A/N: Hello to you all! I forgot to do this for the last chapter and will try to get better at doing this!
So, for chapter 23 thank you to: Heather, Robin Winters, just me, Guest, Belieber Twihard, KaMelody, and Embir for reviewing!
And for Chapter 24, thank you to: Heather, Guest, Robin Winters, Belieber Twihard, and just me!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read me story! Keep the reviews coming! Thanks!
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Harry Potter, LOTR, The Hobbit, or anything else you recognize does not belong to me! Please read and review!
The bright light burned against her eyelids. Hermione blinked open her eyes, but quickly shut them again when they were met with glaring white light. She calmly lay there until the burning lessened and opened her eyes again.
She was lying on her back, on the ground, in some sort of white room. Hermione rolled over on her side and realized with a jolt that she was naked. She hastily pushed herself into a crouched position and wished for something, anything, to cover herself up with. The second she thought it, a bundle of fresh robes appeared.
This must be like the Room of Requirement! She thought excitedly. True to her nature, she was filled with the insatiable desire for knowledge about this place she was in. The ground beneath her was neither cold nor hot, and the room was clean, but not overly so like in a muggle hospital.
Suddenly, Hermione squinted as two dots of bright light began approaching her from a distance. As they drew nearer, she could make out two lanky figures loping towards her. She took a step closer and her heart began pounding furiously in her chest. She knew those two.
"Harry! Ron!" She squealed and threw herself at them.
Harry laughed and embraced her, his emerald eyes twinkling happily. Ron hugged her with so much enthusiasm he lifted her off her feet and spun her around. She clung to the two and stood there, weaving her fingers in their messy hair and breathing in their familiar scents. She never wanted to let go.
After what only felt like a few short seconds, the two stepped away and grinned down at her. Harry held her at arms length away and his smile widened even more if that was possible. Ron stood there, his icy blue eyes dancing with happiness. For another moment, the three best friends just stood there and drank each other in. Finally Harry sighed and dropped his arms to his side.
"You've been so brave, 'Mione." He said at last.
"Yeah," Ron nodded vehemently.
"Not as brave as you two," Hermione whispered. "Or any other member of D.A. I-I'm sorry. I was such a coward."
"Hey, hey, Hermione Granger, look at me." Ron took her face in his large freckly hands and forced her to meet his eyes. "You are brave. You're the last member to have survived. And running away? That just showed that you weren't an idiot."
"And we're all happy." Harry reassured her. "All of us; Ginny, Neville, Luna, everyone. We've been watching you too."
"H-How? Where are we? Do any other realms exist? What exactly did I do?" Hermione began listing all the things she didn't know. Things she needed to know.
"Sometimes you just need to have faith, and the rest will follow." Harry said wisely.
"I can't wait to see the others again," Hermione admitted. "I've missed you guys so much."
"We've missed you too," Ron's smile faltered. "But you won't see them yet. You aren't dead."
"I-I'm not?" Hermione spluttered. "Then why am I talking to you? I meant to die! What about Kili? Fili? Thorin? I sacrificed myself for them! Why am I still alive?"
"Bloody hell, Hermione, I told you this in First Year, and I still stand by it now. You really need to sort out your priorities."
This only succeeded in angering her even more. Her hair crackled with energy and her face was one of utmost fury. "Ronald, I am sorting my priorities, and yes, it is about time. For as long as I can remember, my priorities have always been gaining more knowledge and saving my own skin. But having friends like you guys, it really changed that. There's more to books and cleverness, like friendship and bravery. But some friend I am." She spat bitterly. "I left you all to die. That's not brave. So when I got to Middle Earth, it was my chance to prove that I could sort out my priorities and put what truly matters first."
After finally getting all of that pent up emotion out, Hermione felt empty. And finally, she began to cry. It started as one lone tear that trickled down her cheek, but they soon began to cascade down her face. Her body was racked with frightened sobs. Harry and Ron both pulled her in and let her cry into their robes. The trio just stood there and waited.
"So, you two aren't here to get me?" She sniffled.
"No," Harry smiled. "We came to send you back with more courage. You just need to believe in your bravery. Besides, there's still so much for you to do."
"Like what?" Hermione inquired.
"Malfoy," Harry smirked. "He's dying."
Hermione blinked in shock. "W-what? How?"
"Got his bloody stomach ripped apart and injected with spider venom trying to save that blonde Elf King." Ron snorted.
"He did that to save Thranduil?" Hermione questioned in disbelief.
"I would say more for his elven girlfriend." Harry winked.
"Tauriel! So he really does love her." Hermione smiled in satisfaction.
"He's not the only one to have found love," Harry raised his eyebrows pointedly at her.
Hermione blushed furiously. She glanced nervously at Ron, who only had a pensive look on his face.
"Kili's never left your side since you blacked out." Ron observed.
"He's alive?" Hermione's face flooded with relief. So she did save him.
"Yes, he and his brother are still alive, but Thorin didn't survive."
A lump filled in Hermione's throat. So the King Under the Mountain had died.
"You did your best." Harry reassured her.
"I know, it's just…" Hermione trailed off. She had ended on rather bad terms with Thorin, and now he would never know her true intentions on helping him and his family.
"It's not over yet. You're destiny still awaits." Harry said ominously.
"What about Earth? And V-Voldemort?" Hermione asked.
Harry and Ron's eyes turned sad. "Voldemort has been conquering every Wizarding community. We believe that once the entire Wizarding world has been conquered, he will then move on to destroying the Muggles."
"But isn't anyone doing anything? Surely the Muggles are noticing!" Hermione burst out angrily.
"Sure they are. But they're Muggles and don't have any magic. They don't stand a chance against Voldemort." Ron stated her fears.
"But when it's the right time, someone will save our world." Harry nodded.
"What?" Hermione asked in confusion. But the two were already beginning to fade into the bright light that began to consume them. "Wait! NO! Please don't leave me!" She begged.
The two hugged her one last time. "We've always been with you." Ron placed his hand on her heart. Tears tugged at Hermione's eyes.
"I love you all." She whispered. "Tell the rest for me, will you?"
"Of course." Harry grinned. "And we all love you too. Be brave and have hope, Hermione. And most of all: believe."
Her world became blurry as the two disappeared. Hermione fell to the ground and closed her eyes.
Hermione's head was pounding. She groggily sat up and rubbed her eyes, trying to gain her bearings. She seemed to be in some sort of tent. Her hand scratched against something prickly. She looked down in surprise and saw Kili sleeping with his head resting on their clasped hands. Smiling softly, Hermione ran her fingers through his dark hair.
There was a movement to her side and Hermione turned around to see Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond bent over someone. Shakily, she slipped out of bed and padded over to where the two were gathered. Hermione heard a faint murmuring coming from them and she was surprised to see the two chanting and singing hypnotically in Elvish.
It was beautiful. Hermione wanted to stand there forever and let their soothing words wash over her ears and take her worries away. But the two stopped all too soon. Hermione's head cleared as the two retreated from the bedside. It was Draco.
Seeing him lying there, pale and lifeless, brought Hermione crashing back to reality. He was dying. Harry and Ron had told her themselves. By his side, Tauriel was sitting there stroking his hand and murmuring words to him.
Hermione turned towards Lady Galadriel, "Please," She whispered. "Please tell me he will be okay."
"I am sorry, my child, but his injuries go beyond the help of either myself or Lord Elrond. We have put him under a sleeping spell to help ease his pain. But there is nothing we can do." Galadriel said gently.
A choking, sobbing noise was heard behind them. Tauriel had broken down completely and was clutching Draco, tears running down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook as she cried.
"Please!" Hermione begged. "He's a good person. He really is! He…he was trying to redeem himself by protecting Thranduil. He doesn't deserve this!"
"Many people do not deserve to die, but this is a war and death is inevitable." Lord Elrond said.
A tear trickled from Hermione's eye.
Lady Galadriel bent down and wiped the tear from her eye. "Do not fret, Child. I said it was not in my power to heal him, but there is one who can. He created this entire world: elves, men, and every creature to roam these lands. And the arrival of two new humans, a witch and a wizard, have caught His attention. Because there is so much pure love for Draco Malfoy and from Draco Malfoy, He shall grant him the highest honor one can receive. Passage to the Undying Lands. There, Draco shall heal, and there he shall live."
Hermione's brain was whirring, trying to process this new information. The Undying Lands? Valinor? "Thank you." She finally breathed.
Tauriel looked up, her face shining with hope.
"But you must hurry," Elrond said. "Master Malfoy is still dying as we speak."
"I need to take him with me to the Grey Havens, right?" Hermione asked. "May I apparate there?"
Lady Galadriel smiled. "Yes, Hermione, you may."
Hermione let out a whoosh of air in relief.
"First let me wake him," Galadriel waved her hand over Draco's face.
His silver eyes snapped open as he gasped in pain.
A/N: Poor Draco, he sure gets injured a lot on this journey... Please leave a review at the bottom! They really make my day! Thanks!