Author's note

So here we are penultimate chapter-please review!

Chapter 44-Shattered

Soot stained and coughing Hermione and Draco made it out of the room of hidden things. The room itself was destroyed but at least they had the solace of knowing the diadem was destroyed too. Now only the snake and Harry remained.

Hermione and Draco raced through the castle to try and locate the others. As they reached the courtyard before the great doors they slowed. There was no fighting, none of those assembled had their wands raised but there was a determined stand off as the castle's defenders faced the assembled ranks of Death Eaters.

"Harry Potter is dead!" Voldemort announced. Draco sensed Hermione move rather than saw her and he understood what she would do, he also knew he couldn't let her-Voldemort would kill her.

"No!" she screamed but before she could cast any curse she crumbled to the ground stunned into silence.

"Draco," the Dark Lord said, "back from the dead I see," he paused clearly contemplating his next move. "I see you have taken care of our little traitorous friend, come, bring her too me and I will welcome you back into the fold."

Before Draco could think or move there was a disturbance at the edges of his vision. It all seemed to happen so quickly, Potter was up and on his feet, Longbottom had decapitated the snake Nagini and Voldemort was dead. It was over!

Draco crouched down and lifted the still unconscious Hermione into his arms carrying her into the Great Hall to be cared for with the other injured. He had never intended to leave her side but he was a marked death eater, a Malfoy and the Dark Lord had publically acknowledged him as his ally moments before his defeat. No mind that Draco had not gone to him, no mind that he had fought with the order at Potter's side, within minutes of him setting Hermione down he was surrounded by aurors.

"Draco Malfoy, surrender your wand you are under arrest."

When Hermione came round she was alone. There was no Draco and she believed Harry was dead.

"Where's Draco," she asked the kindly medi-witch who was attending her. Her throat was dry with fear but she had to know he was alright. She believed that Voldemort would kill him on sight if he could; she had to know Draco was safe; she could lose both Harry and Draco too. She had already lost too much.

"It's alright my dear," the kindly witch reassured her misunderstanding her concern, "he's gone."

Gone, Hermione could not process that idea. She looked around frantically for confirmation. As she scanned the room he eyes caught sight of a familiar coat sleeve, a hand entwined with another equally familiar. She rose abruptly, heedless of the medi-witch exalting her to rest, and rush towards the two figures buried beneath the oddly mismatched blankets.

She hardly dared to look but she needed confirmation, though she intuitively sensed what she would see; Remus and Tonks eyes blank and lifeless, their heads turned towards each other in a sightless lovers gaze. No, Hermione began to tremble;

"Where is he," she screamed racing across the room tearing away the coverings that afforded the dead some dignity. Her rampaging was causing distress and outrage but she didn't care she had to see him, she had to hold him one last time. So focused on her task Hermione did not see the medi-wizard who sedated her until it was too late.

Draco had tried to explain, he had told them he had fought with the Order of the Phoenix, that Hermione was his wife, he had told them to ask; Lupin or Tonks not realising, (until the Auror hissed at him; 'how convenient that the only people who can confirm your story either dead or insane,') that no one could confirm his claims.

So he lay in the dark of his cell in Azkaban wondering what had happened to Hermione, telling himself she would not leave him there. As the hours wore into days his panic mounted, had something happened to her? Was she alive? Had she betrayed him? the thought that she could betray him left him shattered he would rather face the Dementor's kiss than discover that Hermione did not love him.

Harry made his way through St Mungo's his heart heavy. Despite all that had happened he should have come to her sooner. Hermione was his oldest friend, she had been through terrible things… his thoughts trailed off as the Healer in charge of her case came to greet him. The Healer explained to Harry what they believed had happened; how the stress and strain of events had caused Hermione's brain to shutdown to protect its self.

"It would help greatly if someone she knew could talk to her." The Healer continued to explain.

"What about her husband?" Harry asked wondering why they had approached him rather than Draco.

"Husband?" the Healer asked looking confused,

"Yes, Draco Malfoy, her husband," Harry snapped.

The Healer looked at Harry as if Harry himself had lost all reason. Then clearly thinking better of whatever he had thought to say he simply said,

"Haven't you heard Mr. Potter, Draco Malfoy is in Azkaban, he is expected to be sentenced to 'the kiss.'"

"Shit," Harry swore, before he turned on his heels and left, he knew that if Malfoy was not saved he would lose Hermione forever.

"You're too late!"

The Minister told Harry as he eased his way back towards his seat. Harry felt the blood drain from his face he had pulled all the favours he could to get to see the minister immediately, used all his fame and status as the hero of the wizarding world and he was too late.

"Are you alright Harry," the Minister asked with concern as Harry slumped into the warn, high back leather chair in front of the minister's desk, "You look a little ill, can I get you some water?"

"When?" Harry asked.

"This morning," the Minister confirmed.