Battle of Hogwarts, 1998
Harry, Ron and Hermione stood at the entrance of the Room of Requirements, waiting for the door to fully form in front of them. Draco barely had a chance to react to seeing them before he heard Crabb and Goyle on either end of him casting stupify, forcing Ron and Hermione to collapse unconscious.
The war around them was smothering as magic filled every inch of Hogwarts Castle.
Harry whirled around, wand at the ready, moving from Goyle to Crabb before finally resting on him. Guarded green eyes pressed hard into Draco's gray hues before they began to soften and Draco felt his stomach drop as he saw hope flash beneath his glasses.
"Why didn't you tell them?" Harry asked.
Draco froze, quickly eyeing Crabb and Goyle at his side, wand hand held as steady as he could manage.
"You knew it was me," Harry pressed.
Shut up, you idiot. Draco hardened his eyes. If Crabb and Goyle understood what he was saying, that would be it. Voldemort would kill them all. His mother…
"Why didn't you tell them?" Harry asked again, forcing Draco to readjust his focus on him.
Because he was afraid. Because that meant Voldemort was winning. Because his family would still be in danger. He could feel that familiar fear rise like acid in his throat and he swallowed it down.
"Do it," Goyle hissed in his ear and Draco adjusted his fingers on his wand, raising it higher. Harry didn't move, his eyes remaining on him and Draco realized, in horror, that Harry was lowering his wand. He trusted him and Draco froze.
"Pussy," Goyle spat and Draco saw him begin to raise his own wand.
His heart pounded so hard in his chest it almost drowned out the brewing war that surrounded them. He saw his mother flash before his eyes, long hours of her comforting him, how she held him crying in her arms, his body exhausted. And he saw her screaming as Voldemort danced merrily around her, his wand swishing as if he were conducting an orchestra off her pain.
He hadn't realized he done it, hadn't realized he had shouted the curse before it was too late, "Crucio!"
He had to do it and he felt his face pinch in guilt, saw his wand vibrating under his shaky embrace. He had to do it to protect her, to protect himself.
Harry fell, screaming, his body contorted in an almost inhuman fashion. He twitched and rolled like a dying spider before his feet. Crabb and Goyle were laughing as they stood on either side of him, kicking him.
"Enough!" Draco snapped, ending the curse, leaving Harry heaving for air on the ground. He couldn't watch this. His stomach lurched and he almost wretched right there. Crabb and Goyle glared over at him. Draco steadied himself, standing tall as he approached the injured boy.
Harry looked up at him, eyes wild, terrified and betrayed. He scrambled for his wand and Draco kicked it away, stomping hard on his fingers forcing him to cry out.
You were The Boy Who Lived!
Anger, fear and hopelessness mixed themselves together so violently Draco couldn't breathe, he couldnt think. A red haze circled his vision and he kicked the groaning boy so hard Harry spat blood on the stone floor.
You were supposed to end this war!
"Tell him! Tell the Dark Lord we have captured Harry Potter!" Crabb spoke this time, his eyes bright with excitement.
"We?" Draco asked, his eyes flicked dangerously at Crabb, fury burning within him so hot his magic almost cracked the air as it pulsed off of him. Crabb lowered his head. He looked back down at Potter as he began to roll his left sleeve up. Harry's eyes widened as Draco placed his wand on his mark.
You lost and doomed us all.
—
"AVADA KADAVRA!"
Draco forced himself to remain still, placid, as he watched green light shoot from Voldemort's wand and hit Harry square in his chest.
"No!"
Draco's eyes darted to the crowd. It was the Weasley girl and she was fighting off the forceful grip of her mother. Her cry had been barely audible amongst the cheers of the Death Eaters that surrounded them. Voldermort dropped Harry's floating body and it slammed hard on the stone floor with a grisly crack. He was holding his chest and stumbling backwards. Bellatrix rushed to him, one hand behind his back, the other across his chest as she braced him. He shoved her away with a snarl, Bellatrix fell backwards, landing beside Harry.
Draco's eyes quickly moved from Ginerva to the back of his aunts head, her wild black har dancing ever so slightly on the air. He watched her body tense as she hissed something, lifting her upper body with her arms and looking wildly at Voldemort before repeating what she had said, scrambling to her feet and pointing her wand at Harry.
Draco felt his heart stop beating as his eyes flicked from Bellatrix, to Harry, to the Dark Lord before resting back on Harry as a thought began to float the the forefront of his mind. No…it was impossible…
There was a shout, Draco couldn't tell from where, as Harry leapt to his feet, throwing himself at Voldemort, fingers aiming for his throat, nearly reaching their goal before Nagini striked, fangs gripping Harrys side and tugging him to the ground with her. Harry whirled on the snake as he cried out, grasping at her head and shoving his thumbs into her eyes. Nagina released him with a hissing shriek, sounding both serpent and human. Her cry danced around the courtyard in an almost deafening roar. Draco's blood ran cold.
"Take her!" Voldemort growled at Bellatrix, who quickly scrambled to the snake and apparated once her fingers touched the scaled skin.
A flash of purple light, followed by the sound of splattering blood, and Harry's body toppled lifelessly backwards. Voldmort threw another curse at him,then another, until all that remained of the seventeen year old boy were splintered bones and chunks of flesh.
Voldemort was covered in him. Robes saturated in blood with decorated pieces of flesh and organs that dripped off with a sickening splash once gravity had its way and tugged it off.
They watched in slow motion horror as Voldemort raised a bloody hand to his face, examining it, before placing pinky in his mouth.
You were the boy who lived.
Voldemort began to suck his fingers, eyes glassy as he moaned.
He removed his finger, slowly, before placing another in his mouth, followed by another, making that sickening noise with each one.
You were supposed to win this war.
Draco felt bile rise on the back of his tongue and forced it down with a hard swallow, before feeling rise again. He took in a shaky breath forcing his hands to remain at his side, unable to control them as they shook. Narcissa raised her hand, ever so slightly, and placed it gently on Draco's back in a desperate plea for him to calm himself.
The quiet of the area was disrupted with a loud crack and Draco felt the movement of every Death Eater as they raised their wands. It came from across the courtyard and as he looked over he noticed an empty spot where Mrs. Weasley had been holding her daughter only moments before.
Pop! Crack-Crack-Pop!
The Order was fleeing and Draco felt his throat tighten as he watched them apparate one by one. Death Eaters charged at them, only Narcissa and Draco remained where they stood, his mother gripping his robes so tightly she nearly stripped them off. Magic hummed in the air once more. Curses and Jinxes flew across the courtyard from both ends as the Death Eaters advanced and the Order attempted to fend them off. Some aspirated quickly while others tried to fight, meeting a merciless end.
Above the spell casting, above the screams of delight and despair, Voldemort was laughing.
Draco ripped himself from his mothers grip, advancing on The Order like the others had done. A soldier following an unspoken command. This was the Dark Lord's world now, even if the ones who managed to apparate were able to manage some abysmal form of resistance. The cowards who hadn't chosen sides would align themselves with the surviving victor, only helping his power grow. They were hopelessly outnumbered, hopelessly out-powered and Draco would be damned if he allowed more targets on his family's back due to the failings of his father or his own inadequacies.
The first to cross his path was Taliffani Jennings, seventh year Hufflepuff. Muggleborn. She was quick, pointing her wand at him, "Locomortor Motis!"
He flicked his wand, rebounding her spell back to her. Her legs locked and she fell roughly to her side. He continued his advance on her, watching as she raised her wand again, "Fli-"
"Expelliarmus!" Her wand flew from her hand and her eyes grew the size of saucers as he continued his advance. She began to crawl backwards, dragging her locked legs. She rammed into a bench and winced her chest rising and falling rapidly as he stood above her. The merciful thing to do would be to kill her, given her blood status. Draco's jaw clenched at the thought. She spat at him.
"Stupify." Jennings went limp.
Draco barely had a moment to take her in before he was tackled from behind, landing roughly against the grass, blades and dirt filling his mouth. He rolled on his back and was immediately straddled by a boy his age. Gryffindor. Damien Klarso. Pureblood. No, Draco corrected himself, Blood-Traitor.
A closed fist struck Draco on his temple, dazing him for a moment. His ears rang, drowning the world around him. Damien raised his fist to land another blow before he was struck from behind. A flashing light, spell unknown, and Damien collapsed on top of him. Draco quickly shoved him off as a recognizable figure stepped into view.
Marcus Flint. He offered a hand and Draco took it, allowing him to help him to his feet. Marcus winked at him, flashing a toothy grin, before turning on his heels in pursuit of the enemy.
The Second Battle of Hogwarts, if you could even call it that, lasted just over seven minutes.
"To the Dark Lord!" Someone shouted.
"Forever may He reign!" A choir of Death Eaters followed as wands shot in the air, their tips lit in ambient hues of blue, silver and green.
Draco was surrounded by bodies. Bodies of the dead. Bodies of the unconscious. Bodies of those who were bound like statues but still terrifyingly aware of everything around them. Bodies of his peers. Bodies of his Professors…and in the center of it all, a pool of blood where Harry's body once laid.
You lost and doomed us all.
August, 1994
"Hermione!"
Hermione blinked, sugar quill in her mouth as she struggled to focus her attention back to Ron who stared down at her with a half frown. It took her a second to remember he had been talking to her about their plans to attend the Quidditch World Cup and, honestly, she was bored to tears hearing about it at this point. "Oh, yes. Very exciting." She said and attempted a smile.
Ron blinked before his frown turned into a shy smile to return her, very obviously, plastered one. He shifted uncomfortably for a moment before saying. "Harry should be here soon."
This earned him a genuine smile and she could see a quick triumphant flash in his eyes before he quickly looked away.
Ron had extended the invitation to her to stay at the Burrow for the match via Owl and although Hermione had initially declined with a quickly quilled thank you note, she was surprised (and delighted) to see that Arthur and Molly had made an appearance to her home the very next day with a formal invite after they introduced themselves to her parents. They assured her parents that they would take Hermione to the Hogwarts Express on time and Hermione promised to come home during the Christmas Holiday.
Mr. Granger was hesitant at first, eyeing his wife with an unvocalized urgency of help but Mrs. Granger was delighted with the idea. Sensing Mr. Granger's hesitation Arthur clumsily stated that Hermione would be sharing a room with their daughter, Ginerva, and patiently explained the wards that would be put in place to make sure all rooms would be locked tight once it was lights out. Under the hopeful gaze of the Weasley's, Hermione and his wife, Mr. Granger crumpled and agreed.
"Right then!" Arthur said with a clap of his hand and a laugh, "Tell me, Mr. Granger," his eyes twinkled. "What, precisely, is the function of a rubber duck?"
—
The Burrow was abuzz when Harry Potter arrived. Ron, Fred and George were in a heated game of wizard's chess, Ron's cheeks flaring as he was very obviously losing. "Two of you against me isn't fair," he muttered. Fred and George glanced at each other and grinned.
Molly was busying herself in the kitchen, wand dancing as dishes hurried themselves to the sink to be scrubbed and food cooked on the stove. Arthur was glaring down at a mechanical toothbrush that had been given to him from Hermione as a thank you gift before he pressed the button and it buzzed against the wood of the coffee table. "Fascinating," he said.
Ginny and Hermione sat together on the couch, Ginny fiddling with her wand as Hermione was engrossed in a muggle book, grinning down at the words as if nothing else in the world existed.
"Harry!" Ginny cried, leaping from the couch, nearly knocking Hermione's book from her hand, and rushing up to him to give him a hug. He set his bag down, nearly losing his balance as Ginny crashed into him.
Hermione stood as four ginger heads turned towards the pair. Arthur never averted his gaze from the buzzing toothbrush. She could see embarrassment creep up from beneath Ginny's collar as she took a few steps back and Molly rushed up to him, wiping her hands on her apron, before embracing Harry in a hug of her own.
"Percy extends his apologies," Harry said to all of them, "he said he would be by later but had urgent matters at the Ministry."
"Very nice of him to escort you here," Molly said, her voice pleasant. Too pleasant and Hermione could see she was hurt by Percy's absence.
Ron went to stand before Fred reminded him if he left the table it would be a forfeit of the game. Hermione and Harry looked at the table where the Wizard's Chess game had been laid out, both noting Ron's ultimate defeat, but Ron looked torn. "Hey Harry. Be with you in a moment, yeah?" He said, before glaring at the twins and sitting down, their grins were so large it was surprising their faces didn't crack.
Molly waved her wand and Harry's luggage floated up the stairwell. She didn't need to explain he would be staying with Ron in his room. She wrapped Harry in another hug before returning to her duties in the kitchen and Ginny made a mumbled excuse to help her, neck and cheeks almost as red as her hair, before briskly following her mother.
Harry's green eyes flickered over to Hermione and he gave her a goofy smile, "Hermione."
"Harry," she said with an arch of her brow before she jogged up to him and hugged him tightly. The two of them walked towards Ron, Fred and George just as there was a rack and a chess piece crumbled against the board. Hermione frowned. She hated this game.
Two moves later Ron slammed his head against the table as Fred and George gave each other a triumphant high five.
"Deal's a deal, Ron," George said, eyes beaming. Ron rolled his eyes. Ron had wagered being their prospective slave of a brother against their doing his homework over the next two months.
"Does this start now or after we hop on the Hogwarts Express?" Fred mused.
"Oh, it definitely starts now." George grinned.
"Or never?" Ron chirped hopefully.
This earned a laugh from the twins as Fred threw his arm around Ron's shoulders, "Try not to look so glum, Ron!" Ron shoved him off. Another laugh from the twins as they walked away, patting Harry on the shoulder as they passed.
"It was a stupid bet anyway, Ron," Hermione said, watching Ron glare daggers into his brother's backs. "Your marks in school may have been worse than last year."
That earned a hint of a smile from Ronald Weasley.
August, 1994
The Death Eater attack at the Quidditch Cup still had everyone rattled as Arthur and Molly wrangled their children through the crowded streets of Diagon Alley. Hermione explained that she had the majority of her shopping with her parents prior to the Weasley's arrival at her house and requested to spend her time at a lesser known bookshop while the others finished their shopping. It was a few blocks away, dangerously close to Knockturn Alley, Hermione realized, before she gave a pleading glance to Arthur.
Molly looked flushed and was about to decline her request before Arthur put his hand on her shoulder with silent communication. "Very well, Roundabout Readings I presume?" Hermione nodded, "Please don't venture elsewhere, Hermione, dear. I don't think my nerves can take it." Hermione smiled, taking a step towards her destination before Molly shot her a warning look, emphasizing what she had just said.
As Hermione traced her fingertips along the spines of books she took in a deep breath. The store was quiet, only a few other patrons were browsing and she absolutely loved the smell of new books. The quiet inside the shop helped her relax as she plucked a copy of Adorus Charms and Their Benefits off the shelf.
Cracking the book open, intrigued, as she began to make her way towards one of the lounge chairs in the sitting area. She was so engrossed in the reading that she didn't notice a figure as she rounded out of the isle and slammed roughly into them, the corners of the book stabbing her ribs.
Hermione winced, as she scrambled for an apology, looking up to who she ran into.
Draco Malfoy.
Her heart dropped to her stomach. "I-I'm sor-"
He looked at her arms still up in surprise before quickly crossing across his chest and scowled. "Watch where you're going, Granger," he growled, interrupting her.
That earned a glare back at him, she couldn't stop herself and she regretted it almost immediately when his scowl turned into a smirk.
His eyes darted to the book she was clutching to her chest and he quirked an eyebrow. Hermione felt her cheeks begin to burn. She slammed her eyes to the ground and let out a hasty, "Sorry," as she went to move past him. He stepped sideways, blocking her path. She went to go the other way and he positioned himself to block her again.
"Light reading?" He inquired.
She glared up at him again. What was he even doing here?
"I'm sure it would bore you, there aren't any pictures," she said, then offered a fake smile.
She could swear she saw a genuine smile tug at the corner of his eyes before they hardened to his infamous look of Malfoy disdain. "I'm surprised to see Potter and Weasley not scurrying at your heels like lost mutts," he said. "Is it possible you've bored them to death already, Granger?"
His tone was taunting and Hermione knew he was baiting her. "If you're offering to take their place, Malfoy, I'm afraid I must decline." Her voice was sweet, challenging him.
Malfoy snorted, as if to say he'd rather crash his broomstick into a wall, but he held her stare. There was a thick silence between them before he stepped aside with an exaggerated arm gesture allowing her to pass. Hermione didn't hesitate as she rushed past him, pausing only to put the book in the resorting bin, then out the door. She could feel his eyes on her the entire time.
Molly chastised her later that evening for not being in the bookshop when she went to retrieve her. Hermione kept her head down, eyes on the floor, muttering apology after apology but too ashamed to look the red headed woman in the eyes. She had disappointed her and that made Hermione's heart shatter.
"You should've knocked him like you did last year," Ron seethed after she told the boys about her encounter with Malfoy at the bookshop. Hermione frowned. Although she would punch Malfoy again if she was forced to relive that day (happily too, she realized in horror), she disliked violence.
Christmas Day, 1994
They were dancing and she was laughing. Viktor Krum's large hands nearly consumed Hermione's small and delicate ones. He spun her and Hermione felt the fabric of her dress lick her calves before it came crashing against her. She had never felt so beautiful in her entire life.
He held her close, strong hand against the arch of her back, the other holding her hand so lightly she wondered if he thought he'd break her if applied any more pressure. They spun together. Circle after circle and her dizziness made her heart flutter. She took everything in, greedily, allowing herself to become drunk with how great this moment was. He released her to the next partner in their waltz, and she looked to find herself face to face with Draco. Bloody. Malfoy.
The intoxication she felt with Viktor only moments before vanished as she immediately sobered under his gaze. He glanced around, hastily, before offering a small bow and holding out his hand. She looked around, almost wildly, to find Viktor dancing with Pansy Parkinson. Pansy said something to Viktor and he laughed in response.
"Granger, you dolt!" Malfoy hissed, "take my fucking hand." She looked back at him. His words were sharp, but you couldn't tell if you were an outsider looking in. Outside, he remained calm, collected, and he was staring at her curiously. She, however, having a front-row view, could see the fury that burned just beneath the gray hue of his eyes.
She obeyed, resigning to her fate, as she noticed a couple of sixth year Ravenclaw girls eye them curiously before whispering frantically to one another.
She felt Malfoy stiffen as she touched him. Of course, she hadn't expected anything less than disgust. He pulled her in and the dance resumed. She tried to look anywhere besides at him as they circled the dance floor but every time she tore her eyes away she'd begin to lose her balance and the hand on her shoulder would tighten to brace her. It took everything in her will-power to refrain from blushing.
She tried to mimic the stoic face he had on but was sure she was failing. Why wouldn't the music change course so she could be back with Viktor? She hadn't remembered this part of their dance lessons taking quite this long.
Draco's jaw was tight, his teeth clamped but that was all he allowed her, or anyone else, to see. He moved gracefully, moved her gracefully, as if they had danced this dance a thousand times before. His hair was different, she realized. Not gelled back but soft, his bangs were bowed at the top of his forehead and his platinum strands flew just above his temples and resting at the corner of his eyes. Had it been the same at the bookshop? She liked it, he almost looked approachable.
His brow quirked at her, and she realized he had caught her staring at his hair. She wanted to die right there...how embarrassing! She tried to look away and, as if the entire world were out to get her, she lost her footing and her heel stepped hard on Malfoy's right foot. He hissed, his left hand squeezing her right for a flash of a moment, before he all but completely released his grip. He never lost his step and the two of them continued in the waltz as if nothing had happened.
"I-I'm sorry!" She gasped.
He looked down at her, his eyes hard, Don't. It was a warning and she swallowed. Just then, he spun her and nearly shoved her away from him. Surprised, she struggled to regain herself, crashing into Pansy Parkinson as she was gliding back towards Draco Malfoy.
Pansy sneered at her before speaking in a voice only the three of them could hear, "I'd be hard pressed to believe a Mudblood could ever hold the grace of a swan." She straightened herself as she walked over to Draco and cupped her arm into his. "Especially after that horrid display I, and most of the school, were just forced to witness." She said that last part loud enough for anyone within earshot to hear.
Tears pricked in Hermione's eyes as she watched Draco scan her from head to toe, his lip curled in repulsion, before turning with Pansy and walking off the dance floor.
"Her-mi-on?" Vicktor's voice was soft as he approached her, "Are you alright?"
"Quite," she said, blinking rapidly to vanish the tears that had threatened to escape before turning to Viktor. She forced a smile, "Just a terrible dancer."
Hermione had never felt so ugly in her entire life.