Chapter 15
May 2, 1998
The Room of Requirement went wild when they realized just who they were looking at. Seamus and Neville rushed forward to hug them, smiles splitting their faces. There were also hugs for Hermione and Ron, something that Harry wasn't all that keen on. However, he kept from growling since he knew that Neville had his own omega and Seamus was looking at him with knowing eyes.
"Mate, it's great that you're here! Wait, why are you here? Is the castle under attack?" Neville demanded. Harry raked a hand through his hair and nodded.
"It will be. Voldemort has discovered our mission and he's going after all the things we've destroyed. There's one in the castle and once he realizes that all the other ones are gone, he's going to hit us with everything he has. We have very little time," Harry explained. Neville nodded, comprehending immediately. He was an Order member and knew that Harry and his friends were on a highly secret mission.
"Have you contacted the rest of the Order?" Neville asked. The rest of the students hung on every word, clearly dying for outside information. Harry nodded his head.
"Yeah, Aberforth said he'd notify them. However, thanks to your portrait on the other side of the door, you need to send a patronus to everyone and inform them of the password," Harry told him. Neville pulled his wand and a giant bear appeared. He bent over and gave it a message quietly, only to watch it separate into dozens of bears and lumber off through the walls.
"Done. What do you need us to do? We're going to help. We want to," Neville told him. Harry was impressed at his friend. While Harry was in charge of the war in general, along with the Order, Neville was clearly in charge of Hogwarts and its students.
"I need an older student or two from each house travel to the House Dormitories. This can't be all the students in Hogwarts. We need to evacuate everyone younger than fifth year. Everyone in fifth year or above may stay and fight if that is their wish. However, I strongly suggest that they don't. Death Eaters are skilled at fighting, meaning that they have years and years of experience in spells and killing. They will not take pity on you just because you're students," Harry warned them gravely. There were numerous terrified looks in the crowd and he hoped that he had given them enough of a warning to deter them.
"If you are met by the Carrows or anyone else, start calling for house elves of Hogwarts. They're loyal to the Headmaster and I guarantee you that the Headmaster is on our side. They will help you evacuate the students. However, I doubt that the Carrows are going to be worried about the students when they're going to be worried about me," Harry revealed. Hermione slipped her hand into his and he gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"Everyone else that stays here, start looking for things that will aid us in a fight. Those that are going to fight need to meet in the Great Hall. Neville, I want you to liaise between the Order when they get here. Tell them to head to the Great Hall with caution and that I will meet them there if I can. If I don't get there in time, Bill and Remus are in charge. I'll be along as soon as I can finish my mission," Harry told him. Neville nodded his head, understanding that he was being issued orders. Harry turned to Ron and gave him a serious look.
"I want you to take someone with you and go to the Chamber of Secrets. I know Godric told me that the Sword would come when called but I have no idea how to do that. I'd rather have a back up plan to kill the rest of the horcruxes. Let me teach you the phrase," he offered. Ron stepped forward and nodded eagerly. Harry said the word 'open' in parseltongue several times until he was sure that Ron could repeat it. Luna stepped forward, serene smile on her face.
"I'd like to go with you and help, Ronald. I think we'll work well together," she said. Harry noticed Neville's hands clenched into fists but he kept his mouth shut. Luna and Ron headed for the door, eager to get the precious fangs that could end this war. Harry turned to Hermione and pulled her close. He could hear Neville asking for volunteers for getting the kids out of the castle.
"I saw a flash of the room where the diadem is hidden. It's completely full of junk so I'm not sure how we're going to find it expediently. I think we need to go now and start searching. I'm not sure how long it will take," he said sadly. Hermione nodded her head and started to pull him towards the door. Harry turned back and addressed the room once more.
"By the time I return, I expect this room to be empty. You should either be evacuated or in the Great Hall. If I don't see you again before the Battle, I wish those of you that want to fight the best. May you stand tall and make your school and families proud," he said sincerely. There were many stiff nods, the only gesture he received to know that they had heard him.
Harry and Hermione exited the Room of Requirement, knowing that they needed to wait for everyone to get out of the special room. They moved down the corridor in the opposite direction of Gryffindor Tower and moved into an alcove. Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione, drawing her close so he could smell her hair. It still stank of lake water but he was sure that he didn't smell any better. He pressed a soft kiss to Hermione's lips, taking one last taste before battle came to Hogwarts. When he released her, his eyes were determined.
"If I don't win this war and you survive, promise me that you'll run. Don't stay and fight a fight that's unwinnable. Promise me you'll flee to France or Italy, somewhere that you'll be safe. Hide there and do your best to find happiness," he begged her. Hermione burst into tears and clutched him closer, refusing to let go of his shirt. His arms tightened around her even more as he let her cry into his chest. Finally, her tears slowed and she pulled her face out of his chest to meet his gaze.
"I promise as long as you remember your promise to me if something ever happens to me. Yes, you will die eventually but your name will live on. I would never want to be the reason that all your parents and family sacrificed was lost," Hermione stated passionately. Harry sighed at her words and finally nodded, knowing that it was the least he could do after what he just made her promise. He was getting ready to respond when there were footsteps walking past. Harry peeked out to see that it was Minerva. He reached out and grabbed a hold of her wrist, yanking her inside the alcove. She gasped and drew her wand, only to sigh in relief when she realized that it was Harry and her daughter.
"What is going on? Aberforth messaged and said that you were all in the castle and that we were all to answer to battle," she demanded. Harry sighed and wished that the older man would have explained it a little better.
"Voldemort discovered our mission when we escaped Gringotts. One of the objects we're searching for is here in the castle. When he discovers that the others are all gone and destroyed, he's going to come after the remaining piece with all that he has," Harry explained again. It felt like he was on repeat mode. Minerva nodded her head instantly, understanding completely.
"Very well, I shall gather the other teachers. Where are we meeting?" she asked calmly.
"The Great Hall. If I don't get there in time, Remus and Bill are in charge. I have to search the Room of Hidden Things for something to do with Ravenclaw and have no idea where it is," he told her, frustrated. Minerva drew her eyebrows together in thought before calling out a name.
"Grey Lady, Hogwarts is in need of your assistance," he stated. The Grey Lady materialized before them and met Minerva's gaze. The Deputy Headmistress spoke calmly.
"Hogwarts is going to be attacked by Tom Riddle and all his followers. In order to ensure that he is stopped, these two students need assistance in finding something that belonged to your mother. I leave you to help them find it since our victory is resting on the destruction of this object," she ordered. The Grey Lady, who had been still and serene until then, cocked her head to the side.
"Destroy it, you say?" Minerva nodded before slipping back out of the alcove to reach out to the other professors. Harry wasn't sure why the ghost's demeanor had changed but it had. He gave her a wary nod, not sure if she was angry. The ghost smiled, the first one he had ever seen grace her silvery face.
"I can show you where it is as long as you promise me you'll destroy it. Tom Riddle tricked me into telling him the original location of my mother's famous diadem and then corrupted it with dark magic. She would never have wanted that," the Grey Lady explained. Harry nodded his head enthusiastically.
"Yes, we have to destroy it to destroy Tom Riddle. He tainted it with his soul," Harry told her. The Grey Lady nodded and started out of the alcove. Harry called to her.
"I'm sure that the others are still in the Room of Requirement," he said. The Grey Lady smiled at him.
"There is another entrance to the Room of Requirement. It's located around the corner to the one you know of. If it's already occupied, the Room will shift in two," she revealed. Harry couldn't believe that he had stumbled on this tidbit of information now that he was no longer in school. He grabbed Hermione's hand and started to pull her after the ghost. Once they reached the spanse of wall that the Grey Lady had been referring to, the ghost turned back to look at him.
"Same procedure to open this one. Think to yourself that you need somewhere to hide," the Grey Lady explained. Harry was quick to comply and wanted to shout in relief when the door opened to the room that he recalled from his vision on the bank of the lake. He and Hermione entered quickly followed by the Grey Lady. Harry turned to watch the Grey Lady and she didn't hesitate to lead them through the hundreds of enormous piles of junk that lay on the ground.
Harry wasn't sure how long they walked but it had been at least ten minutes. He couldn't believe that a room this side existed inside Hogwarts, contained in a single room. Magic truly was a wonderful thing. His mind quit wandering when the Grey Lady abruptly stopped in front of him and he had to struggle to not walk through her. Her arm was pointing to a table that held some sort of candelabra, a stack of twenty books or so, a cauldron, and a statue of a head. Perched on top of the statue was a diadem that gleamed. However, Harry could feel the malevolent magic pouring off it in waves.
"That's a horcrux, alright. I can feel it," he said, reaching out to pluck it off the statue. The dark energy felt exactly like the necklace had and he inwardly cringed. However, before he could do anything other than stuff it into Hermione's beaded bag that was always hanging around her neck, a voice cut in and interrupted them.
"Well, what do we have here? Undesirable Number One and his mudblood whore."
Harry turned around to see that Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing behind them, wands in their hands. He groaned inwardly.
Nothing about this war was going to be easy.
-O-
Hermione stiffened when she heard Goyle's voice. It took her straight back to Hogwarts and she wanted nothing more than to whip out her wand and curse him. However, the three of them had their wands trained on them already and her torture had given her a healthy respect of what Death Eaters were capable of. Harry, however, was trying to throw them off of hurting them.
"You know your master will be angry if you hurt us. He's told everyone that I belong to him," Harry reminded him. Goyle cocked his head to the side as though he just remembered that fact. Instead, he turned his wand on Hermione and shot off the ever-familiar jet of green. Hermione leapt out of the way, just barely, and Harry growled as he brought up his wand without a care of the others. He shot his own green curse, catching Goyle right in the chest. He dropped like a rock and Harry turned to see Crabbe wave his wand angrily. A shot of flame in the shape of a dragon flew from his wand, instantly growing by leaps and bounds.
Fiendfyre.
Harry pulled Hermione to him when Crabbe's wand quit spitting flames and turned to Hermione again. However, no spell was cast since Malfoy had turned his wand on his friend and cast the dreaded killing curse. Crabbe joined his counterpart on the ground and Harry could only stare in wonder. Malfoy smirked at him. Harry raised his wand anyways, knowing that he had to protect Hermione above all else. Malfoy instantly lowered his wand and held his hands up in surrender. Harry was torn. He wanted a story as to what was really going on but they needed to get away from the fiendfyre before they were eaten alive by the flaming dragon.
Harry spotted some old school brooms in the next pile and he rushed it, grabbing on for himself and throwing the other to Malfoy. He mounted it quickly and grabbed Hermione by the waist, lifting her easily in front of him. She was already trembling and while he was sorry that he was scaring her, she really hated flying on brooms, he was also saving her life. He kicked off and tried not to get angry when Hermione shrieked in his ear.
The flames were growing, devouring all the junk that had accumulated over who knows how many years. The Grey Lady was nowhere to be seen and he hoped against hope that she couldn't get hurt by the magical fire. He glanced back to see that Malfoy was hot on his tail, leaned as far over the broomstick as possible to gain speed. However, these brooms were ancient and weren't anywhere near as fast as his Firebolt.
The three of them wove through the rising flames, the dragons that reached up to snap at their feet. The smoke was making it hard to breathe and Harry couldn't stop coughing. The door was in sight and he swooped lower make sure they fit through the doorway. Suddenly, Hermione, who had been still and silent in his arms after the initial scream, scrambled for her beaded bag and started digging inside. He wanted to ask what she was doing but couldn't breathe well enough to do so.
Finally, Hermione's hand reappeared from the bag and she grasped the diadem tightly. Harry felt his heart clench in his chest; if she dropped it, all would be lost. There's no way that they would ever get back inside the Room to destroy it. Much to his rising horror, Hermione flung it back behind them as they swept through the door. Harry hadn't been paying attention because of her actions with the horcrux and didn't brake in time to keep from hitting the stone wall. He had managed to turn them sideways so he only received a harsh thwack to his right side. Hermione's back took a direct hit and he hoped that she wasn't majorly injured. They crashed to the floor in a tangled heap and Hermione groaned softly. Malfoy pulled back just in time and rushed to the door to close it, barely getting it spelled shut before the dragon leapt at his face.
Harry just lay there panting, trying to catch his breath in the fresh air. Hermione was doing much the same next to him and Malfoy was leaned against the wall next to them, bent at the waist with his hands on his knees, head hanging low. They remained like that for a few minutes until there was a crash below them, indicating that a battle had already begun. Harry picked himself up off the floor, testing his body as he went. He would be sore as fuck for days to come but he was alive and in working order. He bent to help Hermione, who was cringing as she tried to regain her feet.
"Are you too hurt, kitten? I'm sorry," Harry inquired, helping her to her feet slowly. She shook her head slowly.
"No, I don't think anything is majorly hurt. I'm just going to be really sore before it's all said and done," she answered. Once she was on her feet, Harry met her gaze angrily.
"Why did you do that? We'll never get to it now. Who knows how long that will burn thanks to that fucking idiot!" Harry was now yelling. Hermione cringed a little at the volume of his voice and he instantly stopped. She tried to make her voice steady but she wasn't entirely sure that she succeeded.
"Don't you remember the books I found in France? There are only certain things that can kill a horcrux. Do you think I didn't remember them all?" she asked, her voice dropping off softly. Harry pushed his hands through his hair and sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry, 'Mi, I don't remember. However, if you say it's destroyed, I'll trust you," he told her, trying to make up for yelling at her when she thought she was doing the right thing. Malfoy just watched as Harry went forward and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight so he could nuzzle her neck softly. When he pulled away, Harry turned his eyes to Malfoy.
"What's your role in this? You helped us at your manor and you helped us again today," Harry asked, not really making a request judging by the tone of his voice. Malfoy didn't smirk this time.
"I always dreamed of being a Death Eater, my father told me how much power, glory, and pride I would have in serving the Dark Lord. After I failed in my task of killing Dumbledore because I truly couldn't do it, I was tortured mercilessly for weeks by everyone, including my own father. He relished in it and told me if I wasn't weak and hadn't been a disappointment, I could have been happily serving instead. I realized then that this wasn't the life that I wanted. I had been completely wrong and my father is an idiot. I tried to get my mother to leave with me, to come beg the Order for protection. She reminded me of my own omega and that her father would never approve, meaning she would go mad and I'd be kept from her when she needed me most. I stayed and continued the weak act for appearances sake. However, I started hunting Death Eaters when I could. Suffice it to say, I'm not scared to kill any longer," Draco explained. Hermione had no proof that he was telling the truth but his words felt like the truth. She looked to Harry to see what his thoughts were on the matter. He gave a final nod at Malfoy.
"Alright, I believe you. I'd be careful during this battle. Both sides are now going to be after you," he warned. Draco raised his eyebrows.
"I'm coming with you. I know you're on some mission and that you aren't done. Otherwise, you'd have already been down there fighting with your friends. I want to help and you need it," he said. Harry gave him a mistrustful look and Draco sighed, raising his wand.
"I swear on my life and magic that I have no plans to move against you in any ways. I swear that I want to help in your mission to end Lord Voldemort and I swear that I have no intentions of harming your omega, Hermione Granger. I swear that I will do all that I can to protect her until the end of the war. So mote it be," Draco recited. A bright light engulfed the blond boy and Harry gave a satisfied nod. The three of them hurried down the corridor, unsure of exactly where they were headed.
Hermione knew that they needed to find the snake before Harry confronted Voldemort. Just before the entered the floor that the battle had moved to, Hermione stopped short, making sure that Harry did as well. Draco skidded to a stop as well, completely confused.
"Wait, Harry, we need to find the snake and kill it first. You have a connection to him, that much is fact. Look inside your head and see where he is. I guarantee you, the snake isn't far," Hermione explained. Harry sighed heavily and nodded, closing his eyes as he searched inside him for the answer. Draco shot her a questioning look but she remained silent. She didn't want to distract Harry from his task. After a minute, the Gryffindor boy opened his eyes and met the other two's gazes grimly.
"He's hiding in the Shrieking Shack with Snape. He isn't even fighting. Fucking coward," Harry cursed. Draco spoke before Hermione could.
"You need to kill his snake? That won't ever happen. Besides, you can't go there with Snape there either. He hates you more than the Dark Lord does. He'd kill you in a heartbeat," Draco revealed. Harry shook his head.
"Snape's loyal to the Order. Dumbledore ordered him to kill him in your place, he had to have because of vows he took the Dumbledore as the leader of the Order. He couldn't betray him unless ordered. Voldemort can't die until his snake does. We have to do it. We don't have time to explain the hows and whys, just know that we wouldn't lie about something like this," Harry said, frustrated. Draco took a step backwards, clearly astounded that his godfather's loyalties weren't what he had thought they were. His silence and surprise lasted only thirty seconds or so before he nodded resolutely.
"Then I guess we're going to kill a fucking snake. Lead the way, mate, I have no idea how to get to the Shrieking Shack from here," Draco said. Harry took off again, sneaking out a side entrance of the castle, skirting the duels as best he could. Once outside, he could see that the battle hadn't only been contained in the castle. Giants were stalking the grounds, taking out people from both sides with their heavy feet and thick clubs. Acromantulas were running rampant and he had a stray thought that he hoped Ron was inside where he wouldn't be petrified with fear. Dementors floated around, preying on the weak.
The three of them dodged what they could and fought off what they couldn't. They passed the bodies of several people they knew but knew that they couldn't stop and mourn them yet. Just outside the reach of the Whomping Willow, Harry levitated a stick and hit the button on the side of the tree that would immobilize the limbs. Once he made sure that they were still, Harry darted across the grounds to reach the door. Hermione followed without thought and Draco did as well, though he favored them with a glance that clearly said he thought they were crazy.
They traveled through the tunnel as quietly as they could, not wanting to alert the Dark Lord that they were there. Once they reached the opening where the tunnel met the main room of the Shrieking Shack, they cast disillusionment charms on themselves and just waited and listened. Lucius Malfoy was begging to go look for Draco, that he would make sure he was properly punished for betraying the Dark Lord by going after Potter himself. Snape was standing there silently, watching and listening. Voldemort eventually sent Lucius away so he could turn to Snape. His snake was floating in a protective ball of magic at his side.
"Severus, while you have served me in ways that nobody else has ever matched, I find that there is one thing I need that you can't give me. I need your wand and no respectable wizard would let another take his wand," Riddle said silkily. Snape didn't get flustered. He stayed calm in the face of his own death.
"Why do you require my wand?" Hermione was surprised that he asked; nobody questioned the Dark Lord, that had been made clear through the years. However, she was happily surprised when he answered anyways.
"Since you're about to die, I will tell you. Dumbledore was the master of the Elder Wand, the Deathstick if you will. When you killed him, the power went to you. I need that power now to defeat Potter. He has grown considerably stronger since his maturation and I need the power. If you're really wanting the better rule for all under my wand, you won't even put up a fight. If you don't, I promise to make it painless," Voldemort told him. Hermione covered her mouth with both hands, tears streaming down her face. Draco was vibrating with fury next to her and Harry had his arm out in front of them both to stop them if need be. She could only imagine that he was having just as hard a time not acting as they were.
Hermione watched in horror as Snape reached into his pocket and produced his wand, holding it handle-end out to the dark wizard. Riddle took it from him and grinned evilly at him. He raised his wand and cast an unknown spell but it wasn't the flash of green that the Dark Lord had promised. It hit Snape in the chest and he gasped, sliding down the wall he had been against to land in a quickly-growing pool of blood beneath him. Snape looked up at him and Voldemort just shrugged his shoulders.
"I lied. It isn't like it's the first time. I killed your red-headed mudblood, remember? Die well, Severus," he spat before walking through the door that connected to the Hogsmeade side of the Shack. His snake floated behind him. Once they were sure he was gone, all three cancelled their disillusionment charms and rushed to their professor's side. Hermione's wand was instantly out and casting diagnostics, seeing just what was wrong with their professor. There was gurgling in the back of his throat as he struggled to speak.
"Memories, take them. You...you must watch them now," Snape said, his voice getting softer as he began to lose what little strength he had left. Draco was watching her scans intently and she realized that he knew what he was seeing. She supposed that being tortured for days on end would make you learn how to read your own healer scans just so you knew if you were going to die. He let out a whoop of joy and pulled his wand, pointing it at Snape's chest.
Draco began casting a spell that sounded like a song and she couldn't help but to be curious about it. However, her attention was drawn from the Slytherin healing his godfather to Harry summoning the pensieve from Dumbledore's office. After it smashed through the window, Harry was quick to pour in the memories that he had caught in a vial that Hermione had thrust into his hand.
Snape started to breathe easier but had fallen unconscious. Hermione rifled through her beaded bag and found the vials of blood replenisher she had brewed and spelled two of them instantly into the now-Headmaster's stomach. His condition didn't change but he was breathing on his own and his pulse was strong. Draco sat back on his bum and sighed heavily.
"Thank Merlin he taught me that counter after Potter hit me with it in sixth year," Draco said with a smile. Hermione knew instantly which spell had been cast on their spy and was glad that they had gone on and allowed Draco to come with them.
"I think we should put him in stasis just in case we missed anything. We can return for him after the battle is over. Voldemort thinks he's dead, he's not going to worry about coming back for his body," Hermione suggested. Draco nodded, lifting his wand to cast the spell that would keep his godfather alive even if something else was wrong. Once that was done, Hermione turned her attention back to Harry. She watched for several minutes before lifting his head from the pensieve and instantly hurling it against the wall in a fit of anger.
"That cock-sucking bastard! To think that I trusted him for years, only for him to play me like a fucking fiddle. If he weren't already dead, I'd gladly do the job myself!" Harry was panting in his anger, his rage dancing in his gaze. Hermione reached out to touch him tentatively on the arm.
"Harry, what did you see?" she questioned him. He turned furious eyes her way but they softened after he saw how wary she was acting. He pushed his hands through his hair before answering.
"Snape grew up with my mum, they were best friends until fifth year. They had a huge fight and it broke the friendship for good, even though he was so sorry. My mum refused to forgive him. He turned to the Dark Lord and spied on Dumbledore for him. Snape is the one who gave the prophecy to Voldemort. When he heard it, he vowed to kill those named, namely my mum. He went to Dumbledore and begged him to help them, to protect us from his bad decision had wrought. Dumbledore agreed but only at the price of Snape serving in the Order as a spy and never faltering. He made him take an Unbreakable Vow about it, one to protect me as best he could through the years. He never told him about the horcruxes but told Snape that there would come a time that Voldemort would fear for his snake. When that time came, I would have to let Voldemort kill me to have a chance and he would have to inform me. There's a horcrux inside my fucking head and he never told me!" Harry screamed. Hermione sat back in stunned silence, trying to figure out just what this meant.
Harry, her alpha, had a horcrux in his head. How had she not noticed it before? His connection to Voldemort, being able to look into his mind, the fact that he could sense the other horcruxes. It all made perfect sense and the realization made her sick to her stomach. Harry was going to have to sacrifice himself in order to kill Voldemort. She had no idea where that left her but honestly, she didn't want to live in a world that didn't have Harry in it. Tears started to fall down her cheeks but she remained silent.
"That fucking old goat raised me up like a pig for slaughter, just like Snape accused him of," Harry said bitterly. Hermione knew that if she didn't refocus Harry, they would likely be there all day while he raged. Knowing she needed to know what his plans were, she stepped forward and hugged him close.
"What are you going to do? We can turn around and leave right now if that's what you want to do," she told him. Harry was already shaking his head in the negative.
"I can't run, 'Mi, you know that. That's not who I am. I can only hope that killing me doesn't kill you too," he said tonelessly. Hermione jerked her head up from where it had been resting on his chest.
"I don't want to live in a world that doesn't have you in it!" she said vehemently. Harry just looked at her and shook his head, their emotional moment gone. He kept an arm around her but gestured back the way they had come.
"We need to get back. I have a dark wizard to face," he said firmly. Draco nodded and led the way, clearly uncomfortable with the scene he had just witnessed. Hermione knew in her heart of hearts that this was the last time she would spend with Harry. Letting Voldemort kill him would assure that the evil bastard was mortal. Yes, it would give them a chance but she wasn't sure that they would win. She remembered her promise to leave the country and hoped that she would be able to find a way out if Harry being gone didn't kill her as well.
The three of them raced back across the grounds to get to the castle. They needed to kill the snake first but had no idea where Riddle had gone. Hermione hoped that he had been headed to the castle. After all, he was going to have to confront Harry at some point. Once again, they passed even more bodies of those that had been fighting all the beasts that Voldemort had unleashed on them. The only thing that made her feel better was knowing that there were just as many Death Eaters on the ground as there were resistance fighters.
They entered the castle on the ground floor to see complete and total mayhem. Minerva was facing off against three masked men while Slughorn was moving quicker than Harry thought possible against Rowle. He cast a glance around and Hermione knew that he was looking for Ron or Bill, even Remus. There was a group of redheads against the far wall and while she couldn't be sure that Ron was part of it, she was sure that he would be.
Harry led them through the Great Hall, ducking as best they could as they went. They didn't have time to stop and fight but Hermione was quick to send a spell any which way to help a friend in need. By the time they reached Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George, Ella, and Luna, they were breathing heavily from the exertion. Each one of their friends were dueling a masked man; the three of them were quick to lend assistance and end their foes. When they turned collectively to see that Draco was standing with them and had helped them, every single one of their wands came up to point at him. Hermione quickly moved in front of him while Harry held up his hands and explained.
While Harry explained, Hermione moved closer to the wall so she could peer through the window at the destruction below. There were still streaks of lights on the grounds, telling her that there were still people out there dueling. There were still shouts from their friends but they seemed to be lessening now that Harry had explained. She was surprised that Ginny was even fighting; Molly had been clear from the beginning that she wasn't going to be allowed to since she was still underage.
Behind her, Hermione heard a shouted spell and turned quickly with a shield in place; not that it would have done her much good. Ginny had her wand pointed at the wall above her and she could see the triumph on her face. Hermione looked up just in time to see the wall collapsing on top of her. She jetted to the side to miss the worst of the cave in. However, she tripped on her shoelace and felt something hit her head heavily.
The world went dark and Hermione knew no more.
-O-
Harry watched in horror as Hermione leapt from under the fall of rock, most of them missing her but for a few. One struck her on the head and she went silent and still. A shriek of rage tore from his throat and he did the only thing that he could. He raised his wand, pointed it at Ginny, and cast the spell that would end it forever.
Avada kedavra.
Ginny was struck in the chest with the bright green spell and thrown backwards at the force of his hatred. She was limp and instantly, the other Weasleys had their wands on him. Harry kept his up in the air while Draco moved to his side, wand held aloft. He just wanted to go check on Hermione but had to take care of this first.
"I warned her what would happen. She paid the price," he said menacingly. Draco glanced at him for a moment but held strong. None of the Weasleys moved and Harry decided to speak again.
"You'll get your wish. I have to let Voldemort kill me to get rid of the horcrux in my head. Kill the snake and he'll be mortal. You can still win this," he implored. All the wands slowly lowered and he went to Hermione's side. He shoved a rock away from her body and she groaned softly. She was alive! Harry cast the scan on her that she had cast on Snape and discovered that she had a concussion and badly broken arm. She didn't have any open fractures but it was bent at an odd angle. Her eyes fluttered open and Harry reached down to help her sit up as gently as he could. She hissed in pain and he tore the bottom six inches off from his shirt so he could fashion a makeshift sling for her. She gave him a soft smile once it was affixed in place.
"I thought I lost you," he whispered. She nuzzled his neck and gave it a kiss.
"We're both going to get through this, I can feel it," she predicted. Harry knew that wasn't the last of anything but nodded anyways. He didn't want to upset her. Before anyone else could say anything, an amplified voice carried throughout the castle.
"Harry Potter, I am calling to you. Your friends have fought valiantly in your stead but you can't allow them to die for you any longer. Face me like the man you're supposed to be; quit hiding behind your omega's skirts. Come find me in the first place you ever saw me after you started at Hogwarts," Voldemort demanded. Pandemonium erupted and Harry knew that this was his best chance at getting out of the castle unnoticed. He turned to Hermione and he could see the tears filling her eyes.
"I'm coming with you. I can help," she told him. Harry knew that she was going to hate him for this, especially since he was going to die in the end. He pressed a kiss to lips one last time, pouring every ounce of love he could into it. He stroked her curls, her filthy, beautiful curls, and looked at her sadly.
"I can only hope that one day you'll forgive me for what I'm about to do. I want you to know that I love you more than I have ever loved anyone else in this world. I don't think that I could ever live without you so it's better this way. For me, anyways. Be happy for that," he crooned. She nodded jerkily to let him know she was listening. He kissed her again, chastely, before pulling away completely. He looked to Draco who gave him a resolute nod.
"Hermione, I order you to stay here with Draco. I don't want you to leave his side unless he tells you to or the battle ends. If we lose, I order you to flee the country. Do your best to live a full life and be happy. I hope you'll someday forgive me," Harry said, every word tearing him apart. Hermione burst into sobs but he couldn't stay and watch them. He turned and dashed through the crowds and out the door.
The Weasleys watched in horror and Draco knelt at her side, helping her up from where she had fallen again. She sobbed into his chest for a few minutes while the others started to gather the bodies that were strewn across the floor. Finally, Hermione's resolve hardened and she knew that she had to help Harry in any way that she could. Before Ron could get too far away, she called out to him.
"Ron, I need the fangs. We're going to finish this. This is the last way we can help Harry. We have to kill the snake," she said determinedly. Ron thrust them into her hands and bent to pick up Ginny's body without a word. She turned to Draco and he gave her another nod.
After searching the crowd for quite some time for the snake, they found nothing. However, there were shouts from the courtyard. Everyone inside started to file out the door but Hermione felt the bond with Harry grow so thin she thought it would snap. She scrabbled desperately with her magic, to take hold of the bond and strengthen it as best she could. Her efforts did nothing. When there was only a thread of bond left, however, it snapped back and rebounded, stronger than it had been before. Hermione wanted to jump for joy. Harry was alive and she had a feeling that he was stronger than ever!
Outside, they were met with the sight of Hagrid in chains, carrying Harry's body in his arms while he sobbed, brokenhearted. Voldemort was in the lead and all his followers came behind them. Most were laughing and cheering but Hermione alone knew the truth. She leaned over to Draco and whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
"Harry's alive. I don't know how but he is. I can feel the bond between us stronger than ever," she confessed. Draco nodded and leaned closer.
"While he monologues would be the perfect time to kill the fucking snake," he told her. She gave a resolute nod and watched as the beast circled at it's master's feet.
"Your hero is dead. I killed him trying to escape from Hogwarts. He abandoned you in your time of need, making him a coward. Now, I'm offering each of you the chance to take my extended hand and join our side. This chance won't happen again. Those of you that don't take it, will suffer," Voldemort told them. Neville, sweet, shy Neville, strode out into the courtyard halfway between the two sides and stood tall and proud.
"You might have killed Harry but you're a liar. He wasn't running away. That isn't even possible, not to those of us that knew him. We will never join your side. You've already killed our families, destroyed our homes and businesses. What more is there? Torture? You think you haven't tortured us all enough already? We will stand against you, Riddle, and die trying if that's what it takes," Hermione felt tears prick her eyes at his touching speech. Loyalty to Harry until the very end.
Voldemort was filled with rage, though, and gestured to his snake to go after Neville. Nagini obeyed instantly, moving fast along the rocky ground that covered Hogwarts. Hermione and Neville knew that this was likely their only chance to destroy it. Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and rushed to Neville's side, handing a fang to Draco with her good hand, letting one rest in hers as well.
When Nagini got close enough, both of them pounced on her, doing their level best to stab her. Her body thrashed around like mad and it was all Hermione could do to hold on with her mangled arm. She was thrown ten feet or so to the right and she landed in a painful heap, her fang rolling away. Nagini turned her attention to her fallen opponent and started for her. Neville was closest to her while Draco jumped on the tail of the snake, stabbing it numerous times, over and over. Hermione fumbled for her wand but with only one arm, it was difficult to reach. Just as Nagini was about to lunge at her, mouth opened wide, Neville leapt in front of her and screamed.
"Bombarda!" he yelled. The force of the spell was enormous and it went straight down the snake's throat. It exploded inside the snake, raining snake blood, guts, and brains down on anyone within a twenty foot radius. Hermione was covered but was now trying to stand in the slippery grass, not quite able to gain purchase on the blood soaked terrain. Neville rushed forward to help her, steadying her until she caught her balance.
Both sides were silent in their awe and rage.
-O-
Harry could hardly believe what was happening. He had truly died, even met his parents in the after life. He had made sure to give Dumbledore a piece of his mind too. His mum had swatted him in the head for giving her a heart attack when he walked up to Lord Voldemort and simply stood there while he cast the killing curse at him.
Honestly, it had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do aside from listening to Hermione the day she had been tortured. Knowing that he was ending his life, knowing that he was willingly walking away from Hermione for the rest of her life, his life. It was heart wrenching because he knew that no matter how hard she tried, Hermione would never move on. Just like he wouldn't be able to in her shoes.
However, when he had "died", not only was his soul sent to beyond the Veil, so was the fragment of Voldemorts. As if had been explained to him, he could stay if he really wanted to but only one body had died so only one soul was required. As much as Harry had wanted to stay and visit with his parents, see Sirius again, and deck Dumbledore in his crooked-arse nose, he leapt at the chance to go and finish the job he had left behind. Hermione was behind him, not with him, and if he had the chance to go back, he was grabbing it with both hands.
There had been tearful goodbyes with his parents, both of them telling him how much they loved him. His mum had asked him to tell Severus that he needed to let her go and find happiness. His dad had asked him to apologize on his behalf for how he had treated him when they were young. He wasn't sure how well that would be received or if the man would even survive but he had promised to do so nonetheless.
After screaming at Dumbledore about the things he had done to himself and his family, he had flipped him the bird and followed the strange light that led him back to consciousness. He woke to Voldemort crowing that he had won, that he had killed the Savior of the Wizarding World. He ordered someone to go make sure that he was dead and Harry wasn't sure how he was going to play that off. There were soft steps approaching him and he was almost sure that the person was a woman. It was confirmed when Narcissa Malfoy leaned over and checked his pulse. She started slightly when it was beating strong at his neck. She leaned even further over his prone body so she could whisper in his ear.
"Is Draco alive?" she asked. Her words seemed so loud even though he knew that they weren't. Harry remained still but breathed back an answer.
"Yes, I left him protecting my omega. He told me about what he had been doing through this war. I know you know too," Harry told her. She stood up abruptly and turned to the others.
"The boy is dead. He lives no longer," she called, her voice regal and sophisticated to the others coarse jeers. The cheering got impossibly louder. There were shouts that he couldn't understand over the cheering and before he knew it, he was scooped up into Hagrid's arms. He listened to Hagrid sobbing over his death, asking why it had to be him, why Harry had to die. He felt guilty for hiding the fact that he was very much alive but he needed the advantage.
The trek out of the Forbidden Forest wasn't a long one. Harry eventually heard someone calling out in the courtyard and everyone from inside the castle started pouring outside. He kept his eye cracked to try to spot Hermione and Draco but couldn't see well enough to distinguish faces from that distance.
He listened to Voldemort demand that everyone turn to his side and then Neville's impassioned speech. He let his head flop to the side so he could see better when the Dark Lord ordered his snake to go after Neville. His heart had stopped beating when he saw Hermione and Draco head to Neville's side, determined to kill the snake as he had asked. He watched them both jump on the snake while it thrashed about, doing their best to stab it with their fangs. Hermione was thrown and Nagini instantly went for her. Due to her broken arm, she couldn't get to her wand as fast as normal. Harry just knew that she was going to die.
Draco had jumped on the back end of the snake, stabbing it repeatedly with the fang in his hand. Harry was impressed that the man had kept his word. However, it was Neville that saved her by jumping in front of her and incinerating the snake with a well-placed bombarda. Hermione, Draco, and Neville were all covered in gore but they were alive.
Harry took this moment as one of distractions that he needed. He leapt from Hagrid's arms, wand drawn, so he could face everyone at the same time. However, he didn't make the mistake of turning his back on Voldemort. The man was fuming and Harry could see that this next duel would be it for the both of them. No more fucking around. They were going to end this war today, one way or another.
"Seize Narcissa Malfoy!" Voldemort called to his followers. However, the woman had seen the writing on the wall and ghosted on them. The Dark Lord was even more furious when nobody could produce her. He turned to Harry and grinned ferally.
"I see that you've lured two of the Malfoys to your side. They shall be the first to die after you," the Dark Lord yelled. Harry knew that he was trying to put him off his game so he let the comment slide right off his back. Voldemort threw the first spell, a vivid green one that he was more than familiar with. Harry stepped to the side and laughed.
"You've used that spell on me twice now and it hasn't worked. When are you going to come up with some new tricks?" the Gryffindor called. The duel just started getting darker and faster from there.
There was still fighting going on around them but most just stood and watched the incredible duel. Harry knew that he was good before but now that he didn't have a soul fragment leaching from his magic, he was even more powerful. His spells hit harder and did more damage. Everyone watched in awe as the two wizards exchanged spells. It was clear that Harry was in better shape, however, since he had barely broken a sweat from the duel and Voldemort had slowed slightly. It was probably thirty minutes in that Voldemort called out again.
"Admit now that you're never going to win. You're weak because you care. Your precious omega, your mudblood whore, will always be your weak spot," he crowed. Harry let his defense fall for half a second and it was enough for one spell to sneak through. A blasting curse that hit him in the shoulder, causing pain to rock his system, blood pouring down his tattered shirt. Harry had just barely recovered his stance when he saw Riddle turn slightly and shoot the familiar green spell at Hermione. Her eyes widened but she had no time to dodge. However, Draco saw exactly what was happening and threw himself on top of her, crushing her to the ground. Hermione screamed in pain but Harry didn't care in that moment. He had saved her life.
Now that Hermione was in very real danger, Harry started to walk towards the wizard, not pausing when the spells started getting closer and closer to him. Harry had no cares for his welfare; he wanted the wizard to die so Hermione would be safe again. Just six feet away from the dark wizard, he felt a spell hit him again, this time a cutting curse across his thigh. It caused him to drop his wand but he didn't care. He remembered Godric's words to him that night, or maybe it was morning.
The Sword of Gryffindor will come to you if called.
Harry held out his hand to his side and willed the Sword of Gryffindor to appear. He was sure that he looked as though he were trying to catch the Knight Bus since the Death Eaters started laughing. However, the Sword appeared in his hand and he wasted no time in shoving it through the chest of the Dark Lord.
Silence fell among the crowd.
Harry let him bluster a little there, standing with a Sword in his chest, until he pulled it out. Voldemort kept his feet, though blood was bubbling from his lips.
"I'll return, you know I will," he ground out. Harry just laughed.
"No, you won't. We killed all your anchors, one right in front of your face just minutes ago. You're done and you need to go to hell where you can burn for eternity," Harry stated calmly. He swung the Sword of Gryffindor and cut cleanly through the neck of Riddle. His head made a sickening thud as hit the ground and rolled a few feet away. Everyone was silent for a few seconds before they realized that it was well and truly over now.
Cheering began.
Then it ended.
The Death Eaters were trying to apparate away but the crowd surged forward to stop that from happening. It was another full on battle that Harry wanted no part of. He wanted to hold Hermione in his arms again and make sure that she didn't hate him for ordering her to stay behind. He limped his way across the battlefield to where he had seen her last, dodging the chaos and spells as he went.
Ten minutes had passed before he finally made it to her side. She was leaning heavily on Draco and the man had an arm around her, helping hold her up. He growled down deep but knew that he was doing as he had vowed to do, to keep Hermione safe. Draco had his own mate and he would never want Hermione. Hermione would never want Draco; she had eyes only for him.
The pair met in an embrace on the battlefield, Harry roughly taking her mouth with his. He dominated her tongue, stroking it submission. When he finally pulled away, he leaned down so his forehead rested on hers.
"I'm so sorry for ordering you, I just had to make sure that you were safe. I love you so much," Harry confessed. Hermione punched him in the chest just once before burying her face in it again.
"That was awful and if you ever do it again, even death won't save you from my wrath!" she lectured him. Harry chuckled slightly at her words but nodded against her head.
"Yes, kitten, I'll do my best to never order you again," he promised.
It didn't take long for the Light to subdue the Dark, though he was sure that some still escaped. Healers had been called in from St. Mungo's and they were crawling the grounds, helping those that they could where they stood. The more serious injuries were being sent to the Hospital Wing and St. Mungo's itself.
Harry couldn't say for sure but he was positive that the fireworks he spotted in the air were courtesty of Fred and George. Hopefully they had both made it to continue their mischief. He briefly wondered what his relationship with the Weasleys was going to be like since he had killed Ginny but that wasn't really his pressing concern. Getting Hermione and himself healed was top priority.
The battle had lasted all day, the sun starting to set in the distance. He wasn't sure how they had made it, how they had all survived, but it seemed that Godric Gryffindor was correct. He had prevailed. He would have to ask Hogwarts to let his portrait rest in his room when he returned for his seventh year. Locking a founder up in the Room of Requirement wasn't right in the least.
A strange healer from Mungo's appeared at their side and started to diagnose them. Harry kept his arm around Hermione, not willing to let her go for a second, not even to be healed. Things were still dangerous, they were still on a battlefield, after all. The woman spoke quietly to Hermione and she grimaced as the woman pointed a wand at her arm. Hermione dropped to her knees in pain, screaming, as the bone set itself back to normal. Harry stood, ready to kill the woman, but Hermione held him back, shaking her head.
Now that her arm was better, the woman turned her attention to his leg and shoulder. She cast diagnostics on it, then properly cleaned both wounds. She poured some sort of potion over them and they began to heal over. When they were bright pink scars, she handed him one last potion to drink. After he had downed it, his scars started to fade. Finally, with one glance to Hermione, she provided Hermione with a potion, one that his omega drank down with no hesitation. She smiled at the woman and she was on her way. Harry turned to Hermione so he could meet her eyes fully.
"What was that last potion?" he inquired. Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"A contraceptive potion. I'm going to go into heat in an hour, she said," Hermione informed him. Harry had completely forgotten that they were so close to that time.
Now that they were healed, Harry hurried them along to the castle. Not only did he want to make sure that he had Hermione in a safe place to care for her during her heat, he wanted to make sure that Draco wasn't being hauled away. He had been invaluable at the end and had been fighting since after he had failed in killing Dumbledore.
However, they were met with well-wishers along the way, all thanking him for killing Voldemort and congratulating him for doing it so effectively. Ages had passed before they finally made it to the Great Hall where he knew that the Order was meeting to discuss the events. Hermione was at his side but he could already tell that she was becoming fevered. She was going to last much longer.
"Where is Draco Malfoy?" Harry asked Kingsley and Minerva. Remus had just walked up and Bill wasn't far behind him.
"The aurors took him and his mum. No matter what they did at the end, they're still going to have to stand trial," Kingsley answered. Harry growled in response. He turned to Remus.
"I know you hate him but I need you to go to the Shrieking Shack. We watched Voldemort as he tried to kill Snape there and we tried to save him. Draco put him in stasis and he needs the Hospital Wing or Mungo's. As for these trials, you can count on Hermione and I testifying for both Malfoys. Lucius can hang," Harry informed him. They nodded their heads, clearly not about to argue with the man who had cut Voldemort's head off.
"We're heading the Head Boy's room in Gryffindor. Hermione is on the verge of heat and we're going to hole up there. If you could have the elves deliver food periodically, we would appreciate it," Harry asked Minerva. She nodded immediately.
"Of course, I'll see to it personally. We'll see you in three days time," she replied.
Harry didn't share any more pleasantries with anyone. Hermione was his priority and he could tell that she was close. Her scent was changing and she would be insatiable very soon. He wanted to at least get in the shower first. They made their way to the seventh floor and was pleased to find that the Head Boy room simply opened for them, clearly warned by the Deputy Headmistress.
Harry didn't even let Hermione protest; he pushed her into the bathroom and started to strip her. Once she was naked, he stripped himself. He turned the water to hot and herded them both into the spray. It was while Harry was scrubbing Hermione's back that he heard the moan that signaled her time was here full force.
Harry didn't make her suffer. He turned her and made sure that all the soap was rinsed from her body. He lowered to his knees so he could dart his tongue through her folds and taste her honey. She lifted one thigh over his shoulder and grasped his hair with her hands but didn't thrust into his mouth. She had learned her lesson long ago that he was in charge most of the time. Her moans were music to his ears.
He brought her to completion there in the shower, his mouth attached to her cunt. She watered all over him and he smacked his lips, thoroughly enjoying her taste. When he had finished, he rose to his feet and grasped her hips, lifting her off the floor so she could wrap her legs around his hips.
Harry thrust up into her powerfully, not waiting for her to adjust to his girth. She hissed in pleasure and pain and she let him set the pace. He had almost lost her today, more than once, and he was going to take her hard and fast the first time. Later, there would be time for sweet seduction.
Her nails tried to find purchase on his wet shoulders but she found none. Her hands just slipped right off, leaving her completely at his mercy. He loved it.
Harry drove into her with the speed of a man possessed. He was bottoming out, hitting her cervix with his cock, making her cry out with each thrust. He bent his head to catch a tip of a breast in his mouth, suckling hard to send her rocking with pleasure. She fluttered and tightened around him, falling over into ecstasy. Two thrusts later, she took him with her.
Harry continued to randomly pump into her until he was sure that his balls were empty. His knot was still there so he couldn't quite move yet. Since they were stuck together for the next couple minutes, he turned the water off and carried her to the bed. She was almost asleep and he felt bad that her primal needs were going to keep her awake for the next three days. Hopefully, they would get more rest than usual since they had just overcome a war.
His cock finally slipped from Hermione's pussy and he took the opportunity to snuggle close to her now dozing form. She was the best thing in his life and he had died to keep her safe. Something he would gladly do again if required. However, he was more than happy that he had been allowed to come back and spend his lifetime with her. One thing was defintely for sure. Though they still had numerous things to do after this heat was over, Hermione would always keep life interesting and he would never grow bored with her.
Thank Merlin.
-O-
Draco knew that he was going to be taken in. He wasn't surprised in the least. He was known for letting the Death Eaters in the castle and trying to kill Dumbledore. The arrest hadn't been a surprise. What had been a surprise was that Harry and Hermione hadn't arrived to put in a good word for him. He was sure that they had believed him, that they would do what was right. He wasn't even sure if his mother and father had been apprehended. All he knew was that he was sitting in a holding cell at the Ministry rather than Azkaban.
Harry had wanted them to visit him more than anything so they could assure Daphne that he was alright. Yes, they could feel each other through the bond but a verbal confirmation would help with her apprehension. She worried so much when it came to him, not that he could blame her. He worried about her just as much. He wondered what would happen to them if he was convicted. Would she still get to visit him for her heats since she was innocent and they couldn't possibly doom her to the life she would lead without him? It was something that bore considering but not this night.
Draco needed sleep and he was determined to be fresh in the morning. Therefore, he closed his eyes and let sleep take him under.