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Breaking the Chain	By : RynStar15 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 42453 -:- 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
- 31
- 32
- 33
Neville landed in the front hall of the Manor he'd battled at only weeks ago. He had only a moment to wonder where he should start to look for Harry when he heard shouts from above and bound up the staircase.
The scene that he came upon was one of utter devastation: dead bodies littered the ground, several Order members were waving their wands and muttering while still more were kneeling over a mangled body Neville quickly realized with a pang was Hermione. Everyone was talking, shouting, his presence ignored until he placed his hand on his former professor's shoulder.
Remus whipped around and started. "Neville! What in the world-?"
"I came to help Harry, Ginny said he was here," he said, gazing over the group for his friend.
"He was taken," the older man said, his face crestfallen. "By Voldemort."
Neville's heart fell. "When?"
"Only a moment ago, we've been trying to track him, but Severus was the only one who could-"
"Remus, we have to go," Arthur Weasley said shakily as he rose from where he'd bent over Hermione. "We've managed to re-start her heart but we can't wake her."
"Take her to the hospital wing," Remus said. "The Healers there can tend to her, then help the others. We have to find Harry."
One of the twins was helping lift Hermione into Ron's arms, both afraid to jostle her, and Neville's heart broke at the site.
"You can't," Arthur said sadly. "Severus said he has a block against his magic. He was only able to track Hermione and Draco because You-Know-Who wasn't there for the block to be effective."
Several men cursed as Ron and the twin Apparated away.
Neville's brow crinkled. "There may be a way around it," he said. "We've always known You-Know-Who to be predictable, haven't we? He always goes back to places he knows. He would do the same now, wouldn't he? He would want it to mean something when he killed Harry."
"But Neville, there are dozens of places he could go," Remus said. "It would be improbable to try to Apparate to every single one and search them in hopes he might have chosen that particular spot."
"We might not need to Apparate," he explained. "I can track magic now as well, my grandmother taught me. We come from a long line of Trackers, she's been working with me for over a year."
"You're a Tracker, Neville?" Bill Weasley said exasperatedly and they all looked at him in awe. Neville smiled proudly.
"Nan says I'm the most powerful one she's seen. I can sense a block if he's performed one. If we brainstormed, came up with places-"
"He could be anywhere in the world!" the other twin interjected. "As impressive as it is that you can track, Neville, by the time we found the right place-"
"He's right," Mad-Eye Moody said, eyeing him, the glass one boring into him uncomfortably. "Mr. Longbottom is onto something. Tom would take him somewhere he knows, somewhere meaningful."
"The house where Harry was born?" Charlie offered, his hand at his side. "Godric's Hollow?"
Remus looked at him and shrugged. "It's worth a try. Neville-?"
"On it," he said, closing his eyes and reaching into his power as his nan had taught him, feeling for the power in the room. It hit him like a wave, nearly barreling him back. The spells from the battle, so much death...
He reached further, thinking of the place he'd visited several times as a child. He could feel Voldemort's dark signature, imagined how it would taste. He brought the evil man to mind and reached for him, feeling for that slamming-headfirst-into-a-ceiling punch that accompanied being blocked from magic, but nothing was there.
He pulled himself out, panting. "I-didn't-feel-it," he said, hands on knees. "He's not there."
"Neville, are you alright?" Arthur asked, coming forward to place a hand on his back.
"Yeah, yeah, it's just-a lot of magic-has happened here," he said focusing on regulating his breathing. "Where else?"
"The orphanage where he grew up?" Tonks suggested.
And on they went, more places, more of battling through the magic until Neville was leaning heavily on the wall for support.
"Neville, you can't keep doing this," Remus said, looking concerned. "You're worn."
"We have-to find-him," he grated out. "It's easier to handle-the more I do it, I can defend against-most of it now. We have to keep trying."
"But where else could we try?" Bill asked. "I can't think of any place except Hogwarts that he shares a connection with Harry, and he won't go back to the battle."
The group pondered, all of them edgy. Neville recalled the day that Harry told them all that You-Know-Who was back, lying on the grass clutching Cedric's lifeless arm and a gleaming cup, howling into the night.
He snapped up, looking at the elder members. "Where did the cup take him?" he asked.
"Cup?" Kingsley asked. "What cup?"
"The Triwizard Cup! It was a portkey, right? Where did it take him?"
They all shared an excited glance. "The graveyard, the one where his father was buried," Remus stated.
"Has anyone been there?" Neville asked and Mad-Eye hobbled forward, his wand at his temple, drawing out a long silvery strand, and pressing it to Neville's. Instantly, a scene full of overgrown tombstones laid out before a terrifying stone statue of the Angel of Death came to him, a dark manor looming on a hill in the distance.
"Got it," he said, closing his eyes once more and bringing forth the image before pulling himself under once more, reaching for that power...
It hit him, like a physical blow to the chest. That was it, he felt the block, that's where he'd Apparated Harry to.
When he pulled out he staggered to the side, catching the wall as arms reached out to steady him. He gasped and held up his hand in an indication that he was alright.
"He's not there," he lied, knowing if he told them they'd all go tearing there to help. But Neville knew, as he'd known ever since he'd overheard that conversation, that this battle was for him and Harry alone.
The group groaned in defeat. Neville made a show of exhaustion and looked up. "I-I need a break, I need to go to Madame Pomfrey-maybe a Pepper-Up Potion..."
Remus nodded in consent. "We'll meet you there momentarily, Apparate straight outside the hospital wing, they'll let you in."
He nodded, knowing he didn't have long until they figured him out, and turned on the spot.
He landed in mud before the angel, sleet quickly drenching him. He saw them instantly, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named holding a screaming Harry to the ground with a spell.
“Impedimenta!”
The Dark Lord flew back and Neville sprinted to Harry's side.
“Neville?" Harry asked dumbfounded, looking up as he skid to his friend's side. "What are you doing here? Run, get out!"
“No, Harry!" Neville screamed, throwing up a Shield Charm as their opponent roared with fury. "I’m not leaving you! It could have been me and I won't let you suffer this alone. We’ll fight him together!”
Neville yanked Harry to his feet, steadying him as he tilted. He turned and began dueling the Dark Lord, holding him off, giving Harry time to collect himself. Sweat poured down Neville’s face as he slipped and slid across the wet grass, throwing spell after spell at the darkest wizard that had ever lived. Harry jumped quickly into the battle, the Dark Lord now having to fight two fronts.
Harry caught Neville's gaze with his eyes and nodded his head to each side, telling him to split up. The two boys spread out, making the distant targets harder to follow and used this to their advantage. Harry finally caught the Dark Lord with a Stunner and they watched him fly into a tombstone as Neville bombarded him with hexes his nan had shown him.
Voldemort screamed in pain under his assault and Harry added his own, breaking the evil wizard down. Suddenly, a white burst of light struck through the air knocking them back, Neville's head cracking on the stone angel behind him, slumping to the ground in a heap.
Disoriented, he fought to regain his footing but fell over, dazed, the dark wizard swimming before his vision as he narrowed in on Harry, screaming the Cruciatus Cuse at him and Harry's cries filled the air.
Neville knew he couldn't hit him with a curse, not with his vision dancing before him. With a roar, he ran forward and tackled the Dark Lord to the ground. He was promptly rewarded by being thrown from him, howling in pain as his entire body felt as though it had been drenched in molten lava.
“Stupefy!” Harry yelled from the ground as Neville thrashed in pain, gasping as the frozen rain cooled his heated skin minutely. He rolled to watch as the Dark Lord deflected Harry's curse and shot another at him wordlessly. The tombstone behind him shattered and Harry was forced to throw up a shield where the shards bounced off harmlessly. Harry thrust his wand at the wizard, causing the pieces to pelt his body and he yelled in pain while Harry set his robes on fire.
Roaring, the Dark Lord brought his hands down, expelling the stone and fire in a wave which funneled upwards before crashing down on Harry, surrounding him, lifting him from the ground. Neville cried out for his friend, crawling towards him, forcing his body up, struggling for the pair.
Neville aimed at the Dark Lord's back and cursed him to the ground, pinning him there as Harry fell and lay there unmoving. Terrified, Neville sprinted towards Harry as the Dark Lord threw off his spell and gained his feet and flew for Harry as well, a race for The Boy-Who-Lived.
“This ends now!” Voldemort screamed as Harry sat up shakily. “Avada Kedavra!”
"Nooooo!" Neville screamed harshly as the green light hit Harry, his body caught momentarily in his half-seated stance before slumping down onto the grass beneath him.
Neville jolted to a halt, the sight before him ceasing all thought, all action. Both wizards stared down at the crumpled man before them, neither of them believing...
He couldn't breathe as the Dark Lord crept forward slowly, stopping before the still body, one pale foot coming forward to lift his face from the sopping ground before letting it slap limply back down, Harry's sighttless eyes boring straight into Neville.
Neville broke at the terrifying confirmation. He'd failed his greatest friend. His knees gave out, unable to hold him over the devestation that tore through him at the Dark Lord's exalted cry. He closed his eyes, knowing his own death was eminent and welcoming it gladly, his shame too great to bear. With Harry gone, there was no way to stop Tom Riddle. He had allowed the world to be thrust into darkness because he hadn't been strong enough, fast enough...
The Dark Lord laughed jubilantly as his steps neared to where Neville had sank into the mud.
"What a brave friend you are, dear boy, to come to the aid of your friend. But you are a fool, thinking you could defeat me. I am Lord Voldemort, and I always win. Crucio!"
Neville screamed in pain as the spell which had stolen his parent's minds ripped through him and he quickly realized why. The agony was unbearable, but he embraced it gladly, the pain in his heart far greater.
He had no idea how long it went on, it felt an eternity, but finally the spell was lifted and he was left panting in the tall grass, tears coursing down his face. His entire body burned with pain as steps grew nearer and he felt the Dark Lord stop directly before him, flinching as his cold foot lifted his cheek as he had Harry's.
"Come, dear boy, open your eyes," his cold voice sang. "Open your eyes and look at what has become of The Boy Who Lived. Come, see him in his death."
Choking back a sob at his words, Neville opened his eyes unwillingly, staring into the face not ten meters from his, the face of their lost savior, the face that-
That just blinked.
Neville stared in amazement as Harry lifted a finger to his mouth, rising slowly to his feet.
It didn't matter that Neville hadn't said a word, the Dark Lord had caught the look on his face and whipped around.
The scream that rent the air was inhuman and Neville bolted to his feet, ignoring his protesting body as the Dark Lord raised his wand with a fury beyond words.
It happened in an instant that lasted forever. Harry took his feet as the Dark Lord charged, but Neville was faster, driven by the love he felt for his risen friend, by the knowledge that he was finally able to do what he had been put on this earth to do.
As Tom Riddle swung down his wand Neville dove, creating the only barrier he had against the most powerful curse ever known. He felt it strike, a swift blow, the green encompassing him until it was all he saw, devouring Harry's horrified anguish. But Neville met his eyes one last time, telling him wordlessly that it was alright, that this was the way it was always meant to be.
And then the darkness swallowed him and he felt no more.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Harry was screaming, he couldn't stop.
Neville had reached him too soon, he'd dived in front of Harry, using his body as a shield, moving so quickly that he was helpless to stop him from his unwanted sacrifice. Harry watched in horror as Neville slumped to the ground, glassy eyes staring up at him.
The rage in Harry at his friend's demise consumed him, enveloped him. This was it; this was the last person who would die for him.
Without even thinking, Harry hurled his power at Voldemort, his vision swimming with the faces of those he loved. He could see Ginny, sweet, loving, fiery Ginny. Hermione, strong and loyal. Ron, his best mate, his closest companion. He could see his parents and the Weasleys; Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, the Order. Neville, who lay lifeless at his feet, having given the ultimate sacrifice for him. He saw Cho and Luna, Seamus and Dean, Parvati in her Yule Ball robes. He even saw the Dursleys who hated him but had still taken him in. All these people and so many more had been there; all of them, when he had needed them the most, when he had needed someone to turn to.
This thing, this vile creature, had nothing. That was why Harry was stronger, that was why Harry would win.
Harry lifted the spell and walked forward, stepping over Neville’s still form to Voldemort where he lay on the grass shrieking in agony. Harry looked down at him, at this pathetic being. For the briefest moment he felt pity for the boy who had never known love, for the man who never would.
“You may be stronger, you may have more powers than I do. You may be older, swifter, more cunning. But it doesn’t matter, not anymore. Because I have the one thing you will never have, a magic you can never possess. Love is what thwarted you once, and it is what will end you, here, now, tonight. Say good-bye, Tom.”
He looked up at Harry, hate etched in every line of his sick face. He opened his mouth, but Harry had finished listening.
“Avada Kedavra!”

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Hermione stiffened.
“How did you escape?" she asked through clenched teeth.
Lucius chuckled coldly. "You should have killed me after all."
Hermione’s gut clenched. She shouldn’t have let her anger get the better of her; she should have just killed him instead of enacting her own childish revenge.
“Where is Harry?" she snapped. "What have you done with him?”
The slow laugh, which made Hermione’s blood run cold, rang through her body. She knew he would be sneering at her as his son had done so many times before.
“Come with me, my dear.”
Hermione could see out of the corner or her eye as George spotted them and tugged on Fred’s sleeve who turned. Lee Jordan followed their gaze and the three men ran towards her, wands gripped in their hands. They wouldn’t try anything, not at their distance in case they hit her, but she knew Lucius would kill them all without a second thought.
“Yes,” she answered quickly and the last thing she saw before she was whipped away was the boys sending Stunners at them, but they were already gone.
Hermione’s feet hit the ground and she buckled, falling into Lucius who pushed her from him. She hit the floor and when she looked up his wand was pointing at her, malice in every inch of his face.
“You needn’t have brought me here to kill me. It would have been just as easy out on the field,” she stated.
“Oh, I don’t wish to kill you, Miss Granger. Not yet, anyway.”
“Where’s Harry?” she demanded, her only thought on her best friend.
Lucius threw his head back and laughed cruelly, his silver-blonde hair cascading down his back where it had fallen from its leather thong. Nonchalantly, he walked passed her towards a cabinet by a roaring fireplace where he drew out a crystal bottle full of amber liquid. Hermione recognized the drawing room in the Malfoy Manor where Draco had switched their bodies, where he had given his life for her and her heart would have broken if it wasn't already.
Hermione thought about rising but stayed where she was, too exhausted in mind and body to get to her feet.
“Where is he?” she all but yelled to the floor when his silence became too much to bear. Lucius turned to her and sneered.
“You and he are so alike it is sickening. Have you learned nothing since your soiree at the Ministry?” Glass in hand he stalked to her and knelt down, pressing his lips to her ear. She forced herself to stay still, to hold her ground, even as his breath ghosted her skin, making her crawl. “Sometimes, things are not always as they seem, my dear. You see, people do indeed lie in this world.”
“Not people with consciences!” she ground out, disgusted at herself for falling for his obvious ploy.
His teeth bit into her lobe sending terrified shivers down her back. “I never claimed to have one.”
He stood again and swirled his drink before bringing it to his lips. Hermione wanted to smash the gleaming crystal into his face over and over until its icy demeanor was nothing but bloody slivers.
“You are going to help me find my son,” he stated, glaring down at her.
It was Hermione's turn to sneer. “Your son is dead, you sick bastard!”
Her heart clenched painfully at the words. She wasn’t going to survive this. Every moment she spent in this cold world without Draco was destroying her.
Lucius' face twisted angrily. “I do not believe you. You see, I doubt your conscience. You claim people with consciences do not lie, and yet here you are, spreading untruths. Your own conscience seems to have been tainted. Why, otherwise, would you have betrayed your best friend so you could soil yourself with my son?”
Hermione’s fists clenched. She heard a creak behind her but she did not turn, not caring if she were about to be surrounded. “Because I loved him.”
“Love is for the weak,” he drawled.
“Then maybe I am.”
His face contorted. “Fool! I could kill you now!”
“I am not afraid of death. Not anymore.”
She realized for the first time how true those words were. A month ago she had been terrified of the unknown. Now however, when her time came, she would embrace it willingly. Draco would be there, he would welcome her with open arms and they could finally be together...
Lucius was glaring daggers at her. “You will get him back.”
“I can’t.”
Her head whipped to the side, popping her neck painfully as his hand cracked against her cheek.
“Even if he is dead you will. You have a Time Turner, that's how you two had your little adventure, isn't it?”
“Your son broke it.”
He stilled. “You can obtain a new one. You will go back and undo what was done.”
“I can’t, you broke the rest in the Department of Mysteries.”
Smack! Hermione fell to the side with the strength of the blow and she was forced to prop herself up on her hand. She felt her aching cheek with cold fingertips and saw blood on them when she pulled them away.
His heel came down on her bare shin, snapping the bones easily. She screamed in anguish and clutched at her leg which was pinned beneath his weight.
“You can and you will or I will kill everyone you know, everyone you have ever loved. Why, even Australia will not be safe from my wrath.”
Hermione blanched. Her parents. He knew, just as Voldemort had known.
“You will have to kill me first,” she grunted through the pain.
He smirked evilly. “I assure you, I will. In due time. However, now is not the time. You see, I may not have Potter, but I do hold some leverage.”
The weight was lifted and the pain in her leg intensified to an alarming height and she gasped in an effort not to scream, her eyes welling.
Draco's sire snapped his fingers and Hermione looked up. Two masked men were dragging in a screaming and fighting bundle.
“Ginny!” she shouted, horrified. Hermione tried to push herself to her feet but was blasted backwards into a display of dark objects. Glass and wood rained down on her as she fell to the floor with a cry.
Hermione raised herself shakily to her elbows, her back searing with the effort of looking up at the older man. “L-let her go…”
“You are not in a position to make demands, my dear. Crucio!”
Hermione heard the younger girl's shrieks and her heart twisted. She threw Lucius to the wall much as he had to her and cast the same spell as he had cast upon her friend, holding him down as he writhed and yelled.
Before she knew what was happening, she was being lifted to her feet by a pair of strong hands.
“That's enough, Hermione,” the owner said. Hermione fought the bonds but they tightened, dragging her away. She looked towards Ginny who was on the floor with George bending over her, Lee holding the two men whe'd held her captive with his wand. Hermione looked up into the deep blue eyes of Fred who was picking her up, swinging her legs under one arm while the other cradled her back.
"Lucius-"
"We'll take care of him," Lee said, the two men slumping to the floor before he Banished them to the holding cell.

"No," she snapped, attempting to pull herself from Fred's arms but he held her still. "No, he's mine-"
"Hermione, stop," Fred said, his arms tightening like a vise as George pulled Ginny to her feet.
"He'll go to the Dementors. It's what he deserves."
"No, he has to die, he has to-"
But he was spinning and they were whirled away against her screaming protests. He landed outside the hospital wing even as Hermione shoved at him. George landed beside them with Ginny and Hermione was finally able to wrench herself from the twin's arms.
“Ginny!" she cried, grabbing for her friend and yanking her into her arms. "Are you alright?”
She pulled the younger girl away to look at her and she nodded. “I'll be fine.”
Hermione's face fell at the pain she saw in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Gin, it’s all my fault-”
“No, Hermione, it’s not. You can’t blame yourself for everything.”
Guilt wracked through her despite her friend's words. Fred came up from behind her and took her arm.
"Come on, Hermione, we need to get you to the Healer's," he said gently, wrapping her arm around his neck and taking her weight. She began to protest but someone whipped around the corner and they all rounded, raising their wands or, in Hermione's case, her hand.
“Dad!” Ginny screamed.
“Ginny! Oh, Ginny!” Arthur ran and swept his daughter off her feet where she met him. The older man fell to his knees, bringing Ginny down with him. George ran to them and wrapped his arms around them both. Hermione could feel Fred itching to get to them so she lifted his arm off her and pushed him forward.
“Go,” she urged. He looked down at her leg.
“Are you sure?” He seemed split between wanting to help her and wanting to go to his family. She nodded. He grinned at her and kissed her forehead before running and skidding to a halt at the small mass of Weasleys. Hermione looked on in envy, her heart as cold as her body.
She sank to the floor, her energy depleted, the pain consuming her. She heard more voices, more people banging into the hall.
“Hermione!” Tonks cried as she ran up the hall and lifted her off the ground, throwing her arm around her shoulders as Fred had so she could stand her upright. Her hair was black and straight, her eyes the same color, the battle having stolen her magenta locks.
“Harry?” Hermione croaked.
She smiled at her then nodded to the entrance of the corridor. Hermione turned.
He was there, surrounded by the Order, beaten, battered, and a more wonderful sight than she could hardly imagine. The Weasleys on the floor cried out but he walked passed them slowly, his steps measured and heavy, his eyes locked on Hermione.
“Harry,” she whispered. He was there, in front of her, alive. “Is he…?”
“He’s gone. It’s over. It's over, Hermione.”
And then he was yanking her from Tonk's grasp, holding her up, her body having given out. She cried harshly and she could tell by the heaving of his body that he was as well. Arms surrounded them and she didn't have to look up to know that Ron was there, holding them, his own tears splashing down onto her face as she lifted a hand to grab him and hold him against her.
It was over, done, finished. The one thing she had wished for since Harry had described what he'd seen beneath Professor Quirrell's turbin. They could finally have peace.
And yet she felt no joy.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

XOXO
RynStar15
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