Thirty-three. Hermione

It smelt of death; death lingered everywhere. I couldn't actually see any dead bodies from the darkness but I could smell them all around me. I wanted to know who they were but I couldn't chance stopping; I needed to help those who were still fighting. I hadn't seen a single person in at least ten minutes and I wasn't sure whether to take it as a good sign or a bad sign.

Harry was right about the closeness of the deatheaters; as soon as we made our way out into the grounds they appeared just at the other side. I grabbed Draco's hand in mine and together we apperated to near the black lake. The spell to stop apperating from within the grounds had been broken by Voldermort. A green light shot above my head and I lifted myself up just fast enough to see Draco hit a killing curse at one of the deatheaters. I approached him slowly and stroked him arm comfortingly but second's later deatheaters apperated all around us and I found my self ducking and diving everywhere I could. That's when I lost Draco.

I was then frantically looking for him; was he alive? I had seen Ron; he was involved in a fierce battle with a deatheater but he assured me he had it under control so I left him to it. Harry, he had gone straight to look for Voldermort. I assumed that neither of them had been killed yet; I was certain something big would happen when either occurred.

I was walking through the forbidden forest in pitch blackness, squinting to try and make out any figures. I scolded myself for being so stupid before I lit my wand and peered around. My eyes fell on the body of someone I knew and my heart jumped into my throat. It was Neville.

I stopped dead in my tracks and felt my eyes sting with the threatening tears but before I could start to feel too much grief a twig snapped behind me and I turned abruptly. I held my wand up over my head as to spread the light further and I scanned my surroundings. I gasped when he stepped through the trees.

"Well, well, well." He said unctuously. I bit down nervously on my lip and although fear spread through me I held out my wand steady.

"Snape," I half hissed half whispered. The former potions master and murderer of Albus Dumbledore stood a mere seven feet away. I watched as his fingers twitched on his wand but brought my stare back to his face which contorted into a slimy grin.

"Now," he said tapping his chin. "How to kill you. Shall I make it quick and painless? Or have a bit of fun first." I scoffed.

"You slimy piece of shit!" I spat.

"You never knew when to keep your mouth shut Granger," he hissed taking what should have been five steps but was one stride towards me. He held his wand firmly under my chin and I raised my head slightly. I looked defiantly back at him.

"My, my we are stubborn aren't we. You should be whimpering at my feet right now," he whispered threateningly in my ear. He narrowed his eyes whilst he looked at me and a greasy smile spread across his crooked features. "Turned into a pretty little thing haven't we," he whispered whilst running a finger down my cheek and pressing his mouth to my ear.

"Don't touch me," I snapped as I pulled my head away from him. He rubbed his finger in my top all the time never removing his wand from my neck.

"Don't want any of your dirtiness rubbing off on me," he smirked triumphantly and I chocked back a laugh.

"You contradicting prick," I hissed. "You can't catch any dirtiness from me. You have some of your own." He tried to put me in my place with a slap across the face but it only fuelled my anger. "After all, you are the prince of half-bloods." It was my turn to smirk but this time I felt a pain surge through my body and I crumpled to the floor. I had felt this feeling before; he had put me under the cruciatus curse.

The agony ran through my body but as soon as he lowered his wand it was as though the pain was never there. The only reminder was the aching in my bones. I slowly lifted myself up and he tutted. "Defiant aren't you. You should have stayed down. Maybe then I would have ended it quicker." He snickered.

"Never," I said hoarsely.

"We'll see about that," he glared. All of a sudden the oddest feeling came over me. It was as though I was as light as air and I swore I could have done anything at that moment. "Now get back down," I heard distantly.

Don't do it Hermione, you don't want to die at his feet.

I said get down.

I was sure I heard the word "no" escape my mouth but I couldn't be certain of it.

Don't listen to him. Tell him no!

The voice said desperately and this time, I defiantly said it.

"NO!" As soon as the word left my mouth the light airy feeling was gone and the pain returned leaving me trembling.

"Typical Gryffindor," he growled rushing towards me, replacing his wand under my chin. "As much as I would like to stick around and torture you, I have others to kill." He lifted his wand and I knew this was it.

Suddenly a high pitched scream emitted a small distance from where we were. Snape's eyes widened as his head turned towards the sound and it was in that small time that he had turned his head that I took my moment. "Avada Kedavra!" I shouted.

I watched in astonishment as his body stiffened before he fell, lifeless, to the ground with a thud. I let out a shocked whimper and felt my knees buckle beneath me. I caught myself and immediately hurried off towards an opening a little way away.

I jumped over uprooted trees and pushed my way through a crowd who were all bend down in a pointless attempt to cover their ears from the noise. The scream vibrated around the opening, rebounding off the trees until suddenly it stopped. I squinted against the bright light that was given off from wands; wands which were held by Harry and Voldermort.

As I watched the light turned white and there was complete silence; not even the trees dared to blow in the wind.

I held my breath as I slowly lifted my head and squinted against the brightness. I stumbled to my feet and was the first to rush forward once the light began to fade. I took in the seen in front of me; Harry was lay spread eagle on the floor, his knuckles still white from their grip on his wand, eyes closed. I took slow steps towards him and knelt at his side picking up his arm. I lay two fingers across his wrist and gasped dropping his arm to ground. There was no pulse.

By now everyone who was left from the good side were spread around me and a silent whisper went around. "GET AWAY!" I screamed, looking around at them all, the few of them that there was. A sob got caught in my throat and I let it out as I pulled his lifeless body towards me.

Harry had, for as long as I'd known him, cared more for everyone else than himself. He'd trained in hope of saving the world and in a fierce battle to do just that, he'd lost his life. It wasn't fair. He wasn't meant to die. Voldermort was meant to be the only one to die…Voldermort?

I lifted my head slowly as my face contorted with rage. I was ready and willing to fight him. Suddenly my head shot up at the pops that were sounding from all around; the deatheaters were dissaperating. I turned around to see him before me, just feet away from Harry. Voldermort's body lay completely still; his wand had flown out of his hand and lay a foot away from him. I stepped cautiously forwards, aware of the calls to be careful but ignoring them all the same.

Before I could get within even a foot of him the floor all around his body began to cave away. I took a step back as I bit my tongue to hold in the scream. I watched as blood red came through the gaps and slowly wrapped themselves around Voldermort's body. Suddenly the earth beneath my feet shuddered and the monster that was the Dark Lord was tugged fiercely down through the earth which was crumbling and cracking.

I stepped forwards slowly and looked down at the floor where Voldermort's body was just seconds ago. I turned my head and took in the sight before me. The grass that had been there earlier was burnt away and in its place was a permanent reminder of the evil that once walked the earth. The dark mark had left its place upon this spot and I allowed a small smile to cross my face in realisation that he was finally gone.

Cheers erupted all around me and I felt the silent tears leave my eyes. I knew the image of Voldermort would most likely haunt people's dreams for years but at least that was as close to this world as he would come.

I bit down on my lip and was about to turn my attention back to Harry, raising a hand to call someone to get help, when a sudden buzzing noise caught my attention. Voldermort's wand still lay on the floor however now it was vibrating fiercely.

Everyone's face was turned to me and I looked at them shrugging. I didn't have a clue who any of them were so I beckoned forward the nearest one and ushered them up to the castle to see if Pomfrey was anywhere in sight. Where was everyone? The members of the order? Teachers? A lump caught in my throat as I feared the worse but I knew right then I had to focus on that wand.

As I stepped closer to it the vibrating became stronger. When I reach out my hand and grabbed it it shook so vigorously I had to use both hands to keep my grip. I jumped letting out a small scream as unexpectedly it let out a high pitch squeaking sound. I looked down at it, the tears still fresh in my eyes but more began to fall defiantly as his figure poured from the end of the wand.

Harry looked at me sadly; or rather his soul did. He began walking towards me and tears fell fast down my cheeks. He took a quick glance behind me before returning his gaze to me as a cold hand was placed on my shoulder. I stared into Harry's transparent face for a second and he smiled at me knowingly.

Not wanting to be wrong about whom I thought was there I turned very slowly; breaking down completely when I saw him. My arms flew around Draco's neck the moment my eyes caught his face, and I cried; he patted my back reassuringly as he told me he loved me.

Eventually, worried he might have gone, I turned back to Harry; his soul. He didn't speak but instead placed his hand on my chest; over my heart. A feeling poured through me and I knew right at that moment that he was ok with it; he was ok with my loving Draco.

I tried to hold onto him, I couldn't let him go. I collapsed to the ground as he began to rise. I threw myself onto the floor as Madame Pomfrey appeared at my side and buried my head in my hands.

Everything was quiet.

Twenty-nine. Draco

Is it over?
Was that it? Could it have possible been over? We'd fought and we'd won. The deatheaters had fled as soon as they saw Voldermort was defeated.

I'd finally found Hermione after hours of searching and when I did, I couldn't believe what I saw. The-boy-who-lived had met his downfall with the same evil that gave him that name in the first place. But he'd done what he intended to do; he'd killed Voldermort in the process.

I saw it before everyone else; the light returning back to earth. I watched it for a while thinking it was my mind playing tricks on me at that delicate time; but as I watched, whispered where passed around.

A furious Hermione lifted her head to glare at all the people that dared to murmur at such a time, but then it caught her eye. She stumbled backwards and her hand flew to her mouth as his soul floated back down into his body. A short intake of breath was heard as slowly he began to sit up. The-boy-who-lived lived again.

Thirty-four. Hermione

I rushed towards him pulling him into a hug that could have lasted forever had he not been dragged away from me by a worried Pomfrey. I let him go though; I knew he needed looking after.

Slowly the small crowd of relived people died away and finally I was with Draco again. But reality had hit me, "where is everyone?" I asked worriedly looking around as though they were all going to appear from behind the trees

He didn't answer me and I took it as a bad sign. There was something wrong, I could tell. He avoided my eyes completely; what was he hiding? "Draco, just say it." I said tears already falling down my face as it dawned on me what he was going to say.

"Most of the order, and teachers, well they're, they're…dead." He responded, tears filling his eyes and falling also. Although he wiped them away quickly, I knew they were there. "Most people are, a lot of close friends." His eyes shot up to mine and I began shaking my head. Please don't mean what I think you mean.

"I'm so sorry Hermione," he said stepping towards me. I was surprised to see silent tears falling down his face but the ones that fell down mine certainly weren't silent. A scream left my mouth I was unaware I could release. My legs became numb and Draco pushed his hands under my arms to keep me steady. He didn't have to say the name, I knew what he meant.

Why did I leave him? If I had stayed and fought with him he may still have been alive. All sorts of thoughts ran through my head; memories good and bad. The love I once felt for him. How was Harry going to take it, what was I going to say to the Weasleys?

Thirty. Draco

Was it all worth it?
I pulled Hermione into my arms as she cried, I couldn't stand seeing her so upset and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't fight back the tears that fell from my eyes.

So many people were dead. "It'll be alright 'Mione," I chocked in a whispered to her. Instantly I knew I shouldn't have said it. She pulled her head back to look at me.

"It won't be alright Draco. It's so easy for you to say that, you haven't lost anyone that you love. Everyone you ever loved was on the other side. Everyone you've ever loved you just fought against." She spat out. I couldn't keep quiet, she may have lost loved ones but the things I just had to do were so hard.

"Hermione, you may have just lost people you love but I just killed people I loved. Yes, I may not love them anymore but I had family that I just had to fight against; family that I just had to kill." I chocked over the last sentence, barely making it leave my lips.

Thirty-five. Hermione

I don't even know why I did it. I still loved him; of course I did but at that moment I made the biggest mistake of my life. I walked away.

I had to get some air. I needed to get away from Hogwarts, go somewhere that death was not lingering; but everywhere would hold death, I knew that. I shuddered at the thought of what the rest of the world must look like. How much damage had Voldermort caused?

I purposely walked slowly hoping that I'd hear his voice soon; and I did.

"Avada Kedavra!"

It echoed through the forest and I spun around on my heels to see Draco stood towering over a figure that was lying on the ground at his feet. A laughed left his mouth, quietly at first but eventually it was so loud I was scared to approach him. I walked slowly up behind Draco and looked down at the man that had tormented him for all his life; the man that had caused him so much pain.

I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and he snapped his head to look at my face, as though he was unaware of my presence behind him. Immediately tears streamed down his face as he looked into my eyes; his mouth opened and shut but not a sound left his lips. No man should have to kill their own father. But if anyone was going to be the death of Lucius Malfoy, I knew Draco would be that person. I understood that he would be upset but what I didn't get was why the tears were rapidly falling from his eyes as he stared, unable to speak, into my eyes. That was when I realised it; I couldn't feel his pain, why could I not feel his pain for losing his father? Clearly he was feeling it or why else was he crying. I grasped Draco's hand in mine, it was freezing.

"Come on, let's get you some rest." I whispered to him as I lightly turned away attempting to take him with me but my hand was dropped from his as he slackened his grip.

"Draco?" I called softly, narrowing my eyes towards him. Slowly he returned his gaze to his father on floor then began to turn towards me. His eyes were still fixed down but not to the ground, to his hands which were cupped to his stomach. I tilted my head to the side slightly, wondering what he was up to.

Eventually he returned his stare to me and I went to step towards him but he lifted a hand to me. I looked at it and a small gasped left me as I lifted my hand to my mouth. Blood covered his fingers, palms and dripped down his wrists. I didn't understand; the Avada Kedavra curse left no blood.

I looked into his eyes for an explanation but all he did was open and then close his mouth. Suddenly he started gasping for air and panic ran over my body like a cold shower. I instinctively started calling for help before rushing towards him and catching him in my arms, slowly lowing him to the floor. He looked down at his stomach and I followed his gaze.

Thirty-one. Draco

Focus on her face Draco. Focus…On…Her…Face…
I looked down at the wound in my stomach as it slid in and out of focus. He'd stabbed me. My father had stabbed me before I put the killing curse upon him. I looked into Hermione's face willing the words to come out, pleading and begging in my head to let me have one more chance to say it. Just one more second to tell her I loved her.

My breathing was becoming short and no matter how much I tried there wasn't enough breaths left in me to speak; but it didn't stop me attempting it. I furiously opened and shut my mouth but my throat was dry and slowly blackness was creeping in on me. My body was numb, I felt no pain. Only weakness.

They say your life flashes before your eyes when you die; and they weren't lying. I saw everything and I began to cry. No words could leave my dry throat but my eyes streamed with tears. All the bad I had done looked so much worse from this side of life and death. I was scared of dying; was I going to go to hell?

I squeezed my eyes shut and flew them open fearing if I shut them for to long I would never open them again. More memories flooded my mind blurring my eyes even more. Hermione swum in and out of visions and I realised all the good she had caused me to do. Would those few months of doing good and helping the order give me a pass to heaven?

"Draco?" She whispered through tears. I tried to smile at her but it caused pain to surge through me. She pulled my hands back from the wound and shook her head slowly. "What did he do?"

A small sad laugh left my mouth and I raised a hand to her cheek. She shuddered under my cold touch but leaned into it all the same. "I'll always love you," I struggled.

"Don't say it like that Draco," she pleaded as more tears fell from her eyes.

"I'm dying," I whispered. I realised my eyes no longer blinked.

"No, no you're not." She said stubbornly. "Don't say that Draco. Tell me what to do. There has to be something I can do."

"There's nothing." The words barely left my lips and she began to sob. Pins and needles travelled up my legs. "Hermione, we're born, we live and when we have done what we intended to do, we die." I told her. My shoulders shook from the cold than ran over my body.

I started coughing viciously and the sound of Hermione screaming for help entered my ears. I brought my hands down from my mouth to see the fresh bloody staining them; I knew it was a bad sign.

Thirty-six. Hermione

I gripped onto his hand as though I thought doing just that would keep him with me. The blood that had spluttered from his mouth stopped and I stared down at him, unable to talk. He smiled weakly back down at me and an uncomfortable grown left his mouth as his ran his hand over the wound. I looked down at his stomach and breathed deeply at the sight. Mustering all my courage I pulled the cloth back and winced from the blood. I place both hands over the metal handle of what I realised was a knife. I looked up into Draco's face "Please," he whispered. I shut my eyes and tugged; it slid out roughly. Tears fell from my eyes and I threw the knife to the floor before throwing myself onto Draco.

"You know what you said is not true. You're here for a lot more than this Draco, please." I begged. He smiled at me as his eyes drooped and I clung onto his hand…It became relaxed in my grip.