One: Hogwarts In Chaos
Fire, ashes, smoke burning, and rubble greeted me as I fought alongside my friends Ron Weasely, and Harry Potter. We had been inseparable...nearly inseparable, ever since I was twelve years old, and I was an awkward, frizzy haired witch that came from a non magical family. Hogwarts had become my second home, and my friends my family.
Acromantulas, giants, and all manner of dark creatures were making a ruin of Hogwarts. I fought alongside my friends, and somehow in the fighting, I found myself fighting beside Draco Malfoy.
I blocked a curse meant for him, and Draco smirked, "Hey Granger, strange to fight beside you."
I laughed, "You're still a loathesome evil cockroach."
He rolled his eyes, "Whatever, Granger, and you're still a bossy know it all nag. But even I don't want you dead."
"Likewise."
We shared a laugh over that. But then we noticed that Professor Snape had broken off from the main fighting, and was heading to the whomping willow.
We shared a look, and I decided then and there, "I'm following him. You can come with me if you want, but if there's a chance Voldemort is there, I want to repay him for guarding me and my friends."
Draco looked back, and noticed his parents fighting alongside the Slytherins not siding with the deatheaters. A momentary, ingrained instinct made him turn towards them at first, but then, a steely resolve formed in his silvery gray eyes.
"And I want to repay him for being more of a father to me than mine ever was," Draco decided. "What do you say we team up...Hermione?"
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "I...I think that would be great...Draco."
He held out his hand, and I took it. We shook hands briefly, and took off running for the whomping willow. We dodged giants, and we had to kill some former students, but in the end, we made it to the tree just as Snape was about to freeze the limbs with his wand.
He turned his wand on us, and lowered it, scowling, "Don't tell me you two are dating."
Draco chuckled, "Oh yeah, it's my big sinful secret, Uncle, didn't you know?"
Snape rolled his eyes. "Uh huh. Now, I have an appointment I must keep."
"We're coming with you," I said firmly.
"You won't survive where I am going."
"I don't care, sir. Please, Professor, let us help you," I pleaded.
Snape looked like he was debating with himself for a long time before he decided, "Fine. But don't you dare try to be heroes. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"Yes, Professor."
"Very well. Immobilus," He cast with his wand. The limbs of the willow rose, and froze into place. I found the knot at the base of the roots, and pressed it. Draco's eyes widened at the sight of the secret passageway forming.
"Ladies first," Snape smirked.
I rolled my eyes at that, and cast lumos to see my way through the passageway. Snape and Draco followed me close behind, and when we reached the dusty bedroom in the shrieking shack, that was when I saw Voldemort in the flesh. He spotted Snape first, and grinned coldly, his grin a harsh rictus.
"Ah, Severus and....friends," Voldemort greeted genially. "Draco, you are a surprising sight. And you as well...Miss Granger, was it?"
"Yes," I nodded.
He looked me over more closely, and he touched my cheek. I shivered at the contact, because his hand was ice cold. "A pity you are so low born, witch. I suppose I have you to thank for Harry Potter's continued survival."
I shrugged my shoulders. "He's like my brother."
Voldemort nodded. "Of course, you are right. But let's test that theory, shall we?"
He took out a silver knife, and pricked the end of my left index finger. He licked the blood there, and laughed, "How intriguing. Well, I know just how to bring your...friend out of hiding, oh yes, Miss Potter."
"You're...you're lying," I breathed. "I'm an only child. Professor, tell him he's lying."
Snape shook his head. "I knew the night you botched your polyjuice potion, and Pomfrey had to draw blood to put in your medical file."
I blushed at that. "Oh. So, is he my half brother...or?"
Voldemort grinned. "Half. An affair with a muggle. Still, this serves my purposes nicely as you will be my hostage to bring Potter to me."
Draco came to my side. "Only if I cast the curse myself," He winked at me subtly to play along. Snape also caught the cue from him, and played along to stall time.
I let Draco lead me outside of the shrieking shack at wand point, and Voldemort ordered that the fighting be stopped once we arrived at the clock tower courtyard. A strange calm fell over the battlefield, and Voldemort used legilimency to call Harry Potter to him.
"What are we doing?" I whispered to Draco and Snape.
"We use Potter as a diversion to disarm the Dark Lord," Snape whispered back. "He's powerful, but he relies on his wand too much in a fight. Did your friends destroy the other horcruxes?"
"Yes, but--"
"Shhh!" Draco hissed under his breath.
Both sides of the war gathered in a huge circle, and Harry Potter arrived. He looked bloodied and like he had been put through hell. He saw me, and started to move towards me.
Draco put his wand to my throat. Voldemort laughed coldly, "Not so fast, Potter. See, I wouldn't want you to spoil my fun in torturing your...sister. Now, will you comply in fighting me, or will I have to kill her and all of your friends?"
Harry swallowed past a lump in his throat. "I...I will fight you. Let Hermione go."
Voldemort tried to grab for me, but then Snape stepped in front of me. "Touch her, and I will kill you myself."
Voldemort glared at the potions master. "Severus, I am surprised at your treason. Very well, die alongside your Mudblood, at least history will repeat itself."
Snape chuckled, "Ah, yes. But at least this witch, I can save. Draco, now!"
The Elder Wand flew into his hand, and Nagini struck at Snape and Draco. Draco tried to kill the snake, but she struck and tore at his throat. He fell in a bloody heap, and Harry came to our side. Deatheaters fell upon us from all sides, and we cast defensive spells all around us. But, when Voldemort tried to kill Snape, I jumped in front of him, and I felt the killing curse hit me full on. I knew no more of this world, until I woke up in another world I never knew existed....
