Candle On The Water

Candle on the Water (1/2)

Warning: Character Death…

One-Shot plus epilogue.

Disclaimer: I am writing this for my own enjoyment. No money is being made ( a terrible shame that is) and I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters ( something I consider a travesty.) Also this story is inspired by the song Candle on the Water from Disney’s Pete’s Dragon. I don’t own it either.


Candle on the Water – 1

There are moments in your life when everything becomes crystal clear, usually before the world grows silent and crashes around you. The answers you may find in such a moment can be something small, such as an extremely difficult problem right before the final bell rings. Or perhaps it is a monumental event that changes the course you will take for the rest of your natural (or unnatural life.) Such as a realization in the heat of battle that you have hated your enemy for the wrong reasons.

This story follows a monumental moment of clarity, in the heat of battle… while facing such an enemy.

Blood. Red. Fire. More blood, as far as the eye could see. Bodies, or what one can only assume littering the ground. Smoke is to thick to make out faces, the earth charred by off target incendio spells. Green, red and blue flashes of light break through the haze. Better not to think of what you’ll see when the smoke clears. The occasional scream breaks through the endless muttering of spells.

Hermione Granger moved steadily through the battle, not daring too look too closely at the fallen. 3 years had come and gone since her days at Hogwarts, every second leading up to this moment. This battle. Small skirmishes had erupted here and there. A large part of Diagon Alley was destroyed not two months ago. Now, here on Hogwarts ground the battle to end all battles had begun.

Harry and Ron had disappeared within the first few minutes of the chaos. Hermione was still trying to find them. The smoke was to thick to try and determine her location. Except that she had to be moving away from the school itself. She had anticipated the smoke hazard and had created a face guard that helped keep down smoke inhalation with a modified version of muggle nightvision goggles that identified others as friend or foe and their name and status. Glad that she had given them to select members of the Order. This would prove useful also as night falls. ‘If I survive that long’ she thought ruefully.

At some point in the three years since Hogwarts Hermione had become a realist, quickly shedding the idealistic views of her youth. Idealism has no base in logic she had told herself and that had been that as they say. Not to say that one shouldn’t stand up for what they believe in and have a strong moral sense, but the world is imperfect. Not black and white like she had once assumed but more shades of grey. It seemed like the whole bloody world was nothing but grey anymore. Hermione could no longer remember the last time she had seen a sunny day.

Being the logical and realistic girl that she was Hermione had psyched herself up for the possibility of her death. Rather morbid, but practical. She had sorted out her last will and testament and even wrote letters to her nearest and dearest in case of her sudden departure from the living. Well some things never change. Perfectionist to the last. She often thought of the famous quote about war… “only the dead have truly seen the end of war.” To an idealist this is rather a cynical comment, to the realistic, well… it just is the way the world works.

She sometimes wondered if it wouldn’t be better to die in the trenches so to speak. All the fighting and loss leading to this day had turned her and some of the order into battle androids (if such a thing exists.) Hermione hadn’t felt normal human emotions in well over a year. Emotions were a luxury and a weakness she could no longer afford. Harry and Ron needed her and little else mattered anymore. She was a battle hardened and weary soldier. Nothing more, nothing less. Really she felt pity for those who would have to rebuild the wizarding world after Voldemort’s defeat. She was tired, wanting nothing more than a well deserved rest.

Dodging a spell, that was sent whizzing over her shoulder Hermione quickly spun and sent the killing curse at her attacker. The words ‘target eliminated’ flashed across her mask. No longer feeling queasy after casting the killing curse she approached the prone figure on the ground. Kicking off her victims mask her goggles flashed ‘Lucius Malfoy: deceased. It was at that moment she heard a loud splashing sound. Not a total of ten seconds could have elapsed between dodging the curse and the splash.
‘I’m at the lake’ her mind quickly caught up to the events around her. ‘Someone was hit by that stray curse, luckily it wasn’t the killing curse. Well lucky if it was one of ours. Looked like a stunning spell.’ Hermione quickly ran towards the sound of the splash. Whoever was hit made no more noise which likely meant they were sinking. Focusing her goggles on the water Hermione could just make out a figure sinking slowly under the surface. All of a sudden her goggles flashed ‘Draco Malfoy: Ally.’ Hermione’s heart lurched into her throat.

Draco Malfoy had always been a pain in her side. The Order had grudgingly welcomed him after the death of his mother two years ago. After many hostile words, fist fights, duels and a night that landed Draco with a shaved head the trio had finally accepted him. Not really caring for the arrogant git and believing his motives to be entirely selfish they still learned to trust him. He worked as hard as the trio to bring about the downfall of Voldemort. No matter his reasoning Draco Malfoy was good to have on your side.

Despite her best efforts Hermione had grown a soft spot for the surly Slytherin. Although Snape still took the cake on that front. Snape had returned to the order as well. Harry had almost killed him on sight had it not been for Lupins’ intervention he might have done so. Penceived memories from Dumbledore helped to get Snape back into the fold, another man to have on your side. Accepting Snape back had been a practical move if nothing else, Hermione being the only one to forgive Snape for his actions. The former Head of Slytherin House torturing himself endlessly for killing his mentor. Draco and Snape rarely conversed and Hermione suspected it had more to do with Snape’s guilt than anything else.

She and Draco could never be considered friends but she had earned a grudging respect for the wizard. And to let him drown like this was unacceptable. She was not a particularly good swimmer but she was not sorted into Gryffindor for nothing. Without a second thought Hermione literally took the plunge into the freezing waters of the lake. ‘Now I know how Harry felt during the tournament’ she thought glumly (wishing for all extents and purposes that she would have had the foresight to put some Gillyweed in her pocket.) At least it would have improved her swimming abilities.

Hauling the unconscious wizard out of the water proved to be a rather strenuous and time consuming task. They had managed to drift out farther than she would have expected. Her goggles began to short out and she managed to pull them off without losing the wizard that she had haphazardly strung across her back.. She would worry about the goggles later, she had a larger problem to attend too.

Reaching the bank she managed to drag the prone wizard onto the grass. His cheeks almost a blue cast from the chill of the lake. Wracking her brain she quickly remembered some of her Medi-Witch training and performed a cpr spell. Within a few moments Malfoy lurched and spewed copious amounts of water out of his lungs and onto the shore. Coughing profusely he managed to sit up and open his eyes. By the time his eyes flashed with recognition Hermione was already casting a drying spell on his robes.

Draco laid back down willing the world to disappear. Of all the people to come to his rescue…. Granger. They had never been close, but even he couldn’t deny that he respected the witch. She was brilliant if not bossy. It had worked out to everyone’s advantage that she was both. A brilliant strategist, decisive and logical with the ability to lead. She was the closest thing to a general the order had. If Hermione gave an order it was followed. The Weasel functioned as a general as well, although less effectively. The boy was too prone to letting his emotions override his better judgment. Two weeks ago they had lost Dean Thomas’s life because of an emotional breakdown by the redhead.

Now here he was living and breathing on the banks of the Hogwarts lake thanks to the cool headed former Head Girl. ‘Living and breathing’ that thought snapped him back to reality. He had been dueling his father. His eyes immediately locked to the brown eyes above him. They looked tired and weary.

“Granger… wha- what happened to Lucius?” He managed to ask his voice still raw.

“I killed him”

Well there it was, short and to the point. Nothing sweet about it. Not even a hint of remorse, and he really couldn’t blame her. She had in fact been tortured by his father over a year ago before the order found her. Although she didn’t seem elated over his death either. As a matter of fact, Draco was certain she didn’t feel anything at all, either way. He wished he could say the same. He hated the man, but he was still his father. A man he had idolized his entire misspent youth. The man who was also responsible for his mothers death. Draco couldn’t have helped it if he wanted too, he cried.

He laid back on the beach and sobbed. He couldn’t remember if he had cried since that day at Hogwarts that Harry had found him talking to Myrtle in the bathroom. Many days and heartaches had come and gone and he hadn’t shed a tear. With his father gone he deserved this moment of weakness, the Malfoy family line was down to him. As he lay there, tears streaming down his cheeks a soft voice pulled him back.

“I’ll be your candle on the water, my love for you will always burn.
I know your lost and drifting, but the clouds are lifting. Don’t give up you have somewhere to turn.
I’ll be your candle on the water, til every wave is warm and bright. My soul is there beside you, let this candle guide you. Soon you’ll see a golden stream of light.
A cold and friendless time has found you, don’t let the stormy darkness pull you down. I’ll paint a ray of hope around you, circling in the air, lighted by a prayer….
I’ll be your candle on the water. This flame inside of me will grow. Keep holding on you’ll make it, here’s my hand so take it. Look for me reaching to show, as sure as rivers flow.
I’ll never let you go, I’ll never let you go, I’ll never let you go….”

He was completely mesmerized. Who knew Granger could sing? Her back was facing him and he suddenly felt cold and lonely. Drawing himself up to a sitting position he moved beside her, casting his arm lightly around her hip. She didn’t shrug him off. They sat staring at the barely visible surface of the lake.

“My mum used to sing that song to me every night before bed. It’s really beautiful, although I don’t do it justice.” She offered.

Draco looked at down at her. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. Then he suddenly remembered her parents were killed shortly before the Death Eaters captured her. He never remembered her saying anything about either incident, but he had overheard scarhead and weasel talking about it.
“I don’t think the sirens themselves could have sung it better Granger.” Draco said solemnly.

“I wouldn’t go that far, all joking aside, I better get back to the battle. I’m needed.” Hermione answered while moving to stand up.

For a moment as Draco looked at her he could see a tired and scared little girl looking back at him, and then it was gone. Granger was still human beneath it all, even if she didn’t believe it herself. She turned to start the trek back towards the castle.

“Granger… Thank you.”

“What for?” She cast back with a quirk of her brow.

“For saving me, for that song, for being who you are. I’m afraid I misjudged you all these years. I know I made your life a living hell back in our school days, and I want you to know that I’m sorry. In case we don’t make it out of here alive I want you to know that I’ve always respected you, even if I didn’t like you. I hope that I will get the chance to know you better once this war is over. I would like to even be friends one day. And I know now that blood doesn’t make the wizard, I’ve seen enough of it to know it all runs red, and frankly I know that I am the lesser of the two of us. Thank you for being you…. I don’t know if I would have done the same if our roles would have been switched.”

Hermione looked at him strangely for a moment and smirked “Yes you would have Draco, If only to hold it over my head.” And with that she turned and started jogging back towards the castle. With a smirk to match he followed after her but quickly lost sight of her in the smoke. Without his mask it made it harder to breath. Spells were still firing across the grounds providing enough light to maneuver back towards the battle. He was making steady progress when he suddenly tripped over a body. Looking down at the body beneath him he recognized the goggles that Hermione had made for some of the order members.

Having lost his goggles back in the lake he gave little thought to the body he was about to remove them from, they wouldn’t be using them anyway. As he pulled the goggles away he recognized the face of his former mentor. Black eyes stared up at him unseeing. Empty black pools. Draco suddenly felt the urge to cry again. Snape deserved to make it through this war, he deserved a reward at the end for all his troubles, but Draco suspected that he would have wanted to die this way. A penance for all his past transgressions. Pulling himself together he quickly put on the pilfered mask and ran faster towards the main bulk of the battle. The shouting was deafening now as he rejoined the light forces. Hermione had managed to locate Harry and Ron and the trio was ferociously fighting back to back.

They were a awe inspiring sight to see. Working in tandem wordlessly. Cursing, countercursing and casting numerous defense spells. Some of them he swore wandless. Draco barely ducked a severing hex and turned to see his Aunt Bella grinning from beneath her skull mask. Wherever Bella was the Dark Lord wasn’t far behind. Draco cast a quick glance over his shoulder and wasn’t surprised to see the golden trio locked into a furious battle with the dark wizard. He turned back to his lunatic aunt with a animalistic smile distorting his handsome face.

“So Aunt Bella, what a pleasure to meet up with you here. Did you even shed a tear for your sister, my MOTHER!” Draco asked.

“My sister was weak Draco, just like Sirius, a stain on the Black bloodline. Like you. Your father was cursed with traitors for family.” Bella cackled maliciously.

“You don’t deserve to even think about them. Your nothing but the Snakes pureblooded slag. A lunatic and has been old hag. If there was ever a stain on the Black family bloodlines it was you. Or rather that’s all you will be when I’m finished with you.” Draco snarled.

Bellatrix let out a furious howl and lunged at him. Draco jumped out of the way and cast the petrifying spell. Bella fell to the ground in a solid heap. Draco kicked her over. Her wild eyes darting around looking for help. Draco kneeled down beside her frozen form.

“You tortured my mother before my father killed her. I should do the same to you, but instead I think I’ll just enjoy watching the light drain from you eyes as I kill you slowly in a muggle fashion.”

With that Draco wrapped his hands about the witch’s neck and proceeded to squeeze with all his might, with all the anger, rage and pain he felt. Tears broke free from his eyes once more that night as he killed one of the last remaining members of his extended family. Even after he felt her life slip away he continued squeezing, hoping that if he squeezed hard enough his pain would fade away into her. Only when a light hand rested on his shoulder did he let go.

“It’s over Draco. We won.” Hermione told him gently.

“It’s never over Hermione.” Draco intoned as he took off his mask. The air was still thick with smoke but he wanted to look at his aunt with his own eyes. “Where are Potter and Weasel?” He asked.

“Up in the school debriefing those present. I imagine they will want to start the clean-up of our sides bodies immediately. Bury them and pay respects while the blood is still fresh on the soil. The twins are already starting to put out the fires.” She answered, her voice empty.

“Well we made it out alive, and relatively unharmed. I guess we’re one of the lucky ones.”

“Yeah, lucky…. But unharmed is inaccurate.” Hermione said in her usual know-it-all tone.

“Are you injured?” He asked as he looked her up and down. Her robe was black and covered her completely so there was no way of seeing if she had sustained any injuries.

She smiled back at him. “I’m dying Draco.”

Draco was truly gobsmacked. She didn’t apprear to be in pain and there wasn’t any visible blood. He quickly stood up and made to take off her robe but she stepped away.

“What do you mean your dying Gran… Hermione? You don’t look like your hurt!!! Where were you hit?” Draco demanded.

She smiled at him again, this was the happiest he had seen her in years. “It was a modified inpedamenta curse, instead of slowing me down it is slowing my organs down. In a few minutes my heart will stop beating.”

“We have to get you a medi-witch now!” Draco practically screamed.

“No. I don’t want to be saved. I just want some peace and quiet. It will be okay Draco. I’m not afraid to die. I just wanted to say goodbye to you. I wish that we would have made better of the time we had together. You’re the most arrogant prat I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. And who knows, perhaps one day I could have loved you and maybe in a way I already do. I know you’ll be a powerful wizard who will help rebuild our world. You don’t have any shackles holding you back any longer. Be the man you want to be….”

“ Please Hermione, go with me to the castle. We’ll find you a healer. Who am I supposed to argue with when you are gone. Who will come up with new and brilliant ideas for the wizarding worlds future? Who will I dream of when you are gone.” Draco pleaded, tears spilling once more.

“Shhh… Draco.” She wobbled a bit and he quickly caught her and gently took her to the ground, his arm supporting her head and her body across his lap. “It’s what I want. Like Severus. I guess I’m just going to follow the surly bastard into the next world. I’m too consumed by war to ever live a normal life now. More so than Harry and Ron, they maintained a life separate from this. I didn’t. I’m out of hope for tomorrow, but I have high hopes for you. Honor my wishes, honor me in death… Thank you for being you…” And with a faint smile Hermione Granger exited this plane of existence. Draco cradled her still form in his arms and wept openly into her hair. “I’ve always loved you Hermione…” too little too late.

Harry and Ron were shocked to find the blond Slytherin wrapped around the lifeless body of their friend. Millions of questions concerning her death were asked and the whole time Draco Malfoy wept for the girl he would never have. An enemy for too long under false pretenses and the only woman besides his mother that he had ever truly loved and respected. He cried harder because he hadn’t realized it til it was too late. Harry, Ron and the remaining Order wept with him as they buried her next to Dumbledore. An eternal flame set alight on her tomb… a bright flame even in death.

A/N: It’s depressing. I guess that’s just the mood I’m in.