Exception Chapter 8: The Second Wizarding War

[greywolfheir]

A look at Dramione behind the scenes of the Harry Potter series. Pushing the limits of canon in this chapter, but kept as close to the original as possible. Some violence as well but if you handled the torture scene in the movies/books, you'll be fine here.

Draco's hands trembled under the table, not even focusing on anything anyone was saying. He just focused on protecting his mind from Voldemort. He couldn't help but stare at the woman floating above them, knowing that she wouldn't live past this meeting, whatever she had done.
Draco nearly jumped when he heard his father's name, but stopped himself just in time. And then, when Lucius had given up the wand-the wand that would have been Draco's in the future-Draco knew that his family status was drastically dropping and soon they would be no more than mere Snatchers. The only thing that kept them at a higher status was the Mark on their forearms.

Draco sat through the rest of the meeting on edge, barely answering Voldemort's questions, and hoping with all his heart for it to end. Therefore, when Draco saw the flash of green light pass him, he jumped so much so that he fell out of his chair in shock. He didn't really feel like getting up, either, when he heard Nagini slithering on the table above him...

Weeks later, Draco was feeling a bit better. There hadn't been a Death Eater meeting in a while, so he hadn't had to see Voldemort. Unfortunately, Voldemort soon returned, ruining Draco's recovery, with a terrified Rowle. Draco tried again to ignore the Dark Lord, but that failed when Voldemort asked specifically for him.

Draco stepped in front of Voldemort and stammered, "Y-yes, my-my lord?"

"I would like you to…punish Mr. Rowle for not completing a task I assigned to him. You would know what that is like, wouldn't you, Draco?"

Draco was terrified now, but he simply nodded.

"Now, I believe you know the Cruciatus Curse, Draco?" Voldemort asked.

Draco gulped and nodded again.

"Good. Use it on our friend here."

Draco heard Rowle whimper, but ignored it and pulled out his wand. When the wand pointed at Rowle, Draco hesitated.

"Do you wish to have the same fate, Draco?" Voldemort hissed behind Draco.

Taking a deep breath, Draco finally said the curse and watched as the man fell to the floor in agony, bloodcurdling screams reverberating off the walls of the manor. Draco continued the curse until Voldemort stopped him. He dropped his wand to his side, standing completely rigid.

"More, Rowle, or shall we end it and feed you to Nagini?..." Draco heard the words but could only look into the fire until Voldemort said his name "…Draco, give Rowle another taste of our displeasure…Do it, or feel my wrath yourself!"

Draco again sent the spell in Rowle's direction, but this time he was interrupted when Voldemort used the Body Bind Curse on Rowle. Draco stopped immediately, confused until Voldemort began speaking in Parseltongue.

The green viper slid off Voldemort's shoulders and it was then that Draco realized Nagini was about to eat Rowle alive. Appalled, Draco turned away, squeezing his eyes shut, ignoring Voldemort's mocking laughter.

It was a horrible event that Draco suffered through, and he knew that there could only be worse things to come.

When Ron left Hermione and Harry, it hit Hermione hard-in a way that she couldn't explain. She felt as if a great hole had been ripped out of her chest and she needed to be with Ron again. The only thing that made her feel better was to cry, which all logic told her wasn't normal.

Why did she have to realize that she finally loved Ron only when he was gone?

And why, when she needed to focus the most, were her only thoughts about him?

Hermione knew this logic and grief wasn't normal, but any time she thought things like that, she had a block, like an impregnable wall on that part of her mind. Hermione also tended to notice that when she switched her thoughts to Draco, and started to feel guilty for loving Ron, her thoughts took a U-turn and ran back to Ron. The answer to this problem was so close in her mind, but she just couldn't grasp it for long enough, not unless she found a way to break through that wall.

And then...Ron came back-and all she coul think to do was bury her insane feelings with the frustration of not being able to think clearly. And one thought that came to mind was that she felt guilty for not spraying on the perfume he gave her. She used to wear it every day until she thought he had no chance of coming back…

Later, Harry accidentally said Voldemort's name and the next thing they knew, they were being whisked away by Snatchers to no other place but Malfoy Manor. Despite the terror involved in the situation, when she heard Greyback mention Malfoy, Hermione's only thoughts were: Not there, anywhere but there.

And then, once they had arrived, Narcissa said, "My son, Draco, is home for the Easter holidays. If that is Harry Potter, he will know."

No, no, no, no, NO! Hermione didn't want to see him, especially not with all these Death Eaters around. Disastrous results came out of Draco being surrounded by Death Eaters. Before she knew it, Hermione had spotted Draco's tall, pale figure, and her heart went mad.

At first glance, Hermione's pulse raced faster than she imagined it ever could. And then that mysterious block slowed it, and Hermione wasn't sure whether this was a good thing or not. As he came closer, Hermione took in his scent, a scent familiar not only to memories she had of Draco, but something else-something she smelled in class…but there was that block again. Lucky for her, Draco hadn't seen her yet, too focused on the others, as he was asked to identify them.

They nearly forgot about her, but Greyback brought up the thing she had prepared for: "What about the Mudblood then?"

Draco turned around and Hermione saw his eyes flash. A tear surprised Hermione and rolled down her cheek as she mouthed Draco's name. A glimmer of responding tears also surprised Hermione, but they quickly disappeared.

"I…maybe…yeah," he said slowly, never taking his eyes off her.

Why is Hermione here? How could she get caught? Wasn't she supposed to be smarter than that?

So many questions ran through Draco's head the second he saw her, all branching off of his fear-for her and of her. She shouldn't have gotten caught-that wasn't supposed to be possible. And Bellatrix-though she hadn't mentioned it since-still remembered that memory, Draco knew. He shouldn't be around Hermione, not with Bellatrix in the same room.

"Take these prisoners down to the cellar, Greyback," Draco heard his mother say.

"Wait. All except…except for the Mudblood."

Draco snapped his head in his aunt's direction, eyes blazing. She was doing this on purpose-to hurt him and to satisfy her hatred of Mudbloods.

"No! You can have me, keep me!" Never had Draco agreed with Weasley more. But he could say nothing of the sort with his aunt around. Not even when Bellatrix pulled out the knife.

Before the others were taken downstairs, Bellatrix advanced toward Hermione, her dagger glinting. Draco turned away, tears stinging at his eyes, angry that he could do no more than look the other way. He heard her scream, and felt it pierce his heart. He clenched his fists, as he saw the flash of light that meant his aunt had used the Cruciatus spell. But what he couldn't hear was the questioning Bellatrix was supposed to be giving.

At last, another heart-wrenching scream rang out and Draco whipped around.

"STOP!" he shouted. Bellatrix dropped her wand to her side, releasing the spell. The quiet that ensued was only broken by the yells of the prisoners below them.

"What did you say, Draco?" Bellatrix asked.

"I said stop-no, Mother!" Narcissa had grabbed Draco's wrist in an attempt to quiet him, but Draco was determined, and simply ripped free. Avoiding a glance at Hermione on the ground, he continued, "This is absolutely ridiculous! Wasn't the whole point of it to find out about your precious sword? Well, ask about it! You're not going to find out anything from her screams. Just stop!"

A very dangerous smile came over Bellatrix's lips at that moment. "And here I thought poor Draco had gotten over his little crush. How sweet." She turned around and twirled her dagger, sinking back to the floor where Hermione lay sobbing.

"Well, then, pretty Mudblood-you heard your protector. Where is my sword?" Bellatrix screamed the last part while dragging the knife along Hermione's forearm. Hermione screamed again, but merely shook her head.

"Hermione," Draco whispered. "Don't do this."

"Draco," Lucius hissed, suddenly aware of what exactly was going on. "How dare you-a Mudblood!"

"Lucius, now is not the time," Narcissa pleaded. Draco looked to her in gratitude only to hear her add, "Draco, forget the Mudblood-our lives are at stake at the moment and we need full cooperation with your aunt as well as the Dark Lord. Do you understand?"

Draco looked at Hermione, still screaming from Bellatrix's torture, swallowed hard, and nodded, blinking back more tears.

"I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get the sword? Where?"

The questioning went on further, which, as painful as it still was, gave Draco some hope that Hermione wouldn't be dead by the end of the night. Draco's parents were whispering furiously, and didn't notice when Draco slipped into full sobbing. He could do nothing and it was all because of Voldemort. Any hints that Draco may have had of resentment of Voldemort were out into complete light. A burning, passionate hatred of Voldemort coursed through Draco. Of course, there was nothing he could do about it as of yet, but he knew that he would find a way to be free of it. Somehow.

Hermione had never felt so much pain. Between the Cruciatus and the point of the dagger, Hermione felt like she was practically lying in a fire. When she heard Draco's voice, her first thought was of comfort-that he was there, and she would be free of the pain soon. And then she realized that he had so far done little to relieve the pain. However, one look in his eyes told Hermione that he was being tortured almost as much as she was.

Then Hermione heard Draco's voice again-quieter than it had been the last time. "Hasn't she already answered your question, Bellatrix?"

"Draco!" Narcissa said, and Draco clenched his jaw. But the damage had been done. Bellatrix raised her wand and put all her energy onto the next spell. Hermione had never felt so much pain before.

"What else did you take, what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!"

And somehow it was even worse. Hermione heard distant screams and it took a while for her to realize that they were hers, as they were distorted with so much pain.

And then the spell was over, and Bellatrix was speaking but Hermione barely heard her, sobbing as her nerves felt free again. She didn't ever want to feel like that again, she knew she had to lie, come up with something Bellatrix would believe. "…It isn't the real sword! It's a copy, just a copy!"

"A copy? Oh, a likely story!" Hermione cowered as Bellatrix began to raise her wand again, but Lucius, of all people stopped her.

Hermione didn't care what Lucius was saying, didn't care that Draco was leaving the room again. All she cared was that she was in no more pain. She let herself relax on the floor, tears of joy streaming from her eyes.

But then it was back, and screams were again being ripped from Hermione's throat. She heard Draco yelling something, making out only a few words. "What's the point now!-just established-from the goblin-stop!"

And then it did stop. Bellatrix was now questioning Griphook. But this time Hermione didn't allow herself to relax, especially not when she heard Bellatrix say that she was to be disposed of. No, because that brought with it a battle between her friends and the Malfoys. Hermione knew she had to move, or be faced with a stray spell. She struggled to sit up, only to be pulled up by Draco, who-was she seeing right?-seemed to have aimed a curse at Greyback's curse. She suddenly knew what he was doing-just like in fourth year when Harry and Draco's spells had collided, Draco was again deflecting a spell-this time to be sure it wouldn't hit its target.

"Hermione," he whispered frantically. "I need you to remember that I still love you. It may not seem like it but I do, okay?" Draco again deflected a spell "I'm only trying to protect my family. Above all else about me, remember-"

But Hermione never heard the last of Draco's words, bcasue a spell hit her and she fainted, seeing nothing but black.

"STOP OR SHE DIES!"

Bellatrix had managed to hit a spell at Hermione, and a surprised Draco could do nothing as Bellatrix took hold of her. Draco willed Potter and Weasley to follow Bellatrix's orders at that point, knowing that since she had her information she would go for the kill this time. Happy to pick up their wands, as that meant a longer life for Hermione, Draco was caught off guard by the falling chandelier, and didn't notice when Potter took the wands from him. When he opened his eyes again, the battle was over and Hermione-along with her friends-was gone.

And the next thing he knew, Bellatrix was pleading to Voldemort, who was angrier than Draco had ever seen. It was terrifying, but Draco only knew that the pure hatred still existed, and it was all he could do not to attack The Dark Lord just then. Draco left the room as quietly as possible, if only to make sure he didn't do something stupid out of anger.

He walked upstairs and headed to the balcony above the front gates. Placing his hands on the stone, Draco forced himself to take deep breaths. He was so conflicted now. Should he risk his-and possibly his parents'-life for Hermione? Would it be worth it? And what if Harry Potter was killed at some point? Then Draco and Hermione would die within the first years of Voldemort's reign.

Draco sighed and looked down. It was useless. Hermione could never be his, not now. To be completely honest, Draco believed Voldemort had more of a chance of destroying Harry than the other way around. And that could only mean that Hermione, as Potter's friend as well as a Mudblood, wouldn't live much longer after that. Best to just be completely on the Dark Lord's side, where he would live. A broken heart would heal after a while.

A wet drop on the balcony edge was Draco's first hint that he was crying. And why not? Just because it would heal later didn't mean that his heart wasn't in pain at the moment. That was why Draco was still crying as his father walked onto the balcony, Voldemort having left long ago.

"If the Dark Lord wasn't looking for ways to tear this family down, I might think of punishing you," Lucius said.

"Go ahead," Draco said through gritted teeth. "You've managed to hide it before."

"I need you on my side, Draco."

"Are you sure you want a Muggle-lover on your side?" Draco asked. He still hadn't turned to look at his father yet, so he didn't see Lucius's eyebrows rise.

"Oh, is that what you are now?" Lucius said as calmly as possible.

"It's what you see me as, isn't it?"

"You'll have to forget her, Draco," Lucius said, ignoring Draco's response.

"I love her, father," Draco admitted, his shoulders drooping.

"That's irrelevant," Lucius said bluntly. Draco finally turned around, his eyes still wet, but angry now.

"When is that ever irrelevant?" he demanded.

"You and I both know that Potter has no power to destroy the Dark Lord. The Mudblood will be destroyed along with the rest of Potter's followers. If you show any remorse around the Dark Lord, the rest of your life will be torture. It is best to forget her to protect yourself."

"That's a coward's choice!" Draco shouted.

"That's how you survive under the Dark Lord's rule," Lucius said calmly.

"And what if Potter does it-defeats the Dark Lord?" Draco asked. "Where will we be?"

"Their side is forgiving. Better to be on the Dark Lord's side, where either option will save us," Lucius said simply.

Draco gritted his teeth, but, having lived his entire life with a coward's ideals, this option was the only one that made sense. Besides, it would save him heartbreak if Hermione wasdestroyed by Voldemort. And it most definitely hadn't escaped his notice that Weasley was much more passionate towards Hermione. She would have such an easier life with him, much as it hurt Draco.
So Draco gave in. Hanging his head, he walked away from the balcony, leaving an accomplished Lucius to smile after his son.
------

Hermione had completely forgotten about any romantic relationships since their departure of Bill and Fleur's cottage. There were too many things to think about, and it was utterly ridiculous during such events as a battle.

And yet when Hermione had the simple thought that she could have kissed Ron for thinking of house elves for once, she found her lips suddenly on his. And she wasn't completely sure she didn't like it.

In fact, it almost felt like something she'd been hoping for desperately had come true. And much as she felt like fighting it, liking the feel of Ron's lips-less skilled and less delicate than Draco's-was fighting harder. By the time they parted, Hermione hadn't a bit of guilt about the whole thing.

Hermione, being the logical person she was, however, knew that she had to keep going, and not linger on her feelings. She ran through the Room of Requirement, searching just as hard as she knew Harry was for the Horcrux.

When she heard Malfoy's voice, she thought it was a figment of her imagination, reminding her of the other boy she thought she loved. But when she began to make out words, Hermione remembered that Draco had to be involved in the battle. How could she not have realized that before?

Still, it was a battle. She ignored the conflict beginning in her mind and attacked without hesitation. And after they all-minus Crabbe-had gotten out, Hermione forgot about Malfoy, because, well, there was a Dark Lord to kill.

Draco had, of course, seen Voldemort die. He heard when Harry said that he-Draco Malfoy-had been the true master of the Elder wand. He was the flaw in Voldemort's plan. Draco was partially the reason Voldemort had died. Of course this made him pleased.

Still, it didn't make things any less strange to be sitting in a place where people who were, moments before, his enemies. He kept glancing at Hermione, but she never looked at him. She was constantly talking to Weasley, and it hurt Draco more than he would let himself show.

Lucius noticed Draco's line of sight and whispered, "Did I not tell you it was irrelevant?"

Draco didn't respond, but simply watched Wesley and Granger leave. As safe and accomplished as he was, Draco couldn't help but feel like he'd just lost a part of his soul.

On their way back down from the Headmaster's office with Harry, Hermione asked, "So now that it's all over-what'll we do?"

Harry gave her a tight smile, "That's a good question. I've spent my whole life fighting Voldemort. What am I supposed to do now?"

"Well for one, Harry and I could truly attempt to pass our exams," Ron put in.

"Ronald, you had no excuse not to pass your exams," Hermione chided.

"True…but we've already been through our seventh year, so I'd say we'll do alright now," Ron amended.

"Well, you two can debate what you're going to do, but as for me," Harry said with a sigh, "I've done my worrying. If you don't mind, I think I may just sleep. At least there, I won't have to answer a dozen questions."

So Harry left in the direction of the dormitories, leaving Ron and Hermione alone.

"So, Hermione…there's something I've been waiting to tell you," Ron said after a moment.

"Yes?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"You know how we kissed during the battle?"

"Of course, Ronald," Hermione said with a fond smile, remembering those lips again.

"Well, do you remember that book Fred and George got me this summer?"

"Yes," Hermione said, becoming suspicious.

"And, um, were you still wearing that perfume I gave you during the summer?"

"Get to the point, Ronald," Hermione said, exasperated.

"Well, you might not want to wear that perfume anymore." Ron seemed a little squeamish now.

"And why's that?"

"Erm, well…the kiss may have been a bit encouraged…by a special…potion," Ron stammered.

Hermione bristled. "What potion would that be, exactly?"

"Well, Fred and George had just gotten a special shipment because their love potions were becoming so popular-"

"You put a love potion in my perfume?" Hermione wasn't sure herself whether she was screaming or just shouting. In any event, she caused Ron to back away in fear. "Ronald Weasley do you have any idea how dangerous that could have been with a war situation?"

"Not quite-"

Hermione gasped as a sudden thought struck her. "Draco!"

"Draco?" Ron called after her, as if he'd misheard.

But Hermione ignored him. She raced back to the Great Hall, seeking the only person she had every truly loved in her life.

"Come, Draco, we aren't wanted in this place." Lucius said finally, and Draco nodded, standing up. He and his mother followed his father to the Entrance Hall. Lucius had just put his hand on the doors when a shout rang out from behind them.

"Draco, wait!"

Draco, who had recognized the voice instantly, turned just as Hermione ran into him. Without hesitating, she grabbed him by his robes, and shoved him down until his lips collided with hers. A dozen things ran through Draco's mind, but he shoved them away and simply put his arms around Hermione, taking in the kiss for all it was worth. Merlin, had he craved a moment like this.

The moment was ruined, however, by a spell from Lucius. It flung both of them to opposite sides of the hallway, effectively waking Draco back up. He picked himself off the ground, and turned angrily to his equally irritated father.

"Draco, you are coming with us," Lucius hissed.

"I'm not sure which you're more angry about, father," Draco said, bravery appearing in response to Hermione's kiss. "Is it the fact that I was kissing Hermione in front of you, or the fact that she's a Mudblood?"

"We will discuss it at home, Draco," Lucius said pointedly.

"Well, you see, father, I don't really think I want to go home now," Draco said, slowly stepping towards Hermione.

"You will go home, Draco, and you will obey me," Lucius said, gritting his teeth to prevent himself from doing something he knew he would regret.

"Mother, would you kindly remind father of my age?" Draco requested casually, beside the silent Hermione now. "I do believe he's forgotten the laws concerning overage wizards."

Narcissa, to everyone's surprise, did speak to Lucius, though she didn't completely do as Draco had requested. Instead, she said, "Lucius, remember when we had the same situation?"

Here, Draco and Hermione exchanged very confused glances. Two purebloods with the same types of families were in the same situation as a pureblood and a Muggle-born? The idea was absurd. Then again, Draco never asked his parents how and why they had gotten married. He mostly assumed they were forced to marry each other to keep the bloodlines intact.

Lucius, much to his son's surprise, immediately calmed down-something Draco would have never predicted. Now he really wanted to hear the story, but now wasn't the time to push it. Instead, he watched his father take a deep breath and say, "Your mother and I are leaving. You may stay here, and when you decide to come home, we will discuss the matter further. Am I understood?"

"Yes, father," Draco said with a curt nod, barely containing his emotions as he watched his father and mother turn and leave.

When the doors closed behind them, Draco's shoulders tensed up, and he began muttering under his breath, but all Hermione caught was, "…not irrelevant now…"

"Draco," Hermione whispered, gently touching his arm. Draco immediately relaxed and slowly turned around.

His face was expressionless, as he said, "Well, Granger, we seem to find ourselves alone, with the mild approval of my parents. Whatever shall we do?"

"Firstly," Hermione said with a small grin, "You can stop calling me Granger. And secondly…"

Hermione took Draco's hands in hers, and used them as her supports as she rose on her toes to kiss him once more. For once, there were no irate parents and no guilty consciences to interrupt the pure bliss they were feeling. They could finally let themselves pour out their bottled emotions to each other. By the time they were forced to come up for air-Hermione angry at her lungs for it-her arms had wound themselves around the back of Draco's neck, her fingers twined in his hair, and Draco's hands were placed gently but firmly on her arching back, locking her body close to his.

Hermione's eyes slowly opened and locked onto Draco's. She grinned, and before she could stop herself, she started laughing quietly. Draco followed suit, so that both were laughing for no immediate reason. Hermione's mind-ever logical-told her that it was because the idea of them kissing each other in that way had always seemed insane, no matter what they felt. To have it actually happen was ridiculous-almost a miracle.

Draco, mid-laugh, asked, "So, why now?"

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked.

"I just wanted to know why you chose the moment I was about to leave to…declare your intentions," Draco clarified with a grin.

Hermione probably could have come up with a witty remark in response, but anger at Ron came back to her, and she took a step away from Draco, who dropped his hands at his sides.

"Did I say something wrong?" Draco asked.

"No, it's just-I'm furious at Ron," Hermione said

Draco suddenly got a hurt look. Slowly and pathetically, he said, "So this was just to get back at him?"

"No, no, of course not," Hermione said quickly, taking Draco's hands again, attempting to explain with her eyes. "The moronic git thought a love potion was the best way to win over a girl's affections-in the middle of a war."

"He thought what?" Draco growled. He dropped Hermione's hands, his own hands forming into fists, his jaw tightening.

Hermione immediately jumped to diffuse Draco's anger. She grabbed his wrist, put his fist to her lips, kissed it, and said, "Clam down. We both know Ron's not the smartest person in the world."

"Of course," Draco said, his fist relaxing as he traced her lips with his thumb, "because that's you."

Draco's fingers, completely out of the fist now, slid to Hermione's cheek. Her hand covered his, and followed the motion of Draco's thumb as it stroked her cheek. Hermione wasn't completely sure whether she was going to continue the conversation or just stand like that, staring into Draco's eyes. She would never know, because Harry's voice broke through the trance both of them had gotten into.

"Hermione?" he asked.

Hermione jumped like she'd been burned, and a glance at Draco, who was blinking as if he'd just woken up, told her that he was equally surprised.

"Harry, I-I thought you were going to the dor-"

"I couldn't sleep," Harry explained shortly.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Draco demanded. Hermione put her hand on his arm, which Harry most definitely noticed.

"Me? And what about the way you've talked to her all these years?" Harry said. "How long has this been going on, anyway?"

"Er…well…" Hermione wasn't completely sure how long it had been going on. "The Yule Ball?"

"Fourth year?" Harry's eyebrows shot up.

"Oh, Harry, it's all very complicated," Hermione said glancing at Draco. Harry held up a hand before she could continue.

"I'll ask you about it later," he said. "See you in the common room. Oh, and good luck telling Ron." With that, Harry walked away, his eyes lingering suspiciously to Draco.

"I want to be there when you tell Weasly," Draco said immediately after Harry left.

"No," Hermione said simply.

"And why not?" Draco demanded.

"That would only end in disaster," Hermione sighed. "You would say something to provoke Ron, and then he'd start a fight. The castle doesn't need any more destruction. I'll just tell him, and he'll have to accept it."

"And why do you say that?" Draco asked.

"Because I've finally gotten you-and no one, especially not a moronic git, is going to take you away from me again," Hermione said, again stepping close to Draco.

"I love you," Draco said with a grin.
"I love you, too," Hermione replied immediately, grabbing Draco's robes again as she stretched to kiss him.

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