Safe

Chapter 11: Middles

McGonagall had announced to everyone that Hermione was indeed alive, and that Draco Malfoy had saved her from the Malfoy family's evil clutches (Draco had shuddered at "Malfoy," "evil," and "clutches"). She also announced that no person was to ask either of them for the details of their escape from the Manor, and there were numerous groans at this request. Several people had come up to her, but Hermione refused to answer, as did Draco. Eventually, they gave up, but Hermione knew they were all either staring at her or Draco.

They had found Harry just seconds after returning to the castle. Large chunks of walls and ceilings were gone, as was the hourglass that held the Slytherin emeralds. They were now walking through the Great Hall, seeing the fallen heroes of Hogwarts. However, most of the deceased were covered with blankets, or covered in so much blood or rubble that it was impossible to see who was who. Among the fallen that Hermione had seen were Colin Creevey and Lavender Brown.

During their walk, Hermione's mind was elsewhere. While she, Draco, and Ron had been fighting Lucius and other Death Eaters, Harry had a vision where Voldemort asked for Snape at the Shrieking Shack. Harry recounted that Voldemort killed Snape to be the master of the Elder Wand, and that Snape had given Harry a memory before he died. Harry had examined the landscape of the fallen and injured, and exited to see the memory Snape left him.

Draco had taken the news of Snape's death worse than Hermione thought. She had ripped Draco's wand from his hand so he wouldn't do anything destructive, but he tried anyway. He kicked walls (Hermione had to heal his broken toes), yelled incomprehensible words, and it took almost a half an hour to get him to walk into the Great Hall, due to the nervousness that Snape would be there.

She was walking next to Ron, their hands gripping the other tight. Draco was standing behind them, knowing so because she could hear his breathing. He seemed agitated, but Hermione did not know why. He stood up to his father, and that was something Draco had never done before. Hermione thought Draco should be feeling very Gryffindor-like... well, Hermione, remember that Draco hated Gryffindor. She couldn't argue with that.

Hermione's heart stopped.

Ron let go of her and stumbled towards his family, George catching him and refusing to let Ron go any further. Hermione knew, there was no mistaking which twin it was. The one who was standing had one whole ear, and the one lying on the ground had both ears, unmistakably... Hermione couldn't think it. She couldn't believe it. Ron was on his knees, pounding the floor with his fist, grief-stricken and angry tears flooding from his eyes. She wheeled around, unable to look at Fred's lifeless form anymore, and threw herself into Draco's arms.

He thread his fingers through her hair, letting her stain his already-filthy jacket with tears instead of dirt. She clawed at his jacket helplessly, eventually just losing all sense of herself. Draco caught her around the waist and hoisted her back onto her feet, even though she felt numb. The only thing burning her senses and mind was Fred. She had never guessed - never thought - that it could happen to the Weasleys. Never thought it would happen to her.

"Granger, I can't hold you forever," Draco said breathlessly. "Let's go."

She opened her mouth to reply, but the only sound that came out was broken and incoherent. Instead, she nodded, and Draco walked right alongside her. But, she saw one more thing that sent her to the floor in a heap of heavy sobs. Remus and Tonks were lying on the ground, just a few people down from Fred, evidently holding hands - or trying to - before they... died. Despite the looks they were getting from other mourning Dumbledore's Army and Order of the Phoenix members, Draco lifted her into a bridal position, and carried her outside.

Ignoring her flailing, helpless arms, Draco set her down on the steps leading up to the Hall. He sat on the step in front of her, and she looked down at him. She calmed when she looked into his grey eyes, full of nothing belonging to his father. Those grey eyes were Draco's, and always will be, because Draco's eyes were full of compassion and love (Dumbledore's damned answer for everything), instead of the hate swelling inside those of Lucius. Without thinking, she took Draco's hand in hers.