BUT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DIE, DRACO?

Hi there! So… at last… my favourite part of the story. I hope you'll enjoy it,too… Oh, and don't be shy… leave a review!

lately i'm constantly seeing you in my dreams / seemed like a vision that you're saying goodbye / you were holding me tightly like you wouldn't ever want to let go / when i woke up, the next thing i saw was you breaking my heart -- "regrets"

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CHAPTER FIVE: In the Bitter Claws of Fate

Laughing.

Laughing of intense delight ensued all throughout the grounds.

Hermione couldn't see the Order's headquarters any more. She was transported somewhere else – summoned, like the other Order members. And with passionate hate came the force of extreme fear building up inside her. She hadn't heard that laugh before but she knew – something so cruel, so evil… there couldn't be no mistaking it. Her vision slowly cleared and as it adjusted to the dark night. She began recognising figures – hooded people around her – Death Eaters everywhere. Her heart started beating its way out of her chest. She was surrounded. Defenceless. And without a doubt, in the presence of the vilest wizard ever to have existed.

And as if the insanity she was facing now wasn't enough, a voice spoke – hissing at the same time. "Give your guest a proper welcome, Draco." It was the Dark Lord himself coming into the moonlight where his snake-like face was silhouetted. And so, behind him came Draco out of the shadows – wand grasped in his right hand.

Draco took this as a signal and moved towards Hermione with laboured steps as if his every single stride was deeply thought of… like hunting. Though, he didn't seem like he was sneaking on a prey; he approached her only carefully – every move of his body deliberate. He knew that several paces behind was Voldemort watching him; savouring every second of this fateful night. Yet he didn't take his eyes off Hermione. And she didn't turn away either as if challenging him to make his move if he dared to.

But Draco was only halfway towards her when she stepped back in a gasp as suddenly, Voldemort disappeared from behind Draco and reappeared just beside her that she could feel his hissing breath as he spoke… like a devil whispering in her ear. "Why are you so frightened, Little Muggle?"

Hermione turned her eyes away, avoiding to look at his snake-like features. She felt bound even though no magic had been cast on her. And screaming from inside her head, "Where are my parents?" burst out of her mouth, shouting at no one. "Where did you take them?" she yelled louder, her voice choking dry.

"There was no use for them here," Voldemort snapped, strutting impatiently around and then casually said, as it didn't matter at all to him, "so they're disposed off –" waving a hand.

"What?!" Hermione's voice was glaringly traced with shock and complete distaste. Her knees suddenly started to betray her when Voldemort laughed like a little kid, who then said, "You're so gullible."

Yet, Hermione began to weep and focused on Draco instead. "Where are they?" she said; her voice almost pleading.

Draco took a second to glance at Voldemort and then back at Hermione. His face was as indifferent as though he walked through the halls of Hogwarts. And finally, "They're not here," he said. Taking this, Hermione didn't know whether to shout or cry… Where are they? Where are they? kept the desperate voice in her head.

"Now, Draco." Voldemort stepped back from Hermione to make way for Draco. It was a signal. Draco now knew what he should do.

It was now.

It was the time to make himself worth of the Dark Lord.

"Perhaps…" yet another voice interrupted. Hermione saw the shadow that stirred in the background. His face was masked like the others but she knew that voice – the voice of a betrayer. "…it would be even more fulfilling if the Mudblood… is handed her wand."

"No."

It wasn't Voldemort – who so liked it if Hermione would drop dead right then. It was Draco who spoke the word so suddenly.

And this pleased the Dark Lord who turned to Draco and smiled in agreement. "A Muggle… does not do magic. But to be fair," he paused, sniggering like a little demon child. "Draco… why don't you say a proper farewell?" he said before laughing out loud ending with, "Now, don't keep me waiting long."

Draco nodded and Voldemort stepped back to watch. He then continued to walk towards Hermione. She had her eyes closed now but he stared straight at her, nevertheless. It felt to him as though she was the one carrying him to walk; because he very well couldn't feel that he was in control of his feet any longer. He stopped only as a few inches of space were in between them. He remained his gaze, almost unblinking as if he was trying to reach into her mind. And then without warning, even if for a few seconds, they saw the same scene play in their heads.

"But are you prepared to die, Draco?"

His face fell at once as if she just asked him to incinerate himself to ashes. And as the silence hung between them, he stirred and looked at her straight in the eyes, and said slowly, "Who prepares to die, Granger?"

And she remained unspeaking.

For a fraction of a second, Hermione felt her whole system shut down. She opened her eyes and found herself looking straight into Draco's eyes. Her expression suddenly changed into questioning and pleading. It was clear to her now what he was going to do. She shook her head and pleaded, "No…" Yet, he stood unmoved seemingly cold and apathetic.

Draco only broke his gaze as he turned his eyes towards Voldemort and at the Death Eaters. And then… back at her. He leaned over Hermione and she felt his breath rushing across her ear then fading into the night; and for a still moment that seemed to have lasted longer than it did, he showed them what they wanted to see… a kiss on the cheek from one's enemy – a toast to her demise. And as if her skin was made of acid, he pulled away, turned around, and then walked away, gripping his wand tighter in his hand like he was getting ready. Ten paces after, he spun around again and faced Hermione – wand pointing straight to her heart.

"No!" Hermione yelled in agony. "Draco, this doesn't have to happen," she said. She blocked out everything else. She forgot she was being surrounded by the Death Eaters… forgot that Voldemort was there, too. She just stared straight at him as if the world had shrunk into the two of them.

Nonetheless, Voldemort found this amusing and laughed, turning to his Death Eaters. "Oh! And she begs!"

Hermione watched as Draco glanced towards Voldemort's way and at the masked Death Eater stirring in the shadows – who stepped forwards, uneasy, and gazing at him meaningly. But Draco ignored the Death Eater as if saying to let him do what he was supposed to do.

"Draco," Voldemort called and then in an evil teasing tone said, "we're waiting."

Draco's heart was pumping like it was trying to come out of his chest. He was going to do it. The killing curse. He was supposed to. It was the only way. And thus, surrendering both their chances into the hands of this ill-fated destiny, he closed his eyes and shouted, "Avada Kedavra!"

"Hermione!"

A voice yelled from behind Draco just when a jet of green light shot from the end of Draco's wand and hit Hermione square in the chest. It was when she was blasted into the air and fell slowly backwards – away from him, the Death Eaters… and Voldemort – that Draco and everyone else looked around to see…

Remus, Tonks, and other members of the Order of the Phoenix – a fair few number of them with Harry, who shouted Hermione's name, together with the other Weasleys including Ginny and – Draco saw the glaring hate in his eyes – Ron. They all stood stunned shocked watching Draco kill Hermione. They were too late.

The rage in Harry overpowered all his senses. He couldn't hear anything. He couldn't feel touch or the icy gushes of wind. He couldn't even see clearly… all he could do was to lead everyone behind him charging towards the Death Eaters and his life's nemesis – Voldemort.

Meanwhile, Draco breathed in air like he had just surfaced from the water. He sank to his knees as he watched Harry and Ron – the people who would very well kill him now.

And as they charged towards him, Voldemort laughed when all the intruders were thrown back like they just walked into a solid wall. He laughed and watched them scurry up to their feet. And he sneered in front of them all, without even a wand in hand.

There was a barrier that the Order couldn't penetrate. And the same barrier serving as their invisible fortress. "You're not welcome here, Harry Potter. This place is for friends and… guests… This occasion is not about you. I'll deal with you later… when you're less… angry." He laughed again knowing that this was sending every nerve in Harry's body on edge. "This night is for our newest comrade…" he stepped aside and extended his hand pointing at… "Draco Malfoy."

Harry didn't want to listen to him. He didn't want to listen to anyone. He just wanted one thing… "I will kill you! I will kill you!" he shouted at Voldemort and at Draco; as, beside him, Ron stood frozen staring at Hermione's body lying motionless at a distance.

The Order members started bellowing spells to break the barrier but everything seemed to bounce off of the wall. And Voldemort only celebrated more as he heard the chorus of spells like music to his ears. "That won't do anything, Harry Potter!" he yelled in impatience. "It's too late for your Mudblood friend. You really have no business here –"

"Shut up!"

"How rude… Nevertheless, you're very much welcome to stay and watch as I brand the Dark Mark on Draco's arm." Voldemort then turned his back on them, pulling out his wand while walking slowly to Draco, who was still on his knees. "Your arm, Draco," he said, extending his hand to accept.

Without a word, Draco offered his hand as he tried to block the thundering anger out of Harry in the distance. "You murderer! I will kill you!"

"Don't pay any attention to them, Draco," Voldemort called on him when his eyes strayed towards Harry and his friends. "They don't know better."

Voldemort took Draco's hand and raised it up. Draco noticed that the faded serrated lines on his arm were now more visible looking like newly-healed cuts. But Voldemort ignored these and buried his wand on Draco's forearm.

Outside, the Orders were still banging on the barrier as Voldemort recited the spell to impress on Draco's skin the Dark Mark. Harry was slowly straining his energy alternately kicking, banging, and screaming various spells to penetrate the shield Voldemort had conjured. He was becoming desperate. "Harry," a solemn voice tried to call him back to himself. "Harry." He felt someone grasp his arm and found Ginny standing beside him. "Harry, look," she said, as she pointed towards the ground with her wand lit at the tip. "That's blood," she continued. But Harry only gazed at her – disorientated and confused.

Ginny looked meaningly at Harry. "Your blood runs in his blood now… that means, you're connected to him as he is also connected with his Death Eaters."

Harry nodded.

Voldemort let go of Draco's arm. He stepped back and watched the mark slowly materialising on Draco's skin. However, the Dark mark was but a shadow on Draco when the traces of the cuts on his forearm suddenly started opening – like they were healing backwards – until they looked clearly like freshly cut self-inflicted wounds. And then they started bleeding… while the Dark Mark was slowly fading… And he kept on bleeding… and bleeding.

Voldemort's sneers turned into displeasure. When the Dark Mark couldn't be imprinted on Draco's skin… he realised what was happening. "You… a coward… just – like – your… father." He immediately left Draco and walked towards Hermione's body. But Draco struggled to get up and come after him.

"No!" Draco shouted. "She's dead! I killed her! Leave her!"

But Voldemort got as close to Hermione as to touch her face with his feet… like some filthy cockroach lying dead on the ground. He looked seemingly satisfied but his face still traced the suspicion that something not right was happening. Yet, he didn't say another word to Draco when one of the Death Eaters called out, "My Lord." He turned and saw that Harry and the rest of the Order had already penetrated the fortress they had conjured.

The other members of the Order began fighting with the Death Eaters. While Harry, pointing his wand straight at Voldemort, didn't waste a second and bellowed a spell.

Unfortunately, Voldemort was quick enough to shield himself. "You are as stubborn as your father, Harry Potter," he sneered. But Voldemort didn't stay. He, then, Disapparated leaving everyone behind. To Harry's frustration, a Death Eater Apparated beside Draco and vanished thereafter, before he could cast any spell on them.

…

A stunning silence followed the leaving of Voldemort followed by the Death Eaters. It sounded like the calm after a storm. Nothing was left but the ruin that was…

…Harry looked down…

Hermione…

…still lying motionless on the ground.

For a while, he couldn't do anything but stare at her pale skin against the moonlight. He didn't even dare touch her for he knew how she would feel – cold and stiff. And all he could hope for was that this was all a dream. A very… very… dreadful nightmare.

In the rush, Harry blankly moved aside as someone walked past him. "Hermione?" It was Tonks; now kneeling beside Hermione, checking for any vital signs.

After a while, Tonks looked up at Harry. She heaved a sigh. And the expression on her face told him what he needed to know.

And he understood.

He turned away and breathed in like he was drowning. He caught Ron's eye who was watching him from a distance. And he, too, understood. He choked at the lump that formed in his throat and he wanted to open the face of the earth just so… he could bring Voldemort into his demise even if it meant he would personally escort him into the mouth of hell.

Third time.

This is the last straw.

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it had already dried your eyes / that not a tear has fallen / and made you forget / what one must feel to cry -- "bitter"

Well? What do you think? A bit morbid I suppose. But as I said… I like it. Review! Review!