Set Me Free

Set Me Free

By Flame Star

A woman reminisces about how he was brought to the light and his final moments on earth as she visits his grave alone before the people with the funeral service. Painfully easy to tell who 'I' am and who 'You' are. WARNING! Written to be a tear jerker.

Throughout most of the years at Hogwarts, you were my enemy. Never passed up a chance you call me 'Mudblood' in the corridors, outside the great hall, or even in class. My best friend Ron was also mistreated by you. You called him 'Weasel', 'poor' and other names that broached a very touchy subject with him. Most of your enmity however was directed at my other best friend, Harry. 'Scarhead', you called him, along with other horrible names including Potty, Headmaster's Pet, etc. And through those years, the bitter hatred of us, the three of us being the very bane of your existence, your mortal enemies, I never truly hated you. Albeit, I have no idea if Ron and Harry honestly hated you, but I never did.

You were like a helpless child, trapped in the cage of your parent's beliefs, ways, and never once being able to decide what's right and what's inhumane by yourself. You lay within that cage for many years, your parent's ways becoming yours while your cage shrank a little each day to form into not who you wanted to become but who you were forced to be.

And I was determined to set you free.

All during that summer, I asked Dumbledore to become your anonymous correspondent to hint you towards the light, to help you out of that vortex of darkness your parents were feeding you to. He agreed, as Narcissa had died two months previously and Lucius was in Azkaban, the letters would not fall into the wrong hands. At least for a while.

My first owl to you as a daily Prophet reporter getting your opinion on the war, letting you know that I would alert no ministry officials if you decided to join the dark side. I also put an anti-lie spell on the part about the ministry officials, so if you checked, you'd know. Hopefully you wouldn't notice the spell wasn't on the Prophet Reporter part.

A few weeks went by, and I was making progress. You initially informed me that you weren't sure what to think, so I proceeded to coax you to the side of the Phoenix. You confided in me about being scared of dying, wishing that it all would end, and not wanting to become a Death Eater like your father. You wished to be free of your curse. I told you that if you never gave up hope that you would be free, then your curse would be lifted.

When the time was perfect, I told you about a group who wants the war to end and to destroy Voldemort. At this point in your life, I believe you were desperate for salvation. I forwarded all of the letters to Dumbledore and he instructed that you be inducted right away. I owled you to make sure you would be home on the night of August 31, because I would take you to this group. You returned your owl saying that you awaited the day you'd be one step closer of being free of your curse anxiously.

The night of the 31st, Moody, Lupin, Hestia, Kingsley, and Tonks went to get you from Malfoy Manor. I was antsy as I awaited your arrival.

Then, at about midnight, you finally arrived. Upon using one of Fred and George's Extendable Ears, I heard everything that was said in the kitchen of Number 12, Grimmauld Place two days before the start of term. I heard that you were finally coming to the light, and I was overjoyed. Dumbledore later thanked me for doing so. You had recently informed the order that your mansion had become the host for the Death Eater congregations, and that you wished you didn't have to go back. I told you to believe you won't, and you never will.

I also heard you ask who it was who converted him to the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore told you that if you proceeded up the stairs and to the first room on the left you'd find your correspondent. I ran into the room and grabbed the book that was on the table and started where I left off.

I remember clear as spotlessly clean glass when you opened the door and I looked up. Your jaw dropped slightly and there was a strange pause. We remained like this for several moments before you rushed up to me, pulled me into a tight embrace and whispered to me softly, "Thank you. For everything." I smiled as I told you I knew you were never really evil as you claimed to be, and could be brought to the light, given the chance. I even saw a tear trickle from your eye as you turned to leave the room. I heard you distinctly say that you wished to be free. And I told you again to believe you will be free, and you would.

Our seventh year went along smoothly as it could. I was made Head Girl and you were made Head Boy, no doubt. You were actually quite smart. Before the term could officially start, however, I, along with Harry, Ron, and Ginny were summoned to the Headmaster's office, where you were already waiting. Dumbledore told us that we had to remain bitter enemies or it would attract attention to the children who were already halfway inducted Death-Eaters like Pansy Parkinson and Theodore Nott, and they would alert Voldemort.

But I'll never forget those times in the Head Boy and Girl's common room. We'd stay up late just talking about the war and wondering if we'd survive or not. You'd hold me close when I cried as we got more and more frightened as the battle loomed closer to Hogwarts. By that time, well, I loved you with all my heart. And like you've told me countless times, you wished to be free. I told you to keep even the tiniest ray of hope shining bright, because it may just happen.

At night, I could hear you muttering in your sleep, as we shared the same dorm room. Even in your dreams, you longed to be free of the curse which is the dark side. Silent tears poured down my eyes every time this happened. I hadn't completed my goal, and nevertheless, you were suffering.

The next day, you gave me a white rose, telling me that you will always remain with me, and that you still dream of being free. And I told you that if you want it badly enough, you shall.

And then that final day came. Voldemort's Army had stationed itself deep within the forbidden forest, and the teachers were recruiting all sixth and seventh years to battle. They had a choice, though, but still many went. Harry, of course, led the students, as he was to be the one to finish Voldemort once and for all. Among the others there was nearly everyone from the DA of two years previous. Only two Slytherins besides you were going to fight. Blaise Zabini and a girl named Kira Oakes. Many of the Slytherins were taken by surprise that you of all people were going to fight the dark side.

It was storming outside as we left onto the grounds. The Order was already there, and stationed at the edge of the forest. You grasped for my hand and told me whatever happened to stay with you. There was a hollow look on your face as we neared the woods. I was shaking, but since my hand was intertwined with yours, I felt somewhat calmer.

We stopped behind the teachers and the Order, and waited. Several minutes passed before Voldemort came striding out of the woods alone and just talked. But I couldn't hear what he was saying; the heartbeat in my ears was too loud.

And then it was fired by a sixth year. A disarming spell, a blast of red light, came shooting from the back towards Him. He conjured his black shield and it reflected off of it, sending it towards the clouds. And then was his battle cry... At his command, Death Eaters came charging out of the forest, firing spells every which way but loose.

You grabbed my arm and placed the disillusionment charm on us and ran towards Hagrid's hut. You pulled me close and told me that your father was out there and there was something you needed to do, and you might not come back. I cried silent tears as you kissed me for one final time.

I followed you back to the front ranks and hid in the trees as you confronted your father...

Hermione was rooted to the spot in fear.

"You have one last chance, Draco. Join me. Join us, and I will forgive you for ever thinking of switching sides."

Draco's face tensed. Hermione let out a scream. Lucius's gaze shifted towards her.

"Ah, yes, the Mudblood! Draco's told me all about you, besting him in every class, with your dirty blood. Your kind does not belong in the wizarding world. Purebloods hold supreme, you filthy Mudblood, and here's just a taste of the pain we'll inflict upon you! Crucio!"

Hermione screamed once again as her knees gave way. She was twitching and writhing on the ground, screaming in intense pain.

Draco rushed up to Lucius and started punching him. He heard a CRACK of satisfaction as his fist broke his father's nose. Lucius knocked away Draco's wand and pointed his own at Hermione.

"You dare defy me, you traitorous brat! I'll kill this Mudblood friend of yours, and then we'll see where your loyalties lie! AVADA KEDAVRA!"

There was a flash of green light and a rushing sound as Draco knocked Hermione out of the way and took the spell himself. Hermione looked horrified as he spread his arms out wide to face the curse. In his final moments, he turned to her.

"I am free now Hermione and I will always love you," he said as his soul faded away, and within that time, Hermione heard his whisper echo through time..."You have set me free."...

The Epitaph on your headstone is the same as the great American man Martin Luther King Jr.'s, who died for freedom.

In a way, you did too. The words on the grave stone are in bold engraving.

Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I'm free at last.

You died to save me. And now I stand here, my cheeks wet and shining with tears as I lay the perfectly preserved white rose you gave me months earlier upon your grave. As I turn to go back to my car, I freeze. There, upon the ground written in freshly bloomed flowers were the words 'I'm finally free.'

I knew at once it was you who did it, and so I cried more tears of grief. The flowers blew away in the wind and there was a particularly strong gust, and in it there echoed words, in your unforgettable soft whisper.

"You have set me free, my angel, and I'll love you for all eternity"

Before I got into my car, I looked at the flowerless gravestone of Lucius Malfoy, who I murdered with my own wand. I avenged your death, and I felt a sense of emptiness in my heart. But I have completed what I was determined to do, and that leaves me with a sense of resolution along with the emptiness. Over time, the emptiness will be filled with happy memories we spent together, and instead of grievance, there will be hope for the future.

The white rose was the only material possession you gave me, yet I still have something to remember you by. And our baby is due this fall. And is she ever asks why she has no father, I'll tell her that she does. I'll tell her he found the light shining within the darkness he was engulfed in, and I helped him find his way out. I'll even tell her that everyone has a hope, a wish, a dream, something they want so badly it begins to hurt. And he just simply dreamed of being free.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

When you're fast asleep

No matter what your heart is dreaming

If you keep on believing

The dream that you wish will come true