A/N So now a little inside info with a spicy ending.

All at once the life came back into her and she blinked. "Draco?" It was said so softly and filled with pain.

Concern was written on his face. "Draco." Hermione's arms wrapped around him so tightly he couldn't breathe. "Draco." Saying his name as if it were a cry for help. She leaned her head on his shoulder and began to cry in earnest.

He was unsure what to do at first. He had to keep up his pretense, so he left his hands at his side. His instincts kicked in and he just held her. Petting her hair and rocking her slightly. "It's okay Hermione. There's nothing you could have done. There's nothing you can do about it now. They made their fate, but it doesn't have to be yours. You can still make a difference. Tell me what I need to know."

Hermione nodded and sat on the couch. He went to the bar and got two large firewhiskeys. "Here, drink this. You'll feel better." Or maybe it would just make him feel better. She'd scared the pants off him.

Hermione took the glass and downed it, only wincing slightly. She handed it back to him with the expectation of more. He grinned and got another. "You better be careful princess. You'll lose your armature standing."

The alcohol was calming and gave her courage. She leaned back resting her head on the couch back. "It's true. We've been hunting horcruxes. Harry was given a memory of Tom Riddle as a boy. He'd asked Slughorn about them. He asked if it would be possible to do it seven times. Six are known and five destroyed. I won't bother you with the details except to say that Harry could hear them somehow. Riddle's diary, the Gaunt family ring, Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup. Harry saw that Ravenclaw's diadem was one, but it's at Hogwarts and we couldn't get in. We only guessed at Nagini, but it seemed logical. He never went anywhere without her, and they seemed to have an oddly close relationship."

Draco interrupted. "You're not kidding. Crabb said he saw him have sex with it once." His face showed his disgust. "That's only six. Would you like to know what the seventh is or was?"

Hermione sat up straight. "We tried to puzzle it out but came up empty. What is it Draco!"

He waited to answer wondering if he could use it to his advantage over her and then dismissed it. "When the party was just getting started, Voldy took a turn again. Having seen it happen before I knew what it was. That you'd managed to do it again somehow." He looked at her with admiration. "Everyone knew the two of them couldn't find their ass with both hands. It was you Hermione." He huffed a breath. "A mudblood bringing down the darkest wizard ever." She had the most remarkable eyes. He sat there mesmerized as if she were a snake charmer.

Hermione grew impatient. "Despite what you think, I didn't do it alone."

Draco grinned. "Yea, yea. Anyway, the next thing I knew the three of you were there in front of Him, Potter was dead, and the asshole who brought you in was quickly becoming a smudge on the wallpaper. I've seen Him take out His anger before, but that was over the top. After what you just told me, it makes even more sense. I believe Potter was the seventh horcrux. I think he wanted him alive so he could remove the soul splinter. He must be really feeling the effects of losing his bits of soul. It's certainly made him even more erratic and unstable."

Hermione stood and paced with her arms clenched around her. "That's not possible. The prophecy. Harry was destined to kill Riddle. How could he kill Riddle if he was already dead?"

Draco coolly stood in front of her. "Because Potter wasn't the chosen one."

She backed up away from him. "No! That's not possible! I saw him do things. He had to…"

"No Hermione. You saw what Dumbledor wanted you to see, wanted everyone to see. A self-fulfilling prophecy. A carefully coached decoy."

Hermione still shook her head and walked away from him. What he was saying was horrible to contemplate It meant the man they had all placed their faith in was playing them like a disposable chess piece.

"Listen to me. Snape came to him scared shitless because he had just told Voldy Trelawney's prophecy. Voldy had a choice of two boys that matched it. He chose Potter. But what if He was wrong? What if Dumbledor wanted to exploit that mistake to his advantage? What if the best way to hide the chosen one was to put a decoy out there to take all the heat? Think. Who was in a position to subtly hide the real chosen one, teaching him behind the scenes, while crowing over and protecting a boy who he knew was going to die anyway. He even had The Order convinced. Think of all the people who died trying to protect Potter. It convinced everyone, including Riddle."

Draco ran his fingers through his hair and got another drink. "Hermione, how many times was Potter in danger because Voldy tried to kill him, while the real chosen one could hide protected in the shadows. I'm actually surprised Potter lasted as long as he did. I don't think the real chosen one could have managed to stay alive through all of that. Now that the hard work is done and the horcruxes are mostly gone, including Potter, who will be left to fulfil the prophecy? The most innocent and inept person you can think of. By design, someone Voldy doesn't even know exists. He thinks He's safe now and will most likely drop His guard, making Himself an easier target. Someone with no thought of Voldy at all, unless it's to help others escape Him. Someone so far off the radar that He'll never see it coming."

She was shocked, speechless. It couldn't be true. Could Dumbledor really put Harry in danger on purpose? Thinking, no, knowing he had to die. Her mind was reeling. She didn't want to believe it, but it was soaking into her skin as the truth. So many small things fell into place that it was easy to see now. Only one name came to her mind. "Neville?"

"Very good princess. Got it in one."

"Oh good gods." Hermione was about to pass out from the shock.

Draco seeing her distress came over and sat her down. "You look a little green around the gills there princess. Take a few deep breaths and stay with me."

"Neville? Neville is the chosen one?"

"It's not as far-fetched as it seems. Do you know what Longbottom's been doing while you three have been making death eaters chase their tails? He's organized the students and staff of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade into a damn good resistance group. They protect students in the halls, run errands and messages. They offer medical and shelter to those being hunted." The look of disbelief on her face made Draco laugh. "That's right. Our little mouse has come into his own. He even tried to steal the sword of Gryffindor with the Weaslette and Luna, right out of Snapes office. He has escape tunnels to Hogsmeade where he transfers information and abused students to the Hogs Head Inn. The room of requirement is full of injured students and rebel fighters. He's in constant contact with The Order. Longbottom is almost ready to take his place in wizarding history, though he doesn't know it yet."

"Neville? Sweet, innocent Neville? I remember the last time I saw him. He told me to be careful and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I've got to help him Draco! You've got to get me out of here! He doesn't know what he's up against."

Draco had told her too much in his excitement over the new information. He had lost control. He had to get it back. Draco rolled his eyes as he responded. "Knock it off princess. Aren't you listening! He's not a little boy anymore. He grew up fast with the Carrows roaming the halls. He doesn't need you! Are you trying to paint a target on his back. The minute you become involved, Voldy is going to want to know why. Neville won't stand a chance. I will remind you why you're here in the first place. Potter is dead and your job is done. Whatever happens now is Longbottom's destiny, not yours. We have to let this play out as it was meant to." Draco sighed and looked at the clock, it was just after midnight. "It's time for bed Princess. We've both had a long day."

Hermione nodded, hoping he had forgotten his words from this morning. She was about to head to the bathroom when he stopped her. "Did you forget something? I told you when you remove your clothes you do it in front of me. Now stand right there and do it."

Again? Weren't they passed this yet? She looked at him as if he had just crawled out from under a log. Remembering her pledge, she lifted her jumper over her head and tossed it on the floor. It was followed by her slacks and shoes. She stood there naked, looking at him as requested, almost used to the nightly show by now.

Draco stood before her and studied her superb body. She had filled out now that she was eating. Her tits, just the right size for palming, the smell of her warm skin was intoxicating. He wondered what it tasted like. The slit of her pussy just begging for fingers to make it sing. "You're so beautiful Hermione." He walked around her cupping her perfect bum tracing her rose petal skin. "Did you know I used to dream about you in school? It's true. They say you only hurt the one you love. As a child I hurt you because I knew I could never get close to you. That you could never feel anything for me. I was taught you were inferior to me. Yet every time you bested me, I thought it was dead sexy. Even when you broke my nose."

He grinned and she tried not to smile. "By fifteen I wanted you so badly I couldn't stand it. I had to hide it from the guys, everyone. Especially father. That bigoted prick was always telling me not to take any girl seriously. That someday I would have a pureblood bride, of his choosing, to continue the family name. As if. So I took out my lust on the other girls, but they were only second best. You were so far out of my reach then, but you're here now, and we're not children anymore Hermione." He brushed her hair aside and softly kissed her neck to her collar bone, pulling her body to his chest, his hands coming up to squeeze her breasts carefully. "I know you don't believe me, but I can't help that."