A/n: Okay guys this is it! It's finally over! I'd like to thank all of my reviewers and readers who continued to support and encourage me! I wouldn't have been able to make it without you well, technically speaking I would, but you get my point! reviews are very much appreciated and queries will be warmly welcomed. I'm just so glad this is finished!! Yey!! I completed a fic!! Let's celebrate! Butterbeer anyone? I was worried that I might still be writing this when book seven is released, thank Merlin! I mean God, that it didn't! Weeee! I now proclaim this fic to be officially over. I might make a sequel! Don't cry!
Chapter 21: Unbearable Truth
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS!!!
Two days ago, December 25th, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was alarmed when He-who-must-not-be-named infiltrated their grounds with a number of Death Eaters whom he managed to break out from Azkaban, how, is a question that still remains unknown to the wizarding world.
It was reported that almost half of the staff was murdered including Pomona Sprout, Horace Slughorn, Sybill Trelawney, Rubeus Hagrid, Vivien Malfoy and headmistress Minerva McGonagall. It was said that He-who-must-not-be-named was after ex-Death Eater; Draco Malfoy, who happened to be in school premises during that time. Harry Potter, who was called upon by Ms. Hermione Granger, a close acquaintance, arrived at the scene moments later with one Ronald Weasley and faced he-who-must-not-be-named, who fled immediately after realizing his defeat. For further details about Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter's exclusive interview turn to page 6-9. Meanwhile, Hogwarts' school governors officially proclaimed that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will no longer be open for further notice. In other news, the escaped Death Eaters have been rounded up once again…
Hermione closed her copy of the Daily Prophet and sighed heavily. It has been two days now, and the media still can't stop blabbing about news that's already been reported. She looked out the window and saw the crouched form of Draco Malfoy. Since the day Hogwarts closed, he had no other place to stay. The Malfoy Manor has been temporarily postponed for ownership because of Ministry procedures. He was so alone, he had no one, no family, no friends, so it's been decided that he stayed with them at the Burrow in the meantime.
It was a cold December morning, but the snow wasn't as deep as anyone expected. Hermione pulled on her cloak and went outside towards the garden where Draco was.
"Hey." Was all that she could say. She didn't know what to do to comfort him. He didn't look up at her at all. He ignored her completely. "Listen, I know that this is hard for you and all, I understand what you are fee-,"
"You don't understand what I'm feeling, Granger!" Draco bellowed heatedly. "Have you ever felt that when you're looking for warmth and love, no one will be there? That when you fall on your knees no one will help you up? That when your life is a complete misery and a big black whole, there will be nothing to make you feel not even a tinge of happiness?"
"No." Hermione replied blankly.
"Then you don't know what it feels. So don't tell me you understand me, Granger." Draco barely whispered.
"I'm not. Just please listen to me," Hermione told him gently. He didn't budge a muscle so Hermione continued. "I just wanted to tell you that you better move on. Sulking everyday won't bring her back. She wouldn't have wanted you to be miserable your whole life just because she's gone."
"That's easy for you to say, she's not your sister." Draco growled at her.
"She was to me, too. She treated me like a real family, she was always nice to me and I owe her my life for training me in combat. So don't tell me that I'm not really upset of her dying."
Draco looked away to conceal the tears that was welling up in his eyes. Hermione held his hand and patted his shoulder.
"It's okay to show me your tears. You can stop acting like your cold and detached now. I know that this is an awfully huge impact in your life, in our lives. But I really want to let you know that we will go through this together." Hermione embraced him while he didn't move. He pushed Hermione softly by the shoulder and looked at her.
"Thanks. But I'd rather go through this alone." He stood up and went inside the house. Hermione sighed and gazed up at the snowy sky.
During dinner, Fred and George arrived at the Burrow after hearing the news about Hogwarts closing. So it was only Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Ginny, Fred and George at the house. Mrs. Weasley went to a Ministry hearing with Mr. Weasley to talk about Draco's inheritance. The trio was left at home to talk about the strategy they will do to destroy all of Voldemort's Horcruxes.
"So Hogwarts is definitely closing." Fred mumbled with a turkey leg in his mouth.
"Yes, definitely." Ron answered.
"It was lucky he attacked during the holidays where students were at home with their families." George interjected.
"I doubt that he didn't know that almost all of the students weren't at Hogwarts." Hermione muttered with her eyebrows furrowed. "He did that on purpose."
"Yeah, but since when did he hesitate in killing hundreds?" Ron asked stupidly.
"Of course, if the students were there, he and his Death Eater pals will be outnumbered." Harry answered. "Which reminds me, how did he and the Death Eaters get in?"
"I have a theory," Hermione wondered out loud. "I don't know how he got in but I'm positive that when he did get in, he took off the charms and spells that were covering the castle. That's how the death eaters got in. And also, I think that someone in the ministry is in league with Voldemort. How else would he have gotten those Death Eaters out?"
"I still can't believe that Professor McGonagall and the others are-are… dead." Ginny said sadly.
"Me neither. I feel guilty for not being a very nice student to them." Fred told them. "Say Malfoy, isn't one of the professors your sister?"
Draco looked at them at last. He's been ignoring the lot since dinner.
"Yes." He answered expressionlessly.
"We're very sorry."
He nodded and continued to ignore them, but Harry suddenly bombarded him with enthusiasm.
"Do you have any idea of how he might've come in the castle?"
"I do. But it's just a speculation." He replied with little ease.
"What is it then?" Ginny shot out.
"I think it might've been because of me." He muttered breathlessly.
"Um, would you care to specify that?" George cried out.
"He has the power to transport his followers to where he is. Except when they are in extremely secured places like Hogwarts or Azkaban. Therefore, it enables his other privilege, which is to transport himself to wherever his followers are. It is an extremely powerful form of Dark magic, which is why it penetrated the ancient magic the castle holds. He first developed that Dark magic the day I became a Death Eater." Draco narrated quietly. Everyone was speechless for a while until Hermione spoke out.
"Thank you for sharing that piece of information with us, Draco."
For the following weeks, Harry, Ron and Hermione were always seen huddled together talking about strategies and suspicions of where Voldemort's Horcruxes may be. After several more days, they decided that their first mission was info gathering. They had no idea where to start looking for the Horcruxes.
On the night of the 22nd of January, they started to pack the things they were to bring and set out first thing in the morning. Hermione thought better, she wanted to say goodbye to Draco before anything else. He stepped out in the cold evening breeze. She saw a pale figure sitting down on the edge of a tree trunk in the garden.
"Hi." She greeted as she sat beside him.
"Hello." He replied frigidly.
"We're leaving tomorrow." Hermione tried to sound casual and hide the sadness in her voice.
"I know."
"I just, I just wanted to say goodbye to you that's all." She waited for his response. None came.
"Okay, I guess I better get going now," she turned to leave but she felt him grab her hand and pull her into a passionate kiss. He seized her waist and deepened the kiss. She held his neck and kissed him back in the same intensifying way. The luminous glow of the moon washed over their faces as their kiss grew torrid and they felt like everything was a blur and like there was no tomorrow to separate them. But alas, they broke the kiss.
The next morning, they got ready to leave; they brought their broomsticks along with them, and a bag full of their clothes. Their wands were safely placed in the inside pockets of their robes.
As they got ready to mount their brooms, Draco rushed over to them.
"Potter," he said sternly. "I'm coming with you."
"Wait, why would you?" Harry asked curiously.
"Yes, why come with us in the last minute?" Ron asked offhandedly.
"You don't really need to come." Hermione stated bashfully, after remembering the night's events.
"I need to- I-I will avenge my sister." He said plainly.
Although it was a few simple words, it made a big impact on the four teenagers' lives. They not only had the knowledge that if they defeated Voldemort, hundreds of lives will be put into place, but also, they had the reason to battle him, for their loved ones have suffered a great deal. They soared into the never-ending nothingness of the sky with the hope that one day, the many sacrifices of the ones who loved them and the ones they loved will be much more meaningful.
