~A/N>Please don't be mad at me, I've had a major block with this chapter and then realized that I needed
to do some set-up before all hell breaks loose. I'm working on the next chapter now, but I'm not going to make
a promise of when it will be up, that wouldn't be fair to you or I. I want to give you a quality chapter, not a
crappy rushed one. To any of you that read "The Power Within" or "The Fear Within", I have recently
posted the prologue to the third story, "The Light Within". Thank you for your patience and all the wonderful
reviews for the last chapter! :) Thanks once again to Spaz for her wonderful beta work!
I sat there stunned as I realized what Professor Dumbledore had just told us; Professor Snape was dead. I looked over
at Harry and saw a shocked look on his face, one that probably mirrored my own expression at the minute. Thanking him
for his honesty, Harry stood up and held his hand out to me; taking it, I let him lead me out of the office and down
the corridor.
"Hermione, are you okay?" he asked, squeezing my hand lightly. I nodded my head yes and kept walking, my head filled with jumbled thoughts about Snape's death and what Voldemort could be planning next. I looked over at Harry and felt genuine fear for his life as I realized that the final battle was fast approaching, and that I could possibly lose the person I loved more than life itself.
After that night, I buried myself in the library, trying to find some way to protect Harry. I became almost fanatical about it; I would wake up in the morning, run down to the Great Hall to grab some toast and make my way to the library, where I stayed until classes started. I did the same with lunch and dinner, and then Harry came to find me one night, wondering where I had been the past week.
"I wondered where you had disappeared to," he said as he sat in the chair next to me, "are you researching something for one of our classes?"
"No," I replied, unable to look at him, "I'm trying to find something, a spell or potion, that will protect your during the final battle."
He didn't say a word in response, and when I finally looked at him, I turned to see him staring intently at me. "You don't have to do that," he said, taking my hand, "I'm ready to fight him Hermione, I want him gone so that maybe you and I can have a future, a normal future together."
My heart soared at the implications of his words; he wanted to defeat Voldemort so that we could be together. The happiness I felt was soon replaced by the same fear that had haunted me day and night for the past week and the all too familiar question, "What if he doesn't survive the final battle?" running through my head for the millionth time.
My trepidation must have shown on my face because Harry squeezed my hand and asked, "What is it luv?"
"It's nothing," I lied, unable to meet his eyes.
He sighed and then asked, "Are you sure?" I just nodded my head slightly and he said, "You know, there was a reason that I sought you out tonight; what are you doing Friday night?"
This being Tuesday, I thought my schedule through in my head and replied, "Nothing that I know of."
"Great! I have a surprise for you and I want you to meet me in the Room of Requirement at eight o'clock, okay?" he asked, sounding excited.
"Okay" I replied, wondering what he was planning. I watched as he stood up and then bent over to kiss me softly on the lips.
"Don't work too hard," he teased with a mischievous smile on his face, "I don't want you to be too tired for your surprise."
Full of curiosity at what he could be planning, I watched as he walked out of the library, saying hello to various students along the way. Feeling even more determined to find a way to help him, I closed the book I had been reading and reached for another one, hell-bent on finding a protection spell that would protect Harry.
~*~
Hermione continued to work non-stop in the library every night as I tried to ready myself for Friday night. It was going to be the night for us, and I wanted it to go perfectly. I wanted her to know exactly how much she meant to me before the final battle arrived, in case I didn't survive to tell her afterwards, and I wanted her to be mine-mind, body and soul. I'm not a fool, I'm a realist, and I knew there was a fifty/fifty chance that I wouldn't make it out alive. It was frightening to think about, but it would be stupid of me to believe that there was no way I could lose. I was going to fight to the death if I had to, if only to make sure Hermione would be safe after I was gone; if I died and Voldemort survived, he would surely go after her first, seeing as she was Muggle-born.
As I walked into the library at lunchtime that Friday, I found Hermione sitting at her usual table in the corner closest to the Restricted Section; she sat there turning pages with her left hand as her right continuously twirled a lock of hair around and around, which was a sure sign that she was deep in thought. I walked up and stood before her, waiting for her to realize I was there so I wouldn't startle her. When she looked up at me, I almost lost my breath at the love I could see clearly shining in her eyes. I knew right then that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her; she had always been there for me, no matter what, and she understood me better than I understood myself. I couldn't help the huge smile that broke out on my face as I stared at her, probably looking like a lovesick fool.
"Are you going to sit down, or are you going to stand there with that goofy grin on your face all afternoon?" she teased, gracing me with one of her dazzling smiles.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, I walked over to sit in the chair next to her and tried to read over the page she had been so engrossed in. I noticed the word 'sacrificial' and 'marital' on the page, but before I could read more she quickly shut the book and moved it away from her. When I gave her a questioning look she just said, "More information on protection spells, that's all."
"I thought I told you..." I started, but was promptly cut off by her angry reply.
"I know what you told me Harry," she bit out, and then I watched as her face fell into an expression of sadness. After covering her face with her hands for a moment, she looked up with shining eyes and said, "I'm sorry, it's just that...I'm so scared of losing you."
I quickly wrapped my arms around her and held her as tightly as I could without hurting her. I knew that she had been worried about the final battle, but I didn't know the extent of her worry and fear until now. Pulling back slightly, I placed a kiss on her forehead and then rested my forehead against hers, our noses touching.
"I swear that I will do everything in my power to defeat him 'Mione." I said quietly, hoping to assuage some of her fears. "While you've been spending your nights in here, I've been in the Room of Requirement training with Remus and Dumbledore. My wandless magic is strong, my defence tactics are spot-on, and I'll have my love for you to draw off of; Voldemort doesn't stand a chance."
I heard her sniffle and watched as she closed her eyes; all I wanted to do in that moment was reassure her that I would be back for her, that I would never leave her, but I couldn't help feeling that nothing I said was going to make her feel any better.
She pulled back from me and wiped at the corners of her eyes where tears had gathered, looking down at the floor instead of at me. "I'm sorry Harry, I shouldn't be burdening you with my stupid feelings when you need all your concentration to train and prepare."
"Stop apologizing," I said curtly, a hint of my frustration evident in my voice, "I love you Hermione, you are the most important person in my life and in no way have you ever been a burden. I'm glad you told me you were scared, at least now I have some idea as to why you've been hiding out in here."
"I'm so..." she started, but then stopped herself before she could apologize yet again, "I just wasn't sure I could be around you without breaking down and I didn't want you to have to deal with me on top of everything else."
"You come first luv, everything else can wait." I replied, my spirits lifting a little as a small smile crept onto her face.
"Thank you," she said, leaning towards me and kissing me quickly on the lips.
"For what?" I asked, a little confused.
"For being you," she said, taking my hand in hers and squeezing it. We sat there for thirty minutes more and then she stood up and started to gather her things together.
"Where are you going?" I asked, knowing that she was done with classes for the day.
"I promised Hagrid that I would visit and have tea with him this afternoon." she replied, "Don't worry, I'll be ready for my surprise tonight."
At the mention of the surprise, I felt a small wave of fear and anticipation wash over me quickly. Tonight was the night that we would finally be together, our commitment to each other sealed by our joining; tonight was the night that would change my life forever.
~*~
When I had mentioned the surprise he had planned, a look of fear crossed his face while I noticed that his eyes had darkened with lust; I had seen that look in his eyes many times before and I felt a shiver run through me as I thought about what might happen between us tonight. I wanted Harry to be my first, my only and even though I was a little afraid of what was going to happen I knew he would be gentle and loving with me; I wouldn't trust my body and my soul with anyone else.
I walked back to Gryffindor Tower with him and when he gave me a kiss good-bye my knees almost buckled with its intensity. I heard some of the younger girls around me giggling, but I didn't care at that moment. When I turned to make my way upstairs to drop off my books I noticed more than one envious look thrown my way and I couldn't help but smile; Harry was mine and everyone knew it.
I made my way down to Hagrid's hut and was confused when I knocked and he didn't answer. I slowly opened the door and called out to him, but still no answer so I walked in all the way to make sure he was okay. What I saw in his sitting room stopped me cold.
"P-Professor Snape?" I asked, unable to believe what I was seeing. He sat in one of the large chairs glaring at me and when I looked around the room I gasped as I noticed Hagrid laying on the floor motionless.
"Hagrid!" I yelled as I ran over to his prone body. I tried to turn him over but it was no use, he was too heavy for me to do it alone. "Professor Snape, please help me!" I begged, afraid that Hagrid may be dying, if not already dead.
"You're too late, you silly girl, no one can survive the killing curse." Professor Snape sneered with a look of hatred in his eyes.
"NO!" I cried, bending down to see if I could hear a heartbeat or feel a pulse; when I didn't hear or feel anything I started to sob, unable to believe that the lovable giant was really gone. Harry would be devastated when he found out...
"Harry," I whispered, "I have to go get Harry and Professor Dumbledore."
"I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere," Snape said, standing up and pointing his wand at my throat, "My Master is finally going to kill Potter and you're going to help him do it."
Before I could say anything or attempt to run away he shouted, "Stupify!" I felt my body go rigid and I watched in fear as Professor Snape walked over to where I lay and draped an invisibility cloak over me. My fear mixed with the fact that my breath was laboured due to the cloak covering my nose and mouth caused me to pass out, and when I came to I found myself bound to some sort of slab with Voldemort staring down at me.
"Mudblood," he hissed, his high-pitched voice like nails on a chalkboard, "Ready to watch Potter die?"
~*~
'It's eight-fifteen, where could she be?' I worried as I paced back and forth in the Room of Requirement. I had been busy getting everything ready, so I hadn't seen Hermione since I kissed her good-bye as she left to visit Hagrid. I was really starting to get anxious since Hermione was not one to be late...ever.
Losing my patience entirely, I left the room and made my way to Gryffindor Tower. When I walked in I noticed Ron sitting on the couch.
"Ron, have you seen Hermione?" I asked, looking around the room to see whom else I could possibly ask.
"Hello to you too," he said, looking up and catching a sight of my attire, "Wow, what are you all dressed up for?"
"I have a date with Hermione, but she's late; have you seen her?" I asked again, a little more impatiently.
"I haven't seen her since breakfast," he answered, looking at me strangely, "Why are you so worried?"
"She was supposed to meet me in the Room of Requirement twenty minutes ago and she's not one to be late." I replied.
Getting an idea, I turned to make my way out of the Common Room when Ron asked, "Where are you going?"
"To Hagrid's hut, that's where she was going the last time I saw her." I replied.
"I'll go with you," he said, rushing to catch up to me. We both walked quickly down the stairs and out of the castle, heading toward Hagrid's small hut. I knocked and called Hagrid's name, but there was no answer. Trying the door, it opened and I looked inside before walking all the way in. What I saw next made my blood run cold.
"Hagrid!" I shouted, running over to where he lay sprawled on the floor. I shook him and put my ear against his chest, but I couldn't hear anything; Hagrid was dead. My eyes swam with tears as I realized that Hagrid, the person who saved me after my parents were killed, was gone forever. Suddenly I remembered why I had come down here in the first place and looked around the room quickly. I didn't see any sign that Hermione had been there, but that didn't mean she hadn't been visiting Hagrid when he was attacked. What if she had been taken, or worse…?
"Ron, go get Dumbledore, NOW!" I shouted, watching as he jumped and quickly made his way out of the hut. Letting my fear and grief overtake me, I lay my head back down on Hagrid's chest and cried, mourning my friend and praying that I'd find Hermione safe and unharmed.
What seemed like an eternity later, Ron walked in followed by Dumbledore; when I looked up at him he asked, "Harry, what..." I watched his questioning expression turn to one of sadness as he noticed Hagrid lying next to me. "What happened?" he asked quietly.
"I don't know Sir," I replied, grief evident in my voice, "I came down here to see if Hermione was still down here visiting, and I found him…like this." As he continued to look at Hagrid I said, "Sir, Hermione is missing, I can't find her anywhere."
Dumbledore looked at me and for a split second I caught a glimpse of his concerned expression before he quickly recovered his serene demeanor and stated, "I will summon the Order and then notify the Ministry. Harry, you come with me."
"But Sir..." I started, but he silently held up a hand to stop my protest.
"Harry there is nothing more that you can do here, Hagrid is gone. I fear that Tom is near, making ready to strike; we were aware that the Final Battle was fast approaching, and now it appears that it has begun." He stated and then turned to Ron and asked, "Mr. Weasley, please stand guard and keep everyone away until either the Aurors or your Father arrives; it should not be long."
Ron nodded mutely, staring at Hagrid's prone body as I stood up and walked over to where Dumbledore stood. As I passed him, Ron said, "Bring her back to us Harry."
"I intend to," I replied, clapping my hand on his shoulder and then followed Dumbledore back to the castle.