"Hermione, it's okay to be scared. You may feel fear, but face it anyway."
"Be brave, but not stupid."
Hermione was beyond scared. She was horrified as the shambling vampire crawled her way towards her. The blood from her cheek lured Narcissa closer, her growls making her freeze for a moment before getting to her feet. The laughs from Bellatrix and Rodolphus echoed in the background as Hermione tried to find a means of escape. Narcissa began to grab Hermione's ankle but she backed away, kicking in her direction in an attempt to scare her away.
"Narcissa, I know your son, Draco," Hermione tried to reason with her. She knew it was useless. She didn't know how long Narcissa had been locked away and starved, but in her eyes, she could see she was completely gone. It was also apparent in her thin frame that she hadn't been fed.
In her research, she knew if there were different stages of bloodlust that vampires. There would come a point of no return, that even if they filled their bellies with all of the blood they could fit, they wouldn't be able to recover their mind. The lack of nutrients completely destroys their bodies and their mental capacity, leaving them as a husk of what they were.
Narcissa slowly stood on her two feet, swaying back and forth. The hairs on the back of Hermione's neck stood just before the bloodlusted vampire lunged at her. They both fell to the floor, Narcissa on top, teeth bared. Hermione's hands were at her neck, holding her snapping fangs away, using every ounce of her strength to keep her teeth at an arm's length.
The sharp nails that hadn't been maintained in nearly a decade clawed at Hermione's flesh, tearing into her skin, trying to pull her closer. Gashes in her arms and her chest, her skin gathering under the vampire's fingernails in a desperate attempt to cure her hunger. Though Narcissa was weak due to malnutrition, she couldn't hold her away forever. In every scenario that ran through her head, Hermione hoped that Narcissa would kill her, rather than turn her into a vampire.
"So, mudblood. Are you happy to see the Horcrux now?" Bellatrix cackled. "Look, Rodolphus, the lion finally becomes prey."
Hermione looked into Narcissa's eyes, and they seemed so empty. If Draco saw her like this, she didn't know how he would react. It would break him. After all this time, he believed she was at peace. Little did they know, she was slowly being tortured until she lost her mind by her own sister. And even worse yet, she was a vessel holding a piece of Voldemort's soul. Hermione's arms felt weak, the loss of blood making her lightheaded. And as she was about to let go, she felt the weight of Narcissa lift off of her.
Narcissa's body made a crunching noise as she was thrown into the back wall. Draco pulled Hermione from the ground, carrying her out of the cell and sitting her safely away from the vampire. She saw Theodore with his wand drawn, Bellatrix unconscious, and Rodolphus restrained. Hermione flinched when she felt Draco's cold touch, holding a piece of his torn cloak to her bleeding chest.
"Are you okay?" he asked, cleaning the blood from her arms. Hermione nodded, still shaking from the shock. He handed her wand back to her before turning to Rodolphus. His shoulders widened, and his stance was towering. "You have 30 seconds to explain."
"Draco, please…" Rodolphus stammered.
"Do not fucking test me right now. Why the fuck is my mother here?" Draco snarled.
"She… she…"
Draco grabbed him by his throat, pressing him against the brick wall. "Don't make me resort to drastic measures, uncle. I've asked a simple question. Why is my mother here?"
"The Dark Lord… when he killed your father… turned her into a Horcrux," the scared wizard stumbled through his words. "As a precaution. If you were to betray him, he knew you wouldn't be able to kill her."
"Perhaps he was right. But unfortunately, the same can't be said about you," Draco said, squeezing down on his neck. The sounds of his throat crushing as he choked on his own blood made Hermione hold her hands over her ears to drown out the sound.
He turned to the cage that held his mother, pulling Rodolphus' by his leg. Draco brought him into the cell, leaning down over her. He bled Rodolphus from his crushed neck into Narcissa's mouth.
"Please, mum. Wake up. Please be okay," his voice cracked.
Narcissa quickly rose, sinking her teeth into the dying man, drinking heavily from him. It took her several minutes to empty his body of every drop, and when she was finished, she sat on her knees. Hermione hoped that she would start speaking when she was done, but she didn't say a word. The dead stare in her eyes was haunting.
"Mum," Draco said softly to her, holding her face in his hands, wiping the blood away from the corners of her mouth. "Mum, are you there? Please, talk to me. Say something."
There was no response. No reaction. Narcissa didn't even blink.
"It's me, Draco. Your son. Please, mum," Draco begged.
Hermione didn't think she'd ever see Draco Malfoy cry. But he began to sob into the tattered shirt his mother wore, shaking her shoulders gently. His cries for her to acknowledge him made Hermione's heart break, and she wanted to pull him away from her and tell him that she was no longer there. That wasn't Narcissa any longer. It was just a shell of who she was.
Likely, it hadn't been Narcissa since the day he turned into a monster himself. After casting a few healing charms on her own wounds, Hermione walked into the cell towards Draco. As she came closer, Narcissa directed her attention towards her and began to growl.
"Don't, Granger," Draco commanded, holding his mother's arms to keep her from attacking. "It's dangerous."
"Draco, it's not her," Hermione whispered, backing away.
Theodore came to Hermione's side, ushering her away, assessing her wounds and ensuring she was okay. "Give him a few minutes," he mumbled.
"Take her away from here," Draco said to Theodore as held his mother close to his chest. She tried to break away from his grasp, eying Hermione intently. "Bring all of them to the farmhouse."
"We can't leave you like this, Draco," Hermione begged, seeing his pain. She couldn't leave him alone.
Draco buried his face into the top of Narcissa's head as he gently sobbed. Narcissa clawed at him and shrieked out, but he didn't let go. He simply rocked her back and forth, trying to calm her.
"Tell me the truth, Granger. Is it too late for her?" he asked, kissing the top of Narcissa's head.
Hermione knew as soon as she saw her that it would have been too late. She was completely wasted away, and even after drinking blood, there were no signs of life in her. Though she could move and react to stimulus, it was unlikely she'd ever be able to speak or act on her own volition. The only thing that would drive her now is the desire to consume blood.
"She drank the blood of an entire man and has not regained consciousness. I'm afraid she's been too depleted of nutrients to keep her functional," Hermione replied as logically as possible.
"What about the cure?" Draco pleaded.
Hermione hesitated before answering him, not wanting to add onto his devastation. "Draco, there isn't a cure yet. And even if there was, she's too far gone."
"Fuck!" he cried out, his composure falling, completely shaking as he sat there clutching what was once his mother. Hermione couldn't bear to look at him any longer. He had suffered so much, and now was faced with something so horrific it was incomprehensible.
There were no words that Theodore or Hermione could have said, so they waited silently. Waited until Draco's sobs quieted and he backed away from Narcissa. He drew his wand and casted Stupefy to stop her struggling, laying her gently on the ground.
Draco exited the cell, his head hanging low. As Hermione stepped towards him, he held his hand out, stopping her from coming forward.
"I'm fine," he said, a coldness in his voice.
"What are we going to do with Bellatrix?" Theodore asked, looking down at the unconscious witch.
"She'll come with us. I have some plans for her," Draco uttered. "Take them upstairs. I have to destroy the Horcrux."
Destroying the Horcrux meant killing his own mother. The one he loved so dearly. The one he had already mourned once before.
"You shouldn't have to do it, Draco. Let me and Teddy," Hermione pleaded.
"She's my mother. Of course I have to do it," his voice broke. "If not me, who else?"
"At least let me be here with you," Hermione begged more, reaching out to him.
"It's too dangerous. Fiendfyre can be unwieldy. You should be out of range when I cast it. Once I destroy it, they'll come looking for us. You need to get to the farmhouse," he demanded. But Hermione wouldn't have it. So she took his hand, holding it tightly.
"You don't have to do this alone. I'm here," she whispered.
Draco turned to Theodore and explained everything needed to do to get Astoria and Daphne safely to the farmhouse. It was robotic the way he spoke, each word sounding so unnaturally monotone. Every detail was so precise and clear, his Occlumency hard at work to get every word out despite everything falling apart around them. Theodore left quickly, and Draco and Hermione were left in depths of the Lestrange's home.
Draco lifted his wand, shaking as he pointed it towards his mother. The hesitation was palpable, lingering in the air so heavily, the burden too much for one to carry. Hermione squeezed hand, letting him know that he didn't have to shoulder it alone.
"Pestis Incendium," Draco said, pointing his wand at Narcissa. A barrel of fire emerged from the tip, making the entire room swelteringly hot. The control he had over the incantation was remarkable, keeping it steady though seconds before he was trembling. The flames danced around erratically, forming into a large shape in the center of the room. It looked nearly identical to how a Patronus would form, gathering together, pulling itself into its final manifestation.
The figure of a dragon emerged from the flames, spinning around, causing bits of Hermione's hair to burn and making her skin sting. It flew through the bars as if they weren't there, darting straight at the incapacitated vampire lying on the cold ground.
Within seconds, Narcissa turned into ash, and Draco lingered, looking where she once was. His face was blank, but it looked like at any second that he would break. She could tell by the way he held his shoulders. Usually, they were always so rigid and straight, almost uncomfortably perfect posture. But now, they were slumped forward, as if he were hiding into himself.
"We need to leave," he said, lifting the unconscious Bellatrix over his shoulder. Her body didn't respond to the movements and jostling, likely heavily stunned when Hermione was fighting off being attacked.
"What are you going to do with her, Draco?"
There was no response, and he reached out and grabbed Hermione's wrist, Apparating them back to the manor.
It finally settled in how dramatically everything would change from this point. They were at the end now, finally having done everything they needed. All that was left was to get rid of Voldemort for good. Nothing of him could linger on this earth any longer. They had to remove him completely and make sure his ideas were gone with him.
"What happened?" Daphne demanded as she met them in the foyer.
"Are you packed?" Draco responded coldly.
"Yes," she replied. "But why do you have Bellatrix?"
Theodore walked down the steps, holding Astoria in his arms. "Babe, I told you not to ask. We need to go now."
Draco dropped Bellatrix on the ground and headed directly for the stairs. "The last Horcrux is destroyed. We have minutes to leave."
"I thought you were supposed to have Potter deal with the Horcruxes?" Daphne asked, fear spilling from her.
Hermione ran up the stairs to gather her packed items. "We'll explain later, Daphne. Not now."
She grabbed her small bag of essential items, making sure she had the laboratory fully packed, double checking that the ingredients were stowed properly. As she checked off the last item, she heard the distinct sounds of Apparition cracks outside of the manor. From the window, she could see black cloaks in the distance.
"Granger, hurry it up," Draco called from downstairs.
Quickly, she made her way to them, watching as they all circled around a blue teapot. It was simple in shape and color, not too gaudy or extravagant like most things the Malfoy's owned, unassuming to anyone who didn't know that it was a Portkey.
Theodore held Astoria while Draco held Bellatrix, and they all simultaneously touched the tea pot, being sent careening through space. The tugging sensation pulled her exactly where she needed to be. And as they landed in the grassy field in front of the farmhouse, Hermione took a deep breath, feeling safe in the presence of the blue door that greeted them.
That was until Astoria began to retch violently, the heavy toll of using a Portkey wreaking havoc on her fragile body. It was a risk Draco had consulted Hermione on several times, and after considering the risks of all the alternatives, it was the only attractive option. Fast, discrete, and wouldn't pose the threat of splinching her in half. But as Hermione watched Astoria vomit, seeing her body heave and contort, she regretted the choice.
"Get her inside and upstairs," Draco commanded as he headed towards the cellar door at the side of the home. Bellatrix began to groan as she stirred, still slung over his shoulder. They disappeared into the darkness, and Hermione nearly followed until Daphne held out her arm to stop her.
"I don't know what she's done, but whatever is coming to her, she deserves it," Daphne said, pulling Hermione along. "Do you know where we are?"
"I have a rough idea. We've been coming here for quite some time now to see Harry," Hermione replied, opening the blue door just as a scream came from the cellar.
Shutting it quickly, she tried not to imagine what Draco was doing to Bellatrix. It would be gruesome and cruel, and though she did deserve that fate, it was difficult picturing Draco as the one who was at the helm. She slept next to him every night, trusted him to care after her nephews, and gave him her heart.
After a few seconds, she couldn't handle it any longer, so she trailed behind Daphne upstairs to where Astoria was. Theodore had laid her in bed, a blanket pulled up to her chin. A silencing charm had been cast on the windows and doors. It was quiet, no screams could be heard.
"Tori?" Daphne called out softly.
Theodore shook his head. "She's been out since I brought her up here."
They all sat with Astoria, hoping that at any point she'd wake and be her perky self again. But as time passed, she didn't even stir. Her dark veins were visible through her paper white skin, almost as pale as Draco.
As much as Hermione wanted to stay, the sudden realization of how much work she had to do came over her. She bolted to grab her tent.
She set it up immediately in the front yard of the farm house, ignoring the cries of pain and manic laughter of Bellatrix. Once inside, she casted the silencing charms for her own sanity and began her formulations. Dragon scales, lethifold hide, billywig guts, and all the enchantments she could find to increase their effects. She worked until her eyes became so tired, they couldn't remain open any longer, and she rested her head on the table.
—
Hermione woke abruptly from images of Narcissa clawing at her while she slept. The look in her eyes was bone chilling and harrowing. It was so close to death, if Draco had been seconds later, she would have been dead.
Draco.
The sobs that came from his chest shook her. And as she opened her eyes, she hoped that she was back in the manor, in his bed, with his arms around her. But she was alone in her makeshift laboratory, blood still on her skin and in her hair, so she made her way back to the farmhouse.
There were no more screams coming from the cellar, and Hermione nearly let her curiosity get the best of her before she decided it wasn't worth seeing what had happened down there. As she made her way upstairs and to the bathroom, she saw the door to the room Astoria was staying in was slightly ajar.
She poked her head in just to see if she was okay, but saw she was still not awake. Next to her, illuminated by the moonlight, was Draco, eyes closed, covered in blood. He was slumped back in a chair, and didn't even react to the door hinge creeping open. Hermione walked towards him as quietly as she could, not wanting to startle him.
"You should be asleep," Draco said as the floorboard shifting gave away her presence.
"I needed to get cleaned up. It looks like you do too," Hermione replied softly, holding out her hand to him.
When he opened his eyes, she could tell that he was suppressing his emotions. She didn't blame him, anyone would if they had the capacity to, given everything that has happened. Slowly, he stood, following her to the hallway washroom. Hermione started the shower, making sure it was warm. Draco's eyes were downturned, his white hair streaked in pink, and under his fingernails she could see blood caked under them.
After undressing herself, she began to undress Draco. Unbuttoning his stained shirt, pulling off his shoes, and guiding him into the tub. As gently as she could, she massaged shampoo into his hair, the water running red as washed away the carnage around them. She made sure that there wasn't a trace left on them, almost praying for the pain to be cleansed by the soaps and warm water. But it would be impossible to, she knew that for a fact.
The look in his eyes was so telling, she could see he was using all of his strength to hold back.
"I'm going to take care of you, Draco," she whispered. "You don't have to hide here."
His arms wrapped around her waist, the water still flowing down over them, making him feel so human to her. Leaning down, he buried his eyes into her neck and she felt his chest begin to heave as he cried onto her. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close, letting her own tears fall. He fell to his knees, pressing his face into her stomach, clutching onto her tightly.
Several minutes passed, and Draco's sobs began to quiet. Hermione turned off the tap and used her wand to dry them both off and conjure pajamas onto them. They went into a small bedroom next to where Astoria was, close by in case she woke. Laying in the small bed together, Draco rested his head on her chest. It was silent as she ran her fingers through his hair and rubbed her back. Silent, until Draco spoke.
"Potter will be here tomorrow," his voice choked, still full of sadness. "Do you want to see him?"
"If he wants me to be a part of the conversation, then yes," she replied.
"He does."
"He's not bringing the kids, is he?" Hermione asked sadly.
"Unfortunately no, as fond as I am of James. But I thought it would be best that they not be here while that bitch is in the cellar," he said, his fingers softly pressing into her arms.
Hermione had assumed Bellatrix was dead by now and was shocked that she was still breathing despite what she had done. "You didn't kill her?"
Draco turned to face her, his eyes swollen from crying, a heartbreaking sadness about him. "No, Astoria is going to."