I can feel Dobby turn on the spot next to me but I don't expect it to work, at least I don't expect it to bring me with them, but it does. I am disapparated away with my eyes locked with Cookie and Draco's. When we hit solid ground and the smell of a salty sea hits me, I smile for a brief second realizing Draco must have terminated the contract.
"Dobby!" Harry screams from somewhere to my left and before I black out I catch a glimpse of a bloody elf.
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I lie awake for a moment but don't open my eyes. I could feel someone dabbing my forehead with a damp cloth obviously trying to be gentle yet failing at this immensely. My eyes fluttered open to be greeted by the overly beautiful face of Fleur Delacour.
Fleur Weasley, I remind myself.
"Ah you est awake now." She says, her english getting better however still annoying.
"How long have I been out?" I ask sitting up a little but when I get light headed I lie back down.
"Only a 'our or so." She replies. She sits back and leans against a glass table that was behind her. I move around and find myself on a couch with little space and energy to move. "The house elf that arrived with you, Dobby, he-"
"I know." I interrupt her. I had seen Bellatrix throw the knife at us as we disapparated while Cookie stared at us horrified and Draco looking as if he was scared for me again. When we had arrived before I fainted, I saw the little house elf fall into Harry's arms. "Where is Harry?" I ask, knowing how much he loved Dobby and how close he was to the elf.
"Outside digging a grave." Fleur said, she stood up and placed the cloth on my forehead before walking towards an open door that seemed to lead into a kitchen. I didn't question why Harry wasn't using his wand to create a grave, he knew Dobby the best and he knows what Dobby would have wanted.
_____________________________________
"We should close his eyes." Luna says from beside me as we walk towards Harry, Ron, and Dean. They are all covered in dirt from digging the grave but I don't comment on it only focus on getting up the hill with the little strength I have left. I meet Harry's worried and dejected eyes but look away after a moment, instead I begin messing with the hem of my gown that was too long and for someone skinner than me. Ron moves towards me to help me stand up but I shift towards Dean as he does.
"There." Luna says, I look up to see her fingers lingering on Dobby's now closed eyes. "Now he could be sleeping."
Harry places Dobby in the grave and a few people said something. Luna's little speech summoned up what most of us were feeling, I was thinking of something to say to the elf, feeling I was obliged to with the S.T.E.W. program and being so close to Cookie. Before I could think of intelligent words to say Harry speaks up.
"Good-bye Dobby." Harry said and after the words ended Bill raised his wand and the pile of dirt filled the grave in.
"D'you mind if I stay here a moment?" Harry asks quietly. Everyone murmurs something different and leave him there. Ron and Dean walk on each side of me and when Ron tries to take my hand I yank it away and walk slower so that I walked behind everyone and watched them walk into the house. Before I followed them inside I turn around and see Harry still kneeling over the grave. My heart aches at his pain and I wish I could take it away but I knew Harry had more experience than I did at loosing people and that he would be ok. Watching him care for Dobby so much made me miss talking to Cookie in the kitchen before I began eating meals with Draco in the dinning room and library.
I hurry inside, not allowing myself to think too much about missing the manor. I couldn't break down in front of Harry and Ron without them getting suspicious about what went on in the Manor. Their forever growing trust in my strength made them forget to ask their many questions about the events in the Manor.
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"I need you two as well!" Harry calls to Ron and I when he notices us standing in two separate doorways listening in on his conversation with Bill. "How are you?' He asked me as I walked up to him. I smiled but didn't know how to answer in a way to make him understand.
I was weak, and tired but I mostly missed Draco. I missed bickering with him, sleeping beside him, reading and eating with him. With my whole being I missed him. It was beginning to scare me how much I missed him and noticed his absence.
"You were amazing 'mione." Harry said, not seeing my flinch. "You couldn't even imagine how worried I was about you the whole time you were gone. To have you back for only a moment and then Bellatrix takes you and... I am just glad your back Hermione. You are so strong." He stepped forward and engulfed me in a hug. "Ron was just as broken up as I was." Harry whispers in my ear.
"He broke his chance of anything between us when he left Harry, you know that just as well as I do." I whisper back and then let go of him.
"What are we doing now, Harry?" Ron asks, oblivious to Harry and I's conversation.
"You'll see. Come on."
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Griphook gave a nasty laugh.
"But it is, it is about precisely about that! As the Dark Lord becomes ever more powerful, your race is yet still more firmly above mine! Gringotts falls under Wizarding rule, house-elves are slaughtered and who amongst the wand-carriers protests?"
"We do!" I say, astoundished by how badly the goblin thought of us and how far from the truth he is. "We protest! Wizards are being hunted left and right just like goblins and other magical creatures! I am in as much danger as any goblin or elf Griphook! I am hunted down and put a bounty on my head for no better reason than that I am a mudblood!" I say.
"Don't call yourself-" I hear Ron begin to mutter. I whip around making him stop mid-sentence.
"Why shouldn't I? Mudblood means someone who is muggle-born, someone with no magical parents! Someone like me! Why shouldn't I be mudblood and proud? I've proven my magical abilities! I've spilled my own blood on pureblood floor and proven it is no dirtier than theirs!" I turn towards Griphook and pull my gown down a touch so they could see my scar around my neck from Bellatrix's knife. "I've no higher position under this new order than you have, Griphook! It was me they chose to torture back at Draco's'!"
The goblin gazed at me with curiosity, like I was a little girl saying big words. The nerve of him.
"What do you seek within the Lestranges' vault?" He asks, ignoring his original statement.
________________
"Cookie. Leave." I whisper the moment I take my gaze off of the spot Hermione disappeared at. She doesn't reply, only disapparates away tears streaming down her face due to the loss of her brother.
"No." Bellatrix whispers. "We are all doomed. He will be mad... very mad." She turns to me and smiles. "You will protect us Draco! He won't hurt you! Dear Draco you can-"
"Leave my son out of this Bella!" My mother yells striding towards me and stepping between us. "This is your fault not his. We did not call the Dark Lord you did, Draco has no obligation to protect you from your own mistake. Draco did nothing to-"
"Mother go upstairs." I say, standing up straight and replacing my dejected look with my expressionless mask. "Now." Luckily she doesn't question it because she disapparates on the spot like Cookie had. Seconds later Voldemort comes striding in, his head held high and a smirk playing on his lips while his wand was at his side.
"Where is the boy?" He asks looking around at all of us.
"My lord he-" Bellatrix begins, not looking into his eyes
"You let him escape." Voledmort states, not needing to ask due to her fearful expression. His voice was low and threatening, much scarier than when he yelled. Bellatrix and my father both took a step back at the same time, but my aunt was the first to recover. She bowed low to the ground, she was a very flexible women and her nose could have touched the ground.
"My lord he had back up coming to get him that we did not know of."
"Were these aurors? Was this back up part of their precious Order Bella?" Voldemort hissed. His eyes flicked towards me and when I felt him try to evade my mind I showed fast pictures of Dobby dropping the chandelier and apparating away with all of our prisoners. The faster I showed him the pictures the less emotion he could sense from me. The only emotion he seemed to find was adrenaline. "I see." He hissed again, looking away from me, his slit eyes blazing with anger.
"So you let a pathetic house elf take him away? You were almost killed because of a house elf. A house elf took Potter away. A house elf could be the reason we LOSE!" Voldemort roars sending things flying and cursing every snatchers that runs in to see whats wrong.
He breaks all the windows with one blow off his wand. Bellatrix frantically shoves Lucius in front of her and she scurries towards the door and vanishes. Voldemort sends killing curses towards practically everyone in the room, killing almost everyone. Nothing touches me though. Everything barely misses me. No broken glass touches me, no curses come close to me and none of the now dead bodies even roll near me.
When Voldemort is finally finished, Bellatrix and Greyback had vanished and my father was on his knees, arms straight in front of him as he groveled at Voldemort's feet.
"Stand up Malfoy." Voldemort spat. Father scurried to his feet looking to the floor as to not meet the Dark Lord's gaze. "Draco, come."
"Yes My Lord?" I ask cautiously but hiding most of my fear to not seem weak in his presence. Again I could feel the horcrux become stronger as its master got closer. The souls needed to be put back together to feel complete, of course Voldemort would never willingly go through that pain. I allow the horcrux to take some control so that Voldemort would not change his mind about treating me better than a piece of dirt.
"Where does the fault of the situation lay Draco? I trust you remember the scene clearer than you have shown me. Tell me, does your father have the fault?"
I took a moment to think about it. Really the fault fell to me because I knew who the prisoners were, but I was not about to say that.
"The fault falls to two of those present at the incident My Lord. Bellatrix stalled by questioning the Mudblood and Lucius stalled by wanting credit in capturing. This resulted in Potter being able to somehow contact the House elf and escape. Both are to be punished." I said practically in monotone. I had already let the horcrux take a lot over and I felt that I could care less wether the Dark Lord tortured my father and aunt.
"I see. Bellatrix." Voldemort spoke just above a whisper when he said my aunts name and she immediately came into the room, walking as she bowed. The moment she reached Lucius's side, I knew they understood what was happening.
"Crucio."
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"Is it true?" Harry looks at me expectantly. "was the sword stolen by Gryffindor?"
"I don't know" I admit. I had read up on the history of goblins when studying for S.T.E.W. but there was considerably less history between goblins and wizards compared to any other magical creature. I was suspicious but at the time I was more focused on House Elves. "Wizarding history often skates over what the wizards have done to other magical races, but there's no account that I know of that says Gryffinodr stole the sword." I hide my annoyance that Harry hasn't read up on his houses history, especially if he was going to be bias about it.
"It'll be one of those Goblin stories," Ron pipes up, he seemed to be cryptical and annoyed too, but about something different than I was. "about how the wizards are always trying to get one over them. I suppose we should think ourselves lucky he hasn't asked for one of our wands." I was about to retort about how nasty Ron was being. I saw no reason as to why other magical creatures did not deserve wands if they could control them! Ron was being ignorant and thinking himself above others again. Was that not how this war started?
"How's this? We tell Griphook we need the sword until we get inside the vault, and then he can have it. There's a fake in there, isn't there? We switch them and give him the fake." Ron looked quite smug about his declaration, like that solved all of our problems. "Any better ideas 'mione." Without pausing to hear me out he continued smirking. "Thought not."
"Ronald!" I exclaimed giving him a look that made him back down and hunch over, giving up his superior look. "That is despicable!You want to double cross the poor goblin and-"
"Poor goblin?" Ron asked. "Goblin's aren't exactly fluffy little bunnies Hermione. They can fight just as well us Wizards and they can fight bloody dirty to."
"Arguing about whose race is superior and more powerful is not going to help. Wizards thinking themselves above others is how this war started in the first place Ron, or do you wish to start another war later on? Harry you can't possibly agree with double crossing Griphook! He is willing to risk his life for us like all other creatures on the light side!"
"We'll tell him he can have the sword after he's helped us get into the vault- but we'll be careful to avoid telling him exactly when he can have it."
Ron grins like he won the argument and got what he wanted. "Brilliant!"
"Let's go speak with him." Harry says before I could get a word in.
I missed Draco and the Manor so much. I had lost people before, and many have left, but never had I felt the loss of them this much. Never would I abandon Harry like Ron did, but it had seemed so much easier without Ron here.
_________________
Lupin came and left with wonderful news. Harry was so happy and busy talking to Bill that he did not see, nor attempt to rescuse me, when Ron took my arm and led me outside. He hushed me when I tried to object, even going as far as to put a silencing charm on me. He lifted it when we were near the shore.
"Hermione we need to talk." Ron said.
"I have nothing to say to you Ronald."
"Come on Hermione honestly the moment I left I wanted to return truly I did! I was going to but I ran into snatchers and just barely escaped! I came home to heal and-"
"Oh so it took you months to heal did it? Did mommy heal you back to health?" I asked, sarcasm dripping from my voice. I glare at him with my arms crossed tightly to my chest.
He takes a step forward and I take a step back. "Please 'mione forgive me. I was just as worried about you as Harry was when I found out you were captured. I planned day and night, not sleeping. The plan went smoothly if I might say so myself. I can't even tell you how mad I was when I found out the ferret took you. The only problem we had with our plan was I wasn't able to kill Malfoy before we left." I wasn't planning on replying to anything Ron referred too, instead giving him the silent treatments. Yet the comment on Draco's life set me over the edge quickly.
I rush forward and him mistaking my actions opened his arms as if to hug me. Instead I launched myself forward and started punching every inch of him. He complained but didn't move to let me calm down.
"You- Complete- Arse- Ronald- Weasley!" I scream at the top of my lungs. I step back and point my wand at him. "Just because you bloody helped Harry find me does not mean that you are forgiven Ronald!" He backs up and puts his hands up, but I don't waver. "You left us Ron! Left me! I came running after you! I called you! I begged you to come back! And what did you do to prove your true feelings for me? You left like the selfish, ignorant, arse you are!" Tears were forming in my eyes but I whipped them with my free hand. No more of my tears will fall at his doing.
"I'm sorry I really am-"
"Oh you're sorry! Harry told me all about how he went to get you! You did't come back! Harry went to get you because he was alone! Alone because you left!"
"You weren't there-"
"I risked my life for him! I left to protect him! I was with Dra- Malfoy while he was alone! Never did I not think and hope that he was ok! You left, you left both of us and you can never change that! You can never repair what you did to me Ron! I loved you Ron and you left me because we weren't living up to your expectations! You left and didn't return! You left and broke my heart and you can never have it back!"
"But I wanted to!"
"You didn't though! Months I waited. Months I disagreed with Harry, still believing you would return, until I gave up." My voice slowly calmed as I lowered my wand. I felt defeated and weak, my past strength of yelling at Ron leaving me. "I gave up any hope that you would return because I knew you wouldn't. I stopped wishing you would some how find us and take me in your arms like I always wanted you to. I ended my love for you and moved on, not planning to ever go back. You never showed equal feelings to me and that made it easier. Whatever was going to happen in the future between us Ronald, its over. We are friends and that is it. I do not plan on forgiving you for leaving us when we most needed you, but for Harry's sake I won't curse you each time I see you." When I finish I again whipped my tears and turn around and ran from him back towards the house.
Ron wasn't going to occupy my mind more than necessary. I was going to go to Gringotts destroy the horcrux find the next one, kill nagini, find a way to help Draco, and kill Voldemort.
I just wished Draco could be here to help me with it all.
_____________
As the sunset on Shell Cottage, all of its occupants were unaware of a little figure apparating onto it's grounds beside a stone engraved with the words "Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf". All of them, except one who was on his way to visit the grave like he did each night when he could. As the man saw the figure kneel down and touch the rock, he walked up a gingerly touched the shoulder of the female house elf.
"Excuse me?" Harry asked, making the little house elf jump and stumble over her brothers grave stone.
"Mister Harry Potter!" Cookie exclaimed holding a feeble hand over her heart. "Sir Cookie is sorry to intrude on your house mister Harry Potter!"
"It's fine, it is fine Cookie" Harry said, kneeling down to be the same height as the little elf. He could tell she was a female by her long eye lashes that were wet with tears.
"Oh sir Dobby was right you are as nice! As kind as Mrs. Hermione!" Cookie exclaimed while sitting down on the damp ground next to said elf's grave stone.
"You know Hermione, Cookie?" Harry asked, still confused how this elf seemed to know so many of his friends, especially Hermione when so many of the Hogwarts elves didn't because she was always trying to get them freed.
"Oh yes Mrs. Hermione said I was her friend!" Cookie exclaimed.
"And how do you know my friend Dobby?" At this the little house elf burst into tears, noisy tears just like her brother when he had first met Harry. Yet these tears were not for being treated like an equal, these were tears of pain and lost. Shocked and not knowing what he should do, Harry shushed the house elf in an effort to comfort her.
"Dob- Dobby is Cook-" Again the little house elf wailed, throwing herself on top of the stone next to her.
"Harry?" A voice came from behind Harry making him turn around to see a tired looking Hermione walking up the hill. "Who is- oh!" Hermione rushed forward and sat next to Cookie, scooping her up and placing Cookie in her lap to sooth her. "Shhh Cookie it's alright."
After a few moments where Harry stared curiously at the two, Cookie composed herself and looked to Harry. "Dobby is Cookie's older brother Mister Harry Potter. Cookie has not seen Dobby for six years." Cookie stood up and walked towards Harry before sitting down again.
"Dobby told Cookie all about your kindness Mr. Harry Potter, but never did I believe it would be this nice! Thank you Mr. Harry Potter." Cookie said gesturing towards the stone.
"Oh, uh you are welcome." Harry said still looking very uncomfortable.
"Cookie will go now Mr Harry. Mister Draco will be lonely now that Mrs Hermione can not be there." Cookie then turned away from a shocked Harry to Hermione who was looking very nervous. "Mrs. Hermione, Cookie is free but Cookie would like to serve Mrs. Hermione when she needs something. Mrs. Hermione can call Cookie when she needs Cookie. Mister Draco says you can apparate to Mister Malfoy's Manor too. Mrs Hermione will visit?" Cookie looks at Hermione expectantly.
"Of course Cookie." Hermione smiles at the House Elf, but glances nervously at Harry.
"Cookie is being called. Cookie must leave. Bye Mrs. Hermione. Thank you Mr. Harry Potter." With a bow to both of them, the house elf disappartes away.
Hermione gets up quickly to try to avoid questions from Harry, but he catches her before she can get away. "Hermione, what really happened when you were at the Manor with Malfoy?"