Ron, Neville, Hermione, and Draco took the last steps up from the dungeons with exhausted breathes. They were bloodied and battered in several areas. Neville and Ron both had blood oozing from their faces. Draco's left hand cradled his right shoulder, and Hermione held her face in pain from Frenrir's back hand. Her body still shook from Bellatrix's cruciatus, and Amycus' blows but she held it together.

There was no time for complaints when faced with the sight before them. They had just reached the entrance to the great hall, and bodies were laid out before them as far as the eye could see.

A few were wounded, but most were dead.

Hermione gasped in horror looking down upon the bodies of Tonks and Lupin after only a few steps into the hall. She fell to her knees between them.

"Oh…oh no…" Hermione felt a tear slide down her face. Draco bent next to her putting his arm around her.

"They look very young in death." Draco said quietly.

Hermione nodded silently. She leaned forward, and took both of their hands clasping them together.

"Now they look as if they have just fallen asleep." She whispered.

"FRED!"

Hermione and Draco were shaken from the moment by Ron pushing past them screaming.

The Weasley's were gathered around a body on the ground a few feet away. Fred Weasley's pale blue eyes were staring up at the ceiling, unmoving.

"Hermione."

Harry's voice called to her, and she turned from the heartbreaking scene. She quickly pulled him into a hug, letting the tears come freely now.

"Oh Harry…I just can't…I can't believe it."

"Shh…it's okay. It's almost over. I won't let him take anyone else." Harry pulled himself from Hermione's embrace staring for a moment at the Weasley family. He looked shell shocked.

"You're going to him?" Draco asked, his voice hollow.

"I am. In two hours time."

"We'll go with you." Hermione said fiercely.

"Hermione I- "

"No," she cut Harry off. "No we're in this together. We will go with you."

Harry sighed. "Very well. But there's something I have to do and you're not going to like it."

"Does this have anything to do with the memories Snape gave you?"

"It has everything to do with that." Harry said his gaze falling to the Weasley family. "Damn, I'm a terrible friend…I know this isn't the best time, but we need Ron. Now."

"I'll get him." Hermione whispered.

She quietly left the two boys, reaching the red headed family huddled together in grief. George was whispering Fred's name over and over as he lay next to him on the ground.

She softly took Ron's hand in her own, and he turned to face her. His freckled face was wet with tears.

"I know, I know." Ron said, sniffling a bit more. "We need to go figure this out."

They quietly left the family unit and reached the other two. There were no words that could be said about Fred Weasley's death. It was too soon, it was too tragic, and there was no time.

"McGonagall just came by and thanked us for getting the students safely to our dorm. She said she's evacuated them all from there now and they're on a train out of here." Draco said quietly. "It's empty, we can talk there."

Ron nodded once and led the way.

It was the longest journey Hermione had ever taken to her room. They passed crumbling monuments and staircases on the way. Stone and marble littered the floor. They reached the portrait and Hermione spoke their passwords softly.

The common room was a mess. Blood and dirt stained some of the furniture and carpet. The furniture was moved against the walls in order to make room for the younger students that had been housed in there before. It was eerily quiet.

"My room was locked. We can talk in there." Draco said, and led them into his side of the room.

He and Hermione sat on his bed, and Ron and Harry sat on the floor facing them.

"How much time since he spoke?" Harry said clutching his wand.

"It's only been twenty minutes." Ron spoke hoarsely.

"Did someone kill Nagini?" Harry asked desperately.

"Yes. Neville did actually." Draco said.

Harry looked pleased, but the moment came and went on his face suddenly.

"Harry, what was in the vial that Snape gave you?" Hermione asked curiously.

"They were memories. Memories of him growing up, going through Hogwarts, and speaking with Dumbledore just hours ago. They were important memories."

"Why would he give you those?" Draco asked. He was softly rubbing his fingers up and down Hermione's arm as he listened to Harry with great attention.

"He was in love with my mother." Harry whispered dumbfounded. "I guess they knew each other before Hogwarts, and they were friends while they went here. Snape's been helping Dumbledore all along hoping in the end he could help me. Since my mother died he's wanted to keep her son safe."

There was a long silence while everyone took this in.

"That's insane." Ron said finally.

"No it's not." Draco answered. "When he gave me the memories to give to Harry, he recognized me in him. We both gave up all ideals and preconceived notions for love. He knew I'd get that vial to you Harry because he recognized the things I'd given up for love."

Hermione smiled softly at Draco.

"There's more." Harry said suddenly.

"What?" Ron asked.

"There are eight horcruxes."

"You're fucking joking." Ron said horrified.

"No…the night Voldemort tried to kill me a piece of his soul latched on to the only other living thing in the room…me."

"Harry you can't be saying that…" Hermione started.

"I'm the last horcrux. I have to die."

The room was silent for a bit, and then Harry continued.

"Don't try to talk me out of this. There is no other way. I have to meet him in the forest as he requested. I'm going to let him kill me. I need you three there if you are willing. I need you to hide and watch. As soon as I'm...dead…Voldemort will be able to die. One of you three must kill him."

"Harry this is crazy." Ron said finally.

"No. It's the only way." Harry said sadly. He looked around the three faces in the room. "I need you guys to do this last thing for me. Let me die. Let me end this."

"We're with you until the end Harry. You know that." Hermione whispered, standing up with Harry. She came toward him and hugged him fiercely. Ron stood too, and put his arms around the two of them.

Draco sat on the bed motionless. Unable to comprehend the things they must do.

The trio finally pulled away.

"Draco I can't thank you enough for all you've helped us with. I hope you'll keep Hermione safe and happy."

"Of course." Draco stood and shook Harry's hand.

"Ron and I need to grab a few things. The invisibility cloak I managed to stash behind a statue on the 4th floor during the chaos. You three will need to cover yourselves with it as best you can."

"We'll come with." Draco said.

"No…we've still got an hour or so left until we have to face him. Who knows what will happen out there. You two should….spend the rest of this time alone. Don't take each other for granted. We can meet at Hagrid's Hut a half hour before midnight. That gives us just enough time to get to him before time runs out."

Hermione nodded, giving Harry a reassuring smile.

"Thank you Harry." She gave her friend a quick kiss on the cheek. "We will see you in a bit."

The two boys exited Draco's room, and the head dorms.

Hermione stared at the door as it shut behind them, closing Draco's door to the chaos of the common room.

"Hermione." Draco whispered mere inches from behind her.

"Yes?" She asked. Her face was calm in the shock of the moment.

"Hermione, we may not have much time left." Draco came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned back into him.

"No we may not." Hermione agreed.

"I want to know you Hermione." Draco said as he ran his fingers down her arm, leaving goosebumps behind. "All of you. What if we never have this chance again? What if tonight one of us, or both of us leave this world forever? I can't live any longer without knowing every inch of you."

"Draco." She whispered, turning into his arms to face him.

As she turned Draco caught her lips with his own.

They kissed passionately, forgetting the chaos for just one moment. They let themselves have each other.

Draco moved his mouth down the side of Hermione's neck, lingering for just a moment at the base of her throat where he nipped the skin there softly. Hermione caught his shoulders, digging her fingers into them as she arched herself into his kiss.

Draco guided Hermione to the bed, his lips never leaving her skin as he kissed her in all the wonderful places he only dreamed of. He laid her gently on the bed as he came over her, using his arms for leverage. He pulled away for a moment; Hermione saw his eyes were silver with desire.

"I love you Hermione Granger. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever known. Inside and out." He whispered hoarsely.

"I love you." Hermione groaned against him, pulling his body down on hers, shedding Draco of his buttoned shirt and tie. She ran her hands over his hard flesh, wanting to savor the moment forever.

Draco began kissing her again with an almost cosmic sense of urgency and longing. Hermione was lost in his body. More clothes were shed. The couple lay together with nothing hiding them.

"You're gorgeous." Draco said breathing heavily.

Hermione turned her head to the side and blushed. Draco took a hand and softly turned her chin back to face him.

"I'll go slow Hermione." He spoke softly, placing a light kiss on the top of her head. "Just don't turn away from me. Keeping looking at me. I want to remember this forever."

Hermione nodded, desire and need in her eyes.

"I want to feel complete with you, Draco."

Draco pulled her closer, his hands sliding up her back drawing her against him. The moonlight glowed on their skin, and they became one.

…

…

….

"Do you see them yet?" Harry asked Ron nervously.

"Yeah…here they come."

The shadowy figures of Hermione and Draco came down the slopping hill towards Hagrid's hut. The two both brandished their wands.

"Did anyone see you?" Harry asked.

"Not a soul." Draco said. "Everyone is still in the castle, wondering where you are."

"Good." Harry said. "Let's keep it that way. We don't need anyone feeling acts of heroism and coming after me."

"Harry, I just wanted to say that I'm so proud of you." Hermione said wiping a tear from her face. "You are much braver and more selfless than anyone ever gave you credit for. I'm proud to know you, and to be your friend."

"Yeah mate," Ron agreed, clapping Harry on the back. "You're a true friend, and a real hero."

"We'll make sure Voldemort dies Harry." Draco said fiercely. "The entire wizarding world will be made known of what you did here tonight."

Harry nodded, at a loss for words.

"Draco will you take my wand?" Harry handed his wand to Draco who took it wordlessly. "I'm afraid if I have it I'll be tempted to use it."

"Sure thing." Draco said, placing the wand in his inner robe pocket.

"Let's go." Harry said, taking a deep breath.