Penance

Tissue alert.

A/N: Tennessee is 6 hours behind London.

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Lucius looked up at the shabby brick building before him. So this was where his son was, where the power was. That child he’d put inside the Mudblood was no ordinary child. It was the spawn of Voldemort and himself, the next step to ensure their success. He’d securely locked the bastard inside the Granger girl and now he was free to rule. He would be the Lord with this son at his side, not the pathetic, weak, Mudblood lover had had failed in raising. This one would rule next to him, lift him up. He would honor Lucius. Now was the time to mold him. He was old enough now to learn, young enough to twist into his world.

Lucius climbed the stairs, his blood whirling. This is what he’d been waiting for.

Banging on the door, he strode in.

“Sir! Sir, can I help you?” a dumpy old woman asked, stepping out of an office and looking harassed.

“I’d like to see my son,” he said.

The woman looked shocked. “I see. Was your wife Miss Granger?”

Lucius’ lips curled. “Yes, my wife.”

“She said you might come. Wait right here,” she said and went back into her office. She exited a moment later and shut the door, locking it with a set of keys. “Follow me, he’s out back.”

Lucius followed the old Muggle woman, sickened that the Mudblood had seen fit to leave him here. Of course she would, the dirty blooded wench. He’d told his Master he could do better with a pureblood but his Master had been persistent. He’d wanted her magic, the safety the Mudblood would bring. Lucius knew it was true, knew with a pureblooded bitch she would want to keep the pup. The Mudblood would give it up, feeling dirty. She had not disappointed.

She led him to a small garden out back where children were playing in the dying sunlight. He expected her to call one up, but she didn’t. She led him straight back to a large tree.

“He’s there,” she said, pointing to the base of the tree. There was no child, instead a large rock. Lucius stepped forward and read:

Baby Boy Granger

February 1, 2007

Lucius shook with fury. What was this?

“She also left you this. Take your time. You may let yourself out, if you wish.”

Lucius looked down at the flimsy white piece of parchment. He ripped open the white envelope and stared in wonderment at the parchment-like material. It was thin with light blue lines crossing it. He unfolded it and read:

Irony’s a bitch, isn’t it? Tom Riddle was born much in the same way as his partial son. In case you’re wondering, he came into the world a healthy boy. Too bad even your spawn cannot stand up against a fully grown witch. Good luck with reproducing another at your age.

Mudblood.

Lucius yelled in fury, the parchment bursting into flames and falling to the ground. He twirled around and stalked back across the yard, flinging several children back with the swipe if his hand. Stunning the old woman, he whirled on the spot, aparating back to the Manor.

That bitch was going to die.

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Several minutes before…

Draco could hear everything going on around him as if through a very long tunnel, the blast making his ears ring. He remembered what happened, his father had tried to kill him…was he dead? No, if he was dead he wouldn’t be in this much pain. Hermione had blocked it, thrown him away from it…he’d hit the wall hard.

Hermione…

He turned his face on the dirty ground, squinting towards the movements. Lucius was standing above Hermione and Harry, his wand on Harry while Hermione looked on with wide eyes. Something black was being drawn from him…

Draco pushed himself up to his elbows, the ringing starting to subside. He had to get to her, it was his only goal. He had to protect her from that sick fuck…

The black thing hovered in the air over Potter for a second, bobbing there, and Draco knew it had to be the essence of Voldemort. Nothing could be that shapeless and still so terrifying. Draco was just starting to sit up when he saw the malicious look on his sire’s face, saw the gleam in his eye and saw where his eyes were looking.

“No…”

He watched in utter horror as the black shape suddenly surrounded Hermione, as her eyes and mouth opened. Draco screamed her name; it was wrenched from his lungs as Harry dove at his father, tackling him to the ground. Draco ignored the two, they didn’t matter. All that mattered was Hermione who was sucking in the black smoke, her body convulsing. She keeled over as the last was pulled into her body and Draco ran to her, skidding to a halt beside her, groping at her, trying to bring the blackness out. Her body seized over and over as her eyes rolled in their sockets.

“No, no, no, Hermione fight it, fight it, push him out, don’t let him win,” Draco cried, his hands searching her, pulling at her, trying to dispel that evil. Her body slowed, stilled, slumped in his arms and he turned to Potter who was taking on his father, holding his own. Draco wanted to go to him, help him, knew Potter was weak, but he couldn’t. He was chained to her.

“Please, Hermione, wake up…”

Her back arched and suddenly she was screaming, screaming. He held her, just held her until she gasped.

“Hermione, oh gods, Hermione…” He looked into her eyes, trying to find her. She was there, her eyes darting around.

“Harry…where is he?” she asked. Then she saw him.

“No…Harry, no!” Harry looked to her and was consequently hit with a stunner, smashing to the floor with a loud smack. Lucius turned eyes on them and Draco grabbed Hermione, dragging her back with him as he scooted, trying to get to his feet but his father was fast, too fast. He was upon them in an instant and Draco used his body to shield hers.

“Now, keep your end of the bargain, girl!” Lucius screamed, his eyes filled with hate.

“Get away from her!” Draco screamed, still trying to protect her with everything he had, which wasn’t much. His wand was lying over where he had fallen. He pulled her to her feet to get her as far from that bastard as possible but her knees were weak and he held most of her weight. “You didn’t keep your end, why should she?”

“Fool! She said nothing about what to do with the Dark Lord when I was done, simply that I remove it from Mr. Potter. Am I right?”

When she nodded, Draco’s heart sank. How could she be so foolish? His grip tightened on her, trying to save her from the pain. He couldn’t imagine having to do what she had to do.

“You’ll find him on the corner of Fifth and Harrison Street in Glencoe, Tennessee,” she said and her knees gave completely out when Lucius sneered and told his men to keep an eye on them, disappearing into the night. Draco sank to the ground slowly with Hermione as Potter ran forward, having shaken off the curse. Draco leaned the weak girl against his chest and Potter leaned over her.

“Don’t listen to him, Hermione,” Harry said, his face hovering above hers. “I know you’re listening to him, I know he’s pulling at you but you have to fight back. It’s lies, it’s all lies. Listen to me, your friend. I know you better than he does. You’re wonderful, Hermione. You saved me. You’ve saved me over and over through the years. Remember when you stayed up all night with me to teach me how to summon my broom? Remember how you walked with me to the tower in our first year to take Norbert to Charlie’s friends? Hermione, you were always there for me. You turned Rita Skeeter into a bug, you had my broom confiscated because you though Sirius had sent it to me. You were right, by the way. Hermione, I love you, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had. Now fight it, fight him. I know you can.”

He felt her breathing hard, her hand reaching out for Potter’s.

“Harry…”

“I’m here.”

“I need you to do it.”

“Do what?”

“Kill me. I need you to kill me and take this bastard with me.”

Draco’s mind exploded. What was she thinking? What was she saying?

“No, Hermione, stop talking like that, it’s ridiculous!” he said as Potter yelled similarly.

“Stop!” she said and panted. “I can’t hold him back much longer. Please, just do this last thing for me.”

“Hermione, no way. We’ll figure this out, we’ll save you-,” Harry started.

“Harry, I’m dying anyways! I’ll be dead in a week no matter what you do. I’m ready, just do it.”

“Hermione, we’re not going to just kill you,” Draco said, stroking her hair. “You’re fine, we just need to get you back to Hogwarts…”

“Draco…please. No more. I can’t do it anymore. It’s only going to get worse. I don’t want to die in some hospital bed in so much pain I can’t think. I want to die here, with the two people I love most in this world on my own terms and taking out an evil bastard with me. Please, Harry…if you’re my friend-,”

“She pulled this one on me too,” Draco said, smiling sadly at Potter. “She told me if I loved her I would let her walk into Lucius’ trap by herself. Don’t let her fool you.”

“So…you guys…?”

“It’s a long story,” Draco said, placing a kiss on her sweaty forehead. She was hot, far too hot, tendrils clinging to her scalp even as she shivered.

“Can we get back to the situation here?” Hermione asked tersely. He watched as her eyes started rolling back and she began to tremble.

“Hermione, stay with us. I know it’s hard, but you’ve got to listen to me,” Potter said. “Hold him back, just until we can get to the school. That potion Madam Pomfrey gave me is a miracle. You can get some rest, we’ll talk this over-,”

“No, Harry! No more. No more talking or debating. My choice is made. Harry, the prophecy said you were the only one with the power to kill him. You have to do it. You’re only saving me a world full of misery by taking me as well. Hurry and do it before Lucius gets back or these fools figure out how to get through my second barrier.”

Draco looked at Potter, terrified. Potter nodded, letting him know what she said about the prophecy was true. Draco felt as if his world were falling apart around him, it was all caving in. He couldn’t breathe.

“Malfoy, this may…be the only way…” Potter said, his voice breaking.

“No,” he whispered. “We can’t.”

“It’s not like I want to! But she’s right. Look at her, she can’t even hear us. I know what he hit her with, he’s taunted me ever since. She’s dying. I know what she’s experiencing right now. He’s trying to drag her down. She’ll only suffer more. I can’t stand to see her like this…”

Draco couldn’t hold back the tears. He looked up at the ceiling as if begging it to give him a solution.

“Hermione, can you hear me?” Harry asked, stroking her sweaty cheek.

She nodded and nuzzled against Draco’s chest. His arms tightened and she looked up at him. He could see the pain etched within her features.

“Hermione…are you sure about this?” Draco croaked.

She reached up and cupped his cheek. She brushed back his hair, adoration shining in her eyes.

“I’m sure.”

Tears leaked out of his eyes and he pulled her tight against him. Hermione wrapped her arms around him and he felt as if he were the one dying. How could he do this? How could he just stand by and watch her die? He sobbed quietly and Hermione just held him.

“I love you,” she whispered. “Thank you for everything. Thank you for giving my life back. I swear I’ll wait for you this time,” she promised. He remembered their very first kiss, when she’d been sobbing over the boys and he’d shoved her against the wall. The only thing he’d asked of her. Wait for me…. And she had gone. Now she was promising to wait for him on the other side. He shattered.

“I love you, I’ve always loved you,” he whispered back.

“We need to hurry,” Harry said in a rough voice. Hermione pulled back slightly and touched her lips to Draco’s one last time. One last kiss. He drew everything from that meeting of lips, their future that would never be, their love that would never grow. She turned to Harry and hugged him as well. They said their goodbyes.

“Will you hold me while it…while it happens?” she asked him

Draco nodded wordlessly and the two men passed a look between each other. Hermione turned to Harry.

“This is what I want. You’re not killing me, Harry. You’re releasing me. Thank you.”

He watched as tears leaked out of Potter’s eyes. Draco could see his pain mirrored in Potter’s drawn face.

“Close your eyes,” Potter whispered.

Hermione pulled Draco’s hands off her chest and hung them by their sides, her hands clenching his. Draco couldn’t breathe, this couldn’t really be happening. He started to shake and his breath left him. He looked up at Potter. He couldn’t do it. He wouldn’t. He would just stun her and take her to the school… Hermione took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I’m ready,” she said.

Potter stood, his wand shaking in his hand. He took several breaths, tears cascading down his face.

“Don’t,” Draco breathed silently. He could see the raw pain and determination in Potter’s face. Draco moved to stop him, to get Hermione out of the way of the curse, but it was too late.

“Avada Kedavra!” Potter screamed. So did Draco.

He didn’t have time to move. The green light hit Hermione with a brutal force, knocking them back. Draco screamed over and over, Potter was yelling, sinking to his knees. Hermione slumped in his arms, sightless eyes staring up at him.

“No!” he bellowed, shaking her. What had they done? What had they done? “Potter!”

Draco was yelling, sobbing, he couldn’t think past the pain, it enveloped him. She was dead, gone, they’d killed her. What had they done?

Harry was there, falling over her. He was crying hysterically. That’s when it happened.

Hermione’s body jerked, over and over. Potter sat back and they watched as she twitched and exploded.

Draco was thrown back, the explosion dislodging Hermione from him. He hit the ground hard, crying out in pain. The green light flew across his vision, the wind whipping so hard he couldn’t sit up, instead watching as the green was replaced by the white, blinding bright. Throwing up his hands to block his eyes, he sat up, crawled towards where Hermione had been.

It stopped as suddenly as it started and Draco half ran, half crawled to her. She lay, still as death. Potter was there, nursing a bloody nose. Draco’s hands shook as he traced her body.

“Oh gods, oh gods…”

Harry’s fingers flew to her throat and he let out a laugh.

“She’s alive…Malfoy…”

Draco leaned forward, placing his face next to her nose. He felt the weak breath on his cheek and cried out, wrapping her in his arms.

“We have to get back, get her to Madam Pomfrey,” Potter said, his hands pushing back her hair, shaking as bad as Draco was.

“Not so fast,” a voice drawled behind him. Draco turned. It was him.

Draco picked Hermione up bridal style and stood with the help of Potter. She stirred.

“She doesn’t leave here until she holds up her end of the bargain,” Lucius grated out, rage pouring from him.

“She did,” Draco said in a deathly tone.

“No, she didn’t. She sent me on a wild goose chase…he wasn’t there, just an empty grave…”

“That grave is full, I assure you,” Hermione said, her eyes still closed. Draco started and watched her.

“You said you’d give me my son-,”

“I said I’d tell you where he is. Point one for the Mudblood,” she said and promptly passed out.

Lucius let out a bellow, starting for them and Draco shoved Hermione into Potter’s hand, wrenching Hermione’s wand from his at the same time.

“Go, Potter! Go!”

Harry turned on the spot and disaparated and Draco turned to face the fury head on.

“Avada Kedavra!” he screamed, pointing the wand at his father. It hit him square in his chest and he fell to his knees, his eyes wide with surprise. Draco watched as if in slow motion as he keeled onto his face and did not stir again. His chest heaving, Draco stared at him. He’d gotten his revenge.

He looked up at the Death Eaters still held at bay by Hermione’s spell. He walked slowly to his wand still lying on the ground and picked it up. With one last salute to the enraged Death Eaters, Draco aparated back to his love.

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XOXO

RynStar15