Summary: After Harry defeated the Dark Lord in their last year of Hogwarts; the trio went their separate ways leading Hermione to a Muggle University. Yet after dark activity is spotted at her school, Harry and Ron come down to join her once again to solve the case. Unfortunately after Harry finally realizes his feeling for Hermione, he finds himself not only fighting for the wizarding world, but also fighting for the woman he loves.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J K Rowling and Warner brothers.
Beta Reader: Erin Dray
College Life
Chapter 10: Suicide
Harry, on the other hand, was having a bit more trouble with his group. Although this group was not as large as the one Ron was taking on, these men and women were defiantly smarter and more dangerous.
Harry kept his guard up as they started to make a semi circle around him. Lucius, who had been hidden by the crowd, came into the front to confront Harry. "So you came alone to defeat me, boy."
Harry with his wand at the ready looked around for Draco who was supposed to be at his side only to find he was standing alone. Harry cursed to himself, 'I can't believe that bastard left me here to die. At least when I was fighting Voldemort, I had help', yet Harry tried not to let his feelings show. "I have defeated many men far greater then you, Lucius."
Lucius crossed his arms over his chest and smiled wickedly. " It is true you have killed many men, but, boy, you have failed to notice one thing."
Harry gripped his wand tight, ready for the attack. "And what is that?"
"Them…" With that simple word, the group of Death Eaters began to descend on him, all of them smiling. Bellatrix Lestrange twirled her wand around her figures before calling out, "It's so nice to see you, little Potter. I always wanted another meeting with you."
Harry kept his eyes trained on the sounding group, yet still called back. "Sorry, Lestrange, I didn't come here for you."
"But, little Potter, I came for you. Stupefy."
Harry quickly ducked and rolled toward Bellatrix to dodge her first attack. As she was trying to aim her next curse, Harry quickly jumped up from his position into a squatting kick straight into her stomach while blasting her with a reductor curse. The combined blows caused her to literally fly to into a nearby tree. Harry quickly recovered from his attack to find Crabbe and Goyle coming from either side of him. Harry just shook his head with a laugh, 'This is just too easy.' Crabbe tried to grab Harry as Goyle went to curse him, yet right at Crabbe came up behind him, Harry just crossed his arms and blinked away. Goyle's first curse came crashing into his friend as Crabbe fell face first into Goyle.
Harry had apparated behind Lucius. With his wand digging into Lucius's back, Harry whispered to Lucius, "It's between you and me, old man."
Once the Death Eaters found Harry, they quickly ran to their master's aid, but they stayed their distance for his safety. Lucius turned around slowly to face Harry. "Boy, when ever has it been just about two people?"
"For once, Father, you are right." Draco came out of the trees with Hermione at his side. While they had been fighting, he was able to get Hermione out of immediate peril. He looked Hermione straight in the eye and said, "Stay out of danger." With that command, Hermione backed into the forest to watch the events from afar.
Lucius called out, "Capture Draco, but leave Potter to me." All eyes had now changed from Harry to Draco. With their orders, the Death Eaters all seemed to scowl at their newly found traitor.
Bellatrix came toward Draco slowly, "Give her back young nephew or else I will not be responsible for my actions."
Draco looked from his Aunt to his father and stated boldly, "For once, I am going to do what I believe is right… not what I have been told."
Lucius eyes started to burn with hate. "You ungrateful little bastard… Cruci…"
"Incompisious…" Harry swished and flicked is wand quickly casting an inclusion charm trapping Lucius and his curse in a bubble.
Even though Lucius' curse was not able to reach his son, the other Death Eaters who were present did not let anything stop their attack. As Draco tried to defend himself from his oncoming opponents, muffled laughter could be heard from inside the bubble where Lucius stood, "You think this little bubble is going to stop me."
"No, but this will." Harry took his wand and pointed it straight at his enemy.
"Vacumlerate" A sucking noise could be heard coming from inside the bubble as a vacuum was being created inside Lucius's confines.
Just as calm as he could be, Lucius yawned and patted his mouth. Then Lucius slowly uncorked the vial that was in his hands and drank down the whole contents. Harry watched in horror as he finished the last drop and smashed the vial on the ground causing millions of shards of glass to be sucked up into the air.
Harry thought to himself, 'It doesn't matter how strong he is. He still needs to breathe.' but Lucius wasn't gasping for air. He was not even appearing to be in the least bit of discomfort. Even though shards of glass where swarming around in the bubble, not even a scratch could be found on his skin.
Draco, who had been fighting off his so-called friends, quickly sneaked a glance over at Hermione to make sure she was safe, but what he say made him loss his concentration. While little cut started to randomly appear all over her body, Hermione fell to her knees gasping for breath. In Draco's mind, time had slowed to a crawl as he turned to see Harry trying to suffocate Lucius. Terror stricken Draco finally figured it out. "Lucius must have taken the vial….HARRY, STOP!!!"
Harry turned to respond to Draco's command, but in the corner of his eye he saw Hermione. In shock, he watched as Hermione's pale body fell from her knees into a ghastly heap on the ground. Harry turned back to Draco who screamed back. "They're connected, you ass! STOP THE CURSE."
Harry immediately canceled his entire curse, and watched anxiously until Hermione was able to catch her breath. Once he deemed her safe, Harry turned to Lucius with his wand still pointed at his heart, " What did you do to her?"
With the famous Malfoy smirk permanently plastered to his face, Lucius started to laugh, "Oh, I didn't do anything really. You see she did this all to herself. You know, one does really silly things when they are in love…. Right, Potter?"
"Why I ought to… Reduc…"
Lucius calmly walked up to Harry, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I don't know how much your girlfriend would like to be thrown around, but then again she might like it rough… I don't know? Why don't we ask Draco?" Lucius loved to get under Harry's skin, and he had always enjoyed torching people mentally before physically.
Harry's whole face was turning red while his arm started to shake out of pure anger. "Leave…her…out of this…Malfoy."
"Leave her out… Why, Harry, she is what this is all about. You see, she is my protection until death do us part, and if you don't believe me take a shot at me." Lucius dropped his wand and stood right in front of Harry. "Come on, Potter. Kill me. You know you have been waiting for this moment for 5 long years. Kill…Me."
Harry stared Lucius down, but he knew he couldn't do anything to him. He had no choice, and Lucius knew it. When Harry didn't move, Lucius' grin widened. "You see, Potter, you can't win. Now hand me your wand."
If looks could kill, Lucius would no longer be living, but unfortunately Harry didn't have that skill. Against his better judgment, Harry threw his wand at Lucius, making it hit him in the stomach.
Lucius bent down and picked up Harry's fallen wand. "Now that's a good boy."
Draco saw this from the side and was appalled. "What the hell are you doing, Potter?" Harry didn't respond, rather he crossed his arms and waited for Lucius' next move.
Lucius twirled Harry's wand around his fingers, regarding it carefully. "Now I have the most powerful wand in the world. Umm… Let's see what it can do." Lucius pointed the wand straight at Harry and screamed "Crucio."
Harry fell to his knees in an instant. His body was racked with unspeakable torture as his vision started to pulse from clear to black. He tried his best to concentrate on his surroundings and stay conscious, but Lucius seemed to have a great hate built up behind his curse.
Finally after a minute or so, Lucius finally let the curse fall. "I have to say I think I like this wand better." With half open eyes, Harry started to sway on his knees as Lucius continued to ramble. "You know it really doesn't matter how much power you put into the Cruciatus curse if you're trying to kills someone. It all depends on how long, and I have now calculated to the second how long I can put this curse on people without giving you the pleasure of death. You see, death is too good for you. I think the wizarding world would be more hurt by your insanity…Crucio."
Harry's body was blown back by the curse, but now he was no longer able to support himself on his knees. He fell to the ground and went straight into the fetal position. Although he tried to concentrate on the task ahead, he could not help but start focusing on the pain. 'Ooh, the pain, I can't make it stop. I can't beat this, just make it stop.' Yet on the edge of his consciousness he heard a voice, a stern voice. 'Now Harry, you can't give up now.' Harry's mind started to focus, "Hermione?"
Lucius let off the curse. "Oh, come on boy. I thought you would last longer then this." Lucius lifted his wand again; "At least I will have fun while it lasts, Crucio…"
Harry again was filled with pain, yet this time he could clearly hear her voice. 'Harry, you can beat him.' Harry whined back, 'But Hermione, he has my wand.' She tutted in her so familiar way, 'Oh Harry, you have never needed your wand. The power is inside of you, and you alone.' Still on the ground shaking with pain, Harry wrapped his arm around his stomach as he thought back, 'How can I work a spell when I hardly can even move?' Softly, Hermione replied, 'Believe in yourself….believe, Harry…' Hermione's voice steady faded away, but Harry wouldn't let her go. 'Hermione, come back. I need you.' 'Believe…' With that last breath, her voice was gone. Harry was again alone, but her words stayed with him.
He promised her so many years ago that he would never let any harm come to her, and today was not going to be the exception. He was not going to let Lucius win. Now it was his turn to show Lucius who he was messing with. As her words continued to ring through his head, the pain steadily subsided. It almost felt as if the curse was becoming less potent. With his eyes still shut, Harry stopped shaking, and even was able to sit up. As if he was on autopilot, he raised his body back onto his knees.
Lucius was appalled. 'Does he think he can beat an unforgivable. Well, I'll teach him a lesson.' With another burst of energy, Lucius strengthened the curse, yet this time Harry didn't wither in pain; rather he smiled back at Lucius. As the dust and gravel feel from his body, it formed a light aura around him. With another step, he got up from his knees and stood up straight, yet he still kept his eyes closed as he lifted his head. As he looked on in awe, Lucius watched as Harry's once pained expression became an eerie calm. Time seemed to stand still. As Harry took another calming breath, he opened his eyes. And with that simple action, he was able to set off an explosion that not only caused Lucius to lose his wand, but also knocked every Death Eater off their feet.
This was the chance Draco had been looking for. Although he was not losing, he had a disadvantage with the sheer number of people against him. With one quick motion of his wand, he was able to conjure up ropes that tied the remaining Death Eaters before they even knew what was going on.
Harry calmly started to walk toward where Lucius lay on the ground. With a power-radiating aura, he crossed his arms, smirking at his foe cowered in fear. With every step Harry would take forward, Lucius would crawl backward to get as far as he could away from this freak. As Lucius crawled back, he finally came in contact with Harry's wand. Still on the ground, Lucius frantically picked up the wand from behind him and pointed it straight at Harry. "Boy, you better get away from me," Lucius shouted at him, yet Harry didn't respond to his command, rather he kept coming toward the fallen Death Eater.
The closer Harry got to Lucius the thicker the air became with Harry's power. Lucius no longer wanted to mess with this kid. He just wanted him dead. Out of pure fear, Lucius cased the first curse that came to him. "Avada Kedavra."
From Harry's own wand, a green thread of light hit Harry straight in the chest; yet unlike every other time Lucius had cast this spell, Harry didn't die or even flinch, for that matter. He didn't even change his expression. Harry simply blinked. As the green light hit his body, it was simply absorbed into his already thick aura.
"Come on Lucius, you have to do better then that. I hardly felt a thing."
Pure fear passed through Lucius' eyes. "What? This can't be happening. You should be dead… You should be dead!"
Harry finally started to bend down to grab his wand from the desperate man, but in a last ditch effort Lucius pointed the wand at Hermione. As he crawled backwards as fast as he could with one hand, Lucius aimed the wand at Hermione. "I warn you. You might not be able to die, but she can. Don't come any closer. ."
Rather than this causing the fear to coarse through him like before, Harry seemed to grow stronger with these words. " You will not harm her," he stated firmly.
With his eyes locked on Harry's, Lucius screamed, "Ava…da… Ke..da..v..ra."
As Draco finished tying together the last of the Death Eaters, Draco had to do a double take as he saw Lucius' killing curse go hurtling straight toward Hermione. As if he was stuck to the spot, Draco watched in horror as he followed the beam, yet the longer he watched the slower the beam became. Draco blinked then rubbed his eyes. "Am I seeing things or has that cursed stopped." The green beam appeared like a glowing light saber from Harry's wand. Draco followed the beam back to Lucius, only to find him being locked in a white whirlwind of power, but instead of power being forced on Lucius, it appeared to become extracted from him.
Harry's eyes went black as he changed tactics, blasting Lucius with a steady stream of white light. The energy started to accumulate around Lucius like a cloud, but this cloud was dense, making it hard to for him to move. With is eyes closed, Harry concentrated his power to change the direction of the spell emitting from his palms. The wind started to pick up as the force started to change directions. The killing curse that once been directed to Hermione now became sucked back into Harry's wand. As the wind howled, the white aura around Lucius faded back into Harry. Draco watched as Lucius's once vibrant aura was being drained from him, yet it appeared as if this was fatiguing Harry more than Lucius. Lucius became locked in the curse, unable to move as he lay on the ground with his arm still out, but he felt neither pain nor any discomfort at all. As the last bit of power was sucked into Harry, he finally released the spell causing him to fall to his knees in exhaustion.
Once he was free from the spell, Lucius was finally able to got back on his feet. With one swift motion, Lucius walked straight up to the kneeling boy and pointed his wand straight at his heart." You thought that would stop me. You still have a lot to learn, boy." Still breathing deeply, Harry just blankly stared back in exhaustion. "Absorb this. Avada… Kedavra…"
Nothing happened.
Lucius looked at his wand weirdly, yet tried again, "Avada Kedavra." Yet again nothing happened. Harry's once blank face turned up into a smile as his enemy started to panic. "No. No… Avada Kedavra… Expelliarmus, Lumos… No.." In a frenzy, Lucius threw the wand to the side and ran to Hermione and took her wand. He straightened back up. " You thought you could stop me like that. All you did was kill your own wand." Harry didn't move. He just kneeled there wearily while Lucius tried again. "Avada Kedavra.' but again it didn't work.
Harry finally got up from his knees, slowly picking up his discarded wand. Shaking, Lucius quickly ran over to Hermione to hide behind her as if she was his personal shield. Lucius called out, "You still can't hurt me without hurting her." Harry with his wand still raised at them both, answered, "True, Lucius, but you can't do anything to me now. Stupi…" Yet before Harry could even speak the spell, Lucius's shakes started to intensify. He let go of Hermione and fell to his knees, the remarkable thing, though, was that Hermione was shaking too.
Draco came striding up beside Harry who still had his wand raised. "Potter, what did you do?"
Harry looked from Lucius to Hermione and back to Draco. "I didn't do anything."
Both Lucius and Hermione started to convulse causing their limbs to go flying. Harry quickly rushed to Hermione's side to make sure she didn't hurt herself. As he held her in his arms, he called back to Draco. "The spell I cast should have taken Lucius' magical power, nothing else."
They both stopped talking as Hermione and Lucius stopped their fit. Harry cradled Hermione's head in his arm as he lightly rubbed her cheek. "Hermione, come on, Hermione, wake up." He then turned to Draco, and screamed "Get HELP."
Ron stepped forward. "I already did, mate. They are coming as fast as they can."
As Lucius continued to lay unconscious, Hermione tossed and moaned as she started to wake. "Harry…"
Harry repositioned her in his arms. "Everything is going to be ok. Ron has called for help…"
"Harry…"
" And they will be here any moment…"
"Harry… listen."
"Just hold on, ok…"
Hermione placed her arm on his, and stated weakly, "Harry, listen to me…I'm dying…"
Harry cut her off this time. "No, you're not. The healers will be here any moment, and everything will be ok."
"No, Harry, I…I choose this." A silence went around the field, yet in her whisper she continued. "I poisoned the potion. This way everyone would be happy and Draco could be free of his father."
Draco's eyes went wide in shock. "I swear, Harry I didn't know about this. I would never ask her to kill herself," Draco pleaded to battle-forged new friend.
Hermione closed her eyes, but kept talking, "No, Draco, I did this on… my…" Again, another set of convulsions racked through her body, stopping her in mid-sentence. Harry held her to his body as tight as he could while he watched his love dying in his arms.
In all the commotion, no one realized that Lucius had finally awoke from his trauma. Although he too was barely alive, he used his last bit of strength to crawl his way over to his broken vial that was conveniently positioned right next to the newly reunited couple.
Once Hermione's convulsions stopped again, a sweet smile appeared on her face. This time she awoke quicker; yet she couldn't hold her eyes all the way open. "You always were my protector, Harry… my personal hero.."
Harry's eyes started to glass over with unshed tears. "Oh, Hermione, I always will be your hero because…. Because… I love you."
Hermione still trembling closed her eyes with a big smile and in almost an inaudible whisper, she stated, "I love you too…Harr…"
Harry's eyes went wide as Hermione's body went still. " No… no, Hermione, wake up. Come on, open your eyes for me." When she didn't respond, Harry started to get frantic. "Hermione, Hermione, answer me… Somebody, anybody.. do something."
Ron, a single tear running down his cheek, answered him. "We have done all we can do, mate." But this was not the answer Harry was looking for.
Harry looked from Ron to Hermione shaking his head. "No… No.. There has to be something." While watching his fallen love, an eerie calm came over him as he watched her smile fade from her face. Silence settled around them. Even time seemed to wish to pay its respects as it slowed to a heart-wrenching crawl. A solitary tear ran down Harry's face as he cradled Hermione's body close. He rocked her back in forth in his arms. Mesmerized by how peaceful she looked, he inched his face closer to hers.
"Good bye, my love." Harry leaned down closer until their lips meet. A shock wave went through the grounds as it did before. Everyone around them looked in awe, as Harry's white power aura was once again visible. Unlike the last time when Harry was taking the power, the energy seemed to flow from him into Hermione through their kiss. Slowly Hermione's once nonexistent aura started to gain color and intensity.
Draco and Ron watched the miracle from the side, still in shock. Draco, with his eyes still focused on the scene in front of him, asked Ron, "Is it my imagination or is she responding?"
As the power started to swirl around the two, Hermione indeed started to respond to Harry's kiss. At first, it was just a light movement from her lips, but as her aura got stronger, so did she. Her first reaction was a simple response to Harry's lips against hers. Yet as her aura gained strength, the once chaste kiss became full out passion unleashed. Harry's kiss was like heavenly ambrosia and she craved more. She cupped Harry's cheek with her hand as she feasted on his mouth. She hungered for his touch, his kiss, and his life. She used her lips and tongue to search his mouth for that life-giving force and she loved it.
To Harry, this was all some wonderful dream. Time had stopped in his mind as his heart soared. This was the way it should have always been. Now it was the only way.
As time passed, Hermione's aura was starting to become brighter then Harry's, and this was starting to affect him. The color was starting to drain from his face, as he got weaker. With a final flick of his tongue, he pushed always from her, breaking the connection and brings the world back into its normal state.
Ron and Draco's jaws had dropped at the scene, but Ron recovered first, elbowing Draco. "Wow, that was some kiss, hey?"
Still panting from the kiss, Harry looked down on Hermione who still had her eyes shut. 'Did I just imagine that,' but her unmistakable sound of her own pants came to his ears. In excitement, Harry screamed out. "She can breathe."
Draco crossed his arms and mocked, "That's not all she can do."
Slowly, Hermione's eyes started to flutter open to see Harry's smiling face. Hermione smiled back up at him as he looked down lovingly. Harry caressed her cheek, "Welcome back."
Lucius finally reached the newly reunited couple. As his body shook uncontrollably, he raised the sharp glass and called out, "I will not go down this easily."
Draco finally noticed his father's action and quickly ran to counter attack.
Harry turned to see Lucius at his back, but he didn't have time to react. As Lucius went to slash at Harry, Draco dived reaching to grab Lucius's arm…but missed. As his body came crashing to the ground, the fragment of glass sliced into the top of his arm, yet the blow was enough to make Lucius drop his pathetic excuse for a weapon.
Draco got up of the ground picking up the glass in the process. As he tossed the glass into the trees, he towered over Lucius, stating, "You will not hurt anyone else, father."
Lucius looked up at Draco with a pitiful look of sorrow. "My son…" he whispered as he continued to shake. As the tremors led into another convulsion, Draco continued to watch his father die. Lucius' arms and legs twitched uncontrollably as his head kept bobbing off the ground. After a while, Lucius' body again calmed, yet this last set of convulsions had taken more out of him. He could barely open his eyes, but made himself tilt his head up to see his son. "Draco…"
Draco watched silently as Lucius let his head fall to the ground and he slowly closed his eyes, never to be opened again.
*
Almost done. I have one more short little chapter to post then it will be finished. I hope you have enjoyed reading the ff as much as I enjoy writing it.
Monday