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Verto Vitae	By : RynStar15 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 40710 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Harry Potter nor do I make any money or intend any copyright infringement by using the characters therein.

Chapter List
- 23
- 24
Hermione didn't listen to the voices around her. She didn't register the panic, the confusion. The only thing she focused on was the pain surrounding her which told her she was most certainly still alive. For now.
She could still feel the agonizing torture, every part of her body on fire. Someone was calling her name, pulling her up towards that torment, but she cringed back, terrified of what would meet her when she woke.
She reached down toward the cool black, willing it to suck her in, to envelope her in its soft, painless existence.
.
.
.
She had no perception of time. She had no idea how long it had been each time she was yanked away from the black, back into the excruciating pain.
She watched as Draco struck Harry down over, and over, and over. She watched Draco fall, felt the overwhelming fear. She tried to reach them, tried to stop the nightmare of reality, but she could never get close enough. And so she was tormented by the images and hid away from them, back into the blissful dark.
.
.
.
"Hermione…"
Her heart clenched. The voice sound just like Draco's. Oh, what she wouldn't give to hear him call her name again, to hold him in her arms and erase what she had seen.
"Come on, Hermione. Open your eyes."
Draco…she could hear him…it was his voice, she was certain. But how?
She tried to reach out, tried to grab onto his voice, but someone was pouring something into her mouth and the black ripped her away and for the first time, she cursed it.
.
.
.
She eased back slowly this time; each ache lessened enough so that she could breathe. She sucked in deep breaths that weighed on her chest, heavy as ever.
"Hermione? Hermione, can you hear me? Move your fingers if you can hear me."
The task seemed simple enough, but the distance between her brain and fingertips seemed so far…
They were laden, the exertion it took to lift those digits drained her, but she smiled inwardly at his cry of triumph. His hand covered hers and she wanted to hold it, to pull herself up, to see the face attached to the voice, to know if this was real or a dream. Her eyelids fought her as she attempted to open them and she finally gave up the pointless task.
The darkness pulled her back before she was ready to go.
.
.
.
When she registered the feel of her body again, she instantly moved her hand, wanting to find Draco, to feel his hand in hers again. She didn't care if it was real or not. She needed his touch.
But when no hand grabbed hers she groaned in defeat. Where was he? She had to bring him back, had to find him…
It felt as if her eyes as been glued shut. The first rays of light stung and the fuzzy shapes made no sense, but consciousness took over little by little with each millimeter she revealed.
The shapes were still blurred but she could make out a dark room. She rolled her heavy head and finally, she saw him. His blonde hair gleamed in the dim light of the room, his cheek resting on his fist, his eyes closed against the dark purple dusting beneath them. His head instantly snapped up at the crinkle of her hair against the pillow and she watched the elated relief strike across his face.
"Welcome back," he grinned, his beautiful face shining like a beacon. She tried to say his name, but the words wouldn't form. He leaned forward, shushing her, grabbing one of her hands, the other, warm and soft, brushing her hair back. "Don't try to talk now. You need rest. Just relax. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
She was scared to leave him, scared that he wouldn't be there again, but she was so tired and soon enough, she fell back into the deep, his soft voice a comforting lullaby.
.
.
.
The moment she woke, Hermione opened her eyes, wanting to see him again. She could hear voices and the room came into view, distorted and dark.
"Draco?" she croaked, her voice sounding foreign and raw.
And then he was there, striding across the room, smiling, more beautiful than she remembered. "Speak of the devil."
She wanted to shake her head of the cobwebs that clung, but the throbbing migraine prevented her from doing so. She felt sluggish and heavy, comprehension meandering its way slowly to her brain.
She had so many questions, but first…she had to know…
"Are you…real?"
The words didn't sound anything like English, but he chuckled all the same. "Yes, I'm here and very much real. You're probably feeling a bit groggy, but the Healers said it will pass. Are you thirsty?"
Healers. So she was in St. Mungo's. She was alive. And so was Draco.
It took her a moment to register the question, but her tongue felt thick in her mouth so she nodded, then groaned in pain at her mistake.
"Shh, I know it hurts, love. Try not to move." A straw was pressed to her lips and she sucked greedily, the cool water blissful. She pulled back once she'd had her fill and she could feel Draco's hand, warm and comforting, caressing her face.
"Your Healer wanted me to let him know when you woke. I'll only be gone a moment. Don't go back to sleep."
Tired as she was, Hermione had no desire to go back to sleep. Her eyelids were heavy, but she forced them to stay open and take in her surroundings.
Either it was night or the shades had been drawn because her room was dim, lit only by a few bubbles on the ceiling. Her gaze travelled to the vases of flowers and cards on the table across from her and she smiled.
Her friends must have been worried. Her friends…Harry…
Panic sliced through her and her eyes searched for Draco. He hadn't returned but she had to know, had to know for certain…
Getting her elbow beneath her, Hermione pushed herself up, underestimating her weak body as her shaky arm gave out and she fell back against the pillows.
Determined, she looked to her left and saw a table. Her fumbling fingers grabbed the edge and she used this to pull herself, pushing with her heels, crying out in pain as she rolled toward the edge of the bed.
"Bloody hell!"
Hands grabbed her just as she careened towards the floor and she whimpered as fire shot through her body. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Draco snapped as he and another man lifted her back into bed, jostling her and making her vision go white.
"Damn it, get her a Pain Potion!"
"She can't have another yet -"
"Would you look at her? She's in pan, do something!"
Hermione lifted her hand and put it on Draco's forearm even that small movement sending shockwaves down to her fingertips. "I'm fine."
"You are not fine, you're white as a sheet."
"Draco…please…tell me…"
"What, love?" His voice was softer this time, obviously not wishing to upset her.
"Harry…I saw you…please, tell me he's not…he isn't…"
Draco smiled and her heart clenched in hope. "Harry is just fine; he's waiting very impatiently to see you. I'll explain everything to you soon, but for now you need to rest."
Tears of relief filled her eyes. "And everyone…everyone's alright?"
"Everyone is fine. A few got a bit battered, but nothing we couldn't deal with. They're all worried about you."
Hermione moved her hand, seeking his, tears falling harder as he gripped it. He sat down on the bed and cupped her cheek, wiping away the tears with the pad of his thumb. "What's all this?"
"I was so scared…I thought…I saw…you were dead…"
"I'm very much alive, as you can see. Spell didn't even come close to me. Took a page from your book, however, and played the possum."
"But, what happened, what -"
"You need to relax or your Healer is going to give me the boot."
Hermione tried to take a deep breath but that weight prevented her. She glanced up at the man in lime-green robes who was hanging another bag of fluids on a pole next to her bed.
"How long have I been here?"
Draco shrugged. "A few days? Maybe more? I've lost track. It's felt like an eternity. I thought I was going to lose you."
His voice sounded so strained that Hermione squeezed his hand.
"You should know by now that us Gryffindors are made of stronger stuff. Take more than some crazy old wizard to do me in."
Draco let out a dry laugh, shaking his head, his eyes not meeting hers.
"The things he did to you…"
"Mr. Malfoy, I'm going to have to ask you to step outside while I give her a quick checkup. I'll come and get you when we're through."
Seemingly thankful to be reprieved of the conversation, Draco leaned forward and kissed her forehead, lingering a moment, making her heart swell.
"I'll be right outside. Everyone will be wanting to know you're awake. Don't go back to sleep."
She nodded and though she didn't want to, allowed him to leave.
By the time her checkup was completed she was warring between exhaustion and her need to see her family before she went back to sleep. She closed her eyes just for a moment and when she opened them again, her room was bright and filled with those she loved, Harry's green eyes shining next to her.
"Harry!"
He darted forward and kissed her head, sitting beside her and grabbing her hand in his sweaty ones as Ron took to her other side, beaming.
"How are you, Hermione?"
"Alive, thanks to you." She could remember hearing his voice as she choked, hearing him bargain for her life. "How did you…I watched you die…"
He grinned. "We have a lot to discuss."
"Not until she's well, Harry Potter!" Mrs. Weasley snapped, hovering at the foot of her bed. clutching a basket full of sweets. "You heard what her Healer said!"
"Mum, hush! You're yelling!" Ginny elbowed her mother, grinning down at Hermione and rolling her eyes.
Hermione smiled at the familiarity of the scene. She wanted to hold them all, to tell them all how glad she was they were alive, but she was too tired to say the words. The twins spared her by pulling open a cracker which exploded into fireworks, a dragon bursting forth, chasing Ronald around the room to uproarious laughter until Arthur intervened and the dragon fizzled out.
By the time the room settled, Hermione's eyes were drooping and she struggled to keep them open. Harry noticed and stroked her hair.
"It's alright, Hermione. Go to sleep. We'll be here."
The voices murmured quietly above her, soothing her as she slumbered once again.
.
.
.
When she opened her eyes again the crowd has dispersed, the room bright and cheery with all of her "Get-Well" presents. Everything came back to her quicker this time. She was in St. Mungo's, Harry and Draco were alive, her family was safe, her body ached like the dickens, but she was alive, she had escaped Voldemort.
Her eyes snapped open on a gasp. Voldemort. She could think his name.
He was no longer her master.
"You're alright, Hermione, you're safe," Draco reassured her, moving from his chair to sit on her bed, cupping her cheek. "It was just a nightmare. You're safe."
She shook her head, rubbing above her eyes as pain speared there. "It's not a nightmare, I just realized…I can't feel him. Voldemort."
Draco grinned. "Isn't that a good thing?"
She glanced down at her left arm, holding it up in shock.
"It's gone!" she exclaimed, turning her arm over as if the Dark Mark may have mysteriously slipped to the other side.
"I noticed that, as well. It must have disappeared when he died, as did your connection."
Hermione stared at him in disbelief, her brain not comprehending. "It's over?"
His other hand gripped hers, smiling. "Yes. It's over."
"He's gone?"
"Forever."
Tears of joy welled in her eyes. It was done. They'd won. All of their work, their struggles, their pain, had finally paid off.
"How?" she whispered, not able to believe it, not until she knew…
He explained everything that had taken place after she'd been seized by the Dark Lord. Terror of what might have happened lodged a ball in her chest.
"I can't believe you bartered Harry for me," she whispered. "It was so dangerous. What if he hadn't believed you? He could have killed you all!"
"He knew the truth just as we did," Draco said. "He knew that Harry was his last chance at immortality. They both knew of the connection, he felt it. He couldn't chance us doing exactly what we did."
She shuddered, seeing Draco strike Harry down over and over…
"Hermione," he touched her hand and she opened her eyes to look at him. "I'm sorry. What you saw is true. We had no choice. Harry made me swear. There was no way of getting around it. If there was even a chance that we could have done him in without Harry's sacrifice, we would have taken it. But it had to be done, we had to destroy the last Horcrux. That, and it was the only way to get you back."
"I don't matter, it's Harry who-"
"You do to me."
Her heart swelled. "But Draco-"
"No arguments. Everything worked out just as we planned. Well, I suppose not everything. We weren't exactly counting on Potter rising from the dead…"
Hermione grinned at the thought. Only Harry.
Draco leaned over the hand that he held, his eyes suddenly hard, tortured. "By the time I got to you…there was blood everywhere, you wouldn't move, you wouldn't wake, you weren't even breathing. One of the twins did this spell to make you cough up the lake water, but even then… When the battle was over we all thought you were dead. I thought I was too late. We brought you here and the Healers worked on you for hours…but you didn't come around. They didn't know if you'd even recognize us if you woke. He'd tortured you for so long…"
Hermione could remember the dark, the voices, floating somewhere between life and death. Then she remembered hearing his voice…
"I came back for you," she whispered. He looked at her then, his gaze hollow. "So much of me was ready to give up. I thought Voldemort still had me, I thought you and Harry were dead. There was no point…but then I heard your voice, and I had to know…"
He leaned forward and kissed her and Hermione sunk in, that weight on her chest easing as her heart stumbled. When he pulled away he just leaned his forehead against hers, his hands cupping her face.
"I swear I'll murder you myself if I have to spend one more moment worrying about your safety," he murmured. "I've done enough of it for the past month to last a lifetime."
She laughed. "It has been a rather interesting month, hasn't it?"
"To say the least."
She smiled at him and reached for his hand, craving that connection once more. He did not disappoint but grasped it tightly, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Not that I'm complaining, but why isn't there a brood of Weasleys pining over me?" she asked, suddenly realizing that her room was empty except for Draco.
"I told them all to go get some lunch," he admitted with a sly smirk. "I'm not ready to share you, yet."
She smiled and raised his hand to lean her cheek against his palm. "I never thought I'd be able to do this again. Has anyone said anything -?"
He chuckled. "I think they've all figured it out by now."
"And, er, do they…?"
He smiled, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "They've been nothing but gracious. Mrs. Weasley couldn't stop crying when she made the connection. Of course, at that time we weren't sure if you…"
Draco shook his head as if he could erase the images of the last few days. "There's something I want to give you."
She watched him dig in a bag next to the bed, figuring he hadn't so much as left the chair since they'd brought her here.
He pulled out a black lacquer box and set it on her lap. It looked strangely familiar, and with stiff fingers she opened the clasp and gasped, her heart stopping.
"Draco, no, you shouldn't, this should go back to your mother-"
"She won't be needing it where she's going."
Hermione looked up into his hard face and understood his meaning. His parents would likely be spending the rest of their days in Azkaban with the other Death Eaters. Her heart twisted at the thought. Though both of their parents were alive, they were essentially orphans.
"Still… Draco, I can't wear this," she said, trailing her fingers over the intricately woven "M". "I'm not a Malfoy any longer."
"You will be."
She swore her heart stopped in her chest. "Draco…"
"Hermione, I love you, and I won't spend one more day without you. There were too many close calls, too many maybes. You once worried about our ability to ever be together because of my parents, because of your blood status, but I am the now head of the Malfoy estates. Their opinion means less than nothing to me." He took her hand and kissed her fingers. "The Dark Lord is gone; the war is over. There's nothing left to hold us back. We're free."
The tears struck hard and fast and she looked at everything she'd ever hoped for, sitting before her, giving her everything.
"I can't believe this is real," she whispered.
"Believe it. And I swear to Merlin if I have to go into another dimension just to prove it -"
Hermione laughed in pure joy as he kissed her again and their happily-ever-after stretched out before them.
Her horizon.
.
.
.
A/N: Alright, that's it! Our star-crossed lovers are safe and sound and happy :)
I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. And if you are despairing that this story is over, well, I have plenty more where that came from ;)
My best to you all and my sincerest gratitude,
XOXO
RynStar15
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