Not All that Glitters is Gold

A/N: THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!!! There are still PLENTY of chapters to go!

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It didn’t take long for Hermione to come to. The deafening sounds of shouts and explosions could wake a troll from its slumber. Her eyes fluttered open and she felt every single joint in her body ache. Almost afraid to move, she leaned her head against the warm chest of Draco. His heart was vibrating abnormally fast and she could hear his ragged breath above her. That’s when the events of the past moments hit her like Dobby’s enchanted bludger.

She tried to move but found her feet dangling. Was he still holding her? Why did she hear Harry and Ron’s voices? Were they Harry and Ron? Or was it her mind playing tricks? Hermione’s eyes widened enough for the scene around her to become more focused. She was looking up at Draco’s chin, his jaw was clenched and he looked furious.

“Give her here,” came the sweet voice of Molly Weasley, yet her tone was harsh and in a whisper.

Draco must have hesitated because she could hear Ron growl, “Do it Malfoy!”

She felt herself shifting weight and groaned. It hurt to move. Her body felt as if it had been stabbed with a million needles, she had been rung through a metal tube, and fallen down twenty flights of stairs. Yet her eyes were open and she desperately wanted to move. The warm feeling of Molly against her made her want to stay, however, but she couldn’t.

“Oh, Hermione dear…” Molly whispered lightly, locking eyes with her.

“Let. Me. Down.” She managed to croon out, feeling the world shift into view as Molly helped her to her feet.

Hermione almost collapsed but Draco’s hand shot out and grabbed onto her arm, eliciting another growl from Ron. He promptly shoved Malfoy from Hermione and pointed his wand under his chest.

“Touch her again, Malfoy, and I’ll transfigure you into a kettle.” His voice was deep, hoarse and violent. It didn’t sound like Ronald Weasley at all.

Lucius’ shout echoed across the room and Hermione nearly tumbled down at the sight of him. He raced down the stairs, grasping onto the railing as the light nearly blinded him. He looked disheveled with his cloak thrown about him, his long blond hair falling over his face and his lips parted just right to make him resemble a large bass. His cold, light, blue eyed stare etched into Hermione as he looked between them and growled, “You Sonnofa!”

Remus shot his wand out and shouted a spell that Hermione couldn’t hear over the rumbling of roaring Death Eaters. The lights went out and there was a heavy explosion straight in front of her. She felt some one grab onto her hand and some how found her will to walk, not walk but run. Sprinting across the manor in the dark, Hermione hit and bumped into confused Death Eaters, knocking some one she thought was Bellatrix to the floor.

“Kill them! Kill them all!” Lucius’ voice echoed through the hall as he too took off running.

Hermione took a breath as the wood beneath her feet changed to stone and she slipped. Crashing into a table, she fell to the ground with a loud gasp and thud. The darkness began to lift a little and she was able to make out the signature blond hair from Draco as he leaned over attempting to pick her up. Hermione could hear Ginny shouting for Hermione but when she opened her mouth to shout back, she felt Draco’s hand cover her lips.

“Ssshh…” He whispered, pulling her under the table and crouching over her.

Her eyes widened when she heard the door burst open, followed by Lucius’ angry voice. “Draco. I know you’re in here.”

She could see the wand light with emerald tones, cascading a sickening color on the walls. Draco’s heart was beating fast against her, she couldn’t hear herself think, or maybe that was her heart.

“Give me the girl, Draco. You don’t understand what you’ve gotten yourself into.” He voice began to calm down as he kicked a few House-elves out of his way as they scurried to hiding places as well. “The Dark Lord will take pity on you for this mistake. You are a good soldier to him. The girl has melted your mind. She’s been playing your emotions. Think about it son. Why would she even care about you when you beat her, raped her, humiliated her? She’s below your standards and worse, you think you can change. You’re in too deep to change.”

His footsteps neared the table and she took an inward breath. She could see the shadows of his long legs, turn slowly toward the table. Draco’s breath stopped and there was an eerie silence.

“Draco?” Draco was silent, his hand clamped around Hermione’s mouth firmly.

Hermione’s eyes darted around and came contact to two large tennis ball sized eyes. Wilky. She was on her knees right in front of her. The elf brought her long finger to her lips and shushed silently, watching as Hermione automatically nodded. Draco’s breath was against her neck and he was….shaking.

“God Damnit Draco!” Lucius fired several explosive rounds around them, “Give me the girl!”

He lifted the table and threw it from them. Hermione felt the whoosing sound of the table cloth push against her skin as the table was hurled back. Draco looked up just as Lucius shouted, “Avada Kedavra” A jet of blinding green light shot at them and Hermione shut her eyes expecting the worse.

However she soon felt herself being pulled through what appeared to be a small tube and with a definite pop, was outside the manor. She looked around and heard a thud on the ground.

“Master!” Wilky shouted, breaking Hermione from her daze. She looked down and at Draco, his eyes were slammed shut, lips parted and he wasn’t moving.

“Draco!” Hermione shouted, falling to her knees and resting her hand on his chest. She shook him, “Draco! Draco! Draco!”

The doors of the house exploded open and the Order came rushing out, firing spells all around them.

“There’s too many.” Remus shouted, holding onto an injured Tonks, “We found Hermione, let’s get out of here.”

They stopped in their tracks and Hermione sat on her knees, holding Draco in her arms. Tears had fallen from her face, although she didn’t know why. He was a bastard and a sadist and deserved everything that he got. Yet some how not even death was what he deserved.

Snape moved through the crowd, a large gash on his face, and bent down to pick Draco up. “Now’s not the time to sit and stare,” he said grimly, grabbing onto Hermione’s arm and pulling her up.

Everyone broke from their daze and Hermione felt the tiny hand of Wilky touch hers. In an instant, tube squeezing sensation, and faint pop, everyone appeared at the Burrow. Hermione was breathing so hard that once her feet touched the ground, her eyes rolled and she fainted. Draco Malfoy was dead.