Stylistic Harmony

Chapter Thirty Six
All eyes swung round to the new presence in the hall. Hermione rushed from her hiding place and stood in front of the figure advancing on her lover, Ron dragged himself from the floor, and said with an unmistakable glint of humour in his tone,
"Two against one, those are the kind of odds I like to play," Harry turned to him lifted his head in agreement. Hermione shoved him in the chest,
"You don't touch him. If you do I swear to God I will kill you myself. How about two against two Ron? How do you like those odds?!" Harry smiled in triumph, then shoved her aside and advanced on Draco who was only now coming round,
"Get ready Hermione, once I'm done with him you can move on with your life." She pulled the back of his shirt, halting his progress, he turned and looked about ready to hit her round the face, she let rip,
"FREE?! Thats a laugh Potter! With you two breathing down my neck every five seconds?! You've no idea, no fucking idea what free means!" Over Harry's shoulder she was consciously aware of Draco pulling himself up from the floor, his grey eyes were now an intense black and they locked with hers. The look said it all, step back, this wasn't her fight. She communicated that she understood. Both Harry and Ron's attention was focused on her, so neither saw Draco coming, with a flick of his wrist Ron was hurtling across the room, landing with a crash atop the Gryffindor table. Harry spun around, but was to slow, before he knew it, he was hit with a severing curse, blood spattered across his robes as his cheek was split open to the bone. He swore under his breath, clutching the side of his face, he bought his wand up and sent a crippling hex towards the Slytherin, Draco ducked just in time, the spell hitting the wall. Draco sneered,
"Gotta be faster then that Potter," he raised his arm and with a swipe of his hand, Harry was sent backwards, slamming into the ground with bone crunching force, Draco chuckled. Harry grunted, pain was racketing through his entire body, at this rate, the fight would be over soon. With a tremendous amount of effort he managed to lift his head, only to see Hermione clutching Draco's robes, and kissing him as if her life depended on it. Ron was still unconscious and he couldn't do anything, his aching limbs refusing to move. He became aware of people towering over him, a hard toed boot kicked him in the ribs, then a voice said low in his ear, dripping with malice, "Don't you see Potter? I'll always win. You can't stop me and you can't change her mind, she's mine and she always will be no matter what you or you're pathetic little sidekick do." Then the lights went out, as Draco knocked him out with one kick to the head. Hermione sauntered to his side,
"That'd just about do it lover," he looked at her and laughed out loud, she entwined herself around him and kissed him harshly on the lips, he met her with equal force, nipping her bottom lip, drawing blood. She pulled back gasping, then leant up and whispered huskily in his ear, "You, are so god damn sexy when you're fighting baby, it makes me want to fuck you right here in front of them." She tilted her head in the direction of her unconscious friends. The look in his eye told her that she had said exactly the right thing to get him off. He grabbed the back of her neck and forced her lips onto his, pulling her tightly to him. She could feel every inch of him pressing against her, then without warning he drew back. She mewled in protest, but he put his finger to her lips, silencing her. Bending his head to her ear, he said,
"Not here Angel, don't get me wrong I'd love to fuck you right here, right now but it isn't exactly the moment. The Dark Lord is right through those doors, and I need to go out there to report to him. I want you to go and find Blaise, get him to take you back to the Manor. Wait for me there, I'll be with you as soon as I can." She shook her head, defiance shining in her chocolate brown eyes,
"I am not leaving you here!" He cupped her chin,
"I'll be fine Hermione. You need to go, before those two wankers wake up," She clung to him, not wanting to let him go. Outside the doors, the sounds of the battle were getting louder, screams tore through the air and she could smell something burning. On the table, the figure began to stir, unnoticed. He kissed her on the head and pried her arms from around him, "Take the side door, and watch your back. Take," He raised his voice, "Ginny with you." Ginny stepped out from behind the table, and waved sheepishly. He began to make his way to the doors, Hermione stood and watched him go, she couldn't let him,
"DRACO!" He turned, "Please don't do this!" He ran back to her and swept her into his arms, pressing his face into her hair, taking in every last drop of her that he could,
"I have to do this, " he said, "Understand, I don't want to leave you but I have to or he'll kill me and then he'll come for you. I won't allow it." She muffled, through her tears,
"Okay." He put her down and dried her tears with his thumbs,
"No tears baby, I love you, remember that and it will bring me back to you." They kissed slowly, not two feet away from the couple, Harry's eyes snapped open.

"FALL BACK!" Lupin shouted at the people in front of him, "THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THEM, GET OUT OF HERE ALL OF YOU!" The forces of the light began to scatter, chased by Death Eaters and Dementors alike. Lupin raced down the the front steps, hexing people left and centre, he looked wildly around, taking stock of the number of people that were left to evacuate. The west half of the castle was burning, smoke billowing from the Astronomy Tower, veiling the stars that hung in the air. People were streaming from the front doors, light and dark forces together. The slower ones were taken, caught by Dementors mid flight. He saw Neville in front of him, still fighting, the brave Gryffindor in him outweighing any reason. He dropped a Death Eater to the ground and turned to face the next one, only to find himself dragged off by Lupin pulling him by the collar, "Neville, where's Harry?!"
"I've not seen him since earlier, he ran past me. I saw him go through the back door to the Great Hall." Lupin swore under his breath, he had a sinking feeling that Harry had done something really stupid, he had to act,
"Neville, I need you to help get everyone out! McGonagall and Moody are scouring the corridors, but you need to get everyone to safety. Take this," he handed Neville a small square of parchment, "Memorise it, and use this as a portkey. Take as many as you can, you should find Molly Weasley there, she'll look after everyone. Then come back and get more. As fast as you can!" He let Neville go racing off, then turned back to the castle. There were still people fighting in the entrance hall but he ran straight past them through the side door beside the Great Hall, entering the passageway that led to the side room. As soon as he got there he realised that someone had followed him, diving behind a pillar he hid, waiting until he could determine the identity of the person. Through the door to his right he heard someone scream, 'Draco!' at the top of their lungs. The footsteps got nearer and their pace quickened. As they closed in on him, Lupin leapt from his hiding place, and sent the person flying backwards. They hit the floor, hard. Lupin raised his wand, ready for a fight. The person shook his head and pulled himself up, his face was hidden in darkness,
"Fuck, that hurt!" The voice held the barest hint of an Italian accent. The werewolf stared, the man didn't seem to be retaliating, but from the dark cloak around his shoulders Lupin knew what side he was on, so he did not lower his guard. The figure came into the light, dark eyes and jet black hair, Lupin's eyes widened,
"Zabini?!" He raised his wand higher, though the man in front of him was his junior in many ways, he knew not to underestimate a Zabini. Especially this one, though Blaise seemed to find the situation somewhat amusing,
"You seem tense Professor? Things not going your way?" The amusement couldn't hide the venom, the last time he had seen his ex-professor, Potter had almost killed Draco, so he wasn't exactly buzzed to see him. Lupin growled,
"Why did you follow me?" Blaise smiled wanly, then said rather smugly,
"For the exact reason you came down here. To stop Potter finishing what he couldn't finish three weeks ago. Not that he'll get much of a chance once Draco's done with him." Then a scream pierced the silence 'NOOO!' it said, coming from the room next to them, it broke them from their standoff. Blaise was the first to move, racing past to get through the door, he slammed it open and stopped dead. Lupin came up beside him and took in the sight,
"My God." He whispered.

The Dark Lord stood and watched in awe as Hogwarts Castle began to slowly burn to the ground. His victory here had cemented any doubt that he would soon rule the wizarding world. Potter's pathetic excuse for an army had vastly dwindled in numbers, those left had fled in fear. They had left their dead. The ground ran red with blood, he had allowed Greyback and his friends the spoils and the werewolves had relished it. Lightning struck across the sky and torrential rain began to fall. The Dark Lord did not flinch. Lucius Malfoy stood beside him, giving him a report of the battle, screams could be still be heard in the grounds and his dear Bella had not yet returned, he only assumed that she was still having her fun. His face spilt into an inhuman grin when he was told that Potter was still somewhere in the castle with his sidekick Weasley and the mudblood Granger. His face fell however, when he was informed that Draco and Blaise had not reported back, and that Rodolphus Lestrange who had been sent to guide them had turned up back at the Riddle house confunded. However he brightened when Lucius told him that they had taken prisoners, including a prize that would send Potter straight to him, assuming he survived the fire that was. From deep within the bowels of the castle came the sound of breaking glass, followed by a scream of despair that sent the Dementors into a feeding frenzy. Voldemort looked up at the sound and said,
"Brothers, our work here is done. Let us celebrate!" The dark forces began to leave the grounds, apparating out as the wards of the castle were burnt through. The Dark Lord pulled Lucius to him, "Have Draco and Blaise report to me when they return." Lucius nodded,
"Yes My Lord." Voldemort sauntered from the grounds, turning only once to gaze upon the place he had once called home. The white tomb of Dumbledore stood in the distance, the fire had not yet consumed it, the Dark Lord smiled and flicked his wand. The tomb exploded in a ball of rubble and flame, chunks of white marble flew over the grounds landing with a thud on the blood red ground. The snakelike features cracked into a triumphant grin,
"I win old man."

The kiss ended and he broke from her, turning from her he started to walk away. Before anyone could react Harry was on his feet, wand raised,
"Sectumsempra!" He bellowed, the curse flew straight for Draco, hitting him square in the back. Three deep red gashes appeared, blood trickling out of them. He fell to his knees,
"NOOO!" Hermione screamed, she began to run forward but someone yanked her sideways and held her back. Her eyes darkened with her power and lightning illuminated the sky outside. She struggled against the hold on her, turning her head slightly she made out the tall, red haired figure of Ron, his arms locked around hers restricting her from reaching her wand or doing anything at all. Ginny ran forward, grabbing Harry's arms as he advanced on Draco who was barely conscious,
"HARRY! Stop it!" He shoved her to the ground, his elbow catching her around the face. She fell, shocked. Harry was hardly recognisable, the darkness of his lust for revenge upon the Malfoy heir was destroying him, turning him into a creature not dissimilar from the Dark Lord. Hermione was sobbing now, pulling wildly against Ron's arms in a desperate attempt to get to her lover, but it was to no avail. Harry had reached the prone figure lying in a pool of blood on the floor, hauling him up by the collar he dragged the blond to his feet, turning to Hermione, he said,
"Say goodbye." Hermione's eyes went wide, Harry raised his wand, "Wingardium Leviosa!" Such a simple spell, such devastating consequences. The side door burst open, just as Harry flicked his wand. Blaise and Lupin,
"My God," was whispered. The still form of Draco Malfoy was sent crashing through the stained glass window. Hermione's scream followed.