Let Me Help You

DracoxHermione

Rated NC-17

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

Let Me Help You

Chapter 20

About three days had passed and Draco was still in the Hospital Wing recovering from the Dark curse Harry used on him. Hermione spent every night with him when she was positive Madame Pompfrey was asleep, and would always make sure to leave before anyone noticed she was there. She hated that she had to sneak around just to see the boy she loved, but considering how tense things were becoming, she honestly had no choice but to do so, especially considering her position in the upcoming war as well as Draco's. Even Professor Snape had mentioned inconspicuously that she should keep her nightly visits to his godson to a minimum. She knew she should, but she couldn't help but want to be with him despite everything.

One thing that kept bothering though was Narcissa's words to her. She had told her that she needed to make a choice and soon. She either stayed where she was for the upcoming war and fight alongside Harry for the betterment of the Wizarding World, or she stand by Draco and support him, ultimately turning her back on her friends and the cause she believed in. Either way she was going to end up hurting people; whether that be her boyfriend or her best friends, one of them she would have to let go. Hermione didn't think she could and it felt like her heart was going to tear in two no matter what decision she made. She could only hope that when she finally did make a choice, the other party would understand.

Time had gone by and the weather had turned warm. Things seemed to be going somewhat normal now. Harry never brought up the fact that Hermione was in love with Draco, nor did she bring up the fact that her best friend had romantic feelings for her. Sure they had addressed the issue by themselves some time later once again, but other than that it was never spoken of. Ron had broken up with Lavender for some unknown reason, at least to Hermione anyway; Harry and Ginny seemed to know and Ginny kept giggling about it. Ginny had also broken up with Dean and seemed to be slowly but surely getting Harry to like her, though Hermione could tell he was still holding back because of his feelings for her as well as his mind preoccupied by Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort.

Yes, everything seemed to be almost normal again. At least, until Dumbledore called Harry away for an undetermined amount of time. It was that day that Hermione had to make the decision, the decision to either stay by Harry, or stay by Draco.

The moment Harry left her and Ron to go and see Professor Dumbledore, Hermione made up the excuse that she was going to the library to keep Ron and Ginny from getting suspicious. The moment she had exited the portrait of the Fat Lady, Hermione hurried down the stairs to the Third Floor to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. She had a bad feeling and she wasn't sure why, but figured the Potions Master could help her understand. Stopping by the doorway she paused to catch her breath before entering the classroom, moving towards the office where Professor Snape would be. At least she hoped he would be in there. Raising her fist she knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

"Enter," Snape's deep voice sounded through the door.

Hermione opened the door and entered Professor Snape's office, closing the door behind her as she did. She walked over to his desk and sat at the single chair in front of it, waiting for him to look up from the paper he was currently grading. After a while he put down his black feather quill and looked at her saying, "Miss Granger."

"Professor," Hermione greeted.

"What brings you to my office today?"

"Well sir, Harry and Professor Dumbledore have left, and I think it's to find another way to defeat You-Know-Who again."

"They've been doing so all year, so it wouldn't surprise me if they did leave for that."

Hermione nodded before saying, "But that's why I came. As soon as Harry left, I suddenly felt a feeling of foreboding and it's not sitting well with me. It's almost like, like I feel something bad is going to happen tonight. And if I'm having a bad feeling about it, I suspect it might have something to do with Draco."

Professor Snape frowned and looked at her for a moment before saying, "Hermione, listen to me. Don't think about it or do anything to disrupt what will happen. It doesn't concern you, but I'm also telling you this for your own protection, as well as Draco's."

"Professor, do you know about something that is going to happen?"

"…Let's just say I'm prepared to do what Albus has asked of me and you won't question it when you find out what it is."

Hermione wasn't sure how to respond to that. She knew Snape was a double agent and he did a lot of questionable things, especially with them coming off as suspicious in the eyes of certain people who don't trust him (i.e. Harry, Ron, and every other person who just hated the man). However for Hermione, she had come to like the man as much as she respected him; spending time with him in regards to her boyfriend and her Occlumency and Legilimency lessons helped her see the side of him that others usually didn't see. Honestly the only people to ever see it had to be Draco, Albus, and Narcissa. Therefore she knew that if Snape did something that would end up shocking her, it was because he was told to do so, not because he wanted to.

Nodding she stood and said, "Alright sir, I trust you. I'm going to go and see Draco now."

Snape nodded and watched his student leave, him letting out a sigh as the door closed shut. In a rare moment of exhaustion he rested his head in his hand as he thought of what was going to happen later tonight. Draco had informed him that the Vanishing Cabinet was fully mended and that Death Eaters would be coming through it tonight, meaning the boy would have to murder Dumbledore. He knew his godson wouldn't have it in him to do so, so he knew he'd have to be the one to do so, as per Albus' orders. However other than that, he also had another plan in his head, one that he and Narcissa had formulated. Neither of them wanted Draco to be a part of the war anymore nor a member of Voldemort's ranks. Severus had found a safe house of sorts and placed it under the Fidelius Charm; it was where he planned to hide Draco and Narcissa away from the war.

But the thing that also worried him (though he'd never admit it) was whether Hermione was going to join them in the safe house if she ultimately chose to stay with the boy she loved, or if she was going to still stand next to Potter. She was in a rather tough position and it made him wonder what part of her heart she was going to follow: the side that wanted to fight for freedom and equality among blood statuses for their world, or to leave it behind to be with Draco. Only time would tell, especially with that time approaching quickly.

Hermione walked along the corridors of Hogwarts in search of the blond boy she called her boyfriend. He wasn't in the Hospital Wing as she thought he would be and she couldn't find him anywhere. She didn't even find him in the Founder's Room. It was getting late and she still hadn't found him. Hell, she had even made up an excuse looking for him stating Professor Snape wanted to see him, and still no one had seen him.

Right when she was about to get seriously frustrated, it suddenly occurred to her to look in the Room of Requirement. He was possibly there mending the Vanishing Cabinet as he had been doing all school year. Draco had told her he was making progress with it and that it would be fully healed soon. She hadn't said anything to him about it knowing full well that he had to do this as per the Dark Lord's task, but she still had mixed feelings about what he was doing as she didn't approve of it one bit. But she promised him long before they began dating that she would stand by him throughout it and help support him, and she hadn't broken her promise yet and didn't plan to.

Walking up the stairs to the Seventh Floor and towards the wall that held the Room of Requirement, she waited until the doors appeared before entering. She looked around at the dark room before spotting Draco's platinum hair standing out from the bleakness of the room. He was standing in front of the giant cabinet and staring at it, an apprehensive expression on his face. Walking up behind him she reached out and touched his shoulder calling, "Draco."

Draco turned to face her with wide grey eyes before blinking and saying, "Hermione."

He took her hand on his shoulder and held it, pulling her towards him so that he could engulf her in his arms and hold her close. Burying his face in her neck he whispered, "I'm so scared, Hermione."

Hermione could feel him trembling in her arms as she returned his embrace, a concerned frown on her face. Pulling away slightly she asked, "Why? Draco, what's the matter?"

Draco shook his head before grabbing her wrist and pulled her towards the exit. As he threw the door open and stepped out with her and told her, "I've already sent for them. The Vanishing Cabinet is fully mended and they will be coming soon. I have to get this done; everything is coming to a head tonight."

"What are you talking about? Who's coming?"

As they rounded the corner and headed towards the stairs of the Astronomy Tower, Draco said, "Remember about my task, Hermione? I have to fulfill it tonight. I have no choice now. I have to do this."

The brunette gasped at hearing that, realizing that Draco really was going to have to go through with killing Dumbledore. She didn't want him to and didn't believe he could, and from his shaking she knew he didn't want to either. As they ascended the stairs she was about to tell him that he didn't have to do this, but as they climbed they could hear talking and Hermione recognized the voices as Harry and Dumbledore. Draco seemed to recognize the voices as well, or at least one of them and he quickly pushed Hermione in a dark corner where she would be hidden out of sight. He kissed her quickly but passionately before whispering, "I'm sorry."

Before she could stop him he hurried the rest of the way up the stairs to where Dumbledore and Harry were. She moved to see what was going to happen and listen in on the conversation. Draco was holding Dumbledore at wand-point after taking his wand from him, telling him that as they spoke Death Eaters were infiltrating Hogwarts. Dumbledore seemed fascinated at the news and asked her boyfriend how he had managed to do so. As Draco explained, movement to her right caught her attention and she almost let out a loud gasp until a hand clamped down over her mouth. Eyes wide she looked into the green ones of Harry.

When he let go she whispered, "Harry!"

"Shh," Harry shushed her. He looked back up in time to see Draco reveal his Dark Mark to Dumbledore.

"I was chosen," Draco told Dumbledore. "He trusts me to do this. Don't you understand?! I have to do this! I have to kill you!"

Harry hissed and whispered, "I knew it. I knew he was a no good git and Death Eater, just like Ron said. I'm sorry Hermione, but he's not going to get away with this."

Hermione watched as her friend pulled out his wand and had it aimed at Draco, ready to send off a hex or curse or some sort of spell at him. She didn't know what to do, she was so conflicted. She wanted to protect Draco from Harry, but she also didn't want to stop Harry from stopping Draco killing Dumbledore. But she knew if she let it happen, Draco would be hauled off to Azkaban. The brunette began to tremble, tears building in her eyes as her brain and her heart went at war with each other over what she should choose.

Footsteps caught their attention and Harry and Hermione moved further into the shadows, ducking out of sight as they noticed Bellatrix Lestrange, Fenrir Greyback, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, Amycus and Alecto Carrow, Antonin Dolohov, Gibbon, and Thorfinn Rowle moved up the stairs to where Draco and Dumbledore were standing in the Astronomy Tower.

"Well, look what we have here," Bellatrix said as she took in the scene before her. "It seems our worries were unfounded. Well done, Draco."

Draco flinched slightly as his aunt stroked his hair before running her hands along and patting his shoulders. Neither Harry nor Hermione could blame him for that; they couldn't even fathom what it would be like to have Bellatrix Lestrange run her hands over them.

Bellatrix looked at her nephew and said, "Don't dawdle now, Draco. Do it, kill him."

Hermione could see Draco hesitating, could see his wand shaking in his trembling hand. She could see the frustrated and scared tears forming in his eyes. Looking at Harry she could see his wand trained perfectly at her boyfriend. She knew nothing would stop Harry from taking down Draco at the moment and she could either let him or stop him. She didn't know what to do or who to choose to stand by now. Closing her eyes she let her tears fall as she gripped her hair in her hands. Opening them she noticed a bit of shimmering next to Harry in the form of cloth. Instantly knowing it was his Invisibility Cloak, she made a quick decision and took her wand out of her pocket, sending a nonverbal Full Body-Bind Curse at her friend, watching how his body instantly froze and locked up. She caught him to prevent his body hitting the ground and alerting those above her, lying him down on the ground before grabbing his cloak.

"I'm sorry Harry, but I can't let you hurt Draco," Hermione whispered before covering him with the cloak.

Standing she turned around and was surprised to see Severus standing behind her. She opened her mouth to speak but he put a finger to his lips, silently telling her to be quiet. Walking over to her he said in a low voice, "Make your decision now. I know you're still floundering, but do it now or stay out of the way."

Severus moved up the stairs, his cloak billowing behind him as he left Hermione. She watched as he stopped Bellatrix from egging Draco on to kill Dumbledore and how he faced the old man. Looking back and forth between the men she could see a silent look of understanding and knowing between them as Dumbledore said, "Severus…please..."

Turning to look at her professor she watched as he pointed his wand at the old wizard and say in a clear voice, "Avada Kedavra."

Brown eyes widened in shock as her mouth fell open, a gasp escaping her lips as she watched the Killing Curse hit the Headmaster and send him flying back over the railing of the Astronomy Tower. More tears fell from Hermione's eyes as shock filled her every being. Even Draco was standing with a look of shock and incredulity on his face. The Death Eaters began to leave the Astronomy Tower, not before Bellatrix sent the Dark Mark into the sky above Hogwarts, with Severus having a firm hand on Draco's shoulder. His black eyes met hers and he quickly said, "Make your choice. Either stay with him or meet me at the gates."

Hermione watched them leave, Draco not even getting a chance to look at her as the Death Eaters followed after them. She made sure she was out of sight as they left until the last one had gone by. Once she knew they were all gone she turned and snatched the Invisibility Cloak off of Harry before canceling the Full Body-Bind. The moment she did Harry stood and yelled, "What the hell, Hermione?! How could you do that?! And how could you let him kill him?!" Harry gave her a look of disgust before saying, "And all to save your precious snake. Well I hope you're happy!"

The brunette said nothing in retaliation as Harry ran after the retreating Death Eaters. Yes, she was happy that Harry hadn't hurt Draco and that Draco hadn't killed Dumbledore like he was supposed to. But now he was officially going to be known as a full fledge Death Eater. The thing about that information coming out would be that if they caught him, he would go to Azkaban and she'd never see him again. And honestly, she didn't think she'd be able to handle that. She loved Draco too much to let him be taken from her.

Hermione could feel her heart break in two as she finally came to the decision that was going to change her life in terms of the war. She gripped her shirt over her heart before she too ran out of the Astronomy Tower and followed the path of destruction that lay before her, knowing that was the way the Severus, Draco, and the others had gone. She ran out of the castle and onto the grounds towards Hagrid's hut, where she saw Rowle light it on fire as the others took down Hagrid and Fang. She could hear Harry yelling after Severus and telling him to fight back as he threw spells at him, the Potions Master deflecting them all. Bellatrix through one at him as well, but Severus told her to leave him be as he was the Dark Lord's. He then told her and the others to leave to inform the Dark Lord of their success, telling Draco to stay behind. Bellatrix protested but knew better than to try her nephew's godfather and left in a whirl of black smoke.

"Sectumsempra!" Harry yelled as he pointed his wand at Severus.

Hermione gasped as she remembered exactly what that curse had done to Draco and feared for Severus. However Severus somehow deflected it and sent a spell back at Harry, hitting him in his face and knocking him down on his back. As she reached them she heard him ask Harry, "You dare use my own spell against me, Potter?"

Brown, grey, and green eyes all widened as they realized the curse that had nearly killed Draco was invented by none other than their professor. He looked at them all before saying, "Yes, I'm the Half-Blood Prince."

Both Draco and Hermione weren't sure how to feel about that, but knew that it wasn't the time to think about it. Looking at the blond Hermione cried, "Draco!"

She ran into his arms and hugged him, Draco holding her close. She could feel him still trembling and she heard a sob escape his throat as he held her tightly. Pulling away slightly she took his face in her hands and said, "It's alright."

"Keep your mind closed and master your magic, Potter. And you might want to go and check on your friends rather than concern yourself with me," Severus told him before turning to face Hermione. "Are you with us, Miss Granger?"

Hermione hesitated for a moment as she looked back at her friend who was still lying on the ground before looking into black eyes and nodding. Severus nodded and walked over to them, leading them quickly to the school gates to leave, but allowing Hermione to turn to Harry and say, "I'm sorry, Harry."

The last thing Hermione saw before Side-Apparating away was the look of pure betrayal in Harry's eyes as she, Draco, and Severus escaped Hogwarts.

Author's Note: This chapter took a while for me to write, but I'm glad I got it done. I hope you all like it. Also, there is a poll I have set up on my profile page concerning a story I would like to work on in the future. If you would like, please take a look at it and vote please. If not, that's alright. XOXO, SehunsBae37.