Stylistic Harmony

Chapter Thirty Five
"DRACO!" He heard before a figure hurled itself into his arms. As soon as he held her, he felt whole. His whole body was buzzing, alive with power, his eyes turned dark and the world outside turned black. He could feel her, her power, in the blood that pumped through her veins,
"Hermione," he whispered into her hair, then tipped her head back, looking deep into her eyes, which by now had turned a rich deep brown. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. He responded, backed her into the wall, tearing at the jumper she wore. She ripped his shirt open, popping the buttons all over the room. He grinned into her mouth, "Impatient are we?" She nipped his lip in response, then pulled back, unbuckling his jeans at the same time,
"In case you haven't noticed baby, we're about to go to war." He smirked, yanking her jeans and knickers off in one go, hooking his arm around her leg, he hoisted her around his waist and resumed kissing her. She pushed his boxers down with her feet. Without the need for anything else, he thrust upwards, impaling her in one motion. She bit her lip to keep from screaming his name. The time that had been lost between them seemed forgotten, their union was swift, but the walls of the castle shuddered with the sheer power of it. She was clawing at his back, leaving deep red scratches, moaning his name over and over in his ear. He sucked down hard on her neck, leaving his own mark in her pale white skin. She began to tremble, and with all of his effort he bought her crashing to an intense climax, she screamed,
"Oh god!" He smirked and with one final push, tipped himself over the edge with her, they crashed to the ground, remaining joined with each other. Her on top, panting with exhaustion, his eyes closed from exertion. They regained themselves after a while, Hermione, lifting her head ever so slightly, planted a kiss on his neck, "I missed you," she whispered. He chuckled, a deep rumble that reverberated throughout his body,
"I can tell Angel. I missed you to." He sat up, taking her with him, stroking her hair. To his surprise, she started to sob, "What is it?" He asked, keeping one hand firmly round her waist, the other coming up to stroke her cheek. His grey eyes fixed on hers, she gasped out,
"I missed you so much Draco. I thought I was going to crazy. Every night, every day, it was like I was missing a part of me. I had to endure Ron and all his affections towards me, it made me sick. I just wanted to pack and bag and not stop until I found you. Please, please don't leave me again." He looked away from her, she sighed, "But you will, won't you? If this doesn't end tonight, you'll go and leave again." He picked her up and carried her to the couch, sitting her on his lap, he whispered in her ear, his voice a low tone that sent shivers down her spine,
"Nothings changed baby. If, and god I hope, this ends tonight, then my promise still stands. I'll take you away from here and we can get married. Then when the time is right, we'll come back and take what is rightfully ours. Until that happens lover, they'll never stop. Potter and his band of idiots, they'll keep finding a way of taking you from me. I need to know that, when the time for us comes, there will be nothing standing in our way. Once I kill Voldemort, they won't be able to stop us." She nodded mutely, he continued, "Trust me on this, I hate sending you back to them and if I had my way, you'd be in MY bed every night and every day. But this is how it has to be." She bit her lip, she had to tell him, its was dancing on the tip of her tongue and if she didn't say anything it would be something between them forever, she never wanted anything to some between them,
"I slept with Ron," she whispered almost inaudibly. She felt him stiffen beneath her, his whole body tensing up, she had said it now, there was no turning back. The words tumbled out of her mouth, "It was only once, and I had to. Otherwise they would have known, they would have known that I wasn't loyal to them. I couldn't...there was nothing I could do." She began to openly weep, now, almost in hysterics. He sat there, as if made of stone, she ripped herself from his grasp and started getting dressed, tears still cascading down her face. The whole room began to shake, and Draco's eyes had darkened to jet black, sensing a movement behind her she turned. Blaise was on the stairs, having been watching them the whole time, his face was an impassive mask, but his eyes had deepened to an inky blue colour, he went to her and whispered gently,
"It doesn't matter." He pulled her into his arms, comforting her, but Draco was still silent as the grave. The room was full on rumbling now, objects began to fall from shelves and the people in the portraits fled from fear. Suddenly all was still, Blaise and Hermione looked over at the blond expectantly, but still nothing. Then he stood up, she could see the air around him crackling, feel his anger in her veins. He growled out,
"I'm gonna fucking kill him." Then without another word, pulled on his jeans, threw on his cloak and stormed out. She tried to free herself from Blaise's arms, but he held her fast,
"DRACO!" She began to scream, Blaise silenced her by covering her lips with his. Then pulling back he said quite calmly,
"Let him go Cara. He needs to do this, its the only way to forgive himself for letting you go." She shook her head vehemently,
"But its my fault! I should never have let Ron....." she trailed off. Blaise smiled grimly,
"You did what you thought was right. Let him go Angel." Hermione started to shake, the thought of her boyfriend going head to head with, well, her boyfriend frightened her, what if Draco got killed? What would happen to them if he did kill Ron?
"Blaise," she said, "Go after him, please, I am begging you. If he kills him then....then..Harry will never leave us alone. He'll always come after us and he won't stop until Draco is dead. I'll lose him forever. Please?" He looked down at her, saw the fear in her eyes, she was right of course. He couldn't lose Draco either. She kissed him lightly, "For us?" He nodded, then silently swept out of the room. She watched him go, standing for what seemed like an age before pulling on her jeans, fixing the shirt that Draco had been wearing, and putting that on, inhaling deeply, wrapping herself in his scent. She felt like a caged animal, unsure whether to return to the battle, or whether to sit it out and wait for him to return to her. She sighed, and curled up, exhausted. KNOCK. Her head shot up, it sounded as though someone was trying to hammer the door down, she was shocked still. KNOCK. The banging continued, then a voice could be heard yelling through the portrait door,
"MALFOY! COME OUT AND FINISH THIS!" Harry.

Curses were flying everywhere, silvery patronuses charged over the grounds, the Battle for Hogwarts had begun, and the grounds were starting to run with blood spilt. Harry watched from the window of the first floor corridor. Aurors were flinging curses at the oncoming Death Eaters, holding them back. From the windows above him, his fellow Gryffindors were casting the Patronus charm over and over to force the Dementors to retreat. It was working, the army of darkness were being held at bay. Harry smiled grimly, he knew that their defences would not hold for long, not when Voldemort himself joined the attack. He heard footsteps thundering toward him, instinct told him turn but he didn't,
"Harry!" It was Ron, "Harry, we have to move, the Slytherins, they've joined the Dark Lord. They're attacking from the inside! A bunch of them took Lupin and Tonks on in the second floor corridor. Don't worry, they're both fine. But we have to get to the entrance hall, they're attacking there, opening the way for him to get through!" Harry tore his gaze from the battle outside and headed for the entrance hall. As they ran, he realised something,
"Where's Hermione?" Ron wildly looked around, as if expecting her to appear from no where,
"I haven't seen her since we arrived," Harry growled, Ron understood, "You don't think? I didn't see them arrive, and no-one's got through." Harry was less convinced,
"Yeah, unless they were inside to start with. Find her Ron. I've got business to attend to." His face was set and he changed his course, heading for the one place he would expect to find Malfoy, the Slytherin common room. Ron raced to the entrance hall, calling her name as he went, he saw his sister squaring off with the towering form of Millicent Bullstrode. Ginny shot a well aimed expelliarmus, at her followed by her trademark bat bogey hex, Bullstrode went down for the count. He took his opportunity, running forward, he pulled her into an alcove,
"Gin, where's Hermione?! Have you seen her?!" She shook her head,
"No, not since we got here. Why?" Ron looked exasperated,
"Fuck," he swore under his breath, "We haven't seen her either. Harry thinks that she's done a runner. To them." Inside Ginny was celebrating, if Hermione had found Draco and Blaise, then they wouldn't be far off from coming for her. However, she set her face into an ugly sneer,
"Probably has, the traitor. I don't see why you're bothering." He raised his eyebrows, he had never heard his sister use such a hateful tone,
"I love her Gin, and I am not losing her to Malfoy. If you see her, stop her and send your patronus after me." She nodded and he took off again, running for the Gryffindor common room. She whirled around and saw Luna cornered by Crabbe and Goyle. She raced back into the fray, catching an unsuspecting Goyle with a leg-locker curse, the distraction gave Luna her chance and with a swirl of her wand, Crabbe was sent hurtling into a wall. Ginny nodded in Luna's direction and the two friends rushed forward to help out their school friends. She had just engaged in a duel with Theo Nott, when she felt it. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she felt the air around her crackle with untold energy. She began to turn, taking her eye from her opponent, Nott found his opening and threw a Crucio her way. She turned back just in time to see the curse rebound in mid air and smash into the wall, sending rubble and portraits crashing to the ground. Nott's eyes widened at the sight of the figure behind her, following his gaze her heart jumped a mile out her chest. Standing at the doors of the Great Hall, looking every inch the Italian God, was Blaise Zabini. He raised his hand to his head and tipped it forward in a form of greeting to her, she smiled. His wand raised and before Nott could blink he was stunned. The battle raging around them was suddenly background noise. They didn't notice it and no-one noticed them. She ran to him, and threw her arms around him. He quirked an eyebrow, and looked down to meet her gaze,
"Change of heart, Red?" She smirked and said,
"I made a mistake Blaise. I thought, I thought that I was doing the right thing. I was so wrong. You. I want you." His handsome face spilt into a triumphant grin,
"Its about time." He bent to kiss her, but she raised her finger to his lips, becoming increasingly aware that there was a battle going on behind them,
"Not here Love. In case it has escaped your rapt attention, there is a little bit of an altercation going on behind us and I think that me being seen with you may blow our cover. Get out of here before someone sees you!" He leant down and whispered in his ear,
"When this is over, I'm going to drag you to the nearest flat surface and fuck your brains out," She blushed, and felt his fingers ghost down her back, making her whole skin feel aflame, he whispered again, "Find Hermione before anyone else does, and then take her and yourself somewhere safe. We'll find you there." She nodded and released herself from his grasp. He caught her hand as she turned and pulled her against him, his breath hot on her face, "Oh and Red, nice going back there." He winked and took off in the direction of the Astronomy Tower. She struggled to catch her breath as she stared after him. After what seemed like forever, she turned on her heel and unknowingly followed Harry to the Slytherin common room.

If she didn't answer he would give up and go away. But if she did nothing then he would continue on his rampage, finding Draco and 'finishing it.' She still hadn't moved an inch, he had been knocking and yelling for ten minutes now, calling Draco all the worst names under the sun. If he didn't go away, she was going to have a hard time keeping her anger in check. Finally, after what seemed like an age he gave up, she allowed herself a moment of relief before the panic set in. She had to find Draco, to warn him. She jumped up from the sofa and ran to the portrait, putting her ear flat against it, listening for any sign that Harry was still loitering outside, she heard nothing. Pulling it open, she jumped the threshold, and started down the corridor, throwing looks over her shoulder as she went, just in case. She never saw the figure coming the other way until she collided with it, in an instant her wand was out and pointed straight at the other person,
"Hermione! Its me, chill!" Her vision focused, and she saw the flaming red hair of Ginny Weasley standing in front of her. She lowered her wand, and sighed in relief,
"Jesus Gin! Don't fucking scare me like that!" Ginny chuckled, then said,
"Blaise found me, he told me to come get you. He also said that we had to go somewhere safe until this was over. Come on!" She started to pull Hermione by the hand, but the other girl tugged it back, saying in a semi frantic tone,
"We can't! I have to find Draco, if I don't then.......either...." Hermione stopped, a couple of tears strayed down her cheek. Ginny looked at her worriedly,
"Hermione, what?! What is it?!"
"Either.......he kills Ron or Harry kills him, maybe both. I HAVE to find him! And you're going to help me!" Ginny nodded,
"Ron. He went to look for you in the Gryffindor common room, we'll start there." The two girls started in that direction, running as fast as they could through the corridors. Gryffindor tower was across the other side of the school, and to get there they would have to pass through the entrance hall, where the battle raged on. They passed people aimlessly pacing the corridors, waiting for the first wave of Voldemort's army to break through, and others who called out to them as they ran past. Finally they reached the entrance hall, and were halted by the fighting. Their side was winning, but the Slytherins were fighting back with equal force. The main doors were swaying, a loud thunderous hammering echoing around them. The Dark Lord's forces had almost breached the doors. Hermione grabbed Ginny and urged her to continue, but their mission came to an early stop. A cold, harsh voiced sounded out at them from the Great Hall,
"WEASLEY!" She whirled around at the sound of her lovers voice, and raced to the Great Hall. Standing on the platform at the top end, was Draco, eyes black, power whipping around him, and at the other, by the doors, was Ron, wand out, standing his ground.
The main entrance doors banged open behind them, the Dark forces flew over the transom. Ron's head whipped around, and Draco, on hearing the crash flicked his wrist. The doors to the Great Hall begun to close. Ginny pulled on Hermione's arm and they both rushed to the Great Hall, before the door slammed behind them. The two boys turned back to each other, and faced off. Curses were flung left, right and centre. Hermione and Ginny took cover behind one of the upturned house tables, Hermione was desperate to help Draco but Ginny kept pulling her back to stop her, reassuring her that Draco would be fine. In reality, Ginny was in agony, her brother was out there, facing off against a far superior adversary. Draco was gaining the upper hand, and his cold drawl rung out,
"You can't fucking beat me Weaselbee! So give up trying!" Ron threw another curse in Draco's direction, forcing him to take a running dive to the floor. The red head began to laugh,
"Don't you get it Malfoy, even if you beat me. I've already won. Hermione chose me, not you! You lose, because you've lost her!" Now it was Draco's turn to laugh,
"You're delusional, you fucking nancy! Why would she choose you, when she's got me?! If she's so yours, why can I still feel her? Oh right, thats cos I just fucked her against the wall of Slytherin common room. You total wanker." Ron was shell shocked for a moment, loosing his focus. Draco took his opportunity and sent a near crippling stunning spell at Ron. His cold laugh filled the hall, as he advanced towards his quarry, he didn't need magic, he'd throttle the twat with his bare hands. "You won't ever beat me Weasley. You are just one pathetic person. A no talent loser who thought he was good enough for someone like her. If only she could see you now, cowering at my feet, about to die. You know what, I think she'd laugh," Draco had reached him now, he leant down, put one hand round Ron's throat, and begun to squeeze. Ron begun to gasp for breath, struggling to free himself, Draco just squeezed harder, then said, "I'll always win. Say goodbye bitch." It happened so suddenly Hermione couldn't do anything to prevent it, a curse flew at Draco's back, hitting him square in the shoulder, he flew backwards, hitting the wall and sliding down it to the floor. The figure advanced on him, and said in a near inhuman voice,
"I wouldn't be so sure Malfoy. How about you and me have a go?"