What Once Could Never Be...

Chapter 16: The Meeting

On into the night, the two sides planned, mapping out every scenario and scrutinizing every detail. The stages were discussed for hours on end until the leaders were sure everyone had it perfectly memorized. One side offensive, the other defensive.

Voldemort planned to make the first attack on the Ministry the next day, and he had no idea what Harry held in store. The war to end all wars was about to begin.

And in the middle of it all there was Draco.

Draco, who stood at Voldemort's side as his heir with the Dark Mark clearly visible on his arm, was still loyal to the light side by being desperately in love with Harry's best friend, Hermione Granger. How had he gotten himself in this predicament?

By opening up to someone for the first time in his life and nearly getting Hermione killed. The latter lay more blame on his father who he felt homicidal towards as of late. Draco had to resort to a Time-Turner and changing the future to save Hermione from an untimely death by dagger blade.

He had actually seen her die beforehand as a result of his father's dishonest ambition to forward him through life. And so, he had made a trade-off: his life, well, his future for the promise to keep Hermione alive and safe.

He signed away willingly, for her well-being was more precious to him than anything. However, in the process, he had compromised his soul and his probable fate both of which lie in the clutches of Voldemort's greedy palms. His voluntary joining of the Death Eaters was looked upon by his father as submitting to his will when in reality, Draco was doing something he had never done before: give up.

It wasn't even a question of what he wanted to do, but it seemed like the most logical decision to make. He would play his father and Lord Voldemort's game for awhile, but when the opportunity presented itself, he would sneak off. Back to Hermione. If it wasn't for her, he would let the entire world go down the drain and laugh. Now, he was intent on saving that very world. Hey, Potter doesn't have to get all the glory.

He sat by Voldemort on his right side as he listened to him drone on into the night. Hopefully, the meeting would soon be over and Draco could surreptitiously walk up to his room where a jar of Floo powder lay in wait.

" - and please mind your attack positions until the signal is given. That is all. Do you understand?"

The hooded figures all nodded as one in accordance to what Voldemort was saying.

"Good. You are dismissed. Report back here at dawn." Voldemort narrowed his eyes menacingly. "That is a command."

The Death Eaters heeded his words as they slowly began to pour from the meeting room. Draco silently made his way to the door when he felt a bone-chilling hand upon his shoulder.

"And where are you off to, Young Malfoy?"

"Umm..." Draco cleared his throat authoritatively. "If you want me to be in good working condition tomorrow, I suggest you let me have my rest. I have a very delicate nature you know."

Voldemort looked for a moment as if he would laugh, but instead he let Draco go.

Draco couldn't believe it. Voldemort had let him go with nary a stern word. He crept over to the doorway where Voldemort had exited and stuck his head out. The coast was clear. Without looking suspicious, he made his way down the ornate hallway and upstairs to his room. He entered and closed the door as quietly as he could behind him. He proceeded to cast the strongest Locking Charm and Silencing Spell that he could think of. Hopefully, no one would come and check on him until he was supposed to be downstairs. He took as many precautions as possible since he was unsure of the privacy granted to his new status.

He made sure everything was in place. It was time. He grabbed a handful of Floo powder and carefully cast a Locator Charm on it. The charm would take him to the fireplace nearest Hermione. He stuck his wand in the confines of his robes as he approached the fireplace. Throwing the powder as he stepped in, he screamed, "Hermione Granger."

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Hermione had cried after Draco left until she was sure there were no more tears in her. It was not a simple thing to cry over a person as wholly as she did over Draco, so when she awoke from the deep sleep that the crying had caused , she was momentarily startled at her surroundings.

Her room looked unfamiliar to her as the strange shadows played across the wall. She was unsure of how she got back to the room until she remembered the conversation with Harry and Ron. Then, the events of the night came back with full force and she was suddenly glad she was already sitting. As the tears threatened to fall once more, she pushed them back and decided it was time to take action.

She looked down at herself. She was still wearing the red ball gown from earlier and it was now crumpled from being slept in. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table. It was one in the morning. She rose from her spot on the bed and went to the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot from crying, but a quick wave of the wand fixed that. She slipped out of the dress and pulled on her white satin sleeping gown. She took down her hair and brushed it out until it fell softly down her back. And then she went off in search of Harry and Ron.

She knew they probably had already started gathering people to fight against Voldemort and she wanted to be a part of it. Anything to get Draco back with her. She had no idea when she would see him again. Even if she ever would.

She silently strode from her room and the wing she shared with her best friends and Draco. She slowly made her way to the Great Hall with as much caution as she could bear. She was sure Harry and Ron were already worried about her and she didn't want to give them any more reasons.

Draco stepped gracefully out of Hermione's fireplace to be treated to an empty room. With a hawk's eye, he studied the room and decided she must have just left. The bed was mussed as if she had been sleeping there recently and the dress was still on the floor. He lifted the gown from its spot and held it to him inhaling her scent. My Hermione.

He let it fall back to the ground as he unknowingly followed her steps out of the wing. The corridors were quiet and dark with barely contained mischief as he made his way through them. He sensed her before she came into view. A ghostly angel with hair streaming down her back in a chestnut waterfall floating down the corridor as if on air. His breath caught as he watched her, falling more in love with her every step.

Suddenly, she stopped. With painful slowness, she began to turn until he was clearly in her sight. He heard her short intake of breath as she gasped his name. "Draco!"

And before he could blink, she was in his arms, and he felt whole once more. Something he wasn't sure he would ever experience again. He could feel her shuddering against him as he pulled away to gaze at her face. New tears were starting to form, but he could tell that she had been crying before even with the spell. Her bottom lips was quivering, but to him, she had never looked more beautiful.

He spoke in a breathy voice. "My Hermione."

She nodded in return. "Yes, Draco, I'm yours. And you are mine." She took a deep breath. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"Neither did I. I had to sneak away from Voldemort to come, so I don't have much time."

"Oh, Draco!" She threw her arms around him once more as if just the news was enough to kill her.

He gently pried her away, but held onto her arms. "I need to see Potter and Weasley first. Then, I'm all yours until dawn."

She silently nodded her head and took his hand in hers as she resumed her trek towards the Great Hall. Upon reaching it, they entered together hand-in-hand as the entire crowd looked up to watch them walk in.

They contradicted and complimented each other in every way. He was in his black robes with her in a white sleeping gown at his side. Muggle-born and pureblood. Beauty and brains. Arrogance and stubbornness. Quidditch player and bookworm. They had it all.

It didn't take long for Hermione to pick her two best friends out of the crowd as she made her way over leading Draco. Harry walked over to greet them followed by Ron and Sirius.

He politely nodded his head in greeting. "Malfoy."

Draco returned the gesture. "Potter."

"So, what do you have for us? Anything useful to our side? Did Voldemort let you in on any of his plans?"

"Potter, Voldemort let me in on all of his plans. Just sit down and listen."

Draco, with Hermione, led Harry to sit down at the High Table. Hermione settled herself down on Draco's lap with her hand still firmly holding on to his as if a sudden loss of contact would make him disappear again. Draco didn't mind as he began recounting Voldemort's plans to Harry. He held her with an arm around her waist and his chin set upon her shoulder.

Draco finished telling him what he knew about tomorrow's attack while the group listened with wide eyes. Harry still had questions that he proceeded to ask until they both felt sluggish. Harry had one final question.

"Do you know where Dumbledore is being kept?"

"Yes, he's being kept in a cell in my family's manor. Is that all?" Harry nodded. "Good. Now, if you'll excuse me."

Draco rose to leave, but Harry stopped him. "And where do you think you're going?"

Draco lifted an eyebrow with his old arrogance as he measured Harry's expression. "I have to be back at dawn so Voldemort doesn't suspect anything. That doesn't leave me much time. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to have some privacy with Hermione. If you need me before dawn, I'll be in her room."

Harry's cheeks flushed as he mumbled a dismissal under his breath and got back to work with the strategies. Now, they had more to go on than simple speculation.

Draco led Hermione back to her room and away from all the chatter of the preparations in the Great Hall. His eyes never leaving her face for a moment. No matter what happened, he would always cherish this night.

As they entered, he closed the door behind them. He turned around and their lips met in a passionate kiss. Desire was almost palpable in the air as they moved towards the bed with their tongues entwined in a fiery dance. They fell upon the smooth sheets as the rhythm of their hearts neared a breaking point as their bodies moved upon one another. Proving their love to each other.

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A knock on the door woke the sleeping couple from their dream world as they lay in each other's arms. It was an hour before dawn.

Draco grabbed his wand from the night stand and released the Locking Charm on the door as he covered himself with the sheet. There was no way he was going to leave Hermione's side while she was in his arms.

The door opened to reveal a tired looking Harry and Ron, but they both held small smiles upon their faces. Harry turned to Draco and spoke. "We have a plan."

A/N: That's all for now folks!!! Sorry about the delay again. I promise to update sooner on the next chapter. I swear it. I really hope you enjoy this chapter and the story as a whole. If things go as they should, it should be finished soon. I am always open for ideas and suggestions if you have any. PLEASE R/R!!!!!!!!!