Chapter Text
* Prologue *
Ron Weasley was latched onto Hermione's bony, pale hand, dragging her through the castle in a desperate attempt to find an exit that hadn't already been blocked off by Death Eaters.
Over the past year herself, Ron and Harry had been hunting Horcruxes in a long awaited attempt to defeat Voldemort, however the stress, lack of money and lack of food and taken it's toll on the three both mentally and physically.
But that didn't matter now.
Harry Potter was dead.
Suddenly, the last year of their lives seemed like a waist.
Hermione would always remember how Harry's body had hung lifelessly in Hagrid's arms, it stung Hermione's heart to see her best friend like that although she knew it was going to happen. She had figured out that Harry was a horcrux when he told her and Ron that he was off into the forbidden forest to see Voldemort and give him what he wanted, she knew that had Harry not have had to die, he would have continued fighting, Harry was the face of the resistance, he was what they all fought for, the last shred of hope, but once everyone saw his dead body, the life that had been dragged out of him seemed to drag the hope out of everyone else.
"Kill the snake," Harry instructed, "the snake is the last horcrux," he lied, what he had meant to say was, "the snake will be the last horcrux," and Neville had tried to kill her, in front of everyone, he dragged the sword of Gryffindor out of the sorting hat and charged for the snake who rested at Voldemort's feet, but Voldemort was quicker than him, more ambitious, with his life on the line he pointed his wand at Neville and hit him with The Cruciatus Curse.
Hermione flinched as she watched her friend scream in pain, his body wriggled on the stone floor like a worm, she knew exactly what he was going through after Bellatrix Lestrange did the same thing to her in Malfoy Manor, that pain was unlike any other and most definitely a pain one would never forget.
She watched as Neville cried out in pain, and she listened over the laughter coming from the herd of Death Eater's stood behind Voldemort, to Neville's voice break as he begged Voldemort to stop, she wanted to save him, she wanted to pull out her wand and use that same curse on Voldemort, she wanted to make him suffer the way he and his followers had made others suffer. She looked over at her dead best friend as the dark thoughts plagued her mind, she thought about how much he would hate her thinking the way she was, she prayed for a moment that he would take a deep breath and leap up from Hagrid's arms saving the day like he always did, but he never did, The Boy Who Lived was dead.
Neville took a deep breath as Voldemort lowered his wand and stopped the curse, even Hermione herself let out a sigh of relief knowing that his pain had -for the most part- ended. But that relief was short lived as Voldemort looked at Nagini and gave her a small nod, the python slithered forward a little before pouncing on Neville's worn out pale body. Hermione had to force herself to look away, she squeezed her eyes shut and forced her head into the crook of Ron's neck, however Ron didn't take time to comfort her, his only thought at this precise moment was getting his girlfriend out of there.
Everyone was running around the building in search of a way out but The Death Eaters had taken over the school, they were outnumbered so fighting was hardly an option, the only thing Ron could think to do was escape, he had attempted to grab his families attention but a giant abruptly stormed in their way separating the yet to be formed group. Ron had convinced himself that this would be for the best, a bigger group would easily grab more attention and would most likely get them killed, in his head he developed a plan, it was; to find and get past the new apperation point that The Death Eater's had evidently put up and go back to the burrow, wait for an hour in the hopes that someone showed up and then leave with Hermione and whoever else, get out of Europe and never look back.
Hermione and Ron only had one more exit that they could try, after that their only hope of escape would be to attempt fighting their way out, however Hermione was growing tired, after being on her feet all day and having had very little to eat her legs were starting to feel like jelly. Herself and Ron came across an empty hallway, it certainly hadn't been untouched by the battle but the odd few pillars were still standing and most of the roof was still above their heads.
The two ducked into an alcove and Ron watched as Hermione tried to catch her breath.
"You know the plan, get her out of here and don't be seen, Winky is already at the safe house ready to help the injured," a masculine voice spoke. Ron and Hermione peaked their heads around the edge of the alcove and saw Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott and Draco Malfoy stood having a conversation in the middle of the empty hallway.
It hadn't been long since the two watched Draco walk to the other side of the courtyard and join his father who had practically begged his son to walk to the 'right' side. "Don't be like your mother," Lucius pleaded confusing most of the crowd and painting and obvious scowl on Voldemort's face, "join us Draco, if you know what is good for you then you will fight for the right side," Lucius continued. Draco had hesitated for a moment and looked towards Harry's dull body, but when he realised that Harry was truly dead he began to take small, slow steps towards Voldemort's side where he was pulled into an awkward hug.
Ron pulled his wand out and held it tightly at his side, ready to attack, but Hermione grabbed his wrist and shook her head at him, she wanted to know what they were talking about.
"And what about her boyfriend Malfoy? She's not going to want to leave him," Blaise stated, "bring him if you have to, I don't care! Just get her out of here, safely! I won't let The Dark Lord take her! You know his plans Zabini!" Draco snapped at the boy, "ah yes, because her precious boyfriend is known for trusting Slytherins," Theodore laughed "I'm sure he will gladly come with us," sarcasm dripped from his tongue like venom. "Bind him, stun him, stun them both! I don't care! Just don't fucking hurt her!" Draco snapped as he began to pace back and fourth between his two friends.
"It's rather funny don't you think?" Blaise laughed "you've spent years bullying the poor girl, denying your feelings and now you're about to risk yours and our lives to get her out of here and she doesn't see you as more than a pompous Death Eater with daddy issues who got Dumbledore-"
"Don't you dare finish that fucking sentence Zabini!" Draco seethed.
Both Hermione and Ron had let their guards down as they listened intently to a conversation they were clearly not welcomed in. Yet Hermione couldn't help but wonder who this girl was that Draco Malfoy was so desperate to protect.
Draco let out a harsh groan and gripped his left forearm "he's calling me," he grunted, "get her out of here! I don't care about the others! She is a priority!" Draco yelled as he began to run the opposite way down the hallway.
"Guess we better get looking then," Blaise sighed.
"Avada kadavra!"
A bright green light hit Ron directly in the back, he let out a piercing scream before falling, lifeless to the ground. Hermione's heart stopped as she stared at her boyfriends unmoving body.
She looked up to the person who cast the curse, and there stood Antonin Dolohov dressed in his Death Eater robes with a proud smirk and his wand firmly in his grasp.
Hermione quickly rose hers but the shock made her reflexes slower and Antonin was quick to disarm her, shooting her wand out of her hand and allowing it to fly somewhere down the hallway. "Well if it isn't Potter's Mudblood," he laughed taking long strides towards her.
Hermione wanted to run, or fight, or summon her wand, but she knew it would be pointless, with one flick of his wand she would be dead, all she had to do was flinch and Antonin wouldn't hesitate to end her life.
"That was quite the memory charm you performed on me that night in the muggle cafe," he continued, "oh how I have dreamed of repaying you," he muttered now less than an inch away from her, he raised his hand to brush her cheek and Hermione squeezed her eyes shut tightly, hoping that it would soon be over, that he would just kill her. Have it over with.
"Well you're going to have to keep dreaming Dolohov," a voice spoke.
Antonin snapped back and turned to face Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott who both had their wands pointed at him "what are you two doing?" Antonin seethed "step away from her Dolohov," Theodore instructed calmly.
A look of confusion washed over Hermione's face as she watched the two boys 'save' her.
"And what is going on here?" Another voice spoke, they all turned to see two masked Death Eaters head their way, "I have caught Potters Mudblood and these two seem to be threatening me," Antonin explained. One of the Death Eater's removed their mask revealing Mr Nott, "son, lower your wand," Theodore's father instructed.
Theodore rolled his head in frustration knowing that he would come to regret his next words "I'm sorry father, but I cannot do that," he stated "and why is that?" Mr Nott questioned.
Hermione still stood their silently, confused and scared. Her eyes wandered to Ron's dead body and she began to tear up.
"Because I can't let you do this," Theodore spoke "I can't let you harm the Mudblood."
All of the men were clearly becoming agitated, their wands were shaking in their hands as they restrained themselves.
"And why is that?" Mr Nott asked "because we can't let him win, don't you see what you have become father? So hateful, and why? Because of blood supremacy? You're like him like that monster out there. I won't be like you father, and you don't have to be like him."
"And yet you throw about the term 'Mudblood' so effortlessly," Mr Nott retorted "because of you!" Theodore yelled back, "Blaise, what would your father say about this?" Mr Nott asked drawing his attention to Blaise "fuck all, he's dead," Blaise responded bluntly, rolling his eyes at the question.
Mr Nott ignored his comment and once again drew his attention to Theodore "please son, join us, The Dark Lord needn't know about your treachery, we can hand over Potter's Mudblood and we shall be praised-"
"No!" Antonin yelled "she is mine!"
"Your obsession with the Mudblood is becoming concerning Antonin," the masked Death Eater spoke.
Hermione shivered at the word 'obsession'.
"Enough of this!" Antonin yelled as he grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her closer to him forcing a yelp to escape Hermione's mouth "I will be taking her to The Dark Lord and I will be keeping her!" He stated matter-of-factly.
He went to pull her away but before he could begin both him and Hermione were hit by a stupify cast by Blaise. The blast shot the two back and due to how tired Hermione was and the lack of food she had consumed, she was knocked out.