Hello all! Sorry for the late updates… I know I've been bad about that lately. But school is almost out for winter which means lots of writing time!! Yaay! Thanks again to all my reviewers, you guys are the best. And although the fic seems like it might be going a little astray at the end, always remember that it is a DHr fic through and through. No worries!! Hope y'all like it.

Chapter 14-New Beginnings

She didn't know how long she lay there, sobbing in the mud, pelted by the relentless torrent of rain. Her tears mingled with the falling rain, finally drifting to the earth to be soaked up by the thirsty ground. She clutched at the mud, the sodden patch of earth that soaked up her tears, her sorrow; desperate for something to hold onto as her entire world slipped through her fingers.

But, like everything else, it simply slipped through her grasp with a nasty squelch, returning to the ground from whence it came.

The rain continued to assail her, and she continued to watch with strange fascination as the tiny fragile droplets splattered on the earth below. They broke into a million indistinguishable pieces, each small shard disappearing into the mist, never to be found again. She felt that her own heart was following this same trend. She had fallen, faster and faster for the man whom she thought was her world, only to hit the ground and shatter into nothing.

"Hermione!! Ron, over here, I found her!" She heard a voice shout. It was vague and hard to distinguish above the roar of the rain, but she could tell that it was Harry.

She heard loud squelching as footsteps ran over to her side, followed by another frantic set of footsteps. She didn't look up, she didn't have the strength to see the love in their eyes. She couldn't look into their eyes and see such an enormous level of happiness while her own world was shrouded in such darkness, their light would destroy her.

"Quick, get her back to school!" Harry shouted above the rain.

"Blimey…" Ron muttered to himself, barely audible in the storm that was drowning her.

She felt strong arms encircle her. The feeling was so familiar to her, she dwelt on it and felt warmth returning to her again. Maybe… maybe not all was lost.

Within moments of realizing she was safe, she fell asleep.

XXXXXXX

"My lord Draco, why have you called me here?" The sneaky, serpent-like voice asked as soon as the figure had entered.

Malfoy manor had changed, that much he could tell. The fact that Draco was now the Dark Lord didn't change his decorating habits whatsoever, everything was still the same. Although the same furniture was present, and nothing had been moved around, the place had an ominous feel of darkness. He was very uncomfortable, and resolved himself to get out as soon as possible.

Draco stood by the fire, shrouded in a black cape. He was gazing at it longingly, thinking of how the light that danced within was so similar to that which had once danced within her eyes, when Severus entered. He had been doing a lot of that lately… thinking about her, seeing her in little moments of everyday life… it seemed she would not let him forget her, not anytime soon.

Although Draco would refuse to admit it to anyone else, he wasn't ready to forget her.

"Severus, my mentor for all these years… I need someone to talk to, now more than I ever have." Draco admitted, hating himself for showing his vulnerability but determined to find some answers nonetheless.

Severus was quite taken back at the unexpected words, but he accepted them nonetheless. "My lord Draco, your servant will do whatever you command."

Draco sighed. "I… I think I made a mistake."

Severus quirked an eyebrow. "Whatever are you talking about?" He feared the worst.

Draco raised his hands, examining them in the ghastly firelight. "I had love in my hands, true love, Severus… and I threw it away."

Draco turned around to face him, and Severus saw the amount of sorrow in his eyes. He was tormented inside. He had been so lonely for so long, when he'd finally found someone to confide in, and then that someone was taken away… he could see why it would be too much for one person to bear alone. He sat down in an elaborate green armchair, giving Draco his full attention.

Draco waved his arms around, drawing Severus's gaze across the room. "Look at me now, Severus. I have everything I've always dreamed of. Money, power, fame, fortune… only 18 years old and already capable of taking over the world. My parents are proud of me, they love me for the first time in my life. I have an entire army at my command, ready to fight for whatever I say is worth fighting for. I have legions of people prepared to throw down their lives for me, and sacrifice their future just for the sake of being my followers. My name will go down in the history books as the most ruthless and unstoppable Dark Lord that has ever crossed the wizarding world. If I have all of this, then why do I suddenly feel like I have nothing at all?"

Severus gazed at him very thoughtfully. Honestly, he didn't know much about love, but the love he had experienced was enough to last him a lifetime. He knew that feeling, that feeling of having to choose between one's love and one's life. He knew the anguish that came with it, the doubt that assaulted you no matter what you chose to keep. The never-ending torrent of "what-ifs" that plague your mind in the darkest corners of the night, seemingly endless, and certainly terrible… Oh yes, he knew what it felt like to sacrifice your world for the sake of one mere human being.

"My lord Draco, ruler of all, master of evil… you have much to learn. Power, wealth, fame and glory are fantastic achievements, but none of them keep you warm at night. None of them will bring you the happiness and joy that a family will bring you. None of them will ever come close to the euphoria that radiates in your heart when you hear her say those words back to you, when she slips your ring on her own finger, and you make her your own… nothing in all the world even compares to it. If you love her, don't be a fool and make the mistake that I almost made. Don't let her go, not even if an army of Aurors stand in your way."

Draco sighed. "I think there will be more than just Aurors in our way, Severus."

Severus shook his head. "If she is not worth fighting for, then you are obviously not as in love with her as you thought you were."

Draco snorted. "What is love, anyways? Just a primal attraction, an animal desire, purely instinct, nothing more than attraction. That's all it is, the need to pass on one's own genes to the next generation. And my pureblood genes certainly can't be spoiled by a Mudblood's sickening traits. No, it's easier this way. It's so much easier, for the both of us."

Severus sighed. "Is it really, Draco? Is this easy for you?"

Draco didn't have to answer his question. Severus could see from the dark circles underneath his eyes, telltale signs of his lack of sleep, that he was constantly thinking about her. She was hurting because of his rejection, and he was suffering because of her pain. He needed her, more than he needed this position, more than he needed his parents' approval. In such a short time, she had become his world.

However, once he told his followers, once they found out… they would kill him. They would not allow a traitor such as him to live.

"Severus, promise me that you will never betray me, no matter what choice I make." Draco said weakly, so many underlying commitments lying in the simple promise.

Snape said immediately, "You are my master, and you are theirs too. They must follow you now."

"What if they don't?" Draco asked.

Snape sighed. "That is a chance that you must take. Is it worth it, Draco? Is she worth that risk?"

Draco turned back to the fire, gazing at its warmth, dreaming of a time when he felt such warmth in his own life. His heart had gone cold, ever since he had left her crying in the mud… The day that he had thrown his world to the hounds.

"I have much to think about, Severus. Thank you for your services."

"These are not services, Draco. This is just advice from mentor to student. From friend to friend. I will always be here, even if the title of Dark Lord were to slip through your fingertips."

"…Right." Draco said, startled at the unnatural show of affection from the mentor who was usually so cold-hearted.

Severus glanced at him one last time, and then stood up, taking his time. He threw some floo powder into the fireplace from which he arrived, and left Draco's presence, leaving him with his onslaught of thoughts.

XXXXXXX

Hermione was thankful to be spending Thanksgiving break in the Burrow. The warm atmosphere did her much good, and being around so many people who cared about her was also a nice change for her. The entire Weasley clan was present, so the house was constantly bustling with activity. The loss of Ginny had struck them hard, but her loss also made them appreciate the family members that were still healthy. Hermione was never lacking for anyone to talk to or confide in, and she had found that in this wonderful environment she had almost managed to entirely forget about the boy who had plagued her thoughts ever since he left.

During the day, she stayed busy, rigorously studying to keep her mind busy whenever she wasn't spending time with someone else. As long as the sun's hopeful rays shone, then Hermione's feelings could be held at bay.

But oh, the nights. The nights were so lonely. When it was only her, enshrouded in that black abyss of sleep, welcoming its sweet embrace but feeling uneasy at the familiarity she felt there… when she slept, she felt closest to him. He was nearer to her, haunting her dreams, refusing to let her sleep in peace.

Ever since that fateful night, she had not been able to sleep. She would often spend the sleepless nights wandering about the house, passing the rooms of other people who were also unable to sleep. Many times she would encounter others in the same insomniatic state as she, too plagued with nightmares to truly rest. Sometimes it would be Harry, sometimes it would be Ron or Fred or George, sometimes it would even be Mr. or Mrs. Weasley. They would glance at each other, share more feelings and words in that moment than any could say in the perfect hours of the daylight, and then move along their way, attempting to break down their problems in their own way knowing that someone else was struggling with the exact same thing. The next morning, the sun would rise, scattering the darkness and the doubts of the night. All the nightmares that had plagued them would be reduced to nothing, dwindling in the glory of that bright, hopeful sunlight.

It was on one of these numerous sleepless nights that Hermione encountered Harry while taking a walk outside. She was a little surprised to see him out this late, especially considering that the chill of fall was beginning to settle in. She approached him and sat down next to him, knowing that he needed friendship now more than he ever had.

"Harry, it's freezing, you'll catch your death out here." Hermione pointed out, pulling her jacket a little closer to herself.

Harry chuckled. "What a funny phrase. 'Catch your death…' As if death could be caught in a jar to be saved for later. Or passed from person to person, like a disease. Or even… even caught so that someone else wouldn't have to…."

"Harry, you have to stop blaming yourself. There was nothing you could have done! It was her choice." Hermione pointed out, glad to focus on someone else's problems instead of her own.

Harry clenched his fists. "I can't, Hermione! I just can't forget the way her face looked, the way those beautiful eyes pleaded with me, as if they were saying, 'End the pain, Harry, you always have before… why not now? Why are you letting me down?' …It's too much to take, Hermione. I have to find her. I have to prove to myself… I won't believe that she's dead until the real Ginny lies in that grave."

Hermione looked away. "I understand, Harry. I understand perfectly."

Harry looked surprised. "You do? You're not going to try and tell me that Ginny is dead, just like the rest of them will?"

Hermione turned to him and smiled. "I have to believe, for the both of us, that some things never die."

Harry smiled back warmly, grateful for her company. She supported him, she was probably the only person who did. "Thank you, Hermione."

The next few days passed by uneventfully, and still she waited. Still she hoped, deep inside her, that his words would change.

Months passed before she realized that some dreams really didn't come true, some things just weren't meant to be. He never came back, he never told her that everything was a lie, he never reassured her that he would stay forever… She soon began to understand that all his promises to her were nothing more than a lie, his advances and words were only used to try and betray Harry to the Dark Lord. It was all a scheme to get him farther, all a lie to promote his own disgusting worth.

She thrust herself into her schoolwork with newfound determination, trying desperately to not think about the truth that she had just discovered. Books never betrayed her, books never told her one thing one day and then another the next. They were blissfully consistent, never played with her heart… never betrayed her love for the sake of a title….

One day her attention was captured by yet another book, her brow was slightly furrowed in her typical expression that meant she was concentrating and didn't want to be disturbed. The library shrouded her in its flawless silence, allowing her mind to venture farther and farther into the world of the writer. She was so intent upon reading it that she didn't even notice the tall redhead reading over her shoulder, breathing silently, barely moving.

"What a load of-" the voice said abruptly in her ear.

Hermione nearly jumped out of her seat in shock. "Fred!... George!!... Whichever one you are!!" Her heart that was beating so impossibly fast began to slow again, back to its normal speed.

Fred chuckled. "Jumpy, aren't we?" He asked, teasing. He sat by her at the table that was scattered with Hermione's various books and papers.

"I just wasn't expecting something like THAT in a library!!" Hermione whispered fiercely, trying to keep her voice low but also wanting to forcefully get her point across.

Fred looked at her and shook his head, recognizing how difficult it would be to get her out of the library and back into her old life. All she did now was spend time in the library, she never had time for her friends anymore. Even though Fred wasn't particularly close to her, he missed seeing the familiar bookworm at the lunch table every day. She needed to at least try to move on as best as she could.

"Hermione, if you don't get out of this library that you claim to love, then you will lose your mind. I've been sent here to rescue you, and get you back into some sort of life. You have to move on, we all do. And having you with us again will not only help us, but it will help you as well." Fred stated, suddenly turning serious.

Hermione looked at him in surprise. He was worried about her? That was probably the sweetest thing he had ever done for her. She had never known he had that kind streak in him. She had known him for so long, but now… now she was seeing someone new.

She smiled at him, grateful for the company. "Okay. Where are we going?"

Fred elegantly swept his hand around the room. "Anywhere the damsel wishes to go! We could go terrorize some first years, play Quidditch, break into Snape's office-"

He stopped at a warning look from Hermione.

"…or we could just take a walk around the lake and share our feelings?" He offered lamely.

Hermione laughed, the sound almost therapeutic after being gone from her life for so long. "Yes, I think I'd like that." She said as she stood, and followed him out of the library, her neglected books completely forgotten on the table.