Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Beyond the Pale	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 81374 -:- Recommendations : 11 -:- Currently Reading : 17
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does, lucky woman. I make no money from this, which is probably why I'm poor as a church mouse.

Chapter List
- 38
- 39
- 40
“We have to go,” Draco whispered into the morning light.

Hermione sucked in a worried breath and held him closely. They’d spent the rest of the night making love in their father’s living room while their family did the same. The party at the club had been nice, a chance to cut loose and be themselves with their friends. But it didn’t compare to reaffirming their bond with their family. Now they had run out of time.

“I love you,” Hermione whispered.

Draco gave her a weak smile and kissed her tenderly. “I love you more than words can say. When the time comes, polyjuice into me and send the signal. I’ll meet you just beyond the ward line at the edge of the thicket.”

Hermione nodded, unable to speak at the moment. Severus and Melody exchanged vows of love, well wishes, and similar instructions for when they would trade off. It would be dangerous; maybe down right deadly, but it was the only way. They had to get the entire Order over the wards as quickly and quietly as possible so they could have the best chance of a surprise attack. That was what would give them the edge.

Hermione held on to Alex with Melody and Nancy as they watched Draco and Severus dress in their Death Eater garb and apparate away. It hit Hermione hard then. This was it. The end. Today, they would either win or lose. Harry would ultimately lose so everyone else could win. It was all she could do to keep the tears at bay. There was no time for those.

“We have to go to headquarters,” Melody whispered. “We have to prepare.”

“We’re coming with you,” Alex said. “You aren’t in any shape to go alone.”

Melody sniffled and nodded. They both knew he was right. They apparated to the edge of Grimmauld place, waiting for the house to appear. It looked like they weren’t the only ones. Several straggling members of the Order were arriving in twos and threes, following in behind them. When they entered, they immediately sought out the attic where Buckbeak resided. He wasn’t the best company, but he was loads better than the thriving mass of humanity teeming below.

A few minutes later, the attic door swung open to admit Harry. “Thought I’d find you up here.”

“Sorry, Harry,” Hermione said weakly. “Too many smells.”

Harry wrinkled his nose. “I actually know what you mean. I have to question whether half of them have had a proper bath in weeks.”

Hermione giggled and drew her best friend into a hug. She breathed in his smell: chocolate biscuits, pumpkin juice, and lightening. Suddenly, she didn’t want to let go anymore. Harry had been with her through thick and thin. She didn’t want him to have to die.

Harry patted her back. “I know. I’ll miss you too.”

Hermione bit back a sob. “Have you told anyone?”

Harry shook his head. “I know it will be harder… in a way. I want to say goodbye but…”

“You can’t risk anyone stopping you,” Hermione whispered.

Harry nodded. “Hermione… can I ask a favor?”

Hermione blinked rapidly to quell her tears. “Anything.”

“I… I wrote everyone letter. I know, not like me at all. But I couldn’t leave it. Could you… see that they get them… after?”

Hermione nodded and cleared her throat. “Of course Harry. Anything you wish.”

Harry laughed bitterly. “I wish there was another way… or more time.”

Hermione smiled sadly. “I’m afraid not.”

Harry frowned. “Are you scared?”

“Terrified,” Hermione squeaked.

Harry nodded. “Glad I’m not the only one.”

“No Harry,” Melody said softly. “You aren’t the only one.”

Harry nodded again. “Right. Well… everyone knows you’re up here but they won’t dare bother you. Mrs. Weasley still thinks your attack has made you shy around people. She has threatened everyone with Fred and George’s pranks if they try to come see you.”

Hermione let out an incredulous laugh. “She did what?”

Harry grinned. “Never thought I’d see the day but she says they are quite effective. No one really wants to be stuck with sparkling bits or look like a purple pigmy puff for hours.”

Hermione’s lip twitched into a semblance of a smile. “No, I suppose not.”

“Well,” Harry sighed. “I suppose this is it.”

“Harry!” Hermione called as he turned. He frowned, a worried look in his eyes. “I love you Harry.”

Harry sighed and pulled her in for another hug. “I love you, too, Mione.”

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“It’s time,” Melody said hollowly.

Hermione nodded and got up from her pallet in the floor. She’d been trying to meditate and failing miserably. Not even visits from Ginny, Ron, or the twins helped. Her mind was on Draco. Was he okay? Were they torturing him? Were they on to them? Was their plan foiled? Would they be there?

“Keep those thoughts up and you’ll drive yourself crazy,” Melody sighed.

Hermione quirked a brow. “And you aren’t thinking them?”

“Guilty,” Melody sniffed.

Hermione gave her a hug and gathered the parcel of letter Harry had dropped off a few minutes prior. She carefully spelled them with a time activated charm to become an illegal portkey. That way, no matter what happened, they would go to their recipients. She wasn’t sure she’d return, but she’d be damned if she didn’t keep her promise to Harry.

Melody placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Come on. We have to go.”

They trudged downstairs with a numbness she hadn’t felt since the fight at the Ministry. After a pointed glance at Harry, who had his arms wrapped around Ginny’s waist, they disappeared into the night. Alex and Nancy port keyed with them to the outskirts of the manor and shifted into bats, taking a high branch so they could scout the place. They would sound an alarm if they sensed anyone coming. It was a comforting thought, but still nerve wracking because it put them in danger.

Hermione and Melody quickly donned their mate’s clothing and downed the polyjuice. They’d still need to switch clothes, but at least they wouldn’t be nude. Not wanting to tarry, they shifted into mist and floated to the rendezvous point. Mist wouldn’t be suspicious on such a gloomy night. Even with snow covering the ground, the clouds blocked the moon’s light. There were no silvery reflections this night. It was a murky existence.

After several tense moments, two shadows seemed to bleed from the house, creeping over the snow drifts and merging with the mist. The shadows and mist crept slowly back into the forest where they blended into the scenery. Only then did they change back. Severus and Draco scarcely had a second to breathe before they were knocked to the ground by their overly happy mates. They did nothing to stop them from cuddling for long minutes.

“Alright,” Severus finally said as he gently pushed Melody backwards. “We haven’t much time.”

Hermione reluctantly backed away from Draco. “Where are you supposed to be?”

Draco sneered. “I was just putting the finishing touches on my gift for my Lord.”

Hermione flinched at the venom in his voice. Sensing that he was making her uncomfortable, he softened and drew her into his arms. She melted, happy to feel him once more. She felt strange, hugging him in his likeness. She wondered if he thought it was too. Severus was doing the same and it looked quite silly. A giggle escaped her.

“Yes I realize it is rather amusing little one,” Severus sighed. “Unlike Draco, I merely excused myself to the loo. You’ll need to hurry. In fifteen minutes time, the Dark Lord will call his elite to his table. He’ll huff and puff for a bit and then the lower ranks will join him. Hermione, do you still have the necklace?”

Hermione nodded and took the silver chain off her neck. “I thought I’d wear it on my wrist. It will just look like a small fidget rather than an attempt to stop myself from choking or something when I go to activate it. I thought the less attention I drew to myself, the better.”

“Quite brilliant,” Draco mused. “Be sure not to look the Dark Lord in the eyes.”

“Think I can’t take him?” Hermione said sharply.

Draco smirked. “I know you can… but it’s more of a respectful mannerism. Well, more like fearful. No one willingly looks the Dark Lord in the eyes.”

“Except my crazy mate,” Melody muttered.

“And so must you, my love,” Severus sighed. “Don’t press your luck, but if he motions that he wants to see your eyes, you give them to him.”

Melody nodded. “I just hope those planted false memories hold.”

“They must,” Severus said. “We’ve more than likely overstayed our welcome. Best hurry along.”

“I love you,” Melody said, her voice high pitched.

Severus flicked his wand at her throat and then kissed her, which was an odd picture. “Say it again.”

“I love you.”

This time, it came out in Severus’s rich baritone. He smirked and flicked his wand again, switching his dress robes for her practical trousers, shirt, and cloak. “I love you too. Forever.”

Hermione stood stock still as Draco altered her voice and switched her clothes as well. Then she rushed forward and kissed him fiercely before backing up and whispering, “I love you always.”

Draco smiled and held her hand, wrapping the silver chain carefully on her wrist. “I love you eternally.”

“Time to go,” Melody said authoritatively, flinching when her deep voice broke.

“I’m coming,” Hermione drawled, eyes widening when Draco’s smooth purr escaped her lips.

She and Melody quickly melted into the shadows and raced back to the Manor. Shadows were safer since the Manor was drenched in them. They crept to their separate locations, known only through extensive drilling of the layout of Malfoy Manor. Hermione shifted back to her, or Draco’s, form in the room where he kept the vanishing cabinet stored. She ran her hands over the magical artifact, feeling the pulse of magic in it. She and Draco had spent hours repairing it and still more working on his casting of a patronus so they could seal it. Now she was glad they had. It would serve as a means of escape.

It’s time.

Hermione shuddered as Voldemort’s voice slithered into the room. It was the last visible reaction she would allow herself to have. Any others would get her killed and there was too much riding on this to jeopardize it with fear. She didn’t fear death. She’d already faced it once. Though she hoped desperately to spend her eternity with Draco by her side, if giving her life helped the cause, it was worth it. It was why she was a vampire in the first place.

She had to fight back the urge to let her jaw hang like a besotted fool. The dining room was as amazingly beautiful as it was sinister. She could tell that before the Dark Lord had inhabited the place, it was splendid. Beautiful woven tapestries covered the walls. A rich green rug covered the floor. A dining table large enough to seat an entire army was dead center. Paintings littered the walls, all bearing some member of the Malfoy family. Most looked haughty, sitting ramrod straight in their portraits. Draco had told her that they did that for fear of being soaked with turpentine. Not even portraits defied Voldemort.

She faltered in taking her seat for only a moment, remembering at the last minute that Draco’s place was in between his parents. Lucius was already seated but Narcissa hadn’t arrived yet. Luckily, Bellatrix had and she was thankful that Draco made sure she remembered the fact that the Black sisters always sat next to each other. It was a pureblood tradition. She fought the urge to tap her wrist and call in the cavalry, especially when Dolohov slid in the seat across from her. It was all she could do to keep stay in her seat and keep a passive face. She wanted nothing more than to leap across the table and break his neck. She vowed to get revenge later. Never again would she allow anyone to lord over her… except for her mate and her family, and only when she agreed.

She allowed herself to view her father, Melody, who was sneering in disgust as she impassively watched Bellatrix bounce in her seat like an overeager puppy. She imagined her real father would look precisely the same. Melody was a true master. She sat ramrod straight and still managed to look bored. Hermione felt like a frightened clown next to her, but then again, Draco said that a little nervousness was to be expected. He’d not been able to contain it the last time he’d had an audience with the Dark Lord. It wouldn’t do to suddenly lose that.

Before she could second guess her acting, Narcissa slid in next to her and patted her hand. It was very subtle. She doubted the others had caught the gesture. She had mixed emotions. On one hand, Narcissa still had an intense dislike of muggles, despite not agreeing with the Dark Lord’s solution. On the other hand, she was still Draco’s mother, the woman who had raised him and taught him to love. She decided to twitch her hand ever so slightly so Narcissa would understand that Draco still loved her.

Thankfully, that was all the older woman needed to withdraw her hand. She notice Lucius twitching ever so slightly but couldn’t think on it. The Dark Lord had chosen that precise moment to enter. Her first instinct was to fall to her knees, forehead on the floor, and cringe. He exuded power that her submissive nature recognized immediately. Her second instinct was to hold her breath. While she felt the darkness surrounding him calling to her like a drug, he smelled of death. Her third thought was to rush him and kill him before he could get another word out. The bastard had taken almost everything from her and she didn’t want him to take any more.

She did none of those things. Instead she bowed her head with the rest of the room and waited for him to bask in the adoration and fear of his subjects. She suppressed the urge to bear her fangs in defiance. Just being near him made her chest ache. When he sat down, she let out a gentle stream of air. He didn’t feel so imposing when he was seated, not that it mattered. The bastard would die tonight.

“Thank you for joining me my friendsssss,” Voldemort hissed.

It grated on her ears and her nerves. Friends her arse. Voldemort had never had a friend. She felt pity for Bellatrix in that moment. She had such adoration in her eyes and all Voldemort’s held was cruel hatred and a lust for power. Then she was disgusted with herself for having such a thought. Bellatrix had made her bed. Now she had to lie in it. She wondered for the millionth time in a minute how the men were faring. They would have started pulling Order members over almost immediately after dinner started. Had Voldemort checked the list before he left?

“Ahhh… young Draco,” Voldemort purred.

Hermione almost jumped out of her skin, but managed to control herself. “Yes My Lord?”

“Lucius tells me that you had arranged for a guest to join us. Where are they?”

“I apologize My Lord,” she said, trying to inflict as much sorrow as she could. “I had thought to bring someone you would approve of, but I realized none are worthy of such an honor as to dine with you.”

Voldemort chuckled cruelly. “And might I ask who you thought to bring?”

“Forgive me, My Lord, but I had thought to bring Daphne Greengrass. However, I learned that while she supports you fully, her family is somewhat neutral. I know My Lord does not tolerate such indecision.”

Hermione felt her skin crawl as she simpered. It was the story they had decided upon, the one least likely to get her killed. Pansy was too much of a snitch to say it was her. Millicent was too damned ugly and the other girls in Slytherin didn’t have family in the upper ranks of Death Eaters. The Greengrasses were neutral for the most part but Daphne was not. She had confided in Draco, under the compulsion of the vampire, that she was vehemently against the Dark Lord but dare not say a word. Her family was in enough danger as it was. She would fight with the Order tonight and had agreed to let Draco use her as an alibi.

“I ssssee…” Voldemort drawled. “You were correct to think that. The Greengrassessss are a disgrace to their kind, sitting on the fence. However, I am mosst pleassssed to learn that their young daughter holdsss our viewsss. I wish to meet her during our next meeting.”

“As you wish, My Lord,” she said reverently. She knew better than to relax though.

“However,” Voldemort said darkly. “You still sought a boon in which you had no authority to take.”

“I’m sorry My Lord,” she said quickly, noticing that he was starting to level his wand on her. “I had thought to earn it with a gift.”

Voldemort paused. “A gift?”

She nodded. “Yes My Lord. I have completed the artifact to carry out the first part of the task which you appointed to me. I had thought to demonstrate its use after our meal… if it pleases you.”

Voldemort caressed his wand for a few long minutes, thinking carefully over her words. She was terrified but resolved to the fact that she would take a hex. No amount of groveling ever absolved anyone of their punishment in the eyes of the Dark Lord. Still, it might make the punishment bearable.

“It does pleasssse me,” Voldemort drawled at last. “However, it was too bold of you. CRUCIO!”

Hermione immediately scooted her chair back and fell freely to the floor. Not only would it appear that the spell affected her harder than it had, it would give her a chance to put her hands in front of her mouth to place a glamour on her teeth. Severus had explained in depth how the cruciatis made a vampire instinctively bow up to protect their self. She moaned at the pain, trying to hold in her scream. Draco hadn’t screamed from this punishment the last few times he’d been held under and it would look suspicious now.

Her blood was on fire. She hadn’t experienced pain like this since her turning. She was both immensely glad and insanely angry that she was a vampire now. She wouldn’t break, but with each wave of agony, her bloodlust increased. She wanted to rip the throat out of everyone in the room and bathe in their scorched smelling blood. She wanted… it to end. She was going to kill him.

Before she could strike, Voldemort ended the spell and lowered his wand. “I believe that young Draco hasss learned hisss lesson. You will sssseek favor before claiming your boon, will you not?”

“Y-y-yes M-m-my L-l-lord,” Hermione managed to stutter as she rolled from her fetal position in the floor knelt at his feet. While the tyrant basked in her groveling, she retracted her fangs and clicked her tongue ring as quietly as she could to provide a much needed pick me up. Peach cobbler flooded her tongue and she silently thanked the twins. They had saved her again.

“Reclaim your ssseeat,” Voldemort drawled, amusement thick in his voice.

Hermione scrambled back to the table, not wanting to draw his ire any further. Besides, watching his youngest recruit scuttle away with in fear with pain in his eyes would placate him for a while. If he was on a high, then he might overlook what was happening outside. She kept her head down but risked catching Melody’s eyes. Her mother wearing her father’s face looked impassive but if one studied her eyes, they could see it. She was ready to murder the son of a bitch. Watching her child suffer… not cool.

Hermione’s head swam as Voldemort began relaying information to each of his Death Eaters, taunting them and doling out punishments. In a way, she felt better that she wasn’t the only one punished. In fact, she seemed to have gotten the lightest treatment of all. Not even Melody managed to make it unscathed, though she was only held under for a few seconds due to lack of pertinent information.

Every nerve in her body seemed to come alive when Voldemort motioned for the others to join them. This was it. As soon as all the Death Eaters entered the room, the Order would strike. Her mind spun off in a million different directions. Had Draco and Severus managed to get them all across? How would they sneak in? Had Voldemort sensed them yet? For that matter, had Lucius. Draco said that he’d remember when it was time. How soon would that be? A glance at the man who had tried to kill her more than once confirmed that he had noticed something off, though he couldn’t obviously put a finger on it. He could feel the wards but he didn’t dare upset Voldemort by pointing it out.

Once everyone was inside the room, Hermione made her move. She touched the silver pendant and hoped that they would get there before her polyjuice ran out. By her calculations, she only had maybe fifteen more minutes until her cover was blown. They hadn’t packed anymore, just in case someone decided to check their pockets. Besides, drinking from a flask would have been suspicious.

“Ah, my friendssss,” Voldemort drawled slowly. “I am sssso glad you could join ussss.”

Hermione bit back a sneer. He was glad alright, glad that he had more people to torture. His red eyes gleamed with cruel joy as he singled out yet another person he thought had failed him. Hermione averted her eyes as one woman begged for mercy and noticed Lucius was looking more and more agitated. Had he realized what was going on?

Lucius caught her eye, his own narrowing in suspicion. She couldn’t stop the smirk that played over her features. Old Lucy had finally figured it out. He opened his mouth to speak but before he could utter a word, Hermione cast a silent wandless spell to render him mute. The angry redness that spread over his face was worth every minute of punishment she would get if others caught on.

“Silence!” Voldemort roared as the woman begging for mercy began blubbering in earnest.

Hermione heard it then, though she knew no one else had. Voices, whispers to be exact. They were headed in different directions, so they could swing around and enter at two different points. Several thumps let her know that they were silently taking the guards out before they could call out. The Death Eaters would be sitting ducks.

“My Lord,” Yaxley cried, noticing Lucius trying ferociously to un-hex his mouth.

“What?” Voldemort hissed as he spun around. He was about three seconds from killing the poor groveling woman at his feet.

“My Lord, something is happening,” Yaxley said, pointing to Lucius.

Voldemort flicked his wand, muttering a counter curse for Hermione’s hex. Before Lucius could speak, the doors burst open and curses flew. Hermione and Melody hit the floor, turning into shadows and racing along the floor until they could get to the other side of the room. They appeared feet from their mates, yanking their wands out and joining in the blaze.

“TRAITORS!” Bellatrix roared.

“You should ask Lucius how we got here,” Harry cat called.

Before Lucius could get two words out, the Dark Lord struck him down with Severus’s patented slicing hex across the throat. He fell to the floor, gasping for air as he bled out. Hermione wondered if Draco felt a pang for his father, but his steely eyes remained cool and collected as he watched him gurgle. No, no regrets for him. Hermione threw several hexes, laying out Yaxley as he tried to curse Ginny. There were so many people jam packed into the space that maneuvering was almost impossible. Still, she managed to spot Narcissa running for cover in another part of the house.

People poured out the doors but there would be no leaving the Manor. Draco bellowed the anti-disapparation charm to keep everyone from simply apparating away. Hermione felt her skin start to bubble. Not now! The polyjuice was wearing off. She’d be incapacitated for a few minutes until she turned back. Draco tucked her behind him, right next to Melody. He and Severus paired off, blocking hexes and curses from reaching them as they began the painful transformation back.

Hermione could scarcely breathe as she watched the battle, helpless to do anything until her body shifted back. She was about half way through the turning when she saw Percy being struck down by Wormtail. Remus let out an unearthly howl and sliced both of Wormtail’s arms off with a perfectly aimed severing charm. Hermione thought she might start crying but there wasn’t time to process it. All around, her friends were falling. The Death Eaters might have been surprised, but they were deadly.

She felt the last of her bones click into place. After a quick charm to tailor her clothes, she sprang into action, felling everyone in her path with whatever curse she could think of. Death Eaters fell in droves as her rage burned hotly. She blasted two away from Sirius before knocking a third out before they could get a bead on Ginny. She saw Dolohov running towards the back stairs and made to chase him but Draco grabbed her arm.

“We’ve got to find Nagini. Come on.”

They took off like a shot, up the stairs to the east wing where Voldmort had been staying while ducking and dodging stray hexes. Draco had carefully inquired about the Dark Lord’s whereabouts all week, garnering at least that much information. Hermione hadn’t realized the snake wasn’t present at dinner. It was an odd move, but then again, Nagini was as precious as she was deadly and there was no sense in risking her.

“Where do you think she is?” she hissed as she followed her mate up yet another flight of stairs and hopped over a missing step.

“His rooms,” Draco growled, taking a sharp left at the third floor landing. “I managed to sneak over here this morning. He’s got her in a protective bubble. The others say he’s been getting increasingly paranoid. He must have sensed the other artifacts being destroyed.”

He skidded to a stop in front of a room that practically glowed with power and extra wards.

Hermione’s eyes widened. “We’ll never break through all that.”

Draco chuckled. “Too cocky.”

Hermione was about to ask what he meant but Draco whipped out a dagger and sliced his hand with it. He put it in the center of the door. The wards fell away and she gasped in awe.

“He forgot that this entire house was founded on blood magic. Not even his strongest wards will counter it. It’s too old… too engrained in the building.”

“Thank Merlin,” Hermione muttered.

“Stay back,” Draco warned as the door clicked open. “She could be anywhere.”

Hermione took a deep breath and pulled out something she’d packed in her pocket, the Sorting Hat. She didn’t know if this would work or not, but it was worth a shot. She desperately needed the Sword of Gryffindor.

An angry hiss sounded out from the corner of the room. Draco hissed back. “Got ya.”

“She’s surrounded by magic,” Hermione warned.

Draco nodded. “Let’s get cracking then.”

They quickly put up a barrier spell to keep the snake from moving out of the way and started breaking the hexes in tandem. If they could have felt heat, they’d be dripping with sweat from the sheer amount of magic in the room. It had to have been several degrees warmer from the impact of all of them. Nagini charged the barrier over and over, trying to find a weak point. She broke through several times but they put another barrier up and started working again. Finally, the shimmering bubble around the snake broke down.

“Got it,” Draco snarled before casting the killing curse.

Nagini absorbed the spell, snapping it up in her jaws before shuttering and hissing again.

“Fuck,” Draco spat as he tried several slicing and dismembering charms but it didn’t work.

“Oh please help,” Hermione pleaded with the hat. “It’s the only way.”

The hat felt heavier all the sudden and she desperately reached inside, her hand sliding around the hilt of the sword. She cried out in relief and yanked the sword out, brandishing it above her head. She charged Nagini, moving too quickly for the snake to strike and promptly sliced the blade across her neck. Nagini’s head rolled off her body with a sickening thud before disintegrating into ash.

“Thank Merlin,” Draco breathed before scooping Hermione up into his arms.

“We have to keep moving,” she said, kissing him quickly before breaking apart.

Draco nodded and fell into step behind her. They raced downstairs in the blink of an eye, not caring who saw them. The time for hiding their true nature was long gone. They had to use every advantage.

“Duck!” Harry screamed as a green curse came hurdling towards them.

Hermione and Draco slid down into the floor, falling down a few stairs from their momentum before popping back up into a massacre. Dead and wounded bodies littered the floor. They jumped over them, careful not trip, and went to work.

“It’s done!” Hermione called.

Harry clenched his jaw and nodded before bellowing. “TOM RIDDLE!”

Fighting ceased in that moment. No one had expected Harry to call out his foe. Voldemort looked weak, shaking with wild eyes as he stalked out into the middle of the dining hall.

“Harry Potter,” he drawled. “Have you come to die?”

“Just you and me Tom,” Harry said in a steely voice.

Voldemort gave a mocking bow. “As you wish. No one interfere. I want to kill Potter myself.”

Harry looked over Voldemort’s shoulder to Hermione. “You promised.”

Hermione nodded. “It will be done regardless of whether I walk out of here tonight or not.”

Harry nodded. “Thank you Hermione. You’ve been a true friend.”

Hermione bit back a sob and leaned into Draco’s chest.

“Ssso you know,” Voldemort chuckled. “This is the end.”

Harry smirked. “Oh, it’s the end all right.”

Voldemort scoffed. “Your mentor thought the same.”

Harry looked over to the corner where Dumbledore lay crumpled in a heap. Hermione let a solitary tear fall for him. The old Headmaster probably sacrificed himself to spare someone else. He probably didn’t even think twice. He was slated to die anyway. At least this way, neither Draco nor Severus would have to become murderers. No, this was better. She made a mental note to make sure he had a fine burial… if she survived.

Harry sighed. “He was a brave man, Tom. He died a hero.”

“Bah,” Voldemort sneered. “A hero. Such sentimental nonsense.”

The next moment went in slow motion. Voldemort raised his wand and shouted the killing curse. Hermione saw every agonizing second of it, including the part where Harry put his wand down and let it hit him. Agonized shrieks and joyous shouts filled the room. It took everyone a few minutes to realize that Voldemort was on his knees, weakened by the death of his last Horcrux. Hermione warred between horror and satisfaction that the tyrant would finally die.

Voldemort released a cruel chuckle as he came to himself. “Surrender! Surrender and I will have mercy.”

Hermione was about to step up and say something but someone beat her to it. Her heart swelled with pride as Neville Longbottom stepped into the center.

“Never,” Neville said loudly. “We will never cower to you.”

“Your champion is dead,” Voldemort sneered.

Neville’s eyes watered as he looked at the crumpled form of Harry. “Maybe he is. But he fought for what was right and we’ll fight until the end.”

Cheers went up from the Order.

“Don’t be fools!” Voldemort growled.

Neville raised his wand defiantly. “For Harry!”

“FOR HARRY!” The Order shouted back.

Chaos descended on the Manor and hundreds of curses flew. Hermione only had one thing on her mind though. She had to get to Harry. She couldn’t stand the thought of him being trampled. Draco squeezed her hand and melted into shadows, streaking his way across the floor. They materialized beside him and dragged him off, not stopping until they got to the back side of the house, the kitchens. No one but the house elves were there.

“Master Draco,” one of the littlest elves shrieked. “Theys are flooding the grounds.”

Draco sighed. “Set the barriers. No one escapes the grounds.”

“Yes sir!” the elf squeaked and they all popped out.

“You think they can do it?” Hermione asked as she sat Harry on a counter. She stroked his face as bloody tears ran down her cheeks. Her heart had shattered.

Draco nodded and squeezed her shoulder. “Elves are more powerful than anyone gives them credit for. No one will be escaping tonight. I know you aren’t up to it love, but we have to finish this. For Harry.”

Hermione nodded and wiped away her tears. She put Harry’s hands over his chest and patted them. “For Harry.”

Harry sucked in a huge lung full of air and gasped. “What about me?”

“Harry!” Hermione shrieked and grabbed him in a bear hug. “You’re alive!”

“Guess so,” Harry groaned and motioned for Hermione to let go. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a brick wall.”

Draco chuckled. “Dying will do that to you.”

Harry nodded and gingerly got off the counter. “I saw Dumbledore. He said… he said that I didn’t die because Voldemort was still tethering me here. He has my blood.”

Hermione gasped. “Why didn’t we think of that? You’re link… it’s like a form of Horcrux. That’s why Dumbledore said that only Voldemort could kill you.”

Harry nodded. “It’s time we ended this… but… um… where’s my wand.”

Draco whipped Harry’s wand out of his pocket. “Snatched it when we pulled you out. I figured it wouldn’t be right if you weren’t buried with it.”

Harry nodded and took it from him, sighing happily when he curled his fingers around it. “Now then… let’s end this shall we?”

“We’re right behind you,” Draco said with a grin.

They charged in, using their speed and fierceness to take out opponent after opponent. Order members gasped as they saw Harry charging through the fray. Everyone was in an uproar but the unearthly howl that Voldemort let out when he saw Harry again beat all the rest.

“YOU!” the despot bellowed.

Harry grinned and twirled his wand. “Missed me.”

“NO!”

Harry shrugged. “It’s time to end this once and for all Tom.”

“You can never defeat me!”

Harry smirked. “I destroyed all the tattered pieces of your soul Tom. There is nothing left to bring you back now.”

“Lies!”

“Truth,” Harry yelled. He looked around noticing that the entire room was deathly silent. “You have been brought down by the one thing you never took any value in.”

Voldemort scoffed. “Is it love again?”

Harry sneered. “It’s always been love. My mother’s love saved me. The love of my family, my friends, and others who wish not to be named saved me. And love made your allies your enemies. Did you know that Draco Malfoy helped to hunt down and destroy the artifacts that tethered you to life?”

Voldemort looked over to Draco, who was clutching Hermione protectively into his side. “Traitor! I’ll deal with you later.”

Harry chuckled. “Oh, I think you’ll find he can more than hold his own. He fell in love with my friend and he doesn’t take too kindly to anyone wanting to see her destroyed.”

“Foolish sentimental nonsense,” Voldemort spat. “That’s what brought down your fool mother.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed. “It’s what saved my life… then and now. Let’s end this Tom.”

Everyone held their collective breaths as Voldemort and Harry clashed in a fierce battle, brightly colored hexes filling the room. Watchers ducked and dodged when they were blocked. Ginny screamed when Voldemort cast the killing curse at the same time Harry shot a disarming spell. The spells collided, creating sparks so hot they caught several people’s robes on fire. The spells struggled to gain hold.

“You’ll never win Tom,” Harry said through gritted teeth.

The spell started closing in on Harry and Voldemort cackled. “It looks like I will Harry Potter.”

“Harry!” Hermione shouted. “I love you.”

“I love you,” Ginny yelled.

“We love you,” Molly echoed.

All around the room, the Order shouted support for Harry. It was just the thing he needed to make the spell stronger, finally eating up the distance between him and his foe before overtaking Voldemort’s wand and burning it to a crisp. Voldemort let out a terrified scream and exploded into dust, making everyone take cover.

Everyone was too stunned to move for several long minutes until one of the Death Eaters tried to sneak out. The room erupted again, only this time, the Order was stronger than ever. In minutes, they had the remaining resistance bound and unconscious on the floor. Draco released the wards when they were sure everyone had been caught. Aurors popped in and out taking prisoners to Azkaban to await trial.

While the cleanup of the prisoners began, the Order began taking stock of their losses. Hermione already knew they had lost Percy. She carefully picked up each of the fallen, cataloging how she’d found them and cleaning their faces so their families could claim them. Draco opened up a ball room to place the deceased in. Their losses were greater than Hermione thought they were.

They’d lost good members of the DA, the Creeveys, Smith, Finch-Flechley, Finnegan, Thomas, and dozens of others. Handfuls of Aurors had fallen as well. She saw Mad Eye in a heap in the far corner. Luna’s dad was a couple of feet away. Professors Sinestra and Trelawney were entwined at the elbow, having taken the stance to protect each other though everyone knew how horribly they got along. Madam Hooch was sprawled over Madam Rosmerta, the bar maiden barely clinging to life. Hooch had taken the brunt of the curse and spared her.

Hermione’s heart broke just a little more with every person they moved to the ballroom. She felt guilty when she laughed in happiness at spotting her mother and father, a little sooty but otherwise unharmed. Draco assured her that it was okay. There was joy in learning that your family was alive, just as there was sorrow in learning they weren’t. You had to find the silver lining, else you’d drown in grief.

When they were done moving bodies, she took stock in who she still had. Ron was clinging to Lavender, both bloody and tired but alive. Molly and Arthur hugged each other, tears streaming down their face as they closed Percy’s eyes. Their beloved son had returned only to be ripped from them again. Harry and Ginny’s lips never moved from each other, though it didn’t look as though they were snogging so much as just staying connected to make sure they were actually alive. Remus and Tonks knelt over Sirius as he shed tears for a female auror that Hermione didn’t recognize. She was glad they all made it. Harry would have been crushed.

Fred and George lumbered in with the last bodies, Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell. Tears streaked their dirty faces as they laid them down carefully. Hermione swiped her own tears away, not wanting to disturb anyone with their unusual color. No one had seemed to catch on that she was something she wasn’t and she was grateful.

It was George that uttered the broken cry. “Hermione, Charlie is… he’s… he’s not going to make it.”

“What do you mean?” she gasped.

“He’s been hit with Snape’s signature curse. The old bat is trying to stitch him up but he’s bleeding out faster than he can work. Can you… can you save him?”

Hermione whimpered. “You don’t know what you are asking me to do George. I could be condemning him to a fate worse than death.”

“Let him decide then,” Fred said hollowly. “Explain it and let him make the call.”

Hermione’s breath rushed out. How could she do that? Even if the turning held, he’d still have to fight. He could become a soul-less creature of the night. He probably wouldn’t be able to work with dragons again. He’d… he’d be like her.

“Come on,” Draco said softly. “Let’s talk to him first.”

Hermione nodded numbly and followed the twins into the dining room where an ashen Charlie lie on the floor as Severus frantically hummed the counter curse to the hex. Hermione could see it was almost a lost cause. Charlie was bleeding too quickly to heal them all. Melody was tipping a bottle of blood replenisher down his throat but it still wasn’t enough to keep up.

“Will it even work,” Hermione whispered.

“If we do it now,” Melody murmured back.

“It’s his choice,” Hermione said a little louder.

“Agreed,” Melody said sadly.

Hermione nodded and knelt beside Charlie’s head. “Charlie, can you hear me?”

Charlie gurgled, his watery eyes locking on hers.

Hermione bit back her sob. “Charlie, we’re not sure we can fix all these wounds. You… you might not make it. Do you… do you understand?”

Charlie gurgled and gave a slight nod. His eyes closed in acceptance.

“But… but you might not have to die,” Hermione continued, fighting everything she believed in. She was offering a way out. “You… you could be turned… into a vampire.”

Charlie’s eyes shot open, a question clear in them.

Hermione nodded. “We’re vampires Charlie, very different ones.” She motioned for Draco to put up a silencing charm and waited until he complied. “We still have our souls Charlie. We can walk during the day but we have all the other attributes of a vampire… including drinking blood. But it is a difficult road. Living animals won’t really take kindly to you anymore. I doubt you’d be able to work with dragons if you agreed. But… but you’d have your life… sort of. You could stay with your family… see them… live. I… I don’t want this for you but it is your choice. You’ll have to fight Charlie… fight harder than you ever have in your entire life. And if you don’t succeed, you’ll become the stuff of nightmares, a soulless creature that only cares for blood, power, and pleasure. Do you understand?”

Charlie gurgled and gave another sharp nod. Hermione allowed bloody tears to track down her cheeks. She wanted Charlie to see what she had become. As much as she had accepted her fate, she really didn’t wish it on anyone else. Charlie studied her for several minutes, even as Severus and Melody still worked on him. The wounds just would not close. Severus cursed and barked orders for Draco to start working on the charm that was keeping them from healing.

“I’m giving you a choice Charlie. We’ll keep working over you until the end, no matter what. You can wait and see if they can mend you or we can turn you. Severus and Melody will be your new parents in a sense. Draco and I will be your siblings. You’ll have to learn to control your powers, to feed on blood without killing, and most importantly, to fight for your soul.”

Charlie stared at her for several long minutes. He tried speaking but nothing came out. Severus growled and started working on the gash that had destroyed Charlie’s vocal chords. He sighed in relief when they were repaired and motioned for Charlie to speak as he worked on other wounds.

Charlie swallowed harshly and gasped for breath. “Not… want… live… forever.”

Hermione let out a sob. “We understand but we aren’t giving up on you just yet. Don’t give in.”

Charlie smiled weakly. “Never.”

The four vampires ignored everything around them as they fought for Charlie’s life. The dragon tamer looked on stoically as they took turns healing various parts of his body. Melody screamed in frustration and pleaded with Charlie.

“That does it. Charlie, we can try something that has never been done. I’m not sure what the side effects will be yet. If I give you my blood, it will heal you, or at least break the curse that is keeping your wounds from healing. But you might have some strange side effects. If your heart stops before the blood works out of your system… you’ll come back. But if it doesn’t… well, I don’t know. You could have sharper senses, maybe an ability to shift into an Animagus. It’s a gamble but it’s the only way.”

“Don’t… want… vampire,” Charlie gurgled.

“I know,” Melody said. “And if you… if you don’t make it and you turn... Well, I promise to stake you myself. I won’t let you become a vampire.”

“Deal,” Charlie sighed.

Hermione clutched Draco’s arm as Melody slit her wrist and allowed Charlie to drink from her. Severus kept working at the wounds and eventually they closed. Melody tipped another bottle of blood replinisher down his throat and cast a dozen more spells. Charlie’s face paled and he passed out.

“No!” Hermione yelled.

“Easy little one,” Severus cooed. “He’s just lost consciousness. He isn’t dead.”

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. “You think he’ll make it?”

Melody bit her bottom lip. “It’s hard to say. I should think so… but… well, we’ll have to see.”

Draco frowned. “How much of the vampire will he take?”

Melody shrugged helplessly. “Vampire blood has been used in Dark Arts as a healing agent for centuries but it’s always mixed with something.”

“Will he live?” George asked.

Draco slashed the privacy charm away. “We believe so.”

The twins fell to their knees and thanked them. Before they could say anything else, Ron came careening up to them. “What was that?”

“A last ditch effort,” Melody said softly as she stroked Charlie’s blood soaked hair. “Hopefully it will work without nasty side effects.”

“C-can you do it to Bill?”

“What’s happened to Bill?” Hermione demanded.

Ron swallowed thickly. “Greyback. Fleur dragged him back to Hogwarts to see if Pomfrey could patch him up but it didn’t look good.”

“Bloody werewolf,” Severus snarled. “We won’t be able to help him. Our blood won’t mix with a werewolf but it isn’t a full moon. Bill might take on some of the characteristics of one, like Charlie will take on some of ours, but he won’t become a full werewolf.”

Ron closed his eyes and nodded in understanding. “Do you think he has a chance?”

“We couldn’t say without seeing him,” Melody sighed. “But in most cases of a werewolf attack, the victim will recover because lycanthropy works much like vampirism in that it doesn’t want its host destroyed. Even if he is at death’s door, it will hold him there until he body heals. If he’s under Poppy’s care, he’ll be okay.”

“But the scars won’t heal,” Ron said gravely.

“No,” Melody said sadly. “Werewolf scars are almost completely impervious to any anti-scarring measures. He’ll wear them permanently but he should wear them proudly.”

“Who’s going to clean all this up?”

Hermione spun to see Ginny and Harry walk up, Ginny clinging to him tightly.

Draco sighed. “Once all the bodies are sorted, the elves will clean.”

“That’s horrible!” Hermione screeched.

“Calm down,” Draco snapped. “Once this place is cleaned up, the elves are set to go free if they wish. There are clothes waiting for them should they wish to take them.”

“And your mother?” Harry asked.

Draco pursed his lips. “Assuming she made it, I’m leaving the Manor and part of the vault to her. I don’t really need it.”

“Does she know?” Ginny whispered.

Draco shook his head. “We’ll just have to take this one step at a time.”

“Well,” Harry sighed. “Now we finally can. Come on. Let’s get started.”

AN: So, this is the end. Only the epilogue remains. Sorry it took a while. However, the last bit is already written. I just need to edit it. As always, thanks to everyone who reviewed. Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing. Until next time... love you guys!
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Beyond the Pale