Morning – Draco
After going over the plan last night I have been running it through my head constantly. I act as though nothing has changed and lead them to the ambush. It sounds simple but I have my doubts about it.
My stomach churned all night with the nerves. If Pansy has any idea whatsoever about this then it might all fall to pieces, but she was too busy worrying about herself to notice. Besides, she has been putting over the fact that I keep turning her away. She can't stand it. Then again, I don't think she'll be too happy when she finds out why.
I thought about how Hermione must feel, she had to go back to her common room and face them all after having them find out about us, and probably not in the best way possible. Not that I care what they think, but she does.
I don't want to have to be nice to them; I know they won't show me that courtesy. I'll do it for Hermione but I'm not going to back down if one of them acts up. Especially if Weasley tries anything again.
I touched the side of my face gently with my hand. He was a pathetic excuse for a wizard but he could throw a punch.
I shouldn't be thinking that, I should be trying to make things work like she would want, but old habits die hard I suppose.
I stood up off my bed and headed out into the great hall for breakfast. I had tried to avoid Pansy all morning but I would have to face her at some point.
As I wandered up to the hall I saw many of the lower years heading out with their trunks and dressed up for going home. They still had time to get out before anything happened. I still didn't know exactly when they were going to arrive, just that it would either be today or tomorrow.
I walked over to the table and sat opposite from Pansy.
"Where have you been all morning?" She asked.
"In bed, school's finished remember?" I replied curtly.
"No need to snap with me, save all of that up for later." She said with a mouthful of food.
"When exactly is later?"
"Well I don't know, I won't know until it's time. Do you really think I get told anything good?"
I rolled my eyes. She never really got told much. She was just one of those people that others used when they wanted something but never really wanted her.
It's not like I feel all that bad about it, she's manipulative and cold to anyone willing to give her the time of day.
"Potter and their little freak show keep looking over here." Pansy said.
I turned to look over my shoulder and saw Potter turning away with a dark look. Weasley was trying to do anything but look this way and Hermione was sitting with her back to me. I wish I could see her face, just to see if she was okay. I just wanted a little smile to let me know that she was handling this alright.
I turned back to Pansy. "What do you think that's about?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Probably nothing. Best just to ignore them. They'll get what's coming to them."
I sighed. This was going to be a very long day. I glanced over my shoulder one last time and saw Hermione doing the same. She gave me the faintest of smiles and a reassuring nod. As I turned back to the table and exhaled shakily.
What have I gotten myself into?
Morning – Hermione
He looked over from across the room just as I looked back. I could see the fear in his eyes, even from here. I gave him a supportive nod and he turned away.
As I looked back I caught Harry's betrayed face.
"Can you please stop looking at me like that?" I pleaded.
He hasn't said more than two words to me since after our meeting with McGonagall. He has never looked at me like that before.
He looked away and I steadied myself, holding back tears.
Ronald wouldn't even look at me but he seemed more hurt than anything else. Ginny was seething, I could tell from the way she bit down on her lip. I don't know what hurt her more, that it was Draco or that I didn't tell her about it earlier. They sat as far from me as they could manage and Dean and Seamus shook their heads at me whenever we made eye contact.
Neville sat by my side and I looked over at him.
"I suppose you aren't talking to me either?" I said, swallowing hard to stop my voice from cracking.
He looked at me with this confused look, much like his regular look only I know that he was caught between two things.
"I am, I just… don't understand how you could want anyone like him." He shrugged a little.
"I suppose people said that the first time you told them you were mad for Luna." I said, probably a little harshly.
He just looked at me and thought about it. "I guess." And with that he turned back to his food.
I can't stand this silence. We can't be a separated force when we could be attacked at any time. I shoved my food aside and left the table, their eyes burning me as they followed my trail. I hurried over to the Ravenclaw table and found Luna, sitting alone at the back of the hall.
She gave me a warm smile as I sat by her and reached out to give my hand a squeeze. As I looked at her the tears spilled out but I kept a straight face, not wanting to let myself get emotional when I needed to focus.
"They'll come around." She said quietly
"I'm not so sure they will Luna, it's a big adjustment." I wiped the tears away, feeling childish.
"I'm sure you've overcome worse." I laughed a little and shook my head.
"Maybe, but this is Malfoy we're talking about. It would have been like Ronald romancing Bellatrix." This time Luna stifled a giggle.
"It's not quite to that extreme I don't think." I smiled a little.
"No, I suppose not."
"You can't expect them to come around quite so quickly, like you said, it's a big adjustment."
I sighed. I knew she was right but it still hurt to have them snub me like this. It would take some getting used to but surely they couldn't ignore me forever.
This wasn't the end of the world was it? Considering everything else that's happened to us it shouldn't be, but what if this is one of the things they won't be able to ignore?
Early Afternoon – Ginny
I still can't believe that it's true; I mean how could it be? How could she possibly fall for someone like Malfoy? And after everything!
We sat out in the grounds soaking up the sun, by 'we' I mean mostly everyone except Hermione, and Luna. I think that's even harder to believe. Luna knew, she knew!
Hermione trusted Luna more than me, and Luna is actually friends with Malfoy? What else has been going on that we don't know about?
"I still can't believe it." I said.
"I don't know what she sees in him, how could she put aside all the crappy things he's done?" Seamus shrugged.
He and Dean were leant against a tree opposite Harry and I, Ron and Neville were sitting on either side.
Neville looked like he was trying to process everything, and failing. Ron was just playing with the grass.
"Well what are we supposed to do about this?" I said.
"There's nothing we can do, clearly she's made her mind up." Ron stated flatly.
I'm not sure if he's upset that Hermione was seeing Malfoy, or the fact that she was seeing anyone. He had a girl of his own now… kind of, but still. This seems like it would be a bit of a blow.
"Does anyone else feel like this is wrong? I mean here we are talking about her, all of us, and just leaving her alone." Dean said.
"Not totally alone…" I grumbled.
"There are probably more important things to be worrying about, like this attack that's supposedly coming." Harry said.
"And how are we supposed to trust that it really will happen? All we have is Malfoy's word for it. How do we know that he isn't working for them and leading us into an ambush?" I asked.
"Hermione trusts him." Seamus said, a little sarcastically.
"McGonagall seemed to believe his story." Ron offered.
"She's got a point; I mean why would he bother changing sides?" Dean said.
I shot his a smile and saw Harry bite his lip a little. He was still a little jealous that Dean and I had been together at one point, I knew that, but right now he seemed to be the only one to be backing me up.
"I suppose he could have bewitched her, some kind of stupid love potion or something. You know, gain her trust and lead them straight to you Harry. It's got to be you that they want revenge on." Seamus said.
"So what part does Luna have in this then?" Ron asked.
"Did you know that she and Malfoy… talked or whatever it is that they do?" I looked over at Neville.
"No, of course not. She knew that I wouldn't like it." He said, his face brooding over everything.
He mumbled something else that I didn't quite catch and then went quiet again.
"I still don't think talking about them like this is going to help. We should just do what we are supposed to do, just be wary of him." Dean shrugged. "You know, if he looks like he's a bit dodgy then sort him out."
Harry and Ron didn't seem to be doing much talking, I suppose it's harder on them than the rest of us, though I am quite upset that both Hermione and Luna knew things and didn't tell me.
"I guess that's all we can do." Seamus said.
"I still don't trust him." Ron shook his head.
"Well none of us do, do we? But we need to just go by what McGonagall said and keep an eye on him. If he is just playing with her then we'll take him down, okay?" Harry said, agitation in his voice.
"Agreed." I said, and the others all nodded.
I didn't trust Malfoy, not one single bit. All it would take is one tiny slip up on his part and I will make sure he goes down.
Evening – Luna
The students from the lower years have all been sent home, now it's just the sixth and seventh years. The good thing about being a sixth year is that there's only one year above me that finds it amusing to hide my belongings. So far I only have one pair of shoes and two cardigans to find.
It has been quite a good year this time around.
I walked up and down the halls searching. It shouldn't be too hard; they're quite lovely coloured cardigans. I turned down one of the fourth floor corridors when I heard someone calling out my name. Of course I recognised the voice, how could I not?
"Luna, wait!" I turned slowly to see Neville following me, a little out of breath.
"You haven't come to see me all day. I was beginning to think you might not want to see me." I said
He looked a little bashful as his cheeks flushed. "Sorry, I was just… wrapping my head around things."
"You don't need to apologise, I understand." I gave him a smile and he sighed.
"I know you do, you always do. That's why it's so hard." I felt a little nervous for a moment.
I couldn't tell where he was going with his train of thought. He had spent all day, thinking, about things. I hope I haven't pushed him away.
"What's on your mind Neville?"
"I just… I don't know how you could have been friends with him for so long; you know what he's put me through." He sighed; I could see the hurt in his eyes.
"I know how he made you feel, but he was hurting on his own. I couldn't just leave him. The first time I talked to him was in my fifth year." I said.
I didn't want to make excuses; I just wanted Neville to know the truth.
"Why would you talk to him?" He looked so betrayed, but I know he'll come to understand.
"He was upset; he looked like he was in a lot of pain. I didn't want to just leave him alone. Would you have done?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.
He sighed and leant against the wall. "I don't know what I would have done." He folded his arms and I looked away.
"I never wanted to hurt you Neville, you have to know that."
"I do! Of course I do! I just… sometimes… I guess I wish I was more like you in that way." He looked up and I didn't quite understand.
"More like me? Why would you say that?"
"You see the good in everyone. I wish I could do that."
"You can, you know that you can choose to look past the things that someone has done." I stepped closer to him and he looked up with uncertainty.
"I don't know if I can, this is Malfoy, it's not like it's just anyone. He tormented me all through the first few years, Hermione too. I just can't see how she could change her mind like this." I pressed a hand to his cheek and smiled comfortingly.
"She knows how hard it was for her these last few years. She just figures that he probably had a lot more to deal with. It's not like he ever asked for what he got. If the Dark Lord had told you he would kill you and your family if you didn't do what he asked would you do it?" He just sighed. "I know, I don't know what I would do either. We're just lucky that we grew up with our parents on the right side. It shouldn't have been our war to fight, not yours or mine, or Draco's."
He just looked at me, his eyes telling me that he understood me, but I don't know if he's completely convinced.
I suppose only time will tell.
Evening –
Hermione sat at her table nervously at dinner that night. She picked at her food in silence as Harry and Ginny sat further than usual from her and Ron sat opposite them. She saw Neville and Luna head into the hall and she sat down alone at the Ravenclaw table while Neville came to sit in front of her.
He smiled weakly but only for a moment before piling a small amount of food onto his plate. She looked over at Draco who was reading a book while Pansy rattled on to him about something. Time was ticking; it had to be happening soon didn't it?
Draco pretended to read as Pansy whispered her complaints to him.
"Why haven't they said anything? Are they planning on taking us by surprise as well? I'm getting really impatient. I just want this to start!" He groaned and ignored her but his heart was pumping.
What if they were going to surprise them all? That would really ruin the plan.
"Are you even listening to me?" Pansy asked in her nasally voice and Draco snapped.
"For goodness sake would you be quiet?"
She rolled her eyes and went back to eating.
It wasn't long before the students started filing out of the hall and Draco snapped his book shut to follow their lead. He took a long detour through the halls before going back to the dungeons. He was surprised to see Hermione standing out in the cool breeze looking over the grounds. He looked around to see if there was anyone nearby before he walked over to her.
"What are you doing out here?" He asked and she jumped a little.
"Oh!" He watched her turn her face away and not so subtly wipe tears from her cheeks. "I didn't know you were there." She turned back and tried to pretend that he hadn't seen.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine, just… I just wish they could understand all of this." He pulled her into him and kissed her head. "Do you know if they're coming yet?" She mumbled.
"Not yet, I don't know anything." For a moment he just held her close to him.
He tried to forget about everything and just hold her but this time it didn't seem to work. She pulled away quickly.
"Someone's coming." She said.
He let her go and stepped back just as she turned the corner and hid behind the wall. Luckily, she was just in time.
"Draco? What are you doing out here?" Pansy asked as she looked around.
"What? Nothing, getting some air."
"Well get it and let's go. It's time. They'll be here in less than half an hour; we need to get to the edge of the grounds!"
Draco's heart almost stopped. He knew Hermione could hear this so he didn't need to bother staying to warn her.
"I'm coming." He said and followed her away.
He looked back down the hall and saw Hermione step out from behind the wall, a worried look on her face.
This is it, this is where it begins.
Nightfall –Draco
Pansy and I snuck out of the castle not long ago. We made our way through the grounds with just our wands and the moon for lighting. My breath was visible under my nose and I followed Pansy who obviously knew the meeting place better than I did.
I almost tripped over a few times and got increasingly more worked up each time. I could feel my blood pumping and I was starting to doubt the plan. I got worse as we found the place and waited.
"They should be here soon." She said, shining her light in my eyes.
"Would you put that thing down?" I hissed.
She seemed to growl at me a little but then I heard a thud come from my left. Then another one.
They were here.
As I turned to look over a figure on a broom swished past me and caused me to duck.
"Long time no see Draco!" he laughed and landed with an even bigger thud.
I shone my wand light on the man and squinted. "Blaise?" I said.
He grinned at me and pulled me into a hug. I hadn't seen him since after the last war. He just seemed to disappear.
"Where have you been all year?" I said as I pulled away.
"Around." He said.
I noticed that he was wearing his old robes and then a group of students that I recognised from around the place walking towards us as well as some of the old death eaters from the group.
"I wonder whose bright idea it was to give me the skinny little blonde kid." I recognised Kresta from the body of what seemed to be a third year.
She… He, didn't look happy.
"Well I quite like the one I've been given." Mulciber smirked in the body of a fifth year girl and I shuddered.
Dalton hadn't taken any polyjuice and Donahue looked like a fourth year boy from my house. I recognise him.
"What are we waiting for? Let's get going." Dalton said roughly.
"Where exactly are we going?" Kresta asked.
"Follow me." I said and began to lead them back to the castle.
Nightfall – The End
Hermione had run straight to McGonagall's office to warn her. She waited only as long as it took for Pansy and Draco to leave the hall before she made her move.
McGonagall sent an owl straight to the ministry and sent one of the former headmasters to alert the remaining members of the order. She asked Hermione to rouse her house and tell anyone who did not wish to fight to head straight down to the dungeons. Some of the teachers would be there shortly to guard the entrance.
Hermione went straight to the common room where most of her friends were sitting by the fire.
"It's happening. It's happening now." She said, slightly out of breath.
Harry stood up and nodded, knowing what they had to do. They gathered the other Gryffindors and sent the ones who didn't want to be a part of this into the dungeons. Draco and Pansy had definitely left the castle now and Pansy would be unaware of everything that was happening.
They gathered in the hallway, Flitwick already there and McGonagall on her way.
Luna ran to join them and a few other students milled about just waiting.
She came over and took Neville by the hand. He seemed to appreciate that very much.
"Now listen here students!" McGonagall spoke up and gathered them around. "I do not want to see anyone being reckless. If you believe your life is in direct danger I want you to leave, straight away and without hesitation. I will not put my students' lives at risk. The ministry has been alerted and will be here shortly. If you are able to restrain your counterparts then do so with no hazard to yourself. I will give you all one last chance before they arrive to leave this hallway. Please, if you are unsure about yourself do not stay." No one moved, they just looked around to see if anyone was going to leave. "No matter what happens I will not have any unforgivable cursing in these halls. Am I understood?" Everyone nodded and McGonagall ushered them all into the shadows.
Hermione stood by Ginny who was making a big deal not to speak to her.
"Ginny…" She said to no reply. "Ginny you have to speak to me at some point."
"Well right now I don't because if we keep speaking this won't be a very effective ambush." She snapped and Hermione said nothing in return.
Draco led them over the grounds and up into the castle. The ones who had taken the polyjuice were the first to follow, the others hanging back until they were given the all clear. There were at least twenty of them, as Draco had counted. He hoped that there was more than that to oppose them.
They were almost at the corridor that they had agreed upon and Draco felt like he was going to go weak. He was so nervous. What if it worked? What if it didn't? He just didn't know what was going to happen.
He turned the corner to the hall and stared it down. It looked bare, barren, but he knew that hidden by shadows and pillars were the students and staff, waiting.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" One of the death eaters asked.
"Yes." Draco said as they began walking down the hallway.
"As I remember, this wasn't the way to get to the headmaster's office." Blaise said suspiciously and Draco turned to look at them.
"Are you looking for me?" Draco turned back just as McGonagall was raising her wand. "Well then I think you've come to the right place."
Draco leapt out of the way before she cast a spell that sent a great gust of wind billowing down the hall.
"It's an ambush!" Mulciber roared.
They were knocked off their feet and the lamps on the walls lit up as the students stepped out from their hiding places with their wands at the ready. Draco steadied himself and as the death eaters were readying themselves he aligned himself beside Hermione who gave him something vaguely reminiscent of a smile before turning her attention back to the enemy.
"Draco! What are you doing?" Pansy hissed in a high pitched voice.
"I knew he was a traitor." Mulciber growled, the polyjuice beginning to wear off.
"You're the traitor." Draco said before sending a curse in Mulciber's direction.
With that spell he ignited the battle.
It seemed as though there were more students than death eaters but there was no way to tell, it seemed an even match between them. Hermione sent a spell flying directly at Kresta who blocked it and had something worse spiralling back.
Harry was duelling with an unknown death eater who was very quick on his feet while Seamus took on Dalton. Dean and Ginny battled with Donahue as best they could and Ron was locked in a vicious battle with Blaise.
"Is there really nothing you're good for out there that you had to come back here and fight with them?" Ron taunted.
"And what would a blood traitor like you know about it?" Blaise spat, firing a whole lot of red sparks out of his wand and almost into Ron who ducked for cover.
Luna was battling with Pansy who was distracted by Draco and his betrayal of the other side.
"It doesn't have to be like this Pansy!" Luna said as forcefully as she could with her timid voice
"You don't know anything do you Lovegood?! We'd all have been better off if your mother had taken you with her!" Luna felt herself fill with anger and for a moment she froze.
Pansy sent a hex her way but it was blocked as Neville intervened. He stepped in front of Luna and held his wand in front of him.
"You're both pathetic!" She screamed.
McGonagall blocked everything that came at her and came to the aid of the students in trouble. She was undoubtedly the most powerful witch there but she was only aiming to disarm. She knew the ministry were very close by.
Draco and Mulciber battled it out, Mulciber's rage overpowering Draco's. Draco was unable to mount any attack; all he could do was defend himself from the blows.
When Mulciber suddenly spiralled through the air he didn't understand until he looked up and saw Hermione holding out her wand. She ran to him and helped him off the ground. She kept her hand in his for a moment and then they heard the scream.
"You!" Pansy's incensed voice rang out through the hall as she saw them together and began an immediate attack on Hermione who dodged and countered.
Draco turned back to Mulciber who had regained his footing.
"I see you like mudbloods; I wonder what your father would say." He grinned with blackened teeth and shot sparks toward Draco.
"My father will hear about this… but it won't be from me." Draco said, deflecting the spell back.
"Oh you're right about that. When we get out of here I'll be sure to pay him a personal visit." Draco sent a curse flying at him and he just laughed back.
The battle ensued, hexes and spells flying through the hall in all directions. McGonagall wasn't about to let her students be killed in the corridors of her school and she saw to it that their safety was put well before her own. Flitwick was standing beside a group of sixth years fighting of two death eaters trying to protect them.
Harry sent his death eater flying into one of the pillars, knocking him out, just as Blaise hit Ron with a stinging jinx.
It was enough for Blaise to strike but he stopped, staring out into the grounds. He saw the brooms and the light and knew exactly what it was.
"It's the ministry! They're here!" He yelled.
"Back down!" Donahue yelled when he saw the lights approaching.
As the death eaters began to run to the nearest exits the students held their wands at the ready, some of them chasing after their enemies.
"Pansy let's go!" Blaise yelled as Mulciber created a barrier between the students and the fleeing death eaters.
Hermione turned to look at the flames as the heat licked her skin. She wasn't ready for the strike.
"Not before I finish her!" Pansy shrieked, her eyes full of hatred.
Draco looked over to her just as it happened. He saw her raise her wand, almost as though it was happening in slow motion. Hermione didn't see it coming; she had been caught with a distraction.
Pansy raised her wand, it seemed like it took her forever to do so, and Draco ran for Hermione.
"Hermione!" He yelled.
She looked over to Pansy right as the spell was leaving her lips, the green sparks violently erupting from her wand.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Hermione gasped and had no time to react when Draco leapt in front of her, his body jolted by the impact of the spell and his eyes locked on Hermione's as the air left his body. His hand looked as though it was reaching out for her but no sooner had he appeared before her was he falling to the ground, his eyes rolling back in his head, and coming to a startling halt when his lifeless body hit the floor.
Pansy fell to her knees with tears in her eyes and a pained howl as Blaise dragged her away, a mistiness in his eyes as he realised what she had done.
Hermione just stared down at him lying there. She collapsed to her knees and rolled him onto his back.
"Draco?!" She screamed. "Draco!" she shook his body but he didn't move, he didn't startle.
He just lay there on the cold stone floor as the death eaters disappeared into the dark castle halls and the ministry advanced on them.
Tears streamed down her face as she tried to comprehend what had just happened.
"No!" She cried, the other students slowly noticing the scene amidst them. "No, please! Draco no!" she wailed and pressed a hand to his cheek.
This couldn't be happening.
Luna looked over with cloudy eyes and McGonagall put a hand to her chest, guilty for the part that she played.
Hermione held tightly onto his limp hand and brushed the hair out of his face but he wasn't going to wake up. He was never going to wake up.
Draco was dead.