Chapter Nineteen-Wake me up

Everything dies, everything blossoms again. Everything parts, everything greets each other again eternally the House of Being is built. Bent is the path of eternity-Friedrich Nietzsche

The first thing Draco thought of when he let her go was that he had to get out of there; the urge to pull her back to him and just apparate away stuck to him like a suffocating blanket but he couldn't make his hands register what his brain was telling them to do.

All around them people were screaming, throwing curses every which way; it was a miracle he wasn't killed in those first few seconds. Hermione had frozen on the spot in front of him and he followed her gaze to across the courtyard.

He barely discerned Potter at the entrance to the school speaking to Ron beside him before making a mad dash back inside realisation resonating from his face. Draco understood in that moment that Potter had had a breakthrough; Voldemort was right to be worried. They both watched as Weasley nodded at him and followed in his wake.

He wondered briefly if Hermione would still want to find Dumbledore but it seemed that the urge to follow Potter was too strong in her; she would always be drawn back to her best friend no matter what had happened and now that they were so near the end; she clearly felt she had to help him finish this.

She didn't even need to speak when she turned her head to glance at Draco the plea so clearly written in her eyes.

Draco nodded, "Let's go but hey, wake me up when it's all over won't you?"

She smiled sadly at him before taking his hand and pulling him behind her as they fought their way through the crowd. Death Eaters avoided hitting him but tried to kill Hermione and the Order offered him the same treatment while avoiding her. The reality of it made Draco want to laugh, it was almost as if they were back on their own sides and nothing had ever happened but it made it difficult to figure out how to defend yourself. Draco eventually settled for flinging stupefying curses every which way that way whoever they hit was an accident.

He tried to keep the back of Potter's head in sight as they ran all the way up to the seventh floor. Voldemort was nowhere to be seen and Draco was sure he was keeping his distance for the moment; he would have his glory later.

It was Weasley who saw them first, just as they skidded up behind them at the tapestry of the dancing trolls where Draco himself had spent so many hours the year before. Ron would have hit Draco with the killing curse had Draco not seen the fury in his face and had the good sense to lunge behind a suit of armour which then exploded, flinging chunks of metal everywhere.

Hermione screamed and it was this scream that made Potter spin on his heels and turn and face them, skidding to an abrupt halt, his pursuit momentarily forgotten.

"What are you doing?" He shouted above the din of spells and screams staring at his followers incredulously.

"We came to help", said Hermione, lowering her wand and taking one uncertain step towards them.

"Don't", snarled Ron, raising his own wand higher and pointing it at her.

Draco huffed, "Oh give it up Weasley". He walked out from behind the suit raising his own wand as he went. "You won't kill her".

"I would rather kill her than see her with you", he replied not taking his eyes from Hermione.

"Please Ron", she whispered gently.

Potter moved forwards and rested his hand on Ron's arm, lowering his wand in turn.

"Tell me why I should let you help now? You went back for him and we agreed because of how you were going back that that was it, we would never speak again. So why are you here?"

"I figured out some time ago that the last Horcrux was Ravenclaw's lost diadem and unlike you I've read enough to know what it looks like. You will be a long time searching for it in there", she nodded towards the room.

Draco didn't lower his wand during her speech, nor did he ask her how she managed to figure it all out or even if she was sure that this was the last horcrux. Did it really matter anymore?

They were so close to the end and Draco could almost taste victory; he felt in his bones that they would live through this and so he had begun to hope.

"I don't care", said Ron dejectedly. "I can't bear to see you brainwashed by him".

"Give her some credit Weasley to know her own mind", growled Draco in response, moving until he stood behind Hermione; offering his support but without needing to touch her.

"Ron, this is Hermione we're talking about. I'm not about to turn down help and we are running out of time". Harry was speaking so calmly that Draco knew Hermione had won him back on side.

Even if it was only temporary, Draco didn't care as long as it kept them both alive.

"Right, come on then", said Harry turning to them both. "Any funny business Malfoy and I will kill you myself".

"I would be disappointed in you if you didn't", replied Draco, moving forward to where Potter was now pacing up and down the corridor.

The door appeared and before anyone could think, Potter had stormed inside.

Suddenly, the outside shouts and screams died and the four of them were left in absolute silence.

"It's like a church", whispered Hermione and he saw Potter nod next to her both of them looking up towards the rafters. The cavernous ceilings reminded Draco of Malfoy Manor and of the countless hours he had spent in this quiet solitude fixing a broken vanishing cabinet.

"Come on, we don't have time for this", said Harry. "Just start looking".

"What exactly are we looking for?" said Draco riffling through a broken cabinet on his left willing himself not to think anymore about the vanishing one.

"It's like a sort of tiara but because it was Rowena Ravenclaw's it will be very old and possibly rather ridiculous looking to us now", said Hermione hurrying off down one of the passageways and shouting to be heard.

"It could be anywhere", grunted Ron as he lifted some heavy boxes and began going through them.

Harry suddenly paused. "A cabinet...", he whispered more to himself than anyone else.

"What?" said Draco absentmindedly throwing some books to the floor.

"I hid a potions book in a cabinet and told myself I would remember which one by the ugly tiara I left on the top of it".

He ran off in the same direction Hermione had taken with Draco and Ron following close behind.

"I found it", he eventually screamed, breathing heavily.

Draco came up behind him, clutching his side as Ron brought up the rear, leaning heavily on a bookcase.

He held the tiara in his hands and Draco wondered what they were supposed to do now, just stare at it?

"Well Potter, aren't you going to do something about it?"

"Yes", he replied reaching into his pocket and taking out a basilisk fang. Draco didn't need to ask where he had gotten it; he didn't want to know. All that mattered now was that they had come so close.

They all stood back with Potter's advanced warning but it didn't matter, the second Potter plunged the fang deep into the bejewelled headpiece everyone went flying backwards.

But it was Draco that it targeted.

"Draco, you do not belong here. You know this will end in death".

Thick black, impenetrable smoke swirled around him blocking out the faces of the others as the words, spoken so clearly in what could only be Voldemort's voice, echoed about the room as pictures of Draco's past began to flash in front of him. Hermione's tear stained face loomed before his, a mixture of revulsion and pity in her features.

"Draco why did you let me die, I was happy before I met you".

Draco screamed and could not discern Hermione's real voice from somewhere to his left.

"I wanted to live Draco and you brought me to my death, you should have left me alone".

The shadows and smoke swirled around him until he thought he would choke.

Something came through the air and hit him sharply on the side of his head, he felt groggy and confused as he looked down and saw the basilisk fang.

"She will die if you do not choose what side you belong on". Voldemort's voice was back and before Draco could change his mind; his hand gripped the fang hard.

Without thinking of what was going to happen, Draco plunged the fang a second and then a third time into the tiara. It seemed to scream and then just as suddenly as it began; everything disappeared in a brilliant flash of white light.

Draco shielded his eyes and when he opened them, he found Hermione, Ron and Harry all getting to their feet one by one; smiling cautiously.

The tiara lay between them, totally harmless now and one less defence for Voldemort.

That was when Voldemort's voice filled all of their heads and Draco knew it would be reverberating around the school at that precise moment as Potter let out the most blood curdling scream.

"The courtyard Harry Potter; this is where it all ends now".

Draco stood and pulled Hermione towards him briefly, just wanting to touch her to remind himself that they were both still alive but it wouldn't be for long now.

Now, they would be going to face him. He put the basilisk fang in his pocket, wanting to hold onto the memory of murdering something to do with Voldemort; it made him feel as if he hadn't quite given up yet. The boy that had wanted to die so desperately was now clutching at the glimmer of hope that had appeared before him.

"They are going to kill us", said Hermione softly, directing her words to Harry.

Harry said nothing at first but eventually he met her eyes, "I'll try not to let that happen".

Ron looked thunderous but remained silent, instead turning on his heel and marching out of the Room of Requirement.

Draco watched him go, knowing that Ron had been hurt by Hermione's choice but finding that he couldn't bring himself to care, before releasing Hermione and following himself.

The courtyard was full when they got there but the fighting had at least stopped for the moment. Harry moved into line with Voldemort, who glanced up surprised at where Hermione and Draco were standing; Death Eaters against the Order but Draco felt his rightful place was somewhere in between. BY the way he felt Hermione stiffen and shuffle her feet next to him, he knew she was just as uneasy about her position as he was.

"He should still be on this side or better...dead", he whispered menacingly to Lucius and Narcissa, who had the good grace not to meet his eye.

Draco realised with a jolt that when he had landed at Hogwarts, his parents had done nothing to hold onto him. They had let him go.

No more than what had happened between Hermione and Harry; his parents were doing the same thing now. They were proving that he was still their son at the end of it all and whether they wanted to or not; they were trying to prevent his death.

"I see that I have to do it myself. Potter, release the two of them into my keeping and you and I may continue with our unfinished business".

Ron moved forwards quickly, shoving Draco out of the confines of the Order and more into the centre of the two groups. Draco was too surprised to be able to keep his feet and landed hard in between both groups knowing that this was really where he belonged. He was neither one nor the other.

"Ah I see Mr Weasley is quick to remove Mr Malfoy from his sight. Very good Mr Weasley", smiled Voldemort. "Draco come, take your punishment like a man".

Draco felt hands on his shoulders helping him remove himself from the ground and he knew it was Hermione; taking up her place between the two groups as well.

"Stop helping him", he heard Ron hiss behind them.

"I belong with him. I'm just a marked as he is", she whispered laying her hands on Draco's chest.

Ron moved towards them again and attempted to push Hermione away from Draco. Draco turned and without thinking landed his fist straight into Ron's face.

"You don't ever touch her again. She isn't yours, she chose me".

Ron's hand went straight to his bloody nose as he howled in pain but Draco didn't care, standing defiantly before both groups.

"I don't care where I stand or who I fight for", he said to Potter, "But if you can stop her from dying that's all I care about".

Harry nodded, stepping in and taking Hermione's arm. "You stay here", he said before also pointing his gaze towards Draco.

"I will not subject anyone to an unfair and unjust death. I won't see that happen so I won't force you to go".

Draco wanted to scoff but the truth was; he was grateful. He didn't want to leave her but what choice did he have? He grimaced inwardly at how martyr like he was acting; if this was anyone else he would have thought them pathetic, when it was himself it was just sad.

He nodded but instead turned and moved towards Voldemort and the Death Eaters; coming to a halt in front of them.

"I want to die", he whispered to himself, ignoring Hermione's pleading behind him as she screamed at him to turn back.

Voldemort smiled, raising his wand to bring down execution on Draco but Harry was too quick, shoving Hermione out of his way and launching into an attack before Voldemort could do anything.

Their wands locked and what seemed like several years but was perhaps only several moments they fought madly. Draco felt the stunned silence and stares of everyone as it focused on the two who had brought this battle together and the only two who could end it.

Not one death Eater moved to begin fighting and nobody from the Order even raised their gazes from Voldemort and Harry. Draco felt stuck to the spot willing Potter to win and end all of this torment.

Suddenly, Voldemort began to disintegrate before their eyes and Draco saw Nagini, Voldemort's snake, lying headless with Neville standing over it; the Gryffindor sword in his hand. He realised the snake had been the last one, not the tiara and now that it was gone Harry was winning.

Voldemort wailed as bits of him began to disappear. It was over, the battle was won.

Nobody moved for several seconds, as if time had slowed down to a sudden halt. But just as abruptly it began again as the Order realised with a jolt that some of the remaining death eaters were apparating away upon seeing the empty robes of their once powerful master. How could it be that it was all over? That after so many years, Voldemort was truly gone?

Draco saw his parents nod at him before swiftly disappearing in a sudden POP. He said nothing, they had allowed him to live at the end of it all and in truth they were not the real danger.

The senior members of the Order moved in to tackle the small amount of death eaters that were left before they could disapparate and Draco was sure they got most of them but he was too distracted to notice. Just at that moment, a mess of brown curls had enveloped him and Hermione was now wrapped in his arms.

"We won. It's over", she whispered in his ear and he could hear the smile in her voice. He laughed and picked her up, burying his face deep into her hair and breathing her scent.

He heard shouting, inaudible shouting but he didn't have the time to register who or even where it was coming from.

All he knew was that one minute Hermione had been clutched into his arms and he was finally allowing himself to picture a life with her and the next...

The next...

"I told her I'd rather die than see her with him", Ron was screaming as he was wrestled to the ground by Bill and Charlie. Draco felt Hermione slacken slightly in his arms, her eyes wide with shock and surprise, and knew that Ron had done the unthinkable; he had killed her.

One simple curse was all it had taken and the life would pour out of her and so Ron had ended Draco's life in the process.

Draco fell to his knees, Hermione still encased in his arms and attempted to cradle her; the way he had wanted to hold her so many times during the battle and now...now that she was fading, he was getting his chance. All his hope, all of his elation mere moments before were now dying with her.

"No, Hermione come on", he yelled pulling her closer to him and willing her to tell him she was okay; willing her eyes to remain open.

"I think..." her voice broke as she began to cry pressing herself closer to his chest. "I think my story is over Draco please don't let me go where you can't follow me".

"No, you can't leave me", disbelief leaked from every pore. "Don't leave me, not like this", he whispered to her, holding her head in his hands and staring deep into her eyes as the blood and life poured out of her. "Don't say they've beaten us".

"They haven't beaten us, you're still standing", she whispered softly, drifting further from him with every word.

He shook her gently, struggling not to scream, "I won't be standing for much longer if you're not here".

"Draco", she struggled to say his name, "I'm sorry".

"Don't you dare say sorry", he replied angrily, trying to stem the flow of his tears. "I'm here and everything is going to be alright".

The courtyard had gone deathly quiet. Voldemort's death was now being overshadowed by Draco's grief and it enveloped everything in its path. Harry and the rest of the Order made no move to come forwards; everyone stood in a sort of stunned silence as Draco's cries echoed off the stone.

"You'll be okay, I just need a wand and I'll fix you right up", he said trying to smile at her and failing.

She gave him a look of derision marred only by the blood running down her face.

"Don't be stupid, it's a curse. The idea is to die. Wake me up when it's all over", she coughed and more blood spilled into Draco's hands. Draco had never seen this kind of curse before, it wasn't like the sectumsempra he had been scarred with before, this was happening within her as if, all of her organs were shutting down one by one.

He held her head close and pressed his forehead against hers, "Don't leave me here, my life makes no sense if you aren't in it", he was crying hard now, unable to help himself.

"Draco", she whispered, moving her hands up to his hair. "I'm scared; I don't want to die alone".

He breathed deeply, "Don't be scared, you aren't alone, I'm right here with you. Death isn't something to fear".

"How do you know?" She whispered softly, her voice was failing her as she struggled to cling to a life Draco had so wanted to throw away only hours before. It was ironic really; the one who had wanted to live was now dying in the arms of the one who had wanted to die.

"Hold my hand", he said, taking her hand in his and steadying his voice for her sake. "Hold my hand and you have nothing to be afraid of because I'm right here. There is a place that you're going to and there is no pain or suffering there. It's a place for us and it's just around the corner, you have to wait for me there and I will follow you and I promise I will find you".

She gripped his hand tighter, the tears rolling down her face as she watched him despairingly.

"I don't want to go without you. I don't want to die. I want to live", she said, her voice a painfully soft. "I really wanted to live".

"You don't have to go anywhere without me, wait for me and I promise I'll be right behind you and that isn't dying. Remember it's what we leave behind that lives on. How can you die when our story has immortalised us?" he lifted her up and placed his chin on her head so he could rock her gently.

"There is a world where we belong together, we just aren't there yet that's all and as long as you wait for me; we can go together", he rocked her gently, his tears landing in her hair. "Everyone will know our story as the most tragic love story and we will be together again I promise".

"I love you", he heard her whisper. "Don't leave me waiting too long; I don't want to be without you".

"I promise I won't Granger. I love you remember".

"I'm so scared, find me", she whispered, her words trailing off.

He knew she was gone before he felt her slacken in his arms but he continued to hold her; not wanting her to be afraid anymore; not wanting her to be alone.

Eventually, his grief overcame him and he screamed in anguish. The scream echoed around the stone courtyard; hitting everyone with the impact of loss.

Harry stepped forward, the tears still rolling down his face plain for all to see. He stared at Ron with disgust.

"We did this", he shouted, "We couldn't understand them together and we didn't try to".

Draco clung to Hermione, continuing to rock her. "I'm coming Hermione" he whispered.

He laid her back down on the ground, kissing her forehead and smoothing her hair back from her face. Her eyes were still open, fear etched into them and he knew that he couldn't be in this world without her; couldn't live on knowing she was dead.

He stood and faced Potter. "If you want to do one more thing for me, you will kill me now".

"I can't", said Harry, staring at him his eyes filled with pity.

"You don't have a choice, either you take away my life now or I go and jump off the astronomy tower but in all honesty I'd rather die right here, next to her".

Draco was struggling to stand upright; his whole body had given up. Without her it all seemed so pointless.

Harry was struggling with himself; Draco knew he was torn between his compassion and his moral compass. He wanted to kill Draco, to grant him his last wish but he didn't want to be the one to commit the murder.

"Please Potter. Kill me because I killed Ginny if nothing else. This world isn't where we are supposed to be, it was never going to end with us being together here but I will be with her again someplace else and I'm asking for your help with that", said Draco, knowing that this was what he had to say even if Potter had known all along who Ginny's murderer was, this would bring it all back and he would understand that without Hermione, Draco had nothing left.

He moved forwards and before he could second guess himself and he muttered the killing curse watching as Draco slumped next to Hermione's body; landing next to her, his head falling onto her chest.

And so they lay, entwined together; the pureblood and his muggle born love.

Their names would go down in history as the most tragic deaths that day of battle saw; neither would live if the other did not.

And as the students and what remained of the Order began the dreadful process of starting life all over again; the phoenix began his lament.

Review.

Thank you for following this story to the last chapter, I am honoured and flattered that so many of you would take time to read something I wrote.

I hope you all forgive me for the ending but I hope you all understand that in this story there was no way the two of them could be together; this story is about reality but it is also about choice. In the end we all have a choice and I felt that my characters chose to die in order to live on.

Believe me; they are happier where they are.