The dreadful night sky illuminated darkness all around as the howling wind picked up, circling around the school grounds
On the school's eastern uppermost tower stood Draco Malfoy with his wand drawn, aiming at none other than his headmaster Albus Dumbledore
"Draco" Dumbledore began cautiously "Years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices"
Draco looked at the older man intensely, tears steadily streaming down his face as he shook, but kept his wand locked onto its target. Draco knew he didn't want to do this, everything inside him begged that Dumbledore would somehow understand
"Please let me help you" Dumbledore said calmly
"I don't want your help!" Draco yelled back "Don't you understand?" he forced out through gritted teeth, shaking his wand hand in gesture "I have to do this. I have to kill you" his entire body trembled as he spoke "Or he's gonna to kill me"
He silently sobbed, too afraid of his own words, as his headmaster looked upon him in remorse
The conversation was abruptly concluded when they heard footsteps, Draco reinforced his aim on his target. The backup he had sent for, his fellow death eaters, had arrived with Bellatrix Lestrange in the lead.
"Well, look what we have here" she mused at the scene before her. "Well done Draco" she whispered, slowly circling behind her nephew and kissing his shoulder, he grimaced at her touch.
"Good evening Bellatrix" Dumbledore said lightly, seemingly hardly bothered by their arrival "I think introductions are in order, don't you?"
"Love to, Albus, but I'm afraid we're on a bit of a tight schedule" she replied simply "DO IT!" she hissed to Draco as he raised his wand
"Draco" they heard a breathless voice behind them. Everyone turned themselves towards the source, Draco's breath hitched and his eyes widened as he stared, shocked
"Granger?" he gaped "Wh- …What?"
"Think about this, Draco" Hermione said, standing at the top of the stairway, locking her gaze with his while catching her breath "Think about it for more than just one second"
"Who is this girl?" Bellatrix demanded impatiently "Seize her!" she ordered as a death eater grabbed Hermione, restraining her arms and locking them behind her while she yelped in pain.
"Do it" Bellatrix repeated harshly, startling Draco enough to break his eye contact and resume his mission
"Draco!" Hermione screamed, squirming under hold and wincing as the death eater tightened his grip around her
"I'm sorry Hermione" he replied sadly "I have to"
"No!" Hermione cried in exasperation. "I'm not asking you to change your mind, I'm asking you to think. Just for once Draco, think!" she begged him as tears rolled down her face
Draco returned his look to Hermione, confused as ever. She had gone out of her way for him before, months ago. But now she was putting her life on the line for him, just to make sure he really knew what he was doing.
"What if there weren't consequences, Draco. THINK!" Hermione ordered him. "Would you decide to die an honorable man or a spineless murderer?" Once again, her words had left him in awe.
"Silence!" Bellatrix screeched, having lost all patience
Hermione's captor covered her mouth forcefully, pushing into her face and muffling her screams of pain
"He doesn't have the stomach" Greyback spat "just like his father." Draco twitched "Let me finish him in my own way"
"No! The Dark Lord is clear the boy is to do it!" she hissed back to him "This is your moment" she told her nephew "Do it!"
Draco stood there with his wand still pointed to his headmaster. The tears had started to dry on his face, but now his head was in a complete frenzy. Perhaps Hermione was right, he'd do practically anything in the world to not become this. But what is he to do? Now Hermione was in trouble. If he didn't do it, then she would also die. Draco's eyes once again found their way to her. His heart wrenched as he took in her face, red from her muffled cries and tears pouring from her puffy eyes.
"Go on Draco!" He heard his aunt give her last warning "NOW!" she roared into his face
He didn't have any time left, if he waited any longer they would all be in trouble. It's now or never. 'I'm so sorry Hermione' he tells himself, crying. With a shaking hand he raises his wand and takes a deep breath "Av—"
"No" they all hear a deep voice behind them. Draco audibly gasps in shock, having been interrupted in his big moment. He turns his head to see Snape walking up to him, gently pushing Draco aside and standing in his place. Everyone in the room watched Snape as he and Dumbledore looked upon each other in silence
"Severus" Dumbledore says quietly "Please"
Snape's face remained emotionless "Avada Kedavra" he whipped his wand quickly, striking Dumbledore right in the chest.
Draco instantaneously made his way over to Hermione, yanking her out of the death eater's grip, and enveloping her into his arms. They watched as their headmaster's body toppled backwards off of the railing and fell to the ground outside. Draco held her close as she cried into his chest, pulling at his jacket helplessly. He cried with her, squeezing her as hard as he could while he sobbed into her shoulder.
Before they knew it he felt himself being pried away and dragged along as his fellow death eaters made their exit. He spared one more glance at her before he found himself down the stairs. His tried to push back his overwhelming emotions as he followed them through the school halls and outside onto the grounds. He took their cue and whipped his wand out. Draco turned back to look at his school, probably the last time he will ever see it. When he heard his named called he waved his wand down by his side and vanished with them from sight.