A/N: Major character death.
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The sky churned above as the dark clouds grew angry above the castle. The water on the lake was choppy from the storm that was coming in from the South. The air smelled of light rain that had just fallen a few hours before Harry and Dumbledore returned to the Astronomy tower. Dumbledore had Harry go below into a hidden room just below and barely out of sight. "Good evening, Draco," Dumbledore spoke as he looked at Malfoy, who had walked up the steps to the astronomy tower; the metal steps echoed at every step Malfoy made until he stood on the same landing as Dumbledore. "What brings you here on this fine spring evening?" Dumbledore turned to face Malfoy.
Malfoy held his wand up and pointed it at Dumbledore, scared to make a move towards him, his voice cracking. "Who else is here? I heard you talking."
Dumbledore took a few steps. "I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful." Harry moved below the floorboards as he tried to get a closer look at the two talking above. "Have you been whispering to yourself, Draco?" Dumbledore took a step towards Malfoy. "Draco. You are no assassin."
"How do you know what I am? I've done things that would shock you." Malfoy kept his stance, his wand still locked on Dumbledore; the corner of his mouth quivered.
"Like cursing Katie Bell and hoping that in return, She'd bear a cursed necklace to me? Like replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison? Forgive me, Draco. I cannot help feeling these actions are so weak that your heart can't really have been in them." He stopped just a few feet away from Malfoy, his hands resting in front of him.
"He trusts me. I was chosen." Malfoy spoke through gritted teeth, before he reached down and lifted the sleeve of his black suit on his left arm to reveal the dark mark of the Death Eaters. The tattoo slithered around the skull. A black ring shimmered on his ring finger on his left hand.
Dumbledore looked at him as if not surprised. "Then I shall make it easy for you." Dumbledore lifted his wand.
"Expelliarmus!" Malfoy yelled quickly as Dumbledore's wand flew from his hand and across the floor of the door, rattling before it came to a stop across the room.
"Very good. Very good." The sound of a door clicking open caught the attention of Dumbledore as well as Harry, who still watched from below. "You're not alone. There are others." Dumbledore took a step forward. "How?"
Malfoy's voice shook, "The vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement. I've been mending it."
"Let me guess. It has a sister. A twin." Dumbledore spoke.
"In Borgin and Burkes. They form a passage." Draco kept his wand on Dumbledore.
"Ingenious. Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please let me help you." Dumbledore spoke in a concerned tone as he looked at Malfoy.
"I don't want your help!" He took a deep breath and his face tensed as he tried not to break. "Don't you understand? I have to do this. I have to kill you. Or he's gonna kill me."
Dumbledore turned when he heard footsteps heading up the landing where he and Malfoy stood. Bellatrix stood with two other Death Eaters behind her. "Well. Look what we have here." Bellatrix moved and stood behind Malfoy. "Well done. Draco."
"Good evening. Bellatrix. I think introductions are in order, don't you?" Dumbledore spoke, watching her.
"Love to, Albus. But I'm afraid we're all on a bit of a tight schedule." Bellatrix turned and smirked, looking at Malfoy. "Do it."
Greyback sneered. "He doesn't have the stomach, just like his father. Let me finish him in my own way."
Harry took a step and turned when he was faced with Snape, who held a wand to him. Harry lowered his wand slowly. Snape held up his left index finger to his lips to signal him to be silent. A cloaked figure stood behind Snape, the person's face hidden by the hood and the shadows. The dark crimson-red cloak covered the figure from head to toe, there was no way of knowing who was hiding behind the cloak.
"No! The Dark Lord was clear, the boy is to do it!" Bellatrix moved close to Malfoy once more. "This is your moment. Do it. Go on, Draco. Now!" Malfoy shook as he started to lower his wand. He was getting cold feet. He couldn't bring himself to kill Dumbledore. He felt like this wasn't right. He could feel the snake wiggle against his arm. The tattoo felt like it was burning into his delicate flesh.
Snape and the individual walked up the steps, Harry watched, confused a little unsure of who was hiding beneath the cloak. "No," Snape spoke as he came from behind Malfoy. Malfoy turned to see Snape standing with the unknown figure close behind.
Everyone stood in silence for a minute. "Severus," Dumbledore spoke, pausing for a moment. "Please."
The figure took a step forward as a wand withdrew from under the cloak. Dumbledore's attention turned to the figure in the cloak. Malfoy looked at both, confused, but froze instantly. "Avada Kedarvra." A low voice spoke as the swirl of green light illuminated from the tip of her wand. The impact hit Dumbledore, the force knocked him back and off the tower. Harry's eyes widened as he watched Dumbledore fall from the impact of the spell. The figure lowered her arm and wand and watched everything start around them. Bellatrix screamed out in triumph as the figure in the cloak lowered their wand to their side.
Greyback grabbed hold of Malfoy and forced him to the railing of the Astronomy Tower as Bellatrix lit off her wand; the mark of the Death Eaters illuminated the already angry sky above. An echoing scream followed. They were celebrating, everyone except Malfoy, Snape, and the cloaked figure who stayed silent, watching the group from a distance.
They soon took off, with Snape grabbing hold of the arm of the figure from beneath the dark red cloak as he forced her down the stairs with the other Death Eaters. They walked the halls with Malfoy, looking at the hidden figure as Snape forced her along. The other Death Eaters made their moves and caused havoc within the castle. Harry followed after as soon as he could. Bellatrix went into the Great Hall and destroyed everything she could, blasting out the stained-glass windows. The candles blew out quickly, the room filled with darkness as they made their way out and into the courtyard heading towards Hagrid's hut.
The figure tried to keep up with Snape as she struggled not to trip as they made their way through the forest. Harry stopped short of the top of the hill. "Snape. He trusted you!" An explosion was heard right after. The figure turned to Harry as the hood fell to her cloak. Her honey eyes illuminated in the light of the fire that engulfed Hagrid's hut.
Malfoy looked at her in shock before he looked back to Harry, who started to make his way down the hill towards her. "Go on." Snape growled out as he pushed Hermione towards Malfoy. Malfoy took Hermione's hand and led her away with the fellow Death Eaters into the Forbidden Forest. Snape headed back up the hill towards Harry.
"Incarcerous!" Harry yelled, sending a spell towards Snape. "Fight back! You coward, Fight back!" He sent another spell off, this time towards the direction of Hermione. "Don't you ever come back!" He yelled as Malfoy moved in front of her and blocked the spell, protecting her, but soon heard her cry out as she grabbed the side of her head. He grabbed her once again, this time vanishing under the darkness of the forest, her red cloak fading.
Snape sent a spell sending Harry off his feet only to send him flying back. Harry stood to his feet and yelled again. "Sectumsempra!"
Snape knocked him back off of his feet again. "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? Yes. I'm the Half-Blood Prince." Snape stepped forward and kicked the wand away from him. Harry laid stunned on the ground as Snape turned away and headed towards the direction of the others. Harry looked up to see the skull as the snake looped inside the mouth.
Once Malfoy was far enough away from the castle, he turned and faced Hermione, he lifted her hood back up and over her face. He grabbed hold of her arm as she grabbed hold of his hand. He apparated, holding tightly to her. They arrived at Malfoy Manor in the study, but soon felt Hermione pulled from his arms.
Bellatrix got a hold of her and pushed her to the floor hard. Hermione pushed herself up halfway as Malfoy moved, standing in front of her. Blood dripped down from right above her left eye. "Don't you touch her." He growled out as Hermione watched him face his aunt.
"Why would that dirty little mudblood take this from you." She gritted her gnarly teeth as she held up her wand. "You were so close to completing the job Draco."
Snape took hold of her wrist. "What better way than to have the golden girl betray her friends? You should be proud of this. Of course, the Dark Lord should never catch wind of this."
"Then let's kill her or throw her in the dungeon to rot, I wouldn't mind a little practice toy for new spells. I wonder how long it will take to break her." She hissed. "There is no point in keeping her alive after that."
Hermione watched Malfoy as he stood in front of her, not daring to move. He was shielding her, protecting her. Snape turned Bellatrix to face him. "If you kill her, then you will kill him. I'm not the only one that made the unbreakable vow." He spoke coldly.
Bellatrix's eyes widened as she looked down at Hermione's left arm. She could see a faint line of a burn mark that laced around her wrist. Hermione had her fist clenched, hiding something the best she could from view on her hand. "Draco, how could you." Her attention soon turned back to the two. "Why, why would you do this with that filthy mudblood?" Hermione flinched at her words, she went to speak, but Malfoy cut her off before she could say a single word.
"That is between us. It is no one else's concern what we agreed to." Malfoy spoke as he moved, helping her back up to her feet. She leaned against him, holding onto him; she couldn't put any weight on her left ankle.
"So, if you kill her, you will kill Draco," Snape spoke coldly. Bellatrix growled under her breath. "I might not be able to kill her, but that won't stop me from practicing on her," Bellatrix smirked as she vanished into a cloud of smoke as she left the room. Leaving Draco holding Hermione close to him, Snape looked around the room. Everything was quiet now. Hermione felt her body finally relax in Malfoy's arms as Snape walked back to the two. "Potter will be coming after you. The safest place for you will be here in the Manor, but there will be no guarantee you won't be tortured. You do understand that, don't you?"
Hermione swallowed hard as she nodded. "I understand."
"Did you two plan this? Did you force her to kill Professor Dumbledore?" Malfoy finally spoke as he looked down at Hermione's tired honey eyes. He had no idea that she was even capable of doing this; seeing her now, he still couldn't imagine her doing this.
"I think it's best you find her a room and let her rest," Snape spoke as he brushed Hermione's hair back, looking at a small cut above her left eye. "Heal her and put her to bed."
"What did you make her do?" Malfoy spoke again.
"I did not force her to do anything. She did this on her own, and I'm sure Ms. Granger will share with you when she's ready." He spoke coldly as he turned and walked away from the two. He opened the door and left the two alone in the study.
Malfoy didn't say a single word as he helped Hermione. She leaned against him as she limped. The force of being thrown to the floor caused her to twist her left ankle. He didn't know what to say to her as he led her upstairs. He was blindsided by how quick she was to end Dumbledore's life. She didn't hesitate when she was faced with him.
He opened the door to his room, the lights flickered on as he helped her to his bed. He took her cloak off of her before he helped ease her into his bed. She felt herself sink into the black comforter, her head resting on the satin pillowcases of his pillows. She could smell spearmint on his sheets. She felt a sense of comfort and safety. He took a seat next to her as he moved his wand over the cut carefully.
Hermione looked around the room, this was the first time she was in his room. Everything looked normal besides the size of his room and the attached bathroom. Bookshelves filled his walls, a desk sat in front of a large window. Scattered books and parchment littered the desk. The lights glowed faintly; rain was starting to tap against his window. The bed was a large four-poster bed. The thick black curtains hung tightly to the posts. "You would have been safer with Potter than with me. Why would you do this?" He finally whispered out as the cut fully mended. He lowered his head as he clenched his fists forcefully. This was supposed to be something he had to do himself, but he knew it was something he had to do to prove himself. But he knew if he couldn't, Professor Snape would finish the job, but he didn't expect Hermione to be the one to kill Professor Dumbledore. He couldn't believe she would be stronger than him. She didn't hesitate as she stood. Her wand extended as Dumbledore fell from the Astronomy Tower.
"I disagree." She spoke as she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath in. "Malfoy, Professor Snape didn't make me do anything, this was my choice." She opened her eyes halfway as she reached forward, placing her left hand on his cheek, the black ring on her fourth finger shimmering in the faint light. "Going forward, I don't want to talk about what I did anymore. I don't regret what I did, but what happened, happened. There is no coming back."
Malfoy looked up to her sadly. He could tell she was drained; it took everything out of her. He rested his head against her hand. "Just rest." He whispered out.
She closed her eyes when she felt him kiss the top of her head. He took her hand and rested it on her chest. His fingers laced with hers. "She returned with him to hell, descending the fiery steps. Winter has come, and everything was starting to die and wither away. She takes her place beside his thrown." She whispered back, she was falling asleep. Everything about today was overwhelming; she couldn't believe what she had done. She was prepared for this, she knew she had to take his life, but she wasn't prepared for the attacks from both sides of the war. Was she really where she needed to be, or had she truly made a deal with the god of the underworld by accepting the seeds he offered?
She betrayed the very friends who accepted her over six years ago. She knew they would hunt her down for the sin she had committed in the Astronomy Tower. She had no idea Harry would be hiding when she arrived with Snape. She had no idea that she would perform the killing curse in front of her best friend and in front of the one she pledged to protect. She was the Queen protecting the King on the chessboard.
He brushed her hair back as he moved her enough to pull the comforter up over her body. He took a seat in a black leather armchair watching her closely. "What did you do, Granger." He whispered to himself. He didn't believe she acted alone; he was in the dark as much as Potter was. If he hadn't stopped the spell, Potter would have killed her right on the spot. He had more vengeance locked into those green eyes when he hunted her, he held more than he had for Malfoy when he attacked him in the bathroom and left him for dead. Potter would stop at nothing to kill her now or at least make her life a living hell. "What did you do…"