Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Breaking the Chain	By : RynStar15 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 42452 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, that belongs to the glorious J.K Rowling. I don't make any money off of this writing, I simply twist her world for my own pleasure.

Chapter List
- 25
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- 27
Draco's eyes were dry. He'd been trying to keep them open as much as possible, drinking in the sight of Hermione's sleeping form. He didn't think, just watched as her chest moved slowly up and down with each breath, her slightly parted lips separating when she blew out. He brushed back her hair for what felt like the millionth time and hugged her gently to him.
He had to go. It was that silent time when the world was caught between night and morning. The crickets had finally gone to bed and the birds had yet to rise. If he didn't leave now some early riser might catch him. Reluctantly, he untangled himself from her and stood, donning his clothes. He watched her for another minute before magicking her nightgown back onto her body so as not to wake her by jostling her. That would make for some sticky questions.
Carefully, Draco picked her up and cradled her into his arms. Unconsciously, she snuggled into his chest and he smiled. With a nod of his head the decorations of earlier were gone and the room was as it had been, dusty and untouched. He would be the only person to ever know what had happened between these four walls.
He opened the door with another nod and carried her silently down the stairs to where Snape had told him her room was and where he had found her sneaking out to see Potter. It still somewhat irked him that they were that close, but he couldn't hate Potter for comforting the love of his life in her final moments when he himself had failed at that particular task.
He crept slowly into the room so he wouldn't wake the youngest Weasley…Ginny. Yes, that was it. The covers of Hermione's bed opened themselves and he laid her gently beneath them and took them into his own hands to cover her. She nestled herself into the blankets and Draco knelt before her, drinking in the sight of her one last time. Stroking her soft cheek, he felt emotion welling inside of him.
Yeah, they could have worked.
Demanding that he not start sobbing again, he placed his lips gently on her forehead.
"I'll always be with you," he whispered and stood solemnly. He turned and was about to head for the door when he started. Two large hazel eyes were staring at him through the dark. The Weasley girl was awake.
He froze. He was terrified she would call an alarm and destroy the most pivotal night of his life. He put up his hands in surrender, showing that he was wandless (not that he needed it anymore, but she didn't know that.)
"Please…" he begged quietly.
She was silent and he was afraid she wouldn't listen. He started backing towards the door when he heard her soft voice.
"Your secret is safe with me."
He stopped short. His heart began to beat normally.
"Thank you," he whispered. She simply nodded her head and lay back down, her eyes still on him as if making sure that he indeed left. Turning on his heel he exited the house as stealthily as he had entered it. That had been far, far too close.
As soon as he stepped outside he looked up to Hermione's window and saw the red haired girl looking out at him. He lifted his hand in thanks and she waved back. With a swift turn he was gone.
When he landed in the street in front of his new godfather's house he took a deep breath of the crisp, cold morning air. A mist shrouded the area and he knew it would start raining soon. The morning would be creeping over the horizon and he didn't have much time to rest and gather up strength. He walked up to the house feeling like the world had suddenly dropped onto his chest.
He walked in quietly so as not to wake the older man and was surprised to find him in the study peering through a large, dusty book. Snape looked up at him and smiled almost sadly. He didn't say anything but handed him a four-hour sleeping potion and Draco took it greedily and headed up the stairs.
Flopping on the bed he had slept in the night before he waited for sleep to overcome him and tried not to think about what the day would bring.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Hermione woke to the sound of her voice being called. She whipped bolt upright and jumped out of bed terrified.
"What time is it? Is it time to go?" she asked frantically, scrambling for her wand.
"Hermione! Relax, it's only eight o'clock. We don't leave for Hogwarts for over an hour," Ginny calmed as she pulled a blue jumper over her head. "Mum just wanted to make sure you had time to eat breakfast and everything."
Hermione nodded, trying to settle her nerves. She rubbed her head which throbbed softly, a headache on its way. She was disoriented and wasn't sure why. It must have been because she had woken up so quickly. Turning around she made her bed like she had first thing every morning since she was four. She tucked in the corners just the way she liked it and went to her trunk for her clothes.
She tried to remember when she had finally fallen asleep and couldn't. She remembered getting up to go to Harry's room but she didn't remember ever arriving there. That was odd... She must have been more tired than she thought and just dreamed getting up. Or maybe she had sleep walked. She didn't recall ever doing that before but then again she was inordinately stressed.
Checking to make sure everything was how she wanted it when Remus went through it as she had asked in her letter, she grabbed her wand and washed up in the bathroom before heading down to the basement kitchen.
The twins and Bill were playing a game of Gobstones at the far end of the table while Remus flipped through this morning's issue of the Daily Prophet at the other end. Mrs. Weasley was bustling around in the kitchen and they all turned when she walked in.
"Good morning, Hermione! Would you care for some tea with your breakfast?" Mrs. Weasley crooned, her voice overly cheerful. Hermione smiled, she really was the sweetest person she'd ever met.
"That sounds lovely," she replied and the motherly woman went back to preparing breakfast while putting a kettle on for tea. Remus turned in his seat and eyed her warily.
"How are you?" he asked.
"Fine. Really." And it was actually true. Deep inside, she felt resolved, as if she really were ready. The absolute fear had left her overnight during her deep sleep. She wondered for the first time if Molly might have drugged her pumpkin juice the night before…yes, that must have been why she had fallen asleep so suddenly. It would be like her to do that.
Remus looked her over for another moment and smiled at her, his mustache moving with the contours of his mouth.
"You always were a strong girl. Now you're a strong woman. You're doing a very noble thing, my dear. We are all very grateful."
Her heart swelled at his words. "Thank you," she replied. She sat down next to him and looked at him intently. She knew she could trust him, that he would understand why she had to do this and not argue with her.
"Remus...I...can you do me a favor?" she said lowly, glancing around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation.
"Of course Hermione, what is it?"
She looked down for a moment at her hands and pushed back the cuticle of her left thumb with the nail of the right one. Saying the words out loud would make everything seem very real.
"I have some letters…yours is on top. They are in the bottom drawer of my desk. Could you...could you give them to everyone for me?"
He stared at her for a long, endless moment. "Of course."
"And my things…Everything is in your note. They're in piles; I labeled them all and shrunk them into my trunk. If you could…distribute them…when everything is over…"
His warm, fatherly hand reached out for her own, stilling them in their nervous habit. "I will do as you ask under one condition."
She looked up. His pale blue eyes were somber but a comforting smile dusted his lips.
"Do not give up. No matter happens or how futile it seems, stay strong. That courage that put you into Gryffindor burns fiercely within you. All you have to do it find it and unleash it. I have faith in you, Hermione."
She swallowed thickly and nodded. "I won't give up. I promise." She would fight with everything she had.
"Good girl." He squeezed her hand tenderly.
"Oi! Hermione! We need another player! Come be on Fred's team!" George called from the other end of the table.
"Hey! Why are you putting her on my team? She stinks at this game!" Fred complained with a wink towards Hermione.
"I believe you just answered your own question, dear brother," George said, rearranging the pieces to incorporate Hermione.
"Well, boys. We'll just see about that!" Hermione said smartly and strode over to where they were playing. She plopped down beside Fred and made the first move.
The boys stared at the table.
"That was a good move," Bill said grinning and George groaned while Fred laughed and put an arm around Hermione.
...
After everyone had breakfasted and been thoroughly fussed over by Mrs. Weasley, they lined up in front of the fireplace and one by one disappeared through it. Hermione stood between Ron and Fred and she leaned back into the warmth and comfort of Ron's hands as they rested on her shoulders. He squeezed them one last time and she stepped forward for her turn, taking a pinch of the green powder and throwing it into the fire. The flames leapt and she stepped into the embracing heat.
Locking eyes with Harry and Ron she yelled "Hogwarts!" and felt herself being sucked up as if through a vacuum. She landed none too gracefully on the hearth of the fireplace in the headmistress' office as McGonagall would be picking up the role when it was safe enough to re-open the school, a.k.a, after this vital battle. Depending on the outcome of today, they would decide whether Hogwarts would re-open its doors or lock them for good. Hermione desperately hoped she would be a part in making sure they stayed open.
She walked silently through the halls without waiting for the boys, taking back ways so as not to run into the others who were Flooing in. She just needed a few moments to herself to collect her thoughts.
Slipping through a tapestry that held a knight rescuing a reluctant maiden, she walked in on none other than Neville Longbottom. He was leaning against the wall, head down, hands deep in the pockets of his dark green robes. He looked up frightfully when she walked in. His eyes were red rimmed with unshed tears.
"Neville? What are you doing here?" she asked gently. "Why aren't you down in the Great Hall with everyone else?"
"I should ask you the same thing."
Then they both smiled weakly as they remembered a similar dialogue that had happened between them eight years ago.
"I just needed some fresh air," Hermione admitted. Neville nodded as if in agreement.
"Are you alright?" she asked him. He nodded vigorously again. Just as she was about to leave him to his thoughts, he spoke.
"I heard Harry talking to Professor Moody," he confessed to the floor.
"When?" she asked, stepping forward. She knew Neville always felt better when he talked things out. He had once told her that he trusted her with secrets he had told no one else. She felt honored, for he was a very sweet and smart individual who just needed a little room to grow. His skills had indeed bloomed exceedingly since they had begun Dumbledore's Army.
"Last week when we were searching for you."
Hermione's heart clenched at this. They'd all been through so much to find her, she was glad she could do something to help them in kind. "What did he say?"
Neville fiddled with something in his pocket and looked up at her. "Hermione…that prophecy could have been for me."
Hermione felt as if she had been hit with a blunt ax. She had forgotten, until now, that little detail that she and Harry had talked through several times. It was something that had always ate at him. A part of him wished Voldemort had chosen Neville and the other part hated himself for wishing something like that on his friend. Hermione was just sickened to her bones that either of these two wonderful people had been put in this position.
"I know."
Neville nodded, not concerned that she knew about that specific detail and hadn't told him. He knew why she hadn't and obviously didn't blame her.
"I have to help him."
"Neville, no, that isn't your fight! They'll need your help during the battle. This is Harry's fight now, for better or for worse. Voldemort marked him, even if he didn't know what he was doing at the time. At one time yes, it could have been you. But it's not anymore. Your path lies elsewhere."
"Hermione, you can't talk me out of it, not this time. I've always valued your advice and am humbled that you always lend me a hand, but you can't change my mind. It's made. I can't go on living knowing that it might have been me and I did nothing about it. Maybe he could use my help. I've been practicing all year and I've been getting better. I've even moved onto spells we didn't learn in Dumbledore's Army. I know I'm not as good a fighter as you or Harry or Ron… but maybe I can help."
Hermione didn't try to dissuade him; it was his own choice, his life, just as her decision was her own. She simply put her arms around him.
"I'm proud of you, Neville. It's a very honorable thing to do. I'm glad to have you on our side and not theirs."
He chuckled softly and hugged her back.
"Now isn't this a sweet scene? In fact I feel a little ill," came a drawling voice from their left.
Severus Snape loomed at the entrance of the hallway with his arms crossed menacingly over his thin chest. Hermione pulled away from Neville and glared at him, keeping herself between their former professor and her friend.
"Miss Granger, if I could have a word," he said stalking towards them. He glared at Neville. "Alone, Longbottom!"
Neville puffed up. "I'm not scared of you anymore!" he stated.
Snape laughed cruelly and snapped his fingers. Neville's legs began walking to the tapestry on their own accord making him look like a frightened soldier.
"Don't you dare hurt her!" he called back as he marched straight through the painting and down the hall.
"Why do you always have to be a such bully?" Hermione protested vehemently, crossing her arms.
Snape stared her down. "My manners do not concern you. Tell me Miss Granger, are you prepared to do as you have been instructed today?"
"Yes, of course!" she snapped defensively. "If I was prepared to do otherwise I wouldn't be here!"
He looked at her for a long moment, his eerie black eyes digging into her soul.
"Did you sleep well last night?" he asked.
Hermione's brows furrowed in confusion. One moment he was antagonizing her and the next he was inquiring as to her welfare?
"I slept fine, thank you," she answered tersely. He stared at her uncomfortable for a moment before nodding.
"You understand what will happen should you fail?"
"Of course I do! What is the meaning of this interrogation? I have already given my word and am prepared to give my life. Is that not enough for you?" She was sick and tired of his icy demeanor, she had always kept her word, she wasn't some sleazy Slytherin! Did he honestly think her so spineless that she would back out?
"I have given more to this cause than you can comprehend. I will not see it collapse over some little girl who fancies she will become a martyr through her heroic actions and once the time comes to give all, she reneges, afraid. We have planned everything around this. If you fail, then we all do. The magnitude of your answer yesterday creeps down to now. Your time is dwindling away faster than you can comprehend. So I ask you again, can you deal with that, Miss Granger?"
"Yes," she whispered, his words reverberating inside her head as he eyed her.
With a nod he turned swiftly and left her alone. She shivered when an image of her lifeless body being lowered into a deep, dark hole fluttered across her mind. She could hear the rain of dirt thudding against her coffin as if she were in it, hear the muted voices of those above, those who would go on while she rotted away in the ground, slowly decomposing until the wood around her disintegrated and what was left of her was eaten by the worms and bugs that infested the soil. She felt ill and had to lean a hand against the wall to keep herself steady.
I can do this, I can do this, I can. She repeated this mantra, scrambling for the comfort they brought. Everyone dies, no one makes it out of here alive. Those you leave behind will be joining you eventually, it's your job to make sure that it's not too soon.
Her stomach roiled as she thought about everyone going on without her, the marriages that would take place, the babies that would follow. Quiet nights with friends at home or loud ones at the clubs she and Harry and Ron had talked about going to once everything was over. She thought of her mother and father growing old and never knowing they had a daughter, she thought of the Weasleys having raucous parties at the Burrow with Harry, all of their smiling faces flashing through her mind. They would go on and be happy and though she knew she would never be forgotten, she would be shoved to the backs of their minds, a mere memory.
Hermione looked down at her trembling hands and clenched them tightly. She would not break apart, not now, not anymore. She'd had more than enough tears, now it was time for action.
She suddenly wished that Draco was here, to reassure her that it would be alright. She wished, more than anything, that she could see him once more, that she could tell him that she loved him, even if he didn't feel the same.. She'd never had the chance, and now she never would.
Hermione didn't realize there was someone with her until she was being pulled into a massive embrace, the vest against her cheek her rough against her skin but the body beneath it warm. She stood there in shock, realizing that she'd simply been staring into the distance, lost in her thoughts in the wake Snape had caused. Jerking, she looked up into a kind face with beady black eyes that were swimming.
"There, there's my Hermione. Atta girl. I got yeh now. Just breathe, in an' out. It always helps me."
"Hagrid?" she said incredulously. He beamed at her.
"Good ter see yeh, too," he said with a smile.
"Hagrid!" She threw her arms around him and hugged her dear friend tight. He chuckled.
"Yeh women always could change yer moods faster an' a thestral."
"I didn't know you were back!" she exclaimed. He had left several months ago with Madame Maxime trying to win back the giants and no one had heard from him since.
"I on'y jus' got back. When I heard what was goin' down terday I was so angry I coulda thrown one o' me pumpkins out the window."
Hermione eyed him. "Hagrid, did you throw a pumpkin out the window?"
He blushed. "Well, maybe jus' a little one."
Hermione laughed and gave him one last hug before he set her back, looking at her. She wondered how long he'd been standing there while she'd been oblivious, swallowed by her subconscious. Shame burned through her at the thought. She couldn't believe she'd let Snape get to her.
"Wha' did that git say ter yeh to make yeh so upset?" Hagrid asked.
"It wasn't anything... I just let my imagination run wild, that's all." She was afraid Snape might have been right about her but now that she was grounded, thanks to Hagrid. She knew she could go on today. She just couldn't think about the grisly details of after.
"I'll kill him fer upsettin' yeh," Hagrid said gruffly.
"No, Hagrid, it's alright. I'm fine now," she said meekly.
"Hermione, really…yeh shouldn't be put inter this..."
"Hagrid, it's okay. Really. I want to do this, it was my choice."
He nodded, his eyes full of sorrow. She could tell he was struggling with himself. "I am so proud of yeh, Hermione. You've grown inter an amazing woman."
"Thank you, Hagrid," she said wholeheartedly.
"Watch out fer yerself, yeh hear me?" he said gruffly.
She smiled up at him. "Don't need to when I have you by my side, now do I?" she said and he blushed. She giggled and they turned to leave.
"Why were you up here?" Hermione asked as they headed toward the Great Hall.
"Lookin' fer you. Someone said they hadn't seen yeh since yeh'd Flooed outta the Burrow so I said that I'd take a look around and see if I could find yeh. 'Lo and behold." He swung his arms uncomfortably.
"I should have told someone where I was going. I just wanted some space, but as always, Hogwarts never lends a hand to privacy," she said with a grin and he chortled.
Together they walked down to the crowded Great Hall. The tables had disappeared and the room was filled with bodies. In the far right corner people were practicing spells, overseen by Flitwick who was continuously charming pillows beneath falling victims. A large map of the Malfoy Manor had been strung over the northern wall and Kingsley was pointing to particular parts and talking about the strategies to a group of Aurors. One table was laden with food the house elves had prepared for those who had not yet had breakfast. Large groups of people were circled together discussing tactics and what to do when caught in a sticky situation. Hermione caught Harry's eye from across the room and waved to him. He excused himself from Amos Diggory and ran through the crowd towards her.
"Where the hell have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you! Ron and Luna set out ten minutes ago to find you! Luna was afraid you'd been abducted by Snorcrinkles, or something like that. Where were you?"
"Well, I ran into Neville and Snape interrupted us and wanted a word and then I ran into Hagrid here and we got to talking and lost track of time," she somewhat lied quickly. Hagrid, bless his heart, backed her story.
Harry eyed her, but didn't say anything. "Alright. We need to do some practicing. A few members of the DA wanted you to show them how to do wandless magic."
"It's not something you can just learn in twenty minutes!" Hermione exclaimed, purposely forgetting that she herself had done so. It had been a different situation. Normally it took a very long time to learn. She and Draco had been short on that particular aspect.
Draco…
She shook her head against alluring thoughts of the blonde and followed Harry to the eagerly waiting group.
A quarter of an hour later Remus magicked his voice as Ludo Bagman had during the Triwizard cup.
"If everyone could please gather 'round over here."
The enormous crowd moved as one towards the small dais Remus had erected so he could see above their heads. It took several minutes for everyone to situate themselves and quiet down.
"Thank you," he said loudly. "We'll be leaving here in just a few minutes. Now, if everyone would-"
BOOM.
The room fell silent as it shuddered harshly and everyone looked around to see where the sound had come from.
BOOM.
The ground shook harder with the second sound wave and Hermione fell against Charlie Weasley who held her up as the ground rolled beneath them. People screamed and were thrown to the floor as the ground rocked and a roar filled the air. Hermione's heart banged in her chest and she held her wand at the ready even as Charlie attempted to push her to the floor where people were now taking cover.
Remus jumped off the dais and covered Tonks with his body as what felt like the entire school was hurled into the air. Everyone inside it pitched up and fell roughly down, crushing each other. Hermione could feel Charlie, who had fallen on top of her, yank her up and Ron was suddenly there, wrapping his arms around her as the windows shattered and the room shook uncontrollably. Screams and yells pierced the air and Hermione watched in horror as people were sliced to ribbons by the falling glass. Someone cast a barrier belatedly and the glass hit it and dissolved harmlessly.
"We have to find Harry!" Hermione yelled at Ron over the din. He nodded in agreement and they weaved between the falling bodies as they were chucked this way and that. The room was in chaos as a loud groan sounded throughout the hall making it sound as if the walls were about to cave in. Dozens of people were conjuring spells to try to quell the incessant heaving but it did no good. No one believed it was an earthquake. They all knew what she did.
They were being attacked.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
XOXO
RynStar15
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Breaking the Chain