In Too Deep

In Too Deep

Tear streaked and panicked, she tried desperately to get away from her pursuer. She ran as fast as her feet would allow. She blew recklessly through the deserted streets. The houses were long since abandoned and no one was there to hear her screams.

She could hear him right behind her. He didn't send any curses or hexes at her. The lack of attack made her even more nervous. It was like he didn't want to end her life without making her suffer first. A smug cat playing along with a helpless mouse's urge to run.

She turned into another alleyway. To her horror it was a dead end. She stared unbelievingly at the high stonewall and sank numbly to her knees. Reality hit her hard; this is where she would die. It was only mere seconds till her captor caught up with her, yet it felt like eons. Memories that that she had forgotten about rushed back; her happy childhood, the amazing discovery she was a witch, her Hogwarts years, her successful career, and Him, the man that loved her. The man she hadn't seen in years.

Footsteps behind her brought her back to reality. She rose and faced her captor, determined to meet her death on her feet. She observed him as he walked out of the shadows toward her. He wore a dark hooded robe and a mask, a deatheater.

He walked up to her, wand held at his side, until they were just inches apart. She rose to the silent challenge and held her ground. She looked him in the eye, and at that instant she knew exactly who he was.

"Draco" she choked, she had stopped crying now, there were no tears left.

His eyes were the very definition of sorrow and as he gave a small nod. As always, his eyes contradicted his body. While he held himself tall and proud, it was obvious to her that he was not.

She wanted to reach out to him, and tell him the truth. They could've done anything that night to change their grim fates. But they both had too much pride. History would not remember them as the cowards that fled. They both knew what had to be done.

Silently they both agreed on the same decision. She braced herself. Walls went up around Draco's eyes as he concentrated on every one of their past heated arguments and pent up anger for the spell. Then Draco said the words to seal her fate:

"AVADA KEDARVA!"

And Hermione Granger was no more.

~

Draco walked out of the alleyway and sent the Dark Mark high into the sky, right above Hermione's body. The Aurors would find it soon and give her body to her family. Her last words still echoed in his ears. It broke him apart with every step he took, until he broke down. He fell to his knees and smashed his fists into the concrete. The woman he loved was dead. He killed her.

Draco continued smashing his fists into the sidewalk. He was seized by uncontrollable anger and cold loneliness. It took him minutes to realize that the sharp pain on his left forearm was the Dark Mark.

Immediately, he picked himself calmly off the ground. Draco cleaned the blood off his robes and the deep cuts on his hands. The Dark Lord did not like to be kept waiting. Rebuilding his walls, he apparated obediently to his master. Another day of muggle torturing and mudblood killing waited.