Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Always Mine	By : RynStar15 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 11545 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter world or characters which belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. I intend no copyright infringement by using the characters therein.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Potter looked towards the entrance hall where terrified screams and the thunder of footsteps filled the air. It appeared the children were being evacuated, probably through the vanishing cabinet or one of the secret passages into Hogsmead.
He seemed rooted to the spot, unable to make a decision. His green eyes looked up at me, as I had sprouted up past him the summer after fourth year, and I could see the weight of the burden I placed upon his shoulders. How long had I hated the Boy-Who-Lived? Always the most popular, always the center of attention, and the best friend to the woman I loved. But for once I realized how much he must have gone through in his short life. How much more he still had to do. How did he handle it?
"Potter, don't think of it as killing me, alright?" I said, attempting, for once in my life, to be understanding. "Think of it as-as…setting me free. You can't imagine what it's like. The pain…I can't…I can't do this anymore."
I saw the pity in the bleeding-heart Gryffindor's eyes, almost as if he understood. He started to speak but I cut him off with a shake of my head.
"If you destroy this Horcrux it will be the only good thing I've ever done in my life, the only thing I can give, the only redemption I'll ever find. I need you to do this, Potter. Please."
Potter clenched his jaw. I knew I had gotten to him. His fist clenched and unclenched around his wand as he chewed over my words.
"Where is Hermione?" he asked unexpectedly. "I know she went up to meet you at the Astronomy Tower."
Did these two keep any secrets? "I don't know."
"Did you leave her up there?" I nodded. "Does she know?" Again, I nodded. "And?"
"And what? Potter, the Death Eaters will be in the castle any second! We don't have time for a heart-to-heart here!"
"Malfoy, she deserves a goodbye at least!"
"She deserves to be happy, she deserves to be alive! This is the only way she can be. She won't be very pleased with rotting away in some graveyard because you spent valuable time bull-shitting! Now, where is the sword?"
The raven-haired boy scrubbed the back of his head, cursing, turning from me briefly as he weighed my words. When he turned back I could see his resolve cracking.
"Malfoy, I can't-"
"Dammit, Potter, your people are dying out there!" I thundered, waving towards the sounds of the fight beyond, feeling the familiar tug grow stronger as the Death Eaters surged ever closer to the school. "I can help you defeat him, now, before you lose any more. He won't stop, Potter. And he'll kill anyone in his way. HE. IS. HERE. We need to end this NOW!"
Potter eyed me a moment longer before sighing and dropping his gaze. He swallowed stiffly and his knuckles grew white upon his wand.
"Follow me."
Together we crept back into the Entrance Hall where the last of the students were making their way up the marble staircase and the teachers and a smattering of older students made to hold the double doors shut while shouts of a fight sounded from the grounds.
"Harry!" Neville Longbottom shouted, but I grabbed Potter's elbow and tugged him up the staircase before he could be deterred any longer. Ducking into a deserted corridor, we darted up staircase after staircase, the silence broken only by the slapping of our shoes on the stones and the rumble of war beyond. I pled to any deity listening that Hermione was safe, that she was on her way out with the other students, that someone had dragged her bodily, as I knew that was the only way she would have left. If any of those sick bastards touched a single hair on her head…
I had never felt so helpless. There was nothing I could do to protect her anymore. I would never be able to watch out for her, to help her if she needed it. Who would be there? Potter? Weasley? Could they keep her safe?
Not that she had ever needed help. I could remember the terror that had flooded through my veins watching those Death Eaters making their way toward her at Grimmauld Place, me standing on the fucking roof, unable to do anything. She was being attacked by three Death Eaters and still the only thing on her mind had been me, telling me to stay where I was as I knew at the time I had been about to clamber down from the roof to rescue her. But I had realized then if they saw me she would be in a whole hell of a lot more trouble than she already was. Besides that, I didn't have a wand. What would I do, Muggle-duel them?
So I'd run down the stairs screaming for that magenta haired cousin of mine and I watched helplessly as Hermione crawled toward us, trying to get to us, to me, as that woman shouted spells, holding me bodily back while I clawed at her, trying to get to Hermione. When she was finally there, safe, it was all I could do not to tear her apart and stuff her in my pockets where I could keep a better eye on her. I settled for screaming at her, my fear melting into anger. And when Tonks finally left, I barely made it upstairs before falling on her, releasing all of that panic back into her, needing to feel for myself that she was safe…to know, to have her beneath me, to feel her life…
And then when she was carried in after bolting off to save Fred and George…I had thought she was dead. No one could have survived those burns…that puncture…
She was being Levitated, it was the only way to move her. Her entire back was red, blistered and bleeding, a massive chuck of wood sticking out from it. She was deathly pale beneath the black ash, blood…blood everywhere, her robes in tatters, hair singed. I remembered falling back into the wall as Mrs. Weasley screamed, Tonks floating her up to the drawing room, Mrs. Weasley following at a run. But I couldn't move, I couldn't…
It had taken me several minutes to swallow back the bile, to steady my legs beneath me, before Tonks was yelling at me to help Mrs. Weasley and I dashed to her side as fast as I could.
I still recall perfectly her screams, if you could call them that. The sounds she made as Madam Pomfrey had extricated the wood…they haunt me still. All I could do was talk to her, just talk and talk inside my head because my throat wouldn't work, because I was completely numb with fear. I had held her down, her blood pouring all over my hands and down my front. There was so much of it, so much blood…I had never seen so much come out of one person…and she was so small, so small and so fragile. I had wanted to hold her, but I could barely touch her without hurting her.
Then the wood came out, we sat her up, the movement too much for her weakened body. She'd slumped, Madam Pomfrey's wand fluttering above her, a thin red line appearing above her.
Her heart stopped, she had said.
Her heart stopped.
Her heart stopped, stilling mine in the process.
I couldn't breathe, my eyes never leaving her now slack face as Madam Pomfrey began screaming orders, the women's blood-covered hands all over Hermione, bright lights bolting through her, making her entire body jerk. Hysterically, I'd thought they were hurting her and nearly attacked them, but then Hermione was sucking in a breath, alive, but so pale, so weak.
Hypovolemic shock, the nurse had stated, a word which meant nothing to me but one which had stuck with me since. I still had no idea what the medical term meant, all I knew was that it had taken my Hermione, it had nearly taken her from me.
A flurry of words and movement, instructions I followed wordlessly, and then suddenly, it was silent. Hermione had been settled in a room and was sleeping soundly, the room dark, the door closing behind Mrs. Weasley who had placed her pudgy hand on my shoulder before taking her leave. I'd fallen to my knees next to her the moment we were alone, brushing back her hair, a sob threatening to burst forth. I fought it back, taking her small, bandaged hand with my left, placing the back of my right hand against her nose and lips to feel her breathing, my forehead against hers, pleading with her not to stop, please don't stop, because if she did…I couldn't think about it. All I could think were those three words over and over. Please, don't stop.
When Potter and Weasley arrived, pale-faced and frantic, I hadn't wanted to leave her but I couldn't let them know…so I snuck in every chance I could, just to be near her, just to watch her breathe in and out because if she stopped…if she didn't survive…
But she did. Once again, she had proved herself the strongest person I'd ever met. The most resilient. It drove me mad that she was so ready to get moving, to get back out there to help, to save the next Verity that came along. Couldn't she see that the most important thing was to keep herself safe? But of course she couldn't, she was the most selfless person I knew.
I, however, was the singularly most selfish. For the moment she was well enough, I had to have her. I had to claim her then, before anything else tried to tear us apart. She had almost said those words, those words I had needed to hear, but were far too dangerous to be uttered. Every fiber of my being had wanted her say them, to tell her back, to finally put aside all the lies. But I couldn't. I couldn't put her in more danger, couldn't put her in the position I was in now. Because if she said those words I wouldn't be able to stop myself from keeping her, from dragging her deep into the mountains, into hiding where we could be forever. And since I knew that could never happen, it was best if she thought I was as detached as possible, best if we could share that love silently.
And we had. Not a word had been uttered, save for one. Her name had fallen from my lips as we came together, bridging the void I forced between us, just for a moment, allowing her to see past my barriers, to see what I held beneath. It had been…perfect. I was in a complete daze the entire time; my entire being focused on every moment of cherishing every piece of her I could. I had waited a lifetime for that moment, and it was the single most incredible experience of my life. I had tried to draw it out as long as possible, but I'd wanted her for so long…
The instant I knew she had waited for me…no words could explain. She was mine, only mine. Forever. No one would ever have her the way I had her. No one could ever be more in love than we were.
And nothing could ever be more dangerous. I had been reminded of this cruel fact not minutes afterward as headquarters was invaded and I was once again helpless, forced to wait on the sidelines while Hermione risked her life. She had barricaded me in; I couldn't even get out the window. All I could do was pace and beat my fists on the door, waiting, hoping, worrying, listening to the screams emanating from below.
Then she'd saved my life. Again. The Dark Lord had broken his way through me and I was fighting him off trying to protect the people downstairs by showing him scenes of anywhere else, make him believe I wasn't there. I'd been ripped to the present when Hermione had burst into my room, her eyes wide with fear, her long hair flying out behind her. I didn't even have time to think before she was shoving me to the window, yelling at me to get to the roof, and I couldn't do anything but trust her. I hated leaving her in that room where Death Eaters were flooding in, but I knew she was too weak to heave herself up alone and I was just barely able to rip her out of there on time.
She was extraordinary. I was in complete shock, my head swimming between the scene before us and the scene through the Dark Lord's eyes. He was so close I couldn't think, I couldn't see, he was taking me over…
When she'd thrown us off the roof I thought we were done for, but she'd Apparated in midair and saved us at the last moment. Could she be anymore invincible?
But indeed, she could. She had been sore, bone-tired, injured, but instead of sitting and resting, she'd moved around the living room at the Weasley's house fixing everybody up, healing their wounds, working on Longbottom until she nearly passed out. If I hadn't stopped her she probably would have. She had barely recovered herself and there she was, post-battle taking care of everyone else while they all sat around just expecting her to. It had pissed me off watching them just sit there while she did all the work. Was that how it always was? Did she ever get a break?
Of course not. Because who came up to tell me about my father? That sick bastard who had tortured Hermione…if Potter hadn't gotten to him first, I would have. I couldn't deny the sinking feeling I'd felt upon seeing my sire fall in her memory, his grey eyes wide, but it was no better than he deserved. I would never forget the beatings, the shouts that I would never be good enough, that I was a disappointment, that I disgraced the Malfoy name for letting that Mudblood beat me at every class, for letting Potter beat me at Quidditch. I had never been good enough, never smart enough, fast enough, strong enough. The only time I had made him proud had been the worst moment of my life and was the reason I was even now climbing through the halls of Hogwarts towards my death. I would end like my father, but I took small comfort in knowing I would die with dignity, doing what I could to repair the damage my family had wrought.
Potter and I finally came to a stop in front of the gargoyles leading up to the headmaster's-well, I supposed headmistress' now-office and Potter turned to me.
"Are you sure about this? Are you absolutely certain you are the last Horcrux?" he asked, his doubt-filled eyes hard upon mine.
"It's not exactly something one tends to overlook."
"I just want to be sure-"
"Let's just get on with this, Potter," I snapped gruffly. All these thoughts about Hermione were making me lose my nerve. I didn't know how much longer I was going to be able to keep control of my body. I could feel the Dark Lord drawing nearer, as if he had hooked a wire around my navel, something was trying to pull me to him. As the gargoyles split apart and Potter began to ascend the circular staircase I found I couldn't move, my body holding me back.
A wrenching agony tore through me and I doubled over, clenching my stomach, the Dark Lord's voice ringing through my head.
Give up your charade now, boy, and I may absolve you. Bring me Potter and all will be forgiven. Bring him to me now. Reach up your hand, grab him now.
Horrified, I found my hand beginning to snake up towards Potter who was at my side, clutching my shoulder, asking me if I was alright. How did I get on my knees…?
"Have to…hurry…" I grated out, dragging my arm back to my side, pulling myself out from the black, swirling mist. I had to stay in the present, just a little bit longer. "Potter…help me…"
He grabbed my arm and threw it around his shoulders as I cried out in pain again, the Dark Lord's wrath burning through me.
"He's…close…" I grunted. "In…in the school…"
I head Potter swear as he dragged me up the staircase, not waiting for the winding contraption to ease us up. Stronger than he looked as I outweighed him by at least fifty pounds, he pulled me into the circular room where I dropped to the floor panting. I watched him step up to a case on the wall which held the gleaming sword. He looked at me as if asking permission.
Grab the boy, Draco, and all will be well. Think of what we can do…
"Come on, Potter…" I puffed, the flames licking my insides. "We don't have time…just…do it…"
Slowly he reached his hand through the case as if it were no more than air and raised the sword from its plinth, singing as it scraped against the stone wall behind it. He turned to face me where I lay breathless on the floor. I looked up at him, my grim reaper, my resolution. It was almost unbelievable what my life had come to. Just a too-skinny boy with messy hair and a scarred head holding a sword nearly as big as he was, that's all it would take for my time to be over.
My heart pounded as if begging to escape its prison, knowing its end was here. I barely repressed the urge to scuttle away, to run, to find Hermione and hide and live forever in her arms.
"Tell…" I swallowed, fighting to keep a tremor from my voice. I could see the swarm of students and teachers in the hall, standing up, fighting me, preventing me from passing…
I yanked myself back to the room, to where Potter was staring at me apprehensively. I shook my head, clearing it. I had to get these words out, these last ones. "Tell Hermione…I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't be the man she deserved. Tell her I do this…for her. It's always been for her. Please…promise me…"
"I promise," Potter said, his voice rough, his face wan.
"Take…take care of her," I begged. I wished my heart would slow…terror was rushing through me. What would happen? Would it hurt? Where would I go?
"I will."
"I love her."
"I know."
I nodded. As long as he knew…it was enough that Potter knew. I locked eyes with the man I had spent nearly half my short life trying to beat, knowing that I would finally lose everything to him.
I sat up. I swallowed. "Do it."
He stepped up to me, the sword still at his side. "Malfoy, I don't know how to thank you…"
"You can thank me by making it quick," I answered curtly.
"I wish there was another way."
"So do I."
"I'm sorry."
"Just get on with it."
He nodded. "Is there anything else-?"
"JUST DO IT, POTTER!"
Gripping the sword with both hands he raised it high above his head, his knuckles white on the ruby-studded hilt. Endless seconds passed between us, our eyes locked, our lives hovering over a hell no one should ever know. Understanding, acceptance, and respect were shared and I nodded one last time, giving him his final permission. He let out an almighty roar, bringing it down. I slammed my eyes shut, wanting Hermione's face the last thing I would ever see…
A high-pitched scream rent the air and a loud thud was met by yelling and a clatter. I opened my eyes to see the Weasley girl and Longbottom standing above me, both of them covered in blood. Confused, I looked to the left and there Potter was sprawled, Hermione on top of him, the sword laying forgotten on the floor.
For a moment I couldn't think, all I could see was blood and a shaken Potter push Hermione over until she was on her back, crying out, her red-stained hands pressed to her side, trembling. Her robes were torn, the shirt underneath soaked black by the blood pouring out of a gaping wound…
"Draco!" she cried out, trying to sit up, her face twisted in agony. I shoved Potter aside and knelt next to her, my hands at the wound, attempting to hold it shut, to stem the blood. I was in a nightmare, it was happening all over again. I was dead, this was hell, it must be, I couldn't be losing her, not after everything…
"No," was all I was able to say, my mind blank with fear. There was so much blood…just like before…hypovolemic shock… "No, no you can't…Hermione…"
"Draco…" she sobbed, her tiny hands grabbing at my robes, her eyes, glazed with pain, meeting mine. "You don't…don't have to…I f-figured…argh!"
"Help her!" I screamed at the room at large, my eyes never leaving her, blood pouring down my front, just like before...
"We t-tried!" the red-haired girl sobbed, kneeling at her feet. "She-she took my wand and s-sealed the worst of it…b-but it won't stop…she had to come to you, she begged me!"
"Get her to the hospital wing," I snapped murderously. "St. Mungo's, anywhere. Get her help, get her out of here!"
"No!" Hermione cried, grasping at the front of my robes. "No, Draco, listen to me!"
"Longbottom, take her!" I shouted hysterically, my hands shaking so hard, squishing with the blood that ran between my fingers. I looked back up to her face, my hand brushing her hair back, smearing red.
"No, Draco, listen! There isn't much time," she begged, her eyes wild, her face deathly pale. "You don't have t-to die, you can get r-rid of the Horcrux b-by yourself…" she panted as if the words exerted her.
"What are you saying?" I asked weakly. My brain didn't seem to want to work through my fear induced fog.
"Remorse," she said, looking into my eyes. "Draco, you need to regret what…what you've done. Not only what you've done, but what Voldemort has done. You…you need to regret killing Snape, you n-need to regret…everything…let it fill you up. It's d-dangerous…it's never been done before, but the books say…I know it will work."
I looked up at the others who all looked just as confused as me. Was she addled from the wound?
"The only way a person can restore a piece of their soul…to their body…is by remorse," she explained, swallowing, her breaths choppy and shallow. "It's s-supposed to be so difficult it could... But if you can do this…if you can push him out…I think you can return Voldemort's soul to his b-body. You have a piece of him in you; you can use it to your ability. T-these pains you've been having…before each one…were you regretting something?"
I thought back, realization hitting me like a brick wall. "Yes…"
"Draco, you can do this," Hermione encouraged, pushing herself up against all of our protests, the rest of the color falling from her face, placing her ice-cold, blood-slick hand on my cheek. "I know it's in you. You can't let him take over. Push him out. Do it…for me."
I gazed down at her, broken and bleeding, but still saving my life, even after everything I'd done to push her away. How could I ever explain my feelings for her? I broke, grabbing her up and kissing her, drawing her strength, needing her near. Her lips moved so sweetly against mine, the feel of them like coming home. I shuddered, fear consuming me- for her, for my own life, for the entire damn world under the Dark Lord's reign. My fingers twisted in her curls as I dove into her mouth again and again, telling her without words what she meant, that I was doing this for her.
I pulled away when I was steady enough, resting my forehead against hers, looking into those familiar brown eyes.
"Stay with me," I pled, my voice cracking. There was so much blood… "Please. Promise you'll stay with me. You're all I have left."
She smiled, so beautiful I ached. "I will if you will."
I nodded. This was my last chance, if this didn't work…
No, Hermione was even now risking her life so that I might live. I could do this, I had to do this, for her, to show her that there was nothing I wouldn't do.
I took a steadying breath and allowed the dark to swallow me.
I could feel him; he was everywhere, taking over my body, my mind. I could see his eyes, those evil red slits that consumed me, that tried to take away everything I had ever wanted. I faced him and allowed myself to feel every nuance of guilt that had ever assailed me, remembered every horrible deed I had committed, every wrong choice, every atrocious endeavor…and I regretted it. I repented my every failing, lamented ever joining the Dark Lord. The anguish ripped through me, stronger than ever, threatening to undo me, to tear me at the seams. The dark rippled and I reached for it, trying to pull it out, but it burned, seared, slashed through me, dragging me under. I clawed up, toward the light, toward Hermione, gripping that black, pushing…pushing…
And it pushed back, shoving me mercilessly into the depths of that fire, a roaring filling my ears as flames pulled me down…down…down…
No, I refused to give up. She was waiting for me, she needed me. The pain devoured me until I could barely think. Get out, I told the dark. You don't belong here. I am better than you, you will never win.
A high, cold laugh filled me, shoving fear into my heart. Draco, Draco, you are me. You are no different than me. You strive for that power; you thirst for it as I do. I can give it to you. I can give you everything you've ever wanted, everything you deserve…
And then I could see me, standing there, above everyone, their backs bent, bowing to my strength and my splendor. Glory, such as I had never known. I could have it.
You will be rewarded above all others. Everything you have ever imagined will be yours. The patriarch of the Malfoy name, the finest of them all. You can do anything, have anything. I will even allow you to keep the Mudblood. That's what you want, isn't it? You want her, and you can have her. A mansion of your own where you can keep her and no one will ever say a word against you, because you are the word, the law. You will rule, Draco. By my side, there is nothing we cannot do. Together, we will conquer death, conquer life. Lord Malfoy…
I could see it, I could see it now. The pictures he painted, planted inside me…everything I'd ever wanted. No longer was I overshadowed by the man whom I could never please, but a world above, feared and admired by all. And Hermione…I could have Hermione…
But she would be holed away, shut out from her family and friends…how could I do that to her?
No, no he's a liar, he lies…
No, Draco. I am everything you have ever wanted. You can be that person.
No, no I don't want this, I don't want to be him. He ruins families, kills…I'M NOT THIS PERSON!
Yes, you are, Draco! Embrace it, embrace your future!
"NOOOOOO!"
I allowed thoughts of Hermione to fill me, thoughts of hope, of happiness, of the goodness I had deep inside me. The knowledge that I didn't have to be like this, that I had it in me to change, to be a better man. I allowed those thoughts to tear at that dark, the agony rendering me useless as the battle waged on. I felt myself slipping, my strength sapping beneath the fury of the Dark Lord…
"Draco listen to me, listen…I love you." A different voice, her voice, Hermione… "Please, please, you c-can do this, it will be alright. P-push him out, he doesn't belong there, he d-doesn't own you. Y-you're going to make it through this. Please…please, you h-have to make it through this. I need you, I need you here."
She was crying. Why was she crying? I had to get to her, to help her.
No, Draco! Do not listen to her! She lies, she wants to take away everything you've ever worked for!
No, no, Hermione never lied. She never lied to me. She always tried to help me, to save me. She loves me. And she needs me.
With one last roar, I filled my being with remorse, Severus' face as he fell floating in front of me. Sadness filled my heart at his loss and I envisioned myself raising the wand, saying the words, watching him drop, regretting, shoving that ball of black from me…
And dropped into the dark.
…
SheWolf4025: What an honor! I'm glad to have brought you into the folds of fandom!! I would love any insight you can give me. Feel free to email me at anytime, yourcookiedoughbaby at yahoo dot com. Thanks so much for the review, enjoy the rest of the story!

XOXO
RynStar15
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Always Mine