And then there were two.

A/N Sorry this one has not been to the beta. My beta is taking a well deserved vacation. No smut in this chapter but I'll get around to it soon. Please leave a review if you are so inclined.

Hermione was just adding the asphodel to her potion when she heard the explosion. Looking to Neville she saw that his cauldron was still intact. Sirens began to sound and Dumbledores voice could be heard throughout the school.

“First through fourth years move quickly to your dorms. Fifth through seventh years make your way to the Great Hall. This is not a prank please move quickly and silently.” There was no hint of the Headmasters usual good cheer in his voice.
Scowling Snape moved to the door leading to the corridor and muttered a spell to make the wood transparent. Seeing the corridor empty he motioned the students to follow him into the hall.

Hermione moved to Harry and Ron who were directly behind the Professor. Looking back she saw Draco, Pansy, and Blaise came next. They were followed by Crabbe and Goyle. The last line of students was Neville, Seamus, and Dean.

Hermione realized that this was all that was left of the seventh year students from the two houses. The rest had died in the attack on the Hogwarts Express on the way to school at the beginning of term. Deatheaters had attacked the train and killed muggleborns and purebloods alike. There had been no thought or remorse in the eyes of the killers as they moved thorough the train killing anyone in a school robe. When the Auror’s had arrived this same group had been standing as a line of defense between the remaining students and the Deatheaters. They had been holding their own too.

That seemed to wake up a lot of the Dark Lords supporters to just how insane their leader had become. The remaining students from the other houses had decided to band together with the DA to fight. The very next morning Dumbledore had received a note from Narcissa Malfoy asking him to grant her and Draco asylum. Lucius had finally gone completely insane after his trip to Azkaban. She was now being hidden at headquarters with Molly Weasley.

Snapping back to the present Hermione followed Snape into the deserted corridor. Most of the torches had been extinguished to allow the students the cover of shadows to move about. Snape reached the steps leading out of the dungeons and saw they were clogged with students going to the Slytherin dorms. Not wanting to wait for the students to clear the steps he led the way to a tapestry. Moving the tapestry aside he took the student up a fight of stairs to a room just off the Great Hall. Hermione recognized the room from her first year. This was where they had waited to be sorted.

She looked around the room to the other students. They all exchanged a small nod, today was the day it would all be over. Either they would defeat the madman or they would each die trying.

Snape opened the door to the Great Hall and led the students through. Most of the tables had been turned onto their sides and students were using them as shields. The staff has spread out throughout the room. Dumbledore stood alone in the middle of the room.

Looking around Snape asked, “Where are Hagrid and his class?”

“They took shelter in the Forbidden Forest” Dumbledore said gravely.

Snape levitated himself to a wide ledge above the open doors to the Entrance Hall. He was to ambush the attacking force from behind. Dumbledore stood in the center of the room with Harry, Hermione and Ron on his right. Draco, Pansy, and Blaise took mirror positions on his left.

“Now, just as we have practiced this, Hermione and Pansy will hold the shield spell while the rest of us attack. Harry, you of course should concentrate on Voldemort. Leave Lucius and Bella to the staff and I if you can” Dumbledore instructed. “Ladies please begin.”

Just as the shimmering golden shield snapped into place in front of the group the main doors burst open and Voldemort stepped through. He was followed by Lucius and Bellatrix.
Behind them came about 30 more attackers in black robes.
The next minutes seemed to blur into multi-colored flashes as Hermione struggled to hold the shield. She couldn’t watch the confrontation without losing the concentration required for the shield spell. After what felt like hours she felt Pansy start to weaken. Knowing she couldn’t hold the shield on her own she looked to Harry to see his progress. His wand was locked in a Priori Incantatem with Voldemort. As she felt the shield drop Hermione’s vision began to go grey at the edges. Taking the last of the magical energy she could muster she sent it to Harry’s wand tip to add to his. The last thing she saw as her world went black was a bright flash travel along the thin line between the two wands.

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Hermione felt as if she were floating. She didn’t seem to be able to move in any way but she could hear noises. They were hushed and distant. It sounded like Molly speaking. Yes, that was Molly’s voice.

“Good morning Hermione. Is today the day you will sit up and talk to us? We all miss you terribly. The Healers say it should be soon. Your magic levels are staring to rise again finally.” Hermione could feel the blankets being tucked in snugly around her. Molly was in full “Mother Mode”. Surely she should be taking care of one of her own children. Why was she here instead?

“I can’t stay long today. I have to go to the Long Term Spell Damage Ward. Ron and Harry will enjoy a visit I’m sure.” She could hear Molly bustle out of the room. What were the boys doing in the same ward with the Longbottoms? The Gryffindor felt her courage drain away. Her best friends had been cursed into mental mush! She felt the tears track down her face but couldn’t wipe them away.

She didn’t hear her door open again. But she felt large soft hands envelope one of hers. Who was here now? She really didn’t think she could stand anymore news today.
“Hermione are you crying? Can you hear me?” She knew that voice. Who was it? Thinking very hard she realized it was Draco.

“You’re frowning! You can hear me!” she heard him rush out the door. Almost immediately the door swooshed open again and she felt her eyelids being lifted and a small light was shined into each eye. She wanted to tell them to bugger off and leave her alone to grieve for her friends but she couldn’t say the words.

“She’s responding to stimulus. It won’t be long now. I have to warn you there may be side effects from her magic being completely drained like that. It varies from patient to patient so I couldn’t even begin to speculate what might happen” the Healer said.
“But this is a step in the right direction?” she heard Draco ask. He almost sounded concerned.Imagine Draco Malfoy concerned about the mudblood. It must be my day for shocks the young witch mused as the world became hazy again and the voices faded away.

Draco had been checking on her daily. He wasn’t certain why and he didn’t stop to question it. He had to think of running the family businesses. With his father gone it was up him to keep everything going smoothly.

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Someone was softly calling her name. Frowning she tried to place the voice.

“That’s it Miss Granger. Listen to me. It’s past time for you to wake up.” She knew that deep silky voice. It was Snape. Professor Snape she corrected herself. What was he doing here? She heard him chuckle. What was so damn funny?

“Legilimens” he said softly.

She immediately thought as hard as she could “What is so damned funny?”

“If you frowned any harder your eyebrows would fall off. It’s good to know your still in there “he replied.

“What happened? Did we defeat Voldemort? Is everyone OK? Why can’t I gain control of my body?” she thought furiously.

“Calm down Hermione. All will be answered when you are able to talk. Yes, Voldemort is gone. There have been heavy losses. Try to open your eyes” he coaxed.

Hermione tried to concentrate on only opening her eyes. They began to flutter. She saw glimpses of light and Snape’s face. Was he smiling? Her eyes opened and yes indeed he was smiling. She felt him withdraw from her mind.

“Excellent Miss. Granger!” he said softly. She tried to smile but her lips were so dry that it hurt.

Looking around she wasn’t at St. Mungo’s anymore. She was in the Infirmary at Hogwarts. Severus saw the question in her eyes.

“Yes, it’s Hogwarts. Albus thought you might be more comfortable here at home. The Healers thought a more familiar surrounding might help. I thought you just needed a good wakeup call” he said chuckling.

“Ha ha” she croaked. “Water?’ she barely got the word out.


Albus and Poppy hurried into the room. As Poppy began to bustle around Hermione’s bed Severus excused himself. He had a note to send.

In London Draco was presiding over a board meeting for Malfoy Enterprises. A window was open to admit any owls who may bring word from Hogwarts. Draco found his attention on the window more than the meeting. Severus was going to try a risky trip into Grangers mind. He hoped it worked.

The sound of raised voices brought him back to the meeting. Two of the Regional Directors were arguing over the logistics of getting product from point A to point B. Draco looked at the third Director who sat calmly in his chair watching him.
“Mr. Collins do you think you can handle this?” Draco asked him.

“Certainly Mr. Malfoy” he drawled.

“Good, it’s your project from now on. Gentlemen, please excuse me I have pressing business to attend to elsewhere.” Draco and the rest of the board members began to prepare to leave when a raven flew straight for Draco dropping a note from its beak and turning straight back to the window.

Opening the note Draco recognized the spidery scrawl as belonging to his Godfather.

D.
She’s awake.
S.

“Gentleman I will be on vacation for several weeks. Have a nice day.” Draco stated and immediately disapparited to the front gates of Hogwarts. As he walked to the front doors he thought about all the people who had died in the final battle. He had lost Blaise. It was a pain that would never truly go away but both Severus and Albus assured him it would get easier over time. Now three months later he was getting better.
Albus had lost his beloved Minnie. Gryffindor would need a new Head of House next year and a Transfiguration Professor. Not to mention Severus would need someone to torment over the House Cup.

Severus and Hoch were the only Professors who remained. Severus had been given back the love of his life. Now that Lucius was dead, he and Narcissa could finally be happy together. Somehow, the idea of having Severus as his step-father wasn’t hard to accept. He had definitely shown more attention and love to him than his father ever had.

Hermione was the last Gryffindor left alive in her year just as he was the last Slytherin. He didn’t know why but he felt the need to watch over her. He knew she may not appreciate it when she woke up but that never stopped him before.

Before he realized it he was in front of the doors to the Infirmary. He heard Poppy telling Hermione that she need to rest before they answered her questions. Knowing that would never work he stepped through the doors and made his way over to the bed.

“What exactly did you want to know Granger?” he said ignoring Poppy’s look of death. Turning to the mediwitch “She is a Gryffindor and Hermione Granger, when have you ever known her to allow anyone to not answer her question?” he asked.

Turning to Hermione he said sadly, “Go ahead ask and I will answer”.

Poppy threw her hands into the air in exasperation and left the room. Albus just chuckled and watched from his seat next to the bed. He nodded for Draco to continue.
“You have been unconscious for the last three months. Your magic levels were completely exhausted and for a while there we thought we would lose you as well “he said softly. Somehow the act of saying the words made him realize how much he had wanted her to live. He didn’t have time to explore why when she began with the questions.

“Harry and Ron?” she whispered. She thought she knew the answer but held her breath until Draco spoke.

“They died in St. Mungo’s a week after the battle. The magical backlash from Voldemort’s death caused them to lose most of their brain function. After everyone was sure that they could never wake up Molly allowed the Healers to stop the life support.” He said very softly.

“In St. Mungo’s I heard Molly say they were in the Spell Damage Ward. That was the day you realized I was crying. I think I knew then that they would not make it.” She said through the silent tears that rolled down her too thin face. Draco realized how hollow her cheeks were and how shadowed her eyes were. He moved to sit next to her on the bed and hold her hand. He was surprised when she sat up a little and laid her head on his shoulder. Draco held her as she cried and realized just how thin she had become in the last months. A fierce wave of protectiveness washed through him. Albus nodded to him with a sad, knowing look in his eyes.

After she had calmed a little he went on to recount the battle and everything that had gone on since. Hermione felt as if her world was irretrievably broken. She clutched Draco as if he were a lifeline. She had no one left. Her parents were killed early on and now the entire Weasley clan except for Molly and most of the staff at Hogwarts. Where would she go and what would she do?

Dumbledore stood and with a knowing twinkle in his eye cleared his throat. “I have wanted to talk to the two of you. Now seems to be convenient. We will be administering your NEWTS in a month or two after Hermione has had time to recover fully. After that I would like to offer the two of you positions on the Hogwarts staff. Mr. Malfoy I find myself in need of a Potions Teacher now that Severus will teach Defense. Miss. Granger I would like to offer you Transfiguration and Head of Gryffindor House. Minnie and I discussed this some time ago when we thought about retiring and she wanted you to replace her.”

Hermione had a hard time getting the words out around the lump in her throat. “I would be honored Headmaster, but I don’t think anyone can replace her. I will do my best to make her proud of the decision.”

“I will need a little time to appoint a Vice President to run Malfoy Enterprises. I think teaching would appeal to me. Thank you Sir.” Draco said in a stunned voice.
“Very good, I will take my leave and allow you to get some rest. Mr. Malfoy don’t keep her up much longer.” With that Dumbledore left the room.

“I should go as well.” Draco said reluctantly pulling away from the witches embrace. He didn’t want to go home to his empty manor. It was lonely with his mother spending most of her time with Severus. He understood and even approved of it, but he was still lonely.

“Do you have to?” Hermione asked in a timid voice. “I really don’t want to be alone right now. I’ve slept for three months and I’m not sleepy, incredibly tired but wide awake.”

“I’ll stay as long as you like.” He said with a smirk. “How about some food? You are all skin and bones.”