Broken - Chapter 25

"Hermione we have to go. We shouldn't have stayed as long as we have because when they find the Dark Lord then we're screwed. Look I can't walk that well so–"

"Draco I'm leaving with you."

"Hermione it's absurd to even think you have a chance with me dragging you down. You were only able to heal so much and we're wandless since you can't very well use that wand which keeps draining you of strength. Alright, we're screwed Hermione. It's best if you just go and–"

"Draco I did not go through all of this hell just to lose you. I did not just drink the blood of my husband–which is really disgusting just so you know–just so I could leave here by myself. I did this for you just as much as I did it for me so stop bitching and get your ass up," she hissed, surprising Draco; "Malfoy I'll carry you myself if I have to. Mind you that I'm not the most strong person to ever live, but I'll do it if it means saving you. I can't live without you Drake, not after being with you."

Draco was shaking his head. It was not death which scared him for he had seen death on many occasions and that was not a scary sight. It was her death which scared him. He knew, he knew, that if she would go on without him that she would have a better chance to get out safely. The pain that he was feeling was just too much even for him. He could take a lot, but his foot felt like anvil had crushed it on all sides and was still grinding it. Realistically there was no way for them to both get out safely.

"Hermione I'm begging you just to go. All of this–" he grimaced in pain, "–will have been worth it if you're safe. I did this for you."

"And again I did this for the both of us. Draco stop arguing with me considering it's not the time and I'm going to win this one whether you like it or not. Get up and let's go."

She's crazy! If she knew what was best for her then she would just let me stay here and get out on her own. I could be the bloody distraction and she could get out safe! I just...bugger the damn Gryffindor in her!

"We have to go now. We cannot wait any longer and we'll need as much time as possible so let's go. Now look, Hermione, I know you will not want to hear this, but you need to; if we're caught, then you run. I don't care if I'm fucking screaming in bloody agony for mercy, you run and don't even think about looking back. Do you understand?"

"Fine," spat Hermione quickly, "but that won't be happening. Let's go."

With supreme effort, Hermione and Draco picked themselves up. Hermione had attempted to help Draco from his position on the ground, but she was weak and he obviously towered over her to begin with so weight was an issue. Draco lifted up mostly on his own willpower and strength knowing that Hermione just could not lift him. The rest of his body ached, yes, but it was really only his foot and lower leg which was distressing; the rest of him could handle anything that would come forward.

He planted his strong foot, his right foot, on the ground to balance his body while his other dangled behind him. In the back of his mind he still thought it was rather foolish for Hermione to worry about him, to wait on him, but he continued standing none the less.

Hermione looked around the room, searching for a shred of a weapon, anything that could help them on their journey down to the second floor where they would escape through the same room Hermione had before. The room they were currently in featured so many various things, but nothing that would be of any value–

"A dagger," she whispered. It wasn't much, but it was definitely worth holding on to.

She placed the slender blade in Draco's hand which he clasped immediately. After sliding it in the waistband of his trousers, Hermione threw her arm around Draco's tum, prepared to help him walk. Their eyes met for the briefest of moments, silently pleading with the other, before Hermione took the first step toward the door.

Normally it should have taken Draco maybe four decent strides, keeping in mind that he had long legs, to reach the door. However, on this particular day where he no longer had the use of one his legs, it took him about ten paces to reach the exit. That being said, Draco knew they were screwed. He couldn't run, he could barely walk, they were both weak—odds were against them. He was not about to give up, though, not when it meant that Hermione would stay behind with him, to die; it pushed him on.

Hermione let him go briefly to peer outside of the heavy door, the door which was their only barrier between them and the Death Eaters of which were occupying the very castle. Draco's paranoia made him glance over his shoulder, a silly concept given that nobody was in the room other than him and his beloved, but he looked none the less, turning back only when he heard Hermione let out a sigh.

"We've got a long way to go and we've got to move fast."

"Greyback is on the next floor. He'll pick up our scent for sure and–"

"And it's a risk we have to take. Let's go Draco."

A deep breath was exhaled from his mouth as Hermione and himself walked out of the door, descending down the stairs at a pace that was both quiet and slow, much how a turtle would, perhaps, move downhill. Unfortunately, that pace was only short lasting for they both were becoming weaker and the spell which lessened the pain on Draco's leg was beginning to wear off.

"How bloody long has it been?! They should have been here by now!" screamed Ron, the man who had been pacing for well over an hour, spontaneously barking at Harry and Ginny, the two sitting in front of him.

All those who were waiting for Draco and Hermione to return had been planted on the spot where they had specifically planned to meet the couple. At the request of Harry, a few Order members were there to help them including Fred, George, Lupin, and Tonks. They all had arrived with the same goal in mind – to help Draco and Hermione when they returned, knowing, sure enough hoping against it, that others might manage to follow them. They all had arrived with a purpose.

They all had arrived hours ago.

"This is bloody ridiculous! Something happened, I can feel it," barked Ron, whose rage was nearly palpable; an aura showering over him, alerting everyone that he was scared for them beyond them all. Unlike the others who loved Hermione, a part of him was in love with her. No matter how hard he tried not to be, he was.

"Ron," said Ginny smoothly, "I think you need to sit down. No matter what happens, it looks like your anger is going to get the better of you; you're too distraught to focus. So just calm down."

Ron jerked and glared at his younger sister, the slits in his eyes mimicking the despair and rage that he felt, but he did not dare talk back to her. That was the thing about the Weasley women – they were kind, yes, but hell hath no fury like one of them scorned.

With much reluctance, Ron sat down, bringing to a close the pacing that had been plaguing him for hours. All of them were worried, hoping, that the people in question were alright; safe and unharmed.

"Hermione stop," uttered Draco, his pain nearly unbearable. It took all of his effort to even let out those words.

Hermione stopped moving forward, allowing Draco to lean against a wall for a moment to relax his throbbing leg. Obviously it was no where near the worst pain he had ever felt, but it bloody well hurt, and it was currently maiming him so, yes, it hurt.

"Drake we can't stay long. We're in the middle of the corridor and–"

"I know. I know, love, but I just...got to give me a minute."

Hermione nodded wanly, she too overcoming a large amount of pain. Not only had she been smacked around by more than a few people, but the Cruciatus Curse had recently run through her system. Not to mention that she was helping Draco move which only weakened her more.

Then, without any warning at all, they heard an ear piercing cry–

"FIND THEM!" growled Greyback, "BUT WHEN YOU DO, LEAVE THE GIRL! THE GIRL IS MINE AND MINE ALONE!"

Immediately, Hermione tensed against Draco adding to his alarm, but he understood why. Obviously their missing state had become known around the castle and if they did not move then surely something bad was bound to happen. The two were bound to be caught. They could make it out though if they moved. If together they, Draco and Hermione, continued, they could make it.

Right?

"Hermione," whispered Draco, his grip tightening around her; "Time to go."

It felt like slow motion for them. With every step it appeared that they were slowing down, but Draco was unsure whether it just felt like that or whether they really were slowing done. He could not deny that his foot, now turning an unhumanly shade of bizarre purple and bleeding in various locales, was slowing them down.

He could feel her body next to his, warm and cold at the same time, tensing more and more with each passing moment, with each breath she took in. He did not care what happened just so long as those breaths continued to flow freely from her mouth, unhinged and without causing her pain. His leg would heal, but knowing that something, that someone, caused her pain would kill him. He could not let Greyback find them. He had to protect her at all costs.

Please, just don't let Greyback find us. I can protect her against anybody else, but not him. Just not him, please. Let her be safe and let her be okay. Let my beloved, my angel, be safe.

Draco had no idea how they had managed to do it since he very much was walking more on an unconscious level, his focus on Hermione's safety rather than his own, but they had managed to survive long enough to reach the third floor. Only one more and they would be on the floor that held their escape.

And they would escape. He just knew they would. They had to.

"Find them! Find them now so I can finally make that girl mine! I want to feast on the girl who smells of sweet apples!"

That scream should have sent Hermione into a fit of anxiety and fear, but instead it did the opposite. By hearing Greyback screaming his plans to kill her, he alerted her that he was far away, his voice booming in the distance. That meant that the various Death Eaters would be surrounding him, damn well knowing better than to be far from him in the castle. He was just below the ranking of Voldemort, who, whether it was unbeknownst to them she did not know, was laying dead outside.

"Draco," she whispered, "We must move quickly. I figure that–"

"He's far away. We've got time to make it down. Come on, let's move down another flight and then get to that room. We must get out of here."

With the speed of a sick mare and grace of a blind dog in traffic, the two moved down another flight where they met an open, empty hallway. They used this to their advantage, Draco hopping on one foot and Hermione helping him move forward, making a soft racket.

Hermione let out a sigh of relief, her hope dancing in her heart, as she put her hand on the cold doorknob, turning–

"YOU!"

Draco and Hermione both jerked to see, much to their consternation, the Dark Lord standing at the opposite end of the hallway looking more enraged than ever before, than anything that even Draco had ever seen.

"No," escaped Hermione's mouth before she could stop herself. No! He hit the ground from a height that should have crushed his bones to bitter dust. How can he be alive? As if reading her mind, the Dark Lord said in a low, deathly voice, "I softened the ground before I landed. You will be paying for that and I'll start by killing your mudblood!"

With those words in the air, Voldemort ran towards them; charging.

Hermione was in a state of a absolute shock, but thankfully, Draco was not. He gripped the handle and threw them both inside, shutting it quickly. Being thrown onto the ground with extreme force ironically knocked her conscience and she began searching for the trap door beneath their feet. In a matter of seconds–seconds cost at that moment!–she found it and lifted it up, thrusting it fully over to bang on the floor.

Draco flung himself next to her causing the dagger to release itself from the restraints of his waistband and dropped on the floor with a clatter, before he pushed her down, legs first, and fell behind her, head first. Draco had heard the door bang open behind him right as he slid down, but all train of thought was lost when the slide ended and he was deep under lake water.

The cold water nearly made him black out. He should have drowned, him not swimming and all, but Hermione would not allow it. She found him quickly beneath the icy blue depths and yanked hard, bringing him to the surface. With supreme strength and agility that a person in her state should not have possessed, she swam to the land surrounding the castle.

Draco was unaware of it, but Hermione was swimming with such grace because it was a life or death situation raging on; Voldemort had, too, thrown himself onto the slide and landed in the water, chasing them. Hermione had to reach the surface or else–well, or else.

Oh yes, she reached the surface with Draco, but far too late. They were far enough to apparate for the castle was still guarded by many charms, but Voldemort was in much better shape, not to mention was merely dragging himself through the water unlike Hermione which she did not take into account; with those advantages, his speed was heightened and he reached the land at the same time, making him just as far away from the castle as them.

Draco was unaware of this. He was ready to pass out, to give into the darkness that the pain from his leg was spreading throughout his body. He was sitting in the dirt of the dreary forest near the water's edge, his injured leg still in the freezing water, with Hermione draped over his body. Her back was turned, vulnerable to what was lurking behind her clear out of the water.

She did not see this. Instead, she was trying to properly situate Draco so that they could apparate to the place they had planned, preparing herself to joint apparate with the man she loved.

Voldemort was standing behind her, a gaze of complete insane rage flowing all over his face. Draco's eyes flew open wide when he finally realized what was happening. The bastard, the bloody fucking bastard, had the dagger that Draco had dropped on the floor in his hand. He was going to stab Hermione.

Without so much as a thought, Draco jerked up and flipped Hermione so she was beneath his body. As a human shield, he took the blunt of what Voldemort had planned to do to Hermione. The dagger pierced his skin with an ease, before it dipped into the depths of his body. Voldemort had stabbed Draco deeply in the back.

"NO!" screamed Hermione, her body tensing beneath Draco's. She gripped him tight as Voldemort stared at the knife in Draco's flesh, his hands gripping her love's back. Hermione, however, was cut off by...Draco–

"Apparate, now," he mumbled into the crook of her neck, precisely where his head had fallen. She understood his two word command on a much deeper level then most would, so she did just that. She apparated...

All three of them.

To say that Voldemort was shocked when he felt the familiar, uncomfortable feeling of apparition surging through the veins of his body would be an understatement. He was completely knocked for six when he landed on hard ground to find himself surrounded by none other than Harry Potter and various other members of the Order of the Phoenix.

He was not the only one surprised.

The lot of them had been sitting in silence when they saw Hermione, Draco, and Voldemort all pop out of thin air. Hermione and Draco looked near death, their bodies appearing gaunt, sick, and bloody. The Dark Lord, on the other hand, looked just as healthy as ever before, if not a little mystified and shaken. They had expected Hermione and Draco to return, the possibility that others would follow them, yes, but not the Dark Lord. Harry somehow thought a year must have passed for Christmas was here again, his present at his feet, staring at him with black eyes.

Surprisingly, it was Ginny who reacted first, throwing herself over to Hermione. The girl quickly attempted to help her grief-stricken friend, unaware as to why the girl was crying with such despair and attacking her as though she was attempting to get away. Hermione was trying to get away...to Draco.

When Ginny finally allowed her to pass, Hermione scrabbled on all fours over to Draco, planted on his stomach, the dagger still in his back. Ginny, immediately understanding the situation, rushed over to Draco's aid as well.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Order, Harry of course leading, surrounded Voldemort on all sides. Unlike the Death Eaters who received a kick out of taunting their prisoners before killing them, Order members were different. They did not waste their time with spiteful lectures, did not jeer at their prey for hours on end, but merely ended them before they, like Hermione and Draco, had the opportunity to get away. It was Voldemort's need to be vicious, much like Alan, which cost him. He should have just killed them with everyone present in the room, but instead opted for ending them alone, in his own milieu. That was his mistake, precisely why he was at the feet of the enemy he hated above all others; Harry Potter.

So, since Harry was not about to make the same mistake as the Dark Lord, he raised his wand and pointed it directly at his chest.

"Dumbledore sends his regards. AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Harry, all the while, was not expecting this. The same thing happened, though he was unaware of it, as it had when Hermione had cursed him; nothing. The Dark Lord laughed at him unequivocally.

"It's like I told the mudblood. Your magic alone cannot kill me!"

But that was not what he had said to Hermione. He had made yet another mistake, this one being fatal. He had included the word 'alone' in the sentence which Harry caught immediately.

"Fine. My magic can't, but all of ours can."

Voldemort's eyes opened wide and for a moment he met Hermione's gaze who was staring at him behind Harry, cradling Draco's body in her own; a gaze which simply said 'Bugger me'.

In unison, every Order member pointed their wands at Voldemort and yelled, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Six flashes of green light erupted into the air and with that, Voldemort was dead.

Within seconds of ending the most malicious of all beings, the others threw themselves over to Hermione who was holding onto Draco. It took several minutes of coaxing her before she finally let go of him, allowing them to apparate into the emergency ward of St. Mungo's, they very place they were at the moment.

Healers had swarmed around them immediately, taking Draco and Hermione into separate rooms to be examined and healed. Hermione was relatively unharmed, merely weak and sore. It was Draco who needed serious care and help.

Hermione was sitting in the waiting room surrounded by the Weasley family and Harry. The Order members had left hours ago to let the world know that Voldemort was dead and to, of course, deal with his body. They could hear in the distance people cheering and celebrating, all of the knowing why. However, none of them felt like celebrating when they knew that Draco was near death. So it was just them, sitting and waiting. Hermione had not spoken to them about what had occurred, but purely stayed quiet, her thoughts with her love in the other room.

Please, don't let him die. Not after I finally did this. Not after I'm finally free. Don't let him die, don't let him die, don't let him die...

She hated herself so much for he had warned her. Draco somehow knew that this was going to happen and had warned her of this, though in a somewhat subconscious way. She had the memory, clear and vivid in her mind...

Draco only pulled back wanting to take in her face, her lovely face no longer haunted with the age lines of death. Hermione Granger looked better than she had in years. In Draco's eyes, she looked more perfect wrapped up in his arms covered in sleep tousled hair than he had ever seen her.

"Merlin you're beautiful."

"Not too bad yourself Malfoy."

"Hermione," he began taking a deep breath. "If something happens–"

"Draco nothing is going to happen. You promised me that we'd be safe," she said with anxiety in her voice. Draco ran his hands through her hair moving it around her neck and pulling her closer to him.

"Angel I'm someone who has learned to prepare for the worst. So if something happens to me, I want you to remember me right now. Take in this moment and remember me as is. Never forget me as I am right now."

Somehow he had known that his was going to happen, but she did not see it. She had seen it later, but not like he did. He wanted her to remember the good things, unlike her, who only seemed to think of the bad. He was just so perfect and amazing and special and was all hers and was now...dying.

She could not take that. She was not the same Hermione without him; different, in a bad way. She did not like herself without him there. If he didn't live, did not pull through...Merlin, she did not know what she was going to do.

Cause a life without him was no life at all.

The tall healer, clad in a bloody hospital gown, stepped out of Draco's room, fatigue overtaking him. They had worked on Draco for hours and hours, every bloody second needed. A Ministry official had informed them who the man was, one of the people responsible for ending the Dark Lord's reign. The official had told him that he had to save this man at all costs. The healer of course had dismissed him quickly stating that he helps all of his patients, but he could not help, but feel a slight feeling of gratefulness toward the man bleeding before him.

Another healer stepped out, his hospital attire also smothered with blood, Draco's blood.

"Well," began the tall healer, "I guess we have to tell them. Who is here? Family?"

"No. There is no family, but a girlfriend, friends, and I'm sure the Ministry. Who do we talk to?"

"The girlfriend I guess. What's her name?"

"Hermione Granger," said the other healer, wiping his sweaty forehead with the back of his wrist. The other man looked at him incredulously.

"Harry Potter's best mate?"

"The one and only. I thought she disappeared years ago, but apparently she is here now and waiting to find out about her boyfriend."

"Alright."

The two healers walked slowly over to the group in the waiting room, all of whom jumped up upon seeing them in sight. Hermione was the first to reach them and silently pleaded with them to give her answers, the answers that she wanted.

"Miss Granger?"

Hermione nodded at them for she found that her voice was just not strong enough at the moment. She couldn't even think let alone speak.

"We were the ones who worked on Draco Malfoy."

A/N: Okay, I know all of you will probably hate me for ending it there, but I had to. I'm sorry, but you know me so you know that I had a reason for doing it - and I'll update soon.

"Broken" is a ballad which I adore by the band Seether. I like the acoustic version, but I am in love with the duet version which features Amy Lee of Evanescence. It is one of my all time favorite songs and it really works for the chapter. The chapter was based on the line, "Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome and I don't feel right when you're gone away."

Again I'm sorry that I have not commented back, but the site is not allowing it. I'm not getting my emails or my story alerts which is bugging the hell out of me. I'll just say that I definitely appreciate the support. 248 Reviews! Wow, I'm impressed. Again I don't write for reviews or update strictly on how many I get, but they're nice all the same. Thanks you guys!

SweetSacrifice - Don't kill me for the cliffhanger. You know I'll update soon, but you must admit that it definitely works here. :)

Remus's Girl - I'm glad you like both stories!

READ AND REVIEW!! If you can read it, then you can review it.

Iris is the work of fanfiction. The characters belong to J.K. Rowling, but the featured story is mine.