sorry! It has been I don't know how long since last, and my only excuse is Christmas. And then I met a boy who was THIS close to actually becoming my boyfriend, and then he found out he was still in love with his ex from TWO YEARS AGO so I dumped him. Ah, long sotry short, I spent almost two months with an A-hole.. We're still friends, but eh.. So I basically got lost a bit, but today I had time and I also think this is the longest chapter ever. I can't believe it's 22 O.o.. Anyway, another A/N in the bottom, because that is needed...

past decembers – sensula – xlittlemissfangirlx – 2dismybestfriend – briomeara – slytheringurrl – guitargirl222 – teamjacob1995 – fashionqueen54 – looneydaydreams – epona's chosen – rosanaa – ame1929 – dexterbird – missblinkette – froken bla (are you by any chances Danish or something?) - babe.95 – mrs. theodore nott – nightshadeprincess567 – jen103

xxxo

Chapter twenty-two

The heat made her feel oddly comfortable. Ever since her first year the spot in front of the fireplace in the common-room had been her favourite, even the year she had founded S.P.E.W. She had lost count of how many times she'd fallen asleep there, and this time was just another one. But something felt different.. Hermione could not put a finger to exactly what it was, but everything was not all right.

Her eyelids moved up and down several of times before she could see that she was left alone in the common-room. She thought it must be in the middle of the night or during dinner, since no one were around or had tried to waken her up.

An odd sound made Hermione force herself to sit straight up. It was a scream from a little girl – a first year or so. She couldn't see the girl any where, but her voice had been high and clear so she could not be far.

In that moment Hermione realised how messy the room looked. It seemed a fight had been going on in there; couches had fallen backwards and so with chairs, portraits were flung with a knife and unwanted stuff laid on the floor.

Hermione got up; she wanted to find out what was going on. It concerned her a lot, especially that no one had tried to wake her up. If something serious was going on they'd need everyone.

Hermione checked both the boys and girls dormitories to see if any other students were left behind or hiding in there. But there were absolutely no one.. except herself. She had never felt more alone in her life.

"Harry?" she whispered, even though she knew it would lead to nothing since he probably could not hear her. Maybe something had happened to him?

On tiptoeing feet Hermione left the Gryffindor common-room. She turned her head to check for people in the corridor, but it was still as if she was the only person in the castle. Still tiptoeing she walked down the staircase from the Gryffindor Tower. She deep inside wished she was only dreaming. It couldn't be different.

"Hermione, thank God! Harry is looking for you!" a third year, whom Hermione had only briefly seen before in the Great Hall, yelled. She had a ponytail in each side of her head and freckles all over her face.

"But, where is Ha-"

The girl had already run away from Hermione. She had disappeared into the darkness of the corridor.

Now Hermione was sure something odd and unexpected was going on. She tried to remember when she had last seen Harry.. It was just before he left to go on that trip with Professor Dumbledore, wasn't it?

Hermione's eyes widened. Yes, yes it was. Maybe Dumbledore was in great danger. Harry had often mentioned how he'd gotten old and fragile. Maybe his time had come.

Hermione's heart dropped. Of course she knew it was going to happen someday, but she had always hoped it would be far after she'd left Hogwarts. For some reason she'd always had a small hope that Dumbledore was... immortal.

She shook her head from her silliness. Of course he wasn't immortal. But that was kind of what you hoped for anyone you knew, wasn't it? So that you never had to say good bye.

Hermione continued to walk around the castle, and after what seemed like hours to her, but actually only had been a few minutes, her deep thoughts were interrupted by a familiar sound. Not the kind of familiar that you are happy to hear again. More the kind that you fear and want to run away from. But Hermione could not run away, because right in front of her her friends were fighting for their lives. Spells were being thrown all around the halls, both from Death Eaters, teachers and students. Hermione didn't have time to wonder how the Death Eaters had entered the castle; she needed to find Harry and Ron! Another person came to her mind too, someone she wanted to be safe.. The pair of blue eyes she couldn't imagine living without.

"Stupify!" a grown up voice yelled, and Hermione only just avoided it by taking a step to the side. She pointed her wand to show that she wasn't unarmed. Then she ran away as fast as she could. Any room she entered was full of people fighting, but none of them were the people she was looking for. She felt her heart beat faster than before; she was worried.

All of a sudden Hermione's body heated up. She realised it was because her friend Ginny was hugging her.

"There you are! I've been so scared. I think Harry is around the Astronomy Tower; at least, that's what I heard!" Ginny informed with a shaking voice. It was obvious that she was scared, but why wouldn't she be? Her life, the ones she loved lives, they were in danger too. In fact, everyone fighting that night could lose someone very valuable. Well, except the Death Eaters. Heartless creatures..

Hermione left the room to find her way to the Astronomy Tower. She had no idea why Harry was there, but she needed to find him. He could tell her what the deal was. How on Earth had the Death Eaters entered the castle – and more importantly why?

Hermione turned corners, and ended in the middle of a fight. On one side were Ron, members of Dumbledore's Army and The Order of the Phoenix. They were fighting against Death Eaters, including Yaxley, Greyback. Hermione could not spot neither Harry, Professor Snape nor Draco Malfoy in the crowd. That made her stomach ache.

Ron realised Hermione's present, but did not say a word to her. Hermione took advantage of that to do a surprise attack on a Death Eater.

"Stupify!" she yelled. The Death Eater, whom Hermione had not seen before, fell to ground. Hermione appreciated that Harry had forced all the members of Dumbledore's Army to drink some Felix Felicis, in case something like this would happen. In that way they would be safe and lucky.. she hoped.

"But.. how?"

"The vanishing cabinet. It has a twin in The Room of Requirement."

"The one Montague-"

"Yes, Ron."

Harry didn't seem in the mood to be talking. Understandable.

Hermione, Ron and Harry were walking over to a huge group of people gathering under the Astronomy Tower. They were all still in shock over that nights battle. Most students had still been in bed, which explained why Hermione couldn't find them, but few had fought and were now exhausted.

They had just been in the Hospital Wing, visiting Ron's brother Bill Weasly. He had been hurt by the werewolf Greyback, but were out of life-danger. Though his face was full of scars that would never go away.

Hermione's memory from last night was not complete. She didn't remember much after she had joined the battle. Her and Ron had found Harry, or rather he had found them, and then things just went black. But one thing she knew for sure; they had lost s great wizard last night.

"You sure you don't remember anything?" Ron asked.

Hermione nodded. Correct.

"Nothing at all? Not even raising your wand along with all the other students? It was quite beautiful, actually, great moment-"

Ron felt interrupted by the harsh look both Hermione and Harry were sending him. "I mean, If you look away from.. you know."

"I still cannot believe he is gone. He was just here yesterday!" Hermione moaned. She still got tears in her eyes just by the thought of it.

"I know," Harry whispered. He had not been saying much since last night. He was still in shock, Hermione could tell. He had seen one of his closest friends get killed, and had not been able to do a thing about it.

The trio approached the group underneath the Astronomy Tower. Some of them were crying, others were looking up at the now mended window, that the professor had fallen out of. None of them seemed to believe that it all had actually happened. It had been the first fight for them, but the trio had tried it before, and so had Dumbledore's Army as late as last year.

"I can't do this any more," said Harry, and before anyone could say anything, he was out of sight.

Hermione and Ron took one glare at each other, and then followed after.

"Harry," Hermione begun as her and Ron found him on his four-poster bed in his dormitory.

He was sitting with his head hid in his hands, sobbing. He was a strong person, he really was, but when the ones he loved was taken away from him he could no longer stand it. And unfortunately, that had happened too many times.

Hermione could not come up with anything to say – she could in no way relate to what he was going through – so she sat down next to Harry, and put an arm around him.

Ron stood a bit away and watched them. He felt awkward in the situation.

"Maybe it will help to talk about it," Ron suggested. With just one sister he had never been the best at talks.

"Ron," Hermione warned him. She was sure Harry did not want to talk about it.

"I couldn't do anything. I have never felt so helpless," Harry admitted, "they were just pointing their wands at him.."

"They? Who are they?"

"The Death Eaters of course, Hermione you're bloody stupid!" Ron nearly yelled. It was easy to tell Dumbledore's death had hurt him too.

"Thank you. And I who thought I was bloody brilliant."

"You two, stop it!" Harry interrupted. "They as in Snape and Malfoy."

Hermione frowned.

"Malfoy? Malfoy was there." That was more a confirmation to herself than a question.

"What did you think, he is a Death Eater too!"

"I know, but.. did Draco, I mean Malfoy, try to kill Dumbledore?" Hermione's entire body was shaking, including her voice.

"It was meant to be him, but Snape did it in the end," Harry told.

Hermione arose from the bed as quick as possible, and backed a bit away from Harry. Her thoughts were already far back.

"You want to know a secret?" whispered Draco. His breath smelled of alcohol.

"Sure," Hermione replied, a bit worried what Draco was about to tell her.

"The Dark Lord wants Dumbledore dead -and I must kill him," said Draco -still whispering- and then broke into a laugh.

The memory of the date with Draco still stood clear for Hermione. She just had forgot that he had mentioned Dumbledore. She had believed that he was lying, that he had been drunk.. But all the time he had been talking the truth. And Hermione had known all along. She had been able to stop it, but she hadn't. How could she tell Harry? He would hate her forever. No doubt.

"I.. I have to go. H-homework," she lied, and ran out of the dormitory before anyone could question it.

She didn't go to her dormitory, though. She continued all the way out of the Gryffindor Tower, and into the now dark corridors. Tears begun falling down her cheeks but she didn't mind. If anyone saw her they would believe it was because of the loss of their Headmaster.

Hermione turned down a corridor that was completely dark; all the lights had gone out, and there were no windows at all. She didn't even bother to take out her wand, so she just continued. It was as if she was walking with her eyes closed; she didn't know what was in front of her or where she was heading. She tried her hardest to walk straight, so that she wouldn't smash against a wall.

After just a few seconds she smashed against something, but it wasn't as tough as a wall. It took her a moment to realise that the thing had a heartbeat, and its arms wrapped around her.

"Hermione," it whispered.

"D-draco?" she asked. She was surprised how shaking her voice was. She tried to sound more confident. She hated how terrible awkward and insecure she got around Draco.

"I knew it was you. I can smell your hair; ginger." Draco's laughter brought Hermione back to reality.

"Draco," she repeated, and pushed herself away from his chest, "what on Earth are you doing here? How dare you show your face-"

"Calm down, 'Mione. Nobody knows I am here."

"Well, I do."

"Yeah, but you wouldn't tell anyone, would you?"

"Who knows, I might do. After all you did kill-"

Hermione did not finish her sentence, instead she begun hitting on Draco's stomach. She had absolutely no muscles in her arms, even with all the Quidditch practices, so it didn't hurt him much.

"Stop that, tiger," Draco said, and gently shoved Hermione's arms off him. "I did not kill Dumbledore. Snape did."

"But it was your intention – that is the same thing!"

"I get why you're upset, but little tiger, you knew too. And you did nothing."

"Don't you dare put the blame on me! You were drunk! How on Earth was I supposed to believe a single word you said?" Hermione yelled. "And don't tiger me!"

"I was not drunk, how foolish can you be? You honestly believe that, even with my horrible acting skills?" A smirk appeared on his face.

"Acting skills? What are you talking about?"

Hermione's face expression was confused.

"I acted drunk, Hermione," Draco admitted.

Hermione took a step back. She had blindly believed him to be drunk. It seemed so natural on him.

"I saw you drink all those fire-whiskeys, I know how it works."

"You saw me drink a few. The rest I held in my soup when you looked away. Somehow the soup makes alcohol less stronger."

Hermione felt outsmarted. She didn't know that, but it was useful information.

"But.." she protested, "why?"

She could not see the point of pretending to be drunk unless it was to make a fool out of her, and he certainly had. But why have this conversation in a dark corridor instead of in the Great Hall where people could see them, then?

"I was screaming for help, Hermione," Draco explained. His voice was more strong and certain now. "I did not want to kill Dumbledore, and a part of me hoped you would help me. I had no better way to tell you."

"Oh," was all Hermione could say. Why would he want help from her?

"One more question.." Draco said.

Hermione nodded.

"When I asked you what happened on our date.. why did you not mention the little kiss we shared?" Draco smirked. He was all close to Hermione once again. She had not even realised that he had moved, all of a sudden he had just been there.

"Wh-what kiss?" Hermione asked, as if she did not know.

"Let me refresh your memory then," Draco said. He leaned over, and softly placed his lips upon hers.

Hermione was fast, and pushed him off her straight away, even though she wanted to kiss him back so badly.

"What are you doing? This trick of yours is getting too far!"

"Trick? There is no trick in this, 'Mione. I really like you, I swear. Being drunk was just an excuse to kiss you. I have wanted to do that for so long, you have no idea."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't believe you."

"Just run away with me, won't you? Leave the castle tonight, leave everything and everyone behind. We can run from the Dark Lord, my father.."

"We can't run forever," Hermione pointed out. The idea of getting out of there was surprisingly tempting.

"I'm sure that together, the two of us can do anything." Draco grabbed Hermione's hands, and they gazed into each others eyes. "Anything," he repeated.

Hermione leaned in to bruise Draco's lips once again.

"No," she said just before, and took a step back. "I can't, Draco. I am so sorry."

"Why can't you? Haven't I proved to you that I am not dangerous?"

"Yes, you have. But you deserve someone better. Someone your family will accept. And I, I don't deserve anyone-"

"Yes you do. How can you say that? You're the most wonderful person I have ever met."

"I don't believe in love, Draco."

"Why?" he asked with a wondering face expression.

"How can I when my parents are in the middle of their divorce?" Hermione yelled. Draco was the first person to know. She hadn't even told neither Harry, Ron nor Ginny. She had only just learned it; it was what the letter she recently had received said. Somehow she had seen it coming, but she never truly believed her parents would split up. But now they had, and Hermione had reconsidered her entire life. She didn't want to get married, what was the point?

"I am sorry to hear, Hermione. If it makes you feel any better, I don't think my mum loves my father any longer. But they can't just get a divorce, I'm sure you understand."

"Yes."

"Not that I don't get it. How can anyone love that creature? He is not even human, I think."

"I'm sorry, Draco. I can't. I hope you have a wonderful life, I mean it."

Hermione leaned over, and planted a soft kiss on Draco's cheek. Then she turned around, and begun to find her way back out of the dark corridor.

"Where are you going?" Draco yelled.

"Away. Don't try to find me."

A/N.

So that is it.. Seriously.. Or? I have a little plot figured out for grown-up lives, but I was wondering if you want the story to go on into their grown up lives, or if it should just end here? PLEASE answer, because if no one does I will just end it here...

Hope you enjoy, xxxx