This Bitter Earth

TWENTY FOUR

A/N: A small reminder that Draco is left handed and Hermione is right handed. Just a fun fact to keep in mind. I know this chapter moves VERY fast, and I did my best to include as much as I could in the ten minute time frame that this happens in. Hopefully it turns out okay...

A HUGE thank you to the long suffering Bree and SheekMartin for betaing this chapter. Bree read I think four different versions of this? And SheekMartin had to deal with me going back and forth on things a dozen times over. Clap for them. I am not an easy person to deal with.

CW: Once again, our dear friend Death. Also this one gets a little gory. Okay, I won't lie. It's pretty damn hardcore on the gore. Hopefully you haven't just eaten.

Soundtrack: "Riptide" by grandson and "Without You" by Ursine Vulpine

TWENTY FOUR

.

Draco's knee fucking hurt, but he stood tall, making himself a pillar of stone, refusing to let an ounce of his discomfort show on his face. He didn't have a plan. He didn't have anything but the vinewood wand he took off of Potter as he stood in front of the Dark Lord.

But he had Granger, tucked behind his back and holding tightly onto his hand, and he wasn't letting go.

The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed, the slits of his pupils flaring then receding. "Yours?" he said softly. Dangerously. "Is this not the creature you claimed to be training in my service? You knelt at my feet and promised she was your way of delivering Potter to me. What use is the Mudblood to you now?"

Shit. Another thing he'd have to explain to Granger when all of this was over. But... she was a smart girl; she would understand. As long as he lived long enough to talk to her about it, that was. Draco didn't dare look back at her though and kept the Dark Lord squarely in his sights where he could easily see his Master's thin lip curling and fingers twitching around the elder wand.

Still, Draco didn't move.

"You will have a place at my side and the highest honors." The Dark Lord swung the wand wide in demonstration as he continued. "Your family name and wealth will be restored. Anything you want will be yours. Just give her to me."

Draco had never been particularly brave and there was a clear reason why he was sorted into Slytherin, but standing here he could not deny the fact that he did not want to die. And he didn't want what came after either. He was a Malfoy and that should have meant a long life in the lap of luxury, but here he was instead, on this burning battlefield, because of her.

Because she hadn't left with him when they had the chance. Because she wanted to fight for someone else. Because she... Because she was his. And the life he wanted, the one he fucking should have, was with her.

And like the true Slytherin he was, Draco was willing to do whatever was necessary to get that. He said anything, he said everything.

So Draco bowed his head.

"I have done all that you asked of me, My Lord," Draco said through gritted teeth. His arm ached under his mark. He could feel the snake moving under his skin, compelling him to obey his master's command. Draco ignored it and went on. "I brought you Potter. He is the key to this, not the wand. Kill him and victory is yours." Granger's palm flushed hot against his hand. "You will have the world, I just want her."

The Dark Lord took a few quick steps, agitation clear as his long fingers twitched against the wand that didn't belong to him. He was tired, wearing down and Draco wondered how long he could keep this going for. "You swore to obey me! As one of my Death Eaters—"