A/N: Okay. How many of you are thinking "Did she really update or am I dreaming?" ? Well I really did update. Sorry for the long wait guys. But I really hope this chapter makes up for it. This is the longest chapter so far...Okay yeah. I will stop babbling and let you read. Enjoy!
Disclaimer : Do I have to even say it?
GONE
Poppy Pomfrey was trying to get some sleep when she heard it. Anyone else would have missed it but a trained ear like hers could not. Shuffling, then a dull thud followed by complete silence. It could only mean one thing. Someone has collapsed – she thought, getting up hurriedly. She came out of her living quarters and then remembered that there was no one in the infirmary that day. "Oh God!" – She gasped, realisation dawning upon her.
She pulled apart the curtains to Hermione's room hastily. The room was dark and the window was wide open letting in cool air. The moon was slightly obscured by the clouds and hence, the room was only lighted slightly. But even in that darkness, Poppy could still see a figure lying motionless on the ground.
"Hermione, no..." – She said shakily, checking her vitals.
Much to the mediwitch's dismay, Hermione's breathing was shallow and her heartbeat was slowing down.
"Levicorpus!" – She pointed her wand towards the unconscious girl and levitated her onto the bed. Then, she sprinted towards the Headmaster's office, truly regretting not being able to cast the patronus charm.
Harry Potter was retiring for the night after reviewing some of the important case files. Being the Head of the Auror Department was definitely not easy but somehow, he managed.
"And I thought the assignments given at Hogwarts were tough." – He chuckled.
He got into bed and dimmed the lights, thinking about a lot of different things, or people really. Ginny, his girlfriend, had completed her education at Hogwarts last year and now, she was a professional Quidditch player, more specifically, the seeker for the Hollyhead Harpies.
Merlin, it killed him to keep her in the dark about Hermione. The Weasley family was still depressed about Hermione's disappearance, not knowing about her escape. Dumbledore had really put Ron and Harry in a tough position. They still had to pretend that Hermione was missing.
"It's better if lesser people know about her." – He reminded himself.
Then, something else creeped into his mind. This thought had been bothering him for quite sometime. And it was this – the Death Eaters activity seemed to be non-existent after Hermione's escape. Were they planning something huge? Harry hoped not.
"All I have to do is get hold of Rodulphus, Yaxley and the Carrow twins." – He muttered – "They are leading them."
That much was obvious since it was the capture of these four Death Eaters that had triggered the attack on Azkaban. Harry would never ever forget that day. It was the day Hermione had been taken and he had no intention of letting history repeat itself.
"I have to get some sleep." – Harry muttered, closing his eyes. But just then, the intruder alarms of his Manor went off. Someone had tried to apparate in. Harry jumped up and pulled out his wand. By the time he reached downstairs, Kreacher had opened the door and Albus Dumbledore was standing there.
Dumbledore at 'this' time of the night? Something was definitely wrong. The Hogwarts Headmaster is not the kind of man to go around setting off alarms in the houses of his students. That too at this time. – He thought, panicking.
"Professor Dumbledore?! Is everything alright?" – Harry said, trying to keep his voice calm but failing miserably – "Is 'Hermione' alright?!"
"I am afraid not. Miss Granger's condition had become quite bad recently." – Dumbledore was wearing an unreadable expression on his face.
"What?! But she was okay this afternoon! What happened?!" – Harry shouted.
"I will explain at Hogwarts. We need to get Mr. Weasley as well, I assume. So, we will visit the Weasley household first, Harry. "
Harry could only nod. "Kreacher, get my cloak."
"Yes Master." – was the short reply.
As soon as his cloak was brought, Harry and Dumbledore walked swiftly to the apparition point and apparated away.
The Weasley household was dimly lit indicating that all the inhabitants were fast asleep. But not for very long. Ronald Weasley was awakened from his deep slumber by a loud banging on the door.
"Whazzapennin?!" – He shouted groggily, reaching for his wand. – "Who is it?!"
"Ron! Open up!" – His mum shouted. "Harry is here, asking for you!"
Harry at this time? Grabbing his cloak, he unlocked the door.
"What are you doing here, Harry? At 'this' time?" – Ron hissed as his mum pulled him downstairs.
"We need to leave now." – Harry said, running his hand through his jet-black hair.
"Right now?!" – Arthur Weasley spoke up, looking agitated.
"Where are you going?!" – Molly Weasley looked ready to burst into tears. Obviously, no mother would want her child near danger. And to think that her son, as an Auror, had to face it head-on everyday. Merlin knew she hated his job.
"Azkaban breakout case. We may have a lead. Need to leave right now. Ron?" – Harry outlined, motioning towards the door.
Ron suddenly became alert. 'Azkaban breakout case' had become their codeword for Hermione now. But the Weasley clan (except Ron) did not need to know that right now.
"Let's go." – Ron nodded tersely.
"Oh! Be safe both of you." – Molly hugged them, closing the front door.
As soon as they reached the apparition point, Ron turned towards his best friend. "What's going on? Is Hermione okay?"
"No time to explain. Hermione's condition worsened. To Hogwarts. Now!"
Hermione? Oh no... Why is it always her? Ron was already feeling sick as he turned on the spot with a clear picture of his School in his mind.
Draco Malfoy woke up with a start. He groaned inwardly when he realised that his palms and forehead were sweaty. I had a nightmare. – He thought, reaching for a glass of cool water on his bedside table. Ever since the War, Draco's sleep had been ruined by the terrifying dreams. Horrifying glimpses of the War. Students – his classmates – being tortured, maimed and even killed. And the one that occurred the most, was the one he 'dreaded' the most – the ones including Hermione.
Sometimes he would be too scared to go to sleep. And even if he never admitted this to anyone, 'she' knew. She would slip him Dreamless Draught potion and let him stay over at her house. She even came over to his house. His own house and not the Manor, of course. Draco knew what kinds of memories were attached with this Manor and did not want her to recall them. And because of her care and comfort, those nightmares had decreased dramatically.
But then it had come back with full force since Hermione had been taken captive and had not receded yet. It was always about Hermione somehow getting 'hurt' fatally. And when he would wake up panting, he headed straight for his bathroom and would cry out of fear of losing her. Of course no one ever heard him except himself. But tonight, the dream was kind of different. Draco laid back down as he recollected bits and pieces of his dream.
"I love you, Hermione." – Draco whispered, looking Hermione straight in her eyes. "I really do."
"I love you too, Draco." – Hermione smiled, moving closer.
They were standing in a vast field of barley. The place was very quiet and the stalks of barley swayed under the influence of the cool wind. The moon was shining bright, covering everything its light touched, in a silvery hue. And there the two stood. Staring intensely at each other.
"I need it now, Draco." – Hermione finally stated, motioning to Draco.
Draco simply nodded and reached into his pocket to pull something out. The object glistened in the moonlight as he placed it on her outstretched hand. It was a dagger. A silver one with jewels encrusted on the handle. A very beautiful dagger. But its beauty did nothing to hide its purpose.
"Remember Draco. No matter what I will always love you."
With each word, she raised the dagger higher and when she finished speaking, she plunged it into her stomach. Then, she slowly pulled it out. It was dripping red with her blood.
"Draco." – That was all she could manage before crumpling down in a bloody heap.
Draco opened his eyes hurriedly. He had no idea why he had this dream but something was definitely not right. And the fact that disturbed him the most was that 'HE' was the one who had handed her the dagger. The dagger with which she... Oh Merlin. The thought itself was too horrific. But what did that dream mean? Did it have any significance?
"No. Of course it didn't." – He scoffed.
He was about to reach for the Dreamless Draught vial when he heard a loud sound. The intruder alarms! – Draco thought, panicking.
Grabbing his wand, Draco rushed downstairs. The man in the doorway was the last person he was expecting at this time.
"Professor Dumbledore?! What in earth are you doing here?!" – Draco said, alarm evident on his face. Then, he remembered Hermione. – "Oh Salazar! Please tell me Hermione's okay!"
"I am afraid not, Mr. Malfoy. We need to leave now." – Dumbledore stated with a very grave expression on his face.
"Felsh! My cloak!" – Draco shouted. Immediately, his elf popped beside him with the garment.
As soon as he fastened his cloak onto himself, Draco looked at Dumbledore and nodded.
"Let's go."
Hogwarts looked very eerie at midnight. Draco Malfoy had forgotten this fact about the school until tonight. The past five minutes had been a blur to him. He had woken up because of a nightmare and then the Hogwarts Headmaster had shown at his door saying that they needed to leave for the school immediately and they had apparated. All this is giving me a strong sense of Déjà vu. – Draco thought.
"I hope Hermione is okay." – Draco muttered as he followed Albus Dumbledore quickly through the dark corridors, towards the Hospital wing.
As soon as they entered the infirmary, Draco could sense that something was very wrong. Very wrong. Madam Pomfrey was sitting on one of the beds, Harry Potter was leaning against the window and Ron Weasley was pacing the length of the room. Professor McGonagall was also present there and she had tears in her eyes!
Oh Merlin. This is not good. Please let Hermione be safe. – Draco pleaded silently.
When Professor Dumbledore entered the room, all of them snapped their heads in their direction.
"Mr. Malfoy. I think you should go and visit Ms. Granger right now." – Dumbledore said, breaking the silence.
"Um... Okay Professor." –He nodded and entered the cubicle, just as he heard Madam Pomfrey say something about failing to Dumbledore.
Hermione was lying in bed, underneath heaps of white sheets. She was looking so fragile and weak. Her hair was sprawled over her pillow and she was pale. Deadly pale.
"Hermione..." – Draco murmured, caressing her head softly.
Obviously she was fast asleep. So he cradled her hand and kissed it. Hermione stirred a bit, groaning. Then she opened her eyes, slowly.
"Draco?" – Her voice was hoarse. Then, she lost her consciousness again.
"Shit!" – Draco stood up and stalked out of the room.
"Professor, what in Merlin's name is going on?!" – He decided to address Dumbledore directly.
"I am very sorry, Mr. Malfoy. But Miss Granger's health seems to be degrading." – Dumbledore held up a hand when Draco looked ready to interrupt. "Yes, I know she was fine during the afternoon. I believe her condition is worsening due to a potion given to her during that time."
"A potion?"
"Yes, a potion. Mr. Malfoy. Can you provide any information regarding this?"
"Professor... Will Hermione be okay?" – Draco managed to strangle out, totally ignoring Dumbledore's question.
"I really hope so. We are doing the best we can, Mr. Malfoy. But in the meantime we must all try to get a hold upon the one responsible."
"Wadden." – Draco said suddenly. "He was acting very strangely today and besides, he was the only one who gave Hermione a potion to drink."
"Just as I had suspected." – Dumbledore muttered. "I would like to inform you all that Wadden is missing."
"Missing? As in kidnapped?! Or fled?!" – Harry snapped his head towards them. "And you are telling us this now?!"
"I was not sure before. But now I am. Wadden has, most probably, been kidnapped." – Dumbledore rubbed his head. "There is foul play involved in this."
"What is wrong with Hermione?" – Ron finally spoke up.
"Hermione, it seems, has been administered the Draught of the Living Dead." – Pomfrey started to explain.
"Then how did she wake up right now?" – Draco whirled around.
"Well, the potion was not brewed perfectly."
"Are you saying that the attacker made a mistake?"
"No. I am pretty sure this was a part of his plan. If we had not known that the potion was ruined, then we would have given her the Wiggenweld potion, thus causing her instant and very painful death. Thank Merlin, the vial was still on her side-table. Or else..." - Madam Pomfrey trailed off, grimacing.
No occupant of the room wanted to even imagine what would have happened if Madam Pomfrey's sharp senses had failed to pick up the faint smell in the vial. The Draught of the Living Dead, if perfectly brewed, would have no odour. But this potion had given off a peculiar smell.
"So now, what do we do?" – Ron asked. "Will she be okay?"
"I am afraid but her chances are bad. The potion is making her incredibly sick. Her magical abilities have been reduced drastically and her organs are ceasing to function. The potion was nothing short of poison." – Pomfrey informed them, trembling.
"But there must be something we can do!" – Harry shouted. "We can't just stand here and let her die!"
"What can we do? This is a new potion. There is no known cure for it." – McGonagall finally spoke up, eyes brimming with tears.
"So are we going to let her die? Just like that?!" – Draco shouted suddenly. "There must be some cure for it!"
"Like Minerva said, this is a new potion. It was never even heard or thought of before. So, there is no known cure. I have put this potion in front of leading Healers but all of them were stumped by it. We have tried our best but it isn't enough. I am sorry." – Dumbledore said, shaking his head.
"This cannot be happening..." - Harry whimpered.
"I am going to try one last spell on her. If that doesn't work, then I will put her to sleep. Just to ease her suffering." – Dumbledore declared, walking into the cubicle.
Everyone watched as Albus Dumbledore attempted to save Hermione Granger for a last time. He muttered an unknown spell and waved his wand around in complicated patterns. Silver light shot out of the Headmaster's wand and covered Hermione's entire body. But after sometime it seemed to evaporate. Dumbledore lowered his wand and shook his head ever so slightly that Draco nearly missed it. Nearly. He knew perfectly what that meant.
Merlin. This cannot be happening all over again. – Draco thought.
"No no no no." – He started to mutter. "Hermione please..."
He went forward and caught her hand.
But her breathing had ceased and her body heat was draining quickly, leaving her body cold and lifeless.
Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall were both sobbing quietly. Dumbledore was standing there with the most grave expression on his face. Harry and Ron were wailing hysterically over her body. But Draco...
Draco was probably the most torn person present there. He did not know when he tumbled down onto the floor on his knees or when tears started leaking out of his eyes because all he knew was this – The Brightest Witch of Their Age, the love of his life, the reason of his life, 'his' Hermione was dead.
A/N: Please don't kill me... I know it's bad but please bear with me. I have my reasons you know.