Chapter 12 "Later…"
"Draco," Hermione whispered as she snapped a fallen Deatheater's wand. "Apparate. Go get the Order…" they were crouched beside the stone wall surrounding Hogwarts, just having fought their way through an easy ambush outside of Hogsmeade.
"I'm not going anywhere," Draco said firmly, snapping two wands for good measure.
"I can't leave," Hermione begged. "I. Can't. Leave." She lowered her voice. "I swear Drake. I swear I'll keep Luna alive. Just go now while you still can…"
Draco, for once, did as she asked, pausing only to run a finger under Luna's chin, promising with a touch what he couldn't with words.
"Hey," Ron said. "He can't Apparate, it's…"
Then, as if to mock the open-mouthed Weasley, Draco vanished with a flourish.
"It's… apparently entirely possible," Ron finished, staring after the departed Draco.
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After winding through the dark passages that led under the gates, the group crawled through a hidden panel and into the Great Hall. The entire school was dark and eerily silent as they crept along the far wall towards Dumbledore's office, praying they were in time to stop the onslaught.
Hermione drew her wand to the ready as the lanterns that lined the hall suddenly lit. Gods what's happening? Where's Dumbledore? She let go of Luna's shaky hand and stood beside Harry, who was staring at the shifting shadows of the stairwell.
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"Voldemort," Luna whispered, bracing herself for the battle to come.
"Ron, get them out of here," Harry said evenly, never taking his eyes off at the dark figure ahead. "Ron!" Harry repeated harshly when Ron didn't answer. "Get. Them. Out."
"Harry, I-I…" Ron trailed off.
"Go Ron." Harry gripped his wand and listened to their retreating footsteps and felt, rather than heard, the door close behind him
"Hermione?" Harry asked wearily, praying that she wasn't there to answer.
"Yes Harry?" She replied with a false calm. Harry heard her swallow as she stepped forward.
Harry bit back a groan. Was she always this stubborn? "Get out," he replied coldly.
"No Harry. I can't leave. I found it."
"Found what?" he asked through gritted teeth as he advanced towards the shadows.
"A way to stop it. The Avada Kadavra. I found it."
"How?" He asked impatiently. He didn't care. He just wanted her to leave. Stubborn, stubborn girl…
Hermione stayed in stride with him. "Trust me Harry."
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Hermione watched as Voldemort readied his wand. His face was obscured by shadow, but his feral eyes burned into hers. He won't bother with me, she thought as Voldemort began the familiar incantation. The very curse she'd been researching since that damned Dolohov. She closed her eyes, gathering her Gryffindor courage.
She took a deep breath and a last look at Harry.
And to think that Lily Potter had it right all those years ago. There's only one thing strong enough to stop the Avada Kadavra…nothing.
Hermione bit back a cry as a green light suddenly streaked towards Harry. She didn't think twice before diving in its path.
She landed hard as a blinding pain tore through her. "Harry," she sighed as everything went dark. "Harry…"
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After a reign of fire and light, darkness settled over the hall. Only Harry remained standing as the room fell silent. The shadows in the stairwell were gone and wouldn't return, but, like many wizards, Harry wouldn't waste another moment thinking about the dark legacy of Voldemort.
"Hermione?" Harry asked as he knelt beside her. He gently turned her over and gathered her to him, brushing a few strands of hair away from her pale face.
"Love?" His hands were shaking as he traced her features with his fingertips. "No gods, don't so sorry love, no," he muttered over and over as he kissed her lifeless lips. He searched for signs of life, holding her close, praying that she would hold him back.
"Dear gods no," he whispered as he nuzzled and stroked her cheeks with his own.
Days later he wouldn't remember the Order's belated entrance, or Ron and Draco pulling him away, or the recently freed Dumbledore spelling him under when he tried to claw his way back to her. The only thing he'd remember was her tiny, crumpled form, lying alone on the cold stone floor.
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I don't remember much after Hermione fell. One minute she was standing beside me, being the lovely, stubborn girl that she was, and the next she was on the floor, writhing in agony. I thought I heard her say my name. I thought a lot of things though. I'd thought I'd see her again. Hold her. Have her hold me back.
I wish now I had said something. Anything. Tried to…I don't know. Do something. I couldn't have stopped her though. I couldn't stop her from doing anything when she set her mind to it. Never could.
Voldemort was easy to finish off after that. The Ava…the curse had taken a lot out of him. It'd taken a lot out of me too. My love, my life, my bloody soul. Gods I remember kneeling next to her, shaking her, trying to wake her. Lovely, stubborn girl she was, she wouldn't have it. She was just pale and cold, and I was helpless to bring her back.
I stroked her cheeks, begging her to open her eyes. I couldn't say how long I stayed there beside her. I couldn't move. I couldn't get help. If I left her…I couldn't leave her.
Ron said they dragged me away. He said I called her name and nearly tore Draco in half trying to get back to her.
Someone spelled me under, and I woke up in Dumbledore's office. Not that I cared. Hermione wasn't there,
that's all I knew. She wasn't there. She'd fallen, and I'd left her. I'd left her again. Just like
that summer day.
A part of me died then I think. I remember thinking how I'd felt so close to her that night. How she let me touch her, hold her. How she whispered my name and wrapped her arms around me. How she was mine. For a handful of seconds she was mine.
And then she was gone. She was gone and I was alone. No, I was worse than alone. I was alone because I'd lost her.