Chapter 26

Mercy

"My options?" Draco asked coolly. "I'm the one standing here with a wand... I'm about to kill you..."

"My dear boy, let us have no more pretense about that. If you were going to kill me, you would have done it when you first disarmed me, you would not have stopped for a pleasant chat about the ways and means."

Draco acutely aware that he was struggling to keep a steady hand. Of course Dumbledore was right. He had no desire to kill him. But at any moment the Death Eaters would enter, so he could not betray any indication Draco was doubting his actions or beliefs. But it was suddenly deeply important to Draco that Dumbledore understand what he was about to do. "I haven't got any options," Draco said solemnly, "I've got to do it. He'll kill me. He'll kill everyone I love..."

"I appreciate the difficulty of your position. Why else do you think I have not confronted you all year. Because I knew that you would have been murdered if Voldemort realized I suspected you. But no harm has been done, you have hurt nobody, though you are very lucky your unintentional victims survived... I can help you, Draco."

The young wizard did not want the older man's sympathy. He didn't want to think about the life he was about to end. "No, you can't," he said factually. "He told me to do it or he'd kill my family. I've got no choice." Draco hoped Dumbledore would understand. He had to protect himself and his family.

"He cannot kill you if you are already dead. Come over to the right side, Draco, and we could hide you more completely than you'd ever imagine. What is more, I can send members of the Order to hide your mother. Nobody would be surprised if you died in your attempt to kill me. Your father is safe at the moment in Azkaban... When the time comes, we can protect him too. Come over to the right side, Draco, you are not a killer."

Draco ached at Dumbledore's offer. He wanted to take it. He wanted to spare the older wizard in front of him. But no matter how appealing the offer was, Draco had made a decision and there was no changing his mind. "But I got this far, didn't I?" he asked disbelievingly. "I'm with the wand, you're at my mercy."

"No Draco," said Dumbledore quietly. "It is her mercy, not yours that matters now."

He froze at the headmaster's words. He nearly dropped his wand when he heard a quiet, "Draco?"

"Draco?"

"Hermione..." she saw the pain in his eyes as he turned around to face her.

"Draco, you don't have to do this," she pleaded. "This isn't who you are." She could feel the tears beginning to prick behind her eyes.

"You don't know who I am, Hermione. You don't know what I've done."

"I do, Draco, I know everything. I know about Katie, and Madam Rosmerta, and the mead. And I don't care, Draco. That doesn't matter, I know you just wanted you protect your family. I understand, Draco. Just please, don't do this."

"Hermione, you shouldn't have come. I wanted to make sure you were far away from all of this."

"Well, I'm right here. And I'm begging you not do this. I know you, Draco. You're brilliant, and you're kind, and a wonderful man. You can join us. I can help protect your family, Draco. Come and be with me, please." She stepped toward him slowly.

She watched him lower his wand. "I can't do that. And I am so sorry. I never expected things to turn out this way." He seemed to take a step toward her.

There was a deep aching in her chest. She looked at this person who she had once hated and could not believe this was that same person. She thought about everything they had been through. She relived the dread she felt when he didn't join her by the lake. The anxiety of searching for him. The heartbreak of his lies... His scent... His touch... And she knew. "Draco, I love you."

Everything seemed to freeze around her. She waited for Draco to move.

"They're coming!" came a hurried hiss as Professor Snape interrupted time for a response. "Granger, you need to hide, now."

Hermione was surprised at the interruption but nodded in understanding. Fighting every instinct in her heart, she moved several paces away and Professor Snape cast a disillusionment charm. She watched Draco's response flicker between disbelief and grief.

Professor Snape marched up to the two wizards.

"Severus... please..." she heard Dumbledore beg.

Hermione heard the roar of footsteps coming toward them. She hoped Severus would act soon. The Death Eaters flowed into the astronomy tower like a stream of blackness. Her heart broke as she watched Snape raise his wand to Professor Dumbledore.

"Avada Kedavra."

She slapped her hand to her mouth to keep from crying out. She watched Professor Dumbledore crumple and fall right before her eyes. Time moved in slow motion as she watched him slowly float through the air. It wasn't until she heard Harry's voice did she process what had happened. Harry cast a spell meant to release her from a body bind course. She ran into his arms, crying, "What are you doing here?"

"I was with Dumbledore, he bound me just like Snape did with you! They're getting away, we have to go!"

Registering that Draco had left, she raced towards the staircase, Harry close at her heels. They leapt over a petrified Death Eater, each taking steps at a time. All around her was chaos - magic crackling through the air, the smell of fire, the cries of pain or terror. She needed to get to Draco. She and Harry imitated the twists and turns that were made. Finally, they appeared to be gaining on them and Harry cast Stupefy at Snape, missing each time he tried. Snape at last, rebounded the spell engaging Harry for the time being.

"Draco!" she called as Draco turned to watch Snape and Harry. Draco's attention shot to her and he raised his wand to her. "Draco, please," she begged as the tears finally started to fall.

He raised his wand higher and took a step backward. She could see him mouth a body bind curse and felt the wave of magic shoot past as the spell missed her. She watched as Snape yanked Draco away and Disapparate beyond the school boundaries.

She cried out his name and felt like her heart was about to explode. Hermione hadn't registered she and fallen to her knees until she felt Harry trying to lift her up.

Everything was a blur as the chaos continued and she and Harry tore through the castle. She needed to find her friends. She needed to find Draco, They needed to make sure everyone was safe. She could not process everything around her, but her head snapped up as she heard Dumbledore's name. She and Harry met eyes.

"Dumbledore is dead."

She wasn't certain she would ever stop crying. They had just left Dumbledore's funeral. They had just talked through their plan. As she embraced Harry and Ron in an embrace. Her mind was racing with everything she would need to do to prepare. She squeezed her friends together tightly. "I love you all."

The embrace broke and the boys moved to leave, Hermione saying she'd catch up.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?" She asked as she turned as Harry called her name.

"Do you think he would have done it? Malfoy?"

The witch shook her head, new tears starting to form, "I don't think Draco would have killed Dumbledore."

Harry nodded in agreement. "I don't think he would have either," he offered in what was supposed to be a consoling voice.

"Neither do I," Ron chimed in.

"Thank you," she responded sincerely. At least her two friends believed in her. She wiped away her tears as Ron and Harry walked away.

Sighing deeply, she pulled out a small piece of parchment that she had secured in her handbag. She poured over the note again.

Hermione,

I have a plan. No matter what happens tonight, know that I love you. I always will. Do you believe me?

She had found that piece of parchment in the Room of Requirement after the mayhem. It was a small favor of mercy that she even ventured to Room of Requirement and found the tiny scrap. Now that she had a moment alone, she had an opportunity to ponder the question. Though for Hermione, there was nothing to ponder. She was hurt and confused. He refused to speak to her. He ran away from her.

He loved her.

She took a deep breath and wrapped her hand gently around the pendant. "Yes."

Someone called Hermione's name as she stood motionlessly hoping for a response. Moments dragged on and she started to feel her heart ache. Before she knew it, Ginny had her arms around Hermione and was leading her to the rest of the group.

A familiar warmth spread across her chest as she let herself be dragged along by Ginny. Hermione didn't dare try to read the message near anyone else, but her hand moved to capture the familiar heat and she took comfort in the warmth. She sighed with relief, knowing that Draco was alive and well. It seemed to alleviate the ache in her chest. Hermione felt fairly confident about what the message would be, so she responded to the unread message.

"I always will."

A/N: Hello all, so here is the conclusion of "Repetitive Folly". I want to thank you all for going with me on this journey, I know it's been a particularly long one so thank you all for riding it out with me. I love you all.

I do plan on continuing this story in a new series, but I haven't sorted out the details yet. It probably won't happen for a bit though.

Once again, thank you all for the support!