Here's the new chapter! Thank you all for reading!

Chapter Twenty-Two

Hermione laid her head on Draco's shoulder. The two of them didn't move from their spots between Nymphadora's and Remus' bodies. He put an arm around her, silently mourning the people he came to think of as family.

Draco looked around and saw the Weasley family gathered nearby around the Weasley twin. He closed his eyes, seeing the sight of Fred Weasley's death in his mind.

"You should probably be with them, right now," he said softly into Hermione's ear. He nodded to the red-haired family. "I know you were close to them."

"They have each other," she answered. "You have me."

Draco felt tears prick his eyes. He did have her still. He blinked them away and squeezed her closer.

"Draco?"

He looked up at the familiar face. "Sorry about earlier Kingsley."

"Quite all right. I just want to make sure you're all right."

Draco shrugged. Kingsley smiled at him, looked sadly at Nymphadora and Remus and patted Draco's shoulder before walking away.

"Did you guys get the snake?" Draco whispered.

Hermione shook her head, tears in her eyes. "No…we…" She proceeded to tell him about Snape and his death. Draco felt sorry for his former professor. It was a horrible way to die.

He hugged Hermione closer to him and gazed down on Nymphadora and Remus. He silently vowed that he wouldn't take another moment for granted.

He looked down at his body and his torn, dirty clothes. He was grateful for every breath that he took. Happy, for the first time that he could remember, though it was wrought with grief and sorrows. Hermione had changed him more than he ever could have believed. She made him want to be a better person.

"…Hermione?" he said, softly.

She picked her head from his shoulder and looked at him.

"Where's Harry?"

Hermione swiftly looked around the room. Her eyes filled with tears in realization. "He…he must've…"

Draco felt another stabbing pain in his heart as Hermione buried her face in his chest. He felt tears seeping onto his shirt and realized what Hermione thought.

Harry was going to give himself up to Voldemort.

He hugged her tight, but didn't say anything. There was nothing he could say.

No words could offer comfort or sympathy.

After a long time, Draco felt his left arm begin to throb. It twitched against his body, an act that did not go unnoticed by Hermione. She grabbed it and softly rubbed it.

"Are you all right?"

Draco nodded. "I…I dunno what's going on, though."

"It's all right…" Hermione smiled sadly at him.

"Do you remember when you asked me why I became a Death Eater?"

Hermione nodded, thinking back to Grimmauld Place. She and Draco had been standing in front of the Black family tapestry at the time. "Yes. That was a long time ago."

"I wanted my father to love me. I wanted my mother to be proud of me. I wanted to prove my worth to my aunt. Now I see that my father never loved me, my mother has nothing to be proud of, and I will always be worthless to my aunt." He briefly told her about Nymphadora coming to his rescue against Bellatrix. "But…in a way, I'm glad it happened. I'm glad I was too much of a coward to kill Dumbledore. Because it never would've brought me to you. And you are the best thing that's happened in my life."

Hermione smiled. She leaned up and kissed him.

"I…I don't know anything about your father or Bellatrix…but your mother is proud of you. I saw the look she gave you before…before Dobby Disapparated us out of your house. Like she approved that you were leaving with us."

"I never knew that she hated what my father did. What her sister did. But she knew how to survive."

"Have you seen your mother?"

Draco shook his head. "I just hope she's alive."

"I do, too, Draco. For your sake." She squeezed his hand.

A loud, menacing voice emerged. It sounded like it was coming from within the castle walls.

"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."

Draco glanced at Hermione worriedly. She dug her nails into his arm. Murmurs erupted around the Hall.

"Is it true?" people were saying. "Potter tried to run away?"

Hermione shook her head. "Harry would have never run away," she said to the nearest person. "He…he…" she burst into tears.

"…you will join me in the new world we shall build together." Voldemort finally finished speaking.

"Come on," Draco said quietly. He pulled Hermione up and together, they followed everyone else out of the Great Hall. Ron and Draco exchanged a sad look as they walked out of the entrance hall together. They saw the Death Eaters, formed in two long lines across the steps to the entrance hall. Draco swept through the crowd of faces, some masked and some unmasked, trying to find his mother's.

He found Hagrid, the half-giant that he tried to get sacked in his third year, standing near the snake-like Voldemort. He held something—someone in his arms…it was…

It was Harry.

"NO!"

McGonagall pushed herself to the front, screaming for Harry. Again, Draco felt a stabbing pain in his chest. He felt Hermione and Ron move forward.

"No!" they screamed.

"Harry!" Ginny Weasley yelled, running forward.

Draco felt the breath leave him again. There was no way…no way Harry could be dead. He felt the others around him start yelling at the Death Eaters—anything they could think of, insults, abuses.

"SILENCE!" cried Voldemort.

"Hermione…" he said softly, stepping forward. He stood between her and Ron and faced the Death Eaters.

Voldemort was speaking to them, striding backward and forward before Harry's body.

"He beat you!" Ron yelled, throwing his fist in the air.

Draco continued to sweep through the faces of the Death Eaters. Where was his mother? Was she there? Was she alive?

He was shoved aside as Longbottom pushed his way to the front of the group. Longbottom held his wand aloft and charged at Voldemort. Voldemort didn't even pick up his wand, but threw Longbottom to the ground and Disarmed him.

"Where are you, Mother?" he thought desperately. "Where are you?"

"Dumbledore's Army!" Longbottom yelled, breaking Voldemort's Silencing charm. Cheers erupted around him.

Draco looked around. He was in an odd position. He always imagined that he would be on the other side of where he was standing, behind Voldemort, and on his father's right-hand. But here he was amongst people he once considered beneath him, enemies even. And now, he was cheering for the dead Dumbledore and Harry alongside them.

"YEAH!" Draco yelled, throwing his fists in his air.

He gazed at Hermione. She was the best thing that had happened in his life—he knew that now. He also knew that no matter what Voldemort said, they would continue to live in fear and terror for the rest of their lives if they laid down and let him walk all over them. It was what happened to Draco when he became a Death Eater. Hell, it was how Draco grew up, and Voldemort wasn't even in power until he was in fourth year. It was not how Draco wanted to live the rest of his life and it was not what he wanted Hermione to face.

Draco watched as Longbottom broke free of the Body-Bind Charm. The flaming Sorting Hat that lay around his head flew off and Longbottom drew from its depth something silver, with a familiar-looking, glittering, rubied handle.

"Hey, the sword…" Draco said in wonder. He didn't speak to anyone in particular, but pointed to it, surprised to see it again. He thought for sure they had lost it when Griphook double-crossed them.

In a swift moment, Longbottom slashed through the air, slicing off the snake's head, which spun high in the air, gleaming in the light flooding from the entrance. Voldemort's scream was so terrible and the snake's body thudded to the ground at his feet.

Chaos reigned and fighting commenced once again. Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled Ron back up the stairs, toward the entrance hall. He glanced up and saw thestrals soaring through the sky and a familiar-looking hippogriff charging at the eyes of the giants.

Draco started shooting off curses and jinxes at any Death Eaters he recognized, keeping a close eye on Hermione. Ron and his brother, Percy Weasley were fighting Rookwood, the Death Eater that killed the twin. Hermione ran further into the Great Hall and soon found herself fighting Bellatrix, along with Luna and Ginny Weasley.

"HERMIONE!" he yelled.

He knew Bellatrix would have no mercy on them, Hermione especially. He ran toward them, but stopped when the Weasley mum pushed her way to Bellatrix after she nearly killed Ginny Weasley. She shoved the three of them back when they tried to help.

"Hermione!" he said in relief. He grabbed her and hugged her.

"Draco, watch out!" she yelled.

Travers stood before him with his wand pointed. He slashed through the air and a jet of light emerged from the end of his wand. It was heading straight for Draco and Hermione. Someone jumped in front of him and received the full brunt of the spell. He fell to the ground, blood spurting out from his chest. Draco recognized the spell and the man.

His father had just saved him and Hermione from the Sectumsempra spell.

"Father?" he said, uncertainly. He looked up at Travers and saw that he had been taken down by Professor Flitwick.

"Draco!" Hermione said, shrilly. "Your father!" She took his hand and dragged him down to kneel at Lucius' side. She put her hands on his chest, trying to stop the bleeding.

Draco knelt down next to Hermione, looking down at his father. Confusion filled his mind. He thought about what Harry had told him earlier—that his father was remorseful for the way he treated him and his mother. Where was she, anyway? And could it be true? Was Lucius really sorry for how he treated them, Draco especially?

"Dr—Dr…Draco," sputtered Lucius.

"There's too much bleeding," Hermione said. "I don't know how to stop it. The curse was too powerful."

Lucius looked at Hermione and shook his head slowly. "N-n-no, don't…don't save me…"

"Draco! Lucius!" Narcissa's voice pierced the air. "I've been looking everywhere for you!" She ran and knelt down on the other side of Lucius, grasping his hand. "Lucius, oh, Lucius!"

Lucius looked at Narcissa, with tenderness and love in his eyes. Draco had never seen that look from him before. "I-I-so-sorry, Cis…Cissy…"

"No," Narcissa cried. Tears ran down her face and she brought Lucius' hand to her cheek. "You can't—"

"I—I wish…I could take back…everything…" Lucius breathed.

Hermione pressed her hands harder over his chest. The blood was seeping into her sleeves, crawling up her shirt. "Too much blood…" she muttered.

Lucius turned to Draco. "My…my boy, my son. You…you've always…ways…been a be…better man than…than I could ever be…I…I'm…sorry…sorry you…you had me for a…father…you deserve better. I…I lo—love you…"

Draco bit his lip. He started crying and leaned down, resting his cheek against his father's face.

Hermione looked at him and Narcissa sadly. She was leaning on her hands and knees, still applying pressure on Lucius' chest. Draco sat up, tears still falling down his face. He wiped his nose with his shoulder and gently placed his hands over Hermione's. He shook his head slightly and stopped her from applying any more pressure.

Lucius looked at Hermione and gave her a small smile. He looked between Draco and Narcissa, who started sobbing, and smiled at them. "I love you," he whispered. He took his last breath, staring into Narcissa's eyes with such intensity that Hermione had to look away.

When she looked back up, Lucius' eyes were closed and his mouth slightly open. His chest was no longer moving, struggling to breathe. She looked at Draco and slid her bloodied hand into his. She rested her head on Draco's shoulder and rubbed his back.

"HE'S ALIVE!"

Draco and Hermione looked up as they heard commotion and screams in the Great Hall. Harry appeared before their eyes.

"He's alive…" she whispered in relief.

Draco looked down at his father and sadly smiled at him. He leaned down and kissed his father's forehead. "Goodbye, Father," he whispered. "Mother," He reached for her.

Narcissa was too distraught to pay attention to her son. She sobbed over Lucius' body and didn't see her son's hand. "Lucius, Lucius."

Draco let go of Hermione's hand and moved to kneel next to his mother. He put his arms around her and she reluctantly let go off her dead husband's body and allowed Draco to pull her close. Hermione looked away, crying silently, and stood up, giving them some privacy. She saw Harry and Voldemort circling each other, talking to each other.

Draco didn't know what to say to his mother. He forgave his father after seeing and feeling his father's love. It was more than he had ever shown in Draco's life, from what he could remember. He no longer hated his father, but he couldn't pretend that he loved his father. He knew his mother still and never stopped loving Lucius, but she was never subjected to the same treatment that Lucius gave him. He just didn't feel the same emptiness that he felt after seeing Nymphadora and Remus.

"Mother…" he said, hugging her tight. "Mother, I love you." He kissed her cheek.

Narcissa sobbed into his shoulder. "I love you, too, Draco," she sobbed. "I love you, too."

Gently, he extracted his mother from him. She resumed her crying over Lucius' body. Slowly, Draco stood up and moved between Hermione and Dean. He silently watched and listened to Voldemort and Harry taunt each other.

"The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy."

There was a collective gasp around the Great Hall and everyone looked at Draco, who stared blankly at Harry. He took Hermione's hand, her closeness giving him strength to stare down Voldemort.

"Elder Wand?" he thought. "I was no master of the Elder Wand."

"…after I have killed you, I can attend to Draco Malfoy…" Voldemort said softly, though everyone in the Great Hall heard it.

Hermione whimpered and shoved Draco behind her, standing in front of him protectively.

"But you're too late," Harry said. "You've missed your chance. His father, Lucius Malfoy overpowered him, taking the power of the Elder Wand."

Voldemort opened his mouth to speak, but Harry cut him off.

"Then I Disarmed Lucius Malfoy weeks ago. So it all comes down to this, doesn't it? Does the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because if it does…I am the true master of the Elder Wand."

The light of the rising sun hit their faces, giving both of them a reddish glint. They held up their wands slowly, pointing at one another.

"Avada Kedavra!"
"Expelliarmus!"

A loud bang sounded through the hall like a cannon blast. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath. Golden flames erupted between them, at the dead center of the circle they had been treading. It marked the point where the spells collided, the green jet of death meeting the red. The Elder Wand flew high, dark against the sunrise, and spun across the enchanted ceiling, toward the master who had finally come to take full possession of it. Harry caught it easily and Voldemort fell backward, his arms outstretched, and his bloodred eyes rolled upward.

As he fell to the ground, the body looked feeble and shrunken; an old man lying in a heap of robes. Voldemort was dead, killed by his own curse, and Harry stood in the center of the hall, holding Dumbledore's wand and his own phoenix wand.

There were a few seconds of shocked silence; then the hall broke out in screams, cheers, and roars of joy. Hermione and Ron ran forward first, wrapping their arms around Harry, yelling and screaming with joy. Ginny Weasley, Longbottom, and Luna were there next, throwing their arms around Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Then they were joined by the rest of the Weasleys, Hagrid, Kingsley, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout and everyone else ran forward, trying to get a hand on the man who defeated Voldemort.

Except for one.

Draco hung back, giving Harry, Ron, and Hermione their time together. He had encroached on their friendship long enough and it was time to pull back, he realized. They had welcomed him into their friendship and he began to care for them like he never cared for anyone else, other than his own mother.

He looked around for her, and saw that she had found Remus and Nymphadora's bodies, and was now bawling over them. He couldn't tell if she'd even realized what just happened around her.

"It's over, Mother," he whispered, putting his arms around her. He hugged her tight. "It's over. Finally over."

Narcissa kissed Draco's forehead. "You're a much better person than me, Draco. And I know you will have a much better life." She looked over his shoulder at the large crowd gathered around Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "She's changed you."

"It's, uh, it's important to me that you like her."

Narcissa glanced at Hermione, who had her arms around Harry's and Ron's shoulders, grinning widely. Her hair was wild around her and blood stained her clothing. "If Hermione Granger makes you happy and loves you, then I love her."

"She tried to save him…even though he hated her…for being a Muggle-born."

Narcissa's eyes filled with tears. "Your father loved you, Draco. And all he would want is for you to be happy. And if she makes you happy, then he would be fine with it."

"I don't want to talk about him anymore, Mother."

Narcissa smiled sadly. She stroked his face. "We can be a family again, you and I. And 'Dromeda and little Teddy. A different kind of family, but we will be a family."

Draco nodded, feeling tears prick his eyes. "I'd like that."

"Me too." She smiled at him and gave him a hug.

Draco looked down at the far end of the hall, where Bellatrix's body lay. "Father…Father was repentant…do you think she was?"

Narcissa pursed her lips and sadly shook her head. "I think I lost Bellatrix long before you were even born."

"That's sad, Mother."

She nodded. "It is."

"I've missed you, Mother," Draco said, burying his face into her shoulder. "So much."

"I've missed you, too, Draco. I'm glad you're safe." She pulled back and smiled at him, taking his face into her hands. "And that you've managed to find happiness. I love you so much!"

"Ahem."

Draco and Narcissa pulled away from each other. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing there. Harry gave them a friendly smile.

"Mrs. Malfoy, I just wanted to thank you for what you did in the Forbidden Forest."

"What did you do, Mother?"

Narcissa hushed him with a stern look. "You're welcome, Harry. Thank you for keeping my son alive and safe."

"I think he kept us alive and safe."

Narcissa smiled at him.

"Draco, do you want to come with us? On a walk?"

Draco looked at the three of them, his gaze lingering on Hermione's. He shook his head slowly. "No, you three go ahead. I'll catch up with you later."

Harry nodded. The three of them turned and walked away, but not before Hermione placed a hand on Draco's shoulder and squeezed it. She brushed her lips against his forehead.

"Hermione?"

She turned back to them at the sound of Narcissa's voice. Narcissa stood from her seat and enveloped Hermione in a hug. "Thank you," she whispered. "For what you've done with Draco, with my husband. You didn't have to try and save Lucius, you know. Especially after…after everything he's done to you."

Hermione nodded and smiled warmly at her. "It was for Draco."

Narcissa smiled at her. "You go on ahead. I'll make sure Draco catches up later."

Hermione nodded and moved ahead to catch up with Ron and Hermione.

Narcissa turned to Draco. "Now, why on earth is your hair pink?"

Draco thought sadly about Nymphadora. He briefly described their last encounter. "…I can't believe she's gone," he said in a choked up voice.

"Me neither, Draco."

Draco looked up, trying to blink away his tears. It seemed that he felt like he would cry at the tip of the hat. He saw his tall, thin classmate walking around like a lost child.

"Oi! Blaise!" called Draco. He gestured him over. "Made it out all right, did you?"

Blaise went over and sat next to Draco. He nodded. "Yes. Nice to see you did, as well."

"What changed you? Why?"

"Think you can grow a conscience? What am I talking about, of course you did. Mine came when I was supposed to do the Cruciatus on Parvati Patil. Where've you been anyway? Have you really been on the run with Potter and them?"

Draco nodded. "I had to. But I guess that's when my life changed."

Blaise shook his head. "You changed before that. Sixth year. You were already different."

"Because of the mission that I was given."

Blaise shook his head again. "No, it was more. I could tell. You didn't look like you really believed any of that rubbish anymore. But I guess it was for the best." He put a hand on Draco's shoulder and kissed Narcissa's cheek as he stood up. "Have fun with Granger." He winked before he headed off, running to talk to Parvati Patil. Draco shook his head, chuckling a bit.

"Blaise has always been such a nice boy," Narcissa said as she ran her hand through Draco's hair. "Do you want me to fix it, Draco?"

He shook his head. "Not yet. I want it—it feels like she's close to me."

Narcissa nodded.

"What did you do in the forest, Mother? With Harry?"

Narcissa furrowed her brow. "I lied to the Dark Lord—"

"His name's Voldemort, Mum. You're not pretending anymore."

"Well, I lied to him. He forced me to check if Harry Potter was dead and I felt his heart beat when I laid my hands on him. I said that he was dead and Harry told me you were alive and in the castle."

"What if he found out?"

"He didn't, Draco. Don't think about the what-ifs. We should just focus on the future. You must go back to Hogwarts next year."

"No, I'll be too old for school. This was supposed to be my last year."

"I know that, Draco, but the only time you stepped foot in it was to destroy it. How are you going to find a job? How are you going to support your future wife and children?"

"I was hoping that I'd be able to just go around giving interviews about how Harry saved the Wizarding world."

Narcissa shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I want you to come back to Hogwarts. Finish your education. What is it that you want to do?"

Draco thought long and hard about her question. He vaguely remembered his fifth year, when Snape gave him "Career Advice." He remembered that meeting was particularly useless and it ended with Draco strutting out of Snape's office, saying that his future classes didn't matter since he was going to be a better Death Eater than Snape ever was.

"I don't know."

"Well, then what a perfect opportunity for you to figure it out when you go back to Hogwarts next year."

"Mother. Will Hogwarts even open next year?" He gestured around the Great Hall. "And the rest of the grounds are even worse."

"Then I guess we will just wait and see."

"Narcissa, Draco." Kingsley's deep voice interrupted their conversation.

"Hello, Kingsley," said Narcissa. She smiled warmly at him. "Thank you for your help in keeping us safe."

"It was no trouble at all, Narcissa. And besides, from what I heard from Harry Potter, we should be thanking you."

She smiled at him and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "I just did what my son would have done."

Kingsley smiled at him. "I just wanted to express my condolences to you both. Nymphadora, Remus, Ted…and your husband."

"Thank you, Kingsley. I do appreciate it." She smiled at Kingsley as he walked away to greet other people of those who lost someone in the war.

An idea struck Draco. He stood from the table and after nodding to his mother, followed Kingsley. "Hey! Kingsley!" he called.

"Yes, Draco?" asked Kingsley before he approached the Creevey family.

"Now that you're Minister of Magic, you could sort of do whatever you want, right?"

Kingsley furrowed his brow and made a face at Draco. "No, that's not what I do."

"Well, I just need a favour."

"What kind of favour?"

"Can you have someone look up Monica and Wendell Wilkins in Australia? They're Muggles-that's all I have to go by."

Confusion spread over Kingsley's face. "Monica and Wendell Wilkins? Why?"

"They're—they're Hermione's parents."

"Ah—" Kingsley understood. He remembered being in amazement of the careful thought the young lady put into helping Harry. "All right, I understand."

"And can you make sure they're not harmed by lifting the Memory Charm?"

"I will do my best, Draco, but I cannot guarantee anything."

He nodded. "I know, I just—I hope they're okay. For her sake, you know."

Kingsley winked at him. "I understand, Draco."

Draco nodded, blushing a bit as Kingsley walked away to speak with the Creevey family. He tried to give them a reassuring smile, but they all looked stricken with grief and sadness. He looked around for his mother again and saw her shakily approach the Weasley family, extending a hand of sympathy to the Weasley mother.

Deciding that she'd be fine for now and desperately losing the battle of sleepiness, he headed for the Slytherin dungeons, hoping it would still be in tact. At least good enough for him to sleep for a few hours. He never realized how precious sleep was until he was practically living without it.

Thanks again for reading! Please review and let me know what you think!

Every time I read the book, I always imagined the entire crowd in the Great Hall gasping and staring at Draco when Harry revealed that he was the master of the Elder Wand. So, I thought I'd include it here.

And just because the battle's over doesn't mean the story ends yet. There are about eight more chapters left. :)