Intertwined destinies - Once a Malfoy, always a Malfoy?

Chapter 34: Failure

«NOTICE TO ALL READERS: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING NOTES, THEY'RE IMPORTANT, THANK YOU.


I'm warning you because I know that many of you miss the opening notes, and therefore ask me to warn you when I've made it clear that I'm not warning you =)

OoOoOo

I'm back again!
And torn between two moods...

The first is joy, happiness and euphoria. Your comments are more and more numerous, very encouraging, touching and funny. I'd like to thank those who have been following me since my thirty-four chapters, as well as all the newcomers who are taking the time to write me what they think. A lot of people tell me that I should write a book, and it's the kind of comment that sends me soaring on my little cloud, even if I come down very quickly each time when I realise that I'm writing about a world that already exists, and that I'm doing nothing more than rehashing the characters. That said, I'd like to thank you for believing that I'm capable of writing a book, it's very touching but a little naive compared to the real talent of some authors... My fiction appeals to teenagers because it tends to make them dream, but that's where it ends.

One day, maybe, I'll write when I'm grown up =) On that day I'll think of all of you, because it's to you that I owe so much encouragement and my beginnings in writing.
THANK YOU

Second, less positive mood: angry. «How's that fic coming along? Hurry up and publish it, you're taking too long, I'm sick of waiting! What are you, sadistic? Hurry up!
That's the kind of comment I get almost every day. And even then, this one is rather more polite than some of the others. So I just wanted to remind you that I'm human, that I have a life, and that I don't spend entire nights working on my fic just to get it done faster. What I can assure you, though, is that I'm working much harder on this fic than on any other assignment a school could give me. My fiction isn't all written in my head in advance, I have to think about it, polish it, reread it, change it, not to mention the frequent lack of inspiration, the bad moods that prevent me from writing...
Yes, it may not seem like it, but writing is almost a sport. It's
just that sometimes the writing gets tiresome, I need a change of scenery, and don't forget that I've been working on this same fic for two years
now, and sometimes, yeah, I get completely bored. But I force myself to turn on my computer and write a sequel. For you guys.
So when I get comments like that, that I'm sadistic, that I'm only thinking of myself, I feel even less like writing...

Well, I hope the message has got through to some of you who may recognise yourself: give me a break. I love writing, but I need it to remain a hobby, not a duty to impatient readers who put pressure on me.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the comments about being impatient and all that. Just turn them around so that they're not derogatory.

I apologise sincerely for this, it's not a great mood to start a new chapter in.
If I tell you that I love you with all my heart, will that make up for it? xD

Thank you so much for the lovely comments.

One last thing, to apologise for taking so long, here are two chapters in one. It's going to be a long read this time: 50 pages words. Twice as long as usual, I think =)

So, am I forgiven?

Oh, how important! As it doesn't take into account volume 7 but still retains the Horcruxes storyline, it's a necessarily modified story that you'll find. Sorry for any inconvenience :S

That's it, I've finished it this time!

Happy reading...»

- Drago-Malefoy-Granger

****

Chapter 34: Failure

A wild howl tore through the post-war silence. Then another, even more painful.
The Queen of the Vampires was circling the black beast. The latter was lying on the ground, dying in a pool of blood. Too absorbed by the unexpected capture of her mother's killer, Leeyame had simply ordered two vampires to prevent the young human from escaping, despite Draco's serious recommendations about the importance of keeping an eye on her.
- I've been waiting for this for centuries...» murmured Leeyame, her eyes redder than ever. I told you, Valric, that your descendants would pay!
A collective roar went up from the excited crowd. Every time she spoke, the child never missed an opportunity to slash the werewolf's skin with her claws. At first, the werewolf resisted the pain without uttering a sound other than insults to the vampire people, but now it was letting out atrocious barks, separated by groans of suffering.
With both hands pressed firmly against her ears so as not to hear anything, and her eyes closed so as not to see anything, Hermione was huddled against a small rock among the hundred or so remaining vampires. The animal's yelps were the most abominable sound she had ever heard. She had been listening to the wolf's wails for over half an hour, dying by claw and tooth. She felt like throwing up. The vampires, on the other hand, seemed to revel in so much suffering, oblivious to Greyback's howls. Even the two vampires who were supposed to be watching her paid her no attention, not wanting to miss a single second of the show.
A new cry of pain arose. Hermione plugged her ears even harder, but it wasn't enough to silence the roars that were still echoing in her head. Merlin, what were they waiting for to finish him off? For him to beg? Greyback would never stoop to that level, no matter how dead he was.
She closed her eyes so fiercely that they ended up hurting and she had to open them. Which she immediately regretted. Hermione closed them again, but the bloody image of the half-dead animal still floated under her eyelids.
- That's enough,» she muttered angrily.
There was no chance of the vampires listening to her, and she preferred to leave rather than try to convince them to put an end to this butchery.
She got to her feet, still taking care not to look in the wolf's direction, and started to make her way. But an icy grip grabbed her wrist.
Oh dear! The vampire seemed to have been keeping an eye on her all the same, and he was rather robust.
- Stay here,» he ordered.
- I don't want to stay!» Hermione protested, tired of no longer being free.
- You've got no choice.
Greyback let out another roar of pain. Hermione instinctively covered her ears and turned on her heels. The vampire reacted immediately and, with the help of his companion, immobilised Hermione in a second. All around them, the others gave them indignant looks, as if the sacrifice deserved respectful silence. This crowd movement must have caught Leeyame's attention, because she addressed them in a calm tone:
- Bring her to me, Treyone,» she said with a smile.
- No!» Hermione objected to the vampire in a whisper.
Obviously, he ignored her advice and she found herself at the Queen's side, along with her victim...
- Do you know that this young woman recently saved my life? she said to her people, placing a friendly hand on their shoulder.
Hermione glanced at the black hand and couldn't help but feel nauseous as she discovered her long fingernails smeared with blood and skin from skinning the beast.
- She pursued three lycans at the risk of her life,» she continued, «in order to save me. I don't care whether she did it out of kindness or out of self-interest. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that human. You owe her gratitude, and I...
Leeyame turned to face Hermione.
- ... And I owe her an apology. For many things. That's why I have the honour of letting you finish my own revenge.
She pointed to Greyback.
- Please,» complained Hermione, who was only half listening, «let me go, I can't stand this torture any longer...
However, the Queen would have none of it, considering her gesture a priceless gift. She pushed her slightly to force her forward, but Hermione froze her entire body.
- I'm going to throw up,» she moaned, plugging her nose. I don't want to vomit! Let go of me!
With a sudden gesture, Hermione freed herself from the Queen's embrace to escape in the opposite direction. But she couldn't get very far with a hundred vampires surrounding her, and she was soon held back by dozens of cold hands. One of them, however, looked strangely familiar to her as it slipped in among the others to take her hand. Hermione felt herself being pulled with force until she found herself pressed against the young vampire's chest. She didn't even bother to look up to confirm that it was Soane, and nestled a little closer to him as she heard him growl at the other vampires. Gradually, Hermione felt all the hands abandon her, docile in the face of Sang-Pur.
- Can't you see she's not well?» exclaimed Soane, creating a stunned silence.
- Soane,» said the Queen calmly, despite the cold tone she adopted. You're interrupting an event in our history, do you realise that?
- I'm sorry, Leeyame,» he replied curtly. I know how important this is to you but...
- To me?» she interrupted, raising her voice. This death isn't just about me! It's important to our people, and it must be important to you too!
- Hermione is what's important to me!
There was a new silence, but this time it was scandalized.
- How dare you!» hissed the Queen, distressed. Choosing this human from your own people!
- I never said anything about choosing,» he corrected.
- Well, I'm talking about it, because it's time for you to choose your priorities!
- My priority is to help the wizards!
Rebellious grunts rose from all sides.
- Aren't all these deaths enough for you, Soane?» intervened one of her black sisters. Look around you, we've fought our own battle!
- And it's far from over! he retorted. Don't you get it? Hermione was right, they attacked us! And not just to settle our ancestral dispute, but to steal the Unicorn Blood! Whether we like it or not, with this attack we've just taken part in the war of the magical world, and the Black Mage won't leave us in peace any more!
- Rubbish!» roared Leeyame, beside herself. That witch put all that into your head!
- All I'm doing is looking around and confirming what she's warned us about so many times!
- I've had enough! Enough is enough! I want you to know that if you go with her, there's no point in coming back...
Hermione was suddenly frightened by Soane's silence, and prayed that he wouldn't abandon her.
- By putting me in such a dilemma, Leeyame,» he said in a hurt voice, «you've just chosen for me.
And with that brutal goodbye, he turned his back on his family, holding Hermione firmly by the hand.
- Soane!» shouted the Queen. Don't do that!
Hermione could clearly hear in his voice the fear of losing the vampire who meant the most to her, as well as the regret of such a turn of events.
Even though Soane tried to remain unmoved by the child's pleas, the speed with which he walked betrayed his desire to get away as quickly as possible from the pain he had left behind.
Despite her horrible feelings of guilt, Hermione inwardly thanked the vampire for staying by her side. She had no one here now, and her friend's support was proving invaluable. As she had expected, it wasn't long before they were transplanted. As her body probably turned to light, her thoughts turned to the vampire hideout. Unicorn Blood... So this was the famous weapon on which Voldemort's life depended? The Forbidden Forest was full of it, though. What was so special and rare about vampires?
The transplaning was very short-lived. Hermione found herself right in front of the entrance to the stone giant and, much to her delight, landed on her feet. She turned to Soane, unsure of what to say. He approached her with a small smile.
- Above all, don't blame yourself,» he said. I'm old enough to make my own decisions and take responsibility for them. So, in case you're about to ask me to go back to my family, I won't.
Hermione smiled back, grateful. But her smile soon disappeared, replaced by the memory of recent events that she had not had time to assimilate. She sank to her knees, her eyes empty.
- You were right, Soane...» she murmured. You were right about him...
- Would you believe me if I told you that I'd rather have been wrong?
Hermione didn't answer.
- How do you know?» she finally asked.
- I read in you a sadness on a scale you've never felt before.
- Oh yes, that's true,» she said neutrally, staring.
- Come on, get up. We've got a world to save, Hermione Granger. You and me, we can do it.
- What about me?» came a familiar voice.
- Orience!» smiled Hermione as she saw the vampiress walking towards them.
The latter reached the young woman and lifted her up with one arm.
- Remember what I told you in the forest, Hermione Granger. Besides, you're not alone; Soane and I are here to help you.
- And what's Leeyame going to tell you?» worried Hermione.
- I'm not going to wait for her to open her eyes before I do something. My people are in danger and I'm going to fight for them, just as you're fighting for yours. We should have listened to you sooner.
- Why did you stop me here, anyway?» Soane asked Hermione.
- What are you talking about?
- Well, you're the one who asked me to come to the lair while we were moving!
- No, I didn't,» she exclaimed. I was just thinking about... Oh wait, did you read my mind?
- No, not really. But when we're carrying a passenger and they want to stop in a specific place, we feel it. You had the landmark in mind.
Hermione would learn more about vampires every day.
- Were you thinking about Unicorn Blood?
- Yes,» she admitted. Orience, it's very important that you take me there, do you understand? -
Are you really sure that the Unicorn Blood will be safer with you than here?
- You've had proof that your lair is no longer a safe place. I intend to take the weapon, or whatever it is, to the Ministry where those I trust will take charge of it.
- Orience,» encouraged Soane, «we've already made the mistake of not trusting him. Let's take her to the laboratory.
- Yes, agreed. You're probably right,» she admitted.
Hermione felt her stomach untie itself: she was finally going to take possession of what she had come for!
They entered the stone hive, striding forward.
- How do we find him?» Hermione asked. Leeyame is controlling him with her thoughts.
- The laboratory has been standing still since the Lycans left. All we have to do is follow our magic.
In just a few minutes, they found themselves in front of the narrow dark corridor, and Hermione once again felt that strange attraction that drove her forward.
- Let's hurry,» she urged.
Soane bit his wrist lightly and wiped the blood from it against the stone door before uttering the incantation in his dialect. The wall opened onto the laboratory. Hermione returned to the vast jungle and all the experiments and inventions it contained, but did not linger there this time. Without wasting any time, she crossed the long aisle and found herself in the second part of the laboratory, among the test tubes and other scientific equipment. Her heart beat faster and faster as she drew closer to the weapon, because it was the weapon that was really attracting her. This sensation of being called by an invisible force came from the Unicorn Blood, she was sure of it now.
At the far end of the room, Hermione briskly cleared away the huge plants that lined the walls, skinning her fingers over and over again.
- How does she know where it's hidden?» Orience whispered to her brother in amazement.
- Don't look at me like that, I'm not the one who told her!» he defended himself, just as astonished.
- I can feel it,» Hermione said simply, continuing to pull the thorny stems from the stone wall.
When the wall was sufficiently clear, the young woman smiled. Embedded in the wall, a square of transparent rock revealed the majestic shape of a triangular cup.
- Open it for me,» Hermione ordered without taking her eyes off the object.
Intrigued by the young woman's obsessive behaviour, Soane nevertheless obeyed. He bit his already scarred wrist a second time and pressed it against the crystalline stone, then spoke his language. The square disappeared like a mirage, and Hermione took hold of the beautiful golden cup whose triangular rim was adorned with blue jewels. Inside lay the thick, silvery liquid that was Unicorn Blood.
- I'll take it,» Orience offered, giving Hermione a worried look.
The latter seemed to come to her senses as the vampiress carefully took the object from her hands.
- Let's go,» said Soane.
As the two vampires made their way back, they had to stop a few metres further on to wait for Hermione. In fact, she wasn't following them, but, with her nose in the plants, seemed to be looking for something.
- May I ask why you're searching our laboratory?» ventured Soane.
Hermione looked up at them, embarrassed.
- Because...» she hesitated, «I think my necklace is here.
Soane and Orience exchanged a confused look.
- Now, don't get upset,» Hermione explained, «but I think one of you stole my necklace from my hut. I know it's an unfounded accusation, but I'm certain it was Leeyame who ordered it.
- What would Leeyame want with a piece of jewellery?» asked Soane, taken aback.
- It's not just any necklace,» she said. The pendant is a Bulborbus heart, which is very dear to me.
The two vampires froze in surprise.
- I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Soane,» apologised Hermione, who remembered playing innocent when he had spoken of the «incredible characteristics» of the plant a few days earlier.
While he remained petrified with horror, Orience spoke up:
«Your other half is Draco Malfoy, I presume?
Hermione nodded sadly.
- And I thought I'd had my chance,» Soane gasped in bewilderment. Soul mates! There was one chance in a billion and it had to be you!
- That's enough, Soane,» his sister cut him off sharply. You can moan about your fate later, there are more urgent things, it seems.
She had said this with worrying seriousness, and Hermione questioned her with her eyes, not understanding what this revelation meant.
- Your attraction to Unicorn Blood is no longer so surprising,» she murmured thoughtfully.
- What's that got to do with it?» Hermione said impatiently.
Orience glanced at his brother, then inhaled before declaring:
- It's not us who have your necklace, it's Voldemort, I'm afraid...
- I don't understand,» she said, trying to push away the memory that Draco had recently searched her bag.
- As you might expect, this is not just the creature's blood,» she said, pointing to the cup, «but the result of an experiment by my people. The creator is called Naoken, an old vampire who was once a friend of Leeyame. He left the clan when he became aware of the powers of his creation, which he believed would make sorcerers greedy and want to get their hands on it. The Queen refused to pay any attention to this danger, all too happy to finally have an invention that would make our people proud, and kept the Unicorn Blood here, while Naoken left the clan, which he now considered to be a target for wizards.
- He's always been scared to death of the Ministry,» commented Soane. You should see what they did to his ancestors, too!
- But what has he created that's so terrifying?» asked Hermione.
Orience plunged his green eyes intensely into those of the young woman, then answered in a deep voice:
- He created the one and only way to be able to touch a Bulborbus heart...
Hermione almost collapsed under the news. However, despite her best efforts, she found it hard to think and make the links between everything. Orience helped her:
«No one knows how Naoken managed to alter the characteristics of such pure blood, but he's using it as a means of taking what was previously untouchable, except by the kindred spirits in question. This blood will not allow you to remove a heart from the plant - only two complementary people can do that - but it will allow you to seize an existing heart.
- The only recognised Bulborbus heart is in Greece,» Soane explained. With this power at your disposal, you'll be able to seize what is worth millions of gallons in your country. This is what Naoken was warning us against: «Humans are money-hungry, they'll come and steal from us», he kept saying.
- And he was right, apparently,» said Orience.
- No,» contradicted Hermione, gradually putting the pieces of the jigsaw back together. Voldemort never had any interest in money, and never will. -
In that case,» said Soane, frowning, «what could he possibly do with a Bulborbus
heart? Give it to his mother?
- Think instead of talking nonsense,» snapped Orience. We need to know what the Dark Lord is up to if we're to stand a chance of beating him. As long as we have this cup, he won't be able to achieve his goal, because all magic is impossible on the heart of this plant. The only way to get it is to take it, which is impossible without this power. What do you think, Hermione Granger?
She didn't seem to be listening, lost in thought.
- Indestructible and eternal...» she murmured, remembering Professor Chourave's words. Everything makes sense! Yes, it's all connected now! What are Voldemort's wildest desires? Eternity and invincibility! Two characteristics possessed by the heart of Bulborbus! It's obvious, he wants to make a Horcrux out of it!
Hermione had shouted. The two vampires looked at her with round, impressed eyes. The young woman, for her part, was torn between two feelings: the immense joy of having finally put the whole jigsaw together, and the dreadful fear that these revelations brought.
- He's already split his soul six ways,» she announced, thinking again. Why would he need a new Horcrux? Of course, the diary and the ring have already been destroyed, but there's still time. Unless, of course... Unless he realised that his other lives were no longer safe? Yes, that's probably it! Voldemort must have understood the plans that Dumbledore entrusted to Harry before his death, namely the hunt for Horcruxes. We wanted to keep quiet and not say anything to the Ministry, as the Headmaster had recommended. But, if the Ministry of Magic had no idea what it was about, Voldemort must surely have made the connection with the recent disappearance of the ring last year. I don't know how he knew I was holding a Bulborbus heart, but one thing's for sure: if he gets his hands on it, my necklace will become part of the Black Mage's soul. A seventh soul, this time impossible to destroy...
Hermione looked up at her friends and, once again, they watched her fidgeting, uncertain.
- Well,» exclaimed Soane, clapping his hands, «I didn't follow everything, but I got the gist of it: kick Snakeface's arse before he gets his hands on the necklace!
- We've got the cup,» insisted Orience. The necklace will be useless to him without it.
- Yes,» agreed Hermione. That gives us a bit of time to come up with a plan. I need to see Harry urgently. Is it possible to transplant to England?
- Of course,» smiled Orience. Take my hand and hang on, we'll only be a few minutes.
Hermione cast an immobility spell on the Unicorn Blood to prevent the liquid from spilling, then took Orience's outstretched hand.

At last, she was leaving the world of vampires behind her...
At last, she would be able to shout «shit» without risking being bitten for lack of politeness.

***

London.

As her knees hit the concrete, the blinding light of day forced her to hide her eyes for a moment. Two cries of pain sounded behind her, and Hermione turned around. Squinting her eyes to get used to the brightness, she made out two figures moving about. She joined them a few seconds later in a small shady alley where they had taken refuge.
- Are you all right?» she asked.
Soane and Orience turned their burnt faces towards her as she held back a cry of fright.
- I'd completely forgotten it was daytime here!» Soane grumbled as he watched his arms slowly heal.
Hermione too watched as their skin healed itself and their faces regained their beauty.
- Wait, I'll be right back,» she said as she dashed down the main avenue.
Indeed, a few moments later, Hermione was back with two black capes under her arm, which she hurriedly tossed to them.
- Put these on.
- Where did these come from?» asked Soane as she did so.
- I've just killed two Death Eaters,» she replied, perfectly serene.
- Right now? Just like that?
- Yes, just like that. The streets are crawling with Death Eaters, that's to be expected. But they're just evil wizards, for the most part.
- You haven't been seen, have you?» worried Orience.
- No, but if we stay here, it won't be long before we are.
Once they were hooded, the two vampires could safely emerge from the shadows.
- Look,» Hermione whispered, motioning for them to come closer.
Orience walked along the wall and glanced at the large, silent street: wizards dressed in black were walking quickly, wands out.
The Death Eaters had taken over London. They seemed to make up the population now, as there was no sign of anyone living there other than these hooded men.
- By Moana!» swore Soane. You weren't joking about the end of the world, were you?
- Where have all the wizards gone?» murmured Hermione, crestfallen. What have they done to them?
- I think they're hiding,» Orience reassured her. There's nothing better to do at the moment: they seem to be relentlessly hunted down by those in charge of capturing resistance fighters, like all these people, for example.
- Yes,» she agreed. Especially as Voldemort uses magic to detect any transplants. We'll have to avoid using my magic, it's more prudent. Your transplaning, on the other hand, is certainly safe.
- There's one coming this way! warned Soane who was looking across the street. We'd better get out of here!
Without further ado, Orience grabbed Hermione's wrist and pulled the cup a little tighter against her chest, and the three of them set off. The young woman thought about going to the Ministry of Magic to find allies and possibly hide the Unicorn Blood there. As she had expected, the vampiress listened to her thoughts and landed in another sheltered alleyway, not far from the huge building. Just as Hermione was about to rush inside, Soane pressed a hand against her chest, preventing her from taking another step. He stared intently at the large entrance doors. Hermione did the same and, after a few seconds of waiting, saw a group of Death Eaters coming out.
- You've got to be kidding me! They've invaded the Ministry too? It was protected by the best aurors! Bloody hell, all this in just a few days! And to think I wasn't there during the first attack!
- Don't blame yourself,» her friend assured her. Voldemort must have planned his first attack so carefully that I wouldn't be surprised if an unimaginable number of people died. You're much more useful alive, especially as you're thought to be a long way from here.
- Not sure,» Hermione corrected. Before I was trapped, Greyback ordered one of his people to warn Voldemort that I'd been captured, but Draco never brought me back as planned. He must know something's happened and is probably on his guard. I don't know why he's so keen to take me prisoner, but it's got to be something to do with my necklace, I can't think of any other reason.
- Yes, and that's why we're going to have to be careful,» says Soane, looking serious. I bet all the Death Eaters have been ordered to find you.
Hermione shivered slightly. Soane and Orience had the same reflex and put their hands on her shoulders:
«We won't let them,» smiled Orience.
- You'll have to kill us first,» added his brother. And that's far from easy.
- Thank you,» Hermione said sincerely, feeling a rush of courage come over her. I don't know what I'd do without you!
- What you do best,» he replied, «getting into trouble up to your neck!
Then, without warning, Soane stomped off towards the Ministry, having pulled his hood as far back as possible.
- What's he doing?» panicked Hermione.
- Let him,» replied Orience, holding her back.
Hermione watched Soane cross the large central square that led to the building, pass the Death Eaters as one of them, then hide behind the corner of the building. Hermione saw one of the Dark Mage's followers enter the same dead end that led to the back of the Ministry, then Soane emerge a few seconds later, hiding something under his cloak. When he arrived in front of Hermione, he pulled out a new black robe from under his belly and handed it to her.
- This one's on me,» he smiled. We'll be able to move around freely now. What's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?
As Hermione moved away due to temporary nausea, her sister discreetly indicated that she should wipe her mouth.
- Oh, I'm sorry,» he apologised, running his sleeve over his blood-stained lips.
- Where's the body?» asked Orience.
- Er, I left it over there. Was that a bad idea?
- Very bad idea!» she confirmed, giving him a reproachful look. What will they think when they find a bitten corpse, Soane?
- We don't have time to argue,» Hermione interrupted, coming back to them, also now dressed as a Death Eater over her ball gown. We've got to find a hiding place for this bloody cup, and fast! The Ministry isn't the best place, apparently!
- Why not just destroy it?» suggested Orience. I should die for daring to say such a thing about what belongs to my people and makes them great, but if this object is indeed the means for Voldemort to become invincible, it's better to get rid of it and avoid any risk.
- I've already thought about it,» Hermione hesitated. But something tells me it's not the right solution.
- Yes, and that something is the strange link that exists between you and this liquid! she retorted. The attraction you have towards it because you're the owner of a Bulborbus heart surely prevents you from wanting to destroy it.
- No,» Hermione said quickly, shaking her head. That's not the point. I'm just thinking about what this cup represents: it's what Voldemort covets most in the world right now! We're in possession of the object that I'm sure haunts him to this day! The only way for him to rule forever! If we get rid of it, we won't have any advantage over him, any leverage.
- Do you seriously think you can blackmail the most powerful wizard of all time, Hermione?
- He was a man before he was a monster,» she replied. And no man can resist the power of blackmail, especially when it concerns his lifespan. Powerful or not, his magic can't do anything without the cup, so he's on the same level as us for now.
- On the same level as us?» he repeated with a sneer. If I may say so, he does have one small advantage, Hermione: he controls the world!
She was about to reply, but her eyes wandered behind the vampire's shoulder for a moment and her heart skipped a beat. That slightly shrouded figure, that way of walking with a heavy step... Was it possible?
- Hermione, where are you going?» alarmed Orience as the young woman joined a hooded Death Eater waiting near the entrance to the Ministry.
Her eyes sparkling with hope and her heart beating wildly, Hermione made her way towards the man, who pulled his hood a little tighter when he saw her, as if he was desperate to hide his face from her. Wand held firmly under her cloak in case she made a mistake, she leaned against the wall, right next to the Death Eater.
- Neville?» she breathed. Is that you?
The man froze, then raised his head sharply, revealing his face.
- Bloody hell, Hermione!» he whispered, beaming.
The two of them almost embraced, but immediately stopped themselves; it was neither the time nor the place. And yet they were both dying for it.
- It's so good to see you again!» Hermione almost cried.
- Not as good as seeing you again! You've completely disappeared for days!
- Yes, it's a long story! But we can't stay here and talk, it's too risky.
The two of them moved away discreetly, joining the vampires.
- Looks like we had the same idea for a disguise,» she laughed.
- It was Harry's idea,» he said proudly.
- Did he send you here?» she asked, trying to keep her voice calm despite her desire to pester him with questions.
- Yes, he sent me on a mission with Luna.
- Luna Lovegood? Is she here too?
- Hello,» interrupted Orience, followed by her brother.
Neville turned as white as a sheet.
- Well... hello madam,» he stammered.
- This is Orience and Soane,» Hermione introduced quickly, wanting to get back to their conversation. They're vampires and friends who fight alongside me.
- Yes, Harry told me about your secret mission. Have you found the weapon that You-Know-Who needs?
- Later,» she decided. How come Harry told you about my mission? And what are you and Luna doing here with all these Death Eaters?
- We're fighting!» Neville replied sharply. We're here to get the Slytherin Medallion back.
- Hermione choked. You know about... the Horcruxes?
- Yes, Harry told us everything.
- How could he?» she snapped. Dumbledore had expressly forbidden him to tell anyone! He should have...
- Waited for you?» Neville cut her off, his eyebrows furrowing. Should he have waited for you, Hermione? You've been out of touch, and in case you hadn't noticed, war's been declared! Without you and Ron, Harry was on his own and he needed help to put his plan into action. He knows he can count on us, and Luna, Ginny and I were only too happy to help! Anyway, we risk our skins every day by making the choice to resist, so we might as well die helping Harry in his task.
Hermione clenched her jaws, feeling guiltier than ever. She had abandoned her best friend and her priorities for a ministerial mission. However, she wasn't sure anyone else would have managed to discover the secret of the Unicorn Blood and get hold of it, and in that respect her absence was justified.
- Harry was right to call on you,» she finally admitted. Where is he now?
- At Hogwarts.
- Hogwarts?» repeated Hermione in disbelief. But that's where Voldemort is now, isn't it? He's mad!
- He's convinced that one of the Horcruxes is there,» explained Neville. And we haven't got much time left, so he has no choice! He confessed to Luna and me that, despite his long depression, he had never stopped thinking about the Horcruxes and where they might be hidden. Thinking about it all took his mind off Ron and, after your recent visit to his house, he took heart and began to make plans. Then he asked for our help.
- And you say the locket is here at the Ministry?
- All we have are suppositions, but it's impossible to be certain. It's rather long to explain, but Harry's house elf has learned that Mondingus Fletcher had the object in his possession for some time, before selling it to Umbridge. That toad is in his office right now, wearing that same black robe, the robe of the adepts!
Neville breathed heavily, as if trying to control his anger. Hermione understood him; the very name «Umbridge» was enough to provoke a surge of hatred and anger.
- Where's Luna?» Hermione asked.
- She's inside. The idea is that she gets to Umbridge's office without any trouble, then stuns her and steals the locket she wears around her old crone's neck.
- Why aren't you with her to help?
- Harry said we couldn't afford to get caught, that there was too much at stake. One caught is always better than two; if she fails, at least I'll be there to take over. Don't make that face, Hermione! If there's the slightest problem, she sends me the signal that means 'danger of death', and I'm there to intervene. Staying here is just a way of making sure there's always one safe person to carry on if the other one doesn't make it.
- Hermione?» called Orience. Sorry, but we can't stay here, not while we've got this cup with us. If we get caught, we can kiss the Unicorn Blood goodbye.
- Yes, let's go. Let's go to Richard's, there's no risk of them searching a Muggle's house at the moment. But we'll have to move her afterwards, I don't want to get her into trouble. No more questions, Neville.
She took Soane's outstretched hand.
- Oh, by the way,» she said to her friend. If you see Harry before I do, tell him that the Horcruxes are likely to increase to seven!
Neville was about to reply, but his wand suddenly glowed brightly.
- What's wrong with your wand?» asked Hermione.
Neville looked up at her, his panic-stricken face reminding him of the scared boy of his childhood.
- That's the signal,» he said.

***

Without missing a beat, Neville turned on his heels and entered the Ministry of Magic. Hermione set off after him, but Soane held her back firmly.
- We've got our own mission to carry out! We don't have time to be heroes now, Hermione. We've got to get that cup to safety!
- I'm not leaving my friends alone in a Death Eater nest! Luna's in danger! All you've got to do is take the cup and hide it while I pop into the Ministry, all right?
- No, of course not! We're not going to leave you on your own! Say something, Orience!
Orience came to stand beside Hermione and looked at her brother.
- We're here to help him with his task,» she said in her wise voice. Not to take orders for him.
Hermione smiled at Orience before pulling the large black hood down over her head.
- Here we go!» she said, taking a deep breath.
Hermione rushed into the building, followed by Orience.
- Ah, those females!» grunted Soane before reluctantly following suit.

The Ministry was exactly the same as before, the only difference being that the pretty secretaries with their welcoming smiles had been replaced by Goblins, Voldemort's new allies, and that everyone here was wearing the same imposing black toga, which made it easy for Hermione to slip through the crowd.
The hall was crowded with Death Eaters hurrying in and out, files under their arms. The new world of the Dark Lord was underway: the Ministry was no longer a place for helping resistance fighters, but a place for hunting them down. Every wizard here was probably working on the permanent extermination of non-cooperative Bourbe-Bloods, and this was confirmed as they passed the huge white aisle leading to the information offices, once decorated with paintings of important former ministers; in its place was fixed a giant screen taking up the entire width of the wall, on which thousands of wizards' names were inscribed. At the top of the endless lists was the headline: «Impure Bloods, Hide Well, We're Coming...».
Hermione also noticed that many of the names on the lists kept disappearing, making way for new names, in other words, new targets.
- How awful,» she murmured quietly. My name must be in there somewhere.
Then, with a hesitant hand, Orience pointed to the top of the list. The former Gryffindor looked up, then swallowed hard: just below the title, and written almost as large as it, appeared in bold type: Hermione Granger. Next to it, a picture of her was waving.
- Let's get out of here,» she said, her throat tightening. If Umbridge has kept his office, Neville and Luna must be on the fifth floor.
Hermione hurried towards the stairs, the lift being full and too risky anyway. She would have liked to run, but that would look too suspicious, although everyone was hurrying here. With one hand firmly gripping the cup under her cloak and the other firmly holding her wand, Hermione hurried through the fifth-floor corridor, taut as a post. She flung open the door to Umbridge's office, feeling invincible with two vampires as bodyguards.
She was surprised to find four Death Eaters lying on the floor and a large toad dressed all in pink, bound and gagged. Hermione smiled.
- Neville's practice has certainly improved!
She stepped over the lifeless bodies to go and crouch down at the level of Umbridge, who was looking at her with round, astonished eyes. Hermione thrust her wand under his chin, then gently removed the cloth that was preventing him from speaking.
- Shout and I'll kill you, Professor,» Hermione threatened calmly. Is that understood?
The old woman nodded slightly.
- Good,» said Hermione, delighted to dominate this witch who had frightened her so much in the past. The two people who attacked you two minutes ago, did they steal anything from
you?
- You won't be alive for long, my poor girl,» replied Umbridge with a sneer. You should never have come back here.
- You won't last long either, if you don't answer my question.
- It's so unsurprising that your legendary know-it-all pride should lead you to believe that you'll save the world. You're so ridiculous, Miss Granger, urging people to hope, when you know perfectly well that there will be no happy ending for them.
- I call your candy-pink suit ridiculous, I call being chased by centaurs through the forest ridiculous, and I call your habit of hiding under the petticoats of every government department ridiculous. But fighting for your freedom is a goal that will never, ever be called ridiculous. Now answer me this. Were you wearing a medallion just now?
Umbridge just stared at her with her inquisitive little blue eyes, without blinking. Hermione didn't seem in the least affected by his retorts, so she tackled the subject that could never leave her indifferent:
- How does it feel,» the old witch asked with an evil smile, «to find out that you were only loved because it was the Superior's order?
Her reaction apparently had the desired effect; Hermione flinched under the question. Her ears began to ring and her heart felt as if it was gradually losing speed. Orience came to her rescue and pulled her back, while the young woman felt her strength failing her once again. The Superior's orders... This sentence was still echoing loudly in her head. So Draco had pretended to love her at Voldemort's behest? Was it possible that it wasn't purely out of personal vengeance, as he had claimed? But the worst thing was, if Umbridge, who surely meant nothing to the Lord, knew about Draco's game, it meant that his mission had not been a secret to the followers. It meant that Hermione had not been Draco's common doll, but Voldemort's...
Once again shattered by the revelations that were racing through her mind, Hermione let Orience gently pull her away, then watched as she crouched down at Umbridge's level, who immediately lost her smile. She saw the old woman's eyes widen in terror, then her complexion turn as white as the walls. Hermione could easily make out the vampire's face, invisible because it was hidden in the shadow of the hood pulled down over his head, and the two terrifying gleams of blood-red eyes that had taken hold of his gaze. She could also imagine the two canines glinting, and could hear from here the animal growl that paralysed Umbridge. The vampiress remained in the hunting position for a long minute, during which the former teacher stopped breathing completely, dreading being bitten at the slightest movement by this frightening creature. The creature's hand then moved towards its prey's face and rested delicately on its wrinkled cheek, the tips of its nails, now claws, grazing its blue eye, exorbitant with panic.
- Where's the medallion?» asked Orience, whose voice had been reduced to a husky, disquieting sound.
- They... they took it,» Umbridge breathed in a barely audible whisper. The two children took him from me...
Hermione regained her courage and chased away the hurtful and humiliating images that clung to her, pulling her down into the depths of a depression that was never far away.
- It's all right, Orience,» she said, rising to her feet. Neville and Luna escaped with the locket, they made it. That's all I wanted to know, let's go.
The vampiress gently removed her hand from her cheek, digging her nail lightly into the skin. The cut caused Umbridge to cry out in pain, and Hermione quickly stuffed the cloth back into her mouth. She then pointed her wand at the old woman, who was coming to her senses and glaring at Hermione. Her hand trembled and she hesitated.
- I suppose Neville didn't have the courage,» she breathed. Just as I wouldn't have had it before. But I've changed. I no longer hope to see evil become good, and the fewer of you there are, the better off the world will be.
It was then that Orience gently placed her hand on her wand and lowered it with a small smile.
- Never forget the difference between them and you, Hermione Granger. Enough people die like that, don't you think?
Hermione didn't move immediately. Too much anger was still boiling inside her for her to calm down; people like Umbridge were not subject to the new directives, they had chosen to be there because they adhered to Voldemort's ideologies. However, she finally put her wand away.
- We shall prevail,» Hermione informed the old woman with a rueful look. Not today, not tomorrow, and I probably won't even be here when it happens, but we will prevail. We'll win because you won't be able to control the wizards indefinitely through the fear you instil in them. There are far more of them and they are far more gifted in magic than you realise, but you are preventing them from realising this by creating a climate of terror. But one day, when you think you are master of the world, they will wake up and realise what you have done with their freedom. And on that day, dear Dolores, on that day you will regret that I did not kill you in this office, because their vengeance will be far more terrible than a mere horde of centaurs...
Umbridge held her gaze, but it was easy to see that she was reflecting on her last words. Hermione left the study with Orience after casting an illusion spell that made the room look empty, and they both joined Soane who, anxious, had taken the initiative of keeping watch in the corridor.
- Not a moment too soon! I'm telling you that more and more Death Eaters are arriving! I've got a bad feeling about this, I've got a really bad feeling about this, I've got a really bad feeling about this! I told you we shouldn't come!
Hermione smiled.
- If I didn't know you,» she said, «I'd say you were afraid of common wizards, Soane.
- Nonsense!» he defended himself, offended. I'm not afraid of common witches, as you say, but I must admit I'm afraid of a hundred common witches! They're all around us and, despite our strength, I'm not sure we'll come out on top if we're spotted!
- Calm down,» Hermione said positively. All we've got to do is move!
Soane let out a nervous laugh.
- Oh, did I forget to warn you?» he said sarcastically. I tried to climb through that window at the end of the corridor to see if everything was all right outside. All that got me was a bump on the head. You can't transplant from the bloody Ministry!
- Another system stolen from Hogwarts,» Hermione sighed. Well, it doesn't matter, we'll just go back down and leave through the hall, like we came. We've got no choice.
- I've got a bad feeling about this, Her...
- Look out, here comes a group of three Death Eaters,» she cut him off.
Hermione, Orience and Soane lowered their heads slightly and passed the Lord's followers, praying that they wouldn't be noticed.
- I've got a bad feeling about this, Hermione,» whispered Soane when the group was behind them.
- Do you have any other way out?
He grunted something she didn't understand. She quickened her pace and quickly reached the stairs. Once at the bottom of the countless steps, the three of them looked apprehensively at the immense hall populated by Death Eaters. All those black hoods flooding the gigantic galleries were reminiscent of a killer anthill.
- We're in Hippogriff poo,» Soane let out with a desperate sigh.
- Stop panicking or people will notice!» said Hermione, herself trying to calm her heartbeat. All we have to do is...er, cross that black river to get to the doors over there. We've got in, so we can get out. There's no reason for this to go wrong.
- I've got plenty of reasons, if that's what you're missing,» he grumbled.
- Thanks, I'll pass. Now shut up and walk like a natural.
Hermione and the two vampires plunged into the stream of hurried footsteps and capes flying over the ground. She had the impression that each person she passed lingered on her face, but she was already halfway there and no one really seemed to have paid any attention to her, probably too preoccupied with their work. She began to breathe again.
- They pass so many Death Eaters every day that they probably don't pay attention to anything any more,» Hermione said to Soane.
- Don't get carried away,» he replied, barely moving his lips. We're not outside yet.
- Don't worry, I can feel it. I'll tell you when it's time to panic.
Suddenly, all the lists of names displayed on the huge screen seen earlier disappeared. The video of a man then appeared, and his voice echoed throughout the hall, immediately creating a receptive silence.
- Dear faithful,» he announced, as everyone stopped walking to look at the giant screen. One of our own has just been found dead, his body undressed and hidden behind this very building where you are standing.
He paused for a moment, then continued:
- As you can see, there is an intruder, or intruders, hidden amongst you. So I'm going to ask everyone to take off their hoods in the next ten seconds. Kill all those whose faces remain in the shadows after the allotted time. Thank you and good day.
The screen went black again, then the lists appeared again.
- Is there any reason to panic now?» asked Soane.
Hermione looked into the vampire's emerald eyes, then replied wearily: «
Yeah, I think we can officially declare ourselves in the poo now.

***

It was the most abominable ten seconds of her life. Hermione watched the Death Eaters uncover their faces one by one. Soon there would be only three hooded people left, trapped.
Under her cloak, Hermione clutched her wand so tightly that her fingers ached. Should she uncover herself too? Would they notice her in the crowd? Unfortunately, yes, they would with the large photo on the screen showing the name «Hermione Granger». In fact, a female Death Eater standing right next to her was already starting to look at her, probably wondering why she hadn't taken off her hood yet. Hermione felt her heart sorely lacking oxygen, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to think straight. There seemed to be no way out: whether she showed herself or not, she would draw attention to herself either way. The same applied to her vampire friends, who couldn't be mistaken for humans and who, more importantly, would die if they discovered their faces in daylight.
The ten seconds were up; all the Death Eaters were exposed. The woman who had been staring at Hermione spoke up, breaking the silence.
- There!» she said, pointing at her. And those two, too.

All eyes and all wands turned towards them. Hermione felt so ashamed to have led Orience and Soane into such a mess! The light made it impossible for them to move because they would slip their hoods, and they would die because of her. She should have listened to Soane and let Neville carry out his mission like a grown-up, instead of thinking herself useful by jumping into the lion's den with no plan or caution.
- Show yourself or we'll kill you on the spot,» ordered a Death Eater.

A knot blocked his throat, preventing the slightest sound from coming out. It was the end, it seemed, a sad end. All that effort to end up killed at the Ministry of Magic, hit by a hundred avada kedavra at the same time.

Hermione discreetly cast a temporary invisibility spell on the cup. It was all she could do. Then, with trembling hands, she grasped the edges of her hood, ready to pull it down and receive the death spell. She could already see her name and photo disappearing from the big list.
- Whatever happens, you must stay hidden,» Draco's voice whispered in her ear.

Her heart, which until then had stopped beating before its time, jumped painfully in her chest, suddenly awake. She saw a man walk past her, dressed in the same black cloak, his hood still pulled down over his head; but, even with his back to her and masked by his clothing, she could have recognised him in a thousand others.

- The three of them are with me,» he said, addressing the crowd. Put away your wands and get back to work.

The Death Eaters exchanged hesitant glances, not knowing who they were dealing with.

- I'm a senior member of the Ministry,» a man's voice rose and he made his way to the newcomer. And who are you to dare give orders here?
Draco let his hood fall back, and the whole crowd recoiled, followed by bowed heads.
- Mr Malfoy,» greeted the man who had spoken, bowing his head in turn. Forgive my arrogance, I didn't know who you were.
- Get back to work,» Draco repeated simply.
- Certainly, Sir. Nevertheless... it's my duty to check on these intruders. I apologise, I have no choice.

Draco stared at him for a long time, saying nothing. The man seemed to regret his words a little more every second.
- Those three people are vampires,» Draco admitted. They're protecting themselves from the light that would kill them, and that's why they won't show themselves. Just know that they are here to serve our Lord. On the other hand...

Draco gave a bloodcurdling smile.

- ... Since you are so keen to fulfil your duty, I invite you to see for yourself.

The Minister stiffened, then swallowed hard. The tone of the 'invitation' apparently left him no choice, and he walked towards the three figures, cursing himself inwardly. Hermione watched him walk past her, then stop a few inches from Orience. Trembling from head to foot, the man approached the perfectly still creature, whose face, completely hidden in the hood, gave the impression of an infinite and terrifying void. Everyone was staring at him, creating an eerie silence. He poked his head a little further inside the thick black bonnet to discern even one facial feature that would confirm the nature of what was hiding behind this garment, and then felt a hoarse breath brush his cheek. The man didn't realise the danger until it was too late and didn't have time to react. As he stepped back, two glowing sparks came to life a few centimetres from his exorbitant eyes. Two sharp points shot towards him and embedded themselves in the skin of his neck. Blood drained, the body fell to the ground with a thud.

- Is there anyone else here who would like to call me a liar?" said Draco in an authoritative voice.The followers of evil lowered their heads again, bowing to Voldemort's right-hand man.- Please, Mr Malfoy, forgive our disrespect," another Death Eater hastened to say. It won't happen again.- Clean this up," ordered Draco, pointing to the corpse. And in future, just do as you're told.- Absolutely! You won't have to worry about that any more. Get back to work, you lot! Faster than that! You, get that idiot out of here and get those tiles back in order!Draco was already striding across the opposite corridor and Hermione had to run to keep up. Orience and Soane were walking beside him, and the three of them didn't need to communicate to think the same thing: to be on their guard against the dangerous man in front of them.They entered the last office on the right, and Draco closed the door after them.- Expelliarmus!

The young man's wand flew through the air and landed in Hermione's hands.

- You didn't expect that, did you, dear?" she quipped, victorious.- What are you doing?" he said, unarmed.- I'm taking precautions against a Death Eater, which is what I should have done all along. Incarcerem!A long rope sprang from his wand and wrapped itself around Draco, who didn't even try to resist.- Don't be ridiculous, Hermione," he sighed.- Oh, it's not Granger now? she laughed nervously. Do you have many more surprises like that, Malfoy?- Listen to me, you...- No, you listen to me!" she cut him off curtly. I'm completely lost, Draco, all right? Every word out of your mouth is a lie, and I don't even know if you're capable of the truth any more! You hand me over to the wolves and then save me from their clutches, you leave me to the vampires and then come back to save me from the Death Eaters, but what am I, eh? A puppet for you to play with? Do you really think you can pull my strings for much longer?- You're not deducing the right things from what you see," Draco huffed and had to sit down under the threatening stares of the two vampires.- Oh, excuse me!" replied Hermione, beside herself. Excuse me for having a slight doubt as to whether you belong to evil, when I see just now how famous your name and face are in the world of Death Eaters! It's obvious that Voldemort has made you his Second in Command, and that you generate almost as much fear here as he does! So stop taking me for a fool, Draco, and, for once, be honest and dare to tell me that every Death Eater on this earth was unaware that you were playing the Ministry for a fool by pretending to 'come back to help make amends'.

Draco didn't even manage to hold her gaze, as he was so good at doing. Hermione held on to the desk behind her to keep from collapsing.

- I'm not on Voldemort's side," Draco said, raising his blue eyes to hers. You have to believe me.

Hermione shrugged, indifferent.

- I don't care what you ask me to believe now. You may not be on Voldemort's side, but your inability to be honest with me doesn't put you on mine either.She nodded to her two friends and they knew it was time to leave.- Wait, Hermione," Draco said agitatedly. You can't just leave me here!- I think I can, unfortunately," she said as she opened the door. You're lucky I'm not asking an entire vampire nation to stop you escaping.

She threw Draco's wand through the open window, knowing full well that it would not be long before he retrieved it after she had left. It wouldn't be long before he was discovered like this and, when that time came, she hoped she would be long gone.

Draco tried hard to sit up, but Soane grunted and pulled him back down.

- Don't you touch me!" he spat at the vampire. If you had any intelligence at all, you'd know you're making a big mistake letting her come back to London where everyone's looking for her!- My big mistake would be letting her come back to you, you brainless human! She's safe, I'll be there to defend her if need be!- Oh well, that changes everything! I've got nothing to worry about now, have I?" ironised Draco, really annoyed this time.

His eyes turned grey while Soane's turned red. It was time to separate them. Orience led his brother away, while Hermione crouched down to her prisoner's level.

- One last thing," she said. Give me back my necklace that you stole from me. You know, the one you pretended not to know anything about, the one you actually took out of my bag to give to your dear Master?

Draco paled.

- Yes," giggled Hermione. I have much more reason than you think not to trust you. So, where is he?- Listen, untie me and I'll explain everything...- Stop!" she suddenly exclaimed. Stop trying to trick me, Malfoy!- Hermione, keep it down!" recommended Orience, glancing outside.
- It's too late to get anything from me," Hermione whispered nearby, her voice trembling with anger. Now, you tell me where my necklace is.- I don't have it any more, your bloody necklace, all right?- It's in Voldemort's possession, isn't it?- Yes, but why do you care?

Hermione stared at him, stunned. He was certain that Voldemort had not revealed the true nature of Bulborbus's heart to her; he would lose Draco as a loyalist if Draco were to learn that Hermione was his soul mate. But hadn't he told him anything else about her magical characteristics?

- Why do you think he needs that necklace so badly, Draco?- I don't know and I don't really care.- You mean you carried out your mission without even knowing what it was?- You'll learn that Voldemort isn't the kind of nice chap who lets you in on his plans, Hermione," he replied, annoyed by the rope that was tightening around him.- Let's stop dawdling," Orience urged. We've got to get out of here once and for all.

Hermione sighed, then stood up without taking her eyes off Draco. He had rediscovered the personality that had accompanied her for the last three days, and that only confused her even more. Who in Merlin's name was Draco Malfoy, anyway? He was staring at her so insistently that she had to look away to avoid being tempted to believe his innocence once again.

- Goodbye, Malfoy," she said as she turned to leave.- See you soon, Hermione," he murmured.

She closed the office door with a small smile: indeed, it probably wouldn't be long before they saw each other again, because, whatever she did, wherever she was, that man was never far away. It was as if the bond between them went beyond a simple alliance between their two hearts; as if, despite all their efforts to distance themselves, he always managed to bring them back together, like two magnets,

- Come out of your cloud, Hermione, will you?" growled Soane, looking a little ill-tempered. Or you'll get us stuck here again.

She glared at him and the vampire rolled his eyes before pulling back the hood she'd forgotten to put over her head. Her stomach still knotted with stress, Hermione crossed the main hall for the second time. The difference with their previous attempt was indisputable: the Death Eaters faded into the background as they passed, avoiding any contact with what they thought were three vampires and great friends of the Lord himself.

So it was with confident steps that they finally crossed the threshold of this partisan-infested place. Once outside, Hermione felt as if she were breathing fresh air. She grabbed Soane's wrist and ordered him to take her away from here, not feeling safe as long as she was near this cursed place. The vampire obeyed and moved on to Richard's house, where his passenger's mind kept lingering. She couldn't help smiling as she found the red brick house, identical to all the others in the neighbourhood and yet different: it represented the warm home that had welcomed and protected her as she sank into depression. She got rid of her disguise and asked the two vampires to wait outside to avoid having a heart attack, then rushed inside, impatient to find Richard, Jaffrey and even Charlie.

- I'm home!" she exclaimed happily, placing the cup on the small table in the hall. Richard?

Hermione tried in vain to remember today's date, having recently lost all sense of time, to find out whether he was working or not. At last she heard hurried footsteps coming down the stairs.

- Hermione!" shouted Jaffrey as he ran towards her, a big smile on his face.

She took him high in her arms and kissed him hard, realising how much she had missed this little being.

- Where's Dad and Charlie?" asked Hermione.- Charlie, she's...er, there!" he said, pointing sharply up the stairs.- Thanks for swinging," she grumbled as she emerged from her hiding place. What are you doing here? And what's with the dress, are you getting married or what?
- Nice to see you again too," said Hermione as she set the boy down.- What, you really think you've missed me?" she giggled.

Hermione sighed. How could she have expected Charlie to turn into such a lovely teenager in the space of three days?

- Where's your dad?- Oh, do you care now? After being away for days without a word?- Don't tell me it's affected you," retorted Hermione, already stung to the quick.- I didn't, but Dad did! Even if he didn't want to let on.- I've only been away for three days on business, for God's sake! Anyway, I don't want to talk about it with you. Well, where is he?

By way of answer, Charlie slumped down on the sofa and turned on the TV. Caught off guard, 

Hermione didn't even react to such insolence. Then she felt something tug at her trousers at knee level.

- Dad, he's in hospital," Jaffrey breathed, staring at her with his big black eyes.- Jaffey!" cried his sister, leaping up from the sofa.

Jaffrey burst out laughing and ran through the house, Charlie hot on his heels.

- He said he wanted to see you when you got home!" the boy shouted at Hermione without stopping running.
- Shut up, you little monster!" ordered Charlie, breathless in the face of the real mouse that was his brother.

He hid behind a curtain and motioned to Hermione not to say anything, thinking he was out of sight. Charlie dropped back onto the sofa, staring at the TV. His brother laughed and clamped his hand over his mouth.

Hermione approached him but, too excited by the game, Jaffrey ran off to hide somewhere else, laughing endlessly.

- Is Richard in hospital?" Hermione worried, turning to the young girl.- For more information, please consult my idiot brother's information office! she grumbled, betrayed.- So, who's come for me?" called the boy's cheerful voice.- What's happened to him?" insisted Hermione, trying to keep her composure.- Mum would never have abandoned him if she'd known he was ill," replied the teenager, her throat tightening.

Hermione collapsed back onto the sofa.

- It's his heart, isn't it? Has he finally told you?- So, who's coming?" echoed Jaffrey's voice, impatient.- Why did he confide in you instead of me?" exploded the young girl. What's so special about you that he likes you better than me, eh?

Hermione watched her vent her anger with round eyes, finally learning what had been going on in her teenage mind.

- Is that it, Charlie?" she asked softly. Do you really think Richard loves me more than you?- You know very well that's the truth! Why else would he always take your side in arguments? Everything was going so well before you came along and ruined our lives! Dad hadn't loved and protected me as much since Mum died, and then you turned up with all your worries, as if we didn't already have enough! Now I'm the one who looks like the problem teenager here, when in fact the only problem in this family is you!

A dead silence fell. Hermione watched as tears rolled down Charlie's cheeks and she wiped them away angrily. The reasons for all that pent-up hatred and anger inside her were finally making sense to Hermione, and she should have known that it went deeper than simply refusing a new woman in Richard's life; she should have understood that she was also a rival and an obstacle to the love she expected from her father, a love that she surely hoped would fill the love her mother could no longer give her.

- Oh Charlie," Hermione gasped in confusion. Your father loves you so much...- Not as much as you do," she sniffed.- Much more than me," Hermione corrected, moving towards the girl who, to her great relief, didn't move. You know, the night before I left, when the three of us argued about school, Richard never got over it. That night you pretended to be asleep when he came to say good night and that really affected him. You should have seen how he couldn't smile any more, no matter how hard he tried, simply because he couldn't stand you being angry with him. He'd give anything to see you and Jaffrey happy, you're all he's got left.

Charlie looked up at Hermione with moist eyes, and Hermione saw for the first time what his hate-free face looked like. And it turned out to be a handsome face, one that was bound to make boys her age fall for her. Hermione found herself wondering what her mother could look like, if that was where the young girl got those beautiful green eyes from.

- I don't want him to forget Mummy," Charlie admitted in a sad voice.- Look around you," Hermione replied with a smile. Look at all those frames on the wall, all those pictures of you and your mum. Do you see me anywhere? Do you think he would have taken them down after meeting me? No, because you're his life and no one, least of all me, can ever change that.- If you make him happy, then why did he need you in the first place?" she threw out, trying to remain cool despite the obvious change in her adopted tone.
- To be honest," she admitted darkly, "I think your father and I both met at a time in our lives when nothing was going right, when we needed love to ease our pain. For Richard, there was the death of your mother, then his heart problem, and his role as a father that he had to continue to fulfil despite all that. But for me...Hermione bit her cheek, staring into space.- Your friend's death, I know," breathed Charlie. And the break-up with the man you loved.- How do you know?" wondered Hermione, who had only spoken to Richard about it.- I heard you and Dad talking the night you came here. I think that was one of the reasons that made me want to hate you even more; you were bringing grief into a house that already had too much of it.She was silent for a moment, but didn't seem to have finished. Hermione waited and, indeed, the next moment Charlie breathed in before confessing what was obviously tearing her mouth apart:- And yet... Believe it or not, those three days without you were deadly quiet. They reminded me of the period just after Mum left when no one spoke to each other. The worst time of my life, I think.- Are you telling me that you missed our arguments?The teenager shrugged, looking away.
- Maybe so," she finally admitted. Maybe, after all, it wasn't grief you were bringing home, but life...

While Charlie was probably inwardly insulting herself for suddenly being so nice, Hermione had to restrain herself from showing the big smile that burned her lips, so as not to offend her after such a confession.

- Well," she finally said, clearing her throat, "while we're on the subject of confidences, you should know that you too, Charlie, have given me a lot through our frequent fights. I was a desperate wreck, drained of all energy, after the death of Ron, my friend. But you were so harsh and merciless with me that my old temper quickly got the better of me and I felt the need to put you in your place. This will to fight and win has in fact been the driving force behind my courage to carry on in life, and has prevented me from sinking into depression, like my best friend, Harry. Oh, and by the way, Richard didn't confide in me, I discovered the letters from the hospital and forced your father to explain.- Oh..." gasped Charlie, pulling a face. I feel stupid all of a sudden.

They both laughed, then fell silent, embarrassed by a situation they weren't used to; in other words, communicating with something other than wild screams.

- Oh..." gasped Charlie, pulling a face. I feel stupid all of a sudden.

They both laughed, then fell silent, embarrassed by a situation they weren't used to; in other words, communicating with something other than wild screams.

- Just so we're clear, that doesn't mean I like you, does it? added Charlie.- It's perfectly clear!" assured Hermione, knowing full well that neither of them meant a word of it.

It wasn't perfect yet, but a big step had just been taken, and Hermione felt a heavy weight lift off her shoulders... and then fall away abruptly as she stepped out of her family world to remember her mission and the time that was still passing. She leapt to her feet, startling Charlie in the process.

- I've got to go," she declared.- But you've only just arrived!- Jaffrey!" called Hermione, looking behind the curtains and under the table. 'I know Charlie, but I'm putting you in danger by staying here. Jaffrey, come out of hiding!- What are you talking about?" snapped the young girl, following her around. You're abandoning us again, aren't you?

Hermione stopped, then turned to her, looking serious.

- Have you heard about all these strange things that are happening, Charlie? The murders, the disappearances, the weird black men everywhere and everything?- Yeah, it's all over the news. So what if it is?
- So, the mission I've been on for the last three days has to do with these bizarre events. I've got to put a stop to it, do you understand?- Is this the job you haven't told us about? You're some kind of secret agent?- Er, yes. Yes, you could say that.- And I thought you were an uptight old maid! she laughed. But when you spent your days reading, it was really just a cover? Now that's cool.

Hermione forced herself to smile, even though the urge to throw one of her 'spinster books' in her face was getting the better of her. The foundations of this new understanding were still very fragile and now was not the time to destroy them.

- Where's your brother?" she said, trying to change the subject.- Jaff!" shouted Charlie wearily. Get your arse over here!- Wait, Charlie!" Hermione ordered, grabbing his arm, suddenly on guard.- What's the matter?" she asked, letting herself be dragged behind her mother-in-law.

In reply, Hermione cautiously drew her wand. With a wave of her hand, she relieved Charlie of any comment and signalled for him to be quiet. Her heart pounding with anxiety, Hermione slowly climbed the stairs, followed by Charlie. Once upstairs, the former Gryffindor pushed open the bedroom door and entered.

- Jaffrey?" she called, her voice trembling.

Then came a small, muffled laugh. Hermione knelt on the floor to look under the bed. Lifting the excessively long duvet, she discovered the small figure hiding underneath.

- Bloody hell, Jaffrey!" gasped Hermione, breathing again. I was so scared! Come out of there, now.

The boy shook his head sharply.

- No, he said I had to hide!" he said, his big black eyes sparkling with excitement.- Who said that?- The big black man," he whispered, pointing his finger over Hermione's shoulder.

Hermione realised too late and her wand flew out of her hand, unarmed. Hermione turned around apprehensively and was not surprised to find a wand pointed straight at her. Instead, her eyes widened in horror when she saw that the Death Eater had Charlie by the neck. Jaffrey tried to get out, but Hermione pushed him back under the bed.

- Let them go," she begged without thinking. It's me you want.

The Death Eater sneered and Hermione thought she recognised the voice.

- You again?" she spat.

Unmasked, William Dexter pulled down his hood.

- Hasn't your Master killed you yet for failing so many times to capture me?- I'm not here on his orders, Granger.

Still on the ground, Hermione cast discreet glances towards the window, hoping to see Soane and Orience coming to her rescue.

- If you're thinking about your mates with big teeth, they won't be any help to you," William said with a bloodcurdling smile.

Hermione ignored the sudden sight of her lifeless friends outside, and the pain in her gut.

- Voldemort's independent Death Eaters?" she sneered, trying to stall for time. What kind of joke is this? Where is Yaxley, anyway?- I killed him, but thanks for your concern. He was really starting to get on my nerves with his 'I don't know if the Furbloods are all that different after all' and blah blah blah. The fact that this Malfoy dog had fallen in love with an Impure Blood fascinated him more than it revolted him, in fact, and reduced all his certainties to zero. Yet he was the leader of our group in the beginning. It was his idea to join forces without the Lord's knowledge, but he was a man who asked too many questions about right and wrong, and I had to put a stop to it.Hermione remembered Yaxley, the night she had been attacked outside the house; the Death Eater had seemed incapable of killing her, merely staring at her and trying to understand what Draco might like in someone of his kind.

She felt Jaffrey force his way out, but she pushed him away again. He began to whimper:

- But Hermione, I want to be able to play now...- Why did you leave your Master?" she questioned, avoiding Charlie's distraught and misunderstood gaze.
- We haven't really left him, let's just say we're doing him a favour. The day Malfoy reappeared among us, the Master welcomed him back with open arms! I've always been there for the Lord, I've never abandoned him! And he, that son of a bitch, turns up after a year's absence pretending to realise his mistakes, and all is forgiven! But I knew he was lying! He was up to something, that was for sure! Malfoy was not the same as before, you could see it on his face; and if the Lord interpreted it as a desire to redeem himself, I knew otherwise. Yaxley agreed with me, and we tried to warn the Master, to warn him about this liar! All that got us was a series of Doloris.

William's eyes fell on the young woman's neck.

- That's when we discovered you were wearing that thing," he said. This magic pendant. Yaxley saw it one day when he was spying on you, and realised what it meant. Not many people know the truth about a Bulborbus heart, but he did. He explained to me about soul mates and all that. We finally had proof that Malfoy could never be one of us, no matter what he claimed, because he was undeniably linked to you! But the Master wouldn't listen to us, he was far too delighted by the return of his favourite! So we decided to open his eyes ourselves, with Yaxley. If we got rid of you, Malfoy would probably go into a rage and reveal himself, unable to remain indifferent to your death. This has been borne out by the times they've tried to kill you! The willpower and strength with which he protected you couldn't lie about his feelings. He quickly understood who we were and our ultimate goal, and never let you out of his sight after that.

William let out a cold laugh.

- There was a time when I respected that boy so much. He was the promise of a great future alongside our good Master. But you ruined everything, you destroyed him and now I have to stop him from harming the new order that the Dark Lord wants to establish.- I may surprise you," Hermione retorted angrily, "but your dear Voldemort knows a lot more about my bond with Malfoy than you think.- That's impossible," said William, who refused to believe it. He would never have made the mistake of forgiving Malfoy knowing he was linked to you and therefore liable to betrayal!- Just because I'm Malfoy's soul mate doesn't mean he doesn't hate me, as you seem to think. I've hurt him in the past to a point where the desire for revenge can be far stronger than love.- Nothing, Granger, is stronger than two kindred spirits coming together, nothing. As someone who loves books so much, you should know this: any feeling of revenge, malice or hatred is clearly and definitively impossible towards your other half, no matter how serious the acts. Your incessant arguing doesn't weaken your bond, silly. They strengthen it. But this is all about magic too powerful and complicated for your inferior brain to understand!- Thank you," Hermione said sarcastically. I admit that I'm often lost, but I doubt very much that any Death Eater could understand the meaning of love.- Insolent even in the face of death, eh?" said William with a chuckle.- In the face of a Death Eater's death? Always!" she exclaimed, suddenly throwing herself at him.

William lost his balance and slammed into the massive cupboard behind him, knocking Charlie off his feet as he ran towards his brother. As Draco had taught her, Hermione was quick and efficient, not wasting a second to act. She now understood how Draco had felt when they had been attacked in the hut, and the reason for his rash and rapid movements; the fear of losing her and the impossibility of using magic left her no choice but to delay the moment of death as long as possible. So, frightened at the thought of something happening to the children, Hermione wasn't even afraid to throw herself at the man and beat him with her fists. Or, at least, try to punch him. Indeed, the Death Eater quickly regained the upper hand and controlled the young woman's wrists.

- Hermione!" shouted Jaffrey, running towards her.

But Charlie held him back and Hermione screamed for them to run away. William punched her in the face to stop her gesticulating, and she felt the taste of blood drip into her mouth. She then saw the Death Eater turn his head in all directions, looking for his wand, which had escaped him.

Hermione took the opportunity to start struggling again, but immediately froze, as did William. They stared at the little boy who had picked up the long piece of wood and was now holding it between his fingers, his gaze blacker than ever.- Leave Mione alone," he ordered the Death Eater coldly, pointing the wand at him.

Did he understand what the wand meant? Hermione wondered with both surprise and concern. It didn't matter, he was now William's target and she had to intervene. But he was quicker than she was and stood up abruptly, ignoring his former victim who had been left on the ground, to approach a little Muggle boy whom he did not fear.

- Give me that!" he said, holding out his hooked fingers towards Jaffrey.Jaffrey stared at the Death Eater with his dark, terrifying eyes. Once again, Hermione saw a face whose features were no longer childlike.- Oh, are we being men?" sneered William, his voice booming with anticipation. Come on, give it to me, you brat!

He lunged forward to try and snatch it out of his hands, but just then a powerful bolt of electricity shot from the wand and propelled the Death Eater against the ceiling in the corner of the room.

- Aaaaargh!" he screamed as the eruption of lightning pinned him to the wall.- Jaffrey!" cried Hermione.The bolt of lightning shattered and the body fell to the floor with a crunch of bones, dead.- Oh my God," Charlie swallowed, struggling to breathe. Oh my God...- Give Hermione the stick, darling," she ventured, holding out her hand towards him.

But Jaffrey didn't move. Then, suddenly, he disappeared.

Charlie shrieked in horror and Hermione let out an expletive. How was it possible to transplane at his age? Where did all that magic come from? She got up and approached Charlie, but Charlie stumbled backwards in a hurry.- Stay where you are!" she cried in panic.- Charlie, wait, I'll ex...- Monster!" she screamed. What have you done with my brother?- Charlie, it's me!" begged Hermione, hurt. I'd never hurt you, you know that!- You're one of them!" she said, jerking her head towards the Death Eater lying on the floor.- No! I mean, yes. Yes, I have powers too, but I'm using them to fight these men! I'm on your side, and I'm sure you know that! Please, Charlie, you've got to trust me and help me find Jaffrey!The teenager hesitated, then finally threw herself into Hermione's arms before bursting into tears.- What's happened to him?" she cried as Hermione held her close.- He's just transplanted, don't worry. That means he teleported to another place. Do you know where he might be?Charlie eased out of her embrace, then said without a moment's hesitation:- He's gone to see Dad.

***

Hermione dashed down the stairs after retrieving her wand, Charlie hot on her heels. She crossed the small hall, grabbing the cup of Unicorn Blood as she went, then hurried outside. Her heart sank heavily in her chest as she confirmed that the two bodies lying on the landing had only been stunned.- Enervatum," she said.The vampires regained their mobility and hastily pulled their hoods a little tighter, even though they were in the shade.- I thought you weren't with them," said Charlie, keeping his distance.- It's just a disguise to hide them from the light," Hermione reassured her. Those two...er, people, are...very friendly creatures, don't worry! They can't stand daylight, and er...- Yeah, they're vampires," Charlie clarified to everyone's surprise. Those are your 'big-toothed friends' the man upstairs was talking about, I suppose? They're cool.- Cool?" vexed Soane. We're not cool, nor are we very nice creatures either! We're dangerous, clever, fearsome and frightening, little lady!- I'm terrified!" laughed Charlie. You can't show your face in the light and you don't even have a magic wand. My brother is scary. And he'd kick you both up the arse.
- Is that right? Well, I can't wait to meet your superhero, and we'll see who gets their ass kicked, miss I'm-a-little-open.

Charlie was about to reply but Hermione silenced her with a look.

- I see the introductions have been made," she said, unsurprised by the new enemy the young girl could now add to her long list. Orience, we need to stop off at the town hospital, something's come up. Soane, take Ch...er, take me and Orience, take Charlie. We'll see you in two seconds.- Don't be afraid," said Orience in her reassuring voice, holding out a hand to the teenager.The latter seemed surprised to discover the colour of her skin, then smiled.- And I thought my boyfriend was already quite black, but he's just as tanned as you!

She took her hand and Hermione waited for them to transfer before disappearing with Soane. A few seconds after crossing the city as a light, Hermione landed in the hospital hall. She helped Charlie to his feet after the latter had collapsed against the white tiles, and supported her to the reception desk.

- Richard Mason, please," she asked the old woman hurriedly.- Are you a relative?- I'm his girlfriend," she confessed.- I'm sorry, but only members of the family are allowed to visit.- I'm his daughter," said Charlie. And Hermione is family, believe me.
The old woman looked at them for a moment, then announced:- Room two hundred and six, second floor.- Thank you!

Charlie passed Hermione and ran towards the lift, thus avoiding having to endure the stupid grateful smile on the young woman's face. Orience and Soane caught everyone's eye as they passed, but no one dared to call out to them: it seemed that the Muggles had finally understood that the recent invasion of hooded men was not about to end, and that at the risk of having to live with them, it was better to make friends of them than enemies. The kind of thinking that quickly led to submission and victory for the dominant, Hermione mused gloomily as she arrived at door two hundred and six.

Once inside, she was relieved to find Jaffrey sitting cross-legged on his father's bed, his wand resting on the bedside table.

- Jaffrey, thank Merlin you're fine!- I told Dad you'd come!" he said, excited again.

Now a child again, he acted as if nothing had happened, and even seemed to have forgotten the presence of the magic wand by his side.

- So that's my formidable opponent?" Soane laughed as he knelt down to the little man's level. He does look formidable!- You're going to have to teach me how to appear in the middle of a hospital room, son!" laughed Richard, not at all surprised by the presence of the vampires.

On hearing his voice, Hermione realised he was there and ran to hug him, despite the dozens of tubes and pipes that were making her nauseous.

- Oh, Richard! I'm so sorry I haven't been in touch! I wasn't even here for Christmas! If I'd known you'd had a heart attack, I'd...- You'd what?" he smiled gently. Would you have abandoned your mission to save the world just to come and visit me? Come on, Hermione, don't blame yourself for something you're not responsible for. I'm glad you're here today.- Did you know everything?" Charlie asked his father. Did you know about his powers and everything?- Yes," he replied. I'm sorry, darling, I didn't keep the secret to upset you, but to protect you. I hope you know that?Charlie glanced at Hermione, then smiled.- Yeah, don't worry, I know.- Richard," Hermione said suddenly serious, "things are pretty bad for my world. And yours, soon. I have to go back, but I want you to know that I'll be back and I'll support you in your operations, whatever happens. Everything's going to be all right, and...- Hermione, Hermione!" he interrupted, placing a hand on her cheek. I'm going away, Hermione. In a few days I'll be gone. And I'm not coming back.- What are you talking about?" she said, her voice suddenly cracking.- The doctors won't give me more than a few days.
- No, they're wrong!" she defended, searching in vain for the truth in his eyes. No, they're not!- Calm down, calm down!" he demanded, grabbing her agitated hands. Everything's going to be all right.- How can you say such a thing," she cried, burying her head in his shoulder. I blame myself so much!- For what?" he laughed. For brightening up the last few months of my life? Thanks, but I think I'll get over it!

Hermione almost wanted to vomit thinking about the last few days when she had only had god for Draco Malfoy, while Richard was dying. She had to be honest about it, for her own conscience, or she would never forgive herself. It was then that Richard spoke some disturbing words:

- Everything will be fine. I'm not worried about you, because I know he'll take care of you.She looked into Richard's tear-drenched hazel eyes, but remained silent, refusing to play the fool with him.- Mr Malfoy is a good man," he continued, "and I know you'll be happy with him. That's all that matters to me.- How do you know?" gasped Hermione. You only saw me arguing with my bodyguard the night he came! You saw how much I couldn't stand him!
- Oh yes, and that's all it took for me to draw the obvious conclusions. This is him, isn't it, the man you told me about when we first met? The one whose heart you had broken for reasons you refused to tell me? All I had to do was listen to the two of you arguing to understand that you'd been through some deep things in the past, and all I had to do was look at you to see the love on your faces.- You let me go away for several days with the man you knew was my ex? she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.- I let you go off with the man I knew was the one for you, Hermione. Look, I always knew that one day or other, when your grief had subsided, you'd end up leaving to start your real life again. 

That day has come, and I'm very happy about it, believe me. I would have been useful to a young woman's heart before she died, just as she was useful to me.

Hermione tightened her grip, ashamed. She had underestimated Richard, who had understood many things before she had realised them.

- I love you," she whispered.- I know you do. I love you too.They both turned to Charlie, who had remained silent.- Come here," Richard smiled at her.

His daughter obeyed, while Hermione withdrew. But Richard stopped her by keeping her hand in his.

Someone knocked and a nurse entered a few seconds later. She froze as she saw the two black figures at the back of the room, then stared at Hermione.

- Oh sorry," she apologised. I didn't know you had a visitor, Mr Mason.- Please come back later," Hermione asked politely.- Certainly, Miss Granger.

And she left. Hermione turned her attention back to Charlie, who, having just learned that she was about to lose her father, remained silent.

- Don't be angry with me," Richard whispered to her.- How can you leave?" she cried. How can you do this to us, after Mum? Don't leave us, you've got no right!- You have to be strong, Charlie. You're a brilliant, wonderful girl, I haven't told you enough. You've got your mother's temper and her eyes, too. Take care of your brother, okay?

Charlie nodded and hugged him. Jaffrey came closer and did the same.

- Where are you going, Dad? Can I come with you? I'll be good!Jaffrey couldn't answer and hugged them tightly. Then he looked up at Hermione.- Promise me you'll look after them," he breathed. Promise me, Hermione.- Yes, I swear," she promised, her throat tightening.

She turned to the two vampires and was surprised to find them rather agitated, constantly whispering to each other. She moved away from Richard's bed and approached them.

- What's going on?" she asked.- It's Soane," sighed Orience wearily. He's got a bad feeling.- Again?" said Hermione, before remembering that he hadn't been wrong at the Ministry. About what?- The nurse," he admitted. Can you tell me how she knows your name, Hermione?She thought quickly.- I have no idea," she said, frowning. Do you think she could be a spy for the Death Eaters or something?- Why don't you ask them yourself?" he grumbled, pointing to the door with a shake of his head.

Hermione turned and watched in horror as a horde of Death Eaters came through the glass into the room.

- As far as I'm concerned, I'd say yes!" said Soane, advancing towards the threshold. I'll see to it that our three or four guests are properly welcomed.- Let me give you a hand," smiled Orience. You've never been very good at decorum.

The vampires went outside while Hermione rushed towards William's magic wand, which remained on the bedside table.

- I don't want you touching that again!" she shouted at Jaffrey, who began to sulk.- What's going on, Hermione?" worried Richard.- Death Eaters. I'm going to take Charlie and Jaffrey somewhere else, then I'll come back for you as soon as I can.

But just as she was taking the children's hands, an explosion sounded and the bedroom door burst open. She saw Soane hit the wall and collapse at her feet.

- Wrong assessment of the situation, Sergeant! grunted Soane as she rose painfully to her feet. Our three-four visitors have increased to eight!- When you've finished your nap, Soane," echoed Orience's voice in the corridor, "maybe you can come and help me!

Another bang sounded, shattering the plaster ceiling. Covered in white dust, Hermione realised that she would never have time to come back for Richard or risk finding him hit by a spell, and prepared to fight and protect them, while the group of Death Eaters invaded the small room.

Death spells flew in all directions. Hermione spent more time casting protego in the direction of her family than actually attacking. Orience and Soane took charge, but the fact that they were only light, the only way of remaining unaffected by daylight, limited their ability to attack. As soon as she had the time, Hermione pointed her wand at the bedroom windows and the blinds immediately closed, plunging the room into a darkness sufficient for vampires.- Ah, thank you!" exclaimed Soane, returning to his original form. Now we can have some fun!

The two creatures then acted as a group, as if their actions had been rehearsed in advance, or as if each had read the other's thoughts. One by one, the Death Eaters fell, powerless against the breathtaking speed of the vampires, who sank their razor-sharp teeth into the most painful places, starting with the wrist that held the wand. The weakened followers of evil had no time to get up before the final bite in the back of their necks took the last breath of life from them. With a wave of her wand, Hermione struck down the seventh... The seventh?

- There were eight of them!" she said to the vampires, who were claiming victory too soon, in her opinion.

Hermione turned sharply and discovered what she had feared: a Death Eater had transited behind her back and was now holding Jaffrey in his arms like a shield, the tip of his wand pointed at his temple. Richard turned red with anger and tried to get out of bed to rescue the boy.

- Let go of my son! You...
- Avada Kedavra," the Death Eater said without even looking at him.Richard's head fell back heavily onto the white pillow, his muscles stiff and his eyes wide open.Charlie rushed towards her father, but Hermione reached out a hand and shouted:- Don't move! Stay where you are!

The teenager obeyed and froze in place. Hermione was too aware of the situation to try anything this time. These Death Eaters were not wizards recently converted to evil in order to save their skins, and whose magical abilities were not the most dangerous; these Magemorts turned out to be the ones Draco had told her about, the ones who had been at Voldemort's side from the beginning and who had been taught dark magic. The ones he himself had long been a part of...

- Give me the Hornedblood and I'll let him live," came the icy voice from under the hood.
So he knew? Voldemort knew that she had taken what he wanted, and he would never let her go again. She had no choice, anyway. He held Jaffrey's life and she admitted to herself that she wasn't prepared to sacrifice it to save the magical world, no matter what her conscience tried to tell her. She had promised Richard that she would protect them, and she would keep her word. Refusing to accept that he would never smile at her again, Hermione slowly placed her wand on the ground.- Orience..." she breathed without taking her eyes off the Death Eater. Bring the cup.

She heard the vampiress approach and slip the object into her hands. Hermione didn't need to look at her to guess that her gaze was divided between disapproval and, despite everything, understanding. Hermione straightened up cautiously and handed the Death Eater the Cord 

Blood, giving up what she had fought so hard to get. Jaffrey watched the exchange without much understanding but, even if he didn't try to struggle from the man's grip, the dark look in his eyes made it clear that he knew he wasn't in safe hands.

The Death Eater took hold of the object, but did not release the child.- Give it back to me," Hermione ordered, her voice trembling.- You're coming with me too," he said.
- Put the boy down and I'll do anything you ask," she said firmly.- I'm the one who gives orders," he contradicted, still in that deep, steady voice. Give me your hand and I'll let go of the child who means nothing to me.She knew a Death Eater could not be trusted, but did she have a choice?- Orience and Soane," she called.The two creatures moved forward slightly, but not too much so as not to alarm the Death Eater.- I want you to take Charlie and Jaffrey far away from here when I'm gone. Don't try anything, and just do as you're told, is that understood?

She had insisted on the last sentence, looking at Soane who, unable to sit still, seemed to have been looking for a ruse since earlier. But it was too dangerous to try anything at the risk of things going wrong. She sensed that the vampire would never agree to her being taken away, especially when he had sworn to protect her. Even Orience was surely revolted by the idea, but remained unmoved, as always. So Hermione waited for them to nod and tell her that they understood and would obey. She turned back to the Death Eater and accepted his outstretched hand.

- Where are you going?" panicked Jaffrey as the man released his grip.
But the little boy clung tightly to the Death Eater's neck, refusing to leave.- It's all right, Jaffrey," Hermione smiled at him. Please leave him alone now and go to your sister.She went forward to get him but the boy shouted firmly:- No! You're not leaving!- That's enough," snapped the Death Eater, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him back. You let the grown-ups manage their affairs on their own, boy.It was impressive to see the strength with which Jaffrey clung to him despite his tiny grip. It was then that the Death Eater let out a howl, dropping the cup in pain; Jaffrey's small hands, pressed against his neck and shoulder, seemed to have acted like a flaming iron. The fabric of the black cloak, burnt at the same time as the skin, melted onto the glowing, charred flesh. Soane, quicker than Hermione at the time, had taken the opportunity to snatch the boy, while Orience retrieved the cup that had fallen to the ground.- Ah!" snarled the Death Eater, craning his neck. The dirty...little...- Genius?" finished Charlie with a smile. Here's his wand.And she handed the wand to Hermione who grabbed it and snapped it in two. Picking up her own wand, she pointed it between the Death Eater's eyes, which she couldn't see.- You don't mess with Jaffrey Mason," she informed him. He doesn't have Death Eaters in his heart, I've noticed.
- Rot in hell, Curmudgeonblood," he spat before the green lightning struck him in the face and he too collapsed.- This is for Richard," she muttered in disgust.She took Jaffrey in her arms and kissed him with all her strength.- You're going to end up with a terrifying reputation among the black men, you know that?The boy, who had regained his angelic eyes, didn't answer and just smiled. Hermione then turned her head towards Charlie, who was waiting patiently beside his father.- Come on, wake him up," she asked.- Charlie, I can't..." Hermione began, fighting back tears.- Yes, you can! You woke up the vampires earlier, don't you remember?- They weren't...dead, Charlie," she apologised, coming closer.- Then resurrect him!" she cried, losing all control. Use your bloody magic wand and bring him back to life!

Hermione tried to calm her sudden movements to embrace him, but the teenager's fury and pain were shaking her with violent uncontrollable spasms. Her cries of pain tore at Hermione's heart and she could only watch as she shook her father's body. Her eyes brimming with tears, Hermione turned to the vampires:

- Take them away," she said, her voice quavering. As far away as you can, and as safe as you can. It's all my fault.- No, Herm...

But she pulled away from Orience's grasp.

- I should have known!" she cut her off. I'm wanted everywhere and I should have known that I was putting my family in danger by staying with her. The children were almost killed and I stole their father's last days. I also got you into trouble that wasn't yours on several occasions and...- That was our choice!" Soane intervened immediately, his eyebrows furrowed. I forbid you to blame yourself in any way for this. And I'm staying with you!- That's out of the question! You can only tranplan with one person, so I need you both to take Charlie and Jafrrey to safety. You've helped me enormously so far, and I'm forever grateful. But I must go on alone now. Killing Lord Voldemort is Harry's destiny and he needs me by his side. The fewer people involved, the less death there will be.- Hermione!" said Soane forcefully. I...

But his sister placed a gentle hand on his agitated chest. Then she turned her gaze to Hermione and smiled.

- Good luck, my friend," she said. It has been an honour and a pleasure to help you with your task. You are a great witch and your name will always be engraved in my memory.Hermione hugged him, ignoring the surprise of the vampire who was not used to this kind of intimacy.
Then she turned to Soane, who was clenching his jaws, his eyes staring at the ground. She placed a hand on his cheek and smiled:- I'm counting on you to send me the divorce papers when all this is over, dear husband.He ended up smiling with her, remembering that she had agreed to the 'wedding dance' a few hours earlier.- Hopefully the letter won't be returned to me for an address I can't find," he breathed sadly.- I'll survive," she promised. I've still got too much to deal with to die now. However, take care of the children if I don't come back...on time.

They nodded and Hermione hugged Soane before taking one last look at the orphans. They were hers now and, strangely, she felt no difference. She had thought of them as her children for a long time already.

With her hand firmly clasped around the golden cup, Hermione moved on, watched by the thirty or so astonished stares of the nurses and doctors who had gathered behind the large hole which now served as a door and who had not missed a single minute of the scene...

***

Hogwarts.Or so it seemed. Standing by the frozen lake, Hermione didn't need to enter to sense that the castle was no longer the property of white magic, but, instead, the new home of the Dark Lord.She shivered as she realised that Voldemort was standing a few hundred metres away from her. Hermione had never met the Dark Lord, nor did she want to. All she had were Harry's terrifying descriptions from their fourth year, when he was reborn.- So, what's your plan here, Hermione? she thought aloud. Enter the snakes' nest as if nothing had happened, find Harry and thank Voldemort for the visit?

She sighed. If Soane had been there, he would have said that this story didn't smell right. Thinking of him suddenly made Hermione feel very lonely. Perhaps she should turn back and make a quick plan, rather than jumping into the lion's den? After all, her experience at the Ministry had shown her that the world no longer belonged to the Muggleborns, and the days when she could move about as she pleased were over. Her instinct was to try and get in, because every second she wasted was a second lost, and time had recently become precious. But her reason told her that going to Hogwarts was like going straight to death, with no chance.

Suddenly, she felt her wand slip through her fingers, and Hermione turned around. A goblin was smiling at her with his yellow, hooked teeth, holding the wand he had so easily stolen from her.- Miss Granger," he greeted in his unbearably cheesy voice. Follow me, please.He waved his hand sharply at her and Hermione had no choice but to step forward, threatened by her own wand. At least this way," she thought gloomily, "I don't have to worry about whether I should go home or not!- I can't believe I trusted creatures like you with my money!- I used to say the same thing to myself: when I think I'm working for humans! It's humiliating, isn't it, Miss Granger, to be treated like inferiors?- I never thought of you that way!- That's just it. You wanted harmony and equality between our two races, I suppose?- Of course I did.The goblin sneered evilly.

- Then why isn't a goblin allowed to work at the Ministry, and has to make do with Gringott?

Hermione was silent, unable to answer. They arrived at the huge gates of the castle and Hermione began to feel fear, real fear. Once inside, she was surprised not to discover the entrance hall as she had remembered it a few days earlier, accompanied by Draco. It was no longer the huge, empty, dirty, cold place that had shocked her; the walls had been restored to their original cleanliness and decorations, the floor was shiny again and every statue had been put back in its place. The castle was as good as new, the only difference being that it housed not students but goblins in the service of the Master.- What are you hiding under your dress?" asked the goblin, squinting his little black eyes.- Nothing," she replied immediately, hiding the cut as best she could and praying to Merlin not to insist.Fortunately, another goblin arrived in the hall and addressed his fellow goblin:- Is that Hermione Granger?- Yes," he replied proudly. She came to Hogwarts by herself, isn't that more convenient than hunting her all over the country?- Silly, I'd say. Especially when you know that transplants are tracked.

The goblin had said this with a reproachful air, as if to make her understand that she was frankly not clever. Hermione was feeling a little more stupid by the second; she should have got out while there was still time.

- Leave her to me," he said. I'll take her to the Master.- Out of the question! I'm the one who captured her and I'm in charge!- I know, and it's in your best interests that I'm offering you my help. Think about it, if you take her like that, the first Death Eater you come across in the Great Hall will steal your glory, you can be sure of that! He'll take the girl from you without you having the right to protest, and he'll be rewarded instead!- It's true, I hadn't thought of that. But what difference does it make if you do it?- You know I'm the only goblin here with enough power to allow me to disturb the Master, and the Death Eaters don't have to give me orders, unlike you. I'll give the Lord your name, don't worry.- What guarantee do I have that you will?- Nothing," replied the goblin. Just my word of honour. Otherwise, you're free to go yourself, but I can guarantee you that you're much less likely to get the glory you deserve.

Hermione rolled her eyes, tired of being the subject of a ridiculous argument about who would get the Lord's recognition. If there was any chance of them listening to her, Hermione would certainly have assured them that neither of them would receive anything, simply because 

Voldemort would never give his gratitude to beings like goblins, inferior creatures who did not deserve his attention. She might even have added that they were both going to be killed in order to avoid a controversy among the goblins, who were likely to demand more respect thanks to the capture of the famous Bearded-Blood. Yes, Hermione could have told them their future without the help of a crystal ball, but you might as well try and reason with a gnome.

- Very well," the goblin finally growled as he pushed the young woman towards him. But I'll know if you lied.- You made the right choice," smiled the second goblin as he took Hermione's hand.Hermione restrained herself from vomiting at the contact with the wart-covered old hand.- And his wand, too," he demanded, holding out his other hand.- It won't do you any good.- Very well, then. If the Master asks, I'll say you refused to give it.

Then he turned on his heels, taking Hermione with him. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't long before they heard the sound of his little legs running to catch up with them, before he handed over the wand, simply insisting that the Master be told that he had managed to take it from her. She might even have added that they were both going to be killed in order to avoid a controversy among the goblins, who were likely to demand more respect thanks to the capture of the famous Bearded-Blood. Yes, Hermione could have told them their future without the help of a crystal ball, but you might as well try and reason with a gnome.

- Very well," the goblin finally growled as he pushed the young woman towards him. But I'll know if you lied.- You made the right choice," smiled the second goblin as he took Hermione's hand.Hermione restrained herself from vomiting at the contact with the wart-covered old hand.- And his wand, too," he demanded, holding out his other hand.- It won't do you any good.- Very well, then. If the Master asks, I'll say you refused to give it.

Then he turned on his heels, taking Hermione with him. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't long before they heard the sound of his little legs running to catch up with them, before he handed over the wand, simply insisting that the Master be told that he had managed to take it from her.

- Poor naive boy," Hermione sniggered, once he had gone. I'm curious to hear what you're going to tell Voldemort, the way you captured me and all that. Of course, you won't even mention your friend? Do you want all the glory for yourself? It's sad to betray one of your own just to get a bit more attention from a wizard. How low you goblins have sunk.

He didn't even reply, and took her upstairs. Hermione was surprised at the route they took, and began to seriously suspect what the creature had in mind.

- Where are we going?" she asked, as he made his way through the most discreet passages possible, avoiding his fellow creatures as much as possible. I thought the gentleman had enough influence not to need to hide?

When they reached the sixth floor, he ushered her into an empty classroom and closed the door behind him. Finally, he turned to her and said, rather angrily:

- No, but you're completely unconscious, my word! What's your plan in coming here? To get yourself killed? Have you got any more good ideas like that?

Hermione gasped. Was it a figment of her imagination, or was she just being savaged by a goblin?

- I'm so happy to see you back safe and sound," he breathed as he went to hug her, his little greyish arms wrapping around her legs. Hermione winced in disgust, but didn't dare move.- By the way, it's me, Harry," he said, lifting his big bald head towards her.- I was beginning to suspect it, but I'm glad you're going to tell me about it anyway!She crouched down to his level and hugged him, before slipping a hand behind the creature's back. Without warning, she snatched the wand out of his hand and immediately freed herself from his embrace.- My favourite book?" she barked, pointing her wand at him.- My favourite book?Hermione raised her eyebrows, demanding an answer. The goblin sighed.- Hogwarts History.

Hermione didn't move. It was too easy a question, everyone at the top of the class must have loved that book.

- My parents' professions?- Dentists. But that's the kind of information that's on your file all over the Ministry, 'Mione.- Good point," she admitted. So, er...- Well, do you want something more personal? Your biggest shame is that you turned into a cat by mistake in second year. Your biggest victory was punching Malfoy in the nose the following year. Your biggest heartbreak was letting that same idiot go at the end of the school year. Your biggest sorrow is Ron's death. Your greatest quality is your mania for thinking of others before yourself, and you created the S.A.L.E. which, thank Merlin, is no longer in existence. Your biggest flaw is that you don't listen when you have an idea in mind. Which brings me to your biggest mistake: coming here!Her heart overflowing with joy, Hermione rushed into the goblin's arms.- Harry! It's so good to see you!- You too," he breathed. I was so afraid something had happened to you!- I warned you I'd be a few days!- Yes, but that was when I was still foolish enough to trust your blind feelings that you were safe with Malfoy!

She stepped back and looked into his eyes, her hazel gaze anxious.

- Hermione, he's dangerous. I mean it. I too wanted to believe that he'd repented when he came back to help the Ministry deal with the Death Eaters' takeover, and I too hoped that a year's absence would have no effect on his feelings for you, especially knowing what bound you together! But the more time passed, the more I cursed myself for leaving you alone with Malfoy on the other side of the world, and the more questions I asked myself. One in particular really bothered me: why had he reappeared at the very moment when you were finally accepting an assignment from the Ministry? I knew you were wondering the same thing, but I also knew you'd rather put your doubts aside, too happy to have him back in your life. I was so stressed about you that I definitely came out of my depression to find out what was going on. I'm ashamed that I had to wait until my best friend was in danger to get off my arse, but I didn't completely waste my time during my depression.- Yes, I know you did. Neville tells me you've been working on the Horcruxes.- Have you seen Neville?" he wondered.- At the Ministry today. He and Luna have the locket.Harry's face, or rather the goblin's, lit up suddenly.- They did it? They're brilliant! Let's take this Horcrux for granted, then. According to my guesses and those of Dumbledore, all that's left is an object that belonged to Rowena Slytherin, another to Helga Hufflepuff, and Voldemort's snake, Nagini. On the days when I had the strength, I forgot about Ron's death and concentrated on all the places where the Horcruxes could be hidden, and the most likely, in my opinion, were the Jedusors' cemetery, Tom's orphanage, Gringott, and here, somewhere in Hogwarts. I'd also prepared a whole cauldron of polynectar, in case I decided to carry out my plans.- Is that why you're here?" interrupted Hermione. To find the Horcrux you think is hidden in the castle?- Yes, hence the disguise. I needed a goblin who had enough power over the others not to be disturbed. The body is in the black lake. Voldemort isn't in England at the moment, so I took advantage of that. I organised all this a few days ago, but I must admit I hadn't planned to find you trapped in the hall!- Thank goodness you were here!- What are you doing here, Hermione?- I've come to help you and give you some information that I think you'll find useful to know...She took out the golden cup from under her cloak and began a brief account of the last few days spent with the vampires, contenting herself only with recounting the events concerning Unicorn Blood and its magical properties. The hunt for vampires through the lair, the forced marriage and the kidnapping of wolves were perhaps not appropriate at the time. However, she could not escape questions about the man who had accompanied her through her adventures.- What about Malfoy?- Harry, did you not hear what I just said? Voldemort has my Bulborbus heart and he wants to turn it into an indestructible Horcrux!- Yes, I understand the extent of the problem. But you didn't mention Malfoy once, which got my attention and confirmed what I was saying: he's dangerous. The truth is, Hermione, you don't even have to tell me what happened. I've been doing a lot of infiltrating at the Ministry lately. With the help of polynectar, I didn't have to get involved in ten thousand conversations to realise that Malfoy had never been on our side... He's Voldemort's right-hand man, and I think he always has been, but he was probably given important missions during his long absence. When I heard that he was currently on a mission, I immediately realised that you were his mission. I didn't know what he had to do, but I suspected that he would use your feelings to achieve his ends. However, I kept hoping that he wouldn't come after your life if I remembered your words about how, as your soul mate, he could never hurt you. Still, I was very worried, and I thought I was alive again when I saw you in the hall just now!

Hermione wanted to smile to reassure him, but she didn't have the strength to pretend. With a blank look in her eyes, she felt her heart aching again as she confirmed that, when she thought she was in love with Draco, even her best friend, who was on the other side of the world, knew that he was putting on an act.

- I'll tell you what his mission was," she sniffed to stop herself cracking up. To seduce me and take my pendant, simple as that. When I heard that he was playing me, I thought at first that he'd come back after a year's absence just to get the revenge he needed to get his life back to normal. But I recently learned that there was more to it than that, that he was in fact working for Voldemort, as I had feared, and that seducing me was in fact a mission, since Umbridge herself knew about it. It was then easy for me to deduce Voldemort's aim: to get hold of my pendant, which he knew was too precious for me to part with, and which only Draco, the other half, was able to touch safely. But Drago didn't know the value of the pendant when he accepted the mission, otherwise I wouldn't be in this world any more, and told me he didn't give a damn. So I've come to the conclusion that this mission had no other purpose for him than to satisfy his revenge by destroying my heart, just as I destroyed his...

Hermione closed her eyes, holding back her tears.

- Mission perfectly accomplished, Draco..." she murmured, as she felt her friend's arms around her.Her eyes snapped open as she realised that these were real arms around her, not two stunted little stalks.- Harry, you're... you!- Yeah, it's been a while since I drank the potion," he smiled.Hermione found him more handsome than ever. She was finally rediscovering him, with his sublime emerald green eyes, his messy black hair, his radiant and still childlike smile. He no longer looked like the depressed Harry with the sallow complexion, the empty eyes and the non-existent smile, and Hermione couldn't help but hug him again. 

- Are you really back?" she whispered.- Oh yes, and believe me, it's rather bad for our dear Voldemort. Even if I was counting on the surprise effect of the Horcruxes and you've just told me that he knows I'm after his soul parts, I've still got something to surprise him with...He held up the cup in front of his eyes.

-Thanks to you, Hermione!- What are you going to do with it?- Destroy it, by Merlin! No cup, no new Horcrux! I'm surprised you haven't destroyed it already.- I was hoping to gain an advantage by keeping it," she admitted. But I suppose, in fact, the advantage we'd have would be to have got rid of it.- Well," said Harry, straightening to his full height. It's time to get things moving. Here's the new plan: we destroy the Unicorn's Blood, I take another sip from my flask of polynectar still containing the goblin's hair which, by the way, was difficult to find with its three hairs on the stone! We'll kidnap another one for you, I've got some brand new polynectar in my other flask, and we'll get back to searching the castle. It'll be more efficient with two of us. If we don't find anything in an hour, we'll get the hell out and find Ginny, who, stubborn as she is, has gone to Gringott alone in the hope of finding the other Horcrux. Don't worry, she's taken her share of polynectar too.
- All right," smiled Hermione, never tiring of finding her friend. Adventure, just like old times!- Yeah, even if the trio aren't complete anymore," he said with a sad smile.- We'll avenge him, Harry," Hermione said, putting a hand on his shoulder. I promise you that. We'll put an end to all this, for him. And when I find his killer... I'll kill him.Harry stared at her and saw the familiar gleam of hatred and sorrow flash through her eyes. He returned her smile.- I know you will," he said. And on that day, you and I will finally be able to start living again...The sound of bangs echoed through the corridor.- What's that?" Hermione said worriedly, heading for the door.- Wait, don't go out! I know that noise too well, having heard it a hundred times over the last few days. Some wizards have just moved into the corridor.- Harry," Hermione giggled, shaking her head. Do I have to tell you again, eight years later? It's impossible to transplant within the walls of...- I'm sorry to tell you that things have changed here," he cut her off. Those with the mark on their forearm - in other words, Voldemort's true followers and the most dangerous - are allowed to transplant themselves directly to the castle.- With such a bang?" she wondered.
- 'That, Hermione,' said Harry, pursing his lips, 'is the sound of a lot of 'pops' going on at the same time. I'd say we're dealing with ten Death Eaters, maybe more. The problem is, as I told you, they have to carry the mark of darkness to get in here, and that's very, very bad.- Yeah, I've met one of them before," Hermione said darkly, feeling a rush of hatred come over her as she thought about Richard's death. They're formidable.- They're usually pretty rare," continued Harry, who didn't seem to notice her confusion. They never stay far from Voldemort...- If they've wandered away from their Master to come here," she supposed, "it must be really important.

Harry looked at her worriedly, then blurted out:

- What makes you think they've wandered away from their Master, Hermione?No sooner had he finished his sentence than he let out a cry of excruciating pain, before collapsing to his knees with both hands pressed against his forehead. Hermione rushed over to him and begged him to be quiet despite his pain.- My scar is burning," he said through clenched teeth and wet eyes.
- Don't shout, Harry, please! They're just outside the door, I can hear them!- He's here, Hermione," he gasped. He's here with them...Panic overwhelmed her and Hermione had to make an effort to breathe. She watched helplessly as Harry lay writhing on the floor, biting his wrist to stop himself from screaming.- My cloak," he said suddenly. Take my cloak, it's in my pocket.Hermione hastened to obey and grabbed the piece of cloth sticking out of her jeans.- Put it on," he said.

Hermione wrapped herself in the invisibility cloak and was about to throw a piece over Harry's head, but he stepped back.

- No, the cloak is too small for both of us. I'll turn back into a goblin if I have to. I'm safe, don't worry.

With their ears pressed to the door, they tried to hear the Death Eaters' voices.

- Why have you moved here, to the sixth floor?" Hermione whispered.- This is the Death Eater floor," Harry explained, rubbing his scar vigorously. Goblins aren't normally allowed up here.- Why aren't they?

Harry shrugged in ignorance and Hermione froze.

- Harry..." she breathed with two big eyes. What's on the sixth floor, remind me?Her friend looked at her confused, then suddenly his mouth dropped and his eyes widened.- Bloody hell, the Room on Demand!" he exclaimed.

Hermione brought her hand up to her mouth and glared at him.

- Shut up, Harry! You're too emotional. If you're right and there is a Horcrux at Hogwarts, I can't think of a better place than the Room of Requirement. But I don't think we're any further ahead; he could have hidden it in any conceivable place with that Room!- No," contradicts Harry with a mischievous grin. I think I know exactly where he hid it...

There was a cry of pain in the corridor. Hermione felt her blood turn to frost...

- Draco," she gasped in horror.- Draco," she gasped in horror.- It's his voice, I'm sure of it!- Hermione, no!" hissed Harry.

But it was too late. He didn't have time to stop her before she opened the door and slipped discreetly through the narrow opening, hidden under the cloak.Holding her breath, Hermione strode towards the black mass standing at the end of the corridor. She could make out exactly twelve Death Eaters and continued to move closer, slowly moving around the giant circle of cultists. But her feet froze in place when she saw him.

Voldemort.

He was much taller and more imposing than any of his followers. Also covered by a huge dark cloak, Hermione was happy not to be able to see his face, buried in the dark depths of the vast black hood. However, the red glow of his slit-like pupils could be seen from time to time, depending on his mood, and Hermione could clearly hear his hoarse, regular breathing, reminiscent of the icy rattle of the Destroyers. Nagini snaked gracefully around her Master, emitting a continuous and unpleasant hissing sound.

Perfectly upright and motionless, Voldemort seemed to be looking in her direction.Hermione prayed with all her might that he would turn his head away, feeling herself literally melting on the spot. Finally, she saw his long hood pulled down; he was looking at the ground. Hermione followed suit and her heart began to pound in her chest.

On his knees, head bowed, Draco stood at her feet.- Well?" breathed the Lord's icy voice in a dangerous whisper.- Then my answer is the same," replied Draco, staring at the ground. I don't know where she is.Voldemort shook his head almost imperceptibly, and two Death Eaters said at the same time:- Crucio !

Hermione immediately took a step forward, but forced herself to stop again, while Draco collapsed to the ground, clenching his jaws to keep from screaming. Two unforgivable spells on the same person normally caused pain that was not humanly bearable. That's probably why the torture didn't last more than a few seconds, but it was enough to make Draco unable to get up, or even move.

- So? repeated the cold breath under the hood.

Draco took much longer to answer, but Voldemort waited. Finally, the young man seemed to draw on what strength he had left to tip over onto his back and look the Dark Lord straight in the eye. The anger of all the Death Eaters seemed to come to a head, and each of them pointed his wand at him.

- Lower your eyes before your Master!" spat the nearest follower.Voldemort raised a whitish hand, and the Death Eaters reluctantly lowered their wands, while Draco continued to stare at the forbidden, silent.
- Get up, Draco," ordered the Dark Lord calmly. If you think you're special enough or mad enough to defy my gaze in front of all my followers, then defy me to the end and stand up.Nagini rose to his full height, whistling dangerously.

Draco remained motionless for a moment, then closed his eyes, before finally opening them again, turned towards the ground.

- Good," said Voldemort. Now that you've started acting intelligently again, I'm going to ask you again, just once. Your answer will determine whether I let you live or not.Draco didn't react.- It will also determine whether I let her live or not...

This time, the young man's gaze twitched for a moment, then became fixed again.

- Yes..." breathed Voldemort's shivering voice, as if responding to Draco's thoughts. Of course I know you're lying to me to protect her. Did you really think you could fool me about your intentions? My poor Draco, you're so conceited. Your refusal to wear the mark when you were sixteen cost your dear father his life. And now she's going to pay for your pride and impertinence. Because you know I'll find her in the end, and when I get back what she stole from me and is mine, she'll die.

Voldemort waved his wand and Draco's body rose limply until his blond head was level with his glowing pupils.

- Tell me where she is," he whispered, his voice becoming a terrifying echo, "and I'll let her live...It was then that Draco smirked. The same cheeky smirk that Hermione had so often dreamed of wringing from him. Only this time it was directed at Lord Voldemort.- Do you know why I've always refused to wear the mark, 'Master'?" said Draco, spitting on the last word. Because I knew the day would come when I'd have the honour and the immense pleasure of saying those few words to you that the magic of the tattoo would never have allowed me: fuck you.

Draco's body was propelled with such power that it flew through the air like a rag doll, before crashing through the armour with a deafening clash of metal.

The gigantic black silhouette flew across the ground towards him.- Let's see if you're tougher than your stupid mother," said Voldemort in his icy voice. She only died after about twenty Doloris. Yes, I lied, Draco; it was I myself who took her life, and I must admit I took a great deal of pleasure in it...

Hermione saw Draco's face contort in hatred, but his body seemed too sore to move.

- Say hello to your parents," said Voldemort, raising his wand. I'll send the last Malfoy to hell!Voldemort lowered his wand sharply.- No!Hermione's scream echoed through the great corridor, instinctive and pleading. With a slow movement, the young woman pulled at one side of the cloak and let it slide to the ground, revealing her tear-drenched face.- Don't kill him," she begged, her voice trembling. Please don't.

Voldemort raised his wand and Draco's suffering ceased. Hermione knew she was going to her death, but nothing was more important than Draco's life at that moment. Seeing him in such danger had completely erased the rest of the world from her, leaving nothing to perceive but the other part of herself that needed his help. Hermione knew at that moment that her life without Draco was the same as dying with him, and she advanced towards Voldemort without any fear of being killed, as long as her soul mate lived.

As she stood in front of the young man's body, facing the Black Mage who was merely watching, she said:- I'm the one you want, I'm here.- Go away, go away..." she heard Draco murmur in a desperate voice.

Hidden under her hood, Hermione could easily make out the wide slit that served as her mouth stretching into a satisfied smile.

- Hermione Granger..." her voice became a blood-curdling echo again. Nice to meet you at last. You are indeed as brave as the legends say. But you see, without what I want, you're just a useless mudblood...- Run, run away... Draco's weak voice continued to implore him, still lying on the ground.- I have what you want," Hermione said firmly.She saw the two red slits illuminate the darkness of his face.- Good..." whispered the Lord's voice, wriggling with pleasure and anticipation.- Under the cloak," Hermione informed him.

Immediately, a Death Eater walked over to where she had dropped the invisibility cloak. He shook the cloth sharply and a clang of metal sounded in her ears as the gold cup rolled along the tiled floor. Hermione, who guessed Harry was on the verge of a heart attack for the selfishness that would lead the magical world to its ruin, prayed that he would not intervene despite his responsibilities. The Death Eater took the object and brought it back to his Master without anything happening.

Voldemort grasped the cup between his two pale hands, and his victorious laugh grew louder and louder, triumphant and unbearable to the ear. Hermione took advantage of his inattention to kneel down beside Draco, worried.

- Are you all right?- What have you done, Hermione...Hermione lowered her head.- I couldn't care less," she joked, using her own words. I just couldn't let him kill you without doing anything.- That's so sweet..." said Voldemort.
Hermione turned round, preparing herself for what was to come, which did not promise anything good.- No," he continued, "cute wasn't the word I was looking for. Disgusting is a much better word. 

Disgusting, execrable, unhealthy, foul... Ah yes, that sounds so much better.

Voldemort raised his wand and Hermione felt an invisible force grab her by the neck and lift her off the ground. Barely breathing, her feet dangling, she dropped her wand to the floor.- So you're the girl who stole my best Death Eater? I don't know how your impure blood managed to foil so many of my plans, but you should know that in the new world I'm building, 

Mugglebloods have nothing to do with Purebloods. You and Draco are inhuman and intolerable. It's nothing more than an error of nature that I must remedy.

He flicked his wand again and Hermione fell to the floor, breathing again.- However..." continued the Lord, running his skeletal finger along the triangular outline of the cup. You have made a great contribution to the building of this world, thanks to that Unicorn Blood, and I owe you a debt of gratitude. I'm going to let this traitor to his blood live...
Relieved, Hermione had heard everything she wanted to hear. She was ready to die now, it didn't matter to her.- Yes, he will live..." repeated Voldemort. But he will live without you. I want him to suffer for his betrayal.

Draco tried to get up, but Hermione pushed him back down with one hand. Then, with her head held high, she stood up, ready to take responsibility for her choices.

- Now that's dignified," smiled Voldemort. That's more than I can say for you, isn't it, Draco?Draco could now see himself subdued by three Death Eaters, the fear having given him back his strength.

Voldemort pointed his wand a few centimetres away from the hazel eyes that faced him without blinking.

- It would be a shame," said Voldemort, "if you died without even knowing who killed your dear friend Ronald Weasley...

Hermione bit her cheek to keep from retaliating, to keep from jumping on Voldemort and killing him with her own hands. What did she have to lose, after all? She would be gone from this world in a matter of seconds.

- It's not me you should be directing that look of hatred at, Miss Granger," said Voldemort, turning her around with his wand.

- It was he who took the life that was so dear to you..." he finished.

Standing there, facing her, was Draco Malfoy. Standing in front of her was the man who had killed Ron, the man for whom she had just given her life.

Voldemort's laughter was uncontrollable now, and all the followers began to laugh with him. Hermione's face was inexpressive and she looked like a zombie who couldn't think or speak, just stared at Draco without really seeing him. Draco tried in vain to catch her gaze, but the young woman's eyes were empty. He was talking to her, but she couldn't hear him. Everything had become deaf and distant. Then she saw Voldemort raise his wand.

Hermione slowly closed her eyes, keeping as her last image the face of Draco Malfoy, at once the hateful child who amused herself by slipping a spider into her cauldron, the pretentious teenager who loved to insult her, but also the man in love who had taught her to steer a broom over a lake.

She smiled, happy that his death would take with it feelings she would not have been able to bear in the future, as well as the memory of a Slytherin she hated herself for loving so much...

Voldemort's voice came to her from a distance:- Avada...

And the desperate screams of Draco, who was struggling with all his strength.

- No! Hermione, no!

She knew exactly how he felt about her, having thought she'd lost him just a few moments earlier, and she would have loved to make him swear to keep fighting to live, even if she was no longer by his side. But she just smiled, imagining herself reunited with Ron and hugging him forever.

- Renis Cavem!

Hermione collapsed under the weight of the body that threw itself on top of her and, face down, saw the fire dragon engulf and engulf the entire corridor in flames, devouring the Death Eaters in the process. Then, as she felt the fiery breath of the beast envelop her, everything disappeared.

The air was suddenly cool again, but the sound of the Feudeymon spitting its ember breath was still ringing in her ears. Lying on the frozen grass, Hermione stood up in the middle of the Hogwarts gardens, Harry at her side. She then turned her eyes to the burning castle and watched it burn for a moment before finally managing to articulate:

- Draco...

A tear rolled down the corners of her eyes and slowly trickled down her cheek. His heart was no longer beating, because part of it had just been consumed by the flames...

 ***

"I have to answer the question you're going to pester me with: no, he's not dead. I promised him a happy ending.It's the kind of information I'd have liked to keep secret, but otherwise all your comments will be the same: "tell me he's not dead pls" lol eh yes, I'm beginning to know you.It's a bold thing to ask, but I'd like to ask those of you who have time and are willing to do so not to comment only on the end of the chapter, which is what happens most of the time: I've put a lot of work into this long chapter and I'd like to know what you think of it =)No obligation, as usual.

Thanks for reading, I really hope you enjoyed it otherwise I'll shoot myself in the head xD I spent too much time on this damn chapter and I'm glad I finished it !Big kisses, and see you soon.

You think you've understood a lot in this chapter, but so many of the characters are wrong... Only I, the author, amuse myself by confusing them. Let me surprise you again in the next chapter..."

- Drago-Malefoy-Granger