Hermione couldn't blink her eyes scared he would disappear, she started walking forward. Theo walked meeting her halfway. "hey Hermione" he gave her a boyish smile shoving his hands in his front pocket. Hermione couldn't believe it why was he here didn't Nevil say that this room was for the students against Voldemort and his followers' rule?
"what are you doing here?" she asked crossing her arms in front of herself. Theo shrugged "Well I mean, kind of what everyone else is." Theo looked around the room at all the other students. " well not exactly why all of them are here."
Herminoe also looked at the students around them pretty much all of them watching them now. " what about your dad and" Herminoe paused for a second "Your friends."
"well as I've been saying since fourth year, fuck my dad, and as for my friends the ones I want to keep I'm sure will understand if not support me." Theo smiled as he looked down at her. Hermione noticed how like Nevil Theo had also grown in the time that she had been away. Hermione couldn't believe that he was willing to go against people he had known and loved his whole life. He was a pure-blood his father was a Death Eater he literally had nothing to gain by joining this side.
A thought crossed her mind one that she didn't really think possible but her eyes scanned the room again before returning to Theo. He seemed to guess what she was thinking and his smile dropped a little eyes turning to Pity before he shook his head. Herminoe eyes fell to the ground. She didn't know why she had thought it possible but seeing Theo here made her think he too could have. But that was stupid of her because he had chosen his side over and over again.
"Hermione what's going on?" Ron came up next to her. Hermione was lost for words not really sure where to start. Turns out she didn't have to because Nevil came to the rescue. Telling them how Theo had been helping them. from sneaking them food and supplies to helping rescue students from the Carrow twins and getting those in danger to safety. Hermione couldn't help but feel proud of Theo as she listened to all the good things he had done during the year. Theo had seemed to decide that his shoes were the most interesting thing in the world while Nevil talked.
"how do we know he's not a spy?" Ron asked. Theo looked up the embarrassed boyish smile now replaced with a smirk. "yep you got me, I'm a big bad Death Eater. Doing all kinds of Death Eater things. You know like risking my skin to make sure other students don't end up in detention or used as cures practice dummies or even worse." Harry and Ginny joined the group. "you know I think I'm doing it wrong, well guess my dad was right I am shit at living up to his expectations." Theo shrugged as if he had only messed up a homework assignment. Ron's face said very clearly that he wasn't very convinced.
"we can trust him." Hermione, Ginny, and Nevil said at the same time. Ron probably would have tried to argue but Harry stepped forward putting an end to any fight before it started. He called all their schoolmates over. We knew why we were here but didn't know what it was or how to get it. it was time to use the school's greatest resource their fellow peers.
Hermione ran through the halls of Hagworts carrying Basilisk fanes, Ron beside her carrying his own bundle. Their stealth mission turned into a whole invasion and battle. They had to try and do all they could right now she didn't think they would be able to escape the castle. They would need to find and destroy whatever Horcruxes they possibly could now, Harry said there were seven chances were small but maybe he had more hiding in Hogwarts. maybe they could stab Voldormort with one and see if that helps at all. While they were in the chamber of secrets everyone had learned of their presence in the castle and the students and staff had taken over the school capturing the twins and forcing Snape to flee then McGonagall and Harry decided to have all students 6th year and younger leave along with the Slythirns house except for Theo and Slughorn. There were also many people entering the castle by the secret passage all friends and members of the order. They found Harry giving him a few of the fans, without the sword of Griffindor they needed another way to destroy the Horcuxes Ron had been brilliant when he had the idea.
while they were gone Harry had figured out that they were looking for the diadem of Ravenclaw, turns out he had seen it last year in the room of lost things a place the room of requirements provided. They had to kick Ginny out of the room not that she minded. She was sure Ginny was going to take this chance to go and fight with the rest of her family. Harry wasn't certain where it was so they had to split up and search the large and cluttered room.
Draco stood with his arm stretched out wand at the ready. Crabbe and Goyle flanked him as he stared down Potter, why the fuck was he in this mess?
When the castle had been taken over and he first saw Potter he knew two things. Shit was about to hit the fan and Hermione must be somewhere in the castle as well, she had to be. While the rest of the students were being herded out he had slipped away with the work of a disillusionment charm something he had great practice and skill in.
He was going to sneak around the school and try and locate Hermione. what he planned to do after that he didn't really know. so far all he had was to keep her alive. Sadly Crabbe and Goyld had been keeping an eye on him and had followed him seem to think he was trying to earn Death Eater brownie points to try and retake the castle or kill Potter or some shit. So they had decided they wanted in and he had been unable to lose them and stay unnoticed. He had taken a chance and went to the room of requirements hoping that Herminoe would go there for whatever reason. It had been their spot. Turns out she had gone there well he saw Potter go in after he watched the Weasley girl run off down the hall. He was sure he saw others enter as well but he had been distracted avoiding bumping into people. He followed right in Luckily Potter hadn't closed the door behind him all the way. Crabbe and Goyle acted as his shadows one of them had also seemed to have lifted his disillusionment charm off of him after they had gotten in the room. Unlike him, they had been working hard in their classes and practicing spells this school year.
they crept through the large piles of forgotten teams Draco was fairly familiar with this room since this is where he had kept the cabinet last year. Draco heard a sound and headed toward it but instead of Hermione it was again Potter Crabbe and Goyle sprung into acting pushing him forward seeming to still take caution even with their newfound confidence they still seemed to stay just a step behind him.
Draco did the only thing he could think of to keep control of the moment he raised his wand hand and pointed it at Potter. Well, his mother's wand he looked at Potter's hand seeing his wand. well since this was happening he might as well get it back.
Harry faced Draco and his flunkies his mission was still clear in his mind but with Draco standing in front of him. he couldn't help but be pulled back to the Malfoy Manor.
" why didn't you tell them it was me?" Harry asked Draco looked a little startled while his goons looked confused. " you knew. why did you help us, why did you help us escape?" Crabbe and Goyle exchanged looks he watched Crabbe say something low to Draco. He tried to listen to make it out but he couldn't.
"Harry, have you found it?" Hermione yelled from somewhere to his right. They had split up to try and find the Diadem faster. Harry saw how Draco's head snapped in the direction of her voice how his face changed softned to relief and want. It was only a second but he saw it.
"shit, I thought it was Nott." He realized he said that out loud when all three of them looked at him. he wasn't sure what to do next turns out like most things in his life he didn't have a chance or need to decide. Goyle's wand flew out of his hand and Ron jumped down from a pile behind him all three Slytherin turned and ran as Ron chased after them firing spells and yelling.
" Harry, Ron! Harry?!" Hermione yelled she came around a corner having followed the commotion. She only got to Harry before Ron came running back and past them grabbing Herminoes's arm and dragging her behind him. " the idiot set the fucking room on fire!" Ron yelled as they ran. Harry looked over his shoulder seeing large angry flames busting behind them. in some strange stuck of good luck, they passed the Gargoyle that wore the wig and Diadem Harry literally jumped taking it and the wig as they continued to run. Ron suddenly stopped. "Accio broom!" he yelled and a broom came flying to him. With a big grin on his face, Harry and Hermione followed suit. They flew through the room when they heard a scream and saw a body fall into the flames. Looking Harry saw two people on a large tower of furniture and junk.
" Harry we have to save them!" he heard Hermione scream Harry had already been turning around. Ron followed as well yelling over the roar of the falms asking why they were doing this. Harry scooped Draco up and Ron Crabbe they then raced full speed out of the room Herminoe covering with shield charms and busting the door open they crashed to the hall falling and rolling. Harry didn't even get his footing before Ron punched Crabbe out cold and Hermione had Draco tied up in a gold magic rope his mouth covered. " we have to go now!" Hermione said quickly she grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him away Ron followed. He heard Draco's muffled screams and thrashing behind them. when he looked over to Hermione tears were streaming down her face but she didn't look back.
Draco sat in the great hall between his parents neither of them letting go of him. they were rather out of place. most were celebrating eating and drinking some were crying some were still running around trying to find loved ones. All of this was happening because the battle was over and Voldemort was dead.
After Herminoe had left him tied on the floor of the hall he had dragged himself to a safe place and began the struggle of wordless and wandless magic to undo his bidding. He had been unsuccessful. No, he was stuck there for almost an hour before Lovegood and some house elves passed by. They had helped him. She told him how he would need to stay out of site. It was a free for all and he had no wand Draco had hunkered down in a classroom just sitting there twisting his ring. Anytime he heard a crash his body would automatically race to the door but he would stop himself.
She didn't want him near her and he wouldn't be able to do shit he didn't have his wand and he had lost his mother's wand. he gave a bitter laugh None of the members of the great Malfoy house had their original wands anymore. He had stayed in that room until he heard Voldemort's voice saying how he would stop this battle if they just gave him Potter. Draco sat next to the door resting his head against the brick wall. He wondered if anyone would hand him over but decided no, non of them would do that this battle would go on till the castle fucking fell or had nothing but the dead in it. Draco wasn't sure but he must have fallen asleep. He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep but he had been awoken by Voldemort's voice again ringing through the castle. Harry Potter was dead. Draco wasn't sure what he felt at that moment. He wasn't relieved or sad shit as hell wasn't happy. All he felt was the need to find Hermione. she needed him if only as something to take her anguish out on. He needed to go and find her.
when he opened the door he heard the thunder of footsteps he fell into the mass of bodies racing out of the castle. No one seemed to notice that he was among them. when they got outside he again was pulled by the crowd further away from the castle the movement didn't stop until a group of wizards in black along with others who had joined Voldemort's side strolled through the crumbling gate. Potter was dead his body being cradled by the half giant. All the Death Eaters laughed and cheered as Voldemort told everyone of his victory. The man was going on and on. Draco found Hermione in the crowd she was far from him. front and center crying and clinging onto Weasly as he held her. He wasn't sure what he should think or do. should he go to her that would probably just make things worse. But he didn't want to stay here.
"Draco!" his mother's voice hit his ear. Tearing his eyes from Herminoe he scanned the Death Eaters until he saw his parents both of them staring at him holding their arms out. His mother looked so relieved to see him even his father looked relieved. It made him feel like a child again. He noticed how his father's eyes darted left and right. Draco looked around him and saw that all the attention was on him now literally all of it.
"Draco come." His mother pleaded. He looked over to where he last saw Hermione. She was staring at him now. Her eyes were red he was sure that her cheeks were wet with tears but it was hard to tell. With all the dirt and blood. Her eyes were challenging and full of rage. Did she blame him, of course, she blamed him he was the big bad Death Eater the one who betrayed her, the one to start this whole thing. He saw Weasly also glare at him but one thing that made him feel like a true failer was when he saw Theo standing so close to them. showing what side he was on. looking at Draco, not with rage and blame but pity. Draco turned away from them and walked to his parents. While he passed Voldemort, the man told him that it was good to see him alive. Draco just nodded and continued to walk. When he got to his parents his mother flew her arms around him. he noticed that his father tried to put his hand on them but his mother flinched away stopping him in his movement. His father looked pained before dropping his hand.
Voldemort had picked up mocking the crowd and dead Potter. Draco just wanted this to end he stood staring down at his feet. When he heard Longbottom's voice break through a round of the Death Eater's laughter. He watched as Longbottom stood back straight even with a bleeding leg and a hell of a gash on the head. He watched as this guy someone he had known since they were 11. Someone who was the wimpy little pushover to ever walk the halls yelled at Voldormort and even declared that he wasn't done fighting pulling out a bloody sword. He was so tranced by it that he felt like his heart stopped when Potter rolled out of the half-gain's arms and started running.
Draco wasn't sure why he did it he wasn't even thinking when he did it. but he ripped his father's wand from his hand and started firing out shield charms he sent them at Potter he sent them at Lovegood, Theo he sent them at McGonagall hell he even sent them at Longbottom and he sent them at Hermione. during the panic and stampede whenever he saw one of them he would fire a shield spell to black against anything and everything.
Potter killed Voldemort he didn't see it but he knew. He knew the same way the rest who wore the mark knew. The pain on the skin the fade of the mark. And that is when the war was over. Draco didn't pay too much attention to what was going on around him. He knew there was some cheering some screams some fleeing but he didn't care or process who was doing what. he walked until once again he was swept up into a current of bodies and brought to the great hall. His parents found him there and joined him. and there they sat.