Please wake up…" Hermione pleaded. She shook him hard. "Please…"

"No point trying, girl. He's gone."

"Please, Draco…" she begged desperately.

"And now, you'll be gone as well. No point begging for life."

Hermione, crying a river, coldly turned to Voldermort. "No."

"No what?" Voldermort asked, slightly confused.

"I may die, lose in this battle, but I am most certainly not a coward, and I will not beg," Hermione said loudly. "I will not a die pleading to a disgusting creature like yourself."

"How dare you talk to the Dark Lord like that!" the death eaters started to yell, pulling out their wands.

"No, stay back," Voldermort ordered. "She's mine. You think you're so great, don't you, Miss Granger?"

Hermione glared at Voldermort. "Maybe I'm not great, but I'm definitely a better person than you are."

"No time for chat, master. Let's just murder her now!" Ruggen said, a hungry look in his eyes.

"Be quiet. Miss Granger, if you would please stand up," Voldermort said. Hermione stood up and took out her wand. "Fight me."

A sudden burst of light shone from Hermione's wand, the same time Voldermort's had. The two colors of red and blue collided in between them, causing the dark atmosphere at the graveyard seem so much brighter. Hermione closed her eyes and thought about her school, her friends, her parents, and Draco. She would see them again – she would not allow herself to die in the cemetery in front of a man with no heart. And by that, she was winning the duel. Her bright red light shone with power and before anyone could blink their eyes, it passed through Voldermort's body. Voldemort dropped his wand, gasping desperately for air. Had he lost?

He choked, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. His eyes turned black as he fell to the ground and rolled on his back, his body twisted in an odd position. Hermione would've smiled if she wasn't surrounded by death eaters and a dead boy. She had done it. It would take Voldermort a lot of time to regain his strength, once she had stripped him off it.

"Who else wants a try at that?" Hermione asked, turning to the death eaters. They took a step back in fear.

"Let's go," Ruggen said, and they disappeared, leaving Hermione alone with Draco's body. She leaned down and lifted his head.

"They're gone, Draco. We're free now," she said to him, although she knew he couldn't hear her.

"It's over."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Draco Malfoy was a good man. He was never like his father – and although he sometimes seemed to make you think nothing good of him, he always had a great side of him we should use as an example. His death was an unfortunate tragedy, but although he no longer can be seen with our eyes – his memory stays forever."

The students of Hogwarts clapped at Dumbledore's speech, standing up in respect to Draco's death. They were assembled in the great hall, two days after the return of Hermione and Draco's body.

"And as for Hermione – her bravery will, as well, not be forgotten. To overcome her fears and to fight Lord Voldermort (half of the students shuddered at the sound of that name) needs a great deal of courage, hope, and most importantly, love. Take my words to the grave – love can overcome anything."

Everyone clapped again, with people hugging Hermione and congratulating her. She tried to smile, but she had no such luck. She could not overcome the fact that Draco was gone. She could no longer hear his voice, hold him close, kiss those lips… he had moved on now, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Cheer up, Hermione. At least you returned safe," Ron said, trying to make Hermione feel better.

"Yes, but…"

"No buts. Just be happy that Draco's in a better place, and that you're far from any sort of danger, alright?"

"Oh, alright," Hermione gave in and began to feast.

After all, she had defeated Voldermort.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"That foolish mudblood actually thought she killed me!" Voldemort laughed.

Ruggen laughed as well. "She's just a little girl, my lord. She's stupid." He took out his wand and began to heal Voldermort's wounds.

"I'm coming, Miss Granger. I'm coming to get you."

THE END.

Okay, so I edited it. Not that big a difference, though. I read back what I wrote before and OMG that was horrible. I totally apologize! So, read up.

Zarroc : Thanks for the idea about the epilogue. I decided to put it in this chapter, though. Thank ya so much! You rock!

Love,

Chelsea Felton.