A/N: Ah, so the time has come. This was one of the most difficult scenes we've probably ever had to write. We hope that you enjoy it. With that being said, 'Lily's Theme' – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two Soundtrack. 'This is War' – Thirty Seconds to Mars – 'Hurricane' Thirty Seconds to Mars – 'Hide and Seek' Imogen Heap – 'One Call Away' Charlie Puth ß End of chapter (You can find all of these on YouTube!)
/* {Wands up, Ladies and Gentlemen}
"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and above all, those without love."
"Why do you live? – Because I have something worth living for."
"A warning to the people; the good and the evil. This is war."
"No matter how many breaths that you took, you still couldn't breathe."
"As days go by, the nights on fire; tell me would you kill to save a life? Tell me would you kill to prove you're right? No matter how many deaths that I die, I will never forget. No matter how many lies I live, I will never regret. Do you really want me dead or alive to torture for my sins? Tell me would you kill, to save your life?"
Hermione, Harry, and Ron had left Gringotts—on a dragon—with Helga Hufflepuff's Cup-turned-Horcrux; and once steady, they disapparated into Hogsmeade. As soon as they dropped toe, alarms sounded off in the air around them which notified the Death Eaters of someone's presence. Luckily they were found by Aberforth Dumbledore, whom helped them into the Hog's Head. He fed the starving trio food, and sent his portrait sister, Arianna, on her way to bring back a certain individual from the halls of Hogwarts. Much to their surprise, they came face to face with Neville Longbottom. He led them back through the tunnel into Hogwarts and inside the Room of Requirement. Looking about they found hammocks hanging amuck and different students sitting back with books or practicing defense spells; all turned to them in cheer. Each classmate had at least a bruise or cut of their own thanks to the Carrow Twins, Neville explained. As painful as the tarnished image laid before them, it was bittersweet to see familiar faces, friendly faces.
As Harry talked with his peers about another possible Horcrux, Hermione held her arms across her lower abdomen, whispering a wandless incantation that Luna had taught her to help keep the child within her safe from any possible harm she may sustain. She wished so badly that she could tell Harry and Ron or Ginny. Gods, how she wished she could've just sat with her longtime girlfriend and pour her heart and soul all out before her. But she couldn't; everyone would tell her to stay back and not fight. Clearly, that was not an option. This battle was for her rights and all other Muggle-Borns, Half-Bloods…Hell, even Pure-Bloods. It was to take away the blood-supremacist; it was a fight for equal rights. It was a fight to get rid of that damned… Voldemort, once and for all. She would be there beside her best friend when he defeated him. She would help abolish this monster. She would survive this in order to raise her child in a better world. She was Hermione Granger and no one could take that away from her, and no one would take that moment away from her.
"'Mione, I have an idea." Ron whispered, pulling her from her reverie. Hermione nodded, listening closely, as everyone had been summoned by Headmaster Snape.
Harry had revealed himself in the Great Hall; Yelling at the man who murdered Professor Dumbledore. Hermione and Ron had pulled some of the Order of the Phoenix that Neville was able to wrangle into the Hall. Professor McGonagall began to duel Snape; everyone watched in awe at the elder witch. She was truly one-of-a-kind.
The atmosphere went still, cold, and eerie. The sound of screaming broke out from one girl crouching in the corner, then to another in the midst of the crowd. Silence, an icy voice began to hiss a whisper:
"I know that many of you will want to fight. Some may think that to fight is wise. But this is folly. Give me Harry Potter. Give me Harry Potter. Do this and none shall be harmed. Give him to me and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter…and you will be rewarded. You have one hour."
XXX
Voldemort waited amongst the hills outside of Hogwarts with his pack of followers.
"Begin." he hissed as the cloaked witches and wizards began attacking the protective wards that surrounded the castle with spells of their own. The wards began breaking in with cracks shattering across the sky.
Draco, Theo, and Matti stood at the edge of the Dark Forest, watching as the crowd of black raced toward the beloved school that was already crumbling and on fire.
"No matter what, keep Hermione safe." The blonde wizard whispered.
Theo returned a response with a nod, "Of course."
Draco shook his head and sighed, "Good, because when this is all done and over with…and if I don't make it—"
Theo scowled, pursing his brows, "The fuck you mean, 'if you don't make it'?" he hissed.
"Would you bloody listen for a minute?" Draco slapped the back of his head.
"For fucks sakes! What?"
"Be the…Be the godfather, okay?" Before Theodore could respond, Draco took his and Matti's hands, apparating them into the castle's walls.
"Blimey! You wanna explain to me—Shite..." Theo muttered, running his fingers through his tousled hair; astounded as the three of them landed their feet on the debris that lie beneath them, students raced, not bothering to notice that they were running into their shoulders.
Draco watched as the thousand-year-old stone crumbled from the walls around them. This tore at his heartstrings much more than he had expected it to. "We need to find Hermione." he gulped.
They jogged down the corridor, careful not to trip over the injured on the ground. As they rounded a turn, they discovered Potter standing before the wall which lead into the Room of Requirement. But where was Hermione?
"She should be with him." Draco stated, mumbling nervously.
Once Harry had managed the entrance open, the two Slytherin and Matti hurried forward to follow, not realizing that they too were being tailed.
Inside, Draco and his posse stood behind a stack of old, tarnished medals and dusty books, the other two individuals close behind.
"Do you think he's looking for the diadem?" Theo whispered.
Draco hadn't answered, but on a whim, he moved forward toward Harry. Theo and Matti followed suit.
"Potter. Where is Hermione?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Harry turned with Draco's wand prepared to fire, "Malfoy! Merlin, probably not the best idea to sneak up on someone during a time like this…Hermione is taking care of the Cup with Ron. I made a stupid deal with a goblin so we didn't have a way to destroy it till now—"
Draco gritted his teeth at the thought of Hermione running around with Weasel. Surely he wouldn't be able to keep her—them—safe. "You think it's wise to send the two of them off to take care of such pertinent business?" he asked, trying his best not to sound too standoffish
"Considering Hermione is the brightest witch of our age—" Harry countered.
Without letting Harry finish Draco argued, "Yeah, she is, but Weasel is far from it. He practically negates her knowledge."
The sounds two sets of tapping footsteps started to draw near the four, causing them all to react on instinct with drawn wands.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione shouted toward Draco.
That voice.
Hermione disarmed him of the Elmwood wand which belonged to his mother. She stood with her own Vinewood at the ready, pointed directly at his chest. "You wouldn't." he threatened, trying to hide his hope.
"Try me, Malfoy." her voice was stony and distant.
She was there, untouched, unharmed, yet more fragile than she had ever been. Ugh the look of disgust she gave to him lurched his stomach. His eyes jetted to her hand. She had on the ring; no longer placed on her heart-line finger but on the middle. That had to have meant something…
He moved his attention back to Scarhead, "Seeing as we are unwanted here, best of luck to you, Potter." Draco said as ominously as he could, without breaking an ounce of knowledge that he knew of his witch's condition, but before he could turn away, Hermione's eyes flickered toward Theo and she scorned, causing his own heart to ache. "To think that I trusted you the most…" she almost chuckled, clearly holding back a sob.
Silence had elated them when out of nowhere the peevish voice of Gregory Goyle called out, "Don't be a prat, Draco, do him in. The Dark Lord wants him."
"If you don't, I will." Blaise finished, as he took out his wand.
"Don't be ridiculous, you numpty." Nott said casually, glaring, "What the fuck are you twats doing?"
The dark male snickered, "Fighting on the right side, unlike you, apparently."
With that accusation, Draco glanced sideways at Hermione, in hopes that she'd understand that he really was on her side; in return, no such luck.
With dismissal, Goyle flicked his wand at Hermione with Stupefy, causing her to flail backwards. Without second thought, Draco grabbed his mother's wand back, and he, Theo, and Ron ran after Goyle and Zabini with fury.
Around the stacks of messes, Draco and the latter stood frozen and in fear at the massive fiendfyre moving to enclose the room. "RUN!"
"GO! GO!" Theo yelled out at the three that were standing, staring at the box in Harry's hand.
"BLOODY GOYLES SETTING THE BLOODY PLACE ON FIRE!" Ron howled. Suddenly a whoosh of bright orange and yellow flames began to lick the ceiling and the walls, engulfing their surroundings. Each sprinted; Theo, Matti and Draco began to climb up a pile of old rubbish, whilst Hermione, Ron and Harry went for the old brooms sitting against the wall.
"Draco, take my hand!" Theo breathed, the smoke invading his nostrils causing him to choke. Draco took it within his, holding on desperately. Goyle and Zabini were crawling up behind them. Goyle began to tug menacingly at Draco's pant leg. He was able to kick the staggering wizard off, gulping hard as one of his oldest friends fell into the fire to his death. This is war, he repeated in his mind.
Zabini looked up in fear and almost in synthetic remorse up at Nott. "Oh no mate, you chose the wrong side, apparently." Theo reprimanded as he kicked Blaise right in the center of his face. He too fell into the inferno.
Theo and Draco swapped a look of disgust; knowing that this was it. He held onto his best mate's hand, and watched at how he was holding Matti. They were going to die. He didn't get to say the right words to Hermione. He didn't get to hold her close and tell her how sorry he was. He didn't get the chance to beg for her forgiveness. He and his Theo just killed two people; two people who they once were able to call comrades. This is war. People will die. Someone will win. Choose your goodbyes carefully.
Swiftly, the trio appeared overhead on the brooms, holding out their arms for the struggling three. Hermione held out her arm for Draco, surprisingly. Theo hopped onto the back of Ron's broom and Matti with Harry.
Theo rolled his eyes. Of bloody course I'd be stuck with this nutter, he thought. Of course only he'd be complaining about his flying companion during a time like this.
Draco roamed his arm and placed his hand flat on Hermione's lower stomach. She tightened her muscles at the touch, causing her to veer right by accident; he took control of the flight. The blaze of the fire heated around them. If they didn't make it out in just time, perishing in the flames surely would be their fates.
At last, reaching their exit, they all fumbled out, Hermione fell directly onto her face; without idleness she jumped up. "Harry! Stab it!" Hermione cried tossing him the basilisk fang that she and Ron had ventured to get from the Chamber of Secrets.
Wanting to stay and explain everything to the love his life, he knew he couldn't. Tears fought with the back of his eyes. He couldn't stand and stare at her for much longer without breaking into a thousand pieces. He left with a nod of his chin. Hermione looked to the couple with a sad, uneasy frown perched upon her lips. Theo stared back at her and shook his head with apologetic eyes, took his girlfriend's hand, turned and followed Draco.
"Be safe, 'Ermione." Matti called back to her.
Once they had curved the corner, the pair ran smack into Draco, who growled at their clumsiness.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?!" I told you to keep an eye on her!" Draco bellowed at his friend, throwing his hands up in lull.
"Mate! When it comes time, I will! But don't you see? There is no time to fight about this. We have to fight… them!" Theo flourished his arm to the chaos around. Draco was shaking his head wildly, Nott grabbed onto his shoulders to center his gaze into his own, "Mate! DRACO! Listen to me," he slapped his cheek with a bit of a sting, "she's in good hands for now. Listen! She will be OKAY!" he said once more, trying to convince himself even.
The sound of a thunderous crack roared above them, they all raced outside to the entrance courtyard.
Footsteps rumbled over the castle; Killing curses were being shot in every direction. Greyback was leaning over a body, ravaging at a young witch's throat. That Lavender bint.
The quiet silence found their misery; Life around them fell into an abrupt slowness. Centaurs drew their arrows in all directions, Trolls were whacking people to their deaths; unknowing if the witches or wizards were of good or evil. Giant Spiders spewed venom and jets of webs trapping their enemies. It was true and utter turmoil. As far as it seemed, everyone was fighting just to fight. Danger was upon them all. Everyone was faceless; faceless and all deemed to die. It didn't matter what end of the wand you were at, if you crossed the line of fire you were good as dead.
Hermione was running along the outskirts of the middle fighting, tossing around her own hexes and jinxes. Draco and Theo kept their eyes on the wavering witch as they were fighting off their own battles.
The good
—just stupefy them; the bad—curse them. That was all there was to it. Draco told himself, "Easy enough."
The scent of blood filled the air and dead bodies surrounded their feet; Torture, death, exile. Trying hard not to lose sight of Hermione, Draco swung his wand in the direction of a Death Eater who was creeping toward his witch's direction. A green flash emerged from the tip of his wand; his second kill. Dementors were now gliding into the darkness around her. Draco had never been able to fulfill a PatronusCharm before but it seemed he had to try. "Fuck!" he yelled aloud at himself. Theo was too busy dueling Goyle Sr.—mocking the man with his son's death—to help.
Draco grasped the phial once again around his neck as the Dementors were closing in on her. She hadn't even realized it yet, distracted by battle.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM" he bellowed, imagining her smile, 'I'm PREGNANT!'—the way it was supposed to have been. The memory invaded his mind, and a silvery wisp escaped into a large flash of a dire wolf that raced to her rescue, just as she was turning around, she watched it growl at the Dementors forcing them to fleel. She looked around to see who the wolf had come from, only to find that the people who were amongst the rubble were all in their own battles, except Draco, who had turned just in time.
Hermione was caught off guard with a jinx flashing by her head, and began fighting off one of the Carrow Twins.
Where the bloody hell was Harry Potter?
Luna Lovegood ran forward running into Theo, "Wotcher!" he yelled, grabbing onto the small witch, "Luna?"
"Oh, hello Theodore! Good luck." was all she said and continued onto her path, knocking back wizards and their curses with great strength.
"Shite. That tiny witch is powerful." Theo noted.
He turned away dumbfounded and back to Hermione. Theo saw that a very tall, very dark Death Eater was approaching her from behind. Before he could think, his feet were picking up from the ground where he stood, "NO!" he screamed, pushing Hermione down to her arse. He swung his arms out into wings to keep her from getting hit. Thackeray Nott drew back his wand, hitting Theodore square in the chest with a silent Avada Kedavra; a dance dwindled throughout his body and with a sharp turn of his head—all in slow motion—he sent a smile to his curly-headed best friend. He fell into his death, glossy blue eyes staring off into the depths of nothingness. Nott Sr. smiled maliciously and with a whip of his cloak, turned and evaporated into a black smoke.
"No! No, no… Theo…No!" Hermione cried out in choked sobs. She threw herself over his lifeless body, pulling his face into her bloodied hands, pushing back his hair, rubbing her thumbs over his dirty cheeks; still so beautiful he was.
"I forgive you." she whispered, "I'm so sorry! I love you, Theodore. You fought valiantly, love. You went out like an angel...my guardian angel."
She looked up with tear filled eyes to see that Matti had silently fallen to her knees beside the two, her expression broken and blank.
Passing Matti's shoulder, her attention fell onto a dueling wizard. Once he had managed to defeat the other wizard and fixate his gaze back to her, he froze when he realized who was in Hermione's arms.
"No." he exhaled.
Hermione kissed Theo's forehead and laid him down gently in Matti's arms. She stood, pausing with a passive guise at Draco. Desperately, he wanted to run to her, but she already went on to find Harry and Ron.
After his witch was gone, Draco ran over to Matti and Theo. He studied his best mate's peaceful face with rage coursing through his veins.
"You did exactly what I asked you to, mate. You did well." he leaned in and kissed him on the top of his head, holding Theo's hand as the warmth was slowly fleeing his body, "Thank you." He tried his best to hold back his tears as his bottom lip trembled, "Take him home, Matti. To Honey's, okay?"
Matti choked on her own sob and nodded as Draco kissed her temple and stood. With a crack the couple disapparated away.
Draco was ready to avenge his brother's death but he looked around to find that there was no one else there to fight. It was as if everyone had gone home. He knew better; he knew that most of The Dark Lord's followers were out with him in the Dark Forest. He began walking into the disheveled hall full of lifeless, moaning, and bloodied bodies.
XXX
A crowd was heading back to the front grounds of Hogwarts. Draco followed suit, standing amongst his peers. Across from them were the faces of pure evil incarnated.
"Who is that in Hagrid's arms?" Ginny Weasley cried staggering forward. "Harry! NO!" she screeched, beginning to run forward, but her father held her back. She fell into his arms, gripping at the man's ripped jumper and screaming out dejected moans.
"No. Harry can't be dead. He wins this! He is supposed to win this!" His sight moved to Hermione. She was holding onto Ron, weeping into his shoulder. Draco felt as if he could vomit. He screwed everything up. Damn him and Theo for coming back from the future! Damn him for falling in love with the witch. He should have kept his distance.
"Draco…Come son!" Lucius spoke out to the gap between them. This is where he was supposed to go over to their side. What's it matter now? Theo was dead. Harry was dead, Hermione fucking hated him. And Voldemort had clearly won. What was the point? Narcissa edged up beside her husband, holding out her hand, "Draco, come." she nodded solemnly, giving away nothing. No regret, nor remorse; she stood tall.
"For fucks sake woman!" he muttered. She just had to go and make him feel guilty. He hesitated his steps, but he went on, glancing over to his loved one. Seeing her look of disappointment, her tired eyes, her exhausted frown, the splattered blood across her face killed him on the inside all the more.
Voldemort stopped him in the middle of the two crowds, "Ah, Draco my boy, you did well." The maniac pulled him into a hug, sending shivers down his spine. Yes, if this demented man didn't let him go right now, he'd surely throw up all of his insides. Once the bastard let him go, he moved as fast as he could without the look of defeat to stand directly beside his mother. She held onto his arm, pulling him closer into her body.
"Harry Potter is dead! He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself! Your 'hero' is gone!" Voldemort cackled, as well as his followers, "No man alive can threaten me now! See! Watch!" He turned to the half-giant, Hagrid and pointed his wand at the body he held tightly in his arms.
"Whut d'ya think yur doin'?! Ya killed 'im, eh! Isn't that e'nuff?" Hagrid bellowed at the snaky man.
Voldemort dismissed what Hagrid had to say, levitating Harry from his large arms, his limp body thrown once, twice, three times around in the air, "Crucio!" and then dropped to the rubble on the ground. Hagrid roared with anger as he bent down to pick up his beloved friend.
"The Boy-Who-Lived is finished! You all are no match for me and my Death Eaters!"
Draco stood, clenching his jaw at the scene. This was not what was supposed to happen. He bit his tongue, doing all that he could not to scream out.
"What the actual fuck is he doing?" Draco heard his father murmur. He looked up in curiosity to see that Neville Longbottom was limping forward with that bloody raggedy Sorting Hat gripped in his hands.
"STAND DOWN LONGB'OM!" the Irish lad Seamus called out. Neville merely shook his head in defiance, continuing to stagger on.
"What are you to do, young Longbottom?" Voldemort hissed, "Come to tell me what House I am in? There will be no more Houses at Hogwarts. The emblem and colors of my ancestor, Salazar Slytherin will suffice!" The dark wizard pointed his wand at the young man, "Neville here, is about to demonstrate what happens when one tries to oppose me!"
As the screams fled from Neville's mouth, Draco could not bare the thought of what was to come next. His eyes drew back to Hagrid's arms… "Where the…" he whispered and his silent question was answered when Hagrid began to shout, "HARRY! WHERE IS HARRY?" The chaos began to immerse the crowd of good and evil once more.
"Go! Save her!" Narcissa beckoned to her son, "Keep her safe my son." She kissed his temple and ran her fingers through his hair, "I believe in you."
Draco turned back to the scene, house-elves emerged from inside of the castle. "Fight! Fight! Fight for my master, defender of house-elves!" and "Fight the Dark Lord, in the name of brave Regulus Black! Fight!" were being shouted by two small soldiers.
As if a magical line was tugging from inside of him, he turned to find that Hermione stood stock-still, holding out her hand for him. He wiped away the blood that was trickling down from his nose and moved forward to his witch, to fight, for her.