Falling for the Enemy||Draco Malfoy Love Story Fanfiction

Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The Deathly Hallows

Harry stirred awake, groaning. 

"How do you feel?" Merielle asked.

"Terrible. We got away."

"Yes," Hermione nodded, "But you need to rest. You've been ill."

"Are you two alright?"

"Yeah, we are," Merielle answered.

She and Hermione sat by the fire, both reading a book. The hillside was glorious, overlooking a small valley.

"You've outdone yourself this time." They turned to find Harry standing by the entrance of the tent, battleworn and weary.

"The Forest of Dean," Hermione explained, "I came here once with my mum and dad. Years ago. It's just how I remember it. The trees. The river. It's like nothing's changed. Not true, of course. Everything's changed. If I brought my parents here, they wouldn't recognise any of it. Not the trees. Not the river. Not...me."

"How are they?" Merielle questioned softly, She couldn't even bear the thought of lifting her wand against her parents and her brother, let alone have the strength to Obliviate them. She had no idea how Hermione had done it.

"Wendell and Monica Wilkins now reside happily in Sydney, Australia. They have two dogs, run a small sweet shop, and floss daily. No children." She paused. "Maybe we should just stay here, Ella and Harry. Grow old." Harry had no words, and Merielle looked down, brushing away a stray tear. She hadn't heard a word from her family in ages. She had no idea if they were alright, what they were doing...if they were even still alive. Hermione inhaled, shaking away her own tears. Merielle spoke up.

"You wanted to know who the boy in the photograph was. Well, I know." She pulled out The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore.

"It was in Bathilda's sitting room. It doesn't make for very nice reading-"

"Who is he?" Harry interrupted, "The thief? Did Dumbledore know him?"

"Well, yes. For a period of time."

"Who is he?"

"Gellert Grindelwald." There was silence. Merielle laid out the book, open to a photograph of a teenaged Dumbledore laughing with another boy. Grindelwald. On the opposite page was a picture of Grindelwald in later days, clad in black and holding a jagged wand.

"Where's my wand?" Harry asked, then saw the guilty expression on Merielle's face, "Ella, where's my wand?" She bit her lip, then lifted up his wand. The holly and phoenix wand was broken in half. One fragile strand of phoenix feather held it together.

"It's my fault. As we were leaving Godric's Hollow, I cast a curse and it rebounded...I'm sorry."

"It's done." There was a tone of finality in Harry's voice. Merielle nodded.

"We'll use each other's when it's our turn to keep watch," Hermione said.

~~~***~~~

It was Harry's turn to keep watch, and the two girls lay down in the blankets, huddled in the tent.

"If none of this happened...if we were just a couple of normal seventh years about to graduate, what did you want to be once you left Hogwarts?" Merielle asked Hermione quietly.

"I wanted to do something good. Maybe expand S.P.E.W and make a change for elf rights," answered Hermione in a soft tone.

"I guess I always wanted to take after my family, you know? Continue the Stargline legacy. I wanted to become an Auror, or the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. But not Minister of Magic," said Merielle wistfully.