A/N: I don't think my beta went online for the past few weeks so this is really a raw chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Oh, yeah. Harry Potter is mine. In an Alternate Universe.

CHAPTER 14: IT IS TIME

After the confrontation with Draco, Hermione spent all week avoiding any contact with Harry, Draco, or even the Gryffindor Princess. Her wand was always at her hand, only partially hidden within the sleeve of her robe. It ensured that no one dared to talk to her or even glance her way. Except, of course, Harry Potter himself.

After countless of harmless curses she had thrown his way, Harry still did not give up on trying to talk to her. Thus, she decided to ditch the classes she shared with him. None of those mattered anyway. Not after what she was about to do.

Hermione had instead spent most of her time in the Room of Hidden Things. She had almost memorized all the alleyways and roads of broken furniture; she knew the placement of the piles of books, mountains of chipped bottles of different kind of potions, and all other forbidden items the inhabitant of Hogwarts have stowed away in that room, like the back of her hand. It was almost comforting.

Her job was almost finished. And as soon as a chance presented itself, she would let the Death Eaters into Hogwarts.

She congratulated herself a little for finishing the task in less than two weeks. In such a short span of time, no one could expect Draco to be able to succeed on his mission. With this, she could spare him the consequences of failing. She could finally repay her debt for the favor she owed him when he welcomed her back to the Slytherin table when the murderers of her parents arrived.

She found herself thinking of a different person as soon as she decided to give herself a break. Despite all her effort to shut Harry out, her heart still clenched with pain whenever she saw the hurt in his eyes, knowing she was the source of his agony. She sometimes found herself sitting in front of the project she was working on, thinking of him. She would snap out of it immediately and give herself a mental lashing.

What was she thinking, really? How could she have allowed herself to fall in love with him? Was it because of his charming looks? No. If that were the case, she might as well have fallen in love with Draco. Maybe because he was the only one who showed her real kindness or because he was the only one who did not give up no matter how many times she ignored him. She could not pinpoint when it had started, she only knew that Harry Potter managed to slowly pass her defenses until he conquered her heart altogether.

She did not regret any of the moment she had shared with him. In fact, she treasured it. The only regret she had was hurting, and soon, betraying him. But it must be done. She needed to do this.

Shaking her head and chastising herself for thinking about him again, she put all her attention in her mission.

- Line Break -

The week had been an emotional whirlwind for Harry. Hermione avoided him at all cost causing him misery; then, he found out that it was Snape who sold his parents out. Rage and resentment beyond compare was still running through his veins when he decided to confront Dumbledore. But then, it battled the shock and excitement he felt when Dumbledore told him about the Horcrux he wanted to pursue and when he invited Harry to go with him.

Even after his discussion with Dumbledore, his mind was still reeling with fury. He hated Snape with all his guts. He also knew that Snape would try to do something tonight while Dumbledore was away but he was not able to say it out loud because that would also mean acknowledging that Hermione was truly on Voldemort's side. He could not believe that. He will not accept that. He could only hope that nothing will happen tonight.

He gathered his cloak in his arms, ready to head towards the Entrance hall, when he saw the bottle of liquid luck. He had no logical reason- only his gut was telling him to take it and leave it with Ginny or Ron.

Running down the stairs of the boys' dormitory to the common room, Harry immediately spotted a red head sitting in front of the fireplace. He looked up and met Harry's eyes.

Harry hurriedly progressed towards him, silently perturbed by the status of their relationship. Chances were good that Ron would disregard him.

To his surprise, Ron stood up and met him half way. Luckily, no one was there to witness, what Harry thought would be a massive fight between him and Ron. After all, it was past curfew. Students were probably sleeping.

"Hey," Ron greeted.

Harry took it as a good sign and cut to the chase.

"Hi, Ron." Harry extended his right arm, with the Felix Felicis on his hand. "Look, Ron. I really don't have time to explain but I have the feeling you might need this tonight. Please, share it with Ginny."

Ron looked at his outstretched arm for some time before he met Harry's eyes and reached out for the bottle.

"I understand. Good luck, Harry." Ron secured the bottle with his left hand and gave Harry a pat on his shoulder with his right.

"Thank you," Harry said with a smile.

Ron and him would still need to talk before they can go regain their friendship but the exchange that happened was a start. He had not a single doubt in his heart that they will be able to work it out.

With a newfound lightness in both his heart and mind, Harry dashed towards the Entrance hall.

- Line break -

That afternoon, Snape informed Hermione that Dumbledore was going on a trip. It was time. She told Snape about her plan and Snape had agreed. He didn't have a choice either way. She had asked Snape to be the one to inform Draco, which was why she was currently standing in front of the entrance to the Slytherin common room.

She had checked inside and was certain that Draco was not there. She did not know him enough to know where he would be spending his free time so she opted to wait there, the same way he waited for her a few days back.

The stones surrounding her were cold, as if it knew the disaster about to occur. The silent was deafening. With no paintings or damaged objects enclosing her, nothing to distract her at all, the gravity of the situation she was about to enforce clawed at her heart, magnifying the trepidation she had tried to suppress.

Fortunately, Draco materialized at the other end of the hall, ending the guilt and self-loathing starting to thaw at her frozen heart. There was no turning back.

"Hermione?" Draco asked, unsure.

Hermione simply nodded.

Draco deliberately marched towards her, casting wards around them with each step. "What is it?"

"I'm letting them in tonight."

"What?!" Draco roared. Hermione shrugged indifferently.

"What do you mean?" Draco asked panic rising in his voice.

"We must do our mission tonight. It's the perfect time. Dumbledore will be gone and will be back late," Hermione replied.

"I'm not ready." Draco's voice trembled.

"I know. You only have to pretend to try." Hermione moved past him, about to leave. "Your girlfriend and her friends will need all the luck they could get."

Draco spun and grabbed her shoulder tightly. She stopped without turning back. "Why didn't you give me a warning?!"

Hermione shook his hand off roughly. "We are not working on the same side anymore, Draco. Remember that."

Then, she left.

- Line break -

After gathering his wits, he ran with all his might towards the Gryffindor common room. He was hoping to catch Ginny before she went inside. Otherwise, there would be no way for him to warn her.

Ignoring the greetings or whatnot of the paintings and ghosts he passed through, he jumped from one staircase to another. If his father could see what he was doing for a Weasley, he would disown him right after he tortured him. He shuddered only by thinking of all the pain he could experience. It did not matter. He was already here, risking everything for her. And he did not regret any of it.

The last couple of months have been the best months of his life. Ginny had brought meaning to his life; she made him a better person. He would give his life for her.

Hence, he ran as fast his legs could take him. Jumping on another staircase, he saw Ginny about to open the portrait of the fat lady.

"Ginny!" He yelled.

Ginny stopped on her track and turned swiftly. "Draco?"

Draco closed the gap between them. He was panting heavily by the time he reached her.

"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, alarmed. Draco was still trying to catch his breath so she performed the necessary charms to protect them from prying ears.

"Gin, Hermione said the mission would be tonight." Ginny's eyes widened. "She also said you and your friends would need all the luck you could get. Potter still has that Felix Felicis he won from Slughorn, right?"

"Yes, but-"

"Use it, Gin. And warn him. I also have to go. I have to prepare for my part." Draco's voice was fading out towards the end of the sentence.

They both knew that tonight might be the last night they would see each other in a long time. He took her appearance in. Her robes slightly disheveled from their earlier rendezvous; her long, red locks were flowing nicely on her back; her eyes misting from the worry and sadness she was also feeling; and her lips wereset on a thin line keeping it from quivering.

Draco gently cupped her face with his right hand. "I love you, Gin. Don't forget."

He dipped his head slowly and she met him halfway. She clutched at the sides of his shirt, willing him to stay. He knew he couldn't. Pulling back, he softly let his forehead rest on her, never breaking eye contact.

"I love you," he whispered one last time before placing a kiss on her forehead. When all was said and done, he turned to leave.

Ginny let him go. She really doesn't have a choice. This was his best chance of survival.

"Draco," she called out. Draco faced her sluggishly. She could almost see the darkness looming over him, overpowering the hope they had built together.

"I love you. Don't forget. And please, be careful." She saw him smile a little, and he also straightened up. She knew she must have given him some strength to move forward.

Before he left, he mouthed three words for her. She kept that in her heart as she cried her eyes out.

A/N: So what do you think? Again, no beta for this chapter so bear with me. Tell me what you think! Also I am uploading the next chapter of my "new" story in a couple of hours! Check it out. :)