Draco sighed deeply, squaring his shoulders as he said a silent prayer. Then he cast the spell. His wand jolted but he kept it steady, the Fiendfyre hitting the ring perfectly. 1. The engagement ring screamed and hissed. Fire poured from his wand, his hands getting burns from licks of fire that strayed. 2.

The Slytherin flinched but held true as the ring melted, black ash flying from it. He had done it. He had destroyed the Horcrux. 3. He stopped the spell but the fire continued to pour into their old potion room. 4. He knew this room would be destroyed but that was okay, it didn't matter now. 5. He coughed on the smokey air.

Fire licked at his ankles, he hissed in pain but when for the handle. 6. It was too hot to touch. His hand burned from the hot metal. 6. He used his jumper and tried again. 7. Finally, the door pried open, the soles of his shoes were soft from the fire now. 8. He ran out from the burning room, to see her standing there. 9. He shut the door behind him. 10.

Hermione launched herself onto him, her arms going around his neck as he coughed from the smoke. "Gods I hate you for that." She sniffled, burying her face into his neck.

"I love you too." He coughed again.

The girl pulled back to look at him, "it's done?" She asked, her eyes hopeful.

He nodded in confirmation and hugged her again, sighing deeply as his adrenaline calmed down a bit. Though he knew it wasn't over yet. They sprung apart as they heard it. BOOM. Hermione ran to the nearest window, but she saw nothing from that direction.

"Down here." Draco told her, "we need to get to the others to help." She grabbed his hand and they began running for the Great Hall, knowing it had just begun.

-*-

BOOM

Harry and Ginny turned to see the wards breaking. Bellatrix was still withering on the ground in pain when one of the other Death Eaters found a spell to break through. Harry looked to Ginny and kissed her once, "let's end this."

Ginny smiled before turning to Ron and nodding to him. Ron just looked at her before the trio, accompanied by about 25 others headed out into the Courtyard. Spells of every color flew towards them as the Death Eater appeared in clouds of black smoke, one by one.

Harry felt the memories of less than a year ago flow into his mind as he cast spell after spell. The yells and explosions. The crashes and cries. The whooshes of spells being heard everywhere you turn. He just prayed they all made it out alive.

He turned when he heard Ginny scream. She was on the ground, her wand a few feet away. Harry flung a spell at the Death Eater above her, sending him to the ground. Adrenaline. Focus. Aim. Breathe. Don't die.

-*-

Hermione pulled Draco around another corner. They were nearly to the main stairs, just a little further. The blonde felt the fear flow back into him and dreaded the feeling, but that fear was nothing compared to what happened next.

Crack

The duo turned to see her.

Bellatrix stood a few feet ahead of them.

"My dear Nephew. Whatever happened to family first, hm?" She sneered.

Draco shot a spell but she deflected it easily. "Fear numbs accuracy." She said scoldingly. Another spell. Dodged. She cackled at that.

"Give up Bella, haven't you had enough? You lost your own sister because of it!" Draco snapped, his hand clasping onto Hermione's.

"That was not my fault!" She yelled angrily. "I had nothing to do with Sissy's Death!" Hermione used the distraction to fire, catching her in the shoulder. But she disappeared instantly.

Hermione and Draco looked around for a moment before she reappeared, her wand against Hermione's neck. "Step back." The dark witch told Draco, and so he did. Hermione remained strong, but her eyes were scared.

"Bella, no one else has to die, just let her go please," Draco begged, his eyes remaining on Hermione's. He couldn't lose her. He felt his knees go weak as he looked at her in his aunt clutches. He had to protect her.

"Draco, it's far past that now. Both my sisters are gone. My husband. The Dark Lord. Now all I can do is avenge each and every one of them." She hissed.

Draco's brows furrowed. He shook his head. Think, Draco, think. Bellatrix smiled before a spell appeared on her lips, Draco shot one at her before she could though, making the both of them stumble back.

Hermione grunted as she stumbled forward with Bella's hold. "You stupid boy," Bellatrix said and her wand glowed, ready for another spell.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Draco's heart felt as though it stopped as he wanted both the witches drop to the floor.

"Hermione!" Draco yelled as he fell to his knee's pulling her out from underneath Bellatrix. "No no no no, stay with me."

"Merlin she's heavy." The Gryffindor opened her eyes, a small smile on her face.

"Oh, Merlin." Draco kissed her, before looking back at her.

"Is she?" Hermione asked.

Draco let her sit up before looking up himself, he felt everything in him go weak. Standing at the end of the hallway, wand still pointing at Bellatrix's body was Narissa Malfoy. Everything clicked. The spell was hers that hit Bellatrix.

"Mother?" His lungs felt like they were collapsing.

Hermione smiled as she looked up at Draco, who ran to Narissa, hugging her tightly. Hermione checked Bellatrix's pulse, nothing. She sighed in relief, but put a paralysis spell on her, just in case. She then jogged over to the mother and son.

"Mother, I thought you were dead." Draco frowned, speaking breathlessly.

"It was staged, Draco. She put the Horcrux on Andromeda so when she died a few months back I knew she'd put on one me too, especially after I gave you the ring." She explained, "Gods, I'm so glad you're safe." Narissa hugged him again.

Draco smiled and pulled away, taking Hermione's hand in his again, "Mother this is Her-"

CRASH

"That can wait, sorry Mrs.Malfoy but we need to go help finish this war," Hermione said, mostly to Draco, before the three ran down the stairs to finish things for good.

-*-

"Students, I am happy to finally welcome you all back to school officially!" McGonagall smiled from the head podium in front of all the seated students. "Though things are still under renovations I am pleased to have everyone back to things as normal. Whatever normal is," Some of the classmates laughed, "So without further ado, enjoy the feast."

"Bloody pointless if you ask me," Ron said, crunching down on some chicken.

"Isn't everything to you?" Ginny snickered, earning an elbow in the side from Harry.

"Oi, where you off to?" Ron called at Hermione who was leaving with two plates in her hands.

"Picnic." She smiled before jogging out of the Great Hall.

"Bloody disgusting." Ron sighed, "OW!"

Ginny smiled and removed her elbow from his side.

-*-

Hermione walked through the door to the Room of Requirments, smiling when she saw Draco sitting in the middle of the floor on a blanket. The sky was enchanted with stars and the floors soft grass. "This is beautiful." The Gryffindor sat by him, handing him a plate of food.

"We had a deal, you bring the food, I bring the fancy stuff." Draco smiled, poking her arm. Hermione smiled and put her head on his shoulder, looking to the stars above them.

"So, what are we going to do tomorrow?" She asked, taking a bite of food, "other than classes?" Draco smiled and leaned over, kissing her temple.

"Who knows? The future is ours."

The End