Hermione mindlessly rolled the glass necklace in between her fingertips, anxiously waiting for Harry to arrive. Draco sat next to her on the porch, not saying a word since they woke. His hand gently rested on her thigh, a cold reminder that even though he was distant, he was never far. She wondered how much more he could possibly bear. Losing his mother for a second time, watching Astoria die, and relinquishing everything he had ever cared for to be with her.
He looked as cold as he felt, his eyes were empty, obscured by the thick cloak that hid him from the sunlight. If it weren't for the war, perhaps he would be able to process all that was going on and mourn his mother. She couldn't remember the last time he had a break. And though she hadn't really had one either, the past few months were easier on her. Draco made things easier on her. But they couldn't stop, not until Voldemort was gone.
They were so close to the end, she could taste it. And though she had feared what may happen to her after the war, she didn't any longer. Now that she had him, she had something. She was something. Something to someone. And she would do everything she could to make him human again. After she completed the cure, she'd cook him meals to enjoy, go with him on walks in the sunlight, and take him to see scary films that would make his heart race.
Hermione would show him how to be human. Someone completely ordinary. He would live without having the Malfoy name looming over him. Without responsibilities and having to serve others. Without the burden of being labeled as a monster. She would no longer be the Golden Girl, and he wouldn't be the vampire.
They would live together as no one, but someone to each other.
The sounds of the light cracks of the Apparition spell brought Hermione's attention towards the field in front of them. She could see the outlines of Harry, Moody, and Kingsley, having to stop herself from jumping up to greet them. It was almost desperate how much she wanted to be with Harry every time she saw him. The comforting presence of an old friend, someone she considered her own brother. But now, as he approached, he didn't even look at her. Not acknowledging her presence next to Draco or giving his normal wry smile and holding out his lanky arms to embrace her.
Fucking hypocrite.
Harry had betrayed her first. He had no right to be upset with her for helping the Order. She wondered if he was as upset with Ron as he was with her. She hoped she was furious with him. She hoped she yelled and screamed at him, maybe even punched him for the role he had played in it all.
They silently moved inside where Tappy had set up a light lunch. Moody was the only one who had looked Hermione in the eyes, giving her a nod, making her feel seen.
"I've got Bellatrix Lestrange in the cellar if you want to question her. I did for hours yesterday, not a single useful word was uttered," Draco said, breaking the silence.
"She was in possession of the last Horcrux? What was it?" Kingsley asked.
"Doesn't matter, it's gone now," Draco replied coldly.
Kingsley turned to Hermione, finally acknowledging her presence. "Is it true, Granger? Is it destroyed?"
She nodded in response, watching the relief flood over their faces. "Draco destroyed it. I saw it happen."
"They've reinforced the Ministry, pulled out of nearly every other stronghold just to protect Voldemort," Draco added.
Moody's eye darted around the room before focusing back on Draco. "It's littered with Dementors. We've got no way in at the moment."
"Well, figure it out," Draco spat. "I've done what you asked. Now get rid of him."
"We need you to get us in," Harry demanded.
Hermione stood up from her seat, "He's done enough, Harry. He needs some time to rest."
"Rest? The war is nearly over and you want rest?" Kingsley examined loudly.
"It's fine, Granger. We need to finish what we started," Draco urged, taking her hand and pulling her back to sit down. But she couldn't sit when they were asking so much of him. Again and again, they needed more from him.
"It's not fine, Draco," she mumbled, turning to Kingsley. "He needs a break, his wife is dying."
"What about the wives and husbands he's killed? Do you think they've gotten a break?" Kingsley remarked.
Hermione angrily slammed her fists on the table. "His mother was the fucking Horcrux! He had to kill his own mother! You don't know half of what he's endured and yet you ask more of him!"
"Granger, stop," Draco begged, grabbing her waist pulling her down onto the chair. She was shaking with rage, wanting to rip the smug look off Kingsley's face.
Draco drew up the floor plan of the Ministry, explaining the weak entry points and what strategies would work best to break through the barriers. He painstakingly detailed the number of reinforcements, Death Eaters, and magical creatures used to reinforce the weakening dark wizard. After assessing the number of Order members left, what resources they had, and different ways to combat dragons, they set a timeline for the end. Two months. They had two months to prepare for the end.
"Can I have a minute with Hermione? Alone," Harry asked as they stood from the table.
Hermione nodded, and they were left alone in the room. They stood across from each other, and Hermione awkwardly shifted, her arms crossed, trying to protect herself from his words. She didn't know what he would say to her, last time they left off was nothing but pain.
Harry cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. "How have you been, Hermione?"
"Fine," she curtly replied.
He sighed, coming closer to her. "I'm sorry about last time. I overreacted."
Hermione's arms fell to her side, breathing a sigh of relief, thankful that he wasn't going to chastise her any further. "It's okay, Harry."
His arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her into a warm, familiar embrace. "You're planning on leaving with him when the war is over, aren't you?"
Hermione stared off in the distance, taking a deep breath. "Are you going to stop me?"
"No, I don't think I could stop you from doing anything if you've put your mind to it," he chuckled softly. "I just don't think it's a good idea. And that's rare that you would ever have a bad one, Hermione."
"He deserves to have a second chance," she whispered softly.
"Are you in love with him?" he asked.
"Is it that obvious?" she sighed.
Harry laughed, nudging her gently. "Only because you fight so hard for him."
She blushed, holding her head in her hands. "You can't tell them, Harry. They'll kill him."
"I won't," he said, pulling her into a hug, his long arms wrapping all the way around her. "But please, please make sure you're making the right decision."
"I know, Harry. I am making the right decision for me," she replied, holding him so close she could smell Ginny's perfume on his jumper. There was no denying that she loved Harry with every ounce of her. He was the one consistent in her life since they were small. Though she had always struggled with finding a home in recent years, Harry's arms always felt damn near close to it. She had always needed him. Needed him when they were kids. Needed him up until he no longer needed her.
But she had outgrown him and found a home with Draco, Astoria, and Daphne. And though she would miss her family, she would have a new one to build. Still, she held him close, her heart breaking. Wishing Ginny, Albus, James, and Lily were also there.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this, Hermione. You were just supposed to be gone for a few weeks and then come back home," he said softly into the top of her head.
"I know, Harry. But things change. People change."
Harry's hand gently rubbed her back. "You seem happier with them. I'm sad that you couldn't have that with us."
"I did at one point," she replied, pressing her forehead into his chest. "And maybe I could again one day."
The sound of Draco clearing his throat made Hermione jump away from Harry for a brief moment. He approached them slowly, "I hope I'm not interrupting, but I thought you'd like to know that Astoria is awake."
"I'll be up in a second," Hermione called back, wanting just a few more moments with her best friend. Draco nodded, and she heard his footsteps up the stairs.
"Come visit us soon, the kids would love that," Harry said as he pulled away. "James won't shut up about seeing Draco and Astoria again."
"Yeah, it'll be nice. Before the end," Hermione smiled.
Harry grinned right back at her. The same boyish smile he's had since they were small. "Can you believe it? It's going to be over soon."
Hermione saw him off, watching him Apparate away before walking up the stairs to where Astoria was. When she opened the door, she saw the sickly witch propped up in bed, her eyelids heavy, breathing deeply. Draco and Theodore stood next to her bedside as Daphne was administering a few potions, making sure she was extra careful to not disturb Astoria. Twinkle anxiously watched, ready at a moments notice to help.
She looked so tired and worn down, but when she glanced at Hermione, her lips pulled into a smile. "Mione," she mumbled painfully.
"Hey pretty girl," Hermione whispered as she sat on the bed next to her. She brushed hair away from Astoria's eyes, feeling her warm temperature. "You feeling okay?"
Astoria nodded, resting back, breathing sharply. Draco shook his head, storming out of the room quickly. Hermione tried not to let it bother her, of course he'd be upset with the state that Astoria was in. But was he mad at her for not completing the cure for vampirism yet? Time is running out, Astoria is dying.
"It's not you," Theodore whispered to her. "There's a lot going on."
"I could be doing more to help," Hermione muttered under her breath as she adjusted the blankets and pillows around Astoria.
"Don't put that pressure on yourself," Theodore assured, patting the top of her head. But how could she not? Her main focus should have been trying to find a cure. And now, they were out of time. There was no guarantee that Astoria would be able to turn human again, and she would be subjected to horrors that no one should have to endure.
Horrors that Draco had to endure, one of the many that he had to. Hermione was supposed to help them, but she couldn't, not in the timeline she had. If she had infinite resources and time, she could, she was sure of it.
Heavy bootstraps trudged up the stairs. It made Hermione's hair stand up, a nervousness flowing over her as she watched the sunset through the curtains of the window. She jumped when the door swung open, and Draco emerged from the hallway carrying a beaten Bellatrix over his shoulder. He pulled a wooden chair from the corner of the room and tied her to it.
Her face was swollen, her hands were bloodied, and she wheezed with every breath. But there was a sick smile plastered on her face, and she began to giggle when she looked around the room.
"My, my," she coughed. "What a beautiful family. Poor little Tori. Doesn't look like she's got much left in her, does she, Draco?"
"Shut the fuck up," he growled, walking towards where Astoria laid. He grabbed Astoria's wand from her bedside, and placed it into her hand.
"What are you doing?" Daphne asked, backing away from him.
Draco sat next to Astoria, gently pulling her up so she was leaning back on him. He gently wrapped her fingers around her wand, holding her hand in his, lifting it to point in Bellatrix's direction. "I'm doing what must be done," he replied, his voice monotone.
"No," Astoria gasped out, turning her head away from Bellatrix.
"It's okay, Tori. This piece of filth deserves much worse. Her life will go to you, and finally have a fucking reason to exist," he told her, trying steadying her hand. "You just have to say the words, Tori. My hand will guide it."
"No," Astoria cried, her breaths becoming erratic. Hermione looked to Daphne, who turned away from the scene in front of her.
Bellatrix's giggles became cackles. "She doesn't have the nerve, Draco. Little Tori wouldn't even hurt a fly."
"It's okay," Draco assured, kissing the top of Astoria's head and holding her close. She attempted to struggle away from him, but in her weakened state, wasn't able to.
"Stop, Draco," Hermione begged. "You're upsetting her."
"Bellatrix had my mum in her fucking basement for years, starving her like an animal. Tori, if you kill her, we can make sure you come back human again," Draco said softly.
Astoria's eyes cinched shut and turned into Draco's chest. Hermione knew she didn't want this. In no world would Astoria ever choose her own humanity over another life. It would destroy her. But the look in Draco's eyes, the pain and rage he felt, she knew he wouldn't stop.
"Draco, let her go," Hermione demanded. "She said no."
"Leave, Granger," he spat in her direction. "This doesn't involve you."
"Like hell it does, look at her, Draco! She's scared!" Hermione yelled at him.
Bellatrix turned her attention to Hermione, her bloodied mouth grinning in her direction. Before she could speak, Theodore casted a silencing charm on her. Her head tilted back, and silent laughter erupted from her chest.
Heavy tears fell from Astoria's face and watching as she crumpled in his arms made Hermione nauseous. Seeing her distress, she stepped in front of Bellatrix, staring directly at Draco.
"This is not your decision to make," Hermione said through gritted teeth. "Read her mind, I don't even have to do that to know she doesn't want this."
Draco didn't falter, still holding Astoria's hand with the wand pointed in her direction, glaring. It was the same hateful stare he had given her many months ago.
"He's always going to pick her first, I hope you know that," Daphne's words rang through her head, remembering who was the most important person in the room at that moment.
For what felt like the first time in so long, she feared him. It was piercing the way his silver eyes bore into hers, giving her a sense of unease. It was a reminder of what he was, what she had forgotten he was.
A monster.