A/N: Hey everyone. Just a few things to address before I go on. The chapter number for the last chapter was messed up. This is the only chapter six. It is also the last chapter. I realize that Obliviate didn't get nearly as much attention this go around and that is just fine with me. It is a story I can be proud of now. I hope that anyone who goes looking for a decent Hermione/Goyle story can say they found at least one. Thanks to everyone who reviewed both posts. Happy reading.

Chapter Six

Hermione's Christmas holiday was obviously ruined. She had tried to write a letter to Harry and Ron explaining what happened, but could already hear what they would say. 'typical Slytherin' 'we knew he would only hurt you'. She had no one to turn to. Her parents could only understand so much.

As Hermione walked into the great hall for dinner their first night back she kept her eyes firmly on the Gryffindor table. She had no desire to see him or speak to him. Of all the traits Slytherins were rumored to have, nobility was not one of them. Why couldn't he just trust her to make her own decisions? She sat in between Harry and Ron as usual. She would have to tell them eventually, but now was not the time. She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Harry's voice.

"Goyle is looking at you. Hermione why is he speaking to Malfoy and Crabbe? What happened?" Even as those last two words were spoken the tears had started to roll down her cheeks. She had fought these tears for a week, but it is always harder to ignore something when you don't have to acknowledge its existence.

"Greg and I broke up. He got his memory back and said we couldn't be together because he was destined to be marked. He said that he had always loved me, but knew better than to act on it." She rested her head on the table and just let the silent tears fall. If she had to cry in the great hall it would be as low profile as possible. She felt Harry's strong hand caressing her back in soothing circles.

"Hermione, you know he is doing this for you, right? I know exactly how he feels. He thinks he needs to protect you. If you stay at arms length he can't feel responsible." there was so much emotion behind his eyes, it almost frightened her.

"Harry, do you hear how yourself? You refuse to live and love because you fear guilt. First of all, it's called free will. If someone loves you, they do it on their own accord and there isn't much you can do to stop that. I don't know why you feel you need to protect us, but it should be our damn decision, not yours. It is our lives at stake!" she was letting out all of her pent up emotion on Harry. That is exactly what she dreamed of saying to Greg. "Death is a pivotal part of life. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can enjoy what time you have." With that she got up and walked out of the hall. Not noticing just how many eyes had been on her through her whole discussion.

Greg had heard every word of Hermione's fight with Harry. It didn't sink in until much later that she had been speaking to him as well. He spent the rest of the night considering her words. Even if he reconsidered their relationship, she couldn't love him the way he was now. He was weak and an utter hypocrite. Who could love that? She deserved so much better. She deserved someone like Harry; noble, intelligent, loyal, fair. All of the qualities she possessed herself, all of the reasons why he loved her. He couldn't take away her chance at what she really deserved. So he reserved himself to preparing himself mentally for his birthday. He was to receive the mark on his 18th birthday. He didn't believe in the Dark Lord's quest, but to not comply meant death. If the Dark Lord didn't kill him, his father certainly would. His sanity came in the thought that he had saved the mind of the one who could piece it all together. Somehow, he knew that Hermione would play a huge role in the final battle. She was too far in and much too smart not to.

0o0

Four months passed. Hermione was studying like crazy while helping Harry prepare for the final battle. The school had their own preparing to do as well. As Head Girl, she had spent many nights up with the Headmaster and McGonnagol devising a way of self defense for the students and the building. It was said that Voldemort and his vast army were preparing for an attack on Hogwarts. When it would be and just how vast that army was, remained unknown. It seemed that her words had a profound affect on Harry. He looked as though a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. She was glad that her outburst had done some good. Greg, apparently, hadn't been listening. They still hadn't acknowledged each other's existence. Not once had their eyes met in four months. Considering they had three classes together, that was quite a feat. While on her way to dinner Dumbledore caught up with her. He had been running down the halls.

"Miss Granger, it is time. Please gather your groups and meet in the Great Hall. Harry and Ron have already been informed." she stopped dead and looked around her. It was as though she was seeing everything for the first time because in a few hours it could all be gone. She broke into a run and did the spell that Dumbledore had taught her to call her two groups to her. Within a few moments there were twenty 1st through 4th years in front of her, looking petrified.

"Ok, every one, we have done this a million times. This should be no different. I know you are scared, but let's give this our best shot. You have to feel your magic through your pain. Now, let's go down to the great hall." She led them quickly through the halls and even used a secret passage to get from the fifth to the second floor. As they entered the great hall. Every seventh year Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff had a small group of students surrounding them. They had been training groups, but the younger students said they wanted to fight as well. They didn't want to hide. Most of their families had been directly affected by the war and this was not an opportunity they were willing to pass up. There were also hundreds of Aurors lining the walls. If she had to guess, she would say they would be vastly outnumbered, but numbers don't win a battle. Unsurprisingly, half of the seventh year Slytherins were missing. Hermione looked for Greg, praying he would be somewhere in the hall, but couldn't find him. Suddenly, the sky turned a sickening red. A few first years screamed. Hermione was taken out of her thoughts. "Ok, positions. Wands out." There were people running everywhere, trying to get to their assigned spots. As everyone was in place, the ground started to quake. It wasn't profound, just noticeable. 'Giants.' Hermione thought.

0o0

Hours later, Hermione found herself in a second floor corridor. She was surrounded by death eaters and Lord Voldemort stood in front of her. She wiped the blood off her lip and rose from the ground.

"Crucio" she doubled over in pain. Suddenly, it stopped.

"Now, mud blood, you have caused me much grief. I assure you, you will die slowly, but before you die; any last words?"

Again she pulled herself off the ground and took a step towards him. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she saw Harry and Ron round the corner. She gave them a discreet nod and spoke, her voice unwavering.

"Coward is the only one that comes to mind. You have spent your whole life trying to escape the inevitable and ruining lives on behalf of a cause that you, yourself, wouldn't die for. You have your 'Faithful servants' do that part for you. You cause so much death yet it is the one thing you fear. Hyp-"

"Avada Kadavra!" Voldemort's voice rang through the corridor as Hermion'es body fell to the floor.

"Avada Kadavra!" echoed again through the halls and yet another body fell. Lucius Malfoy watched with wide eyes as his master was defeated. He looked up to meet eyes with Harry Potter. Harry was distracted for a moment as his eyes grazed over Hermione's lifeless body and tears started to build in his eyes, but none got the chance to fall properly.

"Avada Kadavra" rang out for the third, but not final time. The Boy Who Lived was caught off guard fell at the foot of his nemesis.

2 months later

He kneeled slowly in front of a stone among many. He was so happy to be free, yet sorrow consumed him. After a trial, Greg was released. Although he had accepted the mark, he had turned in mid battle and helped Aurors kill many death eaters. 'But not enough.' he thought bitterly. Harry had won, but at a cost. He glanced at the stone next to him and saw Harry's name in gold. Ron, the only surviving member of the Golden Trio, had told him the story of his best friends death. Greg took pride in the fact that he was one of very few privileged with the tale. Hermione had played the pivotal part he had saved her for. She distracted Voldemort and his followers just long enough to catch them unawares. His eyes turned back to the stone directly in front of him.

"I love you, Hermione." slowly, tears started to drip down his cheeks. Greg looked up at the name on the stone. He traced each letter with a trembling finger. Under her name was her birthday along with her day of death and an inscription which read: To fear death is to fear life. He got to his feet and took one last look at the marble and ground beneath it.

But when ye come and all the flowers dying. If I am dead as dead I well may be. You'll come and find the place where I am lying and kneel and say an Ave there for me. And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me. And all my grave will warmer sweeter be. For you will bend and tell me that you love me and I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

End

A/N: So please don't hurt me. I got my point across as happily as possible. The song used is an Irish folk song, Danny Boy. Review. aLtO