Love and War: Part 2

..........

"Pansy…" Draco murmured after his roar. He dropped to his knees and turned her over. Her face was caught in a surprised expression, but she had shut her eyes before hitting the ground.

And then Narcissa laughed.

"Well," she said spitefully, "it wasn't how I wanted things to turn out but…"

Hermione felt a strange tingling sensation slowly build up inside her. She knew, without looking, that she was back to looking normal. She didn't care. All she cared about was Pansy's dead body, Draco's obvious pain and revenge…

Draco put his head in his hands. He didn't cry, no… but he was in such anguish. It faintly clicked with Hermione that this was how Draco must have seen things when she was crouched by Justin's body. But she didn't care about that anymore either.

She instead was focused on Narcissa's laughing face. And she felt such a rage, such a boiling anger, that she knew she was strong.

It's time to end this, Hermione thought as she grabbed Draco's wand from beside him.

..........

Chaos ensued.

Once Harry's wand had been risen, Death Eaters yelled and shouted for a command. Ron blurted out something hat made no sense and Ginny let out a hysterical giggle, gripping on to Tom's arm.

Then suddenly Harry felt cold, frozen, at the core.

A green flash….

His mother screaming, begging for his life, then a thump on the ground.

And then that high pitched laughter….

The Dementors had come into action.

They were floating towards him, reaching out with their power, slowly sucking all happiness from him. He heard Voldemort's laugh.

"Come on, you can do better than that!" Sirius yelling at Bellatrix.

The jet of light, hitting him straight in the chest, his eyes widening in shock.

Sirius's body curving into an arch, sinking backward into that ragged veil. The look of fear and surprise on his Godfather's face. Disappearing through the veil.

Harry's yells for his Godfather.

Lupin's face. Lupin telling him, "It's too late, Harry."

"There's nothing you can do, Harry… nothing…he's gone."

"NO!" he cried presently. They were weakening him. He couldn't let them. No, he thought desperately for a happy memory.

What did we burst in here for? Harry thought unhappily. We never stood a chance.

Then the happy memory reached him. Hermione… Hermione laughing… Hermione opening up the book he got her for Christmas… Hermione with Ron… The three united, happy… laughing at Ron's lame jokes…

The Patronus burst out of him before he had even yelled the words.

Sticking their three noses in where they shouldn't be…. Solving the next mystery… annoying Snape… beating Malfoy… Catching the snitch… hearing his friends on the Quidditch stands, cheering him on….

These memories were what made Harry Potter what he was. Powerful.

The silver shield crashed into the Dementors. All of them. His stag stood beside him. The Dementors seemed to be burning in the silver light radiating from him. Harry watched, transfixed, as the Dementors started to shrivel.

He could hear Dumbledore's voice now. "It is the power held within this room that you possess in suck quantities and which Voldemort does not at all. That power took you to save Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests. In the end, it mattered not that you could not close your mind. It was your heart that saved you."

It mattered not that you could not close your mind? Harry, for the first time, thought properly of these words. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort?

So, why had Harry continued to learn Occlumency, until he had it perfected?

"It was your heart that saved you…"

Everything suddenly clicked into Harry's head. Dumbledore had been dropping hints. Now Harry knew how to kill Voldemort.

Harry turned to face his enemy, to find him gone.

It didn't matter. Harry would find him soon enough.

Suddenly Spiders burst in.

"Oh yeah," he heard Ron yell over at him. "I forgot to tell you. The Spiders, mate, they're on our side."

Harry felt warm.

Warm and strong.

..........

"What, Hermione?" Narcissa sneered. "What can you, a stupid pathetic slave, do against me?"

They both held up their wands. Anger held Hermione's hand straight and the grief that she was pushing down gave her courage.

There was a silence. Narcissa held her wand up without hesitation, ready to do damage. Hermione couldn't move without Narcissa attacking her and neither could Narcissa.

I need a distraction, Hermione thought.

"Hello Narcissa," Snape's voice said.

It was enough. Narcissa looked behind her, shocked, at the grey spirit of Severus Snape.

Hermione didn't miss her chance. Her fingers curled around her wand to make a fist and she punched Narcissa, toppling the woman over and making Hermione fall on top of her.

What followed was a kind of murderous catfight. Their wands were present but not used. Things were happening too quickly for useless wand waving. Instead they rolled on the floor, ripping each other's flesh out with their nails and tearing each other's hair out.

And Hermione was stronger. When it came down to it, she was just stronger. She used her slender muscles with all the power that she owned.

Finally, Hermione stood over Narcissa, her lip bleeding, her head throbbing, but a victorious smile on her face. Narcissa was below her, breathing heavily, her lip swollen and scratch marks all over her face like red wallpaper.

"You're not looking too pretty now, Narcissa," Hermione shot out nastily, holding Narcissa's wand in her hand and Draco's in her other.

"Bitch…" Narcissa spat out blood.

"Let me tell you something," Hermione said, kicking Narcissa in the stomach and causing her to double over on the floor and groan. "I am Hermione Granger. I have never and never will be a 'stupid pathetic slave." I am more than you can ever wish to be."

Narcissa lifted two pale hands to her eyes and wiped away the mascara under them coolly.

"What are you going to do, girl? Kill me?"

"Yes," Hermione told her so darkly and truthfully that Narcissa looked up sharply. "That is what you deserve."

Draco didn't stir. He looked on with empty eyes. She knew how he felt – like he had lost everything.

"And nobody can save you now," Hermione finished to Narcissa.

"Draco, my son," she murmured, looking over in his direction.

He looked up at her, from his place on the ground beside Pansy. His eyes narrowed, life coming into them at last. He stood up to stand beside Hermione and she suddenly felt stronger.

"Kill her…" he said, looking down at his mother with satisfied disgust. There was no mercy in his expression. This was the Draco Malfoy she remembered from Hogwarts and from her earlier slavery. His sneer was present and his eyes were glittering with malice, although his face was deadly serious.

"Severus…" Narcissa murmured in the same tone, looking over at Snape.

"I can not help you, Narcissa. I am only a ghost. You killed me or do you not remember under such emotional stress?" His voice was bitterly sarcastic.

"Nobody can help you now," Hermione told the woman on the ground.

"Kill her, Miss Granger. Let her burn in hell," Snape told her.

She looked at Draco's face. He met his eyes. He gave her one grim nod. He couldn't kill his Mother and Snape couldn't in his condition. She had to do this.

"You won't be able. You're too innocent. Too stupid…"

Hermione killed Narcissa without any further hesitation.

..........

Ron started towards young Tom. Harry stunned many Death Eaters but could not find Voldemort. He stopped, briefly, to see the Spiders attacking the enemy. It was quite a sight. He circled back to help Ron with young Tom.

Ron was shouting at Ginny and Tom. He was extremely red. His eyes were watering. He pushed Tom. Tom fell back then pushed Ron.

Harry raised his wand to help.

"No, Harry," Ginny said. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that."

She had her wand risen as well.

..........

I've just killed someone, Hermione thought. I'm not a virgin. I could have been pregnant. I wouldn't have known who the father was. I have feelings for the enemy. And now I'm a murderer.

It was too much.

Hermione fell.

Draco caught her.

..........

Harry was frustrated. "Ginny, for Merlin's Sake, get out of the way!"

She stood, defiant.

He didn't hesitate. He sent a stunning spell her way and it knocked into her, leaving her helpless. She had never been very good at the DA meetings. Too slow.

Tom and Ron had their wands out now. They both side glanced at Harry as he appeared, brandishing his wand.

"It's all right, Harry! I can take this overgrown toad! You go find someone worth while to fight! G'luck!"

Harry knew it was a matter of pride. This had to be settled by a Weasley and Harry, no matter how much he sometimes wished, was not a Weasley.

The Spiders were keeping the Death Eaters busy. The Dementors seemed to have shrivelled away. There was so much commotion going on. Harry couldn't find time to think.

He began his hunt again.

Part of him was excited. This was it. He was going to fight Voldemort.

And he was going to kill him. Or he was going to die trying. (Obviously, for that was what the prophecy predicted.)

Suddenly the door to the Great Hall opened. Harry looked up and saw the outline of a couple of people. He recognised them as they stepped out into the light.

The Order of the Phoenix.

There was Charlie, with his long hair and Bill. Mr Weasley. Mrs Weasley. Percy – he'd come crawling back after it was revealed Voldemort was back. The twins – identical and dangerous. Mad Eye Moody – his glass eye roaming the room. Lupin – his face set, serious and ready. McGonagall and all the other teachers were storming in, looking extremely strict. Even Mundungas was there!

They were going to win, Harry thought. The Death Eaters were out numbered.

That was the exact moment Harry saw Voldemort.

"Voldemort!" Harry had meant to shout but "Tom Riddle!" came out instead.

Voldemort turned to face Harry. They walked slowly to meet each other. Harry was calm. His previous fear and excitement ebbed away from him, leaving him strong and determined and prepared.

..........

He caught her and pulled her upright.

There was a shocked silence and then Hermione was in his arms, crying.

"Oh my God…" Hermione whispered. Draco, at another time may have noticed her Muggle Phrase and perhaps made a comment. At this moment though, all he could do was hold her.

"Hermione," he murmured. There was nothing else to say.

She lifted her beautiful eyes, wide with tears, up to his. They locked eyes and both could feel each other's confusion and unhappiness and grief and pain.

The two would never know who made the first move to kiss.

That kiss.

No words would describe that kiss. Around them, all was forgotten. They kissed each other desperately, as if they'd find all the answers to their unasked questions in each other.

The feelings Hermione had pushed down were surfacing rapidly. Her thoughts were full of him. Draco… She couldn't breathe. He slammed her up against the wall, his mouth on hers, for support.

She was gasping, salty tears running down her face. She was aware that he was crying too. He was as shocked and exhilarated as she was.

She felt like she was being electrocuted. Every nerve in her body was crying out. In Pain. In Passion. In Bliss.

He slammed her right hand upright against the wall and somehow their fingers interlinked. She squeezed her fingers into his hand; afraid she'd fall. She was so dizzy and unaware of everything.

He was kissing her harshly, wantingly, with a lust and love so strong that it made her cry out. She'd never been so physically close to a man before. His left hand ran up and down her body, and her hands were in his hair.

And this kiss answered most of their unanswered questions. Yes, Draco was definitely in love with her. Yes, he made the right choice. Yes, she had feelings for him too.

It was a kiss of emotions, feelings and pain. It was as much painful as it was pleasurable.

They'd have to stop this kiss eventually but they couldn't. Because then they'd have to think.

Draco broke the kiss eventually.

"Hermione…" he said shakily.

His lips were as swollen as hers.

She sank to the ground, and he sat down beside her. She hesitated for a second before leaning against him, feeling him shudder and shake along side her as they both experienced their grief.

She had never felt so close to him before. There was no need for words at that moment. They both were realising new things, and experiencing the same old things and they couldn't share them with each other, so instead they just gripped on to each other, feeling as if they were the last people alive in the world.

..........

Harry smiled at Voldemort calmly.

Voldemort seemed rather taken back by Harry's calmness. He eyed him wearily, waiting for Harry's spell.

Harry didn't let Voldemort think about it too much. He waved his wand and shouted, "LEGILMENS!"

It was like Occlumency with Snape all over again except Harry was now in Snape's position. Voldemort's memories flashed inside his head. A young boy… his mother dying… being bullied in the Orphanage… making a lamp explode when a boy hit him… His Hogwarts letter… Dumbledore's distrusting face… Talking to a snake for his first time, his first friend…His hate for Muggles increasing, eyeing them jealousy… Reading Dark Arts books from the Restricted Section… Getting an idea….

And then Voldemort was fighting back and Harry's memories started flooding into his and Voldemort's mind. He stopped his fight, letting Voldemort penetrate his mind. Voldemort fought viciously in the spell, going deeper into Harry's mind, thinking that he was winning.

Harry thought of all the happy times.

Sirius singing on Christmas… Sirius inviting him to live with him… The DA meetings… His parents appearing out of Voldemort's wand, to save him once more…. Dumbledore telling him that his mother's love had saved him… His parents' reflection in the mirror… Flying away with the Weasley's in that car, Uncle Vernon's face… Hagrid coming to take him to Hogwarts… Dudley's tail… Flying Buckbeak… Kissing Cho… Hermione words, "You're a great wizard, Harry."… The Burrow… Hogwarts… Home…

He watched them, sucking them in, and felt Voldemort react to them. He heard Voldemort cry out, realising at last what Harry was doing.

Harry felt his happiness from deep inside of him, where his power also receded.

Harry could never really be sure how he did it, but he trapped Voldemort in his head. He forced Voldemort, with invisible bonds, to watch his happy memories.

He could feel Voldemort's feelings now, just bearly. They were filled with a terrible spiteful jealousy. Voldemort was trying to fight back, by pushing his own memories forward. But, although Voldemort didn't know it, this aided Harry's spell because now Voldemort was sub consciously comparing their memories.

We're both orphans, Harry thought to him, and through their strange connection, Harry knew he could hear him. We're both Half-bloods. But look at my life and look at yours.

Then Harry felt something from Voldemort. It was weak and extremely distant. But it was there. Harry had succeeded in his plan.

Voldemort was feeling sadness.

And it was weakening him.

Harry suddenly threw Voldemort from his mind. Voldemort fell because of the suddenness of it all. Harry stood over him and saw him for what he really was for the first time: An old failed man.

Harry raised his wand, ready to take his life with the killing curse. His heart was pounding but he was not afraid.

"No… Harry."

That voice.

Harry turned sharply to see a white flash. It could have been nobody else but Dumbledore.

Then his vision was obscured by a dark object flying at him. Harry caught it with his Seeker reflexes automatically and looked at it in amazement.

Then Harry understood.

It was the Sorting Hat.

Harry turned to Voldemort, who seemed to be looking for his wand. Harry didn't bother tell him that he had took it in his moment of weakness and had it in his robe pocket.

Harry drew out the sword. A gleaming silver sword, its handle glittering with rubies. Harry hadn't seen it since Second year. The light caught the name engraved just below the hilt.

Godric Gryffindor.

"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat, Harry," Dumbledore's voice said in his head. Harry wasn't sure whether he was really hearing it or whether it was just from his memory.

He crossed to Voldemort and the two locked eyes.

Harry would never know. If he had used the Killing Curse on Voldemort that night, would it have reflected back on him, just like it had previously fifteen years ago?

Harry said, one last thing to Voldemort, he said, "Tom Marvolo Riddle, think back on your life. You could have everything and now you have this. You're such a loser." Then he plunged the Gryffindor word into the Heir of Slytherin's cold heart.

Voldemort would never wake up again.

Harry looked around at them all. The Death Eaters were gathered in a corner. Lupin had the Death Eaters bound together by an invisible cord. There were bodies on the ground, some moving, some not. Harry knew there would be casualties but he knew they would just have to get on with it. It was over now.

Ron had Tom in a headlock and was dragging him over to Lupin and the group. Laura was cheering him on. He looked rather proud of himself. McGonagall had Bellatrix transformed into an ugly kettle and Flitwick was charming unbound Death Eaters to the ceiling. Mad Eye Moody was laughing out loud, his eye on Voldemort's dead body. The Twins were coming over to congratulate him, grinning. Ginny was behind Ron, with sulky tears rolling down her face. Nobody was giving her the slightest bit of attention. The Spiders were leaving quietly, without one word to any of them except for Aragog and Hagrid, who seemed to be having an animated and happy conversation.

Harry looked around. The Second Dark War was over.

Then everything caught up on him and he fainted.

..........

Snape let out a gasp.

Draco and Hermione had forgotten he was there.

"Voldemort's has been defeated," Snape said and he pulled up his robe to show off his bare arm. "He is no more."

"Potter succeeded," Draco said, looking down at Hermione. It was the first good news she must have heard in a long time. He expected her to be smiling. But instead she just sniffed loudly and said, "I should have been there."

"Hermione…"

"Harry's done the biggest thing in his life and I wasn't there." She sniffed again.

She caught sight of Pansy and Narcissa's bodies littering the floor and started to cry again. She shifted away from him and he felt cold without her leaning against him.

Draco looked up and caught Snape's eye.

And then Pansy's words were in his head.

"All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy, Draco. That's what love is, really. It's unselfish. Pure. We, Slytherins, don't have a clue when it comes down to it. But we can change, Draco." She reached for his hands and squeezed them. "We can change together."

Is that what love is really? Happiness?

Hermione would never be happy with Draco. He knew that now.

She had changed too much though, he knew that too. She had seen too much, experienced too much. She wasn't an innocent little Gryffindor anymore.

"I just wish I could just forget everything…" The girl he loved whispered beside him.

He knew what he had to do.

He took her by the shoulders and kissed her again. He kissed her softly, not with the harshness of before. He let himself melt and feel her warmth. He felt so happy at that moment.

He broke the short kiss. She was bewildered by it, he could tell.

"Hermione, I love you," he said.

She nodded. Well, what else could she do?

He thought it was very important that she knew that before he did what he did.

He looked back at Snape, who nodded, then into Hermione's eyes.

"Obliviate."

…………

Hello! Next update should be really soonish! I'd appreciate some reviews because I updated with TWO chapters! TWO! I thought that 27 pages for one chapter was a bit too long so I divided it up! I hope that's okay!

Anyway, thanks for reading this!

Also, thanks for everyone that has reviewed! I appreciate them so much! I'm not going to go through them all, it'd take way to long (And for that, I'm delighted) but, seriously, thanks so much for your continued love and support, even when I went through my writer's block! But cheers, thanks very much!

Also, please don't flame. Got a mean flame in the last chapter and didn't like it. But all my other lovely reviewers made me soon forget about it!

Mean flamers, at least sign in so I know that you're better than me!

Anyway, I don't have much more to say! It's late and I've been at this for AGES, trying to get it up so I'm wrecked! I apologise for any typos, for, as you can see, these two chapters were rather long and I'm very tired so my proof reading may not have been too good. Again, I hope it wasn't too bad.

Please review!