Chapter 35-Unforgivable.

As Harry and Draco appeared in a dark alley in Hogsmead they immediately cast 'disillusionment' and 'notice-me-not' charms on themselves. Harry regretted leaving his invisibility cloak in Bellatrix vault but at least he knew it was safe there. They set off for the Hog's Head hopeful that its proprietor would assist them in gaining access to Hogwarts castle or its grounds.

A worn-out wooden sign came into view, a wild boar's severed head. The Hog's Head had some degree of notoriety and going in was a risk they were both reluctant to take but they knew they had little choice. As an additional precaution both young men transfigured their appearance before entering. Draco's hair morphed into an unremarkable mousy brown his eyes became bluer. Harry's eyes became brown and his hair, which always had a tendency to stick up, became a purple punk style.

Draco glared at him;

"Inconspicuous!" he exclaimed. Harry huffed and turned his hair to auburn curls.

"Better?"

"Beautiful Potter," Draco teased, "purple just wasn't your colour."

Harry scoffed realising suddenly that Malfoy was nervous and that the sarcasm was Draco's own style of bravado. He nodded his head towards the door silently signally Draco to go ahead.

"You're the bloody Gryffindor," Draco snarled, "you can damn well go first."

Harry snorted but refrained from calling the other young man a coward. He had long come to realise that the Malfoy heir was actually rather brave, despite having a strongly defined sense of self preservation. Harry edged the pub door open, as he slipped inside he realised they were in luck. The Hog's Head was completely devoid of any clientele whatsoever.

Aberforth Dumbledore stood behind the bar, drying glasses with a greasy cloth. No wonder trade is bad, Draco thought to himself eyeing the cloth with distaste.

"What can I get you two gentlemen?" Aberforth asked although he had not so much as raised his head to look at them. Harry approached the bar dropping the disillusionment charm and transfiguring his features back to normal.

"Harry?" Aberforth said looking stunned, "what on earth are you doing here?" he asked flicking his wand towards the door, flipping the sign to closed and setting up wards to keep clients out, "are you insane?" he continued without giving Harry time to respond.

"Quite possibly," Draco muttered under his breath. Ignoring both Aberforth's question and the blond Harry announced his motive.

"We need to get into Hogwarts."

Aberforth huffed and shook his head.

"I know," Draco agreed to the unvoiced sentiment, "positively certifiable."

"Malfoy?" Aberforth question apparently recognising the characteristic drawl.

Continuing to ignore Aberforth's questions Harry asked;

"Can you help us?"

Aberforth looked at Harry then as if the younger man had a death wish.

"It's important," Harry continued unabashed.

"Isn't it always," Aberforth responded cynically before adding, "follow me."

As Hermione appeared outside the Burrows she made the loudest pop of disapparation she could manage. Nott was beside her, Greyback and McNair appeared seconds later.

"Round the back," she instructed immediately seeking to move them away from Theo and herself.

As soon as they were out of earshot she turned to Theo;

"Help me," she pleaded, "they are like my family."

For a moment Theo stood there stony faced before replying:

"Draco was like my brother,"

Hermione looked stunned would he not help her?

"Please," she begged.

Theo let out a sigh and nodded slightly,

"What do you want me to do?"

"Keep them distracted for a moment, I only need a moment," Theo nodded okay and walked towards the back of the house where the other Death Eaters had gone.

Wasting no time Hermione dug deep to find one of her happiest memories, she smiled to herself as she recalled Draco burying his hands in her hair and saying her given name in a soft choked whisper.

"Expecto patronum," she uttered, the sparkling blue/white light flowed from her wand forming into an otter; "get out now!" she warned. It was the only warning she could think to give and she prayed it would reach them.

As the patronus disappeared the front door of the Burrows opened. No! She screamed internally as Arthur Weasley's red head appeared in the door way.

"Stupefy," she heard before she had chance to warn him. Greyback had rounded the building and was now dragging the unconscious Arthur towards her.

"Take him to the Dark Lord," Greyback bristled at her imperious tone his bloodlust clear not yet satisfied. "What are you waiting for?" she demanded," the Dark Lord is waiting. Clearly he had considered challenging her but thinking better of it he disapparated taking the unconscious Arthur Weasley with him.

Shit! She cursed internally. She didn't trust him with Arthur but she dare not leave the rest of the Weasley's with McNair.

"McNair, we're done here," she ordered.

"My Lady," he acknowledged with a sneer, "what about the rest?"

"Of no consequence, now come,"

He made to leave but just as Hermione prepared to disaparate he turned firing an 'incendo' at the Burrows.

She glared at him;

"You said they were of no consequence!" he smirked at her before a aloud pop sounded his disappearance.

Hermione watched in abject horror at the inferno that had been the Burrows. She was about to run towards the building but a steel pair of arms clamped her to the spot before disaparating them both.

Hermione struggled in Theo's arms as they reappeared inside Draco's room at the manor.

"It was too late," he told her firmly, "there was nothing you could have done," Hermione was insane with rage but she would not take it out on Theo. Letting loose a wandless stinging jinx she distracted him enough to make him let go.

Hermione sped towards the drawing room where she expected McNair was now in the Dark Lord's presence. Her Magic broiled around her as she burst through the doors, ignoring Theo who was hot on her heels.

"Curio," she incanted. McNair was on his knees before he knew what had hit him, the pain was so intense that he soiled himself in his agony but Hermione did not stop.

"How dare you defy me!" she screamed at him casting yet another unforgivable at him.

Preternatural stillness filled the room as the assembled ranks of Death Eaters looked on. Voldemort said nothing, he merely watch with a calculating look that said he was not sure if he dare intervene. Theo would later confess himself terrified; the sweet petite Gryffindor of his youth had gone, replaced instead by a dark witch who oozed dark power.

"My Dear," Voldemort tentatively intervened," enough, end this now," He finally dared to demand.

She turned to him her eyes ablaze with anger and contempt;

"With pleasure," she slowly enunciated.

" Avada Kedavra," the killing green light shot from her wand.

Only as she looked at the body at her Feet did Hermione begin to regain some measure of control but it was too late. She had already done something unforgivable a part of her soul shriveled and recoiled as she realised she had killed a man.

author's note

ok so Hermione has turned to 'the dark-side' but will she be beyond redemption? Reviews always appreciated.