Authors Note: Fair warning this is the 'M' rated chapter here, there is a graphic LEMON about half way down, I have not indicated where it is for those of you who wish to avoid them as I feel it takes away from the story, so my advice is to skip down after Draco and Hermione get to some heated making out ;) 18 and above for LEMON content I am not responsible for what you choose to read, but please be mature enough to know if this is not your cup of tea!
Enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything that you may recognize. Everything that is mine: my laptop, HTC Inspire, Lynndsey, Jamie, and their friends…oh and this idea :) yup, that's about it, I think.
Chapter 3
Citizen/Soldier
On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,
I'll be right here.
Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.
Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,
We'll always be ready because we will always be there.
Graduation Night
Panicked, Hermione and Draco ran for their lives towards the boat house and the boat that would carry them to safety on the other side of the lake. Hermione's lungs burned from the constant running that she had done all night. She could feel the pounding of her heart and the thud of her and Draco's shoes on the damp ground. She could barely hear the distant fighting by the Whomping Willow that was long behind them as they ran.
Footsteps sounded behind them, coming closer. Hermione drew in a sharp breath, willing her lungs to give her more air and her legs to keep moving. Draco stiffened beside her, his hand clenching hers tighter. Wand raised over her shoulder, Hermione shot a curse blindly hoping that it would find its target.
A huff of frustration came from behind them, even closer than the last time. Hermione's heart crumpled, she'd missed. A large black shape came looping up alongside her. Hermione glanced quickly, happy, when she noticed that it was Jake, Lynndsey's wolf, and not a Death Eater.
Hermione turned to Draco, who had also noticed the presence of the wolf, his face set with determination to get them both to safety. Jake stayed with them, running casually beside them as they exerted themselves, occasionally glancing behind them to see if they had any pursuers.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the trio reached the edge of the Black Lake and silently they followed its shore line around until they came to the little boat house. Wands drawn, Draco and Hermione moved carefully towards the building aware that it could house Death Eaters, or worse. Hermione shuddered, not wanting to think about the possibility of there being werewolves waiting for them, especially when she and Draco would be no match for the hulking beasts that were on the grounds tonight. Jake would be the closest to protection, but even the large Dire wolf could only hold out so long against his much larger cousins.
Jake advanced in front of the young couple, his large padded paws making no sound on the wet ground. He made a wide birth to the entrance of the stone building eyeing it warily, before he gave a bark of approval. Sighing heavily in relief, Draco and Hermione hurried to the entrance, casing one last look up at the great Stone building that had been their home for the last seven years. Hermione said a silent goodbye hoping that she would be back one day, on better terms.
Draco knelt down beside the little boat inspecting its contents. "Looks like Lynndsey thought of everything when she packed these bags." Hermione knelt down beside Draco inspecting the contents too. Hers and Draco's clothes were packed neatly in one of the bags, while the other held many of Hermione's precious books; Hermione silently thanked Lynndsey for remembering. Another bag contained a wizards tent, and in the final bag Hermione was shocked to find it held a large amount of British muggle money along with a significantly smaller pouch that contained wizarding currency. "Why would we need all of this money?" Hermione asked quietly, not daring to touch it for fear of it disappearing. "I don't see any food packed here, and Merlin only knows what the tent might have in way of furnishings." Draco answered equally quiet. Hermione didn't want to think how long this money would have to last them. They could be gone for days, weeks, months, or even years. Merlin, Hermione thought, I hope it's only days.
Jake gave a slight huff of air, Hermione and Draco turned their attention to the wolf, whose golden eyes glowed luminescent in the darkness of the boat house. His big head jerked towards the boat and he huffed again. "I think it's time we leave now Hermione," Draco said putting the bags back quickly before climbing into the boat himself, his hand extended to help Hermione down. Hermione hesitated, her brown eyes shifting once more to the wolf, she reached for the overly large creature her small arms wrapping around Jake's furry neck, fingers tangling in the fur, her head buried in his shoulder. She breathed in his woodsy sent, and the smell of blood on his fur. She sighed quietly, "Thank you, Jake, for everything."
Hermione disentangled herself from Jake, gently kissing him on the top of his wet nose, he grumbled deep in his chest in recognition. Hermione grabbed onto Draco's hand and let him ease her down into the small boat. Slowly, the boat started to float away from its docking point and began to pick up speed once it was out onto the lake properly. Hermione turned, eyes searching the shore line for any sign of Jake, but she saw none. The wolf had returned to Lynndsey no doubt and to the fight that surely continued.
Lynndsey stared at the burning remains of werewolf bodies. After the fighting had ended mere minutes before, Lynndsey gave the order to gather the dead beasts and have their bodies burned. Soft embers still glowed from what was left of Greyback's pack. As soon as Draco and Hermione had run to safety, Lynndsey sent Jake to follow them and make sure they got out okay. The Dealers had pushed back the advancing Death Eaters and werewolves successfully towards the Hogwarts grounds main gate. Once there, they were met with the Order Members and School teachers, who helped put the wards back into place. Lynndsey and a few members of her pack had gone beyond the gate to ensure that no resistance would be met from the fleeing Death Eaters.
Lynndsey felt the presence of another person to her left, one glance over her shoulder confirmed her suspicions. Jake, her wolf, stood dressed in cut-off jeans that clung to his thighs provocatively and hung dangerously low on his hips.
"Did they make it?"
Jake gave a deep shrug of his broad shoulders. "They made it to the boat house safely, but I did not stay to see their progress across the lake." His deep timbered voice always calmed Lynndsey significantly. It was like a lullaby to her, he could put her to sleep within seconds if he started to tell her a bedtime story, which he often did, seeing as she tended to suffer from bouts of insomnia.
Lynndsey nodded her head in acknowledgement before she turned to face him fully. Jake stared back at her his deep brown eyes staring at her through strands of tousled black locks. "You look like shit."
Lynndsey barked out a laugh and rolled her eyes and playfully shoved him away from her. Jake grinned the smile lighting up his whole face. "I didn't ask for your opinion, asshole."
"Touché," Jake said, his brown eyes leaving her to look over her shoulder at the approaching person. Lynndsey turned just in time to see Jamie pulling up his torn jeans, his long muscled torso reflecting the moonlight off of his pale exposed skin. "Ugh, put on a shirt why don't you?" Lynndsey made a face of mock disgust at her cousin who just rolled his blue-grey eyes at her and smoothed his tousled auburn locks back from his face. He only succeeded in ruffling up his hair even more. "The Death Eaters have fled the premises and the remaining werewolves have been dealt with."
Lynndsey nodded in agreement, the grounds were secure once more, and the students could go home as planned in two days. The school term was wrapping up, the Seventh years graduation ceremony, though ruined by the presence of the Death Eaters, would not hinder any more progress for the student body. Lynndsey was a little worried about how easily the Death Eaters retreated, something big was coming, and she couldn't help but wonder when it would happen.
"Lynndsey!"
Harry and Ron came running up to her, "Did Hermione make it?" They were both out of breath, Ron's freckled cheeks were tinged pink with the exertion and Harry's glasses had slipped down the bridge of his nose. Harry's almond shaped green eyes focused on Lynndsey's blue ones seeking the answers to his friend's fate.
Lynndsey nodded, "Hermione and Draco have been safely evacuated from the grounds, and they'll be on the run for a while though, I fear." Lynndsey frowned at this, Lucius had escaped when her attention had been brought to the arrival of more werewolves and the elder Malfoy had taken that moment to escape into the Forbidden Forest out of sight. Harry frowned too, "On the run? Shouldn't they be safe to come back now?" Lynndsey shifted uncomfortably under the younger boys' scrutiny. "I'm afraid not, Harry, Lucius will be looking for them and he might bring Voldemort to his side if he were to find them. I will keep in touch with them so I know of their safety, but for now it's best if they stay hidden from view."
"Potter! Weasley!"
The voice of Deputy Headmistress McGonagall called from the stone circle at the mouth of the bridge leading to the school drifted down the sloping incline. "Time to come inside, you best try and get some sleep before tomorrow." She waved the boys towards her, her jaw set, a scratch ran the length of her left cheekbone, but otherwise the older woman appeared to be unharmed.
Harry and Ron both turned back to Lynndsey, but she waved them off, "Go, before that old bat has my head for allowing you two to stay out on a night like this. I'll see you boys in the morning."
Grudgingly the two turned and silently made their way towards their Professor and the safety of the castle. Lynndsey watched them disappear through the covered bridge before she spoke. "How are the repairs to the castle coming?"
Jamie was the one to answer, "Well, we have the Great Hall windows repaired and the cleaning has commenced, there will be no evidence of tonight's events come breakfast." Lynndsey nodded, "I should hope not. Now, how the hell did the Death Eaters get inside?"
Hermione and Draco had finally crossed the Black Lake and were now levitating the heavy bags up the shore line and towards the waiting trees. Darkness engulfed them, together they cast Lumos lighting up the dark space around them as they continued their trek through the dense trees.
"How are we supposed to know where the wards end, Hermione?" Draco asked, curiously.
Hermione honestly did not know the answer to that question, but she vaguely remembered that one time Lynndsey had mentioned briefly to Harry, Ron, and herself that the border of Hogwarts ended not far from the far end of the lake. The boat had taken her and Draco to the furthest side of the lake and if Hermione wasn't mistaken, she had seen a slight shimmer over the black water only a few yards to their left before they reached the shore. "I don't really know for sure Draco, but I'm hoping that it's only a couple of miles due South from here, and once we reach the other side we have to quickly disapperate to avoid detection and reach a safe place far from people to camp for the night."
Draco nodded his agreement and the two fell into companionable silence as they walked for the next couple of hours searching, hoping for the invisible wall that would mean their freedom. Suddenly, Hermione stopped a few feet in front of him. Worried, Draco sped up his pace, but before he could open his mouth to ask Hermione what was wrong, she turned to him, a wide grin across her illuminated face. "I found it!"
Draco let out a heavy sigh of relief as he reached Hermione's side. He too could feel the slight resistance that wouldn't allow him to walk any further.
"Hi Hites," Hermione spoke in a firm voice, and Draco could feel the air around them shimmer slightly with magic. The invisible resistance that had prevented them from moving forward moments before was no longer there and the two teens rushed through the gap as it slowly sealed itself shut behind them. "That is some impressive magic," Draco said as they both watched in fascination the tangling white threads of light thread themselves back together sealing them off from the school grounds.
Hermione reached her free hand for Draco's and the next thing he felt was the pull behind his navel that signaled their apparation.
The young couple found themselves in the middle of a clearing inside of another forest, Draco groaned, he had hoped that they would be able to skip the forest and go straight to a city. "I'll set up the wards and you can set up the tent." Hermione left no room for argument as she set about making a perimeter, wand raised and murmuring different incantations. Draco let the heavy bags fall with a swift flick of his wrist before he pulled the brown tent from one of the bags. He placed it in the middle of the clearing and with the flick of his wand the tent began to inflate itself. He was impressed by the sheer size of the tent, it was much larger than he expected. "Thank you, Lynndsey." Draco whispered quietly, as he gathered the other bags and walked through the tent flap into the decent sized living space. The furniture was quite simple and elegant, but cheap by the young Malfoy's usual standards.
A large brown leather sofa dominated the sitting space a mocha colored coffee table sat in front of it and a brick fireplace roared to life at the other end. Off to the right Draco discovered the small kitchen that was equipped with a range, sink, and refrigerator. The mocha cabinets were topped with a deep gray granite countertop. The pantry Draco was pleased to find, was pre-stocked with spices and non-perishable food items. Excited, he made his way to the refrigerator and found it to be well stocked as well with milk, eggs, and butter as well as a variety of vegetables and fruits.
The door on the other side of the sitting space Draco found to be the bedroom. A large king sized four poster bed dominated the space, a dark green comforter with black sheets and pillows, a soft shag rug sat neatly underneath it and a large chest was off to the right of the bed. The last door was a large bathroom with sunk-in whirlpool bath and a large step in shower in the far corner with his and her sinks set into a gray counter top with mocha cabinets just like in the kitchen. A single large mirror covered the wall behind the sinks providing a reflection of the whole bathroom. Draco saw another door in the corner and discovered that this was where the toilet was located. "Convenient, Lynndsey you sure thought of everything."
"Draco?"
"Coming, Hermione!"
Hermione was standing in the sitting area behind the sofa staring in amazement at the décor. Draco smirked; this was probably pretty extravagant by her standards. Hermione's eyes found Draco as he lounged against the doorway to the bedroom. His grey eyes smoldered as he took in the sight of her. Her brown tresses in a windblown mess around her face, her curls more wayward than they were earlier, and her whiskey brown eyes glowed with amazement at the décor. Hermione swallowed, her throat constricting at the look on Draco's face. He was practically taking off her clothes with his eyes raking over her the way he was. The day's events had obviously not curbed his sexual appetite.
His eyes darkened the longer he looked at her, and Hermione shifted uncomfortable under his heated gaze. Hermione wondered what exactly he was thinking about right now. "Draco. . .?" Hermione didn't have time to finish her question before Draco had crossed the space between them in three long strides and yanked her to him, his hand pressing urgently into the small of her back as his lips found hers in a heated frenzy.
Hermione gasped in surprise as Draco's mouth devoured hers, taking everything and not asking permission. She'd never seen this side of him before, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't like it. His tongue sought entrance into her moist cavern, meeting her tongue in a fierce duel. Hermione was not about to surrender to Draco's domineering behavior. She thrust her tongue into his mouth, fighting back, making him moan and press his hard lithe body against her smaller, softer frame. Hermione's hands found their way around Draco's shoulders gripping tightly, before she moved them up to his neck and delved deep into his white blond locks pulling him closer to her.
Draco tore his mouth away from hers, trailing fiery kisses down her neck before climbing his way back up to her ear and tugging gently on her earlobe. She moaned wantonly, unconsciously pulling him closer to her in her lust filled daze. Hermione could feel Draco's hardness pressing against her stomach, heat pooled in her belly spreading throughout her body. She could feel the wetness in her panties spread as Draco began to grind himself against her.
"More," Hermione moaned, cradling Draco's head in her hands as he continued to kiss and gently bite her neck. "Please, Draco," Hermione coaxed Draco's lips back up to hers, claiming them with her own in a heated kiss that consumed them both.
Draco tore his lips from Hermione's once more, his gaze intent, "I could have lost you tonight Hermione." Through the haze that clouded her mind, Hermione processed what Draco had just told her. "But you didn't Draco, and that's all that matters. Now, stop talking and fuck me already."
Draco smirked, lifting Hermione easily and wrapping her legs around his waist as he turned them around and planted her ass firmly on the back of the sofa. Hermione squealed in shock, and then began to giggle, which turned into a heady moan as Draco ground his hard cock into her covered mound. Draco eased his hands around to her hips and trailed fire down the tops of her thighs, fingering the edge of her pleated school skirt before slipping underneath the hem and inching his way slowly up to the edge of her panties. Hermione squirmed on the back of the sofa, the leather cool on the bare skin of her exposed thighs.
Draco continued to kiss her as his fingertips played with the elastic of her panties. Before Hermione knew what he had even done, Draco had ripped the panties down both sides and dropped them to the floor of the tent. She broke their kiss, eyes wide with shock, "Draco!"
"Don't tell me you didn't like that. Besides," He ran his fingertip down her dripping slit. "It was just in the way."
Hermione's eyes glazed over and she moaned her head dropping back as she clung to Draco as he continued to play with her slit, coating her in her own juices.
"Too many clothes," Draco said. His fingers began to untie her Gryffindor tie and unbutton her blouse. Hermione's nimble fingers began working at his tie too and then his buttons. Slowly she revealed his pale alabaster skin to her heated gaze, reaching the last button, Hermione started to push the shirt off his broad, muscled shoulders. She stared openly at his pecks and abs, trailing her fingers lightly over the ridges of his abdomen. Draco groaned, his fingers stilling on the last button before he undid that one and slipped the shirt out of the waistband of her skirt and off her shoulders. His cool grey eyes stared at her heaving breasts clad in her red lace bra. He growled softly, appreciatively, before lowering his head quickly and taking one of her lace covered nipples into his mouth and sucking on it fiercely.
Hermione's eyes rolled into the back of her head and fluttered shut at the feel of Draco's hot mouth on her covered nipple. She moaned pulling him closer, feeling his cock press more urgently into her pussy. Hermione moved her fingers down to his belt, swiftly, she undid the buckle, her fingers reaching for the zipper and button next. Once those obstacles had been removed, Hermione reached inside his boxers and grabbed his thick cock. Draco jumped, "Fuck," he swore and bit her nipple in retaliation.
Hermione just groaned in response to the sharp pain coming from her breast and began to stroke Draco's cock, her thumb circling the head, spreading the precum around. Gently she raked her finger nails down the shaft, knowing that this would send pleasure and pain shooting up his body from his cock. "Merlin, Hermione don't stop." Hermione smirked, she didn't plan on it.
Draco leaned his forehead against her shoulder as she continued to stroke his cock, which was now coated in his own precum. Pulling himself together, Draco unclasped Hermione's bra and slipped it down her arms. Her pert breasts were now exposed to his view and they bounced slightly with each breath she took. Her nipples were hard with her arousal and the cold air in the tent. She gasped and yanked harder on Draco's cock when he took her now bare nipple in his mouth and the other one between his thumb and forefinger rolling it harshly.
Frustrated, Hermione took her hand out of Draco's pants and pushed them and his silk boxers down to the floor. He stepped out of them, his long thick eight inch cock bare, precum still dripped from the tip, the sight of him made Hermione's pussy ache with longing to have him fill her. She moaned as Draco continued to suck on her nipples, "Please Draco. . .Oh, fuck!"
Draco smirked around her nipple, twisting and nipping lightly with his teeth. "Do you like this, Hermione?"
She panted, desperate to have him continue his ministrations on her nipple. "Please, Draco, please." Draco stayed where he was, his mouth inches from her aching breasts as he looked up at her flushed face, her brown eyes glazed over with want. "Please what, Hermione?"
"Fuck me already!" She shouted, he pussy begged to be filled, to have him come inside of her. Draco smirked, he loved it when Hermione lost control and begged him to fuck her.
Quickly, Draco had gripped her waist, pulled her off of the back of the sofa and turned her around, bending her over the back. She gasped, surprised by the cool air coming into contact with her pussy as Draco forced her legs apart, spreading her wide. He pulled her skirt up and bunched it around her waist, his hands close to bruising her fair skin with his rough grip. Hermione was still so shocked she hardly registered that Draco had stepped closer to her and placed the tip of his aching cock against her pussy lips. He pushed, gently, groaning when he felt her wetness drip down onto him. With one solid thrust, Draco was inside of her.
Hermione screamed in shock, her eyes flying open as Draco penetrated her in one thrust. He stilled, his cock buried deep inside of her hot pussy, allowing her body to adjust to the swift intrusion. He groaned as she spasmed, her walls clamping down on him before releasing him again. Draco panted, steadying himself by spreading her legs even wider and widening his stance. He looked down as he slowly withdrew, watching himself leave her heat, his cock glistening with her juices before plunging back inside. Hermione moaned at the feeling of Draco's cock retreating from her and gasped in pleasure as he thrust himself back inside. He felt so good inside of her, stretching her, filling her to the point where she thought she would burst with the pleasure of it all.
Draco set a slow rhythm at first, before he grew impatient with the pace and then he began to pound into her hard, the tip of his cock hitting her womb with each thrust, his cock nearly leaving her with each withdrawal. Hermione continued to moan and groan as Draco pounded into her, she could feel his balls slapping her pussy, hear the slap of skin on skin, her juices dripping out around his cock and onto the leather sofa. She was so close, just a little bit more. "Harder, Draco," She moaned.
The sound of her begging for more had him nearly coming in seconds. But Draco pulled himself together, slowing down his pace, and leisurely pushing into her at an agonizing pace, intent on drawing out their pleasure. He reached his hand around to her front, finding her engorged clit and rubbing the tender nub harshly. "Come for me, Hermione."
Hermione could feel the tension coil in her belly, she clenched Draco's cock harder as he fucked her slowly, she didn't want to come yet, but Draco's finger circling her clit was starting to push her over the edge.
"Draco! I'm coming!" Draco stilled, his cock buried deep as Hermione writhed underneath him, her pussy clamping down on him, trying to milk him of his hot seed. She panted, her pussy continuing to spasm as she came down from her high. Draco withdrew his cock completely, ignoring Hermione's weak protests, he turned her over and sat her on the back of the sofa, spreading her legs and thrusting himself deep. Hermione moaned, her pussy gripping him tightly, "Fuck, Hermione, I'm going to come soon." Draco could feel his balls tighten as they prepared to explode. He continued to thrust himself inside of Hermione hard, fucking her into the sofa. His finger once again found her clit and he began to rub it, intent on making her come again before he did. "Come for me Hermione. I want to feel you come on my cock." Hermione groaned, her body wanted to protest against the rough fucking that Draco was giving her, but she loved the pleasure of it too much. "I don't think I can."
"Yes, you can. And you will." Draco thrust harder, his finger circling her clit, and his mouth found her nipple, sucking on it as he continued to pound into her. Hermione cried out, gripping Draco's shoulders as he continued his quest to make her come again. She felt it, damn it, she felt that ball tightening inside of her once more, she wound tighter and tighter before she exploded, crying out Draco's name as her pussy threatened to strangle his cock this time. Draco kept thrusting, feeling his balls tighten before he too came with her. He threw his head back in pleasure as he continued to thrust inside of Hermione, pumping his hot seed deep inside of her womb.
It was a couple of minutes later before Draco and Hermione dared to move again. Hermione could feel their mingled cum dripping out of her down her thighs and onto the sofa. Draco's cock was becoming softer, groaning he slipped himself out of her, and helped her down off of the sofa. Hermione's legs shook and Draco had to steady her while she regained her balance in the aftershocks of her last orgasm.
"Come on Hermione," Draco coaxed. He led her carefully towards the bedroom and through the bathroom door. He left her by the counter as she stared around her in shock at the bath and shower. Smiling to himself, Draco made his way to the shower and turned the water on to warm up. He turned around to see Hermione pulling out a couple of fluffy red towels and placing them on the edge of the counter. Draco let his eyes rove bluntly up and down Hermione's body, from her slim shoulders, to her full breasts, flat stomach and full hips, stopping at the apex of her thighs that was covered by trimmed brown curls. She squirmed, her face flushing, which only served to make Draco smile brighter.
"Cheeky bastard," Hermione muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes as she made her way towards the glass shower door. Carefully, she stepped inside feeling the heated steam engulf her fully as she stepped under the spray of warm water. She heard the door close behind her and felt Draco's body press close behind her, his stiffening cock nestling into the crack of her ass.
"Ready for round two?" Draco ground himself hard into Hermione making her moan. "Now? But we just did it less than ten minutes ago." Hermione said, shocked that he wanted her again so quickly.
"Doesn't mean I can't come again, or make you come for that matter." She felt Draco's hot breath on the shell of her ear as he slowly kissed up and down the length of her neck. His hand circled around to her front, his long fingers finding her small mound and slipping inside, feeling her wetness. "You're so we for me Hermione. Tell me you don't want it."
Hermione's head fell back onto Draco's warm chest, she barely registered that they were in the shower; all she cared about was Draco's magic fingers and what they were doing to her right then.
Hermione stirred, burying her face into the soft down of the pillow that she clutched to herself in her sleep. She frowned, wondering where she was. Without opening her eyes, Hermione felt around with her hands on either side of her, she felt nothing except rumpled bed sheets. Groaning, she opened her eyes to a bedroom that was most definitely not her dorm room at Hogwarts or her bedroom at her parents' house. Eyebrows furrowed Hermione rubbed the sleep from her eyes, sitting up carefully. She felt quite sore between her legs. That was when it hit her, the events of the night before, her and Draco fleeing Hogwarts as the Death Eaters attacked, and then much later, Draco trailing his fingers down her body, his fiery kisses and touch, the feel of him deep inside of her as he helped her to climb new heights. Hermione's body hummed at the memory of the two of them together last night, she smiled as she removed the covers and gingerly climbed out of bed, mindful of her sore thighs.
Hermione searched through the chest that Draco had left open for her, she grabbed one of his oxford shirts and a pair of her lace boyshorts before she left the bedroom in search of Draco. She didn't have to look far as she could smell cooking bacon and frying eggs. Hermione followed her nose and her stomach to the little kitchen and found Draco in nothing but a pair of green plaid boxer shorts standing at the cooktop frying the bacon and scrambling the eggs. She smiled as she watched him cook the food; sitting down in one of the cushioned seats her eyes never leaving Draco. She watched as his back muscles flexed and his arms bulged when he lifted the frying pans creating a sort of juggling act. She giggled when he almost lost the pan of eggs, cursing as he tried to scoop them back in it. "I think the goal is to keep them in the pan Draco, not get them all over the cooktop."
Draco turned, the pan still in his hand with the spatula in the other, both held up in a defensive manner. He smiled when he saw Hermione sitting at the small table her long bare legs tucked under the chair, her elbows resting on the table top her chin in her hands as she watched him attempt to make breakfast. "I know that, I was just making sure that they were cooked thoroughly."
Hermione snorted and rolled her eyes at Draco, "Okay, Mr. Malfoy, if that's what you say."
"It is what I say, now enjoy your breakfast." He winked, and with a flick of his wand the bacon, eggs and toast plated themselves and floated towards Hermione who reached for the plate as it neared her and sat it down on the table. Draco joined her moments later with forks, napkins and pumpkin juice. Hermione and Draco enjoyed their breakfast in comfortable silence, Hermione reading each page of the Daily Prophet as Draco finished them. Once they were done, Hermione moved the dishes to the sink where they began to wash, rinse, and dry.
"Have we gotten any post from Lynndsey, Harry, or Ron?" Hermione asked, eager to hear about the fate the school. Draco nodded still reading the sports section, all Hermione could see was that the Cannons had lost to Bulgaria last weekend with a score of 300 to 150. Draco picked up his wand and summoned the letter to the table passing it to Hermione to read. It was from Lynndsey.
Dear Hermione and Draco,
I know that the two of you are safe, as I cannot track you at the moment (well done Hermione on your exceptional spellwork). We were able to drive the Death Eaters off the Hogwarts grounds quite quickly after you two had departed for the boat house. I fear that this is no cause for celebration as they put up very little fight whilst we were pushing them towards the gates.
Hermione, I think that Voldemort might have had more to do with last night than we considered. There is no one else who could have broken the wards except McGonagall, Snape and myself. I fear that the final battle is coming much faster than any of us ever hoped it would, but it is completely inevitable.
I have attached a portkey to this letter so when it is safe or I have need of you it will glow and you two have five minutes to respond or the portkey will leave without you two. DO NOT let it leave without you attached to it! It is the only safe way you will be able to reenter the Hogwarts grounds.
I will see you both soon, I am sure, and until then, just lay low.
Sincerely,
Lynndsey M. Black
"So what are we going to do now Draco?"
Lynndsey was in the Headmasters office, pacing up and down, nervously chewing on her fingernails. The portrait of the previous Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore hung in the middle of the room behind the high wing backed chair behind the mahogany desk. The rest of the former Headmasters' and Headmistress' equally watched the young woman wear a path in the stone floor.
"Severus would never betray my trust Lynndsey and you know that." Dumbledore was still trying to convince her that the act she had just witnessed Severus Snape commit was false. A bloody riot this was!
Lynndsey turned her blue eyes onto Dumbledore's equally deep blue ones and met them in challenge, a muscle twitching in her jaw as she tried to reign in her anger. "You're telling me," She spat. "That I did not just see with my own eyes, Severus Snape jump from the seventh floor corridor window." Dumbledore stared calmly back at Lynndsey, unperturbed by the waves of anger that radiated off of her person. "I did not say that exactly. What I said was that Severus would never-". Lynndsey waved the old man away, "Yes, yes, I heard you the first time. And I know that you believe that-". This time it was Dumbledore that cut her off. "It is you who do not believe in the loyalty of Severus Snape."
Lynndsey's face turned red in anger. "HE'S A BLOODY FUCKING SLYTHERIN!" She shouted making the other portraits jump and some of them cower behind their chairs. "People change," Dumbledore's response was soft and firm.
"You're a fool sometimes old man; you do not see what is in front of you."
"I see enough, especially to know that you are only lashing out at me in anger that is not warranted." Dumbledore held up his hand effectively halting her next comment. "You do not trust what you do not know, and I would think that with your age you would know better to trust me."
Trusting him was not the issue here, it was trusting Snape. Lynndsey trusted Dumbledore with her life; she would follow that old man off the edge of a cliff face if he made it sound like an adventure. Despite the fact that she was indeed much older than he, she looked up to him like a father figure or grandfather.
"If you trust Severus Snape," Lynndsey swallowed the lump in her throat. "Then I do trust your judgment and I only hope that you are not wrong."
And with that said Lynndsey turned and wrenched open the heavy door slamming it shut behind her as she hurried down the spiral staircase eager to get away for a while. Minerva McGonagall was waiting for her at the bottom of the gargoyle as promised. "He's a rotten old fool Minerva who would sooner bite off his own head before he admitted that Severus was untrustworthy."
Minerva had feared as much, Albus had always placed the highest bid on Severus, even though most people questioned it. It seems that even if Albus was wrong this time; he wouldn't admit it, at least not yet.
"The wards are secure; I sincerely hope that the Death Eaters do not plan to come back anytime soon though." Lynndsey nodded and started a brisk walk down the corridor to the moving staircases, descending down to the main floor. "I still want a watch kept, the students will be leaving soon and I do not wish us to be caught off guard." They had now reached the Great Hall, "Have you heard anything from Kingsley?" Minerva shook her head tensely; no word had been received from the Ministry for two days now. The rest of the Order members were starting to worry about what that meant for their immediate future.
"All we can do is hope for the best right now Minerva. Ready the students to leave the grounds a little earlier than scheduled; I want to make sure they get on that train before Voldemort decides to make an appearance."
The two went their separate ways, Minerva to the Great Hall to make the announcement to the students to pack their trunks that they would be leaving the school for the station within the hour. Lynndsey left through the courtyard entrance passing under the ticking of the giant clock and out past the fountain heading for the bridge and her fighters beyond it.
Lynndsey met Jamie and Jake on the down slope just past the stone circle. They fell into step with Lynndsey, Jamie informed Lynndsey that constant patrols along the border were conducted every half hour to ensure maximum security and a guard was posted every 200 feet which was a short distance to the Weres. And Jake informed Lynndsey that the train had arrived as scheduled an hour ago and a small guard was placed along the station to ensure the students safety. Lynndsey was pleased with this information, "Matthews I want you to head up to the school and help the teachers rally the students and escort them to the train shortly." Jake nodded and turned quickly, jogging back towards the direction of the school. Jamie and Lynndsey continued on towards the gate, both nodding to the Weres on either side as they slid open the gates just enough for the two to exit before it clanged shut behind them.
"I called for the Coven to come join us; they'll be here within the hour." Jamie frowned; he didn't like vampires as much as the next Were, but he didn't press the issue. "You really think tonight is the night?" Lynndsey nodded curtly, her eyes focused on the setting sun over the tree tops in a few minutes the Coven would be here and school would be more than prepared if Voldemort made an appearance.
Lynndsey reached for the locket that she was wearing around her neck and gave it a tight squeeze. It would send a message to Draco and Hermione that they were to pack up and come back to Hogwarts for the train. Lynndsey only hoped the students would reach the train in time before Voldemort showed up. "Send the students down," Lynndsey sent her wolf patronus bounding up through the gate leaving a silvery trail in its wake. She watched it go with the fading sunlight.
She felt a chill on the back of her neck and the fine hairs on her neck and arms stood on end. She turned to see Edward, his auburn hair slightly windblown standing a few feet from her, eyeing Jamie warily whose lips were turned up in a silent snarl a growl resonating from deep within his chest. She saw the outline of several bodies along the tree line waiting for their orders. "You got here faster than expected," Lynndsey said, shaking Edward's cold hand firmly. He nodded curtly, his eyes never leaving Jamie, "I instructed the Coven to leave as quickly as possible as soon as I received your message." The slight British accent was laced with a warm underlying American accent. "May I inquire as to what your orders are my Queen?"
"Stay put for now; we will escort the students down to the train as soon as they come through the gates."
Edward went to inform the rest of the vampires and wait with them just within the tree line. They all waited with bated breath as twilight fell and slowly it grew even darker, the sky a deep blue and purple with streaks of gold, red, orange, and pink. Only a few minutes had past when they heard the footsteps of the approaching students. "Open the gates!"
The wrought iron gates slowly opened and the students began to file through, with McGonagall in the lead and Jake next to her. Lynndsey held her breath hoping it would all be over soon. She saw Harry, Ron, and thankfully Hermione and Draco at the front of the student body filing through the gates. "To the train!" The order rang through the forest; Lynndsey sensed the slight change in the air as it grew heavy.
She was just about to say something when a silvery lynx appeared in front of her separating the students from their escort.
"The ministry has fallen, the minister is dead. Voldemort is coming." The deep tenor of Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice rang through the night, the students froze, their eyes focused on the fading lynx, no one dared speak, afraid that Voldemort would show up right next to them if they dared acknowledge the grim tidings that Kingsley had just delivered.
BOOM!
Lynndsey whirled around, down the winding path and over the tops of the trees they could see a cloud of smoke rising and licking flames of a raging fire consuming part of Hogsmead and the train most likely. Lynndsey's heart sank as she stared at the licking flames of the distant fire.
"RUN! BACK TO THE CASTLE!" Her voice rang through the deafening silence; panic ensued as the teachers tried to calm the younger students and corral them back through the gate and up to the safety of the school. Once the gates closed behind the fleeing students, Lynndsey sent out the next order, "Hold them off as long as you can!" The vampires and werewolves raced forward through the path and trees, intent on cutting off the Death Eaters just long enough for the students to get inside the castle.
Please let it be enough time, Lynndsey thought, hoping that Harry would start searching for the next horcrux.
She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, werewolves in different stages of phasing all around her, vampires blurring as they raced to Hogsmead. She could see the mass of Death Eaters and the creatures that they had brought with them, inferi, werewolves, some lone vampires, and giants. Eight giants to be exact, Lynndsey swore, pushing her legs harder, dodging the colliding bodies and curses, shouts of the killing curse and dark magic blurring together until she no longer distinguished the difference between the hexes as she raced past, intent on bringing down a couple of the giants before they reached the school.
It was pandemonium back at the school, the students were gathered in the Great Hall and McGonagall was trying to reign in the older students as they shouted that they should be fighting back, not hiding. Hermione sat frozen in fear, there wasn't enough time, there couldn't be. Harry still had yet to find the last of the horcruxes it was too soon for Voldemort to have come for him already.
"SILENCE!"
Hermione was jerked out of her thoughts by the shout from McGonagall; the older woman lowered her wand now that she had the attention of the students.
"Now that I have your attention," McGonagall motioned for the teachers to join her. "I want every first through the fourth year students to follow Professor Slughorn to the dungeons area." Protests could be heard from the fourth and third years that they wanted to stay and fight. McGonagall shushed them all with a look, "There will be no buts!"
Sullenly the younger students filed out of the double doors, McGonagall waited to address the remaining students until the doors had swung shut. "Now, those of you who remain I hope that you are wise enough to know whether or not you are able to help us in protecting our school. For those of you who are not very confident, I urge you now to catch up with Professor Slughorn and the younger students and follow them to the dungeons."
Hermione watched as slowly some of the students began to leave most of them were fifth years. She also noticed that all except two of the Slytherin students had departed from the hall as well – Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott were the only two who stayed.
"Now for those of you who are left, I want you to break yourself up into groups, the Order members at the back of the room will take you to your next assignment." Quickly the students began to disperse each one gravitating towards an Order member to get their orders. Hermione stood with Harry, Ron, Draco, Ginny, Luna, Dean, Seamus, and Neville in the middle of the hall. McGonagall approached the group. "Mr. Longbottom, I have a task for you. I need you to go to the covered bridge and blow it up!"
Neville stared dumbfounded at her, "Blow it up, Professor?"
"Yes." McGonagall stated matter-of-factly.
"How am I supposed to do that exactly, Professor?"
"Why, take Mr. Finnegan with you. As I recall, he's very good at making things explode."
Seamus had a huge grin on his face, "Come on Nev, I promise not to blow you up too." Neville didn't look so sure, but he followed Seamus from the hall regardless.
McGonagall turned to Harry next, "Potter, whatever you need most tell me and I'll get it for you." Harry nodded, "I need time, Professor."
"How much?"
"As much as you can spare." McGonagall nodded her head grim; her usually perfect bun was starting to loose strands of hair. "Do what you must, and be careful."
Harry turned around and began to exit the Great Hall, heading for the staircases. "Harry!"
Harry turned just in time to see Hermione and Ron come darting up behind him, "Where are you going?"
"I have to start somewhere and Ravenclaw tower is the best place that I can think of right now. Hermione nodded, "We were thinking – Ron and I – that it doesn't matter if you find the next horcrux if you can't destroy it. And Ron came up with an idea – a brilliant one at that – a basilisk fang!" Hermione waited for her words to sink in, but Harry just stared back at her. Hermione rolled her eyes in frustration. "You go on to Ravenclaw tower; Ron and I are going to the girls bathroom!"
Hermione turned, tugging on Ron's wrist, when Harry shouted from behind her, "Wait, take the map so that way you can find me whenever you are done." Ron took the Maurders map from Harry, nodding, "Good luck mate."
"You too."
Authors Note: I know it's pretty cruel of me to leave you guys hanging like this, but here it is! Chapter three! I hope you guys like it, I spent a lot of time working on it to make it perfect for you guys. I don't know if any of you have recognized it or not, but some of the events in this chapter and the next will be similar or straight from the last movie. My reasoning for it is because I like the line where McGonagall tells Neville to blow up the bridge and his reaction as well as the event itself. I hope you don't mind the collaboration of the two with my own ideas, this WILL NOT be exactly like the real battle, from either the book or the movie, you might just be surprised!
Here are the lyrics for the song selection for this chapter. Citizen/Soldier by 3 Doors Down
Beyond the boundaries of your city's lights,
Stand the heroes waiting for your cries.
So many times you did not bring this on yourself,
When that moment finally comes,
I'll be there to help.
On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,
I'll be right here.
Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.
Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,
We'll always be ready because we will always be there.
When there are people crying in the streets,
When they're starving for a meal to eat,
When they simply need a place to make their beds,
Right here underneath my wing,
You can rest your head.
On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,
I'll be right here!
Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.
Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,
We'll always be ready because we will always be there...
There... there... there...
Hope and pray that you'll never need me,
But rest assured I will not let you down.
I'll walk beside you but you may not see me,
The strongest among you may not wear a crown.
On that day when you need your brothers and sisters to care,
I'll be right here!
On that day when you don't have the strength for the burden you bear,
I'll be right here!
Citizen soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the dark of despair.
(Citizen soldiers)
Standing on guard for the ones that we sheltered,
We'll always be ready because we will always be there.