A/N: TRIGGER WARNINGS ABOUND. Read at your own risk. If you are triggered by ANYTHING, I suggest you turn back now.

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The Retribution

Hermione woke with a jolt. Panic flooded her system as she tried to move, but was only able to struggle. It took what felt like an eternity to remember she wasn't in her bed at the safe house. She was in The Dark Lord's chamber, bound, gagged, and waiting for his return. Tears prickled at her eyes again as she looked around the room. She was still alone, as far as she could tell, and she had fallen to her side from having dozed off. Her entire body was numb from the way she had landed as well as the binds Riddle had left her in.

Another round of tears began to fall as she realized she had soiled herself in her unconscious state.

Fear coursed through her, making her shake and tremble as she heard the door being opened from behind her. One of the slaves from earlier, the ones that had bathed her in the beginning, came to kneel before her. She lifted Hermione into her original kneeling position before she had tipped over and cleaned her up. However, as she looked down, she realized the only part of her that had been cleaned was the mess she'd made out of herself in her slumber.

She watched the girl walk away, retreating to the bathroom. It was when she rejoined the others, watching them fill the tub, that Hermione realized they weren't alone. There were three other women bound in a similar fashion with swathes of fabric over their eyes. They too had been stripped bare and Hermione could tell, even from this distance, they were sobbing and shaking in fear. She wondered if they had been at it so long that their tears were silent now or if a spell hadn't been cast to render them so.

Either way, she could do nothing but watch as each of them received a bath in turn. They were afforded the same care as herself only a few hours prior. The thought alone was enough to make Hermione's head spin. When they had also been scrubbed raw, the entire room smelling of jasmine and amber, they were toweled dry and moved into the room behind Hermione. She presumed the bed when she heard the tell-tale shift of a mattress, but she couldn't see behind her.

What she did see was the three slave women taking their leave of the room. Hermione's breath hitched which caused another round of tears. Whatever was happening next was starting soon. She knew the next time that door opened, it would be Riddle walking through it. She closed her eyes and let her thoughts drift to the reason she was here in the first place. She had to think of a way to get Riddle to let her out of the binds long enough to keep him distracted. Long enough for Draco to plant the dagger somewhere within easy reach for her or for him to do it himself if possible.

She wasn't able to dwell on her fantasies of plunging that dagger through Riddle's tarnished heart before the door opened again and he walked in. Draco was close behind him looking as though nothing had happened to him. The only sign that that was far from the truth was the haunted look in his eyes and the unease on his face. Her eyes raked over his body, asking if a multitude of things. His hand brushed his side where the little pouch was and he gave what she hoped was a nod. If it was, he was telling her there was a still a means to the end.

But if she was hoping for some sort of relief, it never came.

Her gaze flickered to Riddle, finding him staring at her with eyes blackened in their hunger. "I quite like you like this, Mudblood." He chuckled at the way she struggled against her restraints and that her eyes narrowed despite her fear. "It seems I have yet to break you," he murmured. "Good."

She swallowed hard, some of her saliva dripping out from around the gag between her teeth. She felt her cheeks flame and let her eyelids flutter as she squirmed in embarrassment. When she opened her eyes again, Draco was staring at her with utter sorrow and she could see the fight in his eyes as he resisted the urge to help her. She saw him stiffen and flick his gaze to behind her where she knew the three other women were. Saw the way his throat bobbed before he returned his gaze to her. It was clear he hadn't expected anyone else to be in the room.

Knowing that made the panic coursing in her system that much more intense. Tears flowed from the corners of her eyes again as she went over the multitude of reasons Riddle would have brought others into this. She had seen situations from Draco's memories where Riddle liked to take more than one consort at a time, but with how many things had been different about tonight, Hermione could only assume the worst.

As if reading her thoughts, Riddle smirked and reached into his pocket to produce four small vials of a purple potion. "A lust potion worthy of Cupid's own arrows," he said, holding them out for Draco to take. His brow furrowed as he tried to keep from lifting up for them, but failed and snatched them from Riddle's grasp with a grunt of defeat. "One for each of you," he added, nodding his head in the direction of the women beyond Hermione's view. "Drink up."

Draco's hand shook as he tightened his grip on the vials. It was a few moments of trying hard to fight the command before he stalked across the room and out of Hermione's view. She closed her eyes the moment he was out of sight, tears clinging to her lashes as they spilled over the bottom lid.

"A special blend," Riddle said, his voice closer than it had been when Hermione closed her eyes. When she opened them again, he was walking towards her. "Takes effect almost immediately. Awakens the libido and kicks it into overdrive." He smirked as he looked behind her, satisfied with whatever it was that he saw. She cast her eyes to the floor as the sounds of small, feminine moans filled the air. "And it continues to work until the heart can no longer take it."

Hermione went still, a strangled cry emitting from her throat.

He waved his hand and she felt herself spinning around. When she stopped she opened her eyes carefully and wished she hadn't. Instead of facing the door, she was now facing the bed. She had a clear line of sight to the three women who were already under the influence of the potion. They were pawing at each other like lovers while taking turns setting their attention on divesting Draco of his clothes. And as her gaze finally settled on him, it was just in time to see tip the vial to his lips and consume the purple liquid inside.

Riddle sank down to his haunches beside her and grasped her chin, forcing her to look as she started to turn away. "Now you get to watch as he takes each of them over and over again." He moved his face closer to hers, his nose brushing over the shell of her ear making her shiver and cringe at the same time. "How does it feel, Miss Granger?" he began. "To know that your lover will be fucked to death? That the last time he comes won't be with you?"

Her knees shifted forward ever so slightly as the urge to reach Draco became too great to ignore.

The action earned a pleased hum from Riddle against her skin. "I do have one antidote to counteract the damage done from such exertion," he whispered. "Think he can outlast them in a three on one match?"

The image of Draco being pulled onto the bed with the three women was forever ingrained on her mind. She closed her eyes as one woman took his cock into her mouth while the other two took turns shoving their tongues down his throat. She closed her eyes again and squirmed against her restraints.

"Only time will tell," he said. "Care to watch and find out together?"

As he asked, she felt him stand and lift her in turn. She kept her eyes closed, waiting for him to stop moving before she even dared to look. She was already humiliated as it was, she wasn't about to open her eyes now and risk letting her nausea take full effect. He sat down, drawing her into his lap with her back to his chest, skin to skin from him having vanished his clothes in the process, her bound wrists between them. She felt the binds on her legs give way and his length hardening against her rear. She tried not to squirm, but failed, feeling him twitch against her as she did.

A cry escaped her mouth, the sound garbled as it passed around the bar in her mouth. Her eyes snapped open at the hard pinch of something closing around one of her nipples. She looked down to see him placing a clamp around the taut peak. She followed the thin chain that connected it to a twin and cried out again as he repeated the action to her other breast. He tugged the chain making her nearly scream and then she squirmed again, earning a hum of approval that vibrated up the length of her spine.

Hermione blinked against the pain, glad that he hadn't dosed her with pink potion first. She made the mistake of letting her attention wander back to the bed. She regretted the action immediately as she saw Draco amidst the throes of passion with the three women atop the sheets. He was so enraptured in his own climax he wasn't even looking her way anymore. He was completely lost to the lust potion and it made her heart break. It was her fault they were in this mess.

She had been so engrossed in her own misery that she hadn't noticed Riddle readjust her position on his lap. She realized that she was straddling him, still facing away from him, and that her hands were now unbound, but hanging limply at her side. She barely had time to react to her new position before he tugged hard on the chain and thrust upwards until he was nestled tightly in her core.

She cried out from the pain of the clamps on her nipples and of the painful intrusion of his cock. Her body had already set up its natural defenses, allowing him to slide in with little effort; something she wasn't all too pleased with herself about. He kept one arm about her waist, fingers tugging here and there at the chain while the other dropped to her hip to keep her steady. Bile rose up her throat for a moment as she realized in this position, she would have to be the one to move.

As if her current state wasn't degrading enough.

She adjusted her position on his lap, whimpering around the bar as the movement pushed him right against that spot within her. When she could, she leaned forward slightly and moaned at the friction as he surged forward to put his chest flush against her back. The hand at her hip tightened its grip and he pushed himself up. Slowly, she found her rhythm, her hips moving more in a circular motion than a rocking one. The last thing she needed was to rock too far forward and land flat on her face. While she was sure it would give Riddle great pleasure, she had no intention of letting it happen.

She bit down on the bar and continued to move, putting all of her concentration on not falling forward. She refused to focus on the sight before her. Of the way Draco switched from one woman to the next with barely enough time to catch his breath. Of the way his face would contort with every release; the grunts he would make as he spilled his seed inside of them over and over again. Nor would she let herself focus on the rough tugs Riddle would deliver to the chain. The way her body would light on fire when he did. She certainly wouldn't let herself focus on the way her body was chasing after a release of her own when Riddle's hand slipped forward to rub at her clit.

When she came, she felt as if her soul had shattered into a thousand pieces. She screamed and sobbed against the bar, her body trembling and jerking atop Riddle's lap. She barely felt him surge forward, his chest coming up flush with her back. His breath was hot against the curve of her neck as he spoke.

"One down."

His fingers were relentless, never pausing in their effort to bring send her over the edge again. Her body bowed outward, the back of her head colliding with his shoulder behind her. He groaned against her skin and she yelped as his teeth pressed down into her flesh. When he didn't mention anything about a countdown that time, panic set in and she forced herself to focus on the bed.

As cold dread swept through her system, Riddle tugged on the chain again and doubled his efforts in both the pace of his fingers and thrusting up against her. The fog in her mind cleared, if only for a moment and a tremor of fear crept up her spine at the sight of one of the women on the bed. She was on her back, unnaturally still. Her face was towards them, her eyes open and dull as they stared at her without seeing a thing.

The worst part, Hermione decided as she began to crest again, was that the other three were too caught up in one another to notice that one was no longer with them.

Hermione's gaze connected with Draco's and her heart skipped a beat as recognition shone in his eyes. It pushed her over the edge, her body squeezing hard against Riddle who grunted in turn and followed her with his own release. He held her close to him as they continued to jerk from their exertion. His teeth continued to graze against whatever part of her that he could reach. He brought his hand up from between them and the gag disappeared, only to be replaced by his fingers, the flavor of their combined slick coating her tongue.

"Half way there."

Hermione's gaze flicked towards the bed to see another girl draped across the foot of the bed, her body just as unnaturally still as the first. She swallowed around Riddle's fingers, earning a hiss from him. Her gaze moved to Draco and the last girl, completely lost to one another, but in distress.

Riddle withdrew from her mouth, strings of saliva connecting them together until he wiped the mess on her thigh. Hermione's jaw clamped closed, aching from being forced open for so long. She moaned softly as he adjusted himself beneath her, the result of their coupling sliding out past where they were still joined. A groan followed as his fingers found her clit again.

"Please." Her voice was nothing but a croaking whisper. The plea a mix between her body's demand for more and her mind wanting it to be over.

She closed her eyes to the flurry of movements that followed. She felt him lift her up, her head spinning right along with her body above him. As he sank back inside of her, her hands found their way to his chest, digging in at the force of his thrusts. Her eyes flew open in panic at the garbled sounds of pain from behind her. As she tried to turn her head to look, he pulled at the chain, drawing her forward until she was flush against him. Her lips parted at the painful pleasure that coursed through her and she inhaled sharply through a moan as he buried his face against her throat.

"Won't be long now," he murmured, breath warming her skin and making it crawl.

Anger began to overpower all other emotions. Anger at herself for coming up with this plan. Anger at Draco for letting her get her way. Anger at the way her body betrayed her, allowing Riddle's thrusts to bring her over the edge again instead of fighting harder. Anger that her mind entered such a state of bliss as Riddle made her forget about Draco, if even for a moment.

He came with a grunt before his teeth latched onto her skin again. She cried out and dug her nails into his flesh, inflicting pain of her own to him. She sagged against him, her body completely spent. Tears of frustration, anger, and misery flowed freely down her face. Riddle wrapped his arms around her as his cock softened and slipped out of her, the aftermath chasing after him and dripping over both of them.

"We have our victor."

Hermione stumbled as Riddle surged forward, placing them both of their feet. He dragged her by the hair towards the bed where Draco was stroking himself, a pained expression on his face as he watched them approach. With a snap of his fingers, the three bodies disappeared. Riddle spared only a moment before shoving her down onto the bed in their stead.

Draco surged forward to draw her close. She watched as he struggled to refrain, but couldn't help but give into the potion coursing through him as he pinned her down beneath him and sheathed himself inside of her.

"The ant-antidote," she whispered, turning her head to Riddle. Draco's breaths were shallow, as if he couldn't catch his breath. It was the same thing that she had seen in the first woman before she fell limp against the mattress and stared at Hermione with lifeless eyes. "He-"

"If he survives this last one, I will give it to him."

As Riddle spoke, she felt Draco seize above her. His skin was waxen and sweat dripped from his brow. "I can't…" he uttered, shaking his head back and forth.

More panic.

"Y-you have to," she said, reaching up to cup his face. She could barely make out his face from the amount of tears that blurred her vision, but she continued to stare up at him. "Draco, just-"

Knock, knock, knock.

Hermione cried out as Draco collapsed on top of her, his body jerking and twisting in unnatural movements. She screamed, cried, and pleaded for Riddle to administer the antidote, begging for him to save Draco's life. She didn't care that he already told them he was going to kill them both at the end of the night. She just didn't want it to be here and now. If he did, everything they planned for would-

She gasped as Riddle yanked Draco away from her by the hair and dumped the antidote down his throat. He shoved Draco back down once he swallowed the potion, his body lying still next to her. Relief and confusion flooded her senses as she saw his breathing steadily return to normal. She hadn't expected Riddle to actually do it. Slowly, she turned to him, finding a curious expression as he studied her. His attention flickered briefly to the door as the knock sounded again. "When I come back, it will be to collect you for the ritual."

After letting his gaze linger for another moment, snapped his fingers to make his close reappear, and left the room.

Hermione's relief was short lived. Draco's breathing may have regulated, but he wasn't moving. His entire body was still, his skin lacked pigment of any kind, almost matching the platinum of his hair. In fact the more she watched, the less she saw him breathe. Panic had reared its ugly head already and she remained paralyzed with fear. The only thing she could do was watch him lay there beside her until the potion inside of her worked, at least.

The moment it did, she sprang into action. It may not have been as quick as she would have liked, but it was better than lying next to him in a state of panic. She slid off the bed, landing hard on her knees. She cried out as the chain from the clamps still on her nipples caught on the fabric of the bed. With shaking fingers, she reached up to unlatch the clamps and tossed the contraption as far away from her as she could. The pain of the air in the room hitting her aching flesh made her eyes sting with tears, but she ignored it as she searched for the Draco's clothing on the floor.

Her fingers grazed the little bag before she saw it. Frantically she separated it from the other articles of clothing and used what little bit of her magic was stored in her core to enlarge the bag. She shoved her hand inside, scrounging for the vials of potions. The first thing she touched was the hilt of the dagger. She brought it out without hesitation and set it on the bed before returning to the task at hand. She wasn't sure how much time she had left, but judging from the surprise on Riddle's face at the intrusion, it wouldn't be long.

Finding what she needed, she dropped the bag back to the floor and pushed herself up on unsteady legs. She crawled back onto the bed beside Draco and maneuvered him into her lap as best she could. One-by-one, she uncorked the vials and tipped them to his lips. Not sure which one he would need, she gave them all. She knew the risks; that if anything were to happen when she tried her part of this plan, that was it. Game over.

But as long as Riddle's death was one of the outcomes, it wouldn't matter.

She tossed the vials away, barely registering the sound of the glass shattering from elsewhere in the room. She cradled his face between her palms and stared down at him, lightly patting his cheeks in the hopes it would rouse him. She whispered his name over and over again; a prayer to call him back to her.

"I'm sorry," she added, tears spilling down and dripping onto his face as she leaned over him, rocking back and forth. "Wake up. Tell me you told me so. Please. Draco…" She would sell her soul just to see his silver eyes or hear him speak her name one last time. She sobbed harder and held him tight. "I love you, Draco. Stay with me. I can't do this without you. Please wake up. Draco, I need-"

Every single hair on her body stood at attention, letting her know she had seconds to react. She surged forward over Draco to retrieve the dagger and pushed him off of her lap as she dove to hide it under the pillows behind her. The second she returned to a sitting position next to Draco, the door opened and Riddle strode back into the room. He paused at the sight of them, his lips curved into a frown at Draco still lying where he'd left him.

"Shame," Riddle said, continuing his approach. "I was hoping to have him take a front row seat for the ritual." His hand rose and Draco's body lifted with it. Hermione watched as he floated through the hair, landing on the seat she had been on with Riddle not too long ago. "No matter, if he is still alive after I will deal with him then."

Hermione jumped as he slid into view, severing her line of sight on Draco. He extended the same hand that had transported him and crooked his fingers at her. Her eyes widened and her body trembled even more as she stared at it, her gaze slowly dragging up to connect with his again.

"Now, Mudblood."

Slowly, she shuffled forward on her knees. She placed her hand in his, but instead of using it to get to her feet, she tugged him closer and placed her other hand on his chest, her fingers toying with the button. He went completely still at her actions, his eyes darkened, and she felt his heart stutter beneath her touch. She swallowed hard as she stared up at him through her lashes, forcing her brain to shut off so she could do what she came here for.

"Does it have to be right away?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

The corners of his lips twitched. "Time waits for no man."

She let her lips curve upwards, putting on her best seductive smile as her hand pushed upwards to the collar of his shirt. "But you aren't a man," she said, her other hand joining the first to undo the buttons down his shirt.

"What am I?"

A monster.

"A god," she purred, hands sliding up his chest, pushing the shirt from his shoulders.

He grabbed her wrists, the shirt hanging at his elbows. "Not yet."

She gave a slow nod, pressing against his hold in effort to glide her hands back down his chest to the fly of his trousers. He let go, the shirt falling to the floor at his feet. "You want power," she said, her lashes fluttering slightly as she wet her lips. "And you want me."

His eyes narrowed slightly, but she saw the way he clenched his jaw and the extra breath he took as the teeth of his zipper gave way, the sound echoing around them. "How unfortunate I cannot have one without the other." His voice was nothing but a hiss as her hand dipped behind the fabric to grasp his hardened shaft. She drew him out and pumped him steadily, using the moisture that wept from his slit to quicken her pace.

"Then have me," she whispered, leaning in, using one hand on his chest to brace herself. "One more time to tide you over for the rest of eternity." She tightened her grip on him as he thrust against her palm. "Before I'm gone forever."

She watched the debate in his eyes; wondering if having her one more time was worth delaying the ritual. She brought the hand on his chest up until it was lightly wrapped around his neck. She pulled him forward and stretched herself until the gap between them disappeared and their lips sealed together. Her eyes stayed open for a moment to steal a glance at Draco and she squeezed them shut against the worry that rose from his unchanged demeanor.

Riddle removed her other hand from his cock and pushed her back until she was lying on the bed, her head on the pillows. He removed the rest of his clothes and crawled over her, nipping at her skin as he went. He slid into her with ease, an action that both surprised and appalled her. She wasn't sure if it was her body reacting to the current tryst or if the lack of resistance was from their last one. Either way, her body bowed upwards, molding to his as if she belonged there.

He reached for her hands, bringing them one by one over her head until he could hold them with one of his; the other hand bracing himself as he continued to thrust. She shut her eyes and imagined it was Draco above her. That the darkened grey eyes were silver. That the last thing she saw was platinum blond hair instead of dark curls. That the fingers squeezing her wrist belonged to Draco. She bit her tongue to keep from calling his name as she crested again, falling into a void of pleasure. Even as her eyes opened afterwards, she still pictured it was Draco above her.

She tugged on her wrists and summoned what strength she had left to roll them. She was surprised when he allowed her to complete the move, putting her on top. She leaned forward, one hand on his jaw, her thumb on his bottom lip as she took control by moving her hips over him. She waited until she could feel him pulsing and twitching within her in need for release before her other hand moved slowly towards the dagger under the pillow. She let herself come again as she grasped the hilt, wanting to be in as much control as she could be.

His hands tightened on her hips as he took over, thrusting up furiously as he chased his own release. As his pupils went wide and he stilled, his seed spilling inside of her, she drew the dagger out and made her move.

A scream rent the air and it took her a moment to realize it was her own.

Her breathing was labored as she sat up straight, staring down at Riddle. He was still lodged inside of her as he stared up at her with a murderous rage in his eyes. Something wet and warm dripped down from just below her ribs and as she looked down, she saw what it was. The dagger was buried to the hilt in her torso. Large streams of blood flowed freely down her skin, pooling where their bodies were joined. Her hands were covered in her own ichor from having tried to prevent losing in the scuffle.

Unable to keep herself upright, she slumped forward. Instead of landing on Riddle's chest, he flipped them over, putting her on her back. He was no longer inside of her; instead, he was sitting on her thighs, staring down at her with contempt. She cried out weakly as he removed the dagger and tossed it aside.

"Your death was supposed to mean something, Miss Granger."

Her eyes flickered over his shoulder, her breath hitching at what she saw. With tears in her eyes, she looked back at Riddle and whispered, "It will."

Before he could react, Draco brought the dagger down, the tip of it protruding out of Riddle's chest. Right through his heart. Blood trickled from the wound as she saw the realization of his death reach his eyes. His lips parted to say something else, but the light dimmed in his eyes and he slid off of her. By the time he landed on the bed beside her, his body was already starting to decay.

"Hermione-" Draco's voice was distorted as he reached for her with trembling arms.

"We did it," she muttered, her words sounding slurred to her own ears. "I love you," she added, whispering it over and over again as he wrapped his arms around her. She heard him, but nothing he said reached her ears as her eyes fluttered closed and consciousness escaped her.

Draco's panic kicked into overdrive as Hermione closed her eyes. He shook her by the shoulder and screamed her name, but nothing he did roused her. With tears in his eyes, he looked down at the spot where he had watched the Dark Lord shove the dagger into. He had been slowly regaining control of his body and was trying to judge when it would be best to make his move.

It wasn't until he heard her scream that he realized it was too late.

He pressed his fingers against her neck and wept with relief at the feel of her pulse. Even if it was sluggish, it was still there. There was still a chance. He kept wanting to reaching for the potions, remembering each time that she had used them on him. Each time, cursing the both of them for not bringing more.

He knew that if he didn't leave soon, the Death Eaters would find him. They would kill him sight on scene once they discovered their leader dead. He wanted to take Hermione away from this room, but from the extent of her injuries, she wouldn't survive Apparition.

Instead, he shifted her into a better position in his arms and lifted her from the bed. He brought her down to the floor with him so that he wouldn't have to look at the Dark Lord's dead body while he said his goodbyes. He rested his back against the bed and drew his knees up to keep her from sliding forward. He had one hand cupping the back of her head while the other brushed hair from her face.

"Draco?"

"I'm here," he assured her, his fingers stroking her cheek over and over again.

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

Her lashes fluttered and more tears spilled from his eyes as her gaze settled on his. "I love you."

His entire body trembled as he cataloged the way that sounded. "I love you too."

She shivered in his hold and he summoned a blanket to drape over them. "What happens now?" she asked, her voice nothing but a croaking whisper.

He shifted so that her head was resting on his shoulder. He tipped her head back enough so he could pillow their lips together, lingering until she dropped her head back to his shoulder. "Once everything settles, we're getting married."

"No proposal?"

He smoothed his hand down her curls before twisting his family crest from his hand. He lifted her hand and slid the ring on her finger, tears slipping from his cheeks to her skin. "Better?"

"Yes."

He pressed his lips to her temple and held her tight, his heart thumping wildly as she relaxed against him. He choked back a sob as her hand went slack in his and her breathing slowed. "Everyone will be there," he continued. "You're going to be thrice as beautiful as you always are."

"Hermione Malfoy," she whispered, testing it out.

He dragged his lower lip between his teeth to keep it from quivering so much. "Hermione Malfoy," he repeated, his voice cracking.

He heard her draw in a sharp breath and relaxed even more. "I'm scared."

He tightened his hold and dropped his chin to the top of her head. "I'm right here. I've got you."

"Draco…"

"I will love you until the end of time and as far beyond as the gods allow me," he said, using the line she said to him every time they parted ways. "We'll see each other again," he promised. "And I will still love you then too. I'll never stop loving you, Hermione."

It took him a moment to realize that she was no longer with him. That she had succumbed to her injuries before he had finished speaking. He held her tight and begged for her to come back, losing himself in his grief.

It wasn't until he had nothing left to cry out that he pulled himself together. He set her down on the ground gently before he used his wand to clean them both up. When their bodies no longer reflected the horror the Dark Lord had put them through for the last few hours, he redressed them and held her once more before taking his leave of that wretched room.

He allowed himself to feel the tiniest bit of success as he Apparated them back to her safehouse. Had the Dark Lord not truly been dead, he would have been torn to shreds upon trying that method of escape. As it was, he landed in her room and set her on the bed. If he didn't know any better, he would think she was only sleeping. He pressed a kiss to her lips before covering her completely with the blanket.

The Weasley patriarch, his old professor, and Kingsley all stood from their seats at the table when he stepped into view. "It's done," he said, his voice clipped.

The three of them exchanged looks before three sets of eyes became glassy. "What now?" Arthur asked.

"We make sure Hermione's death wasn't in vain. That Voldemort never sees the light of day again," he said, staring at each of them in turn. "Spread the word."

Sensing the finality in his tone and that he needed to be alone, they took their leave.

After a complete breakdown right where he stood, Draco got back to his feet and made his way upstairs again. That night, under the light of the moon, he dug a grave and laid Hermione to rest.

The dawn brought a new era, one full of hope. Hermione would want him to do whatever he could to ensure that it came to fruition. It wasn't until the first rays of the sunrise colored the sky that he finally had the strength to turn away and head back to the safehouse, vowing that he wouldn't let her down.

That when they met again in the afterlife as he promised, she would be proud of the legacy he left in her honor.

A/N: Oh...did I forget to mention this was an unhappily ever after? My bad.

If it makes you feel any better, know that I had literal tears in my eyes while I wrote this last part.

Feel free to yell at me in your reviews and know that I thank you for the read no matter what! Thank you for sticking with this one and I hope it wasn't too dark :)